In a former place I noticed, that the gradations of rank among the Javans were, in some instances, marked by the dress they wore, and by the manner of putting on the krís; but a more defined line is drawn by the páyung, or umbrella, which is subject to the following regulation from immemorial custom:
1. The Sovereign alone is entitled to the golden páyung[97].
2. The Rátu, or Queen, and the members of the royal family, to the yellow páyung.
3. The family of the Rátu, and the family of the Sovereign by his concubines, to the white páyung.
4. The Bopátis and Tumúng'gungs to the green páyung, edged and mounted with gold.
5. The Ang'ebáis, Ráng'gas, Mántris, &c. to the red páyung.
6. The heads of villages, and other petty officers, to the dark páyung.
In order to convey an idea of the different titles and the gradations of rank among the Javans, it becomes necessary, in consequence of the confusion which has arisen among them of late years, to revert to what they were supposed to be in the days of Májapáhit and previously, when the Hindu faith and institutions exclusively prevailed.
The usual term for the sovereign was then Rátu, and in the literary compositions which have descended to us, he was either distinguished by such epithets as Nára-náta, Nára-dípa, Nára-páti, Naríndra, Narária, Aji, Prábu, Kátong, Ajung, or Máharája. The queen was called Pramiswári. The children of the sovereign were called, the princes Ráden, and the princesses Déwi, which titles were hereditary in their families. The brothers of the sovereign had the title of Ráden aria.
When a sovereign was advanced in age, and quitted his government to become a devotee, he was called Begáwan.