The History of Java, v. 1-2

by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles

During this reign, a violent volcanic eruption took place from one of the mountains in the western districts of Balambángan.

Mérta, or according to others, Alit Wijáya, left two children, a daughter named Kanchána Wúnga, and a son named Angka Wijáya, who according to some accounts administered the government jointly. The princess, however, is better known as an independent sovereign, under the title of Prábu Kánya Kanchána Wúng'u. It is related, that during this reign the chief of Balembángan, named Ménak Jéng'ga, made a successful attack on Probolíng'go, and reduced under his authority all the countries which had been dependent on Majapáhit, as far west as Túban, so that the capital was nearly surrounded by enemies. In this state of affairs, Ménak Jéng'ga offered terms, on condition of obtaining the hand of the princess in marriage; but she, disgusted by the deformity of his person, and a stench that exhaled from his body, not only rejected his suit, but declared she would give her hand to the man who would destroy him. Dámar Wúlan, the son of a tápa or devotee, named Udára, and a descendant of Aria Babáng'a, obtained a single victory over the rebels at Probolíng'go, and cut off the head of Ménak Jéng'ga: he was rewarded by the hand of the princess; and all the provinces again fell under the authority of Majapáhit. According to some accounts, Dámar Wúlan had also been successful in repelling an invasion from Kambója.

Angka Wijáya having by this time attained a sufficient age, assumed the chief authority; the princess retiring with Dámar Wúlan, to whom was entrusted the charge of Probolíng'go with the more eastern districts, and of Súmenap and Sámpang on Madúra.

The first attempts to introduce the Mahomedan religion in the eastern provinces of Java, appear to have been made at Grésik, about the close of the thirteenth century of the Javan era. In the origin and rise of Grésik, they are thus related by the native writers:

"Mulána Ibrahim, a celebrated Pandíta from Arabia, descended from Jenal Abidin, and cousin to the Raja of Chérmen (a country of Sábrang), had established himself with other Mahomedans at Désa Léran in Jang'gála, when the Raja of Chérmen arrived at Java. This prince, who was a Mahomedan, perceiving with regret that the inhabitants of the large and populous island of Java were still heathens, resolved to attempt the conversion of the King of Majapáhit, Prábu Angka Wijáya, and with this view to present to him his maiden daughter in marriage. Embarking with his daughter, and all his relatives and followers of every description, he reached Jang'gála in safety, and landing at the Désa Léran he immediately built a mosque there, and in a short time succeeded in obtaining many converts.

"The Raja of Chérmen having consulted with his relations whom he found at Léran, deputed his son, Sídek Mahómed, to proceed to Majapáhit, and apprise the king of his intended visit. He afterwards set out himself, with all his party, among whom were forty holy men, his relations, who had come with him from Sábrang.

"The King of Majapáhit came forth, and met Raja Chérmen at the confines, where they both remained under a pasang'grahan, erected for their accommodation. Angka Wijáya evinced the greatest respect for Raja Chérmen, and treated him with every mark of hospitality.

"The Raja of Chérmen now presented to the King of Majapáhit a pomegranate in a basket, in order that, by his acceptance or rejection of it, he might ascertain whether or not he would become a convert. The king accepted of the present, but not without wondering how a Raja from Tána Sábrang could think of presenting him with such a fruit, as if it had been unknown on Java. His thoughts, however, he kept to himself; but Raja Chérmen knew what was working in his mind, and soon after took his leave, and returned with his people to Léran. His nephew, Mulána Máhfar (son of Mulána Ibrahim) alone remained with Angka Wijáya. Some time after this, the king having contracted a kind of giddiness in the head, opened the pomegranate; when, instead of the usual seeds, he found it filled with precious stones (rubies). Surprised at this, he observed to his minister, that Raja Chérmen must indeed be a very superior kind of person, and sent Mulána Máhfar to request the Raja to return; but the Raja refused to do so, and proceeded on.

"When Raja Chérmen had been four nights at Léran, his people fell sick and many died. Among them there were three out of five cousins, who had accompanied him from Sábrang, named Sáyed Jáfar, Sáyed Kásem, and Sáyed Ghárt, whose tombs are known by the name of Kúbur Pánjang[260]. The princess also fell sick, when her father attended upon her himself, and besought the Almighty to spare her and restore her to health, that his intention of giving her to the Raja of Majapáhit might be fulfilled: he prayed, however, at the same time, that if it was ordained that Angka Wijáya was not to be converted, her days might be shortened. The princess shortly afterwards died, and was interred near the graves of her relations[261].

"The usual tribute having been paid to the memory of the deceased, on the different days appointed for the performance of the ceremony, and Mulána Ibrahim having been appointed to look after and take care of the graves, the Raja of Chérmen, with all his people, set out to return home. On his way Sáyed Jáfar died. He was sent on shore at Madúra, and his remains were interred to the west of the village Plakára. Sayed Rafidin, the only remaining cousin of the Raja, died near Bovian, and was buried on that island.