IT is related that Merlang, the raja of Indragiri, who died
at Malaca, left a son by the Princess Paramisuri, daughter of the deceased raja
of Malaca, who was named Raja Narasinga, on whom all the people of Indragiri in
Malaca depended.
At that time, however, all the young nobles of Indragiri were
not treated as equals by the young nobles of Malaca; and if in their sports
they came to any stream or pool of water, the young Malaca chiefs would cause
those of Indragiri to carry them across; and such was their constant practice.
Then all the Indragiri were indignant at such proceedings, and represented to
Raja Narasinga that it was time to ask permission to take their departure for
Indragiri, as they could not consent to stay any longer in Malaca, where they
did not find themselves treated as equals, but rather as dependants.
Then Raja Narasinga presented himself in fall court to
Sultan Mahmud, and requested his permission to return to Indragiri, "for
though you have presented it to me," said he,"yet have I never seen
it." The Prince, however, would not grant him permission. In a short time,
however, Raja Narasinga took leave at his own hand, and fled to Indragiri,
which was then in the hand of Raja Tuban, the brother of the deceased Raja
Merlang, who had left a son named Maha Raja Isup, who had become raja of
Indragiri.
As soon as he reached Indragiri, Tun Kichil and Tun Ali, who
were chiefs of Indragiri, informed Raja Isup of the arrival of Raja Narasinga,
and that he wanted to possess himself of the throne. Raja Isup was alarmed at
this information, and immediately fled to Linga, where he was graciously
received by the raja, named Maha Raja Tringano, who gave him his daughter in
marriage; and many of his descendants still remain at Linga. After the death of
the Maha Raja of Linga, Maha Raja Isup became raja of Linga. Raja Narasinga,
however, became raja of Indragiri, and Tun Kichil became his bandahara.
Mean time Sultan Mahmud, the raja of Malaca, sent to Keling
to purchase chintzes of forty different kinds, forty webs of every kind, and in
every web forty different kinds of flowering. Hang Nadim was the person
dispatched on this mission, who was a true Malaca man, related to the bandahara
Sri Maha Raja, and son-in-law to the laksamana. He went accordingly on board a
Malaca vessel, of which there was plenty at that time, and as soon as he
reached the land of Keling, he presented himself before the raja, and
represented to him the wishes of the raja of Malaca.
The Keling Raja collected the ablest painters, and directed
them to draw patterns, according to the pleasure of Hang Nadim. They drew a multitude of
pictures, but could not succeed in pleasing him; again they drew, but succeeded
no better than before. Then said the Kelingers, "We have now exerted the
utmost of our skill, and if anything can go beyond it, it is no skill of ours.
Nevertheless if you have any pattern, give it, and we will draw it." Then
said Hang Nadim, "Bring here a frame with ink, and let me draw one for
you, and do you follow it." Then Hang Nadim drew a pattern according to
his own ideas, and when the Keling draughtsmen saw him they were astonished at
the quickness of his execution.
When it was finished, he gave it to the Kelingers, saying,
"Such is the pattern which I want." When the Keling draughtsmen
attempted to follow his pattern, they could not, for the shaking of their
hands, and were obliged to request his permission to carry it home, to their
several houses. By the time that all the cloth was finished, and delivered to
Hang Nadim, the monsoon for returning was at hand, and he went to the nakhoda
Hang Isup, to take his passage to Malaca. Now this Hang Isup traded with one
Sidi Hamba Alla, who pretended that Hang Isup still owed him money, whereas
Hang Isup alleged that he had paid him in full, and the quarrel between them
had risen to a high pitch. Then said Hang Isup, "This bullocky Sidi here
charges people falsely." "Hah, Hang Isup," says the Sidi, "I
have no more bullocks than God gave me, and have received none from you, but
wait till you set sail, you shall certainly sink in the middle of the sea." Hang Nadim who was present,
said, "Sidi! I request of you most earnestly not to involve me in this
business." "No Nadim," says the Sidi, clapping his back,
"may Almighty God protect you."
On this the Sidi returned home, and Hang Nadim stowed all
his bales of cloth in Hang Isup's vessel, to be ready for the voyage. They set
sail, and when they reached the Silan sea, the vessel gradually foundered, with
all its cargo, though there was neither rain nor tempest; and while every one
was swimming for his life, Hang Nadim gained the sampan or cock-boat, and saved
a part of his goods in it, and gained the land of Silan.
The Silan raja immediately sent for him, and desired him to
make an egg-shaped lanthorn. Being skilled in limning, he succeeded admirably
in the execution, and was highly rewarded by the raja, who was desirous of
retaining him in his service, but Hang Nadim made his escape, and took his passage
in a vessel to Malaca. When he reached Malaca, he presented himself before the
Prince, and presented what he had saved of the bales of Keling chintz,
amounting to only four or five webs.
But when the raja learned what had happened, he was enraged
at him for taking his passage in Hang Isup's ship, after he knew the execration
which the Sidi had denounced against it. Hang Nadim said, "I took my passage
in his vessel because it was the only one which was coming quickly to Malaca,
for all the rest were to be late in the season;" but the Prince was still
more enraged at this answer, and said to him, "Get you away from
hence;" and Hang Nadim retired and went to his own house.
About this time the laksamana Hang Tuah died, and was
succeeded in his office by Rhwajeh Hasan, who was the son-in-law of Hang Tuah.
This Rhwajeh Hasan had a son, Tun Abdul by name.
