374< HISTOIIY OF THE MALAYS. of Singapura. During three years he withstood the forces of the king of Mojopahit -, but, in 1^52, being hard pressed, he retired first to the north- ward, and afterwards to the western coast of the peninsula, where, in the following year, he found- ed a new city, which, under his wise government, became of considerable importance. To this he gave the name of Malalm, from a fruit-bearing tree so called, (mijrobolanuni,) found in abundance on the hill, which gives natural strength to the situa- tion. Having reigned here twenty-two years, be- loved by his subjects and feared by his neighbours, IsJimidar Shah died in 1^74, and was succeeded by Sultan Magat, who reigned only two years. Up to this period the Malayan princes were pagans. Sultan Muhammed ShaJi^ who ascended the throne 1^6, was the first Mahometan prince, and, by the propagation of his faith, acquired great celebrity during a long reign of fifty- seven years. His in- fluence appears to have extended over the neigh- bouring islands of Ltngga and Bintan^ together with JekoVf Fatani, Kedah, and Ferak, on the coasts of the peninsula ; and Kampar^ and Aru in Sumatra ; all of which acquired the appellative of Malayu, although it was now more especially ap- plied to Malacca," I shall oiler a ^ew strictures and remarks on this narrative. We find in it the precise year of the emigration, and other dates, when no proof exist*
