or minister of Kandiâmn, chief of M êim g Kaméhn, containing- rules ibr
the guidance of Pâieks in the judicial department of their office.
Gàja Mééta, a similar work, sup-posed to. favejbeswwriffe by Qéya Mûda,
the Pdteh of the’great Qro’wijaya of Mqjapdhit.
Kâpa Kdpa, regulations for the guidance of the sovereign in the administration
of justice.
Séria Aiem, a similar work for the guidance of all persons entrusted with
authority, supposed to have been composed by A ji Jmtbm, ibê 1 first
Mahometan sovereign of Java.
None of the above works are written in verse. . They form the basis of
what may be called the common law of the country. The translation of* the
modern version of the last of these, contained in the Appendix^'wll-serve
to convey some idea of the nature and spirit of this class of' compositions.
Besides the above may be noticed another work called Jay a Langkdra, a
romance, supposed to have bien written in the time of Susêncm Ampel, in
the Javan language and modern measures. This is a moral work of considerable
length, written in allegory, and pointing öttt thé duties off all classesi
The Jbtmar Memkam is of a more recent date, and a general favourite :
it may convey some, notion of the modern romances of the Javans.
That is true love which makes the heart uneasy ! -
There was a woman who shone like a gem in the world, for sh© was distinguished
by her conduct, and her name was Jètmr Mamlcam.
Perfect was her form, tod she was descended from a devotee, from whom
she derived her purity and the rules of her conduct.
Her beauty was like that of the children of heaven (mdaclms'), and men
saw more to admire in her, than was to he found on the plains, on the
mountains, or in the seas.
Pure was her conduct, like that of a saint, and she never forgot her
devotions to the derty : all evil desires were strangers to- hear heart.
She rose superior above the multitude from following the dictate» of
religion, and in no one instance was her heart disturbed by a bad
thought or desire, so that her life was. without reproach.
What pity it is she hath not a fever, for' when a young, and handsome
woman obtains a husband of high- character and qualifications, fit is* as
milk mixed with sugar ?
When
i When her virtue was assailed by the Panghûlu, she was astonished and
^'exclaimed,^ “ why dost thou thus take the course of a thief? why dost
thou! act in'ihis manner1? nB
« Art thou not prohibited from doing thus? forgettest thou thy Rdja,
■ anft fearest thou not thy God ? .
■ “ And thihkësfltthou!" not either , bf thyself ? Greatly dost thou astonish
“ me ! Is-^not thy ! conduct bad even' before the world ? but being
« forbidden by the Almighty, àtt thou not afraid of his anger?”
u - j f such be thy desire, I can never consent to its indulgence, for I fear
; « my God, and for all such deeds the punishment from heaven is great,
• j R a t h e r let me follow the course pointed out by the prophet : let me
- imitate the conduct of his child Patima.
«< How comes it, that thy inclination is so evil towards me? Verily,
« if my father knew of this proceeding, wouldst thou not justly
« receive severe punishment ?”
‘ The PcmgMlu thus frustrated in his design, writes in revenge to her
father, arid informs him that his daughter has made a fruitless endeavour to
seduce,him : upon hearing which th é.deceived parent orders her to be put
to death. Her brother is about to put this order in execution, when placing
his hand before his eyes while he inflicts the blow, he stabs a small deer in
lieu of his sister, who escapes into the woods.
With rapidity she fled to the woods, and then taking shelter under a wide
spreading 'HJarriMg’en tree, the still unripe fruits of the forest attained
maturity, and seemed to offer themselves as a relief to her.
All the flowers, though the season for opening théir petals was not arrived,
now expanded, and shedding their fragrance, it was borne by a gentle
zephyr towards her, while the bramdra, attracted by the odour,
swarmed around, and the fragrance of each flower seemed to vie with
the other in reaching her présence.
The wild animals of the forest, the tiger, the wild ox, the rhinoceros,
camé towards the princess, as if to watch and guard her, crouching
around her, but occasioning not the least alarm.
S E 2 Being