closely related to Pănglîma Prang, and to the Jĕlai natives. He foresaw that, if
war was declared against Pănglîma Prang by the King, the Lĭpis people would
throw in their fortunes with the former. It was here, therefore, that he saw his
chance, and, as the fates would have it, an instrument lay ready to his hand.
At Kuâla Lĭpis there dwelt in those days an old and cross-grained madman, a
Jĕlai native by birth, who, in the days before his trouble came upon him, had
been a great Chief in Pahang. He bore the title of Ôrang Kâya Haji, and his
eldest son was named Wan Lingga. The latter was as wax in To’ Gâjah's hands,
and when they had arranged between themselves that in the event of a campaign
against Pănglîma Prang proving successful, Wan Lingga should replace the latter
by becoming To’ Râja of Jĕlai, while the Lĭpis Valley should be allotted to To’
Gâjah, with the title of Dâto’ Kâya Stia-wangsa, they together approached the
Bĕndăhâra on the subject.
They found him willing enough to entertain any scheme, which included the
humbling of his proud vassal Pănglîma Prang, who so lately had done him
dishonour in his own capital. Moreover the Bĕndăhâra of Pahang was as astute
as it is given to most men to be, and he saw that strife between the great Chiefs
must, by weakening all, eventually strengthen his own hand, since he would, in
the end, be the peacemaker between them. Therefore he granted a letter of
authority to Wan Lingga and To’ Gâjah, and thus the war began.
The people of Pahang flocked to the interior, all noisily eager to stamp out of
existence the upstart Chief, who had dared to wear shoes, and to carry an
umbrella in the streets of their King's capital. The aged Chief of Lĭpis and his
people, however, clove to Pănglîma Prang, or To’ Râja, as he now openly called
himself, and the war did not prosper. To’ Gâjah had inspired but little love in the
hearts of the men whom the Bĕndăhâra had given him for a following, and they
allowed their stockades to be taken without a blow by the Jĕlai people, and on
one occasion To’ Gâjah only escaped by being paddled hastily down stream
concealed in the rolled up hide of a buffalo.
At last it became evident that war alone could never subdue the Jĕlai and Lĭpis
districts, and consequently negotiations were opened. A Chief named the Ôrang
Kâya Pahlâwan of Sĕmantan visited To’ Râja in the Jĕlai, and besought him to
make his peace by coming to Pĕkan.
'Thou hast been victorious until now,' said he, 'but thy food is running low. How
then wilt thou fare? It were better to submit to the Bĕndăhâra, and I will go