Ch. 14–4: How Melaka Delivered a Smackdown to Pahang

The chapter continues with the news that a man commits an offence (“berdosa”) against Raja Mahmud, the heir to the throne of his father Sultan ‘Alauddin Syah, but the offence was not so serious (“tiada apa behena”). The Seri Maharaja sentences this man to death, and so he is executed. When the Bendahara Paduka Raja hears of this, he says, “Look at the Seri Maharaja! He’s teaching a tiger-​cub to eat meat. One of these days, he too might get caught.”

Some time later, the Raja of Maluku comes to pay homage to Melaka. It so happens that Tun Telanai of Terengganu and the Raja of Rekan are also there to pay homage. The Raja of Maluku is given robes of honour and other gifts. He is a great sepak raga player, and the young noblemen join him in playing the game, with him as the leader (“menjadi ibu”). When the ball comes to him, he would kick (dribble?) it 100 times, or even 150 times, before passing it to someone else; he would signal to the guy he wants to pass to, and the pass will be made flawlessly. Then he will sit on a chair and be fanned by pairs of men, while the other youths go on playing. When he resumes playing and the ball comes to him, he will kick it into the air several times, and the ball will remain in the air for as long as it takes to cook pots of rice (“berpenakan nasi”), and this will go on until he passes it to someone, since he’s so skilled. (But not much of a team, player, then!)

The Raja of Maluku is big and strong. He can chop down a mature coconut tree (“nyiur duduk umbi”) with his sword. Tun Telanai of terengganu can also drive his spear right through such a tree. But Sultan ‘Alauddin is the mightiest of them all, as he can shoot an arrow at the tree and make the tree fly (“terbang”)! So this means he is the one most likely to be called:

Sultan ‘Alauddin Syah is very fond of his two buff guests. (We are not told what he thinks of the Raja of Rekan, who may have therefore been a wuss). After a while, the Raja of Maluku and Tun Telanai of Terengganu take their leave and return to their own countries.

When Sultan Muhammad of Pahang hears that Tun Telanai of Terengganu went to pay homage to Melaka without his consent, he orders Seri Akar Raja to go to Terengganu to kill him! When Seri Akar Raja reaches Terengganu and summons Tun Telanai. But Tun Telanai refuses to appear for him, saying: “Is it customary for a war-​chief to summon another war-​chief?” Seri Akar Raja then orders Tun Telanai to be attacked and killed. And so Tun Telanai is killed. Seri Akar Raja returns to Pahang. And Sultan Muhammad gives the territory of Terengganu to be admin­istered by Seri Akar Raja.

Word reaches Melaka that Tun Telanai of Terangganu had been killed by Seri Akar Raja on the orders of the Raja of Pahang. And Sultan ‘Alauddin is mighty pissed off, and says, “(The Raja of) Pahang is being uppity (‘menun­jukkan kaharnya’) and needs a smackdown! I feel like invading the place!” But Bendahara Paduka Raja says to him, “A thousand pardons, Your Majesty, but I feel we should not invade Pahang, as we might suffer losses. I suggest instead that the Laksamana be sent to Pahang.” And Sultan ‘Alauddin Syah says, “OK then.” The Laksamana gets ready, and when the ships are prepared (“musta’id”), the letter from the ruler of Melaka is borne with ceremony to the ship. He sails to Pahang.

When he reaches Pahang, Sultan Muhammad is told by his people: “The Laksamana is here, having been commanded by Your Majesty’s younger brother to present himself.” The Raja of Pahang comes out to have an audience. Sultan Muhammad orders the letter to be brought to him, and this task is given to Seri Pikrama Raja Pahlawan, the Bendahara of Pahang. When he reaches the Laksamana’s ship, the Laksamana comes out, and the letter is taken from him and borne by elephant with due ceremony, with a pair of white umbrellas, accom­panied by the music of drums, pipes and trumpets. And the Laksamana tells his men: “After the letter is read, get ready to kill a family member of Seri Akar Raja.” And his men say, “Right on.”

The letter arrives. Everyone in the audience-​hall leaves except for the Raja of Pahang. The elephant is brought into the hall, and the letter is received and read out, and it starts: “I send my greetings to God, from the younger brother to the elder brother.”

When the letter is fully read, everyone sits at their appointed places. The Laksamana does his obeisance and sits, and at that moment there is a sound of commotion from outside. The Raja of Pahang asks, “What’s all that racket?” And he is told, “Your Majesty, the Laksamana’s men just killed a cousin of Seri Akar Raja!” And so the Raja of Pahang says to the Laksamana, “One of your men, sir, just killed a cousin of Seri Akar Raja. I suggest that you investigate, sir.” It was the custom of the Raja of Pahang to call Melakan chiefs ‘tuan’ (sir). The Laksamana orders for the man who did the killing to be brought forth. And the man is brought in, bound (“diikat”). The Laksamana asks him if he had killed a relative of Seri Akar Raja. He replies, “I sure did!” And the Laksamana says to the Raja of Pahang, “Yes, he killed a cousin of Seri Akar Raja, but I ask that no action be taken against him, because Seri Akar Raja had also offended the Raja of Melaka by killing Tun Telanai without getting permission from him first.” And the Raja of Pahang is silent.

After some time in Pahang, the Laksamana takes his leave. And the Raja of Pahang sends a reply letter to Melaka, which starts: “The elder brother pays homage to the younger brother.” The Laksamana is given robes of honour. The letter is borne to the ship with due ceremony. And the Laksamana sails back to Melaka.

Sep 27, 2010 – 1:20 PM | By Amir Muhammad | Posted in Blog Post | Comments (861)

Previous Chapters

  • CH 15–2: How Kampar Got Steamrolled by Melaka
  • CH. 15–1: How a Melakan Warrior Had to Wait Before Kicking Haru Asses
  • Ch. 14–5: Why the Bendahara Mentions Royal Horniness on His Deathbed
  • Ch. 14–4: How Melaka Delivered a Smackdown to Pahang
  • Ch. 14–3: How the Sultan of Melaka Turned into a Kick-​ass Vigilante
  • Ch. 14–2: How a Grandmother From Hell is Stopped from Committing Regicide
  • Ch 14–1: How the People of Campa Ended Up in Melaka
  • Ch. 13: How the Pasai King’s Uppity Words Lost Him a Valuable Ally
  • Ch. 12–3: How the Sultan of Melaka Got Cock-​Blocked
  • Ch 12–2: How The Pasai Philosopher Answers (or Not) a Riddle from Melaka
  • Ch. 12–1: Why the Horny Prince of Mengkasar Goes on a Destructive Spree
  • Ch. 11: How a Game of Sepak Raga Turned Deadly
  • Ch. 10: How the Raja of China Cured His Skin Problem
  • Ch. 9–5: How the Sultan of Melaka Got His Elephant Back
  • Ch. 9–4: How the Raja of China’s Daughter Came to Melaka
  • Ch. 9–3: How Hang Tuah Killed Hang Kasturi
  • Ch. 9–2: How the Melakans Responded to the King of Majapahit’s Practical Jokes
  • Ch. 9–1: How the Queen of Majapahit Chose Her Husband
  • Ch. 8–2: How Melaka Became Siam’s BFF
  • Ch. 8–1: How the Siamese Were Fooled
  • Ch. 7: Why The Bendahara of Melaka Committed Suicide
  • Ch. 6–3: How Melaka was Founded, and Then Became Muslim
  • Ch. 6–2: How a King’s Horniness Got Him into Trouble with His Brother
  • Ch. 6–1: How Islam Came to the Malay World
  • Ch. 5: How Eating Vomit Can Make You A Superman
  • Ch. 4: How Singapura Repaid Majapahit’s Insult
  • Ch. 3: How Singapore Got Its Name
  • Ch. 2: How China Saved Itself
  • Ch. 1: Alexander?

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