Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/373

HISTORY OF JAVA CONTINUED. 3^9 bundant and noisome fruit of the aren palm, with the view of poisoning the water, and compelling the inhabitants of Surabat/a to submission, a conse- quence which, either from the real or imaginary effects of the mt asure, soon followed. The chief of Surabaya having submitted, sent his son to Mataram to make his submission. On this occasion, the young prince, with his compa- nions and domestics, his wives, and all the fe- males of his family, were, say the native writers, according to custom, brought into the public pre- sence of the Sultan, bound in cords. We may glean a fiew facts now and then, of a more favourable character. In the year 1537 of Saliva- na, (A. D. J 615,) the ambitious projects of the family of Mataram raised against them a host of enemies, in a confederation of the princes of Ma- dura, and of the eastern part of Java. Encouraged by the response of the spiritual chief of Giri, whom it was customary to consult as an oracle, they march- ed in great numbers to the west, with the hope of sub- verting Mataram. Ignorant of the country, and im- provident, they had not reached Pajang when their stock of provisions was expended, and they were compelled to feed on wild roots and the bark of trees, which engendered fatal disorders that car- ried off great numbers. In this condition they were attacked by the Sultan of Mataram and utter- ly defeated. Among the slain was the chief of