Introduction

Abstract

The study we are about to undertake means to give a description of the socio-political systems of Minangkabau and Negri Sembilan, and to draw a comparison between the two. It is not the result of our own field-work experience, but based on the existing literature — and a few unpublished data — on the subject. Of course a work of this type has its disadvantages: in the first place, we continually come up against facts about which we would like to have more precise information than our sources supply, and in such cases we cannot fill in the lacunae with our own observations. Then there is the danger that a mere reconsideration of previous publications will reek too much of the lamp, and the author will fall victim to a judgement like Berowne’s:

Small have continual plodders ever won,

Save base authority from others’ books.

The erratum of this chapter is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8198-0_16