Political and Statistical Account of the British Settlements in the Straits of Malacca, viz, Pinang, Malacca, and Singapore

Front matter

BRITISH SETTLEMENTS IN THE STRAITS OF MALACCA, &c. &c. VOL. POLITICAL AND STATISTICAL ACCOUNT OF THE BRITISH SETTLEMENTS IN THE STRAITS OF MALACCA, VIZ. ptnang, anU Singapore ; WITH A HISTORY OF THE MALAYAN STATES ON THE PENINSULA OF MALACCA. BY T. J. NEWBOLD, Esq. LIEUT. 23d REG. MADRAS LIGHT INFANTRY, AIDE-DE-CAMP TO BRIGADIER-GENERAL WILSON, C B. — MEMBER OF THE ASIATIC SOCIETIES OF BENGAL ANU MADRAS, AND CORRESPONDING MEMBER MADRAS HINDOO LITERARY SOCIETY. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON : JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET. 1839. LONDON : PRINTED BY STEWART AND MURRAY, OLD BAILEY. CONTENTS OF THE SECOND VOLUME.

Chapter I

Detailed Account of Malayan States. — Quedah. — Boundaries. — Physical Aspect. — Products. — History. — Government. — Population. — Revenue. — Division into Mukims. — Town of Quedah. p. 1

Chapter II

Perak. — Boundaries. — Town. — Produce. — Population. — History and Government. — Political and Commercial Relations. . 22

Chapter III

Salangore. — Geographical Description. — Town of Salangore. — Produce. — Population. — Government. — History. — Tin-mines of Lukut. — Conspiracy against, and massacre of their Malayan Employers by the Chinese Miners, in 1834. — Observations on the S.E. part ofthe Salangore Coast. — Village of Sungie Rhya. — Tanjong Salamet. — Cape Rachado. — Teloh Rubiah. . . 27 VI CONTENTS.

CHAPTER III.

* Johore. — Boundaries — Subdivision into petty States. — Padang. — Battu Pahat. — Banut. — Pontian. — Town and river of Johore. — History. — Products. — Population. . . . Page 41

Chapter VIII

Interior States peopled originally from Menangkabowe. — General description and history of the inhabitants of. — State of Sungie Ujong. — Boundaries. — Population. — Trade. — Miners and Tin mines. — Process of mining and smelting. — Revenue. — Government. — Chiefs. — Village of Lingie. .... CONTENTS. VII

Chapter IX

Rumbowe. — Ideas ofthe Portuguese and Dutch Governments regarding. — Derivation of name. — Area.- — Boundaries — Divided into two parts, Rumbowe Ulu, and Rumbowe Hir.— Observations on the Lingie River, Sempong, and Padas. — Population. — Aboriginal Tribes. — Government. — Division into Tribes. — Chiefs. — Visit to Bander, the capital of Rumbowe, in 1832. — Reception by the Chiefs. — Fort of Bander Page 113

Chapter X

Johole. — Mr. Gray's visit to. — Boundaries. — Population. — Government. — Trade. — Jompole. — Gold Mines of Chimendras, in Gominchi. — Mode of procuring the gold. — Estimate ofthe comparative purity of the produce of the various Mines. — Mode of assaying Gold. — Subordinate state of Srimenanti. — Chiefs and Tribes. — Boundaries. — Produce. . . . . . . 135

Chapter XI

States of Calang. — Jellabu. — Ulu Pahang. — Jellye and Segamet, or Muar. — History. — Produce. — Trade. — Boundaries and Government of the four first. — Segamet. — Boundaries. — Population. — Villages. — Produce and Revenue. — Government. — History. — Malayan Albino. — Observations on the Muar River. — Gold mines of Bukit Raya. — Ascent to the summit of Mount Ophir. 151

Chapter XII

Malay Customs. — Etiquette, &c. — Games. — Cockfighting. — Gambling. — Singing Pantums. — Riddles. — Games played by children. — Amoks. — Familiar modes of reckoning distances. Fishing.— Spearing fish by torch light. — Catching wild animals. — Superstitions. — Writing implements. — Weapons. . . CONTENTS. VIII

Chapter XIV

Laws, Language, and Literature, of the Malays. — Menangkabowe Empire — Colonies — Laws — Malay Codes — Brief Analysis of Malacca and Menangkabowe Codes — Codes of Quedah and Johore — Institutes of Achin — Codes of Palembang, Siac, and Moco Moco — Laws of the Battas, Javanese, Balinese, Bugis, &c, and of the Magindanao Sulu and Malacca Isles — Code of Malacca — Ethical Works — Works on Religion — Epistolary Correspondence — Poetical Compositions — Anatomy and Medicine — Physiognomy — Astronomy — Navigation — Ideas of the Creation — Arithmetic. Page 215

Chapter XV

On the Wild Tribes of the Malay Peninsula. — Aborigines of the Peninsula. — The Battas of Sumatra, or Padæi of Herodotus. — Supposed Tartar extraction of tribes on the Peninsula and on Islands of the Indian Archipelago. — Benua tradition. — The Semangs. — Udai. — Benuas. — Their religion. — Government. — Customs. — Upas poison. — The Rayet Laut. — Other races supposed to exist by Malays. — Language. — Concluding remarks . 369

Appendix

. No. XII. — D. Boelan's Treaty with Rumbowe . . . 437 No. XIII. — Dutch Treaty with Rumbowe, 1819 . . 439 No. XIV. — British Treaty with Rumbowe, 1831 . . 445 No. XV. — British Boundary Agreement with Rumbowe, 1833 450 No. XVI. — Dutch Treaty with Johore, prior to the taking of Malacca from the Portuguese, 1641 450 No. XVIL— Col. Taylor's Treaty with Naning, 1801 . . 454 No. XVIII. — Boundary Treaty with Johole, 1833 . . 459 No. XIX. — Draft of Act for the Assessment of Taxes on George Town, Singapore, and Malacca, 1838 .... 461 No. XX. — Earthquake at Ava, described in a letter from Amerapoora, dated April 8th, 1839, illustrating observations at Vol. I., p. 408. BRITISH SETTLEMENTS IN THE STRAITS OF MALACCA.

Chapter I

Detailed Account of Malayan States. — Quedah. — Boundaries. — Physical Aspect. — Products. — History. — Government.— Population. — Revenue. — Division into Mukims — Town of Quedah. Having now considered the Peninsula generally, I will proceed to take a detailed survey of the principal Malayan states into which it is divided, commencing with the exterior states, i. e. those situated along its coasts, from the north-west above Pinang, and descending in a south-easterly direction to Point Ramunia ; thence rounding the southern extremity of the Peninsula, I will ascend northerly along the eastern coast up to the southern limit of Siam. The states in the interior of the VOL. II. B MALAYAN STATES. — BOUNDARIES. peninsula will next be considered. The following is the geographical order in which they occur.

EXTERIOR STATES, WEST COAST. Quedah (British Territory Perak , of Malacca and Salangore Province Wellesley) Johore EXTERIOR STATES, EAST COAST. Johore Tringanu Pahang Kalantan Kemaman Patani INTERIOR STATES. Sungie Ujong Jellye Rumbowe Jellabu Johole Jompole Srimenanti Segamet It is almost unnecessary to premise that the whole peninsula, with the exception of the strip of coast land called Province Wellesley, opposite to Pinang, and a circumscribed territory around the city of Malacca, is in possession of Malayan petty sovereigns, and the Siamese. QUEDAH. Quedah extends from the Trang river in 7° 20' N. to the Krian, in 5° 10' N., which separates it from Perak. The Trang formerly divided it PHYSICAL ASPECT AND PRODUCE. from Siam. Interiorly, the chain of mountains, running down the middle of the peninsula, which is here about 130 miles broad, constitutes its boundary, with the state of Patani on the opposite coast; on the west it is bounded by Province Wellesley and the sea.

Its average length and breadth is 150 miles by 30, giving a superficial area of 4,500 square miles, with a population of about 21,000, being less than five to the square mile. In its physical aspect, Quedah presents nothing dissimilar to that of the peninsula already described, except a feature, which it has in common with Patani, namely, a greater number of open plains and sawahs than any of the other Malay states ; consequently its facilities of producing wet grain are greater. The produce of rice formerly exceeded the internal consumption by about the annual average of 2,500 coyans, which were exported to Pinang and the neighbouring ports. At present the state of agriculture is at any extremely low ebb. A multitude of streams traverse the country, with a general westerly direction, from the mountains to the sea, among which are six rivers navigable for the common Malay trading vessels.

The embouchure of the Quedah river lying in 6° 6' N., will admit, at spring tides, vessels of 250 tons. The coast is studded with b PHYSICAL ASPECT AND PRODUCTS. islets, among which is the Lancavi cluster : the largest about seventeen miles long by five in breadth. Trutao, the next in size, is about fifteen miles long. Both these islands belonged to Que dah, and were well peopled and cultivated. The population of Pulo Lancavi, the larger of the two, was estimated, previously to 1821, at 3,000. The Siamese, in 1821, killed most of the males, and carried the women and children into captivity. The water on the Quedah coast is very shallow ; ships and other large vessels are constrained to preserve a considerable offing. The highest detached hill on the Quedah main is Gunong Gerai, or Quedah Peak, a mass of granite, whose summit is estimated at 5,000 feet above the level of the sea.

According to Dr. Ward, north of Quedah Peak is an immense plain, almost level with the sea, covered near the coast with rising mangroves. It is of a very gentle elevation, bounded to the east by a small chain of hills, sixteen or twenty miles inland. The breadth of the belt of mangroves along the coast varies from half a mile to a mile. This is succeeded by a narrower one of ataps, behind which the country is richly cultivated, laid out in rice grounds, broken every two or three miles by natural boundaries of forest, left most probably when it was originally cleared. The soil is a rich whitish clay, mixed with sand. PHYSICAL ASPECT AND PRODUCTS. Out of the plain, at a distance of about six miles from the sea, and about twenty-four in a northerly direction from the northernmost isle on the coast, Pulo Boonting, rises abruptly the Ele phant Hill (for a geological description of this hill see Chap. VII.

Vol. I.), no hill or other elevated spot being within several miles of it. It is of an ob long shape, apparently about a mile in length from north-west to south-east, and half a mile in breadth, presenting, on every side, bold and craggy precipices, between three and four hundred feet in height ; lofty columnar and needle-like masses here and there detached from the main body, shoot up like the spires or turrets of a cathe dral. The top is closely covered with wood, which also rises in some places halfway up the precipice. shewing the grey or purplish rocks, in contrast with the foliage, and adding much to their beautiful and romantic appearance. The ground in its im mediate neighbourhood is a complete swamp, abounding with a variety of marsh plants, which were, at the time of Dr. Ward's visit, in flower.

Cocoa-nuts, plantain, betel-nut, and fruit-trees of different kinds, extend all round it, and conceal the huts of the Malays, which appear to be numerous. A deep ditch, either artificial or natural, surrounds the whole, and renders the approach to the rock extremely difficult, even to elephants. HISTORY. Quedah used formerly to produce a small quantity of gold, tin, and iron. The history of this state is a series of political misfortunes. It was incorporated with a colony of Malays from Malacca, shortly after the 13th century ; and probably continued a dependency of that kingdom, until the Portuguese took Malacca in 1511 ; for in the Malay annals we find that the Raja of Quedah visited Malacca in order to obtain the honour of the Noubet from Sultan Mahmud, its last Malay sovereign, which was granted him.

Quedah was of such note in 1611, as to attract the notice of the Portuguese ; who in that year, according to De Faria, headed by Mendez Fur tado, attacked and plundered the town. In 1619, both Quedah and Perak were overrun by Iscander Muda, king of Achin ; the male inhabitants were carried off, and these states became in some degree fiefs of Achin. On the subsequent de cline of the power of Achin, Quedah regained her independence. In 1770, the Bugis attacked and burned great part of the town. In 1785, the sultan ceded the island of Pinang to the British. In 1821, this ill-fated state was conquered and de vastated by the Siamese. As this last event is of some political importance, I will relate, in as succinct a manner as possible, the causes immediately leading to it. HISTORY. The monarch of Siam has, for many years past, demanded not only the triennial tribute, called the Bunga Mas, or flower of gold, from Quedah, but homage also of a more substantial nature.

Much argument and ink have been wasted, to shew the right of Siam to tribute from Quedah and Patani. It seems after all, that the lord of the white ele phant has about as much original right, as present power and ancient aggression can give him ; and no more. It is very much to be doubted, whether his majesty has ever red Puffendorf, Grotius, or Vattel, as some of his political critics appear to have done. Not content with the tribute of the "golden flower," Siam had latterly haughtily de manded from Quedah, supplies of arms, rice, and ammunition for the war on Birmah, and compelled the Raja of Quedah, much against his inclination, to attack and conquer Perak, in 1818. The Quedah chief had, from time to time, appealed to the Pinang government against these systematic encroachments of his haughty foe, but that government had not the power to interfere.

Que dah, thus designedly weakened by the contest with Perak, offered an easy conquest. Accord ingly, in November 1821, an armament of 7000 men, under the direction of the Rajah of Ligore, (a Siamese province on the Quedah frontier), sailed from the Trang into the Quedah river, HISTORY. under pretence of demanding supplies of rice, &c. for the Birmese war; took Quedah, and perpe trated a savage massacre of most of the inhabitants ; the remainder were sent into slavery. The sultan escaped with difficulty, and sought an asy lum with the British authorities, which was humanely granted him. Since this period, Quedah has remained under the yoke of Siam. Sub joined* will be found an account of this invasion, by Mr. Anderson, late a provisional member of * Considerations on the Siamese Conquest of Quedah and Perak.— " The intelligence of a sudden invasion by a large Siamese force, from Ligore, ofthe territories ofthe king of Quedah, the old ally of the British government, which reached Prince of Wales Island, in November 1821, and the various rumours which prevailed, regarding the ulterior objects of the Siamese army, spread terror throughout the island, and, although there was a considerable military force at tlie Presidency, the alarms of the native population were difficult to be appeased.

Many of the wealthy inhabitants buried and concealed their valuable property, while others made preparations for convey ing it away to other British settlements. The supplies of grain, cattle and poultry, from the Quedah country, on which Pinang had so long chiefly depended, were suddenly withheld, and there was considerable distress among the poorer classes, by the increased price of provisions. " The prompt and humane measures of government, however, not only for quieting the fears of the inhabitants, and allaying all appre hensions of an attack by the Siamese, but for obtaining supplies of grain from Bengal and other quarters ; while in the mean time, large issues of rice were made from the Honourable Company's stores, which was distributed to the poorer classes at a moderate price, prevented much distress, which must have otherwise ensued, and HISTORY. 9 the council at Pinang.

In 1827, the ex-Sultan's family, who had been taken prisoners by the Siam ese, were released through British interference, and speedily restored greater confidence in the strength and resources of the government, which could command ample aid in case of need. " For a better understanding of this unexpected event, it will be proper to take a short review of the circumstances connected with it. On Sunday, the 12th of November, 1821, about noon, a large fleet of prows, full of Siamese, was observed standing into the Quedah river, coming in the direction from Traang, a large river to the northward, where the armament had been equipped. The Pangulu, or comman dant of the fort, instantly sent notice of its approach to the Bindahara, or general ofthe Quedah army, and the Laksamana, or high admiral, who were a short distance up the river, and having some appre hensions of treachery, prepared the guns to bear upoii the prows, waiting only for the orders of the Bindahara, to fire upon them.

The general, however, who was taken by surprise, did not choose to au thorize this, and determined to employ measures of pacification in the first instance. " The arrival of the Siamese was so sudden, that the Malayan chiefs had time to assemble only a few of their dependents, with whom they proceeded to the wharf or public landing place, which is about one hundred and fifty yards beyond the fort, and which was surrounded by the Siamese fleet, well armed. The Bindahara, Lak samana, Tamungong, and a few of the Quedah chiefs, were seated on the covered wharf, and the Siamese ascended in a large body with muskets, spears, and other warlike weapons in their hands. The Bindahara interrogated them as to the object of their visit, and was informed that they wanted rice, being about to attack the Burmahs.

The general promised them an immediate supply ; but while the con versation was going on, the Siamese had assembled a large party ashore and surrounded the wharf; they now threw off the mask, and told the Quedah chiefs, they had come to seize them, and they must submit to be bound. The Bindahara, and Laksamana, exclaimed, with one accord, ' We are betrayed, let us attack them furiously,' and HISTORY. sent to Pinang. In 1831, the Quedah people, unable any longer to endure the tyranny of the Siamese, flew to arms, headed by Tuanku Kudin, instantly drawing their creeses, plunged them into the Siamese, who stood nearest them. A general battle now ensued. " The venerable Laksamana, and Tamungong who used to boast that he was invulnerable, with several other chiefs, were soon dispatched ; the Bindahara was disarmed and bound, and their men, dispirited and panic-struck by the loss of their leaders, fled in all directions, pursued by the Siamese, who butchered them in great numbers, and put them to death by means the most cruel and revolting to human nature.

These operations being observed from the Fort, a few guns were now brought to bear upon the Siamese vessels, and two or three were sunk. The Siamese then proceeded to set sire to some of the houses, previously dragging out any of the men who had taken refuge in them, and torturing them to death, pillaging the houses of all their contents that were of any value ; and they seized indis criminately, all the prows and vessels in the river at the time, amongst which were several small trading boats from Pinang. " Having, after a slight opposition, possessed themselves of the Fort, which was garrisoned principally by a few Bengal and Chuliah Sepoys, they dispatched a party immediately to the Kwala Mirbow, a large river to the southward, and nearly in sight of Pinang Fort. On the following day, Monday, they entered the Mirbow, and met with a slight and ineffectual opposition from a small battery near the mouth of the river, which kept them in check for a short time, and allowed an opportunity for the intelligence of the approach of a hostile fleet to reach the king of Quedah, who was residing in floating houses a few miles further up, — where he was forming a new settlement, and cutting a canal from that river to the Muda, another large river to the southward, which forms the northern boundary of the British territories on the main.

" Hearing that the Siamese force was ascending the river, and hav ing only a very few adherents at hand, he hurried off in the greatest consternation with all his wives and children, and mounting them HISTORY. a nephew of the ex- Sultan. Kudin had, for some time, been residing in Province Wellesley, under protection of the British flag. They attacked together with his most valuable ornaments, and as many dollars as he could collect upon several elephants, which were fortunately at hand, lie proceeded across the jungles, in a direction towards the Prye river, within the territory of the Honourable Company. The king left a large brig and a schooner, on board of which was a large amount of treasure, which fell into the hands of the captors. Num bers of his attendants who fled with him, but were not mounted upon elephants, perished from fatigue and hunger in the woods, and particularly several of his most respectable and venerable chiefs.

"The king himself, after five days of severe fatigue and exposure, during which time he separated from several of his elephants, and much of his valuable property, which was no doubt purposely con veyed away in a different direction by his own faithless attendants, to whom he had intrusted it, arrived at a place called Kota, the resi dence of his brother Tuanko Solyman, up the Prye river ; where embarking all his followers and property on board four or five prows, he descended to the mouth of the river, and solicited the protection of the British Government. "The Governor of Prince of Wales Island, with that humanity and consideration which was due to an old Ally, instantly granted the protection sought for, and the king was not only provided with suitable accommodations, but a strong guard of Sepoys was posted at his residence, to prevent any attempt to carry him off by force, and he was granted an allowance adequate to maintain himself and numerous family comfortably.

His majesty has remained ever since, in the enjoyment of these advantages, and supports his trials with becoming fortitude and dignity. '• On the morning after the king crossed over from Prye, a fleet of fourteen or fifteen Siamese prows was observed standing close along shore in pursuit of his majesty, and they had actually the audacity to attempt to enter the Prye river, where they believed the king still was. The fleet was driven back by two of the Honourable Com- HISTORY. and captured the fort of Quedah, then held by the Siamese. The Pinang government, agreeably to the provisions of Captain Burney's pany's cruisers, which had strict orders afterwards to prevent any Siamese vessels from coming near the harbour, without previous examination and permission. A few days after this occurrence, the Rajah of Ligore sent a letter to the Governor, couched in very haughty and disrespectful terms, desiring the king of Quedah to be delivered up to him, a demand which was met by a dignified refusal, accompanied by a salutary admonition as to the style of future correspondence with the Representative of the British Government.

Some of the Siamese troops having pursued the Malays into the territory of the Honourable Company, near the Kwala Muda, the Government lost no time in despatching a company of Sepoys, under an active officer, Captain Crooke of the 20th Regiment, for the purpose of expelling these daring intruders, and affording protection to such emigrants as might seek shelter under the British flag, and escape the persecution of the relentless enemy. The temperate, but at the same time resolute, conduct of that officer in supporting the dignity of the British Government, and in seizing and disarming a party of Siamese, who made an encroachment upon Province Wellesley, was, no doubt, calculated to evince to the Siamese authorities, the power and determination of the British Government to oppose such pro ceedings, and the moderation of the measures adopted in the first instance.

" The natives from Quedah, and the traders from other countries whose vessels had been seized, and who had been deprived of all their property, now flocked to Pinang in thousands, many in small canoes formed of trees hollowed out. It is scarcely possible to conceive the state of distress and misery in which hundreds of these poor fugitives landed at Pinang; men, women and children crowded together for several days in small boats, without any provisions, and scarcely any clothing, most of them escaped clandestinely, and many boats which were overloaded with passengers were lost ; the emi grants finding a relief from their sufferings in a watery grave. HISTORY. treaty with Siam, Article 13th, viz. " That the English will not permit the former governor of Quedah, or any of his followers to attack, Many Malays who were detected in the attempt to escape, were put to death, and the wives and daughters were forcibly dragged from their husbands and fathers, and ravished by the Siamese soldiery.

The mode of execution was horrible in the extreme; the men being tied up for the most trifling offence, and frequently upon mere sus picion, their arms extended with bamboos; when the executioner with a ponderous instrument split them right down from the crown of the head, and their mangled carcases were thrown into the river for the alligators to devour. " The king of Quedah's second and favourite son, Tuanko Yakoob, attempted to escape like the rest, but was pursued and taken, and has since been sent in bonds from Quedah to Siam. The Bindahara, or Prime Minister, after being kept in chains a long time at Quedah, and deceived with hopes of liberation, for which the Pinang Govern ment earnestly interceded with the Ligore chiefs, was carried away, and poisoned on the road to Sangora. It is impossible to calculate the number of Malays who have perished by the swords of the Siamese, by the loss of prows on their way to Pinang and other places, and by famine and fatigue in the woods.

Every aid was administered to the refugees who fled to Pinang, and beneficial regulations subsequently made by government for affording them the means of livelihood. It is proper, in this place, to notice the highly creditable conduct of the late Governor of Malacca, Mr. Timmer man Tyssen, who no sooner hearing of the conquest of Quedah, and having received exaggerated accounts of the Siamese force, and the probability of an attack upon Pinang, than he despatched one of His Netherlands Majesty's frigates, which was lying in Malacca Roads at the time, with a handsome offer of co-operation, in case of the Siamese engaging in hostilities, and even the chiefs of some of the surrounding Malayan states were not backward in making re spectful tenders of all the aid their limited means would admit of, which were suitably acknowledged by the Government of Pinang' HISTORY. disturb, or injure in any manner the territory of Quedah, or any other territory subject to Siam, now interfered in favour of the invaders.

Two Such was the opinion of all the neighbouring Malayan states of the treachery and injustice of the Siamese in attacking Quedah, and such their apprehension of becoming themselves the victims of their rapacity, that they were eager to employ their utmost efforts to expel the Siamese from Quedah, and looked up, with full confidence, to the British Government supporting its old Ally. " Having effected the complete subjugation of Quedah, and pos sessed himself of the country, tlie Rajah of Ligore next turned his attention to one of its principal dependencies, the Lancavy Islands, and fitted out a strong and well equipped expedition, which pro ceeded to the principal island, which, independent of possessing a fixed population of between three and four thousand souls, had re ceived a large accession by emigrants from Quedah.

Here too, commenced a scene of death and desolation, almost exceeding credi bility. The men were murdered, and the women and female chil dren carried off to Quedah, while the male children were either put to death, or left to perish. That fine island, from which large supplies were derived, is now nearly depopulated, and such of the male population as did escape, driven from their homes, and bereaved of their families, have been carrying on a predatory warfare both with the Siamese and peaceable traders close to Prince of Wales Island. Some of them have settled in Wellesley Province, and are employed as cultivators. " Several badly planned and ineffectual attempts have, at different times been made by small and unorganized bodies of the king of Quedah's adherents in the country, to cut off the Siamese garrison at Quedah ; but these have all been followed by the most disastrous results; not only by the destruction of the assailants, but by increased persecution towards the remaining Malayan inhabitants.

The king himself, for some time, was anxious to have made an effort to regain his country in concert with some native powers which had promised him aid in vessels and men; but he was dissuaded from so perilous, and certainly doubtful an enterprise by those who were interested in HISTORY. armed vessels, the Zephyr and the Emerald, and shortly afterwards H. M. ships, the Wolf and Crocodile, were despatched to blockade the river his cause, and who apprehended his certain overthrow and destruc tion from such an attempt. There is no doubt, the Siamese were too powerful and too well prepared for any such ill-arranged expedition, as it could have been within the compass of the Quedah Rajah's means to have brought against them, to have had any chance of success; and it would have been inconsistent with the professed neutrality of the British Government to have permitted any equip ments or warlike preparations within its Ports; the more particularly so, as a mission had just proceeded to Siam from the Governor- General of India.

" However much disposed the Pinang Government might have been, on the first brush of the affair, to have stopped such proceedings on the part of the Siamese, and to have checked such ambitious and unwarrantable aggression ; however consistent and politic it might have been, to have treated the Ligorean troops as a predatory horde, and expelled them, at once, from the territories of an old and faith ful Ally ofthe British Government; the Mission from the Supreme Government of Bengal to the Court of Siam, and the probable evil consequences of an immediate rupture, were considerations which could not fail to embarrass the Pinang Government, and render it necessary to deliberate well before it embarked in any measures of active hostility; while the disposeable force on the island, although fully adequate to the safe guardianship and protection of the place, and sufficient to repel any force that the Siamese could possibly bring against it, was yet insufficient for prosecuting a vigorous war, or maintaining its conquests against the recruited legions which the Siamese power could have transported with facility, ere reinforce ments could have arrived from other parts of India.