Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia/Series 1/Volume 2/Notices of Lombok
NOTICES OF LOMBOK.
Defective as our knowledge of Bali has hitherto been, of the adjacent island of Lombok we knew still less. Indeed we are not aware that any notice of it existed prior to the recent visit of Mr. Zollinger, with the exception of some very slight notes extracted from a journal, which were presented to the Asiatic Society in 1846. As these notes we believe have not been otherwise published we subjoin them.
In July last a ship from the port of Ampánán in the Island of Lombok called "Todáh" (sword fish,) belonging to a Bugis settled there named Nákhodá Mudá, when about to clear out from Singapore was claimed by one Hájí I'sáháh as his property. An action was commenced in the court; and, as the Nákhodá had no bill of sale of the vessel, it became necessary to procure evidence from Rhio, where the former owner of the vessel, Rájá Husain, resides, and from Lombok. The Nákhodá's statement was that the vessel had been sold by Rájá Husain to Nákhodá Ishmáilá the elder brother of Hájí Isáháh, and that on the death of Ishmáilá, or Smylá, as he is called, at Lombok (where he had been long settled) without leaving any male offspring, his wife, daughter, slaves and all his property became the king's, that the king made over the whole to Nákhodá Mudá, on condition of his supporting and protecting the widow, daughter and dependants of the deceased. Hájí Sábah (Isáháh) asserted that he had purchased the vessel from Rájá Husain, but it was probable that if he failed to prove this he would claim it as administrator to his brother's estate, as he had obtained letters of administration from the court last year. The rule being that personal property descends according to the law of the place where the owner was domiciled when he died, it became necessary to obtain evidence of the law of Lombok on this point. It happens that Mr. King, an Englishman, is Sabandar at Ampánán (or Mataram as it is termed in official language) in that island, and to him application was made for information. About a week ago Nákhodá Mŭda arrived here in person bringing a letter and certificates from Mr. King, a declaration in Malay under the seals of the Raja and his son, the same in Balinese, and,—what I value as more curious than all the rest—an extract from the written code of civil laws or Digámá of Lombok, certified by the two Edá Gédés or chief Brahmans, who are the depositories of law and the highest judges of the kingdom. I have always regarded Bálí and Lombok (the two first in the remarkable chain of Islands stretching eastward from Java to New Holland) with great interest, for there to this day what may be called the ancient history of the Malayan Archipelago is repeated, the ancient life is seen in full activity. Elsewhere Hinduism is extinct as a principle of faith and action, having been supplanted by Islamism, and is only to be traced, though largely, in the languages-of which some have more words of Sanscrit origin than of the old Malayan stock, and all more than of the modern Arabic engraftments,-in architectural remains (abundant in Java and scanty elsewhere) and in traditions, customs and literature. In Bálí and Lombok Hindu princes still reign. Castes are as distinctly, perhaps more distinctly marked than in India; the sacred Brahmans minister in the temples and expound the laws. It is as if instead of a mere dead material Pompeii disentombed, we had the religion, laws, language and manners of ancient Italy preserved in full life in Sicily. Of Bali we may read in Raffles' Java, Crawfurd's Indian Archipelago and other works. Of Lombok neither there nor elsewhere could I ever get any information. I was therefore well pleased when a door was thus opened through which I might obtain some insight into its condition. I have not, after all, been able to obtain any full or precise information. Of what little I gathered I shall note a few particulars.
The two writings in the Bálínese character are scratched with knives on lontar leaves, and this is the material on which their ancient laws are preserved, and which, to this day, is exclusively used in all their writings. In Java the palm leaf has long been superseded by paper.
The proper name of the island is Selápáran. The Bugis eall it Sássák. Lombok is the name of the southern portion, but has been extended by Europeans to the whole island.
An abstract translation of the certificate of the Brahmans made by Mr. King is as follows. "This is to certify that according to the received law of Selápáran that has been in force under former Rájás and is now continued in use by Nurah Katat Carrang Assam, should a foreigner request to become an inhabitant of Selápáran, at the will of the Rájá he is permitted, on the condition of his observing the laws and regulations of the island; according to which laws if an inhabitant, whether native born or an adopted citizen, is without male Issue he becomes "Champulan," although he may at the same time have female children, and in case of his death, his family and all and every his effects revert to the Rájá, to be disposed of according to his pleasure. This is the law in use in Seláparan from heretofore and now in force according to the written code. This is an extract from the said code, an inhabitant of the land dying without leaving male children, all his estate reverts to the Rájá of the land or is lost to the family as goods thrown in a well.' We judges of the court of Selápáran Edá Gédé (high priest) Made Wungean and Edá Gédé Wayan Intaran declare to all to whom this may come that the above extract from the code of Selápáran as aforementioned is a true extract from the code, that we have added nothing nor omitted any thing in the said extract. Dated the day of Sanis Chara Kalewon Warra Cooningan 5th month 8th day of the moon 6 Rah of the 6 Tunguck of 1766 Esaka (signed) I Edá Gédé Wayan Intaran (L.S.) I Edá Gédé Made Wangeun (L. S.) written at Mataram in the island Selápáran."
The mass of the population, unlike that of Bálí, is Mahomedan. According to my informant, the planting of the Hindu standard in Sassak is a comparatively modern event. In Báli there are several sovereignties. A disputed succession to the throne of one of these, opposite Ampánán, Karang Assam, led to the withdrawel of one of the claimants with his followers to Sassak, where he founded the Hindu dominion to which it has since remained subject.[1]
The Rájás still assert their right to the throne of Karang Assam by adding its name to their royal title. The higher officers of state are called Gusti. The most numerous grade of officers are the Pámbakals (heads of villages) who rank according to the number of persons under their jurisdiction, thus there are pambakals of 1,000, of 500 &c., The high court is composed of 12 Brahmans. Any person who has a complaint goes to whatever advocate he chooses, who reduces it to writing. The defendant puts in his defence in the same mode. The evidence of the witnesses is also written.[2] The whole case being thus stated, the court meets and discusses it. Their opinion is then recorded and carried up to the Rájá. If he approves of it, it becomes the judgment.
The country behind Mataram is a plain of very rich soil laid out in paddy fields which are irrigated by water conducted from deep and large lakes in the mountains. The produce is abundant. Rice is measured by the kuda (i, e. horse) or horseload of 3 piculs. The Rájá receives 150 out of every 800 íkats or sheaves of paddy. Every householder or head of a family pays annually a tax of 2 dollars. Land is measured by the tunnah (not tanah as it has been written) which Nákhodá Muda says is a definite measure, and not a term to express land, greater or smaller according to its fertility, yielding a certain quantity of produce,—a definition which I have seen somewhere.
Widows frequently burn themselves on the funeral pires of their husbands, but no conpulsion whatever is used towards them.
In Sassak, as in Celebes, very few dollars are in use, the current coin being small copper pieces, so that to make a payment of no great amount the services of half a dozen sturdy followers are required.
Nákhodá Muda as well his deceased master, Ishmaila, did the King good service in a war with his brother in which he proved successful. For this reason Muda is allowed to trade exempt from all duties. Mr King pays the Rájá about 4,000 dollars annually and possesses several duties and monopolies. In Singapore the Nákhodá, like other considerable Bugís traders, is always attended by a large train of Bugis followers who shew him the same respect that a Malay chief receives from his retainers.
I was unable to arrive at any certain conclusions respecting the amount and distribution of the population, the quantity of exports, military strength &e., Nákhodá Muda promised to do his hest to procure for me copies of the Agámá and Digámá and other books.
Such was the amount of our meagre information respecting Lombok before the late Dutch expedition to Báli. With respect to the latter island Mr. Freiderich's work may be expected soon to dispel the obscurity that still envelopes it. In anticipation of the early completion of this work we do not publish the translations which we have made of the notices in the Tijdschrift referred to by Dr. Hoëvell in his address, but if it should be postponed we shall insert them. In the meantime we shall give some extracts from Mr. Zollinger's recent interesting papers on Báli and Lombok (or Sassak). This naturalist, who is a member of the scientific commission of Netherlands India, has not only distinguished himself by his botanical discoveries, but by an ardent and enlightened pursuit of almost every kind of knowledge that can be acquired while engaged in prosecuting his researches. He is now investigating Sumbawa, and the other islands of the chain that stretches east from Java. The fullness with which he has treated of Bálí and Lombok precludes us from giving his papers entire in one number. We begin with his notices of the religion of Lombok as it is likely to prove interesting to our readers from the singular modification which the Hindu practise of Suttee has there undergone.
- ↑ Other accounts are to the effect that the state of Karang Assam being at war with that of Riling, the latter gained the mastery; but the Raja having afterwards been deserted by his subjects and delivered into the hands of the Raja of Karrang Assam, the latter, after putting him to death, was emboldened to attempt the invasion of B'liling in order to procure human bones to build a temple in fulfilment of a vow. This led to his being abandoned by the great body of his subjects, and his subsequent ferocity in offering up a human sacrifice to propitiate the gods having excited their horror and detestation, he fled with his followers to Sassak and founded the Hindu dynasty of that island.
- ↑ According to Mr. Zollinger the pleadings are all written impromtu at the hearing (or rather reading) of the cause, not a word being spoken by either party from first to last. Tijd. voor Neerland Indic.