Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstra13141884roya).pdf/90

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The fugitive King MAHMUD did not die of grief[1] (as it is asserted by the Portuguese), but he had fied in 1511, to the North-East side of the Southern Promontory of the country, after having ruled Malakka for 34 years; with him a period of 252 years was completed that this country had been under the sway of Malay Kings. He com- menced to build a new town at that place (the third one built by Malay Kings in those quarters), enlarged it and finally finished it, and gave it the name of Johor, after the Arabic word "Johor" perhaps, which means "a pearl" also "the fine human shape."

He founded a new empire there, the Kings of which from that date were no longer styled Malay Princes or Kings of Malakka, but Kings of Johor. He reigned two years at that placc, died in 1513, and was succeeded by his son, who had not the name of ALLODIN (according to the Portuguese historians), but who has been mentioned by the Malays as Sultan AHMED SHAH, in their genealogical register of the Kings of Malakka and Johor. He was the thirteenth King of the Malays, the first of Johor, and the seventh Mohammedan King.

[To be continued.]

  1. The Commentaries say he died at Pahang, a few days after his arrival there.