Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/397

SEQUEL OF JAVANESE HISTORY. 355 sioii, and open rebellion, there is in such a state of society no medium. As soon as he made his appearance he was seized, deprived of his kris, an unfailing and necessary precaution, and, according to a frequent practice, confined in a cage ofbam^ hoo, until the safety of the royal family should be assured by the execution of his son. The young man, while this was passing, determined to sell his life dearly, and threw himself, with some desperate and determined retainers of the warlike tribe of the Bugis, within the inclosures of the minister's pa- lace. The palace was immediately surrounded by the troops of the Susunan, demanding admission, but deterred from entering by force by the fierce aspect of those who occupied it. At length, the young man's own uncle having thrown away his arms, scaled the wail, and, presenting himself to his nephew, perfidiously tendered to him the Su- sunan's pardon, if he would but throw himself on his mercy, and dismiss his guards. Relying on the assurances of so near a relative, the Bugis retain • ers of the prince, were directed to retire, and the gates were thrown open, when the troops rushed in, and Sukro was secured and disarmed. Being, on this act of violence, persuaded of the inevitabi- lity of his fate, he only entreated, in compliance with a common Javanese superstition, that, in the manner of his death, his blood should not be shed. His uncle, accordingly, administered to him a dose VOL. II. ^