Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. VI SAVAGE MALAYS OF MALACCA 335
well aware, however, of his feelings, and on his death-
bed enjoined Batin Three-Pieces not to receive any
complaints nor seek anything from him. The Benda-
hara therefore, finding that Batin Three -Pieces, on
succeeding his father, was not disposed to afford him
any opportunity to open intercourse or provoke a
quarrel, resolved to take the initiative himself. He
therefore sent to the Batin some of his Penglimas
or war-chiefs, and these having requested presents
of various kinds from him, and having received a
refusal, set upon him and cut him down. But every
wound which they inflicted immediately closed, and
the Batin remained alive and scathless. The war-
chiefs therefore reported the circumstance to the
Bendahara of Pahang, who hastened to Menangkabau
in person, and there ordered the war-chiefs, in his
own presence, to cut the Batin in three. This having
been done, each piece as it was severed was carried
to a little distance and there deposited. But no
sooner were they placed on the ground than they
flew together and became reunited, whereupon the
living Batin stood before them uninjured as before.
The Bendahara therefore took counsel with the Raja,
but the latter advised him to desist from his attempts
to molest the Batin.
The best aboriginal traditions yet published in
the Peninsula were those related to D. F. A. Hervey,
formerly of the Straits Civil Service, by Batin Pa'
Inah, who claimed to be the head of all the Batins of
the Mantra tribes. He had resided in Johol for
fifteen years or so. His original name was Koloi,
and his native place was Tanah Tasek in Jelebu.
They are given in the following pages.
^ J. I. A. vol. i. pp. 326*, 327*.