vanese language proclaims his unbounded authority.
When he is addressed, words which literally
imply “ the royal feet,” and “ the royal slave,”
have superseded all other pronouns of the second
and first person. The usual exordium of a petition
to the monarch is, “ the royal slave places
his life at the royal disposal.” The language of
adulation has no bounds. It would be sacrilege
to call the monarch’s head by any other name than
that which literally means “ the pinnacle of a
temple.” In the'same language his eyes are a
“ pair of gems,” and his.face is “ the sun.” * The
prince, on his side, addresses the highest of his
subjects in language the most insolent, and “ slave,”
* The of Prince Gelgel in Bali is usually called by the
strange title of Dewa-Agung, which literally means the Great
Deity or God. The author of the General History of Voyages,
quoting the manuscript relation of a Dutch mission to Bali,
has the following passage : | Sur l’article des moeurs, la relation
ajoute à la suite, des coutumes barbares de ces peuples,
une simple explication de quelques uns de leurs titres fastueux.
Celui de Gusty, qu’on a lû souvent, ne signifie que
conseiller ; mais le roi, ses freres ses soeurs et ses fils, sont distingués
par le nom de Dewa, c’est à dire Dieu, appellant leur
idole meme Dewa Ratiist ou le Grand Dieu (correctly “ king-
gods! ”) Dans les degrés plus éloignés de la tige royale, ou
n’employe que le titre de Sava Jang, ( Sang yang,) que repond
a celui d’ange, et ces epithétes sont les mêmes pour les deux
sexes ; la difference qu’on en fait ne consiste que dans les noms
propres.” Vol, XVII. p. 59. 4
or H fellow,” are applied by him alike to the
first minister, to a prince of the blood, and to the
humblest villager. * In an ethical, work, composed
in the reign of the Sultan of Pajang, about
250 years ago, implicit obedience, and unlimited
devotion to the sovereign, are recommended in
the following odious strain: “ He who serves a
prince is exalted by an implicit obedience to his
will. Should the monarch order you to embrace
* The language of the Malays, and their laws, contain similar
evidence. To shew the spirit of their institutions, I
shall quote a few passages from their customary laws. “ The
forbidden words, say these, are Titah, Barpatek, Markay
Ampun, Darma-kurnia, and Anggurha. If an inmate of
the palace apply these terms to any but the prince, to whom
they by right belong, he shall be put to death. If a person
without the walls use them, he shall be struck a blow over
the mouth at the time he is pronouncing them. If any man
direct these words to be addressed to himself, he shall suffer
death.”
In the sumptuary laws of these people, the same spirit is
discernible. The following are examples :
<£ If persons come into the presence chamber, or even enter
the precincts of the palace, wearing clothes of extraordinary
fineness, without the royal approbation, their clothes
shall be torn from their backs, and they shall be turned out.”
— “ If a person use a mat for sleeping on, ornamented with
yellow, (the royal colour,) ora yellow coloured pillow, or a
yellow handkerchief, the punishment of such offence is death"
“ If a person wear a golden hil ted hr is, without the royal
orders, such kris shall be taken from him and confiscated.”
VOL. III. b