Malayan Literature: Comprising Romantic Tales, Epic Poetry and Royal Chronicles
General
Malayan Literature: Comprising Romantic Tales, Epic Poetry and Royal Chronicles
Malay literature -- Translations into English
After the departure of the Sultan Melik-el-Mansour, King Melik-ed-
Dhahir had the family festival. The Sultan Melik-el-Mansour had been at
Mandjang three years when the Sultan Melik-ed-Dhahir bethought him of
his brother.
"Alas," he said, "I was truly too unwise. For a woman my brother
dethroned, and his minister is dead."
And the prince repented. He ordered some of his officers to go and find
his brother at Mandjang. They therefore brought back Sultan Melik-el-
Mansour with the regard due to a king. When they arrived near the Plain
of Maya, the prince landed to visit the tomb of Sidi Ali Asmai-ed-Din.
"I salute you, my father," he said. "Stay here, my father. As for me I
go away, called by my brother."
From the interior of the tomb Sidi Ali answered: "Where would the
prince go? It is better to remain here."
When the prince heard these words, he made his ablutions, said a couple
of prayers, then stretched himself upon the tomb and expired. They bore
to Sultan Melik-ed-Dhahir the news that his brother was dead, in the
Plain of Maya, in the tomb of Sidi Ali Asmai-ed-Din. He started at
once, went to the place, and had his brother, Sultan Melik-el-Mansour,
buried with the ceremonies of great kings. Then, after returning to
Pasey, a prey to grief, he abdicated the throne in favor of his son,
Sultan Ahmed.
Some time after this, Sultan Melik-ed-Dhahir fell ill. He gave Sultan
Ahmed his last instructions. "O my son," said he, "light of my eyes,
treasure of my heart, never neglect the advice of your old servitors.
In every affair take counsel with your ministers. Neglect not the
duties of piety to God, the sovereign Master. Beware of injustice to
men."
Sultan Ahmed heard in tears the last words of his father. The prince
died, and they buried him near the mosque.
Sultan Ahmed was for many years on the throne and governed with much
justice. Now, the author of this story says: "There was at Pasey a
servant of God named Toun Djana Khatite. This man made the voyage to
Singapore with two companions. Crossing the square of Singapore he
passed by the palace of the King and saw the Queen. Near the palace was
an areca tree, and while Toun Djana was looking at the Queen the tree
split in two. At sight of this, King Sri Maharadja was extremely
irritated. 'You see,' he cried, 'the conduct of Toun Djana Khatite. To
call the attention of the Queen, he has acted thus. And he ordered him
to be killed. So Toun Djana was led to the place of punishment, near a
cake-shop, where Toun Djana Khatite received the blow of the poniard;
his blood ran on the earth, but his body disappeared and no one could
ever tell what became of it. The cake-shop-keeper covered the blood
with the cake-cover, and the cake-cover was changed into stone, which
is still seen at Singapore. According to a tradition, the body of Toun
Djana Khatite was transported to Langkaoui and there buried."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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