MALAY SKETCHES
river to Pasir Panjang. Once there, he availed himself of an ancient custom called ikat-diri—that is, to “bind yourself"—and, accompanied by all his people, he went and stood in front of the Sultan’s house with his hands loosely tied behind his back with his own head-kerchief, and, thus uncovered in the sun, he and all his following shouted dmpun Tiian-ku, be-ribu-vibu dipun—"Pardon, my lord, a thousand-thousand pardons.”
After a quarter of an hour’s waiting, while the air was filled with this plea for mercy, and the Béndahara and his company stood like prisoners in front of the closed house, a door opened, a herald bearing the Sultan’s insignia appeared and cried out: "Our lord pardons you, and permits you to enter into his presence.”
That settled the affair. The Sultan’s minister had accepted the responsibility for what had been done; he was far too great a man to be treated as a criminal, and, taking advantage of an old custom, he confessed his fault, offered himself a prisoner, sought and obtained the Sultan’s pardon,
Amongst those who had received the message of peace, and who entered into the presence, were the Pénglima Prang Sémaun, Haji Ali, and the three other murderers of the Shabandar.
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