country of Menangkabowe about the beginning of the twelfth century.”^19
Of the Perak regalia we read: “Tan Saban was commanded by his mistress to
open negotiations with Johor, and this having been done, a prince of the royal
house of that kingdom, who traced his descent from the old line of
Menangkabau, sailed for Perak to assume the sovereignty. He brought with him
the insignia of royalty, namely, the royal drums (gandang nobat), the pipes
(nafiri), the flutes (sarunei and bangsi), the betel-box (puan naga taru), the
sword (chora mandakini), the sword (perbujang), the sceptre (kayu gamit), the
jewel (kamala), the surat chiri, the seal of state (chap halilintar), and the
umbrella (ubar-ubar). All these were enclosed in a box called Baninan.”^20
In Selangor the regalia consisted of the royal instruments of music—(the big
State Drum or naubat, beaten at the king’s coronation; the two small State
Drums (gĕndang); the two State Kettle-drums (langkara); the lĕmpiri or State
Trumpet, and the sĕrunei or State Flute—to which perhaps a bangsi should be
added, as in the Perak list)—which were seldom, if ever, moved, and the
following articles which were carried in procession on state occasions:^21 —
- The royal Betel-box.
- The Long K’ris—a kind of rapier used for Malay executions.
- The two royal Swords; one on the right hand and one on the left (all of
the articles mentioned hitherto being carried in front of the Sultan). - The royal “Fringed” Umbrella (payong ubor-ubor), carried behind the
right-hand sword-bearer. - The royal “Cuspadore,” carried behind the left-hand sword-bearer.
- The royal Tobacco-box, carried at the Sultan’s back.
- The eight royal tufted Lances (tombak bĕndrang or bandangan), whose
bearers were followed by two personal attendants, the latter of whom
attended, besides, to anything that was broken or damaged; so that the
procession numbered seventeen persons in all.^22
Of the Pahang regalia I have not been able to obtain a list with any pretensions to
completeness, but from a remark by Mr. Clifford (the present Resident) in one of
his books, they would appear to be essentially the same as those of the other
Federated States.^23