A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

Princess Sĕrei, called Lemon-grass, refuses Prince Pērak, the Silver Prince, as his wedding procession approaches. Tĕgah stands between them to prevent conflict. All three ignore a summons from the Gĕdémbai and are changed into hills: the princess becomes Gunong Jĕrai, the prince Bukit Perak, and their mediator Bukit Tĕgah between them. The narrative never completes the marriage. Skeat distinguishes the story’s lemon-grass wordplay from competing explanations of Jĕrai’s name; none is presented here as verified modern etymology. These are named transformed people in a landscape tale, not three additional kinds of giant.

Betrothed pair and mediator transformed into neighbouring hillsPublic traditional narrative
01

Origins & earliest records

Malay Peninsula; Kedah Peak and neighbouring Silver Mountain and Sheer Hill

02

Records & interpretation

Complete relevant tale and attached scholarly notes directly read.

In the literature

“they were forthwith changed into Hills.”
Unnamed Malay narrator; Walter William Skeat, collector · Fables & Folk-Tales from an Eastern Forest — XXVI The Fate of the Silver Prince and Princess Lemon-Grass
XXVI The Fate of the Silver Prince and Princess Lemon-Grass, printed 72 · Walter William Skeat

Princess Lemon-grass is betrothed to the Silver Prince. A wedding procession approaches on the appointed day, but she reverses her decision and threatens armed resistance. Tĕgah interposes himself like a wall to stop conflict. All three fail to answer the Gĕdémbai’s summons and become hills: Kedah Peak for the princess, Silver Mountain for the prince and Sheer Hill for the peacemaker. The final landscape preserves Tĕgah’s position between the former couple. Skeat’s notes discuss Malay names and distinguish the popular lemon-grass etymology from a tree-name explanation he favours.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Fables & Folk-Tales from an Eastern Forest

    Walter Skeat, collector and translator · 1901

    XXVI, The Fate of the Silver Prince and Princess Lemon-Grass, pp. 71–72; notes pp. 84–85

  2. 02

    Fables & Folk-Tales from an Eastern Forest — XXVI The Fate of the Silver Prince and Princess Lemon-Grass

    Walter William Skeat, collector; unnamed Malay narrator · 1901

    Fables & Folk-Tales from an Eastern Forest, collected and translated Walter Skeat, Cambridge: University Press,1901. Original title leaf13 visually checked; selected complete tales and all accompanying notes read from historical transcription. Introduction states1899 Cambridge expedition collection and limitation of phraseology, not verbatim unedited speech. Original quoted folios visually checked in Archive fablesfolktalesf00skearich; IIIF canvas positions omit initial leaves, so exact original leaf number matched from image identifier, not array index.

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

Direct primary record

Walter Skeat, Fables & Folk-Tales from an Eastern Forest (Cambridge: University Press, 1901)

XXVI, The Fate of the Silver Prince and Princess Lemon-Grass. XXVI, The Fate of the Silver Prince and Princess Lemon-Grass, pp. 71–72; notes pp. 84–85

Complete tale and associated notes directly read. Regional spellings and differing accounts retained; commentary does not establish present-day practice or biological facts. Individual teller not named here.

Inspect the digitized plate · Source collection manifest

Located primary passages

Specific passages supporting details in this entry, grouped by their published witness.

Fables & Folk-Tales from an Eastern Forest

Fables & Folk-Tales from an Eastern Forest, collected and translated Walter Skeat, Cambridge: University Press,1901. Original title leaf13 visually checked; selected complete tales and all accompanying notes read from historical transcription. Introduction states1899 Cambridge expedition collection and limitation of phraseology, not verbatim unedited speech. Original quoted folios visually checked in Archive fablesfolktalesf00skearich; IIIF canvas positions omit initial leaves, so exact original leaf number matched from image identifier, not array index.

  1. Princess Lemon-grass is betrothed to the Silver Prince. A wedding procession approaches on the appointed day, but she reverses her decision and threatens armed resistance. Tĕgah interposes himself like a wall to stop conflict. All three fail to answer the Gĕdémbai’s summons and become hills: Kedah Peak for the princess, Silver Mountain for the prince and Sheer Hill for the peacemaker. The final landscape preserves Tĕgah’s position between the former couple. Skeat’s notes discuss Malay names and distinguish the popular lemon-grass etymology from a tree-name explanation he favours.

    XXVI The Fate of the Silver Prince and Princess Lemon-Grass, complete printed 71–72; notes84–85

Complete XXVI71–72 and notes84–85 read. Transformation follows unanswered summons in this tale, not a narrated touch. The actual72 footnote reads Bukit Pērak; online transcription misreads one occurrence as Pēak. Competing etymologies are attributed historical commentary, not established linguistic conclusions.

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Historical collected narrative with locality and editorial notesSkeat, Fables & Folk-Tales (Cambridge University Press, 1901), XXVI, The Fate of the Silver Prince and Princess Lemon-Grass, pp. 71–72; notes pp. 84–85Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

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