Cibrarjp  of t:he  trheological  ^mimvy 
 
 PRINCETON  . NEW  JERSEY 
 
 -vvv  y//, 
 
 PRESENTED  BY 
 
 Rev.  Cortland  Van  Renesselaer 
 
Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
 in  2016 
 
 https://archive.org/details/memoiroflifepublOOraff 
 
I 
 
T.J 
 
MEMOIR 
 
 OF  THE 
 
 LIFE  AND  PUBLIC  SERVICES 
 
 OF 
 
 SIR  THOMAS  STAMFORD  RAFFLES,  F.R.S.  &c. 
 
 PARTICULARLY  IN  THE  GOVERNMENT  OF  JAVA,  1811—1816, 
 
 AXD  OF 
 
 BENCOOLEN  AND  ITS  DEPENDENCIES,  1817—1824; 
 
 WITH  DETAILS  OF  THE 
 
 COMMERCE  AND  RESOURCES  OF  THE  EASTERN  ARCHIPELAGO, 
 
 AND 
 
 SELECTIONS  FROM  HIS  CORRESPONDENCE. 
 
 BY  HIS  WIDOW. 
 
 iou 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 JOHN  MURRAY,  ALBEMARLE  STREET. 
 
 C\\oW  ) 
 
 MDCCCXXX. 
 
gilbekt 
 
 ST. 
 
 AND  RIVINGTONj  PRINTERS, 
 JOHN’S  SQUAIIE,  LONDON. 
 
TO 
 
 THE  RIGHT  HONOURABLE 
 
 GILBERT,  EARL  OF  MINTO. 
 
 My  Lord, 
 
 The  friendship  with  which  the  late  Earl  of  Minto 
 honoured  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  from  the  first  period  of  their 
 acquaintance,  and  the  affection  and  gratitude  with  which  that 
 friendship  was  returned,  and  its  remembrance  always  cherished, 
 render  me  desirous  of  dedicating  this  Memoir  to  the  Son  of  his 
 Patron.  I trust,  my  Lord,  that  you  will  peruse  it  with  an 
 hereditary  interest,  and  accept  it  as  a proof  of  my  earnest  desire 
 to  acknowledo“e  the  obliofations  which  can  no  lonofer  be  ex- 
 pressed  by  him  on  whom  they  were  bestowed. 
 
 SOPHIA  RAFFLES. 
 
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IN  TRODUCTION. 
 
 The  following  Memoir  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  it  is  hoped,  will  afford 
 an  outline  of  the  public  life  of  one  who  was  placed  in  situations  of  no 
 common  responsibility,  and  filled  them  with  no  common  firmness,  talent, 
 and  success.  His  exertions  to  promote  the  honour  of  his  country,  the 
 happiness  of  the  people  committed  to  his  charge,  and,  therefore,  the  best 
 interests  of  his  employers,  can  only  be  duly  estimated  by  a knowledge  of 
 the  peculiar  difficulties  with  which  he  had  to  contend : these  difficulties, 
 in  many  instances,  it  has  been  found  impossible  to  detail,  without  reflect- 
 ing upon  individuals,  many  of  whom  are  now  no  more.  On  this  account 
 the  Editor  has  omitted  various  circumstances  which  severely  tried  his 
 mind  and  his  principles,  and  has  touched  only  slightly  upon  others. 
 To  the  exertions  and  anxieties  of  his  public  duties,  his  life  fell,  eventu- 
 ally, a sacrifice. 
 
 The  loss  of  all  the  papers  with  which,  after  his  last  government,  he 
 was  returning  to  England,  and  which  were  destroyed  in  the  calamitous 
 burning  of  the  ship,  has  added  much  to  the  difficulty  of  the  task  of  re- 
 cording the  details  of  his  public  life. 
 
VI 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It  is  owing,  indeed,  to  this  misfortune,  that  the  undertaking  has  fallen 
 u}3on  the  present  Editor,  who  would  otherwise  have  gladly  availed  herself 
 of  the  abilities  of  those  better  qualified  to  perform  the  task.  The  wreck 
 of  Sir  Stamford’s  papers — those  previously  sent  to  England,  or  those  col- 
 lected after  the  destruction  of  his  complete  materials, — it  was  found  could 
 only  be  fully  made  use  of  by  one  well  acquainted  with  the  events  of  his 
 life.  From  peculiar  circumstances,  the  Editor  had  the  happiness  to  parti- 
 cipate in  almost  all  the  scenes  described  during  his  last  administration  in 
 India,  and  also  to  become  generally  acquainted  with  the  events  of  his 
 former  government. 
 
 Duty  to  her  husband  has  been  the  Editor’s  first  consideration  ; and 
 if  in  stating  some  facts  which  are  necessary  to  justify  and  uphold  his  cha- 
 racter, she  may  appear  to  reflect  upon  public  authorities,  she  trusts  it  will 
 be  evident  she  has  endeavoured  to  avoid  doing  so,  wherever  it  has  been 
 possible. 
 
 If  any  observations  appear  to  reflect  upon  the  Dutch  nation  and  cha- 
 racter generally,  the  Editor  can  only  repeat  Sir  Stamford’s  own  declara- 
 tion “ That  such  observations  are  intended  exclusively  to  apply  to  the 
 Colonial  Government  and  its  officers.” 
 
 Though  the  Editor  is  conscious  that  her  thanks  can  be  of  little  value, 
 she  feels  it  her  duty  publicly  to  record  the  sense  which  Sir  Stamford 
 always  entertained  of  the  attachment  of  his  private  Secretary,  the  late  IVIr. 
 Assey,  and  of  his  personal  staff.  Captains  Travers,  Garnham,  Dalgairns, 
 
 * See  History  of  Java,  4to.  Preface,  p.  ix.  8vo.  p.vi. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 VII 
 
 Watson,  and  Methven,  during  his  government  of  Java.  The  enthu- 
 siasm of  this  little  band  of  friends,  in  all  that  concerned  his  honour  and 
 happiness,  tended  to  soften  the  troubles  in  which  he  was  involved. 
 To  Captain  Travers,  who,  in  a moment  of  difficulty,  and  at  a consider- 
 able personal  sacrifice,  volunteered  to  take  a voyage  to  England,  for  the 
 purpose  of  defending  the  character  of  Sir  Stamford,  and  who  has  now 
 permitted  the  Editor  to  make  use  of  his  Journal,  her  first  thanks  are  due. 
 
 Of  the  friends  who  assisted  Sir  Stamford  in  some  of  those  pursuits 
 which  formed  his  delight  and  relaxation  from  public  duty.  Dr.  Arnold,  Dr. 
 Jack,  Dr.  Horsfield,  and  Dr.  Wallich,  the  world  has  a better  knowledge 
 than  the  Editor  can  give.  Though  Dr.  Arnold  soon  fell  a sacrifice  to 
 the  climate,  his  amiable  character  had  won  Sir  Stamford’s  friendship, 
 and  his  death  was  mourned  with  the  truest  sorrow.  Sir  Stamford 
 loved  Dr.  Jack  as  a brother;  and  the  society  of  this  highly-gifted  and 
 accomplished  young  man,  was  a never-failing  resource  of  pleasure : his 
 early  death  blighted  many  anticipated  plans  of  future  usefulness.  The 
 Editor  has  to  regret,  that  the  necessity  of  compressing  this  volume  has 
 prevented  her  doing  more  justice  to  the  unwearied  efforts  of  Dr.  Horsfield, 
 in  promoting  Sir  Stamford’s  views.  The  collection  now  in  the  Museum 
 at  the  East  India  House  is  the  best  testimony  of  the  success  of  those 
 efforts ; a success  which,  without  Dr.  Horsfield’s  aid,  would  not  have 
 equalled  Sir  Stamford’s  wishes. 
 
 Dr.  Wallich,  who,  for  a time,  personally  assisted  Sir  Stamford  in  his 
 study  of  Natural  History,  will  feel,  that  however  highly  Sir  Stamford 
 prized  his  professional  abilities,  it  w^as  for  the  qualities  of  his  heart,  and 
 for  his  strong  and  devoted  attachment,  that  he  was  still  more  valued. 
 
Vlll 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 To  the  Friends  who  have  aided  and  encouraged  her  in  the  perform- 
 ance of  this  duty ; to  Sir  Robert  Harry  Inghs,  to  Captain  Basil  Hall,  R.N. 
 to  IMr.  Murdoch,  to  IVIr.  Barrow,  and  to  Dr.  Raffles,  the  Editor  offers  this 
 public  testimony  of  her  gratitude  for  the  assistance  and  advice  which 
 they  have  afforded  her ; a gratitude  which  is  brightened  by  the  con- 
 sciousness that  it  is  their  friendship  for  her  husband  which  has  thus  been 
 extended  in  kindness  to  her.  To  the  Duke  of  Somerset,  Mr.  Marsden, 
 and  Mr.  Wilham  Brown  Ramsay,  (the  favourite  companion  and  friend  of 
 Sir  Stamford’s  early  life,)  she  owes  her  thankful  acknowledgments,  for 
 the  letters  which  they  have  allowed  her  to  make  use  of ; without  these, 
 she  could  hardly  have  completed  this  Volume. 
 
 The  Editor  cannot  conclude  without  expressing  her  hope  that  the 
 motives  which  induced  her  to  compile  this  Memoir,  (a  desire  to  do  justice 
 to  her  husband’s  memory,  and  possibly,  in  some  degree,  contribute  to  the 
 information  of  the  public  on  topics  of  great  national  importance,)  will 
 justify  the  attempt,  and  procure  for  her  the  indulgence  of  wdiich  she  stands 
 so  much  in  need. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER  I. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Early  life  of  Mr.  Raffles — Labours  and  relaxations — First  tastes — Appointment  under  the  new  Go- 
 vernment of  Penang — Duties  there — Goes  to  Malacca  for  his  health — Malay  literature — Paper 
 on  the  Malayan  nation — Woolly  haired  people  scattered  among  them — Game  of  chess — Orders 
 for  the  destruction  of  Malacca — Countermanded  at  his  representation — Native  account  of  the 
 Portuguese  arrival  at  Malacca — the  Dutch — Lettej:  from  Dr.  Leyden  - - - 1 
 
 CHAPTER  II. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  proceeds  to  Calcutta — Proposes  expedition  to  Java — Lord  Minto  appoints  him  Agent  to 
 collect  information  on  the  subject — Instructions  of  the  Court  of  Directors  to  expel  the  French, 
 and  to  give  up  the  Island  to  the  natives — Consequences  of  such  a measure — Lord  Minto  objects 
 to  it — Determines  to  proceed  in  person  to  Java — Letters  of  Dr.  Leyden — His  account  of  an  ex- 
 cursion in  the  Malay  Peninsula — Mr.  Raffles  reports  to  Lord  Minto  his  communications  with  the 
 Javanese  Chieftains — The  state  of  the  Archipelago — Bali — Military  preparations  of  the  enemy — 
 Discovery  of  a new  passage  for  the  expedition — Banca — Its  mines — Pirate  States — Queda — 
 Penang  - - - - - - - - 22 
 
 CHAPTER  HI. 
 
 Account  of  the  Eastern  Islands — Products  of  Borneo — Settlements  of  Europeans  'in  the  Island — 
 Celebes — Traffic  in  Slaves — Policy  of  the  Dutch,  different  policy  of  the  English — Dutch  factory 
 at  Japan — Trade  with — Views  connected  with  the  acquisition  of  Java — Countries  from  the  Bay 
 
 a 
 
X 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 of  Bengal  to  New  Holland — Proposed  policy,  chain  of  posts — Chinese  in  Java — Monopoly  of 
 farms,  &:c. — Arabs,  use  they  make  of  tlieir  religion — Americans,  regulation  of  trade — Dutch 
 orders  respecting  trade  and  navigation — Means  taken  to  keep  up  their  monopoly  of  spice — Cause 
 of  the  failure  "of  their  trading  ports — Former  policy  of  the  English  objected  to — Neglect  of  the 
 British  Government — Dutch  views  of  Colonies — Causes  of  deterioration  of  Malay' character — 
 Piracy — Laws — Slavery,  sources  of  in  the  Malay  countries — Laws,  want  of — Propagation  of 
 Christianity — Advantages  likely  to  accrue  to  the  British  nation  from  the  acquisition  of  Java  and 
 the  Eastern  Isles  - - - - - - -59 
 
 CHAPTER  IV. 
 
 Lord  Minto’s  anxiety  as  to  the  passage  from  Malacca  to  Batavia — Naval  men  opposed  to  Mr. 
 Raffles — Lord  Minto  confides  in  Mr.  Raffles — New  passage  attempted — Arrival  off  Batavia — 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  gives  a Sketch  of  the  events  which  led  to  his  being  employed  in  the  expedition — 
 Establishment  of  the  French  power  in  Java— Sir  Samuel  Achmuty’s  account  of  the  capture  of 
 Batavia,  and  of  tlie  battle  of  Cornelis — Capitulation  of  the  Island — Intercepted  letter  from 
 Governor  Jansens — Lord  Minto’s  opinion  of  the  value  of  the  conquest — Death  of  Dr.  Leyden — 
 Lord  Minto  places  Mr.  Raffles  in  the  government  of  Java — Leading  principles  of  the  Dutch 
 government — Projected  change  of  system — English  Residents  appointed  at  the  native  courts — 
 Ancient  temples — First  Colony  of  Hindus — Upas  poison — Journey  to  the  eastern  district.  - - 86 
 
 CHAPTER  V. 
 
 Expedition  to  Palembang — Arrival  of  the  troops — Gallantry  of  the  attack — Horrors  of  the  scene — 
 Colonel  Gillespie’s  account  of  the  Sultan — Measures  adopted  by  Colonel  Gillespie — Sultan  of 
 Djojocarta — Mr.  Raffles  collects  troops,  and  proceeds  to  Samarang — Account  of  treaties  with 
 die  Sultan — General  confederacy  of  the  native  states — Unexpected  and  fortunate  return  of  Colonel 
 Gillespie — Assault  and  capture  of  Djojocarta — European  power  first  paramount  in  Java  - - 110 
 
 CHAPTER  VI. 
 
 Difference  of  opinion  between  Colonel  Gillespie  and  Mr.  Raffles — Re-establishment  of  Society  of  Arts 
 — Importance  of  connection  between  Java  and  China  to  the  East  India  Company’s  interests — Con- 
 sequence of  a King’s  government  upon  their  monopoly — Lord  Minto’s  anxiety  to  provide  for  Mr. 
 Raffles,  in  the  prospect  of  die  Island  being  transferred  to  the  Crown — Lord  Minto’s  approval  of 
 the  measures  of  Government — Calling  in  depreciated  paper — Promise  of  an  official  approbation — 
 Account  of  the  Colonies — Depreciated  state  of  paper  currency — Want  of  specie — Land  rental — 
 Revenues  of  Government — Proposed  literary  work — Lord  Minto’s  return  to  England — His  last 
 letter  on  leaving  Calcutta — Expedition  to  Sambas  - - - - - 
 
 13 
 
 132 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 XI 
 
 CHAPTER  VII. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 General  Nightingall  appointed  to  relieve  General  Gillespie — General  Gillespie  brings  charges  against 
 Mr.  Raffles — Decision  of  the  Court  of  Directors  on  them — Ancient  characters  on  stones  from  the 
 temples — Establishment  of  the  improved  system  of  government — Principles  on  which  it  was 
 founded — Institutions  of  Majapahit,  his  division  of  society  into  classes — Mr.  Raffles’  reasons  for 
 introducing  the  change  in  the  tenure  of  the  land — His  anxiety  and  fatigue  during  its  progress — 
 Support  of  General  Nightingall — Eventual  fate  of  Java — Hesitation  of  Supreme  Government  to 
 give  any  rule  for  the  guidance  of  the  Government — Forced  to  act  in  every  measure  of  importance, 
 in  consequence,  on  his  own  responsibility — Suppression  of  piracy — Slave-trade  declared  to  be 
 felony,  by  a colonial  law — Can  only  be  repealed  by  the  mother  country — Leading  inhabitants  con- 
 cur, and  registered  their  slaves — Mission  to  Japan — Opening  of  trade  with  it — Disapproved  by  the 
 Bengal  Government — Approved  by  the  Court  of  Directors  - - - - 200 
 
 CHAPTER  VIII. 
 
 Domestic  afflictions — Tour  of  the  Island  for  the  benefit  of  his  health — Native  companions — Malay  cha- 
 racter— Origin  of  their  race — Their  literature — Civilization — The  Moluccas — Celebes — Expedi- 
 tion to  Bali  and  Macasar — People  of  Bali— Casts — Funeral  ceremonies — Wives  burning — Account 
 of  eruption  of  Tomboro  mountain — Prospects  of  the  restoration  of  Java  to  the  Dutch — Letter  to 
 Lord  Buckinghamshire  on  advantages  of  retaining  it— Value  of  the  Moluccas — Banca — Character  of 
 the  East  insular  tribes — New  government  proposed  for  Java — Merits  of  the  individuals  employed 
 — His  own  labours — Javanese  language — Ancient  sculpture  and  remains- — Intention  to  write  the 
 History  of  Java — Review  of  his  administration  in  Java — Close  of  it  . _ - 234 
 
 CHAPTER  IX. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  hears  he  is  to  be  relieved  in  the  Government — Residency  of  Bencoolen  secured  to  him — 
 Forced  to  return  to  England  by  ill  health — Arrival  of  Mr.  Fendall — Reception  of  him^ — General 
 regret  at  Mr.  Raffles’  departure — Presentation  of  plate — Endeavours  by  a last  memorial  to  secure 
 justice  to  the  native  princes  and  people — The  objects  of  their  treaties  with  the  English — Objects 
 neglected  by  the  English  Government — Island  restored  without  conditions  to  the  Dutch — Embark- 
 ation— State  of  mind  on  quitting  Java — Extract  from  Captain  Travers’  Journal  during  the  voyage 
 — St.  Helena — Interview  with  Buonaparte — Arrival  at  Falmouth — Mines  in  Cornwall — Journey 
 to  London  - - 269 
 
 a 2 
 
xn 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER  X. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  appeals  to  the  Court  of  Directors — Their  opinion — Writes  his  History  of  Java — Princess 
 Charlotte — Visits  the  Continent — Meditates  the  establishment  of  a society  on  the  principle  of  tlie 
 Jardin  des  Plantes — Is  appointed  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Bencoolen  and  its  dependencies — Em- 
 barks for  India — Death  of  Princess  Charlotte — Arrival  in  Sumatra — Description  of  the  Settlement 
 — Dispute  with  the  Dutch  Government — Earthquakes — State  of  Bencoolen — His  opinion  of  the 
 effects  of  former  government — Emancipates  the  slaves — Cultivation  of  pepper  declared  free— 
 Murder  of  Mr.  Parr — Instructions  from  the  Court  of  Directors  to  Sir  Stamford  to  watch  the  pro- 
 ceedings of  the  Dutch — Lord  Hastings’  opinion  of  the  conduct  of  the  Netherlands’  Commissioners 
 — Sir  Stamford’s  view  of  the  state  of  affairs — Recommends  a line  of  stations  for  the  protection  of 
 trade,  and  the  command  of  the  Straits  of  Sunda — Appeals  in  favour  of  the  native  population — 
 Penang  the  only  spot  between  the  Mauritius  and  China  where  the  British  flag  could  be  raised — 
 
 His  habits  of  intercourse  with  the  natives  . - _ . _ 284 
 
 CHAPTER  XI. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  Raffles  determines  to  penetrate  into  the  interior  of  the  country — First  excursion  to  the 
 Hill  of  Mists — Account  of  journey  to  Pasumah — Discovery  of  gigantic  flower — Vegetation  of 
 Malayan  forests — Reason  for  visiting  Pasumah — Ceremony  of  a funeral — Traces  of  ancient  Hindu 
 mythology — Description  of  the  people — Small-pox — Fatigue  of  the  journey — Descends  in  rafts — 
 Return  to  Manna — Proceeds  to  Cawoor — Success  of  first  attempt  to  cross  the  Island  of  Sumatra 
 — Extract  from  Mr.  Presgrave’s  Journal — Description  of  the  sacred  mountain — Disappointment 
 in  not  reaching  the  crater — Return  to  Manna — Mountain’s  temperature — Large  lake — Sufferings 
 of  the  people  for  want  of  salt,  prohibited  by  the  Dutch  Government — People  of  Pasumah  Lebar — 
 Descendants  of  the  Javanese — Villages — Language — Religion  - - - - 313 
 
 CHAPTER  XII. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  Raffles  at  Bencoolen — Proceeds  to  Padang — Appeal  of  the  native  Chiefs  against  the  Dutch 
 — Is  anxious  to  go  to  Menangkabu — Considered  impracticable — Dangers  represented — Deter- 
 mines to  make  the  attempt — Difficulty  of  the  road — Beauty  of  the  country — Course  up  the  river 
 — Thermometer — Height  of  the  mountain — Description  of  the  Tiga  Bias  country  and  people — 
 Cattle — Horses — Clothing  of  the  people — Houses — View  of  the  Lake  of  Sincara — Description  of 
 it — Town  of  Simawang — Country  compared  to  that  of  Java — Arrival  at  Suruasa — Discovery  of  an 
 inscription  in  the  Kawi  character — Description  of  Menangkabu — Hindu  image  similar  to  those  of 
 Java — Height  of  the  city — Return  to  the  Lake — Description  of  crossing  it — Minerals — Vegeta- 
 bles— Agriculture — Return  to  Bencoolen — Death  of  Dr.  Arnold  . - - 339 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 xiii 
 
 CHAPTER  XIII. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Sir  Stamford’s  arrival  at  Bencoolen — Improvement  in  the  feelings  of  the  inhabitants — State  of  affairs  in 
 the  Eastern  Archipelago  requires  him  to  proceed  to  Bengal — Wrecked  on  the  passage — Attention 
 of  the  Government  already  directed  to  the  subject  of  the  Dutch  encroachments — Lord  Hastings 
 determines  on  another  line  of  policy,  and  to  secure  the  command  of  the  Straits  of  Malacca — Sir 
 Stamford  appointed  Agent  to  the  Governor  General  for  this  purpose — Account  of  the  discovery 
 of  the  Tapir — Departure  from  Calcutta — Anticipation  of  Singapore  as  the  spot  for  the  new  settle- 
 ment— Arrival  at  Penang — Proceeds  dowTi  the  Straits  of  Malacca — Hoists  the  British  flag  at  Sin- 
 gapore — Acheen — Decides  on  the  right  to  the  Crown — Description  of  Acheen — Reformation  in- 
 troduced at  Bencoolen — Journeys — General  politics — Conquest  of  Java — The  first  convention  for 
 the  unconditional  restoration  of  it  to  the  Dutch  only  communication  from  Europe — Representa- 
 tions made  in  England — Apprehensions  realized  on  return  to  India — Bornean  States — Dutch  at 
 Palembang — Acheen  affairs — Title  to  the  occupation  of  Singapore — Bible  Society — Opinions  of 
 Captain  Horsburgh  and  Mr.  Carnegie  on  the  settlement  of  Singapore — Accident  to  the  vessel  off 
 Rhio  - - - - - - - - - 367 
 
 CHAPTER  XIV. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  returns  to  Bencoolen— Endeavours  to  induce  the  inhabitants  to  take  an  interest  in  the  im- 
 provement of  the  country — Irregularities  which  formerly  prevailed — School  for  the  children  of  the 
 slaves — Its  success — Missionaries — Religion  of  the  people — Effect  of  an  institution  for  the  educa- 
 tion of  the  higher  orders — Anxiety  for  Mr.  Wilberforce’s  assistance — Bible  Society — Schools — 
 
 Sir  Stamford  resolves  to  proceed  again  to  Calcutta — Billiton — Lord  Hastings  on  the  subject  of 
 Eastern  arrangements — Leaves  Calcutta  to  return  to  Bencoolen  . _ _ 404 
 
 CHAPTER  XV. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  did  not  succeed  in  introducing  a more  economical  and  simple  mode  of  government  for  the 
 Eastern  Islands — Difficulties  of  altering  established  forms — Illness — Sight  of  Sumatra — Tappa- 
 nooly — Battas — Population — Language — Manners — Civilized  cannibals — Eating  their  prisoners 
 in  war,  criminals,  and  parents,  alive — Description  of  eating  a person  as  a punishment — Padries — 
 Cholera  morbus — Camphor  tree — Laws  of  the  Battas — Succession  of  nephews — Mr.  Ward’s  opi- 
 
 nion 
 
 424 
 
XIV 
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER  XVI. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Sir  Stamford  devotes  himself  to  his  favourite  pursuits,  builds  a house  in  the  country — Collections  in 
 natural  history  sent  home — Correspondence  of  Captain  Flint  with  the  J ava  Government — Colonel 
 Farquhar’s  account  of  Singapore — Extract  from  Mr.  Grant’s  letter — Improvement  in  Bencoolen — 
 
 Pulo  Nias — Easy  communication  with  Palembang  across  the  Island — Sir  Stamford’s  description  of 
 his  children — His  confidence  that  he  has  pursued  a right  course — His  defence  of  his  conduct — 
 
 His  opinion  of  the  powers  he  was  invested  with — Arrival  of  Missionaries — Mr.  Burton  settles  in 
 the  Batta  country — Sir  Stamford  not  supported  by  the  Ministry — Introduction  of  British  manufac- 
 tures into  China — Agricultural  Society — Expense  of  Singapore — Manufacture  of  sugar — Coloniza- 
 tion— Lake  of  Korinchie — Cultivation  of  rice — Nutmeg-trees — Malayan  plants — Political  specu- 
 lation— Death  of  the  Editor’s  brother  435 
 
 CHAPTER  XVII. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  forms  an  establishment  on  the  Island  of  Nias  for  the  suppression  of  slavery — Sufficient 
 spices  raised  at  Bencoolen  for  the  supply  of  Great  Britain — Description  of  the  Island  of  Nias — Its 
 population,  exports,  slaves — Period  of  proposed  return  to  England — Poggie  Islands — Description 
 of  tlie  people — Death  of  Sir  Stamford’s  eldest  boy — Death  of  Captain  Auber — Missionaries  en- 
 gaged in  printing  Malay  Bible — Illness  of  another  child — Intended  publication  on  commercial  pros- 
 pects— Deaths  of  two  children — Youngest  child  sent  to  England — Retired  life — Expectation  of 
 Mr.  Canning  as  Governor-General — Sir  Stamford’s  opinion  of  the  state  of  England — Arrival  of  a 
 party  for  the  measurement  of  the  pendulum  at  the  Equator — Death  of  Dr.  Jack — Voyage  to  Sin- 
 gapore ---------  483 
 
 CHAPTER  XVIII. 
 
 Arrival  at  Singapore — Description  of  the  settlement — Grounds  of  right  to  its  retention — Occupation  at 
 Singapore — Selection  of  site  for  college — Value  of  land — Contrast  of  Bencoolen  and  Singapore — 
 Number  of  vessels  arrived  in  the  first  two  years  and  a half — Bungalow  on  Singapore  hill — Botanic 
 garden — Description  of  plant  discovered  by  Dr.  Finlayson — Mission  to  Bali — Drawing  up  laws  and 
 regulations  for  the  settlement— Magistrates — Memorial  against  slavery — Resolution  of  the  Bengal 
 Government — Instructions  to  Mr.  Crawfurd — Addresses  from  the  inhabitants — Singapore  the  only 
 place  in  India  where  slavery  cannot  exist — Leaves  Singapore — Touches  at  Batavia — Correspond- 
 ence with  the  Baron  Van  de  Capellen  ------  524 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 XV 
 
 CHAPTER  XIX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Arrival  at  Bencoolen — Plans  for  the  future — Freedom  of  the  port  of  Singapore — Account  of  the  Pa- 
 dries — State  of  health — Death  of  friends — Death  of  child — Anxiety  about  the  arrival  of  the  ship 
 Fame — Determines  to  embark  in  the  Borneo — Arrival  of  the  Fame — Embarkation — Burning  of 
 the  ship — Appeal  to  the  Court  of  Directors — Extract  from  memorandum  book,  for  regulation  of 
 time — Embarks  in  the  Mariner — Storm  off  tlie  Cape — Arrival  at  St.  Helena — Landing  at  Ply- 
 mouth 555 
 
 CHAPTER  XX. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  lands  at  Plymouth — -Interview  with  liis  child — Resumes  his  labours — Interrupted  by  ill 
 health — Views  of  the  civilization  and  conversion  of  the  heathen — Retrospect  of  the  proceedings 
 of  the  Bible  Society  in  Sumatra — Malay  schools  preparing  the  way  for  the  Scriptures — Transla- 
 tion of  St.  John’s  Gospel — Effect  of  the  transfer  of  the  Island  to  the  Dutch — Access  to  China — 
 Singapore  Institution — Sir  Stamford’s  life  at  home — The  magistracy — Sudden  illness — Purchase 
 of  High  Wood — Judgment  of  the  Coiu't  of  Directors  on  his  administration  of  Java,  Sumatra,  and 
 Singapore — His  death  - - - - - - -581 
 
 Letter  from  Dr.  Horsfield  ------  602 
 
 Catalogue  of  Zoological  Specimens  638 
 
 Prospectus  of  Zoological  Society  - - - - - -699 
 
 Correspondence  with  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel  - - - - - 702 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 On  the  administration  of  the  Eastern  Islands  in  1819  - - - - - 3 
 
 Minutes  by  Sir  T.  Stamford  Raffles,  on  the  establishment  of  a Malay  College  at  Singapore  - 23 
 
 Local  laws  and  regulations  for  Singapore  - - - - " - 39 
 
 Singapore  Institution  - - - - - ■ -74 
 
LIST  OF  PLATES 
 
 With  directions  to  the  Binder  for  placing  them. 
 
 Frontispiece,  Portrait. 
 
 View  of  Buitenzorg  . _ . 
 
 View  of  Lord  Cathcart’s  monument  at  Anjir 
 View  of  Gunung  Gidi,  from  Garden  at  Buitenzorg 
 View  of  Gunung  Saluk,  near  Buitenzorg 
 Culombyan  Harbour  _ . . 
 
 Rafflesia  Arnoldi  ... 
 
 Route  from  Padang  to  Menangkabu 
 
 Map  of  Singapore  ... 
 
 View  of  Singapore  ... 
 
 Map  of  Eastern  Archipelago 
 
 to  face  page  107 
 148 
 191 
 225 
 311 
 317 
 345 
 377 
 525 
 
 after  the  Index 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 Page  110,  note  t,/br  Sambas,  read  Banjir  Masing. 
 
 287,  note, /or  T.  W.  Hull,  Esq.  read.  I.  W.  Hull.  Esq. 
 
MEMOIR 
 
 OF 
 
 SIR  THOMAS  STAMFORD  RAFFLES,  F.R.S. 
 
 CHAPTER  I. 
 
 Early  life  of  Mr.  Raff.es — Labours  and  relaxations — First  tastes — Appointment  under  the  new  Government 
 of  Penang — Duties  there — Goes  to  Malacca  for  his  health — Malay  literature — Paper  on  the  Malayan 
 nation — Woolly-haired  people  scattered  among  them — Game  of  chess — Orders  for  the  destruction  of  Ma- 
 lacca— Countermanded  on  his  rejnresentation — Native  account  of  the  Portuguese  arrival  at  Malacca — 
 The  Dutch — Letter  from  Dr.  Leyden. 
 
 There  is  a general  desire  to  become  acquainted  with  the  early  life  and  habits  of  those 
 who  in  maturity  have  distinguished  themselves  by  the  display  of  superior  talents. 
 From  that  knowledge  we  derive  a practical  benefit,  and  gain  a clue  which  enables  us 
 to  trace  that  most  interesting  subject,  the  course  and  progress  of  the  human  mind, 
 amid  the  moral  and  the  physical  influences  by  which  it  may  have  received  its  bias. 
 It  is  chiefly  in  public  characters  that  we  have  adequate  opportunities  of  engaging  in 
 such  researches.  The  retirement  of  private  life  conceals  the  connecting  hnks  by 
 which  the  mind  gradually  advances,  though  the  same  course  of  self-denial  and  vigor- 
 ous perseverance  may  even  there  produce  in  the  same  proportion  the  same  happy 
 results. 
 
 It  is  on  this  account  that  some  brief  notices  of  the  private  hfe  of  Sir  Stamford 
 Raffles  have  been  prefixed  to  what  was  at  first  intended  merely  as  a record  of  the 
 course  of  his  public  services. 
 
 It  was  at  one  time  proposed  to  have  commenced  this  work  with  a general  view 
 of  the  state  of  politics,  in  those  regions  of  the  East  where  the  subject  of  this  Memoir 
 first  became  known,  and  soon  afterwards  rose  to  very  high  station.  But  when  it  was 
 considered,  that  the  interest  of  such  remote  scenes  almost  invariably  depends  upon 
 that  of  the  incidents  which  are  connected  with  individual  persons,  it  was  deemed 
 most  advisable  to  commence  firom  the  birth  of  him  who  is  the  immediate  subject  of 
 the  narrative. 
 
 B 
 
o 
 
 EARLY  LIFE. 
 
 Thomas  Stamford  Raffles  was  born  at  sea,  on  board  the  ship  Ann,  off  the  har- 
 bour of  Port  Morant,  in  the  Island  of  Jamaica,  July  5,  1781.  He  was  the  only  sur- 
 viHng  son  of  Benjamin  Raffles,  one  of  the  oldest  captains  in  the  West  India  trade 
 out  of  the  Port  of  London.  His  paternal  grandfather  held  a situation  in  the  Pre- 
 rogative Office,  Doctors’  Commons,  with  unblemished  reputation,  for  a long  course 
 of  years. 
 
 Little  beyond  this  is  known  of  his  family.  The  name  frequently  occurs  in  the 
 oldest  registers  at  Beverley  in  Yorkshire,  both  in  those  of  the  minster  and  St.  Mary’s 
 church,  from  which  it  appears  that  three  centuries  ago  his  ancestors  resided  there, 
 and  of  one  of  them  it  is  recorded  that  he  died  during  his  mayoralty  in  that  borough. 
 From  thence  it  is  believed  they  removed  to  Berwick  upon  Tw’eed;  and  at  length,  in 
 the  time  of  Mr.  Raffles’  gi'eat  grandfather,  to  London. 
 
 Mr  Raffles  was  baptized  at  Eaton  Bishop,  in  Herefordshire,  whilst  his  mother 
 was  on  a visit  to  the  Reverend  J ohn  Lindeman,  her  brother,  who  was  at  that  time 
 the  incumbent  of  the  living. 
 
 In  his  childhood,  and  in  his  early  youth,  he  displayed  a thoughtffdness,  and  a 
 closeness  of  apphcation  above  his  years,  and  wiiich  many  of  his  friends  now  remem- 
 ber as  the  first  indications  of  that  \igor  of  mind,  and  that  devotion  to  whatever 
 demanded  the  exertion  of  his  powers,  by  wJiich  in  after  life  he  was  so  eminently 
 distinguished. 
 
 What  education  he  obtained  was  chiefly  under  Dr.  Anderson,  who  for  many 
 years  kept  a respectable  academy  at  Hammersmith.  But  at  the  early  age  of  fourteen 
 he  was  removed  fi-om  that  seminary,  and  placed  as  an  extra  clerk  in  the  East  India 
 House.  The  disadvantages  which  he  suffered  from  this  removal  he  deeply  felt,  and 
 never  failed  to  deplore.  Referring  to  this  period  in  his  history,  in  a letter  wi'itten 
 many  years  after  to  his  cousin,  the  Reverend  Dr.  Raffles,  he  says,  With  regard  to 
 the  attention  which  may  be  considered  to  have  been  paid  by  me  to  objects  of  a still 
 more  general  and  interesting  nature,  whether  hterary,  scientific,  or  benevolent— I have 
 only  a few  w'ords  to  say.  The  deficiency  of  my  early  education  has  never  been  fully 
 supplied ; and  I have  never  ceased  to  deplore  the  necessity  wLich  withdrew  me  so  early 
 from  school.  I had  hardly  been  two  years  at  a boarding-school,  when  I w^as  wth- 
 drawm,  and  forced  to  enter  on  the  busy  scenes  of  public  life,  then  a mere  boy.  My 
 leisure  hours,  how^ever,  still  continued  to  be  devoted  to  favourite  studies  ; and  with 
 the  httle  aid  my  allow^ances  afforded,  I contrived  to  make  myself  master  of  the  French 
 language,  and  to  prosecute  enquiries  into  some  of  the  branches  of  literature  and 
 science ; this  was,  however,  in  stolen  moments,  either  before  the  office  hours  in  the 
 morning,  or  after  them  in  the  evening.  I look  back  to  these  days  of  difficulty  and 
 application  with  some  degree  of  pleasure.  I feel  that  I did  all  that  I could,  and  I 
 have  nothing  to  reproach  myself  with. 
 
 “ This  statement  will  account  for  my  deficiencies  in  education  : and  all  I ever 
 
 1 
 
EARLY  LIFE, 
 
 3 
 
 presumed  to  consider  myself  was — a lover  and  admirer  of  all  that  I could  reach  in 
 literature  and  science.  The  varied,  important,  and  incessant  duties  of  my  public  life 
 have  always  deprived  me  of  that  calm  and  retirement  which  I have  desired,  and  to 
 which  alone  I look  as  the  ultimate  end  of  my  ambition  on  earth.  To  qualify  myself 
 for  the  enjoyment  of  such  a state,  I omit  no  opportunity.  The  high  stations  which 
 I have  held,  have  enabled  me  to  foster  and  encourage  the  pursuits  of  others  ; and  if 
 I have  any  merit,  it  has  rather  been  as  the  patron  of  science,  than  in  any  other 
 capacity.” 
 
 He  then  proceeds  to  a rapid  enmneration  of  his  various  labors  and  productions  of 
 a hterary  and  scientific  nature,  which  will  be  more  appropriately  noticed  in  subse- 
 quent portions  of  these  pages.  They  are  for  the  most  part  already  before  the  world ; 
 and  they  have  obtained  for  him  a far  higher  rank,  even  amongst  men  of  letters  and  of 
 science,  than  that  to  which  his  own  modesty  allowed  him  to  aspire. 
 
 It  wall  be  seen  from  this  sketch,  that  the  early  youth  of  Mr.  Raffles  was  a period 
 of  obscurity  and  labor,  without  friends  to  aid  him,  as  well  as  without  the  hope  of 
 promotion  : his  family  only  searching  for  that  mode  of  life  in  which  he  was  most 
 likely  to  acquire  the  greatest  pecuniary  success,  without  regard  to  the  natural  bias  of 
 his  mind,  or  to  the  talents  which  he  possessed.  At  fourteen  he  was  chained  down  to 
 the  duties  of  an  offlce  : at  this  early  age,  and  a friendless  boy,  it  is  not  likely  that  he 
 w^ould  at  first  be  entrusted  with  much  which  w^as  interesting  ; but  his  was  a master 
 mind,  and  soon  burst  its  shackles,  and  manifested  a high  and  noble  resolve  to  devote 
 itself  to  the  good  of  others,  and  a yearning  to  obtain  the  station  for  which  it  felt 
 itself  best  fitted. 
 
 His  attention  to  his  dull  routine  of  duty  was  unremitting ; he  worked  early  and 
 late ; he  studied,  as  he  himself  says,  in  stolen  moments : by  his  extra  labor  at  his 
 offlce  he  obtained  an  addition  to  his  salary,  which  was  not  appropriated  to  any  selfish 
 pm'pose ; but  all  he  earned  w'as  carried  home  to  his  parents,  as  they  were  at  this  time 
 in  difficulties.  His  affection  to  his  mother  was  always  one  of  the  strongest  feel- 
 ings of  his  heart.  At  this  time,  with  that  self-denjdng  devotion  to  the  happiness 
 of  others,  which  was  his  distinguishing  quahty  through  life,  he  deprived  himself 
 of  every  indulgence,  that  he  might  devote  to  her  his  hard-earned  pittance : and 
 in  after-days  of  comparative  affluence  he  delighted  in  surrounding  her  with  every 
 comfort. 
 
 Such  a sedentary  life  of  labor  was,  how^ever,  ill  adapted  to  the  delicacy  of  his 
 frame  ; and  it  w'as  feared  that  symptoms  of  consumption  were  becoming  confirmed  : he 
 w^as  ordered  to  relax  his  exertions,  and  to  leave  his  offlce  for  a time  ; he  obeyed,  and 
 obtained  a fortnight’s  leave  of  absence.  The  use  which  he  made  of  this  short  period 
 of  recreation  is  very  characteristic  : he  seized  on  the  moment  to  indulge  that  love  of 
 mountain  scenery  so  strong  in  most  youthful  minds,  so  happily  undying  and  unfad- 
 ing in  its  exciting  joyous  feeling.  He  resolved  to  go  into  Wales,  set  off  on  foot,  and 
 
4 
 
 EARLY  LIFE. 
 
 walked  at  the  rate  of  thirty  and  forty  miles  a day,  accomplished  his  object,  and  re- 
 turned to  his  desk  with  restored  health.  As  a school-boy,  his  garden  was  his  delight : 
 to  this  was  added  a love  of  animals,  which  was  perhaps  unequalled.  It  has  been  ob- 
 served, that  it  is  one  of  the  characteristic  properties  of  a great  mind,  that  it  can  con- 
 tract as  well  as  dilate  itself ; and  the  mind  which  cannot  do  both,  is  not  great  in  its 
 full  extent ; this  observation  was  forcibly  realised  in  him ; he  spent  hours  in  fondling 
 and  domesticating  those  objects  of  his  care  and  attention.  He  entered  with  the  most 
 child-like  simplicity  into  occupations  and  pleasures  which  many  woul^  consider  be- 
 neath their  notice  : a mountain  scene  would  bring  tears  into  his  eyes  ; a flower  would 
 call  forth  a burst  of  favourite  poetry ; it  was  perhaps  peculiar  to  himself  to  be  able 
 to  remark  on  his  last  return  to  England,  that  he  had  never  seen  a horse  race,  never 
 fired  a gun. 
 
 His  facility  in  acquiring  languages  was  extreme.  He  made  himself  master  of 
 French,  with  scarcely  any  assistance,  ‘on  his  first  going  into  the  India  House  ; and  as 
 he  never  forgot  any  thing  which  he  had  once  attained,  he  always  continued  to  speak 
 this  language  with  great  fluency,  though  he  had  little  opportunity  of  practice.  As 
 an  instance,  in  the  year  1818,  during  his  government  in  Sumatra,  a lady  W'as  singing 
 in  his  house  one  of  Moore’s  Melodies,  “ Rich  and  rare  were  the  gems  she  wore,”  when 
 some  French  gentlemen  present  regretted  that  the  beauties  which  he  was  so  admiring 
 were  lost  to  them : he  immediately  translated  the  whole  into  French  verse,  much  to 
 the  siu’jirize  of  all  present. 
 
 His  taste  for  drawing  was  shewn  at  an  early  age,  though  he  never  had  leisure  to 
 indulge  it  as  he  wished.  In  music,  he  was  always  fonder  of  melody  than  of  har- 
 mony ; perhaps  because  he  did  not  sufficiently  cultivate  this  delightful  science. 
 
 His  studies,  fi'om  his  facility  of  acquirement,  were  desultory ; but  he  was  always 
 acquiring  something ; and  was  never  for  one  moment  unoccupied ; later  in  life,  if 
 obliged  by  illness  to  relinquish  his  occupations,  he  covered  his  couch  with  papers  on 
 the  first  cessation  of  pain,  and  was  immediately  engaged,  either  in  reading  or  dictating. 
 
 Little  is  known  of  his  religious  feelings  on  first  entering  the  world.  Early  reli- 
 gious instruction  was  not  then,  perhaps,  so  general  as  at  present,  and  he  was  not  one 
 of  the  happy  few  who  received  it ; but,  as  he  advanced  in  life,  prosperity  warmed  his 
 heart  towards  the  God  who  led  him  forward  in  his  course  of  usefulness ; adversity 
 taught  him  to  look  to  another  state  of  being  for  the  happiness  which  he  felt  himself 
 capable  of  enjoying : perhaps  his  most  prominent  feelings  on  this  subject  were  humi- 
 lity and  faith.  From  his  first  setting  out  in  life,  he  gave  the  praise  to  God  for  all 
 the  blessings  which  he  enjoyed,  and  was  deeply  impressed  with  a sense  of  his  own 
 unworthiness.  He  constantly  mourned  over  his  own  weakness,  and  deplored  his 
 want  of  power  to  do  that  which  he  felt  he  ought  to  do,  and  his  failure  in  the  per- 
 formance of  every  duty : from  the  earliest  period  he  acquiesced  in  every  privation, 
 as  the  wise  purpose  of  an  Almighty  Father  working  for  His  own  glory,  which. 
 
HIS  APPOINTMENT  TO  PENANG. 
 
 5 
 
 though  mysterious  to  the  limits  of  man’s  understanding,  would  be  brightly  and 
 clearly  known  hereafter. 
 
 Beginning  life  under  the  influence  of  such  principles  and  feelings,  it  will  not  be 
 matter  of  surprise,  that  his  own  exertions  proved  his  best  patron,  and  procured  him 
 friends,  whose  good  opinion  was  at  once  honorable  to  his  talents,  and  favourable  to 
 his  advancement.  Such  fi-iends,  at  a very  early  period  of  his  connection  Avith  the 
 East  India  House,  he  had  obtained;  for  a vacancy  having  occurred  in  the  esta- 
 blishment, his  peculiar  qualifications  were  allowed  to  secure  his  accession  to  it,  not- 
 withstanding the  claims  of  others,  who  possessed  an  interest  of  which  he  could  not 
 boast. 
 
 The  Court  of  Directors  in  1805  determined  on  sending  out  an  establishment  to 
 Penang.  India  seemed  to  open  before  him  the  field  for  which  his  ambition  panted ; 
 and  when  the  appointments  for  the  new  government  were  arranged,  Mr.  Ramsay, 
 then  secretary  to  the  Court  of  Directors,  aware  of  the  peculiar  fitness  and  talents  of 
 Mr.  Raffles  for  office,  named  him  to  Sir  Hugh  Inglis,  who,  from  this  strong  recom- 
 mendation, and  also  a discovery  of  extraordinary  qualifications,  gave  him  the  appoint- 
 ment of  Assistant  Secretary,  and  ever  afterwards  watched  his  progress  through  life  with 
 the  deepest  interest  for  his  success.  Mr.  Ramsay,  in  performing  this  generous  act, 
 expressed  his  feeling  in  the  strongest  terms  that,  although  in  parting  with  so  useful 
 an  assistant  in  his  department,  he  should  suffer  the  greatest  inconvenience  ; that  it 
 was  like  the  loss  of  a limb  to  him ; yet  he  felt  bound  to  further  the  views  and 
 promotion  in  life  of  one  who  possessed  strong  claims  from  such  superior  talents  and 
 amiable  private  character.  This  appointment  must,  in  lecollection,  when  a few 
 short  years  had  passed,  have  been  as  gratifying  to  the  patron  as  it  had  already  proved 
 honorable  to  Mr.  Raffles,  and  important  to  the  service  of  the  East  India  Company. 
 Of  the  new  estabhshment  Mr.  Philip  Dundas  was  appointed  Governor,  Mr.  John 
 Oliphant,  first  Member  of  Council,  Mr.  Pearson,  Secretary,  with  a long  list  of 
 cirilians.  It  is  not  necessary  to  enter  here  into  the  reasons  which  induced  the 
 Court  of  Directors  to  form  this  settlement,  particularly  as  not  one  of  their  high- 
 raised  expectations  w'as  realized ; experience  soon  proved  that  the  place  w^as  unfa- 
 vourably situated  to  attract  either  the  European  or  the  Indian  trader ; and  high  duties 
 checked  the  natives  whom  the  hope  of  gain  had  induced  to  leave  their  beaten  track. 
 
 In  the  month  of  September,  1805,  Mr.  Raffles  arrived  at  Penang,  in  the  Company’s 
 ship  Ganges,  which  w'as  commanded  by  Captain  Harrington,  a brother  of  the  late 
 member  of  council  in  Bengal.  The  progress  which  he  had  made  in  the  Malayan 
 language,  during  his  voyage,  enabled  him  to  enter  with  efficiency  on  the  duties  of  his 
 office  as  soon  as  he  arrived.  It  gave  to  him  those  manifest  advantages  which  an 
 enlightened  man,  on  his  introduction  to  so  interesting  a people,  must  derive  from 
 the  immediate  interchange  of  ideas  and  feelings,  and  procured  him  the  marked  ap- 
 probation of  the  Court  of  Directors. 
 
6 
 
 ARRIVAL  AT  PENANG. 
 
 The  pre\ious  insight  which  he  had  acquired  into  the  mode  of  preparing  and 
 arranging  public  records  and  proceedings,  rendered  his  services  in  the  formation  of  a 
 new  establishment  highly  valuable  : but  whilst  he  zealously  devoted  himself  to  the  dis- 
 charge of  public  duties,  which,  by  the  illness  of  the  secretary,  ]\Ir.  Pearson,  were 
 rendered  unusually  laborious,  he  still  found  time  to  pursue  the  study  of  the  Eastern 
 languages,  and  to  prosecute  his  researches  into  his  favourite  science  of  natural  history. 
 
 An  extract  from  the  journal  of  Captain  Travers  thus  describes  him  at  this 
 period : “ It  was  in  the  year  1806  I first  became  acquainted  with  Mr.  Raffles,  at  the 
 Island  of  Penang.  He  was  then  deputy-secretary  to  the  new  government,  which 
 had  been  recently  sent  out  to  that  place.  At  this  time,  which  was  soon  after  his 
 aiTival,  he  had  acquired  a perfect  knowledge  of  the  Malay  language,  which  he  had 
 studied  on  the  voyage  out,  and  was  able  to  write  and  speak  fluently.  The  details  of 
 the  government  proceedings,  as  far  as  related  to  local  arrangements  and  regulations, 
 together  with  the  compilation  of  almost  every  public  document,  devolved  on  Mr. 
 Raffles,  who  possessed  gi'eat  quickness  and  facility  in  conducting  and  arranging  the 
 forms  of  a new  government,  as  well  as  in  draudng  up  and  keeping  the  records. 
 
 “ The  public  dispatches  were  also  entrusted  to  him ; and  in  fact  he  had  the  entire 
 weight  and  trouble  attendant  on  the  formation  of  a new  government.  This,  however, 
 did  not  prevent  his  attending  closely  to  improve  himself  in  the  Eastern  languages  : 
 and  whilst  his  mornings  were  employed  in  his  public  office,  where  at  first  he  had  but 
 little  assistance,  his  evenings  were  devoted  to  Eastern  literature.  Few  men,  but 
 those  who  were  immediately  on  the  spot  at  the  time,  can  form  any  idea  of  the  difficult 
 task  which  he  had  to  perform,  in  conducting  the  public  business  of  such  a government 
 as  existed  on  the  first  establishment  of  Penang  as  a Presidency.  It  would  be  in'e- 
 levant  here  to  allude  to,  or  attempt  any  description  of  the  different  characters  of 
 whom  this  government  Avas  formed,  the  more  particularly  so,  as  they  are  all  now 
 dead,  but  it  is  due  to  IMr.  Raffles  to  state,  that  he  Avas  respected  and  consulted  by 
 every  member  of  it.  In  his  official  capacity  he  gave  most  general  satisfaction,  Avhilst 
 the  settlers  looked  up  to  him  for  assistance  and  advice  in  eA'ery  difficulty ; and  Avhen 
 he  afterAAards  became  chief  secretary,  the  most  general  satisfaction  Avas  eAnnced 
 throughout  the  Settlement. 
 
 “ Being  of  a cheerfrd  liA'ely  disposition,  and  very  fond  of  society,  it  Avas  surpris- 
 ing hoAv  he  Avas  able  to  entertain  so  hospitably  as  he  did,  and  yet  labour  so  much  as 
 lie  AA^as  knoAAm  to  do  at  the  time,  not  only  in  his  official  capacity,  but  in  acquiring  a 
 general  knoAvledge  of  the  history,  government,  and  local  interests  of  the  neighbouring 
 states ; and  this  he  was  greatly  aided  in  doing  by  conversing  freely  Avith  the  natives, 
 Avho  Avere  constantly  A'isiting  Penang  at  this  period,  many  of  Avhom  Avere  often  found 
 to  be  sensible,  intelligent  men,  and  greatly  pleased  to  find  a person  holding  Mr.  Raffles’ 
 situation  able  and  anxious  to  converse  Avith  them  in  their  OAvn  language.” 
 
 It  Avas  at  this  early  period  (1806)  that  Mr.  Raffles  formed  an  acquaintance  Avith 
 
GOES  TO  MALACCA  FOR  HIS  HEALTH. 
 
 7 
 
 Dr.  Leyden,  whose  health  had  obliged  him  to  quit  Calcutta,  and  to  try  the  effects  of 
 a voyage  to  Penang.  He  resided  in  Mr.  Raffles’  house  for  several  months.  The 
 similarity  of  their  pursuits,  and  the  congeniality  of  their  sentiments,  soon  led  to  an 
 unreserved  intimacy,  which,  as  the  knowledge  of  each  other  increased,  strengthened 
 into  an  attachment  that  was  only  severed  by  death. 
 
 In  consequence  of  the  absence  of  Mr.  Pearson,  Mr.  Raffles  had  to  perform  the 
 duties  of  that  gentleman  as  well  as  his  own,  and  succeeded  to  the  office  of  secretary 
 on  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Pearson  to  a seat  in  council. 
 
 On  the  introduction  of  the  Charter  of  Justice,  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a 
 supreme  court  of  judicature,  there  was  no  professional  person  who  could  be  employed 
 as  Registrar.  Mr.  Raffles  offered  to  act  in  this  capacity,  and  rendered  most  essential 
 assistance  in  the  duties  of  arranging  and  opening  the  Court. 
 
 The  fatigue  and  responsibihty  attaching  to  the  office  of  secretary,  in  the  organiza- 
 tion of  a new  government,  in  a climate  which  in  a very  short  period  proved  fatal  to 
 two  Governors,  all  the  Council,  and  many  of  the  new  settlers,  brought  on  an  alarm- 
 ing illness.  The  attack  was  so  severe,  that  for  some  time  little  hopes  of  his  life  were 
 entertained.  Throughout  sufferings  by  which  his  strength  was  nearly  exhausted,  he 
 e\inced  the  utmost  patience  and  resignation.  When  the  disease  abated,  and  he  could 
 be  removed  without  danger,  (1808)  he  was  recommended  to  go  to  Malacca  for  the 
 recovery  of  his  health. 
 
 It  is  difficult  to  convey  an  idea  of  the  constant  and  laborious  duties  which,  at 
 this  period,  he  had  to  perfonn.  It  has  already  been  stated,  that  the  compilation  and 
 composition  of  almost  every  public  document  devolved  upon  him ; that  he  had  to 
 draw  up  and  keep  all  the  records  of  the  Government ; and  that  the  public  despatches 
 were  entrusted  to  him  to  frame.  There  were  no  half-caste  persons,  as  at  the  present 
 day,  to  assist  in  performing  the  duties  of  transcribing,  which  greatly  increased  the 
 labors  of  his  office.  As  Registrar  he  had  to  arrange  all  the  details  of  the  Recorder’s 
 Court.  Yet  after  devoting  the  whole  of  the  day  to  these  public  duties,  it  was  ob- 
 served at  the  time  that  he  passed  his  evenings  in  the  study  and  acquirement  of  Eastern 
 literature.  Trifles  often  denote  the  pecuharity  of  character  which  distinguishes  the 
 individual  from  the  surrounding  crowd ; and  a circumstance  which  occurred  during 
 Mr.  Raffles’  visit  to  Malacca,  developed  the  leading  features  of  his  disposition — the 
 forgetfulness  of  self,  the  determination  to  sacrifice  every  private  consideration  to  a 
 sense  of  public  duty, — the  activity  and  energy  of  mind  which  overcame  every  diffi- 
 culty that  obstructed  his  course. 
 
 “ * Whilst  he  was  thus  usefully  employing  himself,  and  improving  his  health,  a 
 circumstance  occuired  which  proves  his  zeal  and  assiduity  as  a public  servant ; a 
 ship  arrived  at  Malacca  from  Penang,  bringing  intelligence  of  her  having  left  a vessel 
 
 Extract  from  Captain  Travers’  Journal. 
 
8 
 
 SERVICES  AT  PENANG. 
 
 in  the  harbour  about  to  proceed  to  England.  Mr.  Raffles,  knowing  the  necessity  of 
 sending  despatches  by  the  first  opportunity,  and  w^ell  aware  that  in  his  absence  the 
 Government  w ould  find  gi'eat  difficulty  in  preparing  them,  determined  on  proceeding 
 there  without  delay,  although  strongly  m'ged  to  remain  whilst  his  health  was  so  fast 
 improving ; hut  it  was  impossible  to  dissuade  him  from  what  he  thought  to  be  a public 
 duty ; and,  at  any  risk  or  inconvenience,  he  was  resolved  on  going.  At  the  moment 
 there  was  no  vessel  in  Malacca  roads  going  to  Penang,  nor  any  which  could  be  hired 
 for  the  purpose  ; but  still  so  detennined  was  he  on  proceeding,  that  at  length  he  got 
 a pleasure-boat,  formerly  the  long-boat  of  an  Indiaman,  and  in  this  small  craft  he 
 went,  and  reached  Penang  in  good  time  to  relieve  Government  from  a weight  of  care 
 and  anxiety,  which  I believe  w'ere  freely  acknowledged  at  the  time.” 
 
 It  w'as  dm-ing  this  risit  to  ISIalacca  that  Mr.  Raffles  first  enjoyed  the  opportunity 
 of  obserring,  and  joining  with  the  varied  popidation  congi’egated  from  all  parts  of  the 
 Archipelago,  and  from  the  distant  countries  of  Asia ; from  Java,  Ambojma,  Celebes, 
 the  Moluccas,  Borneo,  Papua,  Cochin  China,  China  Proper,  &c. 
 
 M’ith  many  he  conversed  personally,  with  others  through  the  medium  of  inter- 
 preters. To  this  early  habit,  w'hich  he  ahvays  retained,  of  associating  with  the  na- 
 tives, and  admitting  them  to  intimate  and  social  intercourse,  may  be  attributed  the 
 extraordinary  influence  which  he  obtained  over  them,  and  the  respect  with  which 
 they  always  received  his  adrice  and  opinions. 
 
 The  knowledge  w'hich  he  thus  acquired  of  the  different  products  of  the  neigh- 
 bouring countries,  of  the  natm'e  and  extent  of  their  trade,  of  their  customs,  manners, 
 and  feelings,  greatly  assisted  him  in  the  discharge  of  those  high  and  responsible 
 duties  to  which  he  w'as  subsequently  called. 
 
 The  following  extract  of  a letter  of  the  Governor  of  Penang  erinces  the  import- 
 ance attached  to  his  services,  by  the  authorities  of  that  settlement.  (1808.) 
 
 To  Mr.  Raffles, 
 
 “ A thousand  thanks  to  you  for  your  kind  letters  which  I had  the  pleasure 
 to  receive  some  days  ago,  and  hearing  then  that  there  was  a small  vessel  sailing  for 
 Malacca,  I wrote  you  a few  humed  lines  by  her,  to  inform  you  of  the  arrangement 
 I had  made  for  your  coming  back  in  the  event  of  your  not  meeting  with  a better 
 conveyance.  The  Scourge  sailed  five  days  ago,  and  is  to  call  at  Galangore  and 
 Siak,  before  she  goes  to  Malacca.  Captain  Bairett  is  desired  to  place  himself  under 
 your  orders  whenever  he  arrives,  and  unless  a more  favorable  conveyance  offers, 
 I sincerely  hope  you  will  find  yourself  w'ell  enough  to  come  back  to  us  in  the 
 Scourge. 
 
 ‘‘  It  is  distressing  to  me,  my  dear  Sir,  to  be  under  the  necessity  of  stating  in  this 
 pointed  manner,  the  unavoidable  exigence  of  the  case,  but  such  is  the  case,  that  we 
 shall  not  be  able  to  make  up  any  despatches  for  the  Court  without  yom-  assistance. 
 
MALAYS. 
 
 9 
 
 This  is  truly  hard  upon  you,  under  the  present  circumstances  of  your  delicate  state 
 of  health,  but  I trust  you  will  believe  that  nothing  else  would  induce  me  to  press  so 
 hard  on  you  at  this  time.  And  with  the  exception  of  Mr.  Phillips,  the  rest  of  the 
 board  can  give  but  httle  assistance  in  making  out  the  general  letter ; none,  however, 
 so  little  as  myself.” 
 
 Soon  after  the  formation  of  the  settlement  of  Penang,  Mr.  Dundas,  the  Governor, 
 received  from  Mr.  Marsden,  Author  of  the  History  of  Sumatra,  a letter  which  con- 
 tained some  queries  on  the  subject  of  Malayan  literature.  These  were  immediately 
 referred  to  Mr.  Raffles,  as  the  person  best  qualified  to  answer  them ; and  in  conse- 
 quence of  Mr.  Dundas  enclosing  the  following  letter  of  reply,  a correspondence  was 
 commenced  between  Mr.  Raffles  and  Mr.  Marsden,  which  continued  until  Mr. 
 Raffles’  return  to  England  in  1816,  when  a personal  acquaintance  led  to  an  intimacy 
 of  friendship,  which  was  never  interrupted. 
 
 To  the  Honourable  P.  Dundas. 
 
 “ Penanst  July  6,  1806. 
 
 Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I should  have  taken  an  earlier  opportunity  of  communicating  with  you 
 on  the  subject  of  Mr.  Marsden’s  letter,  which  you  were  pleased  to  refer  to  me,  if  I 
 had  not  expected  a few  leisure  hours,  in  which  I could  have  given  sufflcient  attention 
 to  his  queries  to  reply  to  them  with  the  satisfaction  I desired. 
 
 Another  reason  prevented  my  replying  to  your  flattering  reference  : I had 
 planned  a short  excursion  of  a few  days  to  Queda,  and  expected  from  the  observa- 
 tions I might  make  there,  to  have  confirmed  several  particulars  respecting  the  Malays, 
 which  I could  have  communicated  to  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 In  this  also  I have  been  disappointed,  from  the  circumstance  of  Mr.  Pearson’s 
 having  obtained  leave  of  absence  from  the  Presidency  at  the  very  time  I intended 
 applying  to  you  for  permission  to  go  to  Queda.  The  length  of  time  Mr.  Pearson 
 may  be  absent,  and  the  little  prospect  I now  have  of  the  leisure  which  I so  anxiously 
 desire,  can  alone  induce  me,  at  this  time,  to  hazard  my  inexperienced  opinions  on 
 any  subject  connected  with  Oriental  literature. 
 
 On  the  interesting  subject  of  the  Chronology  of  the  Malays,  I fear  but  little 
 light  will  be  thrown  from  the  discovery  of  their  using  a cycle  in  their  dates.  I am 
 convinced  of  the  justness  of  Mr.  Marsden’s  conclusion,  that  the  cycle  amongst  the 
 Malays  has  been  adopted  from  the  Siamese. 
 
 I have  not,  however,  observed  in  any  of  their  books  that  the  cycle  alluded  to 
 is  used  with  the  religion  of  Mahomet ; the  epoch  of  the  Hegira  has  been  introduced, 
 and  with  the  Arabian  months  and  days  is  universally  used  in  their  manuscripts. 
 
 The  first  I knew  of  their  using  a cycle,  or  particular  names  for  their  years, 
 
 c 
 
10 
 
 WOOLLY-HAIRED  RACE. 
 
 was  from  a very  old  MS.,  half  in  Bugguese,  half  in  the  Malay  or  Arabic  character,  in 
 which  were  inserted  the  Relika  or  times,  (lucky  and  unlucky),  with  tables  for  com- 
 puting time,  according  to  the  ISlahomedan  calendar. 
 
 “ The  Siamese,  I believe,  in  conformity  with  the  Indians  in  general,  as  well  as 
 the  Chinese,  have  a cycle  of  60  years,  containing  five  lesser  cycles  of  12  years  each. 
 Loubec,  I make  no  doubt,  in  his  embassy  to  Siam,  states  in  what  way  these  cycles 
 are  computed ; and  I regret  I have  not  his  work,  or  any  other  guide,  to  correct  and 
 assist  me  in  tracing  the  exact  similitude  between  the  Siamese  cycle  and  those  alluded 
 to  as  used  by  the  Malays.  That  the  names  for  the  years  used  by  the  Malays  are 
 borrowed  from  the  Siamese  is  e\ddent. 
 
 “ Of  the  Menangkabus,  after  a good  deal  of  inquiry,  I have  not  yet  been  able 
 decidedly  to  ascertain  the  relation  between  those  of  that  name  in  the  Peninsula  and 
 the  Menangkabus  on  Pulo  Percha.  The  Malays  I have  met  affinn,  without  hesita- 
 tion, that  they  all  come  originally  from  Pulo  Percha : the  circumstance  of  the  nation 
 of  that  name  in  Sumatra  being  so  great  and  ancient,  leaves  but  little  doubt,  however, 
 on  my  mind,  that  the  nation  (if  any)  hardly  known  on  the  Peninsula,  must  have 
 emigrated  from  thence,  although  the  contrary  may,  as  we  are  at  a loss  to  account 
 for  the  former,  appear  at  first  sight  most  probable. 
 
 “ I hope  I may  hereafter  have  it  in  my  power  to  fuimish  ]\Ir.  Marsden  with  still 
 fm'ther  additions  to  his  Semang  Vocabulary,  although  I am  not  much  inclined  to 
 think  that  from  this  nation,  or  rather  race  of  men,  much  interesting  information  can 
 be  derived,  beyond  that  of  their  actual  existence  and  extent. 
 
 “ The  men  are  said  to  wear  a small  piece  of  the  bark  of  a tree,  tied  with  a string 
 above  the  hips.  The  women  wear  leaves  sewed  together  in  the  form  of  a short 
 petticoat  from  above  the  hips  to  half  way  down  the  thighs.  They  are  decidedly 
 Caffres,  or  people  Avith  woolly  hair — to  appearance  a distinct  race  in  every  respect 
 from  the  Malays,  from  whom  they  cannot  have  in  any  probability  descended.  Those 
 inhabiting  the  skirts  of  the  woods  have  considerable  intercourse  with  the  Malays,  but 
 never  leave  the  woods,  unless  taken  by  force,  which  they  sometimes  are,  and  sold  as 
 slaves.  Many  of  these,  from  their  holding  communication  with  the  Malays,  speak 
 that  language  tolerably  well ; but  the  language  of  these  people  is  considered  by  the 
 Malays  as  a perfect  jargon.  Their  talking  is  by  the  Malays  looked  upon  as  the  chat- 
 tering or  chirping  of  large  birds,  and  bears  no  similitude  whatever  to  their  own. 
 They  are  found  very  useful ; if  the  Malay  is  in  want  of  deer,  herbs,  particular  woods, 
 or  the  like,  from  the  interior  of  the  forests,  he  goes  into  the  skirts,  generally  alone, 
 directing  his  course  towards  the  interior : as  he  advances  he  blows  a kind  of  horn, 
 when  the  Caffre,  if  near  at  hand,  and  in  the  habit  of  meeting  him,  cautiously  ap- 
 proaches, and  agrees  to  bring  whatever  is  required  by  the  Malay,  from  whom  he 
 receives  in  return  a small  quantity  of  pounded  cocoa-nut,  or  patches  of  cloth  ; but 
 he  is  remarked  never  to  take  rice,  or  the  articles  of  food  generally  used  by  the  Malays ; 
 
 2 
 
CAFFRES. 
 
 11 
 
 from  which  he  is  conceived  to  live  entirely  on  roots  and  leaves  of  trees,  on  the  boughs 
 of  which  he  is  said  to  leap  and  chng  with  equal  agility  and  expertness  as  his  degrading 
 semblance,  the  monkey. 
 
 I have  not  yet  met  with  any  of  these  Caffres.  I observe  Mr.  Marsden,  in  his 
 History  of  Sumatra,  speaks  of  the  Caffres  of  the  Philippines,  who  appear  to  resemble 
 those  alluded  to  in  the  Malay  Peninsula.  These  last  are  called  by  the  Spaniards 
 Negritos  del  Monte,  and  are  many  of  them  as  black  as  the  natives  of  Guinea. 
 
 “ I am  inclined  to  think  the  subject  of  these  Caffres  being  thus  found  in  the 
 interior  of  these  eastern  countries  merits  considerable  attention  ; as,  at  any  rate,  they 
 afford  a presumptive  evidence  that  the  country  which  they  inhabit  cannot  for  many 
 years  have  been  advanced  in  civihzation  ; and  therefore,  that  the  highest  state  of  it 
 existing  among  the  Malays  must  have  been  on  or  near  the  coasts,  and  not  the  inte- 
 rior. In  Java  there  are  said  to  be  remains  of  a religion,  which  may,  very  probably, 
 be  corrupted  Hindu. 
 
 “ With  respect  to  Mr.  Marsden’s  query  on  the  terms  used  by  the  Malays  for  the 
 different  pieces  in  the  game  of  chess,  I will  state  the  result  of  my  inquiries  among  the 
 Malays  themselves.  The  chatter,  or  chess-board,  is  avowedly  and  evidently  received 
 by  the  Malays  from  the  Chuliahs,  or  men  of  the  Kaling  country.  The  terms  which 
 they  could  understand  they  soon  altered  to  their  own  fashion.  * From  the  above 
 it  will  appear  that  the  Malays  have  altered  some  terms,  and  not  the  others.  All  I can 
 learn  respecting  the  term  ter,  is,  that  it  is  a name  given  by  the  Hindus  to  a small 
 temple,  in  which  is  placed  the  image  of  one  of  their  deities,  which  they  carry  about 
 at  different  times  of  the  year.  This  term  being  given  to  the  pieces,  if  derived  from 
 this  origin,  may  lead  one  to  imagine  that  when  the  Hindus  went  to  war,  they  sup- 
 posed themselves  flanked  by  their  gods ; and  in  reducing  the  art  of  war  to  a game  of 
 amusement,  they  could  not  do  less  than  pay  this  compliment.  Sir  William  Jones, 
 speaking  of  the  Indian  chess-board,  states,  I think,  that  there  are  numerous  treatises 
 on  the  game  in  the  Sanscrit,  not  yet  translated : from  them,  I have  no  doubt,  the 
 origin  of  the  word  ter  will  be  easily  ascertained.  I regret  that  I have  not  a complete 
 Sanscrit  vocabulary  by  me  ; but  in  referring  to  Forster’s  Bengallee  Vocabulary,  which 
 is,  I believe,  almost  pure  Sanscrit,  I am  enabled  to  state  something  satisfactory.  The 
 word  ter  there  signifies  ^ border,  verge,  utmost a sufficient  proof,  I think,  that  the 
 term  used  for  the  chess-man  is  borrowed  from  the  Sanscrit,  the  place  of  the  ter  on  the 
 board  being  at  the  border,  verge,  utmost,  or  corner. 
 
 “ In  observing,  however,  upon  the  manner  in  which  the  Malays  have  altered 
 the  names  given  by  the  Chuliahs,  I must  notice  that  they  sometimes  use  the  word  ter, 
 in  speaking  of  the  wings  of  an  army,  in  preference  to  sarsup. 
 
 “ Many  of  the  books  and  popular  narratives  of  the  Malays  I find  to  have  been 
 rendered  from  the  Kaling  language,  a term  by  which  they  call  all  the  popular  dialects 
 on  the  Coromandel  coast.  That  the  astonishing  number  of  Sanscrit  words  in  the 
 
 c 2 
 
12 
 
 JAVA. 
 
 Malay  language  should  have  been  introduced  by  the  commercial  intercourse  of  the 
 Chuliahs,  is  not  likely,  any  more  than  that  they  should  have  entered  from  the  Guze- 
 ratty, whose  intercourse  must  have  in  like  manner  been  purely  commercial ; but  a 
 portion,  no  doubt,  may  have  been  received  from  each.  I think,  (wth  the  Malays,) 
 that  they  must  have  received  their  knowledge  from  the  Island  of  Java.  I have  not 
 been  able  to  obtain,  as  yet,  any  knowledge  of  the  Javanese  language ; but  my  friend 
 Dr.  Leyden,  while  he  was  here,  paid  some  little  attention  to  it ; and  his  opinion  I 
 know  was,  that  the  Javanese  language  must  be  a dialect  of  the  Sanscrit,  very  little 
 cormpted. 
 
 “ I take  the  hberty  of  annexing  a Javanese  alphabet : I also  add  a Bugguese 
 alphabet ; I have  never  been  able  to  trace  one  before,  and  if  it  is  new  to  Mr.  Marsden 
 I shall  be  much  gratified.  I have  hitherto  learnt  but  httle  about  this  nation.  They 
 are,  I believe,  in  general  Mahomedans,  those  who  refuse  the  doctrines  ha’vfing  been 
 obhged  to  seek  shelter  in  obscurity.  All  I can  trace  of  a former  religion  is,  that  they 
 beheved  in  a heaven  and  a hell. 
 
 “ I have  to  apologize  for  having  carried  my  letter  to  so  great  a length,  without 
 knowing  whether  the  observations  it  contains  will  be  acceptable.  Should  you  deem 
 the  rephes  to  Mr.  Marsden’s  queries  in  any  way  satisfactory,  and  worthy  of  communi- 
 cation, I hope  you  vail,  at  the  same  time,  state  them  as  coming  from  a young  man, 
 who  never  made  Oriental  Hterature  his  study,  and  is  but  lately  arrived  in  the  place 
 which  furnishes  the  means  of  his  observations,”  &c.  &c. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles’  risit  to  Malacca  contributed  very  essentially  to  the  promotion  of  the 
 public  interests.  Orders  had  been  issued  that  the  fortifications  should  be  demolished, 
 and  the  whole  town  abandoned.  With  regard  to  the  public  buildings,  these  orders 
 had  been  already  executed.  Their  object  was  twofold ; first,  by  the  destruction  of 
 the  w'orks  to  deter  Europeans  from  setthng  there ; and,  secondly,  by  transferring  the 
 trade  and  population,  to  improve  the  station  of  Penang,  or  Prince  of  Wales’  Island. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  represented  that  the  population  of  Malacca  far  exceeded  any  idea 
 which  had  been  formed  respecting  it ; that  it  comprised  not  less  than  20,000  souls, 
 (1808),  some  few  of  whom  were  Em’opeans,  chiefly  Dutch  and  Portuguese,  the  rest 
 were  their  half-caste  descendants,  Chinese  and  their  descendants  by  Malay  women, 
 Arabs,  Javanese,  and  Chuliahs,  of  whom  more  than  three-fourths  were  born  in  Ma- 
 lacca, where  their  families  had  been  settled  for  centuries.  Attached  to  the  place  from 
 their  birth,  they  were  accustomed  to  the  local  regulations,  and  in  the  bosom  of  their 
 families  they  felt  that  they  were  at  home,  their  peculiarities  w^ere  attended  to,  their 
 rank  respected,  and  their  wants  supplied.  Many  were  proprietors  of  the  soil,  or 
 attached  to  those  who  were  so.  From  their  gardens,  which  produced  pepper,  vege- 
 tables, and  all  kinds  of  fruit  in*  abundance,  and  from  the  fisheries  they  derived  com- 
 fort and  independence ; no  reasonable  expectation  could  be  entertained  that  such  a 
 
MALACCA. 
 
 10 
 O 
 
 population  would  emigrate  to  Prince  of  Wales’  Island ; — they  were,  in  fact,  insepa- 
 rable from  the  soil ; and  of  the  offers  of  free  passage  which  had  been  made,  not  one 
 had  been  accepted.  At  Penang,  on  the  other  hand,  three-fourths  of  the  native 
 population  were  adventurers,  men  ready  to  turn  their  hands  to  any  employments, 
 who,  having  no  fixed  home  or  permanent  property,  might  by  a very  little  encourage- 
 ment be  induced  to  remove. 
 
 The  manner  in  which  these  representations  were  received,  and  the  sense  enter- 
 tained of  the  value  of  Mr.  Raffles’  services,  will  appear  sufficiently  from  the  following 
 extract  of  a letter  from  the  Governor  of  Penang  to  the  Court  of  Directors  wiitten 
 at  this  time. 
 
 I have  it  now  in  my  power  to  submit  to  your  Honourable  Committee  a compen- 
 dious but  comprehensive  report  from  the  hand  of  our  Secretary,  Mr.  Raffles,  expla- 
 natory of  the  present  circumstances  of  that  Settlement,  and  illustrative  of  the  ill  con- 
 sequences that  would  result  from  the  adoption  of  either  of  the  measures  that  have 
 been  heretofore  contemplated  regarding  it.  Such  information  as  I have  myself  been 
 enabled  to  collect  from  intelligent  persons  here,  and  from  other  sources,  entirely 
 confirms  the  judicious  observations  and  conclusions  contained  in  this  very  valuable 
 document ; and  it  is  my  intention  at  an  early  period  to  point  out  to  the  Supreme 
 Government  the  policy,  if  not  necessity,  here  made  sufficiently  manifest,  of  continu- 
 ing the  present  establishment,  no  branch  of  which  can  admit  of  reduction,  but  the 
 charge  thereof  is  amply  provided  by  the  revenues  of  the  Settlement  alone. 
 
 “To  the  services  and  merits  of  Mr.  Raffles,  as  well  as  in  duty  to  my  employers, 
 I should  feel  alike  wanting  were  I to  omit  this  opportunity  of  pointing  out  to  the 
 favourable  notice  of  your  Honourable  Committee,  the  unwearied  zeal  and  assiduity 
 \rith  which  he  has  since  the  formation  of  the  establishment  devoted  his  talents  to 
 the  furtherance  of  the  Company’s  interests ; his  unremitting  attention  to  the  duties 
 of  the  most  laborious  office  under  this  government,  added  to  those  of  Registrar  to 
 the  Recorder’s  Court,  which,  at  the  period  of  its  establishment,  he  voluntarily  and 
 gratuitously  undertook.  Having  lately  endured  a severe  indisposition,  and  the  neces- 
 sity of  a visit  to  Malacca,  he  occupied  the  leisure  thus  afforded,  although  under 
 great  bodily  suffering,  to  collect  the  information  furnished  in  the  accompanying 
 report,  which  entitles  him  to  my  approbation,  and  will,  I trust,  obtain  for  him  that 
 of  your  Honomable  Committee.  The  situation  of  Secretary  affords  facilities  to  the 
 person  holding  it  of  acquiring  a better  knowledge  of  your  affairs  here  than  any  other 
 officer  below  council ; and  I can  with  truth  say,  that  Mr.  Raffles’  abilities  and  general 
 conduct  give  him  a right  to  my  recommendation,  in  as  far  as  being  eminently  well 
 qualified  to  assist  in  your  councils.  I understand  that  he  has  submitted  to  his  friends 
 an  application  to  be  provisionally  appointed  to  the  first  vacancy,  and  I shall  be  happy 
 if  my  recommendation  may  weigh  with  the  Honourable  Court  in  his  behalf.” 
 
 When  these  representations  were  received,  the  orders  were  countermanded : 
 
14 
 
 ON  THE  MALAYAN  NATION. 
 
 and  Malacca,  though  ahenated  for  a time,  was  restored  to  Great  Britain  by  the 
 treaty  with  the  Netherlands’  Government,  in  1824,  and  now  (1829)  forms  part  of 
 the  consohdated  government  of  Penang,  Singapore,  and  Malacca. 
 
 Respecting  the  whole  of  the  Eastern  Islands,  at  that  time  (1808)  httle  known 
 or  attended  to,  Mr.  Raffles  collected  much  interesting  infonnation.  It  was  princi- 
 pally on  this  subject  that  he  carried  on  a con*espondence  with  Dr.  Leyden.  His 
 letters  were  occasionally  submitted  to  the  notice  of  Lord  Minto,  the  Governor-Gene- 
 ral, in  whom  they  excited  so  much  interest,  that  they  led  to  a personal  acquaintance  ; 
 and  Mr.  Raffles  had  thus  again  the  gratification  of  obtaining,  purely  from  his  own 
 talents  and  character,  another  and  a still  more  powerful  patron  and  friend. 
 
 To  W.  Marsden,Esq. 
 
 “ Runemede,  Penang,  March,  1809. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ Two  very  long  and  severe  illnesses,  during  which  I was  under  the  neces- 
 cessity  of  denpng  myself  the  use  of  the  pen,  and  all  kind  of  study,  and  from  the 
 effects  of  which  I am  hardly  recovered,  even  at  this  time,  must  plead  my  excuse  for 
 not  answering,  or,  indeed,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  your  polite  and  friendly 
 letters  of  the  18th  of  June  and  15th  of  November  last,  both  of  wliich  arrived  when  I 
 was  confined  to  my  room. 
 
 ^ ^ ^ 
 
 “ With  respect  to  the  Menangkabus,  I am  more  than  ever  confident  that  those 
 in  the  Peninsula  derive  their  origin  from  the  country  of  that  name  in  Sumatra. 
 
 “ Inland  of  Malacca,  about  sixty  miles,  is  situated  the  Malay  kingdom  of 
 Rumbo,  of  which  you  have  no  doubt  heard.  The  Sultan  and  all  the  principal  officers 
 of  state  hold  their  authority  immediately  from  Menangkabu,  and  have  even  ^vrit- 
 ten  commissions  for  their  respective  offices ; this  shews  the  extent  of  its  power,  even 
 now,  reduced  as  it  must  be  in  common  with  that  of  the  Malay  states  in  general. 
 
 * * 7^ 
 
 “ In  the  Asiatic  Researches  you  will  perceive  a long  disquisition  on  the  Indo- 
 Chinese  nations,  by  my  friend  Dr.  Leyden,  which  will  no  doubt  interest  you  very 
 much.  I wish  w^e  had  the  good  fortune  of  his  local  information  ; he  w^as  to  the  east- 
 ward but  a few  months,  during  which  time  he  hved  with  me ; you  will  see  what  use 
 he  made  of  his  time. 
 
 I have  by  me  a sketch  of  a grammar  which  I have  drawn  out,  and  wffiich  I will 
 send  you  as  soon  as  I get  time  to  correct  and  copy  it ; and  I am  gradually  compiling 
 a dictionary,  which  you  shall  be  welcome  to,  if  it  can  be  of  any  service  to  you. 
 
 *****  * 
 
 " I must  now  conclude,  and  apologise  for  the  hasty  style  in  which  this  is  written, 
 the  fleet  haring  this  day  put  in  here,  intending  to  sail  for  England  to-morrow.  You, 
 my  dear  Sir,  have  been  a Secretary  yomself,  and  will  make  due  allowances.” 
 
PAPER  ON  THE  MALAYAN  NATION. 
 
 15 
 
 The  first  literary  essay  of  Mr.  Raffles  was  a paper  on  the  Malayan  nation,  with  a 
 translation  of  its  maritime  institutions,  which  he  communicated  to  the  Asiatic  Society 
 in  Calcutta,  and  from  which  the  following  extracts  may  prove  interesting : 
 
 “ The  Island  of  Sumatra,  as  well  as  the  Islands  of  Java,  Jana  Uyi,  or  Bugisland, 
 (Celebes),  Sulu,  and  the  Moluccas,  which,  with  Borneo,  compose  what  may  be  pro- 
 perly termed  the  Malayan  groupe,  are  peopled  by  nations  radically  distinct  from  the 
 Malays,  who  speak  languages  entirely  different,  and  use  various  written  characters, 
 original,  and  pecuhar  to  each.  These  nations  are  governed  by  their  several  laws 
 and  institutions ; and  if  we  except  the  state  of  Menangkabu,  in  the  Island  of  Sumatra, 
 it  is  on  the  shores  of  these  Islands  only,  and  in  the  Malay  Peninsula,  that  the  Malays 
 are  to  be  foimd.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  origin  of  the  Malayan  nation,  the 
 primary  population  of  these  various  and  extensive  islands  could  never,  according  to 
 any  natural  inference,  have  proceeded  from  the  Malays,  though  the  reverse  may 
 probably  have  been  the  case. 
 
 “ I cannot  but  consider  the  Malayan  nation  as  one  people,  speaking  one  language, 
 though  spread  over  so  wide  a space,  and  preserving  their  character  and  customs,  in 
 all  the  maritime  states  lying  between  the  Sula  Seas  and  the  Southern  Ocean,  and 
 bounded  longitudinally  by  Sumatra  and  the  western  side  of  Papua  or  New  Guinea. 
 
 “ The  Malayan  language  may  no  doubt  be  traced  to  a still  further  extent,  and 
 particularly  among  the  South  Sea  Islands  ; but  that  point  belongs  to  a dissertation  on 
 the  origin  of  the  nation  and  its  language,  and  need  not  be  attended  to  here.  Inde- 
 pendently of  the  laws  of  the  Koran,  which  are  more  or  less  observed  in  the  various 
 Malay  states,  according  to  the  influence  of  their  Arabian  and  Mahomedan  teachers, 
 but  seldom  further  than  as  they  affect  matters  of  religion,  marriage,  and  inheritance, 
 the  Malay  states  possess  several  codes  of  laws,  denominated  Undang  Undang,  or 
 institutions,  of  different  antiquity  and  authority,  compiled  by  their  respective  sove- 
 reigns : and  every  state  of  any  extent  possesses  its  own  Undang  Undang.  Through- 
 out the  whole,  there  appears  a general  accordance ; and  where  they  differ  it  is  seldom 
 beyond  what  situation,  superior  advantages  and  authority,  have  naturally  dictated. 
 Many  of  the  Undang  Undang  contain  the  mere  regulations  for  the  collection  of  the 
 duties  on  trade,  and  the  peculiar  observations  of  the  port,  while  others  ascend  to  the 
 higher  branches  of  civil  and  criminal  law. 
 
 “ From  the  comparative  rude  and  uncivilized  character  of  the  Malay  nation, 
 learned  disquisition  is  not  to  be  looked  for ; but  simple  ideas,  simply  expressed,  may 
 illustrate  character  better  than  scientific  or  refined  composition.  And  in  this  point 
 of  view,  however  local  or  particular  the  subject  may  be,  the  institutions  and  regula- 
 tions of  so  extensive  a maritime  nation  must  be  interesting.  Considering,  there- 
 fore, that  a translation  of  these  codes,  digested  and  arranged  according  to  one  general 
 plan,  might  be  as  useful  in  facilitating  and  ensuring  a more  secure  intercourse 
 
16 
 
 PAPER  ON  THE  MALAYAN  NATION. 
 
 among  this  extraordinary  and  peculiar  nation,  as  it  might  be  interesting  in  illus- 
 trating the  unjustly  degraded  character  of  so  extensive  a portion  of  the  human 
 race,  hitherto  so  little  known,  either  -with  respect  to  what  they  are,  or  what  they 
 were,  I have  long  been  engaged,  as  far  as  the  severe  duties  of  my  public  situa- 
 tion would  admit,  in  collecting  Malay  manuscripts  of  every  description,  and  in  par- 
 ticular, copies  of  the  Undang  Undang  Malaya,  which,  with  the  curious  collections  of 
 Addat,  or  immemorial  customs,  and  what  may  be  usefully  extracted  from  the  Sejarat 
 Malaya  and  Akal  Malaya,  or  annals  and  traditions  of  the  Malays,  comprise  what 
 may  be  termed  the  ^vhole  body  of  the  Malay  laws,  customs,  and  usages,  as  far  as 
 they  can  be  considered  as  original,  under  the  heads  of  government,  property,  slavery, 
 inheritance,  and  commerce. 
 
 “ On  the  eastern  side  of  Sumatra,  the  Malay  states  of  Acheen,  Siak,  and  Palem- 
 bang,  may  be  considered  as  of  the  most  importance. 
 
 “ The  laws  of  Acheen  are  peculiar,  on  account  of  the  severity  of  the  criminal 
 law ; and  although  it  may  be  presumed  that  they  were  borrowed  from  the  more 
 ancient  inhabitants  of  the  Island,  they  are  interesting,  in  as  far  as  they  may  have  been 
 generally  adopted  by  the  Malays  in  the  Straits  of  Malacca,  and  may  have  given 
 rise  to  that  sanguinaiy  disposition,  by  which  the  Malays  are  usually  supposed  to  be 
 characterised.  Those  of  Siak  have  a peculiar  interest,  from  the  long-established 
 connection  between  that  state  and  the  Menangkabus  in  the  interior  of  Sumatra. 
 The  Siak  river  takes  its  rise  in  the  Menangkabu  country,  and  has  obriously  been  the 
 principal  outlet  from  the  rich  and  populous  countries  in  the  interior,  of  which  so 
 little  is  knoAMi. 
 
 “ Of  the  Malay  Peninsula,  the  principal  states  entitled  to  notice,  on  the  western 
 side,  are  those  of  Queda,  Malacca,  and  Johore ; and  in  the  eastern  those  of  Trin- 
 gano,  Patani,  and  Pahang. 
 
 “ The  states  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Peninsula,  with  the  exception  of  Patani, 
 which  has  been  considerably  influenced  by  the  Siamese,  seem  generally  to  have 
 admitted  the  superiority  of  the  Malay  government  first  established  at  Singapore,  and 
 afterwards  at  Johore. 
 
 “ On  the  Island  of  Borneo,  the  several  Malay  states  have  regulations  and  insti- 
 tutions pecuKar  to  each,  though  not  differing  in  any  material  degree,  from  those  of 
 the  Peninsula. 
 
 “ M’ith  respect  to  the  internal  regulations  of  government,  police,  property,  and 
 what  in  all  Malay  codes  occupies  so  large  a share,  slavery ; the  Malay  states  in  the 
 Peninsula  have  been  selected,  as  well  on  account  of  their  connection  >rith  the  Enghsh 
 Government  at  Penang  and  Malacca,  as  for  the  still  more  important  reason,  in  a phi- 
 losophical point  of  riew,  of  the  Malays  being,  according  to  the  theory  I have  laid 
 down,  to  be  found  here  the  least  adulterated  in  their  character,  usages,  and  manners. 
 They  are  bounded  by  the  Siamese,  to  the  north,  whose  encroachments  and  esta- 
 
PAPER  ON  THE  MALAYAN  NATION. 
 
 17 
 
 biishments  in  the  Peninsula,  as  they  have  from  time  to  time  taken  place,  may  easily 
 be  defined.  The  Malays  seem  here  to  have  occupied  a country  previously  unappro- 
 priated; for  if  we  except  an  inconsiderable  race  of  CafFres,  who  are  occasionally 
 found  near  the  mountains,  and  a few  tribes  of  the  Orang  Benua,  there  does  not  exist 
 a vestige  of  a nation  anterior  to  the  Malay  in  the  whole  Peninsula. 
 
 “ As  the  population  of  the  Malay  Peninsula  has  excited  much  interest,  my  atten- 
 tion has  been  particularly  directed  to  the  various  tribes  stated  to  be  scattered  over 
 the  country. 
 
 “ Those  on  the  hills  are  usually  termed  Semang,  and  are  woolly  headed ; those 
 on  the  plain  Orang  Benua,  or  people  belonging  to  the  country ; the  word  benua 
 being  applied  by  the  Malays  to  any  extensive  country,  as  benua  China;  but  it 
 appears  to  be  only  a sort  of  Malay  plural  to  the  Arabic  word  ben  or  beni,  signifying 
 a tribe.  The  early  adventurers  from  Arabia  firequently  make  mention  in  their  writings 
 of  the  different  tribes  they  met  with  to  the  eastward;  and  from  them  most  probably 
 the  Malays  have  adopted  the  term  Orang  Benua. 
 
 “ I had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  two  of  these  people,  from  a tribe  in  the  neigh- 
 bourhood of  Malacca ; it  consisted  of  about  sixty  people,  and  the  tribe  was  called 
 Jokong-  These  people,  from  their  occasional  intercourse  vrith  the  villages  depen- 
 dent on  Malacca,  speak  the  Malay  language  sufficiently  to  be  generally  under- 
 stood. They  state  that  there  are  two  other  tribes,  the  Orang  Benua  and  the  Orang 
 Udai.  The  fonner  appears  the  most  interesting  as  composing  the  majority ; the  latter 
 is  only  another  name  for  the  Semang,  or  Caffres. 
 
 From  the  vicinity  of  the  Jokong  trihe  to  Malacca,  and  intercourse  with  its 
 inhabitants,  they  may  have  adopted  many  Malay  words  not  originally  in  their  lan- 
 guage. They  are  not  circumcised,  and  they  appear  to  have  received  some  instruc- 
 tion regarding  Nabi  Isa,  or  as  they  pronounce  it  Isher.  They,  however,  have  no 
 books,  nor  any  word  for  God,  whom  they  designate  by  the  Portuguese  Deos.  The 
 men  are  well  formed,  rather  short,  resembhng  the  Malay  in  countenance,  but  having 
 a sharper  and  smaller  nose.  They  marry  but  one  wife,  whether  rich  or  poor,  and 
 appear  to  observe  no  particular  ceremony  at  their  nuptials.  The  consent  of  the 
 girl  and  that  of  the  parents  being  obtained,  the  couple  are  considered  as  man  and 
 wife. 
 
 The  Malays  of  Remban,  with  whom  I have  had  frequent  commmiications, 
 adopt  the  broad  dialect  of  the  Malays  of  Sumatra,  changing  the  a at  the  end  of  a 
 word  into  o ; this  pecufiarity  may  be  still  observed  among  many  of  the  inhabitants  of 
 the  southern  part  of  the  Peninsula. 
 
 “ The  following  is  a translation  of  the  Malayan  history  of  the  first  arrival  of  the 
 Portuguese  at  Malacca : 
 
 “ ‘Ten  Portuguese  vessels  arrived  at  Malacca  from  Manilla,  for  the  purpose  of 
 trade,  during  the  reign  of  the  Sultan  Ahmed  Shah,  at  a time  when  that  country  pos- 
 
 D 
 
18 
 
 CONQUEST  OF  MALACCA  BY  THE  PORTUGUESE. 
 
 sessed  an  extensive  commerce,  and  every  thing  in  abundance,  when  the  affairs  of 
 government  were  well  administered,  and  the  officers  properly  appointed. 
 
 ^ For  forty  days  the  Portuguese  ships  traded  at  Malacca ; but  still  the  Portuguese 
 commander  remained  on  shore,  presenting  dollars  by  the  chest,  and  gold ; and  how 
 many  beautiful  cloths  did  they  present  to  the  illustrious  Shah  Ahmed  Shah,  so  that 
 the  Sultan  was  most  happy  ! 
 
 ‘ After  this  Sultan  Ahmed  Shah  said  to  the  commanders  of  the  Portuguese, 
 
 ‘ What  more  do  you  require  fi'om  us,  that  you  present  us  such  rich  presents  V To 
 this  the  commander  rephed,  ‘ We  only  request  one  thing  of  our  friend,  should  he  be 
 weU  inclined  towards  the  white  men.’  Whereupon  Sultan  Ahmed  Shah  said,  ‘ state 
 what  it  is  that  I may  hear  it,  and  if  it  is  in  my  power  I will  comply  ^vith  the  request 
 of  my  friend.’  The  Portuguese  answered,  we  wish  to  request  a small  piece  of  ground, 
 to  the  extent  of  what  the  skin  of  a beast  may  cover.’  ‘ Then  said  the  Sultan,  let  not 
 my  friends  be  unhappy,  let  them  take  whatever  spot  of  ground  they  hke  best,  to  the 
 extent  of  w'hat  they  request.’  The  captains  w'ere  highly  rejoiced  at  this,  and  the 
 Portuguese  immediately  landed,  bringing  with  them  spades,  brick,  and  mortar ; the 
 commander  then  took  the  skin  of  the  beast,  and  haring  rent  it  into  cords,  measured 
 out  therewith  four  sides,  within  which  the  Portuguese  built  a store-house  of  very  con- 
 siderable dimensions,  leaving  large  square  apertures  in  the  walls  for  guns ; and  w'hen 
 the  people  of  Malacca  enquired  the  reason  of  the  apertures  being  left,  the  Portuguese 
 returned  for  answ'er,  ‘ these  are  the  apertures  that  the  w^hite  men  require  for  win- 
 dows.’ The  people  of  Malacca  were  satisfied  and  content. 
 
 ‘ Alas ! how  often  did  the  Bendahara  and  Tumungungs  approach  the  Rajah 
 with  a request  that  the  white  men  might  not  be  permitted  to  build  a large  Rouse : 
 but  the  Raja  would  say,  ‘ my  eyes  are  upon  them,  and  they  are  few  in  number:  if 
 they  do  any  wrong,  whatever  it  may  be,  I shall  see  it,  and  will  give  orders  for  their 
 being  massacred,  (literally,  I will  order  my  men  to  amoTc,  or,  as  it  is  vulgarly  termed, 
 run  a muck  among  them.)’  Notwithstanding  this,  the  Bendahara  and  Tumungungs 
 remained  dissatisfied  in  their  hearts,  for  they  were  wise  men. 
 
 ‘After  this  the  Portuguese,  during  the  night,  conveyed  cannon  into  their  store- 
 house, and  they  landed  small-arms,  packed  in  chests,  saying  their  contents  w^ere  cloths ; 
 and  in  this  manner  did  the  Portuguese  deceive  and  cheat  the  people  of  Malacca ! 
 
 “ ‘ What  the  Portuguese  next  did,  the  people  of  Malacca  were  ignorant  of,  but  it 
 was  long  before  the  store-house  was  completed;  and  when  all  then*  arms  w'ere  in 
 order,  then  it  was  at  midnight,  at  a time  when  the  people  of  INIalacca  w^ere  asleep, 
 that  the  Portuguese  began  to  fire  off  their  guns  from  the  fort  of  Malacca ! 
 
 “ ‘ They  soon  destroyed  all  the  houses  of  the  people  of  Malacca,  and  their  Nibong 
 fort;  and  it  was  during  this  night,  when  the  Portuguese  first  attacked  the  people  of 
 Malacca,  that  Sultan  Ahmed  Shah,  with  his  people  fled  in  all  directions,  for  no  one 
 could  remain  to  oppose  the  Portuguese. 
 
ATTACK  OF  THE  DUTCH  ON  MALACCA. 
 
 19 
 
 “ ‘ Thus  did  the  Portuguese  take  possession  of  Malacca,  whilst  Sultan  Ahmed 
 Shah  fled  to  Moar,  and  from  thence  in  a short  time,  to  Johore,  and  afterwards  to 
 Bentan,  to  establish  another  country.  Such  is  the  account  of  the  Portuguese  taking 
 the  kingdom  of  Malacca,  from  the  hands  of  Sultan  Ahmed  Shah. 
 
 “ ‘ During  thirty-six  years,  three  months,  and  fourteen  days,  the  Portuguese  were 
 employed  in  the  construction  of  the  fort,  and  then  it  was  completed. 
 
 “ ‘ From  this  time  the  Portuguese  remained  in  quiet  possession  of  Malacca  for 
 about  nine  years  and  one  month,  when  the  country  once  more  began  to  flourish,  on 
 account  of  the  quantities  of  merchandise  brought  there  from  all  quarters.  Such  is 
 the  account  of  the  country  of  Malacca  under  the  Portuguese. 
 
 “ ‘ After  this  period,  a Dutch  vessel  arrived  at  Malacca  for  the  purpose  of  trade ; 
 the  vessel’s  name  was  Afterlenden,  and  that  of  the  captain,  Ibir.  The  captain  per- 
 ceived that  Malacca  was  a very  fine  place,  and  had  a good  fort ; therefore,  after  the 
 Dutch  vessel  had  traded  for  fifteen  days,  he  set  sail  for  Europe,  and  arriving  after  a 
 considerable  time  at  the  great  country,  he  gave  intelligence  to  the  great  Rajah  of  what 
 he  had  seen,  of  the  country  of  Malacca,  the  extent  of  its  commerce,  and  the  ex- 
 cellence of  its  fort.  On  this,  the  Rajah  of  Europe  said,  ^ If  such  is  the  account  of 
 Malacca,  it  is  proper  that  I should  order  it  to  be  attacked.’  Twenty-five  vessels  were 
 thereupon  ordered  by  the  Rajah  of  Europe,  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  Malacca, 
 and  troops  being  embarked  in  each,  they  first  set  sail  for  the  kingdom  of  Bantam,  in 
 the  country  of  Java,  where  the  Dutch  were  on  terms  of  friendship. 
 
 ^ At  Bantam  they  found  two  Dutch  ships,  and  a ketch,  and  after  having  taken 
 on  board  buffaloes,  and  provisions  for  the  use  of  the  persons  on  board,  the  vessels  then 
 sailed  for  Malacca. 
 
 “ ‘ As  soon  as  the  fleet  arrived  at  Malacca,  the  Dutch  sent  a letter  to  the  Portu- 
 guese, telling  them  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness,  as  it  was  the  intention  of  the 
 Dutch  to  commence  the  attack  on  the  morrow,  at  mid-day.  To  this  the  Portuguese 
 replied,  ‘ Come  when  you  please,  we  are  ready.’ 
 
 “ ‘ On  the  next  day  the  Dutch  commenced  the  attack,  and  the  war  continued 
 for  about  two  months  ; but  the  country  of  Malacca  was  not  carried,  and  the  Dutch 
 returned  to  Bantam,  where  they  remained  quiet  for  some  time,  in  the  intention  of 
 returning  to  Europe ; all  the  great  men  on  board  feeling  ashamed  of  what  had  happened. 
 
 ‘ The  great  men  in  each  of  the  vessels,  having  afterwards  held  consultations 
 respecting  another  attack  on  Malacca,  they  proceeded  against  it  a second  time,  but  it 
 did  not  surrender.  The  Dutch  now  sent  a letter  to  Johore,  in  terms  of  friendship,  to 
 the  Sultan,  requesting  his  assistance,  in  the  attack  of  Malacca.  With  this  the  Rajah 
 of  Johore  was  pleased,  and  an  agreement  was  entered  into  between  the  Rajah  of 
 Johore  and  the  Dutch,  which  was  sworn  to;  so  that  the  Dutch  and  Malays  became 
 as  one,  as  far  as  concerned  the  taking  of  Malacca.  An  agreement  was  made,  that 
 the  Dutch  should  attack  from  the  sea,  and  the  people  of  Johore  from  the  land.  If 
 
 D 2 
 
20 
 
 PAPER  ON  THE  MALAYAN  NATION. 
 
 the  country  surrendered,  the  Dutch  were  to  retain  the  country,  and  the  cannon  ; and 
 every  thing  else  that  might  be  found  uitliin  Malacca  was  to  be  equally  divided 
 between  the  Dutch  and  the  people  of  Johore. 
 
 “ ‘ When  these  terms  were  agi'eed  upon,  the  men  of  Johore  and  the  Dutch  sailed 
 for  Malacca,  and  after  attacking  it  for  about  fifteen  days,  from  the  sea,  many  were 
 slain,  as  well  Portuguese  as  Malays  and  Dutch.  The  Malays  then  held  a consultation, 
 and  began  to  think,  that  if  they  fought  against  the  white  men  according  to  this  fashion, 
 Malacca  would  not  fall  for  ten  years.  It  was  therefore  agreed  upon  by  all  the  Malays, 
 that  fifty  men  should  enter  the  fort  of  Malacca,  and  run  a muck  or  meng-amok. 
 
 ‘ The  Malays  then  selected  a lucky  day,  and  on  the  twenty-first  day  of  the 
 month,  at  5 o’clock  in  the  morning,  the  fifty  Malays  entered  the  fort,  and  commenced 
 amok,  and  every  Portuguese  was  either  put  to  death,  or  forced  to  fiy  into  the  interior 
 of  the  country,  without  order  or  regularity. 
 
 “ ‘ On  this,  the  Malays  exerted  themselves  in  plundering  Malacca,  and  the  whole 
 was  divided  between  the  men  of  Johore  and  the  Dutch,  according  to  their  agreement. 
 
 “ ‘ The  men  of  Johore  then  returned  to  the  coimtry  of  Johore,  and  the  Dutch 
 remained  in  possession  of  Malacca. 
 
 “ ‘ This  is  the  account  of  former  times.’ 
 
 “ To  return  to  the  subject  of  the  Undang  Undang  Malaya,  the  collection  of  Malay 
 laws,  as  far  as  regards  the  Malayan  nation  separately,  is  nearly  completed;  but  it  is 
 advisable  to  adopt  a more  extensive  plan,  embracing  the  origuial  institutions  of  the 
 
 various  nations  among  the  Eastern  Islands. 
 
 * * 
 
 “ The  most  obvious  and  natural  theory  on  the  origin  of  the  Malays  is,  that  they 
 did  not  exist  as  a separate  and  distinct  nation  until  the  anival  of  the  Arabians  in  the 
 Eastern  Seas.  At  the  present  day  they  seem  to  differ  from  the  more  original  nations, 
 from  which  they  spmng  in  about  the  same  degree,  as  the  Chuhahs  of  Kiling  differ 
 from  the  Tamul  and  Telinga  nations  on  the  Coromandel  coast,  or  the  jMapillas  of 
 Malabar  differ  from  the  Nairs,  both  which  people  appear  in  like  manner  with  the 
 Malays,  to  have  been  gi-adually  formed  as  nations,  and  separated  from  their  original 
 stock  by  the  admixture  of  Arabian  blood,  and  the  introduction  of  the  Arabic  lan- 
 guage and  Moslem  religion. 
 
 “ The  word  jahui  is  the  Malay  teim  for  any  thing  mixed  or  crossed ; as  when  the 
 language  of  one  country  is  written  in  the  character  of  another,  it  is  termed  b’hasa 
 jahui,  or  mixed  language ; or  when  a child  is  born  of  a Kiling  father  and  Malay 
 mother,  it  is  called  anah  jahui,  a child  of  mixed  race.  Thus  the  Malay  language, 
 being  wiitten  in  the  Arabic  character,  is  termed  b’hasa  jahui ; the  Malays,  as  a nation 
 distinct  from  the  fixed  population  of  the  Eastern  Islands,  not  possessing  any  \vritten 
 character  but  what  they  borrow  from  the  Arabs. 
 
 “ With  respect  to  the  maritime  institutions  which  I have  now  the  honour  to  lay 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  LEYDEN. 
 
 21 
 
 before  the  Asiatic  Society,  they  have  been  selected  on  account  of  their  singularity 
 and  characteristic  peculiarities.  The  power  of  life  and  death,  vested  in  the  Nak- 
 hodah,  or  captain  of  a vessel,  may  be  considered  as  purely  Malay,  or  at  any  rate  to 
 have  had  its  origin  in  the  Eastern  Islands : the  Arabs,  from  whom  alone  they  could 
 have  borrowed  a foreign  sea-code,  not  possessing,  as  far  as  I have  been  able  to  ascer- 
 tain, any  treatise  whatever  on  maritime  law,  or  in  any  instance  admitting  the  authority 
 of  the  Nakhodah,  to  inflict  capital  punishments.  In  this  point  of  view,  the  paper, 
 even  in  its  present  state,  may  not  be  uninteresting ; and  it  may  tend,  in  some  degree, 
 to  account  for  some  of  the  numerous  peculiarities  of  a nation  generally  believed  to 
 act,  on  most  occasions,  solely  from  individual  will,  and  ferocious  passion.” 
 
 The  following  letter  from  Dr.  Leyden  to  Mr.  Raffles  was  written  at  this  time, 
 and  has  reference  to  the  foregoing  paper. 
 
 “ Calcutta,  October  9,  1 809. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Raffles, 
 
 I have  received  both  your  letters,  and  with  great  vexation  have  to  inform 
 you  that  Lord  Minto  is  at  present  gone  to  the  unfortunate  presidency  of  Madras, 
 where  I believe  he  has  got  his  hands  full.  I laid  before  him  without  delay  the 
 manuscript  concerning  Malacca,  with  which  he  was  greatly  pleased,  and  desired  me 
 to  say  he  should  be  gratified  in  receiving  immediately  from  yourself  any  communica- 
 tions respecting  the  eastern  parts  of  a similar  nature.  I shall  not  fail  to  write  to 
 him  as  soon  as  I am  a little  recovered,  for  I have  been  for  some  time  (days  I mean) 
 confined  to  bed  by  a smart  attack  of  fever.  However,  I am  to-day  up  for  the  first 
 time,  but  not  at  all  able  to  write  letters,  so  you  must  excuse  me  for  the  present. 
 
 My  literary  studies  were  quite  knocked  on  the  head  for  some  time,  by  .the 
 duties  of  a magistrate  in  so  large  a district  as  the  twenty-four  Pergunnahs,  and  I was 
 afterwards  for  some  months  also  magistrate  of  Nadeah,  where  I was  constantly  engaged 
 in  bush-fighting  in  the  jungles.  I have  now  more  time,  and  have  again  begun  my 
 literary  avocations  with  vigour ; nor  have  I given  up  my  eastern  researches  quite. 
 Now  pray  do  contrive  to  tell  me  what  you  are  doing  in  the  literary  way,  and  to  get 
 me  a few  copies  of  the  best  Malay  manuscripts ; above  all  try  and  get  me  the  works 
 of  the  famous  Bugis  bard,  Saveri-yading,  and  any  thing  you  can  in  Bali  and  Siamese. 
 You  have  never,  I presume,  been  able  to  get  the  Batavian  Researches  into  your 
 clutches,  but  do  try  and  get  me  the  best  alphabets  of  all  the  eastern  tribes.  Have 
 you  no  Bafla  that  can  read  the  hngo  of  the  man-eaters  ? I have  got  a book  bnt 
 cannot  read  it.  I must  be  done  however  and  go  to  bed,  or  encrease  my  fever. 
 
 “ Yoius,  ever  truly. 
 
 ‘‘  J.  Leyden.” 
 
CHAPTER  II. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  proceeds  to  Calcutta — Proposes  expedition  to  Java — Lord  Minto  appoints  him  agent  to  collect 
 information  on  the  subject — Instructions  of  the  Court  of  Directors  to  expel  the  French,  and  to  give  up 
 the  island  to  the  natives — Consequences  of  such  a measure — Lord  Minto  objects  to  it — Determines  to 
 jiroceed  in  person  to  Java — Letters  of  Dr.  Leyden — His  account  of  an  excursion  in  the  Malay  Peninsula 
 — Mr,  Raffles  reports  to  Lord  Minto  his  communications  with  the  Javanese  Chieftains — The  state  of 
 the  Archipelago — Bali — Military  preparations  of  the  enemy — Discovery  of  a new  passage  for  the 
 expedition — Banca — Its  mines — Pirate  States — Queda — Penang. 
 
 Lord  Minto  was  anxious  about  this  time  to  place  Mr.  Raffles  in  the  government  of  the 
 Moluccas,  considering  it  a wider  field  for  the  exercise  of  his  talents  (1809.)  Previous 
 arrangements  interfered  with  this  intention ; and  the  com'se  of  pubhc  events  was  about 
 to  open  a field  of  still  gi’eater  importance.  In  the  mean  time  Mr.  Raffles  went  to 
 Calcutta,  and  was  received  with  great  kindness  by  Lord  Minto,  who  ever  afterwards 
 continued  his  firm  and  steady  friend,  and  reposed  in  him  the  most  unreserved 
 confidence. 
 
 The  ambitious  views  of  Bonaparte  began,  at  this  period,  to  be  more  fully  deve- 
 loped. The  annexation  of  Holland  to  France  placed  at  his  disposal  aU  the  valuable 
 and  extensive  possessions  of  the  Dutch  in  the  Eastern  Seas ; possessions  as  important 
 to  Holland  as  those  on  the  continent  of  India  are  to  Great  Britain.  France  looked  to 
 Java  as  the  point  from  whence  her  operations  might  be  most  successfully  directed, 
 not  only  against  the  political  ascendancy  of  England  in  the  East,  but  likewise  against 
 her  commercial  interests  both  abroad  and  at  home. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles,  aware  of  the  plans  which  the  English  Government  had  fonned  for 
 the  reduction  of  the  French  islands,  the  Mauritius  and  Bourbon,  and  feeling  certain, 
 from  his  local  knowledge,  that  the  resources  of  the  enemy  would  be  formidable  so 
 long  as  the  Dutch  supremacy  was  even  nominally  permitted  in  the  eastern  seas, 
 communicated  to  Lord  Minto  information  of  so  important  a nature,  that  his  Lord- 
 ship  was  induced  to  undertake,  without  delay,  the  reduction  of  Java  and  its  depen- 
 dencies. Lord  Minto  decided  on  this  measure  on  his  own  responsibihty ; but 
 had  the  satisfaction  to  receive  from  England  an  approval  of  the  measure  before  the 
 departm-e  of  the  expedition. 
 
LETTER  FROM  LORD  MINTO. 
 
 23 
 
 As  this  operation  was  dependent  upon  the  success  of  the  attempt  against  the 
 French  Islands,  it  was  deemed  advisable  that,  in  the  mean  time,  Mr.  Raffles  should 
 be  sent  as  Agent  of  the  Governor-General  to  Malacca,  from  whence  he  might 
 superintend  the  necessary  arrangements,  and  apprize  the  Government  of  Bengal 
 of  the  extent  and  nature  of  the  force  required,  and  open  such  a communication 
 with  the  native  chieftains  of  the  Archipelago  as  would,  at  any  rate,  facilitate  the 
 extension  of  the  British  influence  in  the  Eastern  Seas. 
 
 The  confidence  which  Lord  Minto  reposed  in  Mr.  Raffles  will  be  perceived  from 
 the  following  letters  that  were  addressed  to  him  during  the  progress  of  the  expedition. 
 
 From  Lord  Minto  to  Mr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Calcutta,  February,  1811. 
 
 “ The  Mauritius  and  all  the  French  islands  being  now  in  our  possession, 
 there  is  nothing  to  retard  the  execution  of  our  further  views  to  the  eastward.  The 
 expedition,  comprising  4,000  European  infantry,  with  a suitable  proportion  of  artil- 
 lery, and  4,000  native  Bengal  infantry,  with  about  300  cavalry,  will  sail  from  India 
 the  beginning  or  middle  of  March. 
 
 I am  now  to  acquaint  you  with  my  own  intention  to  proceed  in  person, 
 at  least  to  Malacca,  and  eventually,  I may  say  probably,  to  Java.  The  impossibility 
 of  your  returning  to  Bengal,  in  time,  with  the  information  which  can  alone  enable 
 me  to  frame  instructions  for  the  conduct  of  this  expedition,  and  for  setthng  the  con- 
 sequent arrangements,  has  been  very  obvious  for  some  time.  The  expediency,  not  to 
 say  necessity,  of  my  approaching  the  scene,  and  bringing  the  authority  of  Government 
 at  least  within  reach  of  reference,  is  evident.  That  resolution  is,  therefore,  taken. 
 
 “ I count  upon  meeting  you  at  Malacca;  and  then,  in  communication  with 
 yourself  and  Sir  Samuel  Achmuty,  the  final  plans,  military  and  political,  will  be 
 settled. 
 
 “ I have  no  doubt  that  the  communications  you  will  have  opened  with  the 
 Island  of  Java  and  adjacent  countries,  will  have  furnished  authentic  knowledge  of 
 the  dispositions  we  shall  meet  there,  and  enable  us  to  place  our  enterprise  upon  a 
 footing  which  will  ensure  the  concurrence  and  co-operation  of  the  native  states,  if  it 
 does  not  procure  the  acquiescence  of  the  Dutch  themselves  in  our  views. 
 
 “ I must  tell  you  in  confidence,  that  I have  received  the  sanction  of  govern- 
 ment at  home  for  this  expedition,  but  that  the  views  of  the  Directors  do  not  go 
 beyond  the  expulsion  or  reduction  of  the  Dutch  power,  the  destruction  of  their 
 fortifications,  the  distribution  of  their  arms  and  stores  to  the  natives,  and  the  eva- 
 cuation of  the  island  by  our  own  troops.  I conclude,  however,  that  the  destructive 
 and  calamitous  consequences  of  this  plan  to  so  ancient  and  populous  an  European 
 colony,  the  property  and  lives  of  which  must  fall  a sacrifice  to  the  vindictive  sway 
 of  the  Malay  chiefs,  if  transferred  suddenly  and  defenceless  to  their  dominion,  have 
 
24 
 
 LETTER  FROxM  LORD  MINTO. 
 
 not  been  fully  contemplated ; and  I have  already  stated  my  reasons  for  considering 
 a modification  of  their  orders  as  indispensable. 
 
 “ The  points  on  which  I have  been  able  to  fonn  a judgment,  with  any  con- 
 fidence, are ; first,  that  we  must  estabhsh  pro\dsionally  an  administration  to  supply 
 the  protection  which  will  have  been  lost  by  the  abohtion  of  the  Dutch  authority ; — 
 this  applies  more  particularly  to  Bata\'ia; — That  the  Dutch  may  themselves  be 
 employed,  in  a gi*eat  and  principal  proportion,  in  this  new  administration,  under  the 
 control  of  a presiding  British  authority; — that  the  two  principal  ports  of  Samarang 
 and  Gressie  must  be  retained,  with  the  territories  dependent  upon  them,  at  least 
 till  we  can  form  an  adequate  and  infoiTned  judgment  of  the  advantage  or  prejudice 
 to  be  expected  from  abandoning  them ; — that  it  may  be  considered  as  doubtful,  in 
 the  present  state  of  the  investigation,  whether  any  and  what  other  stations  should 
 be  kept  in  our  possession ; and  these  are  points  to  be  reserved  for  consideration 
 when  we  meet,  or  when  our  information  is  more  complete. 
 
 “ To  the  native  princes  and  people  the  abolition  of  Dutch  power  would  alone 
 afford  a gratification  of  rooted  passions,  and  a prospect  of  substantial  rehef  and 
 advantage,  which  may  be  expected  to  withdraw  them  from  the  Dutch  and  unite 
 them  to  our  cause : and  a system  of  connection  between  them  and  the  English 
 Government  may  be  founded  on  principles  so  manifestly  beneficial  to  the  people  of 
 the  island,  as  to  attach  them  to  our  alliance,  and  ensure  tranquillity  between  us. 
 
 ‘‘  All  this  remains  to  be  discussed  when  we  meet ; in  the  mean  while,  take  this 
 as  a sketch  and  colour  of  my  present  views. 
 
 “ I am,  sincerely  and  faithfully, 
 “ Minto.” 
 
 It  will  be  perceived,  from  the  foregoing  letter,  how  difficult  it  is  to  legislate  for 
 distant  countries ; and  how  careful  those  in  power  ought  to  be  not  only  in  the 
 selection  of  proper  men  to  fill  public  stations  far  removed  from  the  source  of  autho- 
 rity, but  also  not  to  tie  them  down  too  closely  to  any  specific  rule  of  action. 
 
 It  can  never  be  supposed  for  a moment,  that  a body  so  respectable  as  the 
 • Court  of  Directors  could  deliberately  sanction  such  an  expedition,  without  taking 
 into  account  all  the  probable  consequences.  The  mere  object  of  destroying  the 
 ascendancy  of  an  ancient  European  colony,  however  legitimate  in  itself  that  object 
 might  be  considered,  as  a means  of  weakening  a declared  enemy,  could  hardly  be  jus- 
 tifiable, if  it  were  to  be  followed  up  by  a transfer  of  that  enemy’s  power  to  the  hands 
 of  milhons  of  uncivilised  people,  who  would  instantly  annihilate  the  whole  popula- 
 tion of  their  ancient  masters.  Such,  however,  would  inevitably  have  been  the  conse- 
 quence of  an  exact  obedience  to  the  orders  of  the  Court.  It  is  precisely  on  such 
 an  occasion  that  the  talents,  the  prudence,  and  the  local  knowledge  of  a distant 
 authority  are  necessary  to  be  called  into  action. 
 
 It  is  tme  that,  by  incurring  the  responsibility  attached  to  such  a departure  from 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  LEYDEN. 
 
 25 
 
 his  orders,  the  individual  may  sometimes  risk  both  his  fortune  and  fame  ; but  no  man 
 is  fit  for  high  station  any  where,  who  is  not  prepared  to  risk  even  more  than  either 
 fame  or  fortune,  at  the  call  of  his  judgment  and  his  conscience. 
 
 The  name  of  the  writer  of  the  next  letter  would  alone  give  an  interest  to  the 
 whole  of  it ; but  parts  are  so  purely  personal  and  private,  that  they  have  been 
 necessarily  omitted.  It  was  written  while  the  expedition  was  still  in  preparation. 
 
 From  Dr.  Leyden  to  Mr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ In  Campbell’s  case,  I experienced  a sad  vexation,  because  I was  com- 
 pelled to  send  my  letter  up  to  Barrackpore,  for  his  lordship’s  revision,  so  that  it  did 
 not  return  till  Campbell  was  gone  entirely.  The  military  queries  which  I send  you 
 enclosed,  I regret  any  delay  in  yoiu*  receiving,  but  the  letter  itself  was  only  to  say 
 that  his  Lordship  was  exceedingly  well-disposed  towards  you,  desirous  of  giving  you 
 every  opportunity  of  distinguishing  yourself,  and  rewarding  you  as  highly  as  the 
 imperious  nature  of  circumstances  would  permit.  This  you  knew  very  well  before, 
 and  I was  very  glad  that  his  Lordship  thought  it  unnecessary  to  cause  me  to  wTite 
 you  a formal  letter  on  the  subject.  Indeed,  Raffles,  he  has  always  talked  of  you  to 
 me,  with  a kindness  very  uncommon  in  a Governor-General,  and  says,  that  he  is 
 pleased  wth  thinking  he  will  be  able  to  arrange  matters  very  much  to  your  satis- 
 faction, when  he  arrives.  I am  glad  that  I have  been  able  to  keep  him  tight  up  to 
 this  point.  He  is  still  fluctuating  between  the  two  old  plans  of  keeping  the  country 
 or  rendering  it  independent.  The  orders  which  he  has  received  from  home  are 
 entirely  and  positively  in  favor  of  the  last.  He  is  required  to  expel  the  French  and 
 Dutch,  and  leave  the  country  entirely  to  itself.  This  his  own  good  sense  directly 
 saw  to  be  impossible,  fi'om  the  shoals  of  half-castes  at  Batavia.  Colebrook  and 
 Lumsden  have  succeeded  in  making  some  impression  on  him  by  talking  of  accus- 
 toming the  Malays  to  independence,  and  all  that ; but  may  I never  be  a second 
 Draco,  nor  write  my  laws  in  blood,  if  they  succeed.  Succeed  they  shall  not,  that  is 
 flat,  for  the  Malays  must  neither  be  independent,  nor  yet  very  dependent,  but  we 
 must  have  a general  Malay  league,  in  which  all  the  Rajahs  must  be  united  like  the 
 old  Ban  of  Burgundy,  or  the  latter  one  of  Germany,  and  these  must  all  be  repre- 
 sented in  a general  parliament  of  the  Malay  States,  like  the  Amphictyonic  council  of 
 the  Greeks,  and  this  council  should  meet  in  the  Island  of  Madura,  or  some  celebrated 
 ancient  place,  and  under  the  protection  of  the  Governor  of  Java.  We  ought  to 
 retain  in  some  shape  or  other,  all  the  Dutch  possessions  at  first,  while  we  make  our- 
 selves known;  and  you  should  write  to  all  the  Rajahs  of  the  Malays,  however  far,  . or 
 wherever  situated,  to  come  in  person,  to  meet  the  Good  Maha  Rajah  of  Bengal  : 
 and  state  in  yom*  letters,  that  the  Malay  States  are  expressly  invited  to  send  their 
 most  ancient  and  sagacious  men,  to  assist  at  a general  meeting  or  congress,  to  take 
 into  consideration  aU  their  laws,  institutions,  government,  religion,  and  policy. 
 
 E 
 
•26 
 
 LETTER  FROM  LORD  MINTO. 
 
 Publish  broad  and  wide  the  coming  of  the  good  Maha  Rajah  hke  another  Secunder 
 Zulkaram,  to  reign  in  Malacca,  and  conquer  Java,  and  drive  out  all  the  cruel  Dutch, 
 and  treacherous  French,  and  take  away  all  embargos  and  restrictions  on  trade, 
 abolish  piracy,  and  bring  peace  and  happiness  to  all  the  anah  Malaijas.  In  short, 
 make  a gi*eat  and  mighty  noise,  for  we  will  compel  his  Lordship  to  be  a gi-eater  man 
 than  he  w^ould  wish  to  be,  if  left  alone. 
 
 “ All  are  utterly  confounded  by  his  Lordship’s  resolution,  of  which  nobody  had 
 the  slightest  suspicion ; and  so  completely  were  they  all  taken  aback,  that  nobody 
 volunteered  for  service,  till  the  whole  aiTangements  were  settled.  Indeed,  more  than 
 the  half  are  as  yet  thunder-struck ; and  are  very  far  from  believing  that  he  has  any 
 real  intention  of  visiting  Jav^a.  ‘No,’  say  they,  ‘to  go  and  take  such  a httle  paltry 
 place  vvoidd  not  be  decorous,  no,  no;  there  must  be  an  insinTection  breaking  out 
 again  at  Madras.’  The  selection  of  your  humble  servant  is  another  very  ominous 
 circumstance ; and  I dare  say  has  deteiTed  a gi'eat  many  smart  bucks  from  coming 
 forward.  The  civihans  of  the  mint  committee  have  already  discovered  me  to  be  a 
 very  devil  incarnate,  and  the  gi'eatest  mischief-maker  in  the  land.  They  will  be  very 
 glad  to  see  the  back-seams  of  7ny  hose  at  all  events.  I volunteered  of  course,  as 
 soon  as  his  Lordship  signified  his  desire  of  having  me  with  him,  to  come  off  directly 
 to  join  you;  but  he  told  me  that  he  should  prefer  having  me  at  his  elbow.  You 
 may  be  sure  no  possible  delay  but  will  be  avoided  when  I am  of  the  party.  We  go 
 first  to  Madras,  to  see  the  whole  force  off  from  that  quarter.  The  Bengal  force  will 
 be  shipped  directly.  In  the  Modeste  go  with  his  Lordship  from  Madras  to  Malacca, 
 Mr.  Seton,  the  present  Resident  at  Delhi,  w^ho  goes  to  be  Governor  of  Penang.  He 
 is  an  excellent  character:  Mr.  Elliot,  Captain  Taylor,  Mr.  Gordon,  surgeon  to  the 
 body-guard,  Mr.  Hope,  whom  you  saw  when  he  came  from  the  Mamitius  when  you 
 were  here,  and  your  humble  servant.  Pray  be  most  particular  in  your  mihtary 
 queries  against  the  time  of  our  arrival,  and  be  able  to  teU  where  the  disposable  force 
 is  stationed,  for  that  will  be  of  main  utility.  I have  secured  Greigh  to  be  mider  your 
 command,  and  that  is  giving  you  a fine  fellow  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  active  and 
 alert,  and  brother-in-law  of  Lord  Rollo  besides,  and  you  owe  not  me,  but  a good 
 many,  for  the  circumstance.” 
 
 In  March,  (1811,)  Lord  iVIinto  wrote  again  from  Calcutta  to  Mr.  Raffles,  as  to 
 the  progi'ess  of  the  expedition. 
 
 “ I still  hope  we  may  take  our  final  departure  from  Malacca  in  April.  The 
 resolution  will  be  taken  there  respecting  the  point  to  w^hich  we  should  first  direct 
 our  operations ; and  this  must  depend  greatly  on  what  you  tell  us  concerning  the 
 position  of  Daendels.  If  he  remains  in  the  West,  w'e  must  no  doubt  begin  there; 
 and,  under  the  circumstances  of  the  season,  I should  not  think  that  unfortimate, 
 for  the  affair  once  settled  with  him,  and  if  he  is  either  beat,  capitulates,  is  deserted, 
 
LETTER  FROM  LORD  MINTO. 
 
 27 
 
 or  is  driven  to  the  hills,  our  game  is  won ; and  we  are  independent  of  the  monsoon. 
 If  he  is  concentrated  in  the  East,  our  passage  will  be  longer ; hut  we  shall  have 
 enough  of  the  dry  season  left  to  spare.  We  shall  also  determine  at  Malacca  what 
 course  to  steer;  whether  to  march  up  along  the  North  coast  of  Java,  to  make  the 
 passage  nearer  to  Borneo,  or  to  go  north  about  at  once. 
 
 “ You  know  that  I am  an  Argonaut  myself  in  this  adventme.  I embark  here 
 on  the  7th  for  Madras.  * * * I bring  Hope  and  Leyden  with  me,  in  the  Dutch 
 
 and  Malay  departments.  I bring  also  Mr.  Seton,  late  Resident  at  Delhi,  an  admirable 
 man,  and  now  Governor  of  Prince  of  Wales’  Island.  I shall  probably  instal  him  at 
 Penang ; and,  then,  it  is  equally  probable  that  he  may  accompany  me  to  the  east- 
 ward for  counsel  and  general  assistance.  Not  to  alarm  you,  however,  he  will  have 
 no  further  relation  with  the  Javanese  affair,  than  as  amicus  curice  ; and  as  such  he  is 
 invaluable  in  head,  heart,  and  hand. 
 
 “ I have  another  colleague,  of  whom  I cannot  speak  in  too  exalted  terms.  I 
 mean  Sir  Samuel  Achmuty,  whom  I have  never  seen ; but  I have  conceived  the 
 highest  opinion  of  his  talents,  judgment,  and,  above  all,  character,  from  his  cor- 
 respondence. It  is  impossible  that  any  thing  can  disturb  the  harmony  of  this  im- 
 portant service,  as  far  as  he  and  I are  concerned ; and  I am  most  happy  to  discern 
 in  his  mind  the  soundest  judgment,  and  the  most  enlarged  ways  of  thinking,  on  the 
 very  points  which  are  likely  to  abound  in  this  grand  and  dehcate  transaction. 
 
 “ You  will  be  glad  to  find  my  friend  Greigh  in  this  affair ; he  is  placed  at  your 
 disposal,  and  is  peculiarly  suited,  as  well  as  his  ship,  to  many  useful  purposes.  1 
 bring  Commodore  Hayes,  with  high  command,  as  an  efficient  and  intelligent  mem- 
 ber of  such  an  enterprise. 
 
 * Jif 
 
 “ It  is  proposed  to  style  you  Secretary  to  the  Governor-General  when  we  come 
 together ; for  then  your  character  of  agent  will  naturally  merge ; secretary  is  the 
 highest  office  below  the  council,  and  was  lately  held  by  Mr.  Edmonstone  at  Madras. 
 I hope  you  do  not  doubt  the  jirosiiectwe  interest  I have  always  taken,  and  do  not 
 cease  to  take,  in  your  personal  views  and  welfare.  I have  not  spoken  distinctly  on 
 that  subject,  only  because  it  has  been  from  circumstances  impossible  for  me  to  pledge 
 myself  to  the  fulfilment  of  my  own  wishes,  and,  I may  add,  intentions,  if  prac- 
 ticable. The  best  is,  in  truth,  still  subject  to  one  contingency,  the  origin  of  which 
 is  earlier  than  my  acquaintance  with  you;  but  I am  happy  to  say  that  I do  not 
 expect  an  obstacle  to  my  very  strong  desire  upon  this  point ; and  if  it  should  occur, 
 the  utmost  will  be  done  to  make  the  best  attainable  situation  worthy  of  your  ser\ices, 
 and  of  the  high  esteem  I profess,  with  the  greatest  sincerity  for  your  person. 
 
 “ Your’s  very  faithfully, 
 Minto.” 
 
28 
 
 LETTERS  FROM  DR.  LEYDEN. 
 
 It  is  impossible  to  read  this  Letter  of  Lord  Minto’s  without  beine-  strono-lv 
 impressed  by  the  kind  interest  for  the  welfare  of  others,  the  uprightness  of  intention, 
 and  the  sincerity  of  heart,  which  it  breathes  throughout. 
 
 Dr.  Leyden  announced  Lord  Minto’s  amval  at  Penang,  in  the  follo'wing  letter 
 to  Mr.  Raffles. 
 
 Penang,  April  19,  1811. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Raffles, 
 
 ""  Here  we  are  safe  at  Penang.  AVe  anchored  here  last  night  about  nine 
 o’clock.  Philips  came  aboard  with  Erskine  and  Clubley  at  six  this  morning,  and 
 we  have  just  had  time  to  get  ashore,  proceed  to  his  house  at  Suffolk,  and  finish 
 breakfast.  Lord  Minto  has  just  retired  to  wite  to  you ; and  Mr.  Seton,  of  Delhi, 
 your  new  Governor,  requests  me  to  send  you  a very  Scotch  shake  of  the  fist,  which 
 he  is  eager  to  give  you.  You  will  find  him  a man  of  the  right  sort,  I promise  you. 
 ^Ve  had  a very  tedious  passage  to  IMadras  of  thirty  days,  during  which  nothing 
 befel,  except  one  very  unlucky  incident.  Mr.  WiUiam  Elliot,  his  Lordship’s  youngest 
 son,  was  very  ill  all  the  passage  to  Madras ; and  when  he  reached  the  latter  place 
 he  was  as  nearly  as  possible  given  up  by  the  physicians,  who  pronounced  him  in  the 
 last  stage  of  a decline.  This  has  distressed  his  Lordship  exceedingly.  He  has 
 been  obhged  to  send  him  back  to  Bengal,  and  to  send  for  his  brother,  J.  Elliott, 
 his  secretary,  to  accompany  him. 
 
 “ The  first  diHsion  of  Madras  troops  had  sailed  a week  before  us,  and  we  have 
 been  just  sixteen  days  on  our  passage.  The  last  diHsion  was  to  sail  on  the  2nd 
 of  May.” 
 
 During  the  period  of  his  stay  at  Malacca,  preHous  to  the  amval  of  Lord 
 Minto,  Mr.  Raffles  was  joined  by  his  friend  Dr.  Leyden  ; who,  in  making  an  excursion 
 into  the  interior  of  the  ]\Ialay  peninsula,  VTote  him  the  following  characteristic  letter. 
 
 From  Dr.  Leyden  to  Mr.  Raffles. 
 
 Gappam,  I\Iay  31,  1811. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Raffles, 
 
 “ I take  the  opportunity  of  Mr.  Kock’s  return  to  inform  you  that  I have 
 safely  reached  Gappam,  and  to-morrow  I shall  proceed  to  the  Ayer  Panas.  Me 
 made,  on  the  whole,  a very  pleasant  journey,  considering  my  expectations  on  the 
 subject ; and  I had  the  mortification  not  to  be  once  compelled  to  have  recourse  to 
 any  of  my  old  moss-trooping  habits.  To  compensate  this,  however,  we  had  a very 
 severe  rain  for  a gi'eat  part  of  the  way ; and  the  roads,  which  pass  down  some  very 
 pretty  declirtties,  were  so  plaguy  slippery,  that  they  gave  me  no  opportunity  of 
 admiring  them,  excepting  once,  that  my  courser-wight  pitched  head-foremost  over 
 
LORD  MINTO’S  ARRIVAL  AT  MALACCA. 
 
 29 
 
 one  of  them,  and  I head-foremost  over  him : when,  thanks  to  my  thick  skull  and 
 stiff  neck,  I sprung  to  my  feet  as  alert  as  a rope-dancer,  and  had  a very  pretty  peep 
 at  the  landscape  before  the  horse  was  able  to  rise.  The  country,  as  far  as  I have 
 yet  seen  it,  is  most  excellent ; and  it  would  grieve  Mr.  Seton  to  observe  the  devas- 
 tation and  dilapidations  visible  every  where.  I believe,  however,  I should  have  said, 
 deUgnifications,  instead  of  dilapidations,  for  never  a stone  is  used  in  the  construc- 
 tion of  a Malay  house.  I am  very  much  pleased  with  the  inhabitants  of  the 
 Campong,  or  vale  of  Gappam.  They  are  a clean,  healthy,  stout-looking  race  ; and 
 appear  to  me  to  be  as  excellent  peasants  as  I have  ever  seen.  They  seem,  from 
 the  great  superabundance  of  fniit,  to  be  pretty  well  provided  in  the  article  of  food ; 
 but  how  they  procure  their  clothing  is  not  quite  so  ob\dous.  The  soil  of  the  ridges 
 is  a hght  marl,  and  of  the  bottoms  a deep  black  mould  ; and  I am  sure  there  is  not 
 a more  fertile  country  in  all  Malabar. 
 
 “ As  far  as  I can  learn,  the  Pangulu  of  Naning  is  as  nearly  as  possible  in  a 
 state  of  open  rebellion ; and  the  people  here  say  that  he  has  got  a signet  from 
 Menangkabu,  with  which  he  flourishes  away  famously.  If  I were  Mr.  Seton,  I 
 would  give  him  an  opportunity  of  contemplating  a company  of  Sepoys  for  a couple 
 of  days.  The  supineness  of  the  former  government  of  Malacca  is  only  equalled  by 
 the  wickedness  of  the  maxims  under  which  it  acted.  Tell  Mr.  Seton  that  I earnestly 
 entreat  him  to  give  me  a grant  of  a couple  of  hundred  of  ruined  villages,  for  here 
 there  is  nothing  else  to  be  met  with. 
 
 “ If  any  thing  occm's  which  any  way  requires  my  presence,  let  me  be  sum- 
 moned without  delay,  and  let  me  hear  of  your  arrangements  when  they  are  formed. 
 I And  myself  here  completely  at  my  ease  ; and  that  Mr.  Kock  has  made  only  a great 
 deal  too  many  preparations.  I have  walked  about  all  day,  and  done  nothing  but 
 look  at  the  country.  I meant  to  have  put  Mrs.  R.  into  a postscript,  but  have 
 desisted  on  considering  that  this  is  generally  the  most  valuable  part  of  a lady’s  letter, 
 and  have  reserved  that  honor  for  Miss  R. ; apropos  of  ladies,  I have  already  become 
 an  immense  favourite  of  that  goodly  old  damsel,  the  Pungulu  of  Gappam’s  wife, 
 from  having  dined  entirely  on  curries,  &c.  of  her  own  dressing ; the  lady  has  not 
 yet  ventured  to  shew  herself ; but  I have  been  informed  of  the  fact,  which  I hold 
 for  Gospel.  The  only  thing  in  which  I have  been  disappointed  is  in  the  non-arrival 
 of  the  fatong  whom  we  summoned.  But  such  a place  as  Gappam  for  musquitos 
 certainly  never  was  seen ; in  spite  of  my  thick  boots  I And  it  quite  impossible  to 
 keep  my  ground,  or  indeed  to  write  a single  word  more  than  that  I always  am, 
 
 “ Your’s  very  truly, 
 
 “ J.  Leyden.” 
 
 On  the  18th  of  April  (1811)  Lord  Minto  arrived  at  Penang,  and  on  the  9th  of 
 May  at  Malacca,  where  Mr.  Raffles  had  been  long  waiting  for  him  in  great  anxiety, 
 
:30 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  REPORTS  TO  LORD  MINTO. 
 
 as  the  south-east  monsoon  was  every  day  increasing  in  violence,  and  rendering  the 
 passage  more  and  more  uncertain. 
 
 From  the  moment  of  his  an'ivalat  Malacca  Mr.  Raffles  had  devoted  himself  \vith 
 all  his  usual  ardour  to  the  acquirement  of  information  on  every  point  calculated  to 
 promote  the  conquest  of  Java,  and  communicated  the  result  of  his  enquiries  to  Lord 
 Minto  in  the  following  letters  : 
 
 To  the  Right  Honourable  Gilbert  Lord  Minto,  Governor-General,  ^'c. 
 
 ‘‘  My  Lord, 
 
 “ Haring  shortly  after  my  despatches  to  Mr.  Edmonstone,  under  date  the 
 31st  January  and  10th  Febmary  last,  received  intimation  of  your  lordship’s  intention 
 of  visiting  the  Eastward  in  person,  it  has  been  unnecessary  for  me  to  forward  to 
 Bengal  any  fiulher  accounts  in  detail;  and  as  I have,  since  your  Lordship’s  arrival  at 
 Malacca,  had  the  honor  of  personally  coimnunicating  on  every  point  to  which  my 
 attention  has  been  directed,  it  may  now  be  only  requisite  that  1 should  throw  into 
 official  form  a short  statement  of  my  proceedings  since  the  date  of  my  last  letter, 
 and  request  your  Lordship’s  attention  to  some  important  objects,  concerning  which 
 sufflcient  information  has  not  as  yet  been  procured,  to  enable  us  to  decide  promptly 
 on  the  measures  which  are  requisite  to  be  pursued  with  regard  to  them. 
 
 “ Accompanying  my  letter  of  the  31st  January,  I had  the  honor  to  transmit  for 
 your  lordship’s  information  translations  of  the  letters  which  I had  deemed  it  adrisable 
 to  addi'ess  to  several  of  the  principal  chieftains  in  Java,  in  the  Malay  and  Javanese 
 languages;  fmdher  letters  in  these  languages  were  fomarded  to  the  Eastward  by 
 every  opportunity  that  offered,  and  on  receiring  authentic  intelligence  of  the  fall  of 
 the  Maiuitius,  which  gave  me  a more  certain  expectation  of  the  speedy  departm'e  of 
 the  present  expedition  from  India,  these  intimations  of  the  intended  approach  of  the 
 British  forces  were  thrown  in  more  generally : as  I conceived  that  some  intimation  of 
 our  intentions  would  also  be  acceptable  to  the  Dutch  inhabitants,  in  the  present  un- 
 precedented situation  in  which  they  are  placed,  I likewise  addressed  to  them  a short 
 proclamation  in  the  Dutch  language,  various  copies  of  which  I have  reason  to  think 
 have  safely  reached  their  destination ; a translation  of  this  proclamation,  with  a copy 
 of  the  original  Dutch,  I formerly  had  the  honor  of  transmitting  to  your  Lordship,  and 
 hope  that  it  has  met  your  approbation. 
 
 “ In  these, 'as  well  as  every  communication  addressed  to  the  Eastern  chieftains, 
 I endeavoured  to  adhere  as  much  as  possible  to  general  terms,  feehng  satisfied  that 
 we  shall  hereafter  find  it  of  importance,  to  be  as  free  from  prerious  obligations  and 
 stipulations  as  possible.  The  whole  nature  of  our  relations  with  the  native  chief- 
 tains will  be  so  completely  changed  on  our  becoming  masters  of  the  Dutch  empire 
 of  the  Eastern  Isles,  that  in  many  cases  we  shall  find  it  necessary  to  interfere  mate- 
 rially with  the  very  powers  with  wiiom  it  has  hitherto  been  our  interest  to  establish 
 
COMMUNICATIONS  WITH  THE  JAVANESE  CHIEFTAINS. 
 
 terms  of  friendship  ; and  as  there  seemed  to  remain  no  doubt  whatever  of  the  favour- 
 able reception  which  the  English  might  expect  to  meet  on  the  island  of  Java,  both 
 from  the  native  and  European  inhabitants,  it  became  less  necessary  to  hold  out 
 extraordinary  encouragements  and  assurances,  which  might  possibly  stand  in  the 
 way  of  the  future  arrangements  which  the  state  of  the  country  after  the  conquest 
 may  oblige  us  to  adopt. 
 
 “ With  respect  to  the  communications  which  I have  attempted  to  open  directly 
 with  the  different  Javanese  chiefs,  through  the  medium  of  native  agents,  I feel  it 
 necessary  to  state  to  your  Lordship  that  these  have  been  materially  impeded  by  the 
 position  taken  off  Batavia,  and  along  the  coast  of  Java,  by  the  different  vessels  of 
 his  Majesty’s  navy  that  have  been  lately  employed  on  the  Eastern  station.  I do  not 
 mean  to  insinuate  that  this  has  happened  by  a direct  and  intentional  interference, 
 but  rather  indirectly,  by  exciting  an  universal  alarm  in  the  minds  of  the  natives, 
 whether  Malays  or  Javanese.  As  few  of  the  Eastern  nations  are  at  all  acquainted 
 with  the  English  language,  and  almost  as  few  of  the  officers  of  his  Majesty’s  navy 
 are  able  to  communicate  directly  with  the  natives  in  the  Malay  language,  the  danger 
 of  not  being  able  to  make  themselves  understood  always  appears  very  formidable  to 
 the  natives,  and  there  is  reason  to  suppose  that,  in  various  instances,  it  has  led  to 
 consequences  of  the  most  fatal  kind.  It  must  also  be  admitted  that  the  objects  of 
 his  Majesty’s  navy,  in  visiting  the  coast  of  Java,  were  calculated  to  excite  in  the 
 minds  of  the  Javanese  and  Malays  a very  different  impression  of  the  intentions  of 
 the  English  from  that  which  it  was  my  wish  to  convey  to  them,  and  which  has  not 
 only  excited  in  my  mind  considerable  alarm  for  the  safety  of  some  of  my  native 
 agents,  but  likewise  the  fear  that  these  proceedings  may  render  our  proclamations 
 susceptible  of  an  injurious  interpretation. 
 
 “ Independently  of  the  native  agents  employed  to  convey  to  the  eastward 
 favourable  intimations  of  our  intentions,  I deemed  it  necessary  to  despatch  directly 
 to  the  Isle  of  Bali,  in  the  first  place.  Lieutenant  Smith  in  the  Arethusa  cutter,  and 
 afterwards  Mr.  Greigh  of  the  brig  Minto.  For  my  instructions  issued  to  Lieutenant 
 Smith,  and  subsequently  to  Mr.  Greigh,  I beg  to  refer  your  Lordship  to  enclosure 
 No.  1,  which  also  contains  translations  of  my  letters  addressed  to  the  Bali  Rajahs, 
 and  the  different  answers  which  have  been  received  from  them. 
 
 “ Mr.  Greigh’s  report  on  his  return  from  Bali  Baliling,  as  well  as  the  letters  of 
 the  Bali  Rajahs,  which  evince  the  warmest  and  most  sincere  attachment  of  these 
 chieftains  to  the  English  cause,  will  I have  no  doubt  prove  highly  satisfactory  to 
 your  Lordship.  The  Rajah  of  Bali  Baliling,  with  whom  I first  opened  a communi- 
 cation, has  not  only  on  all  occasions  exhibited  the  greatest  demonstrations  of  friend- 
 ship towards  the  English,  but  zealously  co-operated  with  me  in  conveying  letters 
 and  intelligence  to  the  Eastern  chiefs,  with  whom  I have  found  it  most  difficult  to 
 open  a communication,  particularly  the  Susuhunang,  the  sultan  of  Mataram,  the 
 
32 
 
 BALT. 
 
 sultan  of  Madura  and  the  Panambuhan  of  Samanap.  The  sultan  of  Carang  Asam 
 and  Lombok,  to  whom  I had  not  addressed  a letter  in  the  first  instance,  as  soon  as 
 he  was  informed  of  our  intentions  of  invading  Java,  came  immediately  forward  and 
 offered  his  sernces  in  the  most  friendly  manner.  The  other  Rajahs  of  Bali,  with 
 whom  a direct  communication  has  not  as  yet  been  opened,  are  all  I understand 
 equally  well  affected  to  the  English  cause. 
 
 “ As  the  success  of  the  measures  adopted  with  regard  to  the  Bali  Rajahs  has 
 ])een  so  complete,  that  we  may  safely  count  on  every  kind  of  assistance  which  the 
 islands  of  Bali  and  Lombok  are  capable  of  furnishing,  I think  it  of  some  importance 
 to  advert  somewhat  more  particularly  to  their  present  state  and  resom'ces,  than  in 
 my  former  despatches  to  your  Lordship. 
 
 The  island  of  Bali  is  inhabited  by  a pecuhar  nation,  differing  in  language  and 
 manners  from  all  the  other  races  of  the  East,  and  very  few  of  whom  have  ever 
 adopted  the  religion  of  Islam.  As  a nation  they  are  not  so  numerous  as  to  be 
 dangerous  to  the  Enghsh,  and  yet  sufficiently  numerous  to  be  in  the  highest  degi'ee 
 useful.  As  the  Dutch,  fi-om  similar  causes  and  motives  of  policy,  chiefly  employed 
 the  natives  of  hladura,  who  are  like'srise  a peculiar  nation,  in  maintaining  Java,  so 
 we  have  it  in  our  power  to  employ  the  Bali  nation,  who  have  ne^’er  been  on  friendly 
 tenns  -with  any  European  nation  but  ourselves,  and  who  by  their  language  and  re- 
 ligion are  separated  fi-om  all  other  nations  of  the  East  Indies;  the  only  people  uith 
 whom  they  have  any  considerable  coiTespondence  or  connexion,  are  the  Bugis  and 
 Macassar  nations,  whose  traders  are  in  the  habit  of  rtsiting  the  islands  of  Bali  and 
 Lombok,  and  uith  both  of  whom  there  are  similar  and  obrious  motives  of  policy  for 
 our  cultivating  the  most  intimate  and  close  connexion.  The  religion  of  Bali,  which 
 insulates  them  almost  entirely  from  either  the  INIalays  or  Javanese,  and  which 
 renders  them  proof  against  all  the  deceptions  and  influence  of  the  Arab  traders, 
 tends  materially  to  dispose  them  to  enter  into  the  most  intimate  connexions  with 
 the  English. 
 
 “ Another  point  of  essential  importance  to  the  English  is,  that  the  island  of 
 Bali,  which  was  first  visited  by  the  English,  has  never  been  conquered  by  any  other 
 nation,  and  even  the  Dutch  have  never  been  able  to  establish  any  claims  to  it,  of 
 either  territory  or  authority.  In  1684  they  established  a resident  in  Bali,  for  the 
 piu-pose  of  trading  in  rice,  cotton  and  slaves:  but  they  speedily  withdrew  the  re- 
 sidency. The  Rajah  of  Badong,  on  the  south  coast,  has  since  that  period  allowed 
 them  several  times  to  return  and  settle  a factory,  but  in  the  course  of  a few  )-ears 
 they  have  always  found  it  necessary  to  abandon  it.  None  of  the  other  Bali  Rajahs 
 have  ever  pennitted  the  Dutch  to  have  any  establishment  among  them,  and  there- 
 fore whatever  connexions  we  form  with  the  Bali  nation  at  present,  are  the  more 
 likely  to  sunive  any  aiTangements  which  might  be  the  consequence  of  a peace 
 in  Europe. 
 
BALI.— BANTAM. 
 
 oo 
 OO 
 
 “ The  Rajah  most  respected  for  his  antiquity  on  Bali,  is  the  Rajah  of  Kasamba, 
 who  in  ancient  times  had  dominion  over  the  whole  island ; at  present  his  power  is 
 greatly  diminished.  The  most  powerful  is  the  Rajah  of  Carang  Asam,  who  possesses 
 the  island  of  Lombok,  and  can  bring  readily  into  the  field  upwards  of  30,000  men  in 
 arms.  After  him  ranks  the  Rajah  of  Bali  Bahling,  who  can  muster  from  lO  to 
 15,000  men.  The  other  Bali  Rajahs  are  those  of  Taman,  Bali,  and  Badong.  All 
 these  Rajahs,  with  the  great  mass  of  their  subjects,  adhere  to  the  ancient  and 
 peculiar  religion  of  Bali.  The  Rajah  of  Badong  is  the  only  one  that  has  ever 
 formed  any  connexion  with  the  Dutch,  and  at  the  instance  of  the  Rajah  of  Carang 
 Asam,  he  lately  seized  every  Dutchman,  and  every  man  in  their  interest,  and  sent 
 them  out  of  the  island. 
 
 “ In  a political  point  of  view,  at  the  present  juncture,  I apprehend  Bali  must  be 
 admitted  to  be  of  the  first  importance.  The  facility  of  procuring  from  the  islands 
 of  Bali  and  Lombok  whatever  quantity  of  fresh  provisions  and  live  stock  may  be 
 required  for  our  armies  in  Java,  must  be  admitted  to  be  a point  of  the  first  importance, 
 especially  if  the  campaign  should  be  unexpectedly  prolonged,  or  considerable  supplies 
 of  men  and  arms  be  received  from  old  France  by  the  enemy,  before  it  can  be  brought 
 to  a termination. 
 
 In  the  event  too  of  such  an  occurrence  as  the  latter  taking  place,  or  from 
 any  other  causes,  our  forces  being  greatly  outnumbered  by  the  enemy,  there  is  no 
 doubt  that  any  number  of  men,  certainly  not  less  than  15,000,  or  perhaps  20,000, 
 could  be  procured  in  Bali  and  Lombok  with  the  utmost  expedition,  to  co-operate 
 with  our  troops,  which  might  prove  of  the  most  essential  service,  in  a war  carried 
 on  amid  the  mountains  and  jungles,  to  which  all  the  operations  of  Marshal  Daendels 
 indicate  an  intention  of  transferring  it. 
 
 ‘‘  Another  advantage,  however,  which  we  have  actually  derived  from  the 
 favourable  disposition  of  the  Bali  Rajahs,  is  the  good  impression  respecting  our  inten- 
 tions which  by  their  means  has  been  conveyed  to  the  more  eastern  nations,  espe- 
 cially the  Bugis  and  Macassar  tribes,  concerning  whom  I shall  have  occasion  to  say 
 more  in  the  sequel.  But  it  is  not  confined  to  these  tribes  alone,  but  extends  like- 
 wise to  the  tribes  of  Sambawa,  Bima,  Ende,  and  the  whole  chain  of  low  islands 
 which  extend  from  Java  to  the  Moluccas,  while  at  the  same  time  it  puts  us  in  con- 
 dition to  hold  in  check,  should  we  find  it  necessary,  the  whole  Dutch  force  of  the 
 division  of  Surabaya,  by  a comparatively  small  number  of  troops  placed  in  Bali. 
 
 “ With  respect  to  the  west  of  Java,  it  appears  from  the  latest  accounts  that  the 
 Panambahan  Anom  and  the  Pangerang  Ahmed,  the  near  relations  of  the  late  king  of 
 Bantam,  are  still  in  sufficient  force  in  the  mountains  to  maintain  a determined  resist- 
 ance to  the  Dutch,  and  even  the  Bantamese,  who  have  ostensibly  submitted  to  the 
 Dutch,  have  taken  every  occasion  to  manifest  their  favourable  disposition  to  the 
 English,  and  only  request  that  they  would  not  land  in  the  country  till  they  land 
 
 F 
 
34 
 
 JAVA. 
 
 in  sufficient  force.  The  same  disposition  has  been  manifested  by  the  Lampungs  on 
 the  east  of  Sumatra,  who  are  intimately  connected  with  the  Bantamese.  I have  not 
 hitherto  been  able  to  learn  whether  the  communications  forwarded  by  me  to  that 
 quarter  have  reached  the  chiefs  of  Bantam,  but  the  demonstrations  of  a favourable 
 disposition  towards  the  English,  wEich  they  have  made  wherever  an  opportunity  of 
 communicating  with  the  ships  of  his  Majesty’s  navy  has  presented  itself,  is  sufficiently 
 satisfactory. 
 
 “ With  respect  to  my  communications  with  Madm'a,  Solo,  and  Mataram,  though 
 I can  entertain  httle  doubt  that  some  of  them  have  reached  their  destination,  yet  I 
 have  not  been  able  to  learn  what  effects  they  have  produced,  chiefly  from  the  causes 
 to  which  I have  already  alluded  as  increasing  the  natural  difficulty  of  commmiica- 
 tion  with  these  states.  My  Malay  intelhgence,  how'ever,  states  that  a ruinoiu*  pre- 
 vails to  the  eastward  that  signs  of  disaffection  and  a refractory  spirit  have  displayed 
 themselves,  not  only  in  the  island  of  Madura,  but  also  in  the  interior  of  Java. 
 Without  attaching  much  importance  to  these  reports,  I presume,  from  the  general 
 accuracy  of  my  Malay  information,  that  they  may  not  be  entirely  devoid  of  foundation. 
 
 “ With  regard  to  the  military  state  of  the  island  of  Java,  I am  happy  to  find 
 that  the  latest  intelligence  fully  corroborates  the  details  which  I formerly  had  the 
 honour  of  forwarding  to  your  Lordship. 
 
 “ Your  Lordship  is  already  acquainted  with  the  fact  of  the  French  flag  ha^^ng 
 been  substituted  throughout  Java  for  that  of  the  Dutch.  It  appears  by  the  latest 
 accounts  from  Bata\ia,  which  are  as  late  as  the  12th  idtimo,  that  a small  armed 
 brig  had  arrived  from  France  about  a month  previous  to  that  date,  bringing  out 
 instructions  for  this  change,  which  was  duly  carried  into  effect  by  proclamation. 
 The  same  brig  is  stated  to  have  also  conveyed  to  Java  intelligence  of  the  fall  of  the 
 Mauritius ; but  it  is  not  known  w'here  she  had  touched,  or  how  she  had  contrived  to 
 obtain  this  information. 
 
 “ The  most  active  and  unremitting  exertions  appear  to  have  been  made  by 
 Marshal  Daendels  towards  securing  his  defences,  and  the  fall  of  the  Mauritius  has 
 no  doubt  fully  confirmed  his  apprehensions  of  the  nature  of  the  intended  attack. 
 It  seems  cun*ently  believed  in  Java  that  the  Marshal  expects  almost  immediate 
 assistance  from  France ; and  the  circumstance  of  his  being  able  to  hoist  the  French 
 flag  at  such  a critical  moment,  and  with  so  httle  opposition,  strongly  indicates  that 
 he  relies  on  more  than  ordinary  means  of  defence,  and  confides  in  resources  which 
 render  the  sentiments  of  the  Dutch  inhabitants  of  Java  a circmnstance  of  compara- 
 tively little  importance.  Indeed,  it  cannot  fail  to  excite  our  surprise  that  a measure 
 altogether  so  unprecedented  in  its  nature,  and  which  must  of  necessity  be  obnoxious 
 to  so  considerable  a part  of  the  Dutch  population  of  Java,  should  have  been  carried 
 completely  into  effect  with  so  little  opposition,  and  nothing  can  more  strongly  illus- 
 trate the  fact,  that  the  reign  of  terror  has  extended  its  influence  to  Java.  There  is. 
 
STATEMENT  OF  THE  ENEMY’S  FORCE. 
 
 35 
 
 however,  strong  reason  for  thinking  that  the  more  respectable  part  of  the  Dutch 
 community  have  been  taken  by  sm-prise,  and  that  they  have  in  this  instance  been 
 overtaken  by  a crisis,  the  possibility  of  which  their  national  pride  had  scarcely  ever 
 suffered  them  to  contemplate,  however  obvious  it  had  been  to  the  English  nation. 
 Rumours  of  strong  private  discontents  have,  however,  reached  Malacca,  though  there 
 is  no  reason  to  think  that  any  concert  prevails  among  the  individuals  concerned  in 
 them,  or  that  any  thing  of  the  kind  will  show  itself  openly  till  we  appear  in  force  on 
 Java.  By  this  unprecedented  measm-e,  the  tie  which  bound  the  Dutch  population 
 of  Java  to  their  mother  country  is  broken  for  ever,  and  Holland  being  annihilated, 
 they  have  only  to  choose  between  the  English  and  French  nations,  in  which  case  we 
 may  confidently  count  that  their  own  interest,  if  all  other  circumstances  were  out  of 
 the  question,  would  be  sufficient  to  determine  them  to  adhere  to  the  Enghsh.  The 
 information  of  your  Lordship’s  intention  of  accompanying  the  present  expedition  to 
 Java,  of  which  I have  taken  care  to  convey  them  notice,  will,  I have  no  hesitation 
 to  say,  tend  materially  to  tranquillize  the  minds  of  the  Dutch  inhabitants,  and  to 
 determine  the  part  which  they  will  take  on  the  appearance  of  om*  armament. 
 
 “ With  respect  to  the  actual  force  of  the  enemy,  it  does  not  appear  that  any 
 very  considerable  augmentation,  beyond  what  might  have  been  calculated  upon,  has 
 been  made  since  the  date  of  the  last  accounts  which  I had  the  honour  to  transmit. 
 The  reinforcements  which  the  Marshal  has  received,  both  in  officers  and  men,  from 
 the  different  garrisons  at  the  Moluccas,  have  no  doubt  enabled  him  to  complete 
 several  of  his  defective  coi-ps ; and  as  he  appears  still  to  retain  a very  considerable 
 force  in  native  Javanese,  his  numbers  in  this  description  of  troops  may  exceed  the 
 fonner  estimate,  and  perhaps  a general  estimate  may  be  taken  at  about  30,000  men, 
 according  to  the  following  account,  which  may  be  taken  as  the  stated  strength  of 
 the  army  of  Java,  as  it  would  be  when  completed  agreeably  to  the  accounts  of  the 
 beginning  of  the  present  year  : 
 
 Cavalry,  one  regiment,  consisting  of  five  squadrons  . . . 1,200 
 
 Chasseurs,  one  regiment  of  two  battalions  of  five  companies  each  3,007 
 Artillery,  one  regiment  of  two  battalions  of  five  companies  each  . 2,007 
 
 Three  companies  of  Horse  Artillery  . . . . . .720 
 
 Infantry,  three  regiments  of  the  line,  each  regiment  of  three  bat- 
 talions of  five  companies  each  ......  9,024- 
 
 Four  garrison  regiments  of  the  same  strength  ....  12,032 
 
 27,990 
 
 with  about  2,000  Bugguese,  Ball^unen,  and  Timorese,  armed  as  pikemen. 
 
 " The  accounts  last  received  of  the  particular  disposition  of  these  corps  do  not 
 materially  differ  from  those  I formerly  transmitted;  on  the  whole,  it  appears  abso- 
 
 F 2 
 
36 
 
 POSITION  OF  THE  ENEMY’S  FORCES. 
 
 lutely  certain  that  Marshal  Daendels  is  concentrating  his  best  rtoops  on  the  western 
 part  of  the  island  and  in  the  rtcinity  of  Batarta.  As  to  Batarta  itself,  it  obrtously 
 holds  no  consideration  either  in  the  cirtl  arrangements  of  the  Marshal,  or  in  his 
 intended  plan  of  defence.  It  has  been  dismantled  of  all  its  fortifications ; its  public 
 stores,  ammmiition,  and  archives  have  all  been  removed,  and  every  means  have  been 
 employed  to  induce  the  inhabitants,  both  Em-opean  and  native,  to  desert  it  entirely- 
 The  temporaiy  seat  of  government  is  estabhshed  at  Weld  de  Freeden,  where  the 
 public  functionaries  of  every  description  are  obliged  to  reside  for  the  present ; but 
 an-angements  are  making  for  the  transfer  of  the  whole  administration  to  Buitenzorg, 
 at  the  distance  of  about  thirty-five  miles  from  Batarta,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Blue 
 Mountains.  M'eld  de  Freeden,  the  first  military  post  of  importance  on  the  rear  of 
 Batavia,  can  only  be  considered  as  a fortified  camp ; Cornelis,  at  the  distance  of  a 
 little  more  than  five  miles  from  Batarta,  is  the  first  fortified  post  of  importance ; it 
 consists  of  a fort  which  stands  on  the  centre  of  several  batteries,  the  fi-ont  covered 
 by  a canal  and  the  fianks  by  a river,  while  a battery  placed  on  a rising  ground  com- 
 mands the  rear.  Buitenzorg  is  situated  in  a fine  healthy  position,  on  an  elevated 
 plain  at  the  foot  of  the  Blue  Mountains,  and  its  natm'al  defences  are  susceptible  of 
 being  gi'eatly  improved.  Before  the  present  crisis  it  was  only  defended  by  one 
 hea^y  battery,  but  for  some  months  it  appears  that  gi'eat  exertions  have  been  made 
 to  fortify  it,  and  that  immense  stores  of  ordnance  and  anunmiition  have  been  con- 
 veyed to  the  spot.  It  also  appears  that  batteries  of  more  or  less  strength  have  been 
 very  generally  erected  along  the  coast  of  Java,  in  the  bays  and  inlets  most  likely  to 
 inrite  a landing ; but  the  only  other  works  of  importance  besides  those  already  men- 
 tioned are  the  fortress  of  Marak  Bay,  on  the  west  of  Bantam,  and  that  of  Fort  Ludo- 
 wick,  on  the  east  of  Java,  which  commands  the  channel  of  approach  to  Surabaya. 
 The  works  of  ]\Ierak  were  lately  in  an  imperfect  state,  though  gi'eat  exertions  were 
 making  to  complete  them,  when  they  may  probably  be  able  to  contain  about  three 
 thousand  men.  Besides  affording  a rendez^mus  for  the  division  of  Bantam,  Merak 
 seems  calculated  for  the  protection  of  shipping  or  supphes  which  may  amve  through 
 the  straits  of  Sunda.  Fort  Lodouick  is  completed,  and  capable  of  containing  up- 
 wards of  three  thousand  men.  Besides  serving  as  a depot  for  the  eastern  dirision, 
 and  protecting  the  toums  of  Gressie  and  Surabaya,  it  is  obviously  calculated  for  the 
 ready  reception  of  supphes  which  may  arrive  through  the  straits  of  Bali.  From  this 
 short  riew  of  the  Marshal’s  military  works  an  idea  of  his  projected  plan  of  defence 
 may  be  deduced.  As  he  has  confined  his  defences  almost  entirely  to  mere  strong 
 posts,  we  may  infer  that  he  does  not  mean  to  stand  a regular  siege  in  any  fortified 
 })lace,  but  trusts  to  prolonging  the  campaign  by  a war  of  posts  till  the  setting-in  of 
 the  rainy  season,  or  the  an'ival  of  his  expected  succours  from  France.  This  mode 
 of  w arfare,  it  must  be  allowed,  is  well  adapted  to  the  nature  of  the  country,  prorided 
 he  could  depend  on  the  fidelity  of  his  troops  and  the  attachment  of  the  Princes  of 
 
LANDING  PLACES  ON  THE  SOUTH  COAST  OF  JAVA. 
 
 37 
 
 the  interior,  particularly  the  Susuhunang  and  Sultan  of  Mataram.  In  order  to 
 secure  this  fidelity,  he  is  represented  to  have  collected  and  hoarded  up  for  the 
 present  exigency  considerable  stores  of  gold  and  silver.  We  may  therefore  expect 
 that  a landing  may  be  effected  on  Java  without  any  very  serious  loss;  and  though 
 every  advantage  will  probably  be  taken  of  the  ground  to  cut  off  our  troops  in  detail, 
 it  is  rather  incessant  and  harassing  skirmishes  and  night  attacks,  than  a pitched 
 battle,  that  we  have  to  expect.  When  the  enemy  falls  back  on  Buitenzorg,  the 
 resistance  will  probably  be  more  obstinate ; and  if  he  is  able  so  long  to  secure  the 
 fidelity  of  his  troops,  and  the  attachment  of  his  allies,  it  will  be  in  his  power,  when 
 that  position  becomes  untenable,  to  take  refuge  in  the  strong  hill  countries  of  Suka- 
 pura  and  Bagilen,  on  the  southern  side  of  Java,  in  order  to  await  his  supplies  from 
 France,  to  carry  on  a harassing  and  vexatious  war  in  the  difficult  central  districts  of 
 Mataram  and  Carta  Sura,  or  passing  through  these  countries,  to  renew  the  war  in 
 Surabaya,  the  eastern  division  of  the  island.  The  latter  of  these  operations  will 
 probably  be  attempted  at  any  rate,  if  the  Marshal  be  seconded  by  a single  officer  of 
 ability  that  can  be  detached  from  the  main  army.  This  is  what  an  enterprising 
 enemy  might  perform,  commanding  all  the  resources  of  the  island  of  Java;  but  in 
 the  present  case  the  fault  would  plainly  be  ours  if  he  were  permitted  to  avail  himself 
 of  the  whole,  or  even  of  any  considerable  part  of  these  resources.  This  suggests 
 the  ob\ious  propriety  of  endeavouring  as  soon  as  possible  to  establish  an  intercourse 
 between  the  English  and  the  two  principal  chiefs  of  the  interior  of  Java,  the  Susu- 
 hunang of  Solo,  or  Carta  Sura,  and  the  Sultan  of  Mataram,  without  the  permission, 
 or  rather  the  co-operation  of  whom,  it  would  be  impossible  for  the  Marshal’s  army 
 either  to  take  post  amid  the  mountains,  or  by  that  way  retreat  to  the  eastern  division 
 of  the  island.  To  these  may  be  added  the  Sultan  of  Madura  and  the  Panambuhan 
 of  Samanap  on  the  island  of  Madura,  the  junction  of  either  of  whom  with  us  would 
 neutralize  a great  part  of  the  native  force  of  Marshal  Daendels,  which  are  stated  to 
 be  chiefly  composed  of  Madurese.  It  is  also  to  be  considered,  that  however  fiiendly 
 disposed  in  the  main,  it  is  inconsistent  with  the  long-established  usages  of  the  eastern 
 states  to  make  the  first  overtures  to  a power  \vith  which  they  are  so  little  acquainted 
 as  with  the  English ; but  this  custom  is  rather  to  be  placed  to  the  account  of  mauvaiae 
 Iwnte  than  of  haughtiness. 
 
 “ There  is  another,  circumstance,  however,  to  which  it  is  of  the  greatest  import- 
 ance to  advert,  and  which  is  also  suggested  by  the  arrangements  of  the  Marshal 
 Daendels.  His  arrangements  seems  to  indicate  the  expectation  of  receiving  supplies 
 from  the  back  of  the  island  of  Java ; yet,  according  to  all  the  accounts  which  have 
 been  published,  the  southern  coast  is  supposed  to  be  rocky,  dangerous,  and  devoid 
 of  roads,  as  well  as  totally  unfrequented  by  shipping.  It  appears,  however,  that 
 this  is  not  exactly  the  case,  and  that  there  are  at  least  three  places  on  the  southern 
 coast  which  may  be  safely  visited  by  ships.  One  of  these  is  only  ten  miles  south  of 
 
38 
 
 PRECAUTIONS  RESPECTING  THE  NATIVES. 
 
 Mataram,  another  in  the  bight  to  the  S.W.  of  the  mountain  Solah,  and  a third 
 directly  south  of  Buitenzorg.  At  the  latter  place  a French  frigate  touched  about 
 eight  months  ago,  and  had  some  communication  with  Marshal  Daendels.  Indeed, 
 if  we  only  consult  the  map,  it  v,i\l  appear  that  Buitenzorg  is  admirably  situated  for 
 procming  supplies  either  from  the  southern  coast  or  the  straits  of  Srmda,  and  is,  if 
 there  be  any  difference,  situated  nearer  the  southern  than  the  northern  coast  of  Java. 
 It  will  therefore  be  of  the  utmost  importance  to  take  precautions  that  no  supplies  of 
 either  men  or  arms  are  thro\m  into  Java  from  the  southern  coast  of  the  island ; and 
 this  can  only  be  effected  by  stationing  ships  of  war  for  the  pui’pose  on  the  south  coast 
 of  Java. 
 
 “ Another  matter  of  very  serious  consideration  is  the  impression  which  the 
 conduct  of  our  amiies  is  hkely  to  make  on  the  ISIalays  and  Javanese,  in  commencing 
 oiu*  operations  in  Java ; and  this  deserves  the  more  attention,  because  it  may  add  , 
 ^'ery  materially  to  the  nmnber  of  our  enemies  in  the  field,  as  well  as  abridge  their 
 comforts  and  increase  the  natural  and  necessary  distresses  to  be  encountered  in  the 
 campaign.  It  must  be  admitted  that  we  are  going  to  commence  oiu  operations  in 
 Java  Anth  the  majority  of  oiu  troops,  whether  European  or  native,  entertaining  the 
 most  unfavourable  ideas  of  the  Malay  character.  These  sentiments  in  the  minds  of 
 our  soldiers,  irtll  not  natm’aUy  tend  to  induce  a line  of  conduct  on  their  part  calcu- 
 lated to  convey  to  the  natives  of  Java  any  strong  impressions  either  of  our  justice 
 or  humanity.  It  is  not  to  my  present  piupose  to  enter  into  a indication  of  the  Malay 
 character,  and  it  may  be  proper  to  mention  that  these  ideas  of  the  Malays  have  in  a 
 gi'eat  measm'e  originated  with  the  Dutch,  who  may  be  suspected,  if  the  character  be 
 regarded  as  just,  as  haing  contributed  eminently  by  their  cruelty  and  oppression  to 
 its  foundation.  As  the  connexion  of  the  English  with  the  Malay  states  has  always 
 been  the  subject  of  the  gi'eatest  anxiety  and  jealousy  to  the  Dutch,  it  may  be  sus- 
 pected that  they  have  not  given  to  the  Malays  and  Javanese  a more  favourable  idea 
 of  the  English  than  they  have  given  the  English  of  the  Malays.  These  untoward 
 prejudices  may  certainly  be  attended  in  the  ensuing  campaign  with  very  unpleasant 
 and  troublesome  consequences,  unless  proper  precautions  be  taken  to  guard  against 
 them  fi'om  our  very  first  landing  in  Java,  and  I therefore  feel  it  my  duty  to  direct 
 your  Lordship’s  attention  particularly  to  this  subject,  for  a tame  submission  to  per- 
 sonal injury  is  certainly  not  characteristic  of  either  the  Malays  or  Javanese.  All  the 
 eastern  tribes  are  skilled  in  the  use  of  the  blow-pipe,  or  sumpit,  for  throiring  poisoned 
 arrows ; and  in  the  event  of  any  retaliation,  this  weapon  always  becomes  a most 
 mischievous  instrument  of  warfare  in  the  hands  of  the  most  undisciplined  savages. 
 
 “ As  your  Lordship  is  already  in  possession  of  the  latest  accounts  from  Java, 
 and  the  best  information  yet  attainable  respecting  the  roads  and  distances,  the  actual 
 state  of  the  military  posts  and  fortifications,  ivith  the  character,  nmnber,  and  distri- 
 Imtion  of  the  different  corps  of  the  enemy,  it  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  exhibit  them 
 
SAFEST  PASSAGE  FROM  MALACCA  TO  JAVA. 
 
 39 
 
 here  in  detail,  especially  as  they  now  fall  more  particularly  under  the  attention  of  the 
 engineer  department,  conducted  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mackenzie,  to  whom,  since 
 his  arrival  in  Malacca,  I have  supplied  every  information  regarding  them  that  was  in 
 my  power,  and  directed  him  to  the  best  sources  of  intelligence. 
 
 " I shall  reserve  the  remainder  of  the  information  I have  to  communicate  for 
 another  letter.” 
 
 The  Reader  must  bear  in  mind  that  these  Letters  were  WTitten  at  a time  when 
 scarcely  any  thing  w^as  known  either  of  the  hterature,  or  of  the  people,  or  of  the 
 countries,  of  this  part  of  the  East.  It  is  necessary  to  recall  this  ignorance,  fully  to 
 appreciate  the  numerous  points,  to  which  the  inquiries  were  directed,  the  various 
 objects  which  they  embraced,  the  minuteness  of  the  details,  as  well  as  the  com- 
 prehensiveness of  the  \dews.  Mlien  these  are  remembered,  the  correctness,  as  well 
 as  the  mass  of  information  collected,  the  discrimination,  as  well  as  the  actmty,  of 
 Mr.  Raffles,  will  be  acknowledged. 
 
 To  Lord  Minto. 
 
 “As  soon  as  I was  thoroughly  satisfied  that  the  principal  force  of  the  enemy 
 was  concentrated  in  the  western  part  of  Java,  I directed  my  attention  to  the  subject 
 of  ascertaining  the  best  and  safest  mode  of  effecting  the  passage.  Perceiving 
 that  the  favourable  monsoon  would  necessarily  elapse  before  the  amval  of  the  expe- 
 dition at  iSIalacca,  to  ascertain  this  became  a matter  of  the  highest  importance,  as 
 it  appeared  ob\dous  that  any  considerable  delay  would  not  fail  to  retard  the  campaign 
 to  the  setting  in  of  the  wet  season,  which  is  also  the  unhealthy  one  in  October  and 
 November  ; I therefore  applied  ^^ithout  delay  to  every  person  within  my  reach  that 
 seemed  likely  to  be  able  to  supply  the  requisite  information,  but  here  I was  surprised 
 to  find  the  utmost  degree  of  obscurity  and  contradiction  prevail.  The  alternative  of 
 only  two  routes  was  presented,  the  first  of  which,  or  the  direct  course  along  the 
 south-west  coast  of  Borneo,  was  very  generally  represented  as  remarkably  difficult 
 and  uncertain,  if  not  altogether  impracticable.  The  second  course,  round  the  north 
 and  east  coast  of  Borneo,  and  through  the  straits  of  Macassar,  though  supposed  to 
 be  practicable,  was  admitted  by  all  to  be  eminently  dangerous  as  well  as  tedious. 
 Had  the  main  force  of  the  enemy  been  concentrated  in  the  east  instead  of  the  west, 
 perhaps  it  might  have  been  ad\isable,  if  not  absolutely  necessary,  to  have  attempted 
 this  passage  at  all  risks ; but  as  the  disposition  of  the  enemy  did  not  require  it,  and 
 the  dangers  of  the  passage  did  not  appear  to  be  aggravated  by  report,  while  the 
 delay  was  pregnant  with  dangers  of  another  kind,  I endeavoured  to  avoid  it,  if  it 
 could  be  done  without  risking  the  success  of  the  expedition.  It  w^as  generally 
 admitted  that  the  N.  E.  passage  could  not  be  effected  in  less  than  tw^o  months ; and 
 when  we  take  into  consideration  the  dangers  of  the  nairow  passage  of  Balabac,  the 
 almost  untried  navigation  of  the  Sulu  Archipelago,  amid  innumierable  rocks,  shoals, 
 and  inlets,  the  excessive  micertainty  of  the  winds  and  currents  in  the  channel 
 
40 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS  TO  CAPTAIN  GREIGH. 
 
 between  Sulu  and  Manado,  as  well  as  in  the  straits  of  Macassar,  there  appeared  no 
 probability  whatever  that  this  na\igation  could  be  effected  by  a large  fleet  even  in 
 the  course  of  two  months. 
 
 ‘‘  With  respect  to  the  S.W.  passage,  its  difficulties  appeared  fi-om  the  very  first 
 to  be  greatly  magnified  through  ignorance.  Few  of  the  eastern  traders  are  in  the 
 habit  of  visiting  these  seas  at  the  present  season ; yet  it  appeared  clearly  that  it  had 
 been  accomplished  almost  as  frequently  as  it  had  been  attempted.  The  principal 
 difficulties  obviously  were  the  clearing  the  straits  of  Malacca  and  the  Caramata  pas- 
 sage off  Sucadana  in  Borneo.  The  first,  it  was  generally  admitted,  might  be  over- 
 come, but  the  difficulties  of  the  second  were  reckoned  insuperable,  because  they 
 were  not  understood.  As  Mr.  Greigh,  of  the  brig  Minto,  had  procured  some  valuable 
 information  from  the  Bugis  traders  respecting  this  passage  in  his  voyage  to  Bali,  on 
 his  retmm  I immediately  despatched  him  to  Pontiana  ■with  the  necessary  instmctions, 
 and  a letter  to  the  Sultan  of  Pontiana,  requesting  that  Prince  to  fuimish  him  with 
 the  requisite  assistance  for  examining  the  passage  between  the  island  of  Caramata 
 and  the  main  land  of  Borneo.  The  following  instructions  indicate  the  objects  to 
 wiiich  his  attention  was  particularly  directed. 
 
 “ ‘ The  object  of  ascertaining  the  nature  of  the  passage  between  Caramata  and 
 the  main  is  of  such  moment,  that  I think  it  cannot  be  confided  to  any  person  better 
 than  yourself,  and  as  you  are  fully  aware  of  my  sentiments  thereon,  it  is  unne- 
 cessary that  I should  repeat  them  here. 
 
 ‘‘  ‘ Enclosed  you  ■^^^ll  receive  two  letters  for  the  Sultan  of  Pontiana,  the  contents 
 of  which  have  been  made  known  to  you ; and  I recommend  your  employuig  the 
 ser^ices  of  Captain  Burn,  now  residing  at  Pontiana,  should  you  be  of  opinion  that 
 they  can  be  useful  to  the  sendee  on  which  you  are  proceeding.  You  can  easily 
 arrange  with  him  with  respect  to  the  remuneration  that  he  will  be  entitled  to  : and  in 
 the  event  of  your  enquiries  and  smveys  being  attended  ^vith  success,  and  the  safety 
 and  certainty  of  the  passage  being  established,  it  may  be  advisable  to  leave  him  at 
 Matan  or  Sucadana,  to  complete  any  points  that  may  have  been  commenced,  but  left 
 unfinished,  by  you  from  w'ant  of  time. 
 
 ‘‘  ‘You  shoidd  be  most  particular  respecting  the  facilities  for  w'atering,  and  may 
 go  to  the  extent  of  advancing  five  hundred  or  a thousand  dollars  to  individuals  who 
 may  be  likely  to  afford  supplies. 
 
 “ ‘ You  should  on  no  account  delay  your  return  beyond  tw^enty  days  from  this 
 date,  at  w^hich  time  the  armament  must  no  doubt  be  ready  to  start ; should  you  be 
 longer  than  that  period,  or  than  seventeen  or  eighteen  days,  I w'ould  recommend 
 your  touching  at  Rhio  on  your  return,  where  intimation  shall  meet  you  respecting  the 
 movement  of  the  fleet.’ 
 
 (Signed)  Thos.  Raffles. 
 
 Malacca,  ^th  May,  1811. 
 
MALACCA. 
 
 41 
 
 “ Soon  after  Mr.  Greigh’s  departure,  I fortunately  procured  the  opinion  of 
 Messrs.  R.  Scott  and  Stewart,  two  of  the  best  informed  and  most  respectable  of  our 
 Eastern  traders  in  the  Malay  Seas,  both  of  whom  were  decidedly  of  opinion  that  the 
 S.M’.  passage  was  not  only  practicable  at  this  season  of  the  year,  hut  infinitely  less 
 dangerous  and  tedious  than  the  N.E.  passage.  Both  of  them  had  passed  through  the 
 Caramata  passage  at  different  seasons  of  the  year,  and  both  of  them  affirmed  the 
 practicability  of  effecting  a passage  between  Caramata  and  the  main  land  of  Borneo. 
 The  report  of  Mr.  Greigh  (Avhich  with  the  other  papers  connected  with  this  short  but 
 very  satisfactory  voyage  form  enclosure  No.  2)  sufficiently  establishes  the  practica- 
 bihty  of  the  Caramata  passage,  and  he  has  likewise  ascertained  both  the  facility  of 
 working  along  the  coast  of  Borneo,  by  the  sea  and  land  breezes,  and  likewise  that  of 
 making  Borneo  through  the  straits  of  Singapore.  On  the  whole,  therefore,  I am 
 happy  to  say,  that  no  doubt  can  now  be  reasonably  entertained,  that  the  S.W. 
 passage  may  be  effected  by  the  fleet  sailing  in  divisions,  in  the  space  of  a month  or 
 six  weeks  at  farthest,  although  it  will  certainly  be  desirable  in  case  of  accidents,  that 
 the  whole  should  be  \ictualled  and  watered  for  two  months. 
 
 “ Such  were  the  precautions  which  I deemed  it  necessary  to  take,  in  order  to 
 ascertain  the  practicability  of  the  S.  W.  passage,  but  other  measures  were  likewise 
 requisite  to  secm'e  to  the  armament  pro\isions  of  live  stock,  wood  and  water,  on  its 
 anival  at  Malacca,  and  this  appeared  to  he  the  more  necessary,  as  Penang,  from  its 
 very  limited  resources,  as  well  as  from  its  oblique  situation,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
 straits  of  Malacca,  seemed  objectionable  in  many  respects,  and  certain  of  producing 
 considerable  delay.  The  delay  occasioned  by  entering  the  harbour  at  Penang,  and 
 tlie  uncertainty  of  being  able  to  work  out  again,  is  entirely  avoided  at  Malacca,  and 
 indeed  the  disadvantages  of  the  former  are  so  well  understood,  that  it  may  now  be 
 stated  as  a positive  fact,  that  no  vessel  ever  touches  at  Penang,  unless  fi'om  particular 
 instructions  or  the  expectation  of  procuring  cargo;  a ship  touching  at  Malacca  is 
 generally  able  to  procure  water  and  necessaries,  and  get  under  way  in  the  course  of 
 a single  day;  whereas  touching  at  Penang,  in  common  cases,  generally  causes  a de- 
 tention of  five  or  six  days.  As  a place  of  rendezvous,  Malacca  from  its  position  so 
 far  up  the  straits,  is  obviously  greatly  superior  to  Penang.  The  supplies  of  live 
 stock  procurable  at  Malacca  are  very  much  superior  to  those  which  can  be  obtained 
 at  Penang,  for  Penang  in  reality  possesses  no  resources  of  its  own  on  the  island,  but 
 is  compelled  to  bring  them  from  the  territories  of  Queda,  on  the  opposite  continent. 
 In  the  easy  supply  of  water,  perhaps  Penang  may  be  thought  superior  to  Malacca, 
 but  this  is  not  owing  to  any  deficiency  of  water  at  Malacca,  but  from  the  difficulty 
 of  coming  off  to  the  shipping  at  low  water.  With  regard  to  water,  however,  it  is 
 abundantly  ascertained  that  it  is  to  be  procured  on  almost  every  island,  either  in  the 
 straits  of  Malacca  or  towards  the  eastward. 
 
 “ Anxious,  therefore,  to  avoid  the  delay  which  I foresaw  would  certainly  be  occa- 
 
 G 
 
42 
 
 PALEMBANG. 
 
 sioned  by  the  fleet  touching  at  Penang,  I endeavoiu*ed  to  call  forth  the  resources  of 
 Malacca,  so  as  to  meet  the  occasion,  by  encom-aguig  the  Malays  and  other  inha- 
 bitants of  Malacca  to  bring  doAvm  ample  stores  of  hve  stock,  forage,  and  fire-wood, 
 despatching  agents  into  the  interior  for  the  same  pm*pose,  and  commimicatmg  every 
 information  that  might  be  deemed  useful  to  the  mihtai*y  conunissaries  that  had  been 
 despatched  before  the  anny.  The  Malays  are  a people  whose  habits  in  many 
 respects  are  so  pecuhar,  and  so  httle  understood  by  the  Enghsh  in  general,  that 
 \\ithout  some  precautions  of  the  kmd  considerable  embarrassments  were  likely  to 
 have  occim-ed.  The  result  has  been  that  gi-eater  quantities,  both  of  hve  stock  and 
 forage,  have  actually  been  provided  than  were  requisite  for  the  di\'isions  of  the 
 armament  that  came  direct  to  Malacca,  and  it  has  been  demonstrated  m the  most 
 satisfactory  manner,  that  the  whole  army  might  have  been  amply  supplied  there 
 ^ntliout  touching  at  Penang,  by  wliich  means  its  subsequent  detention  might  have 
 been  altogether  avoided.  This,  however,  at  present  can  only  be  mentioned  as  a 
 subject  of  regi'et. 
 
 “ Having  deemed  it  adHsable,  in  order  to  seciu'e  the  requisite  supplies  for  the 
 araiament,  to  address  letters  on  the  subject  to  some  of  the  Malay  Rajahs,  I beg  to 
 refer  your  Lordship  to  enclosure  No.  3,  for  translation  of  these,  and  of  the  answers 
 received  in  return. 
 
 " Having  thus  stated  to  your  Lordship  the  result  of  the  intelhgence  procm’ed 
 respectmg  the  forces  of  the  enemy,  and  his  plan  of  defence,  together  wth  the 
 measm'es  taken  to  ascertain  the  practicabihty  of  the  passage  and  ensm-e  supplies  for 
 the  troops,  I have  still  to  mention  the  result  of  the  correspondence  commenced 
 with  some  of  the  native  states. 
 
 “ Palembang  being  one  of  the  most  important  of  the  Malay  states,  I shall 
 begin  ^^■ith  stating  the  result  of  the  negociation,  which  I mentioned  in  my  last 
 despatches  as  hartng  commenced  \rtth  its  Sultan.  Of  the  importance  of  Palembang 
 to  the  Dutch  govennnent  of  Batarta,  succeeding  inquuies  had  only  tended  to  con- 
 vince me  the  more.  Large  balances  had  long  been  avowedly  due  to  the  Dutch 
 regency ; the  Sultan  of  Palembang  was  knoiMi  to  be  extremely  rich  in  long-hoarded 
 heaps  of  the  precious  metals,  and  it  was  greatly  to  be  feared  that  the  energy  and 
 rtgom*  of  ^Marshal  Daendels  might  so  intimidate  him  as  to  induce  him  to  pay  up 
 these  balances,  which  would  have  been  of  the  utmost  importance  to  the  finances  of 
 the  Marshal  at  the  present  crisis.  I knew  that  the  Marshal  had  not  only  severely 
 threatened  the  Sultan,  but  was  taking  active  measm'es  to  compel  him  to  accede  to 
 his  terms.  Upon  this  circumstance  I founded  the  project  of  opening  a negociation, 
 considering  it  as  certain  that,  whether  the  Sultan  accepted  or  refused  the  terms  pro- 
 posed, the  proposal  alone  would  be  sufficient  to  prevent  liim  coming  to  any  accom- 
 modation ^^•ith  Marshal  Daendels : a circmnstance  which  was  sure  of  inspiring  fresh 
 spirit  into  the  Bantamese  and  Lampungs,  disheartened  by  their  recent  defeat.  If 
 
 1 
 
PALEMBANG. 
 
 the  Sultan  acceded  to  the  propositions  offered,  we  would  not  only  acquire  a powerful 
 ally,  by  whose  assistance  a formidable  demonstration  might  be  made  on  the  side  of 
 Bantam  without  weakening  our  main  attack,  and  whose  voluntary  alliance  would 
 prevent  his  being  subjected  to  the  fate  of  war  in  Europe,  but  we  would  also  be 
 put  in  possession  without  further  trouble  of  the  grand  monopoly  of  the  tin  trade. 
 This,  however,  I was  scarcely  sanguine  enough  to  expect,  as  I knew  that  not  only 
 several  of  the  Sultan’s  ministers  were  decidedly  in  the  Dutch  interest,  but  that  the 
 whole  state  of  Palembang  had  been  too  long  accustomed  to  a contraband  traffic  to 
 consent  readily  to  resign  its  advantages.  As  I expected,  the  Sultan  demurred  and 
 adopted  a temporizing  policy,  endeavouring  by  every  means  in  his  power  to  spin  out 
 the  negociation  till  he  should  perceive  what  was  likely  to  be  the  course  of  events, 
 although  I had  taken  care  to  explain  to  him  in  the  most  particular  manner  the 
 important  difference  that  would  occur  in  the  political  situation  of  a dependent  state 
 that  should  submit  after  the  conquest  of  Java,  and  one  that  should  voluntarily  enter 
 into  an  alliance  with  us  previous  to  that  event.  Though  I beheve  the  fact  to  be 
 incontrovertible,  that  the  Sultan  of  Palembang  is  bound  to  the  Dutch  by  various 
 agi'eements  and  treaties,  and  though  it  is  certain  that  various  acts  of  hostility  have 
 been  committed  by  the  Dutch,  in  concert  with  his  subjects,  on  the  English  shipping 
 within  his  boundaries,  yet  he  has  assumed  the  character  of  an  independent  and 
 neutral  power ; and  because  some  of  the  English  ships  have  at  times  managed  to 
 prociure  cargoes  of  tin  at  Banca,  in  spite  of  the  Dutch  prohibition,  he  wishes  to 
 avail  himself  of  this  circumstance,  to  represent  that  he  has  always  been  on  terms  of 
 amity  with  the  English.  The  true  reason,  however,  I was  soon  informed  of  by 
 means  of  my  agent,  Tunku  Radin  Mahammed,  who  states  that  some  of  the  Sultan’s 
 counsellors,  especially  the  Tamungung  Lanan,  had  persuaded  him  that  the  Enghsh 
 interests  were  in  the  utmost  jeopardy,  not  only  in  Europe,  but  in  Bengal  and  the 
 rest  of  India,  and  that  therefore  we  were  anxious  to  acquire  new  settlements  to  the 
 eastward.  For  the  letters  which  I addressed  to  the  Sultan,  and  the  replies  received 
 from  him,  as  well  as  some  other  papers  connected  with  the  subject  of  Palembang,  I 
 beg  to  refer  your  Lordship  to  enclosure  No.  4. 
 
 “ Suspecting  from  the  procrastination  of  the  Sultan  of  Palembang,  the  turn  which 
 the  negociation  was  likely  to  take,  and  being  aware  of  the  immense  importance  ot 
 the  island  of  Banca,  I directed  my  agents  to  use  every  means  in  their  power  to  ob- 
 tain the  most  particular  account  of  the  island  and  its  productions,  as  well  as  the 
 nature  of  the  government  and  the  disposition  of  the  inhabitants.  The  regular  report 
 on  this  subject  I have  not  as  yet  obtained,  but  the  following  particulars  relative  to 
 the  island  have  been  fully  ascertained.  Banca  has  a population  of  about  10,000 
 souls,  who  are  a mingled  mass  of  Malays,  of  Javanese,  and  Chinese,  all  of  whom 
 have  been  resident  on  the  island  for  many  generations.  In  some  places,  as  at 
 Minta,  the  Malay  population  is  the  most  numerous,  in  others  the  Chinese.  The 
 
 G 2 
 
4'4 
 
 BANCA— PIRACIES. 
 
 government  of  the  island  is  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  natives,  and  the  Sultan  of 
 Palembang  interferes  no  further  with  them  than  to  secure  a monopoly  of  the  tin,  for 
 which  purpose  he  has  a resident  on  the  island.  The  present  resident  is  the  Tamun- 
 gung  Hasein,  an  inveterate  enemy  of  the  Enghsh,  and  accused  of  harfng  been  lately 
 concerned  in  various  piratical  practices,  particularly  in  the  late  murder  of  Captain 
 Ross,  and  the  piratical  capture  of  the  ship  ^Malacca  belonging  to  Mr.  Hare.  The 
 two  datouks,  Rangga  and  Songgar,  who  at  present  govern  Banca,  as  well  as  the  mass 
 of  the  native  inhalhtants,  are  highly  disaffected  towards  the  Sultan  of  Palembang,  and 
 it  is  believed  Avould  claim  the  protection  of  the  English  Company,  if  there  were  any 
 hopes  of  their  being  received,  if  it  were  only  to  secure  them  from  the  ravages  of  the 
 pirates  and  Lanuns,  who  have  desolated  the  eastern  part  of  the  island,  and  from 
 which  the  Sultan  of  Palembang  is  altogether  unable  to  protect  them.  Indeed,  from 
 what  I have  been  able  to  learn,  I think  it  most  probable  that  an  apphcation  to  this 
 purpose  will  be  made  at  all  events  by  the  native  inhabitants  of  Banca,  who  have  no 
 natural  connexion  udth  Palembang,  and  are  more  oppressed  by  the  Sultan’s  mono- 
 poly than  if  they  were  under  any  European  power. 
 
 “ M'ith  respect  to  the  resources  of  Banca,  it  produces  rice,  but  not  sufficient  for 
 the  subsistence  of  the  inhabitants.  Iron  and  loadstone  are  found  on  the  island,  but 
 tin  is  the  gi'eat  staple  which  it  produces,  and  in  the  production  of  this  valuable  metal 
 there  is  probably  no  place  in  the  world  to  be  compared  to  Banca,  for  the  whole 
 island  may  be  considered  as  an  immense  tin  mine.  The  production  of  tin  in  Banca 
 is  only  limited  by  the  number  of  people  employed  in  mining,  but  it  is  understood  to 
 be  capable  of  producing  at  least  100,000  peculs  per  annum,  on  the  most  moderate 
 computation.  The  miners  at  present  are  chiefly  Chinese,  and  it  is  thought  that  by 
 adopting  more  scientific  methods,  the  expense  of  mining  might  be  gi’eatly  lessened. 
 It  is  said,  however,  that  the  Sultan  of  Palembang,  under  the  present  system  of 
 management,  procures  the  tin  at  the  expense  of  from  five  to  six  dollars  per  pecul. 
 The  ordinary  selling  price  of  tin  in  China  is  from  twenty  to  twenty-five  dollars  per 
 pecul,  and  it  has  lately  risen  from  twenty-eight  to  thirty  dollars.  The  consumption 
 of  tin  in  China,  as  well  as  of  odoriferous  gums  in  the  religious  ceremonies  of  the 
 Chinese,  amounts  to  a great  extent  every  year,  the  tin  being  employed  in  coating  the 
 gilt  paper,  gi*eat  quantities  of  which  are  burnt  at  all  their  festivals.  Besides  this,  the 
 tin  is  chiefly  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  cooking  and  domestic  utensils,  both  for 
 export  and  the  home  market  in  China.  These  circumstances  may  serve  to  convey 
 some  idea  of  the  importance  of  Banca  to  the  English.  Palembang  itself  produces  no 
 tin,  and  the  only  other  article  which  the  Dutch  derive  from  Palembang  is  pepper. 
 
 “ Banca,  however,  demands  our  attention  in  another  point  of  riew  as  connected 
 with  our  operations  for  the  suppression  of  piracy,  under  wiiich  head  I have  several 
 details  to  communicate  to  your  Lordship  since  my  last  letter.  The  suppression  of 
 piracy  has  long  been  a subject  to  which  the  attention  of  the  Dutch  has  been  rigor- 
 
PIRACIES. 
 
 45 
 
 ously  directed,  and  this,  \sith  the  suppression  of  contraband  trade  among  the  eastern 
 isles,  are  the  chief  objects  of  the  establishment  of  the  Bata\ian  marine  of  late  years; 
 however,  from  the  preponderance  of  the  English  navy  on  the  shores  of  all  the 
 eastern  isles,  the  Dutch  have  been  altogether  unable  to  oppose  any  effectual  re- 
 straint to  the  ravages  of  the  Lanuns  and  other  pirates,  who  have  of  course  become 
 more  bold  and  daring  in  all  the  eastern  seas.  The  name  of  Lanuns,  accordingly, 
 which  was  originally  the  appellation  of  those  piratical  adventurers  from  the  Bay  of 
 Lanp,  in  the  great  island  of  Mindanari,  who  formerly  infested  the  coast  of  Borneo, 
 has  been  extended  to  almost  all  the  sea-rovers  of  the  east,  particularly  to  those 
 which  infest  the  straits  of  Banca  and  Sunda,  The  Lanuns,  therefore,  at  present 
 may  be  considered  as  an  assemblage  of  the  most  daring  and  desperate  adventurers 
 from  all  the  tribes  of  the  east,  and  their  principal  haunts  are  the  low  eastern  coast  of 
 Smnatra  between  Palembang  and  the  Lampung  country,  the  eastern  part  of  the 
 island  of  Banca,  the  island  of  Biliton,  the  eastern  coast  of  Borneo,  but  especially 
 Sambas  on  the  N.W.  of  Borneo. 
 
 “ On  the  eastern  coast  of  Sumatra  they  have,  or  lately  had,  very  considerable 
 settlements,  especially  at  a place  named  Batch,  where  they  have  built  houses  and 
 caused  their  captives  to  cidtivate  the  gi'ound.  At  Sambas  too  they  have  settled  in 
 gi’eat  numbers,  under  the  protection  of  the  Sidtan  and  the  celebrated  pirate  the 
 Pangeran  Anom,  his  half-brother.  The  ravages  which  they  lately  committed  on  the 
 eastern  part  of  the  island  of  Banca  are  stated  to  have  completely  interrupted  the 
 working  of  the  tin-mines  in  that  quarter,  and  caused  them  to  be  entirely  deserted. 
 I am  at  present  unable  to  say  whether  they  have  formed  any  settlement  on  the 
 island.  One  thing,  however,  may  be  considered  as  certain:  they  are  privately 
 encouraged  by  the  Sultan  of  Lingen,  and  almost  openly  by  the  Rajah  Mudah  of  Rhio, 
 and  no  Malay  hesitates  to  admit  that  these  chiefs,  with  the  Sultan  of  Sambas,  are 
 the  real  heads  of  the  Lamms.  The  Sultan  of  Lingen,  however,  does  not  avow  the 
 connexion,  while  the  Sultan  of  Sambas  admits  it  openly,  and  braves  all  conse- 
 quences. No  doubt  can  be  entertained  that  in  spite  of  all  this,  the  Lanuns  are 
 permitted  on  all  occasions  to  frequent  both  Lingen  and  Rhio,  to  provide  themselves 
 with  all  kind  of  stores,  provisions  and  ammunition,  and  to  dispose  of  their  prizes. 
 Of  the  number  of  the  Lanuns  it  is  difficult  to  form  at  present  any  particular  esti- 
 mate ; I apprehend,  however,  they  cannot  in  any  way  be  estimated  at  less  than 
 10,000  fighting  men.  I have  heard  those  who  are  settled  at  Batch  mentioned  as 
 about  2,000  strong.  The  Lamm  vessels  are  the  best  native  craft  that  appear  to  the 
 eastward ; they  carry  very  heavy  guns,  and  have  repeatedly  succeeded,  not  only  in 
 taking  stout  merchantmen,  but  even  Dutch  cruizers.  These  are  the  class  of  pirates 
 at  Sambas. 
 
 “ But  there  is  another  class  of  pirates  on  a smaller  scale,  who  have  carried 
 their  ravages  even  very  lately  up  the  straits  as  far  as  Malacca,  though  they  are 
 
46 
 
 PIRACIES. 
 
 neither  very  powerful  nor  possessed  of  large  vessels.  The  chiefs  of  these  are  fom- 
 brothers,  the  sons  of  the  celebrated  Rajah  Ali,  who  was  the  cause  of  the  Dutch 
 formerly  destroying  Sucadana.  The  names  of  these  are.  Rajah  Bassick,  Rajah  Isa, 
 Rajah  Indee,  and  Rajah  Hamed.  The  most  notorious  of  these  is  Rajah  Bassick, 
 though  the  whole  of  them  have  been  engaged  in  piratical  practices  for  the  greater 
 part  of  the  last  five  years.  As  their  depredations  have  been  so  very  recent  in  the 
 immediate  vicinity  of  Malacca,  and  calculated,  had  they  been  suffered  to  pass 
 unnoticed,  to  convey  a very  ^vrong  impression  of  the  English  character,  I beg  to 
 refer  your  Lordship  to  enclosure  No.  5,  for  a translation  of  the  letter  which  I thought 
 it  expedient  to  address  on  the  occasion  to  the  Rajah  Mudah  of  Rhio,  and  which  still 
 remains  unanswered.  It  is  unfortunately  the  practice  in  some  of  the  Malay  states 
 rather  to  encourage  the  young  nobles  of  high  rank,  especially  those  of  the  Rajah’s 
 oum  extraction,  whose  maintenance  would  othenvise  fall  upon  the  Rajah  himself,  to 
 subsist  themselves  by  piratical  practices  than  to  discourage  such  proceedings.  This 
 may  in  some  degree  account  for  the  countenance  given  to  this  horde  of  pirates  at 
 Rhio ; but  the  Rajah  Mudah  of  Rhio  had  perhaps  some  additional  reasons  for  endea- 
 vouring to  protect  them.  It  is  scarcely  six  years  since  his  own  brother.  Rajah  Edris, 
 who  in  his  absence  at  present  is  regent  at  Rhio,  was  also  engaged  in  piratical  prac- 
 tices. It  is  necessary  to  apprize  your  Lordship  fully  of  the  character  of  the  present 
 government  of  Rhio,  as  any  strong  measm*es  which  may  be  adopted  in  the  eastern 
 seas  for  the  pm-pose  of  suppressing  piracy,  will  require  particular  attention  to  be 
 directed  towards  Rhio. 
 
 “ One  of  the  latest  acts  of  piracy  was  the  cutting  off  the  ship  Malacca,  and 
 the  mruder  of  Captain  Ross  at  Minta,  on  the  island  of  Banca,  by  the  pirates  Abang 
 Rasib,  Inchi  Baud,  and  their  confederates,  who  had  afterwards  earned  the  property 
 to  Sambas.  In  this  transaction  the  Tumungung  Hasan  of  Minta  was  accused  of 
 being  concerned,  w'hich  was  confirmed  by  the  subsequent  cutting  off  the  long-boat 
 of  the  Thainstone,  and  the  murder  of  the  crew  by  Demen  Minyah,  one  of  his 
 dependents  ; on  which  occasion  Captain  Tait,  of  the  Thainstone,  very  nearly  escaped 
 being  cut  off  himself.  As  the  connexion  of  the  Sultan  of  Sambas  and  the  Pangeran 
 Anom  was  not  at  this  time  explicitly  known,  in  order  to  put  the  matter  beyond  all 
 kind  of  doubt,  I addressed  both  these  chiefs  by  letter,  requesting  them  to  appre- 
 hend the  perpetrators  of  this  piracy  and  mm’der,  the  Abang  Rasib  and  his  confe- 
 derates, and  to  seize  the  property  for  the  use  of  the  lawful  owner.  The  Pangeran 
 Anom,  w4iom  I first  addressed  on  the  subject,  retmned  no  answer  whatever,  but 
 the  Sultan  of  Sambas  at  last  did,  by  explicitly  avowing  his  connexion  with  the  pirates 
 and  Lanuns,  and  positively  refusing  to  comply  with  my  request  in  any  respect. 
 
 “ Ha\ing  learned  that  the  ship  Commerce  had  about  the  same  time  been 
 disabled  on  the  coast  of  Borneo  by  the  loss  of  her  rudder,  and  had  drifted  upon  a 
 small  island  near  the  coast,  I addressed  a letter  to  the  Sultan  of  Pontiana,  requesting 
 
PIRACIES. 
 
 47 
 
 his  assistance.  The  Sultan,  in  his  reply,  stated  that  this  vessel  had  been  seized  by 
 the  pirates  of  Serawa,  a small  dependency  on  Borneo  proper,  in  conjunction  with 
 those  of  Sambas.  He  also  communicated  various  details  concerning  the  operations 
 of  the  Pangeran  Anom,  for  the  particidars  of  which  I beg  leave  to  refer  your  Lord- 
 ship  likewise  to  enclosure  No.  5,  which  also  contains  the  correspondence  with  the 
 Sultans  of  Sambas  and  Pontiana.  The  principal  facts  alluded  to  in  this  correspon- 
 dence are  confirmed  by  the  following  extracts  of  letters  addi'essed  to  me  by  Mr. 
 Burn,  a gentleman  who  had  been  for  several  years  resident  at  Pontiana.  The  fol- 
 lowing extract  is  dated  February  12th,  1811. 
 
 ^ Your  letter  to  the  Rajah  of  Sambas  I had  sent  down  to  him  by  one  of  the 
 Sultan  of  Pontiana’s  prows,  and  his  answer  to  you  I have  delivered  to  Captain 
 Tait.  The  Rajah  of  Sambas  refuses  to  deliver  up  the  pirates  who  cut  off  the 
 Malacca  brig  ; but  I understand  that  he  has  obtained  from  them  the  greater  part  of 
 the  property.  The  amount  of  the  tin  which  was  sold  at  Sambas,  and  afterwards  re- 
 sold here,  amounted  to  about  14,000  dollars  ; the  piece  goods,  which  amounted  to 
 about  5000  dollars,  were  disposed  of  at  Sambas,  the  whole  being  taken  from  the 
 Malacca  brig — total  19,000  dollars ; but  I am  credibly  informed  the  pirates  now 
 retain  only  a small  part,  and  have  connected  themselves  with  the  Sambas  people, 
 who  are  now  little  better  than  open  pirates.  They  have  two  small  ships  and  two 
 brigs,  with  a number  of  prows,  and  come  out  occasionally,  plundering  whatever  they 
 can  lay  hold  of.  The  ship  Commerce  has  been  set  fire  to  by  the  Rajah  of  Sarawa, 
 named  Panjeran  Samewda ; he  is  a relation  of  the  Rajah  of  Sambas : the  ship  was 
 left  either  in  his  possession  or  near  to  the  place  of  his  residence,  by  her  commander 
 Captain  Chapman,  together  with  forty-five  of  her  crew  and  the  second  mate ; I 
 believe  his  name  was  Hopkins.  The  Rajah  disposed  of  the  cargo,  set  fire  to  the 
 ship,  and  had  the  second  mate  put  to  death  in  a private  manner,  but  the  crew  are 
 sent  to  Borneo  proper  as  slaves.  Previously  to  destroying  the  ship,  he  offered  to 
 seU  her  to  the  Sultan  of  Pontiana : I myself  saw  his  letter  to  him,  offering  to  send 
 her  up  here,  but  meeting  a refusal,  she  was  set  fire  to  and  destroyed.’ 
 
 “ The  following  extract  is  dated  March  12th,  1811 ; 
 
 “ ‘ A few  days  ago  Pangeran  Anom  came  out  from  Sambas  with  two  small 
 ships ; one  of  them  mounts  ten  gims,  and  the  other  eight  guns,  with  some  armed 
 prows.  Two  Chinese  junks  just  arrived  from  China,  and  then  l^ing  on  the  bar  of 
 Pontiana  river,  were  attacked  by  their  boats.  One  of  these  junks  haring  a valuable 
 cargo  on  board,  was  boarded  and  carried  off  instantly  by  them,  the  other  was  relieved 
 by  the  Sultan’s  armed  prows,  who  went  out  to  their  assistance.  They  made  several 
 attempts  on  the  other,  and  some  fighting  took  place,  the  Sultan  being  out  also. 
 These  vessels  are  still  cruizing  off  the  coast : Assing  Basil,  the  man  wiio  cut  off 
 Captain  Ross,  is  on  board  the  smallest  vessel  that  mounts  eight  guns.  They  some 
 time  ago  sent  up  a formal  challenge  to  Pontiana,  declaring  they  would  take  not  only 
 
48 
 
 PIRACIES. 
 
 the  China  jimks,  but  also  any  Enghsh  vessel  they  could.  This  is  what  they  often 
 have  done  before,  but  little  attention  was  paid  to  their  threats ; all  English  vessels 
 now  coming  to  this  coast  ought  to  be  particularly  on  their  guard  against  them.  I 
 imagine  they  will  proceed  to  Banjar  Massin  river  with  the  same  intention,  haring 
 done  so  last  year,  where  they  committed  a great  deal  of  mischief  outside  the  bar.’ 
 
 “ Having  communicated  these  facts,  your  Lordship  uill  easily  be  able  to 
 determine  the  course  of  proceeding  to  be  adopted,  both  with  regard  to  the  pirates 
 and  Lamms  themselves  and  their  abettors,  whether  secret  or  avowed.  It  is  neces- 
 sary to  add,  that  on  the  reduction  of  the  Dutch  power  in  the  East,  the  increase  of 
 piracy  must  necessarily  be  contemplated,  as  well  as  the  adoption  of  rigorous  mea- 
 sures on  our  part  for  the  protection  of  our  Malay  and  Javanese  subjects,  and  the 
 security  of  the  commerce  of  the  Eastern  Seas.  For  this  purpose  the  maintenance  of 
 a marine  establishment  similar  to  that  of  the  Dutch  will  probably  be  found  abso- 
 lutely necessary.  Another  measiue  of  the  gi'eatest  necessity  will  be  to  oblige  every 
 Rajah  to  refuse  to  every  description  of  pirates  and  Lamms  any  sort  of  assistance  or 
 protection  in  his  ovm  territories,  and  in  particular  to  become  accountable  for  the 
 conduct  of  his  own  relations.  At  present  piracy  is  considered  as  an  honourable 
 profession,  especially  for  young  nobles  and  needy  gi'eat  men.  The  numerous  unin- 
 habited islands  and  tracts  of  desert  coast  on  all  the  Eastern  Seas,  render  it  very  dif- 
 ficult to  put  a sudden  and  complete  check  to  the  practice ; but  that  which  chiefly 
 upholds  it  is  the  encouragement  given  by  the  Eastern  princes  to  their  poor  relations 
 to  subsist  themselves  by  piracy.  The  Malay  governments  have  this,  in  common 
 with  the  feudal  states  of  Eruope,  that  the  chiefs  are  only  rich  in  hands  and  in  the 
 rough  produce  of  their  grounds.  A prow,  or  war-boat,  can  easily  be  constructed 
 wherever  there  are  hands  and  timber,  and  to  man  her  costs  no  trouble  to  the  chief 
 of  the  clan  or  any  of  his  family.  To  go  a roving  is  the  next  step,  which  implies  no 
 dishonour  in  the  present  state  of  the  Malay  morals ; and  having  siu'prised  some 
 unsuspicious  merchant,  the  pirate  proceeds  coolly  to  dispose  of  the  goods  which  he 
 has  thus  seized,  wherever  he  can  find  a market. 
 
 “ Having  principally  alluded  to  the  more  formidable  pirates  infesting  the 
 Eastern  Seas,  it  would  be  unnecessary  to  notice  those  of  a still  smaller  and  insigni- 
 ficant class,  had  they  not  for  many  years  been  in  the  constant  hahit  of  cutting  off’  the 
 supplies  which  are  on  their  way  from  Queda,  and  the  small  states  of  the  Malay  pen- 
 insula to  Penang.  These  naturally  owe  their  origin  to  the  before-mentioned  causes, 
 and  must  increase  in  proportion  with  the  decay  of  Queda,  and  its  neighboiuing 
 states.  The  different  establishments  of  police  that  have  heretofore  been  formed  at 
 Penang,  have  been  found  wholly  incapable  of  repressing  them,  and  it  is  not  long 
 since  the  very  guard-boat  constructed  and  armed  by  government  was  attacked  and 
 carried  by  two  or  three  of  the  most  insignificant  prows.  The  impunity  with 
 which  these  and  similar  offences  have  been  allowed  to  pass  has,  I fear,  much 
 
QUEDA. 
 
 49 
 
 committed  our  military  character  among  the  more  western  Malay  states;  for,  how- 
 ever insignificant  they  may  be,  any  degi-ee  of  supineness  on  our  part  is  inevitably 
 referred  to  fear  and  want  of  confidence  in  our  own  resources. 
 
 “ As  soon  as  I received  information  of  your  Lordship’s  intention  of  proceeding 
 to  the  eastward  in  person,  I deemed  it  proper  to  communicate  this  intelligence  to 
 the  different  Rajahs  and  Chiefs  with  whom  I had  commenced  a friendly  correspond- 
 ence, being  aware  that  this  would  tend  to  secure  their  more  active  co-operation,  and 
 at  the  same  time  convey  a higher  idea  of  the  projected  enterprize.  This  intelligence 
 was  soon  communicated  to  the  Rajah  of  Queda,  with  whom  I had  not  previously  en- 
 gaged in  correspondence,  considering  him  as  in  a particular  manner  connected  with 
 the  government  of  Penang.  The  Rajah  communicated  with  me  by  means  of  an 
 agent  and  near  relation  named  Tunkulung  Putch,  who  formerly  was  sent  as  a vakeel 
 to  Penang,  respecting  the  situation  and  circumstances  in  which  he  found  his  country 
 placed  from  the  hostilities  between  the  Burmans  and  Siamese.  I,  of  course,  referred 
 him  to  your  Lordship.  From  the  shortness  of  your  Lordship’s  stay  at  Penang,  the 
 Rajah  was  disappointed  in  procuring  the  expected  interview,  which  I am  informed  he 
 regrets,  not  only  as  a serious  mortification,  but  as  an  absolute  misfortune.  For  his 
 letter  addressed  to  your  Lordship  on  the  occasion,  and  received  a few  days  after  your 
 arrival  in  Malacca,  I beg  to  refer  you  to  enclosure  No.  6.  On  this  occasion  he 
 likewise  addressed  to  me  a letter  of  the  same  import,  requesting  me  to  state  to  your 
 Lordship  the  unfortunate  circumstances  in  which  the  land  of  Queda  is  at  present 
 placed.  In  the  following  statement  and  suggestions,  therefore,  I consider  myself  as 
 merely  complying  with  the  request  of  the  Rajah. 
 
 “ The  situation  of  Queda  is  briefly  this.  It  is  said  to  be  stated  in  the  Siamese 
 annals  that  the  Siamese  have  at  several  periods  of  their  history  overrun  the  whole  of 
 the  Malay  Peninsula,  then  inhabited  by  barbarous  and  savage  tribes.  This  they 
 have  construed  into  a right  of  conquest,  which  has  since  been  repeatedly  asserted 
 since  the  Malays  occupied  the  Peninsida,  whenever  they  found  themselves  sufficiently 
 strong,  and  their  neighbours  sufficiently  weak  to  be  subjected  to  plunder  and  aggres- 
 sion without  incurring  serious  danger.  Sometimes  they  have  been  altogether  baffled, 
 as  in  their  repeated  attacks  on  Malacca  some  centuries  ago ; but  though  baffled,  it 
 does  not  appear  that  they  ever  formally  renounced  their  claims  even  on  Malacca, 
 which  has  never  been  conquered  by  them,  but  on  the  contrary,  they  consider  them  as 
 perfectly  valid  even  down  to  the  present  day.  Queda  is  one  of  the  Malay  states  that 
 appears  at  some  period  to  have  been  ovemm  by  the  Siamese,  and  has  accordingly 
 consented  to  send,  every  third  year,  a gold  and  silver  flower  as  a token  of  homage. 
 The  value  of  these  articles  is  as  trifling  as  need  be  supposed,  the  weight  of  the  gold 
 flower  being  only  twelve  dollars,  and  that  of  the  silver  one  thirty-two  dollars.  There 
 is  therefore  reason  for  considering  the  land  of  Queda  as  a dependency  on  Siam  at 
 present,  but  certainly  none  whatever  for  supposing  that  Siam  has  any  right  of  sub- 
 
 H 
 
50 
 
 QUEDA. 
 
 jecting  Queda  to  arbitrary  impositions  of  any  kind.  During  the  former  wars  between 
 the  Siamese  and  Burmans  it  appears  that  the  Rajah  of  Queda  has  presented  the  sign 
 of  homage,  or  the  gold  and  silver  tree,  sometimes  to  the  one  power  and  sometimes 
 to  the  other,  but  it  does  not  appear  that  he  has  ever  submitted  to  arbitrary  exactions. 
 In  the  late  wars  between  the  Siamese  and  Burmans,  it  is  asserted  that  the  Rajah  of 
 Queda  furnished  some  of  the  Burman  prows  with  provisions,  and  it  is  certain  that  a 
 fleet  of  them  did  actually  procure  supplies  at  Penang.  These  circumstances  strongly 
 irritated  the  Siamese,  who  compelled  the  Rajah  of  Queda  not  only  to  furnish  them 
 with  great  quantities  of  supplies,  but  also  with  a thousand  men,  and  this  he  was 
 compelled  to  submit  to  last  year  to  prevent  his  country  being  ravaged  without 
 mercy.  This  year  the  Siamese  have  reiterated  the  same  demands,  and  the  Rajah 
 states  that  the  country  will  be  ruined  and  impoverished  if  he  complies  with  the  de- 
 mands of  the  Siamese  government,  and  not  less  certainly  ruined  by  the  Siamese 
 armies  if  he  refuses  to  assent  to  them.  The  question,  therefore,  betw^een  Queda 
 and  Siam  is  obviously  a question  of  might  and  not  of  right,  for  it  is  not  admitted 
 by  the  Rajah  of  Queda  that  he  is  subject  to  the  arbitraiy  exactions  of  the  Siamese. 
 
 “ About  the  period  w^hen  Mr.  Light  first  acquired  the  original  ginnt  of  Pulo 
 Penang  from  the  Rajah  of  Queda,  he  was  I beheve  directed  by  the  Supreme  Govern- 
 ment of  India  to  examine  and  report  on  the  nature  of  the  relation  between  Queda 
 and  Siam,  and  especially  wiiether  a grant  of  the  island  made  by  Queda  could  be 
 considered  as  valid  without  the  concurrence  of  the  Siamese  government,  and  from 
 the  following  extract  from  his  report  it  appears  that  he  considered  Queda  as  scarcely 
 in  any  degree  dependent  on  Siam. 
 
 “ ^ I must  now  further  trespass  upon  your  patience  to  acquaint  you  with  the 
 relation  Queda  has  to  Siam.  It  does  not  appear  either  by  writings  or  tradition,  that 
 Queda  was  ever  governed  by  the  Siamese  laws  or  customs ; there  would  have  been 
 some  remains,  had  there  been  any  affinity  between  them.  The  people  of  Queda 
 are  Mahommedans,  their  letters  Arabic,  and  their  language  Jawee.  Their  Kings 
 originally  from  Minankabu  on  Sumatra,  but  as  Queda  was  very  near  Ligore,  a King- 
 dom of  Siam,  they  sent  every  third  year  a gold  and  silver  tree  as  a token  of  homage 
 to  Ligore.  This  was  done  to  preserve  a good  correspondence,  for  at  this  period  the 
 Siamese  were  very  rich  and  numerous,  but  no  warriors,  and  a considerable  trade 
 was  carried  on  between  Ligore  and  Queda.  After  the  destruction  of  Siam,  the 
 King  of  Ava  demanded  the  token  of  homage  from  Queda,  and  received  the  gold 
 and  silver  tree ; when  Pia  Tach  drove  away  the  Burmans,  and  built  a new  city  on 
 Siam,  the  King  of  Queda  sent  the  trees  to  Siam,  and  has  kept  peace  with  both, 
 ])aying  homage  sometimes  to  one,  sometimes  the  other,  and  often  to  both. 
 
 ^ Last  year  the  preparations  of  the  Bm'mans  w'ere  so  gi'eat  that  the  King  of 
 Queda  expected  the  total  destruction  of  the  Siamese.  The  Burmans  sent  to  the 
 King  to  demand  a supply  of  arms  and  ammunition,  which  he  complied  wKh,  though 
 
QUEDA. 
 
 51 
 
 in  a very  scanty  manner,  and  very  politically  gave  the  prows  which  carried  them 
 two  letters,  one  for  the  Bimnans  and  one  for  the  Siamese ! One  or  two  of  the 
 prows  went  to  the  Burmans  while  attacking  Salang,  the  others  meeting  with  the 
 Siamese  dehvered  their  letters.  This  has  been  told  to  the  Siamese  General  with 
 much  adchtion,  so  that  it  is  yet  a doubt  if  he  will  not  destroy  Queda,  for  taking  and 
 destroying  is  exactly  the  same  with  these  savages. 
 
 “ ^ The  Siamese  General  is  extirpating  Pattany ; all  the  men,  children,  and  old 
 women,  he  orders  to  be  tied,  and  thrown  upon  the  ground,  and  then  trampled  to 
 death  by  elephants. 
 
 " ‘ The  King  of  Queda  has  reason  to  be  afraid  of  such  a tyrant,  and  hopes  to 
 secure  himself  by  an  alliance  with  the  Hon.  Company ; yet  so  little  confidence  is  to 
 be  placed  in  these  people,  that  I should  not  be  surprised  at  his  offering  to  sacrifice 
 this  new  settlement  to  the  avarice  of  the  Siamese,  if  requested.’  ^^  * ^^  * * 
 
 “ It  is  no  new  crisis  for  Queda  to  be  involved  in  the  hostilities  of  the  Burmans 
 and  Siamese ; but  there  is  another  cause  which  has  given  rise  repeatedly  to  the 
 interference  of  the  Siamese  government  with  Queda,  and  that  is,  the  dissensions 
 concerning  the  succession,  which  are  constantly  occurring  there  as  in  every  other 
 Mussulman  government.  Perhaps  to  this  should  be  added  the  desire  of  the  Siamese 
 to  acquire  the  immediate  influence  over  Pulo  Penang,  which  is  now  in  the  hands  of 
 Queda.  This  desire  they  seem,  fi*om  the  aforesaid  extract  of  Mr.  Light’s  report,  to 
 have  been  early  suspected  of  entertaining,  and  the  same  opinions  were  held  on  the 
 subject  by  the  late  Mr.  Scott  of  Pulo  Penang,  than  whom  no  European  of  the 
 present  day  was  better  acquainted  with  the  habits  of  the  Siamese  and  the  maxims 
 of  their  policy,  having  resided  in  that  country  for  the  space  of  five  years.  The 
 following  observations  on  this  subject,  which  may  be  deemed  both  important  and 
 curious,  especially  as  they  are  corroborated  by  the  suggestions  in  Mr.  Farquhar’s 
 report  on  Pulo  Penang,  were  communicated  to  me  by  that  gentleman  some  time 
 previous  to  his  death,  and  I shall  make  no  apology  for  their  insertion. 
 
 ‘ The  dissensions  among  the  late  King  of  Queda’s  sons,  and  the  separate 
 negociations  which  the  oldest  three  are  carrying  on  with  the  King  of  Siam,  directly 
 or  indirectly,  through  the  government  of  Ligore  and  Sonera,  promises  to  close  in 
 Queda  becoming  a province  of  Siam ; a fear  of  this  happening  soon,  has  induced 
 the  younger  of  the  King’s  sons  to  remove  to  the  Company’s  territory,  or  its  \dcinity, 
 and  in  the  event  of  such  a change  taking  place,  all  the  Malays  wiU  remove  as  occa- 
 sion offers. 
 
 ‘‘  ‘ If  this  change  is  allowed  to  proceed  without  our  taking  any  measures  to 
 provide  against  the  consequences,  we  shall  have  the  Siamese  as  our  near  neighbours , 
 who,  from  the  powder  of  the  empire,  the  rapacity  of  the  governors,  and  routine  of 
 their  laws  and  pohee,  will  be  fomid  both  troublesome  and  useless. 
 
 This  will  appear,  if  we  advert  that  both  persons  and  property  are  at  th  e 
 
 H 2 
 
52 
 
 QUEDA. 
 
 command  of  the  King,  and  of  course  at  the  command  of  his  officers  in  succession 
 from  the  lowest  to  the  highest ; hence  no  man  uill  rear  what  he  cannot  call  his  own. 
 
 “ ‘ Certain  months  are  allowed  the  many  to  plant  and  reap  their  paddy : and 
 this  when  stored  is  sacred,  and  cannot  be  taken  from  their  possession  ; \\ith  this 
 exception,  all  the  rest  of  their  time,  exertions  or  acquirements,  may  be  taken  by  the 
 King  or  his  officers,  if  so  inclined ; hence  a society  so  constructed,  never  can  be  sub- 
 senient  to  the  supply  of  the  prortsions  which  our  population  and  shipping  require, 
 and  thence  to  us  useless  neighbours ; and  as  eveiy  Governor  commands  \rtthout 
 restriction  the  population  and  produce  of  the  country  he  governs,  nothing  restrains 
 their  being  troublesome  but  a constant  succession  of  sacrifices  made  to  their  avarice  ; 
 and  hence  are  they  very  troublesome  neighbom'S. 
 
 “ ‘ The  remedy  which  promises  in  some  degree  to  prevent  the  near  approach  of 
 such  useless  and  troublesome  neighbours,  is  to  acquire,  by  purchase  or  otherwise,  the 
 lands  of  Queda,  south  of  Gunung  Gerai,  which  mountain  forms  a defined  boundary 
 to  the  northward ; inland  are  the  high  mountains  which  divide  Queda  from  Tran- 
 garo,  and  to  the  southward  the  rivers  Canian  and  Edjou;  the  whole  comprehending 
 a square  of  about  twelve  square  leagues  of  fine  lands  well  watered  and  diversified, 
 with  paddy  and  rising  gi'ounds,  and  equal  to  the  reception  of  the  Malay  population 
 of  Queda,  should  a Siam  government  occasion  them  to  remove,  and  this  space  so 
 peopled  would  be  equal  to  a supply  of  all  our  wants  in  cattle,  grain,  poultry,  or 
 roots. 
 
 ‘‘  ‘ Since  our  possessing  Prince  of  Wales’  Island,  sundiy  occasions  of  acquiring 
 this  teiTitory  have  occurred,  which  from  some  misunderstanding  have  been  neglected. 
 
 “ ^ The  first  was  when  the  peace  of  Praiy  was  made. 
 
 “ ‘ The  second,  when  the  King  died,  and  the  sum  of  thirty  dollars  was  due  by 
 the  Company  at  this  time ; had  Sir  George  Leith  added  seventy  to  the  thirty  due, 
 he  might  have  got  a right  to  the  lands  in  question,  and  liberated  the  Company  from 
 the  annual  payment  of  ten  dollars;  he  was  satisfied  \rith  a stripe  three  miles  inland, 
 fi'om  Quala  Mooda  River  to  that  of  Carrian,  which  being  principally  mangrove,  is  of 
 little  use. 
 
 “ ^ Mliat  Sir  George  might  have  done,  a fear  of  Siam,  and  the  securing  a retreat 
 in  case  the  King  and  brothers  are  superseded  by  a Governor,  may  now  render  practi- 
 cable ; and  it  ought  not  to  be  delayed  an  hour  ; for  should  the  Siamese  annex  Queda 
 to  the  empire,  and  send  a Governor  before  it  is  accomplished,  there  would  then  be 
 no  hopes  of  such  an  acquisition. 
 
 ‘ As  the  Company  now  occupy  Prince  of  Wales’  Island,  and  the  stripe  oppo- 
 site, under  grants  from  Kings  of  Queda,  without  any  caveat  against  such  grants  being 
 brought  forward  by  Siam,  the  same  deference  would  be  paid  to  a gi'ant,  if  procured, 
 before  the  King  was  deprived  of  his  country,  and  as  such  a deprivation  is  apparently 
 likely  soon  to  happen,  the  right  to  the  lands  described  should  be  immediately  pro- 
 
QUEDA. 
 
 5;} 
 
 cured,  if  possible,  leaving  the  expediency  and  mode  of  occupying  it  to  future  con- 
 sideration. 
 
 “ ‘ Because  the  having  the  right  can  do  no  harm,  and  as  the  purchase  may  be 
 combined  with  the  liberating  the  Company  from  the  annual  payment  of  ten  dollars, 
 perhaps  the  addition  would  not  be  much,  especially  as  the  King  must  be  convinced, 
 that  in  case  of  Siam  occupying  Queda,  he  could  have  no  claim  to  the  tenth,  and 
 therefore  more  likely  to  accept  of  a moderate  equivalent ; besides,  if  he  granted  the 
 Company  the  lands  described,  he,  his  brothers,  families,  dependants,  and  adherents, 
 would  find  a comfortable  retreat  as  subjects,  in  heu  of  a precarious  one  as  Kings.’ 
 
 “ With  regard  to  this  important  document,  which  details  the  opinion  of  one  of 
 tlie  original  founders  of  the  settlement  of  Pulo  Penang,  to  whose  activity  and 
 resources,  it  is  acknowledged  on  all  hands,  that  Mr.  Light  was  greatly  indebted,  it 
 may  be  necessary  to  observe,  in  the  first  place,  that  the  evils  contemplated  in  pros- 
 pect by  Mr.  Scott  have  now  actually  occurred,  and  have  brought  the  affairs  of 
 Queda  to  the  present  crisis.  It  is  perfectly  well  known  that  some  time  ago 
 Rajah  Bisnoi,  the  Rajah  of  Queda’s  half-brother,  has  retired  to  Siam  for  the  ex- 
 press purpose  of  endeavouring  to  have  himself  appointed  Rajah  of  Queda,  and  the 
 present  Rajah  dethroned  by  the  Siamese.  The  residence  of  this  Rajah  Bishnu  was 
 formerly  at  Sittool ; he  had  contracts  from  the  Penang  government  or  their  agents 
 for  procuring  timber  in  the  Queda  country,  and  it  may  be  inferred  that  it  is  through 
 means  of  the  money  and  authority  which  he  has  gained  by  means  of  these  contracts, 
 that  he  expects  to  supplant  his  brother  in  the  government  of  Queda,  and  to  procure 
 it  for  himself. 
 
 “ As  to  the  opinion  hazarded  by  Mr.  Scott,  with  regard  to  the  means  of  avoid- 
 ing the  evils  consequent  to  a Siamese  invasion,  it  is  only  necessary  to  state  that  the 
 claims  of  the  Siamese  on  Pulo  Penang  are  quite  as  good  as  on  any  other  part  of 
 the  Queda  territory ; and  that  if  Queda  were  subdued,  and  made  a province  of  Siam, 
 we  woidd  find  it  impossible  to  defend  our  thin  stripe  of  mangrove  marsh,  three  miles 
 broad,  and  must  consequently  resign  it  with  its  inhabitants,  amounting  at  present  to 
 the  number  of  five  thousand  persons,  to  the  devastation  of  the  Siamese.  I have  no 
 doubts  but  we  should  be  able  to  defend  our  settlement  of  Pulo  Penang  against  the 
 whole  force  of  the  Siamese  territory,  but  have  very  serious  doubts  that  the  defence 
 of  it  would  cost  us  quite  as  much  expense  as  the  defence  of  the  Queda  territory. 
 The  tenure  by  which  we  hold  Pulo  Penang  at  present,  is  that  of  a yearly  tribute, 
 which  would  by  no  means  be  creditable  to  the  English  Company  or  the  Enghsh 
 nation,  if  the  obvious  superiority  of  our  force  to  that  of  Queda  did  not  shew  the 
 whole  world  that  the  Rajah  of  Queda  owes  this  to  our  national  justice,  and  not  to 
 the  power  of  his  arms.  This,  however,  would  by  no  means  be  equally  obvious  if 
 this  yearly  sum  were  to  be  paid  to  Siam,  and  would  tend  to  depreciate  oirr  national 
 character  among  all  the  nations  of  the  Eastern  Seas.  The  difficulty  of  negociating 
 
QUEDA. 
 
 5t 
 
 with  the  Siamese  government  has  always  been  acknowledged  to  be  gi'eat,  and  the 
 English  in  particular  ha^'e  been  remarkably  unfortunate  in  all  their  attempts  to  this 
 pui-pose.  The  letter  on  the  Negi-ai’s  expedition  in  1753,  with  remarks  on  the  adjacent 
 comitries,  attributed  to  a IMr,  T.  Taylor,  notices  Siam  in  the  following  manner  : " The 
 next  adjacent  country  to  be  mentioned  is  Siam  ; it  hardly  merits  notice,  if  their  be- 
 ha\iour  did  not  merit  chastisement,  which  may  tmn  to  more  advantage  than  the  trade, 
 w'hile  subject  to  such  impositions  as  at  present,  under  so  injurious  a government.  The 
 productions  of  the  country  are  prodigious  quantities  of  gi*ain,  cotton,  benjamin, 
 sandal,  aquala,  and  sapan  woods ; antimony,  tin,  lead,  iron,  loadstone,  gold,  silver, 
 sapphires,  emeralds,  agates,  chrystal,  and  marble.  Siam  has  no  force,  and 
 would  he  a very  valuable  acquisition  to  any  Em-opean  nation,  either  in  w'hole  or 
 in  part,  though  the  trade  will  peld  but  little  advantage  under  the  present  circum- 
 stances.’ These  observations,  made  about  sixty  years  back,  apply  with  equal  accu- 
 racy to  Siam  at  present,  and  I have  little  doubt  but  the  same  difficrdties  must  now" 
 be  encountered  in  every  attempt  either  to  negociate  or  trade  with  Siam ; unless, 
 indeed,  we  were  to  negociate  with  anus  in  our  hands,  and  most  probably  then  like- 
 wise, after  they  have  experienced  the  effects  of  them,  Siam  and  Cochin  China  may 
 be  considered  as  miniatm'es  of  China.  The  people  indeed  are  less  civihzed,  and 
 have  made  less  progress  in  the  arts  of  life ; but  the  mlers  and  officers  of  government 
 are  equally  besotted  with  childish  pride  and  ignorance,  and,  if  possible,  more  rapa- 
 cious and  venal.  A different  opinion,  however,  seems  to  have  been  entertained  on 
 this  subject  by  Mr.  Farquhar,  in  consequence  of  some  communications  with  the 
 Siamese  governor  of  Legore,  as  appears  from  the  following  extract  from  his  Report 
 on  Prince  of  Wales’  Island  : 
 
 “ The  measure  most  direct  and  effective  for  preseiwing  the  peace  of  Queda, 
 w'ould  be  a letter  from  the  Governor-general  to  the  King  of  Siam,  requesting  him 
 to  w"rite  to  the  head  men  at  Sangora,  called  by  the  Siamese  Son  Kra  Ligore  Patawy, 
 and  Caleutan,  not  to  molest  the  Queda  empire,  which  the  King  would  instantly 
 comply  with.  The  Siamese  are  from  interest  our  finn  alhes,  because  they  detest  the 
 Burmans,  and  entertain  a hope  that  we  shall  one  day  or  other  be  obhged  to  make 
 w'ar  upon  Ava.  Several  letters  have  been  received  from  the  Governor  of  Ligore,  to 
 send  him  early  notice  should  such  an  event  be  hkely  to  take  place,  and  the  Governor 
 says  he  has  orders  to  tender  the  prorinces  of  Mergui,  Tenasermi,  Tavoy,  and  Mar- 
 taban to  the  English  as  the  price  for  their  co-operation  against  Ava.  The  Siamese 
 have  never  given  up  their  claims  to  these  prorinces,  which  from  time  immemorial 
 formed  a part  of  their  natural  hereditaiy  dominions,  and  w"ere  only  lately  seized 
 upon  by  the  Burmans.’ 
 
 “ Never  having  seen  the  letters  of  the  Governor  of  Ligore  referred  to  by  Mr. 
 Farquhar,  nor  knowing  where  to  refer  to  them,  I can  neither  pretend  to  judge 
 positively  of  the  crisis  w'hich  produced  such  an  offer  from  the  Siamese  government. 
 
QUEDA. 
 
 nor  to  suggest  whether  or  not  some  misapprehension  may  have  occurred  on  our 
 parts.  It  must  be  admitted,  however,  that  any  cession  of  this  kind  is  totally  averse 
 to  the  usual  maxims  of  the  Siamese  government.  It  may,  however,  be  observed,  that 
 if  there  ever  was  a crisis  which  could  have  induced  the  Siamese  to  renounce  four  of 
 their  ancient  and  native  provinces  in  our  favour,  it  would  be  comparatively  easy  to 
 procure  the  cession  of  Queda.  I may  even  venture  to  add  that,  in  my  opinion,  the 
 cession  of  all  Queda  woidd  be  procured  with  no  greater  difficulty  than  the  cession  of 
 Penang  alone,  and  the  cession  of  the  whole  Malay  peninsula  with  no  greater 
 difficulty  than  the  cession  of  Queda.  Tffie  only  difficulty  in  the  case  will  be  to  pro- 
 cure any  species  of  cession  which  will  be  recognized  by  a government  so  constituted 
 as  the  Siamese.  If  our  negociations  with  Siam  were  for  the  present  confined  solely 
 to  the  object  of  opening  a trade  with  that  country,  I conceive  that  the  very  same 
 difficulties  would  occur,  and  that  no  trade,  except  of  the  most  limited  nature,  would 
 be  permitted,  the  obstructions  arising  equally  fi’om  the  Chinese  maxims  of  govern- 
 ment, which  they  have  adopted,  the  ignorance  of  the  Siamese  ministers,  their  short- 
 sighted rapacity  and  jealousy  of  Europeans,  which  jealousy  will  hardly  fail  to  be 
 increased  by  their  becoming  better  acquainted  with  our  naval  and  mihtary  resources. 
 The  opinion,  therefore,  which  I ventm'e  to  express  on  the  subject  is,  that  though 
 nmnerous  circumstances  tend  to  render  an  affiance  with  Siam  desirable,  nothing  is 
 to  be  expected  from  any  other  than  an  armed  negociation.  Siam,  situated  between 
 two  powerfrd  neighbours,  the  Burmans  and  Cochin  Chinese,  by  each  of  which  her 
 political  existence  has  been  several  times  endangered,  is  our  natural  ally,  and  might 
 derive  the  most  essential  advantages  from  forming  intimate  relations  with  the 
 English  ; but  she  is  by  no  means  sensible  of  this,  and  I am  persuaded  no  overtmes 
 on  our  part  would  be  acceptable  to  that  government  at  present,  that  had  not  for 
 their  basis  the  proposition  of  mutual  hostilities  against  the  Burmans.  A proposition 
 of  this  kind,  I have  little  doubt,  would  be  favourably  hstened  to,  and  if  such  an 
 occasion  should  occur,  it  would  be  of  the  highest  importance  to  embrace  it,  in  order 
 to  procure  the  complete  liberation  of  the  Malay  peninsula  from  the  infiuence  of 
 Siam,  an  arrangement  which  might  be  productive  of  the  highest  political  con- 
 sequences. 
 
 “ In  the  present  state  of  the  matter  the  Rajah  of  Queda  would  certainly  assent  to 
 any  arrangement  acceptable  to  the  English ; the  whole  difficulty  will  be  in  our  being 
 able  to  commence  any  kind  of  negociation  with  Siam  upon  a proper  basis  ; but  as 
 this  must  probably  be  attempted  soon,  we  ought  certainly  to  avail  ourselves  of  the 
 interim  to  make  ourselves  accurately  acquainted  with  the  territory  and  resources  of 
 Queda,  and  to  obtain  more  minute  information  concerning  the  nature  of  the  con- 
 nection which  has  subsisted  between  Queda  and  Siam.  With  regard  to  these  points, 
 the  government  of  Penang  might  immediately  procure  materials  for,  and  prepare  a 
 report  to  the  Governor-general,  for  I am  pretty  certain  there  are  no  materials  in  the 
 
o() 
 
 QUEDA. 
 
 records  of  that  government  which  can  much  illustrate  the  subject.  It  may,  how- 
 ever, be  proper  to  add,  that  during  the  temporary  government  of  the  late  Colonel 
 Macalister  an  unsuccessful  attempt  was  made  to  negociate  with  the  Rajah  of  Queda  for 
 the  lands  in  question.  Mr.  LauTence,  the  Malay  translator  at  Penang,  who  was 
 deputed  to  proceed  to  Queda  for  the  purpose  of  effecting  this  object,  may  be  able  to 
 state  the  reasons  which  occasioned  the  failure  ; for  as  the  proceedings  were  carried 
 on  solely  by  the  directions  of  the  Governor,  I had  not  the  opportunity  of  official 
 reference  to  the  particulars. 
 
 “ The  following  further  extract  from  Mr.  Farquhar’s  report,  will,  I apprehend, 
 tend  to  elucidate  the  view  of  the  subject  which  I have  taken  the  liberty  of  submitting 
 to  your  Lordship,  and  point  out  the  advantage  of  a more  intimate  connexion  being 
 fonned  between  Penang  and  the  Malay  peninsula. 
 
 “ Mn  all  its  extensive  plans  and  operations,  the  British  government  at  Prince 
 of  Wales’  Island  should  keep  in  its  recollection  that  the  immediate  wants  of  the  settle- 
 ment have  considerably  increased,  and  are  likely  to  become  greater  eveiy  day,  and 
 the  government  should  then  advert  to  the  important  circumstance  of  supplies  from 
 Queda  being  more  \rithin  its  reach,  cheaper  to  the  community,  and  subject  to  fewer 
 failures  than  supplies,  which  by  exertions  might  be  elsewhere  acquired.  Now  as 
 these  supplies  cannot  long  be  depended  upon,  under  the  present  conflicting  autho- 
 rities of  five  or  six  brothers  and  an  uncle,  all  equally  oppressive  and  independent,  the 
 Company,  in  order  to  command  provisions  for  Penang  adequate  to  any  demand,  must 
 adopt  one  or  other  of  the  following  alternatives,  viz.  They  must  take  such  a share  in 
 the  pohtics  of  Queda,  as  to  give  such  a decided  preponderance  to  Tuanku  Pau 
 Erang,  as  will  enable  him  effectually  to  curb  his  brothers,  and  give  efficacy  to  the 
 laws  for  the  security  of  the  ryots  ; or  they  must  obtain  the  twelve  square  leagues 
 opposite  this  island,  and  pm'sue  such  measures  for  its  government,  as  promise,  with 
 the  gi'eatest  celerity,  to  be  the  means  of  peophng  and  cultivating  it.  Were  my 
 opinion  asked,  in  regard  to  the  choice  of  these  alternatives,  I should  certainly  adopt 
 that  which  places  Queda  under  our  own  control  and  management,  but  both  will  best 
 secure  the  object.’ 
 
 “ As  your  Lordship  last  year  despatched  Mr.  Campbell  as  yom'  agent  to  Acheen, 
 I did  not  deem  it  necessary  to  commence  any  particular  negotiations  with  that 
 state ; but  having  reason  to  think  that  some  mark  of  attention  w^ould  be  agreeable  to 
 the  young  King,  I wrote  to  inform  him  of  the  object  of  the  expedition,  and  to  apprize 
 him  of  your  Lordship’s  intention  of  accompanying  it ; and  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to 
 enclosure  No.  7,  for  his  Majesty’s  reply.  After  the  information  which  your  Lordship 
 must  have  received  concerning  Acheen,  it  will,  I conceive,  be  needless  for  me  to 
 enlarge  on  that  topic.  The  state  of  the  country  is  still  very  similar  to  wiiat  it  was 
 last  year.  Tlie  power  of  the  King  is  daily  becoming  more  precarious,  and  the 
 government  rapidly  breaking  up.  Almost  all  the  powerful  Chiefs,  whether  of  the 
 
ACHEEN. 
 
 57 
 
 coast  or  interior,  have  assumed  a virtual  independence  without  formally  renouncing 
 the  King’s  authority ; while  the  power  of  the  young  King  is  too  much  enfeebled  to  be 
 able  either  to  compel  obedience,  or  to  levy  the  usual  taxes  and  duties  for  the  sup- 
 port of  his  dignity.  One  of  the  principal  of  these  refractory  Chiefs  is  the  Pangulu 
 of  Susa,  one  of  the  districts  formerly  most  productive  in  pepper.  The  young  King 
 of  Acheen  is  by  no  means  deficient  in  general  abilities,  but  has  been  designedly  de- 
 prived of  a proper  education  by  his  mother,  whose  influence  in  the  country  is  still 
 superior  to  his  own.  This  circumstance  has  thrown  the  Prince,  in  a great  measure, 
 into  the  hands  of  about  half  a dozen  of  half-caste  Portuguese  and  French;  these 
 personages  in  themselves  are  of  httle  ability  or  influence;  the  most  important  of 
 them  are  L’Etoile,  a half-caste  native  of  Tranquebar,  who  is  his  chief  adviser,  and 
 chief  of  the  marine,  with  the  title  of  commodore;  and  Silveira,  a Brazihan,  formerly 
 engaged  in  trade  at  Macao,  but  who  took  refuge  at  Acheen,  or  rather  Talesimo,  on 
 becoming  insolvent.  The  former  of  these  is  by  no  means  disaffected  to  the  English ; 
 the  second  is  their  decided  and  inveterate  enemy,  and  suspected  of  being  a French 
 agent.  His  being  permitted  to  reside  in  the  Acheen  temtory  must  inevitably  prove 
 injurious  to  the  English  interests,  while  to  remove  him  would  be  very  easy,  as  some 
 of  his  late  proceedings  have  been  very  obnoxious  to  the  King.  As  the  country  of 
 Acheen,  however,  cannot  possibly  be  omitted  in  the  general  line  of  policy  which  it 
 becomes  necessary  to  adopt  towards  the  Malay  states,  I feel  it  incumbent  on  me  to 
 state  to  your  Lordship,  that  without  our  particular  interference  to  support  the 
 influence  of  the  King,  nothing  can  prevent  the  breaking  up  of  this  state  in  a few' 
 years;  in  which  case  it  will  cost  us  as  much  trouble,  and  more  expense,  to  free 
 the  coast  from  the  pirates  who  will  rise  fi'om  its  ruins,  as  constantly  happens  in 
 the  event  of  the  breaking  up  of  any  Malay  state,  than  it  would  cost  us,  at  present, 
 to  give  effective  support  to  the  ancient  government,  and  obtain  on  amicable  terms 
 from  the  King,  any  arrangements  that  we  may  deem  satisfactory  and  advanta- 
 geous. These  arrangements  will  probably  relate  chiefly  to  two  objects,  the  cession 
 of  the  port  of  Acheen,  and  the  farming  of  the  import  and  export  duties  of  the  country. 
 Now,  if  on  the  present  occasion  it  shall  be  our  object  as  far  as  regards  Acheen,  merely  ‘ 
 to  prevent  the  French  or  other  European  nations  from  settling  in  the  countr}',  or 
 deriving  any  advantages  from  the  resources  of  the  country,  the  latter  must  be 
 admitted  to  be  the  most  simple,  easy,  and  effectual  mode  of  accomplishing  that 
 object.  The  present  juncture  is  the  most  fortmiate  that  can  be  conceived  for  pos- 
 sessing ourselves  of  this  advantage,  and  not  more  than  two  hundred  men  would 
 certainly  be  adequate  to  the  attainment  of  this  object,  placed  under  the  charge  of 
 a resident  that  could  be  confided  in.  The  King  upon  a proper  agreement  being 
 made  would,  I have  every  reason  to  think,  assent  to  the  measure;  and  by  this 
 means  w'e  should  equally  preserve  the  tranquillity  of  the  country,  prevent  it  from 
 becoming  a nest  of  pirates,  and  cut  off  a vast  source  of  illicit  trade,  which  after 
 
 I 
 
58 
 
 BORNEO. 
 
 our  acquiring  the  dominion  of  the  eastern  isles,  is  more  Ukely  to  be  increased 
 than  impaired. 
 
 “ I have  now  enumerated  to  your  Lordship  the  result  of  my  proceedings  with 
 regard  to  the  different  eastern  Rajahs,  as  connected  with  the  objects  of  the  expedition; 
 but  I have  still  to  sohcit  your  attention  to  several  subjects,  which  require  almost  im- 
 mediate consideration ; of  these,  none  of  the  least  important  is  the  great  island  of 
 Borneo.  But  I have  already  made  this  letter  too  long,  and  shall  only  add  that 
 I am,  &c.  &c.” 
 
CHAPTER  III. 
 
 Account  of  the  Eastern  Islands — Products  of  Borneo — Settlements  of  Europeans  in  the  Island — Celebes — 
 Traffic  in  slaves — Policy  of  the  Dutch,  different  policy  of  the  English — Dutch  factory  at  Japan — 
 Trade  rvith — Views  connected  with  the  acquisition  of  Java — Countries  from  the  Bay  of  Bengal  to  New 
 Holland — Proposed  policy,  chain  of  posts — Chinese  in  Java — Monopoly  of  farms,  <^c. — Arabs,  use 
 they  make  of  their  religion — Americans,  regulation  of  trade — Dutch  orders  respecting  trade  and  navi- 
 gation— Means  taken  to  keep  up  their  monopoly  of  spice — Cause  of  the  failure  of  their  trading  ports — 
 Former  policy  of  the  English  objected  to — Neglect  of  the  British  government — Dutch  views  of  Colonies 
 — Causes  of  deterioration  of  Malay  character — Piracy — Laws — Slavery,  sources  of  in  the  Malay 
 countries — Laws,  want  of — Propagation  of  Christianity — Advantages  likely  to  accrue  to  the  British 
 nation  from  the  acquisition  of  Java  and  the  Eastern  Isles. 
 
 To  Lord  Minto. 
 
 “ In  my  last  letter  (1811)  I referred  to  the  island  of  Borneo,  which  is  not  only 
 one  of  the  most  fertile  countries  in  the  world,  but  the  most  productive  in  gold  and 
 diamonds.  The  camphor  which  it  produces  is  the  finest  in  the  world,  and  it  is 
 thought  that  it  is  capable  of  growing  every  species  of  spice.  Its  eastern  coasts, 
 which  abound  in  sago,  also  produce  a greater  quantity  of  birds’  nests,  sea  slug,  and 
 other  commodities  in  great  demand  in  the  Chinese  market,  than  all  the  other  islands 
 of  the  East ; but  the  interior  has  never  been  explored  by  Europeans.  It  may  be 
 conjectured  that  this  ignorance  of  the  state  of  the  country  is  one  of  the  principal 
 causes  that  no  European  settlement  has  hitherto  proved  advantageous ; but  has 
 generally  been  abandoned  after  a short  trial.  The  only  exception  to  this  observa- 
 tion is  the  Dutch  settlement  of  Banjar  Massing,  which  continued  from  1747  to 
 nearly  three  years  ago,  when  it  was  abandoned  by  Marshal  Daendels  to  the  Rajah, 
 by  agreement,  for  the  sum  of  50,000  dollars.  The  Rajah  soon  after  sent  an  embassy 
 to  the  government  of  Penang,  inviting  the  English  to  settle  in  their  place ; but  this 
 appHcation  not  being  attended  to,  they  apphed  to  me  on  my  coming  down  to 
 Malacca  last  December,  as  I had  the  honour  of  stating  in  my  former  despatches.  I 
 shall  only  add,  that  during  the  continuance  of  the  Dutch  settlement  at  Banjar 
 Massing,  the  expense  and  revenue  were  always  supposed  to  be  very  equally  balanced, 
 
 I 2 
 
60 
 
 BORNEO. 
 
 and  that  the  abandonment  of  the  settlement  was  strongly  opposed  by  many  of  the 
 Dutch. 
 
 “ The  only  other  territory  to  which  the  Dutch  have  any  claim  on  the  island  of 
 Borneo,  is  the  coast  fi'om  Sacadana  to  Mampawa,  Pontiana,  which  hes  about  twelve 
 miles  up  the  river,  and  Landa,  which  hes  about  seventy  miles  up  the  river  of  that 
 name,  navigable  by  large  boats.  This  territory  they  acquired  in  virtue  of  a cession 
 from  the  Sultan  of  Bantam  in  1778;  they  destroyed  Sacadana,  and  established 
 factories  at  Pontiana  and  Mampawa,  which  they  abandoned  as  unproductive  after  a 
 trial  of  fourteen  years. 
 
 “No  other  part  of  the  island  of  Borneo  has  been  settled  by  Europeans.  The 
 Enghsh  in  1772  intended  to  have  established  a factory  at  Passir,  but  abandoned  the 
 design  on  some  commotions  taking  place  in  that  state.  Its  object  was  to  make 
 Passir  a depot  for  opium  and  Indian  piece  goods,  and  for  the  contraband  trade  in 
 spices.  In  1774,  a short  time  after  the  fost  settling  of  Balambangan,  Mr.  Jesse 
 was  deputed  as  resident  to  Borneo  proper,  with  which  state  he  concluded  a treaty, 
 by  which  the  settlement  of  Balambangan  acquired  the  exclusive  trade  in  pepper ; 
 stipulating,  in  return,  to  protect  Borneo  from  the  piratical  incm'sions  of  the  Sulu 
 and  Mindanawi  men;  neither  of  the  parties,  however,  fulfilled  their  agreements, 
 though  the  residency  at  Borneo  was  continued  for  some  years  after  the  first  breaking 
 up  of  the  Balambangan  settlement  in  1775. 
 
 “ On  the  N.  E.  of  Borneo  proper  lies  a very  considerable  temtory,  the  sove- 
 reignty of  which  has  been  long  claimed  by  the  Sulu  government,  and  a very  con- 
 siderable part  of  which,  together  with  the  islands  off  the  coast,  have  been  for 
 upwards  of  forty  years  regularly  ceded  to  the  English  by  the  Sulus,  and  has  also  at 
 different  periods  been  occupied  by  the  English,  without  any  objection  on  the  part  of 
 the  government  of  Borneo  proper.  This  ceded  district,  which  extends  fr'om  the 
 river  Kio-manis  on  the  north-west,  which  forms  the  bomidary  of  Borneo  proper,  to 
 the  great  bay  of  Towsan  Abia,  on  the  north-east,  is  imdoubtedly  a rich  and  fertile 
 country,  though  in  a rude  and  uncultivated  state ; and  it  is  admirably  situated  for 
 commerce,  though  the  different  failures  of  the  settlement  of  Balambangan  may 
 seem  to  indicate  the  contrary.  Balambangan  is  one  of  the  small  islands  off  the 
 northern  extremity  of  the  island  of  Borneo,  and  included  in  the  Sulu  gi'ant  to  the 
 English.  It  vv^ould  be  foreign  to  the  present  object,  to  enter  into  any  details  con- 
 cerning the  history  of  the  settlement  of  Balambangan ; but  it  may  be  proper  to 
 mention,  that  all  the  gentlemen  who  were  engaged  in  the  last  attempt,  were  con- 
 vinced that  the  bottom  of  the  gi'eat  Malluda  bay  would  have  been  infinitely  prefer- 
 able as  a settlement,  in  every  respect. 
 
 “ Balambangan  is,  in  almost  every  respect,  analogous  to  Penang ; it  does  not 
 admit  of  territorial  extension,  and  must  exist,  if  it  exists  at  all,  by  commerce  solely. 
 Malluda,  on  the  other  hand,  is  a deep  bight  in  the  island  of  Borneo,  which  admits  of 
 
BORNEO. 
 
 61 
 
 any  degree  of  territorial  extension ; may  always  subsist  any  number  of  inhabitants 
 by  its  own  produce ; and  communicates  with  the  great  lakes  in  the  centre  of  Borneo, 
 in  the  vicinity  of  the  gold  countries,  by  a land  carriage  of  little  more  than  forty 
 miles.  From  the  inquiries  which  I have  taken  every  opportunity  of  making  respecting 
 the  island  of  Borneo,  I feel  perfectly  satisfied  that  no  settlement  is  likely  to  succeed 
 in  that  quarter,  which  is  founded  on  a commercial,  instead  of  a territorial  basis.  We 
 have  already  acquired  territorial  rights,  and  are  likely  to  acquire  more ; and,  there- 
 fore, the  only  question  at  present  seems  to  be,  whether  these  can  he  turned  to 
 advantage,  either  by  cultivation  or  commerce.  To  this  I should  have  no  hesitation 
 whatever  in  answering,  yes ; finding  the  Dayak,  or  original  inhabitants  of  Borneo, 
 not  only  industrious  in  their  habits,  but  particularly  devoted  to  agriculture,  and  so 
 manageable,  that  a handful  of  Malays  have,  in  numerous  places,  reduced  many 
 thousands  of  them  to  the  condition  of  peaceful  cultivators  of  the  ground.  Indeed 
 nothing  seems  wanting  to  effect  this  on  a great  scale,  but  a strong  government, 
 which  can  afford  efficient  protection  to  property,  and  safety  to  the  individuals ; and 
 in  the  case  of  the  Dayak,  I regard  it  as  an  advantage,  that  they  have  not  hitherto 
 adopted  the  refigion  of  Islam,  and  would  be  ready,  from  the  first,  to  regard  us  as 
 their  friends  and  protectors.  Another  great  advantage  which  attends  the  formation 
 of  settlements  in  Borneo,  is,  that  there  are  no  territorial  claims  upon  it  from  any 
 European  nation  but  ourselves.  To  recommend,  however,  any  thing  of  the  kind 
 immediately,  would  obviously  be  premature  ; as,  notwithstanding  the  length  of  time 
 which  we  occupied  Balambangan,  not  only  the  interior  of  Borneo  is  almost  unknown, 
 but  even  a great  part  of  its  coasts.  This  supineness  in  the  government  of  Balam- 
 bangan, is  perhaps  not  wholly  unexampled ; and  I fear,  it  must  be  admitted  that  the 
 government  of  Penang  have  not  been  much  more  active  in  illustrating  the  state  of 
 the  Malay  peninsula,  or  even  the  provinces  of  Mergui  and  its  vicinity,  to  which  their 
 attention  was  particularly  directed  in  the  instructions  of  the  Court  of  Directors  to 
 the  late  Mr.  Dundas,  on  establishing  the  presidency  of  Prince  of  Wales’  Island.  The 
 want  of  local  information  is,  indeed,  the  rock  on  which  the  infant  settlements  of  the 
 English  have  at  all  times  been  wrecked  ; and  the  fate  of  several  of  our  eastern  settle- 
 ments were,  so  early  as  the  year  1759,  ascribed  to  this  cause,  by  the  author  of  the 
 letter  on  the  Negrais  expedition  : ‘ Colonies  and  settlements  of  every  kind  must,  at 
 first,  be  attended  with  many  difficulties,  which,  however,  a judicious  perseverance 
 will  surmount,  if  there  be  not  some  original  default  in  the  establishment.  It  must  be 
 obvious  to  every  one,  that  the  English  never  made  a settlement  in  which  they  were 
 not  impeded  by  some  unforeseen  difficulties,  so  as  at  last  frequently  to  make  abandon- 
 ing the  infant  establishment  appear  the  most  prudent  step,  without  even  hoping  any 
 return  for  the  prodigious  expense  which  may  have  been  incurred  by  the  undertaking. 
 Various  reasons,’  adds  that  author,  ‘ may  be  ascribed  for  this  event;  but  incapacity 
 in  the  person  entrusted  with  the  management,  and  the  want  of  proper  previous 
 
62 
 
 BORNEO. 
 
 examination  of  the  place,  seem  to  me  the  most  common,  and  most  considerable. 
 Without  stopping  to  inquire  how  far  the  want  of  success  in  our  several  attempts  to 
 settle  Balambangan,  may  have  been  fairly  attributable  to  either  of  these  causes,  I 
 may  safely  ventm-e  to  assert,  that  it  failed  the  last  time  chiefly  from  its  being  solely 
 a mihtary  estabhshment,  \rtthout  either  professional  merchants  or  mercantile  adven- 
 ture being  attached  to  it.  The  observations  which  I have  submitted  with  respect  to 
 Malluda,  apply  to  it  chiefly  as  a temtorial  estabhshment ; but  there  is  no  doubt  that 
 it  would  speedily  attain  commercial  importance.  The  contraband  trade  in  spices, 
 which  was  a principal  object  in  the  fonner  attempts  to  settle  Balambangan,  is  no 
 longer  any  object  to  the  Enghsh.  Many  commercial  views,  however,  which  influenced 
 the  original  estabhshment  of  Balambangan,  still  exist  in  equal  or  superior  force, 
 especiahy  those  which  related  to  Cochin  China,  Champa,  and  Camboja.  There  are 
 some  additional  reasons  which,  perhaps,  should  require  us  to  direct  our  attention 
 towards  Cochin  China.  The  present  King  of  Cochin  China  is  the  tme  heir  and  only 
 lineal  descendant  of  the  ancient  royal  family  of  Siam,  which  was  extiiqiated  by  the 
 Bunnans  about  the  year  1765,  and  is  considered  as  such  by  a considerable  part  of 
 the  Siamese  nation  ; and  as  the  present  Siamese  government  is  weak  and  distracted, 
 it  has  for  some  years  been  considered  as  a very  probable  occurrence,  that  he  vviU 
 soon  And  or  take  an  opportunity  of  asserting  his  claims  to  the  throne  of  Siam. 
 Though  this  Prince  has  derived  great  assistance  from  the  French  in  his  domi- 
 nions, on  many  former  occasions,  he  is  obviously  jealous  of  all  European  interference, 
 and  may  be  considered  as  more  under  the  influence  of  the  maxims  of  Chinese  pohcy, 
 than  of  any  Em'opean  power.  He  formerly  treated  om*  advances  with  something 
 more  than  marked  mdifference ; and  his  disaffection  has  been  so  much  increased  by 
 the  result  of  some  transactions  with  a mercantile  house  in  Madras,  that  he  has  lately 
 ordered  that  no  Enghshman  shall  be  permitted  to  set  foot  in  his  country.  As  it  is 
 understood  by  the  Portuguese,  the  only  nation  to  whom  any  considerable  degree  of 
 intercourse  with  his  dominions  is  peiTnitted,  that  he  has  lately  conquered  some  dis- 
 tricts belonging  to  the  Chinese  empire,  perhaps  an  overture  to  a treaty  might  be 
 made  to  him,  for  the  pm'pose  of  estabhshing  a tea  trade  with  his  dominions,  an 
 object  wiiich  has  formerly  been  conceived  to  be  practicable.  It  is  not,  however, 
 probable  that  any  thing  more  than  a very  limited  and  hampered  trade  would  ever  be 
 permitted  with  Cochin  China ; and  this  will  be  the  more  apparent,  if  we  consider  the 
 slavish  and  hiunihating  manner  in  which  all  traffic  still  is,  and  has  been,  carried  on, 
 both  with  Cochin  China  and  Siam,  by  the  few  ships  that  frequent  their  ports  from 
 Surat  and  Macao,  canning  chiefly  gold  and  silver  brocades,  chintzes,  and  the  flnest 
 cloths  of  Indian  manufacture,  Arabian  gums,  and  China  w'are,  with  the  richest  silks. 
 On  aiTiving  in  port,  the  most  v^aluable  part  of  the  cargo  is  immediately  presented  to 
 the  King,  who  takes  as  much  as  he  pleases ; the  remaining  part  is  chiefly  consumed 
 in  presents  to  the  courtiers  and  other  great  men,  while  the  refuse  of  the  cargo  is  then 
 
 1 
 
MINDANAWI. 
 
 63 
 
 permitted  to  be  exposed  to  sale.  The  part  which  is  consumed  in  presents  to  the 
 great  men,  is  entire  loss : for  that  which  the  King  receives,  he  generally  returns 
 a present,  which  is  seldom  adequate  to  the  value  of  the  goods  which  he  has 
 received ; but  by  dint  of  begging  and  repeated  solicitation,  this  is  sometimes  increased 
 a little.  It  is  obvious  that  a trade  of  this  strange  nature  is  by  no  means  accommo- 
 dated to  the  habits  of  Enghshmen ; and  I do  not  hesitate  to  say,  that  it  is  with  the 
 almost  unknown  countries  of  Champa  and  Camboja  alone,  that  we  have  much 
 chance  of  estabhshing  an  advantageous  trade,  in  the  present  state  of  affairs ; and 
 before  that  can  be  done  to  advantage,  we  must  make  ourselves  better  acquainted 
 with  them. 
 
 “ This  observation  might  be  extended  to  the  Sulu  Archipelago,  and  the  great 
 island  of  Mindanawi,  but  with  respect  of  both  of  these,  there  are  other  considerations 
 connected  with  the  exth’pation  of  the  eastern  pirates,  which  imperiously  demand  your 
 Lordship’s  attention.  The  Sulus  are  a bold  and  enterprising  race,  apparently  of  the 
 mixed  Malay  and  Phihppine  breed.  They  have  had  frequent  wars  with  the  Spaniards 
 of  Manilla,  and  have  never  acknowledged  their  authority.  The  Sulu  islands  are 
 numerous,  but  individually  of  small  extent,  and  situated  between  the  Philippines  and 
 the  island  of  Borneo.  They  have  generally  adopted  the  religion  of  Islam ; and  though 
 active  and  enterprising,  are  in  point  of  character  extremely  vicious,  treacherous,  and 
 sanguinary.  They  are  not  very  numerous,  as  the  inhabitants  of  the  Sulu  islands,  in 
 their  most  flourishing  state,  could  not  be  estimated  at  more  than  60,000  souls, 
 and  if  we  add  their  dependencies,  at  about  100,000  souls.  About  fifty  years  ago  they 
 were  much  devoted  to  commerce,  and  we  had  a commercial  resident  in  Sulu  for 
 some  time,  about  the  period  of  the  first  settling  of  Balamhangan;  it  was  soon, 
 however,  found  that  the  government  was  too  weak  to  yield  any  efficient  protection, 
 and  was  forced  to  be  withdrawn.  Since  that  time,  it  has  been  subject  to  constant 
 civil  commotions,  and  the  breaking  down  of  the  government  has  covered  the  Sulu 
 seas  with  fleets  of  formidable  pirates. 
 
 “ With  respect  to  the  great  island  of  Mindanawi,  it  is  the  original  source  of 
 the  Lanuns,  the  most  formidable  of  all  the  eastern  pirates.  This  island  lies  between 
 the  Moluccas  and  the  Phihppines.  The  northern  coast  of  this  island  is  under  a pre- 
 carious subjection  to  the  Spaniards.  The  great  Lanun  bight  is  occupied  by  a number 
 of  small  chieftains,  who  have  in  every  age  been  greatly  addicted  to  piratical  practices. 
 The  most  powerful  state  on  the  island,  however,  is  that  of  Mindanawi,  governed  by  a 
 Sultan  of  the  rehgion  of  Islam,  though  the  great  mass  of  his  subjects  are  pagans,  in 
 almost  every  respect  similar  to  the  aboriginal  inhabitants  of  Borneo.  The  state  of 
 Mindanawi  has  repeatedly,  on  former  occasions,  attempted  to  open  an  amicable  inter- 
 course with  the  Enghsh  on  the  most  hberal  terms.  For  the  present  Sultan’s  senti- 
 ments, I need  only  refer  your  Lordship  to  his  own  letter  lately  received,  in  enclosure 
 No.  8,  and  I allude  to  it  in  this  place  because,  from  information  received  from  that 
 
64 
 
 CELEBES. 
 
 quarter,  there  is  great  reason  to  apprehend  that  the  military  stores  which  your  Lord- 
 ship  despatched  to  this  Prince  by  Captain  Masquerier,  of  the  brig  Jane,  have  never 
 been  dehvered.  I am  informed  that  the  Mindanawi  state  is  at  present  torn  with  fac- 
 tions, but  that  the  Sultan  still  retains  his  authority  in  a considerable  degree ; and  I 
 have  no  doubt  that  your  Lordship’s  countenance  extended  to  him  would,  without 
 much  trouble,  give  it  tranquilhty  and  stabihty,  and  prevent  the  Lanuns  and  pirates 
 being  augmented  by  the  whole  force  of  Mindanawi,  which  must  be  the  inevitable 
 consequence  of  the  breaking  up  of  this  state.  Some  explanation  of  the  measures 
 which  we  may  find  it  necessary  to  take  in  this  quarter,  as  well  as  concerning  the 
 general  maxims  of  our  pohcy  to  the  eastward,  may  probably  be  due  to  the  Spanish 
 government  of  Manilla. 
 
 With  respect  to  the  island  of  Celebes,  and  in  particular  Macassar,  its  principal 
 settlement,  it  vill  be  ob^^ous  to  your  Lordship,  that  the  same  reasons  which  induced 
 the  Dutch  to  occupy  and  retain  it,  do  not  exist  for  the  English.  From  its  situation 
 in  the  \acinity  of  the  spice  islands,  and  from  the  spirit  of  the  tribes  which  inhabit  it, 
 their  activity  and  commercial  turn,  this  island  has  long  been  a subject  of  such 
 jealousy  to  the  Dutch,  that  they  have  been  content  to  support  upon  it  a losing 
 establishment,  for  the  purpose  of  repressing  the  native  trade  of  the  inhabitants,  and 
 preventing  other  European  nations  from  forming  establishments  upon  it.  But  though 
 the  Dutch  estabhshment  at  Macassar,  was  a losing  concern  in  the  hands  of  that 
 government,  it  is  by  no  means  obvious  that  this  would  be  the  case  under  a different 
 system  of  management ; the  high  population  of  the  island,  the  riches  of  many  indi- 
 viduals, and  their  expensive  taste  in  di'ess  and  other  luxuries,  would  seem  to  indicate 
 precisely  the  contrary.  It  is  possible,  therefore,  that  various  weighty  reasons  may 
 be  found,  independent  of  the  motives  which  influenced  the  Dutch,  to  induce  us  to 
 retain  their  establishments  on  Celebes,  or  even  to  enlarge  them.  Even  in  its  pre- 
 sent state  the  island  of  Celebes  may  be  reckoned  populous,  if  compared  with  many 
 of  the  islands  of  the  East.  It  has,  however,  greatly  declined  since  it  was  settled  by 
 the  Hollanders,  who  have  not  only  followed  their  constant  practice  of  fomenting 
 civil  wars,  and  exciting  rebellions  and  commotions  of  every  kind  in  Celebes,  but 
 have  encouraged  and  carried  to  a greater  extent  the  traffic  of  slaves  than  in  almost 
 any  other  of  their  eastern  possessions.  About  the  period  of  the  first  arrival  of 
 Europeans  in  the  East,  the  Macassar  and  Bugis  tribes  were  among  the  principal 
 dealers  in  spices,  and  the  island  of  Celebes  was  nearly  under  the  authority  of  a single 
 sovereign.  On  the  breaking  down  of  this  great  empire,  several  lesser  states  rose 
 from  its  mins.  By  exciting  dissensions  among  these  states,  and  aiding  one  against 
 another,  the  Dutch  at  last  contrived  to  render  all  the  states  of  the  island  subser- 
 vient to  their  views.  The  policy  which  I conjecture  we  shall  subsequently  find  it 
 proper  to  follow,  is  exactly  the  opposite  of  this.  We  may,  with  great  facility,  and 
 without  much  trouble,  employ  our  influence  and  mediation  to  heal  the  dissensions 
 
CELEBES-JELOLO. 
 
 65 
 
 of  the  native  princes,  to  establish  firmly  ancient  authorities,  check  innovations,  and 
 prevent  civil  wars  as  much  as  hes  in  our  power ; at  the  same  time  seizing  every 
 opportunity  of  prevailing  on  them  to  discourage  and  abandon  the  destructive  traffic 
 of  slaves.  To  this  nefarious  trade,  which  has  desolated  this  island,  as  well  as  all 
 the  small  islands  in  its  vicinity,  the  Bugis  men  and  Macasar  men  have  in  a great 
 measure  been  driven  by  the  monopolies  of  the  Dutch,  which  have,  in  a great 
 degree,  driven  the  fair  merchants  from  the  seas,  and  left  the  main  to  kidnappers  and 
 pirates.  The  increase  of  security  in  the  country,  will  produce  the  increase  of  both 
 wealth  and  population,  which  will  of  course  cause  an  increase  of  the  consumption 
 of  opium,  piece-goods,  and  other  Indian  commodities.  Had  it  not  been  for  the 
 contraband  trade  which  the  English  carried  on  at  almost  all  times,  with  the  states  of 
 Wajjo  and  Mandhar,  little  doubt  can  be  entertained  that  the  trade  of  Macasar,  in 
 these  articles  alone,  would  have  compensated  the  loss  which  the  Dutch  assert  that 
 they  have  always  sustained  from  this  estabhshment.  Notwithstanding  some  late 
 disagreements  of  the  English  with  the  Bugis  tribes,  arising  from  the  impossibility  of 
 explaining  to  the  eastern  nations  the  English  system  of  blockade,  I do  not  hesitate 
 to  affirm,  that  the  inhabitants  of  Celebes  are  generally  well  affected  to  the  English 
 nation,  to  which  they  have  always  had  a strong  attachment ; and  since  my  return  to 
 Malacca  I have,  to  a considerable  extent,  in  several  instances,  derived  essential 
 advantage  from  the  exertion  of  some  of  their  most  respectable  traders,  in  communi- 
 cating with  the  native  princes.  The  effect  of  a liberal  line  of  conduct  and  policy 
 adopted  towards  the  tribes  of  Celebes,  would  certainly  be  to  create  a powerful  and 
 active  nation  in  the  centre  of  the  Eastern  Islands,  attached  to  the  English  by 
 benefits,  and  looking  to  them  in  a great  measure  for  protection ; who,  without 
 becoming  formidable  to  ourselves,  might  easily  be  rendered  formidable  to  any  other 
 nation. 
 
 “ There  is  likewise  another  consideration  with  regard  to  Celebes,  which  deserves 
 attention.  The  Macasar  and  Bugis  tribes  are  the  most  bold,  adventurous,  and  en- 
 terprising of  all  the  eastern  nations,  and  extremely  addicted  to  a military  life.  They 
 are  equally  celebrated  for  their  fidehty,  and  their  courage,  and  for  this  reason  they 
 have  long  been  employed  as  the  Swiss  in  Europe,  not  only  in  the  armies  of  Siam, 
 Camboja,  and  other  countries,  but  also  as  the  guards  of  their  princes.  They  can  be 
 recruited  with  facility,  and  easily  submit  to  military  discipline,  and  it  is  probable 
 that  better  mercenaries  could  not  be  found  for  maintaining  several  of  our  Oriental 
 possessions. 
 
 The  observations  that  I have  taken  the  hberty  of  suggesting  to  your  Lordship, 
 respecting  the  island  of  Celebes,  apply  with  nearly  equal  force  to  the  island  Jelolo, 
 or  Halamahera,  which  is  situated  between  the  Moluccas  and  the  Papua  Islands,  as 
 Celebes  itself  is  situated  between  the  Moluccas  and  Borneo.  Jelolo  has  sometimes, 
 from  its  form,  been  denominated  Little  Celebes;  with  the  western  coast  of  this  island 
 
 K 
 
G6 
 
 JAPAN. 
 
 we  are  at  present  little  acquainted;  but  the  inhabitants  of  the  western  coasts,  espe- 
 cially those  of  Osso  and  Maba,  with  their  Sovereign,  the  son  of  our  old  ally  the 
 Sultan  of  Tidore,  have  lately  taken  every  means  of  evincing  their  tried  attachment  to 
 the  English  nation.  It  appears  they  have  lately  afforded  every  sort  of  supply,  in 
 the  most  liberal  way,  to  some  English  whalers,  and  are  proud  to  declare,  on  all  occa- 
 sions, that  they  owe  their  existence  to  the  liberal  supplies  which  your  Lordship  was 
 pleased  to  afford  them  in  their  extreme  necessity.  This  nation,  like  those  of  Bali 
 and  Bugis-land,  seems  worth  the  encouraging;  and  the  determined  perseverance 
 with  which  they  opposed  themselves  to  all  the  efforts  of  the  Dutch  and  their  auxi- 
 liaries, cannot  fail  to  excite  the  sympathies  of  the  English  nation.  The  three  islands 
 of  Bali,  Celebes,  and  Jelolo,  occupy  the  most  commanding  positions  in  the  centre 
 of  different  groups  of  islands,  and  each  of  them,  without  becoming  formidable  to 
 ourselves,  is  capable  of  being  rendered  extremely  formidable,  through  our  means,  to 
 any  other  European  power.  The  different  nations  which  occupy  them  have  always 
 been  particularly  attached  to  the  English ; and  no  European  nation,  with  the  excep- 
 tion of  the  Dutch  in  Macasar,  have  claims  on  any  considerable  portion  of  their 
 territories.  I therefore  beg  leave  to  submit  to  your  Lordship’s  particular  considera- 
 tion, whether  or  not  every  practical  means  which  may  tend  to  attach  and  affiliate 
 these  nations  to  the  English,  will  not  materially  tend  to  strengthen  our  interest  to 
 the  eastward,  and  even  tend  to  render  our  influence  permanent  in  these  regions,  and 
 independent  of  any  arrangement  which  may  take  place  subsequent  to  a general 
 peace. 
 
 “ The  only  remaining  Dutch  possession  to  which  it  is  necessary  at  present  to 
 request  your  Lordship’s  attention,  is  the  factory  at  Japan.  The  information  which  I 
 have  been  able  to  procure,  relative  to  this  factory,  is  of  a very  general  nature,  and 
 my  observations,  therefore,  shall  be  confined  to  a very  slight  sketch  of  its  general 
 management.  The  empire  of  Japan  has  for  a long  period  adopted  and  carried  into 
 effect  all  the  exclusive  maxims  of  Chinese  policy  •with  a degree  of  rigour  unknown 
 even  in  China  itself.  Previous  to  the  expulsion  of  the  Portuguese  and  the  extirpa- 
 tion of  Christianity  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the  Japanese  trade 
 was  reckoned  by  far  the  most  advantageous  which  could  be  pursued  in  the  East,  and 
 very  much  superior  to  either  the  Indian  or  Chinese  trade.  After  the  expulsion  of  the 
 Portuguese,  a very  extensive  trade  was  for  some  time  permitted  to  be  carried  on  by  the 
 Dutch,  on  account  of  the  benefits  which  the  Japanese  conceived  they  had  received 
 from  that  nation  during  the  Portuguese  war,  and  especially  the  detection  of  a formid- 
 able conspiracy  of  some  of  the  Japanese  princes  to  dethrone  the  emperor,  which  was 
 detected  by  the  Dutch  intercepting  the  ship  which  conveyed  the  correspondence  of 
 the  conspirators.  It  was  for  these  reasons  that  the  Dutch  originally  procured  the 
 imperial  edict  by  which  they  were  permitted  to  trade  to  Japan  to  the  exclusion  of  all 
 other  European  nations.  This  public  act  of  their  ancestors,  the  Japanese  have 
 
JAPAN. 
 
 67 
 
 repeatedly  declared  that  they  will  not  cancel,  but  they  have  done  every  thing  hut 
 formally  cancel,  for  a more  hmited  and  less  fi’ee  trade  was  never  carried  on  hy  one 
 rich  nation  to  another.  For  more  than  half  a century,  the  Dutch  trade  has  been 
 limited  to  two  yearly  ships  from  Bata\ia,  the  cargoes  of  both  of  which  scarcely  ever 
 exceed  200,000  dollars,  and  their  only  profitable  returns  are  in  Japan  copper  and 
 a small  quantity  of  camphor.  To  shew  themselves  impartial  in  their  restrictions, 
 the  Japanese  have  limited  the  traffic  of  the  Chinese,  the  only  eastern  nation  whom 
 they  suffer  to  trade  with  them  at  all,  in  a similar  manner  to  that  of  the  Dutch,  and 
 they  suffer  no  more  than  six  Chinese  junks  to  visit  Nangasaki  in  the  year.  The 
 trade  of  the  two  favoured  nations,  the  Dutch  and  the  Chinese,  is  also  limited  to  the 
 single  port  of  Nangasaki.  In  pursuance  of  their  exclusive  maxims,  and  conformably 
 to  the  terms  of  their  agreement  with  the  Dutch,  the  Japanese  have  on  every  occasion 
 followed  an  uniform  line  of  conduct,  and  rejected  in  the  most  peremptory  manner 
 the  various  overtm’es  of  different  nations  of  Europe,  refusing  equally  to  have  any 
 intercourse,  negociations,  or  commerce  with  any  of  them ; it  must  also  be  admitted, 
 that  the  whole  foreign  trade  of  Japan,  compared  with  the  riches  of  the  country,  is 
 absolutely  trifling,  nor  is  there  any  rich  or  powerful  body  of  men,  like  the  Hong  mer- 
 chants of  China,  at  all  interested  in  its  continuance.  The  yearly  presents,  whether 
 offered  to  the  governor  of  Nangasaki  or  the  emperor,  are  of  no  great  value,  and 
 rigidly  limited  by  law  and  usage,  and  as  the  government  of  Japan  is  much  stronger 
 and  more  \ig^lant  than  that  of  China,  no  such  abuses  can  be  ventured  on  at  Nan- 
 gasaki as  take  place  at  Canton.  From  these  reasons  there  is  great  cause  to  think, 
 that  if  the  Japanese  fully  comprehended  the  nature  of  the  events  which  have  taken 
 place  in  Holland,  and  now  threaten  Bata\ia,  that  all  intercourse  between  the  Japanese 
 and  Europeans  would  immediately  be  brought  to  a termination.  The  Japanese  con- 
 ceive that  they  have  entered  into  engagements  with  the  Dutch  only  while  they  exist 
 as  a nation,  and  there  is  the  utmost  reason  to  think  that  in  the  event  of  the  Dutch 
 merging  in  any  other  nation,  they  would  by  no  means  consider  these  engagements 
 as  of  any  force.  Their  foreign  trade  supplies  them  with  no  articles  of  imperious 
 necessity,  and  is  of  no  advantage  to  any  great  national  body.  Indeed  the  only 
 persons  who  have  any  serious  interest  in  it,  is  the  coiq)s  of  Dutch  interpreters,  a 
 small  body  who  follow  this  hereditary  occupation,  and  have  no  important  influence 
 in  the  state,  and  who  are  required  to  study  Dutch,  and  to  transact  business  in  it, 
 in  order  that  Europeans  may  have  no  occasion  or  opportunity  of  acquiring  the 
 Japanese  language  ; as  Japan,  however,  is  almost  totally  secluded  from  the  rest  of 
 the  world,  it  is  not  probable  that  these  events  will  be  speedily  communicated  to  them 
 by  the  Dutch  factory.  A more  probable  event  is,  that  immediately  on  the  fall  of  the 
 Island  of  Java,  the  Dutch  factory  at  Canton  will  endeavom'  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
 opening,  in  conjmiction  with  the  Americans,  and  perhaps  the  Portuguese,  to  invest  a 
 part  of  their  dormant  capital  for  the  Japan  market,  and  advise  the  Dutch  factory  of 
 
68 
 
 JAPAN. 
 
 Nangasaki  to  keep  up  the  deception,  and  put  the  Japanese  on  their  guard  against 
 the  overtures  of  the  English.  Certain  it  is,  that  in  the  case  of  Japan  our  superior 
 force  can  be  of  no  avail  to  us,  but  rather  on  the  contrary  may  excite  the  greater 
 jealousy. 
 
 The  situation  of  the  Dutch  factory  at  Japan  is  very  similar  to  that  at  Canton 
 in  China,  which,  as  far  as  regards  the  estabhshment  in  China,  may  sur\ive  all  the 
 chsasters  of  both  Bata\da  and  the  mother  country.  The  Japanese  are  acquainted 
 with  the  English,  but  they  have  only  become  acquainted  with  them  from  the  Portu- 
 guese and  the  Dutch,  both  of  whom  were  interested  in  engi’ossing  the  Japan 
 trade,  and  have  therefore,  no  doubt,  taken  care  to  prepossess  the  Japanese  in  the 
 strongest  manner  against  the  Enghsh.  Indeed,  when  Captain  Pellew  \isited  Nan- 
 gasaki, about  three  years  ago,  though  he  might  have  plundered  the  Dutch  factory 
 had  it  contained  any  thing  valuable,  he  found  that  the  Japanese  would  listen  to  no 
 overtures  of  intercourse ; about  the  same  time  they  rejected,  with  equal  steadiness, 
 the  Russian  embassy  despatched  directly  to  Japan,  refusing  equally  to  admit  of  any 
 overtures  on  the  part  of  the  Russians,  and  to  accept  of  the  valuable  presents  brought 
 by  the  ambassador.  The  same  fate  has  attended  some  late  attempts  of  the  Ameri- 
 cans to  establish  an  intercourse  with  Japan  ; and  I am  strongly  of  opinion  that  there 
 is  not  the  least  reason  to  hope  that  any  of  our  overtures  -would  meet  with  a more 
 favourable  reception,  if  not  supported  by  the  representations  of  the  Dutch  who  are 
 at  present  residents  in  the  factory  at  Nangasaki.  I therefore  beg  leave  to  state 
 to  your  Lordship,  as  my  decided  opinion,  that  the  only  chance  which  we  have 
 for  retaining  the  Japanese  trade,  is  by  gaining  to  our  interest  the  present  Dutch 
 residents  at  Japan,  and  the  Japanese  corps  of  Dutch  intei*preters,  at  whatever  price 
 it  may  cost.  With  respect  to  the  means  by  which  this  may  be  best  accomphshed, 
 it  is  probable  that  better  information  than  we  yet  possess  may  be  procured  at 
 Bataria,  before  it  become  necessary  to  despatch  the  yearly  vessel  for  Japan,  w'hich 
 is  about  the  beginning  of  March.  Every  precaution  must  doubtless  be  used  to 
 secure  the  reception  of  an  English  agent  in  the  first  place,  and  to  make  the  transi- 
 tion as  imperceptible  as  possible  from  the  Dutch  to  the  English.  The  last  Japanese 
 invoices  of  articles  requu'ed  by  the  Board  of  Trade  will  be  found  at  Bataria,  and 
 may  be  answ'ered  exactly  ; and  it  will  be  requisite  for  the  English  agent,  if  received 
 at  all,  to  reside  in  Japan  till  the  return  of  the  ship  next  season,  according  to  the 
 Dutch  ceremonial ; and  if  in  the  interim  he  could  acquire  the  Japanese  language, 
 and  ingratiate  himself  with  the  Bonzes,  or  religious  of  the  Buddhist  sects,  much 
 might  probably  be  done  to  open  the  Japanese  trade  on  a more  liberal  scale,  especially 
 during  the  yearly  journey  to  the  court  of  the  emperor,  w'hen  the  Japanese  nobles 
 and  princes  are  accustomed  to  visit  the  envoy  in  disguise.  With  regard  to  the  pre- 
 sent Japanese  trade,  it  certainly  is  by  no  means  equal  to  that  of  many  neglected 
 countries  in  Asia ; but  the  principal  inducement  to  make  efforts  for  its  continuance. 
 
POLICY  OF  THE  DUTCH. 
 
 is  the  prospect  of  its  being  opened  on  a more  extensive  scale  ; an  event  which  is 
 very  likely  to  be  accelerated  by  the  aggi'essions  of  Russia  on  the  Kurile  Islands, 
 which  properly  belong  to  Japan,  and  several  of  which  the  Russians  have  already 
 reduced. 
 
 “ Having  thus  stated  to  your  Lordship  the  foregoing  observations  on  specific 
 topics  connected  with  the  acquisition  of  Java,  and  the  fall  of  the  Dutch  possessions 
 to  the  eastw^ard,  I shall  now  briefly  advert  to  some  more  general  views,  which  appear 
 to  be  inseparably  connected  with  them,  and  seem  entitled  to  early  attention. 
 
 “ The  annexation  of  Java  and  the  Eastern  Isles  to  our  Indian  empire,  opens  to 
 the  English  nation  \iew's  of  so  enlarged  a nature,  as  seem  equally  to  demand  and 
 justify  a bolder  policy,  both  of  a commercial  and  political  kind,  than  we  could  have 
 lately  contemplated.  The  countries  which  must,  directly  or  indirectly,  fall  under 
 our  influence  and  authority,  form  a range  of  possessions  which,  with  intervals  of  no 
 great  importance,  extend  nearly  fi'om  the  Bay  of  Bengal  to  our  settlements  on  the 
 continent  of  New  Holland.  These  are  occupied,  excepting  where  the  Dutch  have 
 taken  the  territorial  possession  into  their  owm  hands,  by  several  small  groups  of  prin- 
 cipahties,  none  of  which,  taken  separately,  have  any  pretensions  to  the  rank  of  a 
 poweifid  or  independent  state.  The  tribes  of  which  they  are  composed,  though  vary- 
 ing radically  in  customs,  manners,  religion,  and  language,  and  possessing  very  different 
 degrees  of  cirilization,  have  long  been  confounded  by  Europeans  under  the  general 
 appellation  of  Malays,  a term  wEich  may  still  be  retained  for  convenience.  It  may 
 be  safely  affinned,  that  about  the  period  wEen  the  Europeans  first  began  to  frequent 
 these  countries,  they  were  not  only  much  more  populous,  but  the  governments  were 
 more  strong  and  steady,  and  the  inhabitants  in  general  much  farther  advanced  in  ciri- 
 lization. The  Dutch,  solely  attentive  to  their  own  commercial  interests,  have,  in  their 
 intercourse  with  these  regions,  invariably  adhered  to  a more  cold-blooded,  ilhberal, 
 and  ungenerous  policy,  than  has  ever  been  exhibited  towards  any  country,  unless  w^e 
 except  the  conduct  of  the  European  nations  towards  the  slave-coast  of  Africa.  In 
 some  instances,  as  in  the  case  of  the  clusters  of  the  Isles  of  Banda,  the  original  inha- 
 bitants, when  they  opposed  a resolute  resistance  to  their  encroachments,  have  been 
 entirely  extirpated.  Whenever  the  natives  have  displayed  great  courage  and  magna- 
 nimity of  character,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Macasars  of  Guah,  and  the  Bugis  of  Soping, 
 these  natives  have  been  himted  down  with  a perseverance  worthy  of  a better  cause. 
 Indeed,  the  domination  of  the  Dutch  in  the  Malay  countries,  seems  to  have  been  main- 
 tained in  direct  opposition  to  all  principles  of  natm'al  justice  and  sound  policy,  and 
 which  amply  deserves  a degree  of  reprobation  little  short  of  their  transactions  at 
 Ambo\ma  and  Batavia,  with  regard  to  the  English.  But  however  their  policy  may 
 be  characterized,  I apprehend  that  their  claims  to  temtorial  right  in  the  Eastern  Isles, 
 in  which  all  the  nations  of  Europe  have  so  long  and  so  blindly  acquiesced,  wEl  be 
 found  to  be  very  much  inferior  to  what  is  generally  supposed,  unless,  perhaps,  in  the 
 
70 
 
 POLICY  OF  THE  ENGLISH. 
 
 Isle  of  Java  itself.  As  their  claims,  of  whatsoever  kind,  must  now  revert  to  the 
 French  nation,  it  will  be  of  the  utmost  importance  to  ascertain  fi-om  the  original 
 Dutch  records,  how  far  their  tenitorial  cessions  and  exclusive  pnrtleges  do  actually 
 extend ; also,  how  far  these  are  absolute,  and  how  far  revocable  ; and,  in  short,  to 
 obtain  a complete  code  of  the  Dutch  treaties  Avith  all  the  Malay  princes,  since  the 
 first  commencement  of  their  establishments  in  the  Eastern  Isles.  The  diplomatic 
 importance  of  such  a code  will  be  readily  recognized  by  your  Lordship  ; and  in  the 
 event  of  any  future  negociations  in  Eiuope,  may  prove  of  the  most  essential  import- 
 ance. The  line  of  policy  which  on  the  present  occasion  we  ought  to  adopt  towards 
 the  Malay  states,  should  be  as  uniform  in  its  features,  and  comprehensive  in  its 
 extent,  as  possible.  The  various  gi'oups  of  states  to  which,  what  may  be  emphati- 
 cally termed  our  Malay  policy,  may  extend,  are  the  following  : 
 
 “ 1st.  The  states  of  the  Malay  peninsula.  2d.  The  states  of  the  Island  of  Smnatra, 
 3d.  The  states  of  the  Island  of  Borneo.  4th.  The  states  of  the  Sunda  Isles,  com- 
 prehending the  chain  of  islands  which  extend  fi-om  the  Straits  of  Sunda  to  Timor 
 and  Celebes,  exclusive  of  Java,  which  we  may  except  for  the  present,  oth.  The 
 states  of  Celebes.  6th.  The  states  of  Sulu  and  Mindanao.  7th.  The  states  of  the 
 Moluccas,  comprehending  Ceram  and  Banda.  8th.  The  states  of  Jilolo,  or  Little 
 Celebes.  9th.  The  Black  Papua  States  of  New  Guinea,  and  the  Papua  Islands  in 
 its  ricinity. 
 
 “ These  states  I shall  only  eniunerate  here,  as  requiring  distinct  reports  on  the 
 nature  of  their  connexion  Arith  the  Dutch,  or,  as  we  may  now  state  it,  nith  the 
 French ; after  which,  it  will  probably  appear  to  be  our  soundest  policy  to  form  the 
 most  intimate  connections,  by  treaty,  with  those  which  have  indisputable  pretensions 
 to  independence.  This  pohcy  will,  I flatter  myself,  appear  obrious,  whether  we 
 contemplate  the  maintaining  the  Malay  isles  in  permanent  possession,  or  the  possible 
 transfen-ing  of  the  Dutch  possessions  to  the  enemy  in  the  event  of  a peace  in 
 Europe ; in  the  event  of  the  flrst  alternative,  it  \rill  enable  us  to  turn  these  posses- 
 sions to  the  gi'eatest  advantage,  whether  a respect  be  had  to  our  Em-opean  trade,  or 
 the  general  benefit  of  our  Indian  possessions.  In  the  event  of  the  second,  we  shall 
 secure  such  a footing  among  the  Eastern  Isles,  and  such  a favom-able  regard  among 
 the  bravest  races,  as  will  baffle  all  the  attempts  of  the  enemy  to  dislodge  us.  By 
 fixing  ourselves  in  Banca,  Bali,  Celebes,  and  Jelolo,  we  should  have  a chain  of  posts 
 which  would  prevent  the  enemy  entirely  fi-om  attaining  very  formidable  power,  or 
 derhdng  his  former  advantages  from  the  possession  of  Java  and  the  Moluccas ; and 
 by  forming  a settlement  in  Borneo,  connected  with  the  interior  of  that  country,  so 
 fertile,  and  so  rich  in  the  precious  metals,  we  should  soon  be  in  a condition  to  com- 
 pete wth  them  on  equal  tei-ms.  The  whole  of  the  states  which  I have  now  specified, 
 have  been  so  much  accustomed  to  European  interference  and  control,  that  the 
 greater  part  of  them  are  by  no  means  fitted  for  the  enjoyment  of  a fair  and  liberal 
 
POLICY  OF  THE  ENGLISH. 
 
 71 
 
 independence,  nor  are  they  likely  to  become  so  for  a series  of  years.  At  the  same 
 time,  the  treatment  which  they  have  experienced  from  the  Dutch  has  been  in 
 general  so  extremely  galling  and  oppressive,  that  a more  liberal  policy  can  hardly 
 fail  of  conciliating  their  affections  in  a high  degree ; sufficiently  conscious  of  their 
 inability  to  stand  alone,  and  warned  by  the  breaking  up  of  some  of  the  oldest  and 
 most  powerful  states,  they  would  gladly  ally  themselves  to  so  powei-ful  a nation  as 
 the  English  on  any  thing  like  fair  and  equitable  terms,  by  which  they  might  be 
 secured  from  civil  commotions  and  the  oppression  of  foreigners,  without  being 
 deprived  of  all  their  natural  advantages,  as  under  the  Dutch  domination.  Now,  as 
 our  principal  political  embarrassment  with  regard  to  Java  and  the  Eastern  Isles,  arises 
 from  the  danger  of  these  being  given  up  to  the  enemy,  in  the  event  of  a peace  in 
 Em'ope,  I beg  leave  to  suggest  to  your  Lordship  a method  of  avoiding  a part  of  this 
 danger,  which  by  no  means  appears  impossible,  or  even  arduous  to  carry  into  execu- 
 tion, though  it  is  not  likely  to  occur  to  the  Malay  chiefs,  unless  it  should  be 
 suggested  to  them.  In  ancient  times,  the  Malay  chiefs,  though  possessing  the  titles 
 of  Sultan,  or  Rajah,  and  in  full  possession  of  authority  within  their  own  domains, 
 yet  all  held  of  a superior,  or  Suzerain,  who  was  King  of  the  ancient  and  powerful 
 state  of  Majopahit,  on  the  island  of  Java,  and  who  had  the  title  of  Bitara.  Malacca 
 was  one  of  the  first  states  that  shook  off  this  allegiance,  and  became  in  the  end  so 
 poweidul  as  to  hold  a great  part  of  the  Malay  peninsula,  and  of  the  opposite  coast 
 of  Sumatra,  in  a similar  dependence,  though  the  sovereigns  of  these  states  retained 
 the  titles  of  Rajahs,  or  Sultans,  and  exercised  their  authority  within  their  own  terri- 
 tories. Now,  though  the  present  Malay  chiefs  are  jealous  and  punctilious  in  a high 
 degi’ee  about  their  own  titles,  they  are  by  no  means  equally  so  respecting  holding 
 of  a superior  whose  title  would  save  their  own  dignity ; and,  I conceive,  they  might 
 easily  be  prevailed  upon  by  suggestions  to  invest  the  Governor  General  of  India  with 
 the  ancient  title  of  Bitara,  equivalent  to  Lord  Protector,  which  has  become  obsolete 
 among  them  for  nearly  three  centuries,  and  which  would  not,  I conceive,  be  reckoned 
 injurious  to  the  dignity  of  any  modern  chieftain,  whatever  titles  and  epithets  he 
 might  bear.  This  would  give  a general  right  of  superintendence  over,  and  interfer- 
 ence with,  all  the  Malay  states,  which  might  be  acted  upon  when  circumstances 
 should  render  it  necessary ; and  might  be  so  limited  by  treaty,  as  to  remove  any 
 occasion  of  suspicion  from  the  native  powers.  It  is  of  importance,  however,  that 
 this  should  appear  to  be  the  spontaneous  and  voluntary  act  of  the  Malay  chieftains, 
 as  by  this  means  it  would  be  less  liable  to  modification  in  the  event  of  any  treaty 
 which  may  be  concluded  in  Europe  with  the  enemy ; but  I shall  here  confine  myself 
 solely  to  the  bare  statement  of  the  idea,  and  leave  for  future  consideration  its 
 different  limitations,  and  the  means  which  might  be  proposed  for  carrying  it  into 
 execution. 
 
 ‘‘  In  the  districts  that  may  be  reduced  under  the  sole  authority  of  the  English, 
 
72 
 
 CHINESE  IN  JAVA. 
 
 little  doubt  can  be  entertained  that  we  shall  best  consult  our  own  interests,  bv  a hne 
 of  pohcy  radically  different  from  that  of  the  Dutch.  In  all  the  eastern  Dutch  settle- 
 ments, their  favounte  pohcy  has  been  to  depress  the  native  Malay  or  Javanese  in- 
 habitants, and  give  every  encouragement  to  the  Chinese,  who  are  only  itinerants, 
 and  not  children  of  the  soil,  and  who  follow  the  general  practice  of  remitting  the 
 fruits  of  their  industry  to  China,  instead  of  spending  them  where  they  were  acquired. 
 The  Chinese,  in  all  ages  equally  supple,  venal,  and  crafty,  failed  not  at  a very  early 
 period  to  recommend  themselves  to  the  equally  crafty,  venal,  and  speculating  Hol- 
 landers. They  have,  almost  fi*om  the  first,  been  the  agents  of  the  Dutch,  and  in  the 
 island  of  Java  in  particular,  they  have  almost  acquired  the  entire  monopoly  of  revenue 
 farms  and  government  contracts.  At  present  many  of  the  most  respectable  Dutch 
 famihes  are  intimately  connected  vith  the  Chinese  in  their  contracts  and  specula- 
 tions, and  it  is  only  ver}"  lately  that  Marshal  Daendels  sold  the  whole  provinces  of 
 Pasuki  to  the  Capital!  China,  or  head  Chinaman  of  Surabaya.  It  is  even  mmoured, 
 that  this  is  not  the  only  instance  in  which  the  Marshal  has  assigned  whole  provinces 
 over  to  the  unfeeling  oppression  of  the  Chinese,  for  the  pmqiose  of  raising  temporary 
 resources  in  money.  The  Chinese  have,  in  Java,  been  generally  left  to  their  own 
 laws,  and  the  regulations  of  their  oum  chiefs ; and  being  merely  temporary  residents 
 in  the  country,  they  devote  themselves  entirely  to  the  accmnulation  of  wealth,  without 
 being  very  scmpulous  concerning  the  means.  When,  therefore,  they  acquire  gi’ants 
 of  land,  they  always  contrive  to  reduce  the  peasants  speedily  to  the  condition  of  slaves. 
 The  improvement  of  the  people,  which  has  never  been  an  object  with  the  Dutch,  is 
 much  less  so  with  the  Chinese ; and  the  oppression  which  they  have  exercised  in  the 
 vicinity  of  Batavia,  has  not  failed  to  open  the  eyes  of  the  Dutch  themselves.  A late 
 report  of  the  counsellors  of  Bataria  on  this  subject,  accordingly  states,  that  “ Although 
 the  Chinese,  as  being  the  most  dihgent  and  industrious  settlers,  should  be  the  most 
 useful,  they  are,  on  the  contrary,  become  a very  dangerous  people,  and  are  to  be 
 remarked  as  a pest  to  the  country ; and  that  there  appears  to  be  no  radical  cure  for 
 this  eril  but  their  extermination  fi'om  the  interior,  a measure  which  cannot  now  be 
 effected.”  Of  the  degree  of  oppression  which  they  are  in  the  habit  of  exercising  to- 
 wards the  peasants,  some  idea  may  be  fonned  from  the  following  fact: — The  staple 
 grain  of  Java  is  rice,  and  the  established  rate  of  ground-rent  for  rice-gi’ounds  in  Java,  is 
 1-lOth  of  the  crop.  Wherever  the  Chinese  are  the  land-holders,  however,  they  exact, 
 as  rent,  5-8ths  of  the  produce  of  the  ground.  Wherever  they  have  formed  extensive 
 settlements  in  Java,  accordingly,  the  native  Javanese  have  no  alternative  but  that  of 
 abandoning  the  district,  or  becoming  slaves  of  the  soil ; besides,  the  monopolizing  spirit 
 of  the  Chinese  frequently  exercises  a very  pernicious  control  over  the  necessaries  of  life, 
 and  the  produce  of  the  soil,  even  in  the  vicinity  of  Bataria.  If  we  consider  the  supple- 
 ness and  insinuating  address  of  the  Chinese,  how  apt  they  are  on  all  occasions  to  curry 
 favour,  how  ready  they  are  to  proffer  assistance  when  there  is  no  danger,  and  when 
 
ARABS  IN  THE  MALAY  STATES. 
 
 73 
 
 they  perceive  that  it  falls  in  with  their  own  interest,  we  may  depend  upon  their 
 utmost  efforts  being  used  to  ingi-atiate  themselves  with  the  English.  It  is,  therefore, 
 of  the  greatest  importance  to  be  early  on  our  guard  against  this  pernicious  and  in- 
 creasing influence,  which  preys  on  the  very  vitals  of  the  country,  draining  and  ex- 
 hausting it  for  the  benefit  of  China.  In  all  the  Malay  states,  the  Chinese  have  made 
 every  effort  to  get  into  their  hands  the  farming  of  the  port  duties,  and  this  has  gene- 
 rally proved  the  min  of  the  trade.  In  addition  to  these  circumstances,  it  should  be 
 recollected  that  the  Chinese,  from  their  peculiar  language  and  manners,  form  a kind 
 of  separate  society  in  every  place  where  they  settle,  which  gives  them  great  advan- 
 tage over  every  competitor  in  arranging  monopohes  of  trade.  It  also  gives  them  an 
 opportunity  of  aspiring  after  political  ascendancy,  which  they  have  often  acquired  in 
 the  inferior  Malay  states.  This  ascendancy  of  the  Chinese,  whether  of  a commercial 
 or  political  nature,  shoidd  be  cautiously  guarded  against  and  restrained;  and  this 
 perhaps  cannot  be  better  done,  than  by  bringing  forward  the  native  population  of 
 Malays  and  Javanese,  and  encouraging  them  in  useful  and  industrious  habits. 
 
 “ The  observations  which  I have  suggested  to  your  Lordship  regarding  the 
 Chinese,  are  in  a high  degree  applicable  to  the  Arabs  who  frequent  the  Malay 
 countries,  and  under  the  specious  mask  of  rehgion,  prey  on  the  simple  unsuspicious 
 natives.  The  Chinese  must,  at  all  events,  be  admitted  to  be  industrious ; but  the 
 Ai'abs  are  mere  drones,  useless  and  idle  consumers  of  the  produce  of  the  ground, 
 affecting  to  be  descendants  of  the  Prophet,  and  the  most  eminent  of  his  followers, 
 when  in  reahty  they  are  commonly  nothing  more  than  manumitted  slaves ; they 
 worm  themselves  into  the  favour  of  the  Malay  chiefs,  and  often  procure  the  highest 
 offices  in  the  Malay  states.  They  hold  hke  robbers  the  offices  they  obtain  as 
 sycophants,  and  cover  all  with  the  sanctimonious  veil  of  religious  hypocrisy.  Un- 
 der the  pretext  of  instructing  the  Malays  in  the  principles  of  the  Mahomedan 
 religion,  they  inculcate  the  most  intolerant  bigotry,  and  render  them  incapable 
 of  receiving  any  species  of  usefid  knowledge.  It  is  seldom  that  the  East  is  visited 
 by  Arabian  merchants  of  large  capital,  but  there  are  numerous  adventurers  who 
 caiTy  on  a coasting-trade  from  port  to  port ; and  by  asserting  the  religious  titles 
 of  Sheikh  and  Seyyad,  claim,  and  generally  obtain,  an  exemption  from  all  port 
 duties  in  the  Malay  states.  They  are  also  very  frequently  concerned  in  acts  of 
 piracy,  and  great  promoters  of  the  slave  trade.  This  class  of  adventurers  it  will  be 
 our  object  sedulously  to  repress,  but  a regulated  trade  with  any  of  the  commercial 
 states  of  Arabia,  as  Muscat,  Mocha,  or  Jidda,  may  prove  extremely  advantageous  to 
 the  Malay  countries.  The  old  Sultan  of  Pontiana,  who  was  on  his  guard  against  the 
 machinations  of  the  Chinese,  and  took  effectual  means  to  prevent  their  either  farm- 
 ing his  port  duties  or  engrossing  his  trade,  suffered  himself  to  be  constantly  circum- 
 v'ented  and  duped  by  the  Arab  adventurers  who  frequented  Pontiana.  The  errors  of 
 the  father,  however,  have  served  in  some  degree  to  open  the  eyes  of  his  son,  the 
 
 L 
 
74 
 
 AMERICANS. 
 
 present  Sultan  ; yet  he  still  continues  to  suffer  Arab  traders,  direct  fi*om  Arabia,  to 
 trade  at  Pontiana,  duty  free ; and  last  year  this  port  was  \isited  by  two  Arab  vessels 
 direct  from  IMuscat.  This  may  serve,  in  some  degree,  to  illustrate  the  necessity  of  our 
 establishing  an  equal  and  uniform  system  of  port  regulations  through  the  whole  of 
 the  Malay  countries ; for  if  the  Chinese,  on  the  one  hand,  are  permitted  to  farm 
 import  and  export  duties,  in  different  ports,  they  have  every  facility  allowed  them  to 
 form  combinations,  in  order  to  secm'e  a monopoly  to  Chinese  traders ; and  if,  on  the 
 other  hand,  the  Arabs,  under  religious  pretext,  are  entirely  exempted  fi'om  duties, 
 they  may  baffle  all  competition,  and  the  Malay  countries  will  inevitably  be  exhausted 
 and  ch’ained,  and  the  English  deprived  of  the  fmits  of  conquest  merely  to  the  advan- 
 tage of  two  foreign  nations,  that  are  equally  devoid  of  claims  on  the  English  and  the 
 Malays.  Let  the  Chinese  and  the  Arabs,  as  well  as  the  Americans,  trade  to  the 
 eastward,  but  let  their  trade  be  regidated,  and  above  all,  let  them  not  be  left  in  the 
 enjojunent  of  exemptions  and  advantages  which  are  neither  possessed  by  the  English 
 nor  the  INIalays.  Since  the  reduction  of  the  Dutch  influence  in  the  East,  several  of 
 the  ports  formerly  dependant  on  them  have  almost  become  Arab  colonies,  as  Palem- 
 bang,  Tringano,  and  Telawany  on  Smnbawa.  The  evil  is  ob\iously  increasing  every 
 day,  and  can  only  he  checked  by  encom-aging  the  native  Malays,  and  regulating  on 
 equal  tenns,  the  duties  of  the  Malay  and  other  eastern  ports. 
 
 “ Another  class  of  commercial  interlopers,  who  will  require  om'  vigilant  atten- 
 tion, is  the  Americans.  Previous  to  the  late  embargo  they  were  beginning  to  fre- 
 quent the  islands  of  Ceram,  Goram,  and  Ceram  Laut,  with  other  islands  to  the 
 eastward  of  the  Moluccas,  for  the  pui’pose  of  picking  up  articles  for  the  Chinese 
 market,  such  as  birds’-nests,  sea-slug,  or  tripang,  tortoiseshell,  &c.,  and  occasionally 
 engaging  in  the  contraband  trade  of  spices.  Of  late  they  have  become  still  better 
 acquainted  with  many  of  these  islands,  from  their  vessels  ha\ing  been  employed  by 
 the  Dutch.  If  such  active  and  enteiqwising  traders,  who  are  certainly  not  particu- 
 larly well  affected  to  the  English,  be  permitted  to  trade  to  the  Eastern  Islands  on 
 equal  terms  with  the  English,  it  uill  inevitably  be  injmious  to  our  commercial 
 interests ; but  if  they  are  permitted  the  fi'ee  range  of  the  Eastern  Archipelago,  per- 
 haps it  would  be  difficult  to  devise  a measm'e  more  injurious  to  our  political  influence, 
 as  well  as  om*  commercial  interests.  The  Americans,  wherever  they  go,  as  they 
 have  no  object  but  commercial  adventure,  and  as  fire-arms  are  in  the  highest 
 request,  especially  among  the  more  Eastern  Isles,  these  would  be  considered  as  the 
 most  profitable  articles.  They  have  already  filled  the  different  clusters  of  islands  in 
 the  South  Seas  with  fire-arms,  and  they  would  not  fail  to  do  the  same  in  the  different 
 Eastern  Islands.  These  considerations  seem  obviously  to  point  to  a fine  of  policy, 
 respecting  the  trade  of  the  Eastern  Islands,  which  in  some  respects  coincides  closely 
 with  that  adopted  by  the  Dutch,  while  in  others  it  differs  from  it  entirely  in  ultimate 
 principles. 
 
 7 
 
DUTCH  MONOPOLY. 
 
 75 
 
 “ In  many  respects,  the  commercial  policy  adopted  by  the  Dutch,  with  regard 
 to  the  Eastern  Islands,  and  the  Malay  states  in  general,  was  not  only  contrary  to  all 
 principles  of  natural  justice,  and  unworthy  of  any  enlightened  and  civilized  nation, 
 but  characterized  by  a degree  of  absurdity,  for  which  it  was  scarcely  worth  taking 
 tlie  trouble  of  being  so  preposterously  wicked.  Thus  in  the  Dutch  orders,  respecting 
 trade  and  navigation,  in  the  veiy  first  article  it  is  stated,  that  ‘ All  persons  whatever 
 are  prohibited,  under  pain  of  death,  from  trading  in  the  four  fine  kinds  of  spices, 
 miless  such  spices  shall  first  have  been  brought  from  the  Company.’  After  the  enact- 
 ment of  a penalty  so  outrageously  disproportioned  to  the  offence,  the  authentic 
 accounts  of  their  attempts  to  destroy  and  eradicate  from  a vast  range  of  extensive 
 countries,  the  most  advantageous  produce  of  the  land,  in  order  to  favour  their  own 
 petty  traffic,  and  their  burning  a large  proportion  of  the  residue,  in  order  to  keep  up 
 their  monopoly  price  in  Europe  on  a small  proportion  of  this  produce,  must  be 
 viewed  by  all  liberal-minded  and  intelligent  men,  with  sentiments  of  equal  contempt 
 and  detestation.  Against  eiTors  of  this  kind,  yoirr  Lordship’s  presence  in  the  East 
 will  be  an  effectual  preventive ; but  it  may  still  be  questioned  whether,  in  the  pre- 
 sent state  of  these  coimtries,  it  may  not  be  necessary,  in  the  first  instance,  to  retain 
 some  traits  of  Dutch  policy.  One  feature  of  Dutch  policy  to  the  eastward  seems  to 
 have  been  the  entire  exclusion  of  all  other  powers,  whether  native  or  European, 
 excepting  at  certain  specified  ports,  under  their  own  immediate  influence  and  control. 
 This  policy  was  as  much  connected  with  the  pohtical  government  of  the  country  as 
 with  the  commercial  profits  of  the  Company  : for  in  an  Archipelago  of  such  an  un- 
 paralleled extent,  inhabited  by  tribes  of  such  various  character,  formidable  in  a high 
 degi’ee  from  their  very  want  of  civilization,  it  was  necessary  to  bring  forward  some  of 
 the  most  powerful  and  most  fav^ourably  situated  of  these  nmnerous  states,  and  to 
 hold  them  answerable  for  the  proceedings  of  the  smaller  districts  under  their  influ- 
 ence. This  policy  gave  rise  to  the  establishment  of  certain  regular  and  determined 
 trading-ports,  and  the  vigilant  suppression  of  all  attempts  at  competition  and  inde- 
 pendence in  the  inferior  states.  Had  this  measure  been  conjoined  with  a liberal 
 policy,  tending  to  facilitate  the  home  trade,  as  we  denominate  it,  between  these  privi- 
 leged ports  established  by  the  Dutch,  and  the  various  countries  mider  their  influence, 
 I apprehend  that  little  doubt  can  be  entertained,  that  it  would  have  tended  materially 
 to  promote  the  civilization  and  general  improvement  of  all  the  Eastern  nations. 
 Veiy  chfferent,  how^ever,  was  the  object  of  the  Dutch  agreements  with  the  different 
 Rajahs  of  the  Eastern  Archipelago.  In  some  cases  it  was  to  secure  a monopoly  of  all 
 the  tin,  pepper,  camphor,  or  other  saleable  articles  that  the  country  produced ; in 
 another,  it  was  to  bind  the  chiefs  of  the  country  to  destroy  the  only  saleable  articles 
 that  the  country  produced,  lest  the  monopoly  price  of  the  Dutch  should  be  injured 
 by  a greater  quantity  of  such  produce  being  brought  to  market.  The  Dutch  genius, 
 though  exclusiv'ely  devoted  to  commerce,  has  never  yet  been  able  to  discover,  that 
 
 L 2 
 
76 
 
 NEGLECT  OF  THE  BRITISH  GOVERNMENT. 
 
 in  the  long-run  it  must  be  more  profitable  ^ to  make  smaller  profits  on  a larger 
 capital,  than  larger  profits  on  a smaller  capital and  their  pohcy  has  been  not  unaptly 
 compared  to  a man  putting  out  one  of  his  eyes,  in  order  to  strengthen  the  sight  of  the 
 other.  Against  the  pohcy  of  establishing  certain  detenninate  and  regular  ports  as 
 emporimns  of  trade,  it  does  not  appear  to  me  that  there  are  any  valid  objections  to 
 be  stated : and  I therefore  submit  this  measure  to  your  Lordship’s  consideration,  as 
 the  most  effectual  method  of  preventing  the  Eastern  Islands  from  being  overrun  by  a 
 multitude  of  unprincipled  adventm-ers,  chiefly  Chinese,  Arabian,  and  American,  whose 
 presence  in  these  countries  will  neither  tend  to  strengthen  the  interest  of  the  British 
 nation,  nor  ameliorate  the  condition  of  the  natives. 
 
 “ If  this  measure,  however,  should  approve  itself  to  your  Lordship,  it  may 
 still  be  proper  to  inquire,  in  what  respects  our  policy  may  be  considered  as  superior 
 to  that  of  the  Dutch,  and  how  it  is  calculated  to  promote  the  improvement  and 
 advantage  of  the  Malay  nations  in  a higher  degree  than  theirs.  It  must  be  admitted 
 that  the  policy  which  we  have  hitherto  piusued,  \rith  regard  to  the  IVIalay  nations, 
 has  been  by  no  means  of  a conciliating  or  prepossessing  nature.  Our  intercourse 
 with  them  has  been  carried  on  almost  exclusively  by  adventurers  httle  acquainted 
 with  either  the  country  or  people,  who  have  frequently  been  more  remarkable  for 
 boldness  than  principle.  Indeed,  the  want  of  any  settled  basis  of  traffic,  and  the 
 long  indifference  of  the  British  government  to  the  complaints  of  either  party,  had 
 produced  so  many  impositions,  reprisals,  piracies,  and  murders,  that  it  has  fairly 
 been  observed,  that  every  eastern  trader  must  have  been  himself  very  much  in  the 
 situation  of  a trader  in  spirits,  tobacco,  and  blankets,  among  the  Indians  of  North 
 America.  It  was  properly  remarked  by  Mr.  Farquhar,  in  his  report  on  Prince  of 
 Wales’  Island,  that  this  indifference  of  the  British  government  must  have  originated 
 solely  fi*om  the  want  of  information,  or  from  its  incorrectness,  since  little  doubt  can 
 be  entertained  that  the  riches  of  Sumatra  and  Borneo  are  equal  to  either  Brazil  or 
 South  America,  and  it  is  only  from  the  disadvantages,  under  which  we  have  hitherto 
 entered  into  the  competition,  that  these  great  sources  of  wealth  have  been  so  long 
 engrossed  by  the  Dutch,  Spaniards,  and  Chinese.  But  this  previous  neglect  of  the 
 British  government  w^e  may  confidently  expect  will  form  no  rule  for  the  future,  and 
 the  benefits  which  the  JMalay  nations  may  derive  from  a close  connexion  with  the 
 British  government  and  nation,  are  such  as  there  is  no  probability  of  their  ever 
 deriving  from  the  French  or  Dutch. 
 
 “ The  doctrine  that  a colony  should  always  be  considered  as  a distant  prorince 
 of  the  mother  countiy  could  never  have  been  received  by  the  Dutch,  and  the  radical 
 want  of  strength  in  the  government  of  Batavia  must  always  have  prevented  them 
 from  venturing  to  act  upon  it.  Of  course  they  must  ahvays  have  contemplated  the 
 prosperity  of  the  eastern  tribes  with  the  invidious  regi'et  of  a rival  shopkeeper,  and 
 regarded  their  progress  in  civilization  with  the  jealousy  of  a timorous  despot,  which 
 
FEUDAL  WARS  IN  THE  MALAY  STATES. 
 
 77 
 
 in  point  of  fact  we  know  they  actually  did.  The  power  of  the  English  in  the  East 
 enables  them  to  employ  a less  timid  policy ; humanity  imperiously  requires  that  they 
 should  employ  it,  and  fortunately  their  own  interest  coincides  with  these  as  an 
 additional  inducement. 
 
 “ The  causes  which  have  tended  most  to  the  depression  of  the  Malays,  and  the 
 deterioration  of  their  character,  are  the  following : the  civil  commotions  to  which 
 every  state  is  hable  from  the  radical  want  of  strength  in  the  sovereign,  and  the  con- 
 stant wars  between  petty  chieftains,  and  heads  of  villages  or  districts  : the  ill-defined 
 succession  to  the  throne,  from  the  doctrine  of  primogeniture  being  imperfectly 
 recognized  in  the  Malay  states : the  prevalence  of  piracy  in  all  the  eastern  seas : 
 the  system  of  domestic  slavery,  with  all  its  concomitant  evils,  as  wars  for  the  pur- 
 pose of  procuring  slaves,  and  the  want  of  general  confidence  between  family  and 
 family,  man  and  man  : the  want  of  a generally  established  and  recognized  system  of 
 laws  regarding  all  questions,  civil  and  criminal,  in  the  Malay  states : the  want  of  a 
 similar  system  of  commercial  regidations  respecting  port  duties,  anchorage,  and 
 other  charges,  to  prevent  arbitrary  exactions  in  the  various  Malay  ports : the  dis- 
 couragement given  to  regidar  trade  by  the  monopolies  of  the  Malay  Rajahs : the 
 redress  of  these  evils  is,  in  a great  measure,  in  the  power  of  the  English  nation ; it 
 is  worthy  of  their  general  character,  and  there  is  no  other  nation  that  possesses 
 the  means  in  an  equal  degree,  even  if  it  possessed  the  inclination. 
 
 “ With  regard  to  the  feudal  wars  of  petty  chieftains,  and  the  civil  commotions 
 which  constantly  agitate  the  Malay  states,  these  have  been  greatly  increased  by  the 
 pohcy  of  the  Dutch,  whose  authority  has  been  in  a great  measure  maintained  and 
 supported  by  the  dissensions  which  they  were  in  the  habit  of  exciting  in  the  more 
 powerful  Malay  states.  In  consequence  of  this,  we  find  that  scarcely  a single  powerful 
 state  now  subsists,  which  was  in  existence  when  the  Dutch  settled  in  the  East.  This, 
 however,  must  not  be  entirely  imputed  to  the  machinations  of  the  Dutch,  but  ori- 
 ginates in  part  from  such  radical  defects  in  Mahomedan  law.  The  principal  of  these 
 are  the  expiation  of  murder  by  paying  the  price  of  blood,  and  a fine  to  the  prince, 
 and  the  want  of  an  express  provision  in  law  against  treason  and  rebelhon,  and  the 
 consequent  opinion  which  is  generally  entertained  among  Moslems,  that  whoever 
 possesses  the  power  of  assuming  independence  possesses  the  right  of  declaring  it. 
 This  evil  may  be  easily  corrected  by  supporting  the  legitimate  authority  by  our  in- 
 fluence, and  by  that  means  subjecting  the  private  quan'els  of  head-men  gradually  to 
 the  general  system  of  estabhshed  law. 
 
 “ The  want  of  a well-defined  rule  of  succession  to  the  government  in  the 
 families  of  the  different  Malay  Rajahs  is  constantly  productive  of  innumerable 
 parties,  divisions,  and  civil  agitations  in  every  state.  This,  however,  is  an  evil 
 common  to  all  governments  where  the  Mahomedan  religion  prevails,  though  its 
 evils  are  most  felt  in  a comparatively  rude  state  of  society,  such  as  exists  in  the 
 
78 
 
 PIRACY— SLAVERY. 
 
 Malay  countries.  This  e\il  was  prevented  effectually  during  the  Dutch  domination, 
 by  their  assmning  the  paramount  right  of  gi-anting  investiture  to  every  prince  who 
 succeeded  to  the  government  of  a country,  and  if  such  a plan,  as  I have  alluded  to, 
 were  to  be  adopted  by  the  English,  a similar  policy,  either  by  granting  investiture,  or 
 by  recognizing  the  heir  apparent,  would  naturally  require  to  he  followed.  A regula- 
 tion of  this  kind,  I have  the  utmost  reason  for  thinking,  would  he  highly  acceptable 
 to  all  the  Malay  nations,  for  among  a great  munber  of  them,  at  present,  the  death  of 
 a prince  is  regarded  with  horror  by  all  his  subjects,  as  the  signal  for  intestine  war, 
 i-uin,  and  devastation. 
 
 Of  the  prevalence  of  piracy  on  the  Malay  coast,  and  its  being  regarded  as  an 
 honourable  occupation,  worthy  of  being  followed  by  young  princes  and  nobles,  I 
 have  already  had  occasion  to  speak.  This  is  an  eril  of  ancient  date,  and  which  has 
 struck  deep  on  the  Malay  habits.  The  old  Malay  romances,  and  the  fragments  of  their 
 traditional  histoiy,  constantly  refer  to  piratical  cinizes.  In  addition  to  the  cases  which 
 I have  already  enumerated,  it  may  be  proper  to  add,  that  the  state  of  the  Eastern 
 population,  and  the  intolerant  spirit  of  the  religion  of  Islam,  have  eminently  tended 
 to  increase  this  practice.  The  Arab  Sheikhs  and  Sejyads,  whatever  doctrines  they 
 failed  to  inculcate,  did  not  neglect  the  propagation  of  one,  the  merit  of  plundering 
 and  massacring  the  infidels  ; an  abominable  tenet,  which  has  tended  more  than  all  the 
 rest  of  the  Alcoran,  to  the  propagation  of  this  robber-religion.  Numerous  and  various 
 are  the  tribes  of  the  Eastern  Isles  which  have  not  embraced  the  religion  of  Islam  to 
 this  day,  and  consequently  are  reckoned  infidels.  All  the  great  nations  of  the  conti- 
 nent are  in  the  same  predicament  as  the  Siamese,  Cochin-Chinese,  and  Chinese 
 themselves.  Cmizes  against  the  infidels  were,  and  are,  constantly  certain  of  receiv- 
 ing the  approbation  of  all  the  Arab  teachers  settled  in  the  Malay  countries.  The 
 practice  of  piracy,  however,  is  now  an  eivl  too  extensive  and  formidable  to  be  cured  by 
 reasoning,  and  must,  at  all  events,  be  put  dovii  by  the  strong  hand  ; though  precau- 
 tions against  its  recurrence  may  be  taken  in  the  system  which  shall  be  adopted  nith 
 regard  to  the  Malay  states,  by  rendering  every  chieftain  answerable  for  his  own  terri- 
 tory, and  punishing  in  an  exemplaiy  manner  refractory  chiefs. 
 
 “ Connected  vith  this  e\il,  though  of  much  wder  extent,  is  the  system  of  slavery 
 in  the  Malay  countries,  which,  to  apply  the  energetic  language  of  Mr.  Pitt  to  this 
 subject,  has  been  none  of  the  least  efficient  causes  of  keeping  down  these  regions  in 
 a state  of  bondage,  ignorance,  and  blood.  On  the  grand  erils  of  the  system  of  slavery, 
 and  its  necessary  concomitant,  the  man-trade,  and  its  pernicious  consequences, 
 whether  personal  or  ci^il,  social  or  domestic,  it  is  fortunately,  at  the  present  period, 
 unnecessary  to  expatiate,  since,  by  the  late  ^ Act  for  the  Abolition  of  the  Slave-Trade,’ 
 that  system  of  crimes  is  prohibited  in  all  territories  in  his  Majesty’s  possession  or 
 occupation.  In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1806,  the  JMarquis  Wellesley  abohshed 
 slavery  throughout  India ; and  your  Lordship,  by  your  order  of  June  4th,  to  emanci- 
 
SLAVERY. 
 
 79 
 
 pate  all  the  government  slaves  at  Malacca,  and  to  direct  that  hereafter  no  slaves  shall 
 be  purchased  or  received  on  account  of  government,  has  already  given  all  the  Malay 
 nations  an  earnest  of  your  Lordship’s  sentiments  of  the  subject.  It  is  certainly  to 
 the  credit  of  our  countrymen  in  the  East,  that  they  have,  at  the  most  early  periods, 
 opposed  all  attempts  to  introduce  the  abominable  slave  traffic  into  our  settlements  in 
 the  East ; and  in  proof  of  this,  it  is  only  necessary  to  refer  to  an  act  of  the  Governor 
 in  council  of  Madras  of  so  early  a date  as  1682,  prohibiting  this  nefarious  traffic  at 
 that  presidency. 
 
 The  sources  of  slavery  in  the  Malay  countries  are  chiefly  the  following : — 
 piracy,  captivity  in  war,  man-stealing,  and  the  penalties  enacted  in  the  Malay  law 
 respecting  debts  and  sundry  misdemeanors.  Piracy  is  often  a distinct  somce  of 
 slavery,  the  surviving  crews  of  vessels  which  fall  into  their  hands  being  generally 
 disposed  of  by  sale  at  the  first  market,  as  in  the  instance  of  the  ship  Commerce,  the 
 crew  of  which,  consisting  of  Bengal  Lascars,  are  reported  to  have  been  publicly  sold 
 for  slaves  at  Borneo  Proper  and  Sambas.  In  many  instances  they  have  employed 
 such  crews  as  slaves,  both  on  board  their  own  vessels  and  on  their  own  settlements, 
 in  cultivating  the  grounds,  as  at  Ratch,  on  the  east  coast  of  Sumatra.  The  numerous 
 chieftains  in  the  Malay  countries,  and  the  constant  wars  which  they  carry  on  against 
 each  other,  is  another  great  source  of  slavery ; the  captives  taken  in  such  wars  are 
 generally  employed  in  domestic  occupations,  tending  cattle,  and  cultivating  the 
 ground,  when  there  is  no  opportunity  of  bringing  them  to  market,  a circumstance 
 which  seldom  occurs,  since  such  numbers  are  constantly  required  by  the  Arabs  and 
 Chinese  traders,  as  well  as  the  Dutch,  that  the  market  is  seldom  overstocked.  Many 
 of  the  Arab  trading-vessels  are  almost  entirely  navigated  by  the  slaves  of  the  owners ; 
 and  in  their  progress  fi’om  island  to  island,  they  find  little  difficulty  in  recruiting 
 their  crew,  by  receiving  presents  of  slaves ; or,  if  that  should  fail,  by  kidnapping  or 
 man-stealing.  This  forms  a strong  argument  against  prohibiting  the  range  of  the 
 islands  to  either  the  Chinese  or  Arab  traders ; for  if  this  were  permitted,  the  aboli- 
 tion of  the  system  of  kidnapping  would  be  absolutely  impossible.  The  pagan  tribes 
 in  the  \icinity  of  the  Moslems,  such  as  the  Bah,  and  some  of  the  tribes  of  the  Bugis- 
 men,  the  Harafuras,  the  Black  Papuas,  or  Oriental  negroes,  the  original  inhabitants 
 of  Seram,  Goram,  and  other  easterly  nations,  are,  in  a great  measm*e,  the  victims  of 
 the  man-stealing  or  kidnapping  system ; and,  as  they  are  only  infidels,  they  are  con- 
 sidered as  fair  booty.  Farther  inquiries,  however,  are  necessary,  in  order  to  ascer- 
 tain the  probable  extent  of  the  kidnapping  system.  But  another  source  of  this  evil 
 is  the  nature  of  the  penalties  established  in  the  Undang  Undang,  or  system  of  Malay 
 law,  respecting  debtors  and  persons  guilty  of  various  misdemeanors,  by  which  these 
 are  liable  to  become  slaves.  As  I hope  to  be  able  to  lay  shortly  before  your  Lord- 
 ship  a translation  of  the  Malay  laws  relative  to  this  interesting  topic,  I shall  not 
 enlarge  upon  it  at  present,  especially  as  this  brings  me  to  the  subject  of  general 
 
80 
 
 WANT  OF  A SYSTEM  OF  LAWS. 
 
 refonn  of  the  system  of  Malay  law.  It  is,  however,  necessary  to  mention,  that 
 yom*  Lordship’s  attention  will  imavoidably  be  called  to  the  subject  of  the  relief  of 
 slave  debtors,  and  perhaps  the  mitigation  of  the  slave  system  in  the  Eastern  Islands. 
 On  the  subject  of  slave  debtors,  there  is  reason  to  apprehend  that  the  gi'eatest  abuses 
 exist,  even  in  the  district  of  Malacca  itself,  especially  among  that  unfortmiate  class 
 of  men  who  have  become  bondmen  to  the  Chinese,  and  who  have  very  httle  chance 
 of  ever  recovering  their  liberty,  however  small  their  debts  may  originally  have 
 been.  As  the  most  minute  local  inquiries  must  be  necessaiy  before  any  efficient 
 measm'es  can  be  taken  for  palliating  or  removing  these  erils,  I shall,  in  the  present 
 case,  content  myself  with  requesting  yom*  Lordship’s  attention  to  this  most  serious 
 and  important  subject. 
 
 “ Nothing  has  tended  more  decidedly  to  the  deterioration  of  the  JNIalay  cha- 
 racter than  the  w ant  of  a well-defined  and  generally  acknowiedged  system  of  law\ 
 The  Malay  nations  had  in  general  made  considerable  progress  in  chilization  before 
 the  introduction  of  the  religion  of  Islam  among  them.  They  had,  accordingly, 
 regular  institutions  of  their  owm,  some  of  which  were  probably  of  considerable  anti- 
 quity, as  those  of  the  Javanese,  Bugis,  and  Macasar  tribes.  As  these  appear  to 
 have  been  generally  derived  firom  the  Indian  nations,  and  were  radically  different 
 from  those  of  the  Arabs,  some  chfficulty  appears  to  have  occuiTed  in  adapting  them 
 to  the  general  tenor  of  Mahomedan  law,  and  divers  anomalous  institutions  appear 
 accordingly  to  have  spmng  up  in  different  states.  These  occm*  in  eveiy  department 
 of  public  law,  whether  commercial,  ciril,  or  criminal,  and  are  recited  in  the  Undang 
 Undang  and  Addat  INIalajui,  wdiich  are  the  systems  of  national  law  among  the 
 Malays,  and  wdiich  vary  considerably  in  different  states,  and  still  more  from  the 
 generally  acknowdedged  principles  of  Mahomedan  law^,  as  received  by  the  Arabs. 
 Hence  there  is  in  almost  every  state  a constant  struggle  betw^een  the  adherents  of  the 
 old  Malay  usages  and  the  Hajis,  and  other  religious  persons,  wdio  are  desirous  of 
 introducing  the  laivs  of  the  Arabs,  in  order  to  increase  their  owm  consequence. 
 The  eidls  wdiich  result  fr'om  this  complex  and  ill-defined  system,  are  both  numerous 
 and  important,  as  they  respect  the  most  essential  interests  of  society,  and  afford  an 
 opening  for  the  caprice  and  tp'anny  of  their  rulers,  and  general  insecm*ity  both  of 
 person  and  property.  The  Malays  are  at  present  in  a very  different  situation  from 
 any  of  the  old  Moslem  states,  such  as  Persia,  Arabia,  or  Turkey.  The  Moslem 
 religion  has  hitherto  taken  only  a very  partial  and  superficial  root  in  many  of  the 
 Eastern  Islands.  In  the  interior  of  all  the  large  islands  paganism  still  prevails ; in 
 many  districts  there  are  considerable  numbers  professing  Christianity : the  Chinese 
 swarm  in  every  Malay  country,  and  live  intermingled  wdth  the  Moslems.  This 
 mixture  of  religions  and  tribes  has  tended,  in  some  degi'ee,  to  soften  the  intolerance 
 of  the  Moslem  religion  among  the  Malay  nations,  and  neither  the  positive  authority 
 of  Islam,  nor  the  persuasions  of  their  Ai*ab  teachers,  have  hitherto  been  able  to 
 
MONOPOLY  BY  THE  MALAY  CHIEFS. 
 
 81 
 
 induce  them  to  abandon  their  own  peculiar  usages  and  customs.  Considering  the 
 Malays,  therefore,  as  more  open  to  instruction  than  the  votaries  of  Islam  in  general, 
 I beg  leave  to  submit  to  your  Lordship’s  consideration,  whether  the  present  op])or- 
 tunity  might  not  be  taken  advantage  of  to  in\ite  the  Malay  chiefs  to  a revisal  of 
 tlieir  general  system  of  laws  and  usages.  This  I conceive  might  be  done,  even  on  a 
 gi'eat  scale,  without  exciting  any  umbrage  or  suspicion  in  the  minds  of  the  people  in 
 general,  for  with  some  of  these  usages,  especially  those  which  relate  to  wrecks  on 
 the  Malay  shores,  and  the  commercial  regulations  of  the  different  ports,  it  will  be 
 absolutely  necessary  for  us  to  interfere  at  all  events.  These  commercial  regulations 
 form  a part  of  the  general  Malay  laws,  and  as  we  must  in  some  degi'ee  interfere 
 with  these,  the  same  opportunity  may  perhaps  be  taken  to  procure  the  abandonment 
 of  some  of  those  maxims  and  usages  which  have  the  strongest  tendency  to  prevent 
 their  progress  in  information  and  the  habits  of  civilized  life.  When  the  seven  Ionian 
 islands  were  lately  ceded  to  France,  the  president  of  the  senate  offered  a prize  for 
 the  best  dissertation  on  the  following  question : — “ Why  do  the  Ionian  islanders 
 occupy  themselves  only  with  frivolous  and  unimportant  objects,  and  by  what  means 
 may  their  attention  be  drawn  to  things  of  consequence  ?”  Such  are  the  questions 
 regarding  the  Malay  islands,  which  now  invite  your  Lordship’s  attention,  and  in 
 answer  to  them  the  reform  of  the  Malay  laws  may  certainly  be  specified  as  one  of 
 the  most  important,  and  as  one  of  the  means  by  which  the  benefit  of  the  Malay 
 nations  will  be  secured  fi’om  their  connexion  with  the  English.  With  respect  to  the 
 mode  in  which  this  may  be  with  greatest  facility  accomplished,  I shall  only  venture 
 to  suggest,  that  every  Malay  chief  might  be  requested  to  furnish  a copy  of  the 
 Undang  Undang  current  in  his  own  state,  and  to  send  at  some  fixed  time  one  or  two 
 of  the  learned  men  of  the  country,  best  versed  in  the  laws,  to  a congress  which 
 might  be  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  revising  the  general  system  of  Malay  laws. 
 Such  a plan  might  be  attended,  perhaps,  in  the  first  instance,  with  certain  difficulties ; 
 but  none,  as  far  as  I can  judge,  which  are  by  any  means  insm’mountable.  It  would 
 be  proper  to  begin  with  settling  the  regidations  of  a commercial  kind ; and  as  these, 
 though  copied  in  many  respects  from  the  regidations  of  the  Portuguese  and  Dutch, 
 are  considered  as  a part  of  the  Malay  law,  it  might  be  both  useful  and  popular  among 
 the  Malays  to  call  in  the  assistance  of  their  learned  men. 
 
 “ Another  of  the  customs  injurious  to  the  Malay  nations,  is  the  trading 
 monopoly  which  in  most  of  the  Malay  ports  is  actually  assumed,  or  attempted  to  be 
 assumed,  by  the  Malay  chiefs.  Of  this  monopoly  there  is  no  trace  in  the  Undang 
 Undang  of  the  Malays,  or  in  the  fragments  of  their  history  which  I have  seen,  such 
 tis  the  traditional  annals  of  Malacca,  and  after  an  attentive  consideration,  I am 
 induced  to  think  that  this  pernicious  practice  has  been  entirely  copied  from  the 
 monopoly  regulations  of  the  Dutch.  Where  this  system  has  been  fully  carried  into 
 effect,  it  has  generally  succeeded  effectually  in  repressing  industry  and  commercial 
 
 M 
 
82 
 
 PROPAGATION  OF  CHRISTIANITY. 
 
 entei-prise  : and  where  it  has  been  for  some  time  established,  its  e’vdls  have  been  felt 
 deeply,  so  that  there  is  no  doubt  but  the  Malay  chiefs  could  easily  be  induced  to 
 relinquish  it  in  favour  of  a regulated  commerce.  The  Malay  laws  and  maxims  are 
 fortunately  of  a very  different  kind  from  those  which  have  been  adopted  and  sys- 
 tematized among  the  great  nations  of  the  Continent  in  their  vicinity.  These  nations, 
 especially  the  Siamese  and  Cochin  Chinese,  have  long  been  accustomed  to  look  up 
 to  the  Chinese,  with  whom  they  coincide  in  religion  and  manners,  and  from  whom 
 they  have  adopted  their  exclusive  maxims  of  foreign  intercourse.  The  Malays,  on 
 the  other  hand,  though  accustomed  to  look  up  to  the  Arabs  as  their  religious 
 instructors,  seldom  hesitate  to  admit  the  superiority  of  both  the  Europeans  and 
 Chinese,  either  to  themselves  or  the  Arabs,  in  the  arts  of  life  and  general  science, 
 and  it  is  certainly  our  interest  to  prevent  the  increase  of  the  Arab  influence  among 
 the  Malay  nations. 
 
 “ From  similar  considerations,  as  well  as  in  conformity  to  the  instructions 
 issued  from  home,  the  Dutch  nation  appear  to  have  pursued  as  a principle  of  policy, 
 the  propagation  of  Christianity  among  the  Eastern  Islands.  The  same  plan  had  been 
 previously  followed  by  the  Portuguese  in  their  various  eastern  possessions  with  great 
 success,  and  there  are  now  several  small  islands  in  the  Malay  archipelago,  inhabited 
 almost  entirely  by  Christians  of  the  Catholic  persuasion,  as  the  islands  of  Sanggir 
 and  Siauk,  situated  between  Jelolo  and  Mindanawi.  In  many  other  islands  the  Pro- 
 testant persuasion  has  made  very  considerable  progress,  and  teachers  in  the  flourish- 
 ing times  of  the  Bata\dan  regency  were  dispersed  over  all  the  low  chain  of  islands 
 which  extend  from  Bali  and  Lambok  to  the  gveat  island  of  Timor.  The  islands  in 
 which  the  Christian  faith  has  been  most  extensively  diffused  are,  the  great  island 
 Ende,  or  Manggerai,  the  isles  of  Solor  Salerang,  Lomhlim,  and  Ombai,  the  great 
 island  Timor,  and  the  several  small  islands  in  its  vicinity,  as  Savo,  Roti,  and  Samba. 
 In  many  of  these  islands  the  natives,  having  no  written  character  of  their  own,  have 
 been  instructed  in  the  Roman  character,  and  taught  to  read  Malay  and  other  dialects 
 in  it.  There  have  also  been  various  religious  fonnularies  printed  for  their  use,  and 
 translations  have  been  executed  for  the  use  of  these  Christians  in  some  of  their 
 languages,  which  have  little  or  no  affinity  to  the  Malay.  The  propagation  of  Chris- 
 tianity among  these  islands  is  obviously  liable  to  none  of  the  objections  which  have 
 been  urged  against  it  in  our  Indian  possessions.  A great  proportion  of  the  natives 
 are  still  Pagans,  under  the  influence  of  a wild,  and  almost  unintelligible  superstition, 
 the  principles  of  which  are  not  recorded  in  books,  hut  are  handed  down  like  stories 
 of  ghosts,  fairies,  and  witches,  with  all  the  uncertainty  of  tradition.  Accordingly,  in 
 most  instances,  the  people,  though  they  stand  in  great  awe  of  the  priests,  as  en- 
 chanters, or  dealers  with  the  invisible  spirits,  are  very  little  attached  to  the  superstition. 
 Many  of  them  are  said  to  be  very  desirous  of  procuring  instruction,  and  in  some 
 places  they  look  up  with  a degree  of  veneration  to  the  Moslems,  as  a people  who 
 
ADVANTAGES  OF  POSSESSING  JAVA. 
 
 83 
 
 have  received  something  which  they  still  want.  Besides,  the  attachment  of  the 
 Malays  to  the  religion  of  Islam  is  by  no  means  of  that  strength  as  to  emancipate 
 them  from  their  old  usages,  nor  to  inspire  them  with  that  contempt  and  hatred  for 
 other  religions  which  is  found  in  many  of  the  older  Moslem  kingdoms.  On  the 
 advantages  which  must  accrue  from  protecting  Christianity  in  these  Eastern  Islands, 
 and  by  favouring  its  propagation  in  preference  to  the  doctrines  of  Islam,  where  it 
 may  be  so  easily  propagated,  it  is  unnecessary  to  enlarge,  in  addressing  your  Lord- 
 ship.  Permit  me,  how'ever,  to  allude  to  one  remarkable  fact,  which  may  serve  to 
 illustrate  the  necessity  of  attending  to  the  subject  as  a matter  of  public  importance. 
 In  our  present  settlement  of  Malacca,  the  impossibility  of  procuring  servants  for 
 wages  compels  almost  every  person  to  have  recourse  to  slaves,  and  a considerable 
 proportion  of  these  are  Pagans,  being  chiefly  Battas  fr'om  the  centre  of  Sumatra, 
 Balis  from  Bali,  Dayaks  from  Borneo,  besides  natives  of  Timor  and  the  more  easterly 
 islands.  Of  all  these  slaves  that  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  English,  there  is  perhaps 
 not  a single  one  that  becomes  a Christian,  but  the  whole  of  them  become  Moslems, 
 and  despise  and  hate  their  masters  as  infidels.  Such  is  the  woeful  effect  of  our 
 supineness  and  indifference,  which,  if  they  should  extend  to  the  East,  would  certainly 
 not  tend  to  the  progress  of  general  improvement  among  the  Malays. 
 
 “ In  these  observations  I have  in  some  degree  avoided  alluding  to  the  advan- 
 tages which  may  be  expected  to  accrue  to  the  British  nation  itself,  and  also  to  the 
 British  possessions  in  India,  from  the  acquisition  of  Java  and  the  Eastern  Isles, 
 because  I am  persuaded  that  the  real  advantages  which  these  countries  possess  will 
 be  found,  under  a liberal  and  enlightened  system  of  management,  vastly  to  exceed 
 any  expectations  which  may  be  formed  in  the  present  state  of  our  information  con- 
 cerning them.  In  their  present  state,  with  the  exception  of  Java,  these  countries 
 are  poor  in  respect  of  general  wealth,  and  can  only  pay  in  rude  produce  for  the 
 articles  wfrich  they  require  from  other  countries.  The  rude  produce,  however,  ol' 
 the  Malay  countries  is  of  various  kinds,  some  of  which  are  extremely  valuable,  and 
 equally  calculated  for  the  European,  the  Indian,  and  the  China  market.  The  inter- 
 coirrse  between  countries  rich  in  manufacturing  industry  and  coimtries  rich  in  raw- 
 produce  is  universally  admitted  to  be  of  equal  benefit  to  both.  In  respect  of  the 
 Malay  islands,  India  must  long  be  regarded  as  a manufacturing  country,  and  is  par- 
 ticularly fitted  to  supply  a variety  of  articles  in  general  request  among  the  Malays, 
 without  interfering  with  the  industiy  of  the  mother  country.  The  trade  from  India 
 to  the  Malay  countries  has  hitherto  chiefly  consisted  in  opium  and  piece-goods,  for 
 which  India  has  chiefly  received  back  gold-dust,  spices,  gums,  and  coffee.  I omit 
 the  mention  of  copper,  as  it  is  not  a native  Malay  production,  but  chiefly  derived 
 from  Japan.  The  circmnstance,  how^ever,  under  wJiich  the  Indian  trade  to  the  east- 
 ward has  been  hitherto  earned  on,  and  the  insecurity  and  want  of  protection  under 
 
 M 2 
 
81 
 
 ADVANTAGES  OF  POSSESSING  JAVA. 
 
 which  it  has  always  laboured,  renders  the  past  no  criterion  of  the  future,  and  I have 
 no  doubt  it  may  be  improved  to  an  almost  indefinite  extent,  as  the  Malay  countries 
 advance  in  cirilization.  The  Java  sugar  is  at  present  reckoned  nearly  on  a par  Arith 
 the  fine  sugar  of  Manilla,  and  the  Java  coffee  next  to  the  coffee  of  Mocha  and 
 Bourbon.  Either  of  these  productions  are  capable  of  being  gi'eatly  extended.  The 
 Dutch,  in  their  usual  way,  restricted  the  cultivation  of  coffee  to  about  ten  millions 
 of  pounds,  though  it  has  been  stated  that  the  island  of  Java  is  capable  of  producing 
 at  least  fifty  millions  of  pounds.  The  extended  cultivation  of  these  articles  must, 
 however,  be  matter  for  future  consideration.  Coffee,  at  present,  is  chiefly  produced 
 in  the  provinces  of  Cheribon. 
 
 “ M'ith  regard  to  the  Chinese  market,  the  Malay  countries  fiirnish  a variety  of 
 articles  of  the  most  general  use  and  constant  demand,  and  which  do  not  affect  either 
 the  products  or  manufactures  of  either  Great  Britain  or  British  India.  Tin  is  one  of 
 these  products,  which  finds  a constant  and  almost  indefinite  demand  in  China,  and 
 which  is  solely  produced  in  the  Malay  countries  and  some  of  the  dependencies  of 
 Siam.  Pepper,  which  after  the  acquisition  of  the  Dutch  eastern  settlements,  we 
 shall  have  the  command  of,  almost  as  much  as  of  nutmegs,  cloves,  mace,  and  cinna- 
 mon, is  in  a considerable  demand  for  the  Chinese  market,  as  well  as  for  Arabia  and 
 Persia.  The  quantity  of  pepper  yearly  required  for  the  Chinese  market  has  been 
 estimated  at  50,000  piculs,  that  of  sandal-wood  about  6,000  piculs,  besides  camphor 
 and  benjamin,  and  a variety  of  valuable  gums,  the  production  of  which  is  nearly 
 confined  to  the  Malay  countries.  The  quantity  of  pearls,  mother-of-pearl,  tortoise- 
 shell, ivory,  birds’-nests,  sea-slug,  fish-maws,  shark-fins,  ebony,  black  and  coloirred 
 woods,  for  furniture  and  dye-stuffs,  yearly  imported  to  the  Chinese  market  from  the 
 Malay  islands,  is  admitted  to  be  extremely  great,  but  the  trade  haring  never  been 
 well  regulated,  it  might  be  difficult,  in  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge,  to  attempt 
 subjecting  it  to  calculations. 
 
 “ In  the  present  unparalleled  state  of  the  European  market  on  the  Continent,  it 
 is  hazardous  to  venture  to  allude  to  it.  It  may,  however,  be  stated  generally,  that 
 the  acquisition  of  the  Dutch  possessions  in  the  East,  places  the  command  of  the 
 spice  trade,  together  with  that  of  pepper  and  coffee,  besides  a variety  of  other 
 eastern  produce,  entirely  in  our  hands,  and  that  the  Continent  must  either  do  \rith- 
 out  these  articles,  or  submit  to  pmxhase  them  from  the  English. 
 
 “ The  valuable  forests  of  teak  and  other  ship  timber  in  Java  and  the  other 
 Eastern  Isles  are  acquisitions  of  the  highest  national  importance  in  the  present  state 
 of  European  politics,  and  promise  to  render  our  navy  independent  of  the  stores 
 formerly  derived  from  the  precarious  fi'iendship  of  the  northern  powers.  Nor  is  the 
 acquisition  of  a range  of  countries,  apparently  possessing  the  most  valuable  gold  and 
 diamond  mines  in  the  world,  an  object  unworthy  of  our  notice  in  our  present  situa- 
 
CONCLUSION  OF  MR.  RAFFLES’  REPORT. 
 
 85 
 
 tion,  in  which  the  drain  of  our  specie  has  been  great  in  an  unprecedented  degree, 
 and  when  for  the  restoration  of  the  precious  metals  among  us,  as  a circulating 
 medium,  we  are  likely  to  be  left  in  a great  measure  to  our  own  resources. 
 
 “ To  dilate  any  further  on  these  topics  is  unnecessary,  as  on  yom*  Lordship’s 
 approach  to  Java,  eveiy  day  will  bring  fonvard  infonuation  to  which  it  is  not  now  in 
 my  power  to  allude.  The  suggestions  which  I have  already  offered  may  perhaps 
 have  already  appeared  to  your  Lordship  unnecessarily  prolix ; but  in  putting  you  in 
 possession  of  all  the  information  which  I have  been  able  to  obtain,  and  of  all  the 
 views  of  the  subject  which  I consider  as  meriting  attention,  I have  only  endeavoured 
 to  reply  to  that  confidence  which  your  Lordship  reposed  in  me,  in  appointing  me 
 your  Lordship’s  agent  to  the  Malay  states. 
 
 “ I have  now  only  to  congratulate  your  Lordship  on  the  most  splendid  prospect 
 which  any  administration  has  beheld  since  our  first  acquisition  of  India : the  pacifi- 
 cation of  India  completed,  the  tranquillity  and  prosperity  of  our  eastern  possessions 
 secured,  the  total  expulsion  of  the  European  enemy  from  the  Eastern  Seas,  and  the 
 justice,  humanity,  and  moderation  of  the  British  government,  as  much  exemplified 
 in  fostering  and  leading  on  new  races  of  subjects  and  allies  in  the  career  of  improve- 
 ment, as  the  undaunted  courage  and  resolution  of  British  soldiers  in  rescuing  them 
 from  oppression. 
 
 “ I have  the  honom*  to  remain,  with  the  highest  respect  and  consideration, 
 
 f 
 
 “ Your  Lordship’s  most  faithful  and  devoted  humble  servant, 
 
 (Signed)  “ Thos.  Raffles, 
 
 “ Agent  to  the  Governor-General 
 with  the  Malay  states.” 
 
 Malacca,  the  \ 0lh  June,  1811. 
 
CHAPTER  IV. 
 
 Lord  Minto' s great  anxiety  as  to  the  passage  from  Malacca  to  Batavia  Naval  men  opposed  to  Mr.  Raffles — 
 Lord  Minto  confides  in  Mr.  Raffles — Nerv  passage  attempted — Arrival  off  Batavia — Mr.  Raffles  gives 
 a sketch  of  the  events  which  led  to  his  being  employed  in  the  expedition— ‘Establishment  of  the  French 
 power  in  Java — Sir  Samuel  Achmutif  s account  of  the  capture  of  Batavia,  and  of  the  battle  of  Cornells — 
 Capitulation  of  the  Island — Intercepted  letters  from  Governor  Jansens — Lord  Minto’s  opinion  of  the 
 value  of  the  conquest — Death  of  Dr.  Leyden — Lord  Minto  places  Mr.  Raffles  in  the  government  of  Java 
 — Leading  principles  of  the  Dutch  government — Projected  change  of  system — English  Residents 
 apjjointed  at  the  native  courts — Ancient  temples — First  Colony  of  Hindus — Upas  poison — Journey  to 
 the  eastern  district. 
 
 Lord  Minto,  in  his  letter  of  the  11th  of  JVIarch,  1811,  manifested  gi’eat  anxiety 
 regarchng  the  route  to  be  pursued  by  the  expedition  on  quitting  Malacca.  Mr. 
 Raffles  deeply  participated  in  this  feeling. 
 
 The  difflculty  was  great  of  making  a passage  with  a large  fleet  through  an 
 Archipelago,  where  the  wind  blows  strongly  from  one  point  of  the  compass  for  several 
 months,  where  the  passage  between  the  islands  is  often  so  narrow,  that  only  one  ship 
 can  pass  at  a time,  and  then  so  close  to  the  land,  that  the  sides  of  the  vessel  are 
 shadowed  by  the  luxuriant  vegetation  extending  to  the  water’s  edge. 
 
 It  was  found  impossible  to  obtain  any  positive  information ; every  account  was 
 obscure  and  contrachetory.  The  alternative  of  two  routes  presented  itself : first, 
 the  direct  route  along  the  south-west  coast  of  Borneo,  which  was  represented  as 
 very  difficult  and  uncertain,  if  not  altogether  impracticable.  Secondly,  the  passage 
 round  the  north  and  east  coast  of  Borneo,  and  through  the  straits  of  Macasar — this, 
 though  supposed  to  be  practicable,  was  considered  eminently  dangerous,  as  well  as 
 tedious. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  thought  the  difficulties  of  the  south-west  passage  appeared  to  be 
 greatly  magnified  ; it  had  been  attempted,  and  succeeded  as  often  as  the  attempt 
 was  made ; he  therefore  decided  strongly  to  recommend  the  passage  between  Cara- 
 mata  and  Borneo,  and  was  so  satisfied  of  the  correctness  of  the  information  which 
 he  had  obtained,  and  the  eligibility  of  the  course  which  he  had  selected,  that,  in  his 
 
 7 
 
' LORD  MINTO  CONFIDES  IN  MR.  RAFFLES. 
 
 87 
 
 own  words,  he  “ did  not  hesitate  to  stake  his  reputation  on  the  success  which  would 
 attend  the  expedition,  if  the  route  he  pointed  out  should  be  followed.” 
 
 On  the  arrival  of  the  expedition  at  Malacca,  this  point  was  to  be  instantly 
 settled : but  very  considerable  difference  of  opinion  existed.  The  naval  authorities 
 were  opposed  to  the  attempt  of  a new  passage ; but  Lord  Minto  proved  his  confidence 
 in  the  judgment  and  local  infoiTnation  of  Mr.  Raffles,  by  embarking  vdth  him  in  his 
 Majesty’s  ship  the  Modeste,  commanded  by  Captain  the  Honourable  George  Elliott, 
 on  the  18th  of  June,  1811,  and  leading  the  way  by  the  route  marked  out  on  Mr. 
 Raffles’  sole  responsibility. 
 
 This  route  was  followed  with  so  much  success,  that  in  less  than  six  weeks  after 
 quitting  Malacca,  the  fleet,  consisting  of  upwards  of  ninety  sail,  was  in  sight  of  Ba- 
 tavia, without  accident  to  a single  vessel.  Mr.  Raffles  often  spoke  in  after  times 
 with  animated  expressions  of  the  pleasure  he  felt  on  witnessing  this  happy  termination 
 of  the  voyage. 
 
 The  following  memorandum  on  the  subject,  refemng  to  an  intended  work  on  the 
 Eastern  Islands,  was  found  after  his  death,  written  in  pencil  by  Mr.  Raffles : 
 
 Opinions  as  to  the  Passage, 
 
 “ The  northern  route  round  Borneo  w'as  considered  the  only  practicable  one, 
 especially  for  a fleet ; but  no  one  could  suggest  any  way  of  avoiding  the  dangers  of 
 the  Bartabac  passage,  where  only  one  ship  could  pass  at  a time  with  any  chance  of 
 safety  : neither  could  they  demonstrate  how  it  was  possible  to  pass  through  the  Sulu 
 Archipelago,  of  which  very  httle  w'as  known,  without  being  entirely  separated  ; nor, 
 supposing  this  effected,  how  the  Straits  of  Macasar  could  be  passed  at  all,  where 
 the  winds  are  proverbially  variable,  the  currents  strong,  the  Borneo  coast  covered 
 with  shoals,  and  the  Macasar  coast  entirely  devoid  of  soundings.  Five  weeks  was  the 
 shortest  round  Borneo,  saihng  the  1st  of  June  ; but  it  was  just  as  hkely  to  be  eight. 
 
 “ On  the  northern  passage  being  given  up,  no  doubt  existed,  that  if  the  passage 
 could  be  made  on  the  western  side  of  Borneo,  it  would  be  best : the  passage  between 
 Caramata  and  Borneo  was  at  length  adopted.” 
 
 Lord  Minto,  after  announcing  that  he  had  amved  off  the  coast  of  Java,  and  that 
 the  passage  was  completed  during  the  height  of  the  south-east  monsoon,  by  a fleet 
 of  upwards  of  ninety  ships,  adds, — 
 
 “ The  expectations  which  had  been  formed  were  verified  in  every  part  of  the 
 passage,  and  every  thing  turned  out  precisely  as  had  been  foretold  and  proposed,  with 
 the  exception  of  finding  less  difficulty  than  had  been  looked  for,  and  the  voyage 
 proving  shorter  than  could  have  been  hoped.  The  whole  fleet  had  assembled  on  the 
 coast  of  Java  by  the  30th  of  July,  forty-two  days,  or  exactly  six  weeks  : the  Modeste, 
 if  alone,  would  have  done  it  a fortnight  sooner. 
 
88 
 
 ARRIVAL  OFF  JAVA. 
 
 “ I have  been  the  more  particular  in  detaihng  these  circumstances,  because  this 
 expedition  must  have  been  abandoned  for  the  present  year,  (an  earlier  departing 
 than  actually  took  place  fi'om  India  ha\ing  been  found  totally  impracticable,)  if  I had 
 \ielded  to  the  predicted  difficulties  of  the  passage.” 
 
 The  folloA\ing  letter  to  an  intimate  associate  of  Mr.  Raffies’  early  years,  was 
 WTitten  when  the  fleet  reached  the  coast  of  Java,  and  shews  his  buoyancy  of  spirit 
 even  in  seasons  of  the  gi’eatest  anxiety  : 
 
 “ You  are,  either  from  inclination  or  habit,  so  bad  a correspondent,  that  I barely 
 get  an  acknowledgment  of  my  letters,  much  less  an  assm'ance  that  they  are  well 
 received.  However,  coiite  qiCil  coiite ; be  it  as  it  may.  I’ll  speak  to  thee,  call  thee 
 Friend,  dear  Ramsay,  be  thy  intent  wicked  or  charitable. 
 
 You  always  said  I was  a strange  wild  fellow,  insatiable  in  ambition,  though 
 meek  as  a maiden  ; and  perhaps  there  is  more  tmth  than  otherwise  in  wiiat  you  said ; 
 hut  with  all,  I will  assure  you  this,  that  although,  from  want  of  self-confidence  and 
 ft-om  natural  shamefacedness,  (for  I will  not  call  it  modesty  or  bashfulness,)  I am  as 
 unhappy  at  times  as  any  poor  wretch  need  be,  I have  times  in  which  I am  as  happy  as 
 I think  it  possible  for  man  to  be  ; and  it  is  one  of  these  life-inspiring  moments  that  I 
 now^  purpose  passing  with  you  a la  distance  ; and  notwithstanding  my  inclination  of 
 hearing,  rather  than  being  heard,  I must  for  once  venture  to  be  the  historian  of  my 
 owm  tale. 
 
 “ You  shall  have  an  account  since  I quitted  Penang  in  June,  1810,  and  that  in 
 as  few"  words  as  possible. 
 
 “ ]\Iy  friend.  Admiral  Drury,  our  late  naval  Commander-in-chief,  informed  me 
 by  letter  in  June,  last  year,  that  he  had  exerted  all  his  interest  with  Lord  Minto,  the 
 Governor-General,  to  obtain  for  me  the  situation  of  Governor  of  the  Moluccas.  That 
 his  Lordship  was  most  favourably  disposed  towards  me  ; and  that,  as  far  as  it  rested 
 with  Sir  George  Barlow",  or  the  Governor-General,  I might  be  satisfied  they  wished 
 to  avail  themselves  of  my  services. 
 
 The  expedition  against  the  Isle  of  France  w'as  about  to  sail.  On  its  success 
 depended  a still  gi'eater  expedition — the  attack  of  Java.  To  the  latter,  therefore,  I 
 attached  myself ; was  admitted  to  the  fullest  and  most  unreserved  confidence  of  the 
 Supreme  Government,  and  in  due  time  proceeded  on  a political  mission  to  the 
 Eastern  Isles,  as  the  Avant  Courier  of  the  expedition.  I fixed  my  head-quarters  at 
 Malacca,  made  the  political  impressions  and  intimations  that  w"ere  necessary,  and 
 fiu'iiished  the  requisite  infonnation.  The  expedition,  consisting  of  about  ninety  sail, 
 anaved  at  Malacca  the  end  of  May  ; and  on  the  18th  of  June,  having  seen  the  w hole 
 off,  and  haring  been  previously  joined  by  the  Governor-General,  I embarked  w"ith  his 
 Lordship  in  the  iModeste  frigate,  acting  in  the  capacity  of  his  chief  secretary.  M e 
 are  now"  off  the  coast  of  Java,  haring  come  a-head  of  the  fleet ; but  we  expect  them 
 to-moiTow",  and  the  attack  will  be  made  in  the  course  of  the  w"eek. 
 
SKETCH  OF  EVENTS  WHICH  LED  TO  MR.  RAFFLES’  APPOINTMENT.  89 
 
 “ Of  the  importance  of  this  conquest,  the  views  that  naturally  present  them- 
 selves on  such  an  occasion,  and  the  share  I have  had  in  bringing  the  important 
 point  so  near  a conclusion,  I need  not  speak ; you  have  the  opportunity  of  seeing  the 
 government  proceedings,  which  will  be  sufficiently  satisfactory. 
 
 “ I beg  that  you  will  write  me  to  Batavia  by  any  vessel  coming  direct,  or  by 
 way  of  India  or  China — if  you  really  knew  the  pleasing  satisfaction  I derive  from 
 ha\ing  even  three  words  from  you,  I think  you  would  not  decline ; at  the  same 
 time,  I must  say,  that  you  are  the  most  famous  hand  for  a short  letter  that  I ever 
 knew,  and  in  truth  this  is  hardly  reasonable,  for  in  comparison  you  cannot  have 
 much  to  do — I have,  on  the  contrary,  my  hands  foil  at  all  times,  witness  the  papers 
 sent  in  by  me  on  record,  and  reflect  on  the  numerous  papers  and  affairs  that  I get 
 through  which  never  reach  England. 
 
 “ I wish  very  much  to  hear  what  is  said  of  my  political  ideas  respecting  the 
 government  of  the  eastward.  Adieu,  my  dear  Ramsay,  for  the  present,  my  paper  is 
 out,  and  dinner  is  announced,  so  farewell — I will  write  you  more  fully  after  we  are 
 settled.  Conquer  we  must. 
 
 “ Your’s  always. 
 
 “ T.  S.  R.” 
 
 Still  further  light  may  be  thrown  upon  the  views  and  motives  by  which  Mr. 
 Raffles  was  influenced  in  these  important  proceedings,  and  the  feehngs  of  satisfaction 
 which,  at  the  interesting  moment  of  his  arrival  off  Batavia  so  powerfully  possessed 
 his  mind,  by  the  following  letter  from  him  to  Dr.  Raffles,  though  written  after  a 
 lapse  of  several  years. 
 
 “ Some  months  had  now  elapsed,  and  it  was  to  be  feared  that  arrangements 
 for  the  administration  of  the  Malaccas  were  already  in  progress.  Yet  the  chance  of 
 being  in  time,  and  the  expectation  of  still  further  advancing  my  interests  with  Lord 
 Minto,  weighed  with  me  in  the  resolution  I took,  of  proceeding  in  person  to  Bengal. 
 My  attention  had  long  been  directed  to  the  state  of  the  Dutch  possessions  to  the 
 eastward,  and  as  rumours  were  afloat  of  a projected  armament  going  against  the 
 Isle  of  France,  it  occurred  to  me  that  the  information  I possessed  respecting  Java 
 might  be  useful,  and  possibly  turn  the  attention  of  our  Government  in  that  direc- 
 tion. I accordingly  left  my  family  and  proceeded  to  Calcutta  in  a small  and  frail 
 vessel,  the  only  one  which  offered,  but  in  which  all  my  future  prospects  had  well 
 nigh  perished.  On  my  arrival  in  Bengal  I met  with  the  kindest  reception  from  Lord 
 Minto.  I found  that  though  the  appointment  to  the  Maluccas  had  not  actually 
 taken  place,  it  was  promised  to  another.  I in  consequence  relinquished  all  idea  of 
 it,  and  at  once  drew  his  Lordship’s  attention  to  Java,  by  observing  that  there  were 
 other  islands  worthy  of  his  Lordship’s  consideration  besides  the  Maluccas ; Java,  for 
 instance.  On  the  mention  of  Java  his  Lordship  cast  a look  of  such  scrutiny,  anti- 
 
 N 
 
90 
 
 ARRIVAL  OF  THE  FLEET  OFF  THE  COAST  OF  JAVA. 
 
 cipation  and  kindness  upon  me,  as  I shall  never  forget — ‘ Yes,’  said  he,  ‘ Java  is  an 
 interesting  island — I shall  be  happy  to  receive  any  information  you  can  give  me 
 concerning  it.’  This  was  enough  to  encom-age  me ; and  from  this  moment  all 
 my  \iews,  all  my  plans,  and  all  my  mind  were  devoted  to  create  such  an  interest 
 regarding  Java  as  should  lead  to  its  annexation  to  our  Eastern  empire,  although  I 
 confess  that  I had  never  the  vanity  to  expect  that  when  this  object  was  accom- 
 phshed,  so  important  an  administration  would  have  been  entrusted  to  my  indi%vdual 
 charge,  that  I should  have  been  entmsted  with  what  Mr.  Marsden  emphatically 
 observes,  was  ‘ as  great  a charge  as  a nation  could  entrust  to  an  individual.’ 
 
 “ It  is  unnecessary  to  enter  on  the  detail  which  followed — the  fall  of  Bourbon, 
 and  the  anticipation  of  success  at  the  Isle  of  France,  encom'aged  a plan  for  the  con- 
 quest of  Java.  As  it  in  a great  measure  originated  with  me,  and  as  it  was  almost 
 entirely  on  my  information  that  the  decision  wus  taken,  I natm-ally  took  a conspi- 
 cuous part,  although  httle  or  nothing  met  the  public  eye.  Perhaps  no  secret  wus 
 ever  better  kept  than  the  projected  scheme  against  Java,  for  until  it  was  publicly 
 announced,  and  the  intention  of  the  Governor-General  to  proceed  in  person  was 
 made  knowm,  not  a word  was  surmised  or  whispered  on  the  subject. 
 
 “ As  an  avant  courier,  and  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  expechtion,  I w^as 
 appointed  Agent  to  the  Governor-General  with  the  iSIalay  states,  and  took  up  my 
 head-quarters  at  Malacca,  where  the  rendezvous  was  fixed.  I remained  here  as 
 representative  to  the  Governor-General  until  Iris  Lordship  arrived,  wLen,  instead  of 
 the  designation  of  Agent,  I was  styled  Secretary  to  the  Governor-General ; in  this 
 capacity  I accompanied  his  Lordship  to  Java.  Various  doubts,  difficulties,  and  I 
 might  say,  insurmountable  obstacles,  had  been  started  to  prove  the  impossibility  of 
 the  expedition  proceeding  to  Java  during  the  present  season.  The  opinion  of  the 
 naval  Commander-in-chief,  and  indeed  of  all  constituted  authorities,  w^as  decidedly 
 against  it — it  w'as  in  fact  pronounced  impracticable.  Lord  Minto  alone  stood  finn, 
 and  placed  his  entire  and  unreserved  rehance  in  the  opinion  which  I had  given  him 
 on  the  subject.  I had  ascertained  the  practicabihty  by  an  experiment  in  a small 
 vessel,  ‘ the  Minto,’  commanded  by  Captain  Greigh,  a most  intelligent  and  zealous 
 officer,  who  had  been  placed  under  my  orders,  and  to  w'hom  I am  indebted  for  the 
 discover}^  of  the  passage  by  the  coast  of  Borneo.  At  the  period  that  the  expedition 
 sailed  from  Malacca,  it  was  uncertain  by  which  route  it  w'ould  proceed.  I really 
 heheve  no  fixed  route  was  determined  on,  and  Lord  Minto  had  too  much  judgment 
 and  precaution  to  interfere.  He  placed  the  information  he  possessed  within  the 
 reach  of  the  senior  naval  officer,  and  fortunately  it  was  acted  upon.  On  the  4th  of 
 August,  1811,  the  whole  of  the  fleet,  consisting  of  upwurds  of  ninety  vessels,  arrived 
 off  the  coast  of  Java,  without  the  loss  of  a single  spar,  or  slightest  accident,  having 
 passed  by  a route  previously  almost  unknowm,  and  accomplished  a passage  declared 
 to  be  impracticable.  I wiU  not  attempt  to  say  what  my  feehngs  were  on  the  occa- 
 
CAPTURE  OF  BATAVIA. 
 
 91 
 
 sion.  We  had  separated  from  the  fleet  for  a few  days,  and  it  was  only  when  we 
 again  joined  them  that  we  saw  all  the  divisions  united,  at  the  close  of  one  of  the 
 flnest  days  I ever  recollect,  and  this  in  sight  of  the  land  of  promise.  Lord  Minto, 
 while  at  Malacca,  had  communicated  his  intention  of  appointing  me  to  the  govern- 
 ment, in  case  of  success,  and  as  I had  nothing  to  do  with  the  military  operations,  I 
 now  looked  upon  my  part  as  completed ; perhaps  so  great  a responsibility  was  never 
 for  so  long  on  the  head  of  a single  individual,  and  the  rehef  which  I felt  was 
 proportionate.” 
 
 Before  the  expedition  sailed  from  Malacca,  it  was  ascertained  that  Marshal 
 Daendels  had  been  succeeded  in  the  government  and  command  of  Java  by  General 
 Jansens,  who  was  making  all  preparations  within  his  power  to  meet  the  expected 
 invasion  by  the  Enghsh. 
 
 The  following  letter  from  Sir  Samuel  Achmuty  to  Lord  Minto  contains  an  ac- 
 count of  the  capture  of  Batavia. 
 
 To  the  Right  Honourable  Lord  Minto,  Governor-General,  S^'c.  S^c.  8^c. 
 
 Head  Quarters,  Weltevreeden,  August  3\,  1811. 
 
 “ My  Lord, 
 
 “ After  a short  but  arduous  campaign,  the  troops  you  did  me  the  honour 
 to  place  under  my  orders,  have  taken  the  capital  of  Java,  have  assaulted  and  carried 
 the  enemy’s  formidable  works  at  Cornehs,  have  defeated  and  dispersed  their  collected 
 force,  and  have  driven  them  from  the  kingdoms  of  Bantam  and  Jacotra.  This  bril- 
 liant success  over  a well-appointed  and  discipKned  force,  greatly  superior  in  numbers, 
 and  in  every  respect  well  equipped,  is  the  result  of  the  great  zeal,  gallantry,  and 
 discipline  of  the  troops,  qualities  they  have  possessed  in  a degree  certainly  never  sur- 
 passed. It  is  my  duty  to  lay  before  your  Lordship  the  details  of  their  success,  but 
 it  is  not  in  my  power  to  do  them  the  justice  they  deserve,  or  to  express  how  much 
 their  country  is  indebted  to  them  for  their  great  exertions. 
 
 Your  Lordship  is  acquainted  with  the  reasons  that  induced  me  to  attempt  a 
 landing  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Batavia.  It  was  effected  without  opposition,  at  the 
 village  of  Shillinching,  twelve  miles  east  of  the  city,  on  the  4th  instant.  My  intention 
 was  to  proceed  from  thence,  by  the  direct  road  to  Cornehs,  where  the  enemy’s  force 
 was  said  to  be  assembled  in  a strongly  fortified  position,  and  to  place  the  city  of 
 Bata\da  in  my  rear,  from  whence  alone  I could  expect  to  derive  supplies,  equal  to 
 the  arduous  contest  we  were  engaged  in. 
 
 “ As  some  time  was  required  to  make  preparations  for  an  inland  movement,  I 
 judged  it  proper  to  reconnoitre  the  road  by  the  coast  leading  to  Batavia,  and  observe 
 how  far  it  would  be  practicable  to  penetrate  by  that  route.  I was  aware  that  it  was- 
 extremely  strong,  and  if  well  defended  nearly  impracticable.  Advancing  with  part  of 
 the  army,  I had  the  satisfaction  to  find  that  it  was  not  disputed  with  us,  and  the  only 
 
 N 2 
 
92 
 
 CAPTURE  OF  BATAVIA. 
 
 obstacle  to  our  progress  was  occasioned  by  the  destruction  of  the  bridge  over  the 
 Aujal  river.  I approached  the  river  on  the  6th,  and  obser\ing,  dm*ing  that  evening, 
 a large  fire  in  Batavia,  I concluded  it  was  the  intention  of  the  enemy  to  evacuate  the 
 city,  and  ^rith  this  impression  I directed  the  advance  of  the  anny,  under  Colonel 
 Gillespie,  to  pass  the  river  in  boats  on  the  succeeding  night.  They  lodged  themselves 
 in  the  suburbs  of  the  city,  and  a temporary  bridge  was  hastily  constmcted  on  the 
 morning  of  the  8th,  capable  of  supporting  fight  artillery.  On  that  day  the  Burghers 
 of  Bata\ia  applied  for  protection,  and  surrendered  the  city  \rithout  opposition,  the 
 garrison  ha\ing  retreated  to  Welte’STeeden. 
 
 “ The  possession  of  Batavia  Avas  of  the  utmost  importance.  Though  large  store- 
 houses of  public  property  were  bmait  by  the  enemy  prertous  to  their  retreat,  and 
 every  effort  made  to  destroy  the  remainder,  we  Avere  fortmiate  in  preserving  some 
 valuable  granaries  and  other  stores.  The  city,  although  abandoned  by  the  principal 
 inhabitants,  Avas  filled  AAith  an  industrious  race  of  people,  Avho  could  be  particularly 
 useful  to  the  army.  ProAisions  were  in  abmidance,  and  an  easy  communication 
 preserved  Avith  the  fleet. 
 
 “ In  the  night  of  the  8th,  a feeble  attempt  Avas  made  by  the  enemy  to  cut  off  a 
 small  guard  I had  sent  for  the  security  of  the  place,  but  the  troops  of  the  adA^ance  had, 
 unknoAAm  to  them,  reinforced  the  party  early  in  the  evening,  and  the  attack  Avas 
 repulsed.  The  adA*ance,  under  Colonel  Gillespie,  occupied  the  city  on  the  9th. 
 
 “ Very  early  on  the  morning  of  the  10th,  I directed  Colonel  Gillespie  Avith 
 his  troops  to  move  fi-om  Batavia  toAvards  the  enemy’s  cantonment  at  WelteATeeden, 
 supported  by  tAvo  brigades  of  infantry  that  marched  before  break  of  day  through  the 
 city,  and  folloAved  his  route.  The  cantonment  Avas  abandoned,  but  the  enemy  Avere 
 in  force  a little  beyond  it,  and  about  tAVO  miles  in  adA’ance  of  their  works  at  Cornelis. 
 Then’  position  Avas  strong,  and  defended  by  an  abbatis,  occupied  by  3000  of  their 
 best  troops,  and  four  guns  of  horse-artillery.  Colonel  Gillespie  attacked  it  Avdth 
 spirit  and  judgment,  and  after  an  obstinate  resistance,  carried  it  at  the  point  of  the 
 bayonet,  completely  routed  their  force,  and  took  then-  guns.  A strong  colmnn  fi*om 
 these  troops  adA’anced  to  their  support,  but  our  fine  being  arriA'ed,  they  Avere  in- 
 stantly pursued,  and  diiven  under  shelter  of  their  batteries.  In  this  affair,  so  credit- 
 able to  Colonel  Gillespie,  and  all  the  troops  of  the  advance,  the  gi'enadier  company 
 of  the  78th,  and  the  detachment  of  the  89th  regiment,  particularly  distinguished 
 themselves,  by  charging  and  captming  the  enemy’s  artillery.  Our  loss  Avas  trifling 
 compared  Avith  the  enemy’s,  Avhich  may  be  estimated  at  about  500  men,  Avith 
 Brigadier-General  Alberti,  dangerously  Avounded. 
 
 “ Though  Ave  had  hitherto  been  successful  beyond  my  most  sanguine  expecta- 
 tions, our  further  progress  became  extremely  difficult,  and  someAvhat  doubtful. 
 The  enemy,  greatly  superior  in  numbers,  AV'as  strongly  entrenched  in  a position  be- 
 tween the  great  river  of  Jacotra,  and  the  Sloken,  an  artificial  Avater-com-se,  neither 
 
BATTLE  OF  CORNELIS. 
 
 93 
 
 oi  which  was  fordable.  This  position  was  shut  up  by  a deep  trench,  strongly 
 palisadoed.  Seven  redoubts,  and  many  batteries,  mounted  with  heavy  cannon,  oc- 
 cupied the  most  commanding  grounds  udthin  the  lines.  The  fort  of  Cornelis  was 
 in  the  centre,  and  the  whole  of  the  works  were  defended  by  a numerous  and  well 
 organized  artillery.  The  season  was  too  far  advanced,  the  heat  too  violent,  and  our 
 number  insufficient  to  admit  of  regidar  approaches.  To  carry  the  works  by  assault 
 was  the  alternative,  and  on  that  I decided.  In  aid  of  this  measure,  I directed  some 
 batteries  to  disable  the  principal  redoubts,  and  for  two  days  kept  up  a heavy  fire 
 from  tw'enty  eighteens,  and  eight  mortars  and  howitzers.  Their  execution  was 
 great,  and  I had  the  pleasure  to  find,  that  though  answered  at  the  commencement 
 of  each  day,  by  a far  more  numerous  artillery,  we  daily  silenced  their  nearest  bat- 
 teries, considerably  disturbed  every  part  of  their  position,  and  were  evidently  superior 
 in  our  fire. 
 
 At  da\Mi  of  day  on  the  26th,  the  assault  was  made,  the  principal  attack  was 
 entrusted  to  that  gallant  and  experienced  officer.  Colonel  Gillespie ; he  had  the  in- 
 fantry of  the  advance,  and  the  grenadiers  of  the  hne  with  him,  and  was  supported  by 
 Colonel  Gibbs,  with  the  59th  regiment,  and  the  4th  battalion  of  Bengal  volunteers. 
 They  were  intended  to  siu'prise,  if  possible,  the  redoubt  constructed  by  the  enemy 
 beyond  the  Sloken,  to  endeavour  to  cross  the  bridge  over  that  stream  with  the 
 fugitives,  and  then  to  assault  the  redoubts  within  the  lines;  Colonel  Gillespie  at- 
 tacking those  to  the  left,  and  Colonel  Gibbs  to  the  right.  Lieutenant-Colonel 
 M’Cleod,  with  six  companies  of  the  69th,  was  directed  to  follow  a path  on  the 
 bank  of  the  great  river,  and  when  the  attack  had  commenced  on  the  Sloken,  to 
 endeavour  to  possess  himself  of  the  enemy’s  left  redoubt.  IVIajor  Yule,  with  the 
 flank  troops  of  the  reserve,  reinforced  by  two  troops  of  cavalry,  four  guns  of  the 
 horse-artillery,  two  companies  of  the  69th,  and  the  grenadiers  of  the  reserve,  was 
 du-ected  to  attack  the  troops  at  Campong  Malayu,  on  the  west  of  the  great  river, 
 and  endeavour  to  cross  the  bridge  at  that  fort.  The  remainder  of  the  army,  under 
 Major-General  Wetherall,  was  at  the  batteries,  where  a colmnn  under  Colonel 
 Wood,  consisting  of  the  78th  regiment,  and  the  5th  volunteer  battalion,  was 
 directed  to  advance  against  the  enemy  in  front,  and  at  a favorable  moment,  when 
 aided  by  the  other  attacks,  to  force  his  way,  if  practicable,  and  open  the  position 
 for  the  hne. 
 
 “ The  enemy  was  under  arms,  and  prepared  for  the  combat,  and  General 
 Jansens,  the  Commander-in-Chief,  was  in  the  redoubt  where  it  commenced.  Colonel 
 Gillespie,  after  a long  action  through  a close  and  intricate  country,  came  on  their 
 advance,  routed  it  in  an  instant,  and  with  a rapidity  never  surpassed,  and  under  a 
 heavy  fire  of  grape  and  musketry,  possessed  himself  of  the  advanced  redoubt.  He 
 passed  the  bridge  with  the  fugitives,  under  a tremendous  fire,  and  assaulted  and 
 carried  with  the  bayonet  the  redoubt,  after  a most  obstinate  resistance.  Here  the 
 
94 
 
 BATTLE  OF  CORNELIS. 
 
 two  dinsions  of  this  column  separated.  Colonel  Gibbs  turned  to  the  right,  and 
 Avith  the  59th,  and  part  of  the  78th,  who  had  now  forced  their  way  in  front,  carried 
 the  redoubt.  A tremendous  explosion  of  the  magazine  of  this  work  (whether  acci- 
 dental or  designed  is  not  ascertained)  took  place  at  the  instant  of  its  captm-e,  and 
 destroyed  a number  of  gallant  officers  and  men,  who  at  the  moment  were  crowded 
 on  its  ramparts,  which  the  enemy  had  abandoned.  The  redoubt,  against  which 
 Lieutenant-Colonel  M^Cleod’s  attack  was  directed,  was  carried  in  as  gallant  a style ; 
 and  I lament  to  state,  that  most  valiant  and  experienced  officer  fell  at  the  moment 
 of  victory.  The  front  of  the  position  was  now  open,  and  the  troops  rushed  in  from 
 every  quarter. 
 
 “ During  the  operations  on  the  right.  Colonel  Gillespie  pursued  his  advantage 
 to  the  left,  caiTying  the  enemy’s  redoubts  towards  the  rear,  and  being  joined  by 
 Lieutenant-Colonel  IVLCleod,  of  the  59th.  With  part  of  that  corps,  he  directed 
 him  to  attack  the  park  of  artillery,  which  that  officer  carried  in  a most  masterly 
 manner,  putting  to  flight  a body  of  the  enemy’s  cavalry,  that  formed  and  attempted 
 to  defend  it.  A sharp  fire  of  musketry  was  now  kept  up,  by  a strong  body  of  the 
 enemy,  who  had  taken  post  in  the  lines,  in  front  of  Fort  Cornelis,  but  were  soon 
 driven  from  thence,  the  fort  taken,  and  the  enemy  completely  dispersed.  They 
 were  pursued  by  Colonel  Gillespie  with  the  14th  regiment,  a party  of  Sepoys,  and 
 the  seamen  from  the  batteries  under  Captain  Sayer,  of  the  Royal  Navy ; by  this 
 time  the  cavalry  and  horse-artillery  had  effected  a passage  through  the  lines,  the 
 former  commanded  by  Major  Travers,  and  the  latter  by  Captain  Noble ; and,  with 
 the  gallant  Colonel  at  their  head,  the  pursuit  was  continued  till  the  whole  of  the 
 enemy’s  army  was  killed,  taken,  or  dispersed. 
 
 “ Major  Yule’s  attack  was  equally  spirited ; but  after  routing  the  enemy’s  force 
 at  Campong  Malayu,  and  killing  many  of  them,  he  found  the  bridge  on  fire,  and 
 was  unable  to  penetrate  further. 
 
 I have  the  honour  to  enclose  a return  of  the  loss  sustained,  from  our  landing 
 on  the  4th  to  the  26th  inclusive.  Sincerely  I lament  its  extent,  and  the  many 
 valuable  and  able  officers  that  have  unfortunately  fallen ; but  when  the  prepared 
 state  of  the  enemy,  their  numbers,  and  the  strength  of  their  positions  are  con- 
 sidered, I trust  it  will  not  be  deemed  heavier  than  might  be  expected.  Theirs  has 
 greatly  exceeded  it ; in  the  action  of  the  26th,  the  numbers  killed  were  immense, 
 but  it  has  been  impossible  to  form  any  accurate  statements  of  the  amount.  About 
 1000  have  been  buried  in  the  works ; multitudes  were  cut  down  in  the  retreat ; the 
 rivers  are  choked  up  wth  the  dead,  and  the  huts  and  woods  were  filled  with 
 wounded,  who  have  since  expired.  We  have  taken  near  5000  prisoners,  among 
 whom  are  3 general  officers,  34  field-officers,  90  captains,  and  150  subaltern 
 officers.  General  Jansens  made  his  escape  with  difficulty  during  the  action,  and 
 reached  Buitenzorg,  a distance  of  thirty  miles,  with  a few  cavalry,  the  sole  remains 
 
CESSION  OF  JAVA. 
 
 95 
 
 of  an  army  of  10,000  men.  This  place  he  has  since  evacuated,  and  fled  to  the 
 eastward.  A detachment  of  our  troops  is  in  possession  of  it. 
 
 “ The  superior  discipline  and  invincible  courage,  which  has  so  highly  distin- 
 guished the  British  army,  were  never  more  fully  displayed ; and  I have  the  heartfelt 
 pleasure  to  add,  that  they  have  not  been  clouded  by  any  acts  of  insubordination. 
 
 " I have  the  honour  to  enclose  a copy  of  the  orders  I have  directed  to  be 
 issued,  thanking  the  troops  in  general  for  their  services,  and  particularizing  some  of 
 the  officers,  who  from  their  rank  or  situations  w'ere  more  fortunate  than  their  equally 
 gallant  companions,  in  opportmrities  of  distinguishing  themselves,  and  serving  their 
 sovereign  and  their  country. 
 
 “ But  I must  not  omit  noticing  to  your  Lordship,  the  very  particular  merit  of 
 Colonel  Gillespie,  to  .whose  assistance  in  planning  the  principal  attack,  and  to  whose 
 gallantry,  energy,  and  judgment  in  executing  it,  the  success  is  gi’eatly  to  be  attri- 
 buted. To  the  general  staff  of  the  army,  as  well  as  my  ovm  staff,  I feel  myself 
 particularly  indebted.  The  professional  knowledge,  zeal,  and  activity  of  Colonel 
 Eden,  Quarter-Master-General,  have  been  essentially  useful  to  me ; but  I cannot 
 express  how  much  I have  benefited  by  the  able  assistance  and  laborious  exertions 
 of  Colonel  Agnew,  the  Adjutant-General,  an  officer  whose  active  and  meritorious 
 seiwices  have  frequently  attracted  the  notice,  and  received  the  thanks  of  the  Govern- 
 ment of  India. 
 
 “ It  is  with  particular  pleasure,  I assure  your  Lordship,  that  I have  received 
 the  most  cordial  support  from  the  Honourable  Rear-Admiral  Stopford,  and  Commo- 
 dore Broughton,  during  the  period  of  their  commanding  the  squadron.  The  former 
 was  pleased  to  allow  a body  of  500  seamen,  under  that  valuable  officer.  Captain 
 Sayer  of  the  Leda,  to  assist  at  our  batteries.  Their  services  were  particularly  use- 
 ful ; and  I have  the  satisfaction  to  assure  you,  that  both  the  Artillery  and  Engineers 
 were  actuated  by  the  same  zeal  in  performing  their  respective  duties,  that  has  been 
 so  conspicuous  in  all  ranks  and  departments,  though  from  the  deficiency  of  the 
 means  at  their  disposal,  their  operations  were  unavoidably  embarrassed  with  uncom- 
 mon difficulties. 
 
 I have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  greatest  respect, 
 
 “ Your  Lordship’s  most  obedient  humble  servant, 
 
 (Signed)  “ S.  Achmuty, 
 
 “ Lieutenant-General.” 
 
 The  troops  were  landed  on  the  4th  of  August,  1811 ; the  battle  of  Cornells  was 
 fought  on  the  26th;  Lord  Minto  pubhshed  his  Proclamation  on  the  11th  of  Sep- 
 tember ; but  the  final  capitulation  of  the  island  was  not  signed  till  the  18th  Septem- 
 ber, 1811,  by  General  Jansens  and  Sir  Samuel  Achmuty,  at  Samarang,  whither 
 General  Jansens  had  retreated  after  his  defeat  at  Cornehs. 
 
 . 7 
 
96 
 
 INTERCEPTED  LETTER  FROM  GENERAL  JANSENS. 
 
 The  followng  is  a literal  copy  of  a letter  from  General  Jansens  to  a Dutch 
 gentleman  employed  in  a pubhc  capacity,  wliich  was  intercepted,  and  is  a cmious 
 specimen  of  official  correspondence  : 
 
 Samarang,  le  2 Septemhre,  1811. 
 
 “ Avec  indignation,  j’ai  recu  votre  precedente  lettre  et  la  derniere  du  30  d’Aoiit 
 de  Samarang. 
 
 “ Si  la  Tresorerie  du  gouvernement,  si  celle  des  veuves  et  orphelines  sera 
 perdu,  alors  cela  sera  uniquement  a attribuer  a votre  lache,  des-obeissant,  et  infeme 
 comportement. 
 
 “ Vous  avez  aucun  ami,  jamais  on  ne  rencontra  personne,  qui  ne  vous  portat 
 de  haine  ou  ne  vous  meprisat,  par  experience  j’ai  su,  mais,  helas ! trop  tard,  qu’on 
 vous  a rendu  justice,  en  vous  detestant. 
 
 “ Votre  beau  fi'ere  repond  avec  actuate  a ses  devoirs,  il  am’a  pour  cela  dans  une 
 ame  calme,  la  recompense,  mais  cela  sera  toujours  mr  creve  coeur,  d’avoir  un  indigne 
 frere  comme  vous. 
 
 “ Que  vous  ayez  peur  pour  des  soldats  sans  subordination  et  pour  des  brigands, 
 cela  je  ne  prend  pas  de  mal,  mais  vous  sa\aez  qu’il  y avoit  un  centaine  d’officiers 
 en  arriere  de  vous,  et  pom’  cela  vous  n’am'iez  pas  du  abandonner  contre  votre  serment 
 et  devoir,  votre  poste,  mais  rester  dans  le  voisinage  de  ces  officiers. 
 
 “ Mon  devoir  m’appelloit  perir  ici,  pour  rassembler  tous  les  ressom’ces  qui 
 existent  encor,  vous  auriez  du  faire  autant,  dans  votre  situation  et  les  chefs  de 
 I’interieur  seroient  certainement  restes  fideles. 
 
 “ On  se  comptoit  pom*  le  plus  gi’and  malhem*  d’etre  votre  subordonne,  il  est 
 aussi  bien  miserable  de  vous  avoir  eu  pour  subalteme. 
 
 “ Le  Gouverneur-General. 
 
 “ A Monsiem*  Vickens.”  “ Signed,  W.  Jansens.” 
 
 ( Intercepted  at  Cheribon,  IKA  September,  1811.^ 
 
 Lord  Minto  announced  the  capture  of  Java  to  the  authorities  in  England,  in  the 
 following  terms : 
 
 ‘‘  An  Empire,  which  for  two  centuries  has  contributed  greatly  to  the  power, 
 prosperity,  and  gi’andeur  of  one  of  the  principal  and  most  respected  states  in  Em'ope, 
 has  been  thus  vvested  fi’om  the  short  usui'pation  of  the  French  government,  added 
 to  the  dominion  of  the  British  crown,  and  converted  from  a seat  of  hostile  machina- 
 tion and  commercial  competition,  into  an  augmentation  of  British  power  and  pros- 
 perity.” 
 
 The  government  of  this  Empire  was  bestowed,  with  a feeling  and  confidence 
 honourable  to  the  giver,  and  no  less  gratifying  to  the  person  on  whom  such  a high 
 and  noble  trust  was  reposed. 
 
DEATH  OF  DR.  LEYDEN. 
 
 97 
 
 Tlioiigh  partly  pledged  to  another,  Lord  Minto  declared  he  could  not  con- 
 scientiously -vvithhold  it  from  him  who  had  won  it ; and,  therefore,  “ as  an  acknow- 
 ledgment of  the  services  he  had  rendered,  and  in  consideration  of  his  peculiar 
 fitness  for  the  office,”  he  immediately  appointed  Mr.  Raffles  to  it,  under  the  title  of 
 Lieutenant-Governor  of  Java  and  its  Dependencies. 
 
 The  charge  was  of  the  most  extensive,  arduous,  and  responsible  nature,  compris- 
 ing, on  the  island  of  Java  alone,  a population  of  six  millions,  divided  into  thirty  resi- 
 dencies, under  powerful  chiefs,  who  had  been  long  desirous  of  throwing  off  the 
 European  yoke,  and  who  were  consequently  by  no  means  disposed  to  submit  quietly 
 to  the  rule  of  their  new  governors. 
 
 Before  the  conquest  of  Java  by  the  English,  the  Dutch  had  only  subdued,  un- 
 conditionally, one  of  the  four  principal  kingdoms  into  which  the  island  was  divided. 
 The  small  kingdom  of  Jakotra,  extending  from  Cheribon  to  Bantam,  and  in  which 
 the  city  of  Bata\da,  so  long  the  admiration  and  dread  of  the  Eastern  States,  is 
 situated,  alone  acknowledged  the  sovereignty  of  the  European  power ; so  that,  in 
 fact,  the  principal  part  of  the  island  was  still  to  conquer. 
 
 An  event  occurred  at  this  time  to  interrupt  the  satisfaction,  and  humble  the 
 heart  that  might  have  been  too  much  elated  at  the  success  which  had  crowned  the 
 expedition.  Dr.  Leyden  was  seized  with  a fever  a few  days  after  he  reached  those 
 shores,  on  which  he  hoped  to  slake  his  ardent  thirst  for  knozviedge,  and  expired  in  the 
 arms  of  his  friend. 
 
 This  loss  w'as  deeply  mourned  by  Mr.  Raffles,  who  had  anticipated  the  happi- 
 ness of  ha\ing,  as  an  inmate  of  his  family,  one  with  whom  he  could  take  counsel  both 
 in  public  and  private ; whose  judgment  would  aid,  whose  affection  would  cheer,  and 
 whose  society  would  brighten  the  care  and  troubles  of  the  responsible  situation  he 
 was  about  to  undertake. 
 
 Lord  Minto  remained  in  Java  six  weeks,  and  was  incessantly  occupied  in  arrang- 
 ing the  form  of  government,  laying  down  the  principles  upon  which  it  was  to  be 
 conducted,  forming  plans  for  the  suppression  of  piracy,  and  consulting  with  the 
 futm'e  Governor  of  the  island  on  various  points  of  anticipated  difficulty.  One  of  two 
 courses  was  to  be  taken:  either. to  abandon  the  island  to  the  natives  after  having 
 plundered  it,  or  to  retain  it  in  our  own  hands. 
 
 It  is  difficult  to  imagine  that  the  first-mentioned  plan  was  ever  agitated ; but 
 truth  requires  it  to  be  stated,  that  it  was  seriously  contemplated,  and  checked  only 
 by  the  energy  and  determination  of  Lord  Minto.  It  has  been  already  said,  that  he 
 took  upon  himself  the  responsibility  of  acting  on  a more  benevolent  principle,  and 
 determined  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  promote  -the  happiness  of  those  whom  the 
 fortune  of  war  had  placed  under  his  orders. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  communicated  to  Mr.  Marsden  his  appointment  to  the  government 
 of  Java  in  the  following  letter  : 
 
 o 
 
9S 
 
 LETTER  TO  MR.  MARSDEN. 
 
 From  Mr.  Raffles  to  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 JVeltevreeden,  {near  Batavia,)  Java,  October  5ih,  1811. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ The  press  of  public  business  at  the  present -moment  is  so  gi*eat,  that  I am 
 sure  you  Anil  excuse  me  from  entering  at  length  into  any  subject.  The  pubhc  prints 
 will  inform  you  of  the  great  and  invaluable  conquest  which  we  have  made,  and  I 
 shall  only  add  that,  after  having  been  employed  for  above  a year  as  agent  to  the 
 Governor-General  in  obtaining  information,  fonning  plans,  and  bringing  to  a focus 
 the  intentions  of  government  against  this  place,  I have  now  the  satisfaction  to  be 
 installed  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the  Island  of  Java  and  its  dependencies. 
 
 “ No  man  better  than  yourself  can  appreciate  the  value  of  this  new  acquisition 
 to  the  British  empire — it  is  in  fact  the  other  India. 
 
 “ My  time  has  been  so  completely  taken  up  in  pohtical  operations,  that  I have 
 been  compelled  for  many  months  to  leave  my  literary  labours  on  the  shelf  untouched ; 
 but  my  present  situation,  and  our  new  conquest,  afford  such  a vide  and  unparalleled 
 field  for  research,  that  I should  be  worse  than  Goth  or  Vandal  if  I allowed  it  to  remain 
 untried  even  in  the  literary  way. 
 
 “ Lord  Minto  is  now  here,  and  Ave  have  it  in  contemplation  to  bring  forAvard  the 
 BataAian  Asiatic  Society  as  soon  as  circmnstances  admit.  I do  not  knoAv  AA^hether  you 
 haA'e  heard  that  AA'e  held  a meeting  of  the  Asiatic  Society  at  Malacca  on  our  A\'ay  doAvn. 
 I sent  you  from  thence  a paper  of  mine  intended  for  the  next  volume  of  the  Researches. 
 
 “ If  it  AA^ere  possible  to  get  it  copied  in  time  I AA'ould  send  you  by  the  present 
 conveyance  a copy  of  my  last  report  to  Lord  jMinto  on  the  eastAA-ard.  I hope  I shall 
 be  able  to  send  it  by  the  next  ship,  as  it  aaiU  put  you  in  full  possession  of  the  enlarged 
 Aiews  Avhich  have  lately  opened  to  us  in  the  East. 
 
 “ You  AAvll,  I am  sure,  condole  Avith  me,  as  the  friend  of  literature  and  Aartue,  in 
 the  loss  I have  lately  sustained  in  the  death  of  my  dear  friend.  Doctor  Leyden ; — he 
 (bed  at  this  place  on  the  27th  of  August,  of  a fe\’er.  We  have  lost  in  him  a host  of 
 men.  Had  you  knoAAir  him,  you  Avould  never  have  ceased  to  deplore  his  death. — 
 Eastern  hterature  has  lost  in  him  its  firmest  support. 
 
 ^ ^ ^ 
 
 “ I am  happy  to  inform  you  that  I have  large  and  valuable  collections  on  A'arious 
 points  connected  Avith  your  favourite  studies  ; these  I shall,  as  soon  as  possible,  put 
 into  some  kind  of  form. 
 
 “ I hope  by  the  first  arrival  to  receive  your  ueAv  edition  of  Sumatra.  Hoav  goes 
 on  the  Dictionary  ? 
 
 “ Your’s  faithfully. 
 
 “ T.  S.  R. 
 
LEADING  PRINCIPLES  OF  THE  DUTCH  GOVERNMENT. 
 
 99 
 
 Lord  Minto,  during  his  stay  in  Java,  made  several  arrangements  for  the  suppres- 
 sion of  piracy ; and  having,  whilst  he  was  at  Malacca  during  the  progress  of  the 
 expedition,  received  ambassadors  from  the  state  of  Banger  Masing,  courting  the  alli- 
 ance of  the  English,  his  Lordship  appointed  Mr.  Hare  resident  of  this  place,  with  the 
 view  of  checking  this  destructive  system  of  native  warfare. 
 
 In  order  to  appreciate  the  difficulties  of  the  situation  in  which  Mr.  Raffles  was 
 placed,  the  extent  of  the  changes  which  it  was  requisite  to  introduce,  and  the  views 
 which  he  formed  of  the  principles  of  government,  it  will  be  necessary  to  advert  very 
 briefly  to  one  or  two  leading  principles  of  the  Dutch  rule. 
 
 One  of  the  chief  sources  of  the  Dutch  revenue  was  the  monopoly  by  government 
 of  the  grain  and  other  produce  of  the  land,  which  the  cultivators  were  required  to 
 deliver  at  an  inadequate  and  arbitrary  rate,  which  articles  were  afterwards  dealt  out 
 to  the  consumer  at  a far  higher  price,  so  that,  in  fact,  the  whole  body  of  the  people 
 depended  on  the  government  for  their  very  subsistence.  The  principle  of  encouraging 
 industry  in  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of  the  country,  by  creating  an  interest 
 in  the  effort  and  fruits  of  that  industry,  w^as  wdiolly  unknowm. 
 
 The  mode  of  collecting  this  revenue  in  kind  remained  with  the  Regent  of  the 
 district,  tearing  the  cultivators  no  security  beyond  the  claims  of  usage  and  custom  ; 
 and  although  custom  prescribed  a certain  portion  only  of  the  crop  to  be  delivered* 
 there  w'ere  no  positive  means  of  preventing  a greater  le\y.  Thus,  while  the  power  and 
 influence  of  authority  could  be  successfully  exerted  to  stifle  complaints,  the  peasant, 
 though  suffering  the  greatest  injustice,  despairing  of  relief,  would  endure  almost  any 
 privation  and  suffering  rather  than  quit  the  land  of  his  forefathers,  to  which  he  felt 
 himself  attached  by  the  strongest  ties  of  religion,  of  habit,  and  of  affection. 
 
 Feudal  serrice  was  another  of  the  grievances  and  oppressions  under  which  the 
 natives  groaned.  No  means  existed  of  affording  a direct  controul  on  the  demands 
 for  labour.  The  public  officers  of  the  Dutch  government  universally  employed  the 
 services  of  the  people  without  regular  hire.  Their  demands  were  unhmited.  The 
 native  chiefs  followed  the  same  system.  No  check  existed ; and  thus  the  energies  of 
 the  people  were  crushed,  and  their  labom'  frittered  away,  becoming  productive  neither 
 to  themselves  nor  to  the  state.  In  short,  they  were  reduced  to  the  lowest  state  of 
 vassalage  and  subjection.  To  this  ruinous  system  was  to  be  added  the  pressure 
 arising  from  the  failure  of  external  commerce. 
 
 The  Dutch  government,  forced  to  look  within  itself  for  relief,  discovered  the 
 embarrassments  to  be  daily  increasing.  Under  this  exigency,  the  funds  of  public 
 societies  were  appropriated  to  the  government  treasury ; and  the  private  property, of 
 individuals  was  forcibly  boiTOwed  in  the  same  manner.  An  arbitrary  increase  of 
 paper-currency  was  issued,  to  provide  for  the  daily  expences  of  the  State ; and  this 
 being  fomid  inadequate,  the  government  were  compelled  to  deliver  a proportion  of 
 colonial  produce  in  payment  of  these  estabhshments,  or,  in  other  words,  to  pawn  the 
 
 o 2 
 
100 
 
 PROJECTED  CHANGE  OF  SYSTEM. 
 
 produce  in  store,  to  satisfy  the  cuiTent  demands  upon  the  public  treasury.  Such  was 
 the  financial  state  of  the  country  at  the  period  when  the  Enghsh  assumed  the  admi- 
 nistration of  Java. 
 
 It  would  be  endless  to  notice  the  difficulties  and  obstacles  which  occurred  in  the 
 establishment  of  a pure  and  upright  administration.  Not  only  was  the  whole  system 
 previously  pm’sued  by  the  Dutch  to  be  subverted,  but  an  entire  new  one  substituted, 
 as  pure  and  liberal  as  the  old  one  was  vicious  and  contracted ; and  this  was  to  be 
 accomplished  and  carried  into  effect  by  the  very  persons  who  had  so  long  fattened  on 
 the  vices  of  the  former  policy.  Some  few  were  sufficiently  enlightened  to  perceive 
 the  advantages  of  the  new  system : two  of  these,  Mr.  Cransen  and  Mr.  Muntinghe, 
 on  this  account,  were  regarded  by  Mr.  Raffles  with  the  highest  esteem. 
 
 Those  who  know  how  difficult  it  is  to  carry  on  a government,  even  where  the 
 choice  of  agents  is  great,  where  each  well  knows  the  duty  which  he  has  to  perform,  and 
 where  the  state  of  society  is  such,  that  every  man  acts  as  a check  upon  his  neighboiu”, 
 will  be  able  to  appreciate  the  labour  and  the  anxiety  which  devolved  on  Mr.  Raffles, 
 when  Lord  Minto  left  him  to  aiTange  the  details  of  that  system  of  which  they  had 
 together  formed  the  outline. 
 
 Buoyant  in  spirit  and  firm  in  courage,  when  once  he  had  adopted  a right  prin- 
 ciple of  action,  Mr.  Raffles  was  keenly  alive  to  the  difficult  and  arduous  task  which  he 
 had  to  perform ; responsible  for  all,  at  a distance  from  any  superior  authority,  without 
 one  individual  vith  whose  principles  he  was  acquainted,  and  of  whose  abilities  he 
 had  any  experience  ; yet  forced  to  set  the  wheel  of  government  in  motion,  and  to 
 watch  its  progress  with  unceasing  attention,  whilst  all  the  details  of  every  depart- 
 ment were  to  be  formed  by  himself ; nothing  but  the  facility  of  arrangement  which  he 
 possessed  could  have  accomplished  so  much  \vith  so  little  assistance,  and  in  so  short 
 a time. 
 
 The  manner  and  time  of  bringing  about  this  change,  however,  required  the 
 most  serious  consideration ; and  before  he  took  any  decided  step  in  the  new  organi- 
 zation, he  instituted  statistical  enquiries  in  every  district,  and  collected  the  most 
 detailed  information  in  every  department ; the  result  of  which  convinced  him  that  a 
 thorough  change  in  system  was  not  only  advisable  and  practicable,  but  indispensable, 
 no  less  for  the  interests  and  honour  of  the  British  Government,  than  for  the  happi- 
 ness and  prosperity  of  the  country  at  large.  He  examined  minutely  every  depart- 
 ment ; drew  up  himself  every  detail  and  instruction  for  the  agents  which  he  employed, 
 and  mth  all  the  courage  of  a pure  and  ardent  mind,  commenced  that  thorough  reform, 
 which  with  unwearied  assiduity  he  labom'ed  to  establish  during  the  whole  period  of 
 his  administration. 
 
 The  result  fully  equalled  the  highest  expectations  and  estimates  which  had 
 been  formed  of  its  success ; and  so  judiciously  was  the  change  introduced,  that  not 
 a single  individual,  high  or  low,  felt  aggrieved  by  it ; the  native  population,  chiefs. 
 
ENGLISH  RESIDENTS  APPOINTED. 
 
 101 
 
 subordinates,  and  people,  with  one  accord,  hailed  the  new  order  of  things  as  a boon 
 conferred  upon  them  by  British  philanthropy,  and  entered  on  the  enjoyment  of  its 
 advantages  wdth  confidence  and  improving  industry. 
 
 The  first  act  of  Mr.  Raffles  was  to  send  English  Residents  to  the  native 
 courts,  and  in  the  course  of  a month  most  of  the  expensive  establishments  of  govern- 
 ment were  discontinued ; the  departments  of  revenue,  commerce,  and  judicature, 
 were  materially  reforaied,  and  new  arrangements  adopted  by  the  1st  of  January, 
 1812.  In  connection  with  these  important  changes  a general  survey  was  made  of  the 
 whole  island ; and  detailed  information  collected  in  most  of  the  districts  of  the  lands 
 attached  to  each  village,  while  a body  of  valuable  statistics  was  compiled  and 
 arranged,  as  well  for  the  immediate  use  of  Government  as  for  future  historical 
 reference.  The  labour  attending  the  performance  of  such  varied  and  extensive 
 duties  was  naturally  very  great ; Mr.  Raffles  had,  fortunately,  at  this  time  sufficient 
 vigour  of  body  as  well  as  of  mind  to  devote  himself  to  them  from  daylight  until 
 midnight. 
 
 The  following  is  an  extract  from  Captain  Travers’  Journal : — 
 
 The  official  documents,  already  published,  give  a full,  clear,  and  satisfactory 
 account  of  the  zeal  and  ability  evinced  by  Mr.  Raffles  in  the  administration  of  Java, 
 whilst  few,  perhaps,  are  aware  of  the  apphcation  and  attention  which  he  devoted 
 to  his  pubhc  duties.  With  a constitution  already  impaired  by  climate,  every  one 
 was  astonished  at  the  exertion  and  fatigue  he  underwent ; and  the  Dutch,  who  were 
 altogether  unaccustomed  to  witness  such  activity  of  mind  and  body,  were  unable 
 to  keep  pace  with  him. 
 
 “ The  government  of  such  an  island  as  Java,  with  its  dependencies,  was  a 
 charge  of  no  trifling  responsibility,  and  not  the  less  so  during  the  time  of  war; 
 but  Lord  Minto  judged  correctly  when  he  told  Mr.  Raffles  that  it  was  not  ‘ so 
 much  as  an  acknowledgment  of  his  past  services,  as  in  consideration  of  his  peculiar 
 fitness  for  the  office,’  that  he  appointed  him  to  the  charge  of  such  a government. 
 Mr.  Raffles  was  fully  aware  of  the  trust,  and  with  all  the  ardour  peculiar  to  himself 
 commenced  the  task. 
 
 His  mild,  conciliating,  and  unassuming  manners,  obtained  for  him  the  respect 
 and  confidence  of  the  Dutch,  whilst  the  natives,  who  had  been  led  to  form  the 
 highest  possible  opinion  of  his  character,  looked  with  anxious  hope  for  that  amelio- 
 ration in  their  condition  which  they  afterwards  experienced,  and  which  will  make 
 his  memory  adored  on  the  island  of  Java  for  ages  to  come. 
 
 “ Soon  after  the  capture  of  the  island,  and  when  Lord  Minto  had  gone  to 
 Bengal,  Mr.  Raffles  removed  from  Ryswick  to  Buitenzorg,  the  country  residence  of 
 the  former  Governor,  distant  forty  miles  fi'om  Batavia,  and  here  he  kept  a most 
 
102 
 
 LETTER  TO  MR.  RAMSAY. 
 
 hospitable  table.  He  went  to  Ryswick  every  week  to  attend  the  council,  consisting 
 of  General,  then  Colonel,  Gillespie,  Commander  of  the  forces,  with  Mr.  Muntinghe 
 and  Mr.  Cransen,  Dutch  gentlemen,  who  had  held  high  situations  under  the  former 
 government.  At  Ryswick  he  remained  a day  or  two,  according  to  circumstances,  and 
 occasionally  saw  company  there  ; but  the  climate  at  Ruitenzorg  being  so  far  superior, 
 he  was  always  anxious  to  return,  and  seldom  lost  much  time  on  the  road,  perfonning 
 the  journey  in  four  hours.  He  was  most  attentive  to  the  members  of  the  former 
 government,  who  were  constant  guests  at  his  table.” 
 
 In  a private  letter  dated  Batavia,  in  March  1812,  to  his  fiiend  the  late  Mr. 
 Ramsay,  Secretary  to  the  East  India  Company,  Mr.  Raffles  touches  upon  the  in- 
 ternal arrangements  connected  with  the  government  of  Java. 
 
 “ In  this  respect  stand  foremost  the  judicial  and  police  arrangements.  Previous 
 to  the  establishment  of  the  British  government  in  Java,  there  was  no  distinction 
 known  between  the  police  and  the  judicial  administration  of  justice.  At  Batavia, 
 however,  there  existed  a Supreme  Court  of  Judicature  and  a Bench  or  Court  of 
 Aldermen,  called  the  College  of  Schepmen ; and  at  Sourabaya  and  Samarang  inferior 
 courts  of  justice  had  been  established  ; and  in  each  district  a court  termed  the 
 Landrost,  consisting  of  the  Landrost,  Regent,  and  Highpriest,  exercised  both  the 
 police  and  judicial  jurisdiction ; the  only  distinction  which  existed  was  that  all  the 
 Company’s  seiwants  should  be  amenable  to  the  regular  courts  of  justice,  or  to  the 
 Supreme  ComT  at  Batavia,  while  all  other  persons  of  every  description  were  under 
 the  jurisdiction  of  the  Schepmen.  A difference  of  persons  was  altogether  so 
 strongly  against  our  principles  of  public  justice,  and  public  and  individual  right,  and 
 the  principle  on  which  such  distinction  might  originally  have  been  founded  had  so 
 entirely  ceased  by  the  abolition  of  all  distinction  between  the  servants  of  the  late 
 Company,  and  all  other  individuals,  that  an  entire  change  and  separation  of  the  police 
 from  the  judicial  authorities  became  necessary,  and  was  directed  by  the  mstructions 
 left  with  me  by  the  Governor-General. 
 
 “ The  copy  of  the  proclamation  published  in  om’  first  government  gazette  will 
 sufficiently  explain  the  principles  on  which  we  proceeded ; and  I flatter  myself  with 
 the  approbation,  not  only  of  the  Governor-General,  but  of  the  authorities  in  England, 
 of  the  measure  taken  by  us  of  establishing  the  trial  by  jury,  wiiich  I am  happy  to  say 
 has  given  universal  satisfaction  here ; and  although,  with  the  other  new  arrange- 
 ments, giving  rise  to  new  difflculties,  is  not  likely  to  meet  with  any  serious  obstacle. 
 The  courts  of  justice  and  police,  as  new  modelled,  are  now  in  full  exercise  ; and  I 
 hope  this  colony  may  receive  all  the  advantages  of  British  jurisprudence,  without 
 entailing  on  it  the  disadvantages  of  a judicial  establishment  from  England,  of  all 
 things  the  most  to  be  dreaded  for  the  general  prosperity  and  happiness  of  the 
 population.  The  British  comis  of  justice  fit  with  difficulty  our  permanent  English 
 
PROCLAMATION  TO  THE  PEOPLE  OF  JAVA. 
 
 103 
 
 establishments  in  India ; but  here  their  introduction  would  only  lead  to  anarchy, 
 vexation,  and  trouble  without  end.* 
 
 * “PROCLAMATION. 
 
 “ For  the  satisfaction  of  the  inhabitants  and  people  of  Java,  the  following  provisions  are  made  public, 
 in  testimony  of  the  sincere  disposition  of  the  British  Government  to  promote  their  prosperity  and  welfare. 
 The  refusal  of  their  late  government  to  treat  for  their  interests,  although  disabled  by  the  events  of  war  from 
 affording  them  any  further  protection,  has  rendered  the  consequent  establishment  of  the  British  authority 
 unconditional.  But  an  English  government  does  not  require  the  articles  of  a capitulation  to  impose  those 
 duties  which  are  prompted  by  a sense  of  justice  and  a beneficent  disposition.  The  people  of  Java  are 
 exhorted  to  consider  their  new  connection  with  England  as  founded  in  principles  of  mutual  advantage,  and 
 to  be  conducted  in  a spirit  of  kindness  and  affection. 
 
 “ Providence  has  brought  to  them  a protecting  and  benevolent  government : they  will  cheerfully  per- 
 form the  reciprocal  duties  of  allegiance  and  attachment. 
 
 “ 1.  His  Majesty’s  subjects  in  Java  will  be  entitled  to  the  same  general  privileges  as  are  enjoyed  by 
 the  natural-born  subjects  of  Great  Britain  in  India,  subject  to  such  regulations  as  now  exist,  or  may  here- 
 after be  provided,  respecting  residence  in  any  of  the  Honourable  Company’s  territories. 
 
 “ 2.  They  will  have  the  same  privilege  and  freedom  of  trade  to  and  with  all  countries  to  the  east  of 
 the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  and  also  with  His  Majesty’s  European  dominions,  as  are  possessed  by  natural- 
 born  subjects  of  Great  Britain. 
 
 “ 3.  Dutch  gentlemen  will  be  eligible  to  all  offices  of  trust,  and  will  enjoy  the  confidence  of  Govern- 
 ment according  to  their  respective  characters,  conduct,  and  talents,  in  common  with  British-born  subjects. 
 
 “ 4.  The  vexatious  system  of  monopoly  which  is  understood  to  have  heretofore  prevailed  in  some 
 instances  to  an  oppressive  and  inconvenient  extent,  will  be  revised,  and  a more  beneficial  and  politic  prin- 
 ciple of  administration  will  be  taken  into  consideration  as  soon,  and  to  such  extent,  as  full  information  on 
 the  subject  can  be  obtained,  as  established  usage  and  habit  may  admit,  and  as  may  be  consistent  with  a due 
 regard  to  the  health  and  morals  of  the  people. 
 
 “ 5.  The  Dutch  laws  will  remain  provisionally  in  force,  under  the  modifications  which  will  be  hereinafter 
 expressed,  until  the  pleasure  of  the  supreme  authorities  in  England  shall  be  known ; and  it  is  conceived 
 that  no  material  alteration  therein  is  to  be  apprehended. 
 
 “ The  modifications  to  be  now  adopted  are  the  following  : 
 
 “ First.  Neither  torture  nor  mutilation  shall  make  part  of  any  sentence  to  be  pronounced  against 
 criminals. 
 
 “ Secondly.  When  a British-born  subject  is  convicted  of  any  offence,  no  punishment  shall  be  awarded 
 against  him  more  severe  than  would  be  inflicted  by  the  laws  of  England  for  the  same  crime.  And  in  case 
 of  doubt  concerning  the  penalty  by  English  law,  reference  shall  be  made  to  the  Honourable  the  Recorder 
 of  Prince  of  W’ales’  Island,  whose  report  shall  be  a sufficient  warrant  for  aw'arding  the  penalty  stated  by  him 
 to  be'  agreeable  to  the  laws  of  England.  No  sentence  against  any  British-born  subject  for  any  crime  or 
 misdemeanour  shall  be  carried  into  execution  until  a Report  shall  have  been  made  to  the  Lieutenant- 
 Governor.  » 
 
 “ Thirdly.  No  sentence  of  death  against  any  person  whatever  shall  be  carried  into  execution  until 
 Report  shall  have  been  made  to  the  Lieutenant-Governor. 
 
 “ Fourthly.  The  Lieutenant-Governor  will  have  the  power  of  remitting,  moderating,  or  confirming 
 all  penalties,  excepting  inconsiderable  fines,  short  imprisonment,  or  slight  corporal  punishment. 
 
 “ Fifthly.  British-born  subjects  shall  be  amenable  to  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Dutch  tribunals,  and  to 
 the  Dutch  laws,  in  all  cases  of  civil  complaint,  or  demands,  whether  they  be  plaintiffs  or  defendants. 
 
 “ Sixthly.  All  British-born  subjects  shall  be  subject  to  the  regulations  of  police,  and  to  the  juris- 
 
 1 
 
104 
 
 LAWS  OF  JAVA. 
 
 “ The  Dutch  law  is  directed  by  the  proclamation  of  the  Governor-General  to 
 be  continued ; but,  in  explanation  of  this  law,  it  is  necessary  I should  state,  that  the 
 law  of  Java  is  not  so  much  the  national  law  of  Holland  as  a colonial  law.  The 
 foundation  of  this  law  is  certainly  that  of  the  twelve  tables.  The  civil  law,  or 
 Roman  code,  and  some  of  the  general  laws  of  the  States-General,  are  made  to 
 apply;  but  the  ordinary  statutes,  and  those  which  apply  in  most  instances,  are 
 either  the  statutes  passed  in  Holland,  or  by  the  Supreme  Government  from  time 
 to  time ; these  form  a body  of  regulations  and  laws  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  place, 
 and  if  divested,  as  they  are  now  directed  to  be,  of  cruelty  and  tortm-e,  and  modified 
 in  some  instances  wherein  the  punishment  of  death  may  be  considered  to  exceed 
 the  offence,  perhaps  the  best  that  could  be  de^ised  for  this  place.  Whatever,  there- 
 fore, may  be  necessary  to  be  done  in  this  respect,  should  be  well  considered  and 
 matured.  The  principle  of  the  British  law  is  acted  up  to  in  most  cases,  and  it  is 
 only  in  local  and  provincial  occiui'ences  that  this  principle  can  be  interfered  with. 
 In  many  instances  the  Dutch  law,  as  it  is  termed,  might  be  more  properly  called  the 
 common  law,  and  at  all  events  it  is  from  its  antiquity  and  long  authority  considered 
 through  the  eastward  as  the  law  of  the  land. 
 
 “ In  the  collection  of  the  revenue,  the  obnoxious  system  of  farming  has  been 
 
 diction  of  the  magistrates  charged  with  the  execution  thereof,  and  with  the  maintenance  of  the  peace,  and 
 with  public  tranquillity  and  security. 
 
 “ Seventhly.  All  persons  belonging  to,  or  attached  to  tbe  army,  who  are  by  their  condition  subject  to 
 military  law,  shall  for  the  present  be  tried  for  any  crimes  they  may  commit  only  by  courts  martial,  unless 
 sent  by  the  military  Authorities  to  civil  courts. 
 
 “ Eighthly.  It  being  necessary  in  all  countries  that  a power  should  exist  of  forming  regulations  in  the 
 nature  of  legislative  provisions  adapted  to  change  of  circumstances,  or  to  meet  any  emergency  that  may 
 arise ; and  the  great  distance  of  the  British  authorities  in  Europe  rendering  it  expedient  that  the  said  power 
 should  for  the  present  reside  in  some  accessible  quarter,  it  is  declared  that  tbe  Lieutenant-Governor  shall 
 have  full  power  and  authority  to  pass  such  legislative  regidations  as  on  deliberation,  and  after  due  consul- 
 tation and  advice,  may  appear  to  him  indispensably  necessary,  and  that  they  shall  have  the  full  force  of  law. 
 But  tbe  same  shall  be  immediately  reported  to  the  Governor-General  in  Council  in  Bengal,  together  with 
 the  Lieutenant-Governor’s  reasons  for  passing  the  said  regulation,  and  any  representations  that  may  have 
 been  submitted  to  him  against  the  same  ; and  the  regulations  so  passed  will  be  confirmed  or  disallowed  by 
 the  Governor-General  in  council,  with  tbe  shortest  possible  delay.  The  mode  in  which  the  Lieutenant-Gover- 
 nor shall  be  assisted  with  advice,  will  hereafter  be  made  known ; and  such  regulations  will  hereafter  be 
 framed  as  may  be  thought  more  conducive  to  the  prompt,  pure,  and  impartial  administration  of  justice,  civil 
 and  criminal. 
 
 “ Regulations  respecting  the  paper-currency,  as  well  as  the  relative  value  of  coins  circulating  in  Java, 
 will  be  published  in  a separate  paper  of  this  date. 
 
 “ Done  at  Molenvliet  the  11th  September,  1811. 
 
 “ By  His  Excellency  the  Governor-General  of  British  India. 
 
 (Signed)  “ MINTO.” 
 
FEUDAL  TENURE  OF  LAND. 
 
 105 
 
 abandoned  as  much  as  possible,  and  regular  custom-houses  have  been  established  at 
 Bata\ia,  Samarang,  and  Sourabaya. 
 
 " A system  of  duties  has  been  established,  founded,  in  some  measure,  on  the 
 extent  of  the  duties  heretofore  collected,  and  with  reference  to  the  support  of  the 
 dependant  situations  of  Penang,  Malacca,  Bencoolen,  and  the  Moluccas,  which  sooner 
 or  later  must  fall  under  the  immediate  government  of  this  place,  if  Java  continues 
 a British  settlement.  The  gi*eat  quantity  of  prize  property,  and  particularly  of 
 coffee,  which  still  remains  on  this  island,  renders  any  change  in  the  present  system 
 of  coffee  culture,  as  recommended  by  Lord  Minto,  impracticable ; but  I have  great 
 hopes  that  the  accomplishment  of  the  gi'and  plan  of  amelioration  in  this  and  other 
 respects,  respecting  the  agriculture  and  cultivation  of  this  island,  is  not  far  distant. 
 I have  an  intelligent  committee,  of  which  Colonel  Colin  Mackenzie  has  done  me  the 
 honour  to  be  President,  now  sitting  on  the  eastern  part  of  the  island,  and  fi-om  the 
 result  of  their  labours  I tmst  to  be  possessed  of  such  additional  lights  as  may  lead 
 eventually  to  a complete  change  of  the  present  system  of  landed  property,  without 
 which  little  can  he  expected.  With  the  exception  of  the  estates  in  the  neighbour- 
 hood of  Batavia,  and  of  a few  lately  sold  at  Sourabaya,  the  whole  landed  property 
 in  Java  is  held  on  an  acknowledged  feudal  tenure.  The  Soosoohonan  and  Sultan 
 are  the  lords  paramount  in  their  districts  ; and  although  the  Company  are  literally 
 so  in  the  districts  properly  termed  the  Company’s  provinces,  the  power  is  transferred 
 universally  to  the  Regents,  who  on  condition  of  furnishing  a certain  quota  or  con- 
 tingent of  produce,  and  in  some  cases  of  money,  and  rendering  with  their  people 
 certain  feudal  service  when  required,  are  possessed  of  absolute  authority  within  their 
 respective  districts,  keeping  the  common  people  throughout  in  the  most  abject  state 
 of  vassalage.  A material  change  was  however  effected  with  regard  to  the  Regents 
 by  Marshal  Daendels.  Previous  to  his  organization  of  the  eastern  districts,  the 
 Regents  had  been  supposed  to  hold  their  authority  of  right,  and  their  agreement 
 with  government  was  considered  as  a contract ; but  the  Marshal,  by  a very  laudable 
 stroke  of  policy,  rendered  them  immediately  dependent  on  the  European  govern- 
 ment, by  giving  them  commissions  and  instructions  as  officers  of  government.  This 
 system  has  been  followed  up  by  the  British  government,  and  each  Regent  has 
 received  his  commission,  and  taken  an  oath  of  allegiance  to  his  Britannic  Majesty, 
 and  of  obedience  to  the  government  of  Java. 
 
 “ By  the  next  opportunity  I shall  have  the  satisfaction  of  forwarding  to  the 
 authorities  in  England  several  reports,  from  Dr.  Horsfield  and  other  scientific  gentle- 
 men, on  the  natural  history  of  this  island,  and  as  the  Batarian  Literary  Society 
 have  sohcited  that  I should  take  that  institution  under  the  protection  of  govern- 
 ment, I trust  that  by  uniting  our  efforts  with  those  of  the  Asiatic  Society  in  Bengal, 
 very  considerable  hght  may  be  shortly  thrown  on  science  and  general  knowledge. 
 The  nmnerous  remains  of  Brahminical  stmctures,  in  every  part  of  the  island,  prove, 
 
 p 
 
106 
 
 LETTER  TO  MR.  MARSDEN. 
 
 beyond  a doubt,  that  a colony  of  Hindus  settled  on  this  island  about  the  first  cen- 
 tury of  the  Christian  era ; and  the  materials  of  which  they  are  constructed,  induce 
 the  behef  that  this  colony  must  have  emigi'ated  from  the  Coromandel  Coast. 
 
 “ The  beauty  and  pm*ity  of  these  stmctures  are  entirely  divested  of  that  redun- 
 dancy of  awkward  and  uncouth  ornaments  and  symbols  which  are  found  in  India. 
 The  interests  of  science  and  literature  are  by  no  means  neglected  on  this  island,  and 
 a valuable  and  highly  interesting  stock  of  information  may  be  contemplated.  A very 
 extensive  collection  has  been  made  by  Dr.  Horsfield,  on  account  of  government,  of 
 the  objects  in  the  animal,  vegetable,  and  mineral  kingdoms,  which  are  pecuhar  to  this 
 place ; and  the  museum  at  the  India-house  uill  not  be  forgotten,  as  soon  as  occupa- 
 tions of  a more  pressing  nature  afford  adequate  leism'e  for  an  aiTangement  of  our 
 collections. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  wTote  at  the  time  on  the  same  subject  to  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 From  Mr.  Raffles  to  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 Buitenzorg,  Java,  22d  October,  1812. 
 
 “ In  one  of  your  communications  you  desire  to  receive  infonnation  respecting 
 the  Bohun  Upas,  which  appears  to  have,  of  late,  been  brought  particularly  to  notice. 
 I have  now  the  pleasure  to  transmit  to  you  a full  and  satisfactory  report  on  the 
 subject  by  Dr.  Horsfield,  a gentleman  whose  attention  has  long  been  devoted  to 
 botanical  discoveries  in  the  natural  history  of  this  island. 
 
 “ Interested  as  you  are  in  every  thing  which  concerns  the  fuidher  East,  it  i\ill 
 be  satisfactory  to  you  to  know,  that  by  the  present  opportunity  I have  forwarded  to 
 the  Court  of  Directors  specimens  of  many  of  the  plants  of  Java,  as  well  as  of  many 
 new  animals.  I have  also  fonvarded  to  them  a short  account  of  the  medical  plants 
 of  Java,  as  well  as  a general  mineralogical  account  of  the  island  by  Dr.  Horsfield. 
 
 “ I find  it  difficult  to  procm’e  copies  of  these  papers  for  you,  in  consequence  of 
 the  distress  for  copjfing-clerks ; but  I hope  you  ivill  be  able  to  obtain  the  perusal  of 
 them. 
 
 “ The  Batavian  Society  of  Arts  and  Sciences  is  revmng,  and  I hope  in  another 
 year  the  world  will  be  presented  with  an  additional  volume  of  its  transactions. 
 
 “ I am  collecting  for  you  a variety  of  inscriptions  found  in  different  parts  of 
 Java,  and  in  Madura  and  Bali ; and,  if  possible,  some  of  them  shall  be  sent  by  the 
 present  conveyance.  Drawings  of  all  the  ruined  temples  and  images  are  in  hand, 
 and  it  will  not  be  long  before  I shall  have  it  in  my  power  to  communicate  to  you 
 fully,  after  surveying  the  whole.  Vocabularies  in  the  Javanese,  Madurese,  Bali,  and 
 Bugis  languages  are  already  completed,  and  others  in  hand. 
 
 “ Until  I may  be  able  to  uvite  to  you  more  at  length,  the  enclosed  is  a report 
 of  the  small  district  of  Pagitan,  and  affords  a view  of  the  habits  and  institutions  of 
 some  of  the  Javanese.” 
 
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ACCOUNT  OF  THE  UPAS. 
 
 107 
 
 A short  extract  from  Dr.  Horsfield’s  account  of  tlie  Upas  may  be  interesting : 
 
 “ The  tree  which  produces  the  Upas  poison  grows  in  the  eastern  extremity  of 
 Java  ; it  belongs  to  the  21st  class  of  Linnaeus,  the  Monaecia.  The  male  and  female 
 flowers  are  produced  in  catkins  (cementa)  on  the  same  branch,  at  no  great  distance 
 from  each  other ; the  female  flowers  are  in  general  above  the  male.  The  characters 
 of  the  genus  are : male  flower,  calix  consisting  of  several  scales,  which  are  imbricate ; 
 corol  none  ; stamens,  filaments  many,  very  short,  covered  by  the  scales  of  the  recep- 
 tacle anthers.  The  receptacle  on  which  the  filaments  are  placed  has  a conical  form, 
 abrupt,  somewhat  rounded  above.  Female  flower,  catkins  ovate,  calix  consisting  of 
 a niunber  of  imbricate  scales,  (generally  more  than  in  the  male,)  containing  one 
 flower ; corol,  none ; pistil,  germ  single,  ovate,  erect ; styles,  two,  long,  slender, 
 spreading ; stigmas  simple,  acute ; seed-vessel  an  oblong  drupe,  covered  vrith  the 
 cahx ; seed  an  ovate  nut,  covered  with  one  cell.  This  tree  is  one  of  the  largest  in 
 the  forests  of  Java;  the  stem  is  cyhndrical,  perpendicular,  and  rises,  completely 
 naked,  to  the  height  of  sixty,  seventy,  or  eighty  feet.  Near  the  surface  of  the  ground 
 it  spreads  obliquely,  dividing  into  numerous  broad  appendages,  or  wings ; it  is 
 covered  with  a whitish  bark : near  the  gromid  this  bark  is,  in  old  trees,  more  than 
 an  inch  thick,  and  upon  being  womrded,  jdelds  plentifrdly  the  milky  juice  from  which 
 the  celebrated  poison  is  prepared.  The  sap  is  contained  in  the  tree-bark  (or  cortex.) 
 Tlie  inner  bark  (or  fiber)  of  young  trees  is  employed  by  the  poorer  class  of  people  in 
 making  a coarse  stuff,  which  they  wear  when  working  in  the  fields ; but  persons 
 wearing  this  dress,  on  being  exposed  to  the  rain,  are  affected  with  an  intolerable 
 itching,  which  renders  their  flimsy  covering  almost  insupportable.  The  deleterious 
 quality  of  the  poison  exists  in  the  gum ; the  preparation  of  a poison  from  which  is 
 an  exclusive  art  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  island. 
 
 “ In  clearing  new  grounds  near  the  tree,  the  inhabitants  do  not  like  to  approach 
 it,  as  they  dread  the  cutaneous  emption  which  it  is  knowm  to  produce  when  newly 
 cut  down.  But,  except  when  the  tree  is  largely  wounded,  or  when  it  is  felled,  by 
 which  a large  portion  of  the  juice  is  disengaged,  the  effluvia  of  which  mixing  with  the 
 atmosphere,  affects  the  persons  exposed  to  it  with  the  symptoms  just  mentioned,  the 
 tree  may  be  approached  and  ascended  like  the  other  common  trees  in  the  forests. 
 Like  all  other  trees  in  its  neighbourhood,  it  is  smrounded  by  shrubs  and  plants. 
 
 “ One  of  the  Regents  had  caps,  or  bonnets,  prepared  from  the  inner  bark,  which 
 were  stiffened  in  the  usual  manner  with  rice-water,  and  handsomely  painted,  for  the 
 pm’pose  of  decorating  his  attendants  ; but  they  all  refused  to  wear  them,  asserting 
 that  they  would  cause  their  hair  to  fall  off. 
 
 “ The  following  is  a description  of  the  mode  of  preparing  this  poison.  About 
 eight  ounces  of  the  juice  from  the  tree,  which  had  been  collected  dm'ing  the  preced- 
 ing evening,  and  preserved  in  a joint  of  a bamboo,  was  carefully  strained  in  a bowl. 
 The  sap  of  the  follomng  substances,  which  had  been  finely  gi'ated  and  bruised,  was 
 
 p 2 
 
108 
 
 MODE  OF  PREPARING  THE  UPAS  POISON. 
 
 carefully  expressed  and  poured  into  it ; viz.  aiTun,  ammonium,  common  onion,  and 
 garlic,  each  about  half  a drachm  ; the  same  quantity  of  finely-powdered  black  pepper 
 is  then  added,  and  the  mixtm'e  stirred.  A single  seed  of  the  capsicum  fi'ucticosum  was 
 then  placed  on  the  fluid,  in  the  middle  of  the  bowl ; the  seed  began  to  reel  round 
 rapidly,  now  forming  a regidar  circle,  then  darting  towards  the  margin  of  the  cup, 
 vith  a perceptible  commotion  on  the  smdace  of  the  liquor,  which  continued  one 
 minute.  Being  completely  at  rest,  the  same  quantity  of  pepper  was  again  added, 
 and  another  seed  of  the  capsicum  laid  on  as  before : a similar  commotion  took  place 
 in  the  fluid,  but  in  a less  degree,  and  the  seed  was  carried  round  with  diminished 
 rapidity.  The  addition  of  the  same  quantity  of  pepper  was  repeated  a third  time, 
 when  a seed  of  the  capsicrun  being  carefully  placed  in  the  centre  of  the  fluid, 
 remained  quiet,  forming  a regular  circle  in  the  fluid  resembling  the  halo  of  the 
 moon.  This  is  the  sign  that  the  preparation  of  the  poison  is  complete.” 
 
 The  common  train  of  symptoms,  is  a trembhng  of  the  extremities,  restlessness, 
 erection  of  the  hair,  affection  of  the  bowels,  di'ooping  and  faintness,  slight  spasms 
 and  con^'ulsions,  hasty  breathing,  an  increased  flow  of  sahva,  spasmodic  contractions 
 of  the  pectoral  and  abdominal  muscles,  retching,  vomiting,  gi*eat  agony,  laborious 
 breathing,  violent  and  repeated  convulsions,  death. 
 
 The  action  of  the  Upas  poison  is  directed  chiefly  to  the  vascular  system.  The 
 volume  of  the  blood  is  accumulated  in  a preternatural  degi-ee  in  the  large  vessels  of 
 the  thorax. 
 
 The  circulation  appears  to  be  extracted  from  the  extremities  and  thrown  upon 
 the  viscera  near  its  som'ce.  The  lungs  in  particular  are  stimulated  to  excessive  exer- 
 tions. The  vital  viscera  are  oppressed  by  an  intolerable  load,  which  produces  the 
 symptoms  above  described,  while  in  the  extremities  a proportionate  degree  of  toi-por 
 takes  place,  accompanied  by  tremors,  shiverings,  and  convuilsions. 
 
 The  natives  of  Macasar,  Borneo,  and  the  Eastern  Islands,  when  they  employ  this 
 poison,  make  use  of  an  arrow  of  bamboo,  (to  the  end  of  which  they  attach  a shark’s 
 tooth)  which  they  throw  from  a blow-pipe  or  sompit. 
 
 The  Upas  appears  to  affect  different  quadrupeds  with  nearly  equal  force,  propor- 
 tionate in  some  degree  to  their  size  and  disposition. 
 
 As  soon  as  Mr.  Raffles  could  command  sufficient  leisure  he  \isited  the  Eastern 
 Districts,  and  gave  the  following  short  account  of  his  journey  to  Lord  Minto  : — 
 
 “ I shall  only  say  I was  most  highly  gratified  and  satisfied  "with  every  thing  I 
 saw  ; it  is  impossible  to  conceive  any  thing  more  rich  than  the  country,  both  in  culti- 
 vation and  scenery.  I was  happy  to  perceive  that  between  Samarang  and  Sourabaya 
 neither  the  country  nor  the  establishments  had  suffered  from  the  effects  of  the  expedi- 
 tion, and  that  every  thing  was  going  on  as  if  nothing  had  happened.  I left  BataUa 
 on  the  28th  November,  1811,  and  landed  at  Samarang,  after  a tedious  passage,  on 
 the  4th  December ; from  thence  I visited  Sourabaya  and  Madura  on  my  return,  and 
 
JOURNEY  TO  THE  EASTERN  DISTRICTS. 
 
 109 
 
 reached  Buitenzorg  on  the  1st  of  January.  To  give  an  idea  of  the  high  state  of  the 
 roads,  and  of  the  facility  of  communication  in  every  part  of  the  island,  it  may  be  suffi- 
 cient that  I inform  you,  that  fi'om  Sourabaya  to  Samarang,  200  miles,  I was  only 
 twenty-four  hours  on  the  road,  and  from  thence  to  Buitenzorg  only  two  days  and 
 a half,  and  this  without  any  fatigue.” 
 
CHAPTER  V. 
 
 Expedition  to  Palembang — Arrival  of  the  Troops — Gallantry  of  the  attaek — Horrors  of  the  seene — Colonel 
 Gillespie's  account  of  the  Sultan — Measures  adopted  hy  Colonel  Gillespie — Sultan  of  Djocjocarta — 
 Mr.  Raffles  collects  troops,  and  proceeds  to  Samarang — Account  of  treaties  with  the  Sultan — General 
 confederacy  of  the  native  states — Unexpected  and  fortunate  return  of  Colonel  Gillespie — Assaidtand 
 capture  of  Djocjocarta — European  power  frst  jmramount  in  Java. 
 
 The  apparent  tranquillity  which  followed  the  success  of  the  British  arms  (1812)  was 
 but  of  short  duration.  The  state  of  some  of  the  native  powers  on  Java,  particularly 
 that  of  Djocjocarta,  and  the  proceedings  of  the  Sultan  of  Palembang,  a dependency 
 situated  in  the  island  of  Sumatra,  soon  called  for  prompt  and  decisive  measures,  as 
 uill  be  seen  by  the  following  extract  of  a letter  from  Mr.  Raffles  to  the  Governor- 
 General,  dated  the  7th  March,  1812: 
 
 “ I have  the  honom'  of  reporting  to  your  Lordship,  that  on  the  2d  November 
 last,  finding  that  the  season  of  the  year  afforded  the  probabihty  of  communicating 
 with  Palembang,  I despatched  a commission  to  that  place,  consisting  of  Captain 
 Phillips,  Mr.  Wardenar,*  and  hlr.  Hare,f  for  the  purpose  of  taking  charge  of  the 
 Dutch  factory  there,  in  pursuance  of  the  capitulation,  and  of  delivering  the  same 
 over  to  Lieutenant  Jackson,  whom  I had  appointed  prortsionally  to  act  as  Resident. 
 
 “ From  a perusal  of  the  documents  now  transmitted,  your  Lordship  will  observe, 
 that  the  importance  of  the  island  of  Banca  and  of  the  tin-trade  occupied  at  an  early 
 period  after  your  departure  my  most  serious  attention.  Desirous  of  avoiding  any 
 unnecessary  breach  with  any  of  the  Eastern  chiefs,  I endeavoiued  to  attain  the 
 object  which  government  had  in  riew  by  an  amicable  arrangement,  on  terms  far 
 more  advantageous  and  liberal  to  the  Sultan  of  Palembang  than  he  had  enjoyed 
 under  the  Dutch  government.  The  residency  of  Palembang,  as  a former  depen- 
 dency of  Java,  having  by  right  of  conquest,  and  by  the  express  articles  of  the 
 capitulation,  fallen  under  the  British  dominion,  the  object  of  the  commission  was  to 
 have  this  right  acknowledged  by  the  Sultan,  and  the  privileges  stipulated  by  the 
 
 * Late  Member  of  the  Supreme  Council  of  Batavia, 
 f Appointed  by  Lord  !Minto  Resident  of  Sambas  in  Borneo. 
 
EXPEDITION  TO  PALEMBANG. 
 
 Ill 
 
 former  contracts  transferred  to  the  British  government.  This  being  effected,  it  was 
 intended  to  grant  more  hberal  tenns  than  ever  were  enjoyed  by  the  Sultan,  previous 
 to  the  conquest  of  Java. 
 
 “ The  commission,  however,  instead  of  meeting  with  such  a reception  at  Palem- 
 bang,  as  from  the  nature  of  their  appointment  they  were  entitled  to  expect,  found 
 the  Sultan  not  only  averse  to  acknowledgmg  any  of  the  claims  on  which  this  nego- 
 ciation  was  founded  on  the  part  of  the  British  government,  but  in  such  a disposition 
 as  rendered  all  attempts  to  enter  into  a new  contract  with  him  fruitless  and  abortive. 
 He  not  only  treated  with  a kind  of  ridicule  and  neglect  the  claims  of  the  British 
 government  to  the  contracts  which  subsisted  with  the  former  government  before  the 
 conquest  of  Java,  but  rejected  with  disdain  the  new  terms  which  were  offered  to 
 him.  The  Sultan  altogether  disregarded  the  representations  on  the  part  of  the 
 British  government,  until  he  received  authentic  accounts  of  the  fall  of  Batavia ; and 
 then,  instead  of  listening  to  the  demands  of  my  agents,  Toonkoo  Radin  Mahomet 
 and  Syed  Abu  Bakir,  that  he  should  consider  the  Dutch  property  and  inhabitants  as 
 under  the  protection  of  the  Enghsh,  who  had  conquered  Java  and  all  its  dependen- 
 cies, he  declared  in  a haughty  manner  his  intention  of  maintaining  his  entire  inde- 
 pendence of  any  power  on  earth.  Struck,  however,  by  the  sudden,  and  to  him 
 certainly  unexpected  news,  of  the  complete  conquest  of  Java  by  the  Enghsh,  the 
 Sultan  became  anxious  for  his  future  fate,  and  by  threats  and  force  compelled  my 
 agents  to  sign  and  seal  false  reports,  forged  by  the  Sultan  and  addressed  to  me,  in 
 which  it  was  stated  that  the  Dutch  garrison  had,  agreeably  to  their  request,  been 
 sent  to  Batavia,  and  the  fort  razed  to  the  ground,  long  previous  to  the  attack  upon 
 the  island  of  Java  by  the  British  troops  ; and  to  cover  the  falsehood  of  this  report 
 (on  the  faith  of  wliich  he  had  laid  the  foundation  of  his  future  independence),  he 
 formed  the  diabohcal  plan  of  destroying  every  witness  who  might  hereafter  appear 
 against  him,  sending  the  Dutch  inhabitants  in  small  prows  down  the  river,  where 
 they  were  murdered  by  order  of  the  Sultan,  and  ordering  my  agents  to  appear 
 before  him,  that  they  might  share  the  same  fate. 
 
 “ Considering  all  these  facts,  the  evident  hostile  manner  in  which  the  Sultan 
 behaved  to  the  acknowledged  native  agents  from  the  British  government;  the 
 treacherous  and  barbarous  manner  in  which  he  destroyed  the  property  and  murdered 
 the  presumptive  subjects  of  this  government ; the  arrogant  and  offensive  manner  in 
 which  he  rejected  the  most  liberal  proposition  for  an  amicable  arrangement,  which 
 this  government,  ignorant  of  the  events  which  had  taken  place,  made  to  him  by 
 means  of  the  commission,  and  the  consequent  certainty  therefi'om  that  all  further 
 attempts  for  an  amicable  arrangement  woidd  be  as  vain  in  effect  as  they  would  be 
 mibecoming  in  principle  to  the  character  of  the  British  nation,  it  has  been  left  for 
 me  to  resolve  upon  some  immediate  and  decisive  measm’e,  consistent  with  the  dignity 
 and  interests  of  government. 
 
 1 
 
112 
 
 EXPEDITION  TO  PALEMBANG. 
 
 A commanding  force  under  Colonel  Gillespie  will  embark  in  two  days,  and  I 
 trust,  in  less  than  a month,  that  I may  be  in  possession  of  satisfactory  accounts  of 
 the  result.  I am  aw^are  that  I have  taken  much  responsibihty  on  myself  in  the 
 adoption  of  hostile  measures  against  Palembang,  wthout  previous  reference  to 
 Bengal;  but  so  many  favourable  circumstances  concurred  to  induce  the  measiue, 
 and  so  many  obstacles  in  the  wny  of  its  final  success  appeared  to  present  themselves 
 in  the  event  of  delay,  that  I should  not  have  felt  myself  justified  to  have  lost  the 
 opportunity  of  so  much  larger  a force  than  could  ever  have  been  subsequently  left 
 at  our  command.  In  fact,  the  expedition  must  either  have  taken  place  now  or  been 
 delayed  another  year,  and  this  consideration  of  itself  was  enough  to  outweigh  every 
 objection;  the  passage  to  Palembang  from  Bata^aa  may  at  the  present  season  of  the 
 year  be  effected  in  five  or  six  days,  and  the  returning  voyage  may  be  accomphshed 
 during  the  same  period.  I have  prorisionally  appointed  a Resident  for  Banca,  and  I 
 trust  my  next  letter  will  comimmicate  favourable  intelligence  on  this  point.  There 
 is  one  thing  I have  never  noticed  regarding  Banca,  and  that  is,  the  harboiu  of 
 Klabbat,  stated  to  be  the  most  secure  in  India,  and  capable  of  every  defence — the 
 entrance  to  the  harbour  being  between  tw'o  rocks  or  promontories,  not  half-pistol- 
 shot  from  each  other,  and  a bason  within,  with  fine  bottom  and  deep  w ater,  capable 
 of  containing,  it  is  said,  the  navy  of  England.  It  is  directly  in  the  route  for  our 
 trade  through  the  China  seas,  and  the  situation  of  Minta,  on  winch  it  is  projected 
 to  form  the  first  settlement  in  Banca,  is  perhaps  the  most  commanding  that  could 
 be  chosen  for  the  Eastern  Seas.  If  possible,  I will  forward  more  particulars,  but 
 the  total  w^ant  of  clerks  w^ho  can  copy  English  legibly,  forms  at  present  a serious 
 obstacle  to  the  transmission  of  all  papers.” 
 
 An  expechtion  w^as  accordingly  fitted  out  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
 Gillespie,  who  wns  entinsted  with  the  execution  of  the  rieAvs  of  government,  and 
 wiio  had  the  whole  management  confided  to  his  inchridual  judgment  and  direction. 
 The  fleet  consisted  of  his  Majesty’s  ships  Cornelia,  Captain  Owen;  Bucephalus, 
 Captain  Drury;  sloop  Procris,  Captain  Freeman;  the  Honorable  Company’s  cruizer, 
 Teignmouth,  Captain  Howitson;  Mercury,  Captain  Conyers.  Gun-boats:  schooner 
 Wellington,  Captain  Cromy;  Young  Barracouta,  Captain  Ljmch.  Transports, 
 Samdany,  Minerva,  Matilda,  and  Mary  Ann. 
 
 Captain  Bowen,  of  his  Majesty’s  ship  Phoenix,  meeting  it  at  sea,  took  the  com- 
 mand of  the  fleet  as  senior  officer. 
 
 Troops  embarked. 
 
 Detachment  of  His  Majesty’s  59th  regiment,  three  companies,  rifle  and  flank 
 companies. 
 
 Ditto  89th  regiment,  five  companies. 
 
 Ditto,  Madras  horse-artillery  and  hussars  dismounted. 
 
PASSAGE  OF  THE  EXPEDITION. 
 
 IVi 
 
 Detachment  of  Bengal  artillery ; detail  and  detachment  of  sepoys,  5th  and  6th 
 battalions. 
 
 Ditto,  Amboynese. 
 
 A considerable  number  of  guns  and  military  stores,  intended  for  the  new  set- 
 tlement of  Banca,  were  put  on  board  the  transports. 
 
 Contrary  winds  and  currents,  which  during  the  western  monsoon  are  violent 
 and  unchangeable,  still  maintained  their  influence  at  this  advanced  season,  and  con- 
 siderably retarded  the  progress  of  the  expedition  which  reached  Nanka  Island 
 on  the  3d  of  April,  1812,  where  it  continued  a week  at  anchor.  Tents  were 
 pitched  on  shore,  and  all  the  artificers  were  employed  in  the  completion  of  the 
 boats  intended  for  the  passage  up  the  Palembang  river,  by  constructing  plat- 
 forms for  the  field-pieces,  and  making  coverings  to  shelter  the  troops  as  much  as 
 possible  from  the  burning  violence  of  the  solar  heat,  and  the  inclemency  of  the 
 noctmnal  air. 
 
 The  fleet  was  supplied  with  water  of  a very  good  quality  at  this  island,  which 
 is  covered  with  wood,  and  inhabited  by  bears,  monkies,  and  wild-hogs.  Fish  was  in 
 great  abundance,  and  pirates  frequently  visit  the  place  to  take  in  water  and  fuel. 
 
 The  armament  got  under  weigh  on  the  10th  of  April,  and  came  to  an  anchor 
 on  the  15th  at  noon,  opposite  the  west  channel  of  Palembang  river. 
 
 The  unavoidable  delay  which  the  expedition  experienced,  by  encountering  con- 
 trary winds  and  currents  in  the  straits,  afforded  ample  time  to  the  guilty  Sultan  to 
 prepare  either  for  resistance  or  flight.  With  a view  to  the  latter  course,  he  had  re- 
 moved his  treasure  and  women,  at  a very  early  period,  into  the  interior;  whilst 
 himself  and  his  ministers  sent  message  after  message  to  the  British  Commander, 
 filled  with  expressions  of  respect,  and  framed  with  apparent  candour,  but  hypocritical 
 in  their  language,  and  treacherous  in  their  object. 
 
 The  continuance  of  the  ebb  tide  during  the  whole  of  the  19th  of  April,  obhged 
 the  fleet  to  remain  stationary  till  about  four  in  the  afternoon,  when  a gentle  sea 
 breeze  favouring  its  progress,  enabled  the  flotilla  to  move,  though  it  was  only  for  a 
 short  distance,  as  the  wind  soon  failed,  and  the  flood  tide  being  very  slack,  some  of 
 the  vessels  got  entangled  among  the  branches  of  the  trees  and  bushes,  which  there- 
 fore it  was  necessary  to  cut  away.  At  the  turn  of  the  tide,  which  was  about  six  on 
 the  following  morning,  the  flotilla  came  to  an  anchor. 
 
 In  the  early  part  of  the  day  Pangarang  Sheriff  arrived  from  the  Sultan  of 
 Palembang,  begging  to  know  the  intention  of  the  British  Commander  in  thus  ad- 
 vancing with  such  a force;  to  which  Colonel  Gillespie  returned  for  answer,  that  he 
 must  acquaint  the  Sultan  in  person  with  the  propositions  he  was  entrusted  with  on 
 the  part  of  his  government,  and  the  messenger  returned  immediately. 
 
 At  five  in  the  evening  the  fleet  proceeded  on  its  passage  ; but  the  tide  becoming 
 slacker  every  day  in  proportion  to  its  chstance  from  the  sea,  and  the  wind  being 
 
 Q 
 
114 
 
 ARRIVAL  OF  THE  TROOPS. 
 
 adverse,  it  did  not  gain  above  six  miles  all  night ; the  ebb  tide  occurring  at  six  the 
 next  morning,  the  21st  of  April,  it  anchored  near  the  jimction  of  False  River. 
 
 Another  messenger,  Pangarang  Pranah,  arrived  in  the  morning  from  Palem- 
 bang,  bringing  vith  him  a letter  from  the  Sultan,  to  whom  he  was  related.  In  tliis 
 epistle  the  crafty  monarch  congi-atulated  the  Commander  on  his  andval  in  the 
 river  Soosang,  professing  at  the  same  time  to  be  the  friend  of  the  Enghsh,  the 
 design  of  which  was  too  obrious  to  impose  upon  those  who  were  acquainted  with 
 the  VTiter’s  character.  Colonel  Gillespie  replied  that  he  meant  to  be  at  Palembang 
 in  two  days,  where  he  expected  to  see  the  Sultan,  having  matters  to  disclose  to 
 him  in  person  of  the  greatest  consequence ; and  at  the  same  time  assm'ing  the 
 inhabitants  of  Palembang  of  the  protection  of  the  British  Government.  Before  the 
 ambassador  could  receive  this  reply  in  writing,  another  messenger  arrived  mth  a 
 similar  letter  from  the  Sultan,  requesting  an  immediate  explanation.  Both  the 
 Sultan’s  agents,  therefore,  returned  together,  about  five  in  the  evening ; and  as  soon 
 as  the  tide  permitted,  at  seven,  the  flotilla  got  under  weigh.  At  smi-rise,  on  the  22d 
 April,  the  batteries  at  Borang  were  descried. 
 
 In  the  com'se  of  the  forenoon  Captain  Owen,  of  the  royal  na\y,  with  Major 
 Thorn,  Deputy  Quarter-Master-General,  reconnoitered  the  batteries  and  armed 
 prows  stationed  there,  which  had  been  joined  by  a large  Arab  ship,  armed  for 
 the  occasion,  and  sent  down  fi-om  Palembang  by  the  Sultan  to  add  to  the  defence 
 of  this  post.  These  vessels,  with  the  floating  batteries,  were  moored  across  the  river 
 in  echellon,  raking  with  their  guns  the  whole  length  of  the  passage,  whilst  the 
 numerous  artillery  on  the  three  fixed  batteries  bore  across  on  the  channel  by 
 which  the  advance  was  to  be  made,  thus  enabhng  the  enemy  to  bring  the  fire  of 
 their  guns  almost  to  a ray  on  any  point  in  the  line  of  advance.  Nmnerous  fire- 
 rafts  were  placed  on  the  fi'ont  and  flank  of  the  batteries,  ready  to  be  set  adrift  to 
 fire  the  shipping.  Piles  of  wood  didven  mto  the  river  defended  the  approach  to  the 
 batteries,  in  boats,  whilst  a strong  pahsade  protected  the  rear  and  flanks.  A gi'eat 
 deal  of  bustle  and  activity  was  observable  within  the  several  defences,  which  appeared 
 to  be  fully  manned  and  prepared  for  resistance. 
 
 The  \dolent  rain,  which  lasted  all  the  afternoon,  and  continued  dm*ing  the 
 night,  proved  of  considerable  annoyance,  particularly  to  the  men  who  were  em- 
 barked in  boats.  Great,  indeed,  and  scarcely  to  be  conceived,  was  the  fatigue  the 
 sailors  and  soldiers  had  to  midergo  in  a region  where,  dming  the  day  they  were 
 exposed,  while  employed  in  laborious  rouing,  to  the  rays  of  a bmaiing  sun,  directly 
 under  the  equator,  and  deprived  in  the  night  of  the  refi'eshment  of  sleep. 
 
 But  notwithstanding  the  excessive  hardships  which  all  ranks  and  descriptions 
 of  persons  in  the  service  were  called  to  bear,  and  the  privations  they  had  to  endure, 
 nothing  could  shake  their  resolution  or  abate  their  ardour  in  the  performance  of 
 their  duty. 
 
 7 
 
TAKE  POSSESSION  OF  THE  BATTERIES  AT  BORANG. 
 
 115 
 
 In  the  evening  another  messenger,  named  Pangarang  Martoo  arrived  with  a 
 letter  fi-om  the  Sultan,  importing  that  he  should  be  happy  to  see  his  friend,  the 
 Commander  of  the  expedition,  at  Palembang ; but  requesting  that  he  would  dispense 
 >rtth  so  large  an  armed  force,  and  visit  the  capital  unattended,  being  fearful,  as  he 
 pretended,  that  the  appearance  of  so  many  troops  would  occasion  serious  disturbances 
 among  the  inhabitants  of  Palembang. 
 
 It  was  easy  enough  to  perceive  the  insidious  ch'ift  of  this  proposition ; but  the 
 ti'eachery  of  the  Sultan  had  already  been  too  notorious  to  allow  such  fallacious  decla- 
 rations and  hollow  professions  the  slightest  respect,  or  even  a moment’s  attention. 
 
 Colonel  Gillespie  demanded  of  the  messenger  who  last  arrived,  an  unmolested 
 passage  up  the  river,  and  also  a hostage  as  a security  for  their  good  behaviour  ; to 
 which  Pangarang  Martoo  instantly  assented,  offering  at  the  same  time  to  give 
 possession  of  the  batteries,  and  to  leave  them  entirely  at  the  disposal  of  the  Colonel ; 
 the  ship  that  was  lying  there  w’as  also  to  be  made  use  of  as  the  British  Commander 
 might  please  to  direct.  As  a pledge  of  their  sincerity,  a person  bearing  the  title  of 
 Commandant  of  the  batteries,  and  who  accompanied  the  messenger,  remained  behind 
 for  the  purpose  of  conducting  the  troops  to  Borang. 
 
 The  proper  arrangements  being  made  to  secure  these  objects  on  the  following 
 night  Captain  Meares,  Malay  interpreter  to  the  Commander  of  the  forces,  was 
 directed  to  proceed  to  Borang,  accompanied  by  the  officer  who  had  been  left  as  a 
 hostage,  and  to  demand  a decisive  answer  whether  or  not  they  would  let  the  bat- 
 teries be  taken  possession  of  amicably,  or  whether  they  would  resist  the  passage  of 
 the  flotilla.  No  time  was  allowed  for  equivocation  on  the  part  of  the  Chief  Panga- 
 rang, and  Colonel  Gillespie  followed  close  after,  at  the  head  of  the  small,  but  formid- 
 able array  of  the  British  advance,  composed  of  detachments  of  the  59th  and  89th 
 regiments,  in  light  boats,  supported  by  the  gun-launches  and  field-artillery  in  the 
 flat-boats.  On  their  arrival  at  the  dawn  of  day  within  half-gun-shot  distance  of  the 
 batteries,  the  Pangarang  came  off  with  Captain  Meares,  and  offered  to  deliver  up  the 
 works  with  all  the  other  defences,  which,  in  consequence,  were  immediately  occupied 
 by  the  British  troops.  The  garrison,  terrified  at  their  sudden  approach,  and  unmindful 
 of  the  positive  orders  of  the  Sultan  to  defend  the  passage  to  the  last,  took  themselves 
 to  flight,  and  escaped  in  some  prows  that  had  been  kept  concealed  round  the  eastern 
 part  of  Borang  Island,  and  on  the  western  side  of  Binting  Isle.  All  the  guns  taken, 
 to  the  nmnber  of  one  hundred  and  two,  were  ready  charged  and  primed.  The  large 
 ship  afforded  quarters  for  a great  portion  of  the  soldiers,  but  the  remainder  were 
 placed  in  huts  and  floating  batteries  which  had  coverings. 
 
 In  the  evening  the  troops  were  all  re-embarked,  and  proceeded  on  to  a little 
 distance.  Fires  now  appeared  in  all  directions,  and  several  of  the  rafts  were  set  in 
 flames  by  the  enemy,  with  the  view  of  effecting,  if  possible,  the  destruction  of  the 
 
 Q 2 
 
116 
 
 GALLANTRY  OF  THE  ATTACK. 
 
 shipping,  which  had  not  as  yet  passed  the  batteries  ; but  though  they  were  coming 
 up  at  this  time  (8  p.  m.)  fortunately  the  exertions  of  Captain  Owen  with  the  crews  of 
 the  light  boats  were  successM  in  cutting  the  rafts  asunder  before  they  were  thoroughly 
 in  flames,  by  which  means  a general  conflagration  was  seasonably  prevented.  Several 
 shots  were  fired  from  one  of  the  Cornelia’s  boats  at  the  Malays,  who  were  seen  set- 
 ting fire  to  the  rafts  which  had  the  effect  of  instantly  dispersing  them. 
 
 Early  on  the  following  morning,  the  25th  of  April,  an  Arab  arrived  who  stated 
 himself  to  be  the  owner  of  the  ship  before  mentioned,  and  begging  that  she  might  be 
 restored,  which  request  was  granted.  He  brought  information  that  the  Sultan 
 immediately  fled  from  Palembang  on  learning  that  the  defences  at  Borang,  which  had 
 been  considered  such  a formidable  barrier,  no  longer  obstructed  the  farther  progress 
 of  the  British  troops. 
 
 Colonel  Gillespie,  on  hearing  this,  detennined  to  push  forward  with  the  light 
 boats ; and  whilst  making  this  arrangement  another  Arab  amved,  the  Pangarang 
 Sheriff,  who  confirmed  the  account  of  the  Sultan’s  flight ; adding  the  afflicting  intelli- 
 gence, that  the  greatest  confusion,  plunder,  and  assassination  prevailed,  not  only 
 within  the  interior  of  the  fort  and  palace,  but  in  many  parts  of  the  city.  Upon  this 
 Colonel  Gillespie  resolved  to  lose  not  a moment,  but  to  hasten  by  the  quickest  pos- 
 sible manner  to  put  a stop  to  this  scene  of  horror,  and  by  his  immediate  presence 
 prevent  the  execution  of  the  massacre,  which  it  was  reported  the  Sultan’s  adherents 
 meditated  to  perpetrate  the  very  next  night  upon  the  wealthy  Chinese  and  other 
 inhabitants,  whose  property  was  to  become  the  prize  of  the  assassins. 
 
 The  Colonel,  therefore,  proceeded  instantly  with  the  Ai*ab  chief  in  his  canoe, 
 accompanied  by  Captain  Meares  and  Mr.  Villneruhy,  a Spanish  gentleman,  who 
 acted  as  Malay  inteiq)reters.  In  that  and  another  small  canoe  which  accompanied 
 them,  were  distributed  seven  grenadiers  of  the  59th  regiment ; and  these  were  fol- 
 lowed by  Captain  Bowen,  of  the  Royal  Navy ; Major  Butler,  Deputy  Adjutant-General ; 
 and  Major  Thorn,  Deputy  Quarter-Master-General,  in  the  gig  belonging  to  the  Phoenix, 
 and  ten  more  grenadiers  of  the  same  regiment,  in  the  barge  of  the  same  ship,  \vith 
 Lieutenant  Monday,  R.  N.,  and  Lieutenant  Forrest,  of  the  59th  ; the  remaining  troops, 
 under  Lieutenant-Colonel  jVPLeod,  having  orders  to  follow  Avith  all  possible  speed. 
 The  distance  was  twenty  miles,  so  that  it  was  dark  w'hen  the  party  arrived  at  Old 
 Palembang.  The  canoes,  in  one  of  which  the  Colonel  was,  had  gained  much  on  the 
 other  two  boats,  and  were  now  completely  out  of  sight,  when  the  report  of  a signal- 
 gun,  fired  by  the  enemy,  not  a little  alarmed  them,  and  increased  the  anxiety  for  the 
 rest  of  the  party ; the  more  so,  as  every  thing  around  tended  to  excite  suspicion  of 
 some  treacherous  design  being  in  agitation.  A di'eadful  yell  and  shrieking  in  all 
 directions  was  next  heard,  and  lights  and  conflagrations  were  seen  throughout  the 
 whole  extent  of  this  large  tract  of  population,  which  stretched  along  both  banks  of 
 
HORRORS  OF  THE  SCENE, 
 
 117 
 
 the  river  for  upwards  of  seven  miles.  By  the  redoubled  exertions  of  the  crews,  the 
 boats  in  the  rear  were  soon  brought  up  to  the  support  of  the  little  band,  and  thus 
 happily  formed  in  time  an  important  junction. 
 
 To  paint  the  horrors  of  the  scene  that  presented  itself  in  their  true  colours,  or 
 to  attempt  an  expression  of  the  sensations  it  was  calculated  to  excite,  would  be  a diffi- 
 cult task ; and  the  undaunted  act  which  gained  the  possession  of  the  fort,  the  palace, 
 and  its  batteries,  may  be  credited  when  the  name  of  the  leader  is  recollected.  Un- 
 dismayed in  the  face  of  numerous  bodies  of  armed  men.  Colonel  Gillespie  boldly 
 stepped  on  shore,  at  eight  o’clock  at  night,  and  with  those  who  had  accompanied 
 him  in  the  canoe,  and  the  seven  grenadiers,  he  marched,  with  a firm  step,  through  a 
 multitude  of  Ai'abs  and  treacherous  Malays,  whose  missile  weapons,  steeped  in 
 poison,  ghmmered  by  the  light  of  torches. 
 
 Huge  battlements,  "with  immense  gates,  leading  from  one  area  to  another,  pre- 
 sented the  fr-ightful  spectacle  of  human  blood  stiU  reeking  and  flowing  on  the  pave- 
 ment. The  massive  gates  closed  upon  the  rear,  and  the  blood-stained  court-yards 
 through  which  the  party  were  conducted,  appeared  as  if  they  were  the  passage  to  a 
 slaughter-house. 
 
 A Malay,  who  had  pressed  through  the  crowd,  approached  the  Colonel,  and  was 
 walking  by  his  side,  when  a large  double-edged  knife  was  secretly  put  into  his  hands 
 by  one  of  his  countrymen.  It  was  a dark  stormy  night,  and  a ray  of  lightening,  at  the 
 very  instant  when  the  man  was  pushing  the  knife  up  his  long  loose  sleeve  to  conceal  it, 
 discovered  the  weapon.  The  Colonel’s  eye  caught  the  object,  and  instantly  tm'ning 
 round,  he  had  the  fellow  seized,  totally  regardless  of  the  crowd ; thus  fortunately 
 fmstrating,  by  his  firmness,  the  murderous  design.  The  weapon  was  found  as 
 described ; but  the  man  contrived  to  steal  away  in  the  crowd,  and  escaped. 
 
 The  palace  exhibited  a melancholy  picture  of  devastation  and  cruelty.  Murder 
 had  been  succeeded  by  rapine ; and  while  the  place  was  completely  ransacked,  the 
 pavements  and  floors  were  clotted  with  blood.  In  every  direction  spectacles  of  woe 
 caught  the  sight,  and  were  rendered  pecuharly  awful  by  the  glare  of  the  suiTounding 
 conflagration,  accompanied  by  \ivid  flashes  of  lightening,  and  loud  peals  of  thunder. 
 
 The  flames,  which  continued  to  spread  destruction,  notwithstanding  the  rain  that 
 poured  down  in  torrents,  had  reached  the  outer  buildings  of  the  palace,  and  threat- 
 ened the  part  where  the  Colonel,  with  his  party,  had  taken  up  their  temporary  abode. 
 The  crackhng  of  bamboos,  resembhng  the  discharge  of  musquetry ; the  tumbling  in 
 of  burning  roofs  with  a tremendous  crash  ; the  near  approach  of  the  fire,  in  the  midst 
 of  an  immense  hostile  multitude  and  assassins ; altogether  gave  to  their  situation  a 
 most  appalling  prospect. 
 
 The  little  band,  consisting  only  of  seventeen  British  grenadiers,  vrith  the  officers 
 naval  and  mihtary  already  mentioned,  and  a few  seamen  belonging  to  the  gig  and 
 barge,  had  to  secure  possession  of  the  fort,  and  to  provide  for  their  safety,  in  the 
 
118 
 
 COLONEL  GILLESPIE’S  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  DEPOSED  SULTAN. 
 
 detemiined  resolution  of  selling  their  lives  dearly,  should  any  attack  be  made  before 
 the  arrival  of  reinforcements.  Ha^■ing  carefidly  reconnoiti'ed  by  the  hght  of  torches 
 the  interior  of  the  palace  court,  and  ordered  all  the  entrances  except  one  to  be  shut 
 and  barricadoed.  Colonel  Gillespie  stationed  the  gi'enadiers  at  the  principal  entrance, 
 and  the  strictest  guard  was  kept  up.  Soon  after  midnight  they  had  the  satisfaction 
 of  hailing  the  welcome  arrival  of  Major  Trench,  with  about  sixty  men  of  the  89th 
 regiment ; and  the  remaining  part  of  the  ordered  advance,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel 
 McLeod,  joined  the  little  ganison  early  the  next  morning. 
 
 Thus  an  act  of  daring  enterprise,  conceived  with  judgment  and  executed  with 
 intrepidity,  gained  possession  of  the  fort  and  batteries  defended  by  two  hundred  and 
 forty-tw'o  pieces  of  cannon,  without  the  loss  of  a man.  This  formidable  position 
 could  not  have  been  canied  under  any  other  circumstances  of  attack,  but  by  the 
 sacrifice  of  many  hves,  and  by  hazarding  altogether  the  safety  of  the  little  annament. 
 
 The  rapidity  of  the  movement,  and  the  sudden  and  unexpected  arrival  of  the 
 few  British  at  that  late  hour  in  the  evening,  w^hose  numbers  were  greatly  magnified 
 by  the  panic  which  seized  the  foe,  caused  the  immediate  dispersion  of  the  Sultan’s 
 adherents,  who  fled  in  confusion,  and  thus  reheved  the  towm  from  the  miseries  with 
 w^hich  it  w as  threatened,  of  plunder  and  destruction.  An  American,  w^ho  was  the 
 supercargo  of  a large  Chinese  junk  then  lying  at  Palembang,  gave  a melancholy 
 description  of  the  fate  with  which  they  were  threatened,  and  w'hich  w'ould  have 
 burst  on  them  that  very  night,  had  the  English  not  arrived  in  time  to  prevent  it. 
 This  junk,  with  all  on  board,  had  in  fact  been  marked  out  as  the  first  victims. 
 
 The  measm'es  taken  to  restore  order  and  maintain  tranquilhty  were  so  effectual, 
 that  the  inhabitants  assiuned  confidence,  and  many  wLo  had  fled  into  the  w^oods 
 returned  to  their  homes.  The  gi*eat  body  of  the  people  w^ere  pleased  at  the  change, 
 and  rejoiced  in  being  relieved  from  the  tjTanny  of  the  Sultan,  w^hich  seemed  to  have 
 attained  its  height. 
 
 The  following  report  made  to  the  Lieutenant-Governor  by  Colonel  Gillespie, 
 when  at  Palembang,  of  the  atrocious  conduct  of  the  deposed  Sultan,  is  given  at 
 length  for  the  purpose  of  shewing  the  strong  appeal  made  on  the  ground  of  huma- 
 nity to  the  British  government  to  intei-pose  in  putting  a stop  to  the  dreadful  scenes 
 of  cruelty  and  oppression  wiiich  w^ere  daily  occuning. 
 
 To  the  Honourable  T.  S.  Raffles,  Lieutenant-Governor,  Sfc. 
 
 “ Honourable  Sir, 
 
 “ As  I have  been  lately  employed  in  acquiring  every  infonnation  connected 
 with  the  barbarous  and  cmel  murder  of  the  Dutch  factory  and  garrison  at  Palem- 
 bang, I have  defeired  the  transmission  of  any  official  report  to  you  upon  this  melan- 
 choly subject,  until  I should  have  obtained  the  most  accurate  knowledge  of  all  the 
 
CRUELTIES  OF  PANGERANG  RATOO. 
 
 119 
 
 particulars,  that  the  atrocity  of  the  transactions  enabled  me  to  collect.  In  my 
 inquiries,  I have  been  occasionally  so  bewildered  by  falsehood,  guilt,  and  prevarica- 
 tions, that  I have  experienced  considerable  difficulty  in  selecting  the  evidences  most 
 worthy  of  attention.  The  choice,  however,  has  been  made  with  the  greatest  care, 
 and  I imagine  the  circumstances  which  I shall  now  relate  to  you,  may  be  considered 
 in  every  way  deserving  of  belief. 
 
 You  are  not  ignorant  that  Pangerang  Ratoo,  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  Sultan, 
 is  one  of  the  most  abominable  and  unprincipled  villains  that  ever  disgraced  humanity. 
 The  crimes  committed  by  this  barbarous  and  sanguinary  assassin,  since  the  period 
 he  has  been  enabled  to  indulge  his  abandoned  inclinations,  have  been  distinguished 
 by  circumstances  of  such  aggravated  cruelty  and  guilt,  that  the  inhabitants  of  the 
 kingdom  have  beheld  him  with  one  common  sentiment  of  horror,  hatred,  and  indig- 
 nation. It  is  to  the  crimes  of  this  iniquitous  monster  that  the  massacre  of  the 
 Dutch  may  originally  be  attributed;  to  the  indulgence  of  his  vicious  propensities 
 that  his  father  is  now  indebted  for  banishment  and  degradation. 
 
 “ Among  other  pursuits  that  were  followed  by  him  with  great  avidity,  was  that 
 of  spearing  the  unhappy  and  defenceless  wretches  whom  he  accidentally  encountered 
 in  his  lawless  excursions,  or  of  sacrificing  their  wives  and  daughters  to  his  aban- 
 doned cmelty  and  passions.  In  one  of  these  infamous  adventures  he  became  ena- 
 moured of  a Chinese  woman,  whom  he  was  determined  to  obtain ; and,  lest  he 
 should  fail  in  support  of  his  dark  and  diabohcal  character,  he  resolved  on  com- 
 pelhng  the  unfortunate  husband  to  assist  in  the  completion  of  his  wife’s  dishonour. 
 The  refinement  thus  exercised  upon  cruelty  and  rapine  was  more  than  the  mifortu- 
 nate  husband  could  sustain  without  complaint.  He  knew  himself  to  be  in  the 
 neighbourhood  of  the  Dutch  garrison,  and  called  loudly  from  his  house  for  protec- 
 tion and  assistance.  An  armed  party  was  detached  to  his  aid,  and  pursued  the 
 Pangerang  Ratoo  to  his  prow  on  the  river,  without  being  sensible  of  the  dignity  they 
 were  so  successfully  routing ; the  discovery  of  this  unpleasant  truth  was  made  by 
 himself  before  their  separation.  The  boat  was  moored  several  yards  from  the  shore, 
 and  in  consequence  he  was  compelled  to  swim  a considerable  distance  before  his 
 escape  was  complete.  No  sooner,  however,  had  he  gained  his  canoe  than  he  turned 
 to  his  pursuers,  and  cried  with  the  most  callous  effrontery,  ‘ you  are  ignorant,’  said 
 he,  ' of  the  influence  and  power  you  have  so  audaciously  defied ; know,  to  your 
 confusion,  that  it  is  the  Pangerang  Ratoo  himself,  and  rest  assured  that  in  three 
 days  you  shall  all  of  you  be  murdered,  and  your  present  habitations  rendered  such  a 
 scene  of  desolation,  that  they  shall  only  be  fit  for  birds  to  build  their  nests  on.’ 
 
 “ The  accomplishment  of  this  barbarous  piu'pose  was  too  successfrdly  realized 
 within  the  period  specified  by  the  Pangerang  Ratoo.  A message  was  sent  to  the 
 Resident,  the  Commandant,  and  principal  officers  of  the  garrison,  in  which  the 
 Sultan  requested  them  to  appear  in  his  presence  for  the  transaction  of  some  im- 
 
1-20 
 
 CRUELTIES  OF  PANGERANG  RATOO. 
 
 portant  business.  The  designing  cowards  took  advantage  of  this  treacherous 
 manoeu^Te  to  introduce  within  the  walls  of  the  fort  a multitude  of  anned  Malays, 
 as  the  followers  of  the  great  men  who  brought  the  message  fi'om  the  Sultan. 
 
 Tlie  unwar\'  and  confiding  Dutchmen,  unsuspicious  of  ertl  intentions,  were 
 speedily  sun-ounded  without  the  hope  of  escape ; the  guns  were  all  seized  by  parties 
 on  the  ramparts,  and  the  unfortimate  ganison  were  dragged  to  a scene  of  cold- 
 blooded cruelty,  which  can  never  be  contemplated  but  ^^*ith  sentiments  of  hoiTor  and 
 abhon-ence,  proportioned  to  the  enormity  of  such  unmerited  and  unprovoked 
 violence. 
 
 “ Among  the  agents  and  instiaiments  of  this  sanguinary  transaction,  there  is  no 
 character  so  remarkably  prominent  as  that  of  Tmnugung  Lonong,  the  principal 
 magistrate  of  the  town.  He  was  not  only  the  harbinger  of  treachery  and  deceit  in 
 the  first  instance,  but  he  was  subsequently  the  promoter  of  the  Sultan’s  cruelty,  and 
 his  adviser  to  destroy  the  fort,  and  leave  no  vestige  of  Dutch  property  remaining 
 in  Palembang,  in  order  that  they  might  for  ever  be  exempted  fi'om  an  alhance  \\fith 
 European  nations. 
 
 “ In  considering  the  choice  of  an  ambassador  to  our  government,  I cannot  suf- 
 ficiently express  my  astonishment  at  the  boldness  and  audacity  of  the  Sultan,  who 
 selected  this  infamous  assassin  as  his  agent  and  representative  on  Java. 
 
 The  very  countenance  of  the  rillain  betrays  the  guilt  of  which  he  is  capable, 
 and  the  unwearied  obstinacy  with  which,  in  spite  of  every  proof,  he  denied  all 
 knowledge  of  the  transaction,  proclaims  him,  in  my  opinion,  to  have  been  deeply 
 involved  in  the  commission  of  the  murder,  and  clearly  meriting  the  most  exemplary 
 punishment.  I have,  therefore,  stipulated  most  expressly  wth  Adipattie,  that  all 
 the  promoters  and  abettors  of  this  inhmnan  massacre  shall  be  treated  with  great 
 severity ; that  their  property  shall  be  sequestered  the  moment  they  are  known,  and 
 a portion  of  it  laid  aside  for  the  support  of  the  ^rives  and  oi*phans  who  have  been 
 so  cruelly  deprived  of  their  natural  protectors. 
 
 “ There  was  one  European  woman  among  the  imhappy  rictims  thus  sacrificed 
 by  the  Sultan.  She  was  embarked  on  the  boats,  and  after  suffering  every  riolence 
 and  pollution  her  abandoned  murderers  were  capable  of  offering  her,  she  was  in- 
 humanly butchered  and  throwi  into  the  river  vith  the  rest  of  the  ganison. 
 
 The  remaining  women  were  sent  as  slaves  up  the  country,  and  the  relation 
 of  distress,  stan  ation,  and  misery  they  encomitered  in  their  bondage,  is  calculated 
 to  excite  such  sentiments  of  horror  and  indignation  against  the  whole  race,  that  at 
 times  I can  with  difficulty  hold  intercourse  \rith  people  allied  to  such  monsters  of 
 bai'barity. 
 
 “ There  was  no  punishment  too  severe,  no  persecution  too  considerable,  no 
 degradation  too  humiliating  for  these  unhappy  women.  The  Resident’s  ^rife  was  ^ 
 pregnant  at  the  time  of  her  seizure,  and  although  I should  consider  few  men  capable 
 
MEASURES  ADOPTED  BY  COLONEL  GILLESPIE. 
 
 121 
 
 of  refusing  pity  and  assistance  to  women  thus  situated,  they  were  unmindful  of  her 
 claims  to  compassion,  and  they  left  her  in  the  jungle  without  nourishment,  support, 
 or  shelter. 
 
 “To  detail  the  various  miseries  they  suffered  in  slavery  would  occupy  more 
 time  than  I have  at  present  in  my  power  to  bestow ; their  food  was  always  precarious, 
 and  during  months  they  lived  on  beetle-nut,  on  the  refuse  of  the  dunghill ; in  short, 
 there  was  no  refinement  of  oppression  to  which  they  were  not  subjected  by  this 
 despotic  tyrant. 
 
 “ Their  joy  on  emancipation  is  proportioned  to  the  severity  of  their  former 
 sufferings,  and  their  gi’atitude  to  the  government  is  animated  and  sincere.  Except 
 the  one  previously  specified,  they  are  nearly  all  of  them  under  my  protection,  and 
 I shall  take  the  earliest  opportunity  of  either  forwarding  them  to  their  friends  on 
 Java,  or  permit  them  to  remain  on  the  Island  of  Banca  until  some  further  arrange- 
 ments may  be  made  respecting  them. 
 
 “ I have  endeavoured  to  ascertain,  as  correctly  as  I can,  the  primitive  source 
 of  the  Sultan’s  inhumanity,  which  is  clearly  to  be  attributed  to  the  unbounded  indul- 
 gence he  has  always  bestowed  on  the  vices  of  his  son.  He  appears  to  have  tole- 
 rated him  in  the  pursuit  of  every  evil,  and  protected  him  in  the  accomplishment  of 
 every  object  to  which  his  unruly  passions  or  violent  inclinations  hurried  him  forward, 
 and  to  have  been  but  an  instrument  for  the  protection  of  his  son’s  wickedness.  He 
 has  discovered  too  late,  by  his  own  overthrow,  the  melancholy  consequences  that 
 ought  always  to  attend  so  unprincipled  a departure  from  every  sacred  law  and 
 moral  obligation.” 
 
 On  the  29th  May,  Colonel  Gillespie  made  his  final  report  of  the  ulterior  mea- 
 sures adopted  by  him,  in  placing  Sultan  Ratoo  Ahmed  Nujm-ood-deen  on  the  throne 
 in  the  room  of  his  brother,  Mahmud  Badruddin,  who  had  been  deposed : 
 
 “ The  British  troops  were  paraded  from  the  wharf  to  the  hall  of  state,  and  sur- 
 rounded at  a distance  the  throne  of  the  Sultan.  The  flag  of  the  kingdom  was 
 saluted  with  twenty-one  guns,  and  no  mark  of  public  attention  was  omitted  that 
 could  possibly  testify  my  confidence  and  respect.  The  Sultan  himself  was  much 
 affected  dming  the  progress  of  the  ceremony,  and  he  was  attended  by  an  immense 
 concom'se  of  people,  who  appeared  sincerely  to  rejoice  at  his  unexpected  good  for- 
 tune. When  he  was  seated  upon  the  throne,  the  British  officers  passed  in  succession 
 to  pay  him  their  respects,  and  they  were  followed  by  numbers  of  his  subjects,  who 
 ried  with  each  other  in  testifying  their  attachment  and  fidelity. 
 
 “ I shall  have  the  honour  to  forward  to  you  all  the  pubhc  documents  that 
 w'ere  either  proclaimed  or  ratified  upon  this  important  occasion.  You  will  see  by 
 the  stipulations  of  the  treaty,  how  completely  they  have  been  dictated  with  a view 
 to  om  interests,  and  you  will  perceive  that  the  cession  of  Banca  and  Billiton  is 
 unhmited  and  complete. 
 
122 
 
 GENERAL  ORDERS. 
 
 “ Although  the  Sultan  was  considerably  disappointed  at  the  failure  of  his 
 wishes  respectmg  the  British  force,  I had  the  satisfaction  to  leave  him  in  the  most 
 confident  assurance  of  his  safety  and  strength.  He  expressed  the  most  lively  and 
 grateful  sense  of  all  the  benefits  that  had  been  conferred  upon  him  by  the  British 
 government,  promised  faithfully  to  use  every  exertion  for  the  recovery  of  the 
 Sultan’s  treasures,  and  assured  me  the  half  of  them  should  instantly  be  forwarded  to 
 Batavia  according  to  a stipulation  in  the  treaty  between  himself  and  the  East  India 
 Company. 
 
 “ In  establishing  the  British  authority  at  Minto  (previously  called  Minta  by 
 the  natives)  I declared  the  Island  of  Banca  to  be  named  after  his  Royal  Highness 
 the  Duke  of  York;  the  capital  town  after  the  Right  Hon.  the  Governor-General  of 
 all  India ; and  the  fort  now  building  there  after  his  Excellency  the  Commander-in- 
 Chief. 
 
 “ Your’s,  &c. 
 
 “ Robert  Rollo  Gillespie.” 
 
 The  general  orders  express  the  feehng  entertained  by  Mr.  Raffles  of  Colonel 
 Gillespie’s  service  in  this  affair. 
 
 Samarang,  June  Gth,  1812. 
 
 “ The  Lieutenant-Governor  is  happy  to  congratulate  Colonel  Gillespie  on  his 
 return  to  Java,  and  on  the  full  accomplishment  of  the  objects  of  the  late  expedition. 
 
 “ The  successful  termination  of  these  operations,  in  a manner  so  highly  benefi- 
 cial to  the  interests  of  humanity,  and  to  the  security  and  adv^antage  of  the  British 
 possessions  in  those  seas,  must  be  entirely  attributed  to  the  prompt,  judicious,  and 
 politic  measures  adopted  under  the  personal  direction  of  the  Commander  of  the 
 Forces.  And  although  the  applause  so  justly  due  on  this  occasion  may  rather  fall 
 within  the  province  of  a higher  authority,  to  whom  the  proceedings  will  be  submitted, 
 it  is  gratifying  to  the  Lieutenant-Governor  that  he  is  not  precluded  from  bearing 
 pubhc  testimony  to  the  services  which  have  been  rendered,  nor  of  expressing  his 
 admiration  of  the  superior  talent  and  character  which  have  been  so  conspicuous 
 throughout. 
 
 “ The  Lieutenant-Governor  requests  Colonel  Gillespie  will  accept  his  best 
 thanks  for  the  zeal,  ability,  and  precision  with  which  the  service  has  been  executed : 
 and  in  recording  his  entire  approbation  and  unreserv'ed  confirmation  of  the  whole  of 
 the  arrangements  made  for  the  future  security  and  advantage  of  the  British  interests, 
 the  Lieutenant-Governor  is  satisfied  that  he  only  anticipates  the  sentiments  of  the 
 Supreme  Governor. 
 
 “ By  order  of  the  Lieutenant-Governor, 
 
 (Signed)  “ J.  Eckford, 
 
 “ Acting  Secretary.” 
 
MR.  RAFFLES  COLLECTS  TROOPS,  AND  PROCEEDS  TO  SAMARANG.  123 
 
 The  following  is  an  extract  from  Captain  Traver’s  Journal  at  the  time. 
 
 “ The  native  courts  of  Djocjocartaand  Souracarta  became  troublesome  soon  after 
 the  establishment  of  the  British  power  in  Java,  and  Mr.  Raffles  determined  on  visiting 
 them  for  the  purpose  of  satisfying  himself  as  to  the  merits  of  the  complaints  then 
 made,  and  to  enquire  into  the  abuses  which  were  known  to  exist.  The  distance  was 
 considerable,  but  his  own  personal  convenience  he  never  considered.  The  rapidity 
 with  which  he  travelled  exceeded  any  thing  ever  known  on  the  island  before.  The 
 average  rate  was  more  than  twelve  miles  per  hour.  Unfortunately  he  was  but  badly 
 recompensed  for  the  exertion,  as  the  arrangements  he  then  made,  and  the  tranquilhty 
 he  established,  were  but  of  short  duration,  as  a reference  to  the  records  of  govern- 
 ment will  shew.  Immediately  after  his  return  from  the  native  courts  he  planned  an 
 expedition  against  Palembang,  to  punish  the  Sultan  for  a most  barbarous  act  of 
 treachery  and  cruelty  in  murdering  all  the  Dutch  residents  there,  the  moment  that 
 intelhgence  reached  them  of  the  capture  of  Java  by  the  English. 
 
 After  the  expedition  to  Palembang  had  sailed,  Mr.  Raffles’  attention  was  again 
 directed  to  the  courts  of  Djocjocarta  and  Souracarta,  where  disturbances  were  recom- 
 mencing, particularly  at  the  former  place,  and  he,  in  consequence,  determined  on 
 proceeding  to  Samarang,  when  he  took  his  family  with  him.  On  his  arrival  at  Sa- 
 marang  he  obtained  such  information  as  led  him  to  suppose  that  it  would  be  difflcult 
 to  bring  the  Sultan  of  Djocjocarta  to  pacific  terms.  He  accordingly  deemed  it  prudent 
 to  collect  such  a force  in  the  neighbourhood  as  would  enable  him  to  dictate  such 
 terms  as  he  deemed  advisable  for  the  safety  of  the  Island. 
 
 At  the  time  these  operations  were  carrying  on,  Mr.  Raffles  was  availing  him- 
 self of  every  opportunity  of  gaining  local  knowledge.  The  native  chiefs  were  con- 
 stant guests  at  his  table,  and  there  was  not  a moment  of  his  time  which  he  did  not 
 contrive  to  devote  to  some  useful  purpose.  The  only  recreation  he  ever  indulged  in, 
 and  that  was  absolutely  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  his  health,  was  an  evening 
 drive,  and  occasionally  a ride  in  the  morning.  He  was  not,  however,  at  this  time  an 
 early  riser,  owing  to  his  often  writing  till  a very  late  horn  at  night.  He  was  moderate 
 at  table,  but  so  full  of  life  and  spirits,  that  on  public  occasions  he  would  often  sit 
 much  longer  than  agreed  with  him.  In  general  the  hour  for  dinner  was  four  o’clock, 
 which  enabled  the  party  to  take  a drive  in  the  evening ; but  on  all  pubhc  days,  and 
 when  the  party  was  large,  dinner  was  at  seven  o’clock.  At  Samarang  the  society  of 
 course  was  small  in  comparison  with  Batavia,  but  on  pubhc  occasions  sixty  and  eighty 
 were  often  assembled  at  the  Government-house,  and  at  balls  from  150  to  180.  Mr. 
 Raffles  never  retired  early,  always  remained  till  after  supper,  was  affable,  animated, 
 agreeable  and  attentive  to  all,  and  never  seemed  fatigued,  although  perhaps  at  his 
 desk  all  the  morning,  and  on  the  following  day  would  be  at  business  at  ten  o’clock. 
 In  conducting  the  detail  of  government,  and  giving  his  orders  to  those  immediately 
 connected  with  his  own  office,  his  manner  was  most  pleasing,  mild,  yet  firm ; he 
 
 R 2 
 
12i 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  RETURN  TO  BATAVIA. 
 
 quickly  formed  his  decision,  and  gave  his  orders  with  a clearness  and  perspicuity 
 which  was  most  satisfactory  to  every  one  connected  A\ith  him ; he  was  ever  cour- 
 teous and  kind,  easy  of  access  at  all  times,  exacting  but  little  from  his  staff,  who  were 
 most  devotedly  attached  to  him.  The  generosity  of  his  disposition,  and  the  liberahty 
 of  his  sentiments,  were  most  conspicuous  and  universally  acknowledged. 
 
 “ As  a pubhc  servant,  no  man  could  apply  himself  with  more  zeal  and  attention 
 to  the  arduous  duties  of  his  office.  He  never  allowed  himself  the  least  relaxation, 
 and  was  ever  alert  in  the  discharge  of  the  important  tmst  committed  to  him  ; and  it 
 is  astonishing  how  long  his  health  continued  good  mider  such  great  exertions  both  of 
 mind  and  body. 
 
 “ 'W'hilst  remaining  at  Samarang,  a fleet  aiTived  at  BataHa  from  England,  bound 
 to  China,  and  at  the  same  time  a vessel  was  reported  ready  to  sail  from  thence  to 
 Batavia,  which  detennined  iMr.  Raffles  on  proceeding  there  without  delay,  to  receive 
 the  despatches  ; on  which  occasion,  Mr.  Assey,  Secretary  to  Government,  and  myself, 
 accompanied  him.  We  embarked  on  board  a small  vessel,  the  Hamston,  and  had 
 a very  quick  passage  of  only  seventy-two  hours  ; dming  which  time  he  di'ew  up  the 
 Report  on  the  capture  of  Djocjocarta,  entering  into  a full  and  clear  account  of  the 
 circumstances  which  rendered  this  measure  absolutely  necessary  for  the  preservation 
 of  peace  on  the  Island.  We  landed  at  seven  o’clock  in  the  evening,  when  a gi*and 
 pubhc  ball  was  given  at  WeltervTeeden,  to  celebrate  the  anniversary  of  the  Prince 
 Regent’s  birth-day.  At  this  entertainment  Mr.  Raffles,  to  the  astonishment  of  all 
 present,  attended,  as  it  was  supposed  he  was  at  Samarang.  He  was  the  life  and 
 spirit  of  the  entertainment.  Not  less  than  three  hundi'ed  persons  were  assembled ; 
 and,  indeed,  on  all  similar  occasions,  which  were  always  duly  celebrated  under  Mr. 
 Raffles’  government,  he  contributed  greatly  to  promote  and  encourage  the  gaiety  and 
 amusement  of  the  party.  After  remaining  a short  time,  he  returned  overland  to 
 Samarang,  where  he  was  most  actively  employed  in  completing  the  anangement 
 attendant  on  the  capture  of  Djocjocarta,  which  of  course  brought  an  accession  of 
 territory  to  the  Government,  and  which  called  for  local  knowledge  and  personal 
 observation,  to  render  profitable  and  advantageous.  After  obtaining  all  the  informa- 
 tion ^^•ithin  his  reach,  Mr.  Raffles  and  his  family  returned  to  Buitenzorg,  at  the  close 
 of  1812,  where,  of  course,  some  arrears  of  public  business  awaited  his  arrival,  and  to 
 which  he  devoted  the  most  zealous  assiduity.” 
 
 The  Sultan  of  Djocjocarta,  who  was  the  most  Holent  and  intriguing  of  the  native 
 princes  in  Java,  entertained  a rooted  animosity  against  all  the  Europeans  settled  in 
 the  Island.  Under  the  fonner  government  he  had  eHnced  a degree  of  hostility  which 
 compelled  Marshal  Daendels  to  direct  an  anny  against  him,  and  to  proceed  in  person 
 to  his  capital.  The  plans  of  the  Sultan  not  being  then  sufficiently  matured  on  the 
 one  hand,  and  Daendels  fearing  the  anival  of  the  British  expedition  on  the  other,  a 
 compromise  was  entered  into  between  them,  by  which  the  Sultan  agreed  to  pay  the 
 
TREATY  CONCLUDED  WITH  THE  SULTAN. 
 
 125 
 
 sum  of  200,000  Spanish  dollars  to  the  Marshal.  The  Sultan  the  more  readily  acceded 
 to  this,  as  he  cherished  the  idea  of  being  soon  enabled  to  carry  into  full  effect  his 
 vengeful  purposes. 
 
 The  turbulent  spirit  of  this  chief  had  shewn  itself  again,  after  the  establishment 
 of  the  British  in  the  island ; in  consequence  of  which,  Mr.  Raffles  thought  it  necessary 
 to  proceed  in  person  to  the  Sultan’s  court,  in  the  month  of  December,  1811,  with  the 
 intention  of  fixing  definitively  the  relation  between  the  two  governments  by  a treaty, 
 which  it  was  hoped  would  prove  as  binding  on  the  one  side,  as  he  felt  it  would  be 
 strictly  observed  on  the  other.  But  the  event  soon  proved  the  fallacy  of  such  an 
 expectation. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  set  out  for  Djocjocarta,  accompanied  by  a part  only  of  the  14th  Regi- 
 ment, a troop  of  the  22d  Light  Dragoons,  and  the  ordinary  garrison  of  Bengal  Sepoys 
 in  the  fort,  and  at  the  Residency-house.  This  was  all  the  force  which,  at  the  mo- 
 ment, he  could  command,  and  circumstances  did  not  admit  of  delay.  The  service 
 was  one  of  imminent  peril ; the  whole  retinue  were  at  one  time  in  danger  of  being 
 murdered.  Mr.  Raffles  received  the  Sultan  in  the  hall  of  audience.  The  Sultan 
 was  accompanied  by  several  thousands  of  armed  followers,  who  expressed  in  their 
 behaviour  an  infuriated  spirit  of  insolence ; and  several  of  his  own  suite  actually 
 unsheathed  their  creesses,  to  indicate  plainly  that  they  only  waited  for  the  signal 
 to  perpetrate  the  work  of  destruction : had  this  been  given,  from  the  manner 
 in  which  the  English  were  surrounded,  not  a man  could  have  escaped.  Though  at 
 this  time  no  act  of  treacherous  hostility  took  place,  the  crafty  and  sanguinary  Sultan 
 drew  from  the  circumstances  which  he  observed,  a confidence  in  his  own  strength ; 
 and  being  thus  persuaded  that  the  expulsion  of  the  Europeans  from  the  Island  of 
 Java  was  become  more  feasible,  he  resolved  at  once  to  adopt  means  for  accomplishing 
 this  favourite  object  of  his  ambition. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles,  however,  concluded  a treaty  with  him,  on  terms  which  were  con- 
 sidered, at  the  time,  equally  advantageous  to  the  British  interests,  and  beneficial  to 
 the  prosperity  of  the  country  which  remained  mider  the  administration  of  the  Sultan. 
 In  this  treaty,  the  sovereignty  of  the  British  over  the  Island  of  Java  was  acknow- 
 ledged by  the  Sultan,  who  confirmed  to  the  English  East  India  Company  all  the  pri- 
 vileges, advantages,  and  prerogatives  which  had  been  possessed  by  the  Dutch  and 
 French  governments.  To  the  Company  also  were  transferred  the  sole  regulation  of 
 the  duties  and  the  collection  of  tribute  within  the  dominions  of  the  Sultan,  as  well 
 as  the  general  administration  of  justice,  in  cases  where  the  British  interests  were 
 concerned. 
 
 The  Sultan  on  this  occasion  expressed  his  contrition  for  the  atrocities  which 
 had  been  committed  under  his  authority,  and  made  professions  of  friendship,  pledging 
 himself  in  every  way  to  fulfil  the  conditions  of  the  treaty. 
 
126 
 
 CONFEDERACY  OF  THE  NATIVE  STATES. 
 
 The  Sultan,  however,  only  waited  for  a favourable  opportunity  to  attempt  the 
 entire  expulsion  of  the  European  power,  and  very  judiciously  conceived  that  the  occu- 
 pation of  the  troops  on  the  expedition  to  Palembang,  afforded  a favourable  moment 
 to  effect  this  object.  He  formed  a general  confederacy  of  all  the  native  courts,  con- 
 stituting as  it  were  the  strength  of  Java,  of  which  he  was  the  head.  Even  the 
 animosity  which  had  subsisted  between  the  Emperor  of  Sulu  and  the  Sultan,  and 
 which  it  was  supposed  would  have  proved  an  insurmountable  bar  to  their  union, 
 yielded  in  the  present  instance  to  other  motives;  and  all  family  feuds  were  laid 
 aside  while  the  Chiefs  combined  their  forces  to  effect  the  destruction  of  the 
 English,  as  well  as  that  of  all  the  Dutch  colonists  settled  along  a coast  in  an  ex- 
 tended line  of  seven  hundred  miles,  who  natm-ally  looked  to  the  British  government 
 for  protection. 
 
 The  magnitude  of  the  threatened  danger  called  for  prompt  and  vigorous 
 measures.  Mr.  Raffles  made  every  preparation  in  his  power,  and  determined  to 
 proceed  to  Samarang.  The  information  which  he  obtained  there,  led  him  to 
 suppose  that  it  would  be  difficult  to  bring  the  Sultan  of  Djocjocarta  to  terms.  He 
 therefore  collected  such  a force  in  the  neighbourhood  as  would  enable  him  to 
 dictate  those  tenns  which  he  deemed  adHsable  for  the  safety  of  the  Island. 
 
 At  this  moment  of  anxiety  and  danger.  Colonel  Gillespie  returned  from  Palem- 
 bang: he  had  embarked  with  his  staff,  in  a small  schooner,  and  after  several  narrow 
 escapes  from  shipuTeck,  arrived  at  BataHa  on  the  1st  of  June,  1812,  and  with 
 the  zeal  which  always  animated  him  when  danger  was  to  be  encountered,  set  out 
 on  the  6th  overland  for  Samarang,  to  unite  with  Mr.  Raffles  in  the  contemplated 
 operations. 
 
 Matters  were  now  come  to  such  a crisis,  that  to  have  waited  for  the  arrival 
 of  the  troops  from  Palembang,  (who  from  having  made  a circuitous  route,  were 
 likely  to  be  detained  some  weeks  longer)  would  have  been  dangerous.  It 
 was,  therefore,  resolved  to  move  such  of  the  military  force  as  could  be  collected, 
 to  Djocjocarta;  and  in  the  event  of  hostilities  being  unavoidable,  to  break  at  once 
 that  chain  of  combination  which,  if  suffered  to  encrease  and  strengthen,  would 
 in  all  probability  prove  the  absolute  ruin  of  the  European  settlements  in  this  part 
 of  the  East. 
 
 On  the  evening  of  the  17th  of  June,  the  Lieutenant-Governor  and  the  Com- 
 mander of  the  Forces  arrived  at  Djocjocarta;  and  immediately  on  their  arrival,  the 
 Sultan,  who  had  long  before  prepared  for  active  operations,  sent  out  strong  bodies 
 of  horse  to  intercept  the  communication  in  their  rear,  by  burning  and  destropng 
 the  bridges,  and  laj^ng  waste  the  country.  Upon  receiring  this  intelligence.  Colonel 
 Gillespie  went  in  person,  escorted  by  fifty  dragoons,  to  reconnoitre  the  country;  and 
 after  making  several  detours,  fell  in  with  a large  body  of  the  Sultan’s  horse ; but  as 
 
ASSAULT  OF  DJOCJOCARTA. 
 
 127 
 
 no  final  determination  with  respect  to  offensive  measures  had  yet  taken  place,  he 
 was  withheld  by  sentiments  of  honour  from  dispersing  these  people  by  force,  and 
 therefore  endeavoured  through  Mr.  Crawfurd,  the  Resident,  who  accompanied  him  as 
 interpreter,  to  induce  them  by  every  amicable  means  to  return  peaceably  to  the 
 palace.  To  all  sohcitations,  and  even  threats,  however,  they  paid  no  regard  for  a 
 long  time;  and  some  stones  were  actually  thrown  from  shngs,  which  the  Javanese 
 use  very  dexterously.  Still,  amidst  these  provocations,  forbearance  was  observed, 
 and  at  last  they  consented  to  disperse ; but  on  a sudden  avaihng  themselves  of  the 
 growing  darkness,  they  threw  their  spears,  and  wounded  a serjeant  and  four 
 dragoons.  This  act  was  followed  by  several  other  attacks  during  the  night  upon 
 the  cavalry  patrols,  which  obhged  the  dragoons  to  cut  their  way  sword  in  hand 
 through  the  surrounding  multitudes,  with  the  loss  of  one  man  killed  and  one 
 wounded. 
 
 The  following  day  the  Lieutenant-Governor  being  still  anxious  to  avoid  the 
 effusion  of  blood,  and  if  possible  to  bring  matters  to  an  amicable  adjustment,  sent  a 
 messenger  with  the  final  resolution  of  Government  to  the  Sultan.  But  this  chief 
 continued  deaf  to  every  proposition  that  was  made  to  him,  and  feeling  confident  in 
 his  accumulating  force  and  the  strength  of  his  fortifications,  he  scrupled  not  to  add 
 threats  to  his  insult,  and  dismissed  the  messenger. 
 
 This  unfavom'able  result  of  the  negociation,  the  particulars  of  which  were 
 instantly  communicated  by  the  Lieutenant-Governor  to  the  Commander  of  the 
 Forces,  shewed  clearly  that  every  thing  now  depended  on  the  issue  of  a battle ; and 
 that  any  further  delay  from  a principle  of  lenity  would  only  serve  to  heighten  the 
 insolence  of  the  enemy,  and  consequently  to  injure  the  colony. 
 
 The  result  of  the  subsequent  operations  are  briefly  detailed  in  the  following 
 private  letter  from  Mr.  Raffles  to  Lord  Minto,  dated  Samarang,  25th  June,  1812. 
 
 Necessity  having  compelled  me  to  resort  to  actual  hostilities  against  Djocjocarta, 
 it  affords  me  the  highest  satisfaction  to  communicate  to  your  Lordship  the  successful 
 and  happy  result  of  our  operations.  Having  taken  measures  for  concentrating  the 
 whole  disposable  force  at  Djocjocarta,  I proceeded  in  person,  accompanied  by  Colonel 
 Gillespie,  as  far  as  Klatten  on  the  16th,  and  to  Djocjocarta  on  the  17th  instant. 
 
 “ The  Sultan  refusing  to  comply  with  my  summons,  and  several  of  our  dragoons 
 hanng  been  cut  off  in  detail,  decisive  measures  became  necessary,  and  on  the  18th, 
 in  the  afternoon,  we  commenced  a heavy  cannonade  from  the  Fort  on  his  Craton  or 
 Palace ; it  was  immediately  retmmed  on  his  side,  and  although  no  further  measure 
 was  taken  by  us  during  the  whole  of  the  19th,  no  symptoms  of  concession  were 
 made  by  him.  Our  force  was  small,  not  exceeding  600  firelocks,  and  rather  more 
 than  that  number  in  Dragoons,  Artillery,  and  Sepoys.  A part  of  our  ammunition 
 w'as  cut  off,  and  nothing  remained  for  us  but  an  assault,  which  was  attempted  and 
 carried  in  less  than  three  hours.  On  the  morning  of  the  20th,  at  nine  o’clock,  the 
 
 2 
 
128 
 
 CAPTURE  OF  DJOCJOCARTA. 
 
 Craton  was  ours ; the  person  of  the  Sultan,  as  well  as  that  of  the  hereditary  Prince 
 secured,  without  plunder  or  harsh  usage,  and  the  country  at  our  disposal, 
 
 “ In  order  to  estimate  the  services  performed  by  the  troops  on  this  occasion, 
 I should  mention  that  the  Craton  was  a regidar  fortified  position,  about  three  miles 
 in  circumference,  surrounded  by  a wade  and  deep  ditch,  wdth  a w^all  forty-five  feet 
 high,  defended  by  w'ell  constructed  bastions,  and  forming  ramparts  all  round, 
 
 “ The  approach  to  the  Craton  being  further  secured  by  lower  walls  without  the 
 ditch  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road,  and  the  gates  protected  by  drawbridges,  after 
 the  Em-opean  model,  at  the  period  of  assault  it  w^as  calculated  that  there  could  not 
 be  less  than  11,000  armed  men  within  the  Craton,  while  large  parties  of  one,  two, 
 three,  and  even  fom'  thousand,  occupied  positions  without  the  Craton,  blocking  up 
 the  main  roads, 
 
 “ Gillespie  was  himself.  The  assault  was  made  by  escalade ; w^e  soon  got 
 possession  of  the  ramparts,  and  turned  their  owm  guns  upon  them.  The  hereditary 
 Prince  took  the  first  occasion  to  throw  liimself  on  oiir  protection ; the  Sultan  w^as 
 taken  in  his  strongest  hold,  and  our  plan  throughout  w^as  most  successful ; the  loss 
 on  our  side  very  inconsiderable,  and  comparatively  nothing ; on  the  part  of  the 
 enemy  dreadful, 
 
 I regret  to  say  that  Gillespie  himself  w'as  wounded  in  the  left  arm,  a flesh 
 w'ound,  and  although  serious  not  dangerous.  Lieutenant  Robinson,  of  the  78th, 
 Lieutenants  Paul  and  Maclean,  of  the  14th,  were  w'ounded,  with  no  greater  loss  in 
 non-commissioned  and  privates  killed  and  wounded  than  about  forty : Lieutenant 
 Maclean  since  dead.  Our  loss,  previous  to  the  25th,  was  principally  in  the  Dra- 
 goons, eighteen  men  and  horses  being  killed  and  w'ounded,  Lieutenant  Hall  among 
 the  latter.  Captain  Young  and  Lieutenant  Hunter  w^ere  blown  up  and  much  burat, 
 hut  not  dangerously, 
 
 “ The  steadiness  with  which  the  enemy  received  the  attack,  and  the  great  mili- 
 tary defences  and  resources  within  his  power,  have  much  enhanced  the  credit  of  our 
 handful  of  troops, 
 
 “ I may  now  congratulate  your  Lordship  on  the  conquest  of  Java  being  sub- 
 stantially accomplished,  for  although  the  great  and  valorous  deeds  w'hich  WTested 
 the  colony  from  the  hands  of  a hostile  European  power  placed  the  prorinces  on  the 
 sea-coast  at  our  disposal,  we  never  till  this  event  could  call  ourselves  masters  of  the 
 more  valuable  provinces  of  the  interior.  Nay,  our  possessions  on  the  sea-coast 
 would  always  have  been  precarious,  and  had  the  military  force  been  materially 
 reduced,  much  eventual  danger  was  to  have  been  apprehended,  Java  will  long  have 
 reason  to  remember  with  gratitude  the  efforts  of  the  20th  June. 
 
 “ The  hereditary  Prince  has  been  raised  to  the  throne ; all  the  principal  chief- 
 tains have  submitted  to  his  authority,  and  the  country  has  every  appearance  of  tran- 
 quillity. I passed  from  Djocjocarta  to  this  place  in  thirteen  hours  (about  a hundi'ed 
 
EUROPEAN  POWER  FIRST  PARAMOUNT  IN  JAVA. 
 
 129 
 
 miles),  and  accounts  from  every  quarter  confirm  my  expectations  that  the  arrange- 
 ments I had  made  would  prevent  the  possibility  of  commotion. 
 
 “ The  European  power  is  for  the  first  time  paramount  in  Java.  We  are  now 
 able  to  dictate  the  terms  of  the  future  connection  with  the  British  government  and 
 the  native  administration.  A population  of  not  less  than  a million  has  been  wrested 
 from  the  tyranny  and  oppression  of  an  independent,  ignorant,  and  cruel  prince,  and 
 a country  yielding  to  none  on  earth  in  fertihty  and  cultivation,  affording  a revenue 
 of  not  less  than  a million  of  Spanish  dollars  in  the  year,  placed  at  our  disposal. 
 The  result  at  Djocjocarta  is  decisive  at  Souracarta,  and  that  court  must  necessarily 
 fall  under  the  same  arrangement.  The  population  and  cultivation  of  the  Emperor’s 
 dominions  are  not  inferior  to  those  of  the  Sultan’s,  and  this  statement  alone  will 
 convey  to  your  Lordship  an  idea  of  what  has  been  obtained  in  the  short  space  of 
 five  days. 
 
 I have  not  yet  received  Colonel  Gillespie’s  report,  and  consequently  am  unable 
 to  forward  the  official  account. 
 
 The  Craton  having  fallen  by  assault,  it  was  impossible  to  make  any  provision 
 for  Government  to  cover  the  expenses  of  the  imdertaking,  consequently  the  whole 
 plunder  became  prize  to  the  army ; it  is  considerable,  but  it  could  not  be  in  better 
 hands ; they  richly  deserve  what  they  got.  I cannot  speak  too  highly  of  the  con- 
 duct of  the  army. 
 
 “ By  order  of  the  honourable  the  Lieutenant-Governor, 
 
 “ T.  O.  Travers, 
 
 “ Assist.  Sec.  to  Govt.  Mil.  Dept.” 
 
 After  the  conquest  of  Djocjocarta,  the  military  appropriated  to  themselves  the 
 plunder  taken  in  the  town.  Mr.  Raffles  expostulated  on  their  doing  so,  without 
 first  referring  to  him  as  the  chief  authority,  and  received  the  following  letter  upon 
 the  subject  from  Colonel  Gillespie. 
 
 ‘‘  My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ Your  letter  of  the  1st  instant  reached  me  at  Djocjocarta,  about  four 
 o’clock  yesterday.  I regret  that  any  thing  irregular  or  informal  should  have  taken 
 place ; but  you  are  no  doubt  so  well  assured  of  my  respect  and  esteem,  that  any 
 breach  of  propriety  or  etiquette  can  only  be  attributed  to  the  hurry  and  confusion 
 so  generally  prevalent  after  a conquest  of  such  magnitude  and  importance. 
 
 I had  myself  suffered,  and  continue  to  suffer,  so  severely  from  the  womid  I 
 received  in  the  action,  that  I was  almost  incapable  of  attending  to  any  arrangement 
 that  might  require  my  approbation. 
 
 “ The  officers  advanced  so  many  precedents  when  Mr.  Hanson  submitted  your 
 
 s 
 
130 
 
 LETTER  FROM  LORD  MINTO. 
 
 letter  to  them  yesterday,  that  I am  persuaded  all  their  former  resolutions  were  con- 
 sidered at  the  time  both  regular  and  correct. 
 
 “If  your  wshes  had  been  received  before  the  distribution  had  taken  place,  it 
 is  unnecessary  for  me  to  say,  that  every  thing  should  have  been  immediately  sus- 
 pended, and  the  arrangements  refeiTed  to  your  authority ; but  as  this  measure  was 
 adopted  prior  to  the  communication  of  your  sentiments,  I trust  most  sincerely  you 
 will  acquit  us  of  intentional  impropriety,  and  afford  us  the  sanction  of  your  support 
 and  approbation. 
 
 “ Upon  maturely  considering  the  distribution  of  the  piize  money,  I clearly 
 perceive  that  the  subject  should  have  been  referred  to  your  authority,  before  a 
 measure  of  so  much  importance  had  taken  place.  The  pain  and  agony  I have 
 suffered  since  the  conquest  of  Djocjocarta  will,  I am  certain,  prove  an  adequate 
 excuse  in  your  mind  for  any  miintentional  informality ; and  I have  reason  to  rejoice 
 at  the  entire  support  and  cordiality  experienced  by  me  on  every  occasion  that  called 
 for  mutual  participation. 
 
 “ It  affords  me  a proof  of  the  dependence  you  have  placed  upon  my  anxiety 
 and  zeal  for  the  public  serrice,  which  can  only  be  equalled  by  the  respect  and 
 esteem  with  which  I am, 
 
 “ Robert  Rollo  Gillespie.” 
 
 It  will  be  seen  by  the  following  extracts,  that  Mr.  Raffles  had  the  satisfaction 
 to  receive  from  Lord  Minto,  the  most  unqualified  approbation  of  all  his  measures. 
 
 “ Calcutta,  \5th  Dec.  1812. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I shall  be  impatient  for  the  materials  which  are  called  for,  because  I am 
 anxious  to  deliver,  without  reserve  or  quahfication,  the  very  high  and  favourable 
 \iew  I now  have  of  that  whole  series  of  measures,  beginning  Avith  the  expedition  to 
 Palembang,  and  ending  with  the  arrangement  of  the  tw'o  courts  of  Solo  and  Djoc- 
 jocarta,  connected  and  combined  with  each  other  as  those  measures  were.  I consider 
 the  result  of  the  latter  proceeding  as  very  glorious  to  your  administration,  during 
 the  short  period  of  which  more  Avill  have  been  accomplished  for  the  security  of  the 
 European  power,  the  tranquillity  of  the  island,  and  the  solid  improvement  of  general 
 prosperity  and  happiness,  than  several  centuries  have  been  able  to  perform,  when 
 the  superiority  of  European  power  was  exerted,  unencumbered  by  the  scruples  of 
 justice  and  good  faith. 
 
 “ Nothing  can  be  more  excellent  than  all  your  arrangements  in  the  eastern 
 districts  of  Java. 
 
 “ With  regard  to  Palembang  and  Banca,  your  latest  reports  have  enabled  us  to 
 
LETTER  FROM  LORD  MINTO, 
 
 131 
 
 approve,  without  reservation,  the  arrangement  formed  at  Palembang,  and  the  an- 
 nexation of  Banca  to  the  territories  of  the  East  India  Company,  our  minds  being 
 satisfied  upon  the  two  points  of  justice  and  expediency.  The  sovereignty  of  the 
 Sultan  of  Palembang  in  Banca  is  placed  beyond  question,  and  leaves  that  dependence 
 of  Palembang  indisputably  subject,  both  to  the  laws  of  conquest  in  so  just  a war, 
 and  to  the  effect  of  cession  from  the  authority  under  which  it  is  now  held. 
 
 ‘‘  Believe  me  ever,  my  dear  Sir,  most  truly  and  affectionately  your’s, 
 
 “ Minto.” 
 
 This  private  letter  is  so  far  of  importance  as  it  shews,  in  the  most  unreserved 
 manner.  Lord  Minto’s  anxious  desire  to  record  his  opinion  publicly  before  he 
 quitted  India — the  delay  in  acquiring  and  transmitting  the  necessary  materials  unfor- 
 tunately prevented  his  doing  so,  and  to  this  unavoidable  omission  may  be  attributed 
 much  of  the  trouble  and  difficulty  in  which  Mr.  Raffles  was  afterwards  involved. 
 
CHAPTER  VI. 
 
 Difference  of  opinion  hetween  Colonel  Gillespie  and  Mr.  Raffles — Re-estahlishment  of  Society  of  Arts — Im- 
 portance of  connection  hetrvecn  Java  and  China  to  the  East  India  Company's  interests — Consequence  of 
 a King’s  government  upon  their  monopoly — Lord  Minto's  anxiety  to  provide  for  Mr  Raffles,  in  the  pros- 
 pect of  the  Island  being  transferred  to  the  crown — Lord  Minto’s  approval  of  the  measures  of  govern- 
 ment— Calling  in  depreciated  paper — Promise  of  an  offlcial  approbation — Account  of  the  Colonies — 
 Depreciated  state  of  paper  currency — Want  of  specie — Land  rental — Revenues  of  government — 
 Proposed  literary  work — Lord  Minto’s  return  to  England — His  last  letter  on  leaving  Calcutta— 
 Expedition  to  Sambas. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  always  entertained  a high  sense  of  the  military  courage  and  character  of 
 General  Gillespie,  and  lamented  that  on  some  points  of  government  their  views  did  not 
 exactly  coincide.  The  permanent  mihtary  force  requisite  to  be  maintained  in  the  Island, 
 after  its  conquest  was  completed,  became  necessarily  a subject  of  discussion.  Lord 
 Minto  foreseeing  that  this  was  a point  on  which  a difference  of  opinion  might  occur, 
 left  positive  orders,  before  he  quitted  Java,  to  keep  it  within  certain  defined  limits. 
 
 The  following  letter  to  ]VIr.  Ramsay,  Secretaiy  to  the  Court  of  Directors,  touches 
 on  this  subject. 
 
 '^January,  1813. 
 
 “ Some  difference  of  opinion  has  latterly  occurred  between  the  Commander  of 
 the  Forces  and  myself,  with  regard  to  the  mihtary  estabhshments  on  the  island.  These 
 appear  to  have  arisen  from  a desire,  on  the  part  of  the  military  Commander,  to  main- 
 tain as  large  a force,  and  to  render  that  force  as  efficient,  as  possible ; while,  on  the 
 other  hand,  the  directions  and  injunctions,  which  I had  received  from  the  Supreme 
 Government,  obliged  me  to  keep  the  same  within  defined  limits.  The  force  prov^ision- 
 ally  fixed  for  this  Island  was  intended  and  declared  to  be  only  for  a defined  and  limited 
 purpose — the  maintenance  of  internal  tranquiUity,  and  security  against  any  predatory 
 attack  on  the  part  of  the  enemy.  The  Commander  of  the  Forces,  on  the  contrary, 
 has  been  always  in  expectation  of  attack  from  Europe,  and  would  prepare  accordingly. 
 The  uncertainty  with  which  any  decision  can  be  formed,  as  to  the  future  government 
 of  the  colony,  has  naturally  induced  his  Majesty’s  officers  to  calculate  upon  Java  be- 
 coming a King’s  colony,  while  the  absence  of  all  official  information  on  the  subject 
 
BATAVIAN  LITERARY  SOCIETY. 
 
 133 
 
 has  weighed  wth  me  in  maintaining  unimpaired,  as  far  as  possible,  the  provisional 
 arrangements  made  by  Lord  Minto,  with  the  view  of  Java  becoming  a permanent 
 settlement  of  the  Company. 
 
 “ There  are  at  present  on  the  Island  three  King’s  regiments,  the  14th,  59th,  and 
 78th,  averaging  about  800  men  each ; two  troops  of  his  Majesty’s  22d  Dragoons  ; a 
 detachment  of  the  Royal  Artillery  from  Ceylon  ; and  two  troops  of  hussars  raised  on 
 the  Island,  but  not  yet  attached  to  either  the  King’s  or  Company’s  army.  The  Sepoy 
 battalions,  of  which  there  are  five,  are  weak,  but  recruits  to  complete  them  to  800 
 men  each  are  daily  expected  from  Bengal,  besides  a coi'ps  of  native  cavalry,  raised 
 ex'pressly  for  the  ser\ice  of  the  island  : these,  with  a detachment  of  the  Bengal  artil- 
 lery, Madras  pioneers,  and  the  two  colonial  regiments  of  Amboynese  and  Javanese, 
 compose  the  regular  force,  which  it  falls  on  this  government  to  maintain,  independent 
 of  a few  police  corps.  I should  not,  however,  omit  to  mention  the  Bengal  European 
 regiment,  the  head-quarters  of  which  are  now  on  the  Island,  with  about  350  men, 
 principally  recruits,  but  rapidly  impro^^ng  in  discipline. 
 
 “ Were  the  question  at  once  decided,  I apprehend  that  the  whole  of  the  King’s 
 troops,  with  the  exception  of  one  or  perhaps  two  regiments,  might  be  removed ; and 
 for  the  general  service  of  the  Island  their  place  might  be  much  better  supplied  by 
 natives  of  India.  The  European  troops  are  here  upon  much  heavier  allowances  than 
 in  India,  and  on  the  whole  bear  too  heavy  on  the  finances  of  the  colony.  The  natives 
 have  a much  greater  dread  of  the  Sepoy  than  of  an  European,  and  the  sa\ing  would  be 
 immense.  If  possible,  a Sepoy  force  should  be  maintained  even  in  the  event  of  this 
 Island  becoming  a King’s  colony. 
 
 “ I forw^arded  by  the  Java  several  reports  from  Dr.  Horsfield  on  the  natural 
 history  of  the  Eastern  Islands ; duplicates  of  these,  with  specimens  of  plants,  and  a 
 collection  of  quadrupeds,  birds,  &c.,  are  transmitted  by  the  Juliana,  and  I trust  will 
 be  found  acceptable,  and  worthy  of  a place  in  the  Oriental  Museum.  The  Literary 
 Society  of  Bata\ia,  which  has  been  so  long  dormant,  has  been  again  revived,  its  con- 
 stitution has  undergone  an  entire  change,  and  a spirit  of  inquiry  and  research  is  obvious 
 among  its  members.  An  additional  volume  of  the  Bata\ian  Researches  is  now  com- 
 pleting, and  I trust  it  will  not  be  long  before  the  Society  gives  to  the  world  a proof 
 of  the  advantages  it  derives  under  the  mild  and  protecting  principles  of  the  British 
 government. 
 
 “ Statistical  accounts  are  nearly  completed  of  the  whole  of  the  Island,  and  the 
 proceedings  of  the  commission  of  which  Colonel  Mackenzie  is  the  President  being 
 about  to  close,  I look  forward  to  an  early  opportunity  of  communicating  on  every 
 thing  which  concerns  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  this  colony,  and  of  foiwvarding  a 
 detailed  and  accurate  account  of  its  resources,  advantages,  and  capabilities,  under 
 any  and  whatever  authority  or  system  of  government  it  may  be  eventually  placed.” 
 
 It  was  about  this  time  that  Mr.  Raffles  re-established  the  Society  of  Arts  and 
 
134 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 Sciences  in  Bata\ia,  to  which  he  alludes  in  the  preceding  latter.  This  instiution  had 
 entirely  declined  in  consequence  of  the  difficulties  to  which  the  Island  of  Java  had 
 been  exposed  for  many  years.  He  hoped  by  this  means  to  promote  literary  and 
 scientific  pursuits ; and  it  afforded  him  a som'ce  of  great  pleasure  and  satisfaction  to 
 be  the  instimnent  of  giving  new  fife  to  the  first  institution  of  the  kind,  which  had  ever 
 been  estabhshed  by  Em-opeans  in  the  East.  This  society  continued  to  meet  regularly 
 under  his  watchfld  care  and  superintendance,  until  the  Island  was  restored  to  the 
 Dutch.  The  addi’esses  which  he  dehvered  on  the  first  meeting  of  the  society,  and  at 
 a subsequent  one  in  1815,  tended  to  excite  a warm  interest  in  all  the  members,  while 
 they  shewed  that  the  performance  of  the  arduous  duties  of  a pubhc  station  are  not 
 incompatible,  and  may  be  combined  with,  an  active  pimsuit  of  hterary  and  scientific 
 objects. 
 
 “ A Discourse  delivered  at  a Meeting  of  the  Society  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  in  Batavia, 
 
 on  the  Twenty  fourth  day  of  April,  1813,  being  the  Anniversary  of  the  Institution. 
 
 By  the  Hon.  Thomas  Stamford  Raffles,  President. 
 
 “ Gentlemen, 
 
 “ Although  I have  naturally  withheld  my  signature  from  the  address  to 
 Lord  IMinto,  which  now  lies  on  the  table,  in  consequence  of  the  very  pointed 
 manner  in  which  the  framer  of  that  addi'ess  has  noticed  the  protection  and  encou- 
 ragement which  I have  personally  afforded  to  the  Society,  I shall  have  much  plea- 
 sure in  forwarding  it,  and  in  personally  soliciting  his  Lordship  to  take  the  Society 
 under  his  immediate  patronage.  I am  satisfied  that  he  wall  entertain  a due  sense  of 
 the  consideration  which  you  have  shewoi  to  his  exalted  talents,  and  I flatter  myself 
 that  we  may  confidently  count  on  his  promoting  the  views  and  objects  of  the  Insti- 
 tution to  the  utmost  extent. 
 
 “ Elected  as  your  President  by  the  unanimous  voice  of  the  Society,  and  earn- 
 estly sohcited  by  the  most  conspicuous  of  your  Members  to  accept  that  station,  I 
 have  not  felt  myself  competent  to  dechne  so  marked  a distinction  ; but  I must  assure 
 you  that  I feel  very  sensibly  my  entire  inabihty  to  execute  its  important  duties,  either 
 with  benefit  to  you  or  with  credit  to  myself.  Far  more  preferable  w^ould  it  have  been 
 to  me  had  this  honourable  post  devolved  upon  one  of  your  more  competent  members, 
 and  that  you  had  permitted  me  to  have  mixed  with  you  as  one  of  your  ordinary 
 though  not  least  zealous  associates. 
 
 “ On  the  present  occasion,  how^ever,  assembled  as  we  are,  in  commemoration 
 of  the  anniversary  of  the  Institution  of  the  Bata\ian  Society,  with  such  fair  pros- 
 pects before  us  of  promoting  the  original  design  of  its  establishment,  under  the  anti- 
 cipated protection  of  so  illustrious  a Patron,  I cannot  refrain  from  taking  a general 
 though  imperfect  review^  of  the  progi*ess  of  the  Society,  from  its  first  institution,  nor 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 135 
 
 from  indulging  in  the  contemplation  of  the  lights,  which  the  future  exertions  of  its 
 active  and  zealous  members  may  throw  on  man  and  nature  in  these  remote  regions. 
 
 “ In  common  with  other  human  institutions,  the  Batavian  Society  has  been 
 subject  to  many  changes  and  vicissitudes  ; but  it  is  to  the  calamitous  effects  of  a 
 war  which  has  desolated  the  finest  countries  in  Europe,  and  which  extended  its 
 baneful  influence  to  this  distant  Isle,  that  we  are  principally  to  attribute  its  decline. 
 Cut  off  from  all  communication  with  the  mother-country,  and  distracted  by  internal 
 jealousies  and  disputes,  science  drooped,  and  this  Society,  which  at  one  time  main- 
 tained so  distinguished  a character,  almost  ceased  to  be  known. 
 
 “ The  Batavian  Society  has,  I believe,  the  honour  of  being  the  first  institution 
 of  a literary  nature  established  by  Europeans  in  the  East.  Previous  to  its  establish- 
 ment, Mr.  Radermacher,  a gentleman  of  distinguished  talents  and  a zealous  pro- 
 moter of  the  Christian  Religion,  and  of  science,  with  a few  friends  at  Batavia,  con- 
 ceived the  idea  of  assembling  together  a number  of  persons  of  consideration  and 
 ability,  with  the  view  of  encouraging  the  arts  and  sciences  in  this  capital  and  the 
 other  Indian  establishments  then  dependant  on  Holland.  They  considered  that  in 
 India,  as  in  Europe,  where  for  two  centuries  the  reformation  in  letters  preceded 
 that  in  religion,  a taste  for  the  arts  and  sciences  must  be  introduced  previously  to 
 the  general  adoption  of  the  Christian  Religion  in  the  East ; but  they  were  aware  of 
 the  difficulties  to  be  encountered,  under  the  circumstances  in  which  the  colonies  of 
 Holland  were  then  placed,  and  a considerable  period  elapsed  before  the  design  was 
 carried  into  effect. 
 
 “ At  length,  in  the  year  1777,  when  Mr.  Radermacher  and  his  father-in-law,  the 
 Governor-General  De  Klerk,  were  newly  elected  directors  of  the  Society  of  Haerlem, 
 a Programma  appeared,  which  contained  the  plan  of  extending  the  branches  of  that 
 Society  to  the  Indies.  The  distance  and  extent  of  the  Dutch  colonial  possessions  in 
 the  East  did  not,  however,  admit  of  this  plan  being  realized,  but  the  idea  being 
 thus  brought  forward  to  public  notice,  a separate  Society  was,  by  the  unremitting 
 perseverance  of  Mr.  Radermacher,  who  may  be  called  the  founder  of  the  Institution, 
 established  at  Batavia. 
 
 On  the  24th  of  April,  1778,  this  Society  was  duly  established,  under  the 
 authority  of  government,  and  after  the  example  of  Haerlem,  took  for  its  motto.  The 
 Public  Utilitij.  On  its  first  organization  the  Society  consisted  of  192  members,  the 
 Governor-General  being  Chief  Director,  and  the  members  of  the  High  Regency 
 Directors.  The  ordinary  members  were  elected  from  among  the  most  distinguished 
 inhabitants  of  Bata\ia,  and  the  possessions  of  the  Company ; and  it  was  enacted, 
 that  as  many  as  were  present  should  annually  hold  a general  assembly,  in  order  to 
 judge  and  decide  upon  the  answers  received  to  the  different  questions  proposed,  to 
 propose  new  questions,  and  to  make  general  regulations.  In  addition  to  this  general 
 direction,  a Committee  was  nominated,  consisting  of  eight  members,  with  a presi- 
 
 2 
 
136 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 dent  and  secretary,  who  were  charged  with  the  daily  occurrences,  and  with  autho- 
 rity to  decide  upon  and  carry  into  effect  whatever  might  not  admit  of  delay,  report- 
 ing their  proceedings  at  the  ensuing  general  assembly. 
 
 “ The  Society  selected  as  objects  of  research  and  enquiry  wliatever  could  be 
 useful  to  agriculture,  commerce,  and  the  welfare  of  the  colony ; it  encouraged  every 
 question  relating  to  natural  history,  antiquities,  and  the  manners  and  usages  of  the 
 native  inhabitants,  but  expressly  avoided  entering  upon  any  subject  which  might 
 relate  to  the  East  India  Company ; and  in  order  the  better  to  define  the  objects  and 
 contribute  to  their  accomplishment,  a programma  was  from  time  to  time  printed  and 
 circulated  abroad. 
 
 “ These  programmas  contain  many  important  questions,  as  well  general  as  par- 
 ticular, relating  to  agiiculture,  commerce,  the  means  of  remortng  the  insalubrity  of 
 Batarta,  the  diseases  of  the  chmate  generally,  and  other  points  which  clearly  mark 
 the  objects  of  the  Society.  Among  these,  the  following  question  may  deserve 
 notice ; — 
 
 “ ' Bij  what  means  of  finesse  do  the  Preachers  and  Missionaries  of  the  Moslem 
 faith  succeed,  even  at  the  present  day,  in  converting  Pagans  to  the  faith  of  the  Koran, 
 and  in  establishing  them  in  this  faith 
 
 Although  it  would  seem  that  this  question  might  either  have  been  answered 
 generally  by  stating  ^ that  the  Mahomedans  at  the  present  day  oxoe  their  success  prin- 
 cipally to  their  more  intimate  assimilation  with  those  to  he  converted^  Or,  perhaps, 
 eventually  by  ‘ a philosophical  and  political  view  of  the  first  establishment  of  the  Maho- 
 medan  Religion  on  the  islands  and  coasts  of  the  seas  lying  east  of  the  Straits  of  Malacca 
 and  Sunda.’  It  does  not  appear  to  have  been  rephed  to  in  any  of  the  subsequent 
 volumes. 
 
 The  view  which  I have  just  mentioned  seems  to  fall  peculiarly  vithin  the 
 province  of  the  Society,  and  to  be  highly  deserving  its  attention ; it  is  a part  of  his- 
 tory which  seems  hitherto  to  have  been  too  little  investigated,  and  a tract  on  the 
 subject,  while  it  discussed  the  question  alluded  to,  would  naturally  introduce  other 
 important  subjects. 
 
 “ The  Society  was  no  sooner  fully  established,  and  its  proceedings  generally 
 knowm,  than  it  received  from  all  quarters  various  acquisitions  to  its  cabinet  and 
 library.  Mr.  Radennacher  himself  presented  the  Society  udth  a convenient  house, 
 and  wth  eight  cases  of  valuable  books,  a collection  of  animals,  fossils,  minerals, 
 musical  instruments  of  the  Javanese,  and  of  the  different  coins  current  in  the  East ; 
 and  in  the  same  year,  by  the  liberality  of  Mr.  Bartto,  the  Society  was  enabled  to 
 fonn  a Botanical  Establishment  in  a garden  presented  by  that  gentleman. 
 
 “ In  1779  the  Society  undertook  to  print  the  first  volume  of  its  Transac- 
 tions; the  second  appeared  in  1780,  and  the  third  in  1781,  but  from  the  want  of 
 t^qjes  and  other  unfortunate  circumstances,  a progi'amma  only  appeared  in  1782. 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 137 
 
 In  1786  the  fourth  volume  was,  however,  given  to  the  public,  but  printed  in  Hol- 
 land, by  the  commissaries  of  the  Society,  under  the  special  privilege  of  the  States 
 General. 
 
 “ After  this  period  the  Society  observing  that  the  questions  proposed  remained 
 unanswered,  set  to  work  themselves,  and  published  the  fifth  volume  in  1790.  In 
 this  and  the  sixth  volume,  which  appeared  in  1792,  the  essays  are  written  exclu- 
 sively by  the  members. 
 
 “ In  1794  the  first  two  essays,  intended  for  the  seventh  volume,  were  printed; 
 but  no  subsequent  publication  of  the  transactions  of  the  Society  appears  to  have 
 taken  place. 
 
 “ Subsequent  to  this  period,  when  the  revolutions  in  Europe,  the  war  and 
 other  circumstances  of  the  times,  continued  to  interfere  with  the  prosperity  of  the 
 Society,  it  was  suggested  by  some  of  the  members,  that  by  adopting  a more  limited 
 plan  for  its  proceedings,  the  objects  which  the  Society  had  in  view  might  still  be 
 obtained ; and  accordingly  a resolution  appears  to  have  been  taken  to  this  effect,  to 
 which  the  approval  of  the  High  Regency  was  obtained,  in  May  1800. 
 
 “ Under  this  new  organization  of  the  Society,  the  ‘ Public  Utility’  was  still  the 
 declared  object  of  the  Institution ; but  the  publication  of  questions,  except  at  the 
 particular  suggestion  of  any  member,  was  discontinued.  The  Society  still  continued 
 to  consist  of  men  of  ability  and  talent.  The  direction  of  the  Society  was  placed  in 
 the  hands  of  a Directory  of  nine  persons,  including  the  secretary,  who  were  chosen 
 fi’om  among  the  members,  each  taking  precedence  in  his  turn  for  one  month. 
 Corresponding  members  were  elected  at  the  principal  settlements  and  out-stations, 
 and  the  general  annual  assemblies  were  abolished.  In  the  hands  of  this  Directory 
 the  Society  appears  to  have  deposited  every  thing ; and  considering  the  distracted 
 state  of  the  country,  such  a conduct  may  perhaps  have  been  essential  for  maintain- 
 ing its  existence  during  the  convulsed  period  which  ensued. 
 
 “ Notwithstanding  the  exertions  of  the  Directory  to  complete  the  seventh 
 volume,  it  was  found  impracticable,  and  the  only  acquisitions  which  it  appears  to 
 have  obtained  during  the  period  in  which  the  affairs  of  the  Society  were  exclusively 
 under  its  management,  are  the  communications  of  Dr.  Thomas  Horsfield.  This 
 gentleman  was  proposed  to  the  High  Regency,  and  authorized  to  prosecute  his 
 botanical  researches  under  the  sanction  of  government.  After  several  excursions  in 
 different  parts  of  the  island,  he  estabhshed  himself  at  Souracarta  with  the  view  of 
 forming  a Flora  Javana,  forwarding  to  the  Society  from  time  to  time  reports  of  his 
 progress,  dried  plants,  and  useful  descriptions  and  accounts  of  discoveries  made  by 
 him  in  natural  history. 
 
 “ Such  was  the  state  of  the  Society  at  the  change  of  government,  in  1811, 
 when  the  dark  perspective  was  illumined,  and  the  talents  and  ambition  of  the 
 
 T 
 
138 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 Society  again  shone  forth  from  the  obscurity  in  which  pohtical  circumstances  had 
 involved  it. 
 
 “ ^^'ithout  noticing  particularly  the  various  essays  which  adorn  the  pages  of 
 the  six  volumes  of  the  Transactions  akeady  pubhshed,  I shall  briefly  observe,  that  as 
 far  as  my  limited  knowledge  of  the  language  enables  me  to  judge,  they  contain 
 much  useful  and  interesting  information,  particularly  on  economical  subjects  mate- 
 rially connected  with  the  interests  of  science  and  literatm'e. 
 
 “ In  the  first  vohune  uill  be  found  an  interesting  description  of  the  Dutch 
 possessions  in  the  East  Indies,  and  the  transactions  are  replete  with  various  valuable 
 tracts  on  agiiculture,  commerce,  political  economy,  and  natiual  history,  by  Messrs. 
 Radermacher,  Van  Hogendorp,  Hoojunan,  Van  Iperen,  Baron  Van  Wurmb,  Cou- 
 perus.  Van  der  Steege,  Titsing,  Tessiere,  Van  Boeckholtz,  and  others. 
 
 “ Having  thus  taken  a retrospective  \iew  of  the  Society,  from  its  first  institu- 
 tion imtil  the  period  when  it  w^as  new  modelled  under  the  regulations  of  last  year,  I 
 shall  proceed  briefly  to  notice  the  contents  of  the  volume,  w^hich  is  now  sent  to  the 
 press,  and  to  communicate  such  suggestions  as  occur  to  me  with  regard  to  our 
 future  proceedings. 
 
 “ In  various  branches  of  natural  history.  Doctor  Horsfield  is  eminently  con- 
 spicuous, and  the  papers  wdiich  Avill  now  come  before  the  pubhc  from  his  pen,  are 
 highly  interesting  to  science.  On  the  antiquities  and  native  history  of  the  Island, 
 some  light  is  thrown  by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mackenzie,  Sinweyor-General  on  the 
 Madras  Estabhshment,  in  his  interesting  tract  on  the  Ruins  of  Prambana,  forming 
 the  capital  of  one  of  the  early  dynasties  of  this  Island ; and  on  the  Island  of  Borneo 
 some  interesting  data  are  fm'iiished,  on  w'hich  to  found  our  further  enquiries  in  that 
 immense  island,  fi'om  the  pen  of  the  late  Dr.  Leyden.  The  circumstances  under 
 W'hich  this  paper  was  written  are  stated  in  a note  annexed  to  the  paper  itself. 
 
 Had  our  late  valuable  secretary.  Dr.  Hunter,  been  spared  but  a few  months, 
 the  present  volume  w'ould  not  have  made  its  appearance  without  containing  some 
 highly  interesting  essay  from  him.  His  death  is  deeply  deplored  by  us  all,  as 
 must  for  ever  be  the  unexpected  and  untimely  fate  of  my  departed  friend  Dr. 
 Leyden,  who,  although  not  actually  initiated  as  a member  of  this  Society,  came 
 fi'om  the  other  India  panting  after  knowledge,  and  busy  in  the  pm'suit  of  science. 
 Had  Providence  ordained  that  he  should  have  remained  a few  months  on  this  Island 
 in  the  exercise  of  the  w'onderful  powers  of  his  ever  active  mind,  I am  con\inced,  that 
 from  his  extraordinary  acquirements  in  all  the  languages  of  the  East,  his  deep  eru- 
 dition, and  his  zeal  in  the  cause,  he  would  have  found  it  no  difficult  task  to  have 
 traced  the  connection  which  formerly  subsisted  betw'een  the  Eastern  Islands  and 
 Western  India,  from  a comparison  of  their  languages  and  dialects  only.  His  \iews 
 were  the  most  extended  and  comprehensive  that  a philosophic  mind  can  conceive. 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 139 
 
 Ardent  in  the  pursuit  of  knowledge  in  every  direction,  and  rising  with  difficulties, 
 his  uncommon  mind  and  rare  talents  must  natiually  have  overcome  every  obstacle. 
 
 A more  convincing  proof  cannot  perhaps  be  offered  of  the  views  which  he 
 contemplated  in  setting  his  foot  in  this  capital  of  the  Eastern  Islands,  than  in  the 
 sketch  of  Borneo,  which  I have  just  noticed.  This  was  prepared  by  him  on  his 
 passage  from  Malacca  to  Batavia  druing  the  progress  of  the  expedition.  It  stands 
 uncorrected  by  his  masterly  hand,  but  even  in  its  present  state,  will,  I have  no 
 doubt,  be  found  to  merit  a place  in  your  pubhcations. 
 
 “ Irreparable  as  the  loss  of  these  inestimable  promoters  of  our  design  and  orna- 
 ments of  om'  age  must  be,  and  deep  as  our  regi'et  may  be  felt,  we  are  not  to  despair 
 of  what  may  hereafter  be  done;  but  rather,  from  the  loss  we  have  sustained,  put 
 our  shoulders  more  firmly  to  the  wheel,  and  exert  om'selves  more  than  under 
 other  more  fortunate  circumstances,  would  have  been  necessary. 
 
 “ The  first  point  which  it  appears  to  me  essential  to  notice  with  regard  to  our 
 future  proceedings,  is  the  necessity  of  encouraging  and  attaining  a more  general 
 knowledge  of  the  Javanese  language.  Hitherto  the  communication  with  the  inhabit- 
 ants of  the  country  has  been  chiefly  through  illiterate  interpreters,  or  when  direct, 
 through  the  medimu  of  a barbarous  dialect  of  Malays,  confounded  and  confused 
 by  the  introduction  of  Portuguese  and  Dutch.  Without  a thorough  knowledge  of 
 this  language,  it  is  impossible  to  form  any  accurate  idea  of  the  modes  of  thinking  or 
 acting  among  the  people  of  this  country.  Much  valuable  information  may  be  ex- 
 pected to  be  found  in  their  books,  and  when  they  are  more  generally  known,  an 
 attempt  may  be  made  to  develop  the  early  history  of  the  Island,  which,  uith 
 the  exception  of  some  leading  facts,  remains,  anterior  to  the  introduction  of  Maho- 
 medanism,  involved  in  obscmlty  and  fable. 
 
 “ I have  already  in  my  possession  three  detailed  histories  of  the  Island,  stated 
 to  be  taken  from  their  own  mitten  accoimts ; but  as  they  have  passed  through  one, 
 and  in  some  cases  two,  intermediate  languages,  and  the  persons  intrusted  uith  the 
 first  translation  not  perhaps  understanding  the  subject,  I cannot  depend  upon  them. 
 
 “ Vocabularies  have  already  been  collected  of  the  different  dialects  of  the 
 Javanese,  and  also  of  the  principal  languages  of  the  Eastern  Seas ; and  from  the  un- 
 remitting and  indefatigable  exertions  of  Colonel  Mackenzie,  whose  researches  into 
 the  history  and  antiquities  of  Western  India  so  eminently  quahfy  him  for  similar 
 pursuits  in  this  quarter,  we  are  justified  in  the  expectation  that  many  of  the  doubtful 
 points  regarding  the  early  connection  of  Java  and  the  Eastern  Islands  with  the 
 continent  of  India  \rill  be  cleared  up. 
 
 “ The  collections  of  Colonel  Mackenzie,  who  has  personally  risked  almost 
 every  part  of  the  Island,  prove  the  zeal  with  which  he  has  taken  up  the  subject; 
 and  on  his  return  to  India,  w^here  an  opportunity  may  be  afforded  of  dec)q)hering 
 several  inscriptions  found  in  different  parts  of  Java,  of  which  he  has  taken  fac 
 
 T 2 
 
uo 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 s'nniles,  we  are  promised  that  his  exertions  not  be  relaxed  in  endeavouring  to 
 illustrate  whatever  may  be  important. 
 
 “ The  opportunity  afforded  of  increasing  our  stock  of  Javanese  Manuscripts 
 has  not  been  lost ; and  if  the  Government  should  be  enabled  to  prosecute  a plan, 
 which  is  in  contemplation,  for  fonning  an  establishment  for  the  acquisition  of  the 
 language,  we  may  hope  that  translations  of  the  most  important  will  soon  find  a place 
 on  the  shelves  of  our  library. 
 
 “ Dr.  Horsfield  still  continues  his  pursuits  in  natural  history,  ^^'ith  miabated 
 zeal;  and  although  he  has  been  for  a time  removed  from  the  immediate  field  of 
 Java,  he  is  prosecuting,  in  a neighbouring  Island,  pursuits  of  a similar  nature.  The 
 Island  of  Banca,  which  has  lately  fallen  into  the  possession  of  our  Government, 
 had  never  been  explored  by  Europeans.  Dr.  Horsfield  has  undertaken  the  task, 
 and  from  his  talents,  ability,  and  industry,  the  most  sanguine  expectations  may 
 he  realized. 
 
 “ Mr.  Muntinghe  also,  whose  enlarged  Hews  and  extraordinary  endowments 
 so  pecuharly  qualify  him  to  direct  you  in  the  paths  of  science  and  literature,  will 
 not  be  wanting  in  contributing  his  share  to  the  general  piu-poses  of  the  Society.  He 
 has  already  collected  many  highly  interesting  tracts  on  the  native  Laws  and  Insti- 
 tutions, as  they  are  traced  to  have  existed  antecedent  to  the  introduction  of  the 
 Mahomedan  faith;  and  when  his  information  is  more  mature,  and  his  collections 
 more  complete,  we  are  justified  in  the  expectation,  that  he  will  devote  to  the  Society 
 some  portion  of  that  extensive  stock  of  literary  acquirement  and  sound  judgment 
 for  which  he  stands  so  eminently  conspicuous. 
 
 “To  the  learned  Professor  Ross,  the  Society,  is  ah'eady  highly  indebted,  and 
 while  w'e  cannot  but  consider  our  thanks  as  peculiarly  due  to  this  gentleman  for  his 
 exertions  in  preserving  the  existence  of  the  Society  during  a period  of  peculiar  de- 
 licacy and  difficulty,  I am  satisfied  that  w'e  may  look  to  him  and  the  other  Dutch 
 members  for  the  most  essential  aid  in  future.  To  particularize  many  of  these 
 members  would  perhaps  be  invidious  to  the  whole,  but  if  I may  be  allowed  to  in- 
 troduce the  names  of  Engelhard,  Couperus  and  Van  Naersen,  and  to  calculate  on 
 the  adv'antages  which  must  be  derived  from  the  investigations  and  communications 
 of  these  gentlemen,  I am  sure  there  are  fevv  among  us  who  will  not  readily  admit 
 their  claim  to  pre-eminence  and  distinction. 
 
 “ Without  entering  on  the  various  subjects  which  offer  themselv'es  for  enquiry 
 on  Java,  and  which,  not  to  intrude  on  your  time  at  present,  may  be  more  advan- 
 tageously introduced  in  a list  of  desiderata,  I shall  confine  myself  to  a few  observa- 
 tions on  the  present  state  of  the  countries  in  its  vicinity  which  seem  most  to 
 demand  attention. 
 
 “ The  members  of  the  Society  must  have  been  forcibly  struck  with  the  rapid 
 progress  made  by  the  Asiatic  Society  in  Calcutta;  an  institution  of  recent  date, 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 141 
 
 compared  with  that  established  at  Batavia;  and  however  much  the  decline  of  the 
 latter  may  be  attributed  to  the  political  circumstances  already  stated,  I am  inclined 
 to  think,  that  its  decay  may  in  some  degree  have  been  accelerated  by  the  nature  of 
 its  constitution.  A very  essential  change  has  lately  been  effected,  and  the  regula- 
 tions of  the  Batavian  Society  have  been  new  modelled,  nearly  on  the  same  principle 
 as  those  of  the  Asiatic  Society  in  Bengal.  Although,  therefore,  we  may  not  at  the 
 present  moment  boast  of  so  many  eminent  literary  characters  as  are  to  be  found 
 among  the  members  of  that  Society,  it  is  but  fair  to  flatter  ourselves  with  the  ex- 
 pectation, that  under  the  fortunate  change  of  circumstances  which  has  taken  place, 
 with  regard  to  this  Island,  and  the  new  organization  of  the  Society,  our  exertions 
 may  tend  considerably  to  a better  knowledge  of  this  part  of  the  world,  and  the 
 general  advancement  of  literature  and  science. 
 
 “ The  objects  of  the  Asiatic  Society  in  Calcutta  are  so  fully  explained  in  the 
 discourses  of  Sir  William  Jones,  that  it  is  unnecessary  to  enter  into  any  explanation 
 of  them  here.  The  researches  of  that  Society  are  not  confined  immediately  to 
 Western  India;  they  extend  throughout  the  whole  regions  of  Asia.  The  whole 
 circle  of  the  sciences,  and  the  wide  field  of  Asia,  are  alike  open  to  your  observation, 
 but  it  occurs  to  me,  that  the  interests  and  object  of  the  Institution  will  be  more  ad- 
 vantageously promoted  by  its  exertions  being  directed  to  what  falls  more  immedi- 
 ately within  your  reach. 
 
 “ It  is  to  what  has  been  emphatically  termed  the  “ Further  East”  that  I would 
 direct  your  more  immediate  attention;  and  here,  if  I am  not  mistaken,  an  ample 
 field  is  afforded.  The  history  of  Sumatra,  by  Mr.  Marsden,  has  thrown  so  clear  a 
 light  on  the  country  and  character  of  the  inhabitants,  that  I have  but  to  refer  you 
 to  that  valuable  work  for  all  that  is  yet  known  respecting  that  interesting  Island. 
 Much,  however,  still  remains  to  be  done,  even  in  this  quarter,  and  our  recent  con- 
 nection with  Palembang,  and  the  Southern  Provinces  of  the  Island,  promises  to 
 afford  every  facihty  to  our  enquiries.  Of  Banca,  we  shall  no  doubt  possess  the 
 most  accurate  and  interesting  information,  on  the  return  of  Dr.  Horsfield,  and  as  our 
 recent  establishment  in  that  quarter  forms  a new  centre,  from  which  our  enquiries 
 may  diverge,  the  various  countries  in  its  vicinity  will  no  doubt  be  early  explored. 
 
 " Of  the  chain  of  Islands  lying  East  of  Java,  and  with  it  denominated  generally 
 the  Sunda  Islands,  I shall  only  notice  particularly  that  of  Bali.  This  Island  lies  so 
 close  to  Java  that  it  is  surprising  so  little  is  known  of  it.  All  accounts  agree,  that 
 vestiges  of  the  Hindu  or  B’hudist  religion,  perhaps  of  both,  are  still  to  be  found. 
 Some  accounts  go  so  far  as  to  state,  that  in  the  interior  of  the  country,  the  inha- 
 bitants are  divided  into  four  tribes,  termed  Bramana,  Sudra,  Wazier,  and  Sutra;  and 
 it  is  certain,  that  on  the  final  estabhshment  of  the  Mahomedan  rehgion  in  Java,  the 
 Hindus  or  B’hudists,  who  remained  unconverted,  took  refuge  in  that  Island.  I will 
 
142 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 not  venture  further  on  this  unkno-vra  ground,  feeling  satisfied  that  another  year  \\ill 
 not  he  allowed  to  pass  by  ^^^thout  personal  obser\'ation  on  the  spot  by  some  inquisi- 
 tive enquirer. 
 
 “ 'U'e  have  hitherto  only  adverted  to  the  countries  Ipng  in  the  more  immediate 
 ncinity  of  Java,  but  in  extending  the  prospect,  and  directing  our  views  eastward  to 
 the  other  islands  of  the  Archipelago,  our  attention  is  forcibly  attracted  by  the  great 
 Island  of  Borneo,  hitherto  a blank  on  the  chart  of  the  world.  From  the  best  in- 
 formation we  have  yet  been  able  to  obtain  of  this  immense  Island,  greater  in  extent 
 than  any  cinlized  nation  of  Europe,  and  abundantly  rich  in  the  most  valuable  natirral 
 productions,  it  would  appear  that  the  whole  coimtiy  was,  at  no  very  remote  period, 
 di^^ded  under  the  three  empires  of  Borneo,  Sucadana,  and  Banjer  Masin,  of  which 
 the  reigning  princes  of  the  two  latter  trace  their  descent  from  Mah’japahit  in  Java. 
 
 “ Borneo  or  B’rni,  now  tenned  by  us  Borneo  Proper,  having  been  the  first  port 
 risked  by  Europeans,  may  have  given  rise  to  the  name  of  Borneo  being  erroneously 
 applied  to  the  whole  Island,  which  by  the  native  mhabitants,  and  universally  by  the 
 Eastern  States,  is  termed  Pulu  K’lemantan.  Its  princes  deduce  their  origin  from  the 
 Sultans  of  Johore,  but  such  is  the  vTetched  state  to  which  their  country  has  fallen, 
 that  they  possess  little  more  than  nominal  authority,  except  on  the  immediate  spot 
 of  their  residence. 
 
 “ Sucadana,  though  the  most  conspicuous  in  latter  times,  is  now  reduced  to 
 little  more  than  a name.  To  the  rise  of  Sambas,  Pontiana,  and  other  petty  states 
 on  its  numerous  rivers,  originating  in  grants  and  usurpations  of  various  portions  of 
 the  empire,  the  destmction  of  the  seat  of  govermnent  by  the  Dutch,  and  the  general 
 imbecility  and  want  of  entei'prize  on  the  part  of  the  reigning  princes,  may  be  attri- 
 buted the  state  into  which  the  present  possessor  of  the  title  has  latterly  fallen.  He 
 resides  entirely  at  iMatan,  an  inconsiderable  place  far  up  an  adjacent  river.  This 
 prince  still  possesses  the  large  diamond  which  has  been  for  eight  generations  in  his 
 family,  but  retains  little  other  valuable  appendage  or  consideration  to  support  either 
 his  rank  or  authority. 
 
 “ Banjer  Masin,  although  not  much  indebted  to  the  interference  of  the  Dutch 
 in  promoting  its  internal  improvement,  still  owes  much  of  its  remaining  respectability 
 as  a State,  to  the  protection  afforded  by  the  presence  of  the  Em'opean  authority. 
 Deprived,  however,  latterly  of  that  support,  commlsed  by  the  consequences  of  the 
 measiues  which  closed  the  period  of  Dutch  influence,  and  exposed  to  the  inroads  of 
 piratical  enterjmse,  it  was  rapidly  falling  into  decay,  and  in  a short  period  its  princes 
 would  perhaps  have  had  little  more  to  boast  than  those  of  Sucadana,  had  not  the 
 fostering  care  of  the  European  power  been  again  extended  by  the  encom'agement 
 given  to  the  ^^’ishes  and  expectations  of  the  reigning  prince,  whose  conduct  affords, 
 amongst  many  others,  a convincing  proof  how  much  the  interests,  welfare,  and  even 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 143 
 
 existence  of  the  native  states  depend  on  the  ability  and  character  of  the  reigninj^ 
 prince 
 
 “ A more  intimate  acquaintance  with  Banjer  Masin  than  with  the  other  parts  of 
 the  Island  enables  us  to  speak  more  decidedly  with  regard  to  the  progress  of  civiliz- 
 ation in  the  interior  of  the  country,  and  the  general  state  of  the  Southern  Provinces. 
 Something  has  already  been  written  on  the  northern  part,  and  the  settlements 
 formerly  maintained  by  the  English  have  thrown  some  light  on  the  character  of  the 
 country  and  habits  of  the  population  in  that  quarter ; the  interference  which  has 
 been  found  requisite,  for  the  immediate  suppression  of  piracy  in  the  states  formerly 
 appertaining  to  Sucadana,  will  also  afford  the  means  by  which  much  interesting  in- 
 formation will  be  obtained  from  thence. 
 
 Banjer  Masin,  in  common  with  Java,  still  retains  some  vestiges  of  Hindu 
 antiquity,  and  among  others  it  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  notice  the  circumstance 
 of  the  Sultan  being  in  possession  of  a golden  tortoise  with  several  rings,  on  which 
 are  engraved  the  figures  of  Ishwara  and  other  Hindu  deities,  and  impressions  of  the 
 cow  and  elephant  f . 
 
 “ Of  the  population  of  the  Island,  all  that  we  are  yet  justified  in  saying  is,  that 
 the  Moslems  appear  to  have  estabhshed  themselves  in  authority  over  the  aborigines, 
 who  are  generally  termed  Orang  Dayak,  in  those  parts  of  the  country  adjacent  to 
 settlements  which  they  have  formed  on  the  banks  of  the  many  rivers  with  which  the 
 
 * The  Factory  of  Banjer  Masin  was  withdrawn,  and  the  connection  abandoned  by  the  Dutch,  early 
 in  1809,  the  Sultan  purchasing,  for  the  sum  of  50,000  Rix  Dollars,  the  forts  and  buildings,  on  his  being 
 declared  independent. 
 
 ■f  The  manner  in  which  the  golden  tortoise  was  discovered  is  thus  related:— “In  the  reign  of  the 
 former  Sultan,  a native  of  Banjer  Masin,  when  at  sea  in  company  with  a Kling,  or  native  of  the  coast  of 
 Coromandel,  ascertained  from  conversation  that  the  latter,  who  was  a Hindu,  had  a secret  object  in  pro- 
 ceeding to  Banjer  Masin,  and  at  length  discovered  that  object  to  be  the  recovery  of  property  belonging  to 
 his  ancestors,  which  appeared  to  lie  buried  in  the  earth  at  a place  called  Mirampiad.  Stimulated  by  the 
 expectation  of  gain,  he  dissuaded  the  Hindu  from  immediately  prosecuting  his  object,  and  bent  his  own 
 course  directly  to  the  spot,  where,  after  digging  to  a considerable  depth,  he  discovered  several  compart- 
 ments inclosed  by  walls,  in  one  of  which  he  found  the  tortoise,  with  a pot  of  gold-dust  on  the  back.” 
 Intelligence  being  immediately  carried  to  the  Sultan,  his  further  researches  were  prevented,  in  consequence 
 of  the  spot  being  seized  as  a droit  of  royalty  ; after  which  no  further  investigation  appears  to  have  taken 
 place.  The  cow  is  said  to  be  never  seen  among  the  emblems  of  Hindu  or  Vedantic  Mythology  ; but  the 
 Ox  frequently.  The  elephant  is  introduced  merely  as  an  ornament,  except  when  repeated  in  certain  stories 
 with  other  figures  of  the  drama.  The  elephant  exhibited  on  the  seal-ring  may  have  some  allusion  to  the 
 Calinga  or  Telinga  state,  the  chief  of  which  was  denominated  the  Gaja  Putty,  or  Lord  of  Elephants. 
 In  like  manner  as  the  Chief  or  King  of  the  Carnatic  was  denominated  Nara  Patty,  or  Lord  of  Men,  but  the 
 seal  of  Carnatic  was  a rvild-hog.  Pillars  and  remains  of  buildings,  evidently  traces  of  a more  enlightened 
 population  at  a remote  period,  have  been  noticed  a considerable  way  up  the  river ; but  until  that  part  of 
 the  country  is  visited  by  Europeans,  it  would  be  premature  to  offer  any  observation  on  their  origin  and 
 design. 
 
 1 
 
lit 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 Island  is  watered.  These  extend  some  distance  inland,  but  the  Mahomedan  in- 
 fluence has  not  spread  far  into  the  interior.  Indeed,  the  mass  of  the  population, 
 which  may  have  submitted  to  the  Moslem  Chiefs,  still  remains  unconverted  to  the 
 Mahomedan  faith,  and  in  the  interior  their  habits  are  so  barbarous  as  to  prevent  all 
 intercourse,  even  with  the  Mahomedans  most  in  their  \'icinity.  Those  subjected  to 
 the  Mahomedans  appear  to  be  mostly  tractable  and  of  mild  disposition,  but  so 
 wretchedly  sunk  in  barbarous  stupidity  as  to  submit  to  every  indignity  without 
 resistance,  while  those  who  still  retain  their  independence,  and  who  are  to  be  con- 
 sidered as  the  bulk  of  the  original  population,  form  innumerable  ferocious  tribes, 
 constantly  at  variance  with  each  other,  and  indi\’idually  rejecting  internal  govern- 
 ment and  controul. 
 
 “ It  may  be  a question  whether  the  present  state  of  society,  among  the  unsub- 
 dued inhabitants,  is  to  be  attributed  to  any  marked  distinction  between  them  and 
 those  who  have  submitted  to  the  Mahomedan  mle,  or  whether  the  barbarity,  which 
 now  disgi'aces  human  nature,  may  not  be  traced  in  a great  measure  to  the  conduct 
 obseiTed  to  those  who  have  submitted  to  a foreign  influence.  Be  this  as  it  may,  it 
 is  a lamentable  fact  not  to  be  disputed,  that  at  the  present  day,  almost  within  sight 
 of  Java,  the  sacrifice  of  human  beings  at  ceremonies  and  festivals  is  so  common, 
 that  entei*prises  are  undertaken  divested  of  every  other  object  but  the  attainment  of 
 human  beings  for  such  occasions. 
 
 “ Where  such  practices  are  prevalent,  it  is  not  to  be  expected  that  a country 
 can  boast  extensive  population ; indeed,  under  such  circumstances,  it  may  rather  be 
 matter  of  surprise  that  Borneo  should  be  so  populous  as  it  is.  Happily  there  is  no 
 state  of  human  nature  so  debased  as  not  to  afford  a field  for  improvement,  and 
 although  the  horrid  custom  alluded  to  would  seem  to  check  any  sanguine  hope  of  a 
 rapid  change  being  effected,  there  are  some  traits  to  be  found,  even  in  these  savages, 
 which  afford  an  opening  for  intercourse  and  consequent  improvement.  They  are 
 not  without  industry,  and  when  met  by  candour  and  kind  treatment,  are  rather 
 disposed  than  otherwise  to  a trading  intercourse.  From  mild  and  judicious  manage- 
 ment much  may  be  expected. 
 
 “ From  what  has  been  said  of  the  present  state  of  Borneo,  it  follows,  that  we 
 are  not  to  calculate  on  any  immediate  addition  to  our  stock  of  useful  arts ; but  as 
 every  untrodden  path  affords  some  new  incitement  to  the  inquisitive  mind,  we  may 
 look  for  much  in  the  various  branches  of  natural  history ; — to  the  philosophic  mind 
 a wide  and  interesting  field  is  opened,  and  while  we  contemplate,  in  a political  point 
 of  riew,  the  advantages  which  must  result  from  bringing  forth,  and  directing  in  a 
 proper  comse,  the  latent  energies  and  resources  of  so  large  a portion  of  the  habitable 
 globe,  it  must  be  a pleasing  reflection  to  the  philanthropist,  that  so  many  of  our 
 fellow-creatures  are  thus  gradually  retrieved  from  ignorance,  barbarism,  and  self- 
 destruction. 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 145 
 
 “ Proceeding  east,  our  progress  is  arrested  by  the  Celebes,  an  island  as  remark- 
 able for  its  peculiar  shape,  as  for  the  martial  and  commercial  enterprise  of  a great 
 portion  of  its  inhabitants.  Of  this  island,  however,  we  yet  know  but  little  that  is 
 to  be  depended  upon,  except  of  the  south-west  limb,  and  the  immediate  neighbour- 
 hood of  the  north-east  point. 
 
 “ Among  the  records  of  the  Dutch  government  a very  interesting  map  of  the 
 south-westeni  limb  has  been  found ; and  from  the  minuteness  and  ability  with 
 which  it  appears  to  be  executed,  it  promises  to  throw  much  light  on  the  general 
 nature  of  the  country;  and  will,  at  all  events,  facihtate  a more  accurate  survey 
 whenever  circumstances  may  admit  of  such  an  undertaking. 
 
 “ The  most  prominent  nations  in  this  part  of  Celebes  are  the  Bugis  and  Ma- 
 casar  or  Mengasar,  but  hitherto  we  have  only  discovered  one  wiatten  character, 
 distinct  from  every  other  in  the  Eastern  Islands.  The  Mahomedan  religion  prevails 
 generally  throughout  this  part  of  the  island,  but  in  the  northern  provinces,  beyond 
 Mandhar,  and  generally  in  every  interior  part  of  the  island,  human  nature  appears 
 nearly  in  the  same  rude  state  as  we  have  described  it  in  the  interior  of  Borneo. 
 
 “ The  people  are,  however,  knoum  under  the  general  denomination  of  Alfur 
 or  Arafura,  which  term  is  extended  to  the  same  description  of  inhabitants  in  the 
 islands  further  east ; these  last  do  not  appear  to  differ  essentially  from  the  Orang 
 Dayak  of  Borneo,  and  may  ^^^th  them  be  considered  as  the  aborigines  of  these 
 islands.  The  Celebes,  from  its  peculiar  figure,  seems  admirably  adapted  for  the 
 purposes  of  commercial  intercourse ; and  although  but  a very  small  portion  seems 
 yet  to  have  advanced  to  any  degree  of  cirtlization,  they  are  renowned  among  other 
 eastern  nations  for  the  spirit  of  commerce  and  war.  They  have  established  various 
 colonies  on  the  opposite  coast  of  Borneo,  and  on  the  shores  of  the  adjacent  islands, 
 and  even  maintain  an  influence  of  no  inconsiderable  weight  in  the  pohtics  of  the 
 Malayan  States  west  as  far  as  the  Straits  of  Malacca.  The  Bugis  and  Macasar 
 nations,  like  the  Javanese,  are  nations  perfectly  distinct  from  the  Malays  ; but  we 
 are  not  yet  sufficiently  acquainted  with  the  native  history,  to  assert  how  far  they 
 are  entitled  to  be  considered  as  the  indigenous  inhabitants  of  the  country. 
 
 “ We  know  pretty  accurately  the  date  of  the  introduction  of  the  Mahomedan 
 faith,  and  some  leading  circumstances  relating  to  the  conversion  of  the  people ; but 
 from  the  advanced  state  of  their  civilization  compared  with  that  of  the  Ai*afuras,  it 
 must  be  inferred,  that  at  the  period  of  its  introduction,  they  had  attained  a con- 
 siderable degree  of  improvement  beyond  the  bulk  of  the  population ; and  indeed, 
 we  are  borne  out  by  tradition  and  bistory  in  the  belief  that,  in  this  part  of  the  island, 
 there  existed  a powerful  nation,  long  antecedent  to  the  introduction  of  Maho- 
 medanism.  M e are  not,  however,  prepared  to  say  from  what  foreign  quarter  this 
 portion  of  the  native  population  was  first  civilized,  and  we  are  not  yet  informed 
 whether,  as  in  Java,  any  traces  are  to  be  found  of  Hinduism.  On  these  points, 
 
 u 
 
U6 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 and  in  short  on  eveiy  essential  point,  we  have  much  to  learn ; and  the  field  is  so 
 important  and  interesting,  that  I flatter  myself  the  period  is  not  far  distant,  when 
 the  pages  of  our  transactions  may  throw  much  fight  on  the  subject,  '^^'e  have 
 already,  as  I before  noticed,  obtained  through  the  assistance  of  Captain  Phillips, 
 the  Resident,  very  extensive  vocabularies  of  the  language,  and  the  enquiries  which 
 have  been  set  on  foot  by  that  gentleman,  at  the  suggestion  of  the  Society,  promise 
 the  most  interesting  result. 
 
 “ Further  East  lies  the  Island  of  Jelolo  or  Halamahira,  which  is  situated 
 between  the  Moluccas  and  the  Papua  Islands,  as  Celebes  itself  is  situated  between 
 the  Moluccas  and  Borneo.  Jelolo  has  sometunes,  fi-om  its  form,  been  denominated 
 little  Celebes.  With  the  western  coast  of  this  Island  we  are  less  acquainted,  but 
 the  inhabitants  of  the  eastern  coasts,  especially  those  of  Asa  and  Maba,  are,  from 
 their  connection  on  the  jNIoluccas,  well  knoAvii.  These,  however,  would  appear  to 
 occupy  so  small  a portion  of  the  countiy  compared  vith  the  Alfurs,  that  we  can 
 liardly  be  said  to  be  yet  fully  acquainted  vith  the  bulk  of  the  inhabitants. 
 
 On  this  island,  therefore,  and  the  group  of  smaller  islands  in  its  neighbour- 
 hood, including  the  Moluccas,  the  first  object  appears  to  be  that  of  ascertaining 
 coiTectly  what  is  already  known ; and  after  reducing  the  same  to  such  a form  as 
 may  funiish  a basis,  or  at  least  determined  points,  fi'om  which  to  proceed  on  fiuther 
 enquir)'  and  investigation,  to  persevere  steadily  in  the  attainment  of  what  is  defi- 
 cient. Om’  infoinnation  on  the  natural  history  of  the  Moluccas  is  perhaps  more 
 complete  than  that  of  any  region  of  the  East,  and  it  is  not  among  the  least  dis- 
 tinguished records  of  om’  Society,  that  we  find  a manuscript  copy  of  an  original 
 work  of  the  celebrated  Rumphius. 
 
 “ I fear  I have  already  detained  you  too  long  in  thus  particularising  the  present 
 state  of  these  Islands,  considering  that  however  interesting  and  unportant  they  may 
 be,  as  Ipng  contiguous  to  the  seat  of  our  deliberations,  they  embrace  but  a small 
 portion  of  the  extensive  tract  which  lays  open  to  the  Society,  even  within  the  range 
 that  I am  desirous  of  defining.  To  enter  upon  the  whole,  othenrise  than  generally, 
 would  be  foreign  to  the  object  of  the  present  discourse,  and  I am  far  from  being 
 competent  to  undertake  the  task ; but  while  I hastily  pass  over  New  Guinea  and 
 New  Holland,  vith  the  numerous  islands  of  the  Southern  Seas,  reserring  the 
 observations  which  occiu'  on  these  for  a future  occasion,  I cannot  refrain  from 
 noticing  the  rapid  progress  of  the  European  settlements  in  the  more  Southern  parts 
 of  New  Holland,  and  anticipating  the  practicability  of  obtaining,  in  concert  vith 
 men  of  research  in  that  quarter,  early  and  interesting  infoi’mation  on  many  import- 
 ant points  which  still  remain  doubtful. 
 
 “ Much  has  been  said  and  collected  by  Mr.  Dalpunple  on  the  Sulu  Islands,  and 
 on  the  large  Island  of  IMindanawi  or  Majindanau,  but  it  must  be  confessed,  that 
 very  little  fight  is  yet  thrown  on  the  history  of  man  in  those  regions — the  mine  is 
 
 o 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 147 
 
 still  unexplored,  and  from  the  notice  in  the  writings  of  the  Seignor  Margarette  and 
 others  on  Luconia  and  the  Philippine  Islands,  much  may  still  be  expected  in  aid  of 
 what  has  already  been  suggested. 
 
 From  the  intimate  political  connection  now  opening  with  the  Spanish  posses- 
 sions in  both  hemispheres,  the  period  is,  I trust,  not  far  distant,  when  an  inter- 
 course between  our  Society  and  similar  institutions  existing  at  Manilla,  may  bring  to 
 light  much  interesting  information.  Under  existing  circumstances,  it  will  naturally 
 occur,  that  no  time  should  be  lost  in  opening  correspondence,  and  in  encouraging 
 the  most  unreserved  and  cordial  communication. 
 
 Had  I not  already  trespassed  too  long  on  your  time,  I should  have  been 
 inclined  to  indulge  at  some  length  on  the  prospect  which  the  projected  enterprise  to 
 Japan  affords  in  aid  of  our  researches  in  that  quarter.  From  the  distinguished 
 talents  of  Dr.  Ainshe,  the  English  Secretary  to  the  Society,  who  proceeds  as  Com- 
 missioner on  the  part  of  the  English  government,  we  have  just  grounds  for  antici- 
 pating the  acquisition  of  much  that  is  to  be  learnt  from  these  remote  and  interesting 
 countries. 
 
 “ I must  however  now  apologise  for  the  very  unconnected  and  diffuse  manner 
 in  which  I have  taken  the  hberty  to  address  you.  The  occasion  required  that  I 
 should  say  something,  and  I have  already  stated  how  inadequate  I felt  myself  to  say 
 any  thing  to  the  purpose.  I cannot,  however,  conclude  without  offering  to  you  my 
 congratidations  on  the  revival  of  the  Institution  under  its  present  promising  circum- 
 stances, nor  without  noticing  the  hberal  manner  in  which  you  have  undertaken  the 
 pubhcation  of  a ^ New  Edition  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures  in  the  Malayan  character.’ 
 Allow  me  to  assure  you,  that  I am  individually  deeply  interested  in  the  success  of 
 the  Institution,  and  that,  while  it  may  be  in  my  power,  from  my  official  situation,  or 
 otherwise,  to  encourage  and  protect  your  laudable  pursuits  and  undertakings,  you 
 may  calculate  on  the  most  unreserved  and  liberal  support  of  government.” 
 
 “ A Discoiu'se  delivered  on  the  11th  September,  1815,  hij  the  Honourable  Thomas 
 
 Stamford  Raffles,  President. 
 
 “ Gentlemen, 
 
 “ A series  of  domestic  afflictions,  alas ! but  too  well  known  to  you  all, 
 have  followed  in  such  quick  succession  to  the  melancholy  event  which  it  has  long 
 been  my  duty  to  communicate,  that,  until  the  present  hour,  I have  felt  myself  in 
 every  way  unequal  to  the  trying  task  of  publicly  announcing  to  you  the  death  of 
 om:  noble  and  enlightened  patron,  the  late  Earl  of  Minto ; an  event  so  unlooked 
 for,  and  so  painfully  calamitous  in  its  immediate  effects,  that,  to  use  the  energetic 
 language  of  Mr.  Muntinghe,  it  ^ obliged  us,’  as  it  were,  ^ to  close  our  li^JS  bef  ore  the 
 Almighty  !’ 
 
 u 2 
 
118 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 For  how  difficult  was  it  to  be  reconciled  to  our  wishes,  and  to  our  natural 
 conceptions  of  right  and  ^^Tong,  that  a man  of  such  public  and  private  worth  should 
 have  been  lost  to  his  country,  and  snatched  away  from  the  embraces  of  his  friends 
 and  family,  at  the  very  moment  he  was  to  receive  the  only  reward  which,  in  this 
 world,  could  recompense  his  past  labom's — a calm  and  placid  recollection  of  the 
 arduous,  but  successful  career  he  had  run  ? How  difficult  was  it  to  be  reconciled  to 
 our  ideas  of  remunerative  justice,  that  the  man  who  had  so  successfully  served  his 
 country,  should  only  live  to  see  his  triumphs  completed,  but  not  be  allowed  to  enjoy 
 them  ; that  he  should  not  even  have  been  allowed  to  live  the  necessary  space  of  time 
 to  make  the  extent  of  his  services  known,  and  to  describe  the  nature  of  the  conquests 
 he  had  made  ? And  if,  in  this  instance,  it  may  occur  that  the  public  and  the  nation 
 is,  if  not  more,  at  least  as  much,  the  sufferer  as  the  indiHdual,  how,  again,  is  it  to  be 
 reconciled  to  indiHdual  desert,  that  a man  so  eminent  in  private  and  domestic  rirtue ; 
 who  had  been  seen,  descending  fi*om  the  high  station  which  he  held,  hastening  in 
 person  to  the  pestilential  shores  of  Bataria,  administering  on  the  way  every  aid  and 
 assistance  to  a sickly  son  ; and  who,  after  this  beloved  son  fell  a sacrifice,  knew  how 
 to  tranquillize  his  mind  by  the  most  elegant  and  consoling  reflection,  that  his  death 
 was  the  Jirst  and  only  grievance  which  either  this  son  or  any  of  his  children  had  ever 
 inflicted  on  their  parents ; that  this  father,  blessed  with  such  a family,  and  with  such 
 a sense  of  domestic  felicity,  should  be  snatched  aw^ay  by  death,  almost  in  sight  of  his 
 home,  and  wffiile  they  w^ere  stretching  forth  their  arms  to  receive  and  embrace  him  ? 
 
 “ If  not  so  strong  and  intense  in  their  feehng,  yet  of  the  same  nature,  and  more 
 extensive  in  their  operation,  WTre  the  ties  which  attached  him  to  this  colony — to  the 
 whole  community  of  Java,  and  especially  to  our  Society — a tender  and  parental  care 
 for  the  Island  of  Java  was  publicly  avowed  on  different  occasions ; the  proofs  of  it 
 were  received ; the  European  community  was  saved  and  preserved  by  his  humanity, 
 and  on  his  responsibility : for  the  native  administration  principles  were  laid  dowm, 
 on  which  the  wffiole  of  the  present  stmcture  has  been  raised ; and  in  every  instance 
 a wish  w'as  erinced  of  improving  the  successes  of  war,  as  much  in  favour  of  the 
 conquered  as  of  the  conqueror. 
 
 “ It  would  not  be  proper,  on  this  occasion,  to  enter  into  particulars ; but  who 
 does  not  gi’atefully  recollect  the  general  tenor  of  his  Lordship’s  conduct  and  demean- 
 our while  on  Java  ? administering  aid  and  assistance  with  his  owm  hands  to  the 
 maimed  and  w'ounded  of  his  enemies ; setting,  in  the  midst  of  his  successes,  an  ex- 
 ample of  moderation  and  simplicity  of  manner  even  to  the  vanquished — proceeding 
 often  in  public  without  any  other  signs  of  gi-eatness  and  distinction,  than  wiiat  the 
 whole  community,  singly  and  jointly,  w'ere  eager  to  shew  him ; never  missing  an 
 opportunity  of  doing  even  a temporary  good ; and  conciliating,  by  these  means,  the 
 minds  of  the  public  to  such  a degree,  that  enemies  were  rendered  friends,  and  that 
 the  names  of  conqueror  and  subduer  were  lost  in  those  of  protector  and  liberator. 
 
J 
 
P?^  - 1^  ■'■>7  -T*, --  ,.  , 5-rrv 
 
 , ■■:’^:-y^  i^h  i ■ 
 
 A'f  >i  • ' * ■.  ‘ St--‘W* 
 
 ■ '.A.'  ..  ,■.>/«  * -'s  i 
 
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 ti  ». 
 
 ■%  -,. 
 
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 :^..*>'rt'j-,;,:  ?*:  c'  .;j  . a* 
 
 1 _ 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 1 19 
 
 How  hard,  therefore,  was  it  for  the  befriended  and  protected  to  lose  their  protector 
 and  liberator ; and  for  the  protector  himself  not  to  be  allowed  to  see  the  fruits  of  his 
 benevolence  come  to  a proper  maturity ! 
 
 “ But,  however  deeply  we  may,  from  these  reflections,  be  led  to  bewail  this 
 melancholy  event,  let  us  beware  not  to  murmur  against  the  ways  of  Providence ; 
 nothing  would  be  more  unbecoming  a literary  and  scientific  society.  Let  us  rather 
 di'aw  from  all  these  circumstances  the  consoling  reflection,  that  as  Divine  Justice 
 will  never  fail,  and  fidl  compensation  seemed  to  be  wanting  on  this  side  the  grave, 
 the  deficiency  will  be  amply  filled  up  in  another  state,  wLere  life,  bliss,  and  happiness 
 will  be  everlasting. 
 
 “ Having  paid  this  humble  tribute  to  the  memory  of  our  departed  Patron,  I pro- 
 ceed to  notice  the  result  of  those  inquiries,  which  have  either  been  set  on  foot  by  the 
 Society,  or  have  fallen  under  its  immediate  observation,  in  the  various  branches  of 
 its  pursuits,  since  I had  last  the  honour  of  publicly  addressing  you. 
 
 At  that  period  Dr.  Horsfield  had,  under  instructions  from  Government,  just 
 commenced  his  laborious  exertions  on  Banca : we  have  since  seen  those  exertions 
 brought  to  a close ; and  I have  to  report  the  collection  of  the  most  complete  informa- 
 tion regarding  the  position,  constitution,  and  productions  of  that  important  island. 
 The  state  of  society  has  not  been  omitted  in  the  investigation,  and  satisfactory  data 
 have  been  fmmished,  on  which  to  estimate  the  present  condition  of  its  inhabitants,  as 
 well  as  to  contemplate  plans  for  their  progressive  advancement  in  civilization  and 
 happiness. 
 
 It  is  during  the  later  periods  only  of  the  European  establishments  in  the  East, 
 that  Banca  has  attracted  notice.  The  discovery  of  the  tin  mines  about  the  conclu- 
 sion of  the  last  century,  first  gave  it  celebrity ; but  we  can  only  date  the  commence- 
 ment of  scientific  investigation,  or  of  European  control,  from  the  period  of  its  ces- 
 sion to  the  British  Government  in  1812.  The  Dutch  government,  it  is  true,  set  on 
 foot  various  inquiries  at  different  periods  ; and  some  account  of  the  population  and 
 produce  of  the  country  is  contained  in  the  earher  volumes  of  our  Transactions  ; but 
 those  views  being  confined  to  commercial  objects,  and  the  despotic  sway  of  the  native 
 government  of  Palembang  still  remaining  absolute,  but  little  was  knowm  of  the 
 comitry  beyond  the  extent  of  the  produce  in  tin  which  it  could  annually  export. 
 
 In  explanation  of  the  geographical  description,  and  in  order  to  point  out  the 
 places  referred  to  in  the  descriptions  of  the  mines,  and  in  the  detail  of  the  mineralo- 
 gical  and  botanical  remarks.  Dr.  Horsfield  has  constructed  the  outhne  of  a map,  in 
 wLich  are  laid  down  the  principal  rivers,  the  mountains  and  ridges  of  hills,  ^vith  the 
 settlements  of  the  Malays  and  Chinese,  and  the  divisions  adopted  by  the  original 
 inhabitants. 
 
 After  entering  into  a detailed  geographical  account  of  the  Island,  and  furnish- 
 ing statistic  tables  of  the  population  and  produce.  Dr.  Horsfield  proceeds  to  a narra- 
 
150 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 live  of  the  mineralogical  appearances,  as  explanatory  of  the  constitution  of  the  mines, 
 and  of  the  geological  histoiy  of  the  country. 
 
 “ On  the  mineralogical  constitution  of  Banca,  he  observes,  that  ^ the  direction 
 of  the  Island  being  from  North-west  to  South-east,  it  follows  not  only  the  direction 
 of  Sumatra  and  the  Malayan  peninsula,  but  the  large  chain  of  Asiatic  mountains, 
 one  of  the  many  branches  of  which  terminates  in  Ceylon,  while  another,  traversing 
 Arakan,  Pegu,  the  Malayan  peninsula,  and  probably  Sumatra,  sends  olf  an  inferior 
 range  through  Banca  and  Billiton,  where  it  may  be  considered  to  disappear.’  The 
 elevated  parts  of  Banca  are  observed  to  have  the  same  constitution  as  the  gi*eat  con- 
 tinental chain,  being  composed  principally  of  granite.  Next  to  these  occurs  a species 
 of  rock,  which  he  terms  ^ ?'ed  h'on-stone,’  extensively  distributed  on  situations  of 
 secondary  elevation,  in  single  rocks,  or  in  veins  of  many  united  together,  covering 
 large  tracts  of  comitry.  Tracts  composed  of  this  stone  are  bounded  by  alluvial  dis- 
 tricts, which  are  again  subdivided  into  such  as  are  formed  of  waving  hills,  gi'adually 
 rising  on  each  other,  apparently  of  prior  fonuation,  and  of  such  as  are  low  and  level, 
 of  recent  origin,  and  confining  the  discharge  of  rivers.  Those  districts  which  occur 
 in  juxta  position  of  the  primitive  portions,  filling  the  space  between  these  and  the 
 veins  of  ‘ red  iron-stone  or,  again,  between  those  and  the  allmdal  parts,  are  stratified, 
 the  strata  being  uniformly  horizontally  arranged. 
 
 “ It  is  through  these  horizontal  strata  that  the  tin  ore  is  represented  to  be  dis- 
 seminated ; and,  as  far  as  has  hitherto  been  remarked,  it  appears  to  lie  either  imme- 
 diately under  the  sm'face,  or  at  no  great  distance  below  it. 
 
 “ Another  section  of  the  report  contains  a view  of  the  tin  mines,  exhibiting  a 
 general  enumeration  of  those  worked  at  present,  or  in  former  periods,  with  an  account 
 of  the  process  of  mining,  and  of  the  economy  of  the  mines. 
 
 “ The  process  of  mining  on  Banca  is  remarkable  for  its  simphcity ; it  consists  in 
 an  excavation,  of  a square  or  oblong  form,  made  by  digging  perpendicularly  to  the 
 beds,  or  strata,  containing  the  ore,  and  in  a proper  application  of  the  water,  to  facili- 
 tate the  labours  of  the  miners  and  the  washing  of  the  ore.  There  is  no  necessity,  as 
 in  other  countries,  where  the  metal  hes  concealed  in  deep  veins,  to  have  recourse 
 to  difficult  operations,  or  expensive  macliinery.  The  process,  indeed,  requires  so 
 little  previous  instruction,  that  it  is  mostly  performed  by  persons  whose  only  quahfi- 
 cation  is  a robust  constitution.  A favourable  spot  being  selected,  the  pit  is  sketched 
 out ; a canal  conducted  from  the  nearest  rivulet ; and  the  miners  excavate  until  they 
 arrive  at  the  stratum  containing  the  ore : this  is  then  deposited  in  heaps  near  the 
 water,  so  as  to  be  conveniently  placed  for  washing.  The  aqueduct  is  lined  vrith  the 
 bark  of  large  trees ; and  a stronger  current  being  produced  by  the  admission  of  more 
 water,  the  heaps  are  thrown  in  and  agitated  by  the  workmen — the  particles  of 
 ore  subsiding  by  means  of  their  gravity,  and  the  earth  being  carried  away  by  the 
 current. 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 151 
 
 “ When  a sufficient  quantity  of  ore  is  thus  accumulated,  the  process  of  smelting 
 commences : this  is  also  very  minutely  and  accurately  described  by  Dr.  Horsfield. 
 It  is  unnecessary  to  observe,  that  almost  all  the  operations  connected  with  the  pro- 
 cess of  mining  and  the  refining  of  the  metal,  are  perfonned  by  Chinese. 
 
 “ In  his  botanical  pursuits.  Dr.  Horsfield  has  been  peculiarly  successful ; his 
 descriptions  comprising  a collection  of  upwards  of  five  hundi-ed  plants,  of  which 
 sixteen  appear  to  be  of  doubtful  genera. 
 
 “ An  account  of  the  inhabitants,  their  mode  of  life  and  occupations,  the  state  of 
 agriculture,  and  the  history  of  the  different  settlements,  is  introduced  into  this  valu- 
 able report,  which  I hope  will  shortly  appear  in  print,  under  the  liberal  patronage 
 and  support  of  the  East  India  Company.  In  this  expectation,  and  that  I may  not 
 diminish  the  interest  excited  in  its  favour,  or  exceed  the  latitude  with  which  I am 
 vested,  by  more  extensive  drafts  on  the  interesting  information  which  it  contains,  I 
 shall  close  these  notices  on  Banca  by  a short  account  of  the  extent  and  character  of 
 the  population,  as  it  appeared  to  Dr.  Horsfield  at  the  early  period  of  the  establish- 
 ment of  European  influence. 
 
 The  inhabitants  of  Banca  consist  of  Malays,  Chinese,  Orang  Gunung,  or  moun- 
 taineers, and  Rayads,  (Orang  Laut,)  or  sea  people.  The  Malays  are  few  in  number, 
 of  a peaceable  disposition,  but  indolent,  and  of  little  importance  in  the  affairs  of  the 
 Island.  The  Chinese  preserv^e,  on  Banca,  their  original  habits  of  industry,  enter- 
 prise, and  perseverance  ; they  are  the  most  usefid  among  the  inhabitants,  and  indis- 
 pensable in  the  labours  of  the  mines.  The  general  character  of  the  Orang  Gunung, 
 or  moimtaineers,  the  original  and,  perhaps,  most  interesting  portion  of  the  popula- 
 tion, is  Hide  simplicity.  Dispersed  over  large  tracts  in  the  interior  of  the  country, 
 they  live  nearly  in  a state  of  nature,  but  submit  without  resistance  to  the  general 
 regulations  which  have  been  established,  and  willingly  perform  the  labours  required 
 of  them,  although  their  natural  timidity  and  wandering  habits  render  them,  in  a con- 
 siderable degree,  inaccessible  to  Europeans.  The  Rayads  are  the  remains  of  a pecu- 
 liar race  of  people  so  called,  living  with  their  families  and  household  in  small  prows 
 in  the  Bays  of  Jebus  and  Klabut,  and  obtaining  a subsistence  by  fishing  and  adven- 
 ture : particulars  of  the  habits  and  dialects  of  both  the  mountaineers  and  Rayads,  uill 
 form  a separate  notice. 
 
 “ On  Borneo,  if  we  have  not  derived  the  advantage  of  scientific  inquiry,  we  have 
 yet  added  considerably  to  our  stock  of  information,  in  a more  correct  knowledge  of 
 the  character  and  habits  of  the  native  population ; in  the  collection  of  vocabularies 
 of  many  of  the  dialects  of  the  country,  and  in  the  attainment  of  many  interesting 
 particulars  regarding  the  extensive  colonies  of  Chinese,  by  which  the  gold  mines  are 
 . worked. 
 
 “ Some  notices  have  been  received  of  ruins  of  temples,  statues,  and  dilapidated 
 cities,  and  of  the  existence  of  various  inscriptions  in  different  parts  of  the  coimtry. 
 
152 
 
 MU.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 in  characters  unknown  to  the  Chinese,  Malay,  or  Dayak ; but  the  information  yet 
 received  is  too  vague,  and,  in  some  instances,  too  contradictory  to  be  relied  upon ; 
 and  the  question  whether  this  island,  at  any  former  period,  rose  to  any  considerable 
 degi'ee  of  greatness,  must  yet  remain  undecided.  Embanking,  as  it  were,  the  navi- 
 gable pathway  between  the  eastern  and  western  hemispheres,  and  lying  contiguous 
 to  the  most  populous  regions  of  the  globe,  China  and  Japan,  there  can  be  little  doubt 
 but,  at  one  period,  she  must  have  risen  far  above  her  present  state  of  degradation  and 
 neglect.  That  Borneo  was  \'isited,  many  centuries  ago,  by  the  Chinese  and  Japanese, 
 is  well  estabhshed ; but  whether  the  country  was  ever  more  extensively  colonized  by 
 either  of  those  nations,  than  it  is  at  present  from  China,  must  be  left  to  future 
 inquiry.  Porcelain  jars,  plates,  vases,  and  earthen  utensils  of  various  descriptions, 
 the  manufacture  of  China  and  Japan,  are  frequently  discovered  in  chfferent  parts  of 
 the  country ; and  such  is  the  veneration  in  which  these  articles,  so  found,  are  held, 
 that  a single  jar  of  this  description  has  been  known  to  be  piuchased  by  the  Dayaks 
 of  the  interior,  for  a sum  not  far  short  of  two  hundred  pounds  sterling : these  jars 
 are  prized  by  the  Dayaks  as  the  supposed  depositories  of  the  ashes  of  their  fore- 
 fathers. 
 
 “ I would  here  notice  the  information  collected  regarding  the  different  tribes  of 
 Dayaks  which  have  come  under  observation,  did  not  the  detail  appear  misplaced  in 
 the  very  general  view  which  I am,  of  necessity,  compelled  to  take  of  the  subject.  I 
 will  only  observe,  that  from  a comparative  vocabulary  of  as  many  of  their  chalects  as 
 are  at  present  attainable,  they  appear  to  differ  but  httle  from  the  Malayan ; that 
 of  the  numerous  tribes  described  by  name  and  peculiarities,  several  are  represented 
 as  tattooed  ; and  that  some  are  noticed  with  curled  hair,  and  resembling  the  Papuas. 
 
 “ In  the  vicinity  of  Banjar-Masing,  no  opportunity  has  been  lost  of  improving  our 
 intelligence.  Mr.  Alexander  Hare,  the  founder  of  the  interesting  colony  estabhshed 
 in  the  southern  part  of  the  Island,  has  himself  penetrated  across  the  south-westeni 
 peninsula ; and  as  confidence  increases,  we  may  look  to  a more  extensive  intercourse 
 with  the  rude  and  scattered  tribes  of  the  interior. 
 
 “ In  a former  discourse,  I took  occasion  to  notice,  that  the  most  prominent  peo- 
 })le  on  Celebes  were  the  Bugis  and  Macasar ; that,  though  speaking  different  lan- 
 guages, they  adopted  the  same  peculiar  written  character;  and  that  the  Maho- 
 medan  religion  prevailed  generally  in  those  parts  of  the  Island,  which  might  be  con- 
 sidered to  have  at  all  advanced  from  a state  of  barbarism. 
 
 “ Confining  our  observations  to  the  south-western  limb  of  this  whimsically- 
 shaped  Island,  we  may  infer,  that  notwithstanding  the  country  has  greatly  declined 
 since  its  intercourse  with  Europeans,  it  may  still  be  reckoned  populous,  compared 
 with  many  of  the  islands  of  the  East.  The  population  has  been  roughly  estimated 
 at  about  a million ; but  the  data  on  which  this  estimate  was  formed,  are  not  to  be 
 unreservedly  relied  upon. 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 153 
 
 “ About  the  period  of  the  first  anival  of  Europeans  in  the  East,  the  Macasar 
 and  Bugis  tribes  were  among  the  principal  dealers  in  spices,  and  the  Island  of  Celebes 
 was  nearly  under  the  authority  of  a single  Sovereign.  On  the  breaking  down  of  this 
 great  empire,  several  of  the  minor  states  submitted  to  Eiu'opean  administration ; 
 while  the  support  given  to  the  authority  of  Boni,  and  the  monopoly  of  the  spice- 
 trade  by  Europeans,  effectually  reduced  the  pohtical  influence  of  the  ancient  state 
 of  Goa. 
 
 “ The  most  ancient  state  of  which  tradition  makes  mention  on  Celebes,  is  Luhu, 
 or  Luwu,  situated  in  the  inner  part  of  the  Bay  of  Boni ; and  their  galigas,  or  historical 
 romances,  are  replete  with  the  adventures  and  exploits  oi^Sawira  Gading,  the  first 
 Chief  of  that  country,  and  who  is  said  to  have  extended  his  dominions  to  the  Straits 
 of  Malacca.  Next  to  Luhu,  the  empire  of  Goa  has  the  greatest  claims  to  antiquity  ; 
 and  a period  is  mentioned  when  this  state  extended  its  influence  to  Acheen,  Manda, 
 Sulu,  Ternate,  and  the  whole  of  the  Spice-islands. 
 
 “ In  1663  Rajah  Palaka  visited  Bata\da,  and  in  1666  co-operated  with  the  Dutch 
 government  against  the  native  states  on  the  coast  of  Sumatra.  From  this  period 
 the  authority  of  Boni  advanced,  until  the  recent  arrangements  by  the  British  govern- 
 ment. 
 
 “ The  Macasar  and  Bugis  tribes  are  known  to  be  the  most  bold,  adventurous, 
 and  enterprising  of  all  the  Eastern  nations.  They  were  formerly  celebrated  for  their 
 fidehty  and  their  com'age,  and  for  this  reason  were  employed  as  the  Swiss  in  Europe, 
 not  only  in  the  armies  of  Siam,  Camboja,  and  other  countries,  but  also  as  guards  to 
 their  princes. 
 
 The  most  singular  feature  in  the  constitution  of  society  on  Celebes,  is  that  of 
 an  elective  Monarchy,  hmited  by  an  Aristocracy,  generally  hereditary,  and  exercising 
 feudal  authority  over  the  minor  Chiefs  and  poprflation,  at  all  times  prepared  to  take 
 the  field;  a constitution  of  society  which,  however  common  to  Europe,  is  perhaps 
 without  parallel  in  Asia,  where,  from  the  influence  of  climate,  rehgion,  and  pohtical 
 institutions,  we  seldom  witness  any  considerable  departure  from  the  despotic  sway  of 
 one  individual.  The  whole  of  the  states  on  that  portion  of  Celebes  to  which  I have 
 alluded,  are  constituted  on  this  principle : the  Prince  is  chosen  from  the  royal  stock 
 by  a certain  number  of  counsellors,  who  also  possess  the  right  of  subsequently 
 removing  him  ; these  counsellors  are  themselves  elected  from  particular  families  of 
 the  hereditary  Chiefs  of  provinces ; and  such  is  their  influence,  that  the  Prince  can 
 neither  go  to  war,  nor,  indeed,  adopt  any  public  measure,  except  in  concert  with 
 them ; they  have  the  charge  of  the  pubhc  treasure,  and  also  appoint  the  Prime- 
 minister.  The  Prince  cannot  himself  take  the  personal  command  of  the  army ; 
 but  the  usage  of  the  country  admits  of  a temporary  resignation  of  office  for  this 
 purpose ; in  which  case  a Regent  succeeds  provisionally  to  the  rank  of  Chief,  and 
 carries  on  the  affairs  of  government  in  concert  with  the  majority  of  the  council. 
 
 X 
 
154 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 Women  and  minors  are  eligible  to  election  in  eveiy  department  of  the  state,  from 
 the  Prince  down  to  the  lowest  Chief ; and  when  this  takes  place,  an  additional  officer, 
 haring  a title  which  literally  means  support,  or  prop,  is  appointed  to  assist.  Some 
 variation  is  observable  in  the  different  states : in  Boni,  the  Prince  is  elected  by  the 
 Orang  Pitu,  or  seven  hereditary  counsellors ; in  Goa,  the  Prince  is  chosen  by  ten 
 counsellors,  of  whom  the  first  minister,  termed  Bechara  Buta,  is  one.  This  last 
 officer  is  himself  first  appointed  by  the  comicil  of  nine,  termed  the  nine  farmers  of 
 the  country  ; but  in  the  exercise  of  his  office  possesses  very  extraordinary  powers ; he 
 can  even  remove  the  Prince  himself,  and  call  upon  the  electors  to  make  another 
 choice.  The  inferior  Chiefs,  or  Krains,  who  administer  the  dependant  prorinces,  are 
 appointed  by  the  government  and  not  elected  by  a council,  although,  in  the  exercise 
 of  their  office,  their  power  is  in  like  manner  limited ; the  number  of  the  council  vary- 
 ing, in  different  prorinces,  from  two  to  seven. 
 
 “ War  is  decided  upon  in  the  comicil  of  the  state ; and  so  forcibly  is  the  despe- 
 rate ferocity  and  barbarism  of  the  people  depicted  by  the  conduct  they  observe  on 
 these  occasions,  and  in  their  subsequent  proceeding  towards  their  enemies,  that, 
 however  revolting  the  contemplation  of  such  a state  of  society  may  be,  it  fonns  too 
 striking  a trait  in  their  character  to  be  omitted.  War  being  decided  upon  by  the 
 Prince  in  comicil,  the  assembled  Chiefs,  after  sprinkling  their  banners  with  blood, 
 proceed  to  take  a solemn  oath,  by  dipping  their  criss  in  a vessel  of  water,  and  after- 
 wards dancing  around  the  bloody  banner  with  frantic  gesture,  and  a strange  con- 
 tortion of  the  body  and  hmbs,  so  as  to  give  the  extended  criss  a tremulous  motion : 
 each  severally  imprecates  the  vengeance  of  the  Deity  against  his  person,  if  he  vio- 
 lates his  vow.  An  enemy  is  no  sooner  slain,  than  the  body  is  decapitated,  and 
 treated  with  every  indignity  which  the  barbarous  triumph  of  savages  can  dictate  ; the 
 heads  are  carried  on  poles,  or  sent  in  to  the  Lord  Paramount.  Some  accounts  go 
 so  far  as  to  represent  them  devouring  the  raw  heart  of  their  subdued  enemy ; and 
 whatever  shadow  of  doubt  humanity  may  throw  over  this  appalhng  fact,  it  cannot  be 
 denied  that  their  favourite  meal  is  the  raw  heart  and  blood  of  the  deer.  This 
 repast  is  termed  Lor  Dura,  or  the  feast  of  the  bloody  heart,  which  they  are  said  to 
 devom*,  as  among  the  Battas,  in  the  season  when  limes  and  salt  are  plenty. 
 
 “ This,  however,  is  viewing  them  on  the  worst  side  of  their  character,  with 
 immediate  reference  to  their  conduct  in  war,  and  to  practices  found  to  prevail  among 
 that  portion  of  the  population  labouring  under  the  restrictions  on  foreign  commerce  ; 
 there  are  other  points  of  view  in  which  it  may  be  more  favom*ably  considered. 
 
 “ The  inhabitants  of  the  Wad ju  districts,  in  particular,  are  celebrated  for  their 
 enterprise  and  intelligence ; extending  their  commercial  speculations,  with  a high 
 character  for  honourable  and  fair  deahng,  from  the  western  shores  of  Siam  to  the 
 eastern  coast  of  New  Holland.  Women,  as  before  observed,  take  an  active  part  in 
 all  pubhc  concerns,  and  are  in  no  instances  secluded  from  society,  being  on  a perfect 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 155 
 
 equality  with  the  men.  The  strongest  attachment  that  is  conceivable  is  felt  for 
 ancient  customs,  and  relics  of  antiquity  are  held  in  the  highest  possible  veneration. 
 They  are  slow  and  deliberate  in  their  decisions ; but  these,  once  formed,  are  final. 
 Agreements  once  entered  into,  are  invariably  observed  on  their  part : and  a Bugis  is 
 never  known  to  swerve  from  his  bargain.  That  natural  pohteness  which  charac- 
 terizes the  various  nations  and  tribes  distinguished  by  wearing  the  criss,  is  no  where 
 more  forcibly  exhibited  than  among  the  inhabitants  of  Celebes.  Their  minor  asso- 
 ciations are  held  together  by  all  the  attachment  and  warmth  which  have  distinguished 
 the  clans  of  North  Britain.  The  same  bold  spirit  of  independence  and  enterprise 
 distinguishes  the  lower  orders  ; whilst  the  pride  of  ancestry,  and  the  romance  of  chi- 
 valr)%  are  the  delight  of  the  higher  classes.  Attached  to  the  chace  as  an  amuse- 
 ment, rather  than  as  the  means  of  subsistence,  the  harvest  is  no  sooner  reaped,  than 
 each  feudal  Chief,  with  his  associates  and  followers,  devotes  himself  to  its  pursuits. 
 The  population  being  equally  at  the  command  of  the  feudal  Lord,  whether  in  time 
 of  peace  or  war,  agricultural  pirrsuits,  beyond  what  may  procure  a bare  subsistence, 
 are  but  little  attended  to.  The  usual  share  of  the  crop  at  the  disposal  of  the  Chief, 
 is  a tythe  termed  Sima  ; this,  with  a few  imposts  in  the  Bazars,  and  the  services  of 
 the  people,  constitute  the  revenue  of  the  state. 
 
 “ The  languages  and  literature  of  the  Celebes  require  a more  extended  and 
 detailed  view  than  it  is  possible  to  take  of  either  on  the  present  occasion.  I shall, 
 therefore,  only  briefly  obseiwe,  that  the  language  prevalent  throughout  these  states 
 appears,  at  no  very  remote  period,  to  have  been  the  same ; but  that  the  various 
 revolutions  which  first  raised  the  power  of  Goa,  and  subsequently  elevated  that  of 
 Boni  to  a still  higher  importance,  have,  in  separating  the  states  under  two  distinct 
 authorities,  given  rise  to  two  prevaihng  dialects,  now  assuming  the  appellation  ol' 
 tw^o  distinct  languages — the  language  of  Goa  or  Macasar  is  peculiarly  soft,  and  is 
 considered  to  be  the  most  easy  of  acquisition,  but  not  to  be  so  copious  as  that  of 
 the  Bugis — whether  the  Bugis  language  contains  any  portion  of  a more  ancient 
 language  than  either  (of  which  traces  are  said  to  exist  in  some  old  manuscripts  of 
 the  country),  or,  from  commercial  intercourse  with  other  states,  has  adopted  more 
 foreign  terms,  is  yet  to  be  determined — the  written  character  is  nearly  the  same ; 
 the  Macasars,  however,  using  more  consonant  sounds  than  the  Bugis — the  same 
 practice  of  softening  the  abrupt  or  harsh  sound  of  a word  ending  in  a consonant, 
 by  attaching  a final  a or  o,  so  general  in  almost  every  tongue  of  the  Archipelago, 
 is  common  to,  and,  I beheve,  invariably  observed  in  both  these  languages. 
 
 “ The  possible  existence  of  a language  distinct  from  and  anterior  to  those  now 
 in  use,  is  a subject  w^ell  deseiwing  enquiry — the  Bugis  trace  back  to  Sawira  Gading, 
 whom  they  represent  to  have  proceeded  in  immediate  descent  from  their  heavenly 
 mediator,  Bitara  Guru,  and  to  have  been  the  first  Chief  of  any  celebrity  on  Celebes 
 — he  reigned,  as  I before  observed,  over  Luhu,  the  most  ancient  kingdom  on 
 
 X 2 
 
156 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 Celebes,  and  a lapse  of  time  equal  to  seven  descents,  is  said  to  have  taken  place 
 before  the  establishment  of  Boni — both  this  Chieftain,  and  the  founder  of  the  empire 
 of  Goa,  are  represented  to  have  been  great  navigators  and  foreigners,  or,  according 
 to  the  romance  of  native  tradition,  deities  sent  fi'om  heaven  to  govern  and  take  care 
 of  them.  The  inhabitants  of  Macasar  have  no  idea  by  what  means,  and  at  what 
 period,  the  present  form  of  government,  of  the  nine  Glarang,  and  the  Bichara 
 Buta  of  Goa,  was  established. 
 
 “ Literary  compositions,  in  both  the  iSIacasar  and  Bugis  languages,  are  nume- 
 rous ; these  consist  principally  of  historical  accomits  of  the  different  states,  since 
 the  introduction  of  Mahomedanism,  which  is  represented  to  have  taken  place  so 
 late  as  the  early  part  of  the  sixteenth  century ; of  Galigas,  or  collections  of  ti*adi_ 
 tions,  regarding  more  early  times  ; of  romances  and  poetical  compositions,  in  which 
 love,  war,  and  the  chace,  are  the  favourite  theme.  They  possess  a paraphrase  of 
 the  Koran,  and  several  works  eridently  translated  from  the  Javanese  and  Arabic, 
 and  many  in  common  with  the  ^Nlalajm — works  on  judicial  astrology,  collections  of 
 institutions  and  customs  which  have  all  the  force  of  law, — and  each  principal  state 
 adopts  the  practice  of  duly  recording  every  public  event  of  importance  as  it  occurs. 
 
 “ I shall  not  longer  detain  you  with  notices  on  our  external  relations,  while  so 
 wide  and  interesting  a field  attracts  attention  at  home ; on  Java,  and  that  range  of 
 islands  which  modern  geographers  have  classed  under  the  denomination  of  the 
 Sunda  Islands.  I have  hitherto  refi'ained  from  noticing  the  extensive  traces  of 
 antiquity,  foreign  intercom'se,  and  national  gi’eatness,  which  are  exhibited  in  the 
 numerous  monuments  of  a fonner  worship,  in  the  ruins  of  dilapidated  cities,  in  the 
 character,  the  institutions,  the  language,  and  the  literature  of  the  people,  in  the 
 hope  that  abler  pens  would  have  attempted  a more  correct  sketch  than  either  my 
 humble  abihties  or  limited  infoiTnation  enable  me  to  contemplate  or  embrace  ; the 
 subject  is  so  extensive,  so  new,  so  highly  interesting,  that  I must  claim  your  indul- 
 gence, if,  in  aiming  at  conciseness  in  representing  the  appearances  and  facts  which 
 have  most  forcibly  struck  my  attention,  many  still  more  important  particulars  pass 
 unnoticed. 
 
 “ On  the  peculiar  proAunce  of  Dr.  Horsfield,  to  whom  I am  indebted  for  what- 
 ever infoiTnation  I possess  on  the  natural  history  of  the  Island,  I shall  not  fiirther 
 trespass  than  by  adverting  to  the  extensive  and  almost  endless  variety  which  these 
 regions  present,  in  every  branch  of  his  pm’suits.  One  observation,  however,  as  con- 
 nected with  the  earlier  history  of  Java,  in  explaining  the  high  fertihty  of  its  soil  in 
 comparison  irith  that  of  the  Malayan  Peninsula  and  Sumatra,  may  deserve  notice  in 
 this  place.  From  the  result  of  every  investigation  yet  made,  the  constitution  of 
 Java  appears  to  be  exclusively  volcanic,  without  any  admixture  whatever  of  the 
 primitive  or  secondarj’^  mountains  of  the  Asiatic  continent ; while,  on  the  contrary, 
 Sumatra,  with  Banca,  as  before  noticed,  appear  to  be  a continuation  and  termina- 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 157 
 
 tion  of  the  immense  chain  of  mountains  which  pervades  great  part  of  Asia,  and  runs 
 off  finally  in  a direction  North-west  to  South-east.  Java  deviates  from  the  direc- 
 tion of  Sumatra  and  the  Peninsula  of  Malacca,  in  striking  off  directly  West  and 
 East ; in  this  direction  it  is  followed  by  the  larger  islands  of  Bali,  Lombok,  Sum- 
 bawa,  Endi,  Timor,  and  by  many  smaller,  which  contribute  to  constitute  an  exten- 
 sive series — this  direction,  as  well  as  the  constitution  of  all  the  islands  enumerated, 
 . indicates  the  existence  of  an  extensive  volcanic  chain  in  this  part  of  the  globe, 
 running  many  degrees  almost  parallel  with  the  equator.  The  consequences  of  Java 
 being  exclusively  volcanic  are,  that  while  Sumatra  abounds  in  metals,  Java,  gene- 
 rally speaking,  is  destitute  of  them  * ; that  while  on  Siunatra  there  are  many  exten- 
 sive tracts,  sterile  and  unfavourable  to  vegetation,  Java,  with  few  exceptions,  is 
 covered  with  a soil  in  the  highest  degree  fertile,  luxuriant,  and  productive  of  every 
 species  of  vegetation. 
 
 “ Referring  to  the  ample  details  on  the  mineralogy  of  Java,  which  the  scientific 
 and  persevering  exertions  of  Dr.  Horsfield  have  enabled  us  to  include  in  our  present 
 volume,  I shall,  on  this  branch  of  our  pursuits,  only  observe,  that  catalogues  and 
 collections  of  the  varieties  in  the  mineral,  vegetable,  and  animal  kingdoms,  as  they 
 have  been  found  to  exist  on  Java,  have  been  formed  by  this  gentleman,  who  is  at 
 present  engaged  in  exploring  the  districts  lying  to  the  East  and  South  of  Souracarta, 
 with  the  view  of  completing  materials  for  the  natural  history  of  Java — his  Flora 
 Javana  is  already  far  advanced ; the  geography  of  plants  is  a subject  to  which  he 
 has  particularly  directed  his  researches.  From  the  extensive  range  of  the  thermo- 
 meter between  the  high  and  the  low  lands,  Java  presents  to  the  botanist,  at  the 
 least,  six  distinct  associations  of  plants  or  floras,  indigenous  to  as  many  chmates, 
 defined  by  their  comparative  elevation  above  the  level  of  the  seaf. 
 
 • All  the  indications  yet  discovered  confirm  the  assertion  that  the  constitution  of  Java  is  unfavourable 
 to  metals.  The  only  notice  as  to  the  existence  of  gold  or  silver  is  contained  in  the  first  volume  of  the 
 Transactions  of  the  Batavian  Society;  and  the  attempts  on  Gunung  Parang  in  1723,  and  on  the  Mege 
 Mendung  in  1744,  were  soon  abandoned.  Iron  pyrites  is  found  in  small  quantities  in  several  districts,  as 
 well  as  red  ochre,  which,  however,  often  contains  so  little  iron  as  scarcely  to  serve  for  the  common  purpose 
 of  a paint.  The  existence  of  mercury  in  the  low  lands  of  Damak,  where  it  is  distributed  in  minute  parti- 
 cles through  the  clay  of  the  rice-grounds  bounding  one  of  the  principal  rivers  in  that  district,  cannot  be 
 considered  as  an  indication  of  a mine,  or  of  ores  of  that  metal. 
 
 •f  The  height  of  the  principal  mountains  on  Java  is  estimated  at  from  seven  to  eight  thousand  feet 
 above  the  level  of  the  sea.  Several  of  them  have  been  ascended,  and  measures  are  now  in  progress 
 for  ascertaining  the  elevation  with  some  degree  of  accuracy.  Lieutenant  Heyland,  who  has  several  times 
 ascended  Sindoro,  observes  “ that  on  reaching  the  summit  on  the  20th  May,  1813,  the  sun  had  set,  and  the 
 thermometer  of  Fahrenheit,  stood  at  36°.  During  the  night  the  thermometer  varied  between  36°.  and  44°  ; 
 and  as  the  day  broke  on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  it  was  at  26°.  a second  thermometer  at  30°.  He  imme- 
 diately proceeded  to  the  lake,  and  found  it  covered  with  ice  of  the  thickness  of  about  two  Spanish  dollars.  A 
 piece  of  double  this  thickness,  found  some  distance  from  the  edge  on  the  same  lake,  induced  a belief  that  it 
 
158 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 If  to  the  naturalist  Java  exhibits  these  extensive  and  wonderful  varieties,  to 
 the  antiquarian,  the  philologist,  and  the  philosopher,  she  in  like  manner  offers  sub- 
 jects of  equal  novelty,  and  even  of  higher  interest,  whether  we  investigate  the 
 splendid  remains  of  her  temples  and  her  cities,  her  languages  and  her  literature,  or 
 the  character,  institutions  and  customs  of  her  inhabitants. 
 
 “To  attempt  any  satisfactory  description  of  the  various  momunents  of  anti- 
 quity and  of  a fonner  worship,  which  are  to  be  foimd  in  almost  every  district  of  the 
 Island,  would  be  impracticable  on  the  present  occasion,  and,  \nth  the  exception  of 
 a few  notices,  I must  content  myself  vith  assming  you,  that  however  deficient  we 
 may  be  in  scientific  infonnation,  or  in  a knowledge  of  the  mythology  sacred  to 
 which  these  monuments  may  have  been  reared,  measures  have  been  taken  that  a 
 record,  to  be  depended  upon  for  exactness  at  least,  should  exist  of  the  actual 
 remains  of  Hinduism  on  Java — I am  indebted  to  Captain  Baker,  who  is  now  actively 
 engaged  in  these  piu’suits,  for  the  most  accurate  sketches  of  the  present  appearance 
 of  the  most  important  of  these  laiins,  as  well  as  for  gi*ound-plans  and  elevations  of 
 the  principal  temples,  ^rith  notices  of  much  valuable  information  which  is  to  be 
 collected  of  their  origin,  object  and  history. 
 
 “ You  are  aware  that  the  most  splendid  of  these  momunents  are  to  be  found  at 
 Prambana,  Boro  Bodo  and  Singa  Sari ; — of  the  fonner  an  interesting  description  is 
 given  in  the  last  volume  of  our  Transactions,  by  om*  highly  esteemed  friend  Colonel 
 Mackenzie — circmnstances  have  since  admitted  of  a more  minute  investigation,  and 
 our  information,  as  far  as  regards  their  present  state,  is  much  more  complete-^these 
 extensive  niins  hold  claim  to  the  highest  antiquity,  and  considering  the  ricinity  of 
 the  temples  to  have  been  the  seat  of  the  earliest  monarchy  on  Java,  I may  be  per- 
 mitted, in  the  words  of  Captain  Baker,  to  lament  the  contrast  of  the  present  times, 
 with  ‘ times  long  since  past.’  ^ Nothing,’  he  observes,  ‘ can  exceed  the  air  of  melan- 
 choly, desolation,  and  min,  which  this  spot  presents ; and  the  feehngs  of  every 
 risitor  must  be  forcibly  in  unison  with  the  scene  of  suri'ounding  devastation,  w^hen 
 he  reflects  upon  the  origin  of  this  once  venerated,  hallow'ed  spot;  the  seat  and 
 proof  of  the  perfection  of  arts  now  no  longer  in  existence  in  Java ; the  t}q>e  and 
 emblem  of  a rehgion  no  longer  acknowledged,  and  scarce  knowm  among  them  by 
 name ; w hen  he  reflects  upon  that  boundless  profusion  of  active,  unwearied  skill 
 and  patience,  the  noble  spirit  of  generous  emulation,  the  patronage  and  encourage- 
 ment which  the  arts  and  sciences  must  have  received,  and  the  inexhaustible  w^ealth 
 and  resources  w'hich  the  Javanese  of  those  times  must  have  possessed.’ 
 
 had  remained  unthawed  on  the  day  preceding,  and  had  now  received  the  addition  of  a second  night’s  frost. 
 The  water  in  the  soup-plates  which  had  been  used  as  hot-water-plates  the  evening  before,  was  completely 
 frozen  throuorh,  and  the  ice  the  thickness  of  an  inch.”  On  another  excursion,  in  October,  1814,  the  ther- 
 mometers  fell  to  36  and  38,  and  the  ice  formed  on  them  after  they  had  been  immersed  in  water  and  exposed 
 to  the  air. 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 159 
 
 “ In  attempting  to  describe  the  Chandi  Sewo,  or  Thousand  Temples,  which 
 form  a principal  part  of  these  ruins,  he  laments  his  inability  to  convey  any  adequate 
 ideas,  satisfactory  to  his  own  mind,  even  of  the  actual  dismantled  state  of  this 
 splendid  seat  of  magnificence  and  of  the  arts.  ‘ Never,’  he  observes,  ‘ have  I met 
 with  such  stupendous,  laborious,  and  finished  specimens  of  human  labour,  and  of 
 the  pohshed  refined  taste  of  ages  long  since  forgot,  and  crowded  together  in  so 
 small  a compass,  as  characterize  and  are  manifested  in  this  little  spot ; and  though 
 I doubt  not  there  are  some  remains  of  antiquity  in  other  parts  of  the  globe  more 
 worthy  the  eye  of  the  traveller,  or  the  pencil  of  the  artist,  yet  Chandi  Sewo  must 
 ever  rank  with  the  foremost  in  the  attractions  of  curiosity  or  antiquarian  research.’ 
 
 I have  preferred  giving  you  the  words  of  Captain  Baker,  while  the  subject 
 was  fully  impressed  on  his  mind,  and  while  in  the  midst  of  the  objects  which  he 
 contemplated ; there  is  a feeling  excited  at  such  a moment  that  gives  a colouring  to 
 the  picture,  which  is  weakened  in  the  faded  tints  of  a more  distant  view. 
 
 “ Next  to  Prambana  the  ruins  of  Boro  Bodo  may  be  ranked  as  remarkable  for 
 grandeur  in  design,  peculiarity  of  style,  and  exquisite  workmanship  ; this  temple  is 
 in  the  district  of  Boro,  under  the  residency  of  the  Kadu,  whence  I presume  it  takes 
 its  name,  Bodo  being  either  a term  of  contempt  cast  upon  it  by  the  Mahomedans,  or 
 erroneously  so  pronounced,  instead  of  Budlio,  which,  in  its  general  acceptation  in 
 the  Javanese  language,  is  synonymous  with  ancient  or  heathen ; it  is  built  so  as  to 
 crown  the  upper  part  of  a small  hill,  the  summit  terminating  in  a dome ; the  build- 
 ing is  square,  and  is  composed  of  seven  terraces  rising  one  within  the  other,  each  of 
 which  is  enclosed  by  stone  walls,  the  ascent  to  the  different  terraces  being  by  fom- 
 flights  of  steps  leading  from  four  principal  entrances,  one  on  each  side  of  the  square. 
 On  the  top  are  several  small  latticed  domes,  the  upper  part  terminating  in  one  of  a 
 larger  circumference.  In  separate  niches,  or  rather  temples,  at  equal  distances, 
 formed  in  the  walls  of  the  several  ten*aces,  are  contained  upwards  of  three-hundred 
 stone  images  of  devotees,  in  a sitting  posture,  and  being  each  above  three  feet 
 high.  Similar  images  are  within  the  domes  above ; in  compartments  on  the  walls, 
 both  within  and  without,  are  carved  in  relief,  and  in  the  most  correct  and  beautiful 
 style,  groups  of  figimes  containing  historical  scenes  and  mythological  ceremonies, 
 supposed  to  be  representations  of  a principal  part  either  of  the  Ramayan  or  Maha- 
 borat — the  figures  and  costumes  are  evidently  Indian,  and  we  are  at  a loss  whether 
 most  to  admire  the  extent  and  grandem*  of  the  whole  construction,  or  the  beauty, 
 richness,  and  correctness  of  the  sculpture. 
 
 “ The  name  and  resemblance  of  the  images  which  surround  this  temple  to  the 
 figure  of  Buddha,  has  induced  an  opinion  that  it  was  exclusively  confined  to  the 
 worship  of  that  deity : but  it  should  be  noticed  that  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
 this  large  temple,  and  evidently  connected  with  it,  are  the  remains  of  several  smaller 
 temples,  constructed  much  after  the  fashion  of  the  temples  at  Prambana,  and  con- 
 7 
 
160 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 taining  a variety  of  sculptui’es  and  images  of  the  Brahminical  worship.  A large 
 but  mutilated  stone  figure  of  Brahma  was  found  in  a field  hard  by,  and  as  there 
 are  images  similarly  resembling  Buddha  to  be  found  at  Prambana,  it  would  seem 
 that  if  they  are  ascertained  to  represent  that  deity,  these  buildings  must  have  been 
 erected  at  a period  when  the  worship  was  not  separated. 
 
 “ Although  the  general  design  of  this  temple  differs  from  those  at  Prambana,  a 
 similar  style  of  sculptm*e  and  decoration  is  observable,  and  the  same  may  be  also 
 traced  to  the  laiins  at  Singa  Sari,  situated  in  the  Residency  of  Pasaiaian,  where  are 
 still  to  be  found  images  of  Bralima,  Mahadewa,  Ganesa,  the  Bull  Nandi  and  others, 
 of  the  most  exquisite  workmanship,  and  in  a still  higher  degree  of  preservation  than 
 any  remaining  at  Prambanan  or  Boro  Bodo.  One  of  the  most  extraordinary  monu- 
 ments in  this  quarter,  however,  is  an  immense  colossal  statue  of  a man  resting  on 
 his  hams,  of  the  same  character  as  the  porters  at  Prambanan,  lying  on  its  face,  and 
 adjacent  to  a terrace,  on  which  it  was  originally  placed ; this  statue  measures  in 
 length  about  twelve  feet,  breadth  between  the  shoidders  nine  feet  and  a half,  and  at 
 the  base  nine  feet  and  a half,  with  con’esponding  dimensions  in  girth,  cut  firom  one 
 sohd  stone ; the  statue  seems  evidently  to  have  fallen  from  the  adjacent  elevated 
 teiTace,  although  it  is  chfficult  to  reconcile  the  probabihty  of  its  having  been  elevated 
 to  such  a station,  with  reference  to  any  traces  we  now  have  of  the  knowledge  of 
 mechanics  by  the  Javanese — to  have  raised  it  by  dint  of  mere  manual  labour  would 
 appear,  at  the  present  day,  an  Herculean  task ; the  terrace  is  about  eighteen  feet 
 high.  A second  figure  of  the  same  dimensions  has  since  been  discovered  in  the 
 vicinity  of  the  above  ; and  wiien  the  forest  is  cleared,  some  traces  of  the  large  temple 
 to  which  they  formed  the  approach,  may  probably  be  found.  Not  far  from  Singa 
 Sari,  which  w^as  once  the  seat  of  empire,  and  in  the  district  of  Malang,  are  several 
 interesting  ruins  of  temples,  of  similar  constmction,  and  of  the  same  style  of 
 ornament. 
 
 These  buildings  must  have  been  raised  at  a period  wJien  the  highest  state  of 
 the  arts  existed,  and  constructed  at  no  very  distant  date  fi'om  each  other ; considered 
 in  this  view  they  serve  very  forcibly  and  decidedly  to  coiToborate  the  historical 
 details  of  the  country,  wJiich  are  found  to  exist  in  the  different  wTitten  compositions 
 and  dramatic  entertainments. 
 
 “ In  noticing  the  more  prominent  remains  of  antiquity,  as  they  are  to  be  traced 
 from  the  architecture  and  sculpture  of  former  days,  I should  be  wanting  in  attention, 
 and  indeed  in  a due  respect  to  the  popular  tradition  and  the  still  received  opinion  of 
 the  Javans,  did  I not  notice  Gunung  Prahu,  a mountain,  or  rather  a range  of 
 mountains,  for  there  are  no  less  than  twenty-nine  points,  which  have  distinct  names, 
 situated  on  the  northern  side  of  the  Island,  and  inland  between  Samarang  and 
 Pacalongan,  the  supposed  residence  of  Arjuno,  and  of  the  demi-gods  and  heroes  who 
 distinguished  themselves  in  the  B’rata  Yud’ha,  or  Holy  War — here  the  ruins  of  the 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 161 
 
 supposed  palace  of  the  Chief,  the  abode  of  Bima,  his  followers  and  attendants,  are 
 exhibited,  and  so  rich  was  this  spot  in  relics  of  antiquity,  that  the  village  of  Kali 
 Babar,  situated  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  is  stated  to  have  from  time  immemorial 
 paid  its  rents  in  gold  melted  down  fi’om  the  golden  images  here  discovered ; so  great 
 indeed  has  been  the  desire  to  meet  the  courtly  thirst  for  these  interesting  relics, 
 that  I regret  to  say  many  of  the  buildings  composed  of  materials  less  in  demand, 
 have  suffered  premature  dilapidation  on  this  account.  Several  interesting  remains 
 have  recently  been  discovered  by  Major  Johnson,  Resident  at  the  cortrt  of  the 
 Susunan ; among  these  the  ruins  at  Suku  deserve  particular  notice ; but  I have 
 already  trespassed  on  a subject  which  it  is  impossible  to  treat  well  except  in  detail, 
 and  with  reference  to  drawings  of  the  extensive  variety  of  erections,  deities,  and  attri- 
 butes w^hich  abound  throughout  Java. 
 
 “ As  connected  with  these  early  and  splendid  monuments  of  the  former  high 
 state  of  the  arts  in  Java,  and  illustrative  of  the  history  of  the  country,  are  to  be 
 noticed  the  gi*eat  variety  of  inscriptions  found  in  different  parts  of  the  island ; fac 
 similes  of  most  of  these  have  been  taken,  and  I am  happy  to  add  that  we  have  suc- 
 ceeded in  dec}q)hering  some  of  the  most  interesting.  The  character  on  the  stone 
 found  at  Prambanan,  is  no  doubt  one  of  the  Dewa  Nagri  characters  of  India,  and 
 with  the  exception  of  a few  characters  discovered  at  Singa  Saii  on  the  back  of  stone 
 images,  the  only  specimen  yet  discovered  of  this  peculiar  formation. 
 
 “ From  the  \icinity  of  the  former  kingdom  of  Jong’golo,  not  far  distant  from 
 the  modern  Surabaya,  have  been  brought  several  large  stones  of  the  shape  of  Enghsh 
 tomb-stones,  covered  with  inscriptions  in  the  ancient  Javanese  character,  and  in 
 the  Kawi  language ; translations  (or  rather  paraphrases,  for  they  principally  contain 
 prayers  and  invocations  to  the  Deity,  in  a language,  the  meaning  of  a few  words 
 only  of  wiiich  are  retained,  while  the  idiom  and  grammatical  construction  has  long 
 been  lost,)  have  been  made  and  will  be  found  on  the  pages  of  om*  Transactions ; 
 it  has  fallen  to  my  lot  to  succeed  not  only  in  decyphering  the  MSS.  recently  dis- 
 covered in  Cheribon,  but  also  the  inscriptions  on  the  copper-plates  so  long  deposited 
 among  the  records  of  our  Society  as  unintelhgible  ; the  results  will  be  communi- 
 cated to  the  Society  in  another  form,  and  the  subject  will  be  more  particularly  ad- 
 verted to,  when  speaking  of  the  languages  and  literature. 
 
 “ These  inscriptions,  which  in  general  contain  dates,  are  of  the  first  importance 
 in  enabling  us  to  trace  the  source  whence  the  language  and  literature  may  have 
 flowed,  and  to  satisfy  our  minds  of  the  prevailing  worship  at  any  particular  period. 
 It  is  only  by  an  assemblage  of  as  many  data  as  can  be  collected  from  this  source, 
 from  the  remains  of  the  arts,  from  the  language,  literature,  and  institutions  of  the 
 people  of  the  present  day,  compared  with  the  best  information  we  can  procure  of 
 other  countries  of  the  East,  which  may  have  been  civilized  at  an  earlier  period, 
 that  w-e  can  come  at  any  fair  and  just  result ; the  question  is  too  extensive,  too 
 
 Y 
 
162 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 important  to  be  lightly  treated,  or  to  be  decided  upon  from  any  preconceived  opinion 
 or  partial  views. 
 
 “ Did  not  other  striking  and  obvious  proofs  exist  of  the  claims  of  Java  to  be 
 considered  at  one  period  far  advanced  in  civilization,  it  might  be  sufficient  to  bring 
 forward  the  perfection  of  the  language,  the  accession  which  that  language  must  in 
 early  times  have  received  from  a distant,  but  highly  cultivated  source,  and  the  ex- 
 tensiveness for  which  it  stands  so  pecuharly  and  justly  distinguished. 
 
 “ On  the  Island  of  Java,  two  general  languages  may  be  considered  as  prevalent. 
 The  Sunda  language,  which  prevails  in  the  western,  and  the  Javanese,  which  is  the 
 language  of  the  districts  east  of  Cheribon — the  former  is  a simple  dialect  accom- 
 modated to  all  the  purposes  of  the  mountainous  classes  who  speak  it,  and  perhaps 
 differs  from  the  Javanese,  not  so  much  in  its  construction,  as  in  the  portion  of  ori- 
 ginal and  of  Malayan  words  which  it  contains;  one  fomth  of  the  language,  at  the 
 least,  may  be  considered  to  be  the  same  as  the  Javanese,  another  fom*th  is,  perhaps, 
 original,  and  the  remaining  half  JNIalayan.  At  what  period  this  extensive  portion 
 of  the  Malayan  was  adopted,  or  whether  any  part  or  the  whole  of  this  portion  may 
 not  originally  have  formed  the  conunon  language  of  this  part  of  the  country  is  yet 
 to  be  decided.  In  the  Javanese,  or  language  of  the  eastern  division  of  the  Island, 
 and  also  of  the  lower  parts  of  Bantam  and  Cheribon,  the  natural  or  vernacular 
 language,  in  like  manner,  contains  a considerable  nmnber  of  words  in  common  with 
 the  Malayan,  and  the  general  principles  of  construction  are  found  to  have  a striking 
 accordance.  We  thus  find  strong  proofs  in  support  of  one  common  origin  of  the 
 prevailing  languages  of  the  Archipelago — notwithstanding,  a large  portion  of  the 
 Malayan  words  now  used  on  Java,  may  be  ascertained  to  have  been  received  at  a 
 comparatively  recent  date,  and  in  the  course  of  long  and  continued  intercourse  with 
 the  neighbouring  countries. 
 
 “ The  Javanese  language,  properly  so  called,  is  distinguished  by  a division 
 between  what  may  be  considered  as  the  vernacular  language  of  the  coimtry,  in  use 
 by  the  common  people  among  themselves,  and  which  is  adopted  when  addressing  an 
 inferior,  and  what  may  be  considered  as  a second,  or  court  language,  adopted  by  all 
 inferiors  when  addressing  a superior.  The  same  construction,  as  well  as  the  idiom 
 of  the  language,  is,  I believe,  pretty  generally  preserved  in  both  the  languages ; the 
 latter,  however,  consists  of  a more  extensive  class  of  foreign  words,  which  would 
 appear  to  have  been  picked  and  culled  for  the  pui'pose ; where  different  words  have 
 not  been  found  from  the  common  language  of  the  country,  an  arbitrary  variation  in 
 the  sound  of  the  word  belonging  to  the  common  language  is  adopted,  as  in  changing 
 the  word  progo  into  pragi,  dacli  into  dados,  jawa  into  jawi,  &c.,  and  the  more  ef- 
 fectually to  render  the  polite  language  distinct,  not  only  are  the  affirmatives  and 
 negatives,  as  well  as  the  pronouns  and  prepositions  varied,  but  the  auxihary  verbs 
 and  particles  are  in  general  different. 
 
 2 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 163 
 
 So  effectually,  indeed,  does  this  arbitrary  distinction  prevail,  that  in  the  most 
 common  occurrences  and  expressions,  the  language  that  would  be  used  by  a superior 
 bears  not  the  slightest  resemblance  to  what,  with  the  same  object,  would  be  used  by 
 an  inferior ; thus,  when  a superior  would  say  to  an  inferior — It  is  a very  long  time 
 that  you  have  been  sick,” — he  would  in  the  common  or  vernacular  language  use  the 
 words  “ Lawas  temdn  goni  loro,”  while  an  inferior,  using  the  court  language,  would 
 to  the  same  purport,  say  “ Lami  terns  gemjmn  sakit” — If  the  former  would  ask  the 
 question,  Your  child,  is  it  a boy  or  a girl?”  he  would  use  the  words  “ Anak  kiro 
 wadon  opo  lanang?”  the  latter  would  express  himself  Putro  hyang’an  diko,  estri 
 punopo  again,  would  the  former  observe,  “ that  the  people  of  Java,  both  men  and 
 women,  like  to  preserve  the  hair  of  the  head,” — he  would  say,  Wong  pulu  Jawa 
 lanang  wadon  podo  ng'ing'u  rambut,” — while  the  latter  would  use  the  words,  “ Tetiang 
 heng  nusa  Jawi  estri  jalar  sami  ng'inga  remo,”kc. 
 
 “ It  is  not,  however,  to  be  supposed  that  these  languages  are  so  separated  that 
 the  one  is  studied  and  attained  exclusively  of  the  other,  for  while  one  is  the  language 
 of  address,  the  other  must  be  that  of  reply,  and  the  knowledge  of  both  is  indis- 
 pensible  to  those  who  have  occasion  to  communicate  with  persons  of  a different 
 rank  with  themselves.  In  the  polite  language,  Kawi  words  are  frequently  introduced 
 by  the  party,  either  to  shew  his  reading,  or  evince  a higher  mark  of  respect — the 
 Kawi  is,  however,  more  properly  a dead  language,  the  language  of  literary  composi- 
 tions of  the  higher  class,  and  is  to  the  Javanese,  what  the  Sanscrit  is  to  the  lan- 
 guages of  Hindustan,  and  the  Pali  is  to  the  Burman  and  Siamese ; how  far  it  may 
 assimilate  to  either,  must  remain  to  be  decided  by  more  accurate  comparison  and 
 observ^ation,  than  we  have  yet  had  opportunity  to  make.  It  is  in  this  language  that 
 the  more  ancient  and  celebrated  of  the  literary  performances  of  the  country  are 
 written,  and  it  is  probable  it  will  be  found  that,  while  the  general  language  of  Java 
 possesses,  in  common  with  all  the  more  cultivated  languages  of  the  Archipelago, 
 a considerable  portion  of  Sanscrit  terms,  the  court  language  is  still  more  replete 
 with  them,  and  that  the  Kawi,  and  particularly  that  which  is  reckoned  most  ancient, 
 and  which  is  decyphered  from  inscriptions  on  stone  and  copper-plates,  is  almost  pure 
 Sanscrit;  the  construction  and  idiom  in  these  inscriptions  is  no  longer  comprehended 
 by  the  Javanese,  and  there  are  but  few  whose  intelligence  and  acquaintance  with  the 
 terms  used  enables  them  to  give  even  a faint  notion  of  their  meaning.  Examples  of 
 these  languages,  taken  from  the  B’rata  Yud’ha,  and  from  some  of  the  inscriptions 
 alluded  to,  will  appear  in  the  present  volume. 
 
 To  facilitate  the  acquirement  of  a language  in  its  nature  so  extensive  and 
 varied  as  that  of  the  Javanese,  a method  is  adopted  similar  to  what  I miderstand  is 
 known  in  India,  of  classing  the  synonymes  in  such  a manner  as  to  connect  them  in 
 the  memory,  by  stringing  them  in  classes  according  to  the  natural  chain  of  our 
 ideas ; the  collection  or  vocabulary  so  composed,  is  termed  doso  nonio,  literally,  ten 
 
 Y 2 
 
164 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 mmes,  and  in  point  of  fact,  there  are  but  few  words  in  the  language  which  have  not 
 at  least  as  many  spionymes ; an  example  of  this  mode  of  instmction,  and  of  assisting 
 the  memory,  is  also  included  in  the  present  volume,  as  illustrative  not  only  of  the 
 method  alluded  to,  but  of  the  great  delicacy  and  variety  of  the  language. 
 
 “ I am  happy  to  report  that  very  extensive  vocabularies,  not  only  of  both  di\’i- 
 sions  of  the  Javanese,  including  the  Kaui,  but  of  the  Sunda,  and  of  the  dialects  of 
 Madura  and  Bali,  with  notices  of  the  varieties  in  particular  districts  and  moimtain 
 tribes,  have  been  collected ; and  that  whenever  our  more  intimate  acquaintance  with 
 the  written  compositions  of  the  country  may  afford  the  test  of  some  experience  in 
 aid  of  what  has  already  been  done,  the  gi'and  work  of  a gi-ammar  and  dictionary  may 
 be  accomplished ; this  has  long  been  om*  first  and  gi'and  desideratum  *. 
 
 “ In  both  the  Sunda  and  Javanese  languages,  the  same  uvitten  character  is  in 
 use — and  it  has  not  yet  been  traced  whether  the  fonner  ever  had  a separate  VTitten 
 character  or  not : at  a place,  however,  called  Batu  Tulis,  on  the  site  of  the  ancient 
 capital  of  Pajajaran,  is  preserved  an  inscription  on  stone  in  veiy  rude  characters — 
 and  several  similar  inscriptions  in  the  same  character  have  been  recently  discovered 
 at  Kwali  in  Cheribon,  whither  some  of  the  descendants  of  the  Princes  of  Pajajaran 
 took  refuge ; this  character,  till  lately,  appeared  widely  different  fi'om  any  other  yet 
 noticed  in  Java,  but  is  now  found  to  contain  some  of  the  letters  and  vowel  marks 
 in  common  vith  the  Javanese.  The  date  inscribed  on  the  stone  at  Batu  Tulis  has 
 fortunately  been  dec\q)hered,  and  the  character  was  doubtless  used  by  the  Simda 
 people  at  the  period  of  the  destruction  of  the  western  government  of  Pajajaran. 
 
 “ No  less  than  seven  different  characters  are  represented  to  have  been  in  use 
 at  different  periods  of  Javanese  history — and  although  those  at  present  adopted  ap- 
 pear at  first  sight,  to  be  very  different  from  the  more  ancient,  on  examination  the 
 one  may  Arithout  much  difficulty  be  traced  to  the  other,  by  obserring  the  gi'adual 
 alterations  made  from  time  to  time ; — specimens  of  these  different  characters,  with 
 the  periods  in  which  they  were  respectively  used,  are  submitted  to  the  inspection  of 
 the  Society,  and  I regret  that  the  absence  of  an  engi’aver  precludes  them  from  ap- 
 pearing in  the  present  volmne  of  transactions. 
 
 “ The  literature  of  Java,  however  much  it  may  have  declined  in  latter  days, 
 must  he  still  considered  as  respectable — the  more  ancient  historical  compositions 
 are  mostly  Amtten  in  the  Kawi  language,  to  which  frequently  the  meaning  of  each 
 word,  and  a paraphrase  of  the  whole  in  Javanese,  is  annexed ; of  these  compositions 
 those  most  highly  esteemed  are  the  B’rata  Yud’ha  or  Holy  War,  and  a volume  en- 
 titled Romo  or  Rama,  the  former  descriptive  of  the  exploits  of  Arjuno,  and  the 
 principal  heroes  whose  fame  is  recorded  in  the  celebrated  Indian  poem  of  the 
 
 “ * Considerable  progress  has  been  made  since  our  last  meeting  in  the  acquirement  of  the  Javanese 
 language  : the  Rev.  Mr.  Trout,  in  particular,  is  prosecuting  his  studies  at  Samarang  with  great  success  ; 
 and  arrangements  are  in  progress  for  procuring  from  Bengal  a fount  of  Javanese  types.” 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 165 
 
 Mahabarat,  the  latter  of  those  who  are  distinguished  in  the  Ramayan — these  poems 
 are  held  by  the  Javanese  of  the  present  day  in  about  the  same  estimation  as  the 
 Iliad  and  Odyssey  of  Homer  are  by  Europeans.  Until  translations  are  made,  and 
 can  be  compared  with  the  more  extensive  works  in  India,  it  would  be  premature  to 
 form  any  judgment  on  their  relative  excellence — the  B’rata  Yud’ha  is  contained  in 
 about  two  hundred  verses,  but  in  rendering  the  Kawi  into  Javanese,  it  is  found  ne- 
 cessary, in  order  to  convey  any  thing  like  the  meaning,  to  render  one  line  of  Kawi 
 into  at  least  three  of  the  modern  Javanese,  and  I should  not  omit  to  mention  that 
 the  belief  is  general  among  the  Javanese  that  the  seat  of  this  celebrated  romance 
 was  on  Java — they  point  out  the  different  countries  which  are  referred  to,  such  as 
 Hastina,  Wirata,  and  others  in  different  districts  of  the  Island,  which  have  since 
 assumed  more  modern  names,  and  the  supposed  mansion  of  Arjuno,  as  before  no- 
 ticed, is  still  to  be  traced  on  Gunung  Prahu. 
 
 “ These  works  in  common  with  almost  every  composition  in  the  language,  are 
 composed  in  regularly  measured  verses,  and  as  far  as  we  can  judge  from  the  partial 
 translations  which  have  been  made  from  them  through  the  medium  of  the  Javanese, 
 they  do  credit  to  the  power  of  the  language  and  the  genius  of  the  poet. 
 
 “ Historical  compositions  are  divided  into  two  general  classes,  termed  Pakam 
 and  Bahat ; under  the  former  are  considered  the  Romo  and  B’rata  Yud’ha  : institu- 
 tions and  regulations  for  Princes  and  the  Officers  of  State  and  Law,  entitled  Kopo 
 Kopo,  Jogol  Muda  and  Kontoro  ; works  on  astronomy  and  judicial  astrology,  termed 
 Wuku;  and  works  on  moral  conduct,  regulations  and  ancient  institutions,  termed 
 Niti  Sastro  and  Niti  Projo ; under  the  Babat  are  classed  chronological,  and  other 
 works  on  modern  history  since  the  establishment  of  the  Empire  of  Mataram. 
 
 There  are  in  use  for  ordinary  and  popular  compositions  five  different  kinds  of 
 regular  measured  stanzas,  termed  Tenibang,  adapted  to  the  subject  treated  of,  whether 
 heroic,  amorous,  or  otherwise ; these  are  termed  Asmoron  Dono,  Dandang  Giila, 
 Sinom,  Diirmo,  and  Pangkur.  In  the  higher  compositions,  and  particularly  in  the 
 Kawi,  these  measures  are  still  more  varied,  and  in  number  upwards  of  twenty,  twelve 
 of  which  correspond  in  name  with  the  stanzas  used  in  the  poetry  of  continental  India. 
 
 In  repeating  these  compositions,  they  are  chaunted,  or  rather  drawled  out  in 
 regular  metre  according  to  rules  laid  down  for  the  long  and  short  syllables.  Dramatic 
 representations  of  various  kinds  form  the  constant  recreation  of  the  higher  classes  of 
 society,  and  the  most  pohshed  amusement  of  the  country ; these  consist  of  the 
 Waxjang  Kulit  or  Scenic  Shadows,  in  which  the  several  heroes  of  the  Drama,  repre- 
 sented in  a diminutive  size,  are  made  to  perform  their  entrances  and  their  exits  behind 
 a transparent  curtain ; the  subjects  of  these  representations  are  taken  either  from 
 the  more  ancient  works  of  the  B’rata  Yud’ha  or  Romo,  and  then  denominated  Wayang 
 Purwo,  or  from  the  history  of  Panji,  the  most  renowned  hero  of  Java  story,  and  then 
 termed  Wayang  Gedog.  The  Wayang  W ong,  in  which  men  personify  the  heroes  of 
 
166 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 the  B’rata  Yud’ha  and  Romo  is  also  termed  Waijang  Purwo ; they  have  also  the 
 Topeng,  in  which  men,  wearing  masks,  personify  those  immortalised  in  the  history  of 
 Panji,  and  the  W ayang  KUtic  or  Koritcliil,  not  unlike  a puppet-show  in  Europe,  in 
 which  diminutive  wooden  figures  personify  the  heroes  of  Majapahit. 
 
 “ These  dramatic  exhibitions  are  accompanied  by  performances  on  the  Gamelan, 
 or  musical  instruments  of  the  Javanese,  of  which  there  are  several  distinct  sets ; the 
 Salindro,  which  accompanies  the  performances  fi*om  the  B’rata  Yud’ha  and  Romo,  as 
 well  as  the  Topeng  ; the  Pelog  which  accompanies  the  Wayang  Gedog,  the  Kodok 
 Ngokek,  Chara  Bali,  Senenan  and  others;  the  Javanese  music  is  peculiarly  harmo- 
 nious, but  the  gamut  is  imperfect. 
 
 “ Whatever  portion  of  astronomical  science  may  have  in  former  times  been 
 communicated  to  Java,  the  people  of  the  present  day  have  no  pretensions  to  dis- 
 tinction on  this  account ; it  is  true  they  possess  the  signs  of  the  Zodiac,  and  still 
 preserve  a mode  of  calculating  the  seasons,  the  principles  of  which  must  have  been 
 discovered  by  a people  well  acquainted  vdth  the  motions  of  the  heavenly  bodies ; 
 they  also  possess  several  works  on  judicial  astrology,  but  in  this  they  follow  only 
 w'hat  is  laid  do^vn  for  them  in  the  few  pages  of  a book  almost  illegible,  and  in  the 
 tradition  of  the  country 
 
 “ It  was  my  intention,  in  this  place,  to  have  attempted  some  sketch  of  the 
 interesting  and  peculiar  features  of  the  Javanese  character,  vdth  reference  to  those 
 admirable  institutions  which  distinguish  the  constitution  of  society  among  this 
 people  ; but  I have  already  trespassed  too  long  upon  your  kindness — and  there  are 
 two  subjects  which  have  recently  attracted  my  particular  attention,  and  which,  on 
 account  of  their  novelty,  I am  desirous  of  bringing  to  your  notice.  During  my  late 
 tour  through  the  Eastern  districts,  I rfsited  the  Teng’gar  mountains,  on  which  it 
 had  been  represented  to  me  that  some  remains  of  the  former  worship  of  Java  were 
 
 “ * The  signs  of  the  Zodiac,  as  represented  in  the  ancient  MS.  discovered  at  Telaga,  in  Cheribon, 
 compared  with  the  Indian  Zodiac,  are  as  follow  : the  figures  being  very  correctly  drawn,  and  the  names, 
 with  the  explanation,  annexed  to  each. 
 
 Indian.  Javanese  MS. 
 
 Mesha — the  Ram Misa. 
 
 ' Vrisha — the  Bull M’risa. 
 
 Mithuna — the  Pair M’ri  Kogo  (a  butterfly.) 
 
 Carcata — the  Crab  Calicata. 
 
 Sinha — the  Lion Singha. 
 
 Cunya — the  Virgin Canya. 
 
 Tula — the  Balance Tula. 
 
 Vrishchica — the  Scorpion  Privata. 
 
 Danus — the  Bow Wanu. 
 
 Macara — the  Sea  Monster Macara  (Crawfish.) 
 
 Cumbha — the  Water  Jug  Cuba. 
 
 Mina — the  Fish  Mena.” 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 167 
 
 still  to  be  found,  and  accident  threw  me  on  the  shores  of  Bali,  while  attempting  to 
 reach  Banynwangi ; the  simplicity  of  the  people  who  inhabit  the  Teng’gar  moun- 
 tains, and  the  fact  of  such  remains  being  still  in  existence  on  Java,  is  entitled  to 
 record,  and  I am  aware  that  whatever  information  I may  be  able  to  communicate 
 respecting  Bali,  however  imperfect,  will  be  accepted. 
 
 “ To  the  eastward  of  Surabaya,  and  on  the  range  of  hills  connected  with 
 Gunung  Dasar,  and  lying  partly  in  the  district  of  Pasuruan  and  partly  in  that  of 
 Probohngo,  known  by  the  name  of  the  Teng’gar  mountains,  we  find  the  remnant 
 of  a people  still  following  the  Hindu  worship,  who  merit  attention  not  only  on 
 account  of  their  being  the  depositaries  of  the  last  trace  of  that  worship  discovered 
 at  this  day  on  Java,  but  as  exhibiting  a peculiar  singularity  and  simphcity  of 
 character. 
 
 “ These  people  occupy  about  forty  villages,  scattered  along  the  range  of  hills 
 in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Sandy  Sea,  and  are  partly  under  Pasuruan  and  partly 
 under  Probolingo.  The  site  of  the  villages,  as  well  as  the  construction  of  the 
 houses  is  pecuUar,  and  differs  entirely  from  what  is  elsewhere  observed  on  Java. 
 They  are  not  shaded  by  trees,  but  built  on  spacious  open  terraces,  rising  one  above 
 the  other,  each  house  occupying  a terrace,  and  being  in  length  from  thirty  to 
 seventy,  and  even  eighty  feet.  The  door  invariably  in  one  corner,  at  the  opposite 
 end  of  the  building  to  that  in  which  the  fire-place  is  built.  The  building  appears  to 
 be  first  constructed  with  the  ordinary  roof,  but  along  the  front  is  an  enclosed  veranda 
 or  gallery  of  about  eight  feet  broad,  with  a less  inclined  pitch  in  the  roof  formed  of 
 bamboos,  which  are  so  placed  as  to  shde  out  either  for  the  admission  of  air,  or  to 
 afford  a channel  for  the  smoke  to  escape,  there  being  otherwise  no  aperture  except 
 a small  opening  of  about  a foot  square,  at  one  end  of  the  building  above  the  fire- 
 place ; this  is  built  of  brick,  and  is  so  highly  venerated  that  it  is  considered  a sacri- 
 lege for  any  stranger  to  pollute  it  by  the  touch ; across  the  upper  part  of  the  building 
 rafters  are  run  across,  so  as  to  form  a kind  of  attic  story,  in  which  they  deposit 
 their  valuables  and  instruments  of  husbandry. 
 
 “ The  head  of  the  village  takes  the  title  of  Petingi,  as  in  the  low  lands,  and 
 he  is  generally  assisted  by  a Kabmjan,  both  elected  by  the  people  from  their  own 
 village ; there  are  four  priests,  who  are  here  termed  Dukun,  having  charge  of  the 
 sacred  records. 
 
 “ These  Diikuns,  who  are  in  general  intelhgent  men,  have  no  tradition  when 
 they  were  first  established  on  these  hills,  from  whence  they  came,  or  who  intrusted 
 them  with  the  sacred  books,  to  the  faith  contained  in  which  they  still  adhere — these 
 they  concur  in  stating  were  handed  down  to  them  by  their  fathers,  their  office  being 
 hereditary,  and  the  sole  duty  required  of  them  being  to  perform  the  imja  according 
 thereto,  and  again  to  hand  them  down  in  safety  to  their  children — these  records 
 consist  of  three  compositions  written  on  the  hontar  leaf,  describing  the  origin  of 
 
168 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 the  world,  the  attributes  of  the  Deity,  and  the  forms  of  worship  to  be  observed  on 
 different  occasions.  Copies  were  taken  on  the  spot,  and  as  the  language  does  not 
 essentially  differ  from  the  ordinary  Javanese,  I hope  at  an  early  period  to  place  the 
 Society  in  possession  of  translations. 
 
 “ In  the  mean  time  some  notices  of  their  customs,  and  of  the  ceremonies  per- 
 formed at  births,  marriages  and  funerals,  may  be  interesting. 
 
 “ When  a woman  is  delivered  of  her  first  child,  the  Dukun  - takes  a leaf  of  the 
 Alang  Alang  gi-ass,  and  scraping  the  skin  of  the  hands  of  the  child  and  of  the 
 mother,  as  well  as  the  ground,  pronounces  a short  benediction. 
 
 When  a marriage  is  agreed  upon,  the  bride  and  bridegroom  being  brought 
 before  the  Dukun  within  the  house,  in  the  first  place,  bow  with  respect  towards  the 
 South — then  to  the  fire-place — then  to  the  earth,  and  lastly,  on  looking  up  to  the 
 upper  story  of  the  house  where  the  implements  of  husbandry  are  placed,  perform 
 the  same  ceremony — the  parties  then  submissively  bowing  to  the  Dukun,  he  repeats 
 a prayer  commencing  with  the  words,  ^ Hong ! Gendogo  Bromo  ang’gas  siwong'go 
 nomo  siwoho  sanifijang  g'ni  siro  hang,  &c.’  * while  the  bride  washes  the  feet  of  the 
 bridegroom.  This  ceremony  over,  the  friends  and  family  of  the  parties  make  pre- 
 sents to  each  of  crises,  buffaloes,  implements  of  husbandry,  &c. ; in  return  for  which 
 the  bride  and  bridegroom  respectfully  present  them  with  betel  leaf. 
 
 “ At  the  marriage  feast  which  ensues,  the  Dukun  repeats  two  Puja,  wiiich  will 
 be  found  in  the  collection — the  marriage  is  not,  however,  consummated  till  the  fifth 
 day  after  the  above  ceremony — which  delay  is  termed  by  them  undaiig  inantu — a 
 similar  delay  is,  in  some  cases,  still  observed  by  the  Javanese  in  other  parts  of  the 
 island,  under  the  term  undoli  mantu. 
 
 “ On  the  death  of  an  inhabitant  of  Teng’gar,  the  corpse  is  lowered  into  the 
 gi'ave,  the  head  being  placed  to  the  South  (contrary  to  the  direction  observed  by 
 the  Mahometans,)  and  bamboos  and  planks  are  placed  over,  so  as  to  prevent  the 
 earth  from  touching  it.  When  the  grave  is  closed,  two  posts  are  planted  over  the 
 body,  one  perpendicular  from  the  breast,  the  other  from  the  lower  part  of  the  belly ; 
 between  these  two  a hollowed  bamboo  is  inserted  in  the  ground,  into  which,  during 
 seven  successive  days,  they  daily  pour  a vessel  of  pure  water,  placing  beside  the 
 bamboo,  two  dishes  also  daily  replenished  with  eatables.  At  the  expiration  of  the 
 seventh  day,  the  feast  of  the  dead  is  announced,  and  the  relations  and  friends  of 
 the  deceased  assemble  to  be  present  at  the  ceremony,  and  partake  of  the  entertain- 
 ment— which  is  conducted  as  follow'^s. 
 
 “ An  image  of  leaves,  ornamented  with  variegated  flowers,  made  to  represent 
 the  human  form,  and  of  about  a cubit  high,  is  prepared  and  placed  in  a conspicuous 
 
 “ * Tliese  prayers  will  be  found  at  length  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Society — the  word  Hong,  used 
 by  the  Javanese  at  the  commencement  of  their  invocations  to  the  Deity,  is  doubtless  the  Mystical  Om  of 
 the  Hindus. 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 169 
 
 place,  and  supported  round  the  body  by  the  clothes  of  the  deceased ; the  Dukun 
 then  places  in  front  of  the  garland  an  incense-pot  with  burning  ashes,  and  a vessel 
 containing  water,  and  repeats  the  two  ]mja  to  fire  and  water,  the  former  com- 
 mencing with  ‘ Hong  Kendogo  Brorno  gangsi  wong'go  yo  nomo  siwoho,'  &c.  the  latter 
 with  ‘ Hong,  hong  gong'go  moho  terto  roto  mejel  saking  hati,'  &c.  burning  dnpn  or 
 incense  at  stated  periods  during  the  former,  and  occasionally  sprinkling  the  water 
 over  the  feast  during  the  repetition  of  the  latter. 
 
 “ The  clothes  of  the  deceased  are  then  divided  among  the  relatives  and  friends, 
 and  the  garland  burned — another  p?(Ja  commencing,  ‘ Hong!  awigno  mastu  nomo 
 sidam,  hong!  araning^  &c.  is  then  repeated  while  the  remains  of  the  sacred  water 
 is  sprinkled  over  the  feast,  after  which  the  parties  sit  down  to  the  enjoyment  of  it, 
 invoking  a blessing  from  the  Almighty  on  themselves,  their  houses  and  their  lands. 
 Nothing  more  occurs  until  the  expiration  of  a thousand  days,  when,  if  the  memory 
 of  the  deceased  is  beloved  and  cherished,  the  ceremony  and  feast  is  repeated — 
 otherwise  no  further  notice  is  taken. 
 
 “ On  questioning  them  regarding  the  tenets  of  their  religion,  they  replied  that 
 they  believed  in  a Dewa,  who  was  all-powerful,  and  that  the  term  by  which  the 
 Dewa  was  designated,  was  Biimi  Truko  Sangyang  Dewoto  Bator ; that  the  particu- 
 lars of  their  worship  were  contained  in  the  book  called  Panglawa,  which  they  pre- 
 sented to  me. 
 
 “ On  being  questioned  regarding  the  adat  against  adultery,  theft,  and  other 
 crimes,  their  reply  was  unanimous  and  ready — that  crimes  of  the  kind  were  unknown 
 to  them,  and  that  consequently  no  punishment  was  fixed  either  by  law  or  custom — 
 that  if  a man  did  wrong,  the  head  of  the  village  chid  him  for  it,  the  reproach  of 
 which  was  always  sufficient  punishment  for  a man  of  Teng’gar:  this  account  of 
 their  moral  character  is  fully  confirmed  by  the  Regents  of  the  districts  under  whose 
 authority  they  arc  placed,  and  also  by  the  Residents.  They  hterally  seem  to  be 
 almost  without  crime ; they  are  universally  peaceable,  interfere  with  no  one,  neither 
 quarrel  among  themselves ; it  may  be  unnecessary  to  observe,  that  they  are  unac- 
 quainted with  the  vices  of  gaming  and  opium-smoking. 
 
 “ The  aggregate  population  amounts  to  about  twelve  hundred  souls ; they 
 occupy,  without  exception,  the  most  beautifully  rich  and  romantic  spots  on  Java; 
 the  thermometer  is  frequently  as  low  as  forty-two ; the  summits  and  slopes  of  the 
 hills  are  covered  with  Alpine  firs,  and  the  vegetation  common  to  a European  climate 
 generally  prevails. 
 
 “ The  language  does  not  differ  much  from  the  Javanese  of  the  present  day, 
 though  more  gutturally  pronounced — from  a comparison  of  about  a hundred  words 
 of  the  vernacular  Javanese,  two  only  differed : they  do  not  intermarry  or  mix  with 
 the  people  of  the  low  lands,  priding  themselves  on  their  independence  and  pmdty  in 
 this  respect. 
 
 z 
 
170 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 Passing  from  this  last  vestige  of  the  Hindu  worship  now  acknowledged  on 
 Java,  (for  the  Bedui,  though  descendants  of  the  fugitives  of  Pajajaran,  scarcely 
 merit  notice  in  this  respect,)  I proceed  to  notice  some  of  the  leading  observations 
 which  I made  on  Bali.  The  notices  regarding  the  prevalence  of  Hinduism  on  Bali, 
 and  of  the  nature  of  the  government  and  country  have  hitherto  been  so  scanty, 
 that  on  such  interesting  gi'ound  I may  be  pardoned  for  entering  into  some  detail, 
 without  which  it  is  impossible  to  convey  a just  notion  of  the  subject. 
 
 “ The  Island  of  Bali  is  at  present  divided  under  seven  separate  authorities, 
 each  independent  of  the  other,  and  of  this  heptarchy  the  state  of  Klongkong  is 
 acknowledged  to  be  the  most  ancient,  its  princes  tracing  their  descent  from  the 
 princes  of  Java,  and  having  once  possessed  authority  over  the  whole  Island.  In 
 the  regalia  of  this  state  are  reported  to  be  still  preseiwed  the  Cris  of  Majapahit,  the 
 celebrated  Gong  named  Bentiir  Kadaton,  and  although  the  other  governments  do 
 not  at  the  present  day  admit  of  any  interference  on  the  part  of  this  state,  they  stiU 
 
 e\dnce  a marked  respect  and  courtesy  to  this  family  as  the  Asal  Rajah  Bali,  the 
 
 stock  from  which  they  sprung. 
 
 ‘‘  The  population  is  roughly  estimated  by  the  number  of  male  inhabitants 
 whose  teeth  have  been  filed,  and  whose  serHces  each  prince  can  command — these 
 amount  to  upwards  of  200,000 ; the  female  population  is  understood  rather  to 
 exceed  the  male,  and  as  it  may  be  considered  that  only  the  active  and  able-bodied 
 men  are  included  in  the  above  list,  an  average  of  four  to  a family  may  be  fairly 
 taken,  giring  a total  population  for  the  whole  Island  exceeding  800,000  souls. 
 
 “ The  mode  of  government,  institutions,  and  prevailing  habits,  are  represented 
 
 to  be  the  same  throughout  the  Island,  and  the  following  sketch  of  Bailing  may 
 
 afford  a just  notion  of  the  whole. 
 
 “ The  government  is  despotic,  and  vested  in  the  Prince  alone — he  is  assisted 
 by  a head  Perhakal  in  all  affairs  relating  to  the  internal  administration  of  the  coun- 
 try, under  whom  are  immediately  placed  the  heads  of  Hllages,  and  by  a Radin 
 Tiimung' gang,  who  conducts  the  details  of  a more  general  nature,  of  commerce 
 and  foreign  intercourse ; the  constitution  of  each  \illage  is  the  same,  the  head  or 
 chief  is  termed  Perbakal,  and  the  assistant  Kalian  Tempek.  These  officers  are 
 invariably  selected  from  among  the  people  of  the  village,  the  son,  however,  gene- 
 rally succeeding  the  father,  if  competent  to  perform  the  duties ; — under  the  head 
 Perhakal,  who  has  the  designation  of  Perhakal  Rajah,  are  several  inferior  Perhakals 
 for  general  duties  and  commimications  with  the  rfllages,  and  under  the  Radin 
 Tuniun'gung  a similar  establishment,  bearing  the  rank  and  designation  of  Kalian 
 Tempek — among  the  heads  of  villages  are  many  whose  famihes  have  formerly  distin- 
 guished themselves  in  the  wars  of  Bali,  and  who  are  termed  Gusti — the  command 
 of  the  military  is  at  present  vested  in  a Chief  of  the  Bramana  cast,  and  who  seems 
 to  receive  honours  and  respect  next  to  the  Prince  himself. 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 171 
 
 “ Whatever  may  at  former  periods  have  been  the  extent  and  influence  of  the 
 Hindu  religion,  Bali  is  now  the  only  Island  in  the  Eastern  Seas,  in  which  that 
 religion  is  still  prevailing  as  the  national  and  established  religion  of  the  country  ^ 
 that  high  spirit  of  enterprise  which  burst  the  bounds  of  the  extensive  conflnes  of 
 India,  like  the  dove  from  the  ark,  rested  its  weary  wing  for  a while  on  Java,  till 
 driven  from  thence  it  sought  a refuge  in  Bali,  where  even  among  the  rudest  and 
 most  untutored  of  savages,  it  found  an  asylum.  The  four  grand  divisions  of  the 
 Hindus  are  here  acknowledged,  and  the  number  of  Bramana  (Bramins)  attached  to 
 the  small  state  of  B'liling  exceeds  four  hundred,  of  whom  about  one  hundred  are 
 termed  Pandita. 
 
 “ Without  entering  into  the  particular  tenets  of  the  prevaihng  Hinduism  of 
 Bali,  which  can  only  be  treated  of  with  propriety  and  correctness  after  a more 
 thorough  acquaintance  with  the  practical  duties,  and  some  knowledge  of  what  is 
 contained  in  their  sacred  records,  it  may  be  affirmed  without  hazard,  that  Hinduism 
 as  it  exists  at  the  present  day  on  Bali,  is  rather  to  be  considered  as  the  nationalized 
 Hinduism  of  Bah,  in  which  a large  portion  of  the  native  institutions  and  customs 
 are  admitted,  than  Hinduism  as  it  is  understood  to  prevail  on  the  continent  of 
 India.  The  Bramins  are,  however,  held  in  high  veneration,  and  on  being  ques- 
 tioned as  to  their  doctrines,  and  to  what  sect  they  belong,  they  answer,  invariably, 
 they  are  Bramana  Siwa.  They  have  the  same  appearance  as  Bramins  wherever 
 they  are  met  with,  and  the  Indian  features  at  once  distinguish  them  as  descended 
 fi’om  a foreign  race.  The  town  and  small  temples  which  we  occasionally  observed, 
 have  the  appearance  of  a Mahratta  village,  and  the  eye  is  struck  with  every  thing 
 strictly  Hindu,  forming  a most  unexpected  contrast  with  the  present  style  of  build- 
 ing and  appearance  of  the  country  on  passing  through  Java  and  the  other  Eastern 
 Islands. 
 
 “ On  enquiring  into  the  relative  rank  and  importance  of  their  deities,  they  in- 
 variably described  Bitara  Guru  as  the  first  in  rank,  then  Bitara  Bramah,  the  spirit  of 
 fire,  Bitara  Wisnu,  the  spirit  of  the  waters,  Bitara  Siwa,  the  spirit  of  the  winds. 
 
 “ Besides  these,  they  describe  numerous  subordinate  deities  to  whom  they  pay 
 adoration,  as  Dewa  Gid’e  Segara,  the  divinity  of  the  great  sea, — Dewa  Gid’e  Dalam, 
 the  divinity  who  presides  over  death, — Gid’e  Bali  Agung,  the  great  and  popular  deity 
 of  Bali, — Dewa  Gid’e  Gunung  Agung,  the  great  deity  of  the  mountain,  which  last  is 
 the  deity  of  most  general  worship. 
 
 “ Bitara  Guru,  though  considered  as  the  highest  object  of  worship,  is  declared 
 to  be  subordinate  to,  and  only  the  mediator  with  the  divinity,  whom  they  designate 
 by  the  expressive  and  appropriate  term  of  Sang  Yang  Tunggal,  The  great  and 
 
 ONLY  ONE. 
 
 “ The  bodies  of  the  deceased  are  invariably  burnt,  and  the  wives  and  con- 
 cubines of  the  higher  classes  perform  the  sacrifice  of  Satia.  A few  days  previous 
 
 z 2 
 
172 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 to  my  landing  on  Bali,  nineteen  young  women,  the  wives  and  concubines  of  the 
 younger  Rajah,  who  was  lately  put  to  death,  sacrificed  themselves  in  this  manner. 
 
 “ The  wTitten  language  of  Bali  differs  but  httle  from  that  of  Java,  but  the 
 character  has  a more  ancient  form ; Kawi  is  the  sacred  language,  and  understood, 
 or  pretended  to  be  understood,  by  the  Bramins — the  common  language  is  a mixture 
 of  the  original  language  of  the  country,  and  that  of  Java,  in  which  the  latter 
 predominates. 
 
 Deferring  until  another  occasion,  a more  particular  review  of  the  religion,  in- 
 stitutions and  habits  of  this  people,  I will  for  the  present  confine  myself  to  such 
 observations  as  occur  on  the  contemplation  of  the  pecuhar  and  extraordinary  cha- 
 racter they  present,  for  the  Balinese  differs  widely,  both  in  appearance  and  character, 
 from  the  Javan,  and  indeed  from  every  other  nation  of  the  Archipelago. 
 
 “ The  natives  of  Bali  are  about  the  middle  size  of  Asiatics,  larger  and  more 
 athletic  than  the  Javans  or  Malays,  and  carry  an  air  of  independence  different  al- 
 together from  the  appearance  of  their  more  pohshed  neighbom-s  on  the  opposite 
 coast  of  Java, — the  women  in  particular  are  well-proportioned,  they  seem  to  be  on 
 a perfect  equality  with  the  men,  they  are  not  secluded  from  society,  and  their 
 general  intercourse  with  strangers,  even  Europeans,  is  frank  and  cheerful — they  are 
 fairer  than  the  women  in  Java,  and  wearing  no  covering  above  the  waist,  the  natural 
 beauty  and  symmetry  of  their  shape  is  neither  restrained  nor  concealed. 
 
 “ There  are  two  kinds  of  slavery  existing  at  Bali,  and  sanctioned  by  the  laws 
 of  the  country;  the  first  is  termed  Paniak,  by  which  is  understood  a perfect  state  of 
 slavery : the  second  Rowang,  which  resembles  the  condition  of  the  slave-debtor  in 
 Sumatra,  and  the  Malay  peninsula.  Paniak  is  synonymous  with  Humba  among  the 
 Malays,  and  signifies  a slave — the  master  has  complete  possession  of  his  person,  and 
 may  lawfully  transfer  and  punish  with  death  according  to  his  \rfll  and  pleasure,  it 
 being  contrary  to  usage  for  the  Prince  to  interfere.  In  the  mode  of  acquiring  this 
 absolute  property,  there  appears  to  be  but  little  restriction.  Prisoners  taken  in  war, 
 or  families  carried  off  from  their  countries,  are  daily  sold  and  transferred,  the  deed 
 of  transfer,  called  in  Bali  Padol,  being  authenticated  by  the  Tumunggung.  In  cases 
 where  an  outrage  occurs  in  a neighbouring  state  in  alliance,  application  from  the  in- 
 jured party,  transmitted  through  the  proper  Chief,  will  cause  the  persons  to  be  re- 
 stored, and  the  perpetrators  of  the  outrage  are  liable  to  the  punishment  of  death ; 
 but  in  cases  where  the  countries  are  not  immediately  in  alliance,  or  when  the  parties 
 carried  off  from  a friendly  state,  happen  to  want  friends  to  make  application  in  their 
 favor,  no  notice  is  taken  of  such  occurrences.  If  a free  man  wishes  to  many  a 
 female  slave,  he  may  obtain  her  by  purchase,  provided  he  can  agree  with  the  pro- 
 prietor, otherwise  he  may  be  admitted  to  marry  her  on  condition  that  he  becomes  a 
 servant  with  her — this  second  degree  of  slavery  comes  under  the  title  of  Rowang. 
 Persons  convicted  of  offences  not  of  the  first  magnitude,  are  generally  sold  for 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 17.} 
 
 slaves  by  the  Prince,  or  taken  to  serve  him  as  such.  The  term  Rowang,  is  used  to 
 express  the  second  or  modified  degi'ee  of  slavery.  If  a man  happens  to  be  indebted, 
 and  without  the  means  of  payment  (the  debt  exceeding  ten  dollars)  he  may  be  sold 
 by  the  Jaxa,  and  the  amount  for  which  he  is  disposed  of  is  appropriated  to  repay 
 his  creditor,  the  surplus  being  divided  between  the  Prince,  the  Jaxa,  and  the  Cre- 
 ditor, as  a recompence  for  their  trouble;  the  man  sold  in  this  manner  becomes  a 
 Rowa?ig:  this  state  of  servitude  embraces  every  feature  of  slavery,  excepting  that  the 
 Rowang  cannot  be  sold,  put  to  death,  or  sent  out  of  the  country — if  a Rowarig 
 wishes  to  marry,  he  may  do  so  on  receiving  his  master’s  consent,  but  the  woman 
 becomes  a Rowang  also.  But  the  Rowang  possesses  this  advantage,  that  he  may 
 redeem  himself  at  any  time  by  paying  the  amount  of  the  debt,  or  the  money  may  be 
 advanced  for  him,  so  that  his  condition  becomes  that  of  a debtor  bound  to  serve  his 
 creditor  until  the  amount  of  his  debt  is  discharged.  In  the  event  of  the  debt  not 
 amounting  to  ten  dollars,  the  party  cannot  be  sold,  but  the  Jaxa  will  order  the  goods 
 and  property  of  the  debtor  to  be  disposed  of,  and  an  obligation  to  be  given  for  the 
 payment  of  the  remainder,  whenever  his  circumstances  may  admit.  A person  in- 
 debted to  another,  and  unable  to  pay,  may  make  over  his  wife  and  children  to 
 the  creditor,  who  in  such  case  will  become  Rowang,  and  on  payment  of  his  debt, 
 eventually,  he  may  demand  back  his  family. 
 
 In  marriage,  the  dowry  established  by  custom  for  all  persons  of  equal  rank, 
 is  forty  dollars,  to  be  paid  to  the  parents  of  the  bride  * ; but  as  it  happens  in  many 
 cases,  that  the  husband  is  unable  to  pay  this  sum,  he  becomes  indebted  to  the 
 parents  for  the  amount,  and  this  constitutes  a third  branch  of  slavery  under  the 
 term  Tatung' gon — the  man  and  wife  reside  in  the  house  of  the  bride’s  father,  and  the 
 man  performs  service  in  attendance  on  the  family,  or  in  assisting  in  the  cultivation 
 of  the  land — when  the  husband  is  enabled  to  pay  the  dowry,  he  is  then  at  liberty  to 
 quit  the  father’s  house,  and  to  maintain  an  independent  establishment,  under  the 
 term  of  Orang  Merclika,  or  free  man.  If  the  new-married  man,  however,  behaves 
 to  the  satisfaction  of  his  wife’s  family,  it  often  happens  that  after  a certain  time  the 
 father-in-law  consents  to  remit  the  whole  or  part  of  the  dowry,  according  to  the  cir- 
 cumstances of  the  parties. 
 
 “ The  punishments  for  crimes  are  death,  confinement,  and  selling  into  slavery, 
 neither  torture  to  obtain  confession,  mutilation,  nor  even  corporal  punishment  are 
 used — theft  and  robbery  are  punished  with  death — and  for  mirrder,  treason,  and 
 gang-robbery,  in  aggravated  cases,  the  punishment  of  death  is  inflicted  by  breaking 
 the  limbs  with  a hatchet — this,  though  it  assimilates  to  the  manner  of  breaking  on 
 the  wheel,  does  not  appear  to  have  been  adopted  from  Europeans,  the  practice 
 being  of  ancient  date — the  party  is  left  to  finger,  sometimes  for  several  days  before 
 
 “ * In  Bali,  as  well  as  on  Java,  the  term  used  for  this  payment  signifies  a purchase.' 
 
174 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 death  ensues — all  executions  are  in  public — other  capital  punishments  are  usually 
 performed  with  a Cris — open  robbery  by  dayhght  is  punished  by  death,  but  stealing 
 by  confinement  only;  robbery  by  night  invariably  by  death.  All  offences  are 
 jjunished  in  the  Jaxa’s  Court,  which  consists  of  two  Jaxas  and  two  Kancha  or 
 Registers,  the  Perbakal  being  the  prosecutor — the  sentence  of  the  Comt  must  be 
 confiiTned  by  the  Prince,  previous  to  execution,  whose  warrant,  or  Lontar,  is  ne- 
 cessary in  all  cases.  In  civil  cases  the  confirmation  of  the  Prince  is  only  required 
 when  persons  are  sold  into  slavery — a regular  table  of  fees,  in  civil  as  well  as 
 criminal  cases  is  exhibited  in  Court,  and  the  amount  divided  between  the  members 
 and  the  Prince.  In  criminal  cases,  when  the  punishment  is  capital,  the  property  is 
 confiscated  and  divided  in  like  manner,  but  in  other  punishments,  the  parties  retain 
 their  property.  Adultery  is  punished  with  death  to  the  man,  and  the  woman 
 becomes  a slave  to  the  Prince — theft  is  the  most  prevalent  crime,  and  adultery  is 
 uncommon,  perhaps  not  twenty  cases  in  a year — the  husband  has  the  power'  by  law 
 to  kill  both  parties  at  the  moment,  if  he  detects  them  in  the  fact,  but  not  otherwise. 
 
 “ In  their  domestic  relations,  however,  the  conduct  of  the  Balinese  appears  un- 
 exceptionable, and  there  is  indeed  a superior  delicacy  to  what  might  be  expected, 
 and  the  tenderness  towards  early  age  speaks  strongly  in  favor  of  their  natural  dis- 
 position. The  parental  authority  is  exercised  with  such  tenderness,  that  it  is  pecu- 
 liarly striking  when  taken  in  the  same  view  with  the  apparently  rude  character  of 
 the  people — they  seem  to  evince  a careless  indifference  to  the  rod  of  despotism 
 which  hangs  over  their  head,  and  an  air  of  good-humour  and  general  satisfaction 
 prevails  throughout ; temperate  in  their  diet,  and  strangers  to  drmikenness,  the 
 ruling  passion  is  gaming,  from  cock-fighting  to  an  inordinate  and  unprincipled  desire 
 for  conquest — such  is  the  energy  of  the  character  that  it  must  find  some  powerful 
 vent,  something  on  which  to  discharge  itself — and  not  being  subject  to  a fonn  of 
 government  calculated  to  repress  their  energies,  they  evidently  feel  no  inclination 
 to  stand  still  in  the  scale  of  civilization.  As  a nation  they  are  certainly  invdncible 
 to  any  native  power  in  the  Eastern  Seas ; still  maintaining  a high  and  noble  inde- 
 pendence of  character,  they  perhaps  exhibit  in  a concentrated  spot  as  much  of 
 human  nature,  checked  by  regulation,  and  yet  not  lowered  or  refined  by  it  as  is  to 
 be  found  in  any  part  of  the  universe. 
 
 “ If  we  contemplate  the  various  nations  and  tribes  which  inhabit  the  Southern 
 Peninsula  of  India,  and  the  innumerable  islands  composing  that  portion  of  the  globe 
 comprehended  within  Polynesia  and  Australasia,  our  attention  is  arrested  by  the 
 striking  uniformity  in  habits  and  language  which  prevails  throughout,  inducing  the 
 inference  either  of  one  common  origin,  or  of  early  and  very  general  intercourse. 
 
 “ Such  customs  as  the  singidar  practice  of  filing  the  teeth  and  dyeing  them 
 black,  noticed  by  the  authors  who  have  vvTitten  on  Pegu,  Siam,  Camboja,  and  Ton- 
 cjuin,  and  prevailing  generally  throughout  the  whole  Malayan  Archipelago  ; the 
 
 1 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 175 
 
 practice  of  distending  the  perforated  lobe  of  the  ear  to  an  enormous  size,  noticed  in 
 like  manner  to  exist  in  the  same  parts  of  the  Peninsula,  and  prevailing  throughout 
 the  Archipelago  in  a greater  or  less  degree  in  proportion  with  the  extension  of 
 Islamism ; the  practice  of  tattooing  the  body,  noticed  among  the  Burmans  and  people 
 of  Laos,  common  to  many  tribes  on  Borneo,  and  particularly  distinguished  in 
 some  of  the  islands  in  the  Pacific  Ocean ; if  it  is  observed  that  this  custom,  as  well  as 
 that  of  plucking  the  beard,  was  noticed  in  South  America,  the  question  may  arise  in 
 what  course  or  direction  the  tide  of  population  may  have  flowed.  In  a recent  pub- 
 lication an  idea  has  been  started  on  the  similarity  of  the  languages,  that  the  popu- 
 lation of  the  Philippines  and  of  the  islands  in  the  South  Sea  originally  emigrated 
 fi'om  America  It  will  not  be  required  of  me  to  go  into  any  description  of  those 
 singular  appendages  to  the  virile  member,  noticed  by  the  writers  on  Pegu,  Siam, 
 and  Camboja,  and  adopted  among  many  tribes  of  Borneo  and  the  Moluccas ; what- 
 ever may  have  been  the  origin  of  this  very  singular  custom,  traces  are  to  be  found 
 even  on  Java  of  the  veneration  in  which  it  once  was  held.  The  practice  of  triumph- 
 ing over  a subdued  enemy  may  be  common  to  the  barbarous  state  in  general,  but 
 the  deliberate  system  of  man-hunting,  in  order  to  procure  heads  as  a trophy  of  man- 
 liness and  military  gallantry,  however  it  may  have  originated  in  this  feeling  of 
 uncivilized  nature,  may  be  ranked  among  the  peculiarities  of  this  portion  of  the 
 globe. 
 
 “ The  language  of  the  different  tribes  of  Borneo  is  ascertained  to  bear  a strong 
 
 “ * This  author  notices  that  observing  the  proper  names  of  places  about  the  middle  of  the  continent  of 
 South  America  were  very  similar  to  those  of  the  Philippines,  he  endeavoured  to  procure  a vocabulary  of 
 the  country,  and  to  examine  the  few  words  of  the  language  of  Chili,  which  ErciUa  mentions  in  his  Arau- 
 cana,  and  found  them  perfectly  conformable  to  the  language  of  Tagala.  ‘ In  examining  the  structure  of 
 the  two  lan;Tuages,’  he  observes,  ‘ we  are  compelled  to  conclude  that  they  flow  from  one  and  the  same 
 source,  and  I dare  to  affirm  that  the  Indians  of  the  Philippines  are  descended  from  the  aborigines  of 
 Chili  and  Peru,  and  that  the  language  of  these  Islands  derives  immediate  from  the  parent  source,  those  of  the 
 neighbouring  Islands  being  dialects  of  this — that  there  are  many  reasons,  and  one  in  particular,  for  supposing 
 that  the  Islands  in  the  South  Sea  could  not  be  peopled  from  the  westward,  viz.  that  in  all  the  torrid  zone  the 
 east  wind  generally  prevails,  which  being  in  direct  opposition  to  the  course  from  Malacca  and  the  adjacent 
 Islands,  it  is  fair  to  conclude  the  inhabitants  of  all  the  Islands  in  the  South  Sea  came  from  the  East,  sailing 
 before  the  wind,  for  we  have  seen  it  often  happen,  that  the  Indians  from  the  Palaos  have  arrived  at  the 
 Philippines  precisely  under  these  circumstances.  On  the  contrary  we  have  no  instance  on  record  of  any  of 
 the  Philippine  Indians  having  been,  even  by  accident,  carried  by  the  winds  to  the  Islands  to  the  Eastward.’ 
 
 “ ‘ Here,  therefore,’  he  concludes,  ‘ we  appear  to  have  formed  the  most  probable  solution  of  our  diffi- 
 culties, that  is,  that  the  first  settlers  came  out  of  the  East,  we  may  presume  from  the  coast  of  South  America, 
 and  proceeding  gradually  to  the  westward  through  the  Pacific  Ocean,  studded  as  we  find  it  with  islands  and 
 clusters  of  islands,  at  no  very  great  distance  from  each  other,  and  of  course  of  easy  access  before  the  wind  ; 
 it  follows  that  to  whatever  point  in  an  eastern  direction  we  trace  the  Tagalic  language,  we  may  conclude 
 that  at  that  point  emigration  must  have  commenced.’  ” — Description  of  the  Philippine  Islands,  by  Martiner 
 de  Tuniga. — Marns.  Trans,  p.  30. 
 
176 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 resemblance  to  that  of  the  scattered  tribes  of  Camboja,  Champa,  and  Laos.  The 
 position  maintained  by  Mr.  Marsden,  that  the  Malayan  is  a branch  or  dialect  of  the 
 widely  extended  language  prevailing  through  the  Islands  of  the  Archipelago,  to 
 which  it  gives  name,  as  well  as  those  of  the  South  Sea,  appears  to  be  estabhshed 
 and  confirmed  as  our  infonnation  advances,  and  if  we  except  the  Papuas  and  scat- 
 tered tribes  ha\ing  curled  hair,  we  find  the  general  description  given  of  the  persons 
 of  the  Siamese  and  the  nider  population  of  the  adjacent  countries  which  have  not 
 admitted  any  considerable  admixture  from  the  Chinese,  to  come  very  near  to  the 
 inhabitants  of  the  Ai'chipelago,  who  may,  in  fact,  be  said  to  differ  only  in  being  of 
 a smaller  size,  and  in  as  far  as  foreign  colonization  and  intercourse  may  have  changed 
 them. 
 
 ‘‘To  trace  the  sources  fi’om  whence  this  colonization  and  consequent  chilization 
 flowed,  and  the  periods  at  which  it  was  introduced  into  different  states,  is  a subject 
 new  to  the  historian,  and  not  uninteresting  to  the  philosopher. 
 
 “ If  we  admit  the  natural  inference  that  the  population  of  the  Islands  originally 
 emigrated  from  the  Continent,  and  at  the  same  time  the  probability  that  the  country 
 l}ing  between  Siam  and  China  is  the  immediate  source  fi-om  whence  such  emigra- 
 tion originally  proceeded,  the  history  of  the  Eastern  Islands  may,  ^rith  reference  to 
 that  of  Java  in  particular,  in  which  a powerful  Hindu  government  was,  without 
 doubt,  early  established,  be  dirided  into  five  distinct  periods. 
 
 “ The  first  division  would  include  the  period  commencing  with  the  earliest 
 accounts  of  the  population  down  to  the  first  estabhshment  of  a foreign  colony  in 
 Java,  of  which  the  ^viitten  annals  of  the  country  make  mention  ; the  date  of  this  is 
 pretty  accmately  ascertained,  and  may  be  fixed  at  about  the  commencement  of  the 
 sixth  century  of  the  Javanese  era,  or  A.D.  600,  when  only  the  period  of  authentic 
 history  can  be  considered  to  coimuence. 
 
 “ The  origin  of  aU  nations  is  buried  in  obscurity,  and  unless  we  may  succeed 
 ill  obtaining  new  lights  from  Siam  or  China,  we  shall  have  but  httle  to  guide  us 
 during  the  early  part  of  this  dirision,  beyond  conjectm'e  and  such  general  inferences 
 as  may  be  di'ami  from  a similarity  in  person,  language,  and  usages,  still  found  to  pre- 
 vail among  the  less  cirilized  tribes.  According  to  the  dirision  of  Sir  William  Jones, 
 the  original  population  of  the  Islands  were  doubtless  of  the  Tartar  race,  and  pro- 
 bably from  the  same  stock  as  the  Siamese.  The  Javans  date  the  commencement  of 
 their  era  from  the  arrival  on  Java  of  Adi  Saka,  the  minister  of  Prabu  Joyo  Boyo, 
 Sovereign  of  Hastina,  and  the  fifth  in  descent  from  Arjuno,  the  favourite  of  Krisna, 
 and  the  leading  hero  of  the  B’rata  Yud’ha.  This  epoch  coiTesponds  \rith  that  of  the 
 introduction  of  a new  faith  into  China  and  the  further  Peninsula  by  Saka,  Shako,  or 
 Sakia,  as  he  is  differently  termed,  and  with  the  chronology  of  the  Hindus,  as 
 explained  by  Sir  Wilham  Jones,  in  which  Saca  is  supposed  to  have  reigned  seventy- 
 nine  years  subsequent  to  the  commencement  of  the  Christian  era;  but  whether 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 177 
 
 Saka  himself,  or  only  some  of  his  followers  assuming  this  name,  found  their  way 
 to  Java  may  be  questionable,  and  it  is  not  impossible  that  the  Javanese  may  have 
 subsequently  adopted  the  era,  on  a more  extended  intercourse  with  the  further 
 Peninsula  *.  A connection  would  at  any  rate  appear  to  have  existed  between  Java 
 and  Siam,  as  this  Adi  Saka  is  not  only  represented  to  have  founded  the  present  era 
 of  Java,  but  to  have  introduced  the  original  letters  of  the  Javanese  alphabet,  by  a 
 modification  of  the  letters  used  in  Western  India  and  in  Siam.  It  does  not  appear 
 that  either  he  or  his  followers  established  themselves  in  any  authority,  and  we  can 
 trace  but  little  with  certainty  dmdng  the  following  five  centuries ; some  of  the  Java- 
 nese accounts  refer  to  the  arrival  of  various  settlers  during  this  period,  but  we  find 
 no  traces  either  of  a government  having  existed,  or  of  the  estabhshment  of  any 
 extensive  colony,  until  the  commencement  of  the  sixth  century.  I should  observe 
 in  this  place  that  the  Javanese  year  corresponds  pretty  nearly  with  the  Hindu  year 
 of  Salivarna,  and  that  the  word  Saka,  in  Sanscrit,  means  an  epoch  or  era,  and  is 
 apphed  to  the  founder  of  an  era. 
 
 “ The  Javanese  occasionally  use  the  numerals  for  recording  dates,  but  more 
 generally  and  particularly  in  dates  of  importance,  they  adopt  an  hieroglyphical  inven- 
 tion termed  Chondro  Sangkolo,  in  which  the  different  numerals  from  one  to  ten  are 
 represented  by  particular  objects  ; this  is  either  effected,  in  buildings  and  sculpture, 
 by  the  actual  representations  of  these  objects,  or  in  writing,  by  the  insertion  of  their 
 names,  the  meaning  frequently  having  some  allusion  to  the  fact  which  the  date 
 records,  thus  the  date  of  the  destruction  of  Majapahit,  in  the  Javanese  year,  1400,  is 
 recorded  as  follows,  the  order  of  the  numerals  being  reversed — 
 
 Sima — Hang — Kertaning — Burni 
 Gone — gone — is  the  work — of  the  land 
 
 0 0 4 1 
 
 “ Anterior  to  this  supposed  arrival  of  Adi  Sacha,  the  two  most  eventful  periods 
 in  the  history  of  these  countries,  of  which  tradition  and  history  make  mention,  are, 
 first,  that  which  includes  the  incursions  of  the  far-famed  race  who  have  been  sup- 
 posed to  have  peopled  South  America  f,  and,  according  to  Sir  William  Jones,  ‘ im- 
 ported into  the  furthest  parts  of  Asia,  the  rites  and  fabulous  history  of  Rama and, 
 secondly,  that  which  includes  the  consequences  of  the  invasion  of  India  by  Alexander 
 the  Great.  That  the  fabulous  history  of  Rama,  as  well  as  the  exploits  of  Alexander, 
 have  been  current  in  the  Malayan  Archipelago  from  time  immemorial,  cannot  be 
 questioned ; and  it  may  be  remarked,  that  while  the  Javans  use  the  term  Rama  for 
 
 “ * The  present  (1815)  Javanese  year  is  1742  : that  of  Bali  1733.” 
 
 “ t See  a former  note  on  the  similarity  between  the  languages  of  South  America  and  the  Philippines, 
 and  the  recent  works  of  Humboldt,  on  the  existence  of  Hindu  remains  still  found  in  America,  in  support  of 
 this  assertion.” 
 
 A a 
 
178 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 father,  the  Malays  universally  attempt  to  trace  their  descent  from  Alexander,  or  his 
 followers.  Sumatra  was  long  considered  to  have  been  the  Taprohdne  of  the  ancients ; 
 and  when  we  advert  to  the  single  circumstance  that  this  was  said  to  be  a country  in 
 which  the  North  Polar  Star  was  not  visible,  or  only  partially,  we  must  still  doubt  the 
 correctness  of  the  modern  conclusion  in  favour  of  Ceylon.  The  Eastern  Islands 
 furnish  that  pecuhar  kind  of  produce  which  has,  from  the  earhest  times,  been  in 
 demand  by  continental  nations ; and  the  same  avidity  with  which,  in  modern  days, 
 Europeans  contended  for  the  rich  products  of  the  Moluccas,  in  all  probability  actu- 
 ated, at  a much  earlier  period,  adventurers  from  Western  India.  Traces  of  intercourse 
 with  Ethiopia  may  be  found  at  this  day  in  the  scattered  tribes  of  the  wooUy-haired 
 race  peculiar  to  Africa,  which  are  to  be  found  on  the  Andamans,  on  the  southern 
 part  of  the  further  Peninsula,  and  throughout  the  Archipelago ; and  that  the  Hindus 
 were,  at  one  period,  an  enterprising  and  commercial  nation,  may,  I think,  be  esta- 
 blished with  little  difficulty,  from  the  incontestible  proofs  which  at  this  day  exist  on 
 Java,  and  the  traffic  which  still  exists  in  native  vessels,  and  on  native  capital,  between 
 the  Coromandel  coast  and  the  Malayan  peninsula.  If  any  country,  therefore,  in  the 
 Archipelago  lays  claim  to  this  distinction  more  than  another,  it  is  Java;  but  pro- 
 bably it  was  rather  to  the  Eastern  Islands  generally,  than  to  one  island  in  particular, 
 that  the  appellation  was  given.  Both  Ptolemy  and  the  Arabians  would  seem  to  have 
 designated  the  Islands  by  one  general  name ; by  the  one,  they  were  termed  Jabadios 
 Insulce ; by  the  others,  Jau,  or  Jawa:  hence,  probably,  the  confusion  in  the  Travels 
 of  Marco  Polo,  and  the  still  disputed  question  between  Java  Major  and  Java  Minor  *. 
 
 “ The  second  division  would  include  the  period  between  this  first  regular  esta- 
 blishment from  Western  India,  and  the  decfine  and  fall  of  the  first  Eastern  empire  of 
 Java,  which  may  be  fixed,  with  tolerable  accuracy,  at  about  the  Javanese  year  1000, 
 or  A.D.  1073. 
 
 During  this  period,  by  far  the  most  eventful  in  the  history  of  Java,  we  shall 
 find  colonies  of  foreigners  estabhshing  themselves  not  only  on  Java,  but  on  various 
 other  Islands  of  the  Archipelago  ; that  the  arts,  particularly  those  of  architecture  and 
 sculpture,  flourished  in  a superior  degree ; and  that  the  language,  literatm*e,  and 
 institutions  of  the  continent  of  India  were  transfeiTed,  in  various  directions,  through 
 the  Oriental  Islands.  It  was  during  this  period  that  the  principal  temples,  of  which 
 
 “ * If  we  reflect  upon  the  extent  and  nature  of  the  recent  volcanic  phenomena  on  Sumhawa,  and  the 
 effects  which  may  have  been  produced  by  similar  convulsions  of  nature,  we  are  led  to  conclude  that  the 
 present  appearance  and  form  of  the  various  islands  of  the  Archipelago  may  be  very  different  from  what 
 they  were  two  or  three  thousand  years  ago.  At  that  period  these  Islands  may  have  formed  part  of  the 
 main  land,  or  have  been  themselves  united  in  one  continent.  An  authentic  account  of  this  extraordinary 
 phenomenon,  as  far  as  it  can  be  collected  from  information  yet  received,  is  submitted  to  the  Society,  and 
 will  be  found  in  the  subsequent  pages  of  its  Transactions.  I can  vouch  for  the  correctness  of  the  state- 
 ments, and  the  raw  materials  may  be  found  useful  in  the  hand  of  the  natural  historian.” 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 179 
 
 the  niins  now  exist  on  Java,  were  built;  and  besides  the  concurring  testimonies  of 
 tradition,  and  the  written  compositions  of  the  country,  the  numerous  inscriptions  and 
 dates  on  stone  and  copper,  the  characters  of  which  we  are  now  able  to  decypher,  as 
 well  as  the  ancient  coins,  would  lend  essential  aid  in  estabhshing  a correct  chrono- 
 logy. On  the  one  hand,  we  should  have  to  direct  our  inquiries  to  the  history  of  the 
 various  continental  nations  from  whence  these  foreigners  might  have  proceeded ; 
 and,  on  the  other,  to  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  establishments,  intercourse,  and 
 civihzation  introduced  by  them  into  the  different  islands. 
 
 “ This  period  will  commence  from  the  anival  of  Awap,  the  reputed  son  of  Balia 
 Atcha,  Sovereign  of  KudjirM,  who  came  in  search  of  a celebrated  country  described 
 in  the  writings  of  Saka,  and  under  the  name  of  Sewelo  CJiolo  established  the  first 
 regular  monarchy  of  which  the  Javanese  annals  make  mention;  and  include  the 
 adventm'es  of  the  celebrated  Panji,  the  pride  and  admiration  of  succeeding  ages. 
 Our  attention  would  also  be  directed  in  a particular  manner  to  the  intercourse  be- 
 tween Java  and  the  other  Islands,  and  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  foreign  establish- 
 ments formed  by  Java.  Tradition  and  the  popular  romances  of  the  country  repre- 
 sent not  only  the  kingdoms  of  Goa  and  Luhu  on  Celebes,  but  even  the  kingdom  of 
 jNIenagkabu,  on  Smnatra,  to  have  been  established  about  the  conclusion  of  this 
 period  by  Princes  from  Java. 
 
 The  third  division  would  include  the  period  from  the  above  date,  till  the  final 
 overthrow  of  the  second  Eastern  Empire,  in  the  Javanese  year  1400.  Some  idea 
 may  be  formed  of  the  power  and  opulence  of  this  second  empire  established  at  Maja- 
 pahit,  from  the  extensive  ruins  of  that  city  still  extant : these  I took  an  opportunity 
 of  risiting  dming  my  late  tour ; and  I believe  I am  within  the  mark,  when  I repre- 
 sent the  walls  to  have  enclosed  a space  of  upwards  of  twenty  miles  in  circumference. 
 
 “ Within  this  period  will  be  included  the  establishment  of  the  Western  Empire 
 at  Pajajaran ; the  subsequent  di’sdsion  of  the  Island  under  the  Princes  of  Majapahit 
 and  Pajajaran ; the  eventual  supremacy  of  Majapahit ; and  the  final  overthrow  of 
 the  government  and  ancient  institutions  of  the  country,  by  the  general  establishment 
 of  the  Mahomedan  faith. 
 
 “ It  was  dm'ing  this  period  that  Java  may  be  said  to  have  risen  to  the  highest 
 pitch  of  her  civilization  yet  known,  and  to  have  commanded  a more  extensive  inter- 
 course throughout  the  Archipelago,  than  at  any  former  period.  Colonies  irom  Java 
 were  successively  planted  on  Sumatra,  the  Malayan  peninsula,  Borneo,  and  Bali,  the 
 Princes  of  which  countries  still  trace  their  descent  from  the  house  of  Majapahit ; and 
 that  adventurers  from  Western  India,  from  Siam,  from  Champa,  from  China,  and 
 fr'om  Japan,  frequented  Java  in  the  greatest  number ; but  the  object  of  first  import- 
 ance will  be  to  trace  the  introduction,  progress,  and  final  establishment  of  the 
 Mahomedan  faith  in  the  various  countries  where  it  now  is  acknowledged  as  the  esta- 
 blished religion;  and  particularly  on  Java,  where  we  find  that,  notwithstanding 
 
 A a 2 
 
180 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 attempts  to  make  proselytes  were  made  as  early  as  the  commencement  of  the  twelfth 
 century,  such  was  the  attachment  of  the  people  to  their  ancient  faith  and  institutions, 
 that  they  did  not  effectually  succeed,  till  the  latter  end  of  the  fifteenth  century  of 
 the  Christian  era. 
 
 “ The  fourth  di\ision  would  commence  uith  the  establishment  of  the  Maho- 
 medan  government  on  Java,  and  might  be  brought  do^^^l  to  the  estabhshment  of  the 
 Dutch  in  the  Eastern  Seas,  say  A.D.  1600 ; and  a fifth,  and  by  no  means  uninterest- 
 ing period,  might  include  the  history  of  the  Em-opean  estabhshments,  dowrn  to  the 
 conquests  by  the  British  arms  in  1811. 
 
 “ The  fm-ther  prosecution  of  this  extensive  inquiry  would  lead  me  beyond  the 
 limits  at  present  prescribed ; and  I must,  therefore,  conclude  with  di-a\\ing  yom-  atten- 
 tion to  the  striking  similarity  between  the  early  state  of  Greece,  and  that  of  the 
 Malayan  Islands  : change  but  the  names,  and  the  words  of  Mitford’s  Introduction  to 
 his  History  of  Greece,  vdU  be  found  equally  apphcable  to  tliis  more  extensive  Archi- 
 pelago. 
 
 “ ‘ Thus,’  he  observes,  ‘ Greece,  in  its  early  days,  was  in  a state  of  perpetual 
 marauding  and  piratical  warfare.  Cattle,  as  the  great  means  of  subsistence,  were 
 first  the  great  objects  of  plunder ; then,  as  the  inhabitants  of  some  parts  by  degrees 
 settled  to  agriculture,  men,  women,  and  children  were  sought  for  as  slaves.  But 
 Greece  had  nothing  more  peculiar  than  its  adjacent  sea,  where  small  islands  were  so 
 thickly  scattered,  that  their  inhabitants,  and  in  some  measure  those  of  the  shores  of 
 the  sun’ounding  continents  also,  were  mariners  by  necessity ; W'ater-expeditions, 
 therefore,  were  soon  found  most  commodious  for  carrying  off  spoil.  The  Greeks, 
 moreover,  in  their  more  barbarous  state,  became  acquainted  with  the  precious  me- 
 tals ; for  the  Phoenicians,  whose  industry,  ingenuity,  and  adventurous  spirit  of  com- 
 merce, led  them  early  to  explore  the  further  shores  of  the  MediteiTanean,  and  even 
 to  risk  the  dangers  of  the  ocean  beyond,  discovered  mines  of  gold  and  silver  in  some 
 of  the  Islands  of  the  ^Tigean,  and  on  its  northern  coast  they  fonned  establishments 
 in  several  of  the  Islands  ; and  Thasus,  which  lay  convenient  for  communication  ^^dth 
 the  most  productive  mines,  became  the  seat  of  their  principal  factor)'.  Thus  was 
 offered  the  most  powerful  incentive  to  piracy,  in  a sea  whose  innumerable  islands 
 and  ports  afforded  singular  opportunity  for  the  practice.  Perhaps  the  conduct  of 
 the  Phoenicians  towards  the  uncirihzed  nations,  among  whom  the  desire  of  gain  led 
 them,  was  not  always  the  most  upright  or  humane  ; hostilities  would  naturally  ensue, 
 and  hence  might  first  arise  the  estimation  of  piracy,  which  long  prevailed  among  the 
 Greeks  as  an  honourable  practice.’ 
 
 “ Java  has  long  been  advanced  beyond  that  state,  in  which  piracy  and  robbery 
 are  held  to  be  honourable  in  the  eyes  of  men  ; but  the  picture  wll  be  found  pretty 
 correct  of  those  Islands  strictly  denominated  ^Malayan. 
 
 “ The  superior  and  extraordinary  fertility  of  the  soil  may  serve  to  account  for 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 181 
 
 the  extensive  population  of  Java,  compared  with  that  of  the  other  Islands  ; and 
 when  to  the  peaceable  and  domestic  habits  of  an  agiicultural  life  are  added  the  facili- 
 ties for  invasion  along  an  extensive  line  of  coast,  accessible  in  every  direction,  it  will 
 not  be  surprising  that  she  should  have  fallen  an  easy  prey  to  the  first  invader.  She 
 appears  to  have  lost  by  these  invasions  much  of  that  martial  spirit  and  adventurous 
 enterprise  which  distinguishes  the  population  of  the  other  Isles ; but,  at  the  same 
 tune,  to  have  retained  not  only  the  primitive  simphcity  of  her  own  peculiar  usages, 
 but  all  the  virtues  and  advantages  of  the  more  enlightened  institutions  which  have 
 been  introduced  at  different  periods  from  a foreign  source.  At  all  events,  when  we 
 consider  that  her  population  cannot  be  less  than  four  millions  ; and  when  we  witness 
 the  character  and  hterature  of  the  people  as  it  is  even  now  exhibited,  we  must 
 admit  that  Java  had  attained  a far  higher  degree  of  cirilization  than  any  other  nation 
 in  the  southern  hemisphere. 
 
 “ You  will,  however,  expect  from  me  some  notice  regarding  Japan,  ‘ that  cele- 
 brated and  imperial  Island,’ which,  to  use  the  words  of  Sir  William  Jones,  bears  ‘ a 
 pre-eminence  among  Eastern  kingdoms,  analogous  to  that  of  Britain  among  the 
 nations  of  the  West and  however  slender  may  have  been  the  information  procured, 
 such  as  it  is  I venture  to  submit  it  to  you,  nearly  as  I received  it  from  the  verbal 
 comniunications  of  Dr.  Ainslie. 
 
 “ It  may  be  satisfactory  and  gratifying,  in  the  first  place,  to  obser\^e,  that  every 
 information  which  has  been  obtained,  tends  to  confirm  the  accuracy,  the  ability,  and 
 the  impartiality  of  Kasmpfer,  whose  account  of  Japan  is,  perhaps,  one  of  the  best 
 books  of  the  kind  that  ever  was  written,  considering  the  circumstances  under  which 
 he  was  sent.  I am  assured  that  there  is  not  a misrepresentation  throughout.  He 
 was  a man  of  that  minute  accuracy,  and  that  habitude  of  talent,  which  saw  every 
 thing  as  it  stood,  and  not  through  the  mist  or  medium  of  any  preconception.  The 
 Japanese  obseiwe  of  him,  that  he  is  in  history  ‘ the  very  apostle  of  their  faith,’  and 
 from  whose  works  alone  they  know  even  their  owti  country.  Their  first  inquiry 
 was  for  a copy  of  Kaempfer ; and,  endeavouring  to  evince  the  estimation  in  which 
 this  author  was  held  by  them,  their  observation  was  literally  that  ^ he  had  drawn 
 out  their  heart  from  them,  and  laid  it  palpitating  before  us,  with  all  the  movements 
 of  their  government,  and  the  actions  of  their  men.’ 
 
 ‘‘  Referring  you,  therefore,  to  the  works  of  Kaempfer  for  an  account  of  their 
 histor)',  institutions  and  acquirements,  as  genuine  data  on  which  this  interesting 
 people  may  be  appreciated,  I need  only  offer  a few  notices  on  the  character  which 
 they  appeared  to  Dr.  Ainslie  to  display,  during  a residence  of  four  months,  and  as 
 far  as  he  had  the  opportunity  of  judging. 
 
 “ They  are  represented  to  be  a nerv’ous,  \dgorous  people,  whose  bodily  and 
 mental  powers  assimilate  much  nearer  to  those  of  Europe,  than  what  is  attributed  to 
 Asiatics  in  general.  Their  features  are  masculine,  and  perfectly  European,  with  the 
 
182 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 exception  of  the  small  lengthened  Tartar  eye,  which  almost  universally  prevails,  and 
 is  the  only  feature  of  resemblance  between  them  and  the  Chinese.  The  complexion 
 is  perfectly  fair,  and  indeed  blooming,  the  women  of  the  higher  classes  being  equally 
 fair  with  Europeans,  and  having  the  bloom  of  health  more  generally  prevalent  among 
 them  than  is  usually  found  in  Europe. 
 
 For  a people  who  have  had  very  few,  if  any,  external  aids,  the  Japanese  can- 
 not but  rank  high  in  the  scale  of  civihzation.  The  traits  of  a vigorous  mind  are  dis- 
 played in  the  sciences,  and  particularly  in  metaphysics  and  judicial  astrology.  The 
 arts  speak  for  themselves,  and  are  deservedly  acknowledged  to  be  in  a much  higher 
 degi'ee  of  perfection  than  among  the  Chinese,  with  whom  they  are,  by  Europeans,  so 
 frequently  confounded.  The  latter  have  been  stationary,  at  least,  as  long  as  we 
 have  known  them  ; but  the  slightest  impulse  seems  sufficient  to  give  a determination 
 to  the  Japanese  character,  which  would  progressively  improve,  until  it  attained  the 
 same  height  of  chilization  mth  the  European.  Nothing,  indeed,  is  so  offensive  to 
 the  feelings  of  a Japanese,  as  to  be  compared,  in  any  one  respect,  with  the  Chinese ; 
 and  the  only  occasion  on  which  Dr.  Ainslie  saw  the  habitual  politeness  of  a Japanese 
 ever  surprised  into  a burst  of  passion,  was  upon  a simihtude  of  the  two  nations  being 
 unguardedly  made,  when  he  laid  his  hand  on  his  sword. 
 
 “ The  people  are  said  to  have  a strong  inclination  to  foreign  intercourse,  not- 
 withstanding the  political  institutions  to  the  contrary ; and  perhaps  the  energy  which 
 characterizes  the  Japanese  character  cannot  be  better  elucidated  than  in  that  extra- 
 ordinary decision  which  excluded  the  world  from  their  shores,  and  confined  them- 
 selves within  their  own  limits : a people  who  had  before  served  as  mercenaries 
 throughout  all  Polynesia,  and  who  traded  with  all  nations — themselves  adventurous 
 navigators. 
 
 “ There  is  by  no  means  that  uniformity  among  them  which  is  observed  in  China, 
 where  the  impression  of  the  government  may  be  said  to  have  broken  down  all  indi- 
 viduality, and  left  one  Chinese  the  counterpart  of  another.  Unlike  the  Chinese,  the 
 women  here  are  by  no  means  secluded ; they  have  a society  among  themselves,  as 
 the  ladies  of  Europe.  During  the  residence  of  Dr.  Ainslie,  frequent  invitations  and 
 entertainments  were  given  ; on  these  occasions,  and  at  one  in  particular,  a lady  from 
 the  court  of  Jeddo  is  represented  to  have  done  the  honours  of  the  table  with  an 
 ease,  elegance,  and  address  that  would  have  graced  a Parisian.  The  usual  dress  of 
 a Japanese  woman  of  middle  rank  costs,  perhaps,  as  much  as  would  supply  the  ward- 
 robe of  an  European  lady  of  the  same  rank  for  twenty  years. 
 
 “ The  Japanese,  with  an  apparent  coldness  hke  the  stillness  of  the  Spanish  cha- 
 racter, and  derived  nearly  from  the  same  causes, — that  system  of  espionage,  and  tha 
 principle  of  disunion,  dictated  by  the  principles  of  both  governments, — are  repre- 
 sented to  be  eager  of  novelty  and  wann  in  their  attachments ; open  to  strangers ; 
 and,  bating  the  restrictions  of  their  political  institutions,  a people  who  seem  inclined 
 
 2 
 
TO  THE  BATAVIAN  SOCIETY. 
 
 188 
 
 to  throw  themselves  into  the  hands  of  any  nation  of  superior  intelligence  : they  have, 
 at  the  same  time,  a great  contempt  and  disregard  of  every  thing  below  their  own 
 standard  of  morals  and  habits,  as  instanced  in  the  case  of  the  Chinese. 
 
 “ This  may  appear  to  be  contradicted  by  the  mission  from  Russia  in  1814, 
 under  Count  Kreusenstern ; but  the  circumstances  under  which  that  mission  was 
 placed  should  be  considered.  From  the  moment  of  their  arrival  they  were  under  the 
 influence  of  an  exclusive  factory,  who  continued  to  rain  upon  them  every  possible 
 ignominy  which  can  be  supposed  to  have  flowed  from  the  despotism  of  Japan, 
 through  the  medium  of  an  interested  and  avaricious  factor,  who  di'eaded  competition, 
 or  the  pubhcation  of  his  secret.  The  warehouse  in  which  the  Russian  mission  had 
 been  lodged,  was  pointed  out  to  Dr.  Ainshe,  who  observes,  that  ‘ as  the  rats  were  let 
 out,  the  Count  and  his  suite  were  let  in,  where  they  remained  for  six  long  months, 
 with  scarce  room  to  turn ; the  mark  of  obloquy  to  the  Japanese,  and  the  laughing- 
 stock to  the  European  factory.’  So  hvely,  indeed,  was  the  impression  of  the  occur- 
 rence, that  the  chief  Japanese  officer  asked  the  Enghsh  commissioner  if  he,  too, 
 would  condescend  to  play  the  part  of  the  Russian  count ; the  officer  answering  to  his 
 omi  question,  ‘ No,  I trust  not.’ 
 
 The  mistaken  idea  of  their  ilhberafity  in  religious  matters,  seems  to  have  been 
 fully  proved ; and  the  late  mission  experienced  it  in  a degree  hardly  credible,  and 
 little  expected  by  themselves,  from  the  representations  previously  made  to  them. 
 The  story  of  the  annual  test  of  trampfing  on  the  crucifix  at  Nangasaki  and  the  other 
 important  cities  is  a story  derided  by  the  Japanese  priesthood.  On  \dsiting  the  great 
 temple  on  the  hills  of  Nangasaki,  the  English  commissioner  was  received  with 
 marked  regard  and  respect  by  the  venerable  patriarch  of  the  northern  pro\inces, 
 eighty  years  of  age,  who  entertained  him  most  sumptuously.  On  shewing  him 
 round  the  courts  of  the  temple,  one  of  the  English  officers  present  heedlessly 
 exclaimed  in  surprise,  ' Jasus  Christus.'  The  patriarch,  turning  half-round,  with  a 
 placid  smile,  bowed  significantly,  expressive  of  * We  know  you  are  Jasus  Christus 
 well ; don’t  obtrude  him  upon  us  in  our  temples,  and  we  remain  friends ;’  and  so  with 
 a hearty  shake  of  the  hands  these  two  opposites  parted.  This  leave-taking  reminded 
 Dr.  Ainshe  very  forcibly  of  the  story  Dr.  Moore  tells  so  well  of  the  Duke  of  Hamilton 
 and  himself  taking  leave  of  the  Pope.  The  Pope,  who  had  conceived  a regard  for 
 the  young  Duke,  on  the  latter  making  his  conge,  said,  ‘ I know  you  laugh  at  the 
 benediction  of  a Pope ; but  the  blessing  of  an  old  man  can  do  you  no  harm ;’  and 
 laid  his  hand  on  his  head,  and  blessed  him. 
 
 “ The  massacre  of  Samebarra  is,  by  the  Japanese,  attributed  to  European  in- 
 trigue ; and  even  Kaeempfer  notices  that  the  European  ships  of  war  formed  the  prac- 
 tical breach  through  which  the  Japanese  entered,  and  perpetrated  that  massacre,  to 
 which,  it  would  appear,  they  had  been  originally  prompted  by  others. 
 
 That  the  negociations  from  England,  on  a former  occasion,  should  not  have 
 
181 
 
 MR.  RAFFLES’  ADDRESS 
 
 been  more  successful  than  the  late  attempt  from  Russia,  may  easily  be  accounted 
 for,  when  we  reflect  on  the  possibility  of  the  favoured  factor  ha\ing  said  to  them. 
 Forty  years  ago  your  throne  has  been  all  but  overturned  by  the  intrigue  of  these 
 heretics ; this  embassy  comes  from  the  King  who  has  married  the  daughter  of  the 
 head  of  that  cast,  and  fi'om  whom  you  can  expect  nothing  less  than  an  irruption  still 
 more  fatal  to  your  tranquillity.’  Such  an  argument,  pushed  by  a narrow-minded  and 
 interesting  factor,  could  not  but  carry  weight  with  the  Japanese,  accustomed  to 
 respect,  and  to  place  all  confidence  in  their  western  visitors. 
 
 " They  are  not  averse  to  the  indulgence  of  social  excess,  and  on  these  occasions 
 give  a latitude  to  their  speech,  which  one  would  hardly  suppose  they  dared  to  do  in 
 Japan. 
 
 " It  is  an  extraordinary  fact,  notwithstanding  the  determination  of  the  empire 
 not  to  enter  into  foreign  commerce,  that  for  seven  years  past,  since  the  visitation  of 
 Captain  Pellew,  the  English  language  has,  by  an  edict  from  the  Emperor,  been  culti- 
 vated with  considerable  success  by  the  younger  members  of  the  College  of  Interpre- 
 ters ; they  were,  indeed,  anxious  in  their  inquiries  after  English  books. 
 
 “ While  the  commissioner  was  at  Nangasaki,  there  arrived  a large  detachment 
 of  officers  of  rank,  who  had  been  out  nearly  four  years,  and  not  yet  completed  one- 
 fourth  of  a survey  on  which  they  were  engaged.  These  officers  were  attended  by  a 
 numerous  and  splendid  retinue,  and  were  employed  in  making  a practical  survey  of 
 every  foot  of  the  empire  and  the  dependant  isles.  The  survey  appeared  to  be  con- 
 ducted on  a scientific  principle,  to  be  most  minute  and  accurate  in  its  execution,  and 
 to  have  for  its  object  a regular  geographical  and  statistical  survey  of  the  country. 
 
 “ In  a word,  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Ainslie  is,  that  the  Japanese  are  a people  with 
 whom  the  European  world  might  hold  intercourse  without  compromise  of  character ; 
 for  the  Japanese  themselves  are  wonderfully  inquisitive  in  all  points  of  science,  and 
 possess  a mind  curious  and  anxious  to  receive  information,  without  inquiring  from 
 what  quarter  it  comes. 
 
 “ In  the  same  spirit  let  us  hope  that  now,  when 
 
 ‘ That  spell  upon  the  minds  of  men 
 Breaks,  never  to  unite  again’ — 
 
 no  withering  policy  may  blast  the  fair  fruits  of  that  spirit  of  research  which  has  gone 
 forth  from  this  Hall ; nor  continue,  under  any  circumstances,  to  shut  out  one-half  of 
 the  world  from  the  intelligence  which  the  other  half  may  possess.” 
 
 While  thus  occupied  in  the  encouragement  of  every  object  calculated  to  promote 
 the  good  of  the  people  whom  he  governed,  and  to  enlarge  our  knowledge  of  their 
 institutions,  habits,  and  character,  not  only  Mr.  Raffles  but  his  superiors  also  in 
 Bengal  remained  entirely  ignorant  of  the  intentions  of  the  Government  at  home. 
 
UNSETTLED  TENURE  OF  JAVA. 
 
 185 
 
 or  of  the  East  India  Company,  as  to  the  future  condition  of  the  Island.  Years 
 had  elapsed,  and  still  nothing  was  decided  on  its  fate.  One  of  the  chief  difficulties 
 with  which  Mr.  Raffles  had  to  contend,  and  which  indeed  affected  every  measure, 
 arose  from  this  uncertainty.  He  had  to  administer  the  government  of  the  Island 
 without  kno^^^ng  whether  it  was  to  belong  to  the  King  or  the  Company,  which  led 
 to  embarrassment,  and  created  differences  of  opinion,  as  the  wishes  and  interests 
 of  indiHduals  were  likely  to  be  affected  by  the  decision.  Mr.  Raffles  wrote  to  Mr. 
 Ramsay,  Secretary  of  the  East  India  Company,  on  this  subject. 
 
 To  W.  Ramsaij,  Esq.  from  Mr.  Raffles. 
 
 Batavia,  Jan.  8,  1813. 
 
 “ There  is  perhaps  no  point  of  view  in  which  the  possession  of  Java  deserves 
 to  be  more  seriously  considered,  than  in  its  connection  with  China,  and  its  influence 
 on  the  Company’s  interests  and  prospects  there.  It  is  of  the  first  importance  to 
 them,  that  in  any  arrangements  which  may  be  made  for  the  future  government  of 
 this  colony,  or  for  throwing  the  trade  of  India  open  to  individuals,  the  nature  of 
 this  connection,  and  the  extent  of  this  influence  should  be  fully  known,  in  order 
 that  the  Company’s  interests  at  Canton,  and  their  exclusive  trade  to  China  may  not 
 be  interfered  with. 
 
 “ It  seems  to  be  the  general  opinion  that  the  government  of  Java  will  be 
 assumed  by  the  Crown ; and  if  this  is  the  case,  it  is  probable  that  a free  trade  will 
 follow.  Batavia  may  become  the  mart,  from  whence  America  and  the  Continent 
 will  be  supplied  with  the  products  of  China ; and,  from  its  central  situation,  become 
 an  emporium,  which,  in  the  hands  of  any  other  powder  than  that  of  the  Company, 
 must  be  destructive  of  its  best  interests  in  China.  The  trade  between  Europe, 
 India  and  Bata\ia,  and  between  Batavia  and  Chind,  will  fall  into  the  hands  of  indi- 
 viduals, against  whose  interference  restrictions  would  be  vain. 
 
 “ The  balance  of  trade,  under  the  existing  circumstances  of  the  European 
 market,  is  heavily  against  Java,  both  from  Europe  and  from  India,  there  being  no 
 actual  produce  of  Java  to  afford  a return  that  is  saleable ; and,  consequently,  the 
 greater  extent  to  which  this  trade  is  carried,  the  greater  the  demand  for  silver  and 
 gold,  and  the  greater  the  difficulties  and  distresses  of  the  Government.  China, 
 however,  offers  an  advantageous  mart  for  almost  all  her  productions,  as  well  as 
 those  of  the  Eastern  Islands  in  general ; and  it  is  to  this  market  only  that  we  can 
 look.  A great  proportion  of  this  trade  is  now  carried  on  by  Chinese  capitalists, 
 trading  direct  to  Batavia  from  Amir  and  the  northern  ports  of  China,  with  which  a 
 constant  intercourse  is  kept  up ; and  it  woidd  be  impossible  to  restrict  a trade  which 
 appears  to  have  been  so  long  established,  and  which  proves  so  essential  and  advan- 
 tageous to  all  concerned  in  it. 
 
 “ The  state  of  the  Company’s  finances  in  China  has  already  induced  the  super- 
 
 B b 
 
186 
 
 TRADE  OF  JAVA  AND  OF  CHINA. 
 
 cargoes  to  open  a commmiication  on  the  subject.  They  represent  the  deficiency  of 
 their  funds,  and  ask  for  consignments  from  hence,  offering  the  advantage  of  di*a\v- 
 ing  bills  on  the  Supreme  Government  for  the  amount.  This  arrangement  is  exactly 
 what  the  colony  stands  in  need  of.  The  drain  which  woidd  otherwse  exhaust  Java 
 from  Europe  and  India  will  be  avoided  by  the  circulation  of  bills  on  Bengal,  wiiich 
 will  be  gi'anted  to  the  amomit  of  the  consignments  to  China ; and  the  supercargoes 
 in  China  w ill  be  furnished  in  the  most  advantageous  manner  possible  with  funds  for 
 the  homew^ard  cargo,  without  requiring  that  export  of  specie  wiiich  must  otherwise 
 become  essentially  necessary. 
 
 If  Java  remains  in  the  hands  of  the  East  India  Company,  this  arrangement  may 
 be  earned  to  any  extent,  and  Java  and  China  thus  mutually  assist  each  other,  while 
 the  Company’s  finances  w^ould  derive  an  obvious  benefit.  If  Java  becomes  a King’s 
 government,  and  the  trade  to  the  Eastern  Islands  is  thrown  open,  it  will  be  difficult 
 to  impose  restrictions,  and  impossible  to  prevent  an  intercourse  with  China,  which, 
 under  such  circumstances,  would  prove  highly  disadvantageous  to  the  Company. 
 
 “ As  far  as  my  experience  goes,  it  will  be  impossible  for  a British  government 
 to  exist  on  Java  with  a respectable  estabhshment,  without  avaihng  itself  of  the 
 resources  within  its  reach.  Java  cannot  be  held  on  the  same  footing  as  Ceylon.  It 
 is  by  extending  its  trade,  and  not  by  confining  it,  that  the  interests  of  its  local 
 government  can  alone  be  secured. 
 
 Another  point  of  moment  is  the  extent  to  which  printed-cottons  may  be 
 introduced  into  Java  fi'om  England.  I am  most  sanguine  in  my  expectations  of 
 success,  provided  strict  attention  is  paid  to  the  patterns  and  sizes  as  well  to  the 
 other  suggestions  w'hich  accompany  the  musters ; the  consignments,  however,  should 
 in  the  first  instance,  be  considered  rather  as  an  experiment ; and,  afterw'ards,  if  the 
 cloths  are  once  generally  and  advantageously  introduced,  there  will  he  no  difficulty 
 in  increasing  the  quantity  to  an  unlimited  extent.  The  extent  to  which  other 
 staples  and  manufactures  may  he  imported  with  advantage,  I have  stated  in  a 
 Report 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ * 
 
 On  the  prospect  of  the  Island  of  Java  being  transferred  to  the  crown,  and  the 
 probability  of  a King’s  officer  being  appointed  to  the  government.  Lord  Minto 
 displayed  a generous  concern  to  promote  and  secure  the  interests  of  his  friend, 
 to  whom  he  wTote  as  follows  : — 
 
 February  22d,  1813. 
 
 ^ ^ 
 
 I have  already  written  to  you  concerning  the  operations  of  this  event  (the 
 arrival  of  General  Maitland)  upon  your  situation  ; and  I need  not  repeat  my  former 
 
 • The  inliabitants  of  Java  are  now,  1829,  principally  supplied  with  the  cotton  and  woollen  manufac- 
 tures of  England. 
 
GOVERNMENT  OF  JAVA. 
 
 187 
 
 communication  on  a subject  which  is,  however,  deeply  and  sensibly  interesting  to 
 my  "wishes  and  feelings. 
 
 “ But  I have  to  acquaint  you  with  an  honourable  retreat,  if  your  present  office 
 should  pass  into  other  hands.  Mr.  Parker  has  been  compelled  by  ill-health  to  quit 
 Bencoolen.  If  any  obstacle  should  arise  to  the  view's  which  I suppose  you  might 
 entertain  on  Java,  in  the  event  of  a change  of  government,  or  if  you  should  prefer 
 the  Residency  of  Fort  Marlborough  to  any  other  situation  that  might  be  open  for 
 you  in  the  East,  my  resolution  is  to  appoint  you  to  succeed  Mr.  Parker.  It  must 
 not  be  forgotten,  at  the  same  time,  that  the  orders  of  the  Court  of  Directors  are  to 
 place  a civil  servant  of  the  Bengal  establishment  in  that  office.  That  circumstance 
 will  not  prevent  me  from  appointing  you,  because  I flatter  myself  the  claims  which 
 made  so  strong  an  impression  on  me  w'ill  be  admitted  by  others ; and  I am  unwil- 
 hng  to  doubt  the  Court’s  confirmation  of  the  measure,  and  the  many  w^eighty  and 
 forcible  considerations  wffiich  certainly  recommend  it. 
 
 “ If  there  should  be  any  hesitation  on  the  subject,  I should  feel  some  reliance 
 on  the  early  exertion  I shall  have  an  opportunity  of  making,  in  person,  at  home, 
 my  departure  from  hence  being  fixed  for  next  January.  ^ ^ ^ 
 
 “ My  opinion  now  is,  that  in  military  questions  affecting  especially  the  economy 
 of  your  government,  you  should  adopt  and  carr}'  into  effect  firmly,  the  measures 
 wffiich,  after  every  proper  reference  to  the  Commander  of  the  Forces,  and  with  every 
 due  deference  to  his  sentiments,  you  ultimately  judge  to  be  either  expedient  in  them- 
 selves, or  conformable  to  our  instructions.  To  give  way  on  the  spot,  and  refer  to 
 us  to  reverse  the  measures,  which  have  been  conceded  merely  in  a spirit  of  con- 
 ciliation, is  a very  slow  and  dilatory  process,  considering  the  distance  and  length 
 of  time  required  for  communication  betw'een  Java  and  Bengal.  It  might,  perhaps, 
 be  admissible,  if  the  instances  were  rare;  but  opposition  on  such  points  being  not 
 only  frequent  but  uniform,  an  exercise  of  the  powder  vested  in  you  on  the  spot 
 becomes  indispensable. 
 
 Pray  let  me  know  your  wishes  on  the  subject  of  your  appointment  to  Ben- 
 coolen as  soon  as  possible.  But  I shall  take  care  to  make  the  office  accessible  to 
 you  by  an  actual  appointment,  subject  to  your  owm  option,  as  soon  as  I know  with 
 certainty  that  the  present  government  of  Java  is  to  be  changed.  You  have  had, 
 and  will  still  have  many  competitors  here,  and  some  of  the  very  highest  rank,  merit, 
 and  pretensions  in  India ; but  so  far  as  the  power  of  this  government  can  avail,  you 
 may  consider  the  affair  as  decided.” 
 
 From  Lord  Minto  to  Air.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Calcutta,  May  \0th,  1813. 
 
 “ Although  nothing  is  certain,  I should  think,  on  the  whole,  that  Lord  Moira 
 will  arrive  in  Bengal  in  July,  or  say  by  the  1st  of  August. 
 
 B b 2 
 
188 
 
 APPOINTMENT  TO  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 “ This  expectation  occasions  a great  embarrassment  and  anxiety  about  you ; for 
 the  final  decision  concerning  Java  may  not  be  known  in  the  country  during  my 
 government,  and  there  will  consequently  be  a difficulty  in  appointing  you  to  Ben- 
 coolen,  if  that  should  be  the  case:  for  I presume  you  would  not  wish  to  renounce 
 Java  definitively  until  the  necessity  of  doing  so  should  be  positively  ascertained. 
 What  I can  do  at  present  is  to  keep  Bencoolen  open.  If  I should  learn,  while  I 
 am  in  office,  that  you  are  certainly  to  be  relieved  at  an  early  period,  I shall  make 
 your  appointment  to  Fort  Marlbro’,  and  send  it  to  you  at  Batavia,  that  you  may  go 
 at  once  from  Java  to  your  own  station. 
 
 All  that  can  be  said  is,  that  I shall  be  watchful  for  your  interest,  and  shall 
 omit  nothing  that  depends  on  me  to  accomplish  what  I think  due  to  your  merits 
 and  services,  as  well  as  to  evince  the  esteem  and  affection  which  I have  sincere 
 pleasure  in  professing  towards  you.” 
 
 Extract  of  a Letter  from  Lord  Minto  to  Mr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ June  22d,  1813. 
 
 “ I cannot  safely  wait  longer  for  authentic  accounts  of  the  resolution  taken  in 
 England  concerning  Java ; and  I have,  therefore,  adopted  the  measure  of  at  once 
 appointing  you  formally  to  Fort  Marlbro’ ; to  take  effect  on  your  being  relieved  from 
 your  present  office  or  resigning  it ; the  allowances  to  commence  from  the  time  of 
 your  departure  from  Java. 
 
 The  letter  which  I have  just  addressed  to  you  as  President  of  the  Literary 
 Society  of  Batavia,  leaves  little  for  me  to  add  to  the  very  gratifying  proof  of  their 
 kind  recollection  and  regard  furnished  by  the  address  which  you  enclosed  to  me, 
 and  I shall  only  say,  in  the  sincerity  of  private  correspondence,  that  I have  derived 
 from  it  very  particular  satisfaction.  I hope  you  will  ply  your  labours — the  field  is 
 extensive,  and  to  a great  portion  even  of  the  learned  world  new — diligence  has  not 
 been  wanting,  and  ability  has  been  abundant  in  your  era — for  which,  certainly,  much 
 is  due  to  you,  as  you  are  truly  told.  I am  very  grateful  for  the  great  stone  from  the 
 interior  of  your  Island;  in  w^eight,  at  least,  it  seems  to  rival  the  base  of  Peter  the 
 Great’s  statue  at  St.  Petersburg!!. 
 
 “ I shall  be  very  much  tempted  to  mount  this  Java  rock  on  our  Minto  craigs, 
 that  it  may  tell  eastern  tales  of  us  long  after  our  heads  lie  under  smoother  stones. 
 
 “ Your  Twelve  Caesars*  are  placed  on  handsome  pedestals  in  the  marble  hall 
 at  Calcutta,  and  you  would  be  pleased  to  see  how  well  they  suit  that  fine  room,  and 
 how  ornamental  they  are  to  it.  An  inscription  on  the  pedestal  of  Julius  Caesar  is  to 
 
 Busts  formerly  in  the  Government  Hall  of  the  Dutch  Governor-General  at  Batavia,  and  sent  by 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  to  Lord  Minto. 
 
CALLING  IN  DEPRECIATED  PAPER. 
 
 189 
 
 make  him  tell  his  own  history  and  that  of  his  successors,  and  how  they  all  came 
 there.  He  will  (prophetically  it  must  be)  introduce  your  name  into  this  chapter  of 
 liis  Commentaries. 
 
 ******* 
 
 “ I learnt  with  great  pleasure  that  you  have  determined  to  accept  the  Resi- 
 dency of  Fort  Marlbro’.  When  I first  made  this  proposition  I was  not  aware  that 
 I might  soon  lose  the  power  of  making  the  appointment.  I have  since  felt  con- 
 siderable uneasiness  lest  I should  be  overtaken  by  an  event  which  cannot  be  distant, 
 and  disabled  fi'om  accomphshing  an  object  which  I have  so  much  at  heart.  I wrote 
 you  by  the  Hussar  under  that  apprehension,  and  before  I had  entirely  determined 
 the  course  I should  pursue. 
 
 Fro?n  Lord  Minto  to  Mr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Calcutta,  June  24<A,  1813. 
 
 We  have  received  the  documents  you  have  furnished  in  support  of  the  mea- 
 sures adopted  by  you,  respecting  the  courts  of  Solo  and  Djocjocarta — we  wash,  of 
 course,  fi'om  the  great  importance  of  the  subject,  not  only  to  give  it  a full  consider- 
 ation, but  to  accompany  the  judgment  we  are  to  pass  upon  it  with  a satisfactory  ex- 
 planation of  the  grounds  on  which  the  opinion  is  formed.  This  requires  a little,  and 
 but  a little  more  time  than,  oppressed  as  we  now  are  by  the  winding  up  of  an  ad- 
 ministration of  seven  years,  and  by  the  despatch  of  ships  to  England,  it  has  been 
 possible  for  us  to  afford — you  need  not,  however,  feel  any  uneasiness  on  account  of 
 this  short  delay : I have  myself  read  all  the  papers  with  the  gi*eatest  attention,  and 
 have  perused  a second  time  all  that  your  correspondence  and  the  proceedings  of 
 your  government  furnish  on  this  subject;  I am  happy  to  say  that  I am  myself  en- 
 tirely satisfied;  and  although  the  members  of  Council  have  not  yet  read  all  the 
 papers,  the  conversations  which  I have  held  with  them  on  the  subject  leave  me  no 
 doubt  that  we  shall  concur  in  the  result. 
 
 Our  judgment  on  this  and  several  other  capital  points  of  your  administration, 
 which  are  not  included  in  the  official  dispatches  by  the  Nearchus,  \vill  be  forwarded 
 in  a week  or  two  after  the  departure  of  that  ship.  Amongst  these  are  the  operation 
 of  calling  in  the  depreciated  paper  which  hung  so  heavily  on  your  finances,  an  opera- 
 tion which  is  highly  applauded ; and  the  sale  of  lands  which  enabled  you  to  execute 
 the  former  measure,  which  is  also  approved. 
 
 “ You  will  receive  an  official  approbation  by  the  present  dispatches  of  your 
 resolution  to  ratify  the  Probolingo  transaction,  which  I trust  will  prove  satisfactory 
 to  you.” 
 
190 
 
 LETTER  TO  W.  B.  RAMSAY,  ESQ. 
 
 To  William  Brown  Ramsay,  Esq. 
 
 “ Buitenzorg,  June,  1813. 
 
 “ 'N'S'e  are  still  here,  wthout  any  change,  or  even  nunours  of  a change,  which, 
 after  the  uncertain  period  which  has  passed,  may  be  considered  as  a very  gi-eat  imme- 
 diate gratification  to  us ; but  I am  not  so  untutored  in  the  ways  of  the  world,  or  so 
 confident  in  the  propriety  of  the  measures  of  our  government  at  home,  as  to  calculate 
 with  any  certainty  on  the  residt.  I am  prepared  and  ready  to  meet  a change  when- 
 ever it  may  occur.  At  Bencoolen  I am  promised  the  chief  authority,  if  removed 
 hence ; at  Penang  my  standing  in  the  serrice  would  insiwe  me  a seat  in  council,  but 
 
 I confess  that  I should  say  farewell  to  Java  vdth  a hea\y  heart. 
 
 ******* 
 
 “ I do  not  know  whether  I am  to  attribute  your  silence  to  an  habitual  laziness 
 in  every  thing  which  concerns  business,  or  to  a carelessness  about  me  and  mine  ; the 
 latter  I must  doubt,  and  I would  hope  that  you  will  not  allow  the  former  to  super- 
 sede what,  as  a fi-iend,  I have  a right  to  think  my  due. 
 
 “ It  is  most  likely  you  think  much  less  about  us  than  we  think  about  you,  and 
 perhaps  it  is  natural  that  it  should  be  so : I will  only  say,  that  if  you  forget  me,  I 
 will  not  forget  you. 
 
 “ Adieu,  and  beheve  me  ever  yours,  with  sincerity  and  truth, 
 
 « T.  S.  R.” 
 
 To  W.  B.  Ramsay,  Esq. 
 
 “ Java,  September  \5th,  1813. 
 
 Every  thing  is  going  on  prosperously  here ; and,  as  I have  often  told  you 
 before,  if  the  authorities  at  home  leave  us  alone,  every  thing  must  continue  to  go  on 
 prosperously.  You  wll  hear  of  some  war  here  ; but  I think  you  know  enough  of  my 
 disposition  to  believe  that  I prefer  peace  and  harmony,  to  war  and  anarchy ; and  that 
 I would  rather  have  kept  my  little  army  (about  12,000)  in  comfortable  quarters.  My 
 measures  have  been  throughout  successful. 
 
 “ I shall  come  home,  not  laden  \rith  riches  and  spoils,  but,  I trust,  with  some 
 little  honour  and  credit.” 
 
 The  following  letter  is  to  a relation  : 
 
 To  the  late  Elton  Hammond,  Esq.  from  Mr.  Raffles. 
 
 Buitenzorg,  October,  1813. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Elto\, 
 
 “ It  has  been  gratifjdng  to  me  to  find  that  you  take  an  interest  in  the 
 affairs  of  these  colonies,  they  are  of  much  higher  importance  than  is  generally 
 
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DEPRECIATED  STATE  OF  PAPER  CURRENCY. 
 
 191 
 
 imagined ; and  while  they  remain  under  my  administration,  no  exertions  shall  be 
 wanting  to  bring  forth  their  resources.  Under  existing  circumstances,  it  is  essential 
 they  should  be  inquired  into ; and  few  questions  are  likely  to  excite  more  interest 
 than  those  you  have  noticed.  They  cannot  be  considered  without  reference  to  the 
 state  of  the  colony ; and,  as  connected  with  its  eventual  prosperity,  they  demand  a 
 considerable  share  of  my  time. 
 
 “ Until  the  revolution  in  Holland,  and  the  discontinuance  of  communication 
 between  this  colony  and  Europe,  large  sums  in  silver  were  annually  sent  out  to  pay 
 the  establishments  and  purchase  the  investments ; and,  generally  speaking,  the 
 importations  in  bullion  were  the  most  considerable.  The  specie,  also,  when  sent 
 by  the  Batavian  government  to  British  India,  either  procured  a return  of  silver,  or 
 the  proceeds  by  which  opium,  cloths,  and  the  principal  importations  required  by 
 Java,  could  be  purchased.  For  the  last  ten  years,  Java  lost  these  advantages  ; and 
 the  only  supply  of  bullion  was  received  from  the  Americans,  who  purchased  colonial 
 produce.  The  blockade  giving  rise  to  extraordinary  measures  of  defence,  the  whole 
 Island  was  by  Marshal  Daendels  forced  to  submit  to  military  exactions ; and,  inde- 
 pendant of  the  forced  and  voluntary  loans  obtained  from  the  inhabitants,  upwards 
 of  four  millions  of  Rix  Dollars  and  Paper  Currency  was  thrown  into  the  market. 
 At  the  period  of  the  establishment  of  the  British  government,  this  Paper  had 
 fallen  in  the  market  to  the  rate  of  six  and  a-half  Rix  Dollars  for  one  Spanish  Dollar 
 silver. 
 
 The  public  service  required  that,  in  the  first  instance,  a supply  of  cash  should 
 be  throum  into  the  Island  for  the  pay  of  the  troops ; and,  for  a certain  time,  while 
 the  government  were  accumulating  a small  capital,  a large  proportion  of  this  was 
 kept  on  the  Island. 
 
 The  restrictions  on  commerce  which  had  heretofore  existed  being  gradually 
 withdrawn,  the  value  of  the  silver  in  the  market  was  soon  ascertained.  From 
 Europe  the  importations  of  silver  no  longer  existed.  The  specie,  with  which  we 
 might  have  purchased  the  valuable  articles  of  Indian  produce  required  here,  were 
 no  longer  at  our  disposal,  the  Moluccas  being  a separate  establishment,  dependant 
 immediately  on  Bengal : — and  the  consequence  was  natural,  that  the  silver  should 
 disappear.  The  small  quantity  imported  in  the  first  instance  by  the  British  govern- 
 ment was  soon  soaked  up  in  so  thirsty  a soil ; and  the  circumstances  above  stated, 
 added  to  the  total  want  of  demand  for  the  produce  of  the  colony,  may  account  for 
 the  present  very  imfavourable  balance  of  trade  and  exchange.  The  coffee  alone, 
 had  the  American  war  not  broken  out,  and  the  Orders  of  Council  been  revoked, 
 would  have  afforded  us  an  importation  of  specie  of  nearly  two  millions  of  Spanish 
 Dollars  annually.  At  present  it  is  literally  rotting  in  the  stores. 
 
 The  above  may  give  you  a general  idea  of  our  present  situation;  but,  as 
 Paper  Cm’rency  is  the  point  on  which  we  are  speaking,  it  may  be  interesting  to  you 
 
192 
 
 DEPRECIATED  STATE  OF  PAPER  CURRENCY. 
 
 to  be  infoiTned  of  an  important  measure  which  has  been  undertaken  here.  The 
 Paper  Currency  of  Batavia,  which  was  originally  issued  at  par,  amounted  to  about 
 
 8.500.000  Rix  Dollars  (£2,125,000  at  par).  At  our  first  establishment  it  was  respected 
 and  guaranteed  by  Lord  Minto  at  six  and  a-half  for  one ; but,  in  the  course  of  a year, 
 and  not^nthstanding  it  continued  to  be  received  in  the  government  treasury  at  the 
 rate  originally  fixed  by  Lord  iNlinto,  it  fell  to  twelve  and  thirteen  for  one, — making 
 a difference  of  near  one  hundred  per  cent,  in  its  actual  current  value  in  the  market. 
 It  followed,  that  government  must  either  retain  it  in  the  Treasury,  or  if  they  issued 
 it  in  papnents,  do  so  at  the  cmTent  market  price  of  the  day,  at  a loss  of  one 
 hundi'ed  per  cent. ; — for  the  proclamation  of  Lord  Minto  required  that  they  should 
 receive  it  at  six  and  a-half;  and  to  the  troops,  or  any  of  the  fixed  estahlishments, 
 it  could  not  be  issued  except  at  its  value  in  the  market.  If  purchases  were  to  be 
 made,  or  agreements  entered  into,  it  mattered  little  whether  the  rate  of  six  and 
 a-half  or  that  of  thirteen  were  stated,  as  individuals  would  take  care  to  regulate  the 
 amount  according  to  the  current  value. 
 
 “ It  may  not  be  necessaiy  to  go  -into  all  the  causes  of  this  suiquising  depreciation. 
 The  general  state  of  the  Island,  and  the  demand  for  silver,  ^rill,  in  a gi’eat  measure, 
 account  for  it ; and  something  may  be  attributed  to  the  speculations  of  indiriduals, 
 who  were  considerable  debtors  to  public  Institutions,  and  to  government,  and,  con- 
 sequently, interested  in  the  depreciation. 
 
 “ Under  such  circmnstances,  you  may  easily  conceive  that  property  was  ver\' 
 insecure  ; and  that  very  little  public  confidence  was  to  expected  : — but  how  was  it  to 
 be  altered  ? 
 
 “ I resolved  to  \rithdi'aw  the  whole  from  circulation  by  a partial  sale  of  lands, 
 and  by  such  other  means  as  were  ^ritliinmy  reach  ; and  I succeeded  in  securing  the 
 whole  in  the  coin*se  of  three  months.  The  principle  on  which  this  measure  was 
 adopted,  is  as  follows, — the  amount  of  Paper  Currency  could  be  considered  in  no  other 
 light  than  a colonial  debt,  the  amomit  of  which  was  due  by  government  to  the  public. 
 It  is  true  it  was  not  incurred  by  the  British  government ; but  Lord  Minto  had 
 guaranteed  it  to  a certain  extent ; and  whatever  might  be  the  eventual  fate  of  the 
 colony,  the  burden  arising  from  the  depreciation  must  fall  upon  us.  The  question, 
 therefore,  ^vas,  whether  we  shoidd  ^rithdi'aw  this  paper  hy  means  of  British  capital,  or  by 
 means  of  Colonial  capital ; or,  in  other  words,  whether  we  should  draw  on  Bengal  for 
 
 1.300.000  dol.  (£325,000  at  par,)  or  whether  other  means  might  not  be  devised,  that 
 would  eventually  fall  upon  the  colony.  The  heavy  demands  on  the  Bengal  treasury 
 for  the  supply  of  cash  to  Europe,  the  assm*ances  I had  given  on  the  capability  of  the 
 Island  to  maintain  itself,  and  the  necessity  of  preventing  the  possession  fi'om  becoming 
 a ch'ain  upon  our  more  permanent  possessions,  induced  me  to  devise  means  witbin  my 
 immediate  reach  : and  I conceived  it  was  impossible  to  adopt  a more  justifiable  plan 
 than  to  sell  a portion  of  the  domains  of  the  colony  for  the  liquidation  of  the  debt.  I 
 
WANT  OF  SPECIE. 
 
 193 
 
 have  accordingly  done  this ; and  about  one-fourth  of  the  debt  may  already  be  consi- 
 dered as  extinct.  The  same  principle  followed  up  will  reduce  the  whole  in  a few 
 years  ; and  in  the  mean  time,  an  issue  of  the  Treasury  notes  has  been  made,  bearing 
 an  interest  of  6 per  cent.,  and  payable  at  pleasure,  which  retain,  and  are  likely  to 
 continue  to  retain,  their  original  value.  To  meet  the  demand  for  circulation,  which 
 the  withdrawing  of  so  large  a floating  medium  occasioned,  the  Lombard  bank  has  been 
 authorised  to  issue  promissory  notes  or  obligations  to  a certain  extent,  payable  in  nine 
 months ; which  notes  are  issued  to  indhiduals  on  the  security  of  real  and  personal 
 property  redeemable  at  the  expiration  of  six  months  fi-om  the  date  of  the  loan. 
 
 “ These  last  mentioned  notes,  with  a small  quantity  of  certificates  issued  from  the 
 Treasury,  to  enable  the  public  to  settle  outstanding  accounts  in  the  old  Batavian 
 currency,  have,  generally  speaking,  maintained  their  credit ; that  is  to  say,  they  have 
 never  been  at  a discount  with  silver  of  more  than  20  or  25  per  cent. ; and  no  extra- 
 ordinary means  have  been  taken  by  government  to  keep  them  up  ; they  have  literally 
 been  left  to  find  their  level  in  the  market. 
 
 “ From  these  circumstances  you  will  be  able  to  judge  of  the  state  of  public 
 credit. 
 
 “ The  quantity  of  silver  is  however  daily  becoming  less.  Gold  has  disappeared 
 altogether  ; and  copper  is  the  only  metal  in  general  use  among  the  population.  A 
 general  demand  exists  for  a more  extended  currency  ; and  many  of  the  most  wealthy 
 indi\iduals  are  threatened  with  ruin  from  the  want  of  means  to  pay  their  debts.  In  a 
 few  months,  if  a change  does  not  take  place,  silver  mil  not  be  procurable  at  any 
 price ; and  in  establishing  a colonial  currency,  it  becomes  a question  what  shall  be 
 considered  the  standard ; if  silver,  its  price  will  be  so  high,  that  we  may  expect  to 
 pay  100  per  cent,  addition  to  our  fixed  expences  ; and  if  copper  is  made  the  standard, 
 we  at  once  declare  our  poverty  among  the  nations  with  whom  we  hold  commercial 
 intercourse. 
 
 “ I am  happy  that  you  concur  in  the  propriety  of  the  Probolingo  sale.  Our 
 proceedings  in  this,  as  well  as  in  every  other  measure,  have  met  the  approbation  of 
 the  supreme  government. 
 
 “ Whilst  adverting  to  this,  I ought  to  notice  a very  important  arrangement 
 which  is  now  in  progress,  and  one  which  I consider  by  far  the  most  important  of  my 
 administration,  and  that  is  the  establishment  of  a land  rental,  and  the  entire  aboli- 
 tion of  the  farming  system,  and  of  the  forced  deliveries  and  services  at  inadequate 
 rates,  which  heretofore  existed. 
 
 “ A system  of  internal  management,  similar  to  that  established  in  Bengal,  has 
 been  introduced  throughout  the  whole  of  this  fertile  and  populous  Island ; and  the 
 revenue  and  police  regulations  have  been  placed  on  a footing  to  ensure  to  the  cul- 
 tivator the  fruits  of  his  industry,  and  to  the  government  its  just  dues  for  the  sup- 
 port of  the  state ; the  whole  system  of  native  management  has  been  exploded,  and 
 
 c c 
 
19t 
 
 REVENUE  OF  JAVA. 
 
 the  mass  of  the  population  are  now  no  longer  dependent  on  a Regent  or  other  Chief- 
 tain, but  look  up  direct  to  the  Em-opean  power  which  protects  them. 
 
 To  enter  into  an  account  of  the  natm-e  of  landed  tenm*e  in  Java,  or  of  the 
 state  of  society,  would  require  more  time  than  I can  at  the  present  devote  to  the 
 purpose,  and  a partial  or  imperfect  \dew  of  the  subject  can  only  lead  to  error. 
 
 “ Hereafter,  when  I may  have  more  leisure,  or  when  I may  make  up  my  mind 
 to  uTite  a book  on  Java,  I shall  go  fully  into  these  important  points  ; for  the  pre- 
 sent, it  may  be  sufficient  for  you  to  know,  that  under  the  Dutch  government  the 
 revenue  was  almost  entirely  derived  from  the  profits  of  commercial  monopoly. 
 After  the  loss  of  the  Spice  Islands,  and  all  communication  with  Europe  being  cut 
 off,  some  attempts  to  raise  a territorial  revenue  were  made  by  Marshal  Daendels ; 
 but  the  amount  realized,  and  the  principle  on  which  it  was  raised,  deserve  little 
 comment  or  approbation  ; \rith  the  exception  of  the  country  in  the  immediate  neigh- 
 bourhood of  Bataria,  the  internal  management  was  confided  entirely  to  native  Chiefs, 
 termed  Regents ; who,  on  condition  of  furnishing  to  government  a certain  quantity 
 of  rice,  &c.,  and  a small  recognition-money  annually,  udth  all  the  labour  and  neces- 
 saries which  government  might  from  time  to  time  require,  were  left  to  do  uith  the 
 bulk  of  the  population  pretty  nearly  as  they  pleased.  They  were,  in  short,  the  lords 
 of  the  country,  and  while  they  complied  with  the  requisitions  of  government,  and 
 were  ciril  to  the  Resident,  their  conduct  was  little  enquired  into.  The  abuses  and 
 oppressions  attached  to  such  a system  were  eveiy  where  apparent,  every  where  felt. 
 The  Dutch  themselves,  to  whom  such  a lazy  system  of  management  might  seem 
 most  congenial,  were,  in  a great  measure,  ashamed  of  it.  Commissions  upon  com- 
 missions were  appointed  to  propose  a better  system  of  government  and  internal 
 administration  ; but  either  these  commissioners  were  misled  by  those  in  office,  who 
 fattened  upon  the  vices  of  the  existing  system,  or  they  themselves  wanted  courage 
 or  ability  to  propose  a radical  change.  All  their  partial  changes  had  no  effect  either 
 in  improving  the  revenue  or  in  alleriating  the  condition  of  the  inhabitants.  It  was 
 left  to  the  British  government  to  confer  that  boon  on  the  Island,  the  establishment 
 of  which  Arill  fonn  a bright  era  in  the  page  of  her  history. 
 
 In  the  first  instance,  the  lands  are  let,  generally  speaking,  to  the  heads  of 
 villages,  as  this  description  of  people  appear  to  me  to  he  the  resident  superintending 
 farmers  of  the  estate.  In  so  extensive  a population,  there  will  naturally  require 
 some  deviations  in  different  districts : — but  the  plan  of  \fillage  rents  will  generally 
 prevail.  After  the  experience  of  one  year, — leases  for  three  years  wll  be  gi'anted ; 
 and,  at  the  conclusion  of  that  period,  the  leases  may  either  be  made  for  seven,  or  for 
 ten  years,  or  the  lands  granted  to  the  actual  possessors  in  pei*petuity. 
 
 “ You  will  thus  see,  that  I have  had  the  happiness  to  release  several  millions  of 
 my  fellow  creatures  fi'om  a state  of  bondage  and  arbitrary  oppression.  The  revenue 
 of  government,  instead  of  being  wrung  by  the  gi'asping  hand  of  an  unfeeling  farmer 
 
PROPOSED  LITERARY  WORK. 
 
 195 
 
 from  the  sa\’ings  of  industry,  will  now  come  into  the  treasuries  of  government  direct, 
 and  be  proportioned  to  the  actual  capability  of  the  country.  A system  of  check  and 
 control  can  now  be  introduced  into  every  department;  and  in  a more  extensive 
 political  view,  we  may  contemplate  that  the  mass  of  the  population  will  for  ever  re- 
 main attached  to  the  British  power,  under  whatever  circumstances  the  Island  is  placed. 
 You  must  pardon  the  hasty  and  unconnected  account  of  this  important  measure. 
 
 “ I have  already,  in  my  official  letters,  wi'itten  so  much  on  the  subject,  that  I 
 have  exhausted  all  I had  to  say ; and  now  that  I sit  down  to  wi'ite  to  you  on  the  eve 
 of  the  departure  of  the  ships,  I am  too  much  fatigued  to  enter  fully  into  it.  I will 
 only  add,  that,  connected  with  this  change,  all  the  internal  tolls  and  imposts,  which 
 heretofore  checked  cultivation  and  internal  trade,  have  been  abolished;  that  all  the 
 ports  of  the  Island  have  been  thrown  open  to  shipping,  with  a remission  of  almost 
 all  export  duties ; and  that  every  obstruction  in  the  way  of  free  cultivation,  and  free 
 trade,  is  gradually  remoring. 
 
 “ The  spm*  which  must  thus  be  given  to  industry  and  speculation  is,  at  any 
 rate,  calculated  to  assist  in  reducing  the  unfavourable  balance  of  trade,  by  increasing 
 our  exports: — and,  at  all  events,  the  individual  interests  and  energies  of  millions, 
 who  can  have  no  views  beyond  the  Island,  is  better  calculated  to  effect  this  object 
 than  any  monopoly  in  the  hands  of  a temporary  and  foreign  power. 
 
 “ I observe  wffiat  you  mention  respecting  the  advantages  attending  a literary 
 w^ork,  such  as  a statistical  account  of  Java ; — and,  although  I am  fidly  sensible  of 
 my  incapacity  to  appear  before  the  public  as  an  author,  I feel  some  inclination  to 
 the  undertaking.  In  my  present  situation,  the  demands  on  my  time  are  so  heavy, 
 that  any  attempt  of  the  kind  would  be  fruitless.  The  most  that  I can  do,  is  to 
 collect  materials;  and,  in  this  respect,  I feel  myself  tolerably  well  prepared  for  an 
 essai,  whenever  I may  have  sufficient  leisure  to  devote  to  the  subject.  Should  a 
 change  take  place  in  this  government,  which  is  more  than  probable,  I shall  have 
 plenty  of  time  on  my  hands.  I believe  there  is  no  one  possessed  of  more  informa- 
 tion respecting  Java  than  myself: — but  how  far  I maybe  able  to  put  it  together, 
 and  to  bring  it  before  the  public,  I know  not.” 
 
 The  time  was  now  arrived  when  Lord  Minto  was  to  take  his  departure  from 
 Calcutta,  on  wffiich  occasion  he  WTote  to  Mr.  Raffies  the  following  letter,  expressive 
 of  the  fiiendship  he  felt,  and  the  warm  interest  he  continued  to  take  in  his  w^elfare. 
 
 Calcutta,  November,  1813. 
 
 “ In  taking  leave  of  my  pubhc  relation  with  you,  as  I must  in  this  letter,  I am 
 at  a loss  how  to  proceed.  On  the  one  hand,  there  are  so  many  points,  or  rather 
 extensive  subjects,  on  which  a free  communication  of  my  sentiments  is  due  to  you, 
 that  every  hour  wffiich  remains  of  my  residence  in  India  would  be  too  few  to  acquit 
 myself  of  that  debt,  in  a manner  entirely  satisfactory  to  myself  or  you.  On  the  other 
 
 c c 2 
 
196 
 
 LORD  MINTO’S  LAST  LETTER  TO  MR.  RAFFLES. 
 
 hand,  the  last,  or  I may  say  more  properly,  the  posthumous  duties  of  my  station  in 
 India,  added  to  the  preparations  for  my  departure,  and  the  very  interesting  offices  of 
 society  and  friendship  which  belong  to  the  occasion,  leave  only  moments,  when  days 
 would  be  wanted,  for  the  demands  still  outstanding  against  me.  You  uill,  therefore, 
 not  impute  to  me  want  of  interest  in  the  matter  I have  now  before  me,  if  I aim  at 
 conciseness  and  brertty  in  a greater  degree  than  I am  accustomed  to  do.  My  official 
 authority,  and,  therefore,  my  personal  interj3osition  in  public  business,  was  to  end 
 somewhere ; and  the  arrears  which  the  excess  of  labour  required  in  this  government 
 beyond  the  powers  of  human  diligence,  must  unavoidably  cause,  at  the  close  of  my 
 Indian  administration,  have  carried  my  demise  a little  higher  than  the  nominal  termi- 
 nation of  my  office,  in  such  a manner  as  to  leave  the  formal  decision  of  several  affairs 
 which  arose  in  my  own  period,  to  the  authority  which  succeeds  me. 
 
 “ You  will  accept,  therefore,  what  I am  now  able  to  offer,  as  only  the  friendly 
 suggestions  of  the  deep  and  lively  interest  I can  never  cease  to  take  in  all  that  con- 
 cerns your  public  trust,  and  your  personal  reputation  and  welfare.  In  this  I may  be 
 less  careful  than  I might  otherudse  be,  to  separate  my  pubhc  from  my  private  senti- 
 ments in  this  letter. 
 
 * ^ ^ 
 
 “ On  the  financial  operation  of  uithdi'audng  the  depreciated  paper  from  circu- 
 lation by  a considerable  sale  of  lands,  the  resolutions  of  this  government  must  be  con- 
 veyed to  you  by  my  successor ; but  I am  unuilling  to  withhold  from  you  my  indi- 
 vidual sentiments  on  a measm*e  of  so  much  importance. 
 
 “ I begin,  therefore,  by  assenting  without  reservation  to  the  absolute  and  exi- 
 gent necessity  which  was  the  motive,  and  is  the  justification,  of  the  proceeding. 
 The  revenues  and  all  the  demands  of  government  were  paid  in  paper  which  could 
 not  be  re-issued ; there  was,  therefore,  a rtrtual  suspension  of  receipt  at  the  public 
 treasuiy.  To  avoid  this  total  loss,  the  paper  must  have  been  issued  again,  at  the 
 discount  of  the  day,  which  \vould  have  discredited  the  cm-rency  still  more,  and  would 
 have  involved  an  enormous  and  constantly-recun’ing  loss.  This  state  of  things  left 
 you  no  option  but  to  withdraw  the  paper,  to  make  room  for  some  better  medium  of 
 circulation,  and  the  operation  of  the  ertl  w'as  too  rapid  to  admit  of  delay. 
 
 “ The  only  plan  for  the  redemption  of  the  paper  which  could  be  found,  appears 
 very  clearly  to  have  been  precisely  that  to  which  you  had  recourse — the  sale  of 
 public  property  ; and  it  must  be  deemed  fortunate  that  this  resom-ce  existed,  and 
 proved  to  be  immediately  available. 
 
 “ I consider,  therefore,  your  measure  to  have  been  an  able  expedient  in  a case  of 
 great  emergency. 
 
 “ At  the  same  time  I conceive  the  necessity  of  a prompt  remedy  to  fonn  the  essen- 
 tial, and,  indeed,  the  indispensable  ground  of  the  resolution  that  was  taken,  for  I 
 should  not,  I confess,  have  thought  an  extensive  alienation  of  the  public  domains 
 
LORD  MINTO’S  LAST  LETTER  TO  MR.  RAFFLES. 
 
 197 
 
 ad\isable  in  itself,  under  the  particular  circumstances  of  the  colony  at  the  time. 
 First,  it  was  too  important  a measure  to  he  adopted  dm'ing  a provisional  government, 
 the  duration  of  which  is  more  than  precarious.  Secondly,  it  ought  (and  naturally 
 would,  without  the  pressure  of  immediate  necessity)  to  have  received  the  previous 
 sanction  of  the  supreme  government.  Thirdly,  although  my  views,  as  you  know, 
 lead  to  the  transfer  of  public  territory  to  the  management  of  individual  industry,  and 
 the  creation  of  a genuine  landed  interest,  with  all  its  immediate  benefits  and  amelio- 
 rating tendencies,  in  the  room  of  the  deplorable  system  of  vassalage  and  dependence 
 under  which  land  is  now  held  in  Java ; yet  I have  felt  that  this  change  could  not  be 
 brought  about  suddenly,  partly  from  the  very  nature  of  all  extensive  changes,  partly 
 from  the  circumstances  of  the  colony,  which  contains  at  present  neither  capital  nor 
 capitalists  enough  to  afford  a comparison  between  the  value  in  the  market,  of  land 
 and  money,  either  fair  or  at  all  approaching  to  fair.  I should  have  inclined,  there- 
 fore, to  small  and  partial  sales  of  land,  if  alienation  in  perpetuity  should  have  been 
 thought  advisable  at  all,  proportioned  in  some  degree  to  the  disposable  quantity  of 
 money  in  the  hands  of  individuals.  But  the  general  course  to  be  recommended  I 
 conceive  to  be  short  leases,  followed  by  longer,  and  ultimately  by  perpetuities.  I touch 
 upon  these  points  the  more  willingly,  for  the  purpose  of  conveying  to  you  a caution 
 on  the  subject,  founded  on  our  knowledge  of  the  sentiments  which  appear  to  be  the 
 most  prevalent  at  home,  but  which  you  may  not  be  apprized  of. 
 
 There  is  a great  division  of  opinion  on  the  question  of  permanent  settlements, 
 and  the  extension  of  that  system  to  the  newly  acquired  provinces  under  the  Presi- 
 dency of  Bengal,  which  has  in  a great  degree  been  carried  into  effect  during  my 
 administration. 
 
 The  introduction  of  that  system  has  been  gradual  in  those  provinces,  but  yet 
 more  sudden  than  is  approved  at  home.  But  Java  is  in  a state  infinitely  less  favour- 
 able to  perpetual  alienations,  and  you  may  depend  upon  such  measures,  unsupported 
 by  particular  exigency,  being  disapproved,  and,  indeed,  disavowed  and  annulled  by 
 the  authorities  in  England. 
 
 “ There  are  many  other  points  of  public  business,  indeed  much  too  many,  in 
 which  I am  in  your  debt,  but,  as  I have  already  said,  I must  break  my  staff  somewhere. 
 
 “ I have  had  an  early  communication  with  Lord  Moira  * concerning  your  ap- 
 pointment to  Bencoolen ; and  I have  the  happiness  to  say,  that  he  acquiesced  en- 
 tirely in  the  arrangement  that  was  made,  and  specifically  in  the  propriety  of  your  con- 
 tinuing to  administer  the  government  of  Java,  until  the  future  destiny  of  that  Island 
 should  be  fixed  by  the  government  at  home. 
 
 “ I ought  not  to  conclude  without  congratulating  you  on  the  success  of  the 
 Sambas  expedition.  ****** 
 
 His  Lordship  had  just  arrived  in  Calcutta  as  successor  to  Earl  Minto. 
 
198 
 
 SALE  OF  LANDS. 
 
 “ Your  measures  at  Palembang,  you  will  have  seen,  have  had  our  entire  concur- 
 rence. * * * * * ^ ^ 
 
 My  picture  was  far  advanced  before  I received  yoiu*  intimation  that  the 
 smaller  pictm'e  formerly  sent  would  be  accepted  as  an  anticipation  of  the  request 
 contained  in  the  address.  I think  you  wiU  be  glad  of  this,  as  the  full-length,  as 
 large  as  hfe,  which  is  now  ready,  is  one  of  the  best  works  I ever  saw,  and  every 
 way  worthy  of  the  respectable  body  at  whose  command  it  has  been  executed. 
 
 " I propose,  when  that  picture  amves  at  Batarta,  to  request  that  you  will 
 accept  and  keep  the  latter  for  my  sake. 
 
 “ I must  close  here,  but  not  take  leave,  for  I hope  for  one  more  opportunity. 
 
 " Believe  me,  ever  most  faithfully  and  affectionately  yom'S, 
 
 “ Mixto.” 
 
 The  sale  of  lands  alluded  to  in  the  foregoing  letter,  it  will  be  seen,  was  highly 
 approved  by  Lord  Minto  as  an  able  expedient  in  a case  of  great  emergency  ; and  of 
 his  ability  to  judge  from  local  knowledge,  as  w'eU  as  general  experience,  no  one 
 doubt.  It  was,  in  fact,  the  only  expedient  that  could  be  devised  to  support  the 
 credit  of  the  new  government,  at  a time  when  it  was  most  important  to  create  a 
 favorable  impression  upon  the  population,  on  the  change  of  their  rulers.  Yet  it 
 was  strongly  condemned  by  the  Comd  of  Directors ; perhaps  because  they  did  not 
 possess  either  the  local  knowledge  or  the  experience  which  were  necessary  to  form  a 
 right  judgment. 
 
 The  sale  of  lands  was  no  new  measure ; it  had  been  resorted  to  at  different 
 periods  under  the  Dutch  government,  and  more  especially  in  the  administration  of 
 Marshal  Daendels,  w'hen  not  only  large  estates,  but  whole  districts,  had  been  thus 
 disposed  of.  The  English  government  succeeded  in  a moment  of  the  greatest  public 
 distress,  when  the  Dutch  had  been  unable  to  pay  even  their  lowest  establishments, 
 when  the  funds  of  the  public  charities  had  been  appropriated  to  the  necessities  of 
 the  state,  and  the  finances  of  the  colony  were  bankrupt.  The  Enghsh  government 
 succeeded  also  to  the  existing  colonial  laws  and  usages,  by  which  they  were  borne 
 out  in  the  right  of  alienating  such  lands  as  might  be  found  necessary  for  the  support 
 of  the  state,  and  as  a partial  sale  of  lands  had  been  estimated  among  the  available 
 resources  for  the  expenses  of  the  cm’rent  year,  and  had  passed  mthout  comment  by 
 the  supreme  government,  a tacit  consent  might  be  implied  that  the  measure  in 
 itself  was  justifiable. 
 
 The  expedition  to  Sambas,  also  alluded  to  in  the  foregoing  letter,  originated 
 in  a report  brought  by  a trading  vessel  of  the  loss  of  the  ship  Coromandel,  and  the 
 encreasing  depredations  of  the  piratical  Chief  of  Sambas.  This  report  was  sent  to 
 Captain  Bowen,  then  senior  officer  of  his  Majesty’s  navy  on  the  station,  with  a 
 
EXPEDITION  TO  SAMBAS. 
 
 199 
 
 request  that  he  would  direct  his  attention  to  that  quarter.  Captain  Bowen  in  con- 
 sequence expressed  his  intention  of  proceeding  to  Sambas,  and  requested  a hundred 
 men  to  act  as  marines,  his  ships  being  short  of  their  complement.  General  Gil- 
 lespie ordered  the  men  to  be  supplied ; but  the  expedition  was  purely  a naval  one, 
 and  the  supply  of  these  men  the  only  concern  the  Java  government  had  in  it. 
 
CHAPTER  VII. 
 
 General  Nightmgall  appointed  to  relieve  General  Gillespie — General  Gillespie  brings  charges  against  Mr. 
 Raffies — Decision  of  the  Court  of  Directors  on  them— Ancient  characters  on  stones  from  the  temples — 
 Establishment  of  the  improved  system  of  government — Principles  on  which  it  was  founded — Institu- 
 tions of  Majapahit,  his  division  of  society  into  classes — Mr.  Raffles’  reasons  for  introducing  the  change 
 in  the  tenure  of  the  land — His  anxiety  and  fatigue  during  its  progress — Support  of  General  Nightin- 
 gall — Eventual  fate  of  Java — Hesitation  of  supreme  government  to  give  any  rule  for  the  guidance  of 
 the  government — Forced  to  act  in  every  measure  of  importance,  in  consequence,  on  his  own  responsibility 
 — Suppression  of  piracy — Slave-trade  declared  to  be  felony,  by  a Colonial  Law — Can  only  be  repealed 
 by  the  mother  country — Leading  inhabitants  concur,  and  registered  their  slaves — Mission  to  Japan — 
 opening  of  trade  with  it — Disapproved  by  the  Bengal  government — Approved  by  the  Court  of 
 Directors. 
 
 The  difference  of  opinion  before  alluded  to  with  General  Gillespie  involved  Mr. 
 Raffles  in  great  trouble,  and  augmented  the  cares  and  anxieties  connected  with  the 
 administration  of  his  extensive  government.  Owing  to  some  misapprehension,  and 
 to  other  causes,  which  it  is  needless  now  to  enumerate,  tw^o  months  after  the  departm'e 
 of  Lord  Minto,  General  Gillespie  conceived  it  his  duty  to  represent  to  the  Governor- 
 General  in  council  at  Calcutta,  that  certain  parts  of  Mr.  Raffles’  administration  were 
 neither  so  purely  nor  so  wisely  conducted  as  the  public  service  required.  Of  course 
 the  Bengal  government  required  specific  charges  to  be  framed,  which,  when  received, 
 were  forw'arded  to  Mr.  Raffles  for  his  replies. 
 
 The  charges  embraced  such  a variety  of  topics,  indeed  almost  the  wfflole  extent 
 of  his  government,  that,  had  Mr.  Raffles  not  been  perfectly  master  of  his  subject,  or 
 had  he  been  less  correct  in  every  branch  of  his  duties,  the  severity  of  this  scrutiny 
 would  have  been  fatal  to  his  public  character,  even  had  it  not  touched  wiiat  every 
 upright  man  is  still  more  punctilious  in  protecting  from  the  breath  of  slander — his 
 own  private  fair  fame.  But  the  result  in  Mr.  Raffles’  case  w'as  highly  beneficial ; for 
 the  inquiry  rendered  it  imperative  upon  him  to  enter  into  many  discussions,  which 
 delicacy  w'ould  otherwise  have  prevented  his  making  public ; and,  in  fact,  compelled 
 him  to  lay  bare  the  whole  system  of  his  administration,  with  a minuteness  wiiich, 
 under  any  other  circumstances,  would  hardly  have  been  allow'able  ; but  wiiich  in  his 
 case,  under  these  circumstances,  was  an  absolute  duty. 
 
GENERAL  NIGHTINGALE  APPOINTED  TO  RELIEVE  GENERAL  GILLESPIE.  201 
 
 In  those  distant  regions,  where  the  means  of  communication  with  Europe  are  few 
 and  uncertain ; and  where,  even  on  the  spot,  the  intervals  which  elapse  between  the 
 dispatch  of  letters  and  the  receipt  of  answers,  are  often  of  gi'eat  duration ; it  requires  a 
 long  period  before  such  misunderstandings  are  cleared  up.  Nevertheless,  the  clouds 
 which  at  first  threatened  to  obscure  Mr.  Raffles’  hard-earned  renown  gradually  cleared 
 off ; and,  one  by  one,  his  enemies,  if,  indeed,  he  ever  really  had  enemies,  gradually 
 admitted,  not  only  the  purity  of  all  his  motives  and  conduct,  but  perceived  and 
 acknowledged  the  sagacity  of  his  public  measures.  So  irresistible,  indeed,  was  the 
 force  of  truth,  as  exemplified  on  this  occasion,  and  so  universal  its  effect  in  Mr.  Raffles’ 
 favour,  that  there  seems  no  reason  to  doubt,  had  General  Gillespie  not  fallen  into  an 
 honourable  and  early  grave,  he,  as  well  as  others,  would  have  borne  a willing  testi- 
 mony to  the  unsullied  reputation  of  his  former  colleague ; when,  upon  the  minutest 
 acts,  as  well  as  the  most  extensive  measures  of  his  administration,  being  exposed  to 
 pubhc  investigation,  all  of  them  were  able  to  bear  the  scrutiny. 
 
 The  following  letter  from  Lord  Minto  to  Mr.  Raffles,  dated  Calcutta,  the  22d 
 May,  has  reference  to  the  foregoing  subject,  and  was  written  previously  to  General 
 Gillespie’s  quitting  Java ; 
 
 “ Sir  George  Nugent  proposed  appointing  General  Nightingall  to  take  the  com- 
 mand in  Java,  and  place  General  Gillespie  on  the  staff  in  Bengal.  This  plan  com- 
 bined so  many  advantages,  that  I instantly  conveyed  to  the  Commander-in-Chief  my 
 hearty,  and,  I must  joyful,  concurrence  in  every  part  of  the  proposition. 
 
 “ The  first  benefit,  afforded  by  this  measure,  will  be  to  relieve  your  government 
 from  obstacles  Avhich  it  has  become  next  to  impossible  to  surmount,  and  yourself 
 from  personal  vexation,  very  difficult  to  live  under.  On  the  other  hand,  a good 
 retreat,  or  rather  an  honourable  and  advantageous  station,  is  prepared  for  Gillespie, 
 whose  military  character  and  services  I shall  always  admire  and  venerate ; and  I 
 shall  always  rejoice  in  the  opportunity  of  testifying  those  sentiments,  by  contributing, 
 as  far  as  my  power  goes,  to  confer  upon  him  those  honours  and  advantages  to  Avhich, 
 notwithstanding  his  civil  defects,  he  is  so  eminently  entitled  as  a soldier. 
 
 “ Another  desirable  consequence  of  this  exchange,  I hope,  may  be  the  super- 
 seding the  necessity  of  investigating  and  pronouncing  upon  his  pohtical  conduct  in 
 Java. 
 
 “ I shall  now  say  a word  of  General  Nightingall ; of  his  military  qualifications  I 
 am  not  able  to  speak,  of  my  own  knowledge,  but  he  has  seen  a good  deal  of  service, 
 and  has,  I understand,  served  with  distinction.  This  I can  say,  however,  that  he  is 
 a man  of  honour,  and  a gentleman  in  the  highest  degree  ; his  manners,  in  all  respects, 
 as  amiable  as  I really  believe  his  conduct  to  be.” 
 
 The  following  letter  will  shew  that,  in  the  midst  of  the  storm  of  public  affairs, 
 
 D d 
 
202 
 
 GENERAL  GILLESPIE’S  CHARGES  AGAINST  MR.  RAFFLES. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  retained  all  the  kindliest  affections  of  private  life.  It  is  addressed  to  the 
 son  of  his  early  friend  and  protector,  the  late  Mr.  Ramsay  : 
 
 To  W.  B.  Ramsay,  Esq. 
 
 “ Buitenzorg,  March  2\st,  1814. 
 
 “ While  you  are  quietly  ghding  on  in  the  smooth  and  sunny  stream  of  private 
 life,  it  is  my  lot  to  be  tossed  on  boisterous  billows,  and  to  be  annoyed  with  all  the 
 clouds  and  erils  which  ensue  from  party  spirit. 
 
 “ Without  family  pretensions,  fortune,  or  powerful  friends,  it  has  been  my  lot 
 to  obtain  the  high  station  which  I now  fill ; and  I have  not  been  without  my  due 
 proportion  of  en^y  in  consequence. 
 
 “ After  this,  you  ^rill  not  be  sui*prised  at  what  follows.  You  are  aware  of  the 
 differences  which  occurred  between  me  and  Major-General  Gillespie,  and  that  he,  in 
 consequence,  apphed  to  be  reheved  from  the  military  command.  Arriving  in  Bengal 
 after  Lord  IVIinto  had  left  it,  he  found  the  new  Governor-General  unacquainted  with 
 all  that  had  preriously  passed,  and  succeeded,  to  a certain  extent,  in  impressing  him 
 favourably  in  his  behalf.  He  was  committed,  in  the  course  of  some  of  om*  chffer- 
 ences,  by  assertions  which  he  had  made ; and  finding  that  he  had  succeeded  in 
 directing  the  current  of  public  opinion  a good  deal  against  me,  he  has  brought 
 regular  charges  against  both  my  administration  and  character.  The  whole  are,  I 
 thank  God,  easily  to  be  repelled ; and  the  closer  the  investigation,  the  pm*er  my  con- 
 duct will  appear.  Lord  Minto  is  fully  aware  of  the  violent  faction  which  has  taken 
 up  arms  against  me,  and  will  defend  me  in  England.  In  India  I have  possession, 
 and  a clear  character  to  maintain  it ; let  Satan  do  his  worst.  ^ ^ 
 
 For  myself  I will  declare,  that  so  far  fi'om  time  and  distance  having  quenched  a single 
 spark  of  the  friendship  I once  bore  you,  I am  at  this  moment  more  animated  with 
 affection  towards  you  than  ever.  I think  of  you,  and  feel  for  you,  as  I w'ould  for  a 
 In'other  ; and  the  anticipation  of  once  more  meeting  with  you,  brightens  the  prospect 
 of  my  return  to  my  native  country. 
 
 My  enemies  have  said  much,  and  written  much ; but,  in  the  end,  truth  and 
 honesty  must  prevail. 
 
 “ T.  S.  R.” 
 
 The  charges  reached  Java  at  a period  when  Mr.  Raffles  was  engaged  in  draw- 
 ing out  his  plans  for  the  change  of  system,  which  he  was  about  to  introduce  into  the 
 Country.  Nothing  can  more  strongly  mark  the  facihty  and  the  despatch  with  which 
 he  replied  to  them  all  on  the  moment,  than  the  circumstance  of  his  having  at  the 
 time  his  house  filled  with  company,  and  that  he  never  absented  himself  fi'om  the 
 hours  of  social  intercourse,  or  neglected  his  usual  and  regular  routine  of  business. 
 
GENERAL  GILLESPIE’S  CHARGES  AGAINST  MR.  RAFFLES. 
 
 20.‘} 
 
 The  minute  which  he  drew  up  and  recorded  on  this  occasion,  and  wliich,  wlien 
 printed,  filled  a quarto  volume  of  moderate  thickness,  is  a lasting  monument  of  the 
 powers  of  his  mind. 
 
 It  would  be  foreign  to  the  object  of  this  work,  and  to  the  principle  stated  in 
 the  preface,  to  enter  into  a minute  detail  of  these  proceedings ; but  the  Reader  can- 
 not be  otherwise  than  interested  by  the  perusal  of  the  following  extract  from  a letter 
 of  Mr.  Raffles,  referring  to  the  period  of  General  Gillespie’s  departure  from  Java, 
 when  the  differences  which  had  occurred  between  them  had  seemingly  ceased  to 
 exist,  and  a complete  reconciliation  had  appeared  to  take  place. 
 
 “ The  reconciliation  was  brought  about  by  Captain  Elliott.  I had  no  motive 
 for  wishing  to  withhold  my  consent;  the  public  interest  would,  undoubtedly,  be 
 benefited  by  it.  My  differences  of  opinion,  and  the  discussions  that  had  arisen  in 
 consequence,  were  before  the  Supreme  Government,  and  in  no  instance  had  I stated 
 a personal  or  private  accusation,  or  one,  the  nature  of  which  was  not  apparent  in  my 
 coirespondence  with  the  General  himself.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  it  was  understood 
 that  no  reference  was  to  be  made  to  what  had  passed,  and  could  not  be  altered,  I 
 hesitated  not  to  meet  the  proposal. 
 
 “ There  could  be  no  personal  consideration  in  this  mode  of  procedure,  because, 
 whatever  mischief  our  mutual  references  could  produce  had  already  been  produced ; 
 the  references  were  gone,  and  could  not  be  recalled.  I therefore  confided  in  the 
 honour  of  the  General  as  a man  and  a soldier,  that  nothing  had  passed  on  his  part 
 inconsistent  with  our  becoming  friends  ; concluding  that  General  Gillespie  would  no 
 more  profess  a friendship  for  a man,  whom  he  had  accused  of  base  and  corrupt  acts, 
 than  I would  have  condescended  to  accept  the  hand  of  one  whom  I knew  to  have 
 accused  me  of  them. 
 
 “ It  is  further  to  be  observed,  that  General  Gillespie,  in  frequent  conversations 
 with  me,  declared  his  regret  at  what  had  passed,  and  his  fixed  resolve  to  support  the 
 measimes  of  my  administration ; nor  was  it  to  me  alone  that  this  was  said,  it  was 
 repeatedly  stated  to  the  gentlemen  of  my  family  ; even  his  last  letter  contained  the 
 same,  imputing  to  the  misrepresentation  of  some  persons  about  me,  the  occasions  on 
 which  we  had  formerly  differed. 
 
 My  cause,  my  honomr,  my  public  reputation  and  private  character,  are  now 
 before  the  Supreme  Government.  I ask  only  a patient  hearing.  Errors  in  judg- 
 ment may  be  found  in  the  complicated  administration  with  which  I am  entrusted  ; 
 measures  of  policy  depend  in  a considerable  degree  on  opinion,  and  there  may  be 
 some  difference  of  opinion,  perhaps,  with  regard  to  those  which  have  been  adopted 
 by  this  government ; but  the  accusations  against  my  moral  character  must  be  deter- 
 mined by  facts,  and  on  this  ground  I will  challenge  my  accusers  to  produce  any  one 
 act  of  my  government,  in  which  I have  been  actuated  by  corrupt  motives,  or  guided 
 by  views  of  sinister  advantage  to  myself. 
 
 D d 2 
 
204 
 
 DECISION  OF  THE  COURT  OF  DIRECTORS. 
 
 “ I have  thus  deliberately  discussed  the  present  charges,  and  endeavoured  to  do 
 so  without  anger  or  violence,  but,  my  Lord,  my  feelings  of  the  injury  I have  sus- 
 tained are  not  the  less  acute.  I have  been  denied  the  means  of  knowing  the 
 charges  until  all  the  influence  of  a first  and  ex  parte  statement  could  be  exerted,  and 
 the  current  of  public  opinion  continued  to  flow  unrestrained,  until  the  reports  ob- 
 tained an  unmerited  credit  from  the  very  want  of  contradiction.” 
 
 \\'hen  this  business  was  laid  before  the  Court  of  Directors,  they  expressed  their 
 decision  in  the  following  letter  to  the  Bengal  Government ; but  before  this  period 
 the  fate  of  Java  had  been  decided ; its  restoration  to  the  Dutch  had  been  agreed 
 upon,  and  Java  and  its  dependencies  had  ceased  to  be  of  any  interest  to  the  public 
 authorities  of  Great  Britain. 
 
 “ We  have  received  your  letter  in  this  department  of  the  8th  December,  1815, 
 in  which  you  draw  our  attention  to  your  proceedings  relative  to  the  charges  vvhich 
 were  preferred  by  the  late  Major-General  Gillespie  and  Mr.  Blagrave  against  Mr. 
 Raffles,  late  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Java,  and  communicated  the  judgment  you  have 
 formed  and  recorded,  as  the  result  of  a deliberate  investigation  of  those  charges. 
 
 ‘‘  After  a scrupulous  examination  of  all  the  documents,  both  accusatory  and  ex- 
 culpatory, connected  with  this  important  subject,  and  an  attentive  perusal  of  the 
 minutes  of  the  Governor-General,  and  of  the  other  members  composing  the  Council, 
 when  it  was  under  consideration,  we  think  it  due  to  Mr.  Raffles,  to  the  interests  of 
 our  service,  and  to  the  cause  of  truth,  explicitly  to  declare  our  decided  conviction, 
 that  the  charges,  in  as  far  as  they  went  to  impeach  the  moral  character  of  that  gentle- 
 man, have  not  only  not  been  made  good,  but  that  they  have  been  disproved,  to  an 
 extent  which  is  seldom  practicable  in  a case  of  defence. 
 
 “ It  is  not  our  intention  now  to  discuss  the  expediency  of  the  leading  measures 
 of  the  administration  of  Java,  while  Mr.  Raffles  presided  over  the  government  of  the 
 Island.  The  policy  of  these  measures  is  not  only  separable  ft'om  the  motives  which 
 dictated  them ; but  there  are  cogent  reasons  why  they  should  be  kept  altogether  dis- 
 tinct and  separate  on  the  present  occasion. 
 
 “ Before  pronouncing  upon  the  financial  operations  of  that  government,  we  are 
 desirous  of  fuller  information  and  further  time  to  deliberate  on  their  tendency  and 
 effects,  as  well  as  on  the  circumstances  under  which  they  were  adopted. 
 
 “ Were  their  unreasonableness,  improvidence,  and  inefficiency  clearly  established, 
 this  would  only  indicate  error  or  defect  of  judgment,  or,  at  most,  incompetence  in 
 Mr.  Raffles  for  the  high  and,  in  many  respects,  exceedingly  difficult,  situation  which 
 he  filled. 
 
 “ But  the  purity,  as  well  as  the  propriety,  of  many  of  his  acts,  as  Lieutenant- 
 Governor,  haring  been  an'aigned,  accusations  haring  been  lodged  against  him,  which 
 
LETTER  TO  MR.  MARSDEN. 
 
 205 
 
 if  substantiated  must  have  proved  fatal  to  his  character,  and  highly  injurious,  if  not 
 ruinous  to  his  futm-e  prospects  in  life,  his  conduct  having  been  subjected  to  a regular 
 and  solemn  investigation,  and  this  investigation  having  demonstrated  to  our  minds 
 the  utter  groundlessness  of  the  charges  exhibited  against  him,  in  so  far  as  they 
 affected  his  honour,  we  think  that  he  is  entitled  to  all  the  advantage  of  this  opinion, 
 and  of  an  early  and  public  expression  of  it. 
 
 “ Mr.  Edmonstone,  in  his  elaborate  and  able  minute,  has  taken  so  comprehen- 
 sive and  just  a view  of  all  the  acts  which  constituted  the  grounds  of  imputation 
 against  the  personal  character  of  Mr.  Raffles,  that  it  is  quite  unnecessary  for  us  to 
 enter  into  a detailed  scrutiny  of  the  matters,  either  of  charge  or  refutation.  On 
 most,  if  not  all  of  the  points  at  issue,  we  concur  with  Mr.  Edmonstone,  both  in  his 
 reasonings  and  conclusions ; and  whatever  judgment  may  be  ultimately  passed  on 
 the  various  measures  of  the  late  government  of  Java,  which  underwent  review  in  the 
 course  of  the  investigation  into  the  conduct  of  its  head,  we  are  satisfied,  not  merely 
 that  they  stand  exempt  from  any  sordid  or  selfish  taint,  but  that  they  sprung  from 
 motives  perfectly  correct  and  laudable.” 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  wrote  the  following  letter  to  Mr.  Marsden  about  this  time,  on  the 
 various  subjects  to  which  his  attention  was  then  directed. 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Buitenzorg,  Jan.  12,  1813. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I had  the  pleasure  to  write  to  you  about  six  weeks  ago,  since  which 
 nothing  very  important  has  occurred  in  this  part  of  the  world. 
 
 ‘‘We  still  remain  without  official  information  respecting  the  future  government 
 of  this  colony,  although  the  public  opinion  seems  decided  in  favour  of  its  being 
 transferred  to  the  crown. 
 
 “ It  will,  I am  sure,  afford  you  satisfaction  to  know,  that  every  thing  goes  on 
 prosperously ; and  that  the  resources  of  the  colony,  during  the  last  year,  have  fully 
 equalled  my  most  sanguine  expectations.  The  unfortunate  state  of  commerce  in 
 general,  and  the  distressed  condition  of  the  Island,  at  the  period  of  its  capture, 
 have  been  much  against  us ; but  the  happiest  results  have  followed  the  decisive  blow 
 which  I found  it  necessary  to  strike  at  Mataram : and  the  country  throughout  is  in 
 the  most  perfect  state  of  tranquillity. 
 
 “ Had  it  not  been  for  the  uncertainty  which  exists  respecting  the  future  govern- 
 ment of  the  Island,  it  was  my  intention  to  have  effected  an  entire  new  system  and 
 settlement  of  the  revenue.  The  Dutch  appear  to  have  been  terribly  behind-hand 
 in  every  arrangement  of  the  kind ; the  principal  resources  of  the  government  were 
 
206 
 
 BATAVIAN  SOCIETY  OF  ARTS. 
 
 received  in  kind ; and  the  contingents  or  quota  of  the  different  Chiefs  fixed  without 
 reference  to  their  means  or  ability. 
 
 " In  the  pro\inces  lately  transferred  to  the  European  government,  the  whole  of 
 the  uncertain  revenues  collected  by  the  native  princes  has  been  reduced  to  a fixed 
 land-rent,  payable  in  money  half-yearly : and,  if  circumstances  had  admitted,  I 
 should  have  carried  the  same  system  through  the  comitry.  In  all  changes,  however, 
 some  difficulties  are  in  the  first  instance  to  be  encountered ; and  unless  I felt  satis- 
 fied, that  I could  fjilhj  establish  the  new  system  before  I attempted  its  adoption,  I 
 might,  by  a imrtial  interference,  hamper  and  annoy  the  government  which  is  per- 
 manently to  rule  over  the  Island.  No  exertions  are  wanting  in  collecting  the  most 
 useful  and  extensive  information ; and  we  are  already  far  advanced  in  a statistical 
 account  of  each  district.  You  are  aware  that  we  have  the  advantage  of  Colonel 
 Mackenzie’s  abilities;  and  that  a commission  of  the  best-informed  colonists  has 
 long  been  dehberating  on  the  best  means  for  improving  the  country,  and  ame- 
 liorating the  condition  of  the  inhabitants.  That  we  are  not  altogether  idle  will  be 
 evident,  from  the  honourable  notice  which  Lord  Minto  has  been  pleased  to  take  of 
 our  proceedings;  and  as  his  Lordship’s  last  address  to  the  College  of  Fort  William 
 pays  so  high  and  grateful  a tribute  to  the  memory  of  my  departed  friend.  Dr.  Leyden, 
 I enclose  you  the  Gazette. 
 
 “ The  Juliana  takes  home  a very  compact  collection  of  quadrupeds,  birds,  and 
 insects,  prepared  by  Dr.  Horsfield  for  the  Oriental  Museum  at  the  India  House.  A 
 large  collection  of  dried  plants  is  also  sent.  Any  observations  which  you  may  offer 
 on  this  first  attempt  will  be  veiy  usefiil. 
 
 “ In  my  last  letter,  I apprised  you  of  the  general  state  of  the  Batavian  Society 
 of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  of  my  exertions  to  rerive  it.  You  will  now  learn  -with 
 pleasure,  that  this  Society  is  once  more  in  full  rigour.  The  former  regidations  were 
 by  no  means  calculated  to  keep  alive  a spirit  of  enquiry  or  research ; on  the  conriary, 
 they  seemed  to  shut  the  door  against  every  thing  new,  as  an  innovation  ; and  it,  there- 
 fore, became  necessarv  to  remould  the  constitution.  With  the  celebrated  Rudema- 
 cher  the  Society  seems  to  have  lived  and  died ; at  least,  it  has  been  nearly  in  a torpid 
 state  ever  since.  The  lethargy',  with  which  all  the  members  seemed  to  be  oppressed, 
 when  I first  started  the  subject,  gave  me  but  little  hopes  of  success ; and  the  jealousy, 
 with  w'hich  they  w^ere  apt  to  look  upon  any  interference,  at  first  discouraged  me  ; but 
 a more  liberal  spirit  bas  at  last  prevailed ; and,  I trust,  will  soon  pervade  the  wiiole 
 body.  The  new'  regulations  are  simple ; and,  I think,  you  will  approve  of  them  on  a 
 consideration  of  how'  much  has  been  effected  against  prejudice  and  colonial  notions, 
 which,  I am  sonw'  to  say,  are  miserably  contracted. 
 
 “ Colonel  Mackenzie  has  visited  Majapahit,  and  every  part  of  the  Island ; 
 and  a large  stone,  weighing  several  tons,  with  a long  inscription  in  ancient  cha- 
 racters, has  been  brought  from  the  ruins  to  Sourabaya.  The  characters  on  this 
 
REVENUE  OF  JAVA. 
 
 207 
 
 stone  are,  I believe,  somewhat  different  from  those  found  at  Brambana  ; and  there  is 
 an  old  man  at  Sumanap  who  pretends  to  decypher  the  character.  I have  seen  some 
 of  his  translations  of  similar  inscriptions  in  Madura ; and  they  appear  to  record  vol- 
 canoes and  battles  ; but  I must  hesitate  in  offering  an  opinion,  until  I have  time  to 
 examine  the  whole  personally.  While  on  the  subject  of  ancient  monuments,  it  will 
 be  interesting  for  you  know,  that  we  have  not  failed  to  take  drawings  of  all  that  have 
 been  found,  at  least  of  the  principal.  I have  one  drawing  of  the  temple  at  Bram- 
 bana, representing  the  edifice  as  it  originally  stood  in  its  most  perfect  state ; and  it 
 makes  a most  splendid  appearance. 
 
 “ The  undivided  and  unremitting  attention,  which  the  duties  of  my  present 
 situation  require,  deprives  me  of  the  time  which  I should  be  happy  to  devote  to 
 hterary  pm’suits  and  scientific  research  ; but  I have  made  very  considerable  collec- 
 tions ; and  a few  leisme  months,  at  any  time,  wiU  enable  me  to  put  them  in  some  sort 
 of  order.  The  field  is  so  extensive  and  untrodden,  that  I am  cautious  how  I venture 
 to  form  an  opinion,  or  even  communicate  information  on  any  particular  point. 
 
 “ I hope  it  will  not  be  long  before  the  Batavian  press  produces  a Javanese 
 Vocabulary,  with  some  idea  of  the  construction  of  the  language.  I have  at  present 
 materials  enough  to  undertake  it ; but  I would  much  rather  induce  some  abler  hand 
 to  come  forward. 
 
 You  must  excuse  the  hasty  and  careless  style  of  this  letter.  I am  obhged  to 
 snatch  a moment  now  and  then  from  public  business  to  get  through  it  as  it  is. 
 
 “ As  a copy  of  the  Malayan  Bible,  printed  at  Batavia,  may  form  an  addition  to 
 your  hbrary,  I have  the  pleasure  to  send  you  one.” 
 
 Reference  has  been  already  made  to  the  change  which  Mr.  Raffles  introduced, 
 especially  with  regard  to  the  revenue  in  Java;  but,  before  entering  in  the  details  on 
 this  subject,  it  may  be  well  to  state  his  ovra  opinions  of  the  country  and  the  people. 
 
 ‘‘  Six  milhons  in  Java,  as  many  more  in  its  dependencies,  established  on  one 
 of  the  richest  and  most  fertile  soils  in  the  world,  happy  in  their  original  Institutions, 
 were  subjected  to  the  arbitrary  demands  of  the  European  authority  to  deliver  the 
 produce  of  their  soil  either  gratis,  or  at  such  nominal  rates  as  that  authority  thought 
 fit  to  bestow  as  a boon,  and  to  give  their  personal  services  on  all  occasions  of  public 
 or  private  call  without  any  reward  or  return  whatever,  the  demand  on  each  district 
 depending  on  accident,  or  the  convenience  of  the  local  or  commanding-officer  for  the 
 time  being.  As  it  affected  the  general  prosperity  of  the  colony,  the  system  was  one 
 which  closed  every  avenue  to  general  commerce,  repressed  every  energy,  and  de- 
 stroyed every  incitement  to  industry  and  improvement.  In  its  results  to  the  Euro- 
 pean power,  it  had  reduced  the  Government  to  beggary,  while  it  vitiated  and  cor- 
 rupted all  its  officers,  and  all  its  departments. 
 
 “ Under  these  circumstances,  it  was  determined  to  take  a comprehensive  view 
 of  the  revenue  and  resources  of  these  possessions,  and  of  the  various  and  important 
 
 1 
 
208 
 
 IMPROVED  SYSTEM  OF  GOVERNMENT. 
 
 interests  involved  in  them,  and  to  consider  whether  the  introduction  of  a system  of 
 administration  more  analogous  to  that  of  our  more  permanent  possessions  in  India 
 might  not  be  both  adnsable  and  practicable.  That  it  was  most  advisable  there 
 seemed  to  be  little  doubt,  for  the  Dutch  themselves  had  for  many  years  declared  the 
 advantage  of  some  such  change ; their  deplorable  condition  abundantly  proved  its 
 absolute  necessity,  and  the  result  of  every  inquiry  that  was  made  proved  that  the 
 interests  of  all  concerned  must  be  benefited  by  such  an  arrangement. 
 
 “ That  the  existing  system  was  vicious  and  niinous,  all  good  men  were  agreed, 
 commission  after  commission  hanng  been  appointed  by  the  Dutch  government  nith 
 a view  of  effecting  a change ; that  authority  at  last  came  to  the  resolution  that  it  was 
 impracticable  and  unsafe : impracticable,  because  the  difficulties  to  be  surmounted 
 and  the  corruptions  to  be  put  down  were  too  formidable  to  be  opposed;  and  unsafe, 
 because  it  considered  that  any  attempt  to  interfere  with  the  existing  order  of  things 
 amongst  the  natives  would  lead  to  certain  disorder  and  bloodshed,  and  endanger  the 
 supremacy  of  the  European  power.” 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  introduced  what  is  called  the  village  system,  founded  upon  that  of 
 the  Hindus;  for  though  the  natives  had  fi'om  compulsion  adopted  the  religion  of 
 their  Mahomedan  conquerors,  they  were  strongly  attached  to  their  ancient  Hindu 
 institutions.  To  accomplish  this  introduction,  he  rfsited  each  district,  in  person 
 made  arrangements  with  the  several  Chiefs,  and  in  heu  of  the  contingents  and 
 arbitrary  exactions  of  the  European  government,  established  a peimanent  money 
 revenue  direct  from  the  land,  which  afforded  the  means  of  defraying  the  expenses 
 of  the  public  establishments  with  regularity  and  certainty,  instead  of  learing  the 
 government  dependent  on  the  state  of  a foreign  market  for  the  irregular  and  un- 
 certain sale  of  its  produce.  All  the  ports  on  the  coast  were  opened  to  the  general 
 trader,  and  Cultivation  and  Commerce  rapidly  improved. 
 
 In  the  judicial  department  and  police,  independently  of  the  regulations  for  the 
 interior  of  the  country,  which  formed  part  of  the  revenue  and  judicial  system,  es- 
 sential reforms  were  required  in  the  several  European  courts  of  justice  established 
 at  Bataria,  Samarang,  and  Sourabaya;  Mr.  Raffles  introduced  the  trial  by  jury,  and 
 a clear  and  simple  code  was  compiled,  containing  the  rules  for  the  different  courts, 
 and  instructions  for  their  officers.  These  rides  were  printed  in  English  and  Dutch ; 
 they  shew  that  the  practice  of  the  Dutch  courts  was  revised  and  modified  on  the  mild 
 and  just  principles  of  the  British  constitution;  and  the  fact  of  its  continuing  in  force 
 under  the  Dutch  government,  will  be  sufficient  proof  that  it  was  applicable  to  the 
 circumstances  of  the  settlement.  It  would  be  needless  to  dwell  on  the  research, 
 labour,  and  caution  which  such  an  undertaking  required;  those  who  are  acquainted 
 with  the  difficulties  and  responsibilities  of  government  under  ordinary  circumstances, 
 will  estimate  the  difficulties  and  responsibilities  of  these  changes,  in  the  miserable 
 state  to  wiiich  Java  had  been  reduced. 
 
CAPTAIN  TRAVERS’  ACCOUNT  OF  MR.  RAFFLES. 
 
 209 
 
 The  following  extract  from  the  Journal  of  Captain  Travers  describes  Mr. 
 Raffles  at  this  period  of  anxiety  and  trouble. 
 
 “ At  the  time  Major-General  Sir  Miles  Nightingall  arrived  to  take  command  of 
 the  troops  in  Java,  Mr.  Raffles  was  busily  engaged  in  his  favourite  plan,  and  making 
 suitable  arrangements  for  the  introduction  of  an  improved  system  of  internal  manage- 
 ment, and  the  establishment  of  a land-rental  on  the  Island,  a measure  which  has 
 given  to  his  administration  a lustre  and  widely-spread  fame,  which  never  can  be  for- 
 gotten. The  measure  is  so  fully  explained,  the  necessity  for  its  adoption  so  clearly 
 pointed  out  in  the  public  records  of  government,  that 'I  shall  confine  myself  to  the 
 private  circumstances  connected  with  its  introduction. 
 
 “ When  first  this  measure  was  proposed,  it  met,  if  not  with  opposition,  with 
 at  least  such  a cold  and  cautious  approval  from  the  members  of  council,  some  of 
 whom  spoke  from  long  experience,  and  a supposed  knowledge  of  the  native  cha- 
 racter, as  would  have  damped  the  ardoiw  of  a less  zealous  mind  than  Mr.  Raffles 
 possessed,  and  indeed  it  was  the  opinion  of  almost  every  Dutchman  \rith  whom  he 
 conversed,  that  such  a system  would  never  succeed,  and  that  the  attempt  to  intro- 
 duce it  would  be  attended  with  very  bad  consequences.  But  Mr.  Raffles  had  formed 
 a very  different  opinion,  founded  upon  the  soundest  principles  of  reasoning,  and 
 vrith  a philanthropy  peculiar  to  his  character,  he  made  himself  perfectly  acquainted 
 with  the  reception  which  such  a change  of  system  would  experience  generally 
 throughout  the  Island,  and  the  result  justified  the  opinion  he  then  gave.  It  was  in 
 1813  Mr.  Raffles  first  acquainted  the  council  of  his  intention  to  amend  the  system 
 of  land-revenue  on  the  Island,  and  the  minute  which  he  then  recorded,  clearly  and 
 distinctly  develops  the  just  and  liberal,  as  well  as  very  able  and  enlightened  view 
 which  he  then  took  of  the  subject. 
 
 “ In  obtaining  the  necessary  information  to  enable  him  to  frame  such  a system 
 as,  whilst  it  abohshed  the  ^dcious  practice  hitherto  pursued  on  the  Island,  would 
 strengthen  the  resources  of  the  government,  and  by  doing  away  feudal  servitude, 
 encourage  industry  in  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of  the  land,  the  greatest 
 exertions  were  required  on  Mr.  Raffles’  part,  and  he  devoted  himself  with  his 
 accustomed  enthusiasm  to  the  task ; night  and  day  he  worked  at  it.  To  satisfy 
 himself  upon  all  local  points,  to  obtain  personal  intercourse  and  become  acquainted 
 with  the  character  of  the  native  Chiefs  connected  with,  or  in  any  way  affected  by, 
 this  new  system,  Mr.  Raffles  deemed  it  adrisable  to  proceed  to  the  eastern  parts  of 
 the  Island,  wdiere  he  remained  a considerable  time,  and  visited  every  place,  often 
 undergoing  the  greatest  personal  exertions  and  fatigue,  which  few  accompanying 
 him  were  able  to  encounter  ; indeed,  several  were  sufferers  from  the  very  long 
 journies  he  made,  riding  sometimes  sixty  and  seventy  miles  in  one  day,  a fatigue 
 w'hich  very  few  constitutions  are  equal  to  in  an  Eastern  climate.  To  give  effect  to 
 the  measure  he  was  aw'are  that  his  personal  presence  W' ould  afford  an  influence  and 
 
 E e 
 
•210 
 
 CAPTAIN  TRAVERS’  ACCOUNT  OF  MR.  RAFFLES. 
 
 energy  not  otherwise  to  be  obtained,  whilst  all  delay  for  official  reference  would  be 
 avoided.  He  therefore  did  not  return  to  Bata\ia  till  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  see- 
 ing the  complete  success  of  this  measure,  which  gave  to  his  administration  the  credit 
 of  abolishing  the  most  vicious  and  barbarous  system,  and  of  introducing  one  which 
 gave  to  a most  deserving  and  industrious  population  a freedom  which  had  been 
 hitherto  most  cruelly  withheld  from  them. 
 
 “ Mr.  Raffles  returned  to  Batavia  in  good  health  and  high  spirits,  naturally 
 elated  with  the  complete  success  of  all  his  plans,  and  finding  in  General  Nightingall 
 a cordial  supporter.  I consider  that  at  this  period  he  felt  more  enjoyment  than  at 
 any  other  during  his  administration  in  Java. 
 
 “ The  most  friendly  intercourse  subsisted  between  the  Governor’s  and  General 
 Nightingall’s  families  ; they  were  constantly  together  ; and  to  the  purest  feelings  of 
 friendship  and  attachment  which  General  Nightingall  felt  towards  Mr.  Raffles,  he 
 seemed  to  add  the  highest  opinion  and  admiration  of  the  shining  talents  and  abilities 
 which  he  found  him  to  possess.  At  Buitenzorg  the  house  was  constantly  filled  with 
 visitors,  and  I well  remember  at  the  time  when  Mr.  Raffles  was  di'awing  up  the 
 minute  of  council  which  he  recorded  on  the  11th  of  February,  1814,  we  had  a 
 large  party  at  breakfast,  dinner,  and  supper,  from  which  he  never  absented  himself, 
 but  on  the  contrary,  was  always  one  of  the  most  animated  at  table,  and  yet  contrived 
 to  find  time  sufficient  to  write  that  minute,  which  in  itself  would  establish  him  to  be 
 a man  of  considerable  ability  and  acquirement ; and  this  was  written  and  composed 
 so  quickly,  that  he  required  three  clerks  to  keep  up  and  copy  what  he  wrote,  so  that, 
 in  fact,  this  minute  was  vvTitten  with  the  gi'eatest  possible  haste ; Mr.  Raffles’  object 
 being  to  have  a copy  made  and  sent  home  by  a vessel  then  under  despatch  in  the 
 roads  at  Batavia,  and  this  he  accomplished. 
 
 “ But  Mr.  Raffles’  quickness  at  composition  was  reiuarkable.  He  wrote  a very 
 fine,  clear,  legible  hand  ; and  I have  often  seen  him  write  a letter  at  the  same  time 
 that  he  was  dictatiirg  to  two  assistairts. 
 
 “ Immediately  after  recording  the  minute  herein  alluded  to,  despatches  were 
 received  froirr  Bengal,  coirrmunicating  to  Mr.  Raffles  the  unlooked-for,  and  very  un- 
 expected intelligence  of  Major-Geireral  Gillespie  haviirg  preseirted  to  the  Supreme 
 Govermrreirt  a list  of  charges  against  his  administratioir  in  Java.  These  charges  were 
 of  a most  grave  and  serious  irature  ; but  Mr.  Raffles  met  them  like  air  innoceirt  man. 
 On  the  first  perusal  of  them,  his  plan  of  reply  was  formed ; and  he  answered  every 
 charge  in  the  most  clear,  full,  aird  satisfactory  inamrer,  as  will  be  seen  on  refereirce  to 
 the  book  printed  at  Batavia,  contaiiring  these  charges  aird  reply.  But  it  is  well 
 worthy  of  remark,  that  when  Mr.  Raffles  had  finished  his  answer  to  the  charges,  he 
 handed  the  whole  to  General  Nightingall  to  peruse,  who  having  gone  through  them, 
 declared  that  although  (as  he  declared  on  his  first  assuming  the  command  of  the 
 forces  in  the  Island)  it  was  his  fixed  interrtion  to  have  avoided  all  interference  with 
 
 7 
 
CAPTAIN  TRAVERS’  ACCOUNT  OF  MR.  RAFFLES. 
 
 211 
 
 past  occurrences,  and  to  have  kept  clear  of  any  differences  which  had  taken  place 
 previous  to  his  arrival ; yet  after  a careful  perusal  of  the  documents  which  had  been 
 laid  before  him,  and  with  a full  and  firm  conviction  on  his  mind  of  the  entire  innocence 
 of  Mr.  Raffles  of  all  and  every  charge  brought  forward  by  Major-General  Gillespie, 
 he  could  no  longer  remain  a quiet  spectator,  and  therefore  in  the  handsomest,  because 
 altogether  unsolicited,  manner,  he  came  forward  to  offer  Mr.  Raffles  all  the  support 
 and  assistance  in  his  powder  to  give. 
 
 “ Nothing  could  he  more  gratifying  to  Mr.  Raffles’  feelings  on  such  an  occasion 
 than  to  have  the  support  of  an  officer  of  General  Nightingall’s  respectable  character, 
 obtained  solely  by  a confidence  in  the  rectitude  and  purity  of  the  conduct  he  adopted 
 since  the  commencement  of  his  administration,  every  act  of  which  was  known  to  and 
 most  carefully  examined  by  General  Nightingall  previous  to  his  making  this  kind  and 
 friendly  offer ; and  indeed  it  will  only  require  a momentary  look  at  the  charges,  to 
 feel  convinced  of  their  unfounded  nature. 
 
 “ At  the  time  when  these  charges  were  received,  and  their  reception  was  a sur- 
 prise to  every  person,  the  Government-house  at  Buitenzorg  was  quite  filled  with 
 strangers.  A large  party,  composed  of  Dutch  and  English,  had  been  invited  to  wit- 
 ness the  performance  of  a play,  which  was  got  up  chiefly  by  the  members  of  the 
 Governor’s  staff.  During  this  anxious  time,  when  Mr.  Raffles  had  so  much  upon  his 
 mind,  not  a visitor  could  perceive  the  slightest  alteration  in  his  manner ; he  was  the 
 same  cheerful  animated  person  they  had  always  found  him ; at  dinner,  and  in  the 
 evening,  he  appeared  perfectly  disengaged,  and  only  seemed  anxious  how  best  to 
 promote  and  encourage  the  amusement,  and  contribute  to  the  happiness  and  enjoy- 
 ment of  all  around  him. 
 
 “ When  the  clear  and  satisfactory  reply  was  drawn  out,  repelling  every  charge 
 brought  against  Mr.  Raffles,  a proposition  was  made  in  council,  and  was  recom- 
 mended by  General  Nightingall,  that  confidential  friends  should  be  sent  in  charge  of 
 copies  of  these  despatches  to  Bengal  and  to  England,  to  meet  the  ex  parte  statements 
 which  were  known  to  be  in  circulation  in  both  places.  Mr.  Assey,  then  secretary  to 
 government,  was  selected  to  proceed  to  Bengal,  and  as  a vessel  was  then  under 
 despatch  for  England,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  send  me  in  charge  of  those 
 despatches,  together  with  a copy  of  the  charges,  and  the  reply  sent  to  the  Supreme 
 Government.  Before  the  vessel  reached  England  the  fate  of  Java  had  been  decided ; 
 its  restoration  to  the  Dutch  had  been  agreed  upon,  and  consequently  Java  and  its 
 dependencies  ceased  to  be  of  any  interest  to  Great  Britain.” 
 
 Before  proceeding  to  a detail  of  the  effects  produced  upon  the  civil  and  pohtical 
 situation  of  Java  by  the  introduction  of  so  entire  a change  in  the  government,  a 
 riew  of  those  reasons  which  induced  the  opinion  so  strongly  urged  by  Mr.  Raffles 
 may  not  be  unacceptable.  Under  the  guidance  of  the  enlightened  and  benevolent 
 views  of  Lord  Minto,  means  were  adopted  to  obtain  every  information,  and  to 
 
 E e 2 
 
212 
 
 CHANGE  IN  THE  TENURE  OF  LAND. 
 
 institute  that  local  inquiry,  so  essential  to  the  success  of  the  measures  proposed. 
 His  Lordship,  in  his  instructions  on  the  establishment  of  the  government,  expresses 
 himself  thus : — 
 
 “ Contingents  of  rice,  and  indeed  of  other  productions,  have  been  hitherto 
 required  of  the  cultivators  by  Government  at  an  arbitrary  rate.  This  also  is  a 
 vicious  system,  to  be  abandoned  as  soon  as  possible.  The  system  of  contingents 
 did  not  arise  from  the  mere  solicitude  for  the  supply  of  the  people,  but  was  a 
 measure  alone  of  finance  and  controul,  to  enable  government  to  derive  a high 
 revenue  from  a high  price  imposed  on  the  consumer,  and  to  keep  the  whole  body  of 
 the  people  dependent  on  its  pleasure  for  subsistence. 
 
 “ I recommend  a radical  reform  in  this  branch  to  the  serious  and  early  attention 
 of  government.  The  principle  of  encouraging  industry  in  the  cultivation  and 
 improvement  of  land,  by  creating  an  interest  in  the  effort  and  fruits  of  that  industry, 
 can  be  expected  in  Java  only  by  a fundamental  change  in  the  whole  system  of 
 landed  property  and  tenure. 
 
 “ A wide  field,  but  a somewhat  distant  one,  is  open  to  this  great  and  interest- 
 ing improvement ; the  discussion  of  the  subject,  however,  must  necessarily  be 
 delayed,  till  the  investigation  it  requires  is  more  complete.  I shall  transmit  such 
 thoughts  as  I have  entertained,  and  such  hopes  as  I have  indulged,  on  this  gi’and 
 object  of  amelioration ; but  I am  to  request  all  the  information  and  all  the  lights 
 that  this  Island  can  afford.  On  this  branch  nothing  must  be  done  that  is  not  mature, 
 because  the  exchange  is  too  extensive  to  be  suddenly  or  ignorantly  attempted.  But 
 fixed  and  immutable  principles  of  the  human  character  and  of  human  association, 
 assure  me  of  ultimate,  and  I hope  not  remote  success,  in  \iews  that  are  consonant 
 wth  every  motive  of  action  that  operates  on  man,  and  are  justified  by  the  practice 
 and  experience  of  every  flourishing  country  of  the  world.” 
 
 In  pursuance  of  these  objects,  the  first  subject  which  offered  itself  to  the  con- 
 sideration of  Mr.  Raffles  was  as  to  the  actual  right  of  property,  so  far  as  it  could  be 
 ascertained ; it  being  with  him  a principle,  “ that  nothing  should  be  done  to  injure 
 the  existing  rights  of  any  class  of  the  people,  or  to  break  down  the  barriers  which 
 prescriptive  usage  or  actual  institutions  had  authorized  in  the  possession  of  property.” 
 
 It  appeared,  from  the  most  deliberate  investigations,  that  in  Java  there  existed 
 no  actual  right  of  landed  property  between  the  Sovereign  and  the  cultivator : the 
 several  officers,  whether  at  the  heads  of  districts,  divisions,  or  towns,  were  nomi- 
 nated by  the  chief  authority,  and  removable  at  his  pleasure.  It  was  not  unusual  to 
 find  the  descendants  of  those,  who  had  once  been  high  in  office,  reduced  to  a state 
 of  poverty  among  the  lowest  classes  of  society.  Policy  and  justice  required  that 
 some  provision  should  be  made  for  those  actually  in  office  at  the  time  of  the  intro- 
 duction of  that  change,  which  would  at  once  deprive  them  of  all  their  privileges. 
 
 It  appeared  that,  under  the  late  Dutch  government,  no  communication  what- 
 
DUTCH  SYSTEM  IN  JAVA. 
 
 213 
 
 ever  was  held  with  the  people.  Through  their  Resident,  living  at  the  principal  town 
 in  the  district,  all  orders  were  conveyed  to  the  Regent,  who  nominated  the  inferior 
 officers,  and  from  whom  the  amount  of  revenue  was  received,  the  mode  of  collection 
 remaining  in  his  hands,  unchecked  by  the  controul  of  any  legislative  measure 
 whatever. 
 
 The  service  of  the  people  was  also  required  by  the  officers  of  the  govern- 
 ment, without  any  compensation  being  afforded  : the  example  was  naturally  followed 
 by  the  native  Chiefs ; and  thus  were  the  industry  and  energies  of  a people  crushed  by 
 a system  of  feudal  ser\ice,  as  destructive  in  its  operation  as  repugnant  to  humanity 
 — rendering  the  efforts  of  the  cultivator  hopeless  to  himself  and  unproductive  to 
 the  state.  Justice,  humanity,  benevolence,  policy,  and  necessity,  called  for  that 
 change,  the  beneficial  effects  of  which  were  so  speedily  and  so  gratefully  realized. 
 
 The  Dutch  government  looked  for  their  revenue  only  in  their  commercial  mo- 
 nopoly. The  resources  of  the  eastern  districts  were  sacrificed  to  the  exclusive  com- 
 merce of  Batavia,  the  capital;  and  prerious  to  the  administration  of  Marshal 
 Daendels  the  whole  amount  of  monies  collected  from  those  districts  did  not  exceed 
 150,000  Spanish  dollars  per  annum  (j£37,500  at  par).  Some  improvements  were 
 effected  in  1803  by  Marshal  Daendels,  but  the  system  of  monopoly  and  of  farming 
 the  public  revenues  being  permitted  to  remain,  no  essential  or  permanent  advantage 
 was  derived,  either  to  the  government  or  the  people. 
 
 At  the  period  of  the  capture  of  Java  by  the  British,  some  partial  and  temporary 
 relief  was  afforded  to  the  poverty  of  the  country,  by  a large  sum  of  money  brought 
 with  the  army  and  circulated  in  the  country.  The  military  disbursements  of  govern- 
 ment in  cash,  the  increase  of  commerce  after  the  removal  of  the  blockade,  together 
 with  the  fi-iendly  intercourse  estabhshed  with  Western  India,  contributed  to  alleviate 
 some  portion  of  the  distress  : but  as  the  system  of  farming  the  revenue  to  the  Chinese, 
 and  of  collecting  the  rental  from  the  Regents  only,  excluded  the  peasantry  from  any 
 immediate  connexion  with  government,  the  specie  thus  circulated  from  the  public 
 treasury  fell  into  few  hands  ; the  suiqjlus  w^as  exported  or  hoarded,  without  benefit 
 to  government  or  advantage  to  the  people. 
 
 Remoring  the  banier  w'hich  existed  to  indiridual  industry,  giving  to  the  cidtivator 
 security  for  his  crops,  abolishing  the  feudal  service  and  transit  duties,  and  at  the  same 
 time  affording  a hberal  compensation  to  the  Chiefs  and  other  officers  for  the  loss  of 
 that  authority,  of  which  they  were  in  actual  possession,  formed  the  leading  features 
 of  that  change  which  was,  with  such  unparalleled  celerity  and  success,  introduced  by 
 Mr.  Raffles. 
 
 That  no  difficulty  might  arise  in  the  execution  of  Mr.  Raffles’  well-matured 
 designs,  such  instmctions  were  given,  conformable  to  the  pecuhar  circumstances  of 
 the  various  districts,  as  precluded  almost  the  possibility  of  error  on  the  part  of  the 
 
214 
 
 INSTRUCTIONS  TO  RESIDENTS. 
 
 executive  authorities  ; although  those  authorities  were  not  at  all  times  disposed  to 
 concur  in  the  principles  laid  down. 
 
 The  follo\nng  is  an  extract  from  instructions  to  Mr.  Hopkins,  who  was  appointed 
 a commissioner  for  settling  the  revenue  in  those  districts  which  were  transferred  from 
 the  Chinese,  and  similar  instructions  were  circulated  to  the  other  Residents  in  the 
 eastern  districts,  as  far  at  least  as  local  circumstances  admitted. 
 
 “ The  internal  management  of  the  districts  is  to  be  taken  into  the  hands  of  go- 
 vernment, and  to  be  administered  mthout  the  intervention  of  native  authority.  The 
 lands  are  to  be  rented  for  an  annual  payment  in  money,  on  the  following  general 
 principles. 
 
 “ It  has  been  deemed  advisable,  on  the  first  introduction  of  these  arrangements, 
 to  enter  generally  into  such  a detailed  system  of  management  as  w'ould  include  an 
 immediate  consideration  of  the  rights  and  interests  of  each  individual  cultivator ; and 
 in  the  instructions  given  in  the  other  districts,  it  has  been  directed  that  the  lands  be 
 in  the  first  instance  rented  to  the  chief  local  authority  in  each  village  or  community, 
 whether  recognised  under  the  designation  of  Petingi,  Bakal,  Sm'ah,  or  other  title. 
 But  as  the  state  of  society  and  cultivation  in  the  districts,  lately  held  by  the  Chinese, 
 may  admit  of  an  exception,  and  a more  detailed  settlement  than  elsewdiere,  you  are 
 authorized  to  introduce  the  same,  to  such  an  extent  as  may  appear  safe  and  practi- 
 cable, with  a due  attention  to  the  prejudices  of  the  people  and  the  tranquilhty  of  the 
 countiy. 
 
 “ The  heads  of  villages  or  communities  being  thus  considered,  leases  are  to  be 
 granted  in  the  Javanese  language. 
 
 “ In  fixing  the  amount  of  rent,  you  wiU  ascertain,  as  far  as  practicable,  the 
 extent  of  all  existing  brndhens,  imposts,  and  serrtces  wJiatever,  and  endeavour  to 
 determine  the  amount  these  have  hitherto  borne  to  the  produce  of  the  soil ; which 
 amount,  after  an  equitable  and  hberal  allowance  for  any  oppression  hitherto  felt,  is 
 to  form  the  basis  of  the  rental  to  be  demanded  as  the  dues  of  government. 
 
 “ As  far  as  my  personal  information  extends,  I am  inclined  to  consider  that 
 these  dues  may  be  generally  commuted,  one  district  with  another,  for  a payment  in 
 money  equivalent  to  about  two-fifths  of  the  annual  gross  rice  produce  of  the  soil. 
 
 “ That  the  government  and  the  country  may  receive  the  full  benefit  of  the 
 arrangements  now  in  rtew,  and  that  the  principle  may  be  clearly  defined,  it  has 
 been  resolved  to  abolish  all  internal  taxes,  contributions,  deliveries  at  inadequate 
 rates,  and  forced  serrices,  whether  to  the  European  or  native  authority ; and  hence- 
 forward, whatever  produce  or  laboiu*  may  be  required  for  the  service  of  govern- 
 ment, is,  in  every  case  and  without  exception,  to  be  paid  for  at  the  cm'rent  market 
 rate. 
 
 “ As  the  first  settlement  to  be  made  can  only  be  considered  as  preparatory  to  a 
 
INSTRUCTIONS  TO  RESIDENTS. 
 
 215 
 
 more  accurate  and  permanent  arrangement  for  the  assessment  of  the  lands,  it  is  not 
 deemed  advisable  that  the  leases  should  exceed  the  period  of  one  year. 
 
 “ It  being  essential  and  just  that  a liberal  provision  should  be  made  for  the 
 Regents  and  other  Chiefs,  and  there  being  no  objection  to  their  retaining  a certain 
 portion  of  land,  the  Regent  of  Passaruwang  is  to  be  allowed  lands  which  will  afford 
 him  an  annual  revenue  of  2,000  rl.  battoo ; and  an  equitable  pro\dsion,  in  propor- 
 tion, is  to  be  made  for  the  Regents  of  Poegar  and  Banjo wangy. 
 
 “ In  order,  however,  that  these  appropriations  may  not  interfere  with  the 
 general  system,  these  lands  are  to  be  regidarly  assessed  in  common  with  the  other 
 lands  of  the  district,  and  entered  upon  the  general  rent-roll ; but  the  rent  is  to  be 
 remitted,  and  considered  as  the  amount  of  the  respective  pensions  or  salary  of  each 
 individual. 
 
 “ With  these  exceptions,  and  such  other  as  political  reasons  may  dictate,  the 
 whole  of  the  lands  are  to  be  rented  out  to  the  Chiefs  of  the  villages,  on  the  principles 
 already  laid  down. 
 
 “ An  entire  separation  is  to  be  made  between  the  judicial  and  revenue  depart- 
 ments ; and  you  will,  as  early  as  practicable,  and  as  the  existing  system  may  be 
 superseded  by  that  now  directed,  forward  a list  of  such  permanent  establishment  of 
 officers,  writers,  &c.  for  each,  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  efficiency  of  the  pohce 
 and  the  dispatch  of  business. 
 
 “ The  Regents  are,  in  futm’e,  to  be  considered  as  the  chief  native  officers  in 
 their  respective  districts ; but  it  will  be  obvious,  that  by  the  new  arrangement  they 
 must  be  effectually  deprived  of  all  political  or  other  undue  influence : and  as  the 
 tranquillity  of  the  coimtry  is  an  essential  and  necessary  object  in  estabhshing  the 
 new  order,  it  is  presumed  they  may  be  most  advantageously  employed  in  the  depart- 
 ment of  police,  while  it  must  not  be  forgotten,  that  the  watchfid  attention  of  the 
 Resident  must  ever  be  directed  to  their  conduct  in  the  execution  of  this  duty. 
 
 “ On  this  account,  and  as  compensation  for  further  emoluments  foregone  by 
 the  introduction  of  the  new  system,  in  addition  to  the  advantages  derived  from  the 
 appropriation  of  land  already  directed,  the  Regent  of  Passaruwang  is  to  be  allowed 
 a salary  of  3000  rl.  battoo ; and  the  Regents  of  Poegar  and  Banjowangy  in  propor- 
 tion, and  to  the  extent  that  their  services  may  be  useful  or  available  under  the  new 
 arrangements. 
 
 “ The  whole  arrangements  now  directed  are  in  no  way  to  interfere  with  the 
 payment  of  the  contingent,  recognition,  or  other  dues  to  the  government  or  the 
 Regent,  up  to  the  present  period,  from  which  date  the  new  organization  is  to  be 
 considered  as  entered  upon. 
 
 “ This,  however,  being  the  middle  of  the  Javanese  year,  and  as  inconveniences 
 might  result  therefrom,  in  determining  the  amount  of  arrears  to  be  paid  on  the  old 
 system,  it  is  considered  that  the  line  may  be  equitably  drawn,  by  fixing  the  same  at 
 
216 
 
 LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR’S  PROCLAMATION. 
 
 one  lialf-year’s  amount  of  the  whole,  a principle  which  you  will  observe  in  balancing 
 the  accounts  of  the  Regents  with  government,  and  to  be  attended  to  in  determin- 
 ing the  demands  to  be  made  by  them  on  the  people. 
 
 “ That  the  country  may  feel  the  effects  of  the  new  system  immediately,  the 
 free  ex]5ortation  of  rice  and  paddy  to  eveiy  part  of  Java  has  been  authorized.” 
 
 The  principles  thus  laid  down  in  these  instructions  were  further  confirmed  by 
 the  following  proclamation,  dated  Bataria,  15th  October,  1813  : 
 
 “ The  Honourable  the  Lieutenant-Governor  in  Council  has,  after  the  most 
 minute  consideration,  deemed  it  advisable  to  establish  an  improved  system  of  poh- 
 tical  economy  throughout  the  Island,  Arith  the  intention  of  ameliorating  the  condi- 
 tion of  all  its  inhabitants,  by  affording  that  protection  to  individual  industry,  which 
 will  ensure  to  every  class  of  society  the  equitable  and  undisturbed  enjo}Tnent  of 
 the  fi-uits  of  labour ; and  while  it  is  confidently  expected  that  private  happiness 
 and  public  prosperity  will  be  advanced  under  the  change  of  system,  such  alterations 
 and  amendments  will  be  hereafter  adopted  as  experience  may  suggest,  or  the  improv- 
 ing habits  and  manners  of  the  body  of  the  people  may  require. 
 
 The  following  principles  fonn  the  basis  of  the  new  aiTangements,  and  are 
 made  public  for  general  information. 
 
 “ 1.  The  undue  influence  and  authority  of  the  native  Chiefs  have  been  restricted ; 
 but  government  avails  itself  of  their  services  in  the  important  department  of  the 
 native  police,  which  will  be  arranged  upon  fixed  principles,  adapted  to  the  habits 
 and  original  institutions  of  the  people. 
 
 “ A competent  proHsion  in  lands  and  in  money  has  been  allotted  to  such 
 Chiefs ; and  it  therefore  becomes  both  their  duty  and  their  interest  to  encourage 
 industry,  and  to  protect  the  inhabitants. 
 
 “ 2.  Tlie  government-lands  will  be  let  generally  to  the  heads  of  villages,  wiio 
 will  be  held  responsible  for  the  proper  management  of  such  portions  of  the  country 
 as  may  be  placed  under  their  superintendence  and  authority.  They  will  re-let  these 
 lands  to  the  cultivators,  under  certain  restrictions,  at  such  a rate  as  shall  not  be 
 found  oppressive ; and  all  tenants  under  government  w ill  be  protected  in  their  just 
 rights,  so  long  as  they  shall  continue  to  perfonn  their  correspondent  engagements 
 faithfully ; for  it  is  intended  to  promote  extensive  industry,  and  consequent  improve- 
 ment, by  giving  the  people  an  interest  in  the  soil,  and  by  instituting  amongst  them 
 an  acknow  ledged  claim  to  the  possession  of  the  lands,  that  they  may  be  thus  induced 
 to  labour  for  their  own  profit  and  advantage. 
 
 “ 3.  The  system  of  vassalage  and  forced  deliveries  has  been  abolished  gene- 
 rally throughout  the  Island ; but  in  the  Batavian  and  Preangu  regencies  such  a mo- 
 dification of  the  former  arrangements  has  been  cari’ied  into  execution  as  it  w'as 
 found  practicable,  under  existing  circumstances  to  introduce ; and  provisionally  the 
 Blandong  system  will  be  continued  to  a certain  extent  in  the  central  forest  districts. 
 
LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR’S  PROCLAMATION. 
 
 217 
 
 “4.  To  encourage  the  cultivation  of  so  important  an  article  of  export  as  coffee 
 may  become,  when  the  trade  of  Europe  and  America  may  be  thrown  open  to  free 
 competition,  government  have  stipulated  to  receive  any  surplus  quantity  of  that 
 commodity  fi’om  the  cultivators,  at  a reasonable  and  fixed  rate,  when  a higher  price 
 cannot  be  obtained  for  it  in  the  market. 
 
 “5.  To  extend  free  trade  and  commerce,  and  to  promote  a spirit  of  enterprize 
 and  speculation  amongst  the  inhabitants,  the  Bloom  Farms  have  been  abolished,  the 
 duties  upon  the  principal  articles  of  export  have  been  taken  off,  and  it  is  intended  to 
 modify  and  amend  the  custom-house  regulations  before  the  1st  of  January.  The 
 toll-gates  and  transport  duties  of  the  interior  have  been  diminished  as  much  as  pos- 
 sible, and  in  the  gradual  progression  of  improvement  they  will  be  finally  abolished. 
 
 “ 6.  Every  facility  will  be  afforded  towards  obtaining  teak  timber  for  the  con- 
 struction of  small  craft,  and  of  such  additional  tonnage  as,  upon  the  improved  system, 
 wiU  be  imdoubtedly  required. 
 
 “ 7.  Government  have  taken  upon  themselves  the  exclusive  management  of 
 the  salt  department.  It  appears  that  the  inhabitants  in  most  parts  of  the  Island  paid 
 a very  irregular  and  exorbitant  price  for  this  necessary  article  of  consumption ; while 
 the  system  adopted  by  the  farmers  was  radically  vicious,  and  equally  oppressive 
 and  vexatious  to  the  people,  as  it  was  detrimental  to  the  immediate  interests  of 
 government. 
 
 “ Such  an  improved  system  for  the  supply  of  salt  will  be  immediately  adopted 
 as  may  appear  advisable;  and  in  this  and  every  other  arrangement,  the  government 
 propose  the  advancement  of  the  interests  and  the  happiness  of  the  people  at  large, 
 and  the  promotion  of  the  public  prosperity  of  this  colony. 
 
 Given  at  Batarta,  this  loth  day  of  October,  1813.  By  me,  the  Lieutenant- 
 Governor  of  the  Island  of  Java  and  its  dependencies, 
 
 T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 “ By  order  of  the  Honourable  the  Lieutenant-Governor  in  Council, 
 
 “ C.  Asset,  Sec.  to  Government. 
 
 “ Council  Chamber,  Oct.  13,  1813.” 
 
 In  order  to  convey  a still  more  clear  idea  of  the  efficacy  of  these  measures,  a 
 shght  sketch  of  the  peculiar  circumstances  imder  which  many  of  the  provinces 
 were  placed,  may  not  prove  unacceptable. 
 
 At  the  conquest  of  Java,  it  appears  that  the  extensive  tracts  of  the  beautiful 
 and  fertile  country  of  Bantam,  at  the  north-western  end  of  Java,  were  in  the  hands 
 of  a rebellious  subject;  revolt,  universal  anarchy,  and  distraction  had  for  many 
 years  deflowered  its  fertile  plains,  and  bhghted  its  fairest  hopes ; all  idea  of  raising 
 a revenue  on  the  part  of  government  had  been  abandoned,  and  the  utmost  that 
 could  be  looked  for  was  a tranquil  settlement  of  the  country  under  European  au- 
 
 F f 
 
•218 
 
 DISTURBED  STATE  OF  THE  COUNTRY. 
 
 thority.  A land-rental  was  introduced,  and  a revenue  settlement  was  effected  for 
 one  year.  The  result  was,  that  in  one  year  the  territorial  revenue  amounted  to 
 100,000  rupees  (£12,500  at  par),  while  an  increasing  confidence  and  tranquilhty 
 on  the  part  of  the  people  held  out  the  prospect  that,  at  no  far  distant  period,  this 
 country,  once  the  richest  in  Java,  would  again  afford  a revenue  proportionate  to 
 its  extent  and  population.” 
 
 The  district  of  Cheribon  was  also  found  in  a state  of  tumult  and  confusion. 
 The  lands  had  been  for  the  greater  part  faiTned  out  to  Chinese.  In  proportion  as 
 the  Chief  raised  the  fann  or  rent,  their  extortions  increased,  and  the  share  due  to 
 the  common  people  became  less,  or  they  were  deprived  of  the  whole. 
 
 Tranquillity  was  not  restored  to  this  district  until  the  new  system  was  intro- 
 duced; the  effect  of  which  will  be  at  once  seen  by  referring  to  the  abstract  statement 
 which  follows  of  the  land-rental  and  revenue,  and  where  is  also  shewn  the  improved 
 state  of  other  districts,  as  compared  \rith  their  impoverished  and  devastated  state 
 under  the  Dutch  government. 
 
 European  power  in  Java,  previously  to  the  occupation  of  the  Island  by  the  En- 
 glish, appears  to  have  been  exercised  only  to  invade  and  to  destroy  the  property  of 
 the  natives. 
 
 "NMioever  has  riewed  the  fertile  plains  of  Java,”  says  Mr.  Raffles,  in  a minute 
 on  the  introduction  of  the  new  system  of  government,  “ or  beheld  with  astonishment 
 the  sm-prising  efforts  of  human  industry,  which  have  canied  cultivation  to  the  sum- 
 mit of  the  most  stupendous  momitains,  will  be  inclined  to  consider  that  nothing  short 
 of  a permanent  interest  in  the  soil  could  have  effected  such  a change  in  the  face  of 
 the  country ; and  it  ought  not  to  be  forgotten,  that  anterior  to  the  establishment  of 
 the  Mahomedan  religion  in  Java,  the  cultivators  of  the  soil  were  considered  to  rank 
 as  the  first  class  in  the  state;  for,  according  to  the  institutions  of  Majopahit,  it  w^as 
 ordained,  ‘ that,  next  to  the  Sovereign,  shall  be  considered  and  respected  the  culti- 
 vators of  the  soil ; they  shall  be  the  first  class  in  the  state  below  the  Sovereign ; next 
 to  them  shall  follow  the  other  classes ; first,  the  artists ; secondly,  the  warriors ; and, 
 thirdly,  the  merchants.’ 
 
 “ Who  will  not  pause  for  a moment,  to  contemplate  the  peaceful,  the  beneficent 
 influence  of  such  institutions.  The  cultivators  of  the  soil  shall  be  the  first  class !” 
 
 How  do  we  find  these  wise  institutions  of  iMajopahit  supported  and  protected  ? — 
 forced  servitude — taxes  so  numerous  as  to  become  difficult  of  enumeration.  Not 
 one  article  of  produce,  manufactiu'e,  or  consumption,  which  passed  through  the 
 comitry,  but  what  some  tax  was  leried  upon  it,  and  that  too  by  corrupt  and  ex- 
 tortionate agents. 
 
 In  every  district  a different  mode  of  taxation  existed — and,  in  general,  these 
 taxes  w^ere  fanned  out  to  Chinese.  As  a proof  how  far  these  vexations  were  carried, 
 in  many  instances,  on  goods  passing  from  one  toll  towards  another,  when  the  gi'ant- 
 
DEBASING  EFFECTS  OF  THE  DUTCH  SYSTEM  OF  GOVERNMENT. 
 
 219 
 
 ing  of  something  like  a certificate  of  the  last  duty  paid  became  necessary  for  the 
 interests  of  the  farmer,  the  chop  or  stamp  was  not  marked  on  the  goods  to  be 
 transported,  but  on  the  body  of  the  man  who  conveyed  them,  and  who,  on  exhibit- 
 ing the  stamp  at  the  next  toll,  had  it  effaced,  and  a new  impression  made,  to  pass 
 him  onward  in  his  miserable  journey. 
 
 ^^^hen  such  expedients,  where  human  ingenuity  must  have  been  almost  tortured 
 in  the  invention,  were  resorted  to,  was  it  astonishing  that  the  Javanese  should  hold 
 the  Chinese  in  utter  abhorrence  ? and  yet,  these  were  the  only  class  of  people 
 entnisted  by  the  government  with  the  collection  of  their  revenues. 
 
 The  banefid  influence  of  this  system  was  but  too  clearly  developed  in  the 
 debasement  of  the  popular  mind,  and  in  that  hstless  and  apathetic  feeling  which 
 appeared  to  characterize  the  Javanese  nation.  Whilst  the  rich  and  powerful  were 
 living  in  pampered  luxury,  the  poor  provincials  laboured  under  all  the  horrors  of 
 penury  and  want : but  blessed  with  a fruitful  soil  and  an  humble  submissive  mind, 
 they  were  enabled  to  bear  up  under  all  these  accumulated  deprivations  and  mis- 
 fortunes. 
 
 The  administration  of  justice  in  the  courts  of  circuit  partook  ahke  of  this  dread- 
 ful intolerance.  The  jury  required  did  not  exceed  five  in  number,  and  these  were 
 chosen  from  a class  of  men  who  could  have  no  common  feehngs — no  common 
 rights ; who,  being  Eirropeans,  were  in  no  way  whatever  the  equals  of  the  person 
 tried. 
 
 The  law  was  the  law  of  Europe.  The  jury,  under  their  best  prejudices,  were 
 influenced  by  that  law ; and  its  meanings  and  penalties  were  apphed  to  a people  who 
 reasoned  in  a manner  so  entirely  different,  and  who  often,  for  the  first  time,  became 
 acquainted  with  those  laws  when  denounced  as  their  victims. 
 
 How  different  were  the  principles  adopted  by  Mr.  Raffles,  and  so  ably  seconded 
 by  many  of  the  local  authorities,  among  whom,  none  appeared  to  hold  a higher 
 place  in  his  esteem  than  Mr.  Hopkins,  whose  sentiments  upon  this  subject  deseiwe 
 to  be  recorded  in  his  own  words : — “ If  law,”  says  this  gentleman,  “ be  a rule  for 
 the  conduct  of  mankind,  derived  from  the  authority  which  the  particular  nation  to 
 which  it  is  apphed  considers  as  sacred,  the  people  of  Java  are  yet  without  a code  of 
 national  laws,  and  labour  under  the  dangers  of  foreign  legislation  and  irreconcileable 
 prejudices.  Yet  the  Javanese  have  a law,  which,  though  not  equal  in  its  pm'ity  to 
 the  code  of  the  Dutch,  is  yet  better  adapted  to  their  habits,  and  is  that  which  the 
 general  system  of  British  pohcy  would  extend  to  them. 
 
 “ I confess  my  inabihty,”  continues  Mr.  Hopkins,  “ to  reconcile  with  the  com- 
 mon principles  of  British  justice  the  subjection  of  the  inhabitants  of  Java  to  the  laws 
 of  Europe,  in  what  regards  any  other  description  of  crime  than  murder,  against 
 which  the  hand  of  Providence  has  written  the  sentence  of  death,  in  the  language  of 
 all  nations,  and  confirmed  the  judgment  in  the  feelings  of  all  mankind.” 
 
 F f 2 
 
220 
 
 EFFECTS  OF  THE  ENGLISFI  SYSTEM  OF  GOVERNMENT. 
 
 The  Koran,  with  the  commentaries  upon  it,  forms  the  general  law  of  Java, 
 and  every  sentence  against  a prisoner,  not  to  offend  the  prejudices  of  the  faith, 
 should  be  supported  by  some  texts  of  that  sacred  book,  or  some  gloss  of  the  orthodox 
 commentator.  A procedure  instituted  conformably  to  this  rule,  would  be  compre- 
 hended by  the  understanding,  and  approved  by  the  judgment  of  the  people. 
 
 It  has  been  the  principal  featime  in  the  British  policy,  it  has  been  the  brightest 
 decoration  of  the  British  government  in  India,  to  secure  to  the  inhabitants,  whether 
 Hindus  or  Mahomedans,  the  possession  of  their  own  laws,  and  a trial  conformable 
 to  the  practice  of  their  own  courts.  The  experiment  has  been  successful  beyond 
 measure : the  example  invites  imitation.  There  is  nothing  which  can  be  alleged 
 against  it ; while  every  thing  in  practice,  analogy,  and  humanity,  urges  to  its  imme- 
 diate adoption.” 
 
 So  entirely  did  Mr.  Raffles  concur  in  this  view,  that  in  order  to  provide  for  the 
 prompt  and  due  administration  of  justice  amongst  the  natives,  in  a manner  the  most 
 consistent  with  their  notions  of  right  and  wrong,  one  member  of  each  of  the  courts 
 of  justice  was  appointed  a judge  of  circuit,  to  be  present  in  each  of  the  Residen- 
 cies, at  least  once  in  every  three  months,  and  as  much  oftener  as  found  necessary. 
 The  formalities  of  the  Roman  law  were  avoided.  A native  jury,  consisting  of  an  in- 
 telligent foreman  and  four  others,  decided  upon  the  facts  ; the  law  was  then  taken 
 down  as  expour.ded  by  the  native  law-offlcers,  and  the  sentence,  with  the  opinion  of 
 the  judge  of  circuit,  upon  the  application  of  the  Dutch  and  colonial  law  on  the  cases, 
 was  forwarded  for  the  modification  or  confirmation  of  the  Lieutenant-Governor. 
 
 Enough  has  been  said,  it  is  hoped,  to  convey  some  idea  of  the  extent  of  that 
 change,  which  the  enlarged  policy  of  its  Governor  introduced  into  the  Island  of  Java ; 
 and  this  portion  of  his  life  may  be  closed  with  a few  observations  of  his  own  upon  the 
 effects  which  the  change  had  produced,  and  was  in  the  act  of  producing. 
 
 “ If  I look  forward,”  observes  Mr.  Raffles,  “to  the  effects  of  the  change  of 
 system  as  it  may  contribute  to  the  happiness  of  the  people,  the  improvement  of  the 
 country,  and  the  consequent  increase  of  the  public  revenue,  the  result  is  incalculable. 
 Let  the  present  wretched  state  of  the  Dutch  metropolis  of  the^  East  be  contrasted 
 with  the  flourishing  state  of  the  British  establishments,  wherever  they  have  been 
 formed,  and  it  will  speak  a volume  in  favour  of  the  change.  Desolation  and  niin 
 would  seem  to  have  tracked  the  steps  of  the  Dutch  power  wherever  it  has  extended  ; 
 indi\idual  prosperity  and  national  riches  have  accumulated  under  the  English.  The 
 principles  of  government  are  radically  different,  and  with  such  experience  before  us, 
 can  it  be  a question  on  which  side  w'e  shall  rely  ? 
 
 “ The  mass  of  the  population,  snatched  as  they  are,  at  a favourable  moment, 
 from  the  destructive  grasp  of  Mahomedan  despotism  and  indefinite  exaction,  and 
 established  in  the  possession  of  property,  to  be  secured  by  impartial  justice,  adminis- 
 tered to  them  in  a simple  and  prompt  mode,  adapted  to  their  peculiar  sentiments 
 
REASONS  FOR  CHANGING  THE  TENURE  OF  LAND. 
 
 221 
 
 and  institutions,  afford  a wide  scope  to  the  philosopher  as  well  as  the  statesman.  A 
 new  people,  still  advancing  in  civilization  even  under  the  former  restraints,  with  what 
 accelerated  progress  will  they  not  proceed,  when  their  natural  energies  have  fair 
 play  ? It  was  but  a few  months  ago,  when  the  lower  class  of  Javanese  were  appa- 
 rently lost  to  every  idea  of  their  own  advantage,  governed  by  apathy,  and  almost  in- 
 sensible to  the  value  of  property  ; so  strongly  prejudiced  in  favour  of  their  Chiefs,  so 
 simple  and  so  unenlightened,  that  the  least  breath  of  disaffection  could  blow  up  the 
 flames  of  rebellion.  Mere  machines  in  the  hands  of  designing  artifice,  they  could  be 
 rendered  subservient  to  promote  the  views  of  ambition,  or  the  frenzy  of  religious 
 fanaticism.  They  looked  not  up  to  the  superior  power,  but  to  the  intermediate 
 authority  : they  knew  little  of  the  European  character,  and  Europeans  were  still  less 
 acquainted  with  their  habits  and  customs.  The  former  government  had  seldom  con- 
 sulted the  advancement  of  their  interests,  and  the  result  was  what  might  have  been 
 anticipated. 
 
 “ On  the  part  of  the  Javanese  I am  justified  in  asserting,  that  they  feel  the 
 present  interference  in  favour  of  the  cultivators  of  the  soil,  as  a revival  of  that  due 
 consideration  of  the  interests  of  this  important  class  of  the  community,  which  has  not 
 existed  since  the  days  of  Majopahit ; and  I have  the  satisfaction  to  believe,  that  nothing 
 will  be  found  to  have  been  done,  or  to  be  in  progress,  but  what  will  be  useful,  and  a 
 necessary  preliminary  to  any  more  permanent  or  approved  system  which  may  be 
 ordered,  and  which  may  have  for  its  object  justice  for  individuals,  the  improvement  of 
 mankind,  and  the  prosperity  of  the  government,  founded  on  the  mutual  advantages  of 
 the  people.” 
 
 The  reasons  for  introducing  the  change  in  the  tenure  of  the  land  are  given 
 by  Mr.  Raffles  to  Lord  Minto,  in  a letter  dated  January,  1814. 
 
 “ These  measures  took  their  first  rise  when  the  province  of  Bantam  fell  under 
 our  administration.  It  then  became  essential  that  the  principles  for  its  future 
 government  should  be  defined  without  the  least  practicable  delay.  Fully  aware  of 
 the  great  importance  of  those  measures,  I determined  to  postpone  their  adoption 
 until  the  sentiments  of  the  Supreme  Government  could  be  received.  A reference 
 was  accordingly  made  as  far  back  as  1st  May,  1812.  But  to  this  no  reply  was 
 received,  and  a much  longer  period  having  elapsed  than  was  requisite  for  its  trans- 
 mission, it  was  concluded,  from  the  silence  of  the  Supreme  Government,  that  no 
 objections  existed  to  the  arrangements  proposed.  Acting  on  this  inference,  and  the 
 increased  necessity  of  adopting  some  measures,  a system  of  land-rental  was  ordered 
 to  be  introduced  into  that  province  according  to  the  plan  first  suggested.  This  also 
 was  communicated  to  Bengal,  and  I have  since  received  the  sentiments  of  the 
 Supreme  Government  on  it,  expressed  in  the  strongest  terms  favourable  to  the 
 change. 
 
 “ The  arrest  of  Bugis  Rengin,  and  the  restoration  of  tranquillity  in  the  pro- 
 
NECESSITY  OF  ABOLISHING  FEUDAL  SERVICE. 
 
 ’2’2’2 
 
 vince  of  Cheribon,  placed  the  resources  of  that  extensive  and  valuable  country'  once 
 more  in  the  hands  of  the  European  power.  The  disturbances  which  had  so  long 
 distracted  it  were  traced  to  the  pnnciples  on  which  its  administration  under  the 
 fonner  government  had  been  fixed,  and  it  became  indispensable  to  establish  a better 
 order  of  things ; an  object  that  was  only  to  be  effected  by  the  abolition  of  all  those 
 oppressive  regidations  which  had  existed  under  the  Dutch  government.  Nor  would 
 the  exigency  of  the  circumstances  admit  of  the  slightest  delay : to  have  postponed 
 such  a measure  woidd  have  been  perhaps  to  have  thrown  the  country  back  into  that 
 anarchy  from  which  it  was  just  recovering. 
 
 “ The  rich  and  populous  districts  of  the  Cadoe,  with  the  other  possessions 
 transferred  by  the  late  treaty,  were  to  be  taken  possession  of  by  the  European 
 power ; this  act  could  not  but  be  accompanied  with  the  establishment  of  some  system 
 of  management,  and  it  could  not  be  a question  whether  that  should  be  introduced 
 w'hich  in  every  \iew  stood  universally  condemned,  or  one  w^hich  was  more  congenial 
 to  the  principles  of  the  British  administration  in  India. 
 
 “ I am  happy  to  add,  that  w^hat  was  done  in  this  respect  met  with  the  entire 
 approbation  of  the  Supreme  Government. 
 
 “ An  unfortunate  occurrence  in  Probolingo  led  to  the  resumption,  on  the  part 
 of  government,  of  the  valuable  lands  sold  to  the  Chinese  in  the  eastern  districts 
 by  Marshal  Daendels,  and  the  state  of  these  districts  rendered  it  indispensable  that 
 w'hatever  measures  w'ere  adopted  should  be  without  the  slightest  delay.  With  the 
 experience  before  us  of  w^hat  had  so  recently  taken  place,  and  impressed  with  a 
 conriction  that  while  feudal  service  existed  the  tranquillity  of  the  country  might 
 alw^ays  be  endangered,  there  was  evidently  but  one  line  of  proceeding  to  be  adopted 
 in  these  districts. 
 
 “ Thus,  in  the  natural  course  of  events,  as  a necessary  consequence  from  them, 
 the  introduction  of  the  new  system  of  management  had  become  indispensable  in 
 several  parts  of  the  Island,  and  the  inquiries  which  had  been  long  on  foot  in  the 
 others,  and  in  wiiich  the  Regents  had  been  employed,  had  prepared  them  for  the 
 reception  of  a similar  change. 
 
 “ It  had  happened  that  in  the  arrangements  for  Bantam  and  Cheribon,  the 
 Sultans  had  resigned  all  authority  and  interference,  and  in  the  prorinces  transfen'ed 
 by  the  native  Chiefs  and  Chinese  there  were  no  Regents  to  be  provided  for.  These 
 officers,  therefore,  in  other  districts,  ignorant  of  what  provision  might  be  made  for 
 them,  and  inferring  that  a similar  mode  to  what  had  already  been  followed  wmuld  be 
 adopted  eveiy  w^here,  without  regard  to  local  circumstances,  might  naturally  have 
 been  alanned,  in  contemplating  the  progress  of  the  change,  lest  they  should  not  be 
 personally  considered,  and  this  alarm  may  have  been  heightened  by  the  knowiedge 
 of  the  unreserved  opinion  of  the  reformists  under  the  former  government,  that  they 
 should  be  expressly  excluded.  In  point  of  fact,  I have  reason  to  know  that  such  an 
 2 
 
INTRODUCTION  OF  THE  LAND-RENTAL. 
 
 22li 
 
 alarm  did  exist,  and  it  was  not  until  I was  confidentially  informed  by  the  Resident, 
 Mr.  Hope,  that  delay  would  occasion  danger,  that  I directed  any  decided  measures 
 in  the  Eastern  districts. 
 
 These  circumstances,  added  to  those  detailed  in  my  minute  of  the  11th,  on 
 the  introduction  of  the  land-rental,  and  the  happy  result  of  the  measures  in  the 
 peace  and  prosperity  of  the  country,  and  the  unqualified  satisfaction  of  every  class 
 of  its  inhabitants,  will,  I trust,  remove  from  your  Lordship’s  mind  any  unfavourable 
 impressions  regarding  any  apparent  haste  on  the  part  of  the  government,  and  tend 
 to  prove  that  the  change  which  was  effected  was  one  of  those  great  political  mea- 
 sures only  to  be  attended  with  success  if  adopted  at  the  moment,  and  that  the 
 e.xigency  which  dictated  it  was  sufficient  to  justify  the  responsibihty  taken  by  the 
 local  authorities. 
 
 It  was  never  in  contemplation  to  diminish  the  emoluments  of  the  Regents, 
 or  to  deprive  them  of  their  rank ; in  the  settlement  which  has  been  effected,  the 
 whole  of  them  have  been  hberally  provided  for.  The  only  real  difference,  indeed, 
 between  the  former  and  present  system  in  this  regard  has  been,  that  in  lieu  of  their 
 precarious,  confined,  and  frequently  taxed  emoluments  under  the  Dutch  administra- 
 tion, has  been  substituted  a certain,  clear,  and  equitable  allowance,  which  I can 
 confidently  assert  has  proved  agreeable  to  every  one  of  them.  The  principle  which 
 I adopted  in  settling  the  amount  to  be  paid  to  each,  was  as  follows  : I visited  each 
 district  in  person,  explained  myself  to  the  Regent  the  nature  and  object  of  the 
 system  to  be  introduced,  and  desired  him  to  state  the  amount  of  his  then  emolu- 
 ments in  every  shape.  I then  fixed  what  he  should  in  future  receive,  always  at  a 
 sum  exceeding  what  he  stated,  and  proportioned  the  payment  in  money  or  lands, 
 at  his  option.  By  this  arrangement  the  emoluments  of  no  one  could  be  diminished, 
 and  as  they  were  still  to  be  employed  as  the  chief  native  officers  in  each  district, 
 their  rank  and  authority  are  fully  upheld. 
 
 In  such  districts  where  it  has  not  been  thought  necessary  to  separate  the 
 collection  of  the  revenues  from  the  general  administration,  the  Regents  are  employed 
 under  the  Resident,  not  only  in  the  collection  of  the  revenues,  but  are  also  placed 
 at  the  head  of  the  judicial  and  police  departments.  Where  this  separation  has  been 
 made,  there  are  both  a Collector  and  Resident  in  the  same  district.” 
 
 This  amended  system  was  not  one  hastily  digested  and  introduced,  but  was 
 originally  arranged  with  Lord  Minto  previously  to  his  quitting  Java;  it  was  deh- 
 berately  considered  for  two  years  before  it  was  introduced,  and  its  practicability  and 
 justice  formed  a principal  point  of  enquiry  in  a commission,  at  the  head  of  which 
 was  Lieutenant-Colonel  Mackenzie ; and  so  far  from  having  subverted  the  just 
 rights  and  authority  of  individuals,  or  ahenated  the  minds  of  any  class  of  the  people 
 from  the  British  government,  it  placed  the  rights  of  all  classes  on  a foundation  which 
 they  never  before  possessed;  and  the  tranquillity  of  the  country,  the  increase  ol 
 
LETTER  TO  LORD  .MINTO. 
 
 '2'2i 
 
 industry,  improvement  of  revenue,  and  known  attachment  of  the  Javanese  to  the 
 system,  proved  that  it  was  equally  beneficial  to  the  interests  of  government,  and 
 conclusively  tenchng  to  the  industry  and  happiness  of  the  extensive  population  of 
 the  Island. 
 
 Extract  of  a Letter  from  Mr.  Raffles  to  Lord  Mhito. 
 
 “ Buitenzorg,  Febrmry  \^th,  1814. 
 
 * ^ 
 
 “ Y om-  Lordship  is  aware  of  the  entire  change  of  management  which  was  con- 
 templated by  me  some  time  pre^^ous  to  your  quitting  India  ; and  although  no  official 
 notice  has  yet  been  taken  of  my  minute  on  the  subject  transmitted  to  the  Supreme 
 Government  in  July  last,  I have  been  able  to  collect  a general  opinion  on  the  nature 
 of  the  settlement  you  would  most  approve,  from  the  obser\'ations  contained  in  your 
 confidential  letter  of  the  22d  November,  in  which  you  enter  fully  on  the  question  of 
 the  sale  of  lands,  and  the  decided  objection  to  perpetual  settlement. 
 
 “ I had  already  completed  my  airangements  for  the  land-rental  when  that  letter 
 arrived  ; but  before  I had  put  the  finishing  stroke  to  the  judicial  regulations,  and  the 
 general  instructions  to  the  Collectors,  the  Fifth  Report  of  the  House  of  Commons 
 fell  into  my  hands : and  you  ^^^ll  be  happy  to  hear  that  on  comparing  what  I had 
 done  and  what  I had  in  contemplation,  mth  what  seemed  most  approved  by  the 
 authorities  in  England,  I found  that  I had  exactly  hit  on  a settlement  which,  wlfile  it 
 was  peculiarly  applicable  to  Java,  was  considered  the  most  advantageous  one  for 
 India  generally.  The  principles  of  the  rijotxoar  settlement  had  suggested  themselves, 
 ^vithout  my  knoAvdng  that  they  had  been  adopted  elsewhere  ; and  although  I may 
 not  easily  gain  credit  for  the  original  design,  the  promoters  and  supporters  of  that  set- 
 tlement will,  no  doubt,  find  a strong  argument  in  its  favour,  from  the  circumstance  of 
 its  having  been  so  early  and  so  easily  adopted  in  a foreign  and  distant  colony. 
 
 The  principles  of  the  settlement  which  I have  effected,  as  well  as  their  apphca- 
 tion,  are  so  fully  stated  in  a minute  which  I have  recorded  on  the  subject,  that  I 
 cannot  do  better  than  forward  it  to  you.  In  that  minute  I have  first  attempted  to 
 prove  the  necessity  and  policy  of  the  measure,  which  being  established,  an  abstract 
 statement  of  the  settlement  which  has  been  effected  is  considered  ; and  I have  con- 
 cluded by  observing  on  the  tenures  of  land  and  the  principles  of  the  detailed  system 
 of  management  which  is  in  progress.  May  I request  your  Lordship’s  opinion  on  what 
 has  been  done,  and  your  suggestions  on  what  ought  to  be  attended  to  in  future. 
 Whether  Java  remains  under  my  control  or  not,  yom*  sentiments  on  the  subject  will 
 be  most  interesting  to  me.  You  \\ill  observe  that  I have  throughout  considered  my- 
 self as  the  agent  acting  under  your  Lordship’s  instructions  ; and  I can  assure  you  that 
 my  ambition  ^^^ll  be  gi'atified  by  an  assurance  that  I have  not  failed  in  acting  up  to 
 your  original  design. 
 
■ .-C‘ 
 
 I • ^ ■'l''0'‘  ' * '■  ■ ’ ' ! ■'  : ’ , 
 
 *•' '■%■■ 
 
 1 ■■  .'‘  'V'.tifc" i- Vi  MA  ' 7 .’i<5,-^' 
 
 • Mia.  - «r  - 
 
 A.-  vV  / • • - • . ; - — ■ 
 
 •»</>/,  ' Mki  ;'•■'■  ’ 'Ai,f 
 
 *•  . * i , ' . •«  1 • * ‘ 
 
 ; I ■^  »l  . 
 
LETTER  TO  LORD  MINTO. 
 
 225 
 
 “ I have  said  so  much  on  the  effects  of  the  change,  and  they  are  so  obvious  on 
 general  principles,  that  I should  but  intrude  on  your  time  by  enlarging  upon  them 
 here.  I cannot  but  look  upon  the  accomplishment  of  this  undertaking  as  the  most 
 conspicuous  and  important  under  my  administration  ; and  in  its  success  or  otherwise 
 I am  willing  to  stand  or  fall.  I need  not  tell  your  Lordship,  that  while  it  was  in 
 agitation  I had  many  an  uneasy  hour,  and  I suffered  no  small  share  of  mental 
 anxiety  and  bodily  fatigue  while  it  was  in  progi'ess  : but  now  that  it  has  been  happily 
 accomplished  I am  amply  repaid  for  all.  It  was  my  lot  personally  to  superintend  the 
 settlement  in  every  district ; the  necessity  of  that  personal  superintendence  obliged 
 me  to  leave  Batavia  at  three  several  times,  and  during  the  last  to  be  absent  for  three 
 months  fi-oni  the  capital ; but  my  immediate  presence  in  the  different  parts  of  the 
 Island  could  alone  have  concluded  the  settlement  in  so  short  a period,  and  it  has  had 
 the  advantage  of  rendering  me  intimately  acquainted  with  every  thing.  I have  been 
 able  to  judge  for  myself  throughout,  and  although  I have  not  failed  to  avail  myself  of 
 all  the  talent  and  experience  I could  find,  I may  safely  say  that  I have  in  no  case 
 decided  without  a conviction  brought  home  to  my  own  mind  that  I was  right. 
 
 The  arrangements  for  the  interior  of  the  country  being  completed,  my  next 
 object  wll  be  to  simplify  and  modify  the  unwieldy  establishments  of  the  towns,  par- 
 ticularly those  in  Batavia. 
 
 “ I have  gone  on  as  long  as  it  was  possible  from  day  to  day  in  the  expectation 
 of  a change  of  government,  but  I shall  not  feel  myself  satisfied  in  longer  delaying 
 those  radical  reforms,  so  essential  for  the  health  and  character  of  our  government. 
 Much  odium  has  already  attached  from  the  continuance  of  the  Dutch  institutions  so 
 long,  and  I owe  it  to  my  own  character,  and  to  your  Lordship,  to  render  my  admi- 
 nistration ‘ not  only  without  fear,  but  without  reproach.’ 
 
 “ Next  to  the  internal  administration  of  the  colony,  I have  to  request  your  at- 
 tention to  the  interests  of  the  Eastern  Islands  generally ; the  kind  caution  which  you 
 sent  me  regarding  our  pohcy,'  induced  me  to  think  very  seriously  on  all  I had  done, 
 and  to  weigh  well  the  principles  which  I had  laid  down  for  my  guidance.  I became 
 the  more  confirmed  in  the  first  view  which  I took  on  the  subject. 
 
 “ On  the  reception  of  the  principles  which  I have  in  some  cases  adopted,  and 
 in  others  recommended,  on  the  two  great  points  of  our  home  and  foreign  administra- 
 tion, must  depend  the  character  of  my  government;  to  you,  my  Lord,  I submit 
 them,  in  full  confidence  that  they  will  be  riewed  with  an  indulgent  eye. 
 
 “ These  great  questions  being  submitted  to  your  Lordship’s  judgment,  I feel 
 myself  relieved  from  all  the  anxiety  which  attached  previous  to  my  putting  them  to 
 paper.  I consider  them  as  now  fairly  before  an  impartial  judge.  I shall,  unless 
 otherwise  directed  by  a superior  authority,  continue  to  be  guided  by  the  principles 
 which  I have  laid  down,  and  which  have  appeared  to  me,  after  the  most  deliberate 
 consideration,  to  be  just  and  right. 
 
 G g 
 
226 
 
 LETTER  TO  LORD  MINTO. 
 
 I must  now  proceed  to  a point  which  I ought  first  to  have  adverted  to.  I 
 allude  to  the  firm  support  which  I have  invariably  received  from  Major-General 
 Nightingall.  He  is  open  and  candid  in  his  sentiments;  regular  and  economical  in 
 all  his  public  plans,  particularly  the  mihtary.  I have  reason  to  believe  that  he  is 
 now  planning  a general  revision  and  reduction  of  the  military  establishment ; he  sees 
 the  necessity  of  it,  and  I am  led  to  hope  that  the  period  is  not  far  distant  when  all 
 our  financial  difficulties  will  be  removed. 
 
 “ The  expenses  in  the  military  department  do  not  fall  short  of  three  lacs  of 
 rupees  in  each  month.  This  must  be  paid  in  silver,  and  silver  is  not  to  be  obtained 
 on  any  terms,  except  by  bills  on  Bengal,  and  these  with  difficulty. 
 
 “ The  great  changes  in  Europe  promise  to  create  a demand  for  our  colonial 
 produce,  particularly  the  coffee ; but  it  will  be  some  time  before  that  belonging  to 
 the  government,  or  the  produce  under  British  administration,  will  come  into  play. 
 The  larger  quantity  belonging  to  the  capital  must  first  he  shipped  off.  The  prize 
 agents  have  at  last  sold  the  whole,  but  it  wiU  be  a long  time  before  tonnage  can  be 
 obtained  to  carry  it  off : the  coffee  alone  exceeds  150,000  piculs  measures  in  pounds 
 still  in  store.  Silver  is  as  scarce  as  ever,  if  not  decreasing  in  quantity:  the  colonists 
 are  crying  loudly  for  paper,  but  as  they  would  no  sooner  possess  it  than  run  it  down 
 to  a discount,  it  cannot  be  issued;  it  will,  therefore,  be  some  time  before  Java  is  able 
 to  support  an  extensive /orcigw  military  establishment. 
 
 “ I am  happy  to  inform  your  Lordship  that  Banca  thrives  well  under  the 
 administration  of  Captain  A’Court.  A report  upon  the  Island  by  Dr.  Horsfield  will 
 be  sent  to  the  Court  of  Directors  by  this  opportunity,  accompanied  by  specimens  of 
 the  mineralogy  of  the  Island. 
 
 “ The  intercourse  with  Japan  has  been  opened,  and  we  have  received  a very 
 advantageous  retiwn  in  copper  and  camphor.  I look  forward  to  the  possibility  of 
 estabhshing  a permanent  British  interest  in  that  quarter;  but  I will  reserve  this 
 subject  for  another  letter. 
 
 “ I am,  &c.  &c. 
 
 “ T.  S.  R.” 
 
 Extract  of  a private  Letter  from  Mr.  Raffles  to  the  late  Sir  Hugh  LigUs. 
 
 “ Feb.  13,  1814. 
 
 ***** 
 
 “ Whatever  may  be  the  eventual  fate  of  Java,  whether  it  is  decided  that  the 
 colony  be  attached  to  the  Company’s  possessions,  or  even  given  up  at  a peace  to  a 
 foreign  power  (which  God  forbid),  the  inhabitants  of  Java  will  have  the  happiness 
 to  bless  the  day  which  placed  them  under  such  a system  of  government. 
 
 “ I trust  that  the  subject  will  receive  an  indulgent  consideration;  and  that  I 
 may  he  honoured  with  the  Court’s  instructions  for  my  future  guidance. 
 
LETTER  TO  SIR  HUGH  INGLIS. 
 
 227 
 
 In  every  reference  which  has  latterly  been  made  to  the  Supreme  Government, 
 a hesitation  in  forming  an  opinion  for  the  guidance  of  this  government  has  been 
 evinced,  arising  from  the  uncertain  and  provisional  tenure  of  the  government  as  it 
 now  stands ; and  it  is  possible  that  the  same  hesitation  may  still  exist  with  regard  to 
 the  two  great  questions  now  submitted,  and  it  is  on  this  account  particularly  that  I 
 am  induced  to  seek  early  instructions  from  Europe. 
 
 “ I have  been  forced  to  act,  in  every  measure  of  importance,  on  my  own 
 responsibility,  not  from  the  superior  authorities  being  ignorant  of  the  real  interests 
 of  the  colony,  but  from  a hesitation  on  their  part  to  involve  themselves  with  the 
 government  which  might  be  finally  fixed. 
 
 “ I have  invariably  invited  and  courted  the  commands  of  the  superior  authori- 
 ties on  questions  which  I considered  of  moment ; and  necessity  alone,  and  the  con- 
 viction that  the  favourable  moment  for  action  might  otherwise  be  lost,  has  induced 
 me  to  act  expressly  from  my  own  judgment.  Those  only  who  have  been  in  similar 
 cases,  can  feel  the  weight  of  responsibility  which  attaches.” 
 
 Referring  to  the  suppression  of  piracy,  Mr.  Raffles  writes  thus  to  W.  Petrie, 
 Esq.  Governor  of  Prince  of  Wales’  Island: — 
 
 “ The  principles  of  my  suggestions  for  the  suppression  of  piracy  throughout 
 the  Archipelago  have  been,  that  nothing  can  tend  so  effectually  to  the  suppression 
 of  piracy,  to  the  encouragement  and  extension  of  lawful  commerce,  and  to  the 
 civilization  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Eastern  Islands,  as  affording  a steady  support 
 to  the  estabhshed  native  Sovereigns ; and  assisting  them  in  the  maintenance  of  their 
 just  rights,  and  authority  over  their  several  Chiefs,  and  along  the  shores  dependant 
 upon  their  dominion. 
 
 “ It  appears  to  me  that  the  adoption  of  this  principle,  and  the  estabhshment  of 
 British  agents  accordingly  at  the  leading  ports,  would  gradually  change  the  bar- 
 barous and  uncivilized  life  of  the  people  who  inhabit  the  shores  of  these  Islands ; 
 and,  united  with  the  beneficial  effects  of  the  abohtion  of  the  slave-trade,  would,  by 
 its  effect  of  lessening  the  means  of  plunder,  and  securing  the  exertion  of  legal 
 superior  authority,  gradually  tend  to  agricultural  improvement,  and  to  the  pros- 
 perity and  interior  trade  that  naturally  must  follow.” 
 
 * * 
 
 “ Yoms,  &c.  &c. 
 
 « T.  S.  R.” 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  was  anxious  to  diffuse  the  blessings  of  freedom  throughout  the 
 whole  of  the  varied  populations  under  his  charge ; and,  as  the  British  Parhament  had 
 at  this  time  passed  an  act,  which  declared  the  slave-trade  to  be  felony,  he  esta- 
 
 G g 2 
 
228 
 
 TRANSFER  OF  JAVA  TO  THE  DUTCH. 
 
 blished  it  as  a colonial  law : and  it  continues  in  force  to  this  day,  since  it  cannot 
 be  repealed  without  express  authority  fi'om  the  mother-country. 
 
 The  leading  inhabitants  possessing  slaves,  concurred  with  him  in  his  efforts  to 
 abolish  this  dreadful  e\il  throughout  the  Dutch  possessions,  the  whole  of  the  slaves 
 in  the  Island  were  registered,  according  to  the  forms  of  the  West  India  Islands, — 
 with  the  ^^ew  of  giving  them  their  liberty.  The  Bengal  authorities,  however,  refused 
 their  sanction,  because,  as  they  alleged,  it  had  not  been  determined  whether  the  go- 
 vernment of  Java  was  to  be -permanently  administered  by  the  King,  or  by  the  Company. 
 
 Soon  after  this  determination  was  received,  the  face  of  public  affairs  entirely 
 changed  in  Europe ; the  Dutch  colonies  were  to  be  restored  without  reserve,  or  con- 
 dition in  favor  of  this  unfortunate  class  of  beings.  As  a last  struggle  in  their  behalf, 
 Mr.  Raffles  effected  the  establishment  of  a society  termed  the  Java  Benevolent  So- 
 ciety,” in  the  hope  of  interesting  in  this  effort  those  who  succeeded  him. 
 
 In  a letter  to  Lord  Minto,  dated  July  2,  1814,  Mr.  Raffles,  referring  to  the 
 transfer  of  the  Island  to  the  Dutch,  says,  “ If  I were  to  believe  that  the  Javanese 
 were  ever  again  to  be  nded  on  the  former  principles  of  government,  I should,  in- 
 deed, quit  Java  with  a heavy  heart;  but  a brighter  prospect  is,  I hope,  before  them. 
 Holland  is  not  only  re-established,  but  I hope  renovated;  her  Prince  has  been  edu- 
 cated in  the  best  of  all  schools — adversity;  and  I will  hope  the  people  of  Java  will  be 
 as  happy,  if  not  happier,  under  the  Dutch  than  under  the  Enghsh.  I say  happier, 
 because  Java  will,  in  importance,  be  more  to  Holland  than  she  could  ever  be  to 
 England ; and  the  attention  bestowed  by  the  one  country  must  naturally  be  gi-eater 
 than  that  likely  to  be  afforded  by  the  other. 
 
 “ Mr.  Muntinghe  has  often  reminded  me  that,  when  conversing  with  your 
 Lordship  on  the  judicial  regulations,  you  observed,  it  was  not  certain  whether  Eng- 
 land would  retain  permanent  possessions  in  Java;  hut  in  the  mean  time  let  ns  do  as 
 much  good  as  we  can.  This  we  have  done,  and  whatever  change  may  take  place,  the 
 recollection  can  never  be  unpleasing. 
 
 “ While  Java  exists,  the  name  of  Minto  will  be  revered,  and  thousands  bless 
 the  day  on  which  you  landed.” 
 
 The  Dutch  would  appear  never  to  have  knowm,  and  certainly,  as  a nation,  never 
 to  have  availed  themselves  of,  all  the  advantages  of  this  fine  Island;  and  yet  Java  was 
 for  many  years  the  queen  of  the  East,  and  the  gi*eat  financial  support  of  Holland. 
 The  hopes  of  Mr.  Raffles  upon  this  subject  are  thus  given  by  himself : — “ For- 
 tunately for  Java,  a new  era  has  arisen,  and  I have  reason  to  expect  that  even  in 
 the  first  years  of  the  British  possession,  more  will  be  known  of  its  resources,  and 
 more  actually  done  for  ensuring  its  permanent  tranquillity  and  prosperity,  than  has 
 been  effected  throughout  the  whole  period  of  the  Dutch  dominion.” 
 
 In  all  the  attempts  to  introduce  a better  order  of  things,  Mr.  Raffles  received 
 the  warmest  support  from  Mr.  Cransen  and  Mr.  Muntinghe,  two  Dutch  gentlemen 
 
TRADE  WITH  JAPAN. 
 
 229 
 
 of  Batavia.  In  the  first  period  of  the  British  administration,  necessarily  attended 
 with  many  difficulties,  the  active  penetration,  the  clear  understanding,  and  the  sound 
 judgment  of  Mr.  Muntinghe,  afforded  most  substantial  and  essential  support. 
 
 In  the  introduction  of  the  land-rental,  Mr.  Muntinghe  took  a distinguished  part, 
 and  his  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  native  character  and  institutions  rendered  his 
 assistance  and  co-operation  of  great  value. 
 
 Mr.  Muntinghe,  as  well  as  Mr.  Cransen,  although  they  both  approved  of  and 
 supported  the  measure  ultimately,  were  ai  first  alarmed,  and  apprehensive  that  it 
 would  not  succeed.  The  view  taken  of  the  subject  by  Mr.  Raffles,  the  information 
 which  he  had  collected,  much  of  which  was  new  even  to  Mr.  Muntinghe,  led  him 
 eventually  to  form  the  sanguine  expectation  which  he  afterwards  expressed,  but  it 
 will  appear  on  reference  to  the  minute  which  he  recorded  at  the  time,  that  his  opi- 
 nion was  given  with  great  caution  at  first. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  had  long  considered  an  intercourse  with  Japan  an  object  of  great 
 importance  to  the  English  nation.  The  peculiarity  of  the  China  trade — the  mono- 
 poly of  the  tea — and  the  uncertainty  with  which  it  was  attended,  made  him  desirous 
 of  opening  the  trade  with  Japan  to  the  British  merchant.  To  establish  a British 
 Factory  in  Japan,  and  furnish  a population  of  not  less  than  twenty-five  millions 
 with  the  staple  commodities,  and  with  the  manufactures  of  Great  Britain,  was  in 
 itself  a great  national  object ; but  it  was  of  more  particular  consideration  from  its 
 relative  importance  to  China,  and  the  apparent  facility  of  eventually  superseding  the 
 commerce  which  exists  between  that  country  and  Japan. 
 
 From  the  year  1611,  when  the  Dutch  established  commercial  relations  with 
 Japan,  till  1671,  (a  period  of  sixty  years)  their  speculations  were  unrestricted,  and 
 their  profits  enormous.  This  they  called  their  golden  age  of  trade;  they  opened  a 
 mine  of  wealth,  and  they  thought  it  inexhaustible,  as  well  as  easily  wrought.  In 
 1640,  the  Company  obtained  a return  in  gold  which  yielded  a profit  of  upwards  of  a 
 million  of  guilders.  For  some  time  previous  to  1663,  they  procm'ed  a return  of 
 silver  to  the  extent  of  two  hundred  chests,  of  one  hundred  pounds  each,  and  it  was 
 suggested  that  it  would  be  desirable  for  as  many  chests  of  gold  of  the  same  weight 
 to  be  sent  in  future.  These  gold  and  silver  ages  of  Japan  commerce  passed  away, 
 and  in  the  latter  part  of  the  seventeenth  century  commenced  what  the  Dutch  called 
 its  brazen  age,  that  is,  its  export  in  copper,  which  has  ever  since  continued  the 
 staple  of  the  Japan  market.  Mr.  Raffles  resolved,  therefore,  to  send  a mission  for 
 the  purpose  of  transferring  to  the  British  government  the  trade  exclusively  enjoyed 
 by  the  Dutch  (but  which  even  with  them  was  confined  to  two  annual  ships  from  the 
 port  of  Bata\'ia,  and  this  had  ceased  for  four  years),  and  for  opening  to  the  manu- 
 facturers of  Great  Britain  the  supply  of  that  extensive  empire,  in  exchange  for  the 
 valuable  commodities  that  might  be  received  in  return. 
 
 Two  gentlemen  were  united  in  the  mission  : one  of  these  had  formerly  resided 
 
MISSION  TO  JAPAN. 
 
 2.J0 
 
 in  the  country  as  director  of  the  Dutch  factory,  On  their  arrival  they  found  the 
 Dutch  commercial  Director  averse  from  acknowledging  the  British  government,  (the 
 transfer  of  Java  being  then  made  known  to  him,)  and  he  even  refused  to  dehver  over 
 the  Factory.  But  the  commercial  objects  of  the  voyage  were  accomplished,  the  con- 
 tinuance of  the  trade  to  Japan  was  provided  for,  and  ai-rangements  were  entered  into 
 for  putting  matters  in  train  to  secure  the  introduction  of  the  Enghsh,  and  the  preju- 
 dices against  them  were  in  a great  measure  done  away  with.  These  had  been  very 
 much  excited  by  an  unfortunate  occurrence  with  the  Phaeton  frigate  in  1808,  in 
 consequence  of  wiiich  the  Governor  of  Nangasaky  and  five  principal  officers  to  the 
 Prince  of  Tisung,  who  commanded  the  Imperial  Guards,  w'ere  ordered  to  rip  them- 
 selves up  and  die,  an  order  that  was  usually  obeyed,  and  the  Prince  himself  was 
 spiked  up  for  one  hundred  days  in  his  house,  without  leave  to  have  his  beard  shaved ; 
 fi-om  this  cause  not  only  the  Prince,  but  many  of  the  principal  Japanese,  had  sworn  to 
 kill  every  Englishman  that  fell  in  their  way. 
 
 Few  opportunities  were  afforded  of  communicating  with  the  natives,  for  which 
 they  appeared  anxious,  and  which  was  a matter  of  some  importance,  Nangasaky 
 being  the  sole  point  of  contact  of  Japan  with  foreign  nations,  and  the  sentiments 
 entertained  of  foreigners  being  communicated  directly  to  the  capital  through  the 
 established  official  course,  might  be  presumed  to  influence  the  opinion  of  the  Gover- 
 nor of  Nangasaky  resident  at  Sulu,  an  officer  wiio  possesses  the  entire  control  of  the 
 department,  wiiich  comprises  every  description  of  foreign  relations,  and  who  has  a 
 considerable  personal  interest  in  the  advantages  derived  fi'om  the  foreign  trade  of  the 
 kingdom. 
 
 The  Emperor  w'as  considered  to  have  bestowed  a very  unusual  mark  of  favour, 
 in  condescending  to  accept  the  w'hole  of  the  presents  for  his  own  use ; this  was  looked 
 upon  as  a veiy  flattering  testimony  of  regard. 
 
 The  character  of  the  Japanese,  it  was  evident,  had  been  subject  to  the  misre- 
 presentation which  the  jealousy  of  the  Dutch  had  industriously  spread  over  the 
 whole  of  their  Eastern  possessions.  They  appeared  to  the  Commissioners  to  be  a 
 race  of  people  remarkable  for  frankness  of  manner  and  disposition,  for  intelligence, 
 inquiry,  and  freedom  from  prejudice.  They  are  in  an  advanced  state  of  civilization, 
 in  a climate  wJiere  European  manufactures  are  almost  a necessary  comfort,  and 
 w^here  long  use  has  accustomed  them  to  many  of  its  luxuries. 
 
 The  limited  extent  of  the  trade  latterly  carried  on  by  the  Dutch  was  owing,  in 
 no  trifling  degree,  to  the  conduct  of  their  officers,  in  sacrificing  the  pubfic  interest  to 
 a regard  for  their  owm  private  emolument,  which  was  effectually  consulted  by  narrow- 
 ing the  trade : as  on  that  contracted  footing,  their  means  of  advantage  bore  a greater 
 proportion  to  the  whole  extent,  and  the  smaller  number  of  officers  required  m con- 
 ducting it  afforded  them  every  advantage  of  concealment. 
 
 At  such  a distance  from  control,  and  himself  the  channel  of  communication  to 
 
 1 
 
LETTER  TO  LORD  MINTO. 
 
 2.31 
 
 his  superiors,  the  Dutch  Resident,  in  common  with  the  other  public  officers  of  the 
 Dutch  government,  receiving  but  a very  limited  salary,  was  left  to  his  own  discretion 
 to  improve  the  advantages,  of  whatever  nature,  his  place  could  be  made  to  yield  him, 
 a situation  little  calculated  to  command  or  obtain  respect ; and  the  spectacle  of  the 
 representative  of  his  nation,  scrambling  for  every  petty  advantage,  degraded  the  cha- 
 racter of  his  countrymen  in  the  eyes  of  the  Japanese,  endowed  as  they  are  with  no 
 common  share  of  intelligence  and  discernment. 
 
 While  Mr.  Raffies  was  directing  his  attention  to  this  subject,  he  addressed  the 
 following  to  Lord  Minto  : — 
 
 “ Buitenzorg,  Feb.  13,  1814. 
 
 “ My  Lord, 
 
 “ I now  proceed  to  detail  to  you  the  result  of  our  communication  with 
 Japan ; in  which  if  we  have  not  obtained  complete  success,  we  have  at  any  rate 
 opened  the  door  for  future  intercourse ; and,  I trust,  at  no  distant  period,  for  the 
 permanent  establishment  of  the  British  interests  in  that  quarter. 
 
 “ Your  Lordship  wdU  recollect  the  arrangement  made  for  sending  Dr.  Ainslie, 
 and  the  very  little  hope  of  success  entertained  by  the  Supreme  Government.  Had 
 my  views  been  confined  to  the  continuance  of  the  trade  with  Batavia  on  its  former 
 footing,  that  object  would  have  been  without  difficulty  accomplished ; but  I had 
 considered  the  subject  more  extensively,  and  as  it  might  affect  our  interests  perma- 
 nently. I was  too  well  informed  of  the  corruptions,  and  of  the  degraded  state  of 
 the  Dutch  factory,  to  suppose  for  a moment  that  it  would  be  either  creditable  or 
 advantageous  to  carry  on  the  trade  on  its  former  footing,  or  through  Dutch  agents. 
 The  information  we  have  now  obtained  is  conclusive  on  this  point ; and  the  very 
 peculiar  circumstances,  in  which  we  find  ourselves  placed,  dictate  the  necessity  and 
 advantage  of  a more  enlarged  policy. 
 
 “ I shall  enclose  for  your  Lordship’s  information  some  papers  on  the  subject : 
 from  these  you  will  perceive  the  difficulties  which  attended  the  first  communication, 
 and  what  has  been  done  with  a view  to  our  future  intercourse. 
 
 “ It  is  made  clearly  to  appear,  that  the  trade  heretofore  carried  on  with  Bata- 
 via forms  no  criterion  by  which  the  extent  and  value  of  the  trade  is  to  be  judged, 
 when  a more  liberal  and  upright  policy  is  pursued.  It  was  just  as  extensive  as  it 
 suited  the  personal  interest  of  the  Resident  to  make  it ; but  on  a different  system  it 
 may  be  contemplated,  that  its  importance  will  not  fall  short  of  that 'which  is  now 
 attached  to  China.  The  restrictions  which  exist  do  not  arise  so  much  from  the 
 limitations  and  institutions  of  the  Japanese,  as  from  the  nature  and  constitution  ot 
 the  Dutch  factory : the  degraded  state  of  which  would  appear  to  have  sunk  the 
 Dutch  character  very  low  in  estimation.  The  Japanese  are  a highly  polished  people, 
 considerably  advanced  in  science,  highly  inquisitive  and  full  of  penetration. 
 
 “ There  seems  no  reason  to  doubt  the  estimate  of  the  population  (twenty-five 
 
232 
 
 LETTER  TO  LORD  MINTO. 
 
 millions) ; nor  the  high  character  given  of  the  country,  and  of  the  people,  by  the 
 early  voyagers ; and  on  the  score  of  religion  and  its  prejudices,  on  which  so  much 
 has  been  industriously  circulated  by  the  Dutch,  they  are  found  to  be  simple  and 
 inoffensive.  Perhaps  on  further  acquaintance,  it  may  be  found  that  the  Dutch  were 
 not  inactive  agents  in  the  dreadful  massacre  of  the  Catholics.  The  inter]Dreters  do 
 not  hesitate  to  throw  out  insinuations  to  that  effect  akeady.  The  ceremony  of 
 walking'  over  the  cross,  and  the  degrading  ceremonies  to  which  the  Dutch  have 
 represented  themselves  to  be  subject,  are  in  a gi'eat  measure  fictitious ; and,  \rith 
 the  exception  of  the  ceremony  of  obeisance  by  prostration  to  the  emperor,  imne- 
 cessaiy.  The  Dutch  are  only  despised  for  the  ceremonial  which  they  perform  to  the 
 inferior  Chiefs. 
 
 “ A British  Factory  once  established,  that  of  the  Dutch  would  be  superseded  for 
 ever ; and  all  their  misrepresentations  and  collusions  would  but  serve  to  complete 
 the  destmction  of  their  interests,  and  the  detestation  with  which  their  character 
 must  be  ^'iewed,  when  compared  nith  that  of  those  who  succeed  them.  The 
 demand  for  woollens  and  hardware,  the  staple  manufactures  of  Great  Britain,  would 
 be  unlimited.  No  prejudices  are  to  be  surmounted ; the  climate  and  habits  of  the 
 people  create  a want  Avhich  it  would  be  our  interest  to  supply ; and  the  returns 
 might  either  be  made  in  those  articles  which  we  now  receive  fi’om  China,  such  as 
 tea,  silk,  and  cloths,  or  in  copper,  corn,  or  oil,  the  staples  of  Japan.  In  a word, 
 Japan  can  furnish  in  retimi  every  article  that  is  now  obtained  from  China,  of  better 
 quality,  and  at  a lower  price.  The  fact  of  the  principal  export  from  China  to  Japan 
 being  woollens  speaks  for  itself ; and  the  observations  of  Dr.  Ainshe  tend  to  prove 
 that  it  would  be  an  easy  matter  to  supersede  the  ten  Chinese  junks  now  allowed  to 
 trade  annually. 
 
 “ Whether,  therefore,  we  consider  Japan  separately,  as  affording  an  extensive 
 field  for  the  commercial  capital  of  Great  Britain,  as  affording  a copious  outlet  for 
 oiu  staple  manufactures,  or  in  a political  riew,  as  it  may  tend  to  the  security  of 
 the  China  trade,  it  is  most  important. 
 
 “ In  Japan  we  should  find  all  the  advantages  that  could  be  derived  from  China 
 without  any  of  the  humihations,  any  of  the  imcertainties,  any  of  the  tricks,  impo- 
 sitions, and  difficulties,  with  which  we  are  now  hampered.  As  connected  with  the 
 present  China  trade,  would  not  a knowledge  of  our  influence  at  Japan  render  the 
 Chinese  more  humble  ? they  look  up  to  the  Japanese  as  a most  superior  race  of 
 people,  and  the  Japanese,  in  return,  treat  the  highest  Chinese  \rith  the  greatest 
 indignity.  Or  should  any  accident  put  a stop  to  the  trade  at  Canton,  either  par- 
 tially or  m toto,  would  it  not  be  of  essential  importance  to  be  able  to  have  recourse 
 to  Japan  ? 
 
 “ In  every  point  in  which  I can  view  the  subject,  it  appears  to  me  most  import- 
 ant; and  as  the  acquisition  of  the  trade,  and  the  pennanent  establishment  of  our 
 
LETTER  TO  LORD  MINTO. 
 
 2R3 
 
 interests,  is  almost  \vilhin  my  gi'asp,  I should  consider  it  a dereliction  of  my  public 
 duty  did  I not  strain  every  nerve  to  effect  the  accomplishment  of  an  object  in 
 every  way  so  inviting  and  so  interesting.  We  are  now  no  longer  amused  with  the 
 speculative  dreams  of  what  Japan  is  supposed  to  be ; we  have  the  evidence  of  a 
 British  agent  to  speak  to  every  fact ; and  when  his  detailed  Memoir  is  completed, 
 in  which  he  purposes  taking  an  historical  review  of  the  trade  and  intercourse  with 
 Japan,  I am  confident  it  will  be  found  that,  in  no  instance,  have  we  advanced  what 
 cannot  be  clearly  proved. 
 
 “ The  question  is  of  too  much  importance  for  your  Lordship  not  to  take  a deep 
 interest  in  it.  I acknowledge  that  I am  anxious  to  accomphsh  the  task  which  I 
 have  undertaken,  and  I appeal  with  confidence,  but  with  the  utmost  sohcitude,  to 
 your  Lordship  to  assist  me,  by  urging  a quick  reply,  and  an  immediate  and  parti- 
 cular attention  to  my  requisitions. 
 
 “ Java,  my  Lord,  is  yours,  and  every  act  of  mine  in  its  administration  has 
 been  considered  as  springing  from  your  parental  direction ; the  British  influence  is 
 now  spreading  into  every  quarter  of  the  Archipelago  ; the  civihzation  of  so  large  a 
 portion  of  the  human  race  will,  I hope,  emanate  from  the  just  and  wise  principles  on 
 which  you  established  the  British  empire  in  the  Eastern  Seas.  Japan  is  yet  uncon- 
 nected with  this  conquest,  and  I have  only  to  entreat  that  I may  be  empowered  to 
 act  as  your  agent.” 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  was  disappointed  in  this  hope.  The  Bengal  Government  did  not 
 consider  it  a matter  of  importance,  hut  the  subject  was  referred  to  the  Court  of 
 Directors.  The  Court,  indeed,  approved  of  Mr.  Raffles’  plans,  but  by  the  time  their 
 answer  was  received,  Java  was  no  longer  under  British  authority ; and  the  favourable 
 moment,  once  passed  over,  could  never  be  recalled,  and  it  is  believed  the  attempt 
 has  never  been  renewed. 
 
CHAPTER  VIII. 
 
 Domestic  affiictions — Tour  of  the  Island  for  the  benefit  of  his  health — Native  companions — Malay  cha- 
 racter— Origin  of  their  race — Their  literature — Civilization — The  Moluccas — Celebes — Expedition 
 to  Bali  and  Macasar — People  of  Bali — Casts — Funeral  ceremonies — Wives  burning — Account  of  erup- 
 tion of  Tomboro  mountain — Prospects  of  the  Restoration  of  Java  to  the  Dutch — Letter  to  Lord  Buck- 
 ingham on  advantages  of  retaining  it — Value  of  the  Moluccas — Banco  — Character  of  the  East  insular 
 tribes — New  government  proposed  for  Java — Merits  of  the  individuals  employed — His  own  labors — 
 Javanese  language — Ancient  sculpture  and  remains — Intention  to  write  the  History  of  Java — Review 
 of  his  administration  in  Java — Close  of  it. 
 
 At  this  period  (1815)  it  pleased  God  to  deprive  Mr.  Raffles  of  some  of  his  nearest 
 and  dearest  connections  as  well  as  of  many  of  his  earliest  and  most  intimate 
 friends ; and  whilst  he  was  mourning  the  death  of  these,  he  heard,  to  use  his  owm 
 words,  “ that  Lord  Minto  was  snatched  away  from  the  embraces  of  his  friends  and 
 family,  at  the  very  moment  he  was  to  receive  the  only  reward  which  in  this  world 
 could  recompense  his  past  labours — a calm  and  placid  recollection  of  the  successful 
 career  he  had  run,”  To  an  ardent  enthusiastic  mind,  warmly  alive  to  the  brightest 
 feelings  of  friendship,  and  dehghting  in  all  the  closer  ties  of  domestic  life,  such  a 
 rapid  succession  of  melancholy  events,  added  to  the  anxiety  and  uncertainty  of  public 
 duty,  was  most  trying ; and  even  Mr.  Raffles’  buoyant  spirit  yielded  to  the  pressure. 
 For  a long  time  it  was  feared  his  life  would  fall  a sacrifice  to  the  keenness  of  his 
 feehngs.  The  moment  he  was  able  to  attend  to  any  business,  he  was  recommended 
 to  make  an  excursion  over  the  Island,  in  the  hope  that  change  of  scene  would  dispel 
 the  weight  of  grief  with  which  he  seemed  to  be  overwhelmed. 
 
 During  this  tour  he  found  employment  for  his  active  mind,  in  visiting  all  the 
 remains  of  antiquity  in  the  country,  and  collecting  information  connected  with  its 
 early  history,  with  which  Em-opeans  were  previously  unacquainted.  These  materials 
 were,  at  a future  period,  published  in  his  History  of  Java. 
 
 But  though  his  mind  was  thus  occupied,  his  health  derived  no  material  advan- 
 
 * Death  of  Mrs.  Raffles.  Mr.  Raffles  married,  in  the  year  1805,  the  widow  of  W.  Fancourt,  Esq.  of 
 Lanark,  North  Britain. 
 
MALAY  CHARACTER. 
 
 235 
 
 tage  from  the  journey*.  It  was  thought  advisable  that  he  should  leave  Buitenzorg, 
 and  remove  to  Ciceroa,  a more  elevated  situation.  He  took  with  him  several  of  his 
 staff,  and  a party  of  natives,  whose  good  sense  and  intelligence  had  attracted  his 
 notice,  and  whom  he  had  brought  with  him  from  the  eastern  part  of  the  Island. 
 
 With  these  last  he  passed  the  greater  part  of  every  morning  and  evening  in 
 reading  and  translating,  with  the  greatest  rapidity  and  ease,  the  different  legends 
 with  which  they  furnished  him,  particularly  the  Brata  Yudha.  His  translation  of 
 this  singular  and  curious  poem  will  be  found  in  his  History  of  Java.  It  was  a work 
 requiring  considerable  labour  and  time  ; but  it  was  a common  remark  with  him,  that 
 if  a man  were  fully  and  seriously  determined  on  accomplishing  any  undertaking 
 'within  human  power  at  all,  he  would  succeed  by  diligence  and  attention.  At  this 
 time  he  rose  early,  and  commenced  business  before  breakfast ; immediately  after  this 
 he  went  through  the  official  duties  of  the  day  ; after  which  he  devoted  the  remainder 
 of  the  morning,  till  dinner-time,  to  the  natives  who  were  living  with  him.  He  dined 
 at  four  o’clock,  and  took  a walk  for  the  sake  of  his  health  in  the  evening ; and, 
 until  he  retired  to  rest,  he  was  occupied  in  reading,  translating,  and  compihng.  But 
 his  strength  and  health  did  not  return,  perhaps  from  his  not  being  able  to  amuse  his 
 mind  without  over-exertion  and  too  much  application. 
 
 The  foDowing  are  letters  which  he  wrote  at  this  period : 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden  from  Mr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ January  Is#,  1815. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 5ie  Jif  ije  * * * 
 
 “ The  Malays  are  a people  by  no  means  far  advanced  in  civilization ; nor  in 
 their  traditions,  regarding  their  origin,  do  they  trace  back  to  a far  distant  date.  In 
 common  with  other  nations  in  a similar  state  of  civilization,  their  ideas  may  not  be 
 very  numerous,  nor  their  abstract  notions  very  correct ; but  their  meaning  and  their 
 attention  to  passing  events  are  remarkable.  Their  generally  wandering  and  preda- 
 toiy  life  induces  them  to  follow  the  fortune  of  a favourite  Chief,  and  to  form  them- 
 selves into  a variety  of  separate  clans.  They  may  not  be  inaptly  compared,  as  far  as 
 their  habits  and  notions  go,  to  some  of  the  borderers  in  North  Britain,  not  many 
 centuries  ago.  The  traditions  regarding  their  early  history  are  far  less  blended  with 
 the  marvellous  than  the  mighty  feats  of  Fingal ; and  if  in  their  attempts  to  account 
 for  their  origin,  we  find  a mixture  of  mythological  fable,  this  surely  is  not  of  itself 
 sufficient  to  invalidate  what  may  otherwise  be  considered  as  matter  of  fact. 
 
 “ In  relating  any  event  which  has  recently  passed,  a Malay  is  always  peculiarly 
 simple  and  clear.  The  following  character  of  a Malay,  as  a man,  will  be  found  tole- 
 rably correct : 
 
 H h 2 
 
236 
 
 MALAY  CHARACTER. 
 
 “ ^ The  Malay,  living  in  a country  where  nature  grants  (almost  without  labour) 
 all  his  wants,  is  so  indolent,  that  when  he  has  rice,  nothing  will  induce  him  to  work. 
 Accustomed  to  wear  arms  fi’om  his  infancy,  to  rely  on  his  own  prowess  for  safety, 
 and  to  dread  that  of  his  associates,  he  is  the  most  correctly  polite  of  all  savages,  and 
 not  subject  to  those  starts  of  passion  so  common  to  more  civihzed  nations.  But 
 with  all  his  forbearance,  he  is  feelingly  ahve  to  insult ; submits  with  a bad  gi*ace  to 
 the  forms  to  wiiich,  in  a civilized  life,  he  finds  himself  obhged  to  conform  ; and  w^hen 
 these  are  either  numerous  or  enforced  with  supercilious  contumely,  or  the  delays  of 
 office,  he  flies  to  the  w^oods,  where,  with  a little  rice  boiled  in  a bamboo,  eaten  with 
 sprouts  of  the  suiTounding  trees  as  a leaf,  he  feels  he  is  free. 
 
 “ Example  will  gradually  generate  w^ants ; and  w'ants,  industry,  and  a sense  of 
 safety  supersede  the  use  of  arms,  and  generate  other  manners. 
 
 “ That  strong  predilection  w hich  has  been  observed  in  the  natives  of  the  Malay 
 peninsula  and  suiTOunding  countries,  for  the  English,  will  soon  cease  on  their  more 
 intimate  connection,  if  treated  with  the  contumely  common  in  India.  This  results 
 from  the  independant  spirit  of  the  people,  who  value  that  independance  beyond  any 
 consideration  of  advantage,  if  accompanied  with  what  they  deem  insult. 
 
 “ The  consequence  of  such  behaviour  is  first  felt  by  individuals  who  interest 
 their  famihes,  a number  of  families  interest  a clan,  a number  of  clans  a nation,  and 
 in  their  revenges  they  await  with  patience  for  years,  when  they  seldom  fail  to  re- 
 taliate, and  that  often  on  the  innocent. 
 
 “ As  a scholar,  it  is  allowed  that  the  only  knowledge  of  which  he  is  inclined  to 
 boast,  is  derived  from  the  Arabs.  That  literary  compositions  should  bear  the  stamp 
 of  Mahomedan  direction  will,  therefore,  not  be  surprising ; but  it  will  be  observed, 
 that  in  poetry,  and  in  every  essay  from  the  heart,  allusion  is  only  made  to  natural 
 objects,  and  the  earlier  fables  of  Hindu  mytholog)^ ; while  in  historical  and  diy  com- 
 positions of  the  head,  these  more  natural  feelings  usually  give  way  to  Mahomedan 
 notions.  This  distinction  is  easily  discernable  by  any  person  in  the  least  acquainted 
 with  Malayan  literature,  for  literature  I must  call  it. 
 
 “To  prove  that  the  traditions  and  historical  notices  of  the  Malays  are  not  alto- 
 gether devoid  of  interest,  would  require  little  more  than  the  publication  of  a fair 
 translation  of  some  of  their  more  popular  performances.  I hope,  at  no  very  distant 
 date,  some  of  these  may  appear. 
 
 “ The  Indian  Islands  appear  to  have  been  veiy  fertile  in  alphabets  ; they  are  all, 
 with  the  exception  of  the  characters  now  used  by  the  Malays,  of  Hindu  origin.  It 
 was  long  the  idea  that  Sumatra  was  the  Tapro  Bana  of  the  ancients. 
 
 “ The  general  opinion  entertained  regarding  the  origin  of  the  different  native 
 establishments  in  the  Indian  Archipelago,  and  which  is  supported  by  tradition  and 
 native  history,  and  by  the  traces  of  character,  language,  and  habits  discernable 
 among  the  different  nations  at  the  present  day,  is,  that  the  Indian  Islands  were  first 
 
ORIGIN  OF  THE  MALAY  NATIONS. 
 
 •237 
 
 peopled  from  the  continent  of  Asia ; and  the  country  lying  between  the  Gulf  of  Siam 
 and  China  was,  in  all  probability,  the  main-land  from  whence  the  first  settlers 
 emigrated. 
 
 “ This  probability  is  supported  by  the  contiguity  of  this  part  of  the  continent  to 
 the  Islands ; its  extensive  population ; the  intimate  connection  which  appears  in  the 
 earliest  time  to  have  existed  between  tbe  principal  states  of  the  Archipelago  and  the 
 comitries  of  Siam,  Laos  and  Champa ; the  similarity  which  still  exists  in  many  of 
 the  customs  and  usages,  and  in  the  languages  of  the  less  civilized  tribes  in  the 
 Eastern  Seas. 
 
 ‘‘  At  what  period  this  emigration  first  took  place,  is  at  present  beyond  rational 
 conjectiu'e ; but  a more  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  Eastern  Peninsula  of  India 
 may  hereafter  throw  some  light  upon  the  subject. 
 
 If  the  original  inhabitants  are  thus  admitted  to  have  issued  from  this  part  of 
 the  Continent,  it  will  be  no  difficult  matter  to  account  for  the  resemblance  of  the 
 Malay  to  the  Tartar,  and  the  similarity  which  is  found  to  exist  in  all  the  genuine 
 languages  of  the  Islands. 
 
 “ The  next  point  is  to  trace  from  whence  those  rude  and  savage  tribes  received 
 their  first  rudiments  of  civilization ; whether  from  Egypt  or  the  colonies  established 
 by  that  power,  or  at  a subsequent  period  from  an  Indian  country,  may  be  matter  of 
 doubt,  but  that  they  were  early  visited  by  traders  from  the  west  of  India  seems 
 established  on  incontrovertible  evidence. 
 
 “ The  Javanese  annals  do  not  trace  the  first  coming  of  the  people  from  Western 
 India  much  beyond  a thousand  years  back,  but  tradition  justifies  us  in  believing, 
 that  long  before  Java  was  civilized,  the  inhabitants  of  the  more  Eastern  Islands,  and 
 particularly  the  Moluccas,  had  considerably  emerged  from  a state  of  barbarism. 
 This  tradition  is  strongly  confirmed  by  the  probability  that  the  rich  productions  of 
 the  Spice  Islands  would  have  been  the  first  to  excite  the  cupidity  of  Indian  traders, 
 in  the  same  manner  as  they  were  subsequently  the  first  to  attract  the  attention  of 
 European  speculators ; and  by  the  circumstance  of  the  acknowledged  antiquity  and 
 superiority,  even  at  this  day,  of  the  language  spoken  in  the  Moluccas. 
 
 “ It  is  an  extraordinary  fact,  that  while  the  question  regarding  the  country  from 
 whence  the  Malayan  tribes  first  issued,  should  be  confined  almost  exclusively  to 
 Smnatra  and  the  Peninsula  of  Malacca,  the  highest  Malay  is  admitted  to  be  spoken 
 in  the  Moluccas ; in  proof  of  this  fact,  it  is  only  necessary  to  refer  to  the  Malayan 
 version  of  the  Scriptures,  printed  by  the  Dutch  government,  which  is  universally 
 allowed  to  be  composed  in  the  best  language,  and  in  the  language  of  the  Moluccas, 
 but  to  be  scarcely  intelligible  to  ordinary  readers  belonging  to  the  more  Western 
 Isles. 
 
 When  the  intercourse  between  Western  India  and  the  Eastern  Islands 
 
ORIGIN  OF  THE  MALAYAN  NAME. 
 
 •23vS 
 
 declined,  or  when  it  was  first  replaced  by  the  traders  from  Arabia,  we  are  not  cor- 
 rectly informed. 
 
 “ In  Java  the  Indians  would  appear  to  have  established  their  principal  colony  : 
 hut  traces  of  their  communications  \nth  the  other  Islands  may  be  easily  found,  par- 
 ticularly in  Sumatra,  and  in  the  Celebes,  where  the  written  characters  now  in  use 
 bear  the  e^ddent  stamp  of  Sanscrit  origin.  From  this  intimate  connection  between 
 Western  India  and  all  the  Islands  of  the  Archipelago,  we  may  easily  account  for  the 
 extensive  introduction  of  Sanscrit  teiTns  into  the  languages  of  the  Islanders,  and 
 to  the  estabhshment  of  the  earliest  independent  states  of  which  tradition  makes 
 mention. 
 
 Thus  the  sovereignties  of  the  Moluccas,  of  Celebes,  of  Java,  and  of  Sumatra, 
 may  have  been  first  established,  while  colonies  from  these,  in  process  of  time,  ex- 
 tended the  habits  of  cirilization  to  the  coasts  of  Borneo,  the  adjacent  Islands,  and 
 the  Peninsula  of  Malacca. 
 
 “ Before  the  Eastern  Seas  were  visited  by  European  navigators,  the  Moluccas 
 had  fallen  under  the  sway  of  the  Chieftains  of  Celebes,  and  the  people  had  lost  much 
 of  that  importance  of  character  for  which  in  earlier  times  they  had  been  distinguished. 
 Yet  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  many  of  the  petty  states  in  the  Eastern  part  of 
 the  Archipelago  and  in  the  South  Seas  were  first  planted  by  colonies  fr'om  the 
 Moluccas. 
 
 “ But  it  was  principally  from  the  Island  of  Celebes  at  a subsequent  period  that 
 colonies  were  throv\Ti  out : these  peculiar  and  enterprising  people  appear  to  have  ex- 
 tended their  infiuence  at  one  period,  so  as  to  have  included  within  the  range  of  their 
 authority  the  Philippines  on  one  side,  and  the  countries  in  the  Straits  of  Malacca  on 
 the  other.  Acheen  and  the  Peninsula  of  Malacca  were  early  visited  by  adventurers 
 from  Celebes ; audit  was  in  one  of  these  distant  expeditions  that  the  people  of 
 Celebes  are  said  to  hav^e  established  the  kingdom  of  Menangkabu  in  Sumatra,  and 
 to  have  given  the  designation  of  Malaya  to  the  people  now  so  called. 
 
 “ The  people  of  Celebes  have  a tradition  that  when  their  celebrated  Chief, 
 Sawira  Ceding,  was  exploring  the  Western  countries,  he  put  into  one  of  the  rivers 
 in  Sumatra,  where  a considerable  part  of  his  followers  deserted  him,  and  mnning 
 into  the  interior,  connected  themselves  with  the  people  of  the  country,  and  established 
 the  kingdom  of  Menangkabu.  These  people  were  for  the  most  part  of  the  lowest 
 class,  employed  by  Savrira  Ceding  in  cutting  fire-wood  and  procuring  water  for  his 
 fieet,  and  are  represented  by  him  to  have  been  captives  from  the  Moluccas,  or 
 savages  from  the  interior  of  Celebes,  and  have  the  term  Malaya,  fr'om  Mala,  to  bring, 
 and  aya,  wood : Malaya,  a wood-bringer,  or  as  we  should  say  a woodcutter,  and  to 
 this  day  the  people  of  Celebes  look  down  with  the  greatest  contempt  on  a Malaya, 
 and  are  in  the  habit  of  repeating  the  origin  of  the  name. 
 
 2 
 
MALAYAN  LANGUAGES. 
 
 239 
 
 “ The  people  of  Celebes  have  from  time  immemorial,  been  distinguished  among 
 the  Eastern  nations,  for  their  spirit  in  commerce  in  maritime  enterprise,  at  a period 
 when  the  more  peaceable  inhabitants  of  Java  were  diligently  cultivating  the  soil,  and 
 confining  their  \dews  to  domestic  concerns.  This  entei-prising  people  will  be  found 
 to  have  established  themselves  in  almost  every  other  part  of  the  Archipelago. 
 
 “ The  tradition  above  noticed  regarding  the  origin  of  the  Malays,  is  supported 
 by  the  very  great  similarity  of  language,  of  features,  of  character,  of  dress,  and  of 
 habits,  as  observable  at  the  present  day : the  Malay  resembles  the  inhabitant  of 
 Celebes  very  closely,  both  in  his  features,  and  fonn,  in  his  moral  character,  his  dress, 
 and  his  occupations;  but  in  every  thing  he  is  his  inferior — a lower  caste  of  the 
 same  character  and  people. 
 
 “ It  was  probably  during  this  period,  that  the  Malay  countries  first  imbibed 
 that  portion  of  Javanese  literature  which  is  to  be  found  in  their  books;  but  the 
 principal  accession  which  the  Malay  and  other  languages  derived  from  the  Sanscrit, 
 was  in  all  probabihty  received  direct  at  a much  earlier  date ; and  this  supposition 
 will  account  for  the  Sanscrit  words  which  are  used  by  the  Malays  being,  in  some  in- 
 stances, much  purer  than  those  forming  part  of  the  Javanese  language. 
 
 The  higher  language  of  Java  is  almost  entirely  Sanscrit ; but  the  termination 
 of  the  words  would  appear  in  many  instances  to  have  assumed  an  arbitrary  form.  In 
 the  Malayan  language,  the  Sanscrit  words  are  not  subjected  to  this  arbitrary  or  pecu- 
 liar form,  and  when  words  of  this  description,  of  which  there  are  many,  are  engrafted 
 on  the  jVlalayan,  the  Malays  invariably  term  them  B'husa  Java,  or  the  Javanese 
 language. 
 
 “ At  the  period  when  the  influence  of  Java  was  thus  extending  itself  over  the 
 Archipelago,  it  was  arrested  in  its  progress,  by  the  rapid  establishment  of  the  rehgion 
 of  Mahomet,  and  Java  itself  had  scarcely  recovered  from  the  shock  of  conversion  to 
 this  faith,  when  the  Europeans  found  their  way  round  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope. 
 
 “ To  bring  forward  aU  the  evidence  that  could  be  adduced  in  support  of  the 
 above  general  conclusions  would  swell  this,”  &c.  &c.  * * * * * * ^ 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden, 
 
 “ Buitenzorg,  Feb,  7,  1815. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 I have  first  had  the  pleasure  to  receive  your  kind  letter  of  the  21st  of 
 August,  and  lest  any  attempt  to  bring  up  the  long  arrears  standing  against  me, 
 might  delay  my  reply  beyond  the  period  fixed  for  the  departure  of  the  Alcyon,  I 
 proceed  at  once  to  notice  the  points  alluded  to  in  this  letter,  without  particular  re- 
 ference to  your  former  communication. 
 
 “ I am  ashamed  to  acknowledge  that  the  accusation  of  not  wnting  oftener  hes 
 
EXPEDITION  TO  BALI  AND  MACASAR. 
 
 •210 
 
 against  me.  I can  only  plead  in  my  excuse,  the  heavy  and  unremitting  duties  of 
 my  public  situation,  and  recently  afflictions  which  have  befallen  me  in  private  life. 
 I have  not,  however,  been  inattentive  to  your  kind  suggestions ; and  although  my 
 communications  have  been  sparing,  my  collections  have  been  gradually  increasing. 
 
 ^ ^ ^ * 
 
 “ I have  lately  sent  an  expedition  under  General  Nightingall,  to  Bali  and  Ma- 
 casar ; the  information  obtained  from  Bali  is  briefly  as  follows : — The  natives  are 
 divided  into  four  castes,  Braniana,  Satriga,  Wisya,  and  Sudi’a. 
 
 “ The  Bramanas  are  of  two  classes,  Bramana  Sava  and  Bramana  Budu ; the 
 former  prevails.  The  Budus  eat  of  all  food,  even  dogs,  and  it  is  said  by  the  Bra- 
 manas (their  enemies)  that  they  eat  rice  off  a coi'pse  which  has  been  kept  several 
 months.  The  Bramanas  do  not  perform  pubhc  religious  offices,  the  Sudras  have 
 charge  of  the  temples ; there  are  rude  images  among  them  and  in  these  temples, 
 they  worship  chiefly  tutelar  deities  of  places;  a Bramana  is  respected  according 
 to  his  age  and  learning,  he  cannot  eat  from  the  hands  of  a younger.  The  Bramana 
 does  not  worship  idols.  They  say  the  four  castes  issued  from  the  mouth,  breast, 
 l)elly,  and  feet  of  Brahma. 
 
 “ A Bramana  may  marry  into  another  caste,  the  offspring  are  called  Bujanga, 
 a distinct  class.  There  are  outcasts  called  Chandalas — potters,  dyers,  distillers, 
 butchers,  and  sellers  of  toddy. 
 
 “ The  Bramanas  have  care  of  law  and  religion  ; they  try  the  sovereign ; can 
 order  a second  trial,  but  not  alter  the  decision.  They  cannot  serve  in  any  mean 
 condition,  nor  are  they  bound  to  make  obedience  to  any  other  caste  or  class. 
 
 “ The  Siva  Brahmins  say  nine-tenths  of  them  originally  emigrated  from  Java, 
 about  the  time  of  the  destruction  of  INIujapahit. 
 
 “ The  Budus,  who  are  very  few,  occupying  only  three  districts,  reckon  the 
 commencement  of  their  era  (which  is  1735,)  corresponding  \rith  the  year  of  Christ 
 814,  as  the  period  at  which  they  came. 
 
 “ The  Rajahs  are  Sadrayas  or  Wisayu ; after  death  the  coi*pse  is  kept  a long 
 time,  by  the  higher  classes  above  a year,  by  the  lower  at  least  two  months ; the 
 dead  bodies  are  preserved  by  daily  fumigation  with  benzoin,  &c. ; they  are  then 
 bm’ned,  except  children  who  have  not  shed  their  teeth,  and  persons  dying  of  small- 
 pox, who  are  buried  immediately.  The  widow  of  the  Sadraya  and  Wisayu  classes 
 generally  burns  herself  with  her  husband’s  coi’pse,  this,  however,  is  voluntary,  and 
 not  the  wives  only,  but  concubines,  and  female  slaves  also,  sacrifice  themselves  on 
 such  occasions.  The  father  of  the  present  Rajah  of  Balibing  was  burned  with  seventy- 
 four  women.  It  is  customary  with  some  classes  to  throw  the  dead  bodies  into 
 the  sea. 
 
 “ The  era  is  denominated  Isahia,  each  month  has  thirty-five  days,  the  year 
 four  hundred  and  twenty. 
 
ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ERUPTION  FROM  THE  TOMBORO  MOUNTAIN.  241 
 
 “ The  Brahmins  do  not  eat  beef,  or  drink  milk,  the  latter,  however,  is  not  pro- 
 scribed. Hogs-flesh  is  the  common  food  of  the  Buluse. 
 
 “ The  Bali  language  is  written  in  the  Javanese  character,  but  the  language  is 
 different.  Balinese  books  of  law  and  religion  are  numerous.  I have  set  further 
 enquiries  on  foot.  I entirely  concur  with  you  in  thinking  a grammar  and  dictionary 
 of  the  Javanese  language  an  important  desideratum,  and  at  one  time  I was  in  hope 
 works  of  the  kind  would  have  been  attempted. 
 
 I can,  however,  assure  you  that  however  reluctantly  I may  attempt  a work 
 of  the  kind,  I shall  go  home,  whenever  I leave  this,  prepared  with  the  materials  for 
 breaking  the  ice.  My  vocabularies  are  extensive,  and  I have  some  idea  of  the  gram- 
 matical construction,  but  the  words  are  so  numerous  and  the  phraseology  so  various, 
 that  it  is  one  of  the  most  difficrdt  languages  I ever  met  with  ; but  I wall,  at  all  events, 
 keep  sufficient  materials  by  me  to  work  upon,  should  no  other  better  qualified 
 person  undertake  the  task. 
 
 “ In  my  late  affliction  I found  it  necessary  to  take  a trip  to  sea,  and  if  the  wea- 
 ther had  permitted,  it  was  my  intention  to  have  made  an  incursion  into  the  Lampong 
 country.  We  were,  however,  prevented  from  landing,  and  all  I could  do  for  you 
 was  to  correct  the  names  of  places  in  the  map ; a copy  also  of  the  best  Dutch  map 
 of  Sumatra  is  now  in  hand  for  you,  and  shall  be  forwarded  by  an  early  opportunity. 
 General  and  Mrs.  Nightingall  still  remain  with  us,  his  appointment  for  Bombay  not 
 having  arrived ; they  are  now  residing  with  me  at  Buitenzorg,  and  I shall  part 
 wdth  them  with  a heavy  heart  whenever  it  may  be  necessary  for  them  to  leave  Java.’’ 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  gives  the  following  account  of  the  eruption  from  the  Tomboro 
 Mountain,  in  the  Island  of  Sambawa,  which  took  place  at  this  time,  (the  11th  and 
 12th  of  April,  1815,)  one  of  the  most  violent  and  extraordinary  of  such  explosions 
 yet  knowm. 
 
 "To  preserve  an  authentic  account  of  the  violent  and  extraordinary  eruption  of 
 the  Tomboro  Mountain  on  Sambawa,  in  April  last,  I required  from  the  several  Re- 
 sidents of  districts  on  this  Island  a statement  of  the  circumstances  that  occurred 
 within  their  knowledge,  and  from  their  replies,  the  following  narrative  is  collected  ; 
 it  is,  perhaps,  incomplete  until  some  further  accounts  are  received  of  the  immediate 
 effects  upon  the  mountain  itself;  but  the  progress  is  sufficiently  knovm  to  render  in- 
 teresting a present  account  of  a phenomenon  which  exceeds  any  one  of  a similar 
 description  on  record.  The  first  explosions  were  heard  on  this  Island  in  the  even- 
 ing of  the  5th  of  April,  they  were  noticed  in  every  quarter,  and  continued  at  intervals 
 until  the  followang  day.  The  noise  was,  in  the  first  instance,  almost  universally  at- 
 tributed to  distant  cannon ; so  much  so,  that  a detachment  of  troops  were  marched 
 from  Djocjocarta,  in  the  expectation  that  a neighbouring  post  was  attacked,  and 
 along  the  coast  boats  were  in  two  instances  dispatched  in  quest  of  a supposed  ship 
 in  distress. 
 
'U2  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ERUPTION  FROM  THE  TOMBORO  MOUNTAIN. 
 
 “ On  the  following  morning,  however,  a slight  fall  of  ashes  removed  all  doubt 
 as  to  the  cause  of  the  sound,  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  as  the  eruption  con- 
 tinued, the  sound  appeared  to  be  so  close,  that  in  each  district  it  seemed  near  at 
 liand;  it  was  attributed  to  an  emption  from  the  ISIarapi,  the  Gunung  Kloot  or  the 
 Gunung  Bromo. 
 
 “ From  the  6th,  the  sun  became  obscured : it  had  every  appearance  of  being 
 enveloped  in  fog,  the  weather  was  sultry,  and  the  atmosphere  close  and  still ; the 
 sun  seemed  shorn  of  its  rays,  and  the  general  stillness  and  pressure  of  the  atmosphere 
 foreboded  an  earthquake.  This  lasted  several  days,  the  explosions  continued  occa- 
 sionally, but  less  \'iolently,  and  less  frequently  than  at  first.  Volcanic  ashes  also 
 began  to  fall,  but  in  small  quantities;  and  so  slightly  as  to  be  hardly  perceptible  in 
 the  western  districts. 
 
 “ This  appearance  of  the  atmosphere  remained  with  Kttle  variation,  until  the 
 10th  of  April,  and  till  then  it  does  not  appear  that  the  volcano  attracted  much  ob- 
 servation, or  was  considered  of  greater  importance  than  those  which  have  occa- 
 sionally burst  forth  in  Java.  But  on  the  evening  of  the  10th,  the  emptions  were 
 heard  more  loud,  and  more  frequent  from  Cheribon  eastward;  the  air  became  dark- 
 ened by  the  quantity  of  falling  ashes,  and  in  several  situations,  particularly  at  Solo 
 and  Rembang,  many  said  that  they  felt  a tremulous  motion  of  the  earth.  It  is  uni- 
 versally remarked  in  the  more  eastern  districts,  that  the  explosions  were  tremendous, 
 continuing  frequently  dmdng  the  11th,  and  of  such  \dolence  as  to  shake  the  houses 
 perceptibly ; an  unusually  thick  darkness  was  remarked  all  the  following  night,  and 
 the  greater  part  of  the  next  day.  At  Solo,  on  the  12th,  at  four  P.M.,  objects  were  not 
 visible  at  300  yards  distance.  At  Gresie,  and  other  districts  more  eastward,  it  was 
 dark  as  night  the  greater  part  of  the  12th  of  April,  and  this  saturated  state  of  the 
 atmosphere  lessened  as  the  cloud  of  ashes  passed  along  and  discharged  itself  on  its 
 way.  Thus  the  ashes,  which  were  eight  inches  deep  at  Banyuwangi,  were  but  two 
 in  depth  at  Sumanap,  and  still  less  in  Gresie ; and  the  sun  does  not  seem  to  have 
 been  actually  obscured  in  any  district  westward  of  Samarang. 
 
 “No  description  of  mine,  however,  can  so  well  express  what  happened,  as 
 the  extracts  from  the  reports  at  several  places  ; the  remarks  there  made  are  appli- 
 cable also  to  all  the  other  districts,  only  in  a lesser  degi'ee,  as  the  same  became 
 more  distant  trom  the  cause  of  the  phenomena.” 
 
 Extract  of  a Letter  from  Gresie. 
 
 “ I woke  on  the  morning  of  the  12th,  after  what  seemed  to  be  a very  long- 
 night,  and  taking  my  watch  to  the  lamp,  found  it  to  be  half-past  eight  o’clock ; I 
 immediately  went  out,  and  found  a cloud  of  ashes  descending ; at  nine  o’clock  no 
 day-light ; the  layer  of  ashes  on  the  terrace  before  my  door  at  the  Kradenan  mea- 
 sures one  line  in  thickness  ; ten  A.  INI.  a faint  glimmering  of  light  can  now  be  per- 
 
 2 
 
ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ERUPTION  FROM  THE  TOMBORO  MOUNTAIN. 
 
 243 
 
 ceived  over-head  : half-past  ten,  can  distinguish  objects  fifty  yards  distant ; eleven, 
 A.M.  breakfasted  by  candle-light,  the  birds  begin  to  chirrup  as  at  the  approach  of 
 day ; half-past  eleven,  can  discover  the  situation  of  the  sun  through  a thick  cloud 
 of  ashes ; one,  P.M.  found  the  layer  of  ashes  one  line  and  a half  thick,  and  mea- 
 sui'ed  in  several  places  with  the  same  results  ; three,  P.M.  the  ashes  have  increased 
 one-eighth  of  a line  more  ; five,  P.M.  it  is  now  lighter,  but  still  I can  neither  read 
 nor  ^\Tite  without  candle.  In  travelling  through  the  district  on  the  13th,  the 
 appearances  were  described  with  very  httle  variation  from  my  account,  and  I am 
 universally  told  that  no  one  remembers,  nor  does  their  tradition  record  so  tremen- 
 dous an  eruption.  Some  look  upon  it  as  typical  of  a change,  of  the  re-estabhshment 
 of  the  former  government ; others  account  for  it  in  an  easy  way,  by  reference  to  the 
 superstitious  notions  of  their  legendary  tales,  and  say  that  the  celebrated  Nyai  Loroh 
 Kidul  has  been  man’^dng  one  of  her  children,  on  which  occasion  she  has  been  firing 
 salutes  from  her  supernatm’al  artillery.  They  call  the  ashes  the  dregs  of  her 
 ammunition.” 
 
 Extract  of  a Letter  from  Sumanap. 
 
 “ ^ On  the  evening  of  the  10th  the  explosions  became  very  loud ; one  in  parti- 
 cular shook  the  town,  and  they  were  excessively  quick,  resembhng  a heavy  can- 
 nonade. Towards  evening,  next  day,  the  atmosphere  thickened  so  much,  that  by 
 four  o’clock  it  was  necessary  to  light  candles.  At  about  seven,  P.M.,  of  the  11th, 
 the  tide  being  about  ebb,  a rush  of  water  from  the  bay  occasioned  the  river  to  rise 
 four  feet,  and  it  subsided  again  in  about  fom*  minutes ; the  bay  was  much  agitated 
 about  this  time,  and  was  illuminated  from  a northerly  direction.  On  the  Island  of 
 Sahotie,  fire  was  seen  distinctly  at  a short  distance  to  the  south-east.  The  uncom- 
 mon darkness  of  this  night  did  not  break  till  ten  and  eleven,  A.M.  of  the  12th,  and 
 it  could  hardly  be  called  day-hght  all  day.  Volcanic  ashes  fell  in  abundance,  and 
 covered  the  earth  about  two  inches  thick,  the  trees  also  were  loaded  with  them.’  ” 
 
 Extract  of  a Letter  from  Banyuwangi. 
 
 “ ^ At  ten,  P.M.  of  the  first  of  April,  we  heard  a noise  resembling  a cannonade, 
 which  lasted,  at  intervals,  till  nine  o’clock  next  day ; it  continued  at  times  loud,  at 
 others  resembling  distant  thunder;  but  on  the  night  of  the  10th,  the  explosions 
 became  tndy  tremendous,  fi'equently  shaking  the  earth  and  sea  riolently.  Towards 
 morning  they  again  slackened,  and  continued  to  lessen  gradually  till  the  14th,  when 
 they  ceased  altogether.  On  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  April,  ashes  began  to  fall  like 
 fine  snow  ; and  in  the  course  of  the  day  they  were  half-an-inch  deep  on  the  gi’ound. 
 From  that  time  till  the  11th  the  air  was  constantly  impregnated  with  them  to  such 
 a degi'ee,  that  it  was  unpleasant  to  stir  out  of  doors.  On  the  morning  of  the  1 1th, 
 the  opposite  shore  of  Bah  was  completely  obscured  in  a dense  cloud,  which  gradually 
 
 I i 2 
 
24  i ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ERUPTION  FROM  THE  TOMBORO  MOUNTAIN. 
 
 approached  the  Java  shore,  and  was  dreary  and  ten-ific.  By  one,  P.M.  candles  were 
 necessary ; by  four,  P.M.  it  was  pitch-dark ; and  so  it  continued  until  two  o’clock  of 
 the  afternoon  of  the  12th,  ashes  continuing  to  fall  abundantly : they  were  eight 
 inches  in  depth  at  this  time.  After  two  o’clock  it  began  to  clear  up ; but  the  sun 
 was  not  visible  till  the  14th,  and  during  this  time  it  was  extremely  cold.  The  ashes 
 continued  to  fall,  but  less  violently,  and  the  greatest  depth,  on  the  loth  of  April, 
 was  nine  inches. 
 
 “ All  reports  concur  in  stating,  that  so  violent  and  extensive  an  eruption  has 
 not  happened  within  the  memory  of  the  oldest  inhabitants,  nor  within  tradition. 
 They  speak  of  similar  effects  in  a lesser  degree,  w'hen  an  eruption  took  place  from 
 the  volcano  of  Carang  Assum,  in  Bah,  about  seven  yeai-s  ago ; and  it  was  at  first 
 supposed  that  this  mountain  w^as  the  seat  of  eruption  in  the  present  instance.  The 
 Balinese  attributed  the  event  to  a recent  dispute  between  the  tw'o  Rajahs  of  Bah 
 Baliling,  which  terminated  in  the  death  of  the  yomiger  Rajah,  by  order  of  his 
 brother. 
 
 “ The  haziness  and  heat  of  the  atmosphere,  and  occasional  fall  of  volcanic  ashes, 
 continued  until  the  14th,  or,  in  some  parts  of  the  Island,  until  the  17th  of  April; 
 they  were  cleared  away  universally  by  a hea\y  fall  of  rain,  after  w'hich  the  atmosphere 
 became  clear  and  more  cool ; and  it  w^ould  seem  that  this  seasonable  relief  prevented 
 much  injury  to  the  crops,  and  removed  an  appearance  of  epidemic  disease,  which  w'as 
 beginning  to  prevail.  This  w^as  especially  the  case  at  Bata^aa,  w'here,  for  the  two  or 
 three  days  preceding  the  rain,  many  persons  w'^ere  attacked  with  fever.  As  it  w^as, 
 how^ever,  no  material  injury  w'as  felt  beyond  the  districts  of  Banjniw'angi.  The  cid- 
 tivators  every  w^here  took  the  precaution  to  shake  off  the  ashes  from  the  growing 
 })addy  as  they  fell,  and  the  timely  rain  removed  an  apprehension  very  generally 
 entertained,  that  insects  would  have  been  generated  by  the  long  continuance  of  the 
 ashes  at  the  root  of  the  plant.  At  Rembang,  where  the  rain  did  not  fall  till  the  17th, 
 and  the  ashes  had  been  considerable,  the  crops  w'ere  somew'hat  injured.  In  Gresie 
 the  injury  was  less ; but  in  Banymvangi  and  the  adjacent  part  of  the  Island,  on 
 which  the  cloud  of  ashes  spent  its  force,  the  injury  was  more  extensive  : 126  horses 
 and  eighty-six  head  of  cattle  also  perished,  chiefly  from  want  of  forage  during  a 
 month  from  the  time  of  the  eruption. 
 
 “ The  local  effects  of  this  emption  have  been  ascertained  by  Lieutenant  Owen 
 Phillips,  who  proceeded  to  Sumbawa  for  this  purpose,  and  was  charged  to  distribute 
 to  the  sufferers  a supply  of  rice,  dispatched  by  this  government  on  hearing  of  the 
 extreme  distress  to  which  the  inhabitants  of  Sumbawa  had  been  reduced. 
 
 The  Noquedah  of  a Malay  prow  from  Timor  had  reported  that  on  the  11th 
 of  April,  while  at  sea,  far  distant  from  Smnbawa,  he  was  in  utter  darkness ; that  on 
 his  passing  the  Tomboro  mountain  at  a distance  of  five  miles,  the  low^er  part  of  it 
 was  in  flames,  and  the  upper  part  covered  with  clouds ; he  went  on  shore  for  water. 
 
ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ERUPTION  FROM  THE  TOMBORO  MOUNTAIN. 
 
 215 
 
 and  found  the  gi'ound  covered  with  ashes  to  the  depth  of  three  feet,  several  large 
 prows  thrown  on  the  land  by  a concussion  of  the  sea,  and  many  of  the  inhabitants 
 dead  from  famine.  On  lea\ing  Sumbawa,  he  experienced  a strong  current  to  the  west- 
 ward, and  fell  in  with  gi*eat  quantities  of  cinders  floating  on  the  sea,  through  which 
 he  with  difficulty  forced  his  w^ay ; he  was  surrounded  by  them  the  whole  of  the  night 
 of  the  12th,  and  says  they  formed  a mass  of  two  feet  thick,  and  several  miles  in  ex- 
 tent. This  person  states  that  the  volcano  of  Carang  Assam  in  Bali,  was  in  com- 
 motion at  the  same  time ; and  it  appears  from  the  several  reports,  that  a greater 
 rumbling  than  usual  w'as  heard  in  the  mountains  in  the  Rembang  district,  as  w^ell  as 
 in  the  Gunnug  Gede  in  the  Preanger  Regencies,  but  after  a strict  enquiry,  it  does 
 not  appear  that  any  simultaneous  movement  or  connection  could  be  traced  on  this 
 occasion  along  the  chain  of  Volcanic  Mountains  running  east  and  west  in  Java.’” 
 
 The  Honorable  Company’s  ciaiizer  Benares,  was  at  this  time  at  Macasar, 
 and  the  following  official  report,  received  from  the  Commander  of  this  vessel,  con- 
 firms the  circumstances  ah'eady  related. 
 
 “ ^ On  the  5th  of  April,  a firing  of  cannon  was  heard  at  Macasar,  continuing  at 
 intervals  all  the  afternoon,  and  apparently  coming  from  the  southward: — towards 
 sun-set  the  reports  seemed  to  have  approached  much  nearer,  and  sounded  hke 
 hea\y  guns,  with  occasional  slight  reports  between.  Supposing  it  to  be  occasioned 
 by  pirates,  a detachment  of  troops  was  embarked  on  board  the  Honorable  Company’s 
 ciaiizer  Benares,  and  sent  in  search  of  them,  but  after  examining  the  neighboming 
 Islands,  returned  to  Macasar  on  the  8th,  without  having  found  any  cause  of  the 
 alarm.  During  the  night  of  the  11th,  the  firing  was  again  heard,  but  much  low  er, 
 and  tow'ards  morning  the  reports  were  in  quick  succession,  sometimes  like  three  or 
 four  guns  fired  together,  and  so  heavy  that  they  shook  the  ship,  as  they  did  also  the 
 houses  in  Fort  Rotterdam.  Some  of  them  seemed  so  near,  that  I sent  people  to  the 
 mast-heads  to  look  out  for  the  flashes,  and  weighed  at  day-dawn,  proceeding  to  the 
 southward  to  ascertain  the  cause.  The  morning  of  the  12th  was  extremely  dark  and 
 low'ering,  particularly  to  the  southward,  and  S.W.,  the  wind  light,  and  from  the  east- 
 wm*d.  At  eight  A.M.  it  w^as  apparent  that  some  extraordinary  occurrence  had  taken 
 place ; the  face  of  the  heavens  to  the  southward  and  westward  had  assumed  a dark 
 aspect,  and  it  was  much  darker  than  before  the  sun  rose ; as  it  came  nearer  it  as- 
 sumed a dusky  red  appearance,  and  spread  fast  over  every  part  of  the  heavens ; by  ten 
 it  was  so  dark  that  a ship  could  hardly  be  seen  a mile  distant;  by  eleven  the  whole 
 of  the  heavens  were  obscured,  except  a small  space  near  the  horizon  to  the  east- 
 w^ard,  the  quarter  from  which  the  wind  came.  The  ashes  now"  began  to  fall  in 
 show"ers,  and  the  appearance  was  altogether  truly  awful  and  alarming.  By  noon 
 the  light  that  had  remained  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  horizon  disappeared,  and 
 complete  darkness  covered  the  face  of  day.  This  continued  so  profound  dirring  the 
 remainder  of  the  day,  that  I never  saw  any  thing  to  equal  it  in  the  darkest  night ; 
 
246  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ERUPTION  FROM  THE  TOMBORO  MOUNTAIN. 
 
 it  was  impossible  to  see  your  hand  when  held  up  close  to  your  eyes.  The  ashes 
 fell  ^\^thout  intermission  throughout  the  night,  and  were  so  light  and  subtile,  that 
 notmthstanding  the  precaution  of  spreading  awnings  fore  and  aft  as  much  as  pos- 
 sible, they  per\'aded  every  part  of  the  ship. 
 
 “ ‘ At  six  o’clock  the  next  morning  it  continued  as  dark  as  ever,  but  began  to 
 clear  about  half-past  seven;  and  about  eight  o’clock  objects  could  be  faintly  dis- 
 cerned upon  deck.  From  this  time  it  began  to  get  lighter  very  fast. 
 
 “ ‘ The  appearance  of  the  ship  when  day-hght  returned  was  most  singular  ; every 
 part  being  covered  with  the  falling  matter : it  had  the  appearance  of  calcined  pumice 
 stone,  nearly  the  colour  of  wood-ashes ; it  lay  in  heaps  of  a foot  in  depth  in  many 
 parts  of  the  deck,  and  several  tons  weight  of  it  must  have  been  thrown  overboard ; 
 for  though  an  impalpable  powder  or  dust  when  it  feU,  it  was,  when  compressed,  of 
 considerable  weight ; a pint  measure  of  it  weighed  twelve  ounces  and  three-quarters, 
 it  was  perfectly  tasteless,  and  chd  not  affect  the  eyes  with  painful  sensation,  had  a 
 faint  burnt  smell,  but  nothing  like  sulphur ; when  mixed  with  water  it  fonned  a 
 tenacious  mud  difficult  to  be  washed  off. 
 
 ^ By  noon  of  the  12th,  the  sun  made  his  appearance  again,  hut  very  faintly, 
 through  the  dusky  atmosphere ; the  air  being  still  charged  with  ashes,  which  con- 
 tinued to  fall  hghtly  all  day. 
 
 “ ‘ From  the  12th  to  the  15th,  the  atmosphere  remained  thick  and  dusky,  the 
 rays  of  the  sun  scarce  able  to  penetrate  through  it,  with  httle  or  no  wind  the  whole 
 time. 
 
 “ ‘ On  the  morning  of  the  13th  left  Macasar,  and  on  the  18th  made  Sumbawa; 
 on  approaching  the  coast  passed  through  gi'eat  quantities  of  pumice-stone  floating 
 on  the  sea,  wiiich  had  at  first  strongly  the  appearance  of  shoals,  so  much  so  that  I 
 sent  a boat  to  examine  one,  which,  at  the  distance  of  less  than  a mile,  I took  for  a 
 dry  sand-bank,  upwards  of  three  miles  in  length,  with  black  rocks  in  several  parts 
 of  it.  It  proved  to  be  a complete  mass  of  pumice-stone  floating  on  the  sea,  some 
 inches  in  depth,  with  great  numbers  of  trees  and  logs,  that  appeared  to  be  burnt 
 and  shivered  as  if  by  lightning.  The  boat  had  much  difficulty  in  pulling  through  it, 
 and  until  we  reached  the  entrance  of  Bima  Bay,  the  sea  was  literally  covered  with 
 shoals  of  pumice  and  floating  timber. 
 
 “ ‘ On  the  19th  arrived  in  Bima  Bay,  in  coming  to  an  anchor  grounded  on  the 
 bank  of  Bima  Town,  shoaling  suddenly  from  eight  fathoms ; hove  off  again  as  the 
 tide  was  rising.  The  anchorage  at  Bima  must  have  altered  considerably,  as  where 
 w^e  grounded  the  Ternate  cruizer  lay  at  anchor  in  six  fathoms  a few  months  before. 
 The  shores  of  the  bay  had  a most  dreary  appearance,  being  entirely  covered  with 
 ashes.’ 
 
 “ From  the  account  of  the  Resident  of  Bima,  it  appears  that  the  eruption 
 proceeded  from  the  Tomboro  mountain,  situated  about  forty  miles  to  the  westward 
 
ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ERUPTION  FROM  THE  TOMBORO  MOUNTAIN.  217 
 
 of  Bima.  On  the  night  of  the  11th,  the  explosions  he  represents  to  have  been 
 most  terrific,  and  compares  them  to  the  report  of  a heavy  mortar  close  to  his  ear. 
 The  darkness  commenced  about  seven  in  the  morning,  and  continued  twelve  hom-s 
 longer  than  it  chd  at  Macasar.  The  fall  of  ashes  was  so  heavy  as  to  break  the 
 Resident’s  house  in  many  places,  and  render  it  uninhabitable,  as  well  as  many  other 
 houses  in  the  town.  The  wind  was  still  during  the  whole  time,  but  the  sea  greatly 
 agitated,  its  waves  rolled  in  upon  the  shore,  and  filled  the  lower  parts  of  the  houses 
 wfith  water  a foot  deep.  Every  prow  and  boat  was  forced  from  the  anchorage  and 
 driven  on  shore,  and  several  large  prows  are  now  lying  a considerable  distance  above 
 high-water-mark. 
 
 ‘ On  the  22d,  the  Dispatch  country  ship  arrived  in  the  bay  from  Amboyna. 
 It  appears  that  this  vessel  had  mistaken  a bay  to  the  westward,  called  Sampo  or 
 Sangin  Bay,  for  Bima,  and  had  gone  into  it ; the  Rajah  of  this  place  informed  the 
 officer  that  the  whole  of  the  country  was  entirely  desolated,  and  the  crops  destroyed. 
 The  town  of  Sangin  is  situated  about  four  or  five  leagues  to  the  S.  E.  of  the  Tom- 
 boro  mountain ; the  officer  found  great  difficulty  in  landing  in  the  bay,  a consider- 
 able distance  from  the  shore  being  completely  filled  up  with  pumice-stones,  ashes, 
 and  logs  of  timber ; the  houses  appeared  beaten  down  and  covered  with  ashes. 
 
 “ ‘ Understanding  that  messengers  had  been  sent  into  the  interior,  I waited  till 
 the  evening  of  the  22d,  and  as  they  had  not  then  returned,  owing,  as  was  sup- 
 posed, to  having  found  the  country  impassable,  I left  the  bay  at  eleven  o’clock  that 
 night,  and  the  next  day  was  off  the  Tomboro  mountain  ; in  passing  it  at  the  distance 
 of  six  miles  the  summit  was  not  visible,  being  enveloped  in  clouds  of  smoke  and 
 ashes.  The  sides  were  smoking  in  several  places,  apparently  from  lava  which  had 
 flown  down  them  not  being  cooled,  several  streams  had  reached  the  sea ; a very 
 considerable  one  to  the  N.N.W.  of  the  mountain,  the  course  of  which  was  plainly 
 discernible,  both  from  the  black  colour  of  the  lava  contrasted  with  the  ashes  on 
 each  side  of  it,  and  the  smoke  arising  from  every  part  of  it.  The  Tomboro  Moun- 
 tain in  a direct  line  from  Macasar  is  about  217  nautical  miles  distance.’ 
 
 It  has  been  ascertained  that  these  eruptions  of  the  Tomboro  Mountain  were 
 heard  through  the  whole  chain  of  the  Molucca  Islands.  The  Honourable  Com- 
 pany’s cruizer  Teignmouth  was  lying  at  anchor  at  Ternate  on  the  5th  April ; 
 between  six  and  eight,  P.M.,  several  very  distinct  reports  like  heavy  cannon  were 
 heard  in  the  S.W.  quarter,  which  was  supposed  to  be  a ship  in  the  offing,  in  conse- 
 quence of  which  the  Resident  sent  a boat  round  the  Island  to  ascertain  if  it 
 was  so.  The  next  morning,  however,  the  boat  returned  without  seeing  any  vessel  in 
 the  offing,  and  the  conclusion  then  drawn  was  that  it  might  be  occasioned  by 
 the  bursting  of  some  volcanic  mountain  in  that  quarter.  Ternate  Island  5°  0'  N. 
 127°  30'  E. 
 
•218 
 
 ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ERUPTION  FROM  THE  TOMBORO  MOUNTAIN. 
 
 “ The  easterly  monsoon,  however,  had  at  this  time  distinctly  set  in,  and  con- 
 sequently the  sounds  would  not  be  heard  so  loudly  and  distinctly  in  the  Moluccas, 
 as  from  the  relative  distance  would  otherwise  have  happened.  They  extended,  in 
 the  opposite  direction,  to  Fort  Marlbro’,  and  several  parts  of  Sumatra,  as  appears 
 from  the  following  extract  from  thence. 
 
 “ ^ It  is  an  extraordinary  fact,  that  precisely  the  same  noise  (taken  by  all  who 
 heard  it  to  be  a cannonade)  occun'ed  at  several  stations  along  this  coast  at  the  same 
 time,  ^'iz.  the  morning  of  the  1 1th  April  several  gentlemen  heard  it  in  Marlbro’,  the 
 people  from  the  interior  came  domi  with  accounts  of  it,  and  those  from  the  higher 
 Dusuns  spoke  of  a kind  of  ash-dust  which  had  covered  the  herbage  and  the  leaves 
 of  the  trees.  Reports  to  the  same  effect,  (not  mentioning  any  fall  of  ashes  how- 
 ever,) were  received  fi'om  Moco-moco,  Laye,  Salumah,  Manna,  Padang  Guchee, 
 Croee,  and  Semanka.  From  some  of  these  stations  the  hill-people  came  down 
 armed,  to  assist  against  attacks  which  they  imagined  might  be  made  upon  the  head 
 factories.’ 
 
 “ It  has  not  appeared  that  any  noise  of  this  kind  was  heard  at  Padang,  or  much 
 further  north  than  Moco-moco.  I have  since  heard  that  the  same  noise  was  heard 
 at  Trumon  in  about  2'  40'  N.  lat.  and  at  Aver  Bungi  in  about  0'  15'  N.  lat.  at  aU  on 
 or  about  the  11th  April  last. 
 
 “ From  Sumbawa  to  the  port  of  Sumatra,  where  the  sound  was  noticed,  is 
 about  970  geographical  miles  in  a direct  line ; from  Sumbawa  to  Ternate  is  a 
 distance  of  720  miles;  and  the  existence  of  the  S.  E.  monsoon  at  the  time  may 
 account  for  the  difference  of  distance  to  which  the  sound  was  heard  in  the  westerly 
 and  easterly  directions ; the  distance  also,  to  which  the  cloud  of  ashes  was  carried, 
 so  thickly  as  to  produce  utter  darkness,  is  clearly  pointed  out  to  have  been  the 
 Island  of  Celebes,  and  the  districts  of  Gresie  on  Java.  The  former  is  217  nautical 
 miles  distant  from  the  seat  of  the  volcano — the  latter  in  a direct  line  more  than  300 
 geographical  miles  distant. 
 
 “ I shall  conclude  this  account  with  an  extract  of  a letter  from  Lieutenant  Owen 
 Phillips,  ^\Titten  from  Bima  on  the  23d  ultimo.  It  has  been  mentioned  in  a former 
 part,  that  on  receiring  intelligence  of  the  extreme  distress  that  had  been  occasioned 
 by  this  extraordinary  event,  I dispatched  a supply  of  rice  to  their  relief,  and  Lieu- 
 tenant Phillips  was  desired  to  proceed  and  adjust  the  delivery  thereof,  with  instruc- 
 tions, at  the  same  time,  to  ascertain,  as  nearly  as  possible,  the  local  effects  of  the 
 volcano.  His  report  is  as  follows : 
 
 ‘ On  my  trip  towards  the  western  part  of  the  Island,  I passed  through  nearly 
 the  whole  of  Dompo,  and  a considerable  part  of  Bima.  The  extreme  misery  to  which 
 the  inhabitants  have  been  reduced,  is  shocking  to  behold ; there  were  still  on  the 
 road  side  the  remains  of  several  corjises,  and  the  marks  of  where  many  others  had 
 
ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ERUPTION  FROM  THE  TOMBORO  MOUNTAIN. 
 
 249 
 
 been  interred ; the  \dllages  almost  entirely  deserted,  and  the  houses  fallen  down, 
 the  sur\iving  inhabitants  ha\dng  dispersed  in  search  of  food. 
 
 “ ‘ In  Dompo,  the  sole  subsistence  of  the  inhabitants  for  some  time  past  has 
 been  the  heads  of  the  different  species  of  palm,  and  the  stalks  of  the  papaya  and 
 plantain. 
 
 “ ^ Since  the  eruption,  a violent  diarrhoea  has  prevailed  in  Bima,  Dompo,  and 
 Saugar,  which  has  carried  off  a great  number  of  people.  It  is  supposed  by  the 
 natives  to  have  been  caused  by  drinking  water  which  has  been  impregnated  with  the 
 ashes ; and  horses  have  also  died,  in  great  numbers,  from  a similar  complaint. 
 
 “ ‘ The  Rajah  of  Saugar  came  to  wait  on  me  at  Dompo  on  the  3d  inst.  The 
 sufferings  of  the  people  there  appear,  from  his  account,  to  be  still  greater  than  in 
 Dompo.  The  famine  has  been  so  severe,  that  even  one  of  his  own  daughters  died 
 from  hunger.  I presented  him  with  three  coyangs  of  rice  in  your  name,  for  which 
 he  appeared  to  be  truly  gi’atefnl. 
 
 “ ‘ As  the  Rajah  was  himself  a spectator  of  the  late  eruption,  the  following 
 account  which  he  gave  me,  is,  perhaps,  more  to  be  depended  upon  than  any  other  I 
 can  possibly  obtain : 
 
 “ ^ About  seven,  P.M.  on  the  10th  of  April,  three  distinct  columns  of  flame 
 burst  forth,  near  the  top  of  Tomboro  mountain,  all  of  them  apparently  within  the 
 verge  of  the  crater;  and  after  ascending  separately  to  a very  great  height,  their 
 tops  united  in  the  air  in  a troubled  confused  manner.  In  a short  time  the  whole 
 mountain  next  Saugar  appeared  like  a body  of  liquid  fire  extending  itself  in  every 
 direction. 
 
 “ ^ The  fire  and  columns  of  flame  continued  to  rage  with  unabated  fury,  until 
 the  darkness  caused  by  the  quantity  of  falling  matter  obscured  it  at  about  eight, 
 P.M.  Stones  at  this  time  fell  very  thick  at  Saugar ; some  of  them  as  large  as  two 
 fists,  but  generally  not  larger  than  walnuts.  Between  nine  and  ten,  P.M.  ashes  began 
 to  fall,  and  soon  after  a violent  whirlwind  ensued,  which  blew  down  nearly  every 
 house  in  the  village  of  Saugar,  carrying  the  tops  and  hght  parts  along  with  it.  In 
 the  part  of  Saugar  adjoining  Tomboro,  its  effects  were  much  more  violent,  tearing  up 
 by  the  roots  the  largest  trees,  and  carrying  them  into  the  air,  together  with  men, 
 houses,  cattle,  and  whatever  else  came  within  its  influence  (this  will  account  for  the 
 immense  number  of  floating  trees  seen  at  sea.)  The  sea  rose  nearly  twelve  feet 
 higher  than  it  had  ever  been  known  to  be  before,  and  completely  spoiled  the  only 
 small  spots  of  rice-lands  in  Saugar,  sweeping  away  houses  and  every  thing  within  its 
 reach. 
 
 “ ‘ The  whirlwind  lasted  about  an  hour.  No  explosions  were  heard  till  the 
 whirlwind  had  ceased,  at  about  eleven,  A.M.  From  midnight  till  the  evening  of  the 
 1 1th,  they  continued  without  intermission  ; after  that,  their  violence  moderated,  and 
 they  were  only  heard  at  intervals ; but  the  explosions  did  not  cease  entirely  until  the 
 
 K k 
 
•250 
 
 LETTER  TO  MR.  MARSDEN. 
 
 15th  of  July.  The  mountain  still  throws  out  immense  volmnes  of  smoke,  and  the 
 natives  are  apprehensive  of  another  eruption  dm'ing  the  ensuing  rainy  season. 
 
 “ ‘ Of  the  whole  of  the  villages  of  Tomboro,  Jempo,  containing  about  forty 
 inhabitants,  is  the  only  one  remaining.  In  Precate,  no  vestige  of  a house  is  left. 
 Twenty-six  of  the  people  who  were  at  Sambawa  at  the  time  are  the  whole  of  the 
 population  who  have  escaped. 
 
 “ ‘ From  the  most  particular  inquiries  I have  been  able  to  make,  there  were 
 certainly  not  fewer  than  12,000  individuals  in  Tomboro  and  Precate  at  the  time  of 
 the  eruption. 
 
 “ ^ The  trees  and  herbage  of  every  description  along  the  whole  of  the  north  and 
 west  sides  of  the  Peninsula,  have  been  completely  destroyed,  with  the  exception  of  a 
 high  point  of  land  near  the  spot  where  the  village  of  Tomboro  stood  ; on  it  a few 
 trees  still  remain.  In  the  night  of  the  eruption,  two  men  and  two  women,  I am 
 informed,  escaped  to  this  point,  and  were  saved.  I have  sent  in  search  of  them,  but 
 have  not  yet  been  able  to  get  hold  of  them  ; no  person  has  yet  been  along  the  eastern 
 side  of  the  hill. 
 
 “ ' A messenger  who  returned  yesterday  from  Sambawa,  relates  that  the  fall  of 
 ashes  has  been  heavier  at  Sambawa  than  on  this  side  the  Gulf,  and  that  an 
 immense  number  of  people  have  been  starved:  they  are  now  parting  with  their 
 horses  and  buffaloes  for  a half  or  quarter  rupee’s  worth  of  rice  or  corn.  The  distress 
 lias,  however,  I trust,  been  alleviated  by  this  time,  as  the  brig,  with  sixty-three 
 coyangs  of  rice,  from  Java,  arrived  there  the  day  he  was  leaving  it.’” 
 
 “ Batavia,  September  28,  1815.” 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Buitenzorg,  Aug.  6,  1815. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I have  only  time  to  thank  you  for  your  very  kind  letter  by  Captain  Tra- 
 vers, and  to  retm’ii  you  my  grateful  acknowledgments  for  the  warm  and  steady 
 support  which  you  have  given  to  my  cause.  Magna  est  veritas  et  'prcevalehit. 
 
 “ The  wonderful  events  in  Europe  still  leave  some  hope  that  Java  may  remain 
 pennanently  English.  I have,  therefore,  addressed  the  Earl  of  Buckinghamshire 
 direct,  both  officially  and  in  a private  letter.  The  letters  were  written  in  haste,  but 
 I hope  are  to  the  point,  and  not  being  very  long  they  may  probably  be  read.  You 
 will  observe  with  satisfaction  that  the  cloud  which  overhung  our  finances  has  been 
 dispersed,  and  that  the  complete  success  of  our  land  revenue  arrangements,  and  the 
 fruits  of  that  new  order  of  things,  which  could  not  be  established  without  labour, 
 expense,  and  risk,  are  beginning  to  shew  themselves. 
 
 " A severe  domestic  affliction  has  banished  for  a time  the  hope  I once  enter- 
 tained of  an  early  retirement — activity  and  the  cares  of  public  responsibihty  are  now 
 
LETTER  TO  W.  B.  RAMSAY,  ESQ. 
 
 251 
 
 almost  necessary  for  my  existence.  I trust,  however,  that  a few  months  more  will 
 restore  that  serenity  of  mind  which  will  admit  of  my  looking  on  the  past  with  calm- 
 ness. You  will  see  that  although  I do  not  like  to  stand  in  the  way  of  the  arrange- 
 ment I have  suggested  for  the  government  of  this  Island  and  its  dependencies,  I 
 am  by  no  means  indifferent  or  disinclined  to  act,  and  to  continue  to  act  in  any 
 capacity  in  which  my  employment  may  not  injure  the  public  interests. 
 
 “ I have  just  returned  from  a three  months’  tour  through  Java,  and  I have 
 visited  Bali.  It  is  impossible  to  enter  upon  the  subject  at  the  present  moment  of 
 confusion.  I have  much  to  say;  so  much  that  is  altogether  new,  and  perhaps  unex- 
 pected, that  I really  know  not  where  to  begin,  and  it  will  require  some  arrangement 
 and  consideration  how  to  bring  the  extent  of  matter  within  the  limits  of  a letter. 
 
 “ I entreat  of  you  to  advocate  the  cause  of  Java,  if  there  is  a possibility  of  its 
 remaining  under  the  British  protection.” 
 
 To  W.  B.  Ramsay,  Esq.  from  Mr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Buitenzorg,  Aug.  5,  1815. 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 “ The  wonderful  and  extraordinary  change  in  the  politics  of  Europe,  by  the 
 re-appearance  of  Buonaparte,  has,  with  all  its  horrors,  shed  one  consoling  ray  on 
 this  sacred  Isle ; and  Java  may  be  yet  permanently  English.  In  this  hope  I have 
 addressed  Lord  Buckinghamshire,  both  officially  and  privately.  You  will  learn  with 
 satisfaction  that  the  measures  introduced  by  me  for  establishing  a better  system  of 
 internal  administration  have  succeeded,  even  beyond  my  most  sanguine  expecta- 
 tions ; that  the  amount  of  the  estimated  land  revenue  has  been  more  than  realized ; 
 and  that  the  detailed  settlements  and  surveys  have  been  nearly  completed.  What- 
 ever may  have  been  said  of  former  disappointments,  facts  now  speak  for  themselves, 
 and  facts  you  know  are  stubborn  things. 
 
 * 
 
 I have  no  idea  of  returning  to  Europe  while  any  thing  is  to  be  done  here- 
 about. I am  really  too  tired  to  write  you  fully ; my  back  aches  from  sheer  hard 
 writing  for  the  last  two  days. 
 
 “ Pay  a little  attention  to  my  dear  sister  Marianne,  and  her  child,  when  you 
 can.  I am  glad  Flint  has  come  out  again. 
 
 * 
 
 “ I should  wish  to  remain  in  the  country  until  a decision  on  this  reference  was 
 known,  until  time  had  been  given  to  my  successor  in  office  to  appreciate  and  report 
 on  the  character  of  my  administration,  and  until  a sufficient  lapse  occurred  in 
 Europe  between  the  effects  of  the  stigma  passed  on  my  conduct,  and  the  change  of 
 
 K k 2 
 
252 
 
 LETTER  TO  THE  EARL  OF  BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 
 
 opinion  which  a subsequent  better  knowledge  of  the  true  state  of  things  must 
 occasion.” 
 
 The  following  is  an  extract  of  the  letter  to  the  Earl  of  Buckinghamshire,  to 
 which  Mr.  Raffles  alludes  : — 
 
 “ Buitenzorg,  Java,  August  5,  1815. 
 
 “ My  Lord, 
 
 “ The  appearance  of  Napoleon  at  the  head  of  the  French  nation,  and  the 
 declaration  of  the  Allied  Sovereigns  at  Vienna,  of  wiiich  intelhgence  too  authentic 
 to  be  doubted  has  just  reached  us,  so  completely  deranges  every  plan  connected 
 with  the  pacific  arrangements  about  to  have  been  concluded,  that  it  is  impossible  to 
 hazard  a conjectm'e  when  and  on  what  basis  the  peace  of  the  w orld  may  be  even- 
 tually estabhshed.  If  there  is  to  be  neither  peace  nor  tmce  with  him,  and  he  con- 
 tinues successM  in  maintaining  his  sceptre,  England  must  doubtless  hold  wfflat  now 
 she  has,  and  gain  w’hat  more  she  can.  Holland,  too  w'eak  even  in  the  past  time  of 
 peace  to  equip  an  adequate  force  for  the  repossesion  of  her  colonies,  must  at  all 
 events  forego  every  attempt  of  the  kind  dming  the  existing  power  of  Buonaparte, 
 and  should  the  fate  of  Europe  remain  undecided  six  months  longer,  the  question 
 must  arise — ‘ what  is  to  be  done  with  Java  and  the  Dutch  possessions  in  the  Eastern 
 Seas  V 
 
 “ For  the  last  twelve  months  we  have  been  in  the  constant  expectation  of  the 
 Dutch  fleet,  and  every  measure  of  precaution  preparatory  to  the  delivering  up  of  the 
 colonies  has  been  taken ; and  a faint  hope  is  again  revived  that  Java  may  still  be 
 pennanently  English.  It  can  alone  arise  from  the  contemplation  of  the  possible 
 issue  of  the  desperate  contest  into  wfflich  England  is  again  thrown.  In  the  expecta- 
 tion that  a plain  statement  of  facts,  and  some  suggestions  from  the  spot,  in  as  few 
 words  as  possible,  may  be  useful  to  the  authorities  at  home,  under  any  circum- 
 stances, I venture,  my  Lord,  on  the  hberty  of  addressing  you. 
 
 “ The  bankrupt  state  of  the  Dutch  Company  in  fonner  days,  and  the  bad 
 appearance  of  our  own  finances  in  later  times,  may  have  induced  an  unfavourable 
 impression  with  regard  to  the  real  value  of  these  possessions  ; but  the  causes  of  both 
 are  so  obvious,  that  they  cannot  fail  to  have  struck  yom*  Lordship’s  observation. 
 Neither  the  one  nor  the  other  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  wnnt  of  resources  in  the 
 countiy.  The  Dutch  empire  ownd  its  fall  principally  to  the  connption  of  its  ser- 
 vants, w'ho  filled  their  own  pockets  with  that  treasure  wdiich  should  have  flowed 
 into  the  coffers  of  the  state.  The  causes  of  distress  and  disappointment  in  our  own 
 times  were  of  a temporary  nature,  and  those  attributable  to  events  wfflich  cannot 
 w'ell  recur. 
 
 “ If  it  was  mortifying  to  my  feelings  to  be  told,  after  all  the  labour,  all  the 
 
LETTER  TO  THE  EARL  OF  BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 
 
 25,‘i 
 
 anxiety,  all  the  responsibility  I had  incurred  in  changing  the  whole  internal  manage- 
 ment of  the  country,  ‘ that  my  calculations  were  flattering,  but  that  they  were  not  to 
 be  depended  upon  it  is  now  as  consolatory  and  satisfactory  to  those  wounded  feel- 
 ings to  know  that  these  calculations  have  proved,  on  the  unerring  testimony  of  ex- 
 perience, to  be  just  and  correct.  In  support  of  this  I do  myself  the  honour  to  request 
 your  Lordship’s  perusal  of  the  enclosed  minute,  with  the  several  abstract  statements 
 which  accompany  it.  You  will  therein  perceive  not  only  that  the  amount  of  the 
 revenue  actually  collected  under  the  new  system  of  internal  management  equals  the 
 estimate,  but  that  the  grand  work  of  establishing  the  detailed  system  has  been  per- 
 fected ; that  every  acre  of  cultivated  ground  has  been  measured,  assessed,  and 
 brought  to  account ; that  a body  of  information  the  most  complete,  the  most  valu- 
 able, perhaps,  that  any  government  can  boast  of,  has  been  collected ; and  that  the 
 revenue  has  been  considerably  enhanced,  whilst  the  most  hberal  consideration  has 
 not  only  been  paid  to  the  rights,  but  to  the  feelings,  the  vanities,  the  vrishes  of  those, 
 whose  interests  might  be  affected  by  the  change. 
 
 “ I shall  stand  excused  from  the  narrow  views  of  personal  interest  when  I 
 declare,  that  I should  have  no  inchnation  to  accept,  were  it  offered,  the  charge  of 
 such  an  administration  as  I shall  venture  to  propose  ; it  will  require  a person  of  high 
 rank,  either  noble  or  mihtary ; and  I have  had  too  much  experience  already  of  the 
 injuries  which  accrue  from  the  want  of  that  high  rank.  These  injuries,  as  far  as  they 
 might  affect  private  comfort,  or  what  may  be  termed  the  state  of  domestic  mind,  are 
 little  heeded,  for  I feel  myself  superior  to  them  ; but  the  pubhc  interests  suffer  when 
 exalted  rank  does  not  accompany  exalted  station.  I am  far,  however,  from  the  want 
 of  a nobler  feeling  of  interest ; it  fell  to  my  prorince  in  some  way  first  to  point  out 
 the  object,  then  to  direct  the  course  of  measures  which  led  to  its  attainment ; it  was 
 in  consideration  of  this,  and  of  some  favourable  impressions  of  personal  ability  on  the 
 indulgent  mind  of  the  late  Earl  of  Minto,  that  induced  him  to  select  me  for  my 
 present  charge ; that  charge  I have  administered  with  steadiness  and  uprightness : 
 and,  after  encountering  all  the  storms  of  contending  interests  and  unparalleled  diffi- 
 culties, I have  the  pleasure  to  find  my  vessel  tight  and  trim,  and  fit  for  any  voyage. 
 She  has  long  been  at  the  mercy  of  the  waves,  and  like  an  anxious  pilot,  I shall  anti- 
 cipate with  delight  the  hour  when  I may  dehver  her  over  to  her  duly  appointed  Com- 
 mander. In  October,  1816,  I shall  have  been  Governor  of  these  colonies  five  years, 
 the  usual  period  for  which  such  a post  is  held.  My  health  is  delicate,  and  having 
 completed  twenty  years’  service  in  anxiety,  fatigue,  and  constant  appfication,  I would 
 indulge  the  hope  of  some  relaxation.  My  inclination  would  lead  me  to  revisit  my 
 native  land,  but  a want  of  the  pecuniary  means  would  dictate  the  advantage  of  accept- 
 ing the  honourable  retreat  which  has,  with  a \iew  to  such  event,  been  kept  open  for 
 me  at  Bencoolen. 
 
 “ Before  I proceed  to  notice  the  value  and  importance  of  these  colonies,  and 
 7 
 
251 
 
 LETTER  TO  THE  EARL  OF  BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 
 
 the  great  interests  involved  in  their  eventual  fate,  allow  me  to  draw  your  attention  to 
 some  circumstances  with  reference  to  the  disadvantages  under  which  they  have 
 hitherto  been  placed — it  is  necessary  I should  do  so,  to  account  for  any  disappoint- 
 ment that  may  have  been  felt,  in  a partial  failure  of  expectations  at  first  held  out, 
 and  to  remove  the  shade  which  such  failure  may  have  cast  on  the  authority  and  cor- 
 rectness of  my  representations. 
 
 “ To  meet  wliat  I conceived  to  have  been  a very  unfair  attack  upon  the  cha- 
 racter of  my  administration,  I felt  myself  called  upon  to  take  a general  review  of  all 
 the  leading  measures  of  my  government  which  appeared  to  have  excited  displeasure. 
 I am  told  that  so  little  is  the  interest  taken  in  Leadenhall-street,  that  the  Directors 
 uill  not  even  read  dispatches  from  Java. 
 
 “ It  is  not  possible  for  your  Lordship  to  conceive  the  real  injury  to  the  public 
 serrtce,  to  the  public  character,  and  to  the  national  interests,  by  the  state  of  suspense, 
 the  indecision,  which  has  been  connected  uith  every  thing  concerning  Java  affairs. 
 Circumstances  have  thrown  Java  udthout  the  pale  of  the  Company’s  exclusive  juris- 
 diction, the  late  charter  has  reduced  their  power. 
 
 “ It  uill  be  found  that  on  the  first  establishment  of  the  British  dominion  in  these 
 seas,  it  was  contemplated  to  place  the  Moluccas  and  the  general  control  of  the 
 Eastern  Archipelago  in  the  hands  of  the  Java  government.  Acting  under  this  im- 
 pression, our  attention  was  directed  to  the  re-estabhshment  of  the  out-stations,  the 
 general  suppression  of  piracy,  and  the  introduction  of  that  system  of  wholesome 
 control  which  had  of  late  years  been  wrested  from  the  hand  of  our  predecessors. 
 Military  expeditions  became  necessary ; and  expences  for  the  benefit  of  trade  and 
 the  British  interests  in  general,  and  altogether  foreign  from  what  would  have  been 
 demanded  for  the  internal  management  of  Java  alone,  were  of  necessity  incurred. 
 
 “ The  advantages  of  the  Moluccas  are  easily  stated  : they  consisted  in  one  or 
 two  annual  cargoes  of  spices  for  the  Eiuope  market.  The  disadvantages  and  dis- 
 grace whicli  attaches  to  the  existing  government  of  them  is  great.  Nutmegs  which 
 ought  to  be  as  cheap  as  betel-nut,  and  cloves  no  dearer  than  pepper,  are  by  the  pre- 
 sent system  confined  to  the  consumption  of  the  rich  alone.  But  this  is  not  the  main 
 evil : did  the  unfortunate  people  by  whose  industry  these  spices  are  produced,  and  on 
 whose  soil  they  grow,  benefit  in  any  way  by  this  high  price,  an  excuse  might  be  found ; 
 but  to  the  disgrace  of  humanity,  the  original  inhabitants  of  these  miserable  Islands 
 are  nearly  extinct : the  wretched  remains  are  in  a state  of  the  most  abject  poverty. 
 The  gardens  of  Banda,  where  all  the  nutmegs  are  produced,  are  worked  by  slaves, 
 and  the  public  duties  carried  on  throughout  by  forced  services.  The  inhabitants  of 
 these  remote  Islands  as  yet  know  nothing  of  the  principles  of  the  British  government, 
 and  the  British  government  knows  still  less  of  its  unfortunate  and  suffering  subjects. 
 If  on  commercial  principles  it  may  be  deemed  advisable  that  these  spices  shall  be 
 collected  into  few'  hands,  let  tlie  gardens  or  their  produce  be  farmed  out ; let  the 
 
LETTER  TO  THE  EARL  OF  BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 
 
 255 
 
 East  India  Company,  or  any  association  of  Europeans,  enter  into  the  speculation — 
 but  let  the  British  government  preside — let  the  people  derive  some  advantage  from 
 tlieir  industry  and  toil — and  let  them  have  an  appeal  against  injustice — leave  the 
 produce  to  fair  and  open  competition,  and  allow  the  cidtivators  to  serve  or  supply 
 those  who  will  pay  them  best.  There  is  nothing  intricate  in  this,  or  in  the  manage- 
 ment of  the  Moluccas  on  this  principle  ; and  I believe,  if  the  people  were  freed,  and 
 the  gardens  let  out  to  individuals,  with  free  permission  to  sell  the  produce  when  and 
 where  they  pleased,  every  just  end  would  be  answered,  and  every  pecuniary  advan- 
 tage obtained. 
 
 “ The  Island  of  Banca  will  produce  upwards  of  2000  tons  of  tin  in  the  year — 
 let  the  mines  be  rented  out  for  a period  of  years,  or  sold  to  the  Chinese  miners  on 
 payment  of  a duty  on  the  exportation,  or  of  an  annual  quit-rent. 
 
 " The  great  Island  of  Borneo,  as  rich  perhaps  in  the  precious  metals  as  Mexico 
 or  Pern;  possessing  in  one  convenient  spot  a population  of  nearly  100,000  Chinese, 
 who  work  on  the  gold  mines  of  their  owm  accord,  and  for  their  own  benefit ; but  who 
 would  gladly  submit  to,  and  have  invited  British  regulations  ; and  affording  in  com- 
 mon with  all  the  Islands  in  the  Malayan  Archipelago,  abundance  of  that  peculiar 
 kind  of  produce,  which  in  all  ages,  in  all  times,  and  which  from  the  infancy  of  navi- 
 gation to  the  present  day,  has  always  been  in  request  on  the  continents  of  Europe 
 and  of  Asia,  opens  a wide  and  interesting  field. 
 
 These  Islands,  my  Lord,  are  doubtless  the  real  Taprobana  of  the  ancients — 
 the  sacred  isles  of  the  Hindus ! 
 
 “ Who  that  has  mixed  with  the  East  insular  tribes,  who  that  has  become  in  the 
 least  acquainted  with  their  ways  of  thinking,  that  will  not  bear  ample  testimony  that 
 their  character  is  as  yet  unknown  to  Europe  ? Even  their  piracies  and  deadly  creeses 
 wLich  have  proved  such  fertile  sources  of  abuse  and  calumny,  have  nothing  in  them 
 to  affright;  nay,  there  is  something  even  to  admire  in  them — their  piracies  are 
 but  a proof  of  their  spirit  and  their  enterprize,  and  the  regulation  of  good  government 
 is  alone  wanting  to  direct  this  spirit  and  this  enterprize  in  a course  more  consonant 
 with  our  notions  of  civihzation.  And  now,  may  I ask  what  was  the  state  of  Scot- 
 land two  hundred  years  ago  ? In  the  last  prints  from  Europe  I observed  the  parti- 
 culars of  the  trial  of  some  mffortunate  people  of  these  Islands,  who  were  subsequently 
 executed  for  attempting  to  cut  off  the  ship  Governor  Raffles  on  her  voyage  to  Eng- 
 land. No  doubt  a general  horror  was  excited  by  the  atrocity  of  their  conduct ; but 
 if  it  is  considered  that  these  men  were  in  all  probabihty  cajoled  on  board  the  ship 
 in  the  expectation  of  her  going  only  a short  voyage,  and  within  their  own  latitudes, 
 some  allowance  may  be  made  for  their  feehngs  when  they  found  themselves  deceived, 
 and  hurried  into  a cold,  tempestuous,  and  bitter  climate,  of  which,  judging  from  their 
 own  seas,  they  could  have  formed  no  previous  conception.  Suffering  under  the 
 acuteness  of  bodily  pain  and  mental  anguish,  thinking  on  their  families  and  their 
 
256 
 
 LETTER  TO  THE  EARL  OF  BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 
 
 homes,  which  they  were  daily  lea\dng  further  behind,  perhaps  never  to  %isit  again, 
 and  seeing  no  end  to  the  increase  of  their  miseries — may  not  some  allowance  be 
 made  for  them  ? I am  far  from  ^^ishing  to  insinuate  discredit  or  censm-e  on  the 
 parties  connected  with  this  particular  instance.  I doubt  not  that  every  thing  was 
 done  that  could  be  done  by  the  oumers  and  captain ; but  I know  that,  generally 
 speaking,  such  is  the  way  that  sailors  in  this  country  are  procured  for  long  voyages. 
 If  even  they  were  apprized  of  the  length  of  their  voyage,  and  promised  payment  ac- 
 cordingly, uill  not  their  case,  in  some  degi'ee,  resemble  that  of  the  first  adventurers 
 to  the  new'  world  ? The  creeses  is  to  the  Malay  what  the  practice  of  duelling  is  to 
 European  nations.  There  are  certain  points  in  the  composition  of  every  man’s 
 notions  which  cannot  be  regulated  by  courts  of  law ; the  property,  the  life,  the  cha- 
 racter of  the  European  is  protected  by  law ; but  yet  there  are  some  points,  and  these 
 are  the  very  points  on  which  all  society  hinges,  which  are  not  protected.  In  sup- 
 port of  these  he  contemns  the  law  which  stigmatizes  him  as  a mm-derer,  and  the 
 very  men  who  made  the  laws  still  say  he  is  right.  Neither  the  property,  the  life, 
 nor  the  character  of  the  Malay  is  secured  by  law — he  proudly  defends  them  with  his 
 own  hand  whenever  they  are  endangered.  The  readiness  with  which  an  injury  is 
 thus  redressed  has  a wonderful  effect  in  the  prevention  of  injuries ; and  except  in 
 warlike  entei-prize  the  Malay  is  seldom  known  to  di'aw  his  criss,  unless  perhaps  in 
 defence  of  w'hat  he  considers  his  hojiour.  The  certainty  of  resentment  has  produced 
 that  urbanity  and  consideration  for  the  feelings  of  each  other,  that  they  are  habitually 
 well-bred,  and  if  they  are  to  be  termed  savages,  certainly  they  are  the  most  pohte  of 
 all  savages ; but  in  truth  they  are  very  far  from  being  savages. 
 
 With  regard  to  the  establishment  for  the  general  administration,  it  will  first 
 be  necessaiy  to  decide  on  the  principles  which  should  guide  the  conduct  of  the 
 local  authority.  And  here  twn  questions  present  themselves ; first,  in  wdiat  manner 
 are  the  Dutch  inhabitants  and  Dutch  institutions  to  be  considered  ? and  secondly, 
 what  system  of  policy  is  to  be  obseiwed  towards  the  native  inhabitants  and  states  of 
 the  Archipelago  ? The  first  question  wdll,  I fancy,  be  easily  decided ; the  second 
 not  without  some  difficulty,  as  opinions  may  vary. 
 
 “ It  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  inform  your  Lordship  of  the  light  in  wiiich  the 
 Dutch  inhabitants  and  their  institutions  have  hitherto  been  rtewed  by  the  local 
 government ; it  has  been  in  strict  accordance  with  the  benevolent  principles  which 
 induced  the  Earl  of  Minto  to  depart  from  the  instructions  wffiich  required  him  to 
 deliver  up  the  colony  to  the  natives ; but  I am  ready  to  add,  that  it  has  been  the 
 cause  of  immense  expense,  and  not  the  least  of  the  difficulties  we  have  had  to 
 encounter. 
 
 “ The  Dutch  government  certainly,  for  the  last  fifty  years,  derived  no  advan- 
 tage from  this  colony,  and  as  rapidly  as  rice  and  corruption  increased  abroad,  the 
 profits  to  the  government  at  home  declined,  for  one  was  the  natural  cause  of  the 
 
LETTER  TO  THE  EARL  OF  BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 
 
 257 
 
 other.  This  state  of  affairs,  added  to  the  disorders  of  the  revolution,  ended  in  the 
 ruin  of  public  prosperity  in  Holland,  and  the  loss  of  private  character  in  Java ; 
 and  I am  reluctantly  obliged  to  say,  after  the  experience  I have  had,  that  it  is  as 
 hopeless  to  attempt  any  improvement  in  the  morals,  habits,  and  principles  of  a great 
 proportion  of  the  European  colonists,  as  it  is  to  purify  their  institutions.  There  is 
 a large  portion  of  the  Island  in  the  neighboiu-hood  of  Batavia  in  possession  of  these 
 colonists  as  private  property : from  this  the  majority  and  the  most  respectable  obtain 
 a handsome  independence.  The  liberality  of  the  British  Government  will,  no 
 doubt,  be  extended  in  pensions  to  such  as  want,  and  the  Dutch  population  in  general 
 \\ill  be  entitled  to  all  the  advantages  of  British  subjects.  Thus  far,  I should  think, 
 we  are  bound  to  go,  and  there  are  individuals  among  the  mass  entitled  to  still  higher 
 consideration — to  respect,  to  confidence  ; but  the  main  point  is,  how  far  a conside- 
 ration for  these  few,  and  very  few  they  are,  would  justify  us  in  continuing  the  seat  of 
 government  at  Bata\ia.  The  nature  of  the  administration,  and  the  success  of  the 
 whole  aiTangement,  appears  to  me  so  peculiarly  to  turn  upon  this  last  point,  that 
 it  is  deserving  of  the  first  and  most  particular  attention. 
 
 “ The  unhealthiness  of  Batavia  would,  of  itself,  be  conclusive  with  many,  with- 
 out the  additional  consideration  of  the  clog  which  would  be  fastened  upon  our  admi- 
 nistration by  the  Dutch  institutions.  It  is  as  vain  to  attempt  rendering  the  town 
 and  sea-coast  of  Bata\ia  salubrious,  as  it  is  to  restore  those  institutions  to  any  thing 
 like  a sound  and  sane  state. 
 
 “ The  British  Government  will  doubtless  commence  its  operations  without 
 being  fettered  and  dishonom'ed  by  the  petty  speculations  of  commercial  profit,  and  it 
 is  alone  on  account  of  its  convenient  station  for  commerce,  and  from  the  store- 
 houses and  public-buildings  which  it  contains,  that  Batavia  has  any  advantages  what- 
 ever over  other  parts  of  the  Island. 
 
 “ I would  at  once  propose  that  the  seat  of  the  new  government  should  be  fixed 
 in  the  neighbourhood  of  Samarang.  A Commissioner  or  Resident  may  be  entrusted 
 with  the  affairs  of  Batavia,  where  the  Dutch  court  of  justice  and  the  Dutch  institu- 
 tions may  he  pro\isionally  continued,  and  where  a revenue  equal  to  their  expenses 
 will  easily  be  derived.  At  Samarang  there  is  already  a Government-house  on  a 
 large  scale ; it  is  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  native  courts,  and  being  about  the 
 centre  of  the  Island,  great  advantage  will  be  obtained  in  quick  communications  east 
 and  west.  The  Dutch  inhabitants  would,  I am  confident,  in  the  end,  benefit  by 
 this  arrangement,  although  perhaps  some  might,  in  the  first  instance,  be  interested 
 in  the  probable  reduction  of  the  value  of  their  fixed  property.  If  the  British 
 Government  was  once  firmly  established  in  Batavia,  the  whole  of  the  Dutch  institu- 
 tions must  be  rapidly  broken  down  and  abolished,  and  the  inhabitants  themselves 
 would  soon  lose  that  influence  and  consideration  which  they  have  hitherto  been 
 allowed  to  enjoy ; for  my  own  part,  I woidd  make  them  a present  of  Bata\ia  and 
 
 L 1 
 
258 
 
 LETTER  TO  THE  EARL  OF  BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 
 
 its  en^^rons  if  they  required  it,  to  administer  in  their  oum  way  under  a political 
 Agent  or  Commissioner : they  could  not  call  this  ilhberal,  and  the  British  Govern- 
 ment would  lose  no  revenue  by  it,  while  it  would  be  fi'ee  to  introduce  and  estabhsh 
 its  own  principles  elsewhere,  without  apprehension  of  disquieting  or  anno\dng  those 
 who,  from  having  been  educated  in  a different  school,  never  can  or  will  think  in 
 the  same  manner  as  we  do.  Batavia  might  then  be  to  Java  what  Chinsurah  is  to 
 Bengal. 
 
 “ The  British  Government  being  thus  relieved  from  the  necessity  of  attending 
 to  long-established  forms,  may  in  its  immediate  establishments  be  extremely  simple. 
 A principal  secretary  uith  good  assistants,  a treasurer,  an  accountant  and  auchtor, 
 and  a legal  adriser,  will  be  the  leading  men.  There  will  be  no  necessity  for  the 
 establishment  of  any  British  court  of  justice,  at  any  rate  in  the  beginning,  for  the 
 Dutch  uill  be  subject  to  their  own  laws,  as  modified  by  our  regulations,  and  the 
 jurisdiction  over  the  native  inhabitants  is  already,  and  far  better,  provided  for  by  the 
 prorincial  courts  of  the  Residents. 
 
 “ Concluding  that  the  arrangements  for  the  general  administration  and  collec- 
 tion of  the  revenues  will  continue  nearly  on  the  same  footing  as  at  present,  I enclose 
 an  abstract  of  the  existing  establishments,  from  which  your  Lordship  will  perceive, 
 that  besides  the  two  native  courts  there  are  fourteen  principal  Residencies,  two  Col- 
 lectors of  land-revenue,  and  three  Collectors  of  customs  required  on  Java.  Besides 
 these  officers,  a Superintendent  of  the  forests,  who  may  also  be  Resident  of  the  forest 
 districts,  and  a Superintendent  of  marine  will  be  reqimed,  and  these  are  all  the  ap- 
 pointments which  appear  to  me  necessary  to  be  adverted  to  or  filled  up  by  authority 
 from  home.  There  are  several  gentlemen  now  on  the  Island  who  would  do  honour 
 to  his  Majesty’s  serv  ice,  and  whose  talents  and  information  would  be  essential  in  the 
 first  establishment  of  the  government : these  I have  named  in  a separate  memo- 
 randum enclosed. 
 
 “ The  second  question,  namely,  M'hat  system  of  policy  is  to  be  obseix'ed  to- 
 wards the  native  inhabitants  and  states  of  the  Archipelago,  must  be  decided  before 
 any  plan  for  the  administration  of  the  dependencies  and  out-stations  can  be  offered. 
 If  the  principle  which  I have  attempted  to  lay  down  in  my  minute  on  the  Eastern 
 Islands  is  adopted,  and  the  British  Go’S’ernment  resolves  to  wash  its  hands  of  the 
 iniquities  of  the  existing  order  of  affairs  in  the  jSIoluccas,  the  administration  will  be 
 simple : a Resident  for  the  Moluccas,  with  three  or  four  able  assistants,  a mihtary 
 Commandant  for  Celebes,  a Resident  at  Banjarmasing,  with  subordinates  at  Pon- 
 tiana  and  Sambas,  and  a Resident  at  Banca,  with  subordinates  at  Lingen  and  Billi- 
 ton, will  complete  the  nmnher  required. 
 
 The  inferior  arrangements  to  be  attended  to  are  numerous,  but  these  are, 
 perhaps,  best  left  to  settle  themselves,  under  the  superintendence  of  the  local  au- 
 thorities. The  above  are,  I befieve,  all  the  main  pomts  necessary  to  be  considered 
 
LETTER  TO  THE  EARL  OF  BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 
 
 259 
 
 at  home,  as  far  as  the  civil  establishment  is  concerned.  With  respect  to  the  military, 
 the  particulars  of  the  force  now  maintained  on  the  Island,  and  its  present  depen- 
 dencies, with  an  opinion  on  what  would  be  requisite  on  the  change,  are  contained  in 
 the  memorandum  regarding  establishments  in  general. 
 
 “ This  last-mentioned  opinion  is  given  with  all  deference  to  professional  judg- 
 ment, but  in  the  decided  conviction  that  while  the  principles  of  the  administration 
 are  just,  and  established  rather  with  a view  to  protect  and  exalt  the  native  character 
 than  to  debase  it,  we  need  never  for  one  instant  doubt  the  attachment  of  our  East 
 insular  subjects  and  allies.  There  are  no  people  more  capable  of  appreciating  a 
 benefit  or  of  forming  an  attachment;  they  have  no  prejudices  of  moment,  or  which 
 stand  in  the  way  of  civilization,  and  they  will  readily  assimilate  with  Europeans  in 
 as  far  as  Europeans  are  inclined  to  assimilate  with  them;  they  will  identify  them- 
 selves as  British  subjects  whenever  they  feel  the  benefits  of  British  principles,  and 
 the  permanency  of  Britisli  power. 
 
 “ I will  say  nothing  of  the  Eastern  Islands  in  general,  but  of  Java  and  of  its 
 inhabitants  I can  speak  plainly  and  decisively ; they  have  felt  the  advantage  of 
 British  principles,  they  acknowledge  the  benefit,  and  feel  grateful  for  our  inter- 
 ference. I have  just  returned  from  a three  months’  tour  throughout  the  Island, 
 and  I can  safely  say,  that  regret,  apprehension,  and  dismay  precede  the  expected 
 return  of  the  Dutch ; that  the  native  population,  feeling  and  profiting  by  the  arrange- 
 ments of  the  British  Government,  are  decidedly  attached  to  it ; that  they  will  not, 
 for  they  cannot,  understand  the  wisdom  of  that  policy  which,  after  the  price  of  so 
 much  blood  and  treasure,  would  transfer  them  to  their  former  task-masters,  and 
 deliver  them  up  unconditionally  to  their  vengeance. 
 
 “ Before  the  establishment  of  the  British  power  in  Java,  the  Dutch  held  but  a 
 disputed  sovereignty.  The  native  princes  of  Souracarta  and  Mataram  allowed  them 
 no  interference  within  their  dominions,  which  then  comprised  the  richest  part  of  the 
 Island.  The  Sultans  of  Bantam  and  Cheribon  were  still  the  nominal  heads  of  the 
 people ; while  both  those  provinces  were  in  a continued  state  of  insurrection,  the 
 tranquillity  of  the  Island  and  our  interests  required  a reduction  in  the  power  of 
 the  native  princes.  The  British  arms  were  carried  to  the  Craton  of  Djocjocarta,  and 
 to  defray  the  expenses  incurred,  and  as  a security  for  future  attachment,  they  by 
 treaty  transferred  into  our  hands  some  of  their  richest  provinces,  and  disbanded  all 
 their  military  in  return  for  our  protection.  They  are  now,  consequently,  completely 
 within  the  power  of  the  European  government ; but  seeing  no  advantages  taken  or 
 contemplated  by  the  British  Government  beyond  what  the  treaties  stipulated,  they 
 are  still  respectable,  and  place  such  unreserved  confidence  in  our  good  faith,  that 
 they  are  without  apprehension.  It  may  be  a question,  on  the  transfer  of  the  colony, 
 in  what  fight  are  these  treaties  to  be  considered  ? And  the  reflection  will  naturally 
 occur,  that  if  we  transfer  the  princes  and  the  provinces  as  they  now  stand,  will  they 
 
 L 1 2 
 
260 
 
 LETTER  TO  THE  EARL  OF  BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 
 
 not,  by  being  left  bare  and  unprotected,  and  stripped  of  the  means  of  defending 
 themselves,  on  being  thro^^^l  at  the  mercy  of  a power  perhaps  less  just  and  con- 
 siderate than  ourselves,  have  some  grounds  to  complain  of  the  injury  we  have  done 
 to  them  ? 
 
 “ The  rebellious  pro\dnces  have  been  brought  into  order,  universal  tranquillity 
 prevails,  and  confidence  is  every  where  established.  The  Sultans  of  Bantam  and 
 Cheribon,  witnessing  and  admiring  the  principles  of  our  Government,  have  vohm- 
 tarily  transferred  the  direct  administration  into  our  hands.  Are  we  not,  in  some 
 measure,  bound  to  the  native  population,  to  secure  to  them,  by  every  means  in  our 
 power,  the  enjoyment  of  that  liberty  and  independence  we  have  allowed  them  to 
 taste,  or  is  the  cup  to  be  dashed  from  the  lip  as  soon  as  it  is  touched  ? 
 
 “ When  I assumed  the  delegated  administration  of  Java,  humanity  dictated 
 consideration  and  respect  for  its  European  inhabitants,  but  policy  required  and  jus- 
 tice demanded  protection  to  the  native  population.  This  protection  has  been  given, 
 and  is  felt  in  the  cottage  of  the  peasant;  he  acknowledges,  and  is  proud  of  the 
 benefit,  and  in  one  word,  the  Javanese  are  decidedly  Enghsh;  give  but  the  other 
 word,  and  Great  Britain  produces  not  more  faithful  adherents  to  the  crown  than 
 Java  may  afford. 
 
 “ In  September  1815,  Lord  Minto  w^ent  home  fully  prepared  to  explain  the 
 principles  on  wJiich  he  had  estabhshed  the  provisional  government  of  Java,  and  also 
 to  support  all  my  measures,  wJiich  to  the  last  met  his  unreserv^ed  approbation. 
 
 I have  the  honour  to  remain,  &c. 
 “ T.  S.  R.” 
 
 It  is  e\ident  from  what  has  been  stated,  that  during  the  whole  period  of  his 
 administration,  i\Ir.  Raffles  had  constantly  been  occupied  with  the  varied  and  exten- 
 sive duties  of  his  situation,  wdiich  had  required  from  him  incessant  labour  and  atten- 
 tion ; every  thing,  in  fact,  rested  upon  himself.  He  was  unacquainted,  or  but  slightly 
 acquainted,  with  the  principles  or  characters  of  most  of  those  whom  he  had  to 
 employ ; he  was  compelled  to  instmct,  direct,  and  confide  in  all ; and  these,  untried 
 and  unknown,  w^ere  to  be  suiTounded  by  temptations  and  examples  of  peculation, 
 bribery,  and  corruption.  It  is  to  the  honour  of  the  individuals  so  employed  and  so 
 chosen,  that,  under  all  succeeding  circumstances,  so  few  were  found  to  fail  in  their 
 duty,  and  so  many  proved  themselves  worthy  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  them. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  was  occupied  constantly  from  four  in  the  morning  until  eleven  and 
 twelve  at  night ; and  the  weight  of  this  heavy  duty  was  much  increased  by  his  being 
 under  the  necessity  of  acting  entirely  upon  his  own  responsibihty  in  all  the  great 
 measures  of  his  government. 
 
 Such  a state  of  anxious  uncertainty  would  have  made  a less  conscientious 
 person  refrain  from  such  constant  and  unremitting  action ; but  it  was  one  of  his 
 
LETTER  TO  MR.  MARSDEN. 
 
 2G1 
 
 principles  in  public  as  well  as  private  life,  to  do  good  to  the  utmost  of  his  power ; 
 and  in  the  accomplishment  of  this  object,  no  labour  was  too  severe,  no  responsibility 
 too  burdensome  to  be  borne. 
 
 The  deep  interest  which  Mr.  Raffles  took  in  the  happiness  of  the  Javanese, 
 induced  him  to  exert  every  faculty  of  his  mind  to  instruct  and  improve  them ; and 
 this  was  to  him  comparatively  easy,  even  in  the  pressure  of  all  the  more  direct  and 
 ordinary  business  of  his  station ; he  was  gifted  with  a power  of  such  rapid  decision, 
 his  discrimination  was  so  clear,  and  his  arrangements  so  immediate  and  perfect, 
 that  he  was  able  to  effect  more  business,  of  every  kind,  than  any  single  person  of 
 those  around  him  could  have  thought  possible.  It  is  stated  by  some  of  those  who 
 were  in  the  habit  of  observing  him  at  this  time,  that  they  have  seen  him  write  up- 
 w^ards  of  twenty  sheets  of  minutes,  orders,  &c.  &c.  without  any  correction  or  even 
 alteration  being  necessary.  It  has  already  been  stated,  that  he  required  three  clerks 
 to  copy  and  keep  up  with  what  he  wrote ; and  that  he  frequently  dictated  to  two 
 persons  whilst  engaged  in  writing  letters  himself. 
 
 The  following  letter  to  Mr.  Marsden  is  on  literary  and  scientific  subjects  : 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Java,  September  18,  1815. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ In  my  last  I promised  you  a long  account  of  the  discoveries  we  had 
 made  on  Java,  and  of  our  progress  in  the  collection  of  materials  for  a Grammar  and 
 Dictionary,  as  well  as  for  an  historical  account  of  Java.  I have  been  compelled  to 
 read  a discourse  to  the  Batavian  Society,  which,  however  general  and  vague,  will  in 
 some  measure  reduce  the  extent  of  the  particular  communications  I now  sit  down  to 
 make,  and  I therefore  enclose  you  a few  copies,  which  have  been  struck  off  in  haste. 
 I also  take  this  opportunity  of  enclosing  an  authentic  account  of  the  violent  and,  I 
 believe,  unparalleled  convulsion  of  nature,  which  has  recently  occurred  in  these 
 regions,  and  I hope  you  will  approve  of  my  having  taken  measures  for  preserving  a 
 proper  record  of  the  event ; it  wall  appear,  nearly  in  its  present  shape,  in  the  next 
 volume  of  our  Transactions ; but  as  the  press  is  going  on  but  slowly,  and  the  subject 
 may  be  interesting  in  Europe,  you  have  my  free  permission  to  communicate  the  sub- 
 stance to  the  Royal  Society,  or  even  more  extensively,  if  desired. 
 
 ‘‘  I have  not  failed  to  notice  what  you  observe  on  the  paucity  of  information 
 respecting  the  Javanese  language,  and  I trust  our  next  number  will  not  be  liable  to 
 the  same  objection.  I have  attempted  to  break  the  ice,  but  further,  as  yet,  and  until 
 I can  communicate  with  those  who  are  acquainted  with  the  more  ancient  languages 
 of  Western  India,  I dare  not  go.  Of  the  ancient  Kawi,  I have  ventured  to  pro- 
 nounce that  it  is  almost  pure  Sanscrit ; but  in  doing  so,  I have  been  rather  gmded 
 by  the  general  opinion,  and  the  probabilities,  than  by  any  knowledge  of  my  own,  or 
 reference  to  Sanscrit  authority : I do  not  even  possess  the  Dictionary  of  Dr.  Wilkins. 
 
262 
 
 LETTER  TO  MR.  MARSDEN. 
 
 I enclose  you  a fac-simile  of  the  inscriptions  on  the  brass  plates,  together  with  the 
 alphabetic  character  and  version  in  Roman  letters : it  is  probable  that  Dr.  Wilkins 
 may  throw  some  light  upon  them.  Fac-similes  of  the  several  alphabets  to  which  I 
 have  refeiTed  in  my  Discourse  are  also  enclosed : these  I propose  should,  at  some 
 future  period,  he  engraved. 
 
 “ Of  the  present  language,  or  rather  languages,  of  Java,  my  collection  amounts 
 to  upwards  of  seven  thousand  words,  and  is  daily  increasing.  Nothing  is  more 
 remarkable  than  the  extent  and  delicacy  of  these  languages ; for  independent  of 
 there  being  almost  two  distinct  languages  in  constant  use  by  one  people,  the  w^ords 
 themselves,  especially  in  the  court,  or  polite  tongue,  are  expressive  of  such  nice 
 distinctions  and  shades,  that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  ex-plain  them  in  English 
 without  much  circumlocution.  This  evinces  a degree  of  civilization  beyond  what 
 was  to  be  expected ; and  the  people  ■who  could  devote  so  much  time  and  study  to 
 the  improvement  and  acciuacy  of  their  language,  must  have  had  something  of  a 
 literary  turn.  * * * * ^ * 
 
 “ The  Grammar  may  be  formed  on  the  principle  of  the  Malayan,  and  the  words 
 of  a Dictionary  arranged  in  alphabetical  order,  shewing  the  vernacular  and  pohte 
 dialects  opposed  to  each  other,  ■with  examples,  on  the  plan  of  yoiu*  incomparable 
 Dictionary,  which,  with  the  Grammar,  is  a model  for  whatever  may  be  fiu-ther 
 attempted  in  this  line. 
 
 “ I have  visited  nearly  all  the  remains  of  sculpture  to  be  found  on  the  Island ; 
 they  are  far  more  extensive  than  at  first  I had  any  idea  of,  and  drawings  of  the  different 
 images,  as  well  as  gTound-plans,  elevations,  &c.  of  the  different  buildings,  are  in  great 
 progress.  Many  of  the  Hindu  deities  have  been  found  in  small  brass  and  copper 
 casts;  of  these  I have  a collection  containing  nearly  every  deity  in  the  Hindu 
 mythology.  We  have  also  discovered  some  very  ancient  coins  with  dates,  in  the 
 Chando  Sangkolo,  and  from  the  Discourse  you  will  perceive  that  I have  succeeded 
 in  dec)T>hering  nearly  all  the  inscriptions,  with  the  exception  of  that  found  at 
 Bramhana ; the  stone  has  been  removed  to  Solo,  where  a fac-simile  has  been  taken 
 roughly  from  the  stone,  a copy  of  it,  or  indeed  the  original,  if  a favourable  opportu- 
 nity offers,  shall  be  sent  to  you.  It  is  rather  a curious  circumstance  wiiich  the  Javanese 
 historians  relate  regarding  inscriptions  at  Brambana ; these  they  say  were  left  by 
 Adi  Soko,  and  recognized  500  years  after  by  Sew^olo  Cholo,  at  a period  when  none 
 of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Island  could  read  them.  Shoidd  this  Adi  Soko  be  the  same 
 with  the  founder  of  the  Budhist  religion  in  China,  &c.  it  is  not  improbable  that  as 
 soon  as  the  new  faith  w^as  established  on  the  Continent,  emissaries  Avere  sent  into 
 the  different  Islands  to  extend  its  influence ; perhaps  the  Brambanan  inscription 
 may  relate  to  this  event,  and  at  all  events  the  inscription  has  a particular  interest. 
 
 “ I have  ventured  to  offer  some  notions  on  the  plan  of  a history  of  Java  and  the 
 Eastern  Islands,  rather  with  the  view  of  inviting  observation  and  discussion,  than  as 
 7 
 
LETTER  TO  MR.  MARSDEN. 
 
 263 
 
 binding  myself  to  any  preconceived  opinion.  It  was  necessary  to  say  something  on 
 the  subject,  and  at  aU  events  I can  answer  for  its  general  correctness  as  far  as 
 Javanese  data  can  be  depended  upon. 
 
 “ You  will  not  fail  to  notice  a hint  thrown  out  regarding  the  establishment  of 
 Menangkabu,  during  what  I have  termed  the  first  Eastern  Empire  of  Java,  and  at 
 the  period  when  the  states  of  Wahar  and  Koripan  were  in  all  their  glory. 
 
 “ It  is  related  that  about  the  Javanese  year  800,  the  Prince  of  Angrawan,  on 
 Java,  had  a son,  who,  when  an  infant,  was  carried  off  by  a celebrated  Bramin,  by 
 name  Bromono  Sacondo ; the  Bramin  substituting  his  own  son  in  his  place.  Bro- 
 mono  Sacondo  originally  came  from  Sabrang,  under  which  general  name  all  the 
 opposite  Islands  are  included,  and  when  he  had  succeeded  in  the  object  of  his  visit, 
 he  fled  again  to  Sabrang,  carrying  with  him  the  young  Prince.  Under  his  tuition 
 the  Prince  attained  matm'ity,  and  assuming  the  title  of  Klono  Tanjung  Pura,  car- 
 ried his  arms  with  success  throughout  the  Malayan  Islands,  finally  establishing  him- 
 self at  Goa,  on  Celebes.  He  did  not,  however,  remain  there  long,  but  hke  many  of 
 his  Malayan  descendants,  again  shifted  his  quarters  to  Sumatra,  where  his  authority 
 was  said  to  be  acknowledged  in  the  country  inland  and  to  the  northward  of  Palem- 
 bang,  probably  Menangkabu ; from  thence  he  waged  war  against  the  celebrated 
 Panje,  and  the  Javanese  romances  are  full  of  his  adventures  and  achievements ; they 
 are  the  subject  of  constant  dramatic  exhibition,  and  in  these  he  is  termed  the  Rajah 
 of  Musa  Kanchono,  the  Golden  Island.  He  was  continually  defeated  hy  Panje, 
 but  as  constantly  saved  by  the  advice  and  assistance  of  the  Bramin,  who  always 
 appears  to  carry  him  off  just  he  is  about  to  fall.  These  are  the  adventm'es  alluded 
 to  in  the  Malayan  compositions,  which  refer  to  the  beautiful  Princess  of  Dahar,  &c., 
 and  I strongly  suspect  that  the  Sun  da  Empire,  or  what  may  be  called  the  Western 
 Empire  of  Java,  which  was  estabhshed  about  the  year  1000,  was  founded  in  con- 
 nection with  this  authority  on  Sumatra ; the  investigation  into  the  extension  of  the 
 sovereignty  of  Bantam  over  the  southern  provinces  of  Sumatra,  would,  on  this 
 accomit,  be  very  interesting — this  is  an  object  which  I have  not  forgotten,  and  at 
 present  I will  only  mention  that  the  celebrated  Kris  of  Bantam,  and  which  is  in  my 
 possession,  is  understood  to  have  been  obtained  from  Menangkabu ; it  has,  on  the 
 blade,  the  impression  of  a Bramin,  or  figure  with  a long  flowing  dress  hke  that  of 
 India. 
 
 “ This  Klono  is  sometimes  called  Si  Malayu,  and  Klono  and  Malayu  Suon, 
 synonymous  terms  for  a wanderer. 
 
 “ The  above  anecdote  has  no  connection  whatever  with  the  subsequent  colo- 
 nization of  Palembang  by  Ario  Damar,  in  the  time  of  Majapahit ; there  was  a lapse 
 of  above  500  years  between  the  two  events. 
 
 “ I have  taken  measures  for  collecting  vocabularies  of  the  Papua,  or  woolly- 
 haired race.  I was  at  first  inchned  to  think  them  distinct  from  the  Afiican,  but  I 
 
2Gi 
 
 LETTER  TO  MR.  MARSDEN. 
 
 now  apprehend  there  is  little  difference  beyond  what  may  be  easily  reconciled  by  the 
 effects  of  long  separation  and  change  of  chmate.  We  find  them  in  considerable 
 numbers  on  Siimbawa,  and  if  they  have  not  all  been  destroyed  by  the  volcano,  I 
 expect  to  obtain  extensive  information  from  this  quarter. 
 
 “ I have  procured  from  Bali  copies  of  all  the  written  compositions  of  the  coun- 
 try, and  of  many  of  those  common  on  Java,  in  the  hope  that  they  may  be  purer 
 than  those  found  at  this  day  on  J ava ; but  it  is  deser^^ng  of  remark,  that  although 
 the  Javanese  are  all  Mahomedans,  and  that  every  man  of  the  least  respectability 
 studies  the  Arabic,  it  has  as  yet  made  no  inroad  whatever  into  either  the  wTitten  or 
 spoken  language  of  the  country. 
 
 “ As  the  time  draws  nigh  when  the  fate  of  this  colony  must  be  decided,  and 
 when  it  is  probable  I may  either  proceed  to  Bencoolen,  or  close  my  administration 
 in  these  seas  by  visiting  some  of  the  out-settlements,  I shoidd  feel  very  much 
 indebted  by  your  directing  my  attention,  either  by  a list  of  queries  or  otherwise,  to 
 such  points  as  may  appear  to  you  of  most  importance.  My  object,  as  you  know,  is 
 rather  to  collect  the  raw  materials,  than  to  establish  any  system  of  my  own  ; and 
 notwithstanchng  I have  in  some  instances  assumed  something  of  an  h\q)othesis,  I am 
 by  no  means  wedded  to  it  or  bound  to  support  it.  I have  no  idea  of  publishing 
 until  I go  to  Europe,  and  even  then  I would  rather  see  the  materials  worked  up  by 
 an  abler  hand,  than  inciu'  the  risk  and  responsibility  of  undertaking  the  task  my- 
 self. I am  afraid  it  will  hardly  he  possible  to  do  justice  to  Java  in  one  volume,  and 
 it  would  require  the  powers  of  the  steam  engine  to  compress  into  so  small  a compass 
 the  vast  variety  of  material  which  has  been  collected. 
 
 “ My  plan  in  such  a work  woidd  be,  after  giring  a sketch  of  the  natm'al  his- 
 tory and  geography  of  Java,  to  enter  on  an  abstracted  statistical  account  of  its 
 present  population  and  produce ; then  to  give  the  native  history  down  to  the  date  of 
 the  establishment  of  the  British  Government,  introducing  between  each  grand  divi- 
 sion a supplementary  chapter  on  the  other  Islands,  and  the  inferences  to  be  drawn 
 during  each  period ; an  account  of  the  European  establishments  would  necessarily 
 follow ; and  here  the  ground  on  which  I should  rest  would  principally  be  the  collec- 
 tion which  I have  made  of  the  treaties  entered  into  by  the  Dutch  wth  the  different 
 Eastern  States,  and  deductions  regarding  the  progress  made  in  civihzation ; a few 
 chapters  would  then  be  required  on  the  language — the  literature — the  agiiculture — 
 the  commerce — the  character  of  the  people,  &c.  ^rith  a general  concluding  view  of 
 the  whole  subject  embraced.  Considering  the  intimate  connection  which  appears 
 at  all  times  to  have  existed  between  Java  and  the  Eastern  Islands,  it  will  not  be 
 possible  to  enter  into  the  history  of  the  one  without  continual  reference  to  the  other ; 
 but  while  the  narrative  is  exclusively  relating  to  Java,  and  the  commentary  only 
 adverts  occasionally  to  the  other  Islands,  it  will  not  I hope  be  thought  that  I extend 
 my  views  too  far.  The  colonies  planted  by  Java,  though  themselves  deserving  a 
 
STATISTICAL  ACCOUNT  OF  JAVA. 
 
 265 
 
 separate  history,  cannot  be  thrown  off  until  some  historical  record  of  the  mother 
 country  gives  her  the  credit  of  having  established  them. 
 
 “ I should  be  most  happy  to  receive  your  candid  and  unreserved  opinion  on 
 this  plan.  An  accirrate  map,  principally  from  actual  survey,  would  of  course  accom- 
 pany the  work,  and  a supplementary  volume  might  contain  engravings  of  the  re- 
 mains of  antiquity,  and  Hindu  worship,  with  the  inscriptions,  alphabets,  &c. 
 
 “ I have  lately  made  a very  considerable  addition  to  my  Malayan,  as  well  as 
 Javanese  library;  and  I have  set,  not  only  the  Regents,  but  the  Susuhunan  himself, 
 at  work  in  compiling  historical  accounts  of  their  respective  divisions  of  the  country; 
 these  will  be  of  use  in  checking  the  general  account  which  I had  previously  collected ; 
 and  at  all  events,  it  has  given  a fashion  to  literary  pursuits  which  cannot  fail  of 
 being  highly  advantageous  to  all  parties  in  the  long  run.  A taste  for  letters  is  now 
 the  sure  passport  to  preferment ; and  an  old  MS.  or  Indian  relic,  is  found  to  have 
 more  influence  now-a-days  than  all  the  golden  profusion  of  former  times.  The 
 Dutch  colonists  accuse  us  of  folly ; and  the  only  answer  I can  make  to  them  is,  that 
 I am  ambitious  of  the  title  of  Bitara  in  after  days.  Objects  have  a different  appear- 
 ance when  received  by  the  rising  sun,  to  what  they  may  present  under  one  that 
 is  setting. 
 
 I feel  that  I have  not  yet  redeemed  my  pledge,  and  yet  hope  I have  said 
 enough  to  prove  that  we  are  not  altogether  idle. 
 
 “ Believe  me  always,  my  dear  Sir, 
 
 Most  sincerely  yours, 
 
 “ T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 To  William  Brown  Ramsay,  Esq. 
 
 “ Buitenzorg,  October  18,  1815. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 You  will  be  anxious  to  know  my  determination  as  to  proceeding  to  England ; 
 my  character — my  future  happiness— require  my  presence  in  England.  The  im- 
 pression on  my  mind  is,  that  I shall  quit  this  country  at  the  close  of  1816  ; but  this 
 depends  upon  circumstances  not  within  my  control.  I may  go  earlier — I may  go 
 later.  Your  ad^dce  will,  I think,  be  for  the  best,  and  I am  inclined  to  concur  in  it : 
 for  here  I am  a lonely  man,  like  one  that  has  long  since  been  dead ;’  and  should 
 any  thing  keep  me  away  for  one  year,  from  fidends  who  I am  sure  would  be  glad  to 
 receive  me  with  open  anns ! I want  leisure  to  recover  from  the  effects  of  that 
 weight  of  responsibility  which  has  almost  weighed  me  down ; yet  I am  high  and 
 proud  in  my  own  integrity.  I thank  you  for  the  warmth  and  attachment  which 
 breathe  through  every  line  of  your  letter  now  before  me ; it  has  roused  the  finest 
 
 M m 
 
266 
 
 REVIEW  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT  OF  JAVA. 
 
 feelings  in  my  breast ; and  in  the  test  of  friendship,  where  is  the  heart  that  would 
 not  be  glad  ?” 
 
 Before  lea^^ng  Java,  ^Ir.  Raffles  addressed  the  following  letter  to  the  Court 
 of  Directors : 
 
 “ Batavia,  March  11,  1816. 
 
 “ At  the  close  of  an  arduous  and  extensive  administration,  which  will  be  ad- 
 mitted to  have  commenced  at  a moment  of  peculiar  financial  difflculty,  and  to  have 
 been  attended  with  embaiTassments  unusual  to  a new  government,  in  consequence 
 of  the  bankruptcy  of  the  preceding  government,  and  of  a necessity  having  neverthe- 
 less existed  of  respecting,  in  some  degree,  the  forced  and  imperious  measures  to 
 which  that  government  resorted,  in  order  to  carry  on  their  ordinary  details ; I am 
 anxious  to  place  in  yom-  possession  a rtew  of  the  present  financial  state  of  this 
 colony.  This  rertew  I shall  foimd,  not  on  estimates,  but  on  actual  records ; and  I 
 confidently  trust  it  wll  prove  to  the  satisfaction  of  your  Honourable  Court,  that  my 
 ideas  on  the  value  and  importance  of  this  colony  have  not  been  raised  too  high,  but 
 that  time  only  was  wanting,  and  a perseverance  in  principles  of  liberal  and  extended 
 policy,  to  render  it  equal  to  all  the  extent  that  has  either  been  contemplated  or 
 reported. 
 
 “ I shall  not  detain  your  Honourable  Court  by  any  rertew  of  the  past  financial 
 arrangements  adopted  at  different  periods  of  my  administration.  The  opinions 
 which  have  been  passed  upon  them  by  the  Supreme  Government  in  India,  and  the 
 explanations  which  we  considered  ourselves  enabled  to  offer,  are  already  before  your 
 Honourable  Court;  and  my  letter  of  the  5th  of  August,  1815,  wll  have  explained 
 the  foundation  of  our  present  revenue  and  resources,  and  prepared  you  to  expect 
 that  the  general  result  would  be  more  favourable,  since  the  system  of  administration 
 which  it  has  been  my  object  to  introduce  into  this  Island,  in  accordance  with  the 
 principles  laid  down  by  the  late  Earl  of  Minto,  began  to  have  effect. 
 
 “ I now  request  to  lay  before  you  further  documents,  illustrative  of  the  pro- 
 gressive improvement  that  has  taken  place. 
 
 ^ ^ if!  ^ ^ 
 
 “ By  these  it  will  be  perceived,  that  the  revenues  of  the  Island  of  Java  itself 
 have  gradually  augmented  during  the  three  years  therein  mentioned,  the  revenues 
 of  1813-14  ha\ing  exceeded  the  former  year  in  the  sum  of  42,273,729  rupees, 
 and  those  of  1814-15  shewing  a further  excess  of  1,130,871  rupees.  On  the  other 
 hand,  it  will  appear  that  the  expenses  of  the  year  1813-14  were  less  than  the  pre- 
 ceding year,  in  the  sum  of  1,173,873  rupees,  and  those  of  the  year  1814-15  exceeded 
 only  in  the  sum  of  539,058  rupees,  which  gives  a clear  balance  in  favour  of  the  com- 
 parative receipts  and  disbursements  of  the  Java  government,  at  the  expiration  of  the 
 
IMPROVEMENT  OF  THE  REVENUES  OF  JAVA. 
 
 267 
 
 years  1814-15.  This  fact  will  speak  more  forcibly  than  any  comments  I could  offer 
 upon  it.  In  this  dociunent  your  Honourable  Court  will  further  be  able  to  trace  the 
 rapid  increase  of  the  revenue  of  this  colony,  in  comparison  with  what  it  was  under  the 
 preceding  Dutch  government ; and  as  it  is  sufficiently  obvious,  from  former  reports 
 and  documents,  that  the  increase  of  revenue  has  resulted,  in  a very  principal  degree, 
 from  the  introduction  of  land-rental,  which  now  amounts  to  nearly  one-half  of  the 
 whole  revenues  of  the  Island,  it  is  a fan*  conclusion  to  draw,  that  the  improvement 
 thus  effected  is  rendered  permanent ; and  that  a very  short  time  only  has  been 
 required  to  repay,  in  a pecimiary  point  of  view,  those  temporary  and  partial  sacri- 
 fices which,  in  the  introduction  of  a radical  change,  that  had  equally  in  view  the 
 amehoration  of  the  condition  of  the  people  and  the  interests  of  the  government, 
 could  not  be  avoided. 
 
 “ Another  enclosure  gives  fm-ther  proof  of  the  improving  state  of  the  public 
 treasuries  in  this  Island,  on  the  one  hand,  and  of  a diminution  of  the  public  debt  on 
 the  other,  by  a decrease  in  the  amount  of  government  securities  in  circulation. 
 Yom*  Honourable  Court  \rill  observe,  that  as  soon  as  the  arrears  of  the  troops  had 
 been  paid  up  to  the  date  which  is  usually  done  at  the  Presidencies  in  India,  we 
 appropriated  the  funds  derivable  from  the  improved  state  of  oiu'  treasuries,  towards 
 the  discharge  of  these  securities ; and  by  a gradual  progress  of  this  procediu'e,  the 
 public  debt,  arising  from  this  cause,  is  now  completely  at  command. 
 
 Thus  it  will  be  found,  that  at  the  expiration  of  the  years  1814-15  the  amount 
 of  government  securities  which  had  been  in  circulation  was  288,126,166  rupees. 
 On  the  1st  of  January  last  it  amounted,  as  appears  by  the  accountant’s  report,  to 
 196,819,615  rupees,  and  at  the  present  date  it  is  reduced  to  122,734,224  rupees, 
 while  by  the  opposite  columns  of  assets  in  the  balance  of  government  treasuries,  it  is 
 erident  that  the  amount  of  cash  in  hand  considerably  surpasses  the  extent  of  the 
 outstanding  debts. 
 
 “ It  would  occupy  too  much  time  to  enter  fully  into  all  the  inferences  that 
 might  be  di*awn  fi'om  these  documents;  and  on  the  present  occasion  my  object  is 
 rather  to  place  facts  before  you,  than  to  draw  inferences  from  them  : but  your 
 Honourable  Court  will  permit  me  to  observe,  that  as  this  improvement  has  arisen 
 fi'om  ordinary  causes,  and  is  solely  attributable  to  the  establishment  of  that  system, 
 \rithout  which  it  always  appeared  to  me  that  the  government  of  Java  could  not  be 
 administered  but  under  heavy  loss  to  the  mother-country,  there  is  every  reason  and 
 ground  to  expect,  that  a perseverance  in  this  system  will  continue,  and  even  encrease 
 the  benefit  that  has  resulted  from  its  introduction.  The  difficulty  in  short  is  re- 
 moved ; and  the  pohtical  tranquillity  that  has  continued  throughout  the  Island  is  a 
 guarantee,  that  the  change  is  equally  advantageous  in  whatever  point  of  \iew^  it  be 
 considered. 
 
 “ Thus  far  my  remarks  have  been  confined  to  Java  only,  but  the  inclosures  will 
 
 Mm2 
 
•268 
 
 REVENUE  AND  GOVERNMENT  OF  JAVA. 
 
 also  shew,  that  the  expence  of  the  dependencies  has,  of  late,  become  much  lessened, 
 or  in  other  words,  that  the  surplus  profits  derived  on  the  sale  of  the  produce  of 
 Banca  make  good  the  expences  of  maintaining  that  chain  of  possessions  which  is 
 undoubtedly  necessary  to  secure  the  tranquillity  of  the  coasting-trade  of  those  seas. 
 
 “ The  possession  of  Banca  is  now  complete,  and  its  resources  brought  forward. 
 The  revenue  derivable  from  them  will  continue  undiminished,  as  far  as  can  be 
 foreseen,  since  the  tin  has  a ready  and  certain  sale,  and  there  is  no  necessity  for  any 
 considerable  increase  of  establishment,  unless  the  opening  of  new  mines  gives  a cor- 
 responding increase  of  revenue.  The  settlement  of  Banjemiassing  also  continues  on 
 the  footing  already  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  Governor-General  in  August  last ; 
 and  Macasar,  though  at  all  times  burdensome,  and  maintained,  not  for  its  intrinsic 
 value,  but  from  fonner  usage,  and  the  necessity  of  holding  a check  on  the  native 
 establishment,  as  well  as  for  the  suppression  of  piracy  and  for  the  protection  of  the 
 spice  monopoly,  cannot  in  any  way  incur  an  expence  equivalent  to  the  surplus  revenue 
 accruing  in  Java,  under  the  present  system  of  internal  administration. 
 
 “ On  the  whole,  therefore,  I feel  considerable  confidence  in  the  report  which  I 
 am  now  enabled  to  present  to  your  Honourable  Court.  The  outlay  on  the  first  esta- 
 blishment of  this  government  was  great,  and  unavoidably  so  ; it  was,  in  fact,  a com- 
 plete purchase  of  every  necessary  article,  even  to  the  furniture  of  the  public  offices, 
 and  it  is  in  this  manner  that  the  accounts  with  the  prize  agents  became  so  exten- 
 sive ; but  on  the  other  hand  the  particulars  and  the  returns  of  that  outlay  will,  in  a 
 great  degi'ee,  be  shewn  at  the  transfer  of  the  colony,  in  the  amount  of  stock  which 
 then  will  either  be  taken  over  by  the  succeeding  government,  or  be  disposable  to  be 
 converted  into  money.  By  the  account  enclosed  you  will  perceive  there  remains  a 
 surplus  of  37,84,10,416  mpees  to  the  credit  of  the  government  of  Java.  The  quan- 
 tity of  coffee  also  now  in  store,  and  which  has  long  been  waiting  the  necessary 
 tonnage  to  be  conveyed  to  Europe,  is  60,000  peculs,  which  at  the  present  market- 
 price  at  Bataria  is  equal  to  13,20,000  rupees.” 
 
CHAPTER  IX. 
 
 Mr,  Raffles  hears  he  is  to  be  relieved  in  the  Government — Residency  of  Bencoolen  secured  to  him — Forced 
 to  return  to  England  by  ill  health — Arrival  of  Mr,  Fendall — Reception  of  him— General  regret  at  Mr. 
 Raffles'  departure — Presentation  of  plate — Endeavours  by  a last  memorial  to  secure  justice  to  the  native 
 princes  and  people — The  objects  of  their  treaties  with  the  English — Objects  neglected  by  the  English 
 Government — Island  restored  without  conditions  to  the  Dutch — ■Embarkation — State  of  mind  on  quitting 
 Java — Extract  from  Captain  Travers'  Journal  during  the  voyage — St.  Helena — Interview  with  Buona- 
 parte— Arrival  at  Falmouth — Mines  in  Cornwall — Journey  to  London. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  was  at  Ciceroa  when  he  heard  that  he  was  to  be  reheved  from  the  charge 
 of  the  government.  Though  the  mode  in  which  the  intelhgence  was  conveyed  was 
 most  imexpected,  it  did  not  affect  his  equanimity  and  composure. 
 
 Lord  Minto  had  secured  to  him  the  Residency  of  Bencoolen,  as  a provision  in 
 case  Java  had  been  transferred  to  the  Crown,  when  of  course  a Governor  and 
 Council  would  have  been  sent  out  fi-om  England.  This  appointment  was  now 
 offered  to  him,  but  his  health  was  so  impaired,  his  strength  so  exhausted,  that  his 
 medical  advisers  considered  it  absolutely  necessary  for  the  preservation  of  his  life, 
 that  he  should  proceed  to  Europe  without  delay. 
 
 As  soon  as  it  was  ascertained  that  Mr.  Fendall  was  appointed  to  succeed  to  the 
 government,  and  was  actually  on  his  way  to  Java,  Mr.  Raffles  determined  to  leave 
 Ciceroa,  and  return  to  Buitenzorg,  in  order  to  be  ready  at  the  shortest  notice  to 
 proceed  to  Batavia  for  the  purpose  of  recemng  his  successor.  He  felt  himself  ag- 
 giieved,  but  he  well  knew  his  being  so  was  in  no  way  attributable  to  Mr.  Fendall; 
 and  he  wished  to  pay  the  respect  and  attention  which  he  thought  due  to  the  station 
 that  Mr.  Fendall  was  about  to  fill.  Mr.  Raffles  was  alarmingly  reduced  at  this  time 
 by  the  joint  action  of  illness,  and  of  the  violent  remedies  which  had  been  applied; 
 but  his  spirits  rose  superior  to  his  bodily  strength,  and  he  could  not  be  persuaded  to 
 allow  any  personal  consideration  to  interfere  with  a public  arrangement.  He  ex- 
 acted httle  himself,  but  he  was  most  scrupulous  in  his  attentions  to  others.  Accord- 
 ingly, the  moment  the  report  reached  Buitenzorg,  that  Mr.  Fendall  had  arrived  in 
 Batavia  Roads,  Mr.  Raffles  was  ready  to  proceed,  and  although  he  had  been  confined 
 
270 
 
 ARRIVAL  OF  I\IR.  FENDALL. 
 
 to  the  liouse  for  several  days  before,  he  left  Biiitenzorg  at  3 o’clock  in  the  morning, 
 and  arrived  at  Ryswick  in  time  to  make  the  necessary  an'angements  for  recei^dng 
 the  new  Governor  ^^^th  suitable  honors. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  introduced  Mr.  Fendall  to  all  those  who  had  been  usehd  whilst  em- 
 ployed under  his  government,  \\ith  some  private  recommendatory^  tribute  of  praise, 
 or  some  public  acknowledgment  of  their  merits.  The  scene  was  an  interesting  one ; 
 from  the  total  absence  of  all  selfish  consideration  which  marked  Mr.  Raffles’  con- 
 duct ; he  was  entirely  absorbed  in  the  desire  of  promoting  the  welfare  of  others,  and 
 if  possible,  securing  to  them  any  advantages  which  they  might  have  derived  from  his 
 presence.  The  exertion,  however,  as  may  be  supposed,  was  too  great  for  him  in  his 
 debilitated  state,  and  at  the  close  of  the  day,  he  was  obhged  to  retire.  Haring  pre- 
 viously made  every  arrangement,  he  quitted  the  Government-house  in  the  evening 
 for  Mr.  Cransen’s,  where  he  remained  mitil  his  embarkation.  When  it  became 
 generally  knowm  that  Mr.  Raffles  was  obliged  to  proceed  to  England  as  the  only  hope 
 of  preserring  his  life,  the  European  and  native  inhabitants  united  in  expressing 
 their  deep  regret  at  his  departure,  and  in  acknowledging  in  the  warmest  terms  their 
 gratitude  for  the  benefits  which  he  had  conferred  upon  them  during  his  administra- 
 tion. A magnificent  serrice  of  plate  was  given  to  him  by  them  on  liis  arrival  in 
 England;  and  his  own  immediate  staff,  besides  uniting  in  this  noble  gift,  presented 
 him  with  a separate  and  exclusive  piece  of  plate,  as  a testimony  of  their  affection 
 and  gratitude  for  the  kindness  which  he  had  shewn  to  them,  and  the  interest  that 
 he  had  taken  in  their  welfare. 
 
 The  delay  preparatory  to  embarkation  gave  Mr.  Fendall  an  opportunity  of 
 looking  into  the  public  proceedings,  and  of  forming  an  opinion  on  the  principal  acts 
 of  the  government.  He  frankly  avowed  his  approbation  of  them  all ; and  without 
 one  alteration  continued  Mr.  Raffles’  personal  staff  in  their  former  situations,  and 
 expressed  his  determination  to  attend  to  all  Mr.  Raffles’  vishes. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  did  not  depart  from  Java  without  making  an  effort  to  induce  those 
 who  succeeded  him  to  secure  justice  to  the  people  whom  he  was  learing.  He  gave 
 a memorial  to  Mr.  Fendall,  of  which  the  following  is  an  extract : — 
 
 “ 1st.  Either  the  existing  treaties  between  the  British  Government  and  the 
 native  coiuts  of  Solo  and  Djocjocarta  should  be  guaranteed,  or  their  princes  should 
 be  placed  as  nearly  as  practicable  on  the  same  footing  as  they  stood  towards  the 
 European  authority  previously  to  those  treaties  being  entered  into.  Under  the 
 Dutch  government  there  was  no  limitation  regarding  the  number  of  troops  that 
 might  he  maintained  by  these  princes ; and  uith  the  exception  of  some  monopolies, 
 they  enjoyed  the  direct  receipt  of  all  the  revenues  of  their  states. 
 
 “ By  the  treaties  entered  into  uith  the  British  Government  they  have  con- 
 sented to  disband  these  troops,  and  to  make  over  a portion  of  their  revenues,  on 
 
 7 
 
ENDExWOURS  TO  SECURE  JUSTICE  TO  THE  NATIVES. 
 
 271 
 
 condition  of  our  affording  them  protection,  and  allowing  to  each  an  annual  stipend 
 for  their  support. 
 
 On  reference  to  the  evidence  brought  forward  in  the  late  investigation  at  Solo, 
 it  is  apprehended  that  the  Dutch  Government  may  not  continue  to  pay  their  stipend 
 as  hitherto  ; and  that,  taking  advantage  of  the  present  defenceless  state  of  these 
 powers,  they  may  bear  heavy  upon  them.  The  question  therefore  arises,  in  how 
 far  the  British  Government  might  not  be  subjected  to  reproach,  were  they  uncondi- 
 tionally to  hand  these  princes  over,  thus  reduced,  to  the  mercy  of  their  former  rulers. 
 On  withdrawing  om’  protection,  are  these  treaties  to  be  considered  to  have  ceased, 
 or  is  the  succeeding  government  to  be  assisted  by  us  in  occupying  the  present 
 commanding  influence  possessed  by  the  European  authority  in  these  provinces? 
 It  appears  to  me  that  either  the  Dutch  should  consent  to  guarantee  the  existing 
 treaties  in  all  their  conditions,  should  the  native  courts  assent  thereto,  or  that  the 
 native  princes  should  be  allowed  to  place  themselves  in  the  same  position  as  they 
 stood  at  the  close  of  the  Dutch  and  French  administration  in  1811.  The  point, 
 however,  should  be  decided  upon  before  the  Dutch  are  allowed  to  supplant  us, 
 otherwise  these  princes  will  not  have  the  means  of  regaining  this  position. 
 
 “ In  the  last  case,  a further  question  will  arise  regarding  the  provinces  ceded 
 to  the  British  Government  by  these  treaties,  and  from  which  provinces  the  princes 
 derived  their  principal  strength  and  resources.  It  is  true  that  some  of  these  pro- 
 vinces had  been  nominally  ceded  by  the  court  of  Djocjocarta  to  the  former  govern- 
 ment, but  they  had  never  been  actually  transferred ; and  in  the  Kedu,  for  instance, 
 the  Susuhunan  still  retained,  unshaken,  his  right  to  at  least  one-half  of  the  population 
 and  revenues.  In  endeavouring  to  replace  the  native  princes  in  the  situation  in 
 which  they  stood  under  the  Dutch,  are  these  provinces,  or  is  any,  and  what  portion 
 of  them,  to  be  given  back  ? 
 
 The  court  of  Solo  has  sufficiently  evinced  its  conviction  of  the  justice  of 
 some  arrangement  on  our  part ; and  as  the  British  Government  is  the  guardian  and 
 trustee  for  the  young  Sultan,  they  are  bound  [to  defend  his  just  rights  from  inva- 
 sion. This  is  a question  in  which  the  national  character  is  so  deeply  concerned, 
 that  I conceive  it  deserves  the  most  early,  and  at  the  same  time,  the  most  serious 
 consideration.” 
 
 The  rest  of  the  memorial  relates  to  measures  of  finance.  Unfortunately  Mr. 
 Raffles’  appeal  in  behalf  of  those  for  whose  welfare  he  had  so  anxiously  laboured, 
 was  not  attended  to ; and  the  Island  was  transferred  to  the  Dutch  without  one  sti- 
 pulation in  favour  of  the  natives,  who  had  in  justice  a right  to  expect  that  some 
 pro\isions  would  have  been  made  for  their  interests.  The  events  which  followed 
 the  re-occupation  of  the  Island  by  the  Dutch  afford  a melancholy  proof  of  the  sad 
 effects  of  this  neglect. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  engaged  his  passage  in  the  Ganges,  a fine  vessel  in  Batavia  Roads, 
 
272 
 
 EMBARKATION. 
 
 at  that  time  preparing  for  England.  Lieutenant-Colonel,  then  Captain  Garnham, 
 Captain  Travers  (two  of  his  Aid-de-camps)  and  Sir  Thomas  Sevestre,  his  medical 
 attendant,  with  all  the  disinterestedness  of  devoted  zeal  and  friendship,  determined 
 to  accompany  him.  The  natives  and  Europeans,  Dutch  as  well  as  English,  erinced 
 a strong  feeling  of  interest  and  regret.  The  inhabitants  had  experienced,  from 
 his  administration,  benefits  which  were  fresh  in  their  memory;  the  welfare  of  all 
 had  been  watched  with  a parental  solicitude ; and  perhaps  no  conquered  country  had 
 ever  been  so  quickly  restored  to  tranquillity,  or  so  strictly  preserved  in  quietness  and 
 good  order  as  Java,  during  the  period  of  British  rule.  There  were  also  many 
 amongst  the  respectable  Dutch  inhabitants  who  attributed,  and  perhaps  -with  justice, 
 to  Mr.  Raffles,  the  hue  of  conduct  adopted  by  Lord  Minto  on  the  first  capture  of  the 
 Island. 
 
 If,  in  addition  to  this,  it  is  remembered  how  warmly  he  devoted  himself  to  the 
 improvement  of  the  people,  the  information  which  he  collected  on  every  point  con- 
 nected with  the  Island,  the  total  ignorance  that  previously  prevailed,  the  assistance 
 which  he  rendered  to  literature,  the  zeal  with  which  he  promoted  all  objects  of 
 science,  of  which  a more  detailed  account,  by  Dr.  Horsfield,  \rill  be  found  in  the 
 appendix,  the  charts  and  maps  which  were  executed  under  his  superintendance  for  the 
 general  benefit  of  the  inhabitants,  it  will  be  no  matter  of  surprise  that  he  established 
 a name  and  character  which  will  not  be  soon  forgotten  in  the  Island  of  Java. 
 
 On  the  morning  of  ]\Ir.  Raffles’  embarkation,  the  Roads  of  Batavia  were  filled 
 with  boats,  crowded  with  people  of  various  nations,  all  anxious  to  pay  the  last  tribute 
 of  respect  within  their  power  to  one  for  whom  they  entertained  the  most  lively  affec- 
 tion. On  reaching  the  vessel,  he  found  the  decks  filled  uith  offerings  of  eveiy  de- 
 scription— fruits,  flowers,  poultry,  whatever  they  thought  would  promote  his  com- 
 fort on  the  voyage.  It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  scene  which  took  place  when  the 
 order  was  given  to  weigh  the  anchor  ; the  people  felt  that  they  had  lost  the  greatest 
 friend  whom  Java  ever  possessed ; and  perhaps  they  anticipated,  as  too  near,  their  re- 
 delivery to  the  Dutch  power,  and  the  consequently  too  probable  revival  of  the  scenes 
 of  misgovernment,  from  which,  under  the  administration  of  Mr.  Raffles,  they  had 
 been  relieved  for  five  years,  and  ought  to  have  been  reheved  for  ever. 
 
 Tlie  following  extract  of  a letter  to  INIr.  Edmonstone  at  this  time  will  shew  the 
 temper  of  mind  in  which  INIr.  R.affles  relinquished  his  authority. 
 
 To  N.  B.  Edmonstone,  Esq.  (then  one  of  the  members  of  the  Supreme  Council  in 
 
 Bengal,  and  now  one  of  the  Court  of  Directors  of  the  Honourable  East  India 
 
 Company.) 
 
 On  hoard  the  Ganges,  off  Bantam,  March  26,  1816. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 I cannot  quit  Java  without  returning  you  my  warmest  acknowledgments 
 
LETTER  TO  N.  B.  EDMONSTONE,  ESQ. 
 
 273 
 
 for  the  consideration  which  you  have  always  evinced  for  me,  and  in  particular  for 
 the  kindness  and  protection  ^vith  which  I am  confident  you  have  endeavoured  to 
 shield  my  public  as  well  as  my  private  character,  in  discussions  in  which  both  have 
 been  most  violently  and  wantonly  attacked. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 “ Of  the  public  measures  of  my  administration,  it  is,  perhaps,  improper  for  me 
 to  speak;  and  probably  it  may  be  as  well  that  they  are  left  to  speak  for  themselves. 
 All  I ask,  and  all  I urge,  is,  that  the  results  of  my  administration  be  not  partially 
 considered;  these  cannot  be  fairly  understood,  nor  duly  appreciated  until  the  close 
 of  the  British  Government,  and,  as  the  Dutch  authorities  are  now  on  the  way  out,  a 
 delay  in  the  decision  will  not  occasion  inconvenience. 
 
 “ The  Court  of  Directors  appear  to  me  to  have  formed  a very  hasty  judgment 
 on  questions  regarding  which  it  was  impossible  for  them  at  the  time  to  possess  full 
 information.  The  apprehension  that,  by  the  introduction  of  the  land-revenue 
 system,  I have  alienated  the  affections  of  the  people,  is  absurd,  and  hardly  deserves 
 refutation.  In  the  whole  arrangements  I have  carried  the  Regents  along  with  me ; 
 and  I leave  it  to  others  to  inform  you  of  the  feeling  which  has  existed  among  the 
 native  population  on  the  occasion  of  my  quitting  the  government 
 
 “ I sincerely  trust,  however,  that  on  this  question,  as  well  as  on  that  which 
 relates  to  the  conduct  of  the  Java  government  at  Palembang,  the  explanations  af- 
 forded by  us  will  have  induced  the  Supreme  Government  in  their  subsequent  com- 
 munications with  Europe,  to  relax  the  severity  of  their  censure,  and  in  some  degree 
 remove  the  unfavourable  impression  which  the  earlier  despatch  has  made. 
 
 “ The  statement  of  quick  stock  some  time  since  forwarded  to  Bengal,  and 
 closed  up  to  the  end  of  the  official  year  1814-15,  will  have  placed  you  in  possession 
 of  the  state  of  our  finances;  and  when  the  accounts  of  the  present  year  1815-16  are 
 closed,  I am  justified  in  assuring  you  that  you  will  observe  a still  more  favourable 
 result;  for  our  finances  have  been  rapidly  improving,  and  time  was  only  wanting  to 
 prove  by  the  unerring  testimony  of  figures,  that  the  revenues  and  resources  of  these 
 colonies  were  never  over-rated  by  me.  Should  the  Dutch  Commissioners  be  dis- 
 posed to  accede  to  the  very  reasonable  demands  which  it  becomes  our  duty  to  make 
 upon  them,  previous  to  the  transfer,  I still  hope  that  the  close  of  the  British 
 administration  will  be  as  satisfactory  as  its  commencement  was  honourable  and 
 gratifying. 
 
 * The  Dutch  have  annulled  the  leases  of  lands  in  the  territories  of  the  native  Princes  to  Europeans 
 and  Chinese,  and  declared  them  to  be  illegal,  with  the  view  of  obtaining  for  Government  the  monopoly  of 
 the  produce  of  the  whole  Island;  they  have  also  laid  heavy  restrictions  upon  merchants  and  travellers  wish- 
 ing to  visit  the  native  provinces,  which  were  open  of  access  to  all  during  Sir  Stamford’s  government.  To 
 the  first  of  these  measures  in  particular  is  attributed,  by  those  who  have  the  best  means  of  judging,  the 
 present  distracted  and  ruinous  state  of  the  Island. 
 
 N n 
 
274 
 
 EXTRACT  FROM  CAPTAIN  TRAVERS’  JOURNAL. 
 
 I leave  the  character  of  my  administration  in  general  to  be  appreciated  by 
 my  successor;  and  I look  forward  with  confidence  to  a period  when  it  will  be  proved 
 that  I have  not  been  found  wanting  in  the  discharge  of  the  high,  arduous,  and 
 responsible  trust  committed  to  my  care. 
 
 * * * * * ^ ^ 
 
 “ My  pubhc  letter  will  inform  you  of  the  necessity  which  drives  me  to  the 
 Cape,  and  eventually  to  Europe;  and  unfortunate  as  this  unexpected  circmnstance 
 must  be  considered,  I must  hope  that  the  necessity  of  proceeding  to  Europe,  and  of 
 consequently  gi\dng  up  a lucrative  employment,  occasioned  as  it  is  by  an  illness 
 brought  on  by  great  exertions,  by  anxiety,  and  a sense  of  injustice,  will  not  weaken 
 any  claims  which  I may  possess  on  the  consideration  and  justice  of  the  higher 
 authorities. 
 
 " Into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Fendall  I have  resigned  my  charge  without  reluct- 
 ance. * * ^ ^ ^ 
 
 An  extract  from  Captain  Travers’  Journal  will  give  an  account  of  the  voyage : — 
 
 “ Our  voyage  commenced  under  the  most  favom'able  circumstances  ; the  weather 
 was  mild,  the  wnd  fair.  On  the  third  day  after  leaving  Bata\ia  Roads,  being  en- 
 trusted with  the  address  to  Mr.  Raffles  from  his  own  immediate  staff,  to  present 
 to  him  after  our  getting  out  to  sea,  I waited  upon  him  in  his  cabin  with  it ; and  the 
 scene  wiiich  ensued  was  the  most  distressing  I had  ever  witnessed.  After  perasing 
 it,  he  became  so  completely  overcome  as  to  be  unable  to  utter  a word : but  the 
 moment  he  began  to  recover  a little,  he  took  up  his  pen ; and  wfflilst  the  feehng  and 
 impression  was  fresh,  he  ^vrote  the  beautiful  and  affectionately-expressed  reply, 
 which  was  afterwards  printed  by  his  friends,  and  is  attached  to  the  addresses  and 
 replies  presented  on  the  occasion  of  his  leaving  Java. 
 
 ‘‘  The  presentation  of  this  address  was  altogether  unexpected  on  Mr.  Raffles’ 
 part ; and  as  it  was  meant  to  convey  to  him  the  sentiments  of  cordial  and  heartfelt 
 esteem  and  affection  of  those  who  had  the  best  opportunity  of  judging  of  the  spot- 
 less integrity  and  amiable  qualities  which  shed  a lustre  over  his  private  life,  as  well 
 as  the  purity  and  uprightness  of  his  pubhc  conduct,  it  was  but  natural  to  suppose 
 that  such  a testimonial  must  have  been  most  gratifying  at  such  a moment,  and  he 
 certainly  prized  it  very  highly. 
 
 “ As  w^e  proceeded  on  our  voyage  the  change  of  climate  and  the  pure  sea  air 
 seemed  to  be  of  great  sen  ice  to  Mr.  Raffles,  w'hose  general  state  of  health  began 
 visibly  to  improve.  He  employed  his  time  on  board  ship  chiefly  in  assorting  his 
 papers,  for  the  first  part ; and  until  his  health  began  to  get  better,  he  read  for 
 amusement,  and  paid  strict  attention  to  medical  advice,  and  no  doubt  derived  much 
 benefit  from  so  doing. 
 
 “ As  we  approached  St.  Helena,  Mr.  Raffles  expressed  much  anxiety  to  touch 
 
 1 
 
EXTRACT  FROM  CAPTAIN  TRAVERS’  JOURNAL. 
 
 275 
 
 there,  in  the  hope  of  seeing  Buonaparte ; and  Captain  Falconer,  ever  ready  to  meet 
 the  wishes  of  one  for  whom  he  seemed  to  entertain  the  highest  respect  and  esteem, 
 determined  on  going  there  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  taking  in  a fresh  supply  of 
 water,  and  we  accordingly  made  the  Island  at  three  o’clock,  A.M.,  on  the  18th 
 May,  1816;  and  meeting  with  no  opposition,  notwithstanding  our  having  heard  of 
 vessels  being  stationed  to  windward,  as  well  as  leeward,  of  the  Island,  to  speak  all 
 vessels  as  they  approached,  we  stood  in,  and  actually  came  close  to  one  of  the 
 batteries  before  we  were  discovered;  but  immediately  on  being  seen  we  were 
 brought  to,  and  soon  after  a boat  came  off  from  the  Admiral’s  ship  to  take  charge 
 of  the  Ganges,  inquire  into  om  wants,  and  communicate  by  signal  with  the  flag- 
 ship. 
 
 “ At  this  moment  all  our  hopes  of  seeing  Buonaparte,  or  indeed  of  being  per- 
 mitted to  land,  were  destroyed,  by  the  naval  officers  who  came  on  board  informing 
 us  that  we  would  not  be  allowed  to  land ; and  as  our  vessel  could  be  quickly  watered 
 from  the  flag-ship,  no  communication  with  the  shore  would  be  allowed. 
 
 “ The  disappointment  occasioned  by  this  intelligence  I never  can  forget.  After 
 so  long  a voyage,  to  come  within  the  reach  of  shore,  and  not  to  be  allowed  to  land, 
 appeared  to  us,  at  the  moment,  to  be  one  of  the  most  disappointing  and  vexatious 
 occurrences  in  our  lives. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles,  who  shared  with  us  all  our  disappointment,  but  with  more  com- 
 mand of  himself,  endeavoured  to  reconcile  us  to  our  fate  ; and  in  place  of  looking 
 from  the  deck  at  a spot  which  we  could  not  reach,  and  the  sight  of  which  would 
 only  tend  to  excite  our  chagrin  and  annoyance,  suggested  that  we  should  retire  to 
 our  cabins,  and  commit  to  paper  our  feelings  at  the  moment,  which  would  amuse 
 us  during  our  detention.  To  this  we  all  assented ; but  I believe  the  only  person  of 
 the  party,  who  was  sufficiently  collected  to  write  any  thing  appropriate  was  Mr. 
 Raffles  himself ; all  the  rest  entertained  a hope  that  permission  would  be  granted  to 
 land,  when  the  Admiral  knew  who  was  on  board,  and  I had  written  to  the  Secre- 
 tary by  the  Lieutenant  who  had  come  from  the  flag-ship. 
 
 “ In  this  we  were  not  mistaken,  as,  in  a very  short  time  after  the  Lieutenant 
 left  us,  a signal  was  made  from  the  flag-ship  to  anchor  in  a particular  place,  and 
 this  was  quickly  followed  by  Colonel  Mansel,  of  the  53d,  and  Captain  Le  Blanc 
 coming  on  board,  with  permission  from  the  Admiral  to  land. 
 
 “ When  the  boat  was  close  to  the  Ganges,  I went  into  Mr.  Raffles’  cabin  to 
 inform  him  of  the  circumstance,  and  was  just  in  time  to  save  the  following  verses 
 from  destruction,  which  he  had  written  as  quickly  as  it  was  possible  to  write,  and 
 had  not  read  it  over,  or  corrected  a word ; — on  my  telhng  him  that  we  should  cer- 
 tainly be  allowed  to  land,  he  was  just  going  to  destroy  the  paper,  when  I entreated 
 him  to  allow  me  to  read  it,  with  which  he  complied,  and  I immediately  copied  it 
 
 N n 2 
 
276 
 
 INTERVIEW  WITH  BUONAPARTE. 
 
 verbatim,  as  it  was  written,  and  returned  the  original ; but  know  not  whether  Mr. 
 Raffles  ever  looked  at  it  again,  nor  did  I ever  see  it  afterwards. 
 
 * » irf  * * * 
 
 “ On  our  landing  we  were  most  kindly  received  by  the  Admiral,  Sir  George 
 Cockburn,  who  requested  us  to  call  at  the  to\Mi-major’s  and  peruse  the  garrison 
 orders,  to  which  he  directed  our  particular  attention.  After  which  we  paid  our 
 respects  to  the  Governor,  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  who  imited  us  to  dinner,  and  promised 
 to  send  horses  for  us.  We  then  solicited  permission  to  visit  Buonaparte,  which  was 
 granted,  on  condition  that  during  our  interview  we  were  not  to  address  him  as  Em- 
 peror, but  simply  as  General,  and  in  the  event  of  our  being  received  by  Buonaparte 
 with  his  hat  on,  we  were  not  to  continue  in  conversation  uncovered ; to  all  which  we 
 willingly  assented,  and  after  passing  a very  pleasant  evening  at  the  Government- 
 house,  we  commenced  our  journey  to  \isit  Buonaparte  immediately  after  breakfast  in 
 the  morning.  Our  first  object  was  to  see  Marshal  Bertrand,  whom  we  found  in  a 
 miserably  poor  habitation,  together  with  his  charming  Countess.  The  Marshal 
 received  us  nith  the  easy  air  of  a well-bred  gentleman,  and  the  Countess  ^vith  gi'eat 
 affability  and  good  humour,  contrasting  her  present  abode  \Hth  that  which  she  lately 
 occupied  in  France. 
 
 “ The  Marshal  seemed  to  feel  anxious  that  we  should  not  be  disappointed  in 
 the  object  of  our  Hsit,  but  expressed  some  fears,  in  consequence  of  his  royal  master 
 having  signified  his  intention  not  to  receive  any  visitors  for  some  days  ; he,  however, 
 kindly  offered  us  letters  to  Count  Las  Casas,  entreating  him  to  use  every  exertion  to 
 obtain  an  interview  for  us.  With  this  letter  we  proceeded  to  Longwood,  and  were 
 most  kindly  and  politely  received  by  Count  Las  Casas,  with  whom  we  enjoyed  some 
 very  agreeable  conversation. 
 
 “ On  our  informing  him  that  we  were  to  leave  the  Island  in  the  evening,  he 
 seemed  anxious  that  his  royal  master  should  see  us,  and  he  left  us  for  a short  time, 
 and  on  returning  informed  us  that  the  Emperor  would  dress  in  an  horn*,  and  although 
 he  could  not  say  for  a certainty,  yet  he  hoped,  and  thought,  he  would  see  us.  With 
 this  we  took  our  leave  and  went  to  Dead  Wood,  about  a mile  distant,  where  the 
 53rd  regiment  were  stationed.  Whilst  we  w^ere  taking  refreshment  with  Colonel 
 Mansel,  Mr.  Raffles  received  a note  from  Count  Las  Casas,  sa}ing  that  the  Emperor 
 would  see  us,  and  we  accordingly  returned  to  Longwood  ; where,  before  being  intro- 
 duced, we  found  this  once  great  man  in  earnest  conversation  with  Countess  Bertrand, 
 who  was  walking  v\ith  him  in  the  garden ; General  Gourgaud  preceded.  Marshal 
 Bertrand,  Count  Las  Casas,  Captain  Poniatowusky,  and  a page  followed,  all  un- 
 covered. On  our  arrival  being  announced,  we  were  quickly  informed  that  the  Em- 
 peror would  receive  us  in  the  garden ; and  Count  Las  Casas  added,  that  although  it 
 had  been  the  Emperor’s  intention  not  to  see  any  person  for  some  days,  yet  on  being 
 
EXTRACT  FROM  CAPTAIN  TRAVERS’  JOURNAL. 
 
 277 
 
 told  that  it  was  Mr.  Raffles,  late  Governor  of  Java,  who  wished  the  interview,  he  im- 
 mediately consented  to  see  us. 
 
 " On  our  approaching,  Napoleon  turned  quickly  round  to  receive  us,  and  taking 
 off  his  hat,  put  it  under  his  arm.  His  reception  was  not  only  not  dignified  or  grace- 
 ful, but  absolutely  vulgar  and  authoritative.  He  put  a series  of  questions  to  Mr. 
 Raffles  in  such  quick  succession,  as  to  render  it  impossible  to  reply  to  one  before 
 another  was  put.  His  first  request  was  to  have  Mr.  Raffles’  name  pronounced  dis- 
 tinctly. He  then  asked  him  in  what  country  he  was  born?  how  long  he  had  been 
 in  India?  whether  he  had  accompanied  the  expedition  against  the  Island  of  Java  ? 
 who  commanded?  and  on  being  told  Sir  Samuel  Achmuty,  he  seemed  to  recollect 
 his  name,  and  made  some  observations  to  Las  Casas  respecting  him.  He  was  par- 
 ticular in  asking  the  extent  of  force,  and  the  regiments  employed,  and  then  enquired 
 if  Mr.  Raffles  delivered  up  the  Island  to  the  Dutch,  or  was  relieved  by  another 
 Governor.  He  appeared  to  be  acquainted  with  the  value  and  importance  of  the 
 Island,  but  put  some  strange  questions  to  Mr.  Raffles,  such  as  how  the  King  of  Java 
 conducted  himself.  On  Mr.  Raffles  explaining,  he  seemed  most  attentive,  and  then 
 asked  whether  the  spice  plantations  at  Amboyna  were  doing  well,  and  whether  the 
 Spice  Islands  were  to  be  also  restored  to  the  Dutch.  He  then  asked  the  name  of 
 the  ship  in  which  we  were  going  home,  with  what  cargo  laden,  and  which  was  best. 
 Bourbon  or  Java  coffee;  all  these  questions  were  put  with  great  rapidity,  and  before 
 replied  to  he  turned  round  to  Captain  Garnham  and  myself,  asked  our  names,  and 
 what  ser\dce  we  had  seen ; whether  we  were  ever  wounded,  or  were  ever  taken  pri- 
 soners ; how  long  we  had  been  in  India,  and  several  other  similar  questions.  He 
 then  again  addressed  himself  to  Mr.  Raffles,  and  seemed  interested  with  his  remarks 
 on  Java.  He  conversed  with  Sir  Thomas  Sevestre,  and  put  similar  questions  to  him 
 with  those  he  had  put  to  Garnham  and  myself.  On  his  making  a slight  inclination 
 of  the  head,  we  prepared  to  take  our  leave,  and  on  our  making  our  bow  we  parted, 
 Napoleon  continuing  his  walk,  and  we  returning  to  the  house.  During  the  whole 
 time  of  our  interview,  as  Napoleon  remained  uncovered,  common  pohteness  obhged 
 us  to  keep  our  hats  in  our  hands ; and  at  no  time  was  it  found  necessary  to  give  him 
 any  title,  either  of  General  or  Emperor. 
 
 “ Las  Casas  returned  with  us  to  the  house,  where  a cold  collation  was  prepared. 
 He  was  most  pohte  and  attentive,  and  seemed  much  pleased  with  Mr.  Raffles,  with 
 whom  he  conversed  most  freely.  Of  Napoleon  he  spoke  in  terms  of  the  highest 
 possible  praise,  and  seemed  to  lament  most  bitterly  his  present  situation. 
 
 After  our  interview  with  Bonaparte,  we  made  all  possible  haste  to  get  on 
 board  the  ship;  and  as  we  descended  from  Plantation-house  were  much  surprised  to 
 see  the  Ganges  was  under  weigh ; but,  on  reaching  the  beach,  we  found  that  the 
 Admiral,  Sir  George  Cockburn,  on  ordering  the  vessel  to  get  under  weigh,  had  kindly 
 sent  his  own  barge  to  attend  Mr.  Raffles,  and  take  his  party  to  the  ship,  which  we 
 
278 
 
 SCENES  ON  THE  VOYAGE. 
 
 did  not  reach  till  dusk.  We  immediately  proceeded  on  our  voyage,  delighted  at  our 
 visit  to  St.  Helena,  which  afforded  a fine  subject  for  conversation  for  many  days 
 afterwards. 
 
 “ Our  weather  was  delightful,  although  the  winds  were  light  and  baffling,  and 
 so  much  retarded  our  progress  that  we  did  not  make  the  Island  of  Ascension  for  six 
 days  after  lea\dng  St.  Helena,  which  is  considered  a long  passage. 
 
 “ We  did  not,  as  is  customary,  send  a boat  on  shore  for  turtle,  as  the  wnd 
 springing  up  favourable  we  did  not  wish  to  lose  a moment,  and  so  proceeded  on 
 our  voyage,  and  soon  began  to  experience  the  benefit  of  a fine  brisk  trade-wind, 
 which  swept  us  along  most  pleasantly,  at  the  same  time  at  a most  rapid  rate. 
 
 “ With  the  retmm  of  health  Mr.  Raffles’  spirits  greatly  improved.  He  used 
 often  to  amuse  us  with  translations  of  different  papers  connected  with  the  ancient 
 history  of  Java,  and  would  often  read  aloud  for  us  in  the  evening.  In  conversation  he 
 was  fond  of  alluding  to,  and  explaining,  the  several  acts  of  his  administration  in 
 Java,  which  he  thought  would  ultimately  tend  much  to  the  improvement  of  the 
 Island,  and  the  amelioration  in  the  condition  of  the  Javanese,  whom  he  always 
 seemed  to  feel  a gi'eat  interest  for.  In  these  conversations  he  never  spoke  with 
 severity  or  harshness  of  those  whom  he  knew  to  be  the  cause  of  his  removal  from  a 
 government,  which  established  for  the  British  name  a character  and  credit  in  the 
 Eastern  Seas  which  wiU  ever  be  respected  and  revered.  He  seldom  touched  upon 
 the  annoying  circumstance  of  liis  supercession,  except  to  express  a hope  that  justice, 
 however  late,  would  not  be  altogether  denied  to  him ; and  he  felt  conrinced  that  on 
 being  heard  at  home  aU  possible  amends  would  be  made  him  by  the  Court  of 
 Directors. 
 
 “ In  this  most  agreeable  way  we  continued  our  voyage  without  interruption  or 
 annoyance  of  any  kind  till  the  17th  of  June,  when  a most  extraordinary  circumstance 
 occuiTed.  The  Auspicious,  a country  ship,  laden  like  ourselves  with  coffee,  and 
 l)ound  from  Batavia  to  London,  wfflich  had  been  keeping  company  with  us  from  the 
 day  of  sailing,  was  close  along-side  the  Ganges  within  speaking  distance,  in  the 
 evening,  when  the  breeze  increasing  the  Auspicious  went  a little  ahead.  The  night 
 w^as  fine  and  bright,  and  we  all  remained  on  deck  longer  than  usual,  enjoying  it,  and 
 admiring  the  brisk  rate  at  which  both  vessels  w^ere  going,  each  having  royals,  and  as 
 much  sail  as  they  could  carry.  About  three  o’clock  we  were  alarmed  at  hearing  a 
 shot  from  the  Auspicious,  and  on  looking  tow'ards  her  it  would  be  impossible  to 
 describe  our  dismay  and  surprise  at  finding  that  she  had  lost  her  three  topmasts, 
 fore,  main,  and  mizen,  and  seemed  a perfect  wreck.  As  morning  dawmed,  and 
 w'e  could  discern  more  distinctly,  nothing  coidd  look  more  miserable  than  she  did ; 
 how  strikingly  different  from  wfflat  she  w'as  the  preceding  evening,  when  with 
 swelling  sail  she  seemed  to  cut  the  waves,  wfflilst  now  a perfect  WTeck  she  lay  com- 
 pletely at  their  mercy. 
 
LETTER  TO  W.  B.  RAMSAY,  ESQ. 
 
 279 
 
 “To  account  for  this  sudden  squall  injuring  the  Auspicious  so  very  much,  and 
 not  reaching  the  Ganges,  only  a few  hundred  yards  distant,  was  more  than  any  one 
 on  board  either  vessel  could  do.  The  sailors  called  it  a white  squall,  desperate  for 
 the  moment  but  of  short  duration.  During  the  night,  on  board  the  Ganges,  we  had 
 not  experienced  the  shghtest  increase  of  breeze,  nor  was  there  the  appearance  of  a 
 squall  observed  by  any  one  on  board ; and  all  remarked  that  we  had  not  passed  a 
 smoother  or  more  tranquil  night  during  our  voyage.  We  remained  with  the  Auspi- 
 cious for  a day  or  two,  to  render  all  assistance  in  our  power ; and  it  is  astonishing  how 
 soon  she  repaired  her  injuries  and  became  fit  to  join  company  again.  We  made  all 
 sail  on  the  third  day  after  the  accident,  and  then  proceeded  with  fair  weather  and 
 favourable  winds. 
 
 “ The  6th  of  July  was  Mr.  Raffles’  birth-day,  when  he  had  completed  his  thirty- 
 fifth  year ; and  the  weather  being  mild  and  favourable.  Captain  Falconer  invited  our 
 compagnon  de  voyage,  Captain  Nesh,  to  dine  on  board  the  Ganges,  and  do  honour 
 to  the  day ; when  we  passed  a most  agreeable  and  happy  one,  dehghted  to  see  the 
 health  of  him  whose  birth-day  we  were  thus  celebrating,  holding  forth  such  fair 
 prospects  of  our  being  able  to  celebrate  many  such  anniversaries.  We  drank  toasts 
 in  bumpers,  and  made  speeches  without  number,  and  concluded  the  day  as  we  had 
 commenced  it,  with  rejoicings ; not  a httle  increased,  perhaps,  by  the  prospect 
 before  us  of  so  soon  touching  the  blessed  shores  of  old  England  once  again,  from 
 whence  w^e  had  been  so  long  absent.” 
 
 The  following  is  an  extract  of  a letter  to  his  friend  Mr.  W.  B.  Ramsay,  written 
 on  the  voyage  : — 
 
 “ To  be  plain,  I must  tell  you,  my  dear  friend,  that  after  suffering  severely 
 from  an  illness  brought  on  in  consequence  of  great  anxiety  and  personal  fatigue,  I 
 embarked  on  the  25th  March  last  from  Batavia,  and  am  now  looking  out  for  the 
 Enghsh  coast.  My  party  consists  of  three  gentlemen  and  my  family,  among  whom 
 I have  to  reckon  your  friend  Travers,  who,  if  not  too  lazy  to  write,  ought  to  tell  you 
 a great  deal  more  about  the  matter ; for  myself,  although  I am  considerably  reco- 
 vered, I yet  remain  wretchedly  thin  and  sallow,  with  a jaundiced  eye  and  shapeless 
 leg.  Yet,  I thank  God,  my  spirit  is  high  and  untamed,  and  the  meeting  of  friends 
 \vill,  I hope,  soon  restore  me  to  my  usual  health. 
 
 “ I retm*n  to  you,  however,  a poor  solitary  wretch ; and  the  rocks  of  Albion, 
 which  under  other  circumstances  would  have  met  my  eye  ■with  joy  and  gladness,  will 
 not  now  present  themselves  without  reflections  which  I cannot  dwell  upon. 
 
 “ If  the  Alcyon  has  arrived,  you  will  have  been  apprized  of  the  result  of  Lord 
 Moira’s  proceedings.  His  Lordship  deemed  it  advisable  to  postpone  any  decision  on 
 Gillespie’s  charges ; the  Supreme  Government,  however,  have  declared  my  character 
 unaffected  by  these  charges,  and  further  stated  that  they  considered  it  but  an  act  of 
 
280 
 
 LETTER  TO  W.  B.  RAMSAY,  ESQ. 
 
 justice  to  leave  my  reserve  appointment  to  Bencoolen  mishaken,  this  being  the  test 
 by  which  the  Court  judged  of  my  having  explained  my  conduct  satisfactorily.  But 
 the  manner  in  which  my  removal  from  Java  was  effected,  and  the  whole  course  of 
 proceedings  adopted  towards  me  by  the  Governor-General  has  been  such,  that  it 
 was  impossible  for  me  to  rest  satisfied  \rith  tliis  tardy  and  incomplete  judgment.  I 
 therefore  resolved  to  appeal  to  the  authorities  in  England,  and  in  the  mean  time 
 quietly  to  go  to  Bencoolen ; but  the  shock  was  too  severe,  my  health  had  been 
 undermined,  and  this  injustice  threw  me  on  my  back.  It  was  the  opinion  of  the 
 faculty  that  remaining  longer  in  India  was  dangerous,  and  I took  the  resolution  of 
 proceeding  to  the  Cape,  and  eventually  to  England. 
 
 “ My  successor  anived  on  the  11th,  and  in  thirteen  days  after  I quitted 
 Bataria,  in  the  Ganges,  leaving  my  appointment  to  Bencoolen  untouched.  It 
 would  appear  to  have  been  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Edmonstone,  that  the  orders  of  the 
 Court  left  a latitude  for  the  Supreme  Government  to  exert  themselves  in  my  favour  ; 
 but  this  opinion  was  over-iaded  by  the  influence  of  Lord  Moira.  A struggle,  how- 
 ever, was  made,  and  I am  left  to  hope  that  even  in  the  proceedings  of  the  Governor- 
 General  in  Comicil  I have  fomid  something  like  justice,  and  acknowledgement  for  my 
 ser\ices  recorded. 
 
 “ It  is  my  intention  to  appeal  most  forcibly  to  the  Court  against  the  whole 
 course  of  measures.  I feel  confident  I shall  obtain  justice  from  them ; this  is  all  I 
 shall  ask  for.  I have  a cause  that  will  carry  conviction.  I am  prepared  for  every 
 member  being  prepossessed  against  me,  but  I have  dociunents  uith  me  that  will 
 prove  they  have  been  imposed  upon.  I am  prepared  to  prove  that  so  far  from 
 haring  been  a burden  to  the  finances  of  Great  Britain,  that  in  the  uind-up  there  is 
 every  chance  of  a sm-plus  ; that  in  the  affair  of  Palembang  I acted  according  to 
 the  principle  laid  down  by  the  Governor-General  in  Council,  and  received  the  full 
 and  unreserv'ed  approval  of  the  Governor-General  in  Council ; but  this  was  while 
 Lord  Minto  was  at  the  head  of  affairs.  That  in  my  land-revenue  arrangements  the 
 rights  of  no  one  had  been  subverted,  and  the  just  rights  of  all  have  been  placed  on 
 a footing  more  advantageous  than  was  ever  before  felt  by  them.  I come  prepared  to 
 meet  every  one  of  my  enemies,  but  with  a determination  to  turn  them  into  friends. 
 
 “ You  will  have  to  pay  many  a sixpence  for  this  letter,  yet  I hope  you  will 
 not  grudge  it,  considering  that  it  comes  fr'om  one,  who  although  he  brings  back  with 
 him  from  India  but  a sorry  carcase,  and  wants  the  blazonments  of  power,  returns 
 with  a heart  and  soul  as  purely  and  devotedly  attached  as  it  w'as  on  the  day  of 
 parting;  neither  time,  nor  distance,  nor  the  coldness  of  silence  itself,  which  by 
 the  bye  I have  sometimes  experienced,  has  quenched  that  flame  in  my  breast  which 
 was  once  lighted  by  the  torch  of  true  and  generous  friendship ; and  it  is  with  these 
 feelings  I still  subscribe  myself  your  devoted  and  affectionate  friend. 
 
 T.  S.  R.” 
 
EXTRACT  FROM  CAPTAIN  TRAVERS’  JOURNAL. 
 
 281 
 
 Continuation  of  Extracts  from  Cajitain  Travers'  Journal. 
 
 “ On  the  11th  of  July,  we  made  the  Scilly  Isles,  the  announcement  of  which 
 soon  brought  all  hands  on  deck.  We  quickly  approached  Falmouth,  when  several 
 boats  came  off  to  take  us  on  shore,  all  most  exorbitant  in  their  demands,  and  whilst 
 I was  arranging  some  reasonable  bargain,  Mr.  Raffles  agreed  to  go  with  the  first 
 man  who  made  the  vessel,  giving  him  his  own  terms,  as  a consideration  for  the  exer- 
 tions he  made  in  reaching  our  assistance  first.  We  quickly  prepared  for  the  boat, 
 and  were  ready  about  noon,  when  we  took  om'  leave  of  Captain  Falconer,  but  not 
 without  some  expressions  of  what  we  felt,  and  ever  would  gratefully  acknowledge  for 
 his  unremitting  kindness  and  attention,  his  great  hospitality,  and  liberal  conduct, 
 during  the  long  time  we  were  on  board  his  ship.  His  anxiety  to  study  the  comforts, 
 anticipate  the  wants,  and  in  every  possible  way  meet  the  vrishes  of  Mr.  Raffles,  had 
 at  an  early  period  of  the  voyage  attracted  our  admiration,  and  his  subsequent 
 steady  adherence  thereto,  added  to  his  agreeable  manners  and  accommodating  dis- 
 position, had  rendered  him  a favourite  with  all  on  board.  Not  a want  was  experi- 
 enced by  any  during  the  voyage,  and  I believe  no  vessel  ever  yet  made  the  trip 
 from  India  to  England  under  more  happy  or  agreeable  circumstances  than  the  good 
 ship  Ganges. 
 
 On  leaving  the  vessel.  Captain  Falconer,  ever  anxious  to  evince  his  high  re- 
 spect for  Mr.  Raffles,  fired  the  salute  due  to  his  rank  as  a Governor,  which  was  im- 
 mediately repeated  by  one  from  the  Auspicious,  when  both  ships,  although  with 
 native  crews,  gave  us  three  hearty  cheers,  and  I am  very  sure  accompanied  them 
 with  sincere  good  wishes,  as  we  could  distinctly  hear  in  passing  the  vessels  the  terms 
 of  praise  in  which  they  were  speaking  of  Mr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Our  party  in  the  boat  consisted  of  Mr.  Raffles,  and  his  faithful  servant  Lewis, 
 a native  of  Malacca,  who  had  lived  wdth  him  many  years ; Captain  Garnham  and 
 myself,  aides-de-camp;  Sir  Thomas  Sevestre,  who  accompanied  him  as  his  medical 
 attendant,  a Mr.  Graham,  a passenger  from  Batavia,  a gentleman  well  known  to  us 
 all,  of  high  respectability,  who,  during  the  time  of  Java  being  in  our  possession,  had 
 made  a very  large  fortune  by  trading  as  a merchant  in  Batavia,  and  RMen-Rana- 
 Dipura,  a Javanese  Chief. 
 
 “ The  day  was  beautiful,  the  sun  shining  bright,  the  sea  smooth,  being  but 
 little  agitated  by  the  gentle  breezes.  The  land,  as  we  approached,  had  to  us  the 
 most  delightful  appearance,  the  fields  looking  so  green,  and  the  country  so  luxu- 
 riant, so  that  our  trip  from  the  ship,  though  long,  was  not  tedious,  but,  on  the  con- 
 trary, most  agreeable.  We  reached  shore  about  four  o’clock,  when  we  were  im- 
 mediately examined  by  the  custom-house  officers ; first,  as  to  the  state  of  our  health, 
 and  next,  whether  there  was  any  infection  on  board  the  ship,  or  at  the  port  we  had 
 
 o 0 
 
282 
 
 EXTRACT  FROM  CAPTAIN  TRAVERS’  JOURNAL. 
 
 sailed  from.  These  questions  were  easily  answered,  but  methought  the  officer 
 seemed  rather  doubtful  as  to  the  positive  assurances  our  mouths  were  giving,  in 
 direct  opposition  to  the  strong  e\ddence  of  our  cheeks,  which,  ^vith  the  excei>tion  of 
 Captain  Garnham’s,  were  of  the  most  pale  and  emaciated  caste : however,  we  got 
 through  the  examination,  and  were  permitted  to  land,  and  afterwards  had  a hearty 
 laugh  on  communicating  to  each  other  our  fears  and  apprehensions  at  the  exami- 
 nation, wliich  we  were  in  no  way  prepared  to  meet  or  expect.  We  had  not,  how- 
 ever, yet  done  with  examination,  for  we  had  no  sooner  landed  than  our  baggage 
 was  taken  to  the  Custom-house : but  this  took  httle  time,  as  we  had  only  a small 
 trunk  each,  and  nothing  seizable  about  us,  Mr.  Raffles  ha\ing  strongly  recommended 
 us,  and  indeed  given  us  the  example  himself,  of  putting  every  article,  even  of  the 
 smallest  value,  into  the  ship’s  manifest. 
 
 “ After  these  several  delays  we  proceeded  to  the  inn,  where  we  ordered  the 
 best  dinner  procurable  at  the  place,  to  be  got  ready  as  quickly  as  possible,  and 
 passed  a most  joyous,  agreeable  evening. 
 
 “ Having  seen  all  we  wished  of  Falmouth  before  dinner,  we  determined  on 
 going  early  to  Truro  next  morning,  and  reached  there  to  breakfast  at  nine,  Mr. 
 Raffles  being  anxious  to  avail  himself  of  the  opportunity  whilst  in  Cornwall  of 
 reviewing  some  of  the  mines,  and  enquiring  into  the  nature  of  the  ores,  for  the  pur- 
 pose of  comparing  them  with  the  products  of  those  which,  mider  his  directions, 
 when  in  the  government  of  Java,  had  been  brought  into  full  power  and  force  at 
 Banca. 
 
 “ Immediately  after  breakfast  IMr.  Raffles  had  an  inter\dew  with  a gentleman 
 at  Truro,  who  was  well  acquainted  with  mining  business.  He  seemed  a sensible, 
 inteUigent,  well-informed  gentleman,  and  afforded  Mr.  Raffles  much  useful  and  satis- 
 factory information.  After  some  delay  at  Truro,  employed  as  I have  mentioned,  we 
 proceeded  to  Welbesy,  distant  from  Truro  about  five  miles,  close  to  Chesswater 
 where  we  were  informed  one  of  the  best  copper-mines  was  to  be  seen,  and  here  we 
 were  much  pleased  with  all  we  saw.  The  gentleman  to  whom  we  had  been  intro- 
 duced at  Truro  accompanied  Mr.  Raffles,  with  the  Hew  of  rendering  every  assistance 
 in  his  power,  and  was  very  kind  and  useful. 
 
 “ The  appearance  and  working  of  this  mine  astonished  us,  and  the  wonderful 
 power  of  the  steam-engine  was  no  less  a novelty.  IMr.  Raffles,  Captain  Garnham, 
 and  Sir  Thomas  Sevestre  went  down,  which  I was  afiaid  to  do,  not  being  very 
 strong  at  the  time  ; but  nothing  could  dissuade  Mr.  Raffles’fi'om  descending,  although, 
 in  his  then  dehcate  state  of  health,  we  were  most  anxious  to  prevent  him  from 
 doing  so ; but  his  reply  was  that  he  never  would  forgive  himself  if  he  were  to  lose 
 such  an  opportmiity,  and  accordingly  he  went  dorni  and  made  himself  quite  master 
 of  the  whole  routine,  and  did  not  seem  to  suffer  in  the  least. 
 
 “ From  what  he  had  seen  at  Falmouth,  Truro,  and  Welbesy,  of  the  different 
 
EXTRACT  FROM  CAPTAIN  TRAVERS’  JOURNAL. 
 
 283 
 
 specimens  of  the  ores,  he  appeared  quite  confirmed  in  his  original  opinion  of  the 
 superiority  of  the  Japan  ore. 
 
 “ We  experienced  the  greatest  possible  civility  and  attention  during  the  time 
 we  were  inspecting  this  mine,  and  Mr.  Raffles  was  gi’eatly  pleased  with  the  anxiety 
 and  wllingness  evinced  to  afford  him  inforaiation  on  every  point  connected  with 
 mining  in  all  its  branches.” 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  reached  London  on  the  16th  of  July,  1816,  and  the  next  morning 
 he  announced  his  arrival  at  the  East  India  House.  He  looked  with  the  greatest 
 confidence  to  the  Court  of  Directors  for  ample  justice,  when  they  were  in  possession 
 of  the  facts  of  his  case.  The  serenity  of  his  temper,  the  buoyancy  of  his  spirit,  and 
 the  joyous  feehng  of  returning  health,  absorbed  the  recollection  of  past  misery  and 
 disappointment,  in  bright  anticipations  of  future  reward  and  happiness. 
 
 o o 2 
 
CHAPTER  X. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles  appeals  to  the  Court  of  Directors — Their  opinion — Writes  his  History  of  Java — Princess 
 Charlotte — Visits  the  Continent — Meditates  the  establishment  of  a Society  on  the  principle  of  the 
 Jardin  des  Plantes — Is  appointed  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Bencoolen  and  its  dependencies — Em- 
 barks for  India — Death  of  Princess  Charlotte — Arrival  in  Sumatra — Description  of  the  Settlement — 
 Dispute  with  the  Dutch  Government — Earthquakes — State  of  Bencoolen — His  opinion  of  the  effects  of 
 former  government — Emaneipates  the  slaves — Cultivation  of  p>vpper  declared  free — Murder  of  Mr. 
 Parr — Instructions  from  the  Court  of  Directors  to  Sir  Stamford  to  watch  the  jjroceedings  of  the 
 Dutch — Lord  Hastings’  opinion  of  the  conduct  of  the  Netherlands'  Commissioners — Sir  Stamford’s  view 
 of  the  state  of  affairs — Recommends  a line  of  stations  for  the  protection  of  trade,  and  the  command  of 
 the  Straits  of  Sunda — Appeals  in  favour  of  the  native  population — Prince  of  Wales’s  Island  the  only 
 spot  between  the  Maurit  ius  and  China  where  the  Br  itish  flag  could  be  raised — His  habits  of  intercourse 
 with  the  natives. 
 
 As  soon  as  Mr.  Raffles  reached  London,  he  addressed  the  Court  of  Directors.  He 
 liad  laboui'ed  for  ten  years  with  unwearied  zeal  to  promote  their  best  interests,  and 
 he  therefore  claimed  a revision  of  his  services. 
 
 A short  summary  of  the  principal  events  connected  with  his  government,  will 
 explain  the  circumstances  under  which  he  made  his  appeal.  After  the  captm'e  of 
 .lava,  a system  of  government  was  drawn  out  by  Lord  Minto,  upon  which  he  was  at 
 liberty  to  enlarge  as  he  saw  fit. 
 
 Java  itself  afforded  no  pecuniary  means.  It  was  absolutely  necessary  to  main- 
 tain a considerable  force,  as  military  operations  had  not  ceased ; it  was  equally  ne- 
 cessary to  relieve  the  public  credit  from  the  pressure  of  the  debts  of  the  former 
 government.  Drafts  on  Bengal  became  the  only  resource,  and  until  the  new  system 
 should  be  in  full  operation,  and  yield  (which  it  afterwards  did)  the  advantages  con- 
 templated at  its  introduction,  that  was  the  only  channel  of  relief  left  open.  These 
 drafts  were  to  a considerable  extent,  and  anived  in  Calcutta  at  a period  of  all  others 
 the  most  inconvenient  to  the  Bengal  treasury ; whilst  the  demands  fi'om  India  on  the 
 home  treasuiy  of  the  Court  of  Directors  became  a source  of  embarrassment  and  led 
 to  the  formation  of  a most  unfavourable  opinion  of  the  newly  acquired  possession, 
 which,  unable  to  bear  its  own  expenses,  became  for  a short  time  a weight  on  the 
 
APPEALS  TO  THE  COURT  OF  DIRECTORS. 
 
 285 
 
 British  Govemment.  These  circumstances  added  to  the  doubtful  tenure  of  the 
 Island,  and  the  impression  created  by  charges  which  were  preferred  against  him, 
 totally  ^vithout  foundation,  led  to  his  recall. 
 
 It  is  not  intended  here  to  animadvert  upon  the  judgment  which  the  Court  of 
 Directors  passed  upon  that  occasion.  It  was  the  duty  of  Mr.  Raffles  to  bow  with 
 submission  to  their  authority,  although  such  decision  deeply  involved  his  personal 
 interests,  and  even  placed  his  succession  to  Bencoolen  contingent  with  his  refutation 
 of  those  charges. 
 
 To  have  remained  in  India,  even  if  his  health  would  have  permitted  it,  subject 
 to  the  prejudices  and  misrepresentations  which  had  arisen  against  him  was  impos- 
 sible. He  owed  it  no  less  to  the  memory  of  his  friend  and  patron,  (whose  death  he 
 had  then  most  deeply  to  deplore)  than  to  his  own  honour  and  character,  to  seek  at 
 the  hands  of  the  Court  of  Directors  that  justice  which  he  felt  he  deserved.  With 
 reference  to  the  policy  of  the  public  measures  he  adopted,  they  were  in  accordance 
 with  the  policy  of  Lord  Minto,  and  were  calculated  for  a permanent  state  of  things. 
 The  results  of  this  policy  were  extensive  revenue  and  judicial  arrangements,  affecting 
 both  European  and  native  inhabitants ; the  reform  of  courts  of  justice,  and  establish- 
 ment of  a magistracy;  the  institution  of  trial  by  jury,  and  of  laws  for  the  abolition 
 of  slavery ; the  passing  a code  of  regulations  for  the  Dutch  courts,  the  prosecution  of 
 statistical  sm'veys  under  a committee,  by  which  a knowledge  was  obtained  of  the 
 value  and  importance  of  the  Island,  till  then  unknown,  even  to  the  Dutch,  who  had 
 been  there  for  three  centuries.  The  revival  of  the  Batavian  Society,  and  researches 
 and  collections  in  Natural  History  now  deposited  at  the  India  House. 
 
 The  importance  attached  by  the  Netherlands  Government  to  these  measures, 
 as  well  as  the  improved  state  of  the  colony  itself,  clearly  shewed  that  time  alone  was 
 required  to  develop  the  advantages  which  were  contemplated  at  their  introduction 
 into  Java.  The  highest  revenue  that  had  ever  been  raised  by  the  Dutch  in  Java,  did 
 not  exceed  four  millions  of  rupees,  in  any  one  year.  Before  Mr.  Raffles  left  it,  the 
 receipts  into  the  government  treasury  were  not  less  than  thirty  millions,  and  on  the 
 restitution  of  the  Island  to  the  Dutch,  not  a pensioner  was  thrown  as  a burden  on 
 the  Company,  not  a complaint  was  preferred  by  a single  Dutch  or  native  inhabitant 
 against  the  British  Government. 
 
 In  his  appeal  to  the  Court,  he  took  a general  \iew  of  his  ser\dces  from  the 
 period  of  his  first  acquaintance  with  Lord  Minto.  His  arrangements  for  the  capture 
 of  Java;  the  unreserved  approval  of  all  the  measures  of  his  government  during  the 
 administration  of  that  nobleman,  which  approbation  embraced  all  those  measures, 
 for  which  he  was  afterwards  deprived  of  his  government ; the  totally  opposite  view 
 that  was  taken  by  Lord  Moira  of  all  that  had  been  done ; the  hardship  of  never  ob- 
 taining from  the  Bengal  Government  any  reply  or  notice  of  his  answers  to  the 
 
286 
 
 OPINION  OF  THE  COURT  OF  DIRECTORS. 
 
 charges  of  General  Gillespie,  until  an  order  for  his  removal  from  the  government  of 
 Java,  on  distinct  grounds,  was  sent  to  him. 
 
 The  removal  he  felt  to  he  unjust,  because  it  was  grounded  on  measures,  all  of 
 which  had  been  approved  by  Lord  Minto,  and  he  therefore  felt  assured  that  the 
 Court  of  Directors  would  take  into  consideration  the  unexampled  time  during  which 
 he  was  kept  in  suspense,  the  painful  anxiety  to  which  that  suspense  natm*ally  gave 
 rise,  to  the  injury  of  his  health,  as  well  as  to  the  disadvantage  of  his  administration ; 
 the  serious  nature  of  the  original  charges,  and  the  loose  and  unsatisfactory  manner 
 in  which  the  decision  had  been  communicated ; and  if  any  doubt  still  existed  affect- 
 ing his  character,  he  begged  that  an  immediate  investigation  might  take  place ; but 
 if,  on  the  contrary,  the  Court  should  think  the  case  was  one  of  peculiar  hardship, 
 then  he  prayed  that  the  Court  would  consider  the  manifest  injury  done  to  his  cha- 
 racter by  the  particular  circumstance  of  Lord  Hastings  not  haHng  allowed  him  to 
 proceed  to  Calcutta,  or  come  to  any  decision  until  an  order  for  his  recal  on  distinct 
 grounds  had  been  received ; and  after  thus  considering,  grant  him  some  pubhc 
 acknowledgment  of  his  services. 
 
 In  reply  to  this  Memorial,  the  Court  of  Directors  dechned  giHng  any  opinion 
 on  the  measures  of  his  government ; but,  as  has  been  before  stated,  (page  204,) 
 expressed  their  conviction,  that  they  sprung  from  motives  perfectly  coiTect  and 
 laudable. 
 
 Mr.  Raffles’  health  was  so  much  impaired  by  his  residence  in  India,  that  his 
 friends  strongly  urged  the  necessity  of  his  rehnquishing  all  thoughts  of  returning 
 to  that  country,  but  to  this  adHce  it  was  unfortunately  not  in  his  power  to  attend ; 
 previously  to  leaving  England,  however,  he  was  anxious  to  record  the  infonnation 
 which  he  had  collected  regarding  Java.  The  Island  had  been  transferred  by  the 
 English  Government  in  total  ignorance  of  its  value  to  the  Dutch.  The  presence  of 
 Mr.  Raffles  in  England  created  an  interest  in  the  subject  as  far  as  his  personal  iifflu- 
 ence  extended.  To  diffuse  this  interest  more  generally,  and  to  make  the  coimtry 
 sensible  of  the  loss  sustained  by  the  relinquishment  of  so  flourishing  a colony  to  a 
 foreign  and  a rival  power,  he  determined  to  Avrite  his  History  of  Java,  which  he  com- 
 pleted with  his  usual  quickness.  A few  sheets  were  rapidly  written  off  every  morning 
 for  the  printer,  and  corrected  at  night  on  his  return  from  his  dinner  engagements. 
 It  was  commenced  in  the  month  of  October,  1816,  and  published  in  May,  1817*, 
 It  was  at  this  time  that  Mr.  Raffles  was  presented  to  His  Majesty,  then  Prince 
 Regent,  and  received  the  honour  of  Knighthood. 
 
 During  this  period  Sir  Stamford  enjoyed  the  pleasures  of  society  with  a zest  which 
 may  well  be  imagined,  when  the  vigour  of  his  mind  and  the  variety  of  his  tastes  are 
 
 * Early  in  this  year  Mr.  Raffles  married  Sophia,  daughter  of  T.  W.  Hull,  Esq.  of  the  county  of  Down, 
 Ireland. 
 
VISITS  THE  CONTINENT. 
 
 287 
 
 considered.  He  left  England,  indeed,  at  an  age  when  he  had  no  opportunity  of 
 judging  of  the  attractions  of  its  best  society ; but  whilst  he  was  occupied  in  his  public 
 duties  in  the  East,  he  seized  eagerly  every  opportunity  to  gratify  his  thirst  of  know- 
 ledge, and  to  improve  the  talents  with  which  God  had  blessed  him  ; he,  therefore,  in 
 every  station  surrounded  himself  with  all  of  every  class  from  whom  he  could  derive 
 information ; and  he  returned  to  England  with  talents  ripened,  and  with  a taste 
 formed  for  all  the  intellectual  enjoyments  of  life.  During  the  fifteen  months  which 
 he  thus  passed  he  had  the  happiness  to  obtain  the  friendship  of  many,  whose  sym- 
 pathy in  after  scenes  of  anxiety  and  sorrow  with  which  it  pleased  God  to  visit  him, 
 proved  a source  of  comfort  and  consolation.  He  had  also  the  high  gratification  of 
 being  one  of  those  whom  Their  Royal  Highnesses  Princess  Charlotte  and  Prince 
 Leopold  honoured  with  proofs  of  regard.  He  was  a frequent  guest  at  Claremont. 
 His  last  dinner  before  he  set  out  on  his  last  expedition  was  there,  and  the  Ring  which, 
 on  that  day,  the  Princess  gave  to  him,  was  the  gift  which,  of  all  such  gifts,  he  prized 
 most. 
 
 In  the  month  of  June  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  visited  the  Continent  for  the  pur- 
 pose of  obtaining  an  interview  with  the  King  of  Holland,  and  making  some  repre- 
 sentations to  his  Majesty  in  behalf  of  the  native  and  some  of  the  Dutch  inhabitants  of 
 Java. — The  following  letters  give  an  account  of  this  toim. 
 
 To  her  Grace  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Brussels,  July  \4ith,  1817. 
 
 You  will  have  had  cause  to  call  me  a very  bad  correspondent ; I have  neither 
 kept  my  word  nor  kept  my  journal ; and  as  it  is  now  too  late  to  attempt  bringing 
 up  ari’ears,  I must  hasten  back  to  London,  and  make  the  best  apology  I can,  and 
 trust  to  my  personal  influence  for  forgiveness. 
 
 “ I send  you,  within,  a ‘ Forget  me  Not,’  or,  as  the  Swiss  call  it,  ‘ Rose  ne 
 m'ouhliez  pas,’  from  the  Alps. 
 
 “ Your  Grace  will  expect  that  I should  say  something  of  the  countries  I have 
 passed  through,  and  yet  what  can  you  expect  from  one  who  knows  so  little  of  the 
 Em'opean  world,  and  is  scarce  in  one  place  before  he  flies  to  another.  Of  France 
 you  have  so  many  accounts  that  it  would  be  presumptuous  in  me  to  offer  an  opinion  ; 
 of  Switzerland  and  the  Alps  your  Grace  knows  every  thing ; and  to  attempt  to  extol 
 the  banks  of  the  Rhme,  or  the  fertility  of  Belgium,  would  be  like  giving  you  an 
 account  of  the  banks  of  the  Thames  and  the  fields  of  England.  I was  certainly 
 surprised  and  dehghted  with  the  appearance  of  agriculture  in  France,  not  that  the 
 fiolds  were  as  highly  cultivated  as  in  England,  nor  that  any  thing  hke  an  advanced 
 state  of  agriculture  was  to  be  seen.  I was  pleased  to  observe  two  things,  which  I 
 
288 
 
 VISITS  THE  CONTINENT. 
 
 know  are  highly  condemned  by  agriculturists,  the  smallness  of  the  properties,  and 
 the  cultivation  of  the  fruit-trees  in  the  grain  and  hay-fields.  Agriculturists  maintain 
 that  capital  is  essential  to  improvement ; that  when  the  properties  are  so  small  there 
 can  be  no  capital ; this  I grant  to  be  good  diction  where  the  soil  is  poor  and  requires 
 much  improvement,  but  when  it  is  rich,  and  wants  httle  or  no  improvement, 
 capital  is  unnecessary.  For  the  greatness  of  a country  it  may  be  an  object  that 
 the  gi'eatest  possible  quantity  of  produce  should  be  brought  to  market ; and  those 
 who  are  for  raising  a nation  maintain  that  this  can  only  be  effected  by  large  farms 
 and  the  outlay  of  capital.  The  philanthropist,  however,  and  even  the  philosopher, 
 will  hesitate  before  he  sacrifices  every  thing  to  the  gi'eatness  of  the  nation ; unless 
 its  happiness  goes  hand  in  hand  - with  its  greatness  he  will  think  the  latter  but  of 
 little  value.  Now  when  I see  every  man  cultivating  his  own  field,  I cannot  but 
 think  him  happier  far  than  when  he  is  cultivating  the  field  of  another ; even  if  he 
 labours  more,  that  labour  is  still  lighter  which  is  his  pride  and  pleasure,  than  that 
 which  is  his  burden  and  sorrow.  In  France  there  seems  to  be  so  much  good  land 
 that  it  can  be  hardly  managed  amiss,  and  in  the  provinces  through  which  I passed 
 it  struck  me  that  the  crops  were  full  as  good  as  those  I have  seen  in  England. 
 Throw  the  people  out  of  these  little  properties  and  they  lose  their  independence  of 
 character,  their  pride,  and  when  only  accustomed  to  daily  wages  are  soon  fitted  for 
 the  army,  the  manufactory,  or  the  poor-house.  But  you  will  say  how  is  it  that  in 
 France,  where  the  government  is  so  despotic,  that  the  people  are  happier  than  in 
 England  ? Many  causes  may  have  contributed  to  the  present  state  of  agricultiue  in 
 France ; the  revolution  abohshed  the  feudal  rights  and  serAice,  with  ten  thousand 
 vexations  under  which  it  had  pre\iously  laboured ; and  the  land  in  general  fell  into 
 the  hands  of  the  actual  cultivators,  and  the  people  who  were  seen  to  cultivate  it 
 with  so  much  pleasure.  It  did  not  suit  Buonaparte’s  policy  to  giind  the  peasant ; 
 from  the  low'er  class  he  wanted  men  and  took  them,  but  this  only  left  the  more  for 
 those  who  remained ; it  was  from  the  rich  that  he  took  money,  and  the  demands  of 
 his  government  gave  employment  to  all ; all  the  energies  of  France  were  exerted  at 
 his  command ; but  however  dearly  it  cost  his  subjects  to  maintain  his  authority,  the 
 bm'den  seems  to  have  fallen  so  lightly  on  the  agi'iculturist  that  he  even  benefited 
 by  it. 
 
 I Hke  to  see  fruit-trees  gro\ring  among  the  corn,  because  it  not  only  affords 
 a refreshing  and  beautiful  scenery,  but  because  it  reminds  me  of  those  patriarchal 
 times,  those  days  of  simphcity,  when  the  son  and  the  grandson,  and  even  the  great 
 grandson,  honoured  the  trees  that  their  forefathers  planted. 
 
 Upon  the  whole,  I cannot  but  think  that,  notwithstanding  agriculture  as  a 
 science  may  be  almost  unknown  in  France,  and  that  France  as  a nation  has  been 
 greatly  impoverished  both  in  men  and  money,  there  is  a foundation  in  the  present 
 
INTRODUCED  TO  THE  KING  OF  THE  NETHERLANDS. 
 
 289 
 
 state  of  her  land  and  peasantry  to  support  a much  greater  nation  than  France  ever 
 yet  was ; all  now  depends  upon  the  wisdom  of  their  government  and  the  fortune  of 
 her  pohtics.  So  much  for  the  agiiculture  of  France. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 “ S\vitzerland  seems  to  have  felt  the  weight  of  French  influence,  and  is  certainly 
 very  different  to  what  it  is  represented  to  have  been  some  twenty  years  ago ; but 
 the  valley  of  Chamouni,  the  Alps  are  the  same ; that  troubled  sea  which  seems  to 
 have  been  in  a moment  stayed  and  fettered  by  an  icy  hand,  still  shines  in  all  its 
 majesty;  nor  has  all  the  vice  nor  all  the  blood  which  has  stained  the  lower  world, 
 cast  one  spot  to  sully  the  heavenly  purity  of  Mont  Blanc. 
 
 The  Rhine,  with  its  hundred  castles  which  hne  the  heights  along  its  banks, 
 still  flows  in  its  ancient  course  to  delight  the  traveller,  enrich  the  land,  and  spur  the 
 industry  of  man. 
 
 Of  this  place,  and  its  politics,  I have  seen  but  little.” 
 
 * * « * 
 
 Sir  Stamford  Rafiles  reached  London  from  Holland  on  the  26th  of  July,  and  on 
 the  following  day  he  wrote  his  friend 
 
 Mr.  Marsden, 
 
 “ Berners  Street,  July  27th,  1817. 
 
 My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I have  the  pleasure  to  enclose  you  a letter  from  Mr.  Langles,  which  re- 
 lates, I believe,  principally  to  a copy  of  Marco  Polo  in  the  Royal  Library,  that  he 
 conceives  may  be  useful  for  you  to  refer  to. 
 
 “ We  arrived  yesterday  evening,  after  a very  pleasant  tour  of  seven  weeks, 
 ha\ing  crossed  France  from  Dieppe  through  Rouen,  Paris,  and  Dijon,  to  Geneva; 
 passed  through  the  valley  of  Chamouni,  along  the  foot  of  the  Alps,  and  returned  by 
 Lausanne  and  Berne  to  Basle  and  down  the  Rhine  to  Cologne,  whence  we  traversed 
 the  Low  Countries  to  Brussels  and  Ostend.  We  had  fine  weather  throughout,  and 
 met  wdth  neither  delay  or  difficulty  to  render  the  journey  unpleasant.  At  Paris  and 
 Brussels  we  remained  from  eight  to  ten  days,  which  enabled  us  to  see  all  the  lions ; 
 to  have  seen  more  would  have  taken  months,  and  these  I could  not  spare. 
 
 “ I met  with  very  great  attention  in  the  Netherlands,  and  had  the  honovu*  to 
 dine  with  the  King  last  Monday;  they  were  very  communicative  regarding  their 
 eastern  colonies;  but  I regret  to  say  that,  notwithstanding  the  King  himself,  and 
 his  leading  minister,  seem  to  mean  well,  they  have  too  great  a hankering  after  profit, 
 and  immediate  profit,  for  any  hberal  system  to  thrive  under  them.  They  seem  to  be 
 miserably  poor,  and  the  new  government  in  Java  have  commenced  by  the  issue  of  a 
 
 p p 
 
•290 
 
 ESTABLISHES  THE  ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 
 
 paper  cun-ency  from  every  bm-eau  throughout  the  Island;  formerly,  you  will  re- 
 collect, that  paper  money  was  confined  to  Batavia,  it  is  now  made  general,  and  will, 
 I fear,  soon  cause  all  the  remaining  silver  to  disappear.  The  King  complained  of 
 the  coffee  culture  having  been  neglected,  and  expressed  anxiety  that  he  should  soon 
 have  consignments  ; and  while  he  admitted  aU  the  advantages  hkely  to  arise  from 
 cultivation,  and  assured  me  that  the  system  introduced  under  my  administration 
 should  be  continued,  maintained  that  it  was  essential  to  confine  the  trade,  and  to 
 make  such  regulations  as  would  secm-e  it  and  its  profits  exclusively  to  the  mother- 
 country.  I had  an  opportunity  of  expressing  my  sentiments  to  him  very  fi-eely,  and 
 as  he  took  them  in  good  part,  I am  in  hopes  they  may  have  had  some  weight. 
 
 We  shall  remain  in  town  about  three  weeks,  and  I hope  to  embark  in 
 September. 
 
 “ Tout’s,  &c.  &c. 
 
 T.  S.  R.” 
 
 The  period  was  now  approaching  when  it  became  necessary  to  make  the  requi- 
 site arrangements  for  retmming  to  India.  Sir  Stamford  was  incessantly  occupied  in 
 scientific  and  literary  enquiries,  and  formed  his  plans  for  stiU  fui'ther  contributing  to 
 the  valuable  and  interesting  collections  he  had  sent  home  from  the  Eastern  Islands. 
 At  this  time  he  meditated  the  establishment  of  a Society  on  the  principle  of  the 
 Jardiii  cles  Plantes  at  Paris,  which  finally,  on  his  last  return  fi-om  the  East,  he  suc- 
 ceeded in  fonning,  in  1826,  under  the  title  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London.  He 
 was  also  deeply  engaged  in  the  duties  and  pleasm'es  of  private  fi-iendship.  He 
 \isited  Liverpool,  Manchester,  the  Lakes  of  Westmoreland,  Edinburgh,  Glasgow, 
 Dubhn,  and  Wales ; travelhng  with  his  usual  speed,  sixteen  hours  in  the  day. 
 
 In  October,  1817,  Sir  Stamford,  with  his  family,  embarked  for  Bencoolen  at 
 Portsmouth,  on  board  “ The  Lady  Raffles.”  The  Court  of  Dhectors  “ in  consideration 
 of  the  zeal  and  talents  displayed  during  the  period  he  filled  the  office  of  Lieutenant- 
 Governor  of  Java,  conferi'ed  upon  him  the  title  of  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Ben- 
 coolen, as  SijjecuUar  mark  of  the  favourable  sentiments  which  the  Court  entertained  of  his 
 merits  and  services.” 
 
 The  following  are  extracts  of  letters  written  to  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ October  Uth,  1817. 
 
 “ Oh ! that  this  leave-taking  was  at  an  end ; my  heart  is  sad,  and  yet  what 
 avails  it  to  repine  ? I must  go,  and  the  sooner  I am  off  the  better  ; my  house  is 
 filled  with  those  w’ho  all  are  determined  to  say  good-bye,  and  make  me  more 
 miserable  when  it  requires  all  my  fortitude  to  keep  my  spirits  calm  and  uniform.” 
 
EMBARKS  FOR  INDIA. 
 
 291 
 
 “ Falmouth,  October  20th. 
 
 “ We  had  a fair  wind  down  the  channel,  but  had  hardly  got  to  the  Land’s  End 
 when  a heavy  gale  came  on  from  the  westward  with  a tremendous  sea ; this  we 
 stemmed  for  three  days,  but  at  last  finding  we  were  losing  gromid,  and  every  one 
 being  tired  out,  some  with  severe  sickness,  others  with  severe  duty,  we  were  com- 
 pelled to  seek  shelter  in  this  friendly  port.  Lady  Raffles  has  suffered  severely  from 
 the  motion  of  the  ship,  and  for  the  last  four  days  refused  every  kind  of  nourishment, 
 even  u glass  of  cold  water,  so  that  I cannot  help  thinking  it  fortunate  we  have  an 
 opportunity  of  recruiting  her.  Often,  very  often,  I might  say  always,  do  we  regret 
 it  is  Falmouth  and  not  Plymouth,  we  might  then  have  hoped  once  more  to  have  said 
 good-bye  \ * * * * ^ 
 
 “ I am  going  into  the  country  to  descend  a tin  mine,  and  I hope  to  be  quite 
 learned  in  the  mineralogy  of  Cornwall.” 
 
 Falmouth,  November  Qth,  1817. 
 
 “ Last  night  I was  gratified  by  the  receipt  of  your  kind  letters  : this  morning 
 we  are  gi'eeted  with  a fair  wind,  and  summoned  to  embark  within  half  an  hour.  God 
 
 gi*ant  we  may  be  fairly  off — as  we  must  go — the  sooner  the  better.” 
 
 ******* 
 
 “ November  7th. 
 
 We  sailed  yesterday,  and  by  the  pilot  I sent  a few  hurried  lines — to  say  fare- 
 well— but  alas  ! the  wind  soon  after  changed,  and  we  are  again  driven  into  port.  We 
 were  obliged  to  run  in  quickly,  otherwise  we  should  have  been  driven  back  to  Ply- 
 mouth. I cannot  say  I should  have  regretted  this,  but  it  would  have  been  a very  bad 
 way  of  commencing  a voyage. 
 
 How  long  we  may  remain  here  seems  uncertain  : the  wind  now  blows  what 
 the  sailors  call  ^ great  guns,’  and  perhaps  it  will  expend  its  fury,  and  change  about  to 
 a more  favourable  quarter. 
 
 We  are  now  detained  on  board  on  account  of  the  violence  of  the  wind,  but 
 we  hope  to  have  a boat  off  in  the  evening.” 
 
 “ Falmouth,  November  0th. 
 
 “ We  landed  this  morning,  and  if  the  wind  continues  equally  unfavourable  to- 
 morrow, we  have  it  in  contemplation  to  set  off  post  for  Plymouth. 
 
 ***** 
 
 “ What  a melancholy  and  unexpected  event  has  occurred,  it  has  shocked  me 
 beyond  measm'e — I dare  not  dwell  upon  it 
 
 * The  reader  has  already  supplied  the  event, — the  death  of  Her  Royal  Highness  Princess  Charlotte. 
 The  kindness  which  Sir  Stamford  received  from  this  noble-minded  Princess,  and  from  His  Royal  Highness 
 
 p p 2 
 
•292 
 
 ARRIVES  AT  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 “ Off  Falmouth,  November  \ 9th. 
 
 “ Once  more  we  are  off,  and  as  we  must  go,  God  gi’ant  it  may  be  for  good ! 
 We  left  PljTUouth  after  smiset  yesterday,  travelled  all  night,  and  are  now  many 
 miles  from  Falmouth  on  our  watery  way. 
 
 “ And  now  then  I must  say  good-bye  in  earnest,  for  the  wind  is  decidedly  fair, 
 and  promises  to  continue  so.” 
 
 “ //i  sea,  December  l5f,  1817. 
 
 “ The  die  is  now  cast,  and  we  are  at  last  fairly  off.  We  have  just  weathered 
 the  Bay  of  Biscay,  and  hope,  in  the  com-se  of  next  week,  to  reach  Madeira.  We 
 are  at  present  harassed  by  contrary  winds,  but  the  weather  is  fine,  and  we  are 
 already  sensible  of  a warmer  chmate.  Lady  Raffles  has  suffered  very  much,  and 
 has  not  yet  left  her  couch. 
 
 “ The  concerns  of  om*  little  community  are  of  too  monotonous  a natm*e  to 
 deserve  detail,  and  as  yet  the  heavens  and  the  ocean  have  been  our  only  prospect 
 from  without.  You  will  be  glad,  however,  to  hear  that  all  the  indi\iduals  of  the 
 ark  are  well  and  thriving.  The  cows,  dogs,  cats,  birds,  the  latter  smging  around  me, 
 and  my  nursery  of  plants  thriving  beyond  all  expectation ; the  thermometer  is  at 
 76°.  What  a w^aste  of  waters  now  lies  between  us,  and  yet  the  distance  daily  \videns, 
 and  will  widen  still  until  half  the  world  divides  us.” 
 
 It  is  by  many  considered  impossible  to  occupy  the  mind  and  time  steadily  and 
 usefully,  under  all  the  discomforts  and  disadvantages  of  a sea  voyage ; but  Sir 
 Stamford  never  relaxed  his  occupations — he  regularly  devoted  his  mornings  to  study 
 — and  only  allowed  a small  portion  of  the  day  to  be  occupied  in  the  idle  exercise  of 
 walking  on  the  deck.  He  spent  most  of  his  time  in  the  retirement  of  his  cabin — 
 read  and  WTote  on  serious  subjects  till  the  evening,  when  he  read  aloud  some  books 
 of  poetry  or  light  work ; and  thus,  though  never  well  at  sea,  he  had  the  satisfaction 
 of  feeling  that  the  time,  if  not  agreeably,  w^as  not  unprofitably  spent. 
 
 The  passage  was  long  and  tedious — five  months  without  any  object  to  vary  the 
 scene,  relieve  the  eye,  or  divert  the  mind  from  the  contemplation  of  wdiat  has  been 
 compared  to  one  great  monotonous  idea.  “ The  Lady  Raffles”  reached  Bencoolen, 
 without  touching  at  any  port,  on  the  22d  of  IMarch,  1818. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  found  the  settlement  in  a state  of  great  confusion ; the  Govern- 
 ment-houses were  deserted  ; there  was  no  accommodation  for  any  of  the  party,  and 
 
 Prince  Leopold,  was  returned  by  him  with  the  most  devoted  attachment.  Those  who  remember  the  uni- 
 versal feeling  of  grief,  when  the  whole  nation  was  humbled  under  this  calamity,  with  which  it  pleased  God 
 for  an  all-wise  purjjgse  to  afflict  them,  will  not  wonder  that  Sir  Stamford  mourned  her  early  and  unexpected 
 death  with  far  more  than  a subject’s  sorrow. 
 
ARRIVAL  AT  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 29R 
 
 he  was  obliged  to  put  his  family  into  a habitation  which  was  so  impaired  by  the 
 shocks  of  earthquakes,  that  the  inhabitants  would  not  trust  themselves  in  it.  His 
 letters  to  his  friends  describe  his  feelings  on  his  first  arrival. 
 
 To  William  Marsden,  Esq. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  April7,  1818. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 I have  only  time  to  advise  you  of  our  safe  arrival  here. 
 
 " We  had  a very  tedious  passage  of  more  than  four  months,  exclusive  of  our 
 detention  at  Falmouth.  Lady  Raffles  presented  me  with  a beautiful  little  girl,  when 
 to  the  southward  of  the  Cape ; fortunately  we  had  moderate  and  fine  weather,  and 
 both  mother  and  child  did  wonderfully  well ; neither  of  them  suffered  from  the  pri- 
 vations attending  a protracted  voyage.  At  the  suggestion  of  the  Radin  *,  my 
 daughter  has  received  the  name  of  Tunjong  Segara,  (the  Lily  of  the  Sea,)  in  addi- 
 tion to  those  of  Charlotte  Sophia. 
 
 “ This  is,  without  exception,  the  most  wretched  place  I ever  beheld.  I cannot 
 convey  to  you  an  adequate  idea  of  the  state  of  ruin  and  dilapidation  which  surrounds 
 me.  What  with  natm*al  impediments,  bad  government,  and  the  awful  visitations  of 
 Pro\ddence  which  we  have  recently  experienced,  in  repeated  earthquakes,  we  have 
 scarcely  a dwelling  in  which  to  lay  our  heads,  or  wherewithal  to  satisfy  the  cravings 
 of  nature.  The  roads  are  impassable ; the  highways  in  the  town  overrun  with  rank 
 grass ; the  Government-house  a den  of  ravenous  dogs  and  polecats.  The  natives 
 say  that  Bencoolen  is  now  a tana  mati  (dead  land.)  In  truth,  I could  never  have 
 conceived  any  thing  half  so  bad.  We  will  try  and  make  it  better ; and  if  I am  well 
 supported  from  home,  the  west  coast  may  yet  be  turned  to  account.  You  must, 
 however,  be  prepared  for  the  abolition  of  slavery ; the  emancipation  of  the  country 
 people  from  the  forced  cultivation  of  pepper ; the  discontinuance  of  the  gaming  and 
 cock-fighting  fanns  ; and  a thousand  other  practices  equally  disgraceful  and  repug- 
 nant to  the  British  character  and  government.  A complete  and  thorough  reform  is 
 indispensable,  and  reductions  must  be  made  throughout. 
 
 “ As  soon  as  I have  effected  some  essential  changes  here,  I mean  to  go  to 
 Croee  by  land,  afterwards  to  Padang ; from  the  latter  place  I shall  go  by  sea  to 
 Tappanooly,  and  thence  most  probably  to  Acheen,  where  there  wll  be  much  to  do. 
 I must  not  omit  to  tell  you  that  it  is  my  intention  to  visit  Menangkabu  fi-om  Pedang. 
 Mr.  Holloway  seems  haK  afraid,  but,  nolens  volenSy  as  he  is  Resident,  he  must  accom- 
 pany me. 
 
 “ I am  already  at  issue  with  the  Dutch  Government  about  their  boundaries  in 
 the  Lampoon  country.  They  insist  on  packing  us  up  close  to  Billimbing,  on  the 
 
 Raden-Raaa-Dipura,  a Javanese  Chief,  who  had  accompanied  Sir  Stamford  lo  England. 
 
294 
 
 EARTHQUAKES  AT  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 west  coast.  I demand  an  anchorage  in  Simangka  Bay,  and  lay  claim  to  Simangka 
 itself.  If  we  obtain  this,  we  shall  have  a convenient  place  for  om*  China  ships  to 
 water ; and  should  we  go  no  further  nithin  the  Archipelago,  be  able  to  set  up  oiu* 
 shop  next  door  to  the  Dutch.  It  woidd  not,  I think,  be  many  years  before  my 
 station  in  the  Straits  of  Sunda  would  rival  Batavia  as  a commercial  entrepot.  If  I 
 have  time,  you  shall  have  copies  of  my  dispatches,  and  I hope  to  have  your  support 
 wdth  Mr.  Canning  on  this  point.  You  vdW  at  once  see  the  immense  importance  of 
 what  I am  standing  out  for,  both  for  this  coast  and  our  interest  generally. 
 
 ‘‘  Another  point  which  occupies  my  attention  is,  the  command  of  the  northern 
 ports,  from  Acheen  do^\^l  to  Tappanooly.  I wish  to  form  a small  factory  of  tumpat 
 tuan  at  Pulo  Dera,  and  to  fix  Mr.  Holloway  there.  My  object  in  the  reference, 
 however,  is  to  procure  direct  orders,  and  in  this  I shall  hope  for  your  assistance. 
 
 “ We  are  beginning  to  make  ourselves  comfortable — happy  we  always  are.  Our 
 kindest  regards  to  Mrs.  Marsden.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Fort  Marlborough,  April  8th,  1818. 
 
 What  an  age  has  passed ! what  a distance  are  we  apart ! fifteen  thousand 
 miles  on  the  opposite  sides  of  the  world  h?  * * 
 
 In  my  last  I gave  you  a diy  detail  of  om*  voyage.  IMy  arrival  was  not  hailed 
 by  the  most  auspicious  of  omens,  for  the  day  preHous  to  it,  a violent  earthquake  had 
 nearly  destroyed  every  building  in  the  place,  and  the  first  communication  which  I 
 received  from  the  shore  was,  that  both  Government-houses  were  rendered  useless 
 and  uninhabitable.  These  earthquakes  are  said  to  occiu  every  five  or  six  years,  and 
 they  have  now  lasted  from  the  18th  of  the  last  month  up  to  the  present  period,  the 
 shocks  occuiTing  within  short  intervals  twice  or  thrice  a day.  The  most  riolent  shock 
 happened  on  the  18th,  before  our  amval ; it  occm*red  dming  the  night,  and  by  the 
 accounts  given,  it  must  have  been  truly  awful.  Every  building  has  suffered  more  or 
 less ; some  are  quite  ruins,  others  hardly  deserving  repair  : the  house  which  I now 
 occupy  is  rent  from  top  to  bottom,  there  is  not  a room  without  a crack  of  some  feet 
 long  and  several  inches  wide ; the  cornices  broken  and  every  thing  unhinged ; fi'om 
 some  houses  many  cart-loads  of  nibbish  have  been  cleared  away,  and  still  they  are 
 inhabited,  notwithstanding  they  rock  to  and  fro  with  every  breeze. 
 
 “ This  you  will  say  is  but  a bad  beginning  for  my  Eastern  Empire,  but  as  we 
 are  not  inchned  to  make  difficulties,  or  murmur  against  Prortdence,  we  shall,  I have 
 no  doubt,  contrive  to  make  ourselves  very  happy.  The  earthquake  might  have  been 
 worse,  for  in  the  accounts  of  a shock  felt  on  this  coast  in  1797,  it  is  stated  that  the 
 vibratory  shocks  continued  for  three  minutes,  and  recurred  at  intervals  dming  the 
 space  of  three  hom’S,  till  the  shock  completely  ceased.  At  Padang  the  houses  of  the 
 
TRADE  OF  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 295 
 
 inhabitants  were  almost  entirely  destroyed,  and  the  public  works  much  damaged.  A 
 vessel  lying  at  anchor  was  thrown  by  the  sudden  rise  of  the  tide  upwards  of 
 three  miles  on  shore.  The  number  of  lives  lost  there  amounted  to  above  three 
 hundred ; of  these  some  were  crushed  under  the  ruins  of  falling  houses,  some  were 
 literally  entombed  alive  by  the  earth  closing  upon  them,  and  others  were  drowned  by 
 the  sudden  irruption  of  the  waters  of  the  ocean  ; but  after  all,  this  is  nothing  to  our 
 Java  volcanoes  ; there  is  nothing  here  half  so  grand  and  magnificent,  and  from  what 
 I have  seen  of  Sumatra,  I would  not  give  one  Java  for  a thousand  such  Islands. 
 
 “ I have  been  here  so  short  a time,  and  have  had  so  little  opportunity  of  looking 
 about,  that  I have  not  much  to  say  of  the  further  East. 
 
 “ I am  now  preparing  for  a tour  overland  to  the  Southern  Residencies,  as  far  as 
 the  straits  of  Sunda,  and  on  my  return  shall  go  northward  as  far  as  Acheen,  and 
 inland  to  Pageruyung  or  Menangkabu,  the  capital  of  the  Malays.”  * * 
 
 To  William  Marsden,  Esq. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  April  28,  1818. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ There  have  been  no  less  than  nineteen  Americans  at  the  northern  ports 
 this  season,  and  they  have  taken  away  upwards  of  sixty  thousand  pekuls  of  pepper 
 at  nine  dollars ; there  are  five  or  six  at  the  different  ports  even  now.  It  is  quite 
 ridiculous  for  us  to  be  confined  to  this  spot  in  order  to  secure  the  monopoly  of  five 
 hundi’ed  tons,  while  ten  times  that  amount  may  be  procured  next  door,  without 
 any  establishment  at  all. 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 “ Our  best  regards  to  Mrs.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Your’s  very  faithfully, 
 
 « T.  S.  R.” 
 
 Although  Bencoolen  was  one  of  the  first  establishments  formed  by  the  Com- 
 pany in  the  East,  it  had  benefited  less  than  any  other  part  of  the  country  under 
 their  controul.  This  may  be  accounted  for  from  the  different  circumstances  and 
 condition  of  the  place,  compared  with  the  Company’s  possessions  on  the  continent 
 of  India.  There  they  found  a cultivated  country,  and  a redundant  population.  At 
 Bencoolen  an  establishment  was  formed,  (solely  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  pepper) 
 in  a country  deficient  in  population,  and  in  a new  and  almost  unappropriated  soil 
 which  could  only  be  rendered  productive  by  the  introduction  of  capital  and  foreign 
 industry.  The  expenses  of  the  establishment  were  <£100,000  per  annum,  the  returns 
 for  this  were  only  a few  tons  of  pepper. 
 
 The  Company,  on  first  forming  settlements  on  the  coast  of  Sumatra,  bound 
 down  the  native  Chiefs  to  compel  their  subjects,  each,  to  cultivate  a certain  number 
 
296 
 
 PERNICIOUS  SYSTEM  AT  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 of  pepper  vines,  the  produce  to  be  delivered  exclusively  to  the  Company’s  agents,  at 
 a price  far  below  the  value  of  the  labour  employed  in  the  cultivation. 
 
 For  a certain  time,  while  the  influence  of  the  Chiefs  continued,  the  stipulated 
 quantity  of  pepper  was  cultivated  and  dehvered  to  the  Company,  the  Chiefs  ha\dng 
 an  allowance  granted  to  them  on  the  quantity  of  pepper  delivered ; but  it  could  not 
 be  long  before  the  oppression  was  felt ; the  cultivators  held  back  their  labours,  and 
 tlie  Chiefs,  destitute  of  a sufficient  influence  to  enforce  it,  left  to  the  agents  of  the 
 Company  the  task  of  (having  the  people  to  their  w'ork.  While  an  efficient  esta- 
 blishment was  kept  up,  the  stipulated  number  of  \anes  was  still  cultivated,  and  the 
 usual  consignments  made  to  Europe. 
 
 In  the  year  1801,  the  Court  of  Directors  sent  orders  to  reduce  the  esta- 
 blishment to  a Resident,  four  Assistants,  and  four  Writers ; and  to  with(h'aw  from 
 what  were  termed  the  out-residencies  (these  extended  from  Padang  to  Croe,  at  the 
 southern  extremity  of  the  Island,  and  a civil  servant  was  at  the  head  of  each 
 establishment.) 
 
 On  carrying  these  orders  into  execution,  instead  of  leaving  the  people  to  the 
 fi’ee  emplo)Tnent  of  their  labour,  the  command  of  their  service  was  secured  for  a 
 time,  on  a system  of  contracts ; by  which,  in  return  for  a certain  quantity  of  pepper 
 to  be  delivered  to  the  Company  at  a given  rate,  the  out-residencies  were  literally 
 given  over  in  farm  to  those  gentlemen  who  made  the  most  advantageous  offers. 
 That  system  had  terminated,  but  its  effects  were  still  experienced.  That  the  Resi- 
 dent might  have  an  interest  in  forcing  the  people  to  cultivate  pepper,  he  was  allowed 
 one  dollar  per  cwt.  on  the  quantity  he  dehvered  to  Government. 
 
 Besides  this  there  was  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Bencoolen  what  were  termed 
 free  gardens.  An  advance  of  79,000  dollars,  (<£19,750  at  par)  had  been  made  to 
 induce  the  natives  to  cultivate  pepper ; in  the  course  of  sixteen  years,  24,000  dol- 
 lars, (£5,999  at  par)  were  repaid,  leaving  44,000  dollars,  (£11,000  at  par)  still 
 unpaid.  Many  of  those  to  whom  the  money  was  advanced  had  either  emigrated  or 
 died.  But  by  the  Malay  law  the  chilch’en  in  the  first  instance,  and  after  their  death, 
 the  village  to  which  they  belonged,  are  liable  for  the  debt.  Thus  not  only  the 
 original  contractors  were  rendered  slave-debtors,  as  they  were  termed,  but  their 
 offspring,  and  eventually  the  people  in  general,  were  reduced  to  the  same  hapless 
 state. 
 
 There  were  also  at  this  time  (1818)  in  Bencoolen  upwards  of  two  hundred 
 African  slaves,  most  of  them  born  in  the  settlement,  who  were  the  children  of  slaves, 
 originally  purchased  by  the  East  India  Company;  they  were  considered  imhspens- 
 able  for  the  duties  of  the  place,  and  it  was  asserted  that  they  were  happier  than  free 
 men.  They  were  employed  in  loading  and  unloading  the  Company’s  ships,  and  other 
 hard  work.  No  care  ha\ang  been  taken  of  their  morals,  many  of  them  were  dissolute 
 and  depraved,  and  the  chilth'en  in  a state  of  nature,  vice,  and  Avretchedness. 
 
PERNICIOUS  SYSTEM  AT  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 297 
 
 As  the  chief  revenue  of  the  government  was  derived  from  the  gaming  and 
 cock-fighting  farms,  there  was  but  little  check  to  the  natural  \ices  of  the 
 people. 
 
 Of  the  desolating  effects  of  such  a state  of  things,  it  is  scarcely  possible  to  convey 
 an  idea.  Public  gaming  and  cock-fighting  were  not  only  practised  under  the  eye  of 
 the  chief  authority,  but  publicly  patronized  by  government ; and  as  might  be  expected 
 there  was  no  security  for  person  or  property  to  be  found.  Murders  were  daily  com- 
 mitted, and  robberies  perpetrated,  which  were  never  traced,  and  profligacy  and  im- 
 morality obtmded  themselves  in  every  direction. 
 
 In  remarking  upon  the  sad  state  of  the  settlement,  in  a letter  to  the  Comt  of 
 Directors,  Sir  Stamford  added : ‘‘  It  has  been  but  too  common,  and  I regret  to  say 
 the  authorities  which  sanction  the  opinion  are  most  respectable,  that  the  Malayan 
 character  is  too  despicable  to  be  entrusted  with  personal  freedom,  and  that  the  de- 
 gree of  restraint,  exercised  over  them,  on  this  coast,  is  not  only  wholesome,  but 
 necessary.  That  indolence  and  rice  prevail  among  the  Malays  on  this  coast,  and 
 to  a considerable  extent  I am  not  prepared  to  deny,  but  I apprehend  they  are  rather 
 to  be  attributed  to  the  effects  of  the  system  hitherto  prescribed  than  to  any  original 
 defect  of  character. 
 
 “ My  own  experience  of  twelve  years,  in  different  parts  of  the  Archipelago,  en- 
 ables me  to  assert  that  there  is  no  radical  defect  in  the  character  of  the  common 
 people,  however  bad  their  Mahomedan  government  may  be.  They  are  alive  to  the 
 same  incentives,  have  the  same  feehngs,  and,  if  once  allowed,  would  as  rapidly  ad- 
 vance in  cirilization  as  their  fellow  men;  once  reheved  from  the  oppression  and  dis- 
 abilities under  which  they  labour,  and  placed  under  an  honourable  protection,  there 
 would  be  no  want  of  energy  or  enterprise;  the  temptations  to  rice  by  which  they 
 are  surrounded,  once  removed,  they  would  be  amiable  and  trustworthy.  Of  some 
 of  the  oppressions  and  disabilities  under  which  they  labour  I have  already  spoken  ; 
 of  the  temptations  to  rice  by  which  they  are  surrounded,  I need  only  observe,  that 
 the  principal  local  revenues  of  government  both  at  Bencoolen,  and  at  the  different 
 Residencies,  are  in  the  gaming  and  cock-fighting  farms.  Of  the  first,  I shall  not 
 at  present  speak,  as  it  is  connected  with  the  revenues  of  Bengal,  but  of  the  latter, 
 which  are  entirely  local,  it  is  incumbent  on  me  as  chief  magistrate  to  point  out,  that 
 the  continuance  of  the  farms  is  destructive  of  every  principle  of  good  government,  of 
 social  order,  and  the  morals  of  the  people. 
 
 “ The  forced  services  and  forced  deliveries  at  inadequate  rates  must  be 
 abolished.  The  labourer  must  be  allowed  to  cultivate  pepper  or  not  at  pleasure, 
 and  such  radical  changes  made  throughout,  as  will  enable  the  people  to  distinguish 
 the  political  influence  of  the  British  Government  from  the  commercial  speculations 
 of  the  Company  and  their  agents.  I am  aware  that  the  task  is  difficult,  if  not  in- 
 vidious ; but  imder  the  confidence  placed  in  me,  and  having  at  heart  the  honour  and 
 
 Q q 
 
298 
 
 PROPOSED  REFORMS. 
 
 character  of  the  nation,  and  of  the  East  India  Company,  I shall  not  hesitate  to 
 undertake  it. 
 
 My  first  pubhc  act  must  be  the  emancipation  of  the  unfortunate  Caffre 
 slaves:  when  I have  done  this,  and  abolished  the  gaming  and  cock-fighting  farms, 
 I may  with  some  conscience  call  upon  the  Chiefs  to  assist  me  in  the  general  work  of 
 ' refonn,  amelioration  and  improvement. 
 
 But  there  is  another  class  of  people  that  call  for  immediate  consideration ; since 
 1797,  a number  of  persons  have  been  transported  to  this  place  from  Bengal,  for 
 various  crimes  of  which  they  had  been  found  guilty. 
 
 “ The  object  of  the  punishment  as  far  as  it  affects  the  parties  must  be  the  re- 
 claiming them  from  their  bad  habits,  but  I much  question  whether  the  practice 
 hitherto  pursued  has  been  productive  of  that  effect.  This  I apprehend  to  be  in  a 
 great  measm'e,  in  consequence  of  sufficient  discrimination  and  encoirragement  not 
 haring  been  she^vn  in  favom*  of  those  most  inclined  to  amendment,  and  perhaps  to 
 the  want  of  a discretionary  power  in  the  chief  authority  to  remit  a portion  of  the 
 punishment  and  disgi'ace  which  is  at  present  the  common  lot  of  all.  It  frequently 
 happens  that  men  of  notoriously  bad  conduct  are  liberated  at  the  expiration  of  a 
 limited  period  of  transportation,  whilst  others  w^hose  general  conduct  is  perhaps  un- 
 exceptionable are  doomed  to  seiwitude  till  the  end  of  their  lives. 
 
 As  coercive  measures  are  not  likely  to  be  attended  mth  success,  I conceive 
 that  more  advantage  would  arise  from  affording  inducements  to  good  conduct  by 
 holding  out  the  prospect  of  again  becoming  useful  members  of  society,  and  of  forcing 
 themselves  from  the  disabilities  under  which  they  labour.  There  are  at  present 
 above  five  hundred  of  these  unfortunate  people.  However  just  the  original  sentence 
 may  have  been,  the  crimes  and  characters  of  the  different  individuals  of  so  nume- 
 rous a body,  must  necessarily  be  very  unequal,  and  it  is  desirable  that  some  discri- 
 mination should  be  exerted  in  favour  of  those  who  show  the  disposition  to  redeem 
 their  character.  I would  suggest  the  propriety  of  the  chief  authority  being  vested 
 with  a discretionaiy  power  of  freeing  such  men  as  conduct  themselves  well,  from  the 
 obligations  of  service,  and  permitting  them  to  settle  in  the  place,  and  resmne  the 
 privileges  of  citizenship.  The  prospect  of  recovering  their  characters,  of  freeing 
 themselves  fi-om  their  present  disabihties,  and  the  privileges  of  employing  their 
 industry  for  their  owm  advantage,  would  become  an  object  of  ambition,  and  supply 
 a stimulus  to  exertion  and  good  conduct  which  is  at  present  wanting. 
 
 “ It  rarely  happens  that  any  of  those  transported  have  any  desire  to  leave  the 
 country;  they  form  connections  in  the  place,  and  find  so  many  inducements  to 
 remain,  that  to  be  sent  away  is  considered  by  most  a severe  punishment. 
 
 “ While  a convict  remains  unmarried  and  kept  to  daily  laljour,  very  little  con- 
 fidence can  be  placed  in  him ; and  his  services  are  rendered  with  so  much  tardiness 
 and  dissatisfaction  that  they  are  of  httle  or  no  value ; but  he  no  sooner  marries  and 
 
STATE  OF  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 299 
 
 forms  a small  settlement  than  he  becomes  a kind  of  colonist,  and  if  allowed  to  follow 
 his  inclinations,  he  seldom  feels  inclined  to  return  to  his  native  country. 
 
 “ I propose  to  divide  them  into  three  classes. 
 
 “ The  first  class  to  be  allowed  to  give  evidence  in  court,  and  permitted  to  settle 
 on  lands  secured  to  them  and  their  children ; but  no  one  to  be  admitted  to  this  class 
 until  he  has  been  resident  at  Bencoolen  three  years. 
 
 “ The  second  class  to  be  employed  in  ordinary  labour. 
 
 “ The  third  class,  or  men  of  abandoned  and  profligate  character,  to  be  kept  to 
 the  harder  kinds  of  labour,  and  confined  at  night. 
 
 “ In  cases  of  particidar  good  conduct,  a prospect  may  be  held  out  of  emanci- 
 pating deserving  convicts  from  further  obligation  of  services,  on  condition  of  their 
 supporting  themselves  and  not  quitting  the  settlement. 
 
 “ Upon  the  abstract  question  of  the  advantage  of  this  arrangement,  I believe 
 there  will  be  little  difference  of  opinion.  The  advantage  of  holding  out  an  adequate 
 motive  of  exertion  is  sufficiently  obvious,  and  here  it  would  have  the  double  ten- 
 dency of  diminishing  the  bad  characters,  and  of  increasing  that  of  useful  and  indus- 
 trious settlers,  thereby  facihtating  the  general  police  of  the  country,  and  diminishing 
 the  expenses  of  the  Company.” 
 
 These  intentions  were  acted  upon  afterwards,  and  the  good  effects  of  the  regu- 
 lations were  soon  apparent ; a large  body  of  people,  who  had  been  hving  in  the 
 lowest  state  of  degradation,  soon  became  useful  labourers,  and  happy  members  of 
 society.  So  grateful  were  they  for  the  change,  that  when  they  were  sent  round  to 
 Penang,  on  the  transfer  of  Bencoolen  to  the  Dutch  in  1825,  they  entreated  to  be 
 placed  on  the  same  footing  as  they  had  been  at  Marlborough,  and  not  reduced  to 
 the  state  of  the  convicts  at  Prince  of  Wales’  Island,  who  were  kept  as  a government 
 gang,  to  be  employed  wherever  their  services  might  be  thought  most  desirable. 
 
 It  is  a matter  of  individual  regret  to  the  Editor,  and  perhaps  of  reproach  to 
 others,  that  the  plans  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  equally  wise  and  benevolent,  were 
 discontinued  as  soon  as  these  people  were  transferred  to  that  settlement ; and  the 
 system  of  retaining  them  in  bodies,  ready  to  be  employed  in  all  government  work, 
 a temptation  always  to  those  who  are  governors,  was  resumed. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  gave  the  following  account  of  the  state  in  which  he  found  the 
 establishment  on  his  arrival  at  Bencoolen,  in  a letter  to  William  Marsden,  Esq. 
 
 “ Fort  Marlborough,  Jpril  27,  1818. 
 
 “ In  consequence  of  the  reduction  of  the  number  of  civil  servants  which  took 
 place  in  1818,  and  the  non-appointment  of  writers  by  the  Court  for  several  years, 
 the  local  authorities  at  Bencoolen  would  appear  to  have  availed  themselves  of  the 
 services  of  different  gentlemen  resident  on  the  spot,  and  to  have  appointed  many  of 
 them  to  offices  of  trust ; subsequently  as  the  number  of  civil  servants  became  still 
 
 Q q 2 
 
300 
 
 EMANCIPATION  OF  SLAVES  AT  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 less  from  the  death  or  departure  of  the  Company’s  ci^^lians,  nearly  all  the  offices 
 of  tmst  fell  into  the  hands  of  these  gentlemen.  Some  years  since,  however,  the 
 Court  of  Directors  ha\'ing,  on  the  repeated  applications  of  the  late  Resident  for 
 additional  assistance,  resolved  to  appoint  eight  regularly  covenanted  writers  to  this 
 estahhshment,  those  young  gentlemen  who  came  out  from  England  naturally  looked 
 fonvard  to  holding  offices  of  tmst,  and  to  advancement  in  the  service,  on  the  same 
 principle  as  at  the  Presidencies  of  India. 
 
 “ At  the  date  of  my  arrival  only  two  of  them  could  be  considered  as  holding 
 offices  of  any  trust,  and  the  salary  of  one  of  them  only  amounted  to  150  dollars 
 a month.  Some  had  either  quitted  the  place  in  disgust,  or  returned  to  England, 
 and  the  remainder  were  posted  as  assistants  under  the  other  description  of  servants, 
 with  an  allowance  of  150  dollars  per  month,  a salary  which  in  this  place  is  most 
 certainly  not  equal  to  the  subsistence  of  a gentleman. 
 
 “ If  a cine  for  the  erils  that  have  been  depicted  is  to  be  found,  it  is  not  to  be 
 sought  in  the  simple  prorisional  reduction  of  establishment.  An  inadequate  salary 
 given  to  the  Overseer  by  Government,  creates  the  greater  motive  to  draw  his  advan- 
 tage from  the  people  subjected  to  him.  A subsistence,  and  even  a hberal  one,  he 
 expects,  and  will  obtain,  if  not  by  open,  certainly  by  clandestine  means.  The  evil 
 is  in  the  system  of  management,  and  a thorough  change  is  indispensable.” 
 
 Sir  Stamford  assembled  the  whole  of  the  Company’s  slaves  before  an  assembly 
 of  the  native  Chiefs,  and  explained  the  riews  of  the  British  Government  with  regard 
 to  the  abolition  generally ; a certificate  of  freedom  was  given  to  each,  a measure 
 which  made  a considerable  impression,  and  promised  to  be  foUow^ed  by  the  most 
 favourable  results  *. 
 
 The  next  step  was  to  ascertain  the  sentiments  of  the  native  Chiefs,  and,  if  prac- 
 ticable, to  enter  into  such  agreements  \rith  them,  as  might  leave  it  in  the  power  of 
 Government  to  effect  any  change  that  might  be  deemed  most  adrisable  in  the  mode 
 of  management. 
 
 Finding  them  reasonable  on  the  subject,  he  entered  into  a provisional  treaty 
 uith  them,  whereby, 
 
 1 st.  All  former  treaties  were  annulled. 
 
 2dly.  Authority  was  given  to  the  Company  to  administer  the  comitry  according 
 to  equity,  justice,  and  good  policy ; and. 
 
 * The  children  of  these  poor  people  were  at  the  same  time  assembled  at  the  Government-House  ; and 
 as  a considerable  degree  of  prejudice  existed  against  them,  the  Editor  at  the  moment  selected  one  of  them, 
 a little  bright-eyed  girl  about  eight  years  old,  whom  she  put  under  the  charge  of  her  European  nurse.  She 
 proved  a most  docile,  affectionate  little  attendant ; and  the  Editor,  on  leaving  Sumatra,  had  the  pleasure  of 
 giving  her  a dower  on  her  marriage. 
 
MURDER  OF  MR.  PARR. 
 
 301 
 
 3dly.  The  cultivation  of  pepper  was  declared  free,  the  people  being  at  liberty 
 to  cultivate  that  article  or  not  at  pleasure. 
 
 The  Chiefs  represented  the  disgrace  attached  to  the  native  character  by  the  re- 
 gulations which  prohibited  the  inhabitants  from  wearing  their  crees  and  other  weapons 
 in  the  town  of  Marlborough,  according  to  the  custom  of  the  country,  and  the  usages 
 of  nearly  a century,  in  consequence  of  the  unfortunate  murder  of  Mr.  Pan*. 
 
 The  rescinding  of  this  regulation,  the  dismissal  of  the  body-guard  in  attendance 
 on  the  chief  authority,  and  the  general  reduction  of  the  military  sentinels,  by  shew- 
 ing the  confidence  placed  in  the  inhabitants,  seemed  to  raise  them  in  their  own 
 estimation,  and,  in  some  degree,  to  reheve  them  fi*om  the  state  of  hstlessness  into 
 which  they  had  sunk.  And  when  the  gaming  and  cock-fighting  farms  were  discon- 
 tinued, and  an  idea  gone  abroad  that  every  one  might  reap  the  fruits  of  his  own  in- 
 dustry, there  was  reason  to  hope  the  Malayan  character  might  appear  in  a different 
 light  to  that  in  which  it  had  for  many  years  been  \dewed. 
 
 The  murder  of  Mr.  Parr,  a fomier  Resident,  had  created  a strong  feeling  of 
 distrust  among  the  Em-opean  inhabitants,  and  was  one  cause  of  the  general  appear- 
 ance of  desolation  that  prevailed.  The  house  he  inhabited  was  immediately  after 
 the  unfortunate  event  deserted,  and  allowed  to  fall  into  ruin,  though  its  beauty  and 
 situation  were  both  conspicuous.  The  fiaiit  and  ornamental  trees  were  all  cut  down, 
 and  no  one  would  venture  beyond  the  precincts  of  the  settlement. 
 
 The  circumstances  which  led  to  this  singular  event  were  gradual.  In  1801, 
 the  original  establishment  of  Fort  Marlborough  was  reduced,  and  it  became  a depen- 
 dency on  Bengal.  The  private-trade  of  Bencoolen,  anterior  to  this  period,  was  car- 
 ried on  by  the  Governor  and  Council,  and  the  servants  of  the  Company,  to  an 
 extent  which  made  the  port  respectable,  and  contributed  to  the  improvement  of 
 the  settlement.  This  trade  consisted  in  the  importation  of  articles  from  Western 
 India,  a small  portion  of  which  were  sold  on  the  spot ; but  the  principal  part  were 
 for  export  to  the  Java  market.  The  restrictive  policy  of  the  Dutch  Government, 
 and  the  corruption  of  thefr  serv'ants,  had  given  rise  to  an  extensive  contraband  trade, 
 of  which  a large  portion,  particularly  in  opium  and  piece-goods,  was  can’ied  on 
 through  the  medium  of  Bencoolen.  But  from  the  period  of  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Parr, 
 when  a more  strictly  economical  and  purer  system  of  administration  was  enforced, 
 and  the  support  of  the  Company’s  capital,  and  the  influence  of  the  chief  authority  was 
 withdrawn,  this  commerce  smik  into  an  insignificance  from  which  it  never  emerged. 
 Connected  with  the  forced  cultivation  of  pepper,  Mr.  Parr  endeavoured  to  force  the 
 cultivation  of  coffee,  which  w^as  considered  as  one  of  the  causes  that  led  to  his  un- 
 fortunate death.  The  true  causes  of  this  melancholy  event  perhaps  lay  deeper  than 
 in  the  enforcement  of  a single  order.  On  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Parr,  great  reductions 
 took  place  in  all  the  public  estabhshments,  by  which  numbers  of  people  were  sud- 
 denly thrown  out  of  employ,  and  many  reduced  to  starvation.  Trained  in  the  strict 
 
302 
 
 MURDER  OF  MR.  PARR. 
 
 practical  forms  of  Bengal,  and  accustomed  to  unlimited  obedience  from  a submissive 
 and  subjugated  people,  Mr.  Parr  unintentionally  gave  great  disgust  by  carrying  the 
 same  arbitrary  ideas  and  principles  among  a people  who  require  an  opposite  mode 
 of  treatment.  He  made  great  alterations  in  the  native  courts,  without  the  concur- 
 rence or  adrice  of  the  Chiefs,  and  occasionally  assumed  an  arbitrary  and  independent 
 authority  in  it,  which  made  them  fear  for  their  ancient  institutions  and  customs. 
 
 It  is  mmecessary  to  go  into  much  detail  on  the  causes  w’hich  led  to  the  unfor- 
 tunate assassination ; it  was  not  occasioned  by  a single  act,  but  by  a long  series  of 
 offensive  measures,  which  at  length  roused  the  people  to  rebellion.  In  carrying  into 
 effect  his  plans  of  economy,  he  certainly  proceeded  with  too  much  haste,  and  wth- 
 out  due  consideration ; insults  offered  on  various  occasions  to  some  of  the  principal 
 Chiefs,  produced  a deep  sensation  in  men  of  violent  and  rindictive  tempers,  and  the 
 attempt  to  coerce  the  cultivation  of  coffee  appears  to  have  brought  the  discontent  to 
 a crisis.  The  circumstances  under  which  the  murder  was  peiq)etrated  are  strongly 
 illustrative  of  the  peculiar  character  of  the  people.  They  appear  to  have  fully  dis- 
 cussed among  themselves  the  measures  of  Government,  and  finding  reasons  to  be 
 dissatisfied,  to  have  deliberately  resolved  on  vengeance  ; and  to  satisfy  that  vengeance, 
 the  head  of  Mr.  Parr  was  required.  Meetings  were  held,  oaths  administered,  and 
 every  inhabitant  of  the  to\vn  was  apprized  of  the  danger.  The  country  was  in  a 
 state  of  revolt ; but  Mr.  Parr  was  bhnd  to  the  danger  with  which  he  was  threatened. 
 The  Govemment-house  was  suiTounded,  the  guard  ovei*powered,  Mr.  Parr  mur- 
 dered, and  his  head  carried  off.  It  may  give  some  idea  of  the  state  of  lawless  inde- 
 pendence to  which  the  people  must  have  been  accustomed,  w'hen  they  could  thus  plan 
 revenge  on  the  Governor  of  a British  settlement  without  intending  further  mischief, 
 and  expect  that  such  an  act  could  be  considered  by  the  English  in  the  same  light 
 that  they  themselves  \iew^ed  it.  In  further  illustration  how  inapplicable  the  ordi- 
 nary ndes  of  cirihzed  society  must  be  to  such  a people,  it  may  be  added,  that  when 
 rew^ards  were  subsequently  offered  for  the  apprehension,  dead  or  alive,  of  the  assas- 
 sins, it  w'as  considered  by  them  merely  as  an  offer  to  pay  the  hangoon,  or  compen- 
 sation for  murder,  and  considering  this  payment  fully  to  authorise  the  act,  expressed 
 no  surprise,  except  that  the  Company  should  so  readily  pay  the  bangoon  for  the 
 heads  of  the  conspirators,  and  not  exact  the  same  in  return  for  Mr.  Parr’s  head. 
 
 The  measures  that  followed  were  of  a doubtful  cast.  As  soon  as  it  w^as  dis- 
 covered that  the  designs  of  the  people  w^ere  confined  to  the  assassination,  and  not 
 directed  against  the  settlement  generally,  search  was  made  for  the  perpetrators  of 
 the  act.  It  was  thought  unsafe  to  touch  the  Chiefs.  Several  of  the  people  were 
 blown  fi'om  the  mouths  of  guns.  As  the  danger  diminished,  the  spirit  of  indignation 
 and  revenge  seems  to  have  increased.  An  order  was  given  to  burn  and  destroy 
 every  rillage  within  a certain  distance,  and  the  work  of  devastation  was  carried  on  as 
 if  it  were  intended  to  place  the  future  secm'ity  of  the  settlement  in  surrounding  it 
 
TRADE  OF  THE  EASTERN  SEAS. 
 
 303 
 
 with  a desert.  The  fi'uit-trees,  venerable  by  their  age,  that  surround  a Malay  vil- 
 lage, are  the  protecting  deities  of  the  place,  and  are  regarded  with  reverence  and 
 respect ; their  destruction  is  looked  upon  as  little  less  than  sacrilege ; yet  the  axe 
 was  laid  to  their  roots,  and  whatever  could  afford  shelter  or  protection  was  levelled 
 with  the  ground,  and  the  whole  population  of  the  suspected  villages  turned  loose 
 upon  the  countiy  *. 
 
 Some  of  the  villages  were  partially  rebuilt;  but  never  rose  to  their  former 
 flourishing  condition.  The  people  of  Dusun  Besar,  estimated  the  damage  they  then 
 sustained  at  more  than  3000  dollars  in  houses  burnt  and  fruit-trees  cut  down,  and 
 that  they  lost  about  three-fourths  of  their  buffaloes,  which  were  either  shot,  stolen, 
 or  dispersed  on  the  occasion.  At  that  time  they  had  1000  head,  in  1820  they  had 
 only  300.  No  wonder  the  people  were  poor — the  country  a wilderness. 
 
 It  is  necessary  to  remind  the  reader,  that  dming  Sir  Stamford’s  administration 
 in  Java,  the  Enghsh  powder  was  paramount  in  the  Eastern  Seas.  Holland  had  ceased 
 to  be  a nation.  But  Avith  the  rehnquishment  of  Java  the  English  relinquished  every 
 possession  in  those  seas,  except  Penang  and  Bencoolen. 
 
 Previous  to  Sir  Stamford’s  leaving  England,  very  strong  apprehensions  were 
 entertained  by  those  interested  in  the  trade  of  the  Eastern  Archipelago,  that  the  Dutch 
 would  succeed  in  re-establishing  the  supremacy  w^hich  they  possessed  in  that  quarter 
 of  the  globe ; and  as  their  jealousy  of  the  English  was  well  known,  they  would 
 natm*ally  take  every  means  of  debaning  their  rivals  from  participating  in  a trade 
 from  which  they  had  derived  such  considerable  benefit.  It  was  conceived  that  Sir 
 Stamford  might  be  enabled,  from  time  to  time,  to  afford  information  on  the  subject 
 to  the  authorities  at  home,  and  the  following  particular  instructions  on  the  subject 
 were  given  him  from  the  Court  of  Directors  : — 
 
 “ It  is  highly  desirable  that  the  Court  of  Directors  should  receive  early  and 
 
 • The  following  details  of  this  sad  and  singular  catastrophe  were  related  by  an  old  inliabitant  of  Ben- 
 coolen. The  Chiefs  having  issued  their  decree,  took  every  means  in  their  power  to  prevent  the  destruction 
 of  the  Europeans.  Warnings  were  sent  to  them,  and  a general  impression  prevailed  that  some  crisis  was 
 approaching.  At  last  the  day  arrived,  and  notice  was  given  to  keep  at  home.  Mr.  Parr  unfortunately 
 refused  to  listen  to  any  suggestions  of  danger,  and  could  not  even  be  prevailed  upon  to  have  his  usual  sen- 
 tries doubled ; the  only  means  of  defence  within  his  reach  was  a hog-spear,  taken  to  his  room  by  Mrs.  Parr. 
 A little  before  midnight  a loud  shriek  was  heard,  and  “ The  Malays  are  come  !”  was  echoed  through  the 
 house.  They  had,  indeed,  assembled  and  concealed  themselves  around  the  house,  and  it  is  said  watched 
 until  Mr.  Parr  retired  to  rest.  The  guard  was  soon  cut  down,  and  three  men  entered  Mr.  Parr’s  room, 
 and  dragged  him  from  his  bed,  for  he  was  at  the  time  much  reduced  from  illness.  Mrs.  Parr  struggled  to 
 defend  and  shield  her  husband  by  throwing  herself  upon  him.  The  men  entreated  her  to  keep  away  lest 
 they  should  unintentionally  injure  her  ; and  finding  that  they  had  wounded  her  in  the  hands,  they  took  her 
 and  threw  her  under  the  bed.  They  then  executed  their  dreadful  orders,  cut  off  the  head  of  Mr.  Parr, 
 and  retreated  without  doing  further  injury. 
 
 Mrs.  Parr  afterwards  perishe.d  off  the  Cape,  with  her  children,  on  her  voyage  to  England. 
 
 7 
 
30  i SYSTEM  OF  THE  DUTCH  IN  THE  EASTERN  SEAS. 
 
 constant  information  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Dutch  and  other  European  nations,  as 
 well  as  of  the  Americans  in  the  Eastern  Archipelago.  The  Court,  therefore,  desire 
 that  you  will  direct  your  attention  to  the  object  of  regularly  obtaining  such  informa- 
 tion, and  that  you  will  transmit  the  same  to  them  by  every  convenient  opportunity, 
 accompanied  by  such  observations  as  may  occur  to  you,  whether  of  a political  or 
 commercial  nature.  You  will  furnish  the  Supreme  Government  with  copies  of  these 
 commmiications.  In  the  event  of  any  such  communications  appearing  to  you  to  be 
 of  a natm-e  to  require  secrecy,  you  will  address  your  letter  to  the  Secret  Com- 
 mittee.” 
 
 On  arriving  at  Bencoolen  Sir  Stamford  found  that  the  Dutch  had  sent  over  a 
 Commissioner,  with  the  \-iew  of  re-estabhshing  their  authority  in  the  Lampung 
 country,  on  the  southern  part  of  Sumatra. 
 
 The  object  of  the  Dutch  by  the  re-occupation  of  this  territory  being  to  exclude 
 English  vessels  from  a right  to  anchorage  and  refreshments  in  any  part  of  the  Straits 
 of  Sumatra,  except  at  their  pleasure.  Sir  Stamford  felt  it  his  duty  to  resist  what  he 
 considered  an  undue  pretension  on  their  part,  pending  a reference  to  the  authorities 
 in  Europe,  adopting  such  preparatory  measures,  in  the  mean  time,  by  sm-ve)dng  the 
 coasts  and  harbours  as  might  facilitate  any  aiTangement  eventually  decided  upon. 
 
 That  the  occasion  really  required  interference  there  could  be  no  doubt.  Lord 
 Hastings  stated  as  his  opinion,  “that  the  proceedings  of  the  Netherlands  authorities, 
 since  the  arrival  of  the  Commissioners-General  to  receive  charge  of  the  Dutch 
 colonies,  had  been  actuated  by  a spirit  of  ambition,  by  riews  of  boundless 
 aggrandizement  and  rapacity,  and  by  a desire  to  obtain  the  power  of  monopolizing 
 the  commerce  of  the  Eastern  Archipelago,  and  of  excluding  the  English  from  those 
 advantages  which  they  had  long  enjoyed,  and  which  they  only  \rished  to  share  in 
 common  with  other  nations  of  the  earth  ; and  that  this  spirit  of  aggi’andizement,  and 
 their  manifest  endeavom’s  to  establish  an  absolute  supremacy  to  om'  exclusion,  made 
 it  necessary  for  us  to  adopt  precautions  with  the  rfew  to  arrest  the  injury  and  de- 
 gradation which  could  not  fail  to  ensue,  from  a listless  submission  to  the  unbounded 
 pretensions  displayed  on  the  part  of  the  Netherlands  authorities.” 
 
 The  Dutch,  at  one  period,  assumed  the  absolute  sovereignty  of  the  whole  of 
 the  Archipelago,  which  they  enforced  by  a rigid  system  of  exclusion  of  all  other 
 European  powers,  until  the  commencement  of  the  last  century.  From  that  period, 
 and  more  particularly  during  the  sixty  years  prerfous  to  1818,  as  their  power 
 declined,  and  this  system  became  weakened  by  its  injustice,  conmptions,  and  enormi- 
 ties, the  influence  of  the  English  found  its  way  into  the  Archipelago,  and  in  1795 
 the  Dutch  authority  only  extended  to  the  states  of  Java,  Madura,  Malacca,  Padang, 
 Banjier,  on  Borneo ; Macasar,  on  Celebes  ; Bema,  on  Sumbawa,  and  the  Moluccas. 
 All  the  rest  of  their  establishments  had  been  abandoned  or  cut  off  by  the  natives,  and 
 the  rest  of  the  Archipelago  had  resumed  its  independence. 
 
SIR  STAMFORD’S  VIEWS  ON  THE  PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  DUTCH. 
 
 305 
 
 From  1795  until  the  peace  of  Amiens,  Malacca,  Padang,  and  the  Moluccas, 
 remained  in  the  hands  of  the  English  ; of  these  the  Moluccas  alone  were  resumed 
 by  the  Dutch  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  again. 
 
 The  system  pursued  by  the  Dutch  in  these  establishments  was  to  consider  them 
 as  so  many  central  points  whence  their  influence  might  extend  on  all  sides,  so  as  to 
 connect  with  each  other  through  the  Archipelago.  Thus  Malacca  extended  its  in- 
 fluence north  towards  Prince  of  Wales’  Island  and  Acheen,  and  south  to  Lingin  and 
 Rhio,  including  the  opposite  coast  of  Sumatra  from  north  to  south.  Long,  however, 
 before  the  reduction  of  Malacca  by  the  English,  this  influence  had  ceased,  and  nearly 
 all  the  native  Chiefs  in  its  neighbourhood  had  resmned  their  independence,  and  by 
 constant  intercourse  and  alhance  with  the  British  establishment  at  Prince  of  Wales’ 
 Island,  had  again  risen  into  some  importance.  The  most  southern,  however,  of  the 
 Dutch  out-stations  connected  with  Malacca,  which  was  at  Rhio,  was  cut  off  by  the 
 natives  about  this  time  ; and  on  the  English  taking  possession  of  Malacca  they  did 
 not  form  any  establishment  at  Rhio,  but  publicly  declared,  and  invariably  considered 
 the  native  Chief,  although  on  terms  of  friendly  alliance,  altogether  independent  of 
 Em’opean  authority,  and  so  he  has  ever  since  been  held. 
 
 On  Borneo,  the  native  states  of  Borneo  Proper,  Sambas,  Pontiana,  Cooti, 
 Passir,  &c.,  had  long  previously  been  altogether  independent  of  European  authority ; 
 and  these  ports,  with  Rhio,  were  the  principal  marts,  some  of  them  for  the  last  fifty 
 years,  and  some  longer,  for  the  opium  and  piece-goods  brought  by  country  ships 
 from  the  continent  of  India,  and  the  iron,  woollens,  printed  cottons,  &c.,  sent  to 
 Prince  of  Wales’  Island  and  Bencoolen. 
 
 Sir  Stamford’s  view's  on  these  points  are  developed  in  the  following  letters : 
 
 To 
 
 “ Air'll  14,  1818. 
 
 “ Prepared  as  I was  for  the  jealousy  and  assumption  of  the  Dutch  Commis- 
 sioners in  the  East,  I have  found  myself  surprised  by  the  unreserved  avowal  they 
 have  made  of  their  principles,  their  steady  determination  to  lower  the  British  cha- 
 racter in  the  eyes  of  the  natives,  and  the  measures  they  have  already  adopted  towards 
 the  annihilation  of  our  commerce,  and  of  our  intercourse  with  the  native-traders 
 throughout  the  Malayan  Archipelago.  Not  satisfied  with  shutting  the  Eastern  ports 
 against  our  shipping,  and  prohibiting  the  natives  from  commercial  intercourse  with 
 the  English,  they  have  dispatched  commissioners  to  every  spot  in  the  Archipelago 
 where  it  is  probable  we  might  attempt  to  form  settlements,  or  where  the  independ- 
 ence of  the  native  Chiefs  afford  any  thing  like  a free  port  to  our  shipping.  Thus 
 not  only  the  Lampong  country  has  been  resumed,  but  also  Pontiana  and  the  minor 
 ports  of  Borneo,  and  even  Bali,  where  European  flag  was  never  before  hoisted,  are 
 
 R r 
 
306 
 
 NECESSITY  OF  A BRITISH  AGENT  IN  THE  EASTERN  SEAS. 
 
 now  considered  by  them  subject  to  their  authority,  and  measures  taken  for  their 
 subjugation.  A commissioner  also  long  since  sailed  from  Batavia  for  Palembang,  to 
 organize,  as  it  is  said,  all  that  part  of  Sumatra ; and  every  native  prow  and  vessel  is 
 now  required  to  hoist  a Dutch  flag,  and  to  take  out  a Dutch  pass  from  Bata\da  for 
 one  of  the  ports  thus  placed  under  their  influence  ; so  that  whatever  trade  may  still 
 be  carried  on  by  the  English  with  the  native  ports  of  the  Archipelago,  must  already 
 be  in  violation  of  the  Dutch  regulations,  and  at  the  risk  of  seizure  by  their  cmizers, 
 who  have  not  hesitated  repeatedly  to  fire  into  English  ships. 
 
 “ The  Commanders  of  the  country  ships  look  to  me  to  protect  their  interests, 
 and  even  to  support  the  dignity  of  the  British  flag ; and  it  is  to  be  hoped  some  imme- 
 diate notice  will  be  taken  by  oiu'  Government  of  these  proceedings. 
 
 “ The  native  Chiefs  of  the  independent  ports  have  looked  in  vain  for  the  protec- 
 tion of  the  English  ; they  feel  themselves  deserted  by  us,  know  not  how  to  act,  and 
 from  necessity  are  gradually  falling  under  the  influence  of  om'  rivals. 
 
 “ The  Dutch  possess  the  only  passes  through  which  ships  must  sail  into  this 
 Ai'chipelago,  the  Straits  of  Smida  and  of  Malacca ; and  the  British  have  not  now  an 
 inch  of  ground  to  stand  upon  between  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  and  China ; nor  a 
 single  friendly  port  at  which  they  can  water  or  obtain  refreshment. 
 
 The  question  is  not  now,  whether  we  are  to  give  back  to  the  Dutch  the 
 possessions  they  actually  possessed  in  1803,  according  to  the  late  convention ; but 
 whether  the  British  Government  and  British  merchants  will  be  contented  to  be 
 excluded  from  the  trade  altogether,  in  the  same  manner  as  they  were  before  the  last 
 century ; nothing  less  will  satisfy  the  Dutch  authorities  who  are  now  at  Bataria ; 
 they  make  no  secret  of  it,  and  openly  avow  the  exclusion- of  the  English,  except 
 from  Bataria,  as  the  first  principles  of  their  pohcy. 
 
 “ It  is  absolutely  necessary,  therefore,  that  the  conditions  of  the  convention 
 should  be  clearly  understood,  and  that  the  authorities  at  Batavia  should  be  in- 
 structed by  their  government  in  Europe  how  far  they  are  authorized  to  act.  It 
 is  clear  that  it  could  never  have  been  the  intention  of  the  British  Government  to 
 give  back  to  the  Dutch  more  than  they  had  taken  from  them,  nor  more  than  they 
 had  kept,  as  it  were,  in  trust  for  them,  and  consequently  that  the  right  now  as- 
 sumed by  the  Dutch  to  extend  their  influence  over  the  ports  in  which  we  did  not 
 maintain  any  European  establishments,  and  this  before  they  resume  their  acknow- 
 ledged possessions,  is  supererogatory  and  unjustifiable,  and  may  be  disputed  by  us ; 
 that  as  the  new  establishments  they  are  thus  forming  in  the  Archipelago  can  have 
 no  other  view  than  the  extension  of  a pohtical  influence  for  the  purpose  of  com- 
 mercial restriction,  we  have  a right  to  prevent  any  which  interfere  ^rith  the  free 
 and  undisputed  trade  we  enjoyed  before  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  and  that  at 
 all  events  we  are  bound  to  declare  publicly  to  the  native  Chiefs  of  these  independent 
 ports,  that  it  is  not  with  our  concurrence,  or  the  sanction  of  our  authority,  that  the 
 
 7 
 
NECESSITY  OF  A BRITISH  AGENT  IN  THE  EASTERN  SEAS. 
 
 307 
 
 Dutch  are  now  so  acting  towards  them ; that  our  desire  is  to  prevent  all  restrictions 
 on  trade,  and  that  while  we  do  not  interfere  with  the  internal  management  of 
 the  Dutch  possessions,  or  with  the  ports  where  they  have  establishments,  more  than 
 they  are  inchned  to  allow  us,  we  are  ready  to  maintain  the  free  navigation  of  the 
 Archipelago,  and  our  right  to  an  unrestricted  intercourse,  trade,  and  alliance  with 
 the  native  independent  ports. 
 
 “ It  is  on  this  point  that  every  thing  hinges  : if  we  have  no  right  to  interfere, 
 the  sooner  we  abandon  our  Eastern  possessions  the  better ; if  we  have  such  a 
 right,  it  must  be  immediately  declared  and  acted  upon,  or  the  evil  will  have  advanced 
 too  far  to  be  removed. 
 
 The  Chiefs  of  the  Island  of  Bali  have  always  maintained  their  independence 
 of  European  authority,  and  consequently  have  never,  at  any  period  of  their  history^ 
 been  subjected  to  the  Dutch.  It  was  through  their  ports  that  for  several  years  our 
 opium  and  piece-goods  found  their  way  into  Java,  in  spite  of  the  Dutch  restrictive 
 regulations.  If  the  Dutch  succeed  in  reducing  them,  this  important  neutral  port 
 will  be  lost  to  us. 
 
 “ It  is  indispensable  that  some  regular  and  accredited  authority  on  the  part  of 
 the  British  Government  should  exist  in  the  Archipelago,  to  declare  and  maintain  the 
 British  rights,  whatever  they  are,  to  receive  appeals,  and  to  exercise  such  whole- 
 some control  as  may  be  conducive  to  the  preservation  of  the  British  honoiu-  and 
 character. 
 
 At  present  the  authority  of  the  Government  of  Prince  of  Wales’  Island 
 extends  no  further  south  than  Malacca,  and  the  Dutch  would  willingly  confine 
 that  of  Bencoolen  to  the  ahnost  inaccessible  and  rocky  shores  of  the  west  coast  of 
 Sumatra. 
 
 To  effect  the  objects  contemplated,  some  convenient  station  within  the 
 Archipelago  is  necessary;  both  Bencoolen  and  Prince  of  Wales’  Island  are  too  far 
 removed,  and  unless  I succeed  in  obtaining  a position  in  the  straits  of  Sunda,  we 
 have  no  alternative  but  to  fix  it  in  the  most  advantageous  situation  we  can  find 
 within  the  Archipelago  ; this  would  be  somewhere  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Bintang. 
 An  establishment  of  this  kind  once  fonned  would  soon  maintain  a successful  rivalry 
 with  the  Dutch,  who  would  be  obliged  either  to  adopt  a liberal  system  of  free  trade, 
 or  compelled  to  see  the  trade  collected  under  the  British  flag ; in  either  case  our 
 object  would  be  answered.  Our  establishment  within  the  Archipelago  would  be 
 expressly  for  the  objects  stated,  and  have  no  reference  to  the  undisputed  possessions 
 of  the  Dutch,  in  which  we  desire  no  interference.  All  that  they  can  in  justice,  nay 
 in  liberality,  demand,  under  the  recent  convention,  let  them  have ; and  yet  there 
 \vill  be  a great  and  important  commerce  left  to  us,  independently  of  the  advantages 
 it  will  afford  to  the  secirrity  of  our  China  trade. 
 
 “ It  will  be  my  duty  to  ascertain  how  far  our  proposed  position  in  the  Straits  of 
 
 R r 2 
 
NECESSITY  OF  A BRITISH  AGENT  IN  THE  EASTERN  SEAS. 
 
 ] 
 
 ;(08 
 
 Sunda  will  answer  the  pm*j:)Ose,  and  if  this  should  be  found  inadequate,  to  select  some 
 other  more  advantageous  situation. 
 
 “ At  the  present  period,  when  the  most  rigid  economy  is  demanded  in  every  de- 
 partment of  the  British  service,  I should  perhaps  hesitate  to  propose  this  measure  of 
 extending  our  positions,  were  I not  satisfied  that  it  was  absolutely  necessary.  Our 
 object  is  not  territory  nor  temtorial  influence;  it  may  be  confined  to  a simple  com- 
 mercial station,  at  which  a controlling  authority  and  two  or  three  assistants  would 
 perform  all  the  duties,  with  a military  guard  just  sufficient  to  protect  the  flag,  and 
 the  property  of  individuals  from  predatory  attack. 
 
 “ The  line  of  stations  which  I contemplate,  should  the  view  I have  taken  be 
 adopted,  would  commence  from  Acheen,  and,  with  the  single  break  of  Padang,  extend 
 down  the  west  coast  of  Sumatra  to  the  Straits  of  Sunda,  influencing  the  whole  coast. 
 Another  station  at  Rhio  or  its  vicinity  would  thus  form  the  connecting  link  between 
 the  establishments  on  the  west  coast  and  Prince  of  Wales’  Island,  and  check  the 
 Dutch  influence  from  extending  uninterruptedly  in  a chain  from  Batavia  to  Banca, 
 and  Malacca,  as  certainly  it  will  soon  do  without  such  an  establishment  on  our  part. 
 
 Hereafter  a station  at  Sambas  to  command  the  rich  mines  and  produce  of  the 
 interior  of  Borneo  may  be  adrisable,  and  certainly  profitable ; and  more  particularly 
 if  the  Dutch  obtain  a footing  at  Pontiana,  as  they  are  indeed  said  to  have  done 
 already,  it  will  then  be  indispensible ; otherwise  the  independence  of  those  ports  may 
 perhaps  answer  all  the  pui'poses  of  a free  trade. 
 
 “ In  establishing  these  stations  it  will  be  advisable  to  proceed  with  gi’eat  caution, 
 and  gi'adually ; the  footing,  how  ever,  once  obtained  in  the  Straits  of  Sunda,  I appre- 
 hend all  the  rest  will  follow^  without  difficulty. 
 
 “ In  the  defence  of  our  positions,  as  w'ell  as  for  the  maintenance  of  our  respec- 
 tability and  influence,  I am  of  opinion  we  should  look  more  to  a naval  than  a mili- 
 tary force.  One  or  tw^o  of  the  Company’s  cmizers  regularly  relieved,  and  the 
 occasional  risit  of  his  Majesty’s  ships  w^ould  answ^er  every  purpose,  and  be  far  more 
 consistent  with  our  commercial  and  political  character,  as  w^ell  as  afford  more  real 
 security  than  battalions  of  soldiers. 
 
 “ A decision  should  be  formed  by  the  authorities  in  Europe  on  the  appeal  made 
 by  the  Sultan  of  Palembang  before  the  British  authorities  left  Java. 
 
 “ The  late  Sultan*,  anxious  to  get  rid  of  the  European  authority  altogether, 
 allowed  the  Dutch  officers  to  he  murdered  and  their  factory  to  be  destroyed.  The 
 circumstances  attending  this  catastrophe  called  for  a British  force  from  Batavia. 
 The  late  Sultan  fled  and  w^as  dethroned,  and  the  present  Sultan  elevated  in  his  place. 
 On  this  occasion  the  present  Sultan  ceded  to  me,  for  the  East  India  Company,  the 
 Islands  of  Banca  and  Billiton  for  ever,  on  which  no  European  flag  had  ever  been 
 
 See  page  121. 
 
NECESSITY  OF  A BRITISH  AGENT  IN  THE  EASTERN  SEAS. 
 
 309 
 
 hoisted,  and  neither  of  which  had  ever  in  any  way  previously  fallen  under  the  influ- 
 ence or  sway  of  the  Dutch.  The  Dutch  connexion  with  Palembang  was  simply  by 
 a contract,  that  the  Sultan  would  deliver  to  them  a certain  quantity  of  tin  and 
 pepper  annually ; but  they  had  no  political  influence  or  authority  whatever,  and 
 certainly  no  control  over  Banca. 
 
 “ Our  object  in  obtaining  the  Island  of  Banca  was  to  place  the  tin  mines  under 
 the  influence  of  Great  Britain  for  the  protection  of  the  Cornish  mines ; and  as  the 
 English  had  been  at  considerable  expense  in  the  expedition,  which  could  not  other- 
 wise be  repaid,  there  w^as  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  it ; but  a further  equivalent  was 
 required  by  the  Sultan,  who  stipulated  that  he  should  be  maintained  in  his  dignity 
 and  independence  by  the  British  Government,  without  the  interference  of  any  Euro- 
 pean authority  in  the  domestic  concerns  of  Palembang. 
 
 “ The  Dutch,  not  satisfied  with  the  possession  of  Banca,  as  ceded  to  us  and 
 by  us  again  ceded  to  them,  insist  upon  re-establishing  their  factory  also  at  Palem- 
 bang ; thus  the  Sultan  loses  the  only  equivalents  of  value  to  him ; namely,  our  sup- 
 port and  the  independence  of  his  port,  for  though  the  Dutch  had  by  right  no 
 political  infiuence  at  Palembang,  they  always  contrived,  as  they  will  still  do,  if  they 
 re-establish  themselves  there,  under  the  plea  of  protecting  their  monopoly  of  tin 
 and  pepper,  to  subject  the  port  entirely  to  their  restrictive  regulations. 
 
 “ The  only  right  by  which  the  British  nation  could  cede  Banca  to  the  Dutch 
 was  by  virtue  of  this  cession  from  the  Sultan  of  Palembang ; it  was  one  of  the  con- 
 ditions of  his  elevation ; but  in  return  for  so  great  a sacrifice,  he  was  assured  that 
 he  would  be  maintained  in  his  independence,  and  have  our  protection.  The  Dutch, 
 therefore,  in  receiving  Banca,  as  a special  cession,  cannot  be  allowed  to  disturb  the 
 title  by  which  we  felt  authorized  to  cede  it.  That  title  was  obtained  from  the  pre- 
 sent Sultan  of  Palembang,  but  on  an  express  condition  which  surely  we  are  bound 
 to  see  fulfilled. 
 
 “ Palembang  must  consequently  be  considered  as  a free  port,  and  we  are  bound, 
 in  honour  and  in  justice,  to  maintain  it  as  such,  as  long  as  the  Sultan  is  unwilling 
 to  admit  the  Dutch,  which  he  never  will  do  but  by  constraint  or  our  desertion  of 
 his  cause. 
 
 “ This  point  should  be  cleared  up  without  delay,  and  definite  instructions  sent 
 from  Europe  on  the  subject. 
 
 “ As  in  some  measure  connected  with  this  subject  is  the  claim  they  have  made 
 to  the  Island  of  Billiton,  which  is  still  British  to  all  intents  and  purposes  ; this  Island, 
 which  may  eventually  prove  of  importance  to  oiu  interests,  was  ceded  to  us  by  the 
 Sultan  of  Palembang  at  the  same  time  as  Banca ; but  it  is  quite  distinct  from  that 
 Island,  never  was  dependant  upon  it,  and  has  always  been  kept  foreign  and  sepa- 
 rately from  it.  It  is  admirably  situated,  and  its  retention  by  the  English  is  an  object 
 of  too  much  importance  to  be  lost  sight  of. 
 
.310 
 
 NECESSITY  OF  A BRITISH  AGENT  IN  THE  EASTERN  SEAS. 
 
 “ I regi'et  to  say,  that  the  colonial  authorities  seem  to  be  actuated  by  a very 
 different  spirit  from  that  which  animates  the  authorities  in  Holland.  In  the  present 
 policy  of  Batavia,  there  appears  to  be  much  of  the  bad  principle  of  the  old  colonial 
 regime,  far  different,  I am  confident,  from  what  are  the  udshes  and  feelings  of  the 
 enlightened  authorities  who  preside  over  the  destinies  of  the  mother-country. 
 
 “ At  the  same  time  that  I have  thus  felt  it  my  duty  to  express  my  sentiments 
 on  the  measures  and  character  of  the  Dutch  colonial  Government  in  these  seas,  I 
 have  with  difficulty  refrained  from  the  expression  of  that  honest  indignation  which 
 every  Briton  must  feel  on  such  an  occasion. 
 
 “ Before  I conclude  I must  refer  to  the  interests  of  the  extensive  and  interest- 
 ing native  population  wffiich  are  involved  in  the  questions  I have  agitated.  But  a 
 few  years  ago  they  looked  upon  the  British  nation  as  all-powerful,  magnanimous,  and 
 benevolent.  It  is  morally  impossible  that  they  can  so  look  upon  them  just  now ; 
 every  day,  every  hour,  weakens  the  influence  and  character  of  the  British  name.  It 
 has  gone  abroad  that  the  Dutch  Commissioners  have  some  idea  of  obtaining  Ben- 
 coolen  in  exchange  for  Malacca,  and  to  make  the  equator  the  boundary  between  the 
 Dutch  and  the  Enghsh  possessions ; but  wffierever  the  idea  originated,  or  whatever 
 expectations  on  this  subject  may  be  entertained  by  the  Dutch,  they  are  thought  by 
 the  natives  so  commanding,  that  they  may  have  whatever  they  ask  for ; their  object 
 in  obtaining  Bencoolen  is  of  course  to  regain,  if  possible,  the  spice  monopoly.  Pa- 
 dang  and  Malacca  are  both  stations  of  importance  to  us  ; but  they  will  not  compen- 
 sate for  our  exclusion  from  the  Archipelago,  and  never  tmai  to  account,  unless  the 
 produce  of  the  west  coast  has  an  outlet  in  the  Straits  of  Sunda,  and  some  more 
 southerly  port  is  fixed  upon  than  Malacca  itself.  Under  this  arrangement,  therefore, 
 the  establishments  suggested  by  me  would  be  equally  valuable. 
 
 Again,  it  must  not  be  forgotten,  that  however  desirous  we  may  be  to  main- 
 tain the  Dutch  in  the  possessions  of  Java  and  its  dependencies ; and  however  de- 
 termined we  may  be  to  avoid  all  intercouse  with  their  native  subjects  which  might 
 weaken  their  influence,  it  is  impossible  not  to  foresee,  that  unless  the  Dutch  adopt  a 
 very  different  policy  to  what  they  are  now  pursuing,  Java  must  eventually  either 
 become  independant  of  European  authority,  or,  on  some  future  occasion  of  hostili- 
 ties, again  fall  under  the  dominion  of  the  English.  The  seeds  of  independence  have 
 been  too  generally  sown,  and  the  principles  of  the  British  administration  too  deeply 
 rooted,  to  be  eradicated  by  a despotic  order.  In  such  an  event,  calculating  upon  the 
 bare  possibility  of  its  occurrence,  fifty  or  a hundred  years  hence,  we  shall  equally 
 feel  the  advantage  of  the  measures  I have  now  suggested.  We  shall  not  make  any 
 extensive  outlay;  our  object  is  merely  to  keep  a footing  sufficient  for  general  com- 
 mercial purposes  during  peace,  but  which  may,  if  necessary,  be  found  equally  con- 
 venient for  political  purposes  during  w’ar.” 
 
Bird  Island  ^ 
 
 S<-a/f  of' t!  M//<- 
 
 . '//ro  "Uv 
 
 .<  /Utsr  A/i<*  N «»j-  «i«>y#/>/A/r  mm.’-'in't'ti  triih  <i  •'/mm  on  t/ir 
 
 hftu-h  at  the  hotiom  ot'  the  /in*,  fi>>m  nhtWt  n//  the  nnt//fs 
 utTY  fithen . T7ie  nirr  o/'  the  Tule  is  nhoul  ^ tret  on  the  Sprintf.t 
 niHKl'TIONS  KOU  SAlI.lN(i  INTO  TIIK  IIAUIUU'K 
 Itk  the  X.W.  J/onsoon . enter  hv  the  l•■r.ttem  fms.nnfe . hetn  een 
 1\hUoo  C'l.tppa  nnti  the  XoHh  /*!  eni/et(  Tanjoiij;-  Xapal  ■ /// 
 
 the  S£.  Monsoon . enter  hetoeen  I’ooloo  t'lappn  o$fl  Pooloo  Eovoo. 
 u von  hove  »»  stetui*  hree^v.  The  etistern  /•ttssot/e.  hetiveen 
 i\toloo  ond  the  Mtiin  . is  oniv  .rti/r  tor  s/no//  vesse/s. 
 
 /loth  the  Is/onds  t/re  /to/d . /u/rinti  ’/“/  e/i>.ee  to  t/ie/n  . 
 
 /I'heri  tthret/sf  ot'  Pooloo  Clappa . the  .\‘onth  I‘-  ot  Pooloo  la- 
 booluu)  s/kou/ei  hr  hept  ivr//  open  to  the  sotit/ikvtirti  ot 
 Pouloo  <’Iappa,  tt/ni  o it/i  t/ns  t/tnrh . steer  tn  fi//  Oogxjorou 
 I*!  heors  Xorfh  , t/krtk  t/tnhor  itk  ft  or  20  /’’?'■'  /t/tu/c  /nm/ ; 
 hikt  ktk  o//  po/^s  of'  t/kv  /ior/>otit'  tk  s/ktp  /////••  sot  eh  tk/kvhor, 
 t/tere  heitko  no  t/tk/n/er  thot 
 
 y>  y//r . y'fr//  y/ / //r////r.j 
 
 LlEtrT  tiov’f  0F  FOMT  M.UeLmti).  K-e.K-r.K-r 
 
 Tins  CHART. 
 
 til'' 
 
 VAl.,OOM  lliYAN  il]lAHBOf’'K. 
 
 O.y/  //y  ///Y/ttY/Z/y/ . 
 
 //Y.j  y'/yy/yy  yy/  • Ay  / y/yy/.j^ 
 y' 
 
 /LmrT-'’'  tvM.imi,i.:,Aisr.u>  miLJOFysTm-,  ./if. 
 
 ,/yy/Yy  . /S/H. 
 
 1.,  j„h» 
 
 Villay< 
 
 Taiijoug’  A apal 
 
 / .o 
 
 Soutli  P‘ 
 
 t/f  ' / ft/t/fit/t/>vti/i  J/(tph(>tt/\  /fiAfti  pom  /oo/ot>  / /t/ppfi 
 
 Pooloo  ( lappa 
 
 /^xwo.ted  liaitsrv^ — ^ 
 
 POOLOO  EEVOO 
 
 Caloomlwui  Had>oiu*.  tienriv  rio/n  the  .Xo/ih  en</  ot’  Puoluo  Tabouhaii,  itk  the  entronoe  t>/'  Saraang-ra  Uav. 
 
 Suridn  Slfiiit,  is  snuk//  hut  safe,  tvktJt  .yn/fieie/kt  t/ept/k  o/'  tvi/Pr'  for  htrt/r  s'hips',  .r/ie/ft’ret/  frortk  (i/i  kvindx , ttnd  »*■<// 
 nt/optet/  tor  a F/eet  in  tvont  or'  rrtresh/tie/kts , ns  eoerv  s-npp/v  nnt\-  he  ohtoi/ket/ . tine/  t/te  t/e/.i 
 soon  u-ou/t/  not  he  so  ,>reett  here  os  hv  toue/iint/  at  Jintovio . 77ie  inner  Hort’o, 
 
 trot/e,  tts  sftnn//  * esse/s  t'lkJi  fotie/  tt/ni  utk/ottt/  o/o/itf  .rn/e  or  the  ifeeieh , tint/  t/te  t'i//ttefe  is  A ot'  o nti/e  titmt  the 
 /tine/i/ief  p/nee , situet/te/  in  •<  rn/Zev,  np/Kirr/kth-  n /ten/t/^y  spot,  T/nrre  is  n pieee  ot'  t/e/t  e//'tot/ni.  ne/i  ae/nptet/ 
 
 for  .Ttore  /lottses,  titni  f/tis  I2tl/'l‘o//r  wo/f/ti  />e  /ern/ereet  .petv/re  t/efti/nsf  t/ie  stro/ie/est  to/X'e  /ty  n fe*y  t/nn.e  ptt/iei  - 
 ou.r/v  piturt/  upon  Pooloo  C'lapp« . Pooloo  Kc^'oo.  t/tu/  the  Sottfh  point  or'  the  //ttrhour. 
 
 I’titthit/krii  /if  .f./iorslnmih.  l/vtlroi/ropher  to  the  Jif  huiio  t'otnponv  .httfost  JlWi . oerorthnij  to  de/  of  J'iirho/nt/>t 
 
r 
 
POPULARITY  OF  SIR  STAMFORD  RAFFLES  IN  THE  EASTERN  SEAS.  311 
 
 5,  1818. 
 
 “ When  I look  around,  and  feel  that  by  the  last  treaty  with  Holland,  we  are 
 left  with  only  one  spot  upon  which  we  can  raise  the  British  flag,  as  a mart  for  com- 
 merce between  the  Mauritius  and  China,  and  that  spot  Prince  of  Wales’  Island,  to 
 which  port  but  a veiy  small  portion  of  the  trade  of  the  Ai’chipelago  can  be  brought ; 
 when  in  the  instance  of  Palembang,  I find  the  Dutch  choose  to  re-instate  the  man 
 on  the  throne  who  has  been  guilty  of  treacherously  murdering,  in  cool  blood,  the 
 Dutch  factory  at  that  station,  rather  than  permit  the  Sultan  whom  the  English  raised, 
 in  consequence  of  the  atrocity  of  his  predecessor,  to  continue  on  the  throne ; when 
 I likewise  discover  that  they  lay  claim  to  all  the  territory  in  the  Lampong  comitry, 
 and  oppose  our  forming  any  settlement  in  Samangka  Bay,  for  the  purpose  of  afford- 
 ing succour  or  refi'eshment  to  om*  ships  passing  through  the  Straits  of  Sunda ; and 
 that  they  even  object  to  the  continuance  of  the  post  station  between  Java  and 
 Sumatra,  by  which  alone  communication  can  be  kept  up  wth  the  Eastern  Islands 
 and  Europe  ; I feel  it  to  be  my  duty  to  submit  to  the  Governor-General  a statement 
 of  the  injury  which  must  necessarily  arise  to  us  from  tacitly  submitting  to  such  a 
 course,  not  only  as  affecting  our  interests  in  Siunatra  and  its  neighbourhood,  but 
 also  throughout  the  whole  of  the  Eastern  Archipelago  and  China.  My  knowledge 
 of  the  previous  principles  which  actuated  the  Dutch  in  Java,  and  of  the  vast  benefit 
 to  be  derived  to  British  enterj^rise  in  so  extensive  a field,  leads  me  to  hope  that  I 
 
 shall  meet  with  approbation  for  the  line  of  conduct  I pursue.” 
 
 ^ « 
 
 From  this  sketch  of  the  state  of  affairs,  it  will  be  infen-ed  that  Sir  Stamford 
 found  sufficient  occupation  for  his  active  mind.  He  devoted  his  whole  time,  on  his 
 first  arrival,  to  the  examination  of  the  Records  of  the  settlement,  the  state  of  the 
 country  and  people  in  its  immediate  neighbourhood,  and  endeavoured  to  collect  the 
 European  inhabitants  and  the  native  Chiefs  around  him,  that  he  might  become  per- 
 sonally acquainted  with  their  habits  and  manners.  The  same  system  of  excluding 
 the  natives  from  the  society  of  Europeans  had  been  pursued  in  this  settlement  as 
 in  most  other  parts  of  India.  Sir  Stamford  at  once  broke  down  this  barrier,  and 
 opened  his  house  to  the  higher  class  of  natives  on  all  occasions.  During  the  whole 
 period  of  his  residence  in  Sumatra  he  had  some  of  them  present  during  the  hours 
 of  social  intercourse. 
 
 The  result  of  this  change  it  is  needless  to  dwell  upon.  The  Chiefs  and  people 
 considered  him  as  their  best  friend  and  adviser,  yielded  to  his  opinion  upon  all  oc- 
 casions, and  harmony  and  good-will  prevailed  throughout  the  settlement. 
 
 With  regard  to  the  Dutch,  so  active  had  they  been  in  their  endeavours  to  regain 
 their  Empire  in  the  East,  and  to  depress  the  native  power,  that  the  re-appearance  of 
 
312 
 
 POPULARITY  OF  SIR  STAMFORD  IN  THE  EASTERN  SEAS. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  in  the  Archipelago  was  hailed  with  joy  and  hope  on  the  one  side  as  a 
 deliverance,  and  with  fear  and  jealousy  on  the  other,  as  an  invasion. 
 
 The  effect  of  his  return  to  a scene  of  action  in  which  he  had  home  so  conspi- 
 cuous a part,  might  have  been  foreseen.  It  was  impossible  to  expect  tame  submis- 
 sion from  those  who  were  oppressed,  when  there  appeared  a hope  of  rehef,  or  to 
 suppose  that  Sir  Stamford  could  with  indifference  look  on,  and  take  no  part  in  the 
 stmggle.  A different  character  might  have  acted  differently ; but  in  sending  him 
 into  such  a field  of  action,  the  experience  of  his  government  in  Java  was  sufficient 
 e\idence  of  what  w^as  to  be  expected  from  the  Governor  of  Bencoolen. 
 
CHAPTER  XL 
 
 Sir  Stamford  Raffles  determines  to  penetrate  into  the  interior  of  the  country — First  excursion  to  the  Hill  of  Mists 
 — Account  of  journey  to  Passumah — Discovery  of  gigantic  florver — Vegetation  of  Malayan  forests — 
 Reason  for  visiting  Pasumah — Ceremony  of  a funeral — Traces  of  ancient  Hindu  mythology — Descrip- 
 tion of  the  people — Small-pox — Fatigue  of  the  journey — Descends  in  rafts — Return  to  Masna — Proceeds 
 to  Can  oor — Success  of  first  attempt  to  cross  the  Island  of  Sumatra — Extract  from  Mr,  Presgrave’s 
 Journal — Description  of  the  sacred  mountain — Disappointment  in  not  reaching  the  crater — Return  to 
 Manna — Mountain' s temperature — Large  lake — Sufferings  of  the  people  for  rvant  of  salt,  prohibited  by 
 the  Dutch  Government — People  of  Pasumah  Lebar — Descendants  of  the  Javanese — Villages — Language 
 — Religion. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  considered  it  to  be  his  duty,  as  it  was  his  inclination,  to  obtain  some 
 general  knowledge  of  the  Island,  as  well  as  of  that  particular  portion  of  it,  over 
 which  he  was  appointed  to  preside.  The  East  India  Company,  indeed,  had  confined 
 their  rule  to  a naiTOW  strip  of  sea-coast,  but  it  was  desirable  that  some  intercourse 
 should  take  place  with  the  people  of  the  country  beyond,  since  a mutual  exchange  of 
 good  offices  would,  it  was  natural  to  suppose,  prove  beneficial  to  both  parties, 
 
 A general  impression  prevailed,  that  it  was  impossible  to  penetrate  the  range  of 
 hills  which  run  from  north  to  south  throughout  this  great  Island.  All  those  who 
 were  appfied  to  declined  making  the  attempt ; and  Sir  Stamford  was  obliged  to  come 
 to  the  determination,  that  he  would  go  himself,  and  visit  the  interior  and  more  fertile 
 parts. 
 
 His  first  excursion  was  a short  distance  immediately  inland  from  Bencoolen. 
 The  second  dowm  the  coast  by  the  sea-beach,  for  about  eighty  miles,  to  Manna,  and 
 from  thence,  some  days’  journey  into  the  interior ; and  after  returning  to  Manna, 
 still  further  dowm  the  coast,  to  Cawoor  ; from  this  last  place  back  to  Bencoolen. 
 
 He  gave  an  account  of  these  exclusions  to  his  friends  in  letters,  wTitten  at  the 
 time,  from  which  the  following  are  a selection. 
 
 s s 
 
314 
 
 FIRST  EXCURSION  TO  THE  HILL  OF  MISTS. 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ On  hoard  the  Ladij  Raffles,  off  Sumatra,  July  Wth,  1818. 
 
 “ That  yom*  Grace  may  not  think  me  unmindful  of  my  promise,  I must  now 
 send  you  some  account  of  our  proceedings  since  I troubled  you  with  my  letters  by 
 the  Northumberland. 
 
 “ I will  not,  however,  trouble  your  Grace  with  any  details  of  the  immediate 
 changes  w'hich  have  been  effected  at  Bencoolen,  nor  with  what  are  in  contemplation  ; 
 the  place  is  too  insignificant  for  general  interest,  and  my  subjects  too  uncultivated  for 
 pleasing  description.  A "wider  field  is  open  in  the  Archipelago  generally,  and  in  my 
 proceedings  with  the  Dutch  your  Grace  might  find  more  amusement ; but  even  on 
 these  I shall  be  silent  at  present,  and  proceed  to  what  more  immediately  relates  to 
 me  personally. 
 
 At  the  time  I wrote  by  the  Northumberland,  w'e  had  just  taken  up  our  abode 
 in  a crazy  dweUing,  called  the  Government-house,  full  of  cracks  and  fissiues ; of  the 
 country  I had  seen  nothing,  and  of  the  general  character  and  condition  of  the  people 
 I then  knew  httle.  My  first  inemrsion  into  the  interior  was  immediately  east  of  Ben- 
 coolen ; here  I found  the  country  in  a wretched  state,  and  very  thinly  peopled.  I 
 ascended  the  first  range  of  hills,  and  having  taken  up  a position  on  the  Hill  of  IMists 
 (Bukit  Kabut),  which  commands  a most  extensive  \iew  of  the  suiTounding  country, 
 and  on  which  no  European  had  before  set  foot,  I determined  to  make  it  om-  country 
 residence,  and  accordingly  gave  orders  for  clearing  the  forest,  &c.  In  this  I have 
 already  made  considerable  progress,  a comfortable  cottage  is  erected,  and,  as  far  as 
 we  can  yet  judge,  the  thermometer  is  at  least  six  degrees  lower  than  at  Bencoolen. 
 The  only  inconvenience  will  arise  from  the  tigers  and  elephants,  which  abound  in  the 
 ricinity;  one  of  the  rillagers  told  me  that  his  father  and  grandfather  w^re  canied  off 
 by  tigers,  and  there  is  scarcely  a family  that  has  not  lost  some  of  its  members  by  them. 
 In  many  parts  the  people  would  seem  to  have  resigned  the  empire  to  these  animals, 
 taking  but  few  precautions  against  them,  and  regarding  them  as  sacred ; they  believe 
 in  transmigration  and  call  them  their  nene  or  gi'andfather.  On  the  banks  of  one  of 
 the  rivers  of  this  coast  upwards  of  a hundred  people  w' ere  canned  off  by  tigers  during 
 the  last  year.  When  a tiger  enters  a village,  the  foolish  people  frequently  prepare 
 rice  and  fruits,  and  placing  them  at  the  entrance  as  an  offering  to  the  animal,  con- 
 ceive that,  by  giring  him  this  hospitable  reception,  he  will  be  pleased  with  their  atten- 
 tion, and  pass  on  without  doing  them  harm.  They  do  the  same  on  the  approach  of 
 the  small-pox,  and  thus  endeavour  to  lay  the  evil  spirit  by  kind  and  liospitable  treat- 
 ment. I am  doing  all  I can  to  resume  the  empire  of  man,  and,  haring  made  open 
 war  against  the  whole  race  of  wild  and  ferocious  animals,  I hope  w^e  shall  he  able  to 
 reside  on  the  Hill  of  Mists  without  danger  from  their  attacks. 
 
ACCOUNT  OF  JOURNEY  TO  PASSUMAH. 
 
 315 
 
 " Our  next  excursion  was  on  a tour  through  the  southern  Residencies,  in  which 
 Lady  Raffles  accompanied  me.  We  were  absent  about  three  weeks,  and  visited  the 
 districts  of  Salumah,  Manna,  and  Cawoor,  which  your  Grace  will  see  noticed  in  the 
 map.  Our  road  lay  principally  along  the  sea-beach,  and  mostly  on  the  sands.  From 
 Manna,  however,  we  penetrated  into  the  interior,  and  visited  the  Passumah  country ; 
 and,  as  our  journey  was  very  interesting,  I shall  give  you  a more  particular  ac- 
 count of  it : — 
 
 We  left  Manna  on  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  May,  and  proceeded  on  horse- 
 back as  far  as  the  village  of  Tanjung  Agung,  on  the  Manna  river,  where  we  halted 
 during  the  middle  of  the  day;  the  distance  about  twenty  miles.  In  the  afternoon 
 we  walked  through  the  woods  to  a place  called  Merambung,  about  ten  miles  further 
 up.  The  road,  a mere  pathway,  very  steep  in  many  parts,  and  not  passable  on 
 horseback.  We  remarked  at  Merambung  that  the  houses  were  larger  and  much 
 better  constructed  than  on  the  coast,  and  that,  in  the  middle  of  the  village,  there 
 was  an  erection  resembling  a pigeon-house.  This  was  termed  a Lang'gar,  or 
 place  appropriated  to  penance,  in  which  the  party  remained  during  the  time.  As 
 this  is  inconsistent  with  Mahomedanism,  we  concluded  it  to  be  a remnant  of  the 
 more  ancient  faith  of  the  country,  a conclusion  we  found  fully  confirmed  from  what 
 we  subsequently  observed  further  in  the  interior.  The  villagers  were  very  hospit- 
 able, and  my  reception  by  the  Chief  was  truly  patriarchal. 
 
 On  the  next  morning  (the  20th),  at  half-past  five,  we  commenced  our  jour- 
 ney towards  Passumah  on  foot.  The  party,  consisting  of  myself.  Lady  Raffles,  Dr. 
 Aimold,  and  Mr.  Presgrave,  the  Resident  of  Manna,  with  six  native  officers,  and 
 about  fifty  coolies  (porters)  carrying  our  food  and  baggage.  Our  journey  lay  near 
 the  banks  of  the  river  during  the  whole  day,  but  frequently  over  high  cliffs,  and 
 almost  entirely  through  thick  forest.  On  approaching  Lebu  Tappu,  where  a village 
 had  once  stood,  we  first  fell  in  with  the  tracts  of  elephants ; they  were  very  nume- 
 rous, and  it  was  evident  they  had  only  preceded  us  a short  time.  We  here  passed 
 over  much  ground  which  at  one  period  must  have  been  in  cultivation,  but  which 
 had  long  been  in  a state  of  nature.  After  breakfasting  at  Lebu  Tappu,  under  the 
 shade  of  the  largest  tree  we  could  find,  we  proceeded  on  to  a place  called  Pulo 
 Lebar,  where  it  was  arranged  we  were  to  sleep.  This  also  had  been  the  site  of  a 
 village,  but  no  trace  of  human  dwelhng  or  cultivation  was  to  be  found : we  reached 
 it  at  half-past  four  in  the  afternoon,  having  walked  for  upwards  of  eight  hours.  We 
 immediately  set  to  work  and  erected  two  or  three  sheds  to  sleep  in,  collecting  the 
 materials  fi'om  the  vegetation  around  us.  The  river  here  was  broad,  but  very  rocky : 
 the  scenery  highly  romantic  and  beautiful.  During  the  night  we  were  awakened  by 
 the  approach  of  a party  of  elephants,  who  seemed  anxious  to  inquire  om‘  business 
 within  their  domains ; fortunately  they  kept  at  some  distance,  and  allowed  us  to 
 
 s s 2 
 
316 
 
 DESCRIPTION  OF  A GIGANTIC  FLOWER. 
 
 remain  unmolested.  The  natives  fancy  that  there  are  two  kinds  of  elephants ; the 
 gaja  berliampong,  those  which  always  go  in  herds,  and  which  are  seldom  mis- 
 chievous, and  the  gaja  salunggal,  or  single  elephants,  which  are  much  larger  and 
 ferocious,  going  about  either  singly  or  only  two  or  three  in  company.  It  is  probable 
 the  latter  kind  are  only  the  full-grown  males. 
 
 “ I must  not  omit  to  tell  you,  that  in  passing  through  the  forest  we  were,  much 
 to  our  inconvenience,  greatly  annoyed  by  leeches;  they  got  into  om'  boots  and 
 shoes,  which  became  filled  with  blood ; at  night,  too,  they  fell  off  the  leaves  that 
 sheltered  us  from  the  weather,  and  on  awaking  in  the  morning  we  found  ourselves 
 bleeding  profusely — these  were  a species  of  intruders  we  were  not  prepared  for. 
 
 “ The  most  important  discovery  throughout  our  journey  was  made  at  this  place; 
 this  was  a gigantic  flower,  of  which  I can  hardly  attempt  to  give  any  thing  like  a 
 just  description.  It  is  perhaps  the  largest  and  most  magnificent  flower  in  the  world, 
 and  is  so  distinct  from  every  other  flower,  that  I know  not  to  what  I can  compare  it 
 — its  dimensions  wall  astonish  you — ^it  measured  across  fi'om  the  extremity  of  the 
 petals  rather  more  than  a yard,  the  nectarium  was  nine  inches  wade,  and  as  deep  ; 
 estimated  to  contain  a gallon  and  a half  of  water,  and  the  weight  of  the  whole 
 flower  fifteen  pounds. 
 
 ‘ The  Sumatran  name  of  this  extraordinary  production  is  Petimun  Sikinlili, 
 or  De’val’s-Siri  (betle)  box.  It  is  a native  of  the  forests,  particularly  those  of  Pas- 
 sumah  Ulu  Manna. 
 
 ‘ This  gigantic  flower  is  parasite  on  the  lower  stems  and  roots  of  the  Cissus 
 Angustifolia  of  Box.  It  appears  at  first  in  the  form  of  a small  round  knob,  wiiich 
 gradually  increases  in  size.  The  flower-bud  is  invested  by  numerous  membranaceous 
 sheaths,  wdiich  surround  it  in  successive  layers  and  expand  as  the  bud  enlarges, 
 until  at  length  they  form  a cup  round  its  base.  These  sheaths  or  bracts  are  large, 
 round,  concave,  of  a firm  membranaceous  consistence,  and  of  a browm  colour.  The 
 bud  before  expansion  is  depressive,  round,  with  five  obtuse  angles,  nearly  a foot  in 
 diameter,  and  of  a deep  dusky  red.  The  flower,  when  fully  expanded,  is,  in  point 
 of  size,  the  wonder  of  the  vegetable  kingdom ; the  breadth  across,  from  the  top  of 
 the  one  petal  to  the  top  of  the  other,  is  three  feet.  The  cup  may  be  estimated 
 capable  of  containing  tw^elve  pints,  and  the  w^eight  of  the  whole  is  fi'om  twelve  to 
 fifteen  pomids.  The  inside  of  the  cup  is  of  an  intense  purple,  and  more  or  less 
 densely  yellow',  wdth  soft  flexible  spines  of  the  same  colour:  towards  the  mouth,  it 
 is  marked  with  numerous  depressed  spots  of  the  purest  w^hite,  contrasting  strongly 
 with  the  purple  of  the  surrounding  substance,  which  is  considerably  elevated  on  the 
 lower  side.  The  petals  are  of  a brick-red,  with  numerous  pustular  spots  of  a lighter 
 colour.  The  whole  substance  of  the  flow’er  is  not  less  than  half  an  inch  thick,  and 
 of  a firm  fleshy  consistence.  It  soon  after  expansion  begins  to  give  out  a smell  of 
 
/.lull  ■'  f'i  .1/// ■ ^ 
 
9.. 
 
317 
 
 VEGETATION  OF  MALAYAN  FORESTS. 
 t 
 
 decaying  animal  matter.  The  fruit  never  bursts,  but  the  whole  plant  gi-adually  rots 
 away,  and  the  seeds  mix  with  the  putrid  mass 
 
 “ If  I am  successful  in  obtaining  a draftsman,  yoiu*  Grace  shall  have  a perfect 
 representation  of  it.  I have  made  a very  rough  sketch  of  it  myself,  but  it  is  not  in 
 that  state  that  I could  venture  to  present  it.  It  seems  to  be  a flower  unknown  to 
 most  of  the  natives,  as  well  as  to  naturalists ; its  colours  red,  yellow,  and  purple, 
 and  most  brilliant.  The  chemical  composition  being  fungous,  it  would  not  keep ; 
 and  not  ha\ing  sufficient  spirits,  we  could  not  preserve  it  entire.  A part  of  it,  with 
 two  buds  almost  as  big  as  a child’s  head,  will  be  sent  home. 
 
 “ There  is  nothing  more  striking  in  the  Malayan  forests  than  the  grandeur  of 
 the  vegetation  : the  magnitude  of  the  flowers,  creepers,  and  trees,  contrasts  strikingly 
 nith  the  stunted  and,  I had  almost  said,  pigmy  vegetation  of  England.  Compared 
 with  oiu'  forest-trees,  yom  largest  oak  is  a mere  dwarf.  Here  we  have  creepers  and 
 vines  entwining  larger  trees,  and  hanging  suspended  for  more  than  a hmidred  feet,  in 
 girth  not  less  than  a man’s  body,  and  many  much  thicker ; the  trees  seldom  under 
 a hundred,  and  generally  approaching  a hundred  and  sixty  to  two  hundred  feet  in 
 height.  One  tree  that  we  measured  was,  iu  circumference,  nine  yards ! and  this 
 is  nothing  to  one  I measm'ed  in  Java.  I must,  however,  proceed  to  relate  our 
 jom’iiey. 
 
 “ From  Pulo  Lebar  we  started  at  half-past  five,  and  halted  at  eight  to  breakfast. 
 At  eleven  we  reached  the  Sindangare  river,  where  we  took  some  refreshment,  and 
 in  the  evening,  about  half-past  five,  reached  Barong  Rasam.  The  day’s  journey 
 being  most  fatiguing,  and  not  less  than  thirty  miles,  entirely  through  a thick  forest, 
 and  over  stupendous  mountains,  one  of  which,  called  the  Sindangan  Mountain,  could 
 not  have  been  less  than  between  four  and  five  thousand  feet  high.  Neither  on  this 
 nor  on  the  preceding  day  was  there  a vestige  of  population  or  cultivation ; nature 
 was  throughout  allowed  to  reigu  undisturbed ; and  from  the  traces  of  elephants  in 
 every  direction,  they  alone  of  the  animal  kingdom  seemed  to  have  explored  the 
 recesses  of  the  forest. 
 
 “ \Ve  got  on,  however,  very  well ; and  though  we  were  all  occasionally  much 
 fatigued,  we  did  not  complain.  Lady  Raffles  was  a perfect  heroine.  The  only  mis- 
 fortune at  this  stage  was  a heavy  fall  of  rain  during  the  night,  which  penetrated  our 
 leafy  dwelling  in  every  direction,  and  soaked  every  one  of  the  party  to  the  skin.  AVe 
 were  now  two  days’  march  beyond  the  reach  of  supplies ; many  of  our  Coolies  had 
 dropped  off;  some  were  fairly  exhausted,  and  we  began  to  wish  om'  journey  at  an 
 end.  We,  however,  contrived  to  make  a good  dinner  on  the  remaining  fowl,  and 
 having  plenty  of  rice  and  claret,  did  not  complain  of  our  fare. 
 
 * Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Lambert,  the  Vice-President,  the  Editor  has  obtained  permission  from 
 the  Linnaean  Society  to  have  impressions  of  this  singular  production,  which  was  engraved  for  their  Trans- 
 actions. 
 
318 
 
 REASON  FOR  VISITING  PASSUMAH. 
 
 On  the  next  morning  we  started  in  better  spirits,  having  been  met  by  one  of 
 the  Chiefs  of  Passumah,  who  came  to  welcome  our  approach,  and  to  assure  us,  if  we 
 walked  fast,  we  should  reach  a ^^llage  in  the  afternoon.  For  the  first  part  of  the  day 
 our  road  was  still  over  stupendous  mountains,  sometimes  in  the  beds  of  rivers  for 
 miles,  and  at  all  times  difficult ; but,  about  noon,  we  came  into  a country  that  had 
 once  been  cleared,  and  again  fell  in  with  the  Manna  River,  which  we  crossed  on  a 
 raft  pre\iously  prepared  for  the  purpose,  many  of  the  Chiefs  and  people  of  Passu- 
 mah hanng  assembled  to  meet  us.  We  had  still,  however,  a very  steep  ascent  to 
 encounter ; but  no  sooner  had  we  attained  the  summit,  and  bent  our  steps  down- 
 ward, than  our  \iew  opened  upon  one  of  the  finest  countries  I ever  beheld,  amply 
 compensating  us  for  all  the  dreariness  of  the  forest,  and  for  all  the  fatigues  we  had 
 undergone  ; perhaps  the  prospect  was  heightened  by  the  contrast ; but  the  country 
 I now  beheld  reminded  me  so  much  of  scenes  in  Java,  and  was  in  every  respect  so 
 different  to  that  on  the  coast,  that  I could  not  help  expressing  myself  in  raptures. 
 As  we  descended,  the  scene  improved ; we  found  ourselves  in  an  immense  amphi- 
 theatre, sm-rounded  by  mountains  ten  and  twelve  thousand  feet  high ; the  soil  on 
 which  we  stood  rich  beyond  description,  and  vegetation  luxuriant  and  brilliant  in 
 every  direction.  The  people,  too,  seemed  a new  race,  far  superior  to  those  on  the 
 coast — tall,  stout,  and  ingenuous.  They  received  us  most  hospitably,  and  conducted 
 us  to  the  rillage  of  Nigri-Cayu,  where  we  slept. 
 
 “ I should  not  omit  to  inform  you,  that  the  immediate  occasion  of  my  visiting 
 Passumah  was  to  reconcile  contending  interests  which  had  long  distracted  the 
 country.  For  the  last  ten  years  these  people  had  been  at  war  with  us,  or  rather  we 
 had  been  at  war  with  them,  for  we  appeared  to  have  been  the  aggressors  throughout 
 I w^as  assured  that  my  person  would  be  endangered,  that  the  Passumahs  w^ere  a savage 
 ungovernable  race,  and  that  no  terms  could  ever  be  made  with  them,  and  I w^as  not  a 
 little  gratified  to  find  every  thing  the  reverse  of  what  had  been  represented  to  me.  I 
 found  them  reasonable  and  industrious,  an  agiicultural  race  more  sinned  against  than 
 sinning. 
 
 “ In  the  ricinity  of  Nigri-Cayu  w^ere  several  hot  springs,  and  we  soon  succeeded 
 in  making  very  comfortable  warm  baths. 
 
 “ On  the  next  day  we  proceeded  to  Tanjung  Alem  (the  point  of  the  w^orld,) 
 another  village  in  the  Passumah  country,  which  w^e  reached  in  about  six  hours’  walk, 
 through  one  of  the  finest  countries  in  the  world,  haring  before  us  nearly  the  whole 
 way  the  volcanic  mountain  called  Gunung  Dempu,  from  which  the  smoke  issued 
 in  large  volumes. 
 
 “ At  Tanjung  Alem  we  remained  two  nights.  We  found  the  villages  in  this  part 
 of  the  country  most  respectable,  many  of  them  haring  more  than  five  hundred  inha- 
 bitants ; the  houses  large,  and  on  a different  plan  to  those  on  the  coast,  each  rillage, 
 which  may  rather  be  considered  as  a small  town,  has  a fosse  or  ditch  round  it  with 
 
CEREMONY  OF  A FUNERAL. 
 
 319 
 
 high  palisades.  We  passed  the  site  of  two  or  three  towns  which  were  represented 
 to  have  been  destoyed  by  the  petty  hostilities  between  the  Chiefs. 
 
 ‘‘  During  our  stay  at  Tanjung  Alem,  the  Chiefs  entered  into  a treaty,  by  which 
 tliey  placed  themselves  under  the  protection  of  the  British  Government,  and  thus  all 
 cause  of  dispute  and  misunderstanding  was  at  once  set  at  rest.  I must  also  note  ano- 
 tlier  occmTence  of  moment : an  old  woman  of  rank  died,  and  we  witnessed  all  the 
 ceremonies  ; they  commenced  by  all  the  females  of  the  village  repairing  to  the  house 
 of  the  deceased,  and  setting  up  a squall  something  like  the  Irish  howl  for  an  hour  or 
 two.  After  this  the  body  was  removed  to  the  Bah,  or  hall  of  audience,  where  we 
 were  to  dine ; we,  however,  preferred  dining  in  another  place,  but  in  the  evening  it 
 was  expected  that  we  should  be  present  at  the  ceremony,  which  consisted  of  dancing 
 and  singing,  in  the  presence  of  the  whole  village  assembled  in  the  hall  where  the 
 body  lay.  On  the  next  morning  the  head  of  the  village  killed  a goat  and  sprinkled 
 the  blood  about  the  house  of  the  deceased,  and  all  the  maidens  within  hail  attended 
 at  the  Bali,  contending  with  each  other  who  should  exclaim  loudest : ‘ oh  mother  ! 
 come  back,  mother,  come  back  ! ’ This  continued  till  they  concluded  the  body  would 
 keep  no  longer,  when  it  was  hurried  off,  and  quietly  carried  out  of  the  village  to  a 
 gi'ave,  in  which  it  was  interred  without  further  ceremony. 
 
 The  people,  though  professedly  Mahomedans,  seem  more  attached  to  their 
 ancient  worship  and  superstitions  than  I expected.  I clearly  traced  an  ancient  my- 
 thology, and  obtained  the  names  of  at  least  twenty  gods,  several  of  whom  are  Hindus. 
 In  each  of  the  villages  we  found  a Lang’gar,  similar  to  that  noticed  at  Merambung, 
 but  generally  better  constructed. 
 
 “ The  utmost  good-humour  and  affection  seemed  to  exist  among  the  people  of 
 the  Hllage ; they  were  as  one  family,  the  men  walking  about  holding  each  other  by 
 the  hand,  and  playing  tricks  with  each  other  hke  children ; they  were  as  fine  a raee 
 as  I ever  beheld ; in  general  about  six  feet  high,  and  proportionably  stout,  clear 
 and  clean  skins,  and  an  open  ingenuous  countenance.  They  seemed  to  have 
 abundance  of  every  thing ; rice,  the  staple  food  of  the  country,  being  five  times  as 
 cheap  as  at  Bencoolen,  and  every  other  article  of  produce  in  proportion.  The 
 women  and  children  were  decorated  with  a profusion  of  silver  ornaments,  and  par- 
 ticularly wth  strings  of  dollars  and  other  coins  hanging  two  or  three  deep  round  the 
 neck.  It  was  not  uncommon  to  see  a child  with  a hundred  dollars  round  her  neck. 
 Every  one  seemed  anxious  for  medicine,  and  they  cheerfully  agreed  to  be  vaccinated. 
 The  small-pox  had  latterly  committed  great  ravages,  and  the  population  of  whole 
 villages  had  fled  into  the  woods  to  avoid  the  contagion. 
 
 “ We  now  thought  of  returning  to  the  coast,  and  on  the  24th  set  off  for 
 Manna  by  a different  route  to  that  by  which  we  had  arrived.  Our  first  day’s 
 journey  was  to  Camumuan,  which  we  reached  a little  before  six  in  the  evening,  after 
 
3-20 
 
 RETURN  TO  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 the  hardest  day’s  walk  I ever  experienced.  We  calculated  that  we  had  walked  more 
 than  thirty  miles,  and  over  the  worst  of  roads.  Hitherto  we  had  been  fortunate  in 
 our  weather  ; but  before  we  reached  this  place,  a heavy  rain  came  on,  and  soaked  us 
 completely.  The  baggage  only  came  up  in  part,  and  we  were  content  to  sleep  in 
 our  wet  clothes,  under  the  best  shade  we  could  find.  No  wood  would  burn ; there 
 was  no  moon  ; it  was  already  dark,  and  we  had  no  shelter  erected.  By  persever- 
 ance, however,  I made  a tolerable  place  for  Lady  Raffles,  and,  after  selecting  the 
 smoothest  stone  I could  find  in  the  bed  of  a river  for  a pillow,  we  managed  to  pass 
 a tolerably  comfortable  night.  This  is  what  is  here  called  the  Ulu  Pino  Road ; 
 and  we  were  encouraged  to  undertake  long  marches  in  the  hope  of  only  sleeping  in 
 the  woods  one  night,  and  in  this  we  fortunately  succeeded.” 
 
 This  was,  perhaps,  the  worst  day’s  journey  that  the  party  experienced.  The 
 route  was  very  imperfectly  known,  and  a hea^^  rain  rendered  the  forest  dreary,  and 
 the  walking  more  than  usually  irksome.  Sir  Stamford  and  Dr.  Arnold  took  the  only 
 guide,  and  hastened  forward  in  the  hope  of  reaching  the  river,  and  preparing  a fire. 
 It  was  soon  discovered  that  the  remainder  of  the  party  had  lost  their  way  ; the  peo- 
 ple dispersed  to  endeavour  to  trace  the  steps  of  those  who  were  gone  before,  all 
 anxiously  listening  to  catch  the  sound  of  water,  that  most  delightful  of  all  sounds  to 
 the  weary  traveller,  in  a strange  country  and  a hot  climate.  At  last  Mr.  Presgrave 
 and  the  Editor  were  left  entirely  to  themselves,  and  whilst  debating  what  to  do,  and 
 pursuing  their  walk  in  no  little  anxiety,  the  duskiness  of  the  night,  the  pouring  rain, 
 and  their  wet  clothes  not  adding  to  their  comfort,  Mr.  Presgrave  met  with  an  acci- 
 dent which  had  nearly  proved  serious,  and  caused  some  alarm.  He  sunk  into  a 
 large  pit,  (which  was  covered  over  and  concealed  with  leaves,)  and  disappeared 
 entirely,  and  with  him  sunk  the  hope  of  concluding  the  day’s  journey,  and  his  com- 
 panion’s spirit.  He  fortunately  succeeded  in  extricating  himself,  and  after  continu- 
 ing their  walk  some  time  longer,  the  rippling  of  water  was  plainly  distinguished,  and 
 the  busy  voices  of  those  assembled  on  the  banks  of  the  river  soon  obliterated  the 
 slight  troubles  they  had  been  under.  A happy  night  succeeded,  and  after  a few  hours’ 
 rest,  the  journey  was  pursued. 
 
 “ The  next  day  we  reached  Merambung,  where  we  got  upon  a raft,  and  were 
 wafted  down  to  the  vicinity  of  Manna  in  about  seven  hours.  The  passage  down  the 
 river  was  extremely  romantic  and  gi'and ; it  is  one  of  the  most  rapid  rivers  on  the 
 coast : we  descended  a rapid  almost  every  hundred  yards. 
 
 “ After  proceeding  from  Manna  to  Cawoor,  we  returned  by  the  coast  to  Bencoo- 
 len,  where  we  ari'ived  on  the  3d  of  June,  to  the  no  small  astonishment  of  the  colonists, 
 who  were  not  inclined  to  believe  it  possible  we  could  have  thought  of  such  a journey. 
 
 “ My  attention  was  now  directed  to  crossing  the  country  to  Palembang.  The 
 Sultan  haring  applied  for  the  protection  of  the  British  Government,  I dispatched  a 
 
MODE  OF  DESCENDING  THE  RIVERS  ON  RAFTS. 
 
 .321 
 
 party  to  ascertain  the  practicability  of  the  communication.  Before  I left  Bencoolen 
 I had  accounts  of  their  safe  arrival.  They  reached  the  navigable  part  of  the  Palem- 
 bang  river  in  twelve  days’  march  fi*om  Bencoolen  ; the  party  were  about  four  hun- 
 dred strong.  This  is  the  first  time  the  Island  of  Sumatra  has  ever  been  crossed  by 
 an  European,  much  less  by  troops. 
 
 I am  now  on  my  way  to  Padang  to  see  whether  I cannot  reach  Menangkabu 
 before  the  Dutch  arrive,  who  claim  the  place  under  the  convention. 
 
 “ Your  Grace  shall  have  the  particulars  of  the  tour  to  Menangkabu,  the  an- 
 cient capital  of  the  Malay  Empire,  in  a separate  letter;  and  I will  conclude  this 
 hasty  journal  with  assurances  of  the  respect,  esteem,  and  affection  with  which  I have 
 the  honour  to  remain,  &c. 
 
 “ T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 The  pleasure  of  this  journey  was  great  to  Sir  Stamford,  as  it  opened  to  him  a 
 field  of  future  usefulness.  He  saw  that  it  was  not  only  the  barren  coast  which  he  had 
 to  improve,  but  a country  rich  in  all  the  bounties  of  nature,  and  a people  ready  and 
 willing  to  profit  by  his  influence  and  advice.  One  old  Chief,  on  taking  leave,  actually 
 fell  on  his  neck  and  wept ; and  soon  after  walked  the  whole  way  from  Tanjungalum, 
 the  most  distant  place  \dsited,  to  see  him  again  at  Bencoolen.  Such  simple  un- 
 civilised people  are  soon  won  by  kindness ; they  are  like  children,  easy  to  lead,  hard 
 to  drive.  It  was  Sir  Stamford’s  extreme  simplicity  of  mind  and  manners  that  rendered 
 him  so  peculiarly  attractive  to  them,  as  they  are  always  ready  to  be  kind  and  atten- 
 tive, provided  they  meet  with  encouragement  and  sympathy,  thus  affording  a proof  that 
 the  heart  is  the  best  teacher  of  true  politeness.  The  Editor  on  reaching  Merambung, 
 laid  down  under  the  shade  of  a tree,  being  much  fatigued  with  walking  : the  rest  of 
 the  party  dispersed  in  various  directions  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements,  and 
 seek  for  shelter  ; when  a Malay  girl  approached  with  great  grace  of  manners,  and  on 
 being  asked  if  she  wanted  any  thing,  replied,  “ No,  but  seeing  you  were  quite  alone, 
 I thought  you  might  like  to  have  a little  bichara  (talk)  and  so  I am  come  to  offer 
 you  some  siri,  (betel)  and  sit  beside  you.”  And  no  courtier  could  have  discussed 
 trifling  general  subjects  in  a better  manner,  or  have  better  refrained  from  asking 
 questions  which  were  interesting  to  herself  only ; her  object  was  to  entertain  a 
 stranger,  which  she  did  with  the  greatest  degree  of  refinement  and  politeness. 
 
 The  rafts  alluded  to  in  descending  the  Manna  river,  were  formed  by  a few 
 bamboos  fastened  together  with  cords.  The  Editor  had  wandered  with  some  of  the 
 people  out  of  the  direct  course  through  the  forest,  and  hearing  a noise  of  voices 
 approached  the  spot,  where  it  happened  the  rafts  were  making.  On  enquiry,  the 
 task  which  ought  to  have  been  finished  was  only  just  commencing.  As  these  rafts 
 were  to  have  been  at  a spot  much  lower  down  the  river,  in  readiness  to  carry  the 
 party  back  to  Manna,  the  Editor,  knowing  Sir  Stamford’s  anxiety  to  proceed,  waited 
 
 T t 
 
RETURN  TO  MANNA. 
 
 322 
 
 till  one  was  completed ; but  the  raft  was  too  slight,  the  rapids  too  dangerous  at  this 
 part  of  the  river,  for  more  than  three  people  to  venture : accordingly,  a pole  was 
 fastened  to  the  centre  by  which  she  was  to  hold,  and  stand  firm.  A guide  at  each 
 extremity  then  took  their  station,  each  provided  with  a long  pole  ; and  the  raft  glided 
 down  the  river,  which  was  overhung  with  high  rocks  projecting  in  various  places. 
 One  man,  on  nearing  the  sharp  turns  that  continually  occurred,  and  against  which 
 the  rushing  of  the  river  propelled  the  raft,  prepared  his  pole,  and  just  on  coming  in 
 contact  struck  it  on  the  rock  with  such  force  as  to  turn  off  the  raft,  which  darted 
 down  the  fall  until  it  would  have  come  in  contact  with  the  rock  on  the  opposite  side, 
 when  it  was  again  struck  off,  and  proceeded  on  to  the  next  rapid.  The  dashing  of  the 
 raft  through  the  water,  the  roaring  noise,  the  complete  immersion  in  the  spray,  the 
 momentary  danger,  the  degi'ee  of  exertion  which  is  necessary  to  preserve  hold,  the 
 perfect  silence  of  each  person, — combined  to  create  a degree  of  excitement  not  easy 
 to  be  described.  The  raft  reached  Merambmig  in  safety  ; when,  the  descent  being 
 comparatively  easy,  two  chairs  were  fastened  in  the  centre,  and  the  passage  was  a 
 continued  scene  of  pleasure,  in  admiring  the  beauty  of  the  surrounding  country ; 
 until  the  men  suddenly  stopped,  and  said  they  would  not  venture  further  in  the 
 dark,  but  that  there  was  a village  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  where  shelter  might  be 
 found.  It  was  still  early,  but  no  inducement  could  prevail  upon  the  inhabitants  to 
 venture  out  of  their  houses,  for  fear  of  tigers  ; and  it  was  only  by  desiring  the  Chief 
 of  the  place  to  order  a party,  that  messengers  were  dispatched  with  lighted  flam- 
 beaus, to  procure  horses  from  Manna  to  conclude  the  journey. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  rested  at  Manna  one  day,  and  proceeded  down  the  coast  to 
 Cawoor  : this  part  of  the  journey  was  very  trying ; it  was  performed  on  horseback, 
 principally  on  the  sea-beach,  and  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  on  account  of  tigers ; 
 the  glare  from  the  sea,  the  heat  of  the  sand  on  the  beach,  the  vertical  rays  of  a 
 tropical  sun,  without  any  shade,  either  natural  or  artificial,  after  the  fatigue  and 
 exposure  already  experienced,  were  distressing  to  all,  and  proved  fatal  to  one  of  the 
 party.  Dr.  Arnold,  on  arriving  at  Cawoor,  was  seized  with  a fever,  where  no  medi- 
 cine could  be  procured.  After  remaining  there  one  day  with  him.  Sir  Stamford 
 hastened  back  to  Bencoolen  to  obtain  medical  aid ; this  journey  was  again  neces- 
 sarily performed  on  horseback,  as  the  route  was  impassable  for  any  carriage,  and 
 nearly  proved  fatal  to  the  whole  party : in  endeavouring  to  pass  a projection  of 
 rock  called  by  the  natives  the  jylace  of  death,  the  tide  rose  so  rapidly,  and  the 
 surf  was  so  high,  that  the  horses  began  to  stagger,  the  people  from  the  top  of 
 the  rock  screamed  in  despair,  and  it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  the  horses 
 were  turned,  urged  back,  and  a longer  route  piu'sued  through  the  forest.  A cir- 
 cumstance occurred  here,  which  marks  the  superstitious  fears  of  the  natives.  The 
 Coolies,  in  passing  through  the  forest,  came  upon  a tiger,  crouched  on  the  path ; 
 they  immediately  stopped  and  addressed  him  in  terms  of  supplication,  assuring 
 
EXTRACT  FROM  MR.  PRESGRAVE’S  JOURNAL. 
 
 323 
 
 him  they  were  poor  people  carrying  the  Tuan  Basar,  great  man’s  luggage,  who 
 W'oulcl  be  very  angry  with  them  if  they  did  not  arrive  in  time,  and  therefore  they 
 implored  permission  to  pass  quietly  and  without  molestation.  The  tiger,  being 
 startled  at  their  appearance,  got  up  and  walked  quietly  into  the  depths  of  the  forest ; 
 and  they  came  on  perfectly  satisfied  that  it  was  in  consequence  of  their  petition  that 
 they  passed  in  safety. 
 
 In  October,  1818,  Mr.  Presgrave,  Resident  of  Manna,  performed  nearly  the 
 same  journey,  with  the  intention  of  visiting  the  volcano  on  the  summit  of  Gunung 
 Dempo,  one  of  the  highest  mountains  in  that  part  of  the  Island,  and  gave  the  fol- 
 lowing adchtional  particulars  of  this  part  of  the  Island. 
 
 “ The  first  part  of  the  journey  was  perfonued  on  horseback  over  beautiful 
 plains : our  party  consisted  of  Mr.  Osborn  (whose  object  was  the  dissemination  of 
 the  benefits  of  vaccination),  myself,  and  four  Bugguese  soldiers  for  the  escort  of  our 
 baggage,  canied  by  twenty-five  coolies  or  porters.  Whilst  resting  at  Gunung  Ayu, 
 ,our  attention  was  suddenly  roused  by  a great  noise  in  the  village,  the  people  running 
 in  all  directions ; we  soon  learned  the  meaning  of  this  tumult.  A man  from  a dis- 
 tant \illage,  whose  father  was  shot  when  the  Sepoys  under  Colonel  Clayton  were 
 sent,  after  the  murder  of  Mr.  Pan-,  to  destroy  the  villages  in  Pasumah  Ulu  Manna, 
 having  arrived  at  the  nllage,  and  heard  that  we  were  there,  drew  his  sword,  and  in 
 a transport  of  rage  and  fury  w-as  proceeding  to  the  door  crying  out  for  the  white 
 men,  when  he  was  stopped  by  the  people,  disarmed,  and  conveyed  by  them  away. 
 So  bent  was  he  on  revenge,  that  he  vowed  he  would  yet  accomplish  his  purpose,  for 
 nothing  but  the  blood  of  an  orang  puti  (white  man)  would  satisfy  the  manes  of  his 
 deceased  father.  The  people  are  particularly  affected  with  goitres,  some  of  which 
 grow  to  an  immense  size,  and  render  the  person  a disgusting  object.  Among  them- 
 selves they  do  not  look  upon  these  monstrous  excrescences  as  deformities,  nor  do 
 they  seem  to  experience  any  pain  or  inconvenience  from  them ; the  inhabitants  on 
 the  plains  are  entirely  free  from  the  disorder,  while  as  you  approach  the  hills  almost 
 every  individual  is  affected  with  it.  The  natives  attribute  it  to  drinking  the  water 
 of  some  particidar  stream.  The  latter  part  of  the  journey  was  principally  over 
 plains  of  a fine  black  loam  of  very  considerable  depth,  the  horses’  feet  sinking  in  as 
 they  passed  over  it.  We  approached  the  great  mountain  on  the  fifth  day,  winding 
 round  the  east  side  of  it.  On  our  arrival  here,  we  found  one  of  our  horses  had  died 
 suddenly,  by  its  having  eaten  some  noxious  herb  which  grows  amongst  the  grass. 
 The  natives  ate  part  of  the  carcass,  pillaged  the  bones,  and  even  before  death  robbed 
 it  of  all  its  mane  and  tail.  As  this  was  the  first  time  a horse  had  been  in  this  part  of 
 the  country,  it  excited  much  curiosity.  The  people  did  not  seem  to  entertain  any 
 favourable  idea  of  our  persons  and  colour.  On  entering  a village  to-day,  a tall  spare 
 figure,  more  resembhng  a spirit  broken  loose  from  the  infernal  regions  than  a human 
 being,  with  one  of  the  largest  wens  in  his  throat  I have  ever  seen,  came  up  to  us; 
 
 T t 2 
 
324 
 
 VISIT  TO  THE  SACRED  MOUNTAIN. 
 
 and  after  sun'eying  us  with  an  attentive  eye  for  some  time,  at  length  exclaimed 
 aloud,  ‘ These  are  the  white  men  we  have  so  often  heard  of ; here  they  are  hke 
 de\ils.’  For  this  remark  he  received  a rebuke  fi'om  his  countrymen,  and  slunk  away 
 ashamed. 
 
 “ W e now  began  to  suffer  from  want ; we  had  only  two  bottles  of  uine  left ; 
 we  found  considerable  inconvenience  in  procuring  fowls  and  other  supplies,  not  from 
 any  scarcity  of  these  articles,  for  they  appeared  to  be  in  abundance,  but  on  account 
 of  our  rupees,  which  to  om*  daily  loss  we  found  were  not  current  here.  Spanish 
 dollars  were  in  great  request ; the  reason  for  this  was  that  the  people  of  Pasumah 
 Lebar  were  dependent  on  Palembangfor  salt  and  their  piece  articles  of  clothing.  We 
 announced  our  intention  of  visiting  the  summit  of  Gunung  Dempo,  or  the  Sacred 
 Mountain,  for  in  that  light  it  is  viewed  by  the  natives  themselves,  who  conceive  that 
 the  guardian  genius  of  the  country  has  his  abode  in  it,  and  that  the  Devas  and  infe- 
 rior deities  have  also  their  residence  there.  Om*  object  was  if  possible  to  reach  the 
 Crater.  M’ith  this  riew  we  called  for  Panghmo,  who  had  been  our  guide  from  the  coast, 
 and  whom  we  found  on  all  occasions  a most  useful  and  faithful  man.  Panghmo  was  a 
 man  of  desperate  fortunes  ; he  had  been  banished  by  his  relations,  and  his  attachment 
 to  us  he  acknowledged  arose  from  the  pecuniary  aid  which  he  received.  Since  the  Go- 
 vernor’s journey  to  Pasumah,  he  said  he  had  realized  upwards  of  a hundred  and  twenty 
 dollars,  which  had  enabled  him  to  discharge  a large  portion  of  his  debts.  He  confessed 
 himself  to  have  been  one  of  the  greatest  resaus  (plunderer)  in  the  whole  country ; 
 and,  indeed,  fi’om  the  countenance  of  the  man,  you  would  judge  him  to  be  capable  of 
 executing  the  most  desperate  deed : a few  dollars  would  induce  him  to  take  away 
 the  hfe  of  his  nearest  relation.  Panghmo  was  the  only  man  in  all  Pasumah  who 
 would  undertake  the  arduous  task  of  conducting  us  to  the  top  of  the  mountain. 
 Twenty  dollars  were  to  be  the  amount  of  his  reward  for  performing  this  serrice.  Not 
 knowing  the  road,  he  succeeded,  by  the  promise  of  five  dollars,  in  procuring  a man 
 who  professed  to  be  acquainted  uith  it  to  accompany  him.  This  man  was  an  Imam 
 (priest,)  whom,  fi’om  the  sanctity  of  his  character,  Panghmo  considered  necessary  to 
 ensure  success,  as  he  would  deprecate  the  wTath  of  the  deities,  and  render  them  pro- 
 pitious to  om*  undertaking.  This  was  to  be  accomphshed  by  prerious  sacrifice  and 
 fasting,  and  the  day  before  we  set  out  the  Imam  performed  this  part  of  the  ceremony 
 by  kilhng  a fowl. 
 
 Oct.  27. — The  Imam  having  announced  this  as  a lucky  day  (for  we  were 
 obliged  to  give  way  to  his  prejudices,)  we  set  out  uith  our  fearless  guide,  our  party, 
 including  Coolies  and  attendants,  amomiting  to  eighteen  persons.  We  chd  not  think 
 it  necessary  to  acquaint  the  Chiefs  with  om*  design,  anticipating  that  they  would,  in 
 consequence  of  their  superstitious  prejudices  make  objections,  raise  difficulties,  and 
 perhaps  finally  hinder  us  from  accomplishing  our  object.  We  therefore  told  them  that 
 ■vve  were  going  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  but  did  not  acquaint  them  that  we  intended 
 
ASCENT  OF  THE  SACRED  MOUNTAIN. 
 
 325 
 
 to  attempt  to  ascend  to  any  height.  We  set  forward  on  our  expedition  on  the 
 morning,  passing  through  several  of  their  villages  before  we  came  to  the  foot  of  the 
 mountain.  At  a small  elevation  from  its  foot  we  saw  several  of  the  magnificent 
 flowers  found  by  the  Governor  on  his  tour  to  Pasumah  Ulu  Manna,  (Rafflesia  Ar- 
 noldi.)  Some  were  fidl  blown,  others  in  the  bud,  and  the  buds  of  others  were  just 
 emerging  from  darkness.  We  continued  our  ascent,  marking  the  spots  where  the 
 flowers  grew,  in  order  that  we  might  take  some  of  them  with  us  as  specimens  on  our 
 return.  Night  was  now  drawing  on,  and  finding  ourselves  fatigued,  we  began  to 
 look  out  for  a convenient  spot  on  which  to  raise  our  huts.  Hearing  the  rushing  of 
 water  below  us,  we  were  induced  to  descend,  in  hopes  of  obtaining  a good  supply  of 
 water,  which  appeared  to  be  scarce  in  this  place.  On  descending  a deep  ravine  we 
 found  ourselves  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Salangis.  This  river  runs  through  the 
 whole  of  the  Pasumah  Lebar'country,  in  an  easterly  direction,  and  at  last  empties 
 itself  into  that  of  Palembang.  In  this  place  the  river  is  very  narrow ; its  banks  are 
 formed  of  a black  sand,  resembling,  except  in  colour,  that  of  the  sea-beach.  The 
 silence  of  the  stream  is  here  interrupted  by  an  abrupt  cataract,  over  which  the  water 
 is  precipitated  with  great  impetuosity ; this  was  the  cause  of  the  noise  we  heard  for 
 the  greater  part  of  the  afternoon.  We  at  first  pitched  our  tent  opposite  to  the 
 cataract,  but  the  rushing  of  the  water  caused  a draft  of  air  which  pierced  so  keenly, 
 that  we  were  obliged  to  remove  it  to  a greater  distance.  At  times  there  was  such  a 
 strong  smell  of  sulphur,  that  it  became  almost  intolerable.  The  water  was  also  so 
 impregnated  with  this  mineral  as  to  render  it  undrinkable,  and  we  were  obhged  to 
 make  use  of  what  we  could  catch  from  the  side  of  the  rock. 
 
 On  examining  our  provisions,  we  found  the  steward  had  laid  in  so  scanty  a 
 stock  as  would  serve  the  whole  of  oim  party  only  another  day ; we  therefore  sent 
 back  several  of  our  followers,  taking  with  us  only  such  as  were  absolutely  necessary. 
 The  number  of  our  party  thus  curtailed,  consisted  of  eleven,  viz.  Mr,  Church,  Mr. 
 Cudlipp,  myself,  three  servants,  three  Coolies,  and  the  two  guides. 
 
 “ Oct.  28. — Early  in  the  morning,  after  partaking  of  a slight  breakfast,  not  dar- 
 ing to  indulge  lest  our  stock  should  fail  us  before  we  had  completed  our  undertaking, 
 we  ascended  from  this  singular  spot,  and  made  another  effort  to  gain  the  summit  of 
 our  ambition.  We  reached  the  top  of  the  ravine,  and  bending  our  course  W.N.W., 
 proceeded  through  deep  forests,  in  which  no  human  traces  were  to  be  discovered. 
 Our  only  path  was  one  that  had  been  opened  to  us  by  the  passage  of  elephants : the 
 traces  of  these  masters  of  the  desert  were  visible  in  every  direction.  We  passed 
 through  what  is  called  by  the  natives  the  region  of  tigers ; the  superstitious  inhabi- 
 tants of  the  surrounding  country  imagine  that  there  is  a stream  in  these  parts,  which 
 when  passed  over  by  a human  being,  possesses  the  virtue  of  transforming  him  to  that 
 ferocious  animal,  and  on  his  return,  of  restoring  him  to  his  original  shape.  From 
 this  fabulous  story  we  expected  to  find  the  woods  infested  with  tigers ; but  to  our 
 
326 
 
 ASCENT  OF  THE  SACRED  MOUNTAIN. 
 
 astonishment  we  discovered  nothing  that  could  lead  us  to  suppose,  that  these  animals 
 had  deserted  the  plains  to  take  up  their  abode  in  the  mountain.  During  the  day  we 
 remarked  the  footsteps  of  the  rhinoceros  and  the  ^^ild  goat.  Our  two  guides  were 
 employed  as  we  proceeded  in  cutting  the  small  and  low  branches,  and  notching  the 
 tmnks  of  trees  which  grew  in  our  path,  in  order  to  serve  as  marks  on  our  return,  to 
 prevent  the  possibility  of  our  wandering  from  the  right  course.  Oirr  ascent  during 
 the  day  was  pretty  gi-adual  and  regular;  at  intervals  however  this  regularity  was  in- 
 terrupted by  abrupt  acclivities  of  one  hundred  feet;  and  haring  gained  the  top  of 
 these  the  ascent  became  less  steep,  and  in  some  places  almost  subsided  into  a plain. 
 We  passed  over  four  of  these  Tanga  Gunung*  to-day.  Towards  evening  we  found 
 ourselves  beyond  the  deep  wood.  The  tall  and  majestic  trees  of  the  forest  seemed 
 suddenly  to  have  vanished  fi’om  our  riew,  and  those  of  a smaller  and  more  sickly 
 growth  to  have  taken  their  place.  The  road  became  almost  impassable  on  account 
 of  thorns  and  briars,  which  were  so  thickly  interwoven  as  to  present  an  almost  insur- 
 mountable obstacle  to  our  progress.  The  poor  and  exhausted  Coohes  wth  the 
 gi'eatest  difficulty  di'agged  their  bm’dens  through  these  formidable  opponents : in- 
 deed we,  who  were  not  encmnbered  vith  any  thing  extraneous,  could  scarcely  pass ; 
 the  naked  bodies  of  our  servants  gushed  ^rith  blood  in  every  part,  and  our  own 
 clothes  were  torn  off  our  backs.  We  ate  nothing  diuing  the  day  excepting  some  of 
 the  fruit  of  the  forests,  called  by  the  natives  buzvaJi  salak.  Night  now  came  on 
 apace,  and  we  looked  for  a stream  of  water  to  enable  us  to  prepare  our  evening 
 fare,  but  none  could  we  discover ; so  we  were  obliged  to  content  ourselves  nith  a 
 small  quantity  of  muddy  water,  found  in  a hollow  place  made  by  some  animal, 
 which,  from  the  traces  in  the  neighbom’hood,  we  supposed  to  be  the  rhinoceros. 
 
 “ Haring  rested  a httle  from  the  fatigues  of  the  day,  in  vain  we  looked  for  the 
 plains  we  had  left  yesterday  morning ; the  face  of  the  earth  below  was  concealed 
 from  oiu  sight ; clouds  and  darkness  rolled  under  om*  feet.  e found  ourselves 
 above  the  summit  of  the  surrounding  mountains  ; and,  for  the  first  time  in  oiu  lives, 
 heard  the  thunder  roll  beneath  us.  The  heavens  above  fromied,  as  in  anger 
 at  the  presumption  of  man  daring  to  enter  these  aerial  abodes ; and  the  roaring 
 of  tlie  volcano  at  intervals,  impressed  us  with  a kind  of  sacred  awe,  as  if  we  had  in 
 reahty  approached  the  habitation  of  celestial  beings.  These  were  the  only  forerun- 
 ners of  the  deluge  which  was  to  follow.  The  gloomy  spot  in  which  we  were  doomed 
 to  pass  the  night  far  surpassed  the  power  of  description.  On  the  one  side,  the 
 steep  acclirity  of  the  mountain ; on  the  other,  a deep  precipice  ; not  a tree  to  afford 
 us  a covering  or  protection  from  the  threatening  storm,  and  scarcely  a bit  of  dry 
 Avood  to  light  a fire.  In  this  situation  we  were  enveloped  in  total  darkness.  The 
 thunder  grew  louder,  the  hghtning  more  ririd,  while  the  volcano  above  us  continued 
 
 So  called  by  the  natives  ; the  term  signifies  ladders  of  the  mountain. 
 
ASCENT  OF  THE  SACRED  MOUNTAIN. 
 
 327 
 
 its  frightful  roarings.  At  length  the  storm  burst  upon  us  in  all  its  fury  ; our  light 
 and  fire  were  suddenly  extinguished,  and  we  were  necessitated  to  eat  in  the  dark  a 
 half-prepared  meal.  We  then  sat  down  to  wait  the  holding  up  of  the  rain,  but  we 
 soon  lost  all  hope  of  a calm  interval.  The  storm  continued  with  unabated  violence 
 until  near  day-hght.  Fatigued  by  the  arduous  task  of  the  day,  and  with  little  to  eat, 
 we  would  fain  have  reheved  our  troubles  by  sleep ; but  to  sleep  in  our  condition  was 
 certain  death.  Besides  the  rain  which  poured  in  at  every  part  of  om’  hut,  the  tor- 
 rent which  rushed  down  the  mountain  threatened  to  sweep  us  below.  We  wrapped 
 ourselves  up  in  blankets,  but  these  were  very  soon  soaked  through ; indeed  we 
 appeared  to  be  sitting  in  the  bed  of  a river,  rather  than  on  firm  ground.  The  air 
 was  bitterly  cold ; our  shivering  people  murmured  loudly : we  had  never  felt  it  so 
 cold  since  we  left  England.  If  we  attempted  to  talk  or  laugh,  our  guide,  the  Imam, 
 in  a tremulous  voice,  begged  we  would  be  silent,  and  not  provoke  the  already  angry 
 gods.  We  asked  whence  proceeded  the  roarings  we  heard  above  us.  Panglimo 
 told  us  they  came  from  the  telago,  or  crater  of  the  volcano,  and  desired  we  would 
 ask  no  questions  about  this  frightful  place.  Towards  morning  the  rain  in  some 
 degree  abated,  when  Messrs.  Church  and  Cudlipp  very  imprudently  went  to  sleep  in 
 the  wet  condition  in  which  they  were.  Day-light  at  length  made  its  appearance,  and 
 again  the  men  attempted  to  hght  fires,  which  were  most  desirable  ; for,  from  the  un- 
 comfortable manner  in  which  we  passed  the  night,  our  followers  were  half  dead  with 
 hunger,  cold,  and  wet ; and,  indeed,  although  two  of  us  had  been  accustomed  to  the 
 severities  of  an  Em’opean  winter,  we  were  all  most  happy  to  enjoy  the  comfort  of  a 
 fire-side,  even  in  the  heart  of  Sumatra. 
 
 “ Oct.  29. — Having  partaken  of  a little  unsavomy  rice,  without  even  salt  or 
 chilies  to  render  it  palatable,  we  prepared  for  another  day’s  labour.  From  the  diffi- 
 culty we  experienced  yesterday  in  bringing  the  baggage  as  far  as  this,  we  conceived 
 that  greater  obstacles  lay  before  us.  We  therefore  resolved  to  leave  the  Coolies  and 
 baggage  in  the  hut,  and  proceeding  unencumbered  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain, 
 retmm  if  possible  to  the  place  where  we  slept  the  last  night,  before  the  close  of  the  day, 
 which  orrr  guide  told  us  could  be  accomphshed.  We  did  not  proceed  far  before  we 
 found  that  we  were  correct  in  regard  to  the  difficulties  we  had  anticipated ; for  now 
 the  ascent  was  steep,  and  the  briars  became  thicker  and  more  closely  entwined  toge- 
 ther, so  that  it  was  an  absolute  impossibihty  to  penetrate  through  them.  Here  we 
 began  to  look  on  our  object  as  unattainable  : we  unsuccessfully  sought  for  some  sort 
 of  path  along  which  we  might  pass.  The  same  insurmomitable  obstacles  beset  us  on 
 all  sides,  and  no  choice  appeared  to  be  left  but  to  retrace  our  steps  to  the  hut : yet 
 when  we  turned  our  heads  and  beheld  the  lofty  summit  above  us,  and  volumes  of 
 dark  smoke  rolling  on  its  dusky  and  naked  top,  we  felt  an  irresistible  desire  to  sur- 
 mount every  difficulty,  and  face  every  danger.  Our  progi'ess  being  thus  impeded, 
 w'e  could  not  help  noticing  the  strange  aspect  of  the  scene  aroimd  us  ; the  grand 
 
 7 
 
328 
 
 ASCENT  OF  THE  SACRED  MOUNTAIN. 
 
 majestic  trees  of  the  forest,  whose  venerable  tmnks  had  withstood  the  shocks  and 
 storms  of  ages,  no  longer  struck  our  eyes,  but  in  their  stead  thorns  and  briars,  and 
 trees  of  a diminutive  gi'owth,  '\^'hat  was  most  singular,  all  around  us  were  seen  the 
 dead  trunks  of  trees,  some  of  which  had  attained  to  a large  size  and  considerable 
 height,  standing  erect  without  a single  branch.  All  these  tmnks  being  black,  as  if 
 burnt  by  lightning,  we  conceived  it  probable  that  some  ^^olent  shock  of  nature,  not 
 far  back,  had  reduced  the  former  flourishing  wood  to  its  present  blasted  condition. 
 Perhaps  some  recent  eruption  from  the  volcano  might  have  produced  this  effect ; or 
 might  not  noxious  exhalations  arising  from  the  crater  have  checked,  and  nearly 
 destroyed  vegetation  in  this  part  ? We  were  sensible  of  a very  strong  smell  of 
 sulphm*. 
 
 “ It  was  now  for  the  first  time  that  we  saw  the  stout-hearted  Panglimo  shrink 
 from  difficulty.  The  man  who  seemed  calculated  to  perfonn  the  labours  of  Her- 
 cules, and  who  ever  made  it  his  boast  that  he  had  encountered  danger  in  eveiy  shape, 
 was  the  first  to  sound  a retreat.  ' You  see,’  said  he,  ^ the  gods  are  not  propitious 
 to  our  undertaking : — they  have  shut  up  the  road  against  us : — they  will  bewilder  us 
 in  this  desert  place ; — we  cannot  proceed.’  We  all  appeared  to  inchne  to  this  ad\ice, 
 but  each  felt  ashamed  of  a defeat.  Again  we  endeavoured  to  penetrate  the  thick 
 briars ; again  Panglimo  turned  pale : ‘ It  is  vain  to  contend  against  the  gods,’  he 
 said,  and  sat  down.  I rallied  him,  and  taking  the  sword,  which  now  served  as  a 
 pruning-hook,  from  his  hand,  endeavom-ed  to  cut  through  the  brambles ; but  their 
 stems  were  so  tough  and  closely  interwoven  that  it  made  no  impression.  This  was 
 sufficient  for  Panglimo,  who  started  up,  and  mounting  with  his  naked  feet  upon  the 
 thorns,  instead  of  forcing  a passage  through  them,  walked  on  the  top ; we  all  fol- 
 lowed him,  and  in  this  way  proceeded,  by  slow  degi'ees,  for  an  hour  or  two.  HaHng 
 surmounted  this  formidable  obstacle,  we  met  with  another  not  less  discoiuaging. 
 Instead  of  thorns  and  briars,  we  now  had  to  walk  over  the  tmnks  of  trees,  that 
 were  thrown  down  and  piled  on  each  other.  They  appeared  to  have  lain  in  this 
 state  for  a long  time,  for  some  were  decayed,  others  decajdng,  and  the  whole  covered 
 over  with  a sort  of  vegetation  which  sprang  from  their  moiffd. 
 
 e were  two  or  three  hours  walking  over  these  weeks  of  the  forests,  at  the 
 imminent  hazard  of  slipping  through  the  interstices  of  the  trunks,  and  thus  of 
 being  buried  alive,  or  else  of  breaking  our  bones.  During  the  whole  time  we  did 
 not  once  set  our  foot  on  Arm  ground,  or  see  the  soil  over  which  we  were  walking, 
 nor  by  putting  our  sticks  through  could  we  reach  the  bottom.  The  vegetation  of 
 ages  appeared  to  be  piled  up  here  in  a widely-extended  and  confused  mass ; and  we 
 seemed  to  have  approached  the  brink  of  general  destruction  and  desolation.  We 
 found  that  we  were  on  a ridge  of  tlie  mountain ; on  each  side  of  us  was  a precipice 
 of  immense  depth.  The  ridge  gi*ew  narrower  at  every  step.  The  day  was  bright, 
 and  looking  down,  the  country  immediately  subjected  to  our  Hew  was  beyond  ima- 
 
ASCENT  OF  THE  SACRED  MOUNTAIN. 
 
 329 
 
 gination  beautiful ; extensive  plains,  scattered  over  with  smoking  villages  : pools  of 
 water  reflecting  the  rays  of  the  sun ; to  the  north  the  Musi  river,  called  by  these 
 people  the  sea  of  Musi.  Having  stayed  a short  time  to  contemplate  this  scene,  we 
 again  set  forward,  and  made  another  effort  to  gain  the  top  of  the  mountain.  Our 
 path  was  now  comparatively  smooth,  but  steep  of  ascent ; we  no  longer  found  any 
 of  our  former  obstacles.  The  only  vegetation  on  this  part  is  a sort  of  shrub,  very 
 much  resembling  the  box-tree  ; the  natives  call  it  Kayu  umur  panjaiig,  or  the  tree  of 
 long  life,  and  say  it  is  only  to  be  met  with  on  the  top  of  this  mountain.  The  shrub 
 is  about  six  feet  high,  and  appears  to  be  checked  in  its  growth.  Its  branches  and 
 leaves  were  covered  with  a kind  of  dust,  which  being  shaken  off  as  we  passed  along, 
 proved  very  troublesome  and  disagreeable,  almost  choaking  us.  We  thought  this 
 rather  singular,  as  the  rain  which  fell  the  preceding  night,  if  it  had  reached  this 
 part,  ought  to  have  entirely  washed  away  the  dust,  but  the  earth  appeared  as  dry 
 as  the  trees.  Although  we  had  not,  as  I have  just  noticed,  our  former  difficulties 
 to  encounter,  we  were  not  less  affected  by  feelings  of  a different  nature.  Our  path 
 had  now  become  less  than  two  fathoms  wide,  bounded  by  deep  precipices,  the  bottom 
 of  which  the  eye  could  not  penetrate,  and  whose  naked  sides  filled  us  with  terror, 
 and  narrowing  at  every  step,  we  were  threatened  -with  being  ingulphed  in  these 
 unfathomable  depths.  We  had  now  gained  the  summit  of  this  narrow  ridge;  and 
 disappointment  was  the  only  recompense  we  found  for  our  troubles  and  difficulties, 
 for  our  guide  told  us  we  had  ascended  the  wrong  ridge,  and  could  not  get  to  the 
 crater,  which  was  the  grand  object  we  had  in  view  when  we  undertook  the  task ; 
 nor  were  we  even  on  the  highest  part  of  the  mountain,  for  the  place  where  we  stood 
 was  overtopped  by  Gunung  Berapi ; this  was  entirely  bare,  and  might  be  three  or 
 four  hundred  feet  above  where  we  stood.  Gunung  Berapi  is  another  peak  of  this 
 great  mountain.  There  are  in  all  three,  to  which  the  natives  give  separate  names, 
 \dz.  Gunung  Dempo,  Gunung  Lumut,  and  Gummg  Berapi.  Gunung  Lumut  we  did 
 not  see,  it  being  on  the  other  side  of  Gunung  Berapi ; this  last,  as  its  name  points 
 out,  is  the  one  connected  with  the  volcano.  We  were  still  doomed  to  disappoint- 
 ment ; for  the  brightness  of  the  day  became  overclouded,  and  nothing  could  be  seen 
 from  this  elevated  situation  but  the  tops  of  surrounding  mountains,  and  a white  mist 
 at  our  feet,  which,  like  a sheet,  veiled  from  us  the  face  of  the  earth.  We  now 
 consulted  whether  we  should  make  any  farther  attempt  to  attain  our  object,  but  all 
 agreed  in  the  impossibility  of  succeeding ; besides,  we  had  not  a grain  of  rice  or 
 other  food  with  us,  and  only  another  scanty  meal  left  at  the  hut,  which  we  must 
 reach  before  night. 
 
 “ Oct,  30. — If  any  thing,  we  passed  a worse  night  than  the  one  we  have  already 
 described.  We  awoke  at  day-fight,  or  rather  did  not  sleep  all  night,  on  account  of 
 the  wet  and  cold.  Boat-cloaks  and  blankets  were  of  no  use ; they  were  wet  through 
 in  a few  minutes,  and  only  made  our  bodies  more  chilly.  Having  partaken  of  a 
 
 u u 
 
380 
 
 EXTRACT  FROM  MR.  PRESGRAVE’S  JOURNAL. 
 
 half  breakfast,  we  set  forward  on  our  return,  retracing  our  footsteps,  which  were 
 easily  found  by  the  marks  and  cuttings  of  the  trees,  which  were  made  on  our  ascent. 
 The  spot  where  we  spent  the  last  two  nights  is  situated  rather  more  than  two-thirds 
 up  the  mountain.  Being  tired  of  the  woods,  we  resolved  to  make  a forced  march 
 and  reach  the  village  of  Sawah  Batuhan  before  night.  We  stopped  to  take  three 
 specimens  of  the  Krabut  flower  (Rafflesia  Arnoldi ),  two  full-blown,  and  one  bud. 
 As  I have  noticed  before,  the  spot  on  which  these  extraordinary  flowers  grow  is 
 rather  elevated.  No  part  of  the  plant  is  seen  above  ground  except  the  flower,  which, 
 decked  in  all  the  splendour  of  nature,  bursts  forth  to  light  from  a root  which  i*uns 
 horizontally  on  the  gi’ound.  The  natives  appeared  not  to  be  well  acquainted  with 
 it,  and  gave  us  a confused  account  of  it,  from  which  we  collected  that  there  are 
 two  species  of  the  krabut,  one  of  which  springs  up  into  a shiaib  and  bears  flowers 
 rather  different  from  those  which  we  now  saw ; in  the  other,  no  part  except  the 
 flower  makes  its  appearance  above  ground,  without  leaves  and  \vithout  stem. — 
 About  two  o’clock  in  the  afternoon  we  reached  the  villages,  thankful  that  we  had 
 once  more  extricated  ourselves  from  such  frightful  wilds. 
 
 “ As  the  above  extracts  from  my  jornmal  Avill  afford  a pretty  good  idea  of  the  sort 
 of  people  we  were  among,  and  the  difficulties  we  had  to  encounter,  I shall  not 
 detain  you  with  the  details  of  our  journey  back  to  Manna,  but  attempt  a general 
 sketch  of  the  country  and  inhabitants  which  we  \dsited ; noting  only  by  the  way  that 
 on  our  arrival  at  Tanjung  Alam  (the  end  of  the  world),  many  inquiries  were  made 
 after  Tuan  Adam.  Having  no  acquaintance  with  Adam,  we  were  surprised  at  the 
 entreaty  and  earnestness  with  which  the  inquiry  was  made ; and  it  was  some  time 
 before  we  found  that  Tuan  Adam  was  no  other  personage  than  Madam  Besar,  or 
 Lady  Raffles,  the  name  by  which  she  is  known  to  this  people.  Madam  it  appears 
 was  metamorphosed  by  them  into  Adam,  a very  pardonable  mistake,  considering 
 that  they  look  upon  Adam  as  some  very  extraordinary  person,  and  Lady  Raffles  as 
 no  less  so,  in  ha\ing  overcome  such  difficulties,  and  being  the  first  Em'opean  lady 
 who  had  visited  their  country. 
 
 “ The  chief  mountains  in  this  neighbourhood,  in  the  western  range,  are  Gunung 
 Dempo,  Gunung  Lumut,  and  Gunung  Berapi,  which  form  one  great  mountain,  by 
 far  the  highest  in  this  part,  being  conspicuous  over  all  the  rest,  and  visible  from  Fort 
 Marlborough,  bearing  from  Manna,  N.N.E.  and  from  Padang  Guchei,  N.  With  re- 
 gard to  the  height  of  this  mountain,  it  would  be  but  mere  conjecture  if  I were  to 
 estimate  it  at  twelve  or  thirteen  thousand  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea;  but  the 
 eye  is  easily  deceived,  and  not  having  been  accustomed  to  judge  of  heights,  I may 
 be  far  from  correct.  We  may  perhaps  judge  something  from  the  time  we  were 
 ascending.  We  commenced  about  ten  o’clock  on  the  27th  of  October;  about  half- 
 past four  we  stopped  for  the  night ; at  seven  the  next  day  we  set  forward  again,  and 
 travelled  till  five  o’clock;  the  following  morning  we  recommenced  at  seven,  and 
 
EXTRACT  FROM  MR.  PRESGRAVE’S  JOURNAL. 
 
 331 
 
 reached  as  far  as  we  were  able  to  go  about  half-past  one  o’clock,  making  altogether 
 twenty-four  hours.  Allowances  must  be  made  for  the  badness  of  the  roads,  and  the 
 many  impediments  we  met  with  in  the  last  third  part  of  our  journey.  Although  we 
 were  so  long  in  ascending,  we  were  not  more  than  ten  hours  in  descending,  having 
 started  at  six  from  our  hut,  which  we  guessed  to  be  two-thirds  of  the  height  of  the 
 mountain,  we  reached  the  foot  at  about  four  o’clock  or  past.  The  highest  peak 
 (Jambul  Baniul)  of  the  ranges  which  we  passed  over  between  the  coast  and  Passu- 
 mah  Ulu  Manna,  did  not  occupy  more  than  three  or  four  hours,  or  scarcely  so  long. 
 The  temperature  of  the  atmosphere  on  the  top  of  this  mountain  was  very  low;  al- 
 though we  discovered  neither  snow  nor  ice,  yet  from  what  some  of  the  natives  told 
 us,  we  were  led  to  think  that  both  have  been  seen  there.  They  related  a story  of 
 three  persons  who  were  frozen  to  death,  ^ matt  ka  krasan,’  stiffened  or  hardened  to 
 death.  I cannot  state  the  precise  degree  of  temperature  for  want  of  a thermometer, 
 though  I should  think  Fahrenheit’s  would  have  been  as  low  as  thirty-five  degrees 
 before  sun-rise.  We  were  informed  by  some  of  the  natives,  that  within  their  me- 
 mory the  volcano,  which  now  appears  to  be  extinct,  had  been  known  to  emit  flames, 
 covering  the  trees  and  lands  of  the  adjacent  country  with  white  ashes.  This  emis- 
 sion was  accompanied  with  a loud  noise,  that  filled  the  whole  country  with  alarm. 
 The  singular  appearance  of  the  trees  near  to  the  top  of  the  mountain,  mentioned  in 
 another  place,  gives  some  colour  to  this  report;  hence  we  may  probably  account  for 
 large  trees  being  deprived  of  every  branch,  and  the  outer  part  of  their  trunks,  the  whole 
 being  too  solid  a substance  to  be  entirely  consumed,  being  burnt  black  as  a cinder. 
 But  from  the  best  information  we  could  collect  on  the  subject,  it  appears  highly  pro- 
 bable that  the  thick  smoke  seen  to  issue  from  the  side  of  the  mountain,  is  an  aqueous 
 vapour  arising  from  a hot  spring,  situated  in  the  crater  of  the  volcano.  The  water 
 of  this  spring  has  a constant  motion,  sometimes  greater  and  sometimes  less,  alter- 
 nately rising  and  sinking,  and  when  this  agitation  is  greatest,  it  is  attended  with  the 
 emission  of  a dark  volume  of  smoke ; this  is  immediately  preceded  by  a loud  noise 
 resembling  thunder,  only  of  shorter  duration.  I have  myself  observed  the  smoke 
 issuing  forth  at  intervals  of  a few  minutes,  as  if  repeated  explosions  had  taken  place 
 within  the  crater. — Dempo  is  the  only  mountain  in  this  part  that  is  honoured  with 
 the  epithet  of  Gunung,  all  the  rest  being  called  Bukit  or  hill. 
 
 We  made  inquiry  respecting  the  large  lake  said  to  be  situated  somewhere  in 
 these  parts,  but  could  not  learn  that  one  existed.  Perhaps  the  jealousy  of  the  people 
 might  take  care  to  conceal  the  knowledge  of  it  from  us. 
 
 “To  the  N.  W.  of  Sawah  Batuhan  lies  the  country  of  Passumah  Lambah,  about 
 a day  and  a half,  or  two  days’  journey.  Lintang  or  the  Ampat  Lawang  country, 
 divided  into  Lintang  Kanan  and  Lintang  Kidow  by  the  river  which  flows  through  it, 
 lies  N.  W.  by  W. ; to  the  north  is  Kikim ; N.  E,  Lamatang  and  Palembang.  The 
 former  is  only  one  day’s  journey  thence.  The  latter  we  were  informed  could  be 
 
 u u 2 
 
332 
 
 EXTRACT  FROM  MR.  PRESGRAVE’S  JOURNAL. 
 
 reached  in  eight  or  ten  days,  though  it  requires  a much  longer  period  in  return.  In 
 going  to  Palembang  from  this  country,  you  pass  through  Lamatang,  and  at  iSIuaro 
 Milang  take  water,  and  are  conveyed  in  boats  or  rakits  to  Palembang.  The  face  of 
 the  country  is  beautifully  diversified  by  hill  and  dale,  and  has  much  the  same  undu- 
 lating appearance  as  on  the  coast.  The  ra\nnes  in  general  are  very  deep,  and  prove 
 a great  impediment  in  mo\nng  from  place  to  place.  The  soil  has  a fine  black  loamy 
 appearance,  and  could  with  very  little  labour,  produce  almost  every  thing  that  grows 
 within  the  tropics,  while  from  the  variety  of  chmates  which  are  to  be  found  here,  many 
 foreign  productions,  I make  no  doubt,  might  be  brought  to  perfection.  At  present 
 rice,  tobacco,  and  the  plant  called  kalawi,  are  almost  the  only  articles  of  cultivation. 
 The  sawah  grounds  are  \ery  extensive.  The  price  of  rice  just  after  harvest  is  fifty 
 bamboos  coast  measure,  or  one  hundred  Kulah-ulu,  for  the  Spanish  dollar,  and  not 
 unfi-equently  cheaper  than  this.  I beheve  none  is  grown  for  exportation.  The  tobacco 
 is  considered  inferior  to  that  of  Lintang,  but  the  pulas  superior.  The  pulas,  or  twne, 
 is  made  the  medium  of  exchange  in  many  of  their  bartering  transactions,  and  sells  in 
 their  country  at  the  rate  of  ten  or  twelve  ticals  to  the  dollar.  It  is  usually  exchanged 
 with  Palembang  or  Lamatang  people  for  their  salt,  for  which  article  of  general  con- 
 sumption they  are  entirely  dependent  on  Palembang.  The  pulas  is  also  disposed  of  to 
 the  people  of  the  coast,  with  whom  it  is  in  great  requisition,  and  is  principally  used  by 
 them  in  the  manufacture  of  their  fishing  nets,  for  which  purpose  it  seems  to  be  well 
 adapted,  as  it  receives  little  or  no  injury  fi'om  the  water.  Might  not  this  be  made  an 
 useful  and  valuable  article  of  commerce  ? IMight  it  not  in  time  rival  the  hemp  ? 
 Indigo  is  cultivated  in  small  quantities  for  the  purpose  of  dyeing  their  cotton.  Cassia 
 was  also  brought  to  us ; — they  demanded  an  exorbitant  price  for  it.  If  properly 
 sought  after  and  taken  care  of,  I make  no  doubt  large  supphes  of  it  might  be  ob- 
 tained. The  people  took  care  to  impress  on  our  minds  that  there  were  two  articles 
 which  their  country  would  not  produce,  the  kapu  (cotton)  and  pepper.  For  the 
 former  article  they  are  indebted  to  Pasisir  ; the  latter  is  of  no  use  to  them,  and  I can 
 easily  account  for  their  saying  the  pepper  plant  will  not  grow.  They  knew  this  was 
 the  only  article  cultivated  at  the  Pasisir,  and  they  were  fearful  should  their  soil  and 
 climate  be  thought  adapted  to  the  gro^\1;h  of  it,  that  the  Company  might  be  led  to 
 enforce  its  cultivation  : but  why  the  former  article  should  not  thrive  here,  unless  the 
 sea  air  be  necessary  for  it,  I cannot  conceive.  One  would  imagine  that  self-interest 
 would  induce  them  to  turn  their  thoughts  to  the  cultivation  of  the  kapu,  as  they 
 greatly  stand  in  need  of  it  for  the  manufacture  of  their  coarser  wearing  apparel : but 
 as  they  told  me,  they  had  this  on  the  faith  of  their  ancestors  (nenek  poyang,)  I 
 doubt  whether  they  have  made  the  trial  in  latter  days,  and  as  they  infoiTned  me 
 both  the  kapu  and  the  pepper  plants  were  invariably  destroyed  by  tigers  before  they 
 came  to  perfection,  I was  led  to  consider  some  superstitious  prejudice  might  prevail, 
 especially  with  regard  to  the  growth  of  the  kapu. 
 
EXTRACT  FROM  MR.  PRESGRAVE’S  JOURNAL. 
 
 333 
 
 “ The  chief  of  this  latter  article  is  supplied  to  them  by  the  Padang  Guchie  and 
 Kadiuang  people,  though  fi-equently  the  natives  themselves  remove  to  the  latter 
 place  and  cultivate  it,  and  as  soon  as  they  have  gathered  the  cotton,  return  with  it  to 
 their  country.  As  it  requires  but  a few  months  from  the  first  planting  of  the  kapu 
 to  the  time  of  gathering  the  fruit,  this  can  be  done  without  much  inconvenience. 
 The  cocoa-nut  tree  does  not  thrive  well  here,  though  it  is  more  productive  than  at 
 Pasumah  Ulu  Manna,  where  the  climate  is  much  colder.  Cocoa-nut-oil  is  not  to 
 be  procured,  instead  of  which  they  burn  damar,  which  they  procure  from  the  woods 
 west  of  Pasumah  Ulu  Manna.  The  betel  trees  are  numerous  and  seem  to  fiourish. 
 Fruit  of  every  description,  except  plantains,  is  scarce  : we  saw  scarcely  any.  The 
 orange-tree  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  country. 
 
 “ I have  noticed  before  that  these  people  are  dependent  on  Palembang  for 
 their  salt  and  finer  clothing ; and  since  they  procm*e  their  cotton  from  Pasisir, 
 they  are  dependent  on  their  western  neighbours  for  their  coarser  cloths  also.  The 
 men,  when  at  home,  and  employed  in  their  Ladangs,  usually  wear  a coarse  white 
 cloth,  reaching  from  the  waist  to  the  knee,  sometimes  with  a jacket,  and  a cloth 
 for  the  head  of  the  same  sort,  all  of  their  own  manufacture.  The  women  are  all 
 habited  with  clothes  of  their  own  weaving ; but  the  young  unmarried  women,  who 
 find  it  necessary  to  be  a little  finer  when  they  appear  at  Bimbangs,  in  order  to  attract 
 the  attention  of  the  young  men,  sometimes  wear  a silk  scarf  of  Palembang  manu- 
 factm’e,  though  more  frequently  it  is  the  work  of  their  own  hands.  They  breed  the 
 worms  in  order  to  supply  themselves  with  silk  for  this  purpose. 
 
 At  this  time  the  people  were  suffering  greatly  from  the  want  of  salt,  a prohi- 
 bition on  the  importation  of  this  article  having  been  laid  by  the  Dutch  Government 
 since  its  return  to  Palembang,  and  heavy  duties  imposed  on  all  boats  and  merchan- 
 dize coming  into  the  interior  of  that  place.  This  has  created  much  inconvenience 
 to  the  inhabitants,  who  express  a desire  to  be  supplied  with  salt  from  Manna. 
 Although  they  have  not  the  advantage  of  water-carriage  in  their  communication  with 
 the  western  shore,  they  would  gladly  resort  thither  to  supply  their  wants,  if  any 
 thing  certain  could  be  secm'ed  to  them.  They  prefer  an  intercourse  with  the  English 
 to  one  with  the  Dutch,  towards  whom  they  express  a great  aversion.  From  a rough 
 estimate,  made  by  the  assistance  of  the  Chiefs,  I calculated  that  fifty  or  sixty  koyans 
 of  salt  would  be  annually  consumed  by  them.  They  object  to  going  to  Bencoolen, 
 on  account  of  the  great  distance.  If  regular  and  well-supphed  markets,  free  from 
 the  spirit  of  monopoly,  were  established  at  stated  periods  throughout  the  interior  of 
 Manna,  I make  no  doubt  the  whole  population  of  this  part  of  the  interior  would 
 resort  thither  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  themselves  with  many  of  the  necessaries 
 and  even  the  luxuries  of  life.  Salt,  kapu,  the  finer  sort  of  Malay  clothing,  piece- 
 goods,  &c.  would  be  always  in  demand.  These  would  be  changed  for  tobacco,  pulas, 
 rice,  and  other  articles. 
 
334. 
 
 EXTRACT  FROM  MR.  PRESGRAVE’S  JOURNAL. 
 
 The  people  of  Pasumah  Lebar  have  traditionary  reports  of  their  descent 
 from  the  Javanese.  They  relate  that  in  the  time  of  the  prosperity  of  the  kingdom 
 of  Majapahit,  two  persons,  a brother  and  sister,  vith  several  followers,  whose  names 
 and  title  they  told  me,  but  which  I have  now  forgotten,  left  that  kingdom,  and 
 landing  on  the  eastern  shores  of  this  island,  the  female  settled  at  Palembang,  where, 
 in  a short  time,  she  became  a powerful  princess ; but  the  brother,  travelhng  more 
 inland  from  that  place,  settled  himself  in  the  fertile  valley  of  Pasumah.  In  this 
 way  the  country  was  first  possessed  and  peopled ; and  hence  the  origin  of  the  pre- 
 sent race,  which  in  many  respects,  I conceive,  bears  considerable  analogy  to  the 
 people  of  Java. 
 
 ‘‘  In  their  persons  the  inhabitants  of  Pasumah  Lebar,  generally  speaking,  are 
 not  so  tall  and  robust  as  those  of  Pasumah  Ulu  Manna.  This  may  be  attributed 
 to  the  difference  of  the  climate,  and  moimtainous  situation  of  the  latter,  as  more 
 adapted  to  form  a strong  and  robust  frame  of  body,  than  the  level  plains  of  the 
 former.  Their  deportment  is  sedate  and  grave.  The  higher  class  are  respectful  and 
 courteous  in  their  manners.  Their  wtues  are,  perhaps,  of  a higher  order  than  we 
 meet  with  on  the  coast.  Their  hospitahty  to  strangers  is  unbounded,  and  a viola- 
 tion of  its  law,  in  their  estimation,  would  be  httle  less  than  a crime  of  the  greatest 
 magnitude. 
 
 “ The  lines  are  almost  as  applicable  to  them  as  to  the  Scottish  Highlander : — 
 
 And  stranger  is  a holy  name, 
 
 Guidance  and  rest,  and  food  and  fire. 
 
 In  vain  he  never  must  require. 
 
 “ They  are  open  and  generous,  and  appear  to  be  not  destitute  of  that  delicacy 
 of  feehng  usually  termed  honour.  Insult  would  be  instantly  repelled,  and  injury 
 revenged,  not  by  the  secret  dagger  concealed  under  the  screen  of  darkness,  but  pub- 
 licly and  in  the  face  of  day.  They  are  chaste  and  temperate,  of  a bold  and  daring 
 disposition,  but  passionate  and  hasty,  with  a strong  attachment  to  their  ancient  cus- 
 toms ; they  look  upon  all  innovation  as  a departure  from  truth  and  justice ; they  are 
 extremely  independent,  and  jealous  of  any  infringement  of  their  ancient  liberties. 
 They  are  industrious,  and  less  infected  ^vith  the  vice  of  gambling  than  the  Com- 
 pany’s subjects.  Opium  smoking  is  unknown  among  them ; they  look  upon  that 
 dmg  as  poison.  On  the  other  hand,  they  have  little  regard  for  truth,  and  think  but 
 lightly  of  the  violation  of  an  oath.  They  have  no  regard  to  honesty  or  fairness  of 
 dealing  in  their  transactions,  but  make  a merit  of  cheating.  They  are  more  warhke 
 than  the  inhabitants  of  the  coast,  and  are  extremely  dexterous  in  the  use  of  their 
 weapons.  They  cannot  bear  to  hear  the  term  Coolie  applied  to  them,  and  abso- 
 lutely refused  to  assist  us  in  carrying  our  baggage  under  that  name. 
 
 “ They  are  very  temperate  in  their  diet,  and  seldom  eat  fiesh  of  any  kind.  The 
 
EXTRACT  FROM  MR.  PRESGRAVE’S  JOURNAL. 
 
 335 
 
 Buffalo,  not  being  a native  of  their  plains,  is  slain  only  on  occasions  of  importance. 
 Goat’s  flesh,  although  more  plentiful,  and  fowls,  which  are  abundant,  are  seldom 
 eaten,  except  in  their  offerings  to  the  gods.  Swine’s  flesh  is  not  eaten  ; but,  besides 
 this,  they  have  few  prejudices  with  regard  to  food.  They  are  by  no  means  dehcate 
 this  way  ; and  the  entrails  of  the  fowls  killed  for  our  dinner  were  eagerly  picked  up, 
 and,  after  midergoing  some  preparations,  greedily  devoured. 
 
 For  this  purpose  they  attended  the  cook  daily  in  his  culinary  operations,  to 
 carry  off  every  thing  he  threw  away.  They  do  not  even  scruple  to  eat  the  carcass 
 of  an  animal  found  dead,  although  they  know  not  how  it  came  by  its  death : thus  the 
 carcass  of  the  unfortunate  horse  that  died  in  one  of  the  villages,  was  almost  wholly 
 devoured  by  them,  and  some  declared  they  had  made  a hearty  meal  from  it. 
 
 “ The  only  inebriating  drink  made  use  of  by  them,  is  a fermented  liquor,  pre- 
 pared from  rice,  and  termed  hrum : this  is  drunk  only  at  festivals.  They  have  the 
 same  aversion  to  milk,  and  every  preparation  from  it,  as  the  Javanese  and  other 
 Eastern  people.  A Chief  being  asked  whether  he  would  take  milk  with  his  tea, 
 rephed  that  he  was  not  an  infant. 
 
 “ The  villages  are  in  general  neat  and  clean,  the  houses  well  built,  and  not  ill 
 adapted  for  convenience.  They  are  tolerably  commodious  and  airy ; many  of  them 
 are  constructed  of  plank,  particularly  those  of  the  Chiefs,  and  are  ornamented  with 
 carved  work. 
 
 “ Their  language  is  not  so  much  peculiar  to  themselves  as  the  manner  of  pro- 
 nouncing it : except  in  this,  it  differs  little  from  that  spoken  in  the  interior  of  Manna. 
 It  has  no  words  not  to  be  found  in  languages  of  the  neighbouring  countries ; in 
 other  respects  it  is  the  same  as  that  spoken  by  the  people  on  the  coast  from  Sellibar 
 to  Kawa,  where  another  dialect,  and  different  usages,  are  found  to  commence,  bear- 
 ing a near  resemblance  to  those  of  Lampung.  The  dialect  of  Serawi  is  also  called 
 Sambilan  Lura,  and  includes  the  rivers  of  Sillabar,  Angalum,  Salumah,  Tallo,  Alas, 
 Pino,  Manna,  Beneannon,  and  Padang  Guchie,  throughout  which  the  same  language 
 and  customs  prevail.  This  last  may  be  considered  almost  distinct  from  the  Malayan. 
 About  one-fifth  of  it  may  consist  of  Malayan  words,  but  the  remaining  four  bear  no 
 afflnity  to  that  language.  A native  Malay  previously  unacquainted  with  it,  would 
 not  understand  a conversation  earned  on  between  two  persons  in  the  Bhasa  Serawi ; 
 but  from  the  frequent  intercourse  between  the  people  of  the  districts  already  men- 
 tioned, and  the  Malays,  the  language  of  the  latter  is  mutually  understood.  But  to 
 retm'n  to  the  Pasmnahs,  it  is  difficult  even  for  a Serawi  man  to  understand  clearly 
 what  they  say ; this  arises  chiefly  from  the  peculiar  utterance  given  by  them  to  their 
 words,  their  sounds  being  more  guttural.  All  the  words,  which,  by  the  natives  of 
 the  coast,  are  made  to  terminate  in  a simple  o,  by  these  people  have  a sound  almost 
 hke  eu  or  euh,  as  in  the  last  syllable  of  dieii,  but  pronounced  much  longer  and  more 
 forcibly ; e.  g.  the  Malay  word  kuda,  or,  as  pronounced  by  the  natives  of  this  Island, 
 
 1 
 
336 
 
 WRITING— SUPERNATURAL  BEINGS. 
 
 kudo,  is  by  the  Pasumahs  called  kudeuh,  and  kata  or  kato,  kateuh;  maro,  or 
 marah,  mareuh.  These  people  are  not  ignorant  of  wTiting.  They  use  the  characters 
 which  Mr.  Marsden  calls  Rejang,  but  which  are  not  pecuhar  to  those  people.  The 
 mode  of  miting  is  on  pieces  of  split  bamboo,  on  which  they  cut  or  scratch  the  letters 
 with  the  point  of  a knife  or  sewar.  They  seldom  use  it  but  to  send  a message  to  a 
 distant  person,  or  to  acquaint  him  with  any  piece  of  news ; thus  for  instance,  a de- 
 spairing swain  inscribes  his  love  verses  (pantuns),  and  conveys  them  to  his  mistress. 
 They  have  no  written  memorials  of  past  transactions  or  events,  nothing  in  the  form 
 of  history,  popular  tales,  or  writings  of  any  other  kind,  with  the  exception  of  a few 
 forms  of  prayer  used  in  their  religious  ceremonies. 
 
 “ In  travelling  through  their  villages,  the  first  thing  that  strikes  the  eye  of  a 
 stranger  is  the  temple,  a small  square  building,  erected  always  in  the  centre  of  it. 
 This  proves,  not  only  that  they  have  a rehgion,  but  that  they  possess  a consider- 
 able degree  of  attachment  to  it.  This  rehgion  is  undoubtedly  Hindu,  with  a slight 
 admixture  of  Mahomedanism,  which  seems,  at  some  time  or  other,  to  have  made 
 some  progress  among  them.  Circumcision  is  universally  practised,  and  they  mani- 
 fest the  same  prejudice  to  swine’s  flesh  that  the  professors  of  the  Mahomedan  reh- 
 gion do  ; but  it  is  chiefly,  nay  almost  entirely,  in  these  particulars,  that  the  cere- 
 monies and  institutions  of  the  one  bear  any  resemblance  to  those  of  the  other.  It 
 is  rather  remarkable  that  one  tribe,  called  Anak  Semundo,  more  strictly  adheres  to 
 the  tenets  of  the  rehgion  of  Mahomet.  They  read  the  Koran,  pray  at  the  stated 
 periods  of  the  day,  practise  charity,  which,  according  to  the  Mahomedans,  con- 
 sists entirely  in  giving  alms,  keep  the  puaso,  or  feast  of  Ramazan,  with  other  observ^- 
 ances  of  that  rehgion.  The  head  of  this  tribe  is  called  Nabi  Panghulu.  Both  the 
 jujur  and  ambil  anak  marriages  are  very  rare  among  them,  the  Semundo  mode  being 
 almost  exclusively  adopted.  But  to  return,  although  the  greater  part  of  the  inhabi- 
 tants of  this  country,  as  I have  already  said,  are  Pagans,  they  nevertheless  worship 
 neither  idols  nor  external  objects,  neither  have  they  any  order  of  priesthood.  They 
 have  no  idea  of  one  eternal  Supreme  Being,  who  made  all  things ; although  they 
 frequently  make  use  of  the  expression  Allah  Tuah,  the  term  by  which  the  Arabians 
 express  that  idea,  and,  borrowing  from  the  latter,  which  the  Malays  use  to  express 
 the  same  idea ; but  the  more  ignorant  Pasumah  affixes  no  such  meaning  to  it. 
 Ask  him  what  he  means  by  it,  and  he  replies,  it  is  one  of  the  Dewas.  In  the  my- 
 thology of  these  people,  Dewas  are  the  highest  order  of  beings,  whom  they  regard 
 with  superstitious  reverence.  They  are  looked  upon  as  benignant  spirits,  whose 
 influence  is  beneficial  to  the  human  race.  These  divinities  listen  to  the  prayers,  and 
 are  pleased  with  the  sacrifices  offered  to  them  by  mortals.  They  know  all  that 
 passes  on  earth  ; they  have  a general  superintendence  over  mankind  and  all  mun- 
 dane affairs ; the  destinies  of  men  are  in  their  hands,  and  all  events  are  at  their  dis- 
 posal. To  these  benignant  beings  man  is  indebted  for  the  principle  of  life,  and  this 
 
POPULAR  SUPERSTITIONS— INVISIBLE  MEN. 
 
 337 
 
 debt  is  continually  increasing  through  every  instant  of  his  existence,  for  the  preserva- 
 tion and  maintenance  of  that  principle  within  him.  There  appear  to  be  orders  and 
 gi'adations  of  these  beings ; they  are  not  all  of  the  same  importance  to  man.  They 
 have  their  abodes  on  the  earth,  and  choose  different  parts  of  its  surface  for  their 
 habitations ; some  resort  to  the  deepest  and  most  gloomy  woods  and  forests  ; some 
 to  hills  and  mountains ; some  preside  over  the  rushing  torrent,  while  others,  dehghted 
 with  the  gentle  mimmurs  of  the  hmpid  stream,  retire  to  its  shady  banks.  Particular 
 trees  are  devoted  to  these  deities  : thus  the  sacred  bringin  tree  or  the  venerable 
 banyan,  spreads  forth  its  shade  in  a peculiar  manner,  in  order  to  shelter  the  sacred 
 habitation  of  a Dewa  ; even  the  kalapo  gading,  (a  variety  of  the  cocoa-nut  tree),  in 
 the  opinion  of  these  superstitious  people,  is  under  the  benignant  influence  of  a holy 
 Dewa,  who  resides  in  its  branches,  and  produces  a more  excellent  sort  of  fruit. 
 
 “ But  besides  these  there  is  another  order  of  beings,  whose  influence  is  far  less 
 benignant.  They  are  called  Jins,  or  e\dl  spirits,  and  are  considered  to  be  the  authors 
 of  evil.  All  the  misfortunes  and  calamities  attendant  on  human  life  proceed  from 
 them.  They  likewise  have  their  residence  on  different  parts  of  the  earth  ; and 
 should  a man  by  accident  approach  the  unhallowed  spot,  he  usually  feels  the  anger 
 of  these  resentful  spirits. 
 
 “ There  is  still  another  class  of  beings,  who,  in  regard  to  the  quahties  and 
 attributes  ascribed  to  them,  appear  to  possess  a middle  rank  between  the  Dewas  and 
 the  Jins,  approaching  much  nearer  to  the  nature  of  the  former.  They  are  termed 
 Orang  Alus,  that  is,  fine,  impalpable,  or  invisible  men.  I do  not  know  the  precise 
 office  or  natme  of  this  fairy  tribe.  They  seem  to  be  a mixture  of  material  and 
 immaterial  beings,  partaking  of  the  nature  of  men  and  spirits.  I have  seen  a man 
 who,  it  was  said,  was  wedded  to  one  of  these  Orang  Alus.  I concluded  his  children 
 partook  of  the  nature  of  their  mother,  for  although  he  had  a large  family,  nobody 
 had  ever  seen  one.  The  name  of  the  man  was  Dupati  Rajo  Wani;  in  appearance 
 he  much  resembled  a wizard.  Such  are  the  ridiculous  ideas  of  this  people  ! But 
 are  they  more  gross  than  those  entertained  by  the  Greeks  and  Romans  with  regard 
 to  their  deities  ? 
 
 “ The  manes  of  their  ancestors  are  held  in  the  highest  veneration,  and  are 
 esteemed  not  inferior  to  the  gods  themselves.  They  suppose  them  to  take  con- 
 cern in  the  welfare  of  their  posterity,  over  whom  they  are  always  watchful.  They 
 have  a strong  regard  and  attachment  to  the  spot  where  their  forefathers  were 
 interred ; and  if  Alexander  the  Great  had  penetrated  into  this  quarter  of  the  globe, 
 and  attempted  to  molest  the  natives  in  their  woods  and  forests,  they  would  have 
 sent  him  the  same  reply  that  the  ancient  Scythians  did.  They  have  a strong  per- 
 suasion in  the  doctrine  of  the  metempsychosis,  though,  I beheve,  it  is  only  par- 
 ticular animals  which  are  allotted  to  the  reception  of  the  souls  of  the  dead  : nor  need 
 these,  in  temper  and  disposition,  bear  any  resemblance  to  those  of  the  persons 
 
 X X 
 
.338 
 
 TRANSMIGRATION— SACRIFICE  TO  THE  MANES. 
 
 while  living,  whose  souls  are  transfused  into  them.  The  tiger  is  the  animal  they 
 look  upon  as  most  generally  animated  by  a human  soul.  This  is  the  reason  why 
 they  regard  that  ferocious  beast  almost  as  sacred,  and  treat  it  with  so  much  unde- 
 served mildness  and  respect.  Even  when  its  jaws  are  polluted  with  human  gore,  a 
 man  cannot  be  prevailed  on  to  kill  it  in  order  to  prevent  it  from  repeating  its  bloody 
 feast.  If  a near  relation  have  fallen  its  victim,  he  will  perhaps  be  roused  to  revenge 
 his  death  ; yet  sometimes,  even  in  this,  his  superstitious  prejudices  and  fears  get  the 
 better  of  his  ardent  thirst  for  revenge. 
 
 “ When  a man  finds  himself  plunged  in  distress,  and  the  dark  clouds  of  adver- 
 sity gathering  over  his  head,  he  repairs  to  the  temple  or  kramat,  there  to  propitiate 
 the  Dewas,  and  to  invoke  the  manes  of  his  ancestors  to  assist  him  under  his 
 sufferings.  This  is  done  by  sacrificing  a buffalo,  a goat,  or  even  a fowl,  according 
 to  the  urgency  of  the  occasion,  and  by  prayer  and  fasting.  I have  been  told  that 
 some  have  remained  in  a state  of  fasting  for  fourteen  days,  during  the  whole  of  which 
 time  they  have  tasted  not  a morsel  of  food  ; a little  quantity  of  water  was  allowed. 
 Others  have  supported  it  for  seven  days,  but  two  or  three  is  the  general  period  for 
 this  sort  of  holy  penance.  At  this  time  they  cannot  be  said  to  pray ; part  of  the 
 time  being  spent  in  silently  lamenting  their  distress,  and  uttering  a few  words,  the 
 purport  of  which  they  do  not  understand.  But  the  chief  merit  of  this  ceremony 
 consists  in  calling  upon  their  Dewas  by  their  proper  titles,  and  in  due  order ; for 
 each  has  its  particular  title  and  rank.  They  then  repeat  the  names  of  their  nenek 
 puyang,  or  forefathers,  and  entreat  them  to  deliver  them  from  their  existing  difficul- 
 ties. In  the  language  of  the  country  this  mode  of  invoking  the  deities  is  termed 
 hertarak,  but  it  is  chiefly  in  cases  of  the  most  pressing  calamity  that  they  have  re- 
 course to  it : for  instance,  in  the  time  of  war,  they  frequently  go  through  this  austere 
 ceremony  in  order  to  ensure  success.  As  I have  somewhere  remarked,  Gunung 
 Dempu  is  looked  upon  as  the  sacred  abode  of  the  Dewas,  and  the  souls  of  their 
 ancestors  occupy  the  regions  of  the  mountains.” 
 
CHAPTER  XII. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  Raffles  at  Bencoolen — Proceeds  toPadang — Appeal  of  the  native  Chiefs  against  the  Dutch — 
 Is  anxious  to  go  to  Menangkabu — Considered  impracticable — Dangers  represented — Determines  to 
 make  the  attempt — Difflcultyof  the  road — Beauty  of  the  country — Course  up  the  river — Thermometer — 
 Height  of  the  mountain— Description  of  the  Tiga  Blus  country  and  people — Cattle — Horses — Clothing 
 of  the  people — Houses — Vierv  of  the  Lake  of  Sincara — Description  of  it — Town  of  Simawang — 
 Country  compared  to  that  of  Java — Arrival  at  Suruasa — Discovery  of  an  inscription  in  the  Kawi  cha- 
 racter— Description  of  Menangkabu — Hindu  image  similar  to  those  of  Java — Height  of  the  city — 
 Return  to  the  Lake — Description  of  crossing  it — Minerals — Vegetables — Agriculture — Return  to  Ben- 
 coolen— Death  of  Dr.  Arnold. 
 
 A MONTH  was  passed  at  Bencoolen  in  attending  to  the  duties  of  the  settlement. 
 The  only  event  which  occurred  was  a successful  attempt  to  cross  the  Island  from 
 Bencoolen  to  Palembang.  The  following  details  are  contained  in  the  extract  of  a 
 letter  to  jNIr.  Marsden  : 
 
 “/w/y,  1818. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I thought  it  would  not  be  long  before  we  found  our  way  across  the 
 Island.  Finding  it  necessary  to  send  a mission  with  a detachment  of  Sepoys  to  Pa- 
 lembang, I marched  them  across  the  hills,  and  have  the  pleasure  to  infonn  you,  that 
 the  party  reached  Muara  Bilhti  on  the  Palembang  river,  where  boats  were  in  readi- 
 ness to  take  them  to  Palembang  in  nine  days  from  their  leaving  Bencoolen,  without 
 difficulty  or  casualty ; not  a sick  man  or  a single  want  the  whole  way.  They  expected 
 to  reach  Palembang  in  two  days  more,  making  eleven  from  their  departure.  As  a 
 satisfactory  document,  I enclose  you  Mr.  Bogle’s  report,  just  received  by  a messenger, 
 who  is  only  five  days  fi*om  Muara  Bilhti : you  shah  hereafter  have  a copy  of  the 
 journal,  &c. 
 
 Captain  Sahnond,  after  detaihng  his  route  to  Palembang,  adds : ‘ We  thus 
 reached  Palembang  in  twelve  days  from  leaxing  Bencoolen,  being  the  first  Europeans 
 who  had  crossed  the  Island  in  any  direction.  We  found  the  difficulties  much  fewer 
 than  we  expected ; and  though  we  occasionally  experienced  fatigue,  we  were  abun- 
 
 X X 2 
 
VISIT  TO  PADANG. 
 
 ,‘}40 
 
 dantly  compensated  by  the  variety  and  novelty  of  the  scenery  we  passed  through. 
 The  banier  range  of  hills  appear  to  be  more  easily  passed  in  this  part  than  in  most 
 other  places ; and  the  rich  and  fertile  districts  of  Musi  are,  in  consequence,  much 
 more  accessible  from  Bencoolen,  than  has  generally  been  supposed.  The  inhabit- 
 ants are  partly  Rejangs,  and  consider  themselves  more  dependant  upon  Bencoolen 
 than  Palembang,  From  Muara  Bilhti,  where  we  embarked,  the  Palembang  river  is 
 deep  and  navigable  for  native  craft  of  considerable  bm*then,  and  nothing  seems  want- 
 ing but  good  government  and  fi'eedom  of  intercourse,  to  raise  the  importance  and 
 prosperity  of  this  part  of  Sumatra.’ 
 
 “ I should  not  omit  to  inform  you,  that  all  the  old  pepper-contracts,  &c.  are 
 cancelled,  and  that  in  theu*  new  treaties  \vith  the  Chiefs,  it  is  clearly  stated  that  the 
 Company  shall  govern  the  comitry ; the  fines  and  fees  of  the  court  go  to  govern- 
 ment ; the  sugar  lowered  to  one-fourth  of  its  amount ; and  every  article  of  pro- 
 rision  full  thirty  per  cent  cheaper  than  when  we  landed : rice  twelve  bamboos  the 
 dollar. 
 
 “ I have,  with  Lady  Raffles  and  Dr.  Arnold,  visited  the  Pasumah  countr)", 
 which  is  equal  to  any  thing  in  Java.  We  had  the  pleasure  of  spending  three  nights 
 in  the  forests,  and  of  sometimes  walking  thirty  miles  in  the  day  ; but  we  are  now  so 
 accustomed  to  exploring,  that  we  are  not  sensible  of  the  fatigue. 
 
 “ I am  building  a bungalow  on  tbe  first  range  of  hills  at  the  back  of  Bencoolen, 
 on  Guniing  Kabut,  the  Hill  of  Mists,  where  we  have  a cool  climate. 
 
 “ The  trade  in  pepper  has  been  thrown  open,  and  my  next  excursion  is  north- 
 ward. 
 
 “ I shall  mite  you  more  fully  by  ‘ The  Lady  Raffles.’  In  the  meantime,  accept 
 our  united  mshes  for  yom'  health  and  happiness,  and  with  kindest  regards  to  Mrs. 
 Marsden,  believe  me, 
 
 “ T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 In  the  beginning  of  the  month  of  July  (1818),  Sir  Stamford  embarked  fi-om 
 Bencoolen  to  risit  Padang,  and  if  possible  to  obtain  some  information  regarding  the 
 situation  and  circumstances  of  the  ancient  Malay  city  of  Menankabu,  which,  from 
 his  love  of  Eastern  hterature,  was  an  object  of  great  interest  to  him. 
 
 On  his  arrival  at  Padang,  the  Chiefs  approached  with  consternation,  apprehen- 
 sive that  he  was  the  herald  to  proclaim  the  coming  of  the  Dutch  ; and  when  he  told 
 them  that  it  was  his  duty  to  transfer  the  settlement  to  the  Dutch,  they  made  the 
 strongest  remonstrance.  They  stated  that  twenty-five  seasons  (years)  had  elapsed 
 since  the  Dutch  had  quitted  the  place ; that  when  the  English  first  came  many  of 
 the  inhabitants  were  childi’en,  some  indeed  were  yet  unborn  ; they  had  during  the 
 whole  period  looked  upon  the  English  alone  as  their  protectors ; that  their  engage- 
 ments had  long  been  exclusively  with  them ; and  that,  were  they  now  transfeiTed  to 
 
APPEAL  OF  THE  NATIVE  CHIEFS  AGAINST  THE  DUTCH. 
 
 the  Dutch,  they  would  be  punished  and  degraded  for  every  act  of  duty  and  good 
 faith  towards  the  English. 
 
 The  Chiefs,  in  the  course  of  their  representations,  respectfully  stated  that 
 Padang  did  not  belong  to  the  Dutch  ; that  the  Dutch  were  not  sovereigns,  but  trus- 
 tees only  upon  a friendly  agreement,  paying  tribute  to  the  Sultan  of  Menangkabu. 
 To  ascertain  the  nature  of  their  footing  a reference  was  made  to  the  public  records, 
 and  the  oldest  inhabitants ; from  these  it  appeared  that  the  treaties  of  the  Dutch  were 
 entirely  of  a commercial  nature  ; that  the  sovereignty  was  legally  vested  in  the  Chiefs 
 of  the  Tigablas  country,  of  which  Padang  formed  a part ; and  that  the  Tigablas 
 country  itself  was  under  the  superior  control  and  general  authority  of  the  Sultan  of 
 Menangkabu,  forming  one  of  the  independent  states  still  belonging  to  that  empire. 
 
 The  capital  of  Menangkabu,  the  jurisdiction  of  which  in  ancient  times  extended 
 over  the  whole  of  Sumatra,  was  understood  to  be  situated  about  eighty  miles  inland 
 of  Padang,  beyond  the  western  range  of  high  mountains,  and  nearly  in  the  centre 
 of  the  Island.  No  European  had  ever  visited  the  country,  and  but  little  was  known 
 of  its  constitution. 
 
 From  his  observations,  and  the  information  he  collected  at  Padang,  Sir  Stam- 
 ford was  led  to  anticipate  that  in  this  inland  government,  whence  all  the  Malayan 
 states  acknowledge  to  have  derived  their  power,  much  civilization  was  to  be  disco- 
 vered. The  origin  of  the  Malayan  nation  was  of  itself  a question  of  interesting 
 inquiry.  The  present  state  and  condition  of  the  seat  of  empire  promised  to  throw 
 light  on  the  subject ; and  as  it  was  uncertain  how  long  Padang,  the  key  to  Menang- 
 kabu, might  remain  in  the  possession  of  the  English,  he  was  determined  to  attempt 
 the  enterprize. 
 
 Menangkabu  had  been  famed  since  the  earhest  periods  of  history  for  the  riches 
 of  its  gold  mines,  its  iron  ores,  and  its  mineral  productions  in  general.  It  was  from 
 Menangkabu,  and  principally  down  the  Siak,  Sudragiri,  and  Sunda  rivers  that  the 
 gold  which  traders  found  at  Malacca  in  remote  periods  was  carried.  It  was  to  the 
 gold  of  Menangkabu  that  Malacca  owed  its  designation  of  the  golden  Chersonesus, 
 and  navigators  even  distinguish  in  their  charts  to  this  day  two  mountains  in  its 
 \dcinity,  called  Mount  Ophir,  one  in  Sumatra  to  the  west,  the  other  on  the  peninsula 
 of  Malacca,  but  nearly  in  the  same  degree  of  latitude  with  the  capital  of  Menangkabu, 
 that  is  to  say,  under  the  equinoctial  line.  Sir  Stamford  wrote  an  account  of  this 
 journey  to  his  friends  in  England. 
 
 To  Wm.  Marsden,  Esq. 
 
 Pageruyung,  at  the  foot  of  Berapi,  July  2ith,  1818,  long.  E.,  lat.  10°  »S'. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I have  the  satisfaction  to  send  you  a few  lines  from  this  noted  spot,  to 
 prove  to  you  that  I have  not  been  idle  since  my  arrival.  Dr.  Horsfield,  who  is  with 
 
342 
 
 LETTER  TO  THE  DUCHESS  OF  SOMERSET. 
 
 me,  will  carry  home  an  account  of  our  discoveries  ; and  in  the  mean  time  it  may  be 
 sufficient  to  inform  you  that  at  Sumasa  I yesterday  discovered  t\vo  inscriptions  in 
 the  Kawi  character,  and  at  Pagemjomg,  ten  minutes  ago,  I met  with  a regular 
 Hindu  idol  w’ell  sculptured  in  stone.  Lady  Raffies  is  by  my  side,  and  desires  her 
 kindest  remembrances.” 
 
 Extract  from  a Letter  written  at  sea  to  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Sept.  10,  1818. 
 
 “ On  my  arrival  at  Padang,  I found,  that  notwithstanding  the  previous  in- 
 structions I had  given,  no  arrangements  whatever  had  been  made  for  facihtating  the 
 proposed  jornaiey  into  the  interior.  Here,  as  in  a former  instance  at  Manna,  wiien 
 I proposed  proceeding  to  Pasumah,  the  chief  authority  had  taken  upon  himself,  on 
 the  advice  of  the  good  folks  of  the  place,  to  consider  such  an  excursion  as  altogether 
 impracticable,  and  to  conclude  that  on  my  arrival  I should  myself  be  of  the  same 
 opinion.  I had,  therefore,  to  summon  the  most  intelligent  European  and  native 
 inhabitants,  and  to  inforai  them  of  my  determination.  At  first  all  was  difficulty 
 and  impossibility.  Besides  physical  obstructions,  the  whole  of  the  interior  w'as  re- 
 presented to  be  under  the  sway  of  Tuanku  Pasaman,  a rehgious  reformer,  who 
 would  undoubtedly  cut  me  off  without  mercy  or  consideration : but  wffien  they 
 found  me  positive,  these  difficulties  and  impossibihties  gi'adually  v’anished ; distances 
 were  estimated,  and  a route  projected;  letters  were  immediately  sent  off  to  the 
 principal  Chiefs  of  the  interior,  informing  them  of  my  approach,  and  in  three  days 
 every  thing  was  ready  for  the  jornmey. 
 
 “ Om*  first  object  was  to  send  the  baggage  and  provisions  a-head.  This  party, 
 which  consisted  of  about  two  hundi'ed  CooHes,  or  porters,  each  man  carrying  his 
 separate  load;  fifty  military  as  an  escort,  and  all  our  personal  servants,  left  Padang 
 on  the  afternoon  of  the  14th  of  July,  by  beat  of  drum,  forming  a most  ridiculous 
 cavalcade,  the  interest  of  which  was  much  heightened  by  the  quixotic  appearance 
 of  my  friend  Dr.  Horsfield,  who  was  borne  along  on  the  shoulders  of  four  of  the 
 party,  in  order  that  in  preceding  us  he  might  gain  time  for  botanizing. 
 
 ‘‘  Thursday,  the  16th,  at  daylight,  was  fixed  for  om*  departure,  hut  the  rain 
 dm'ing  the  whole  of  the  night  had  been  violent  and  incessant,  and  continued  to  fall 
 so  heavily  that  no  one  could  move  out  of  the  house  till  after  ten  o’clock ; the  clouds 
 then  broke,  and  the  native  Chiefs  who  were  to  accompany  us  appeared ; one  and  all 
 declared  the  impossibility  of  our  proceeding  on  that  day  ; such  had  been  the  quantity 
 and  the  violence  of  the  rain,  that  the  river  of  Padang  had  overflowed  its  banks  ; the 
 bazar  or  native  towm  was  three  feet  under  water ; all  communication  with  the  countiy 
 was  cut  off ; the  long-boat  of  the  Sunburry  and  another  native  boat  had  been  lost  in 
 attempting  to  get  out  of  the  river ; but  as  the  weather  cleared  up  by  noon,  and  every 
 thing  was  arranged  for  departing,  we  were  not  inclined  to  be  disappointed.  At  half- 
 
JOURNEY  INTO  THE  INTERIOR  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 31.*} 
 
 past  twelve,  therefore,  we  left  the  Residency,  under  a salute  from  the  fort,  accompa- 
 nied by  the  Tuanku,  or  native  Chief  of  the  place,  two  Princes  of  Menangkabu,  the 
 principal  native  merchants,  and  about  300  followers. 
 
 ‘''For  the  first  part  of  the  road  we  proceeded  on  horseback,  but  were  soon 
 obhged  to  dismount.  We  had  scarcely  passed  the  bazar  of  Padang,  when  we  had  to 
 swim  our  horses  across  a rapid  stream,  and  in  the  course  of  three  hours  we  had  suc- 
 cessively to  cross  at  least  twenty  streams  of  the  kind : over  some  we  were  carried 
 in  small  canoes,  over  others  we  were  borne  on  men’s  backs,  and  through  some  we 
 boldly  waded,  for  it  was  impossible  to  think  of  remaining  free  from  wet.  At  length, 
 we  struck  across  the  country  to  the  northward,  over  a fine  plain  of  rice  fields,  which, 
 fortunately  for  us,  were  not  in  a state  of  cultivation.  We  had  hardly  got  over  our 
 difficulties  in  crossing  the  numerous  rivulets,  when  a heavy  shower  drenched  us 
 completely,  and  as  there  was  every  prospect  of  a wet  night,  we  thought  it  best  to  look 
 out  for  shelter,  and  accordingly,  at  half-past  four,  put  up  in  the  village  of  Campong 
 Bam,  where  we  remained  housed  for  the  night.  We  at  first  expected  to  have  reached 
 Lemau  Manis,  a small  village  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains  ; but  the  rain  coming  on, 
 we  were  content  to  satisfy  ourselves  with  having  got  thus  far,  and  accomplished  the 
 great  object  of  breaking  ground.  Although  we  had  been  four  hours  on  the  road, 
 we  did  not  estimate  our  distance  from  Padang,  in  a direct  line,  at  more  than  six  miles. 
 The  country  through  which  we  had  passed  was  populous,  and  generally  well  culti- 
 vated ; many  herds  of  cattle  and  buffaloes  straying  near  the  road ; an  appearance  of 
 plenty  and  content  throughout ; the  villages  appearing  to  occupy  a very  considerable 
 extent,  and  to  include  orchards  and  plantations  of  various  kinds.  I notice  these  ap- 
 pearances, because  they  are  not  found  to  exist  within  the  same  distance  of  Bencoolen. 
 
 “ Just  before  reaching  this  village,  I received  an  express  from  Dr.  Horsfield, 
 which,  on  account  of  its  encouraging  tenor,  I shall  transcribe. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ Your  servants,  Covrington  and  Siamee,  have  just  arrived  at  Gedong 
 Beo,  with  a report  that  one  of  the  Coohes  was  earned  away  by  the  stream,  in 
 attempting  to  cross  the  river ; we  have  had  continued  rain  for  twenty-four  hours,  by 
 which  the  rivers  are  all  greatly  swelled.  Covrington  thinks  it  impossible  that  Lady 
 Raffles  can  pursue  the  route.  As  for  myself,  I came  in  just  before  the  rain.  I must 
 inform  you  that  there  are  many  difficult  passages  ; I should  not,  however,  despair 
 of  your  progress,  as  far  as  relates  to  yourself,  but  as  for  Lady  Raffles,  I almost  doubt 
 whether,  in  favourable  weather,  she  could  come  on,  as  in  many  places  a lady  cannot 
 he  carried;  if  it  rains,  doubtless,  communication  is  stopped.  The  road  passes 
 through  the  bed  of  a stream,  which  rapidly  swells  after  rains ; and  if  the  rains  con- 
 tinue, the  natives  are  positively  of  opinion,  that  the  progress  forwards  or  backwards 
 is  impeded.  I do  not  wish  to  discourage  you  in  the  attempt,  but  it  is  my  duty  to 
 
LETTER  TO  THE  DUCHESS  OF  SOMERSET. 
 
 3U 
 
 infonn  you  of  what  your  servants  have  communicated  to  me,  mth  a request  to  make 
 it  knoNNTi  to  you  as  early  as  possible. 
 
 “ Your’s,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ J.  Horsfield.” 
 
 " P.S. — The  further  route  towards  Tiga  bias  is  reckoned  worse  than  that  hither 
 by  far,  and  large  packages,  as  a table,  &c.,  cannot  be  transported. 
 
 “ Wednesday  night.” 
 
 “ This  letter  was  poor  comfort,  considering  that  it  continued  to  rain  during 
 the  whole  of  the  night. 
 
 Fridatj  \1th. — As  the  sun  rose  the  clouds  dispersed,  and,  fully  determined  to 
 overcome  every  obstacle,  we  started  from  Campong  Baru  at  seven ; at  half-past 
 eight  we  reached  Leman  Mauls  ; about  two  miles  from  thence  entered  the  forests, 
 and  at  half-past  eleven  overtook  Dr.  Horsfield  and  the  advanced  party,  at  the  Ge- 
 dong  Beo,  or  toll-post  of  Ayer  Malentang,  where  we  halted  for  the  night.  The 
 first  miracle  m'ought  was  to  bring  the  dead  to  life,  in  the  re-appearance  of  the 
 Coolie,  who  was  reported  to  have  been  lost ; this  poor  fellow  had  truly  enough  been 
 carried  away  by  the  flood,  but  haHng  had  the  good  sense  to  lay  hold  of  the  branch 
 of  a tree  which  overhung  the  river,  he  afterwards  regained  the  rocks. 
 
 “ Our  route  fi*om  Campong  Baru  to  Lemau  IManis,  and  for  about  a mile  beyond 
 it,  lay  over  a rich  plain  of  sawas,  or  rice-fields,  alternately  rising  above  each  other, 
 till  we  brought  the  top  of  Padang  hill  on  a fine  with  the  horizon  ; the  soil  extremely 
 rich,  and  the  country  intersected  by  numerous  streams;  every  indicatiorr  of  an 
 extensive  and  industrious  population ; sheds,  or  warongs,  as  they  are  tenrred  in 
 Java,  erected  for  the  accommodation  of  travellers,  at  convenierrt  distances;  and 
 here  and  there  the  vestige  of  a road,  once  passable  for  wheel-caniages.  The 
 ricinity  of  Lemau  Manis  affords  several  beautiful  and  cornrnarrding  situations  for 
 the  residence  of  Europeans ; and  should  Padarrg  rernairr  perrrranently  under  the 
 English  flag,  they  would  doubtless  be  immediately  resorted  to.  The  village  itself 
 is  elevated  above  the  sea  about  four  hundred  feet;  this  is  called  the  Pau  country, 
 in  which  an  interesting  ceremony  is  understood  to  attend  the  annual  inurrdation  of 
 the  rice-fields,  by  opening  the  embankments  of  the  principal  river.  Lerrrau  Manis 
 is  a long  straggling  village,  or  rather  plantation,  on  the  romantic  hanks  of  a rapid 
 river,  which  discharges  itself  into  the  sea  at  Ujurrg  Kararrg,  arrd  up  the  stream  of 
 which  om*  further  course  lay.  Here,  as  well  as  in  several  rillages  we  had  passed, 
 Ave  obsei^'ed  a considerable  quantity  of  coffee  gr'owing  under  the  shade  of  the  large 
 fniit-trees,  and  contiguous  to  the  houses.  Our  arrival  was  welcomed  by  the  beating 
 of  the  gr-eat  drum,  or  tabu,  which  has  a place  in  ever)'  large  Hllage.  This  driun  is 
 pecultar ; it  is  for*med  of  the  trunk  of  a large  tree,  and  is  at  least  twenty  feet  long. 
 
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PULO  CHEPADA. 
 
 345 
 
 hollowed  out,  and  suspended  on  a wooden  frame,  lying  horizontally  under  an  attap 
 shed ; one  end  only  is  covered  with  parchment. 
 
 As  the  nature  of  our  road,  after  entering  the  forest,  has  already  been  described 
 in  Dr.  Horsfield’s  letter,  it  will  be  only  necessary  to  observe,  that  the  violence  of  the 
 current  ha\ang  abated,  we  found  tbe  route  passable.  The  ascent  was  very  moderate, 
 but  many  passages  along  the  sides  of  slippery  rocks  very  unsafe.  We  had  frequently 
 to  wade  across  the  stream,  and  continually  to  leap,  like  a flock  of  goats,  from  rock 
 to  rock.  The  native  traders  secm*e  their  loads  in  a peculiar  manner,  by  lashing 
 them  fast  to  a small  frame,  or  stand,  which  is  placed  on  the  shoulder,  and  kept 
 steady  by  being  held  with  one  hand  while  the  leap  is  made. 
 
 “ The  bed  of  the  river  afforded  a fine  opportunity  for  collecting  specimens  of 
 minerals  ; those  we  observed  were  principally  of  volcanic  origin.  Dr.  Horsfield 
 noticed  several  plants  entirely  new  to  him. 
 
 “ Our  course  from  Lemau  Manis  was  about  E.N.E.,  estimated  distance  from 
 Campong  Baru  sixteen  miles. 
 
 “ The  barometer,  at  the  toll-post  where  we  slept,  was  28°  55' ; the  thermo- 
 meter, in  the  morning,  72°;  at  two  o’clock,  P.M.,  75°;  in  the  evening,  at  eight, 
 69°,  oiu'  estimated  height,  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  fifteen  hundred  feet. 
 
 I shall  not  speak  of  the  natm’e  of  the  accommodation  which  we  found  at  this  and 
 other  toll-posts,  further  than  by  obser\dng  that  they  generally  consist  of  one  or  more 
 large  sheds,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  native  traders  and  travellers,  who  pay  a 
 small  sum  for  being  accommodated  during  the  night.  Sometimes  we  had  a small 
 dhision  of  the  shed  to  ourselves  ; at  other  times  we  had  not  even  this  accommoda- 
 tion. When  it  rained,  om*  whole  party,  consisting  of  not  less  than  three  hundred, 
 was  sometimes  collected  under  one  shed  alone. 
 
 Saturdaij,  18th. — Ha^dng  accomplished  our  journey  thus  far  with  less  diffi- 
 culty than  we  were  at  first  prepared  for,  we  set  out  this  morning  at  about  half-past 
 seven,  in  high  spirits,  but  before  we  came  to  om-  resting-place  for  the  night  they 
 were  pretty  well  exhausted ; for,  in  consequence  of  some  misapprehension  in  the 
 party  which  had  gone  before  us,  we  had  to  walk  nearly  twice  the  distance  we  had 
 calculated  upon,  and  this  over  the  most  fatiguing  road,  with  little  or  nothing  to  eat 
 or  diink.  From  the  place  where  we  had  slept,  our  course  continued  up  the  bed  of 
 the  river,  but  the  ascent  was  much  steeper,  and  the  road  far  more  difficult  than  on 
 the  preceding  day.  Rocks  piled  on  rocks,  in  sublime  confusion,  roaring  cataracts, 
 and  slippery  precipices  were  now  to  be  surmounted.  Nothing  could  be  more 
 romantic  and  udld  than  the  course  which  we  had  to  pass ; but  in  the  proportion  that 
 the  scene  was  irregular  and  grand,  the  road  was  difficult  and  laborious,  and  ere  we 
 had  reached  the  small  station  of  Pulo  Chepada  about  noon,  we  were  completely 
 wearied  out.  At  this  place  we  had  directed  that  a small  hut  should  be  erected 
 where  we  might  pass  the  night ; but  to  our  mortification  we  fomid  that  the  party 
 
 Y y 
 
346 
 
 ASCENT  OF  GUNUNG  DINGIN. 
 
 who  had  received  these  orders  had  pre\aously  proceeded  further  on,  and  left  us  to 
 follow  them  to  a more  convenient  resting-place,  said  to  be  distant  about  five  hours 
 further  walk.  It  was  too  late  to  remedy  the  evil,  for  even  had  we  been  able  to  keep 
 out  the  rain,  which  now  began  to  fall,  we  could  not  have  remained.  Not  only  our 
 bedding  and  clothes,  but  the  cook  with  all  our  eatables  and  drinkables  had  also 
 gone  a-head — we  were  therefore  compelled  to  follow,  and  after  resting  about  an  hour, 
 again  set  out.  From  this  place  we  quitted  the  bed  of  the  river,  and  ascended  an 
 extremely  steep  mountain  (Gunung  Dingin),  the  summit  of  which  we  reached  with 
 great  difficulty  at  twenty  minutes  past  four.  Here  the  thermometer  was  sixty-three, 
 the  weather  close  and  rainy ; estimated  height  by  the  barometer  five  thousand  two 
 hundred  feet;  vegetation  stunted,  and  the  trees  covered  with  moss.  From  the 
 summit,  our  descent  to  the  eastw^ard  was  more  gi'adual,  but  for  the  first  hour 
 principally  through  a very  naiTow  channel  of  about  two  feet  wide,  and  sometimes 
 fom'  and  five  feet  deep,  apparently  cut  as  a pathw^ay,  but  more  calculated  for  a 
 water-course,  w^hich  in  fact  it  had  become,  the  w^ater  being  in  most  places  more  than 
 ankle  deep.  We  continued  descending  till  dark,  when  it  was  with  difficulty  and 
 danger  w'e  could  grope  our  w’ay  for  a few  yards.  The  night  was  extremely  dark ; 
 w^e  w^ere  in  the  centre  of  a deep  forest,  through  which  the  twinkling  of  a star  could 
 not  be  seen,  on  either  side  of  us  were  steep  precipices  of  several  hundred  feet ; we 
 had  no  one  with  us  w^ho  knew  the  road ; it  was  impossible  to  distinguish  it  either  by 
 the  sight  or  touch,  and  in  this  miserable  predicament,  without  any  thing  to  eat  or 
 diink  (for  we  could  not  help  arguing  with  Sancho,  that  this  after  all  was  the  worst  of 
 the  affair),  and  not  knowing  how  far  we  had  to  go,  about  seven  it  began  to  rain 
 pretty  heavily : we  then  fired  two  or  three  guns,  in  the  hope  that  the  party  a-head 
 would  hear  us,  and  sent  off  the  boldest  of  our  followers  in  search  of  a light ; dming 
 the  next  hour  we  were  continually  tantalized  by  the  appearances  of  lights,  which  no 
 sooner  approached  than  they  receded,  proving  but  the  evanescent  glare  of  the  fire- 
 fly — at  last  a steady  light  was  seen  at  some  distance  through  the  depth  of  the  forest ; 
 a distant  halloo  answered  our  call,  and  we  were  relieved  from  our  anxiety ; with  this 
 assistance  we  reached  our  destination  at  half-past  eight ; but  many  of  om*  party  did 
 not  get  in  till  midnight,  and  several,  giving  way  to  despair,  remained  in  the  forest  till 
 the  next  morning. 
 
 “ Between  the  toll-post  we  had  left  and  Pulo  Chepada,  we  suddenly  came  down 
 upon  a small  valley  of  about  a mile  in  length,  clear  of  forest,  and  covered  with  grass 
 alone,  along  which  a beautiful  stream  meandered  on  a fine  bed  of  pebbles  ; this  was 
 represented  to  us  to  have  but  a few  years  since  been  the  bed  of  a lake,  one  of  the 
 banks  of  which  gave  way  during  an  earthquake : every  appearance  corroborated  this 
 fact. 
 
 “ Our  abode  for  the  night  was  on  a detached  hill,  Bukit  Batu,  at  the  verge  of 
 the  forest,  the  Gedung  Beo,  or  toll-post,  a wretched  shed  where  people  of  all  ranks 
 
ARRIVAL  IN  THE  TIGA-BLAS. 
 
 347 
 
 were  indiscriminately  accommodated,  but  in  which  we  found  as  substantial  comfort 
 and  repose  as  we  could  have  desired  in  a palace. 
 
 “ Our  distance  during  this  day  of  fatigue  we  estimated  at  not  less  than  twenty 
 miles ; but  we  all  agreed  that  we  could  have  walked  double  that  distance  on  level 
 ground  and  good  road  with  less  labour. 
 
 “ From  an  opening  in  the  forest,  about  five  in  the  afternoon,  we  had  our  first 
 view  of  Gunung  Berapi,  the  Western  Peak  emitting  a volume  of  smoke,  and  bearing 
 N.  by  W. 
 
 “ The  estimated  height  of  Bukit  Batu  by  barometer  is  3500  feet.  The  ther- 
 mometer at  day-fight  sixty-five.  The  toll-post  here  is  under  Ganton  Chiri,  one 
 of  the  Tiga-hlas  Cotas,  and  seems  regulated  on  the  same  principle  as  that  of  Ayer 
 Melangtang  under  Lemau  Manis ; each  traveller  pays  a certain  sum  according  to  the 
 goods  he  carries — if  cloth,  iron,  or  gold,  a wang — if  siri,  and  other  inferior  articles, 
 a satali  or  half  wang.  They  are  well  adapted  for  the  general  object  intended,  and 
 afford  evidence  of  the  extent  of  the  traffic  carried  on.  We  met  several  parties  of 
 traders  crossing  the  country  towards  Padang. 
 
 “ Sunday,  19th. — As  we  had  now  entered  the  limits  of  the  Tiga-blas  coun- 
 try, our  further  progress  depended  upon  the  good-will  of  the  Chiefs,  who  are 
 here  entirely  independent  of  the  European  authority.  It  was  intimated  to  us,  that 
 we  should  arrive  at  Solo  Solaya,  the  intended  termination  of  our  present  day’s 
 journey,  by  eleven  or  twelve  o’clock ; and  as  we  had  scarcely  recovered  from  the  last 
 day’s  fatigue,  we  determined  to  breakfast  before  we  moved.  While  partaking  of  this 
 meal,  several  of  the  Chiefs  of  the  Tiga-blas  country  were  announced  ; and  a party 
 who  stated  themselves  to  be  the  representatives  of  two-thirds  of  that  country  were 
 introduced.  After  the  usual  compliments,  they  proceeded  to  the  business  of  their 
 \asit,  and  being  informed  of  my  wish  to  proceed  without  delay,  very  quietly  stated 
 that  they  had  already  taken  the  subject  into  consideration,  that  they  had  been  dis- 
 cussing it  since  daylight,  and  had  at  last  come  to  the  resolution,  that  as  they  were 
 only  two-thirds  of  the  Chiefs,  and  the  other  third  had  not  arrived,  they  would  come 
 to  no  decision  at  all,  but  proposed  as  an  accommodation  that  I should  remain  where 
 I was  for  three  days,  after  which,  a final  decision  should  be  immediately  passed. 
 This  proposition  I,  of  course,  treated  very  lightly,  and  in  few  words  intimated  my 
 determination  to  proceed  as  soon  as  breakfast  should  be  over.  While  the  Chiefs 
 were  deliberating  upon  what  answer  they  should  make,  the  arrival  of  the  remaining 
 third  was  announced,  and  the  conference  broke  up,  in  order  that  a general  consulta- 
 tion might  be  held.  As  soon  as  breakfast  was  over,  I went  out  to  see  what  was 
 going  on.  The  Chiefs,  after  sitting  down  in  a circle,  and  debating  for  about  an  hour, 
 rose,  and  the  parties  dispersed,  in  order  that  the  newly  arrived  Chiefs  might  think 
 on  the  subject  by  themselves  and  advise  with  their  followers.  They  accordingly 
 
 Y y 2 
 
348 
 
 RECEPTION  BY  THE  NATIVES. 
 
 adjourned  to  an  opposite  hill,  on  which  several  hundred  people  had  collected.  Here 
 they  continued  in  conference  till  ten  o’clock,  when  finding  there  was  no  chance  of  a 
 speedy  termination,  I ordered  my  party  to  be  in  readiness  to  move.  We  were  no 
 sooner  in  motion  than  the  Chiefs  again  assembled  in  council,  and  it  was  requested 
 that  I would  wait  ten  minutes  longer ; wanting  the  patience  to  do  this,  and  deter- 
 mined at  once  to  break  through  this  tedious  delay,  to  which  it  was  to  be  feared  we 
 should  be  subjected  in  passing  the  boundary  of  every  petty  state,  I walked  into  the 
 middle  of  the  circle,  and  demanded  that  they  should  say  in  one  word  what  was 
 required,  on  which  the  most  respectable  looldng  man  among  them  answered,  Sa  tali 
 sa  pail — that  is  to  say,  twenty  dollars  ; the  money  was  immediately  tendered,  we 
 shook  hands,  the  utmost  cordiahty  and  good  understanding  instantly  prevailed,  and 
 we  were  permitted  to  proceed  on  om'  journey  wthout  further  hesitation. 
 
 “ It  was  now  between  ten  and  eleven  o’clock : our  coiu'se  on  the  descent  lay 
 partly  through  a wood,  and  partly  over  several  cleared  hills,  cultivated  \\ith  coffee, 
 indigo,  &c.  In  about  an  hour  after  starting,  the  country  opened ; and  we  had  the 
 gi'atifying  Hew  of  the  Tiga-blas  country,  an  extensive  and  highly  cultivated  plain, 
 bomided  to  the  south  by  the  noble  mountain  of  Talang. 
 
 “ After  descending  the  hills,  and  reaching  the  plain,  our  course  lay  entirely 
 along  the  narrow  ridges  or  embankments  raised  between  the  rice-fields  until  we 
 reached  the  market-place,  distinguished  by  several  large  w'aringin  or  banyan  trees. 
 Here  we  halted  and  partook  of  different  kinds  of  fruits  presented  to  us.  In  our 
 course  from  Bukit  Batu  to  the  place,  our  party  had  been  strengthened  mitil  it 
 amounted  to  several  thousands — the  people  of  the  country  being  collected  at  the 
 different  eminences  near  where  we  passed ; they  welcomed  us  as  they  joined  the 
 throng,  by  the  most  discordant  howls  and  cheers  which  can  be  well  conceived. 
 Anived  at  the  market,  they  formed  an  extensive  circle  several  row's  deep,  the  front 
 row  squatting ; nearly  the  whole  w'ere  armed  with  spears,  and  among  them  w^ere 
 some  women.  One  old  woman  made  herself  very  conspicuous  by  her  attentions, 
 and  wiien  a little  alarm  w'as  evinced  by  Lady  Raffles,  on  account  of  the  violence  of 
 the  howling  and  cheering,  she  was  the  first  to  assime  us  no  harm  was  meant ; it 
 was  only  the  way  of  the  hill-people,  who  took  this  mode  to  show  their  dehght,  and 
 how  happy  they  were  to  see  us.  On  the  whole,  I cannot  well  conceive  any  thing 
 more  savage  than  the  manners  of  this  noisy  party,  from  the  time  the  Chiefs  joined 
 us  until  we  left  the  market-place.  It  was  evident  they  wished  to  give  us  an  hospi- 
 table reception  * * * I wiU  only 
 
 add,  that  before  they  suffered  us  to  proceed  beyond  the  market-place,  a new  con- 
 sultation was  held,  which  lasted  more  than  half-an-hour,  when  another  douceur  be- 
 came necessary.  We  then  prosecuted  our  journey  to  the  towns  of  Solo  Solaya, 
 which  were  considered  as  the  first  in  rank  of  the  Tiga-blas  Cotas,  and  about  four 
 
DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  COUNTRY. 
 
 349 
 
 o’clock  reached  our  destination.  Here,  after  having  been  kept  for  half-an-hour  in 
 the  Bali,  or  town-hall,  we  were  accommodated  in  a very  commodious  planked  house, 
 and  which  appeared  to  be  the  residence  of  one  of  the  principal  Chiefs. 
 
 “ Finding  ourselves  among  a set  of  people  who  exhibited  in  their  manners  so 
 much  of  the  savage,  we  detennined  to  keep  our  party  close  together,  and  whenever 
 any  general  movement  was  made,  to  call  in  the  aid  of  the  drum  and  fife,  which  for- 
 tunately we  had  brought  with  us ; this  imperfect  music,  most  wretchedly  performed, 
 seemed  to  have  a great  effect  upon  the  people. 
 
 “ I have  now  once  more  led  your  Grace  across  the  Barisan,  or  chain  of  moun- 
 tains, which  had  hitherto  so  effectually  opposed  the  approach  of  Europeans  to  the 
 rich  and  populous  countries  in  the  interior.  In  a former  letter,  I attempted  to  ex- 
 press the  delight  with  which  I first  viewed  the  fertile  valley  of  Pasumah,  after 
 spending  three  days  in  the  forests.  Here  I was  certainly  prepared  to  find  a country 
 still  more  fertile  and  populous,  and  I was  not  disappointed.  The  whole  of  the 
 plain,  or  valley,  (I  hardly  know  which  to  call  it,)  occupied  by  the  Tigas-hlas  Cotas, 
 or  Thirteen  Confederate  Towns,  is  one  sheet  of  cultivation  ; in  breadth  it  may  be 
 about  ten,  and  in  length  twenty  miles,  thickly  studded  with  towns  and  villages, 
 some  of  them  running  in  a connected  fine  for  several  miles  ; this  was  the  case  with 
 the  to^vn  of  Solo  Solaya,  where  we  put  up.  The  town  of  Solaya  joins  that  of  Solo, 
 whence  the  Chiefs  are  usually  denominated  to  be  of  Solo  Solaya ; a third  town, 
 called  Cola-baru,  is  again  only  separated  from  these  by  a river  : the  whole  are  shaded 
 by  extensive  groves  of  cocoa-nut  trees. 
 
 “ On  the  slopes  of  the  hiUs,  the  principal  cultivation  is  coffee,  indigo,  maize, 
 sugar-cane,  and  the  oil-gi\dng  plants ; on  the  plain  below,  almost  exclusively  rice. 
 The  sawas,  or  rice-fields,  are  here  managed  exactly  on  the  principle  of  the  mountain 
 sawas  in  Java,  and  the  soil  and  produce  seem  equally  good.  A fine  breed  of  small 
 cattle,  which  seems  peculiar,  abounds  here  and  throughout  the  Menangkabu  country; 
 oxen  seem  to  be  generally  used  in  agiiculture,  in  preference  to  buffaloes;  they 
 are  in  general  about  three  feet  four  inches  high,  beautifully  made,  and  mostly  of  a 
 light  fawn  coloiu*,  with  black  eyes  and  lashes,  and  are  sold  at  from  three  to  four 
 dollars  a-head.  They  are,  without  exception,  the  most  beautiful  little  animals  of  the 
 kind  I ever  beheld ; we  did  not  see  one  in  bad  condition.  Horses,  of  which  there 
 seems  to  be  plenty,  are  not  much  used;  for  a mare  and  foal  the  price  was  four 
 dollars,  twenty  shillings. 
 
 “ On  entering  the  country,  we  were  struck  by  the  costume  of  the  people,  which 
 is  now  any  thing  but  Malay,  the  whole  being  clad  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
 Orang  Putis,  or  Padris,  that  is  to  say,  in  white  or  blue,  with  turbans,  and  allowing 
 their  beards  to  grow,  in  conformity  with  the  ordinances  of  Tuanku  Pasaman,  the 
 rehgious  reformer.  Unaccustomed  to  wear  turbans,  and  by  nature  deficient  in 
 beard,  these  poor  people  make  but  a sorry  appearance  in  their  new  costume.  The 
 
350 
 
 SOLO  SOLAYA. 
 
 women,  who  are  also  clad  in  white  or  blue  cloth,  do  not  appear  to  the  best  advan- 
 tage in  this  new  costume ; many  of  them  conceal  their  heads  under  a kind  of  hood, 
 through  which  an  opening  is  made  sufficient  to  expose  their  eyes  and  nose  alone ; 
 but  we  obseiwed  some  general  customs  in  their  dress,  which  are  not  perhaps  attri- 
 butable to  the  recent  reformation.  The  women  invariably  wear  their  hair  parted 
 over  the  forehead,  and  combed  smooth  dowm  the  sides;  and  the  children  and  young 
 girls  were  frequently  seen  uath  their  hair  plaited  down  the  back,  after  the  manner  of 
 the  Chinese.  All  the  women  have  the  lobe  of  the  ear  distended  to  an  enormous 
 extent,  in  order  to  receive  an  immense  ear-ring,  or  rather  wheel,  which  it  more 
 resembles;  this  is  usually  about  two  inches  in  diameter,  and  differently  ornamented; 
 some  are  of  wood,  ornamented  with  silver,  others  of  copper,  &c. 
 
 “ The  people  in  general  are  by  no  means  good-looking ; neither  in  stature  or 
 countenance  do  they  equal  the  Pasumahs;  they  are  decidedly  a less  ingenuous 
 people;  their  manners,  if  anything,  more  rude  and  uncultivated;  but  their  agri- 
 culture, their  comforts,  and  their  condition,  certainly  superior. 
 
 “ Monday,  20th. — This  day  was  spent  at  Solo  Solaya.  About  noon  I was 
 informed  that  ail  the  Chiefs  of  the  adjoining  districts  had  assembled,  and  were  de- 
 sirous of  a conference.  In  number  they  amounted  to  some  hundreds,  and  I therefore 
 requested  they  would  select  ten  or  twenty,  with  whom  I could  personally  confer. 
 After  about  an  hour’s  disputing,  and  when  I found  by  their  clamour  that  they  w'ere 
 likely  to  separate  in  disorder,  I was  compelled  to  say  I would  confer  \rith  the  whole 
 of  them,  if  they  wished  it.  They  accordingly  assembled  in  the  ricinity  of  the  Bah, 
 or  towm-hall ; and  having  formed  a circle,  in  which  a place  was  reserved  for  me,  I 
 took  my  seat  mth  all  the  state  which  circumstances  admitted.  The  object  of  my  risit 
 w'as  then  inquired  into,  and  the  propriety  of  allowing  the  Dutch  to  return  to  Padang 
 discussed  with  much  vehemence,  until  one  and  all  declared  the  Dutch  never  should 
 retiu*n.  To  enforce  this  declaration  the  foremost  stmck  their  spears  in  the  ground 
 and  set  up  a shout.  A letter  was  then  written  to  the  King  of  England,  and  signed 
 by  the  principal  Chiefs;  and  other  agreements,  of  a pohtical  nature,  entered  into. 
 A translation  of  the  letter  to  the  King  of  England  I enclose  to  your  Grace,  as  a 
 pohtical  document  of  high  import. 
 
 “ This  business  terminated,  a general  shout  announced  the  conclusion  of  the 
 conference.  Each  of  the  principal  Chiefs  was  presented  with  a piece  of  British 
 broad-cloth,  and  three  volleys  of  musketry  fired,  the  drum  and  fife  playing  ‘ God 
 save  the  King,’  and  escorting  me  home,  in  the  most  ridiculous  state  that  can  be 
 conceived. 
 
 “ The  remainder  of  the  day  w'as  passed  in  examining  the  town  and  making 
 inquiries. 
 
 “ These  towns,  I found,  had  little  to  do  with  commerce;  the  inhabitants  are 
 almost  exclusively  devoted  to  agiiculture ; and  to  this  cause  the  native  merchants 
 7 
 
GOLD  MINES. 
 
 351 
 
 who  were  with  me  attributed  the  want  of  civilization  among  them.  ‘ The  people  of 
 those  towns,’  said  they,  ‘ which  lie  on  the  road  to  the  gold  mines,  and  where  they 
 miderstand  how  to  trade,  are  of  very  different  manners;  these  people,  though  con- 
 sidering themselves  as  of  most  importance,  have  always  been  noted  for  their  rude 
 and  obstinate  behaviour.’  This  account  I had  subsequently  reason  to  believe  was 
 pretty  correct.  The  Tiga-blas  country  has  always  been  famed  for  its  produce  in 
 gold;  indeed  to  Emopeans  it  has  been  known  as  a gold  country  alone.  To  find  it 
 also  in  a high  degree  agricultural  was  more  than  I expected.  Hitherto  the  country 
 through  which  we  passed  was  exclusively  volcanic ; the  rocks  for  the  most  part 
 basaltic;  a hot-spring,  108®  of  Fahrenheit,  close  to  the  town,  and  two  burning 
 mountains  in  sight ; no  evidences  of  primitive  formations ; no  indications  whatever  of 
 metals.  We  had  therefore  to  look  for  the  gold  mines  beyond  the  immediate  confines 
 of  the  Tiga-blas  country ; and  we  soon  ascertained  the  principal  mines  to  be  situated, 
 some  at  two  and  three,  and  others  as  far  as  ten  and  twelve,  days’  jornmey  distant,  in 
 a south-eastern  direction.  The  principal  mines  are  those  of  Sungy  Pagu  and  Sungy 
 Abu,  which  are  marked  on  the  map  as  lying  at  the  back  of  Gunung  Talang.  Of 
 the  extent  and  value  of  these  mines  I shall  have  occasion  hereafter  to  make  some 
 observations;  for  the  present,  I will  confine  myself  more  particularly  to  that  part  of 
 the  Tiga-blas  country  through  which  we  passed. 
 
 “ On  entering  the  town  of  Solaya,  we  passed  through  the  burial-ground,  dis- 
 tinguished by  a very  large  waringin-tree  and  several  tombs  built  of  wood,  here 
 termed  jb'i ; these  are  peculiar,  sometimes  little  more  than  a shed,  but  frequently 
 with  a raised  flooring,  and  seats  raised  one  above  the  other  at  each  end,  like  the 
 stern  of  a vessel.  Several  of  these  were  observed  outside  of  the  town,  and  in  the 
 middle  of  the  rice-fields ; these,  we  were  informed,  had  been  raised  in  memory  of 
 persons  who  had  died  at  a distance  ; they  now  served  as  a shelter  for  the  children, 
 when  watching  the  birds,  as  the  rice  ripened,  and  as  places  of  amusement  for  the 
 younger  branches  of  the  family.  The  waringin,  or  banyan  trees,  reminded  me  very 
 much  of  Java ; they  are  here  even  larger  than  any  I ever  observed  in  that  country. 
 Nothing  in  the  vegetable  creation  can  well  exceed  the  peaceful  grandeur  of  these 
 trees. 
 
 “ The  houses  are  for  the  most  part  extensive  and  well  built ; in  length  seldom  less 
 than  sixty  feet ; the  interior,  one  long  hall,  with  several  small  chambers  in  the  rear 
 opening  into  it.  In  the  front  of  each  house  are  generally  two  lomhongs,  or  granaries, 
 on  the  same  principle  as  those  in  Java,  but  much  longer  and  more  substantial : they 
 were  not  less  than  thirty  feet  high,  and  capable  of  holding  an  immense  quantity ; 
 many  of  them  very  highly  ornamented,  various  flowers  and  figures  being  carved  on 
 the  uprights  and  cross-beams  ; some  of  them  coloured.  The  taste  for  ornament  is 
 not  confined  to  the  lomhongs ; the  wood-work  of  most  of  the  houses  is  carved,  and 
 coloured  with  red,  white,  and  black.  The  ridge-poles  of  the  houses,  lomhongs,  &c. 
 
352 
 
 DEPARTURE  FROM  SOLO  SOLAYA. 
 
 have  a peculiar  appearance,  in  being  extremely  concave,  the  ends  or  points  of  the 
 crescent  being  very  shaq^  In  the  larger  houses  they  give  the  appearance  of  two 
 roofs,  one  crescent  being,  as  it  were,  within  another.  The  whole  of  the  buildings 
 are  constructed  in  the  most  substantial  manner,  but  entirely  of  wood  and  matting. 
 
 “ In  the  evening,  I was  much  amused  by  the  return  of  the  cattle  from  pasture. 
 To  every  house  there  appeared  attached  several  head  of  cattle ; these  came  in,  as 
 the  sun  declined,  of  their  oum  accord,  and  were  severally  secured  by  the  children 
 and  women,  the  cattle  being  quite  as  docile  as  those  in  Europe,  in  which  respect  they 
 foiTu  a striking  contrast  to  those  on  the  coast,  wdiich  are,  for  the  most  part,  too  wald 
 to  be  approached. 
 
 “ Being  anxious  to  refresh  myself  in  the  river  which  passed  at  the  back  of  the 
 town,  I enquired  for  a convenient  place  to  bathe  ; my  intention  was  no  sooner  inti- 
 mated, than  the  women  of  the  village  flocked  round  me,  and  insisted  on  accompany- 
 ing me  to  the  place ; but,  however  great  their  curiosity,  my  modesty  did  not  allow 
 me  to  gratify  it,  and  I was  content  to  disappoint  myself  as  w^ell  as  them. 
 
 “ It  is  now,  however,  time  to  proceed  on  the  journey,  lest  I tire  you  on  the  way. 
 
 ‘‘  Tuesday,  21st. — At  day-light  the  drum  was  beaten,  and  every  thing  in  readi- 
 ness for  oiu  departure,  when  a serious  difficulty  was  started.  In  the  distribution  of 
 the  presents  the  day  before,  it  was  stated  that  one  piece  of  cloth  had  been  stolen, 
 and  that  the  Chiefs  of  Solo  had  in  consequence  received  one  piece  less  than  those  of 
 Solaya.  This  was  represented  as  likely  to  be  the  occasion  of  a feud  between  the 
 two  people  after  my  departure.  I would  wdllingly  have  given  another  piece  of  cloth, 
 but  I found  the  whole  statement  to  be  an  imposition ; for  when  I offered  to  do  so,  a 
 new^  demur  arose  ; the  Chiefs  of  Solo  came  in  a body,  sa}dng  that  I had  slept  two 
 nights  in  Solaya,  and  not  one  in  Solo  ; that  I had  therefore  done  more  honour  to  the 
 former ; that  the  two  toums  had  always  maintained  an  equahty,  which  was  now 
 lost,  unless  I would  consent  also  to  stay  two  nights  at  Solo.  This  I represented  to 
 be  impossible ; the  Chiefs  of  both  toviis  had  received  me  at  the  boundary,  and  it 
 Avas  left  Arith  them  to  conduct  me  whither  they  pleased ; they  took  me  to  Solaya ; 
 the  drum  was  now  beating,  and  I must  be  off,  I promised,  however,  to  visit  Solo 
 on  my  return  ; but  nothing  would  pacify  them,  and  we  had  very  nigh  come  to 
 an  open  impture.  At  last,  I gave  the  piece  of  cloth  to  the  Chiefs  of  Solo,  and  a 
 written  certificate  that  the  important  point  should  be  regularly  ffiscussed  after  my 
 return  to  Padang,  wffiere  the  Chiefs  were  invited  to  proceed,  should  any  bad  blood 
 remain.  At  length,  with  the  greatest  difficulty,  we  got  clear  out  of  the  town,  and 
 bent  our  course  across  the  plain  towards  the  Lake  of  Sincara,  which  w'e  expected  to 
 reach  in  the  course  of  the  day. 
 
 “ During  this  day’s  journey,  w hich  lay  through  one  of  the  most  highly  culti- 
 vated countries  I ever  passed,  w^e  w'ere  subjected  to  several  gross  impositions.  On 
 first  leaving  Solo  Solaya,  wt  had  to  find  our  way  without  guides ; but  we  had  not 
 
JOURNEY  INTO  THE  INTERIOR  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 353 
 
 proceeded  many  miles,  when,  on  being  at  a loss  which  way  to  proceed,  some  men 
 immediately  came  forward  and  offered  their  services  as  guides,  provided  we  would 
 pay  them  in  the  first  instance  ; this  we  at  first  declined,  but  at  length  were  forced  to 
 give  into ; but  they  no  sooner  got  the  money  than  they  took  an  early  opportunity  to 
 decamp.  To  our  surprise,  however,  we  soon  fell  in  with  the  Chiefs  of  the  towns  which 
 we  had  left ; they  had  proceeded  by  a shorter  route,  and  now  presented  themselves 
 as  guides.  They  did  not,  however,  allow  us  to  pursue  our  journey  for  more  than  a 
 mile  at  a time  without  stopping  to  consult ; and  the  whole  country  being  raised  as 
 we  proceeded,  it  was  impossible  for  us  to  oppose  their  will.  In  this  manner  they 
 detained  us  at  least  six  or  seven  times  in  the  course  of  two  hours,  nor  would  they 
 allow  us  to  proceed  until  we  paid  them  a certain  sum,  by  way  of  customs,  for  the 
 liberty  of  passing  through  the  country ; all  hands  seemed  determined  to  get  some- 
 thing by  us ; at  last,  about  half-past  nine,  we  reached  the  termination  of  that  part 
 of  the  plain  under  the  Tiga-blas  Chiefs,  who  after  making  their  last  demand,  insisted 
 on  our  remaining  half-an-hour  to  see  them  exhibit  in  a tournament,  to  which  we 
 were  obliged  to  submit,  notwithstanding  the  excessive  heat  of  the  sun,  from  which 
 we  had  no  shelter.  At  ten  o’clock  we  obtained  a view  of  the  lake,  and  about  eleven 
 we  reached  Kasi ; at  twelve  we  arrived  at  Sindangbaher,  a populous  town  on  the 
 banks  of  the  lake,  where  we  remained  for  the  night.  Both  here  and  at  Kasi,  we 
 w'ere  received,  comparatively,  with  politeness  and  attention ; the  people  seemed  to 
 have  some  respect  for  authority,  and  it  was  evident  they  had  the  advantage  of  more 
 general  intercourse  with  strangers ; we  were,  in  the  first  instance,  conducted  to  the 
 large  waringin  tree,  under  the  shade  of  which  the  Chiefs  and  people  assembled  to 
 receive  us,  and  where  cocoa-nuts  and  fruits  were  presented.  At  Kasi  the  most  par- 
 ticular attention  was  paid  to  us,  owing,  most  probably,  to  its  being  the  native  town 
 of  one  of  the  principal  merchants  who  accompanied  us,  and  who  seemed  to  possess 
 much  influence  here. 
 
 “ The  town  of  Sindangbaher  is  situated  about  a mile  from  the  banks  of  the 
 lake,  on  a fine  stream.  The  buildings,  &c.  are  much  in  the  same  style  as  at  Solo 
 Solaya,  but  not  so  substantial  or  numerous,  many  of  them  having  been  burnt  during 
 the  late  civil  war ; but  the  most  interesting  object  before  us  was  the  lake,  across 
 which  our  coiu'se  lay  to  Menangkabu ; of  this  an  account  will  be  given  in  the  next 
 day’s  journey. 
 
 “ Of  the  country  through  which  we  had  passed,  I shall  only  observe  that  our 
 course  this  day  lay  through  the  richest  corn-fields,  and  frequently  on  the  slope  of  a 
 low  range  of  hills  on  the  western  side  of  the  plain.  The  fertility  of  the  plain  fully 
 equalled  any  part  of  Java,  and  particularly  about  Kasi  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  lake, 
 where  the  rice-fields  evinced  an  uncommon  luxuriance ; they  were  here  in  full  culti- 
 vation, the  rice  in  all  its  stages,  but  chiefly  in  ear.  The  plain  gradually  narrowed 
 as  we  approached  the  lake,  and  between  the  rice-fields  under  the  Tiga-blas  country, 
 
 z z 
 
351 
 
 JOURNEY  INTO  THE  INTERIOR  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 and  those  of  Kasi,  we  passed  an  uncultivated  tract,  but  even  this  was  cleared,  and 
 covered  with  a short  sod,  affording  excellent  pasture  for  cattle,  of  which  there  were 
 gi'eat  abundance  ; many  parts  reminded  us  of  the  beautiful  district  of  Serayu,  the 
 pride  of  Java. 
 
 “ We  estimated  om*  journey  this  day  at  twelve  miles,  and  Lady  Raffles  had  the 
 advantage  of  being  carried  a considerable  part  of  the  way  in  a chair,  but  in  passing 
 through  the  rice-fields  in  cultivation,  the  embankments  which  formed  the  foot-paths 
 were  too  narrow  to  admit  of  this  aid. 
 
 “ We  estimated  the  height  of  Sindangbaher,  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  eleven 
 hundred  feet ; that  of  Solo  Solaya  we  also  ascertained,  by  the  barometer,  to  be 
 twelve  hundi-ed  feet ; so  that  the  plain  gi*adually  descends  from  Great  Talang,  its 
 southern  bomidary  to  the  lake,  of  the  bed  of  which,  in  early  days,  it  may  probably 
 have  formed  part,  being  bounded  to  the  west  by  the  high  range  of  mountains,  and 
 to  the  east  by  the  ranges  of  low  hiUs,  which  in  their  continuation  confine  the  waters 
 of  the  lake  as  at  present  defined. 
 
 ‘‘  Of  the  population  of  the  Tiga-blas  country,  I shall  hereafter  have  occasion  to 
 speak ; and  here  it  may  only  be  necessary  to  notice,  that  from  the  best  information 
 I could  obtain  on  the  spot,  we  formed  a loose  estimate  that  it  could  not  fall  far  short 
 of  eighty  thousand  souls. 
 
 “ The  da^vn  of  ^\'ednesday  found  us  on  the  banks  of  the  lake,  shipping  our 
 baggage,  and  embarking  for  Simawang.  We  should  have  started  the  preceding 
 night,  but  the  boats  had  not  arrived ; even  now  we  had  but  one  at  our  command, 
 and  in  this  we  proceeded,  leaving  the  heaviest  part  of  the  baggage,  the  escort,  and 
 coolies,  to  follow  by  land,  should  no  other  boat  be  procurable  in  the  course  of 
 the  day. 
 
 “ This  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  called  the  Danau,  or  lake  of  Sincara,  is  about 
 fourteen  miles  long,  and  on  the  broadest  part  seven,  surrounded  by  mountains  and 
 hills,  except  towards  the  Tiga-blas  country,  where  a plain  of  its  own  width  gradually 
 sinks  into  its  bosom.  Proceeding  northward,  we  had  on  our  left  the  high  moun- 
 tains which  form  the  Barisan  or  boundary  of  the  sea-coast  districts,  in  height  from 
 five  to  seven  thousand  feet,  at  the  foot  of  which,  on  the  margin  of  the  lake  for  two 
 or  three  miles  deep,  were  rice  fields,  plantations,  and  rtllages,  rising  successively 
 above  each  other.  On  the  sides  of  the  mountains  themselves,  nearly  to  the  summit 
 of  the  first  ridge,  the  forest  had  been  cleared  and  cultivation  carried.  The  opposite 
 side,  as  well  as  the  northern  part  of  the  lake,  is  confined  by  a succession  of  low 
 hills,  which  in  their  constitution  we  found  to  be  essentially  different  from  the  high 
 volcanic  ridges  we  had  passed  over,  being  primitive,  and  abomiding  in  metals  ; among 
 these  the  most  conspicuous,  and  lying  nearly  north,  was  the  Gunung  Besi,  or  Hill  of 
 Iron,  which  from  time  immemorial  has  been  the  principal  source  whence  these  dis- 
 tricts have  been  supphed  with  that  metal.  Behind  these,  a little  to  the  westward. 
 
JOURNEY  INTO  THE  INTERIOR  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 355 
 
 rises  the  Berapi,  a grand  volcanic  mountain,  emitting  smoke  from  its  western  peak, 
 and  towering  in  the  clouds  to  the  height  of  at  least  ten  thousand  feet  above  the  lake 
 itself,  Further  west,  connecting  its  base  with  that  of  the  Berapi,  is  the  Gunung 
 Sincalang,  another  insulated  mountain,  in  height  about  eight  thousand  feet.  To 
 the  eastward  of  Berapi,  and  nearly  over  Simawang,  as  we  approached  it  we  obtained 
 a glimpse  of  the  stupendous  mountain  of  Kasumha,  the  estimated  height  of  which 
 is  not  less  than  fifteen  thousand  feet.  To  the  southward,  the  view  was  bounded 
 by  Gunung  Talang,  lying  at  the  extremity  of  the  Tiga-blas  country,  at  the  back  of 
 which  were  observed  a ridge  still  higher  than  itself. 
 
 On  the  banks  of  the  lake  are  situated  seven  principal  towns  with  their 
 numerous  villages  and  hamlets,  these  being  shaded  by  trees  form  so  many  groves, 
 the  dark  foliage  of  which  pleasingly  contrasts  with  the  bright  tints  of  the  rice  planta- 
 tions in  the  middle  of  which  they  are  situated.  The  beach  is  a bright  sand,  and 
 cultivation  immediately  commences.  At  each  of  these  towns  a weekly  market  is 
 held,  to  which  the  traders,  &c.  from  the  other  towns  and  adjacent  countries  repair 
 by  water.  The  canoes  are  numerous,  and  each  town  has  one  or  two  large  boats, 
 capable  of  carrying  six  tons,  and  one  hundred  men:  it  was  in  one  of  these  that  we 
 embarked.  These  large  boats  are  well  built,  and  at  a distance  when  filled  with 
 people,  have  very  much  the  appearance  of  the  large  war  boats  of  the  South  Sea 
 Islands.  At  a short  distance  from  Sindangbaher,  and  where  the  lake  was  said  to  be 
 by  no  means  deep,  we  obtained  bottom  with  a deep-sea  lead  at  sixty-eight  fathoms, 
 but  subsequently  in  attempting  to  ascertain  the  depth  more  in  the  centre,  we  found 
 no  bottom  with  one  hundred  and  eighty  fathoms.  The  shores  are  easy  of  access, 
 and  no  rocks  or  shoals  exist  to  obstruct  its  navigation.  It  abounds  in  fish,  and 
 the  inhabitants  procure  lime  by  burning  a small  shell  of  the  muscle  kind  found  on 
 its  banks. 
 
 “ As  we  approached  Simawang,  a very  peculiar  hill,  with  three  ragged  peaks, 
 was  pointed  out  to  us  as  lying  immediately  at  the  back  of  Pageruyong,  the  capital 
 of  the  Menangkabu  country.  This  hill,  Gunung  Bongso,  will  be  hereafter  noticed. 
 
 “ We  had  embarked  at  a quarter-past  eight,  it  was  now  half-past  one,  when  we 
 landed  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  on  which  Samawang  is  situated,  and  at  the  source  of 
 the  Kuantau  or  Indragiri  river,  which  issues  from  the  lake  of  Sincara  at  this  place. 
 We  had  a very  hot  and  fatiguing  walk  for  above  an  hour  in  ascending  the  hill,  but 
 were  amply  repaid  for  oirr  labour  by  the  friendly  and  cordial  reception  we  met  with 
 at  the  summit,  where  the  head  of  the  village,  a venerable  old  man,  quietly  conducted 
 us  into  his  dwelling,  and  made  every  preparation  for  our  comfort  without  subjecting 
 us  to  exposure  under  the  waringin  tree,  or  any  of  the  ridiculous  and  annoying  cere- 
 monies and  delays  to  which  we  had  in  former  instances  been  liable. 
 
 “ The  house  in  which  we  were  now  accommodated  was  in  length  about  one 
 hundi'ed  feet,  and  from  thirty  to  forty  in  depth,  built  in  a most  substantial  manner, 
 
 z z 2 
 
356 
 
 JOURNEY  INTO  THE  INTERIOR  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 and  supported  along  the  centre  by  three  large  wooden  pillars,  fit  for  the  masts  of  a 
 ship : indeed  fi-om  the  peculiar  constmction  of  the  house,  the  gable  end  of  which  was 
 raised  in  tiers  like  the  stern  of  a vessel,  they  had  very  much  this  appearance.  The 
 floor  was  raised  from  the  ground  about  ten  feet,  the  lower  part  being  inclosed  and 
 appropriated  to  cattle,  &c.  The  principal  entrance  is  about  the  centre,  but  there  is 
 a second  door  at  one  end.  The  interior  consists  of  one  large  room  or  hall,  the 
 height  proportioned  to  the  other  dimensions ; three  fire-places  equally  distant  from 
 each  other  were  placed  on  the  front  side,  and  at  the  back  were  several  small 
 chambers,  in  which  we  perceived  the  spinning-wheels  and  other  articles  belonging 
 to  the  women.  This  may  serve  as  a general  description  for  the  houses  in  this  part 
 of  the  coimtry,  which  I have  described  thus  particularly,  because  they  differ  essen- 
 tially from  those  on  the  coast,  and  from  what  j\Ir.  Marsden  has  described  as  the 
 usual  dwellings  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 “ Notwithstanding  the  room  in  which  we  were  now  accommodated  was  so 
 commodious,  we  suffered  more  from  the  heat  at  this  place  than  elsewhere,  on 
 account  of  the  gi'eater  number  of  people  admitted,  and  the  number  of  fires.  That 
 end  of  the  hall  which  rose  in  tiers,  like  the  stern  of  a ship,  was  set  apart  for  Lady 
 Raffles  and  me,  and  separated  from  the  rest  by  mats.  The  number  at  one  time 
 accommodated  in  this  caravansera  did  not  fall  short  of  a hundred  and  fifty  persons. 
 
 “ As  I must  have  pretty  well  tired  your  Grace  with  the  detail  of  this  day's 
 journey,  I will  close  the  account,  and  proceed  to  the  next. 
 
 “ Thiirsdaij,  23d  Julij. — The  town  of  Simawang  occupies  the  siunmit  of  a hill 
 elevated  above  the  banks  of  the  lake  about  500  feet,  and  commands  a most  beautiful 
 prospect.  Notwithstanding  this  elevation,  there  are  hills  in  the  vicinity  of  gi’eater 
 height,  which  give  it  the  advantage  of  several  streams.  These  are  directed  into 
 numerous  channels,  and  fertilize  the  country  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  which  is  for 
 the  most  part  cut  into  terraces  and  cultivated  with  rice.  The  river  Ulu  Kuantau, 
 as  it  is  here  called,  but  which  is  the  source  of  the  Indragiri  river,  (which,  after 
 pursuing  a south-easterly  course  across  the  country,  discharges  itself  into  the  sea 
 on  the  eastern  side  of  the  island,)  is  seen  to  issue  from  the  lake  at  the  foot  of  the 
 hill,  dashing  with  great  rapidity  over  the  rocks  as  it  winds  along  the  valley.  The 
 lake  itself,  serene  and  placid,  insensible  of  the  loss  it  sustains,  is  always  the  same.  No 
 sooner,  however,  are  its  waters  withdrawn  from  its  bosom,  than  they  are  made  sub- 
 servient to  the  purposes  of  man.  Not  fifty  yards  from  the  source  of  the  river  we 
 observed  a well  constructed  water-wheel,  by  means  of  which  the  adjacent  fields  were 
 irrigated.  These  wheels,  which  are  composed  principally  of  bamboo,  are  well 
 adapted  for  their  object.  They  are  in  general  use  in  the  iNIenangkabu  country,  and 
 may  be  considered  as  an  improvement  in  agriculture  to  which  even  the  Javans 
 have  not  advanced,  notwithstanding  their  long  connexion  with  the  Chinese.  As 
 neither  Europeans  nor  Chinese  had  hitherto  penetrated  the  Menangkabu  country. 
 
JOURNEY  INTO  THE  INTERIOR  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 357 
 
 and  the  natives  themselves,  for  many  centuries  at  least,  have  had  little  or  no  inter- 
 course with  foreigners,  these  wheels  may  be  considered  of  native  invention.  I had 
 formerly  occasion  to  notice  one  on  the  Manna  river,  and  in  the  Musi  country  I am 
 told  they  are  common.  I do  not  recollect  to  have  seen  any  thing  of  the  kind  in 
 Java. 
 
 “ On  those  slopes  of  the  hills  which  cannot  conveniently  be  cut  into  terraces, 
 or  where  streams  of  water  cannot  be  carried,  sugar-cane  is  the  principal  article.  Of 
 this  the  cultivation  is  considerable,  and  very  neatly  constructed  mills  for  expressing 
 the  juice,  which  is  afterwards  manufactured  into  a coarse  sugar,  are  common.  They 
 consist  of  two  perpendicular  cylinders,  the  upper  ends  of  which  are  formed  into 
 screws  or  gi’ooves,  which  fit  into  each  other  so  that  the  cylinders,  which  at  the  bottom 
 are  fixed  into  a stand,  and  are  turned  by  an  ox,  revolve  different  ways.  The 
 expressed  juice  is  received  in  a reservoir  below. 
 
 “ It  was  near  Simawang  that  we  first  found  feltspar,  granite,  quartz,  and  other 
 minerals  of  a primitive  formation.  They  were  here  mixed  wdth  a variety  of  volcanic 
 productions  in  the  greatest  confusion,  strongly  indicating  that  this  part  of  the  country 
 had  at  some  distant  period  been  subjected  to  violent  convulsions.  Dr.  Horsfield  got 
 specimens  of  these,  which  he  gave  in  charge  to  some  coolies  who  attended  him ; 
 after  the  day’s  journey  he  wished  to  examine  this  collection ; the  men  produced 
 their  baskets  full  of  stones,  but  on  the  Doctor’s  exclaiming  they  were  not  what  he 
 had  given  them,  and  expressing  some  anger  on  the  occasion,  they  simply  observed, 
 they  thought  he  only  wanted  stones,  and  they  preferred  carrying  their  baskets 
 empty,  so  they  threw  away  what  he  gave  them,  and  filled  them  up  at  the  end  of  the 
 day’s  journey,  and  they  were  sure  they  gave  him  more  than  he  collected. 
 
 “ But  to  proceed  on  our  journey.  We  were  now  in  a country  abounding  with 
 metals  ; iron  ore  of  various  kinds  lay  in  our  path,  and  it  was  not  long  before  we  were 
 to  be  in  the  vicinity  of  the  gold  mines. 
 
 “ We  left  Simawang  at  half-an-hour  before  seven,  and  reached  Suruasa,  the  second 
 city  of  the  Menangkabu  country,  and  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Pageruyong,  about 
 one  o’clock,  the  road  nearly  the  whole  way  lying  over  a range  of  low  primitive  hills,  and 
 the  distance  about  twelve  miles.  After  descending  the  hill  of  Simawang,  we  crossed 
 the  river  by  a most  romantic  hanging  bridge,  which  swung  in  a very  nervous  manner 
 as  we  passed  one  by  one.  We  soon  came  into  a country  entirely  primitive,  or  rather 
 composed  of  the  debris  of  primitive  matter ; we  passed  over  several  hills,  said  to  con- 
 tain gold,  and  saw  extensive  excavations,  where  the  miners  had  been  at  work ; these, 
 however,  cannot  be  considered  as  regular  mines,  and  they  are  not  reckoned  very 
 valuable.  The  excavations,  however,  afforded  us  a fine  opportunity  of  noticing  the 
 direction  of  the  strata,  and  other  appearances  interesting  to  the  geologist.  About 
 eleven  o’clock  we  obtained  our  first  view  of  Pageruyong. 
 
 “ Shortly  after  this  view,  our  path,  which  had  hitherto  been  narrow,  and  some- 
 
358 
 
 JOURNEY  INTO  THE  INTERIOR  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 times  steep  and  broken,  wdened,  and  it  was  e%’ident  we  were  approaching  the  %dcinity 
 of  some  place  of  importance  : but,  alas ! little  was  left  for  our  cmiosity  but  the  wreck 
 of  what  had  once  been  great  and  populous.  The  waringin  trees,  which  shaded  and 
 added  solemnity  to  the  palace,  were  yet  standing  in  all  their  majesty.  The  fruit-trees, 
 and  particularly  the  cocoa-nut,  marked  the  distant  boundaries  of  this  once  extensive 
 city ; but  the  rank  gi'ass  had  usiu’ped  the  halls  of  the  palace,  and  scarce  was  the  thatch 
 of  the  peasant  to  be  found ; three  times  has  the  city  been  committed  to  the  flames. 
 Well  might  I say,  in  the  language  of  the  Brata  Yudha,  ‘ Sad  and  melancholy  was  her 
 waringin  tree,  like  unto  the  soitow  of  a wife  whose  husband  is  afar.’ 
 
 “ On  our  arrival  at  Sumasa  we  were  conducted  to  the  best  dwelling  which  the 
 place  now  afforded — to  the  palace,  a small  planked  house  of  about  thirty  feet  long, 
 beautifully  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  Golden  River  {Soongy  Amas.)  Here  we 
 were  introduced  to  the  Ti/an  Gaclis,  or  Mrgin  Queen,  who  administered  the  country. 
 We  were  received  ^^^th  all  the  satisfaction  and  kindness  that  could  be  expected.  It 
 was  a scene  which  made  me  melancholy,  and  I hill  not  attempt  to  describe  it. 
 
 “ The  extensive  population  and  high  state  of  cultivation  by  which  we  were  sur- 
 rounded, seemed  to  confinn  the  opinion  I had  always  formed,  and  even  publicly 
 maintained,  as  you  may  see  in  my  History  of  Java,  that  the  Malayan  empire  was 
 not  of  recent  origin,  and  that  in  its  zenith  it  v.'as  of  comparative  rank,  if  not  the  rival 
 and  contemporary  of  the  Javan.  The  Malays  have  always  excited  considerable  spe- 
 culation fi*om  the  circumstance  of  their  being  eHdently  in  a retrograde  state ; but 
 where  were  we  to  look  for  their  history  ? In  their  literary  compositions  they  seldom 
 go  farther  back  than  the  introduction  of  ^Mahomedanism,  except  to  give  an  account 
 of  Noah’s  ark,  or  some  romantic  tale  fi'om  which  httle  or  nothing  can  be  gathered. 
 It  was  my  good  fortune  in  Java  to  discover  the  vestiges  of  a former  high  state  of 
 literature  and  the  arts,  in  poems,  in  the  ruins  of  temples,  in  sculptm*ed  images,  in 
 ancient  inscriptions.  Nothing  of  this  kind  was  supposed  to  exist  among  the  Malays; 
 Java  was  therefore  considered  as  the  cradle  of  the  arts  and  sciences,  as  far  as  they 
 had  been  introduced  into  the  Archipelago.  The  "Malays  were  even  stated  to  have 
 derived  their  origin  from  Java,  from  the  Javan  word  Malayu,  meaning  a runaway ; 
 they  were  said  to  be  the  runaways  and  outcasts  of  Java.  You  may  see  all  this,  and 
 much  more  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  Malays,  stated  in  the  forty-first  number  of  the 
 Edinburgh  Review.  Your  Grace  may  therefore  judge  with  what  interest  I now  sur- 
 veyed a country  which,  at  least  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  equalled  Java  in 
 scenery  and  cultivation ; and  with  what  real  satisfaction  I stumbled,  by  the  merest 
 accident,  upon  nothing  less  than  an  inscription  in  the  real  Kawi  character,  engraved 
 on  a stone,  exactly  after  the  manner  of  those  which  have  excited  so  much  interest  in 
 Java.  Immediately  opposite  the  house,  or  palace,  which  I have  described,  was  the 
 mosque,  a small  square  building.  In  fi-ont  of  the  mosque,  turned  up  on  its 
 edge,  and  serving  as  a stepping-stone  to  this  modern  place  of  Mahomedan  wor- 
 
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JOURNEY  INTO  THE  INTERIOR  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 359 
 
 ship,  was  this  relic  of  Hindu  dominion.  I soon  traced  the  characters  to  be 
 the  same  as  those  we  had  discovered  in  Java.  All  hands  were  immechately  col- 
 lected. In  about  an  hour  we  succeeded  in  laying  the  stone  flat  on  the  gi’ound, 
 and  the  operation  of  transcribing  was  immediately  commenced.  The  evening  did 
 not  pass  without  further  inquiries.  A second  inscription,  in  similar  characters, 
 was  chscovered  near  the  site  of  the  former  kudam,  or  palace.  This  was  on  a 
 stone  of  irregular  figure,  and  partly  buried  in  the  ground.  We  had  only  time  to 
 transcribe  two  lines  of  this.  On  Friday,  the  24th  of  July,  we  left  Suruasa  at  seven, 
 and  arrived  at  Pageruyong  a quarter  before  nine,  the  estimated  distance  between  the 
 two  cities  being  not  more  than  two  miles ; the  road  over  low  hills,  in  which  we 
 observed  numerous  petrifactions : whole  forests  would  appear,  in  some  remote  age, 
 to  have  been  buried  by  some  violent  convulsion.  Passing  along  the  sides  of  the 
 hills,  our  attention  was  repeatedly  attracted  by  the  numerous  stumps  and  trmiks  of 
 trees  in  a state  of  petrifaction.  These  were  mostly  protruded  from  considerable 
 depths  under  ground. 
 
 In  quitting  Saruasa  we  noticed  several  small  tanks,  and  passed  over  the  site 
 of  many  an  extensive  building  now  no  more.  The  only  vestige,  however,  of  any 
 thing  like  sculpture,  beyond  the  inscriptions  already  alluded  to,  was  in  four  cut  stones, 
 which  evidently  had  formerly  served  for  the  entrance  of  the  city. 
 
 “ In  approaching  Pageruyong  we  had  an  excellent  view  of  the  situation  of  this 
 once  famous  city.  It  is  built,  as  I before  noticed,  at  the  foot,  and  partly  on  the 
 slope  of  a steep  and  rugged  hill  called  Gunung  Bongso,  so  remarkable  for  its  appear- 
 ance and  the  three  peaks  which  it  exhibits.  Below  the  town,  under  a precipice  of 
 from  fifty  to  a hundred  feet,  in  some  parts  nearly  perpendicular,  winds  the  beautiful 
 stream  of  Selo,  which,  pursuing  its  course,  passes  Suruasa,  where  it  takes  the  name 
 of  the  Golden  River,  and  finally  falls  into  the  river  of  Indragiri.  In  front  of  the 
 city  rises  the  momitain  Berapi,  the  summit  of  which  may  be  about  twenty  miles 
 distant.  It  is  on  the  slopes  of  this  mountain  that  the  principal  population  is  settled. 
 The  whole  side  of  the  mountain,  for  about  fifteen  miles  from  Pageruyong  in  every 
 direction,  being  covered  with  villages  and  rice-fields.  The  entrance  to  the  city, 
 which  is  now  only  marked  by  a few  venerable  trees,  and  the  traces  of  what  was  once 
 a high-way,  is  nearly  three-quarters  of  a mile  before  we  came  to  the  Bali  and  site  of 
 the  former  palace.  Here  httle  is  left  save  the  noble  waringin  trees,  and  these  appear 
 in  several  instances  to  have  suffered  from  the  action  of  fire  : scarcely  the  appearance 
 of  a hut  is  to  be  seen ; the  large  flat  stone,  however,  on  which  the  Sultan  used  to  sit 
 on  days  of  public  ceremony,  was  pointed  out  to  us ; and  when  the  weeds  had  been 
 partially  cleared,  the  royal  burial-ground  was  discovered.  In  this  we  did  not  dis- 
 cover any  inscription  in  the  ancient  character ; but  the  ground  was  but  very  par- 
 tially and  hastily  examined.  We  were  struck,  however,  with  the  sculpture  of  later 
 
;360 
 
 JOURNEY  INTO  THE  INTERIOR  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 days,  the  memorials  of  the  dead  raised  in  Mahomedan  times ; these  were  on  a 
 small  scale,  but  very  heaiitifnlly  executed. 
 
 “ Arrangements  had  been  made  for  our  accommodation  in  a small  house  recently 
 erected  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  to  which  we  descended.  Here  we  remained  for  some 
 time  ; but  intending  to  return  to  Suruasa  in  the  afternoon,  I left  the  party  and  wan- 
 dered for  an  hour  or  two. 
 
 “ This  city  had  shared  the  same  fate  with  that  of  Suruasa.  Three  times  had 
 it  been  committed  to  the  flames  by  a remorseless  fanatic  ; twice  had  it  again  risen  to 
 something  like  splendor  : from  the  last  shock  it  had  not  yet  recovered.  The  Prince, 
 no  longer  able  to  make  a stand  against  the  oppressor,  had  fled  to  a distant  retreat ; 
 and  a few  peasants  now  cultivated  those  spots  which  had  formerly  been  the  pleasure- 
 gi'ounds  of  the  rich.  Where  the  palace  of  the  Sultan  had  stood,  I observed  a man 
 planting  cucumbers,  and  the  sugar-cane  occupied  the  place  of  the  seraglio.  From 
 the  heights  of  the  town  the  view  stretched  to  the  north  and  west,  as  far  as  the  sum- 
 mit of  the  mountain  of  Berapi  and  the  neighbouring  hills.  The  whole  country,  from 
 Pageniyong  as  far  as  the  eye  could  distinctly  trace,  was  one  continued  scene  of  culti- 
 vation, interspersed  with  innumerable  towns  and  villages,  shaded  by  the  cocoa-nut 
 and  other  fmit-trees.  I may  safely  say,  that  this  view  equalled  any  thing  I ever  saw 
 in  Java ; the  scenery  is  more  majestic  and  grand,  population  equally  dense,  cultiva- 
 tion equally  rich.  In  a comparison  with  the  plain  of  Matarun,  the  richest  part  of 
 Java,  I think  it  would  rise.  Here,  then,  for  the  first  time,  was  I able  to  trace  the 
 source  of  that  power,  the  origin  of  that  nation,  so  extensively  scattered  over  the 
 Eastern  Archipelago. 
 
 “ I returned  to  the  party  where  the  Tuan  Gadis  and  Princes  of  the  house  of 
 Menangkabu  had  assembled.  A royal  salute  of  one  gun  was  fired,  and  after  three 
 cheers,  we  set  out  on  our  return  to  Suruasa. 
 
 “ But  I must  not  quit  this  (to  a Malay)  classic  ground,  without  informing  you 
 of  a most  interesting  discovery.  At  Suruasa  I had  discovered  tw^o  inscriptions  : here 
 I looked  for  them  in  vain,  but  unexpectedly  stumbled  upon  something  no  less  inte- 
 resting : a Hindu  image,  chastely  and  beautifidly  carved,  corresponchng  with  those 
 discovered  in  Java,  and  eridently  the  work  of  similar  artists,  and  the  object  of  a 
 similar  w^orship.  This  image  was  mutilated,  but  in  sufficient  preservation  to  decide 
 thus  much. 
 
 “ Tlie  estimated  height  of  Pageniyong  above  the  level  of  the  sea  is  1,800  feet. 
 In  Mr.  Marsden’s  map,  Pageniyong  is  placed  at  about  eighty-two  miles  N.E.  of 
 Padang,  and  sixty-six  from  the  coast.  By  our  observations  we  found  it  to  be  not 
 more  than  fifty  miles  from  Padang,  and  forty-five  from  the  coast,  in  a straight  line ; 
 the  latitude  being  14'  south,  and  longitude  twenty-eight  miles  east  of  Padang,  or 
 100”  20'  east  of  Greenwich. 
 
JOURNEY  INTO  THE  INTERIOR  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 361 
 
 “ We  returned  to  Suruasa  about  three  o’clock,  and  in  the  evening  I visited  an 
 extensive  excavation  where  gold  had  been  procured  in  considerable  quantities. 
 
 “ On  the  next  day,  Saturday  the  25th,  we  left  Suruasa  at  half-past  six,  and 
 reached  Simawang  on  our  return  towards  Padang,  at  half-past  eleven.  Here  we  re- 
 mained till  Sunday  evening,  when  to  he  prepared  for  an  early  departure  on  the  next 
 morning,  we  descended  to  the  lake  and  bivouacked  on  the  banks  for  the  night, 
 hterally  lying  down  on  the  ground.  While  collecting  specimens  of  minerals  on  this 
 spot,  I discovered  another  inscription  in  the  Kawi  character,  the  characters  of  which 
 were  nearly  obliterated  by  the  constant  action  of  the  water.  This  stone  was  lying 
 among  the  rocks  over  which  the  waters  of  the  lake  fell  into  the  Indragiri  river. 
 
 “ Monday. — The  baggage  having  been  embarked  on  the  preceding  evening,  we 
 rose  at  four,  and  by  day-hght  were  nearly  half-way  across  the  lake ; four  large  boats 
 in  company  which  conveyed  the  whole  of  the  party. 
 
 “ Besides  the  pass  into  the  Tiga-blas  country,  by  which  we  had  passed  from 
 Padang,  there  are  three  other  principal  passes  leading  to  the  Menangkabu  country, 
 at  Kati,  Sindangbaher,  and  Paningahan  ; that  at  Sindangbaher  called  the  Sri-menenti 
 (the  same  term  that  is  used  in  Java  for  the  entrance  to  the  palace)  appeared  to  be 
 the  most  frequented,  but  the  road  was  said  to  lie  along  the  beds  of  several  rivers : 
 that  of  Kasi  had  nothing  particular  to  recommend  it;  but  the  pass  of  Paningahan, 
 though  the  longest,  was  said  to  be  the  most  practicable  for  cattle,  and  to  run  prin- 
 cipally on  dry  ground.  I therefore  determined  to  proceed  by  the  last,  in  the  hope 
 of  tracing  something  hke  a road  which  would  admit  of  improvement. 
 
 “ We  accordingly  quitted  Paningahan  on  our  return  across  the  Barisen  about 
 eight  o’clock,  and  reached  the  Gedong  Papan  or  planked-house  (a  toll-post)  about 
 twelve.  Contrary  to  our  expectation,  our  com-se  so  far  lay  almost  entirely  along 
 the  bed  of  a rapid  stream.  Lady  Raffles  being  fatigued,  we  rested  at  this  place  for 
 the  night ; but  several  of  the  party  went  on  to  the  next  resting-place.  The  ascent 
 hitherto  had  been  gi'adual,  and  the  scenery  very  romantic,  the  distance  from  the 
 lake  estimated  at  six  miles  in  a south-west  direction.  In  a mineralogical  point  of 
 view,  this  ascent  from  the  lake  was  by  far  the  most  interesting  we  had  met  with. 
 
 here  found  abundance  of  granite,  marble,  great  varieties  of  lime-stone,  beautiful 
 masses  of  calcareous  spar,  and  a variety  of  subjects  with  which  we  enriched  our 
 collection. 
 
 “ Tuesday,  28th  July. — Left  the  Gedong  Papan  at  six,  and  ascended  the  moun- 
 tains, om*  course  being  near  the  banks  of  a rapid  stream  which  we  frequently  crossed 
 for  the  whole  of  the  morning.  At  half-past  nine  reached  another  toll-post,  where 
 we  overtook  the  advanced  party  and  obtained  some  refreshment:  set  out  again  at 
 eleven,  and  continued  ascending  till  three  o’clock,  when  we  reached  the  summit  of 
 the  highest  ridge.  The  thennometer  was  here  sixty-six — on  the  water  sixty-three  : 
 height  above  the  level  of  the  sea  four  thousand  five  hundred  feet.  We  now  descended 
 
 3 A 
 
S62 
 
 JOURNEY  INTO  THE  INTERIOR  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 till  six,  when  just  as  the  day  was  closing  in  we  reached  the  toll-post  of  Sambung, 
 after  a most  fatiguing  day’s  jornmey.  The  road  was  execrable,  in  some  parts  wet  and 
 muddy,  and  exceedingly  difficult  to  pass — estimated  distance  from  the  Gedong  Papan 
 not  less  than  twenty  miles. 
 
 “ Wednesday,  29th. — Started  from  Sambung  at  seven  in  the  morning,  and 
 ascended  the  Sambung  mountain  until  near  ten,  when  we  had  the  satisfaction  to  find 
 that  the  remainder  of  our  journey  was  a descent  do\vn  to  the  sea-side.  The  road, 
 however,  was  even  worse  than  what  we  had  passed  the  day  before,  the  descent  being 
 very  rapid,  and  the  only  firm  hold  which  our  feet  could  have  being  upon  the  roots  of 
 trees,  which  mtersected  the  path  in  every  direction,  and  from  which  the  earth  had 
 been  washed  away.  In  many  places  this  path  was  knee-deep  in  mud  for  a consider- 
 able distance,  and  we  could  only  pass  by  stepping  from  root  to  root.  This  was  even 
 more  fatiguing  than  leaping  from  rock  to  rock,  and  our  shoes  being  soaked  through, 
 om*  feet  soon  became  so  tender  that  it  was  with  real  pain  we  moved  on  : eveiy  step, 
 on  accoimt  of  the  steep  descent,  was  a strain  to  the  muscles  of  the  leg,  and  a wound 
 or  blow  to  the  foot.  The  people  on  this  road  cany  their  load  in  a very  different 
 manner  to  that  described  on  the  road  to  the  Tiga-blas  comitry.  Here  the  load  is 
 lashed  to  a kind  of  frame  or  cradle,  and  elevated  to  a considerable  distance  above  the 
 head,  the  lower  part  of  the  frame  being  fastened  round  the  head  and  shoulders.  It 
 was  proposed  that  Lady  Raffles  should  be  carried  in  this  manner,  but  we  could  not 
 reconcile  her  to  the  attempt.  Salt,  rice,  &c.  in  loads  of  about  fifty  and  sixty  pounds, 
 are  carried  in  this  manner.  At  length,  at  about  two  o’clock,  we  once  more  got  a 
 view  of  the  sea  from  a place  called  Liring,  where  a small  shed  was  erected,  and  where 
 the  forest  in  some  degree  was  cleared.  From  this  spot  the  countiy  gradually  opened  ; 
 and  w*e  descended  by  a tolerably  good  road,  passable  for  horses,  through  a country 
 which  had  once  been  cleared,  and  was  stiU  partially  under  cultivation.  At  five  obtained 
 a new  of  Padang  HiU,  bearing  south  by  w'est,  distance  about  ten  miles ; in  half-an- 
 hour  more  arrived  at  Pinang,  a comfortable  hut,  where  we  remained  for  the  night. 
 Here  we  received  fresh  supplies  from  Padang,  and  found  our  horses,  which  had  been 
 sent  on  to  meet  us.  Om*  distance  this  day  we  estimated  at  about  sixteen  miles : we 
 were  now  out  of  the  forest,  and  nearly  at  the  bottom  of  the  hills  on  the  sea-side. 
 
 “ Thursday,  30th. — Started  at  day-light,  and  proceeded  partly  on  horseback 
 and  partly  on  foot ; om'  com*se  towards  the  sea  for  about  six  miles,  the  latter  part  of 
 which  was  through  a fine  plain  of  rice-fields,  and  along  the  banks  of  a rapid  stream. 
 Pursuing  our  journey  to  Padang  through  Cota  Tingaand  along  the  sea-shore,  we  had 
 to  pass  the  mouths  of  two  rivers,  which,  in  consequence  of  the  rain  that  had  fallen 
 during  the  night,  were  not  fordable ; we  were  in  consequence  soon  wet  through. 
 Near  Fjung  Carang,  however,  the  gentlemen  fi’om  Padang  had  assembled  to  receive 
 us  on  our  return,  and  a buggy  being  pronded,  we  reached  Padang  without  fur- 
 ther difficulty  at  about  noon ; having  thus  completed  oiu’  journey  in  fourteen  days. 
 
JOURNEY  INTO  THE  INTERIOR  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 363 
 
 during  whicli  we  had  traversed  in  a straight  line  about  one  hundred  and  forty,  and  by 
 the  course  we  were  compelled  to  pursue,  not  less  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
 over  one  of  the  worst  roads  that  perhaps  ever  was  passed  by  man. 
 
 What  may  be  the  eventual  results  of  this  journey,  it  is  impossible  to  say.  In 
 natural  history,  it  has  afforded  us  a very  interesting  insight  into  the  mineral  kingdom. 
 We  have  traced  the  junction  of  the  volcanic  with  the  primitive  series ; and  by  the 
 evidences  afforded  in  our  collections,  are  enabled  to  estimate  the  mineral  resources 
 of  the  country.  In  the  vegetable  kingdom  we  discovered  no  less  than  forty-one 
 plants,  which  appeared  to  Dr.  Horsfield  entirely  new,  and  certainly  not  contained  in 
 the  Flora  of  Java.  The  different  elevations  above  the  sea  were  ascertained,  some  by 
 barometrical,  others  by  trigometrical  observations.  The  latitudes  and  longitudes 
 fixed,  partly  by  observation  and  partly  by  dead  reckoning.  By  crossing  the  range  of 
 mountains  at  different  passes  we  clearly  ascertained  that  there  are  three  ridges,  the 
 central  being  the  highest. 
 
 “ The  discovery  of  an  extensively  populous  and  highly  agricultural  country 
 cannot  fail  to  be  interesting.  On  a moderate  calculation,  the  population  within  a range 
 of  fifty  miles  round  Pageruyong  cannot  be  estimated  at  less  than  a million  ; by  the 
 returns  I received  on  the  spot,  the  number  appears  more  considerable.  Throughout 
 the  whole  of  our  journey  I did  not  observe  a single  Ladang,  that  migratory  kind  of 
 cultivation  so  accurately  described  by  Mr.  Marsden,  and  so  universal  near  the 
 southern  coast ; it  had  long  been  superseded  by  the  conversion  of  the  land  into  regu- 
 lar sawas,  and  the  establishment  of  fixed  property  in  the  soil ; manufactories  also  are 
 here  more  advanced.  Menangkabu  has  always  been  famed  for  its  cris  blades.  Iron 
 has  been  worked  from  time  immemorial.  An  extensive  manufactory  of  coarse  pot- 
 tery near  the  banks  of  the  lake  supplies  not  only  Padang  but  Bencoolen  with  that 
 useful  article. 
 
 " Politically  the  greatest  results  may  accrue.  At  no  very  distant  date  the 
 sovereignty  of  Menangkabu  was  acknowledged  over  the  whole  of  Sumatra,  and  its 
 influence  extended  to  many  of  the  neighbouring  Islands ; the  respect  still  paid  to  its 
 princes  by  all  ranks  amounts  almost  to  veneration.  By  upholding  their  authority,  a 
 central  government  may  easily  be  established ; and  the  numerous  petty  states,  now 
 disunited  and  barbarous,  may  be  again  connected  under  one  general  system  of  go- 
 vernment. The  rivers  which  fall  into  the  Eastern  Archipelago  may  again  become 
 the  high  roads  to  and  from  the  central  capital ; and  Sumatra,  under  British  influence, 
 again  rise  into  great  political  importance.” 
 
 One  or  two  anecdotes  of  the  natives  may  be  added  to  the  above.  When  the 
 people  of  the  Tiga-blas  country  first  beheld  the  Editor,  they  seemed  to  be  struck 
 with  amazement,  and  the  question  was  not,  who  is  that  ? but,  what  is  that  ? The 
 disguise  of  dress,  and,  to  them,  the  extraordinary  appearance  of  fairness  were  unac- 
 
 3 A 2 
 
364 
 
 ANECDOTES  OF  NATIVES. 
 
 countable.  With  all  the  wonder  of  ignorance  they  immediately  conceived  that  there 
 must  be  something  supernatural ; and  mothers  pressed  in  crowds,  imploring  to  have 
 their  children  touched  as  a preservative  from  all  future  evil.  It  was  in  vain  to  urge 
 fatigue,  to  entreat  to  be  excused ; no  one  liked  to  lose  so  easy  an  opportunity  of 
 insmnng  future  good,  and  the  noise,  the  pressure,  and  confusion  were  not  a httle 
 amusing ; when  one  crowd  was  satisfied  a fresh  collected,  and  it  would  be  difficult  to 
 guess  the  number  on  whom  was  bestowed  this  slight  but  coveted  act  of  kindness. 
 At  Solaya  the  Editor  was  left  alone  in  a native  house,  with  a sepoy  stationed  as  a 
 sentry  at  the  door  to  keep  the  people  away ; but  they  collected  in  such  numbers  that 
 they  ovei-powered  him,  and  hundreds  rushed  into  the  house  to  gaze  and  express  their 
 astonishment ; after  this  had  been  endured  for  a length  of  time  they  were  entreated  to 
 retire  and  allow  some  repose  to  be  taken ; with  one  accord  they  seated  themselves 
 in  a moment,  saying,  of  all  things  they  should  hke  to  see  the  mode  of  sleeping,  and 
 that  they  w^ould  w^atch  all  the  time,  and  only  sit  and  look ; and  no  entreaty  could  pre- 
 vail upon  them  to  go  aw^ay,  so  there  they  remained  until  the  rest  of  the  party  returned 
 from  the  assembly  of  the  Chiefs.  On  reaching  Simaw^ang  the  same  thing  w^as  re- 
 peated, the  same  curiosity  and  wonder ; crowds  assembled  to  see  how  the  Editor  took 
 food,  and  during  the  night  strange  dark  faces  w^ere  continually  seen  peeping  through 
 the  curtain  wffiich  parted  off  her  place  of  rest  from  the  numerous  imnates  of  the 
 same  room. 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  August  15,  1818. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ My  last  letter  was  fi*om  Pagemyong ; and  you  will  be  happy  to  hear 
 that  we  are  again  safe  at  Bencoolen,  without  having  suffered  any  serious  injury  from 
 the  fatigues  of  the  journey.  We  were  absent  fi'om  Padang  fifteen  days ; and  oiu* 
 course  in  the  map  w^as,  in  a straight  Hne,  about  one  hundred  and  forty  miles.  For 
 the  details  of  our  journey  I refer  you  to  Di'.  Horsfield,  who  will  be  the  bearer  of  this, 
 and  to  wiiom,  independently  of  his  claims  as  a man  of  science  and  research,  I have 
 to  request  yom'  kind  attention  as  my  particular  friend. 
 
 “ To  Dr.  Horsfield  I have  entmsted  a sketch  of  our  route ; in  his  I have  cor- 
 rected the  situation  of  Pagemyong,  wffiich  is  a few  miles  different  to  wffiat  I stated  in 
 my  letter  from  thence.  I do  not  think  w^e  can  be  much  out ; perhaps  you  will  be 
 induced  to  consider  it  sufficient  authority  for  coirecting  the  map.  On  this  subject  I 
 am  anxious  to  hear  from  you.  I have  now  an  establishment  in  two  parts  of  the 
 interior  of  Menangkabu  and  inland  of  Bencoolen,  and  I have  some  idea  of  traversing 
 the  central  districts  from  one  end  of  the  Island  to  the  other.  Do  you  contemplate 
 the  publication  of  any  improved  additions  to  your  map  ? or  shall  I keep  the  observa- 
 
DEATH  OF  DR.  ARNOLD. 
 
 365 
 
 tions  here  until  I can  fi'ame  a new  one.  I mention  this  because  we  are  badly  off  for 
 draftsmen  ; and  under  the  existing  regulations  of  the  post-office  you  may  have  trouble 
 in  securing  the  detailed  surveys  sent  as  they  are  made. 
 
 “ You  ■will  be  gratified  to  hear  that  the  neighbourhood  of  Pageruyong  contains 
 a population  of  certainly  not  less  than  a million ; that  agriculture  is  nearly  as  ad- 
 vanced as  in  Java;  and  that  in  soil  and  climate  we  have  reason  to  believe  Sumatra 
 is  fully  equal  to  that  Island.  The  first  fi'uits  of  our  establishment  in  the  hills  have 
 been  the  regular  supply  of  Bencoolen  with  potatoes,  which  hitherto  have  been 
 imported. 
 
 Our  discoveries  in  Menangkabu  enhance  the  value  of  Padang  to'wn ; it  is  the 
 key  of  that  place,  and  of  all  which  is  valuable  in  Sumatra.  Without  this  we  can  do 
 nothing — with  it  every  thing.  The  measmres  which  I have  taken  ’will,  no  doubt,  be 
 considered  strong ; but  our  interests  have  been  so  shamefully  sacrificed,  that  I could 
 do  nothing  less.  Nothing  but  definite  arrangements  in  Europe  ■will  place  things  on 
 their  proper  footing. 
 
 “ I have  to  report  to  you  two  melancholy  losses  which  we  have  sustained.  Poor 
 Dr.  Ai'nold,  our  naturalist,  died  of  a fever,  occasioned,  I fear,  from  the  fatigues  of 
 our  journey  to  Pasumah ; and  accounts  were  yesterday  received  of  the  death  of 
 Mr.  Holloway  at  sea. 
 
 I send  by  Dr.  Horsfield  a fac-simile  of  one  of  the  inscriptions  which  I found  at 
 Suruasa.  The  stone  to  which  you  allude  as  remarkable  near  Pnaman,  turns  out  to 
 be  modern,  and  a vestige  of  Dutch  authority.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 **  Fort  Marlborough,  August  18,  1818. 
 
 “ My  last  letter  to  your  Grace  was  from  on  board  **  The  Lady  Raffles,”  on  our 
 return  from  Padang  and  Menangkabu ; and  I did  hope,  before  the  ship  left  us  finally 
 for  England,  that  I should  have  been  able  to  give  you  a detail  of  our  subsequent 
 proceedings ; but  this  is  impossible,  and  I must  be  content  to  send  her  off  -with  a few 
 lines,  saying  we  are  all  well. 
 
 We  are  now  tolerably  quiet,  but  the  earth  continued  to  quake  for  the  first 
 month  after  our  arrival,  and  we  were  seldom  without  one  or  two  shocks  in  the  day. 
 The  sensation,  particularly  during  the  night,  is  very  unpleasant. 
 
 "We  are  going  on,  I am  happy  to  say,  very  well ; our  dear  httle  Charlotte 
 daily  improving,  and  promising  to  be  every  thing  we  could  wish.  Lady  Raffles 
 is  quite  well,  notwithstanding  the  excessive  fatigue  of  the  journeys  we  have  taken  ; 
 the  last  occupied  fifteen  days,  and  we  did  not  walk  less  than  two  hundred  and  fifty 
 miles  over  the  very  worst  route,  for  road  there  was  none, — at  first,  up  the  bed  of 
 a river,  where  we  had  to  force  our  way  by  leaping  fi'om  rock  to  rock ; then  for  some 
 
366 
 
 DIFFICULTIES  OF  THE  JOURNEY. 
 
 days  over  hills  covered  wth  forest ; and  the  roots  of  the  trees  which  projected  far 
 above  the  ground,  our  only  foot-path ; the  ascent  sometimes  so  steep,  that  Lady 
 Raffles  was  obliged  to  be  dragged  up  by  two  men,  being  often  so  fatigued  she  could 
 not  raise  her  foot  the  length  of  the  step,  having  to  w'alk  some  days  from  day-light, 
 with  one  hour’s  rest  at  mid-day,  when  the  only  refreshment  to  be  obtained  was  a 
 little  rice  and  wine,  until  eight  o’clock  at  night,  before  we  reached  the  shed  pre- 
 pared for  our  night’s  lodging.” 
 
CHAPTER  XIIL 
 
 Sir  Stamford's  arrival  at  Bencoolen — Improvement  in  the  feelings  of  the  inhabitants — State  of  affairs  in  the 
 Eastern  Archipelago  requires  him  to  proceed  to  Bengal — Wrecked  on  the  passage — Attention  of  the 
 Government  already  directed  to  the  subject  of  the  Dutch  encroachments — Lord  Hastings  determines  on 
 another  line  of  policy,  and  to  secure  the  command  of  the  Straits  of  Malacca — Sir  Stamford  appointed 
 Agent  to  the  Governor  General  for  this  purpose — Account  of  the  discovery  of  the  Tapir — Departure 
 from  Calcutta — Anticipation  of  Singapore  as  the  spot  for  the  new  settlement — Arrival  at  Panang — 
 Proceeds  down  the  Straits  of  Malacca — hoists  the  British  flag  at  Singapore — Acheen — Decides  on  the 
 right  to  the  crown— Description  of  Acheen — Reformation  introduced  at  Bencoolen — Journeys — General 
 politics — Conquest  of  Java — The  first  convention  for  the  unconditional  restoration  of  it  to  the  Dutch — 
 only  communication  from  Europe — Representations  made  in  England — Apprehensions  realised  on 
 return  to  India — Bornean  States — Dutch  at  Palembang — Acheen  affairs — Title  to  the  occupation  of 
 Singapore — Bible  Society — Opinions  of  Captain  Horsburgh  and  Mr.  Carnegie  on  the  settlement  of 
 Singapore — Accident  to  the  vessel  off  Rhio. 
 
 On  his  return  to  Bencoolen  Sir  Stamford  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  that  a gene- 
 ral impression  prevailed  with  those  committed  to  his  charge,  that  the  object  of  his 
 government  was  to  promote  a spirit  of  enterprise  among  them  as  individuals,  to  give 
 the  utmost  freedom  to  cultivation,  to  extend  the  commerce  of  the  country,  and  to 
 advance  the  happiness  of  the  people  in  general.  It  would  have  been  dehghtful  to 
 him  to  have  remained  with  them,  desirous  as  they  appeared  to  be  to  promote  his 
 views  for  their  welfare  ; but  the  larger  national  interests  in  the  Ea^stern  Archipelago 
 required  his  immediate  attention.  On  his  arrival  in  Sumatra  he  had  foreseen  that  it 
 would  be  necessary  for  him  to  have  personal  communication  with  the  Bengal  go- 
 vernment on  this  subject ; and  he  therefore  thought  it  adtisable  to  proceed  at  once 
 to  Calcutta. 
 
 It  is  only  necessary  to  state,  that  Sir  Stamford  embarked  in  a very  small  vessel, 
 which  had  no  better  accommodation  than  one  small  cabin,  with  only  a port-hole  to 
 admit  air,  where  centipedes  and  scorpions  roved  about  without  interruption  : but  per- 
 sonal convenience  was  never  considered  by  him  if  it  interfered  with  duty,  and  no 
 better  opportunity  was  likely  to  occur.  The  vessel  lost  a mast  in  the  Bay  of  Bengal, 
 and,  owing  to  a drunken  pilot,  was  literally  upset  in  the  middle  of  the  night  upon  a 
 
368 
 
 LETTER  FROM  LORD  HASTINGS. 
 
 dangerous  bank  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  Hoogley,  where  Sir  Stamford  was  obliged 
 to  remain  mitil  boats  were  sent  fi’om  Calcutta  to  take  him  out  of  the  vessel. 
 
 The  following  letter  is  from  Lord  Hastings,  permitting  Sir  Stamford  to  proceed 
 to  Calcutta. 
 
 “ July  6th,  1818. 
 
 “ Sir, 
 
 “ I have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  yom’  letter,  and  to  offer  my  congra- 
 tulations on  your  safe  arrival. 
 
 “ It  was  painful  to  me,  that  I had,  in  the  course  of  my  public  duty,  to  express 
 an  opinion  mifavourable  to  certain  of  your  measm’es  in  Java.  The  disapprobation, 
 as  you  would  perceive,  affected  their  prudence  alone ; on  the  other  hand,  no  person 
 can  have  felt  more  strongly  than  I did  yom*  anxious  and  unwearied  exertions  for 
 amehorating  the  condition  of  the  native  inhabitants  under  your  sway.  The  proce- 
 dure was  no  less  recommended  by  wisdom  than  by  benevolence  ; and  the  results  have 
 been  highly  creditable  to  the  British  Government. 
 
 “ I request  you  to  consider  yourself  at  liberty  to  carry  into  execution  your  wish 
 of  visiting  Bengal,  whensoever  your  convenience  and  the  state  of  affairs  in  the  Island 
 may  afford  an  ehgible  opportunity.  The  means  of  rendering  the  settlement  at  Ben- 
 coolen  more  advantageous  to  the  Honourable  Company  than  it  now  appears  to  be, 
 are  certainly  more  hkely  to  be  struck  out  in  oral  discussion. 
 
 “ I am,  &c. 
 
 “ Hastings.” 
 
 Sir  Stamford  found  that  the  measures  which  he  adopted  in  Sumatra,  in  particular 
 the  general  protest  which  he  had  made  against  the  Netherlands’  authority  on  the 
 occasion  of  its  interference  at  Palembang,  had  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Governor 
 General  in  Council : and  as  the  Netherlands’  government  had  submitted  to  the  same 
 authority  its  appeal  against  the  part  which  he  had  taken,  the  question  was  fairly 
 before  the  Bengal  Government.  Fortunately  the  Government  of  Prince  of  Wales 
 Island  had  at  length,  on  the  transfer  of  Malacca  to  the  Dutch,  been  awakened  to 
 the  dangerous  consequences  which  must  have  ensued  to  the  interests  of  that  Island, 
 and  the  eastern  trade  generally ; and  their  representations  had  the  effect  of  corro- 
 borating and  confirming  all  Sir  Stamford’s  previous  apprehensions  and  statements. 
 
 Having  thus  succeeded  in  bringing  the  subject  fully  before  a higher  and  compe- 
 tent authority,  and  having  convinced  that  authority  of  the  necessity  of  adopting  some 
 defined  line  of  pohcy  for  the  protection  of  those  interests,  he  had  the  satisfaction  to 
 find  that  at  length  their  nature  and  importance  were  justly  appreciated ; and  the  mea- 
 sures which  he  had  previously  adopted,  however  they  might  be  regretted  as  occasion- 
 ing colhsion  with  the  Netherlands’  Government,  were  pronounced  to  have  been 
 
CHANGE  IN  MARQUESS  OF  HASTINGS’  POLICY. 
 
 369 
 
 dictated  by  the  purest  spirit  of  patriotism,  and  to  have  been  such  that,  in  the  circum- 
 stances in  which  he  was  placed,  he  could  not  well  have  acted  otherwise.” 
 
 It  is  not  necessary,  and  perhaps  it  might  be  improper,  to  advert  to  the  grounds  on 
 which  the  Governor  General  resolved  upon  the  line  of  policy  which  was  subsequently 
 adopted.  It  is  sufficient  to  state,  that  it  was  determined,  under  existing  circum- 
 stances, to  concede  to  the  Dutch  their  pretensions  in  Sumatra ; and  to  limit  the  inter- 
 ference to  measures  of  precaution,  by  securing  a free  trade  with  the  Archipelago  and 
 China  through  the  Straits  of  Malacca,  leaving  to  the  Dutch  the  exclusive  command 
 of  the  Straits  of  Sunda.  In  order  to  effect  this,  and  at  the  same  time  to  protect  the 
 political  and  commercial  interests  in  the  Eastern  Seas  generally,  it  was  essential  that 
 some  central  station  should  be  occupied  within  the  Archipelago,  and  to  the  south- 
 ward of  Malacca ; and  Sir  Stamford  was  appointed  Agent  to  the  Governor  General  to 
 effect  this  important  object,  if  practicable,  and  generally  to  assume  charge  of  the 
 British  interests  to  the  eastward  of  the  Straits  of  Malacca. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  wrote  to  Mr.  Marsden  on  these  subjects. 
 
 To  William  Marsden,  Esq. 
 
 “ Calcutta,  October  16,  1818. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ You  will  be  happy  to  hear  that  I have  made  my  peace  with  the  Mar- 
 quess of  Hastings,  and  that  his  Lordship  has  at  last  acknowledged  my  exertions  in 
 Java  in  flattering  terms.  This  was  one  object  of  my  visit  to  Calcutta,  and  on  it 
 depended,  in  a great  measure,  the  success  of  the  others.  I am  now  strugghng  hard 
 to  interest  the  Supreme  Government  in  the  Eastern  Islands ; and  the  measures  taken 
 by  me  at  Palambang,  &c.  wiU,  I doubt  not,  lead  to  the  advantage  of  some  deflned 
 line  of  policy  being  laid  down  for  the  future.  With  regard  to  the  Dutch  proceed- 
 ings at  Palembang,  of  which  I hope  you  are,  ere  this,  fully  apprised.  Lord  Hastings 
 has  unequivocally  declared,  that  his  mind  is  made  up  as  to  the  moral  turpitude  of 
 the  transaction,  and  that  he  considers  this  but  as  one  of  a course  of  measures 
 directed  in  hostility  to  the  British  interests  and  name  in  the  Eastern  Seas.  My 
 despatches  are  now  under  consideration,  and  it  is  uncertain  what  may  be  the  imme- 
 diate result.  There  is  but  one  opinion  in  regard  to  the  manner  in  which  our  inter- 
 ests have  been  sacrificed  by  the  transfer  of  Java,  &c.  and  it  is  clear  that  the  govern- 
 ment at  home  will  be  called  upon  from  hence  to  interfere  for  the  security  of  our 
 trade ; but  in  the  mean  time,  and  pending  the  reference  to  Europe,  I fear  that 
 nothing  decisive  will  be  done.  Lord  Hastings  is,  I know,  inchned  to  recommend 
 om’  exchanging  Bencoolen  for  Malacca,  and  to  make  the  equator  the  hmit. 
 
 “ As  soon  as  I see  my  way  more  clearly,  and  obtain  leisure,  I shall  write  you 
 fuUy : in  the  mean  time  I am  anxious  you  should  be  apprised  that,  although  I hope 
 to  carry  this  government  with  me,  I do  not  expect  they  will  do  any  thing  decisive  of 
 
 3 B 
 
V 
 
 ;370  ESTABLISHMENT  OF  A STATION  AT  SINGAPORE. 
 
 themselves ; they  vdll  refer  every  thing  home,  and  then  despatches  may  not  be 
 dispatched  for  months.  They  possess  no  information  which  can  assist  the  decision  in 
 Enrope  ; what  they  forward  will  be  obtained  fi'om  me  ; and  I am  not  aware  of  any 
 advantage  which  will  arise  from  delaying  a decision  till  their  references  ari'ive.  Every 
 day,  every  honr  that  the  Dutch  are  left  to  themselves,  their  influence  increases,  and 
 
 our  difficulties  will  be  proportionally  increased. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 “ The  conversion  of  my  Lord  Hastings  and  the  favourable  opinion  expressed 
 by  the  Supreme  Government  in  the  wind-up  of  affairs  in  Java,  give  me  a plea  for 
 appealing  to  the  Court  of  Directors  for  a final  decision  on  the  merits  of  my  adminis- 
 tration, which  you  will  recollect  was  withheld  when  I left  England ; and  I have  ex- 
 pressed to  Mr.  Canning  my  expectations. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 “ Lady  Raffles  has  accompanied  me — she  is  quite  well,  but  finds  the  climate 
 very  different  from  that  of  our  Eastern  Isles — the  heat  has  been  extremely  oppres- 
 sive, and  the  whole  of  India  very  sickly — it  is  computed  that  not  less  than  two  mil- 
 lions have  fallen  a sacrifice  to  what  is  here  called  the  cholera  morbus.  Our  kindest 
 regards. 
 
 “ Marco  Polo  has  not  yet  appeared  in  this  part  of  the  world. 
 
 “ I have  just  received  your  kind  letter,  written  on  Christmas  day  last,  for  which 
 accept  my  best  thanks — on  my  retm*n  to  Bencoolen  I shall  no  doubt  find  a large 
 collection  of  English  letters.  I hope  to  be  there  in  January.” 
 
 Although  Sir  Stamford  did  not  succeed  in  his  endeavours  to  induce  the  Bengal 
 Government  to  adopt  all  his  riews  regarding  Sumatra,  his  presence  in  Calcutta 
 created  a general  interest,  and  tmaied  the  attention  of  the  merchants,  as  well  as  that 
 of  the  government,  towards  the  progress  of  the  Dutch  power,  and  the  probable  total 
 destruction  of  the  English  trade,  if  some  strong  efforts  were  not  made.  If  the  mo- 
 ment was  then  allowed  to  pass  away,  the  time  would  be  over  when  any  thing  could  be 
 done  : the  two  only  passages  to  the  Eastern  Archipelago  secured  by  the  Dutch,  nothing 
 but  actual  force  would  obtain  for  the  British  trader  ingi'ess  to  its  thousand  Isles.  In 
 his  o\Mi  words,  he  neither  wanted  people  nor  territory ; all  he  asked  was,  permission 
 to  anchor  a hne-of-battle  ship,  and  hoist  the  English  flag,  at  the  mouth  either  of  the 
 Straits  of  Malacca  or  of  Sunda;  and  the  trade  of  England  would  be  secured,  the 
 monopoly  of  the  Dutch  broken. 
 
 Lord  Hastings  was  convinced ; and  the  occupation  of  Singapore  was  the  con- 
 sequence. Even  before  he  left  England,  Sir  Stamford  contemplated  this,  to  him, 
 classical  spot  as  a place  favourably  situated  to  become  a British  station.  Mr.  Craw- 
 furd  has  inadvertently  given,  in  his  account  of  the  mission  to  Siam,  an  erroneous 
 statement  of  the  establishment  of  this  settlement ; the  Carimons,  which  he  describes 
 
 2 
 
CHANGE  IN  THE  OPINIONS  OF  THE  SUPREME  GOVERNMENT. 
 
 371 
 
 as  the  original  object  of  Sir  Stamford’s  selection,  being  the  plan  in  fact  of  Colonel 
 Farquhar,  while  Resident  at  Malacca,  and  not  of  Sir  Stamford,  who  surveyed  them 
 out  of  courtesy  only  to  that  officer. 
 
 Whilst  still  engaged  at  Calcutta,  in  endeavouring  to  secure  the  concurrence 
 of  the  Supreme  Government  in  his  designs,  he  addressed  letters  to  Mr.  Marsden 
 and  other  friends,  of  which  the  following  are  extracts. 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Calcutta,  November  14</«,  1818. 
 
 ***** 
 
 “ I am  sorry  to  say  that  I cannot  induce  this  Government  to  enter  warmly  into 
 my  \dews  with  regard  to  Sumatra,  and  that  Padang  must  be  transferred  to  the  Dutch 
 without  delay.  This  measure  is  conceived  necessary  in  order  to  preserve  their  con_ 
 sistency ; for  they  had  stronger  grounds  for  retaining  Banca,  and  yet  gave  it  up 
 pending  the  reference  to  Europe.  I think  they  were  ^vrong  in  doing  so ; and  I am 
 convinced  that  had  Banca  been  held  till  the  independence  of  Palembang  was 
 guaranteed,  it  woidd  never  have  gone  out  of  our  hands.  The  misfortune,  however, 
 is,  that  at  that  period  the  authorities  here  did  not  see  their  interest  clearly — a change 
 has  now  taken  place,  and  the  personal  communication  which  I have  had  with  the 
 members  of  Government,  since  my  arrival  here,  has  induced  a very  different  feeling — 
 all  parties  are  now  united  in  opposing  the  grasping  and  excluding  policy  of  the 
 Dutch — they  now  regret  they  did  not  listen  to  my  advice  at  first,  &c.  &c. ; and  to 
 bring  the  results  of  my  visit  to  a conclusion,  I have  now  to  inform  you,  that  it  is 
 detennined  to  keep  the  command  of  the  Straits  of  Malacca,  by  forming  estabhsh- 
 ments  at  Acheen  and  Rhio,  and  that  I leave  Calcutta  in  a fortnight,  as  the  agent  to 
 effect  this  important  object.  Acheen  I conceive  to  be  completely  within  our  power, 
 but  the  Dutch  may  be  before-hand  with  us  at  Rhio — they  took  possession  of  Pon- 
 tiano  and  Malacca  in  July  and  August  last ; and  have  been  bad  politicians  if  they 
 have  so  long  left  Rhio  open  to  us. 
 
 “ Lady  Raffles  is  quite  well,  and  unites,  &c.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Calcutta,  November  26th,  1818. 
 
 “ I have  now  accomplished  the  principal  object  of  my  visit  to  Bengal,  and  pur- 
 pose embarking  once  more  in  the  course  of  four  or  five  days,  for  the  Eastern 
 Islands,  which,  I doubt  not,  I shall  find  as  fresh  and  as  blooming  as  ever.  I yet 
 hope  to  be  in  time  to  do  something  for  the  public  good ; but  the  policy  of  the  Dutch, 
 and  the  unreserved  terms  of  the  convention,  preclude  me  from  being  very  sanguine. 
 
 “ My  own  health  remains  much  the  same  as  when  I left  England,  and  Lady 
 
 3 B 2 
 
372 
 
 APPOINTED  AGENT  FOR  THE  EASTERN  SEAS. 
 
 Raffles  is,  if  any  thing,  better.  Do  you  not  pity  poor  Lady  Raffles,  and  think  me 
 very  hard-hearted  to  drag  her  about  in  her  present  state,  but  she  will  not  remain 
 from  me,  and  what  can  I do?  We  are  now  above  three  months  without  any  news 
 of  our  dear  baby,  so  that  you  see  we  have  our  minor  as  well  as  major  separations. 
 
 “ I have  begged  of  Lady  Raffles  to  give  your  Grace  an  account  of  the  regal  state 
 of  the  Governor  General,  which  really  exceeds  all  I had  heard  of  it. 
 
 “ I take  domr  from  hence  a medical  man  of  the  name  of  Jack,  who  will  be  en- 
 trusted with  the  botanical  part  of  my  researches ; and  I have  two  Frenchmen,  M. 
 Diard  and  M.  Duvausel,  the  former  the  pupil,  and  the  latter  the  step-son  of  Cinder ; 
 so  that  in  comparative  anatomy  I shall  be  strong.  These  three  savans,  with  a 
 missionary  clergjTuan,  who  takes  charge  of  a printing-press,  form  my  equipment  from 
 Calcutta,  so  that  I hope  we  may  do  something. 
 
 “ I have,  at  last,  succeeded  in  making  the  authorities  in  Bengal  sensible  of  their 
 supineness  in  allowing  the  Dutch  to  exclude  us  from  the  Eastern  Seas ; but  I fear  it 
 is  now  too  late  to  retrieve  what  we  have  lost.  I have  full  powers  to  do  all  we  can ; 
 and  if  any  thing  is  to  be  done,  I think  I need  not  assure  your  Grace  that  it  shall  be 
 done — and  quickly  done.” 
 
 The  following  letter  from  Sir  Stamford  will  shew  the  terms  on  which  he  engaged 
 the  services  of  the  two  French  gentlemen  alluded  to  in  the  foregoing  letter. 
 
 To  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvausel. 
 
 “ March  7,  1819. 
 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 " I have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  3d  instant,  ex- 
 planatory of  the  object  of  your  researches,  and  of  the  circumstances  in  which  you 
 are  placed. 
 
 “ It  is  my  intention,  at  an  early  period,  to  submit  to  the  most  noble  the  Go- 
 vernor in  Council,  and  also  to  the  Honourable  the  Court  of  Directors,  my  opinion 
 on  the  advantages  which  may  result  to  science  and  general  knowledge,  by  the  pro- 
 secution of  the  pursuits  in  which  you  are  engaged,  and  in  the  mean  time  I request 
 to  make  you  the  following  offer. 
 
 “ 1st.  Your  researches  to  be  confined  to  Sumatra  and  the  smaller  Islands  in  its 
 immediate  vicinity. 
 
 “ 2dly.  The  dmftsmen,  &c.  engaged  by  you  to  be  entertained  at  the  charge  of 
 Government,  wdio  will  also  defray  all  incidental  and  necessary  expenses  to  wfflich  you 
 may  be  subjected  in  the  prosecution  of  your  researches,  ‘ on  condition  that  such 
 researches  are  made  for  and  on  account  of  the  Honourable  the  East  India  Comimnij, 
 and  that  your  collections,  ^c.  are  considered  as  their  property' 
 
DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  TAPIR. 
 
 373 
 
 3dly.  An  estimate  to  be  framed  of  your  monthly  expenses  for  such  establish- 
 ment, &c.,  in  which  a fixed  siun  will  be  paid  to  you  to  cover  all  charges  of  every 
 description,  ^ and  the  arrangement  and  transmission  to  Europe,  or  to  Bengal,  of  such 
 information  and  materials  as  you  may  collect,  to  he  subject  to  the  orders  of  Govern- 
 ment.' 
 
 “ With  reference  to  your  present  establishment,  and  the  expenses  you  must 
 necessarily  be  subjected  to,  a fixed  monthly  allowance  of  five  hundred  dollars  is 
 considered  adequate  to  cover  all  your  disbursements,  and  at  the  same  time  to  pro- 
 \dde  di’aftsmen,  &c.  for  the  botanical  department ; this  sum  will  therefore  be  autho- 
 rized until  I may  be  honoured  with  the  further  orders  of  the  supreme  authorities ; 
 and  I shall  hereafter  have  the  honour  to  communicate  with  you  personally  my  sen- 
 timents regarding  the  arrangement  of  your  materials,  and  the  plan  which  it  will  be 
 ad\1sable  to  pursue,  in  order  to  combine  economy  and  efficiency. 
 
 “ I am,  &c.  &c. 
 
 T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 A full  detail  of  the  circumstances  connected  with  this  arrangement  will  be 
 found  in  the  Appendix,  with  the  original  documents. 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Calcutta,  December  \0th,  1818. 
 
 My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I am  not  certain  whether,  while  in  England,  I mentioned  to  you  a disco- 
 very which  I thought  I had  made  of  the  Tapir  in  the  Malay  countries. 
 
 “ On  my  arrival  at  Penang  in  1805,  it  was  represented  to  me  that  a short  time 
 before,  in  the  government  of  Sir  George  Leith,  an  animal  in  every  respect  the  model 
 of  an  elephant,  but  of  diminutive  size,  had  been  brought  from  Queda ; the  animal 
 had  unfortunately  died  while  Sir  George  was  on  the  hill,  and  the  servants  threw  the 
 body  into  the  sea. 
 
 I subsequently  visited  Malacca,  and  made  particular  inquiries  for  an  animal  of 
 this  description ; and  from  the  information  I received  there,  I had  httle  doubt  in  my 
 mind  but  the  animal  in  question  was  rather  the  tapir  than  the  elephant,  and  on  shew- 
 ing the  drawing  of  the  former  to  the  natives,  they  seemed  at  once  to  recognize  it. 
 
 “ The  result  of  further  inquiries  has  been  conclusive  on  this  head,  and  I now 
 have  the  satisfaction  to  assure  you  that  the  animal  exists,  not  only  on  the  Peninsula, 
 but  in  Sumatra.  The  head  of  one  obtained  in  Malacca  is  now  deposited  in  the 
 Museum  of  the  Asiatic  Society  at  Calcutta ; and  a li\ing  tapir,  from  Sumatra,  is  now 
 in  the  Governor  General’s  park  at  Barrackpore. 
 
 “ By  the  hands  of  Mr.  Holton  I send  you  a correct  drawing  of  the  Sumatran 
 
374 
 
 MISSION  TO  THE  EASTERN  ISLES. 
 
 animal.  It  is  the  most  docile  creature  I ever  met  with,  and  is  more  hke  the  hog  than 
 any  other  animal  to  which  I can  compare  it. 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Nearchus,  off  the  Sandheads,  Dec.  12, 1818. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 We  are  now  on  our  way  to  the  eastward,  in  the  hope  of  doing  something, 
 but  I much  fear  the  Dutch  have  hardly  left  us  an  inch  of  ground  to  stand  upon. 
 My  attention  is  principally  turned  to  Johore,  and  you  must  not  be  surprised  if  my 
 next  letter  to  you  is  dated  from  the  site  of  the  ancient  city  of  Singapura. 
 
 “ Yours,  &c. 
 
 T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 With  his  usual  foresight,  knowing  that  his  present  objects  required  a military 
 force,  and  fearing  that  he  should  not  obtain  any  assistance  from  the  government  of 
 Penang,  Sir  Stamford  wrote  from  the  Sandheads,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ganges,  to 
 the  officer  commanding  the  troops  at  Bencoolen,  which  were  about  to  be  relieved, 
 and  requested  him  to  come  round  by  the  Straits  of  Sunda,  where  a vessel  should 
 meet  him  with  instructions. 
 
 “ Penang,  Jan.  16,  1819. 
 
 “ Me  void  d Pulo  Penang.  God  only  knows  where  next  you  may  hear  from 
 me,  but  as  you  will  be  happy  to  learn  of  the  progress  of  my  mission,  I will  not  lose 
 the  present  opportunity  of  informing  you  how  I go  on.  In  the  first  place,  I have  to 
 complain  most  bitterly  of  * * * * * * 
 
 “ Whether  any  thing  is  to  be  done  to  the  eastward  or  not,  is  yet  very  uncertain. 
 By  neglecting  to  occupy  the  place  we  lost  Rhio,  and  shall  have  difficulty  in  esta- 
 blishing ourselves  elsewhere,  but  I shall  certainly  attempt  it. 
 
 “ At  Acheen  the  difficulties  I shall  have  to  surmount  in  the  performance  of  my 
 duty  will  be  great,  and  the  annoyance  severe,  but  I shall  persevere  steadily  in  what 
 I conceive  to  be  my  duty.  I think  I may  rely  on  the  Marquess ; his  last  words 
 were, — ^ Sir  Stamford,  you  may  depend  upon  me.’ 
 
 “ Sophia  will  remain  at  Penang,  while  I visit  Acheen. 
 
 “ Yours,  he. 
 
 “ T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 Of  the  delicacy  and  difficulties  of  the  trust  confided  to  Sir  Stamford,  some 
 idea  may  be  formed,  when  it  is  considered,  that  before  he  had  reached  Penang 
 
HOISTS  THE  BRITISH  FLAG  AT  SINGAPORE. 
 
 375 
 
 on  his  way  to  the  eastward,  the  government  of  that  settlement  had  failed  in  an 
 attempt  to  acquire  such  a station,  had  declared  its  conviction  that  the  period 
 had  passed  in  which  any  such  station  could  be  obtained  within  the  Archipelago, 
 and  on  his  arrival  protested  in  the  strongest  manner,  and  exercised  its  power  and 
 influence  in  every  possible  way,  against  his  proceeding  towards  the  attainment 
 of  the  important  object  intrusted  to  him;  while  the  Dutch  authorities,  having,  as 
 they  thought,  already  succeeded  in  occupying  every  station,  had  not  hesitated  to 
 declare  their  supremacy  over  the  whole  Archipelago,  and  to  publish  their  prohibitory 
 regulations  for  the  exclusion  of  British  commerce,  and  the  exercise  of  their  own 
 sovereignty  throughout  the  Eastern  Seas. 
 
 Sir  Stamford,  determined  to  accomplish  the  duty  entrusted  to  him,  proceeded 
 in  person  down  the  straits  of  Malacca,  and  in  ten  days  after  quitting  Penang  hoisted 
 the  British  flag,  on  the  29th  of  February,  1819,  at  Singapore,  as  he  had  anticipated 
 upon  leaving  Bengal.  The  commanding  situation  of  this  settlement  embraced  all 
 the  objects  which  he  expected  and  desired. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  conceived  it  of  primary  importance,  to  obtain  a post  which 
 should  have  a commanding  geographical  position  at  the  southern  entrance  of  the 
 Straits  of  Malacca,  which  should  be  in  the  track  of  the  China  and  country  traders, 
 which  should  be  capable  of  affording  them  protection,  and  of  supplying  their  wants, 
 which  should  possess  capabilities  of  defence  by  a moderate  force,  which  might  give 
 the  means  of  supporting  and  defending  the  commercial  intercourse  with  the  Malay 
 States,  and  which,  by  its  contiguity  to  the  seat  of  the  Dutch  power,  might  afford  an 
 opportunity  to  watch  the  march  of  its  pohcy  and,  when  necessary,  to  counteract 
 its  influence. 
 
 The  occupation  of  this  station  proved  to  the  varied  and  enterprising  population 
 of  the  Archipelago,  that  the  power  and  commerce  of  the  British  nation  had  not 
 entirely  sunk  under  the  encroachments  of  the  Dutch ; and  it  also  proved  a determi- 
 nation to  make  a stand  against  them,  and  to  maintain  the  right  of  free  commerce 
 with  the  Malay  states. 
 
 Independently  of  the  tribes  of  the  Archipelago,  the  situation  of  Singapore  is 
 peculiarly  favourable  for  its  becoming  the  entrepot  to  which  the  native  mariners  of 
 Siam,  Camboja,  Chiampa,  Cochin  China,  and  China  itself,  may  annually  resort.  It 
 is  to  the  Straits  of  Singapore  that  their  merchants  are  always  bound,  in  the  first  in- 
 stance ; and  if  on  their  arrival  in  them  they  find  a market  for  their  goods,  and  the 
 means  of  supplying  their  wants,  they  have  no  inducement  to  proceed  to  the  more 
 distant,  unhealthy,  and  expensive  port  of  Batavia. 
 
 The  passage  from  China  can  be  made  in  less  than  six  days,  and  the  same 
 time  is  all  that  is  required,  in  the  favourable  monsoon,  for  the  passage  from  Batavia, 
 the  coast  of  Borneo,  and  Penang. 
 
376 
 
 SETTLEMENT  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Singapore,  Jan.  81,  1819. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ Here  I am  at  Singapore,  true  to  my  word,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  all 
 the  pleasure  which  a footing  on  such  classic  ground  must  inspire.  The  lines  of  the 
 old  city,  and  of  its  defences,  are  still  to  be  traced,  and  within  its  ramparts  the 
 British  Union  waves  unmolested. 
 
 “ Y ou  are  already  apprised  how  much  I have  been  disappointed  in  the  necessity 
 of  foregoing  all  the  advantages  which  might  have  resulted  from  my  visit  to  Page- 
 ruyong;  it  did  not  suit  the  politics  of  Bengal  that  they  should  be  followed  up  ; and 
 it  is  only  now  left  for  me  to  solicit  your  support  in  behalf  of  my  more  recent 
 attempt  to  extend  the  British  influence. 
 
 “ Most  certainly  the  Dutch  never  had  a factory  in  the  island  of  Singapore ; and 
 it  does  not  appear  to  me  that  their  recent  arrangements  with  a subordinate  authority 
 at  Rhio  can  or  ought  to  interfere  with  our  permanent  estabhshment  here.  I have, 
 
 however,  a violent  opposition  to  surmount  on  the  part  of  the  Government  of  Penang. 
 ^ 
 
 “ This  place  possesses  an  excellent  harbour,  and  every  thing  that  can  be  desired 
 for  a British  port  in  the  island  of  St.  John’s,  which  forms  the  south-western  point  of 
 the  harbour.  'NVe  have  commanded  an  intercourse  with  all  the  ships  passing  through 
 the  Straits  of  Singapore.  We  are  within  a week’s  sail  of  China,  close  to  Siam,  and  in 
 the  very  seat  of  the  Malayan  empire.  This,  therefore,  will  probably  be  my  last  attempt. 
 If  I am  deserted  now,  I must  fain  return  to  Bencoolen,  and  become  philosopher. 
 
 “ We  are  making  very  considerable  collections  in  natural  history ; and  if  the 
 pohtical  arrangements,  which  I now  contemplate,  are  adopted  and  confirmed,  we 
 shall  have  it  in  our  power  to  do  a good  deal  in  every  department.  We  find  more 
 work  than  can  be  accomplished  by  six  draftsmen  employed  from  eight  o’clock  till  four. 
 
 “ I expect  to  conclude  all  my  arrangements  at  this  place  in  the  course  of  a few 
 days,  and  then  to  return  to  Penang,  where  I have  left  Lady  Raffles,  and  my  anxiety  to 
 get  there,  on  her  account,  is  very  gi'eat.  From  Penang  my  course  will  probably  bend 
 towards  Acheen,  where  I have  to  establish  the  British  influence  on  a permanent  foot- 
 ing ; from  thence  I shall  proceed  to  Bencoolen. 
 
 My  next  letters  will  speak  decidedly  as  to  our  future  footing  on  these  seas.  If 
 I keep  Singapore  I shall  be  quite  satisfied ; and  in  a few  years  our  influence  over  the 
 Archipelago,  as  far  as  concerns  our  commerce,  will  be  fully  established.” 
 
 Sir  Stamford  was  only  able  to  remain  a few  days  at  Singapore  ; he  had  requested 
 permission  of  the  Bengal  Government  to  employ  Colonel  Farquhar  at  that  station : 
 but  on  reaching  Penang  he  found  that  this  officer  had  already  engaged  his  passage  to 
 Ihigland,  in  a vessel  which  was  to  sail  in  a few  days.  Colonel  Farquhar  was,  how- 
 
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IMPORTANCE  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 377 
 
 ever,  prevailed  upon  to  alter  his  arrangements;  and  Sir  Stamford  placed  him  in 
 charge  at  Singapore,  as  being,  from  his  long  intercourse  with  the  natives,  well  calcu- 
 lated to  inspire  them  with  confidence  in  the  new  settlement. 
 
 To 
 
 “ Penang,  February  19,  1819. 
 
 “ I have  already  written  to  you  from  Bengal,  informing  you  of  the  complete  suc- 
 cess of  my  mission  to  the  eastward,  and  of  the  estabhshment  of  a British  station  at 
 Singapore.  * * * 
 
 At  Singapore  I found  advantages  far  superior  to  what  Rhio  afforded  ; and  as 
 you  know  what  I contemplated  from  the  latter  place,  you  will  easily  form  a judgment 
 of  the  value  of  what  we  have  obtained.  You  have  only  to  glance  at  the  map  for  the 
 Straits  of  Singapore,  at  the  south  extreme  of  the  Straits  of  Malacca,  and  to  consider 
 that  we  have  another  port  at  St.  John’s,  close  under  which  all  the  China  trade  must 
 pass : this  will  convince  you  that  our  station  completely  outflanks  the  Straits  of  Ma- 
 lacca, and  secures  a passage  for  our  China  ships  at  all  times,  and  under  all  circum- 
 stances. It  has  further  been  my  good  fortune  to  discover  one  of  the  most  safe  and 
 extensive  harbours  in  these  seas,  with  every  facihty  for  protecting  shipping  in  time  of 
 war,  &c.  In  short,  Singapore  is  every  thing  we  could  desire,  and  I may  consider 
 myself  most  fortunate  in  the  selection ; it  will  soon  rise  into  importance ; and  with  this 
 single  station  alone  I would  undertake  to  counteract  all  the  plans  of  Mynheer ; it 
 breaks  the  spell ; and  they  are  no  longer  the  exclusive  sovereigns  of  the  Eastern 
 Seas. 
 
 “ Sophia  is,  I am  happy  to  say,  quite  well : she  is  now  devoting  her  time  a great 
 deal  to  botany,  and  so  far  from  finding  it  hang  heavy  on  her  hands,  she  is  constantly 
 complaining  that  the  days  are  too  short. 
 
 “ Your’s,  &c.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Penang,  Feb.  22,  1819. 
 
 " I am  afraid  your  Grace  will  already  have  been  tired  out  by  the  accounts  I 
 have,  from  time  to  time,  given  you  of  my  rambling  life ; it  seems  that  I am  never 
 to  be  settled  for  any  time,  never  to  enjoy  that  rest  and  repose,  which  the  heart  so 
 much  longs  for. 
 
 ‘‘  From  Calcutta  I came  to  this  Island,  and  from  hence  proceeded  to  the  fur- 
 ther east,  down  the  Straits  of  Malacca.  I have  scarcely  returned  a w'eek,  and  am 
 now  bound  to  Acheen,  whence  I shall  again  return  to  this  place,  and  proceed  round 
 the  eastern  and  southern  coast  of  Sumatra  to  Bencoolen.  Nearly  six  months  have 
 now  elapsed  since  we  left  our  dear  baby  there,  and  we  have  scarcely  heard  of  her 
 since ; two  or  three  months  more  must  pass  before  our  amval,  and  in  the  interim 
 
 3 c 
 
378 
 
 GEOGRAPHICAL  SITUATION  OF  SINGAPURA. 
 
 what  important  events  take  place.  Among  these  I must  mention  Lady  Raffles’  ex- 
 pected confinement,  an  event  which  we  daily  look  for;  this  you  will  admit  is  a 
 domestic  event  of  no  small  importance.  I have  also  to  communicate  to  you  a poli- 
 tical event  of  gi'eat  import,  namely,  the  accomplishment  of  the  great  object  which  I 
 have  always  had  in  \iew,  by  forming  a permanent  British  establishment  in  the  Ma- 
 layan Archipelago,  by  which  the  progress  of  the  Dutch  supremacy  may  be  checked, 
 and  our  interests,  political  and  commercial,  secured. 
 
 “ It  has  been  my  good  fortune  to  establish  this  station  in  a position  combining 
 every  possible  advantage,  geographical  and  local ; and  if  I only  meet  with  ordinary 
 support  from  the  higher  powers,  I shall  effectually  check  the  plans  of  the  Dutch. 
 
 * * iff  * 
 
 “ I must,  however,  tell  you  where  you  are  to  look  for  it  in  the  map.  Follow 
 me  from  Calcutta,  within  the  Nicobar  and  Andaman  Islands,  to  Prince  of  Wales’ 
 Island,  then  accompany  me  down  the  Straits  of  Malacca,  past  the  town  of  Malacca, 
 and  round  the  south-western  point  of  the  Peninsula.  You  will  then  enter  what  are 
 called  the  Straits  of  Singapore,  and  in  Marsden’s  map  of  Sumatra  you  will  obseiwe 
 an  Island  to  the  north  of  these  straits  called  Singapura;  this  is  the  spot,  the 
 site  of  the  ancient  maritime  capital  of  the  Malays,  and  within  the  walls  of  these 
 fortifications,  raised  not  less  than  six  centuries  ago,  on  which  I have  planted  the 
 British  flag,  where,  I tmst,  it  will  long  triumphantly  wave. 
 
 * * iff  * 
 
 “ Almost  all  that  I attempted  in  Sumatra  has  been  destroyed,  from  a delicacy 
 to  the  Dutch ; if  this  last  effort  for  securing  our  interests  also  fails,  I must  be  con- 
 tent to  quit  politics  and  turn  philosopher. 
 
 fie  * Jff  * Sf 
 
 “ Your  Grace  would,  I think,  be  amused  were  you  to  overlook  our  present 
 occupations.  Were  it  not  for  the  Dutch,  I should  have  little  in  politics  to  interest 
 me,  and  as  it  is,  I should  have  much  leisure  if  I did  not  devote  my  time  to  natural 
 history,  in  which  we  are  daily  making  very  important  discoveries — the  lower  part  of 
 our  house,  at  this  moment,  is  more  like  the  menagerie  at  Exeter  Change,  than  the 
 residence  of  a gentleman.  Fish,  flesh,  and  fowl,  alike  contribute  to  the  collection  ; 
 and  above  stairs  the  rooms  are  variously  ornamented  with  branches  and  flowers,  ren- 
 dering them  so  many  arbours.  There  are  no  less  than  five  draftsmen  constantly 
 employed,  and  with  all  our  diligence  we  can  hardly  keep  pace  \rith  the  new  acqui- 
 sitions which  are  daily  made.  I can  assure  your  Grace  that  while  directing  these 
 various  departments,  we  often  think  of  the  days  that  are  to  come,  when  quietly  in 
 Park  Lane,  or  in  the  country,  I may  attempt  to  display  to  your  domestic  circle, 
 some  of  the  riches  and  beauties  with  which  nature  has  adorned  these  Islands ; but 
 when  will  that  day  come  ? A year  has  nearly  elapsed  since  we  landed  on  Indian 
 
DECIDES  ON  THE  RIGHT  TO  THE  CROWN  AT  ACHEEN. 
 
 379 
 
 ground : that  year  has  not  been  spent  in  idleness ; but  yet  I must  look  through  three 
 or  four  more  still  longer  years  before  I think  of  home ; would  that  they  were  past 
 too ! 
 
 ***** 
 
 T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 The  duty  which  Sir  Stamford  had  to  perform  at  Acheen  involved  him  in  much 
 trouble  and  discussion.  The  point  to  be  decided  was  the  right  to  the  crown.  A 
 native  merchant  settled  at  Penang  had  endeavoured  to  estabhsh  a claim  to  it,  which 
 was  not  a little  strengthened  by  his  command  of  wealth  So  much  intrigue, 
 trouble,  and  difficulty  attended  the  arrangement  of  this  disputed  point,  that  Sir 
 Stamford  was  absent  three  months.  When  the  business  was  settled  he  returned  to 
 Penang,  blithe  only  remained  a few  days,  and  proceeded  again  to  Singapore,  where 
 he  was  most  agi’eeably  occupied  for  some  time,  in  marking  out  the  future  towm,  and 
 giving  instructions  to  Colonel  Farquhar  for  the  arrangement  and  management  of  his 
 new  colony. 
 
 The  following  are  extracts  from  letters  written  at  this  time  from  Singapore. 
 
 To  Colonel  Addenbrooke,  late  Equerry  to  Her  Royal  Highness  Princess  Charlotte. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Colonel, 
 
 “ Singapore,  June  \0th,  1819. 
 
 You  will  probably  have  to  consult  the  map  in  order  to  ascertain  from 
 
 what  part  of  the  world  this  letter  is  dated. 
 
 * * * * * * 
 
 “ I shall  say  nothing  of  the  importance  which  I attach  to  the  permanence  of  the 
 position  I have  taken  up  at  Singapore  ; it  is  a child  of  my  own.  But  for  my  Malay 
 studies  I should  hardly  have  knowm  that  such  a place  existed ; not  only  the  Euro- 
 pean, but  the  Indian  world  was  also  ignorant  of  it.  * * * * 
 
 “ I am  sure  you  will  wish  me  success ; and  I wiU  therefore  only  add,  that  if  my 
 plans  are  confirmed  at  home,  it  is  my  intention  to  make  this  my  principal  residence, 
 and  to  devote  the  remaining  years  of  my  stay  in  the  East  to  the  advancement  of 
 a colony  which,  in  every  way  in  which  it  can  be  viewed,  bids  fair  to  be  one  of  the 
 most  important,  and  at  the  same  time  one  of  the  least  expensive  and  troublesome, 
 which  we  possess.  Our  object  is  not  teri'itory,  but  trade  ; a gi'eat  commercial  em- 
 porium, and  a fulcrum,  whence  we  may  extend  our  influence  politically  as  circum- 
 stances may  hereafter  require.  By  taking  immediate  possession,  we  put  a negative 
 
 * This  was  the  only  instance  in  which  a bribe  was  offered  to  the  Editor  : a casket  of  diamonds  was 
 presented,  and  it  seemed  to  create  much  surprise  that  it  was  not  even  looked  at. 
 
 3 c 2 
 
380 
 
 GENERAL  POLITICS, 
 
 to  the  Dutch  claim  of  exclusion,  and  at  the  same  time  revive  the  drooping^  confi- 
 dence of  our  alhes  and  friends.  One  free  port  in  these  seas  must  eventually 
 destroy  the  spell  of  Dutch  monopoly ; and  what  Malta  is  in  the  West,  that  may 
 Singapore  become  in  the  East. 
 
 “ I shall  leave  this  for  Bencoolen  in  a few  days,  where  I hope  to  remain 
 quietly  mitil  we  hear  decidedly  from  Europe ; at  all  events  I am  not  likely  to  quit 
 Smnatra  again  for  some  months,  and  then  only  for  a short  period  to  re\isit  my  new 
 settlement. 
 
 “ You  may  judge  of  our  anxiety  to  return  to  Bencoolen,  w^hen  I tell  you  that 
 we  left  our  little  girl  there  in  August  last,  and  have  not  since  seen  her.  Lady 
 Raffles,  who  accompanied  me  to  Bengal,  and  is  now  with  me,  has  since  presented 
 me  with  a son.  The  circumstances  preceding  his  birth  were  not  very  propitious. 
 I was  obliged  to  quit  her  only  four  days  before  the  event ; w^e  were  almost  amongst 
 strangers,  no  nurse  in  whom  to  confide,  no  experienced  medical  aid ; for  we  had 
 expected  to  reach  Bencoolen  in  time.  And  yet  all  went  on  well ; and  a finer  babe, 
 or  one  with  more  promise  of  intelligence,  never  was  beheld.  You  vill  recollect  that 
 om*  little  girl  was  born  on  the  wave,  under  circumstances  not  more  promising,  and 
 yet  no  mother  and  no  childi'en  could  have  suffered  less  ! What  strange  and  mys- 
 terious dispensations  of  Providence  ! When  I think  of  Claremont,  and  all  the 
 prospects  which  were  there  anticipated — but  I must  check  my  pen. 
 
 “ I thank  you  most  sincerely  for  yom*  letters  of  the  8th  December,  1817,  and 
 29th  April,  1819  : the  former  I could  never  acknowledge  till  now,  the  latter  is  before 
 me,  and  I cannot  express  how  much  I feel  indebted  to  you  for  your  kind  and  affec- 
 tionate attention.  The  engrarings  I have  duly  received,  one  of  them  in  particular  is 
 dear  to  me  fr'om  many  associations  ; it  is  from  the  painting  which  I so  often  admired 
 in  the  ch*awing-room. 
 
 “ Your  account  of  our  amiable  and  invaluable  Prince  has  given  me  the  greatest 
 satisfaction.  He  has  indeed  had  his  trials : my  heart  overflows  when  I think  of  him 
 and  of  his  sufferings  ; and  though  far  removed  and  separated  from  the  }>assing  scene, 
 be  assured  I hsten  with  no  common  interest  to  all  that  is  said  of  and  about  him. 
 
 “ I have  told  you  that  Lady  Raffles  has  presented  me  vith  a son  and  a daughter  : 
 from  the  circmnstance  of  the  latter  haring  been  born  on  the  voyage,  the  Javans, 
 wfflo  are  a poetic  people,  wished  her  to  be  named  Tuujung  Segara,  meaning  lotos  of 
 the  sea ; and  a more  appropriate  name  for  purity  or  innocence  could  not  have  been 
 conceived.  I gi-atified  then*  wsh,  but  at  the  same  time  my  own,  by  prefixing  a more 
 Christian  and  a more  consecrated  name,  “ Charlotte.”  My  son  has  been  christened 
 Leopold ; and  thus  will  Leopold  and  Charlotte  be  commemorated  in  my  domestic 
 circle  as  names  ever  dear  and  ever  respected ; and  that  of  my  daughter,  while  asso- 
 ciated with  the  emblem  of  piuity,  handed  down  in  remembrance  of  one  whose  virtues 
 will  never  be  forgotten. 
 
SIR  STAMFORD’S  OCCUPATIONS  AND  VIEWS. 
 
 381 
 
 “ I must  not  close  this  letter  without  giving  you  some  account  of  my  occupa- 
 tions and  \iews,  as  far  as  they  are  of  a personal  nature : I am  vain  enough  to  hope 
 that  these  will  interest  you  more  than  all  I could  write  of  a pubhc  or  political 
 nature. 
 
 “ Notwithstanding  the  serious  demands  on  my  time,  arising  out  of  my  public 
 station,  and  the  discussions  I have  naturally  had  with  the  Dutch  authorities,  I have 
 been  able  to  advance  very  considerably  in  my  collections  in  natural  history.  Suma- 
 tra does  not  afford  any  of  those  interesting  remains  of  former  civihzation,  and  of  the 
 arts,  which  abound  in  Java  : here  man  is  far  behind-hand,  perhaps  a thousand  years, 
 even  behind  his  neighbour  the  Javan ; but  we  have  more  originality,  and  the  great 
 volume  of  nature  has  hardly  been  opened.  I was  extremely  unfortunate  in  the  death 
 of  Dr.  Arnold,  who  accompanied  me  as  a naturalist  from  England  : he  fell  a sacrifice  to 
 his  zealous  and  indefatigable  exertions  in  the  first  journey  which  he  made  into  the  inte- 
 rior ; but  not  until  he  had  immortalized  his  name  by  the  discovery  of  one  of  the  greatest 
 prodigies  in  nature  which  has  been  yet  met  with,  a flower  of  great  beauty,  but  more 
 remarkable  for  its  dimensions ; it  measures  a full  yard  across,  weighs  fifteen  pounds, 
 and  contains  in  the  nectary  no  less  than  eight  pints,  each  petal  being  eleven  inches  in 
 breadth,  and  there  being  five  of  them.  I sent  a short  description  of  this  plant,  with  a 
 dl•a^\^ng,  and  part  of  the  flower  itself,  to  Sir  Joseph  Banks,  from  whom,  or  some  of 
 the  members  of  the  Royal  Society,  you  may  probably  have  heard  more  particulars. 
 I have  now  with  me,  as  a botanist.  Dr.  Jack,  a gentleman  highly  qualified ; and  we 
 are  daily  making  very  important  additions  to  our  herbarium.  We  have  recently  dis- 
 covered at  this  place  some  very  beautiful  species  of  the  Nepenthes,  or  pitcher  plant, 
 which,  in  elegance  and  brilliancy,  far  surpass  any  thing  I have  yet  seen  in  this  quar- 
 ter : the  plant  is  very  remarkable,  and  though  the  genus  has  been  generally  described, 
 but  little  is  knowm  of  the  different  species.  We  are  now  engaged  in  making  drawings 
 of  them,  and  with  a few  other  of  the  most  remarkable  and  splendid  productions  of  the 
 vegetable  world  which  w^e  have  met  with,  propose  forming  them  into  a volume,  to  be 
 engraved  in  Europe.  This  w'ill  be  an  earnest  of  w^hat  we  propose  to  do  hereafter ; and 
 you  will  oblige  me  much  by  informing  me  whether  His  Royal  Highness  would  have 
 any  objection  to  their  being  dedicated  to  him : there  will  not  be  above  six  or  eight 
 engravings,  but  they  will  be  on  a large  scale. 
 
 “ Besides  our  botanical  pursuits,  I have  in  my  family  two  French  naturalists? 
 one  of  them  step-son  to  the  celebrated  Cuvier ; their  attention  is  principally  directed 
 to  zoology,  but  we  include  in  our  researches  every  thing  that  is  interesting  in  the 
 mineral  kingdom.  Our  collection  of  birds  is  already  very  extensive,  and  in  the 
 course  of  tw'o  or  three  years  w^e  hope  to  complete  our  more  important  researches  in 
 Sumatra.  We  shall  endeavoirr  to  include  the  Malay  Peninsula,  Borneo,  and  wherever 
 the  Dutch,  who  are  the  Vandals  of  the  East,  da  not  estabhsh  themselves  to  our  ex- 
 
382 
 
 SIR  STAMFORD’S  OCCUPATIONS  AND  VIEWS. 
 
 elusion.  I hope  the  plants,  &c.  by  Dr.  Horsfield  reached  Claremont  in  safety  and 
 tolerable  preservation. 
 
 On  the  west  coast  of  Sumatra  we  abound  in  great  varieties  of  corallines  and 
 madrapores,  but  few  of  these  are  known  in  England,  and  collections  are  rare ; I 
 am  preparing  a few  for  Claremont,  and  shall  be  happy  to  hear  from  you  if  they  are 
 likely  to  be  acceptable,  or  what  would  be  more  so. 
 
 I beg  of  you  to  present  my  respects  to  Prince  Leopold,  \vith  every  assurance 
 of  deep  regard,  affection  and  esteem,  which  it  may  be  res^ectfid  for  me  to  offer. 
 
 “To  the  Duke  of  Kent  I will  thank  you  also  to  present  my  respects,  and  my 
 congratulations  on  his  marriage.  * * * » 
 
 “ Allow  me  to  add  my  kindest  remembrances  to  Sir  Robert  Gardiner,  the 
 Baron,  and  Dr.  Stockman,  and  to  assure  you,  my  dear  friend,  that  I am  with  sin- 
 cerity and  truth, 
 
 “ Your  obhged  and  very  faithfully  attached  friend, 
 
 “ T.  S.  R 
 
 To  Dr.  Wallicli. 
 
 “ Singapore,  June\7,  1819. 
 
 “ Our  friend  Dr.  Jack  will  keep  you  so  regularly  informed  of  our  proceedings, 
 that  I shall  not  attempt  to  give  you  any  account  of  our  collections  and  dis- 
 coveries. You  \rill  be  happy  to  hear  that  we  are  at  last  on  the  wing  for  Bencoolen, 
 wiiere  we  shall  commence  operations  on  a more  determined  plan.  We  have,  how- 
 ever, no  right  to  complain,  and  Singapore  would  have  recompensed  all  our  pains, 
 had  "we  found  in  it  nothing  but  the  new  species  of  nepenthes,  which  are  splendid 
 beyond  description,  and  for  novelty,  size,  and  effect,  certainly  rank  amongst  the 
 beauties  of  the  East.” 
 
 To  her  Grace  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Singapore,  June  llih,  1819. 
 
 “ We  are,  at  last,  on  our  return  home,  and  hope  to  leave  this  for  Bencoolen 
 in  about  a week.  Poor  Lady  Raffles ! do  you  not  pity  her,  to  have  been  so  long 
 separated  from  her  little  girl,  at  such  an  interesting  age,  and  to  have  been  again 
 confined  among  strangers,  and  with  no  one  about  her  in  wiiom  she  could  confide  ? 
 
 * The  beautiful  plant  alluded  to  in  the  foregoing  letter  has  been  named  Nepenthes  Raffiesiana,  and  has 
 since  been  engraved  by  Mr.  Lambert,  whose  liberality  in  patronising  any  new  discovery  in  his  favourite 
 science  is  well  known. 
 
INCREASE  OF  POPULATION  AT  SINGAPORE. 
 
 383 
 
 “ To  add  to  our  misfortunes,  I was  myself  compelled  to  leave  her  only  four  days 
 before  the  event.  On  my  return,  however,  to  Penang,  I found  her  quite  well,  and 
 one  of  the  most  beautiful  boys  that  eyes  ever  beheld.  Both  have  done  well  ever 
 since,  and  all  are  in  doubt  which  is  the  most  beautiful,  Leopold  or  his  sister  Char- 
 lotte : he  is  three  months  old  this  day.  Our  troubles  are  not  yet  quite  over,  as  we 
 have  a sea  voyage  of  at  least  a month  before  us. 
 
 “ My  new  colony  thrives  most  rapidly.  We  have  not  been  established  four 
 months,  and  it  has  received  an  accession  of  population  exceeding  five  thousand, 
 principally  Chinese,  and  their  number  is  daily  increasing. 
 
 “ It  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  say  how  much  interested  I am  in  the  success  of 
 the  place ; it  is  a child  of  my  own,  and  I have  made  it  what  it  is.  You  may  easily 
 conceive  with  what  zeal  I apply  myself  to  the  clearing  of  forests,  cutting  of  roads, 
 building  of  towns,  framing  of  laws,  &c.  &c. 
 
 “ T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 To 
 
 “ Singapore,  June  \5th,  1819. 
 
 “ I am  happy  to  inform  you  that  every  thing  is  going  on  well  here.  It  bids 
 fair  to  be  the  next  port  to  Calcutta ; all  we  want  now  is,  the  certainty  of  permanent 
 possession,  and  this,  of  course,  depends  on  authorities  beyond  our  control.  You 
 may  take  my  word  for  it,  this  is  by  far  the  most  important  station  in  the  East ; and, 
 as  far  as  naval  superiority  and  commercial  interests  are  concerned,  of  much  higher 
 value  than  whole  continents  of  territory. 
 
 Sophia  and  young  Leopold  are  in  high  health  and  spirits ; our  darling  girl  is 
 running  about  and  talking,  but  it  is  now  eight  months  since  we  saw  her.  What 
 an  age !” 
 
 To  W.  Marsden,  Esq. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 * 
 
 “ Singapore,  June  11,  1819. 
 
 * 
 
 “ I am  now  about  to  return  to  Bencoolen  by  the  way  of  the  Straits  of  Sunda, 
 after  an  absence  of  nine  months,  three  of  which  were  spent  at  Acheen.  At  some 
 future  period  I hope  to  give  you  an  account  of  the  information  collected  at  the  last- 
 mentioned  place.  Our  political  negociations  were  eventually  successful,  and  al- 
 though I had  much  anxiety  and  annoyance,  I have  no  reason  to  regi'et  my  employ- 
 ment on  the  mission.  Our  government  were  nearly  committed  on  the  worst  side  of 
 a very  troublesome  question;  and  it  required  no  common  degree  of  assiduity  and 
 perseverance  to  persuade  authorities,  who  had  previously  declared  opinions,  that 
 they  were  wrong.  My  colleague.  Captain  Coombs,  however,  at  last  saw  the  question 
 
384. 
 
 TEAK  FORESTS  IN  ACHEEN. 
 
 in  the  same  light  in  -which  it  always  appeared  to  me,  and  we  had  the  satisfaction  to 
 conclude  a treaty  with  the  legitimate  sovereign,  by  which  all  our  objects  were  ob- 
 tained, \nthout  the  necessity  of  inrohing  om'selves  in  any  way.  I have  sent  a copy 
 
 of  our  report  to  Mr, , and  you  will  obhge  me  by  perusing  it  when  at  leisure;  it 
 
 is  not  very  long,  considering  the  voluminous  nature  of  om-  detached  proceedings, 
 
 which  occupy  upwards  of  1000  pages. 
 
 * * * 
 
 “ The  most  important  discoveries  we  made  were  in  the  existence  of  extensive 
 teak  forests  near  the  northern  coasts,  and  the  general  prevalence  of  mutilated 
 Hindu  images  in  the  interior;  of  the  former  I obtained  specimen  branches  of  the 
 trees,  and  undoubted  eridence;  and  of  the  latter  the  accounts  given  were  of  a 
 nature  which  left  httle  doubt  in  my  mind  \rith  regard  to  the  fact : I have  set  further 
 inquiries  on  foot,  and  in  the  com'se  of  time  I hope  to  obtain  much  interesting  in- 
 formation on  this  subject.  I have  obtained  several  copies  of  their  annals,  and  much 
 information  regarding  their  constitution  and  customs,  but  I have  not  time  at  this 
 moment  to  enter  on  the  subject.  Their  line  of  Mahomedan  kings  appears  to  have 
 commenced  in  601  of  the  Hegira,  and  from  that  period  until  the  reign  of  Seconder 
 Muda,  or  Macota  Alem  as  he  is  more  generally  called,  Acheen  is  said  to  have  been 
 tributary  to  Rmn;  it  then  obtained  Maa^  or  exemption  from  tribute.  The  crown 
 and  regalia  appear  to  have  been  brought  from  Rum  shortly  after  the  estabhshment 
 of  Islamism,  and  I think  it  probable  that  Acheen  was  the  first  and  most  important 
 footing  obtained  by  the  Mahomedans  to  the  eastward,  and  whence  their  rehgion  was 
 subsequently  disseminated  among  the  Islands. 
 
 “ There  is  a fine  harbour  on  the  northern  side  of  Pulo  Way,  the  best  in  the 
 Achenese  dominions,  and  until  this  period  unknown  to  Europeans.  It  wll  be  long, 
 I fear,  before  Acheen  will  be  restored  to  a state  of  complete  tranquillity  and 
 confidence.  ^ ^ ^ * * 
 
 To  Sir  Robert  Harry  higUs. 
 
 “ Singapore,  June  \2tfi,  1819. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ It  is  now  nearly  nine  months  since  I left  Bencoolen  for  Bengal,  and 
 during  the  whole  of  this  period,  as  well  as  preriously,  my  mind  and  time  have 
 been  so  continually  devoted  to  the  pressing  and  embarrassing  duties  of  the  responsible 
 situations  in  which  I have  been  placed,  that  the  more  satisfactory  and  comfortable 
 duties  of  private  friendship  have  necessarily  been  too  often  neglected.  Among  these 
 I accuse  myself  of  not  haring  written  to  you,  and  I tiaist  in  your  kindness  to  admit 
 this  general  excuse  as  a sufficient  apology. 
 
 “ From  the  warm  and  kind  interest  you  take  in  all  that  concerns  us,  I am  sure 
 
LETTER  TO  SIR  ROBERT  HARRY  INGLIS. 
 
 S85 
 
 you  Avill  hear  with  })leasure  that  both  Lady  Raffles  and  myself  have  in  general  con- 
 tinued to  enjoy  the  blessing  of  health,  and  that  we  are  the  happy  parents  of  two 
 most  lovely  children  : our  little  girl  was  born  at  sea  on  the  passage  out ; the  boy 
 at  Penang  about  three  months  ago ; on  both  occasions  the  circumstances  in  which 
 Lady  Raffles  was  placed  were  very  distressing.  It  is  easy  to  conceive  the  anxiety 
 and  privations  attending  such  an  event  on  board  ship  ; and  at  Penang,  independently 
 of  our  not  being  in  the  least  prepared  either  with  a nurse  or  otherwise,  I was  myself 
 compelled  to  leave  her  only  four  days  before  the  event  took  place.  All,  however, 
 has  gone  on  well,  and  we  are  truly  thankful  to  the  Great  Author  and  Disposer  of  all 
 events,  for  the  mercies  and  blessings  we  enjoy. 
 
 “ I know  not  how  I can  better  fulfil  my  promise  to  you,  than  by  giving  you  a 
 general,  but,  as  it  must  necessarily  be,  a hasty  account  of  my  proceedings,  plans, 
 and  prospects,  since  I left  England.  I will  endeavour  to  do  this  in  as  few  words  as 
 possible,  but  it  must  be  without  order  or  arrangement.  I will  begin  with  Bencoolen, 
 and  the  immediate  interests  of  that  settlement. 
 
 “ Before  I left  England  I was  prepared  for  the  necessity  of  very  essential 
 changes  in  the  mode  of  management.  The  encouragement  given  to  slavery,  gaming, 
 and  other  vices,  and  the  system  of  forced  services,  and  dehveries  at  inadequate  rates, 
 appeared  to  me  incompatible  with  the  general  principles  of  good  government,  and 
 inconsistent  wdth  the  character  which  the  British  nation  has  latterly  assumed. 
 
 “ I accordingly  endeavoured  to  procure  an  authority  for  reforming  these  evils ; 
 and  although  I did  not  succeed  to  the  extent  I wished,  I believe  an  impression  was 
 made  on  some  of  the  more  enlightened  of  the  Directors,  and  on  the  President  of  the 
 Board  of  Control,  (Mr.  Canning,)  that  some  change  was  necessary  and  indispensable  ; 
 under  these  circumstances  I assumed  charge  of  the  settlement,  and  a more  reduced 
 and  wretched  place  than  I foimd  cannot  well  be  conceived ; recent  neglect  and  an 
 awful  visitation  of  Providence,  had  contributed  to  render  the  scene  even  more 
 miserable  than  it  might  otherwise  have  been ; but  under  any  circumstances,  Ben- 
 coolen would  have  struck  me  as  more  insignificant  and  unimportant  than  any  one 
 of  the  twenty-two  Residencies  lately  under  my  authority  as  Lieutenant-Governor  of 
 Java. 
 
 “ The  natural  disadvantages  of  the  place  are  so  great,  and  the  effects  of  mis- 
 rule so  deeply  and  extensively  felt,  that  whilst  I had  every  inclination  to  commence 
 a new  order  of  things,  I was  not  very  sanguine  in  the  result ; the  country  had  already 
 been  too  far  impoverished  and  destroyed,  the  people  too  long  deprived  of  all  motive 
 for  energy  and  improvement,  and  the  coast  too  long  abandoned  by  the  native  trader, 
 and  too  inhospitable  to  invite  his  return.  In  this  state,  *1  had  to  determine  whether 
 I would  undertake  the  thankless  office  of  reformer,  without  the  means  of  shewing  any 
 immediate  advantage,  or  continue  in  the  course  of  my  predecessors,  and  eat  the 
 bread  of  idleness.  My  decision  was  in  favour  of  the  former,  and  among  the  first  acts 
 
 3 D 
 
386 
 
 LETTER  TO  SIR  ROBERT  HARRY  INGLIS. 
 
 which  I had  the  satisfaction  to  perform,  were  the  emancipation  of  300  slaves  belong- 
 ing to  the  Company,  and  the  abolition  of  the  gaming  and  cock-fighting  farms,  whence 
 the  principal  local  revenues  had  pre\’iously  been  derived. 
 
 “ These  and  other  changes  declaratory  of  the  new  system  of  government  which 
 was  about  to  take  place,  only  paved  the  way  to  more  essential  changes  ; and  before 
 I proceeded  to  Bengal,  the  system  of  forced  sendees  and  deliveries  was  abolished,  new 
 agreements  entered  into  with  the  Chiefs,  the  courts  of  justice  regulated  on  some 
 fixed  principle,  and  an  active  police  estabhshed.  All  has  been  quiet  since,  and  on  my 
 return  to  Bencoolen,  the  experience  of  the  last  twelve  months  will  afford  some  data 
 on  the  eventual  effects. 
 
 “ Before,  however,  I proceeded  to  this  length,  I endeavoured  to  make  myself  well 
 acquainted  with  the  people  and  the  country,  and  with  this  riew  visited  the  interior  of 
 the  Island,  not  only  immediately  inland  of  Bencoolen,  but  to  the  southward,  inland  of 
 Manna,  and  to  the  northward  inland  of  Padang. 
 
 “ My  journey  inland  of  Bencoolen,  though  not  more  than  between  twenty  and 
 thirty  miles,  seems  to  have  exceeded  any  thing  attempted  by  any  former  Resident ; 
 the  other  journies  were  of  course  declared  absolutely  impracticable.  It  would  swell 
 this  letter  to  an  unreasonable  length  were  I to  attempt  any  detailed  account  of  them  ; 
 they  were  highly  interesting,  and  though  attended  with  fatigue  and  exposure,  fully 
 repaid  us  for  the  trouble  and  anxiety.  To  the  southw^ard  of  Bencoolen,  and  inland 
 of  Manna,  is  situated  the  country  of  the  Pasumahs,  at  a distance  of  three  days’ jour- 
 ney entirely  through  primitive  forests,  abomiding  in  elephants  and  tigers.  No  roads 
 are  cut,  and  continued  wars  haring  taken  place  between  the  Pasumahs  and  people 
 of  Manna,  the  few  passes  through  the  mountains  were  unknown,  or  with  difficulty 
 traced.  These  mountains  are  Rom  three  to  five  thousand  feet  high,  and  in  some 
 places  much  higher,  and  run  in  a connected  range  of  two  or  three  ridges  almost  the 
 whole  length  of  Sumatra,  at  an  average  distance  of  about  twenty  miles  from  the  coast. 
 It  is  inland  of  these  mountains  that  the  more  fertile  districts  are  to  be  found,  those 
 on  the  coast  and  to  the  westward  of  the  mountains  being  for  the  most  part  sterile, 
 and  very  thinly  inhabited.  The  Pasumah  country  is  on  the  eastern  side  of  the 
 mountains,  and  independently  of  the  advantage  of  settling  in  person  the  long-existing 
 disputes  between  those  people  and  what  are  called  the  Company’s  districts  on  the 
 coast,  I had  an  additional  inducement  to  visit  the  interior,  in  the  hope  of  discovering 
 something  in  Sumatra  more  valuable  and  attractive  than  I had  yet  seen ; and  I was 
 not  disappointed,  for  I found  in  Pasumah  a fine  race  of  people,  in  physical  appear- 
 ance far  superior  to  those  on  the  coast,  \vith  ingenuous  manners,  and  comparatively 
 industrious  habits  ; a soil  richer  even  than  the  most  fertile  lands  in  Java,  well  culti- 
 vated, and  a climate  in  every  way  congenial,  the  thermometer  being  as  low  as  65°, 
 till  after  eight  o’clock  in  the  morning,  while  on  the  coast  at  the  same  hour  it  usually 
 exceeds  80°. 
 
LETTER  TO  SIR  ROBERT  HARRY  INGLIS. 
 
 387 
 
 “ Lady  Raffles  accompanied  me  on  this  as  well  as  on  my  subsequent  journey  to 
 Menangkabu,  and  you  may  form  some  idea  of  the  fatigue  we  underwent  when  I tell 
 you,  that  for  the  three  days  we  had  to  pass  in  the  forest  and  mountains,  the  paths 
 were  so  narrow  and  precipitous,  that  it  was  absolutely  impossible  to  relieve  her  from 
 the  fatigue  of  walking,  except  by  occasionally  carrying  her  for  half-an-hour  on  a man’s 
 shoulders.  We  walked  from  before  day-light,  sometimes  till  nine  at  night,  and  then 
 we  had  to  prepare  our  leafy  dwelling  from  the  branches  of  the  surrounding  trees. 
 We  carried  a cot  and  bedding  with  us,  but  sometimes  this  did  not  come  up ; and  I 
 had  to  select  the  smoothest  stone  from  the  river  to  serve  as  a pillow. 
 
 “ Every  thing  ha\ing  succeeded  at  Pasumah  to  my  wishes,  a treaty  of  friendship 
 and  alliance  was  entered  into,  and  we  returned  to  Manna  by  a different  route,  though 
 with  equal  fatigue  and  danger.  Manna  is  situated  about  eighty  miles  from  Ben- 
 coolen ; to  this  place  we  had  proceeded  in  a buggy  along  the  sands  in  a journey  of 
 two  days.  We  then  continued  our  route  southward  as  far  as  Cawoor,  keeping  the 
 sea-shore,  and  proceeding  on  horseback ; the  distance  about  forty  miles. 
 
 “ On  our  retiwn  to  Bencoolen,  which  was  accomplished  by  the  4th  of  June,  new 
 cares  commenced.  A Commissioner,  uith  a party  of  troops,  had  arrived  in  a Dutch 
 frigate,  for  the  pm-pose  of  taking  charge  of  Pedang,  by  far  the  most  important,  and 
 indeed  the  only  valuable  station  on  the  west  coast  of  Sumatra. 
 
 “ I had  pre\dously  mitten  to  the  Governor  General  of  Batavia,  that  there  was  an 
 out-standing  account  between  the  two  governments  to  the  amount  of  170,000  dollars, 
 incmTed  by  the  British  Government  on  the  faith  of  its  being  repaid  by  the  Dutch, 
 whenever  the  place  might  be  transferred,  and  according  to  the  terms  of  the  capitulation 
 of  the  place,  I had  requested  His  Excellency  would  depute  some  person  to  examine 
 the  accounts,  and  give  me  some  acknowledgment  before  the  actual  transfer.  I ac- 
 cordingly called  on  the  Commissioner  for  adjustment,  but  to  my  surprise,  he  informed 
 me,  that  he  had  explicit  orders  not  to  enter  upon  any  discussion  of  the  kind ; that  it 
 was  his  duty  first  to  hoist  the  Dutch  flag ; and  that  afterwards  the  subject  might  be 
 considered.  As  we  had  woeful  experience  of  such  a procedure  in  Java,  where  after 
 we  had  once  allowed  them  to  hoist  their  flag,  they  treated  all  our  claims  with  indif- 
 ference and  disregard,  I was  satisfied  that  unless  we  had  some  acknowledgment  of 
 this  debt  before  the  actual  transfer,  and  while  the  Enghsh  flag  remained,  the 
 amount  would  be  irrecoverably  lost,  and  the  subsequent  claims  laughed  at ; I there- 
 fore persisted  in  my  demand,  and  the  resrdt  was  the  return  of  the  Commissioner  to 
 Batavia,  for  further  orders.  The  Dutch  government  refused  to  waive  the  point.  I 
 remained  resolute  ; and  the  discussion  ended  in  a reference  to  Bengal.  In  the  mean 
 time  I was  anxious  to  make  myself  acquainted  with  Padang,  but  more  so  to  attempt 
 a visit  to  Menangkabu,  the  ancient  capital  of  the  Malayan  empire,  of  which  Euro- 
 peans in  these  seas  had  heard  so  much,  but  which  no  European  had  yet  seen.  The 
 difficulties  which  were  opposed  far  exceeded  those  we  had  met  with  at  Pasumah,  but 
 
 3 D 2 
 
388 
 
 LETTER  TO  SIR  ROBERT  HARRY  INGLIS. 
 
 determined  to  overcome  them,  we  accomplished  our  object,  and  during  a journey  of 
 fifteen  days,  principally  on  foot,  we  passed  over  a distance  of,  at  least,  250  miles, 
 which  no  European  foot  had  before  trodden,  crossing  mountains  not  less  than  5000 
 feet  in  elevation ; sometimes  whole  days  along  the  course  of  rapid  torrents,  on  others, 
 in  highly-cultivated  plains,  and  throughout  the  whole,  in  a country  in  the  highest 
 degree  interesting.  We  here  found  the  wreck  of  a great  empire  hardly  known  to  us 
 but  by  name,  and  the  evident  source  whence  all  the  Malayan  colonies  now  scattered 
 along  the  coasts  of  the  Archipelago  first  sprung,  a population  of  between  one  and  two 
 millions,  a cultivation  highly  advanced,  and  manners,  customs,  and  productions  in  a 
 great  degi'ee  new  and  undescribed.  I can  hardly  describe  to  you  the  delight  with 
 which  I first  entered  the  rich  and  populous  countiy  of  Menangkabu,  and  discovered 
 after  four  days’  journey  through  the  mountains  and  forests,  this  great  source  of 
 interest  and  wealth.  To  me  it  was  quite  classical  ground,  and  had  I found  nothing 
 more  than  the  ruins  of  an  ancient  city,  I should  have  felt  repaid  for  the  journey,  but 
 when,  in  addition  to  this,  I found  so  extensive  a population,  so  fertile  a country,  and 
 so  admirable  a post  whence  to  commence  and  effect  the  cmlization  of  Sumatra,  the 
 sensation  was  of  a nature  that  does  not  admit  of  description.  Instead  of  jealousy 
 and  distrust  on  the  part  of  the  natives,  they  received  us  with  the  utmost  hospitahty, 
 and  though  their  manners  w^ere  rude,  and  sometimes  annoying,  it  was  impossible  to 
 misunderstand  their  intentions,  which  were  most  friendly.  They  had  but  one  request, 
 namely,  that  I w'ould  not  allow  the  Dutch  to  come  to  Padang — ^ for  the  tw^enty-three 
 years  that  the  place  had  been  in  our  possession,  great  changes  had  taken  place,  new 
 interests  had  arisen,  children  then  unborn  had  become  men,  and  those  who  had 
 been  friends  to  the  Dutch  were  now  no  more.’  I pacified  them  by  receiving  an  ad- 
 dress, w hich  they  WTote  in  public  to  the  King  of  England,  soliciting  his  attention  to 
 their  interests,  and  as  I found  on  subsequent  enquiry,  that  the  Dutch  influence  had 
 never  extended  inland  beyond  the  mountains,  but  had  been  expressly  limited  to  the 
 w^estern  side  of  them,  I did  not  hesitate  to  enter  into  a conditional  treaty  of  friend- 
 ship and  alliance  with  the  Sultan  of  Menangkabu,  as  the  lord-paramount  of  all  the 
 Malay  countries,  subject  of  course  to  the  approval  of  Lord  Hastings. 
 
 “ The  state  of  agriculture  in  the  Menangkabu  country  is  far  higher  than  I ex- 
 pected to  find  it;  not  in  any  respect  inferior  to  what  it  is  in  Java,  and  in  some 
 respects  superior.  Water-w'heels  and  sugar  presses  being  common  throughout 
 Menangkabu,  while  they  are  almost  unknown  in  Java,  shews  that  in  this  point  of 
 view  they  are  at  least  equal.  In  manners  and  civilization,  however,  they  are  very 
 far  behindhand.  Some  traces  of  a former  higher  state  of  ciHlization  are  discernible, 
 but  in  general  the  people  are  little  beyond  wfiiat  they  are  found  to  be  in  other  parts 
 of  Sumatra.  The  Sovereign  of  Menangkabu  has  little  or  no  authority,  and  the  popu- 
 lation seem  to  have  relapsed  into  the  ancient  divisions  of  tribes  so  general  throughout 
 Sumatra. 
 
LETTER  TO  SIR  ROBERT  HARRY  INGLIS. 
 
 389 
 
 “ On  our  return  from  Padang  to  Bencoolen,  my  discussions  with  the  Dutch 
 Government  had  gone  to  considerable  length.  The  first  unfriendly  and  unneigh- 
 bourly  act  on  their  part  was  to  discontinue  the  regular  post  which  had  been  esta- 
 blished between  Bencoolen  and  Batavia ; this  afforded  me  an  additional  necessity 
 of  obtaining  a station  in  the  Straits  of  Sunda,  where  our  China  ships  might  refresh 
 in  passing  to  and  fro.  The  coast  of  Sumatra  from  the  south-western  extremity  to 
 Bencoolen  is  in  general  subject  to  a high  surf  and  want  of  anchorage,  and  to  bring 
 forward  Bencoolen  at  all,  it  was  essential  that  we  should  have  some  convenient  port 
 for  communication  with  shipping,  and  it  occurred  to  me  that  the  present  was  a 
 favourable  opportunity  to  estabhsh  our  claim  to  an  anchorage  in  Lampoon  Bay. 
 The  Dutch,  however,  would  not  hsten  to  it,  and  as  the  boundaries  were  not  defined, 
 I hoisted  our  flag  at  the  extremity  of  the  bay  to  which  I thought  we  had  a just 
 claim.  We  discovered  and  surveyed  an  excellent  harbour,  and  had  the  plan  been 
 supported  by  the  higher  authorities,  I am  convinced  that  much  might  have  been  done. 
 
 “ It  was  evident  the  Dutch  were  determined  to  keep  us  out  of  the  Archipelago 
 altogether,  and  that  unless  we  immediately  occupied  some  station  for  the  security  of 
 our  own  commerce,  it  would  be  in  their  power  without  direct  acts  of  hostihty  to  in- 
 terfere with  it,  and  seriously  embarrass  our  future  intercourse. 
 
 “ As  however  I am  now  getting  into  a more  general  question  than  the  local 
 politics  of  Bencoolen,  it  will  be  necessary  to  give  you  some  general  idea  of  the  pro- 
 ceechngs  of  the  Dutch  authorities,  and  of  the  measures  which  I have  contemplated 
 to  meet  them.  Much  as  the  affairs  of  Bencoolen  occupied  my  attention  in  the  first 
 instance,  they  were  sunk  into  insignificance  when  contrasted  "with  the  higher  objects 
 to  be  obtained  by  opposing  the  Dutch.  Bencoolen  has  so  little  in  itself  that  much 
 can  never  be  expected  from  it.  The  only  chance  was  by  the  establishment  of  a 
 port  in  the  Straits  of  Sunda,  or  by  the  retention  of  Padang,  and  the  extension  of 
 our  influence  in  the  interior.  Had  the  latter  been  practicable,  I am  inclined  to 
 think  the  period  would  not  have  been  distant  when  the  whole  of  Sumatra  would 
 have  acknowledged  our  authority,  and  a settled  and  enlightened  government  been 
 estabhshed  throughout.  Under  existing  circumstances,  and  the  orders  I have  re- 
 ceived to  withdraw  from  Padang  and  the  Straits  of  Sunda,  all  that  has  been  left  to 
 me  has  been  to  correct  abuses,  estabhsh  a more  rational  kind  of  government  in  the 
 immediate  vicinity  of  Bencoolen,  and  to  reduce  our  expenses  as  much  as  possible. 
 But  to  proceed  to  the  Dutch. 
 
 “ The  circumstances  in  which  the  British  interests  and  character  have  been 
 placed  by  the  recent  convention  with  Holland,  and  its  consequences,  are  most  dis- 
 tressing, and  certainly  call  loudly  for  the  interference  of  the  authorities  in  Europe. 
 I will  endeavour  to  explain  them  to  you  as  briefly  as  possible. 
 
 “ From  the  period  of  our  first  establishment  in  India,  our  interests  and  policy 
 have  been  opposed  to  those  of  the  Dutch.  We  found  them  in  possession  of  the 
 
392 
 
 LETTER  TO  SIR  ROBERT  HARRY  INGLIS. 
 
 all  events  respect  our  claims,  seemed  to  prevail,  and  nothing  was  done.  It  was  in 
 vain  that  I represented,  while  in  England,  that  our  settlements  of  Bencoolen  and 
 Penang  were  both  too  inconveniently  situated  to  answer  any  useful  pui^iose  : the  eA"il 
 had  not  arisen,  and  it  was  conceived  the  Dutch  would  be  as  slow  as  usual  in  their 
 movements,  and  that  at  all  events  we  had  abundance  of  time.  All  that  I could  effect 
 was  to  obtain  instructions  to  watch  and  report  their  proceedings,  and  on  these  in- 
 stmctions  I have  not  failed  to  watch  them  narrowly,  and  to  place  before  the  higher 
 authorities  the  dangers  to  which  our  interests  are  already  subjected. 
 
 “ On  my  arrival  in  India  I found  my  apprehensions  realized : the  Dutch  were 
 not  only  steadily  pm-suing  the  policy  for  our  absolute  exclusion,  of  which  I complain, 
 but  they  were  openly  and  avowedly  doing  so,  and  they  were  not  very  particular  as  to 
 the  means. 
 
 “ It  had  been  an  object  of  our  policy  to  admit  and  preserve  the  independence  of 
 the  Bornean  states.  At  the  period  of  the  conquest  of  Java,  no  Em’opean  authority 
 was  estabhshed  in  any  of  them,  but  the  ports  were  open  to  the  general  trader.  Many 
 of  the  princes  of  these  states  had  risen  into  authority  and  independence  subsequent 
 to  the  decline  of  the  Dutch  power ; and,  with  the  exception  of  Banjar  Masing,  during 
 the  administration  of  Marshal  Daendels,  the  Sultan  had  fairly  bought  the  Dutch  out, 
 who  withdrew,  learing  him,  by  a uTitten  declaration,  independent,  on  condition  of 
 his  purchasing  the  fort'and  other  buildings  from  them.  This  condition  he  fulfilled; 
 and  while  Lord  Minto  was  at  Malacca,  on  his  way  to  Java,  he  received  ambassadors 
 from  that  state,  courting  our  alliance.  His  Lordship  was  pleased  to  listen  to  their 
 proposals,  and  an  agreement  or  treaty  was  entered  into,  one  of  the  first  articles  of 
 which  was,  that  we  should  never  transfer  the  place  to  the  Dutch.  Our  treaty  was 
 made  with  an  independent  Prince,  who  was  then  acknowledged  as  such  by  the  Dutch, 
 and  \rithout  reference  to  the  conquest  of  Java.  This  place  the  Dutch  commissioners 
 claimed  under  the  convention,  and  it  was  in  vain  we  urged  the  impossibility  of  making 
 the  transfer.  They  were,  however,  determined,  and  our  Government  not  thinking 
 it  a place  worth  contending  for,  and  being  further  displeased  with  the  local  authority, 
 and  perhaps  ignorant  of  the  value  of  the  position,  uithcfrew,  on  which  the  Dutch  sent 
 a commanding  force,  took  possession,  entered  into  a nominal  treaty  uitli  the  Chief, 
 by  which  they  secured  to  themselves  the  exclusive  trade  and  control,  and  of  course 
 shut  us  out  from  further  intercourse,  the  first  and  most  important  article  in  all  their 
 agreements  with  these  states  being  the  exclusion  of  the  English. 
 
 “ As  our  Government  were  content  to  abandon  Banjar  Masing,  and  the  Dutch 
 had  already  effected  their  pm-pose  in  that  part  of  Borneo,  it  only  remained  for  me  to 
 endeavour  to  maintain  the  independence  of  Pontiana  and  Sambas  on  the  western 
 coast,  Rhio  and  Lingen  at  the  southern  entrance  of  the  Straits  of  IMalacca,  and  Pa- 
 lembang  and  Acheen  on  Sumatra. 
 
 “ I received  information  at  this  period  of  extensive  expeditions  fitting  out  at 
 
LETTER  TO  SIR  ROBERT  HARRY  INGLIS. 
 
 393 
 
 Batavia  for  the  purpose  of  taking  possession  of  all  the  most  commanding  positions 
 in  the  Archipelago,  and  as  no  time  was  to  be  lost,  I communicated  my  sentiments 
 very  fully  to  the  Supreme  Government,  urging  a request  to  be  permitted  to  proceed 
 there  in  person  for  the  piu'pose  of  more  particularly  representing  the  dangers  which 
 threatened  us.  Lord  Hastings  was  at  this  time  up  the  country,  and  it  would  have 
 been  useless  for  me  to  have  proceeded  to  Calcutta,  until  I knew  he  was  on  his  return 
 to  the  Presidency. 
 
 “ In  acknowledgment  of  my  communication  to  the  Sultan  of  Palembang,  which 
 was  sent  overland  (the  territories  of  Palembang  and  Bencoolen  being  adjoining,) 
 ambassadors  arrived,  stating  the  apprehensions  of  the  Sultan,  that  the  Dutch  were 
 about  to  invade  the  place  with  a large  force,  to  dethrone  him  on  account  of  his 
 haHng  been  raised  by  the  English,  and  to  throw  the  whole  country  into  confusion. 
 
 “ To  understand  the  Palembang  question,  it  is  necessary  to  revert  to  former 
 proceedings,  and  as  it  is  a subject  that  will  probably  excite  interest  at  home  on  ac- 
 count of  Banca,  you  may  be  desirous  of  knowing  some  of  the  particulars. 
 
 “ While  acting  as  agent  for  the  Governor-General,  and  before  the  conquest  of 
 Java,  I had  authority  to  treat  with  Palembang,  and  the  Sultan  being  desirous  of  our 
 alliance,  it  was  necessary  to  make  it  a condition  that  he  first  separated  himself  from 
 the  Dutch.  This  he  hesitated  to  do,  and  the  negociation  dropped. 
 
 “ The  conquest  of  Java  followed,  and  a Dutch  establishment  being  still  stationed 
 at  Palembang,  we  conceived  ourselves,  according  to  the  capitulation,  entitled  to  the 
 fidl  benefit  of  the  Dutch  existing  treaty  with  the  Sultan.  A commission  was,  there- 
 fore, sent  for  the  arrangement  of  our  interest  in  that  quarter.  When  they  arrived  at 
 Palembang,  they  found  the  Dutch  fort  and  establishment  deserted,  and  on  enquiry 
 were  told  by  the  Sultan  that  the  Dutch  authorities  had  some  time  before  quitted  the 
 place.  The  Sultan  then  said  he  was  willing  to  treat  with  us  as  an  independent 
 Prince,  but  his  conduct  to  the  Commissioners  was  very  unsatisfactory,  and  excited 
 considerable  suspicion,  and  they  returned  without  any  advantageous  result.  Shortly 
 after,  authentic  intelhgence  was  received  that  the  Dutch  Resident  and  garrison  had 
 been  murdered  in  a most  treacherous  manner  by  the  Sultan’s  permission  or  autho- 
 rity, and  that  the  story  of  their  having  quitted  the  place  of  their  own  accord  was  all 
 a fabrication.  The  event  was  stated  to  have  taken  place  on  the  Sultan’s  receiving 
 intelligence  of  the  conquest  of  Java.  He  then  seems  to  have  seen  his  error  in  not 
 having  accepted  our  previous  offer,  and  actuated  as  well  by  a spirit  of  hatred  to  the 
 Dutch  as  by  his  own  interest,  which  he  conceived  would  be  best  consulted  by  setting 
 himself  up  as  an  independent  Prince,  the  idea  of  massacring  the  Dutch  and  of  keep- 
 ing the  fact  secret  was  discovered. 
 
 “ An  expedition  was  immediately  fitted  out  to  punish  the  party.  Gillespie 
 commanded,  and  had  full  authority  to  investigate  and  act  according  to  circum- 
 stances. The  fact  of  the  murder  was  proved  beyond  doubt.  The  Sultan  fled  into 
 
 3 E 
 
394 
 
 LETTER  TO  SIR  ROBERT  HARRY  INGLIS. 
 
 the  hills  and  was  dethroned,  and  his  brother  raised  to  the  throne  in  his  stead.  To 
 compensate  us  for  the  expense  of  the  expedition,  the  new  Sultan  ceded  to  us  the 
 Islands  of  Banca  and  Bilhton  in  perpetuity,  and  it  was  a condition  that  we  should  no 
 longer  interfere  in  the  domestic  affairs  of  Palembang.  He,  however,  required  from  us 
 a military  guard  pro\dsionaUy,  to  protect  him  from  his  brother,  who  still  remained  in 
 the  interior.  All  these  arrangements  were  unreservedly  approved  of  and  confirmed 
 by  the  Supreme  Government,  and  all  went  on  quietly,  until  Major  Robmson,  an 
 officer  in  whom  confidence  had  been  placed,  abused  his  rfust,  and  it  is  strongly  sus- 
 pected for  a valuable  consideration,  entered  into  an  agreement  with  the  old  Sultan, 
 to  re-establish  him  in  authority,  on  condition  of  his  paying  200,000  dollars  to  the 
 British  Government.  This  agreement  was  of  course  disavowed  by  me.  Major  Robin- 
 son removed  and  disgraced,  the  old  Sultan  put  off  the  throne,  and  his  brother  again 
 raised ; the  money  being  returned,  and  the  old  Sultan  permitted  to  reside  at  the 
 capital  of  Palembang,  mider  the  guarantee  of  the  British  Government  that  he  did 
 not  interfere  with  the  just  rights  of  his  brother. 
 
 “ In  this  state  affairs  stood  when  the  convention  was  signed  in  Europe,  by  one 
 article  of  which  his  Britannic  Majesty  agrees  to  cede  the  Island  of  Banca  to  the 
 Dutch,  but  no  mention  is  made  of  either  Palembang  or  Bilhton.  As  soon  as  intelh- 
 gence  was  sent  to  the  Sultan  that  we  were  about  to  withdraw,  he  strongly  urged  the 
 condition  of  the  cession  of  Banca,  namely,  that  the  European  power  was  not  further 
 to  interfere  with  Palembang,  and  called  upon  us  to  prevent  the  Dutch  from  interfer- 
 ing nith  his  authority,  by  requiring  them  to  guarantee  the  treaty.  This  they 
 refused  to  do  ; and  no  sooner  had  we  quitted  Bataria,  than  they  commenced  their 
 machinations  against  the  unfortunate  man,  which  ended  in  his  brother  being  again 
 called  to  the  throne,  for  a payment  of  400,000  dollars,  and  himself  being  con- 
 veyed to  Batavia  as  a prisoner,  after  his  seal  had  been  surreptitiously  applied 
 to  a mock  treaty,  which  transfers  all  the  Palembang  territory  to  the  Dutch. 
 The  officer  who  was  deputed  by  me  to  Palembang,  Captain  Salmond,  brother 
 to  Colonel  Salmond  of  the  India-House,  was  seized  by  the  Dutch,  and,  with  his 
 suite,  sent  to  Batavia  as  prisoners.  The  circmnstances  attending  this  seizure  are 
 fully  detailed  in  a protest  entered  by  me,  and  sent  to  the  Dutch  authorities,  and 
 evince  a disregard  of  character  greater  than  could  well  be  conceived  in  any  cirilized 
 nation  of  the  present  day. 
 
 “ The  Palembang  question,  as  politically  considered,  appears  to  stand  thus : 
 Banca  was  not  considered  as  natm’ally  accming  to  the  Dutch,  under  the  general 
 terms  of  the  convention,  otherwise  a specific  article,  ceding  that  Island  to  them, 
 would  not  have  been  necessary ; and  his  Britannic  Majesty,  by  so  specifically  trans- 
 ferring his  rights  in  it  to  the  Dutch,  confirms,  of  course,  the  treaty  by  which  these 
 rights  were  obtained,  at  the  same  time  that  his  Netherlands’  Majesty,  by  receiving 
 possession  of  the  Island  under  this  specific  article  of  the  treaty,  in  like  manner 
 
f 
 
 LETTER  TO  SIR  ROBERT  HARRY  INGLIS. 
 
 395 
 
 acknowledges  the  full  title  of  Great  Britain  to  cede  it.  Now  the  terms  on  which  the 
 Island  was  ceded  to  us  were,  that  we  would  guarantee  the  independence  and  rights 
 of  the  Sultan,  who  ceded  it,  and  that  we  would  no  further  interfere  with  the  internal 
 affairs  of  Palembang.  The  Dutch,  however,  not  satisfied  with  Banca,  require  first 
 their  factory  at  Palembang  also,  and  afterwards  the  dethronement  of  the  very  Prince 
 from  whom  we  first  obtained  the  cession.  Thus  acting  upon  two  principles  incon- 
 sistent with  each  other,  and  destroying  the  only  title  by  which  we  could  legally  cede 
 Banca,  they  claimed  Palembang  imder  their  ancient  rights,  and  Banca  under  those 
 newly  acquired ; and  because  the  Suitan  whom  we  raised  required  of  them  to  guarantee 
 the  existing  treaty,  and  expressed  his  attachment  to  the  power  to  whom  he  was  in- 
 debted for  his  throne,  they  soon  contrived  to  fabricate  charges  against  him,  to  banish 
 him  from  his  country,  and  to  admit  four  lacs  of  substantial  excuses  (the  sum  said  to 
 have  been  paid  on  the  occasion,)  as  a sufficient  retribution  from  the  old  Sultan,  who 
 had  murdered  their  countrymen,  and  whom  they  have  again  raised  to  the  throne. 
 
 I fear,  however,  that  if  I go  into  further  particulars,  I shall  never  make  an 
 end  of  my  letter,  and  therefore  I shall  break  off  here  with  the  account  of  affairs 
 before  I proceeded  to  Bengal.  In  August  I received  accounts  of  the  probable 
 return  of  the  Governor  General  to  Calcutta,  and  on  the  1st  of  September  proceeded 
 there  with  Lady  Raffles  in  a small  brig. 
 
 “ Lord  Hastings  had  arrived,  and  my  reception  was  very  gratifying.  I found 
 every  unfavourable  impression  which  had  formerly  existed,  removed  from  his  Lord- 
 ship’s mind,  and  that  the  Supreme  Government  were  wilhng  to  enter  on  the  con- 
 sideration of  our  interests  to  the  eastward. 
 
 “ On  a deliberate  consideration,  a moderate  line  of  policy  was  decided  upon,  and 
 the  relative  advantages  of  the  Straits  of  Sunda  and  of  Malacca  being  considered,  the 
 latter  seemed  to  be  more  important  to  us.  It  would  have  been  too  much  to  have 
 kept  the  command  of  both,  and  as  the  west  coast  of  Smnatra  was  comparatively  un- 
 important, it  was  resolved  to  sacrifice  our  establishments  there,  in  order  to  obtain  a 
 more  substantial  advantage  elsewhere.  My  plan  for  occupying  the  port  of  Rhio,  and 
 which  I had  mentioned  to  the  authorities  in  Europe,  was  adopted,  by  which  we  ex- 
 pected to  obtain  the  command  of  the  southern  entrance  of  the  Straits  of  Malacca ; 
 and  it  was  determined  to  secure  the  command  of  the  northern  entrance  by  bringing 
 our  long-pending  discussions  with  Acheen  to  a close. 
 
 While  in  Bengal  I received  accounts  that  Colonel  Bannerman,  the  Governor 
 of  Prince  of  Wales’  Island,  alarmed  at  the  approach  of  the  Dutch  so  near  to  Malacca, 
 had  deputed  an  agent  to  proceed  to  the  neighbouring  states,  including  Rhio,  for  the 
 purpose  of  entering  into  commercial  treaties  for  the  security  of  our  trade,  on  the  re- 
 estabhshment  of  the  Dutch  at  Malacca.  In  the  Bornean  states,  however,  this  agent 
 was  refused  admittance  by  the  Dutch,  who  had  previously  taken  possession.  But  at 
 Rhio,  Siak,  and  other  minor  states  in  the  Straits  of  Malacca,  he  had  met  with  every 
 
 3 E 2 
 
396 
 
 LETTER  TO  SIR  ROBERT  HARRY  INGLIS. 
 
 success ; the  native  princes  being  anxious  to  render  their  connexion  with  the  English 
 peiTuanent.  In  their  treaties,  however,  no  stipulation  for  the  exclusion  of  the  Dutch 
 was  made,  but  the  parties  bound  themselves  not  to  act  upon  any  obsolete  or  inter- 
 i*upted  treaties  ^^'ith  them,  and  our  acknowledgment  of  their  independence  was  all 
 that  they  required.  The  Dutch,  however,  no  sooner  obtained  possession  of  Malacca, 
 than,  notwithstanding  our  treaties,  which  were  cominmiicated  to  them  for  their  in- 
 formation, they  sent  an  overpowering  force  to  Rhio,  &c.,  declared  the  Chief  to  be 
 their  vassal,  treated  our  negociations  A\ith  contempt,  and  dictated  a treaty  which 
 excluded  our  trade  from  the  port,  &c. 
 
 “ The  decision,  however,  of  the  Supreme  Government  was  taken  before  intelli- 
 gence to  this  effect  was  received,  and  it  was  hoped  I might  yet  be  in  time  to  secure 
 our  interests  at  Rhio  and  Acheen. 
 
 “ As  a proof  of  the  confidence  now  placed  in  me  by  the  Governor  General,  his 
 Lordship  was  pleased  to  appoint  me  his  agent  and  representative,  to  effect  the  objects 
 he  had  in  view  to  the  eastward.  In  October  I received  authority  to  prosecute  the 
 negociation  commenced  at  Rhio,  by  the  establishment  of  a British  port  at  that  place, 
 and  to  act  as  senior  commissioner  wth  the  agent  of  the  Penang  Government,  for 
 adjusting  all  affairs  at  Acheen. 
 
 “ Contemplating  the  practicability  of  our  fonning  an  establishment  at  Rhio,  I 
 was  authorized  to  place  Major  Farquhar,  formerly  Resident  of  Malacca,  in  charge 
 of  it,  and  although  our  interests  to  the  eastward  were  thus  proWsionally  decided 
 under  two  authorities,  namely,  those  at  Penang  and  Bencoolen,  and  my  establish- 
 ment at  Rhio  would  border  verj'  closely  on  the  Straits  of  jNIalacca,  it  was  conceived 
 that  whenever  Colonel  Bannerman  might  vacate  Penang,  my  succession  to  that 
 government  would  be  the  means  of  uniting  all  our  interests,  and  a good  understand- 
 ing in  the  meantime  prevent  inconvenience. 
 
 “ I will  not  tire  you  with  details,  but  it  is  necessary  you  should  know  that  in 
 forming  our  estabhshment  at  the  place  from  which  I write  this  letter,  I was  opposed 
 in  the  strongest  manner  by  local  authorities,  but  have  received  the  unreserved  ap- 
 probation of  the  Governor  General.  Of  the  grounds  on  which  I felt  myself  justified 
 in  taking  up  this  position,  as  well  as  of  the  advantages  of  the  position  itself,  I shall 
 hereafter  speak.  In  the  meantime  I would  wish  to  give  you  some  account  of  my 
 proceedings  at  Acheen,  a place  which  at  one  period  attracted  more  attention  in 
 Em'ope  than  most  Eastern  countries,  but  which  has  long  declined  in  importance. 
 
 “ For  the  last  four  years  the  country  of  Acheen  had  been  a prey  to  disorder 
 and  anarchy.  A rich  merchant  of  Penang,  Syed  Hussain,  patronized  by  the  late 
 Mr.  Petrie,  taking  advantage  of  the  misettled  state  of  the  capital,  set  up  claims  to 
 the  sovereignty,  and  haring  expended  an  immense  sum  in  briberies  and  corniption, 
 contrived  by  means  of  his  superior  naval  force,  and  the  advantage  of  equipping  his 
 vessels  from  Penang,  to  command  the  trade  of  the  Achenese  ports,  and  to  invest 
 
LETTER  TO  SIR  ROBERT  HARRY  INGLIS. 
 
 397 
 
 one  of  his  sons  with  the  title  of  Sultan.  The  Penang  Government  taking  part  with 
 this  side  of  the  question,  strongly  recommended  the  support  of  it  by  the  Supreme 
 Government,  and  a force  of  a thousand  men  was  actually  applied  for  with  proper 
 equipments  in  order  to  establish  the  newly  created  king  thoroughly  on  his  throne. 
 Captain  Coombs,  a protege  of  Mr.  Petrie’s,  and  who  had  been  employed  as  the 
 Agent  of  the  Penang  Government,  was  in  Bengal  at  the  time  of  my  arrival,  and 
 Lord  Hastings  asked  my  opinion.  I had  no  hesitation  in  giving  it  as  far  as  it  was 
 then  formed,  and  the  Supreme  Government  were  induced  to  pause.  I was  subse- 
 quently joined  in  a commission  with  Captain  Coombs  for  the  purpose  of  finally  ad- 
 justing the  question. 
 
 After  my  arrival  at  Penang,  I was  informed  that  Colonel  Bannerman  had 
 protested  against  my  interference  at  Acheen,  and  had  written  in  such  terms  to  the 
 Supreme  Government  that  it  was  incumbent  on  me  to  await  the  answer.  I comphed 
 with  this  request,  and  while  this  question  was  pending,  proceeded  to  this  place, 
 effected  my  object,  and  returned  to  Penang  in  time  to  receive  the  further  instructions 
 of  the  Supreme  Government.  These  only  tended  to  confirm  what  I had  formerly 
 received,  and  Captain  Coombs  and  myself  accordingly  proceeded  to  Acheen.  We 
 remained  there  nearly  seven  weeks,  during  the  early  portion  of  which  we  were 
 directly  opposed  in  our  politics,  but  at  length  after  a paper  war  which  actually  oc- 
 cupies above  a thousand  pages  of  the  Company’s  largest  sized  paper,  he  came  round 
 to  my  opinion,  and  was  satisfied  that  in  justice  and  honour  there  was  but  one  course 
 to  pursue,  namely,  supporting  the  cause  of  the  legitimate  Sovereign.  The  spurious 
 claims  set  up  by  Syed  Hussain  were  proved  to  be  unfounded,  and  it  was  clear  he 
 had  grossly  deceived  our  government.  We  therefore  concluded  a treaty,  and 
 effected  all  the  objects  we  required,  namely,  the  right  of  having  a Resident  and 
 establishment  at  Acheen,  and  to  exclude  all  foreign  European  nations  from  having 
 a fixed  habitation.  All  that  we  had  then  to  do  was  to  require  the  Governor  of 
 Penang  to  restrict  Syed  Hussain  from  further  interference,  and  troops  and  equip- 
 ments of  course  became  unnecessary. 
 
 “ I never  had  a more  disagreeable  duty,  and  consequently  was  highly  satis- 
 fied to  bring  our  mission  to  so  desirable  a conclusion.  It  was  an  object  of 
 great  importance  to  take  the  right  side  of  the  question,  and  had  our  government 
 been  once  committed  on  the  other,  and  troops  introduced,  we  should  soon  have 
 been  so  deeply  involved  that  a worse  than  Candyan  war  might  have  been  appre- 
 hended. In  a country  like  Acheen  by  military  operations  we  had  every  thing  to 
 lose  and  nothing  to  gain. 
 
 “ After  the  conclusion  of  our  mission  to  Acheen,  I joined  Lady  Raffles  at  Pe- 
 nang, and  retm-ned  to  this  place  on  my  way  to  Bencoolen. 
 
 I must  now  give  you  some  account  of  Singapore,  our  title  to  the  place,  its 
 present  condition  and  advantages,  as  well  immediate  as  prospectively.  The  Dutch 
 
398 
 
 LETTER  TO  SIR  ROBERT  HARRY  INGLIS. 
 
 in  occupying  Rhio  had  considered  the  Sultan  of  Lingen  as  the  legitimate  Sovereign 
 of  Johore.  We  found,  however,  that  there  was  an  elder  brother,  who  by  the  laws 
 and  usages  of  the  monarchy  laid  claim  to  this  distinction,  and  that  in  consequence 
 of  these  disputed  claims,  neither  of  them  had  been  regularly  installed,  and  that  con- 
 sequently since  the  death  of  the  father,  which  happened  about  six  years  ago,  there 
 had  been  actually  no  regular  constituted  King  of  Johore.  The  elder  brother’s  claims 
 were  admitted  to  be  just,  and  the  cause  of  his  not  being  regularly  crowned  attri- 
 buted to  the  intrigues  of  the  Vizier  or  Rajah  Moodah  of  Rhio,  who  had  nearly 
 usurped  all  authority,  and  who  of  com'se  prefeired  a nominal  superior  to  a real  one. 
 The  empire  of  Johore  was  once  the  most  extensive  of  this  part  of  the  world,  even  in 
 its  most  limited  extent : it  included  the  southern  part  of  the  Peninsula,  and  all  the 
 Islands  which  lay  off  it.  The  Bandahara  of  Padang,  and  the  Tumungung  of  Johore 
 ai*e  the  principal  officers  and  hereditary  nobles,  and  the  acknowledgment  of  these 
 two  is  essential  to  the  establishment  of  a new  Sovereign.  When  I amved  off  Sin- 
 gapore, I received  a visit  from  the  Tumungung,  who  represented  to  me  the  recent 
 conduct  of  the  Dutch,  and  stated  that  as  the  Dutch  had  treated  with  an  incompe- 
 tent authority,  it  was  still  left  for  us  to  establish  ourselves  in  this  division  of  the 
 empire,  under  the  sanction  of  the  legitimate  Sovereign.  This  Sovereign  soon  made 
 his  appearance,  and  though  not  yet  formally  installed,  was  recognized  by  us  in  that 
 capacity,  on  his  being  acknowledged  as  Sovereign  by  the  Bandahara  and  Tumungung. 
 Fortmiately  also  w^e  discovered  at  Singapore  a harbour  more  convenient,  and  a port 
 more  commanding  than  Rhio  itself,  and  as  no  European  authority  had  ever  set  foot 
 on  the  Island,  and  the  land  was  the  property  of  the  Tumungung,  w^e  did  not  hesitate 
 to  treat  for  the  occupation  of  the  port,  and  to  establish  ourselves  pending  the  refer- 
 ence to  Bengal.  I have  just  received  letters  from  Lord  Hastings,  conveying  his 
 entire  approval  of  my  proceedings,  and  an  assurance  that  he  is  too  well  awnre  of 
 the  importance  of  the  position,  and  of  the  necessity  of  opposing  the  encroachments 
 of  the  Dutch,  not  be  deeply  interested  in  the  success  of  the  establishment. 
 
 “ Ha\ing  succeeded  in  all  the  objects  wJiich  were  contemplated  by  the  Su- 
 preme Government,  as  within  the  reach  of  the  authorities  in  this  country,  it  remains 
 for  me  to  inform  you  of  the  further  objects  recommended  for  adoption  at  home. 
 The  fi'ee  and  uninterrupted  command  of  the  Straits  of  Malacca  having  been  obtain- 
 ed, it  is  conceived  that  the  Dutch  Government  will  readily  cede  to  us  the  settle- 
 ment of  Malacca,  now  useless  to  them,  and  with  it  Rhio  and  the  Islands  lying  off 
 the  southern  entrance  of  the  Straits ; and  this  obtained,  our  object  will  be  to  gain 
 Banca.  The  Dutch  are  indebted  to  us  in  nearly  a million  sterling,  for  actual  pro- 
 perty and  disbursements,  and  we  are  willing  to  forego  this  claim,  and  to  set  every 
 question  at  rest  between  the  two  governments,  provided  they  will  restore  Banca. 
 This  would,  of  course,  settle  the  Palembang  question  at  once ; and  as  our  ministers 
 can  no  longer  be  ignorant  of  the  intrinsic  value  of  Banca  to  the  British  Government, 
 
LETTER  TO  SIR  ROBERT  HARRY  INGLIS. 
 
 399 
 
 on  account  of  its  mines,  and  the  question  is  thus  one  in  which  not  only  the  national 
 honour,  but  the  national  interests,  are  deeply  concerned,  it  is  to  be  hoped  the  best 
 endeavours  will  be  made, 
 
 “ This  is  the  policy  recommended  by  the  Supreme  Government,  and  the  de- 
 tailed sentiments  of  Lord  Hastings  to  this  effect  were  forwarded  to  Europe  by  Mr. 
 Ricketts,  who  left  Bengal  in  January  last. 
 
 ‘‘  The  Penang  Government  seem  inclined  to  think  any  settlement  further  east 
 as  injurious  to  the  interests  of  that  Island ; but  this  is  taking  a very  narrow  view  of 
 the  subject,  and  will  not,  of  course,  be  hstened  to. 
 
 “ The  ports  of  Borneo  ought  to  be  considered  independent,  or  the  Dutch  might 
 be  hmited  to  the  southern  provinces  connected  with  Banjar  Masing.  If  such  an 
 arrangement  as  this  is  made,  I should  suppose  that  our  principal  station  on  the  west 
 coast  of  Sumatra  should  be  at  Padang,  and  that  all  our  arrangements  should  have 
 in  view,  the  eventual  estabhshment  of  one  united  and  respectable  government  to  the 
 eastward. 
 
 “ I will  now  conclude  this  long  and  irregular  history  of  my  public  proceedings. 
 I think  you  will  give  me  justice  for  not  having  been  idle  in  the  cause  of  honour  and 
 humanity  since  my  return  to  this  country.  I say  humanity,  because  it  is  perfectly 
 clear,  that  in  the  proportion  that  we  extend  our  influence,  that  cause  is  promoted, 
 while  it  is  necessarily  checked  and  perverted  under  the  influence  of  our  rivals.  I 
 have  now  Borneo  on  the  one  side  and  Sumatra  on  the  other,  and  were  the  Dutch  not 
 estabhshed  at  Pontiana  and  Sambas  on  the  one,  and  at  Padang  and  Palembang  on 
 the  other,  a free  intercourse  would  be  estabhshed,  and  civilization  extended.  Sambas 
 and  Pontiana  command  the  rich  and  populous  districts  of  the  interior,  in  which 
 upwards  of  100,000  industrious  Chinese  are  estabhshed,  while  Padang  is  the  key  to 
 Menangkabu,  whence  all  Sumatra  might  with  facility  be  brought  under  control  and 
 regulation.  All  our  hopes  are  now  from  England : more  cannot  be  done  in  this 
 country,  and  what  has  been  accomplished,  has  been  almost  entirely  on  my  own 
 anxious  responsibility.  An  additional  clause  to  the  convention,  declaratory  and  ex- 
 planatory of  the  footing  on  which  the  British  and  Dutch  interests  in  the  Archipelago, 
 both  political  and  commercial,  are  to  stand,  is  indispensable ; and,  of  course,  the 
 more  favourable  this  can  be  made  to  us  the  better.  We  have  to  expect  nothing 
 short  of  commercial  hostility  on  the  part  of  the  Dutch,  and  unless  we  take  care 
 of  om-selves,  they  will  impress  the  natives  with  a behef  that  we  have  not  the  power 
 to  do  so. 
 
 “ I did  intend,  in  this  letter,  to  have  entered  at  some  length  into  other  subjects, 
 which  have  attracted  my  attention  since  my  return  to  India,  but  it  is  so  unreason- 
 ably long,  that  I must  bring  it  to  a close,  with  an  apology  for  the  extreme  haste 
 and  inaccuracy  with  which  it  is  written,  and  for  taking  up  so  much  of  your  time  on 
 subjects  which  are  probably  of  little  interest  to  you. 
 
iOO 
 
 LETTER  TO  SIR  ROBERT  HARRY  INGLIS. 
 
 “ You  have  heard,  that  shortly  after  my  an'ival  at  Bencoolen,  I had  the 
 satisfaction  to  establish  a Bible  Society.  This  was  followed  by  the  estabhshment  of 
 schools,  and  recently,  on  the  \isit  of  the  Bishop  of  Calcutta  to  Penang,  we  formed 
 a District  Committee  of  the  Society  for  Promoting  Christian  Knowledge,  entitled  the 
 Prince  of  Wales’  Island  and  Fort  Marlborough  Committee. 
 
 “ I have  now  with  me,  on  board  the  ship  on  which  I proceed  to  Bencoolen,  a 
 printing-press,  \nth  types  in  the  Roman  and  native  characters,  and  have  just  gi’anted 
 permission  to  the  Extra  Ganges  Mission  to  estabhsh  a college  at  Singapore,  for  the 
 study  of  the  Chinese  language,  and  the  extension  of  Christianity. 
 
 “ The  state  of  society,  even  among  the  Europeans  at  Bencoolen,  was  very  bad 
 on  my  arrival.  I tmst  it  is  improving.  An  instance  has  occured  which  will,  I hope, 
 impress  upon  the  higher  authorities  the  necessity  of  attending  more  closely  to  the 
 rehsious  and  moral  character  of  their  establishments. 
 
 “ I am  afi'aid  the  progi’ess  towards  improvement  will  be  slow.  I hope  it  will  be 
 sure,  and,  as  soon  as  I can  give  you  a good  account,  you  may  rely  upon  hearing  from 
 me.  I did  intend  to  write  to  Mr.  Wilberforce,  but  I find  I have  not  time,  as  the  ship 
 sails  to-day.  I shall,  therefore,  defer  writing  to  him  till  my  return  to  Bencoolen, 
 when  I hope  to  have  much  new  matter.  In  the  meantime  you  will  oblige  me  much 
 hy  presenting  my  respects,  and  assuring  him  that  w^e  are  doing  all  we  can  in  the  good 
 cause.  I wish  he  were  fully  aware  of  what  might  be  done  here. 
 
 “ On  the  voyage  from  England,  the  attention  of  Lady  Raffles  and  myself  w'as 
 principally  devoted  to  natural  history.  We  had  with  us  Dr.  Arnold,  an  eminent  na- 
 turalist, and  an  amiable  man,  and,  wdth  his  assistance,  w^e  studied  most  of  the  elemen- 
 tary wmrks.  Our  poor  friend.  Dr.  Arnold,  has  since  fallen  a sacrifice  to  his  exertions, 
 and  w e have  lost  him ; but  w^e  have  supplied  his  place  by  Dr.  Jack,  a young  man  of 
 ver}'  superior  talent,  and  excellent  disposition.  His  time  is  almost  exclusively  de- 
 voted to  botanical  pursuits,  and  our  collections  are  already  veiy  interesting  and  exten- 
 sive. I have  also  in  my  family  two  French  naturahsts,  one  of  them  step-son  to 
 Cuvier.  They  undertake  the  zoological  department.  We  collect  a few^  stones  wLere- 
 ever  w^e  go,  and  chemistry  may  be  added  to  the  list  of  our  studies. 
 
 “ These  pursuits  w'e  selected  as  the  most  amusing  and  usefid  w^e  could  follow. 
 I was  well  aw^are  that  Sumatra  afforded  nothing  in  language,  literature,  science,  or 
 the  arts,  to  interest.  The  great  volume  of  nature,  however,  is  laid  open  before  us ; 
 and,  in  the  absence  of  political  objects,  w^e  foresaw  enough  to  occupy  our  attention 
 during  the  period  of  our  hanishment.  We  are  vain  enough  to  hope,  that  wdth  the 
 means  we  at  present  possess,  and  continued  application  for  the  next  five  years,  w'e 
 shall  be  able  to  do  much  towards  describing  the  natural  history  of  Sumatra  and  the 
 adjoining  islands. 
 
 “ Thus  you  will  see  that  we  do  not  depend  entirely  upon  public  or  political  ob- 
 jects. I have  done  what  I conceive  my  duty  in  these  ; and  if  my  projects  fail,  I shall 
 still  have  enough  to  interest  me  at  home. 
 
OPINIONS  ON  THE  ADVANTAGES  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 401 
 
 “ Lady  Raffles  unites  in  the  most  affectionate  regards  to  Mrs.  Inglis  and  yourself, 
 and  we  beg  that  you  will  offer  our  kindest  respects  to  Sir  Hugh  and  Lady  Inglis.  To 
 Sir  Hugh  I would  write,  had  I not  already  informed  you  of  all  that  is  likely  to  prove 
 interesting  to  him.  My  next  letter  shall,  however,  be  to  him ; but  it  must  be  delayed 
 until  I have  more  leisure  and  time  to  condense  what  I would  wish  to  say.  I should 
 not  feel  myself  authorized  to  convey  my  sentiments  in  the  same  loose  and  unguarded 
 manner  to  him  that  I do  to  you.  I rely  upon  your  friendship  and  kindness,  and 
 remain  always.  Most  sincerely  your’s. 
 
 “ It  may  be  satisfactory  to  Sir  Hugh  to  know  that  Lord  Hastings  has  made  the 
 amende  honorable  ; expressed  in  the  handsomest  terms  his  regret  that  he  should  ever 
 have  ■viewed  my  proceedings  in  Java  in  another  light,  and  his  approbation  and  ap- 
 plause of  the  general  principles  which  regulated  my  Government,  which  he  is  pleased 
 to  say  were  as  creditable  to  me  as  honourable  to  my  country.” 
 
 The  following  opinion  of  two  professional  men,  who  had  derived  much  expe- 
 rience in  the  trade  of  the  Eastern  Islands,  evinces  the  estimation  in  which  Singapore 
 was  held  even  at  this  early  period. 
 
 “ The  settlement  of  Singapore,  lately  established  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  being, 
 in  my  opinion,  of  the  utmost  importance  both  in  a pohtical  and  commercial  point  of 
 view  to  the  British  empire,  particularly  in  the  event  of  a war  with  France,  Holland, 
 or  America,  the  Dutch  Government  will  no  doubt  strongly  remonstrate  against  that 
 measure,  and  endeavour  to  make  us  relinquish  it ; but  I think  every  possible  argu- 
 ment, founded  on  truth  and  experience,  should  be  brought  forward  in  order  to  secure 
 to  us  that  valuable  settlement. 
 
 “ The  Bugguese  prows  from  Celebes  and  other  parts  of  the  Eastern  Islands,  will 
 resort  to  the  settlement  of  Singapore  with  their  goods,  and  barter  them  for  our  manu- 
 factures, in  preference  to  going  to  Malacca  or  Batavia,  and  it  will  soon  become  a 
 depot  for  the  Eastern  traders. 
 
 “ The  Straits  of  Sunda  and  Malacca  are  the  two  gates  or  barriers  leading  into 
 the  China  Sea  for  all  the  commerce  of  British  India,  Europe,  and  the  Eastern  coasts 
 of  North  and  South  America,  which  gates  the  Dutch  fully  command,  if  we  do  not 
 retain  the  settlement  of  Singapore ; for  our  settlement  of  Prince  of  Wales’  Island 
 being  situated  far  to  the  northward  and  on  the  coast  of  an  open  sea,  it  affords  no 
 protection  to  our  China  trade,  nor  to  ships  passing  through  Malacca  Straits,  whereas 
 the  possession  of  Malacca  and  Rhio  by  the  Dutch,  also  of  Java  and  Banca,  gives  them 
 the  complete  command  of  the  Straits  of  Sunda,  Banca,  and  Malacca. 
 
 “ If  we  retain  the  settlement  of  Singapore,  great  security  will  be  afforded  to 
 our  China  trade  in  the  event  of  war ; for  by  possessing  a naval  station  at  the  en- 
 trance of' the  China  Sea,  no  enemy’s  cruizers  will  ever  dare  to  wait  off  Puloaor  to 
 
 3 F 
 
i02 
 
 OPINIONS  ON  THE  ADVANTAGES  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 intercept  oui'  ships  from  China,  Avhich  Admiral  Linois  did  with  the  Marengo  line-of- 
 battle  ship  and  two  frigates,  when  he  attacked  the  valuable  fleet  under  the  com- 
 mand of  Captain  Dance : and  it  was  fortunate  for  the  Company  and  the  commerce 
 of  British  India,  that  Linois  had  not  a larger  force. 
 
 “ I trust  you  will  excuse  the  hberty  I have  taken  in  addressing  you  on  this 
 subject ; but  considering  it  of  great  importance,  I thought  it  right  to  do  so,  in  case 
 you  deem,  it  proper  to  coimnunicate  it  to  Mr.  Canning,  or  any  others  of  those 
 concerned. 
 
 “ J.  Horsburgh.” 
 
 “ Penang,  July  2,  1819. 
 
 “ The  Bengal  Government  in  January  last  sent  dovii  Sir  Stamford  Rafiies  to 
 see  and  pick  out  some  good  place  for  a settlement  east  of  Malacca,  and  after 
 looking  at  several,  he  laid  hold  of  the  flne  Island  of  Singapore,  near  the  mouth  of 
 Johore  River : from  St.  John’s  Island  it  bears  N.N.E.  five  miles,  in  latitude  1“  16'  N. 
 M e now  become  again  masters  of  the  Malay  peninsula,  and  all  the  Rajahs  up 
 to  Padang  consider  themselves  under  our  protection,  our  Sultan  is  the  head  of  all 
 the  Malay  states  north  of  Palembang,  being  Sultan  of  Johore.  He  resides  on  the 
 Island  of  Singapore  with  Major  Farquhar,  and  the  town  is  on  the  site  of  the  old 
 Malay  capital  of  1550.  It  is  a most  capital  situation,  as  the  Islands  cover  the 
 Archipelago  from  the  N.'NV.,  S.'NV.,  and  N.E.  vinds ; in  short,  in  my  opinion  it  is 
 much  better  than  Malacca.  We  have  a flag  on  St.  John’s,  and  in  war  time,  a few 
 hea\y  guns  on  St.  John’s  will  give  us  complete  command  of  the  Straits  of  that 
 place.  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  has  also  made  a treaty  with  the  old  King  of  Acheen, 
 which  excludes  all  other  Eiuopeans  and  Americans. 
 
 “ I have  a letter  from  Sir  S.  Raffles  of  the  17th  ultimo  from  Singapore,  inforai- 
 ing  me  that  there  are  now  five  thousand  souls  there.  Mlien  we  got  possession  of  it 
 in  the  end  of  January,  there  were  only  five  hundred;  they  are  the  inhabitants  from 
 Malacca  and  Rhio  that  are  gone  there.  Our  ships  of  war  can  ride  there  in  war  time, 
 and  run  out  off  Pulo  Auro,  and  see  the  coast  clear,  and  back  again  in  a week. 
 
 “ Carnegie.” 
 
 Sir  Stamford  returned  to  Bencoolen,  and  the  only  event  that  occurred  on  the 
 voyage  was,  the  vessel  striking  on  a bank  in  the  Straits  of  Rhio  during  the  night. 
 It  was  feared  she  would  not  be  got  off,  and  a small  boat  was  prepared  to  endea- 
 vour to  caiTy  him  back  to  Singapore,  uath  the  Editor  and  their  child,  an  infant  four 
 months  old ; but  just  as  they  were  leaving  the  vessel,  hopes  were  entertained  that  by 
 throwing  all  the  water  overboard  to  lighten  the  ship  she  might  be  got  olf,  and  before 
 morning  the  attempt  succeeded.  It  was  then  considered  fortunate  that  the  accident 
 occurred  so  near  an  Em'opean  settlement ; but  on  stopping  at  Rhio  and  sending  in  a 
 
i 
 
 SCENERY  OF  THE  ARCHIPELAGO. 
 
 403 
 
 boat,  stating  what  had  happened,  and  requesting  a supply  of  water,  the  Dutch  Resident 
 refused  all  intercourse,  asserted  that  Sir  Stamford  went  as  a spy,  and  would  not  give 
 the  assistance  solicited  ; it  was,  therefore,  with  considerable  anxiety  that  the  voyage 
 was  continued ; fortunately  in  passing  through  the  Straits  of  Banca,  a good  Samaritan 
 appeared  in  one  of  the  beautifid  American  vessels,  so  numerous  in  these  seas, 
 when  the  Captain  generously,  and  at  considerable  risk,  for  the  wind  was  strong  and 
 in  his  favour,  stopped  his  course,  and  \rith  gi'eat  difficulty,  by  means  of  ropes,  con- 
 veyed some  casks  of  water,  and  went  on  board  himself  to  inquire  into  the  cause  of 
 distress  ; the  Captain’s  name  is  forgotten,  but  his  kindness  has  often  been  acknow- 
 ledged with  gratitude  and  praise. 
 
 It  is  difficult  to  convey  an  idea  of  the  pleasure  of  sailing  through  this  beautiful 
 and  unparalleled  Archipelago,  in  which  every  attraction  of  nature  is  combined ; 
 the  smoothness  of  the  sea,  the  hghtness  of  the  atmosphere,  the  constant  succes- 
 sion of  the  most  picturesque  lake  scenery.  Islands  of  every  shape  and  size  clustered 
 together,  mountains  of  the  most  fanciful  forms  crowned  with  verdure  to  their  summit, 
 rich  and  luxuriant  vegetation  extending  to  the  very  edge  of  the  water,  httle  native 
 boats,  often  with  only  one  person  in  them,  continually  darting  out  from  the  deep 
 shade  which  concealed  them,  looking  like  so  many  cockle-shells  wafted  about  by  the 
 wind.  Altogether  it  is  a fairy  scene  of  enchantment,  deserving  of  a poet’s  pen  to 
 describe  its  beauties. 
 
 3 F 2 
 
CHAPTER  XIV. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  arrives  at  Bencoolen — Endeavours  to  induce  the  inhabitants  to  take  an  interest  in  the  improve- 
 ment of  the  country — Irregularities  which  formerly  prevailed — School  for  the  children  of  the  Slaves — 
 Its  success — Missionaries — Religion  of  the  people — Effect  of  an  institution  for  the  Education  of  the 
 higher  orders — Anxiety  for  Mr.  JVilberforce’s  assistance — Bible  Society — Schools — Sir  Stamford  re- 
 solves to  j)roceed  again  to  Calcutta — Billiton — Lord  Hastings  on  the  subject  of  Eastern  arrangements 
 — Leaves  Calcutta  to  return  to  Bencoolen. 
 
 The  immediate  concerns  of  Bencoolen  engrossed  Sir  Stamford’s  attention  on  his 
 return  from  Singapore.  He  was  anxious  to  excite  an  interest  in  the  Europeans  for 
 the  improvement  of  the  natives,  and  to  induce  them  to  find  occupation  and  amuse- 
 ment in  a place  where  they  were  obliged  to  pass  so  many  years  of  their  lives.  Of 
 pubhc  duty  there  was  little  for  them  to  perform;  and  it  was  always  a subject  of  regret 
 to  him,  that  so  many  young  men  were  doomed  to  spend  their  days  in  idleness,  with- 
 out any  stimulant  from  the  hope  of  future  promotion  or  success,  to  rouse  them  to 
 energy  and  activity. 
 
 Committees  were  appointed  to  inquire  into  various  subjects ; societies  were 
 formed  for  bettering  the  condition  of  the  people,  and  for  promoting  the  agiiculture 
 of  the  country. 
 
 The  appearance  of  the  Settlement  was  gi'eatly  changed.  On  Sir  Stamford’s  first 
 aiTival  in  1818,  he  found  that  every  tree  and  shrub  had  been  cut  down  (from  fear  of 
 the  natives)  around  the  residence  of  the  chief  authority,  which  had  in  consequence  a 
 most  desolate  appearance  : he  immediately  formed  a garden,  and  surrounded  the  Go- 
 vernment-house with  plantations.  As  a proof  of  the  luxuriance  of  vegetation  in  these 
 Islands,  it  may  be  stated,  that  during  his  absence  of  eleven  montbs,  the  casuarina 
 trees  had  gi'own  to  the  height  of  thirty  and  forty  feet ; and  he  had  the  pleasiwe,  on 
 his  retm-n,  to  see  the  house  encircled  by  a shrubbery  of  nutmeg,  clove,  coco,  and 
 cassia  trees,  and  of  dri^  ing  through  an  approach  of  alternate  nutmeg  and  clove 
 trees ; the  place  seemed  to  have  been  converted  almost  by  magic  from  a wilderness 
 into  a garden.  The  nutmeg  tree  is  exceedingly  beautiful ; it  bears  in  profusion, 
 spreads  its  branches  in  a wide  circle,  and  the  fruit  is  perhaps  the  most  beautiful  in  the 
 
ANXIETY  TO  IMPROVE  THE  MANNERS  OF  THE  INHABITANTS. 
 
 405 
 
 world ; the  outside  covering,  or  shell,  is  of  a rich  cream  colour,  and  resembles  a 
 peach ; this  bursts,  and  shows  the  dark  nut,  encircled  and  chequered  with  mace  of 
 the  brightest  crimson ; and,  when  contrasted  with  the  deep  emerald  green  leaf,  is 
 dehghtfully  grateful  to  the  eye. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  wrote  to  Mr.  Wilberforce  at  this  time  on  various  subjects  con- 
 nected with  his  plans  for  the  general  improvement  of  the  people  around  him. 
 
 To  W,  Wilberforce,  Esq. 
 
 “ September,  1819. 
 
 My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 I have  delayed  wiiting  to  you  thus  long  in  the  expectation  of  leisure, 
 which  I have  never  found ; but  I cannot  longer  dechne  the  duty  of  giving  you  some 
 information  regarding  the  state  of  our  population,  and  the  means  which  are  in  pro- 
 gress for  its  amelioration  and  improvement.  My  pubhc  duties  have  called  me  to  dif- 
 ferent and  distant  countries,  and  a large  portion  of  my  time  has  necessarily  been 
 devoted  to  political  objects ; but  in  the  course  of  these,  neither  the  cause  of  the  slave, 
 nor  the  improvement  of  those  subjected  to  our  influence,  has  been  forgotten.  In 
 Sumatra  I had,  in  many  respects,  a new  field  to  tread ; its  population,  for  the  most 
 part,  is  many  centm'ies  behind  that  of  Java ; and  before  any  rational  plan  for  general 
 improvement  could  be  adopted,  it  was  necessary  not  only  that  much  detailed  informa- 
 tion should  be  collected,  but  that  the  principles  and  extent  of  our  political  authority 
 and  influence  should  be  clearly  understood  and  established. 
 
 " I shall  not  attempt  to  sketch  even  the  outhne  of  the  picture  which  presented 
 itself  at  Bencoolen,  a settlement  which  has  been  in  our  possession  upwards  of  a cen- 
 tury ; but  in  which,  I am  sorry  to  say,  I found  as  many  vices  and  defects,  pohtical  as 
 well  as  moral,  as  were  usually  exhibited  in  the  worst  of  the  Dutch  settlements.  To 
 attempt  any  improvement  in  the  existing  order  of  things,  without  changing  the  prin- 
 ciple, appeared  to  me  more  Hkely  to  increase  the  evil  than  remove  it,  and  a thorough 
 and  entire  reform  became  indispensable.  This  I found  it  necessary  to  introduce,  and 
 to  effect  on  my  personal  responsibility ; but  I have  since  had  the  satisfaction  to  receive 
 the  approval  of  the  higher  authorities,  who  have  admitted  that  these  changes  appear 
 to  have  been  ‘ founded  on  sound  principles  of  economy,  expediency,  and  hmnanity.’ 
 Thus  encom'aged,  I have  not  hesitated  to  prosecute  my  plans  with  ardour  and  deci- 
 sion, and  the  results,  as  far  as  they  have  yet  been  seen,  have  fully  answered  my  expec- 
 tations. As  much  has  been  done  as  the  time  and  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the 
 coimtry  and  people  have  admitted,  and  the  foundation  has  at  least  been  laid  on  which 
 a better  state  of  society  may  be  estabhshed. 
 
 “ Among  the  more  striking  irregularities  which  I found  to  prevail,  was  the 
 encouragement  and  countenance  given  to  slavery,  by  the  entertainment  on  the  part  of 
 Government  of  a gang  of  negroes,  in  number  between  two  and  three  hundred.  This 
 
406 
 
 ESTABLISHES  NATIONAL  SCHOOLS  AT  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 appeared  to  me  so  opposite  to  the  Company’s  general  practice  and  principles  in  India, 
 and  so  prejudicial  to  their  character,  that  I did  not  hesitate  to  take  upon  myself  the 
 measure  of  emanci})ating  the  whole,  and  by  this  my  first  act  to  give  an  earnest  of  the 
 principles  on  which  my  future  Government  would  be  conducted.  A pro^^sion  was 
 continued  for  the  old  and  infirm,  as  well  as  the  children ; and  as  the  latter  were  nu- 
 merous, no  time  was  lost  in  affording  them  the  means  of  obtaining  such  an  education 
 as  might  fit  them  for  the  new  state  and  condition  to  which  they  had  been  raised.  An 
 institution  for  the  education  of  the  Caffre  children  was  accordingly  established,  and 
 placed  under  the  immediate  superintendence  of  our  chaplain ; and  from  this  small 
 beginning,  originating  in  the  abolition  of  slaveiy,  may  be  traced  the  progress  we  are 
 now  making  on  a more  extensive  and  enlarged  scale  throughout  the  Archipelago,  and 
 to  which  I am  now  to  draw  your  attention. 
 
 “ The  success  of  this  little  institution  was  soon  manifest — an  aptness  and  capa- 
 city in  the  children  to  receive  instruction,  and  the  unexpected  talent  displayed  by 
 some  of  them,  excited  general  interest ; in  the  mean  time  our  information  and  ex- 
 perience of  the  native  character  became  more  extensive,  and  it  was  found  that  no 
 serious  obstacle  stood  in  the  way  of  generally  educating  the  whole  of  the  rising 
 generation  subjected  to  our  influence.  In  my  visit  to  Bengal  I had  obtained  the  aid 
 of  the  Baptist  missionaries,  and  one  of  these  young  men,  well  acquainted  with  the 
 principles  and  practice  of  our  national  schools,  accompanied  me  on  my  return, 
 bringing  with  him  a small  fount  of  types  in  the  Roman  and  native  character.  With 
 this  experience  and  aid  I lost  no  time  in  giving  effect  to  a plan  I had  long  contem- 
 plated, and  the  unprovement  which  had  already  taken  place  in  the  tone  and  taste  of 
 our  small  European  society,  seemed  to  second  my  efforts.  In  our  chaplain,  the 
 Rev.  Charles  Winter,  I found  every  disposition  to  extend  the  sphere  of  his  useful- 
 ness, and  by  associating  him  in  a committee  of  gentlemen  w'ho  had  formerly  been  in 
 my  family  in  Java,  and  on  wdiose  principles,  zeal,  and  devotion  I could  rely,  I readily 
 found  the  means  of  effective  superintendance.  The  enclosed  printed  copy  of  the 
 proceedings  of  this  committee  will  place  you  in  full  possession  of  the  principles  on 
 which  WT  have  proceeded,  and  of  the  particulars  of  what  has  been  done  tow^ards  the 
 establishment  of  schools  at  Bencoolen.  In  the  last  report  of  the  committee  with 
 wdiich  this  paper  concludes,  you  will  perceive  some  interesting  observ'ations  on  the 
 condition  of  society,  the  character  and  usages  of  the  people,  and  the  facihties  wJiich 
 are  afforded  for  more  generally  extending  the  plan  of  educating  the  wdiole  of  the 
 native  population.  On  this  report  I shall  only  observe,  that  in  estimating  the  cha- 
 racter of  the  people,  the  committee  have  rather  taken  a general  opinion  for  granted, 
 than  gone  themselves  into  the  investigation  of  that  character,  or  the  causes  which 
 may  have  tended  to  deteriorate  it.  On  this  subject  they  are  professedly  superficial : 
 in  other  respects  you  will  find  much  to  interest  you,  and  I am  confident  they  will 
 have  your  full  support  and  approbation  in  the  general  conclusions  and  anticipations 
 
 1 
 
APPOINTS  COMMITTEES  TO  ENQUIRE  INTO  THE  STATE  OF  SOCIETY.  407 
 
 which  they  form.  Among  the  older  inlmbitants  I found  an  inveterate  prejudice 
 against  the  natives,  although  by  their  intimacy  with  them  I might  have  expected  a 
 different  opinion.  Much  of  this,  however,  is  already  wearing  off,  and  I have  at  least 
 introduced  into  this  superintending  committee  enough  of  the  new  leaven  of  charity 
 and  benevolence  to  prevent  the  institution  from  running  aground  on  the  rocks  of 
 illiberality  and  prejudice. 
 
 “ While  this  committee  have  confined  themselves  to  things  as  they  are,  and  to 
 objects  of  immediate  and  practical  usefulness,  another  committee  have  directed  their 
 undi\dded  and  particular  attention  to  the  causes  which  may  have  produced  the  pre- 
 sent state  of  society — to  the  origin  and  root  of  the  evil,  and  the  means  which  in  a 
 more  extensive  and  enlarged  view  it  may  be  proper  to  contemplate  for  its  counter- 
 action. I had  myself  paid  much  attention  to  this  subject,  and  in  my  different  ex- 
 cursions into  the  interior  of  the  Island  had  collected  abundant  information.  The 
 various  reforms  and  alterations  which  I have  introduced  had  been  adopted  on  a 
 thorough  knowledge  of  the  state  of  the  country  and  people ; but  as  yet  I stood 
 alone.  It  was  on  my  undivided  conviction,  and  on  my  personal  representations 
 alone,  that  the  necessity  and  propriety  of  these , amendments  were  upheld ; and  as 
 the  interests  of  some  were  affected,  and  the  doubts  and  malignity  of  others  might  be 
 injurious,  I thought  it  advisable  that  such  a body  of  information  should  be  collected 
 by  an  independent  committee,  as  would  give  weight  and  security  to  my  own  measures, 
 and  at  the  same  time  enable  a distant  authority  to  form  a correct  judgment  of  the 
 real  state  of  the  case.  The  condition  of  society  at  Bencoolen  is  so  peculiar,  and  it 
 has  been  influenced  by  so  many  extraordinary  and  unaccountable  circumstances, 
 that  it  is  difficult  to  convey  any  adequate  or  just  idea  of  it  in  a few  words.  The 
 first  report  of  this  committee  is  therefore  of  high  interest,  and  I am  confident  it  will 
 be  perused  by  you  with  attention.  You  will  find  depicted  in  it  a state  of  society 
 very  different  from  what  is  usually  met  with,  but  you  will  observe  with  pleasure  that, 
 in  the  character  of  the  people,  we  still  find  the  rudiments  and  basis  of  a better  order 
 of  things. 
 
 “ It  is  at  present  exclusively  an  official  paper,  and  you  must  consider  its  com- 
 munication as  expressly  private.  Some  severe  strictures  are  necessarily  passed  in  it 
 on  the  general  system  of  European  administration,  which  it  might  not  be  pleasant  to 
 lay  before  so  severe  a tribunal  as  the  public,  although  I am  myself  of  opinion  that  it 
 is  far  better  openly  to  acknowledge  our  errors,  where  we  know  we  have  done  wrong, 
 and  thus  to  bind  ourselves  to  a different  course  for  the  future. 
 
 “ I am  in  a particular  manner  indebted  to  a member  of  my  family,  Mr.  Jack,  for 
 the  zeal,  ardour,  and  ability  which  he  has  infused  into  the  researches  and  proceed- 
 ings of  this  committee  ; and,  I think,  you  will  find  more  information  in  a small  com- 
 pass, on  the  subject  on  which  it  treats,  than  is  elsewhere  to  be  met  with.  The 
 labours  of  the  committee  are  by  no  means  closed ; they  will  prosecute  their  inquiries 
 
408 
 
 PROPOSES  A COLLEGE  FOR  THE  NATIVES. 
 
 into  the  inmost  recesses  of  Sumatra,  and  endeavom'  to  exhibit,  in  a clear  and  com- 
 prehensive \iew,  the  real  resources  of  the  country,  and  the  true  character,  feelings, 
 and  capacity  of  its  population.  Of  this  large  Island,  the  districts  immediately  de- 
 pendent on  Bencoolen  are,  perhaps,  the  least  important ; but,  as  the  seat  of  oiu* 
 authority,  they  have  necessarily  attracted  our  first  attention.  We  have  opened  our 
 ports  to  a free  and  imrestricted  commerce,  and  have  foregone  all  prospect  of  revenue 
 from  the  country,  at  least  in  its  present  impoverished  state ; and  it  is  to  the  improve- 
 ment of  the  people  in  their  minds  and  their  morals,  that  we  now  alone  look  for  our 
 pubhc  prosperity. 
 
 “ I must  now  carry  you  to  a more  extensive  field,  and  endeavour  to  obtain  aU 
 the  aid  of  your  powerful  patronage  and  support  for  an  institution,  which  is  to  operate 
 on  a more  enlarged  and  still  more  important  scale,  and  which  is  intended  to  com- 
 plete the  design  I had  in  view : it  is  the  key-stone  to  the  arch,  and  when  once  this 
 is  constructed  and  well  cemented,  holier  and  better  men  may  raise  upon  it  such  a 
 superstructure  as  their  duty  to  God  may  require.  All  that  I attempt  is  to  pave  the 
 way  for  better  things  ; and,  although  I am  far  from  lukewarm  towards  higher  ends, 
 I am  content  to  confine  all  my  views  to  the  enlargement  of  the  hmnan  mind,  and 
 the  general  spread  of  moral  principles.  In  the  present  state  of  these  coimtries,  these 
 are  the  first  to  be  attended  to — to  prepare  the  mind  for  rehgious  truth  and  Christian 
 chscipline.  It  is  true  the  people  of  these  Islands  are  distinguished  by  the  absence  of 
 that  spirit  of  intolerance  and  bigotry,  which  prevails  on  the  continent  of  India,  and 
 that  they  place  the  fullest  confidence  in  the  benevolence  and  liberality  of  our  govern- 
 ment and  institutions ; but  we  as  yet  only  see  them  as  the  sea  in  a calm.  I write 
 these  remarks  to  you,  my  dear  Sir,  without  reserve,  knowing  that  in  your  kindness 
 and  liberality  they  will  meet  udth  every  indulgence.  I am  far  from  opposing  mis- 
 sionaries, and  the  more  that  come  out  the  better  ; but  let  them  be  enhghtened  men, 
 and  placed  in  connection  with  the  schools,  and  under  due  control. 
 
 “ I must,  however,  return  to  my  institution,  w^hich  is  intended  to  be  a native 
 college,  for  the  education  of  the  higher  orders  of  the  natives,  and  to  afford  the 
 means  of  instruction  to  ourselves  in  the  native  languages,  and  of  prosecuting  our 
 researches  into  the  history,  literature,  and  resources  of  the  further  East.  AVhen  I 
 tell  you  that  the  effect  of  this  institution  is  intended  to  be  felt  among  a population 
 of  not  less  than  thirty  millions,  and  that  its  influence  may  eventually,  and  perhaps 
 at  no  very  distant  date,  extend  over  ten  times  that  number,  it  is  not  necessary  to 
 say  more  on  the  extent  and  importance  of  the  field ; of  its  natm’e  and  interest,  I 
 need  only  refer  you  to  the  map  of  the  w^orld,  and  request  you  to  consider  all  those 
 countries  lying  to  the  east  and  south  of  the  Ganges,  as  included  within  our  range. 
 It  is  from  the  banks  of  the  Ganges  to  the  utmost  limits  of  China  and  Japan,  and  to 
 New  Holland,  that  the  influence  of  our  proposed  institution  is  calculated  to  extend ; 
 and  of  these  extensive  countries,  no  portion  lias  a higher  and  more  pecuhar  interest 
 
ANXIETY  FOR  MR.  WILBERFORCE’S  ASSISTANCE. 
 
 409 
 
 than  the  Eastern  Islands.  I dare  not,  however,  trust  myself  to  descant  upon  them, 
 or  to  enter  upon  so  extensive  and  important  a field  at  the  close  of  a private  letter, 
 which  has  already  exceeded  its  proper  limits ; but  I regret  this  the  less,  as  I am 
 enabled  to  forward  to  you,  in  a more  connected  form,  a copy  of  the  leading  argu- 
 ments and  reasoning  which  have  weighed  with  me  on  the  occasion. 
 
 “ This  paper  has  been  drawn  up  to  be  submitted  to  the  Marquis  of  Hastings, 
 in  the  hope  of  obtaining  his  Lordship’s  powerful  support ; but  if  it  can  be  rendered 
 in  any  way  useful  in  your  hands  in  aid  of  the  objects  contemplated,  or  in  furtherance 
 of  the  enlightened  views  which  are  always  present  to  your  philanthropic  mind,  you 
 are  at  liberty  to  circulate  it  as  you  may  think  proper.  We  shall  require  all  the  aid 
 of  powerful  support  at  home ; and  as  you  were  kind  enough  to  take  so  warm  an  in- 
 terest in  the  fate  of  our  Java  Benevolent  Society,  I am  inclined  to  hope  that  the  views 
 and  principles  of  the  African  Institution  will  not  be  considered  to  have  been  less 
 attended  to  in  our  present  proceedings,  which  promise  to  have  a far  more  immediate 
 and  extensive  operation. 
 
 “ I am  particularly  anxious  that  the  lamp  we  have  lighted  should  not  be 
 allowed  to  shine  with  a dim  or  imperfect  lustre ; the  spark  has  been  struck  with 
 enthusiasm,  and  while  I remain  in  this  countiy,  the  flame  shall  be  fanned  with 
 ardour  and  perseverance  ; but  we  must  look  to  a higher  Power  for  the  oil  which  is 
 to  feed  and  support  it,  and,  above  all,  to  the  protecting  and  encouraging  influence 
 of  tme  principles  and  British  philanthropy,  to  shield  it,  not  only  against  the  blasts 
 of  adversity,  but  the  no  less  destructive  vapours  of  indifference  and  neglect. 
 
 “ However  anxious  I may  feel  to  devote  the  best  portion  of  my  life,  and  how- 
 ever much  my  fortune  might  justify  a longer  residence  in  this  country,  I have  reason 
 to  feel  that  my  health  is  not  likely  to  carry  me  through  more  than  five  or  six  years’ 
 continuance  in  these  Islands  : and  it  is,  therefore,  necessary  that  I should  look  for- 
 ward to  a period  when  the  influence  of  my  personal  presence  and  exertions  will  be 
 withdrawn.  I am  now  endeavouring  to  lay  the  foundation  as  broad  as  possible,  and 
 have  already  selected  fit  instruments  for  the  furtherance  of  my  plans  in  several  of 
 the  most  important  stations ; but  that  I may  raise  more  labourers  for  the  field,  it  is 
 of  importance  that  they  should  have  a high  and  steady  superintending  and  encou- 
 raging authority  to  look  to  ; such  an  authority  and  support  at  home  as  the  labourers 
 in  the  African  cause  at  aU  times  found.  Can  you  not  take  us  under  your  parental 
 wings,  or  coidd  you  not  make  the  Eastern  Islands  a branch  of  the  African  Institution 
 under  some  other  designation  ? If  our  objects  and  our  principles  are  the  same,  and 
 the  field  for  improvement  is  at  least  as  wide  and  important,  why  should  this  fair  and 
 interesting  portion  of  the  globe,  superior  by  far  in  the  extent  of  its  population,  and 
 equal  in  its  resom'ces,  and  so  pecuhar  in  its  character,  be  left  to  slumber  in  igno- 
 rance, while  the  wilder  shores  of  Africa,  and  the  more  distant  isles  of  the  South  Sea 
 alone  invite  the  attention  of  the  philanthropist?  Hitherto  it  has  been  left  at  the 
 
 3 G 
 
ilO 
 
 ANXIETY  FOR  MR.  WILBERFORCE’S  ASSISTANCE. 
 
 mercy  of  the  jVIoor  and  the  Dutchman,  and  it  might  be  difficult  to  decide  which  has 
 been  the  most  injurious ; for  my  own  part,  I am  inchned  to  prefer  the  fonner,  but 
 perhaps  my  prejudices  against  the  Dutch  may  caiTy  me  too  far.  Be  this  as  it  may, 
 we  are  now  independent  of  both  ; the  station  which  has  been  estabhshed  at  Singa- 
 pore, at  the  southern  extremity  of  the  ISlalayan  Peninsula,  has  given  us  the  com- 
 mand of  the  Archipelago  as  well  in  peace  as  in  war : our  commerce  will  extend  to 
 every  part,  and  British  principles  will  be  knomi  and  felt  throughout. 
 
 “ I ought  to  apologize  for  the  length  of  this  letter,  knowing  how  much  your 
 time  is  occupied,  and  how  httle  of  it  can  possibly  be  devoted  to  an  object  which 
 appears  to  me  so  important  as  the  present.  I w ill  not  say  I en\7'  the  mifortunate 
 Afilcan  because  he  enjoys  so  much  larger  a portion  of  your  thoughts  and  attention, 
 but  I cannot  help  adding  that  I wish  they  were,  even  for  a short  time,  directed  to  the 
 Malay,  the  Javan,  the  Sumatran,  the  Bornean,  the  Avanese,  the  Siamese,  the 
 Chinese,  the  Japanese,  and  the  miUions  of  others  with  whom  I am  in  daily  commu- 
 nication, and  to  w'hom  the  name  of  William  Wilberforce,  if  not  entirely  unknowm,  is 
 only  coupled  with  that  of  Afilca.  I know,  my  dear  Sir,  that  the  boundless  goodness 
 of  your  heart,  and  the  noble  stretch  of  your  mind  embraces  at  once  the  good  of  all 
 mankind;  but  perhaps  from  an  impression  that  individual  exertions  are  best 
 directed  to  one  particular  focus  or  object,  or  more  probably  from  the  absence  of 
 correct  information  of  the  importance  and  necessity  of  your  influence  in  these  seas, 
 the  subject  may  not  have  sufficiently  attracted  your  attention. 
 
 “ I have  observed  it  noticed  in  a late  pubhcation,  ^ that  it  is  upon  Asiatic  soil 
 only  that  the  advocates  of  the  slave  abolition  are  to  gain  their  final  victory — that 
 upon  the  British  Asiatic  pohcy  in  the  development  of  the  mibomided  resources  of 
 Asia  depends  the  ascendancy  of  the  British  character.’  The  wilter  most  probably 
 drew  his  conclusions  from  very  different  premises,  and  they  are  so  strikingly  illus- 
 trative of  what  I would  impress  upon  you,  that  I could  not  omit  noticing  them. 
 You  must  remember  also  that  we  have  many  of  the  woolly-headed  race  scattered 
 over  these  Islands  from  the  Andamans  to  New  Guinea,  and  that  there  have  not 
 been  wanting  persons  who  consider  them  as  the  aborigines  of  the  country — that  the 
 Malay  language  extends  w^estward  as  far  as  Madagascar,  and  that,  however  remote 
 these  Islands  may  be  from  Africa  geographically,  and  distinct  from  it  politically  in 
 the  present  condition  of  the  world,  there  are  traces  of  a more  intimate  connection 
 in  former  times.  I mention  this  to  shew  that  we  have  even  claims  upon  you  as 
 the  friend  of  Africa — for  I am  far  from  concuning  in  the  opinion  regarding  the 
 aborigines  of  these  Islands,  and  rather  consider  the  Caffres  w^e  now  find  in  them  to 
 have  been  brought  by  traders  in  remote  periods  as  slaves — as  such  they  are  generally 
 considered  and  treated  w^henever  entrapped. 
 
 “ The  same  political  objection  which  might  be  started  to  the  interference  of  your 
 Society  in  Bengal,  and  where  we  have  an  extensive  dominion,  and  an  efficient  Govern- 
 
BIBLE  SOCIETY. 
 
 411 
 
 ment  to  pro\dde  for  all  its  wants,  does  not  apply  to  the  countries  beyond  the  Ganges. 
 With  these  our  intercourse  is  entirely  commercial,  and  our  object  is  to  raise  the  na- 
 tive Governments  into  consideration  and  importance  ; the  stronger  and  more  enlight- 
 ened these  are,  the  safer  our  communication,  the  more  extensive  our  commerce,  and 
 the  more  important  the  connexion.  There  is  hardly  one  of  these  states  whose  his- 
 tory, resources,  and  population,  is  knoAvn  to  the  European  world.  A part  of  my  plan 
 is  to  encourage  the  collection  of  all  interesting  details  on  these  subjects,  and  I could 
 wish  that  the  persons  who  devote  their  time  to  these  objects  should  possess  the  means 
 of  communicating  the  information  to  the  pubhc.  An  annual  report  to  the  African 
 Institution,  or  to  you  individually,  with  such  occasional  tracts  as  may  be  interesting, 
 might  be  forwarded.  But  I leave  to  you  to  point  out  what  had  best  be  done.  You 
 wiU  perceive  that  we  are  not  idle,  and  that  the  spirit  which  has  gone  forth  only  requires 
 to  be  properly  directed  and  supported  to  lead  to  results  of  the  most  promising 
 nature. 
 
 I must  now  conclude  with  my  kindest  regards  to  Mrs.  Wilberforce,  in  which 
 Lady  Raffles  unites  most  cordially,  as  well  as  in  every  assurance  of  respect,  esteem, 
 and  veneration,  with  which  I am,  very  obediently, 
 
 T.  S.  R. 
 
 I should  mention  that  I caused  your  present  of  a seal  to  be  duly  dehvered  to 
 the  Penambahan  of  Samunap  *,  and  that  I have  in  return  received  his  acknowledg- 
 ments through  the  Governor  General  of  Bata\ia,  together  with  a handsome  crees, 
 which  I am  requested  to  forward  to  you  as  a mark  of  respect  and  attention  on  the 
 part  of  that  Chief.” 
 
 Extract  from  a Letter  to  Sir  R.  H.  Inglis,  Bart. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  October  5,  1819. 
 
 * iif  ^ 
 
 “ I have  much  to  communicate  to  you  on  the  subject  of  our  Bible  Society 
 and  Schools,  of  the  latter  particularly ; but  as  our  proceedings  will  probably  be 
 
 * A native  Chief,  who  had  inherited  in  his  family  domestic  slaves.  When  it  was  proposed  that  all  the 
 slaves  on  the  Island  should  be  registered,  he  proudly  said,  “ I will  not  register  my  slaves ; they  shall  be 
 free  : hitherto  they  have  been  kept  such,  because  it  was  the  custom,  and  the  Dutch  liked  to  be  attended  by 
 slaves  when  they  visited  the  palace  ; but  as  that  is  not  the  case  with  the  British,  they  shall  cease  to  be 
 slaves ; for  long  have  I felt  shame,  and  my  blood  has  run  cold,  when  I have  reflected  on  what  I once  saw 
 at  Batavia  and  Samarang,  where  human  beings  were  ex])osed  for  public  sale,  placed  on  a table,  and  exa- 
 mined like  sheep  and  oxen  !”  The  slaves  in  Java  were  the  property  of  the  Europeans  and  Chinese  alone : 
 the  native  Chiefs  never  required  the  services  of  slaves,  nor  engaged  in  the  traffic  of  slavery.  Whilst  in 
 England  Sir  Stamford  had  a seal  made,  and  Mr.  Wilberforce’s  name  engraved  on  it,  which  he  took  out, 
 and  sent  to  this  Chief  as  a token  of  acknowledgment  for  this  liberal  act. 
 
 3 G 2 
 
412 
 
 DEATH  OF  COLONEL  BANNERMAN. 
 
 printed,  a communication  of  them  in  that  form  will  perhaps  be  sufficient  until  I can 
 write  you  more  at  length.  My  attention  during  the  last  two  months  has  been  very 
 closely  directed  to  the  moral  conchtion  of  our  population.  Schools  on  the  Lancas- 
 trian plan  have  been  adopted  with  success,  and  I am  now  proposing  the  establish- 
 ment of  a native  college  at  Singapore.  I mean  to  submit  my  plans,  in  the  first 
 instance,  to  the  Government  of  Bengal,  and,  if  possible,  to  carry  Lord  Hastings  with 
 me.  Some  aid  from  the  Company  is  indispensable,  and  his  Lordship  has  e\inced  a 
 general  desire  to  support  similar  institutions. 
 
 I can  assure  you  w'e  are  not  idle,  and  if  w^e  do  not  make  more  noise  about  what 
 we  are  doing,  it  is  because  we  are  more  intent  on  the  real  object,  than  the  acquisition 
 of  credit  for  what  w^e  do  ; it  is  for  the  pleasure  and  satisfaction  w'hich  the  labour  itself 
 affords,  and  the  gi-atification  a favourable  result  may  ensure,  that  we  w'ork,  and  not 
 for  the  uncertain  praise  and  applause  of  the  day.  I enclose  the  first  Report  of  our 
 Bible  Society ; it  says  little,  but  to  the  purpose,  and  it  may  be  interesting  as  the  first 
 production  of  a small  press,  which  I have  established  at  Bencoolen. 
 
 “ Lady  Raffles  unites  with  me  in  kindest  respects. 
 
 “ I remain, 
 
 “ T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 To 
 
 “ October  7,  1819. 
 
 “ Sophia  enjoys  the  best  health,  and  our  two  children  are  of  course  prodigies. 
 The  boy  even  excels  his  sister  in  beauty  and  expression,  and  our  only  anxiety  is  to 
 take  them  to  England  before  the  climate  makes  an  inroad  on  their  constitution.  Till 
 they  ai’e  six,  seven,  or  eight  years  old,  they  may  remain  with  safety ; but  after  that 
 period  both  mind  and  body  will  be  injured  by  a longer  residence  within  the  tropics. 
 
 “ Such  portion  of  my  time  as  is  not  taken  up  in  public  business,  is  principally 
 devoted  to  natural  history.  We  are  making  very  extensive  collections  in  all  depart- 
 ments ; and  as  Sophia  takes  her  full  share  in  these  pursuits,  the  children  will,  no 
 doubt,  easily  imbibe  a taste  for  these  amusing  and  interesting  occupations.  Char- 
 lotte has  her  lap  full  of  shells,  and  the  boy  is  usually  denominated  ‘ le  jeune  AristoteJ 
 
 “ T.  S.  R.” 
 
 Whilst  happily  employed  in  these  more  domestic  but  not  less  interesting  occu- 
 pations, intelligence  was  brought  of  the  death  of  Colonel  Bannennan.  This  event, 
 melancholy  in  itself.  Sir  Stamford  thought  likely  to  afford  an  opportunity  for  urging 
 upon  the  consideration  of  the  Supreme  Government,  his  Hews  for  the  general  admi- 
 nistration of  the  Eastern  Islands.  He  therefore  resolved  to  proceed  again  to  Calcutta. 
 The  season  was  far  advanced,  the  vessel  w'hich  brought  the  report  was  the  only  one 
 likely  to  touch  at  Bencoolen  for  many  months;  and  he  w'as  obliged  to  separate 
 
SIR  STAMFORD’S  COMMERCIAL  VIEWS. 
 
 113 
 
 himself  from  his  family  on  account  of  its  total  want  of  accommodation,  as  the 
 captain  when  offered  any  sum  he  would  name  to  make  room  for  the  Editor,  proposed 
 to  aiTange  a part  of  the  hold  of  the  vessel ; public  duty  seemed  to  require  his  pre- 
 sence in  Calcutta,  and  therefore  Sir  Stamford  determined  to  proceed  there,  and  be 
 contented  with  part  of  the  only  cabin. 
 
 The  following  are  extracts  from  the  letters  written  during  the  voyage,  or  during 
 his  residence  in  Calcutta. 
 
 To . 
 
 “ On  hoard  the  brig  Favourite,  October  20, 1819. 
 
 “ I am  once  more  at  sea,  on  my  way  to  Calcutta.  On  deliberate  consideration 
 I resolved  to  proceed  to  Bengal  for  the  advantage  of  personal  communication,  the 
 object  at  stake  being  important.  The  size  of  the  vessel,  and  the  season  of  the  year, 
 about  the  change  of  the  monsoon,  have  weighed  with  me  in  leaving  Sophia  at  Ben- 
 coolen ; and  distressing  as  the  separation  must  be,  I do  not  regret  that  I am  alone, 
 for  we  have  experienced  very  bad  weather,  and  it  is  as  much  as  I can  do  to  stand 
 up  against  all  the  privations  and  annoyances  of  the  vessel. 
 
 “ My  views  regarding  the  Eastern  Islands  are  extensive,  and,  I think,  important 
 to  our  commercial  and  political  interests.  The  field  is  large,  new,  and  interesting ; and, 
 in  spite  of  all  your  advice.  Self,  I can  assure  you,  is  never  viewed  or  reflected  upon  by 
 me  with  any  other  feelings  than  those  of  patriotism,  benevolence,  and  duty.  Hitherto 
 you  have  not  had  a word  of  my  commercial  plans ; these  I have  kept  back,  as  they 
 did  not  require  the  immediate  attention  that  those  of  a political  nature  did  ; but  they 
 are  not  less  important,  for  they  include  the  whole  trade  of  the  Archipelago.  I will, 
 how^ever,  give  you  some  account  of  what  we  have  been  doing  at  Bencoolen.  Here, 
 at  any  rate,  my  measures  have  met  with  general  approbation.  They  are  admitted 
 by  the  Supreme  Government  to  be  founded  on  sound  principles  of  economy,  good 
 government,  and  humanity. 
 
 “ My  absence  from  the  seat  of  government,  with  little  or  no  communication 
 for  upwards  of  eleven  months,  during  which  the  charge  of  the  place  necessarily  de- 
 volved on  a person  who  did  not  comprehend  the  principles  on  which  I acted,  has 
 afforded  the  means  of  proving  that  there  was  nothing  in  the  nature  of  those  prin- 
 ciples calculated  to  create  commotion,  or  to  occasion  dangerous  consequences ; that, 
 in  fact,  such  an  apprehension  was  a mere  bugbear,  created  in  the  confused  noddles 
 of  those  who  w^ere  ignorant  or  afraid  of  their  advantage,  and  supported  by  those 
 who  knew  no  better ; that  innovation  and  reform  are  attended  with  difficulties  and 
 dangers,  no  one  will  deny,  but  it  is  for  him  who  carries  them  into  effect  to  be  pre- 
 pared to  meet  and  subdue  them  as  they  arise.  I wish,  however,  those  who  were  so 
 ready  to  declare  the  impossibility  of  the  change  would  now  admit  they  were  mis- 
 taken, and  state  the  grounds  of  their  misconception.  They  could  not  resist  giving 
 
414 
 
 MEASURES  FOR  IMPROVEMENT  OF  NATIVES. 
 
 me  at  least,  credit  for  overcoming  what  they  conceived  impossible.  I would  then 
 simply  ask  their  opinion  on  the  contrast  betw'een  what  is,  and  what  was? 
 
 “ You  will  recollect  a conversation  we  had  previous  to  my  embarkation,  on 
 a very  serious  subject.  To  prove  to  you  that  I am  not  inattentive  to  those  im- 
 portant interests  on  the  hrgest  scale,  I refer  you  to  what  we  have  done  towards  the 
 amehoration,  ci^'ilization,  and  improvement  of  our  popidation,  the  only  rational  steps 
 which  can  be  taken  for  eventually  spreading  advantages  of  a higher  nature,  which  we 
 derive  from  the  comforts  of  revelation  and  rehgion. 
 
 * « * » * 
 
 “ Of  the  more  immediate  and  practicable  measures,  however,  I must  refer  you 
 to  the  recent  estabhshment  of  schools  on  the  Lancastrian  principle.  A parent  school 
 has  been  established  at  Bencoolen,  w'hence  I hope  to  supply  each  \'illage  with  a 
 tutor,  and  gradually  extend  the  spread  of  knowledge  throughout  the  whole  Island. 
 The  march  wdU  be  slow  but  sure,  and  while  we  are  doing  all  we  can  to  amend  the 
 present  race,  w*e  are  preparing  to  supply  their  place,  in  the  rising  generation,  by  a 
 
 people  in  whom  improvement  and  civilization  may  be  more  readily  extended. 
 
 ^ 
 
 But  still  a more  important  and  interesting  report  deseiv'es  your  attention,  as 
 containing  a true  pictme  of  the  present  state  of  society  at  Bencoolen,  on  the  subject 
 of  the  recent  changes  which  have  been  effected.  It  has  occured  to  me  that  this 
 mode  of  exhibiting  our  real  condition  was  adrisable.  My  indiridual  opinion  might 
 be  doubted,  or  supposed  to  be  interested  or  biassed ; I have,  therefore,  availed  myself 
 of  the  support  of  others,  and  by  placmg  our  clergyman  at  the  head  of  the  committee, 
 given  a degree  of  weight  which  could  not  attach  to  the  same  arguments  used  by  me 
 alone.  As  I have  no  council  at  Bencoolen,  I make  committees  supply  their  place. 
 Reflect  that  Bencoolen  is  the  oldest  estabhshment  we  have  in  India.  It  is  folly  to  say 
 I am  doing  the  Company  an  injmy  in  exposing  the  rices  of  the  system  : they  must 
 be  exposed  in  order  to  produce  a thorough  repentance,  without  wMch  we  cannot 
 amend  our  w^ays ; or  to  use  a more  appropriate  phrase,  turn  over  a new  leaf.  No 
 man,  and  no  body  of  men,  were  ever  condemned  for  acknowledging  their  errors, 
 prorided  they  were  resolved  to  depart  from  them ; it  is  by  a perseverance  in  w'hat  is 
 bad,  by  an  endeavour  to  conceal  from  ourselves  and  the  w’orld,  that  things  are  as  bad 
 
 as  they  really  are,  that  we  do  mischief. 
 
 * » » » * 
 
 “ I feel  so  satisfied  that  all  I have  done,  and  am  doing  at  Bencoolen,  is  right, 
 that  I am  only  apprehensive  on  one  point,  and  that  is,  the  authorities  in  Europe 
 crying  out  prematurely.  The  obstacles  in  my  way,  in  the  point  of  economy,  are 
 great ; while  there  is  so  large  an  estabhshment  of  ci\ilians  for  whom  there  is  no  em- 
 plojTnent,  and  so  many  dependants  on  the  Company’s  bounty,  what  can  be  done  ? 
 Remove  the  former,  and  let  the  latter  die  off,  and  we  shall  get  on. 
 
FINANCIAL  REFORMS. 
 
 415 
 
 My  health  and  constitution  will  not  admit  of  my  remaining  many  years  in  India, 
 and  I must  endeavour,  by  an  increased  acti\ity,  to  make  up  for  want  of  time.  When 
 do  you  think  I shall  get  home  ? Will  seven  years’  banishment  be  enough  for  all  my 
 sins  ? or  must  I linger  till  I can  sin  no  more  ? 
 
 “ You  will  be  happy  to  hear  that  I have  the  advantage  of  a highly  scientific  friend 
 in  Dr.  Jack,  who  supphes  poor  Arnold’s  place.  I have  also  two  Frenchmen  employed, 
 and  my  collections  are  very  considerable ; and  both  Sophia  and  myself  pass  many 
 
 happy  hours  among  the  flowers,  the  birds,  and  the  beasts,  &c. 
 
 * » « * 
 
 “ I have  revised  the  custom-house  and  port  regulations,  which  was  absolutely 
 necessary,  and  declared  the  port  free  of  all  duties.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ At  sea,  in  the  Bay  of  Bengal,  Nov.  9,  1820. 
 
 “ Behold  me  again  at  sea  in  my  passage  to  Bengal.  I had  hardly  arrived  at 
 Bencoolen,  when  events  occurred  which  rendered  this  voyage  indispensable ; but  I 
 have  undertaken  it  alone,  the  smallness  of  the  vessel  and  the  adverse  season  of  the 
 year  inducing  me  to  insist  on  Lady  Raffles  remaining  quietly  at  home.  An  opening 
 seems  now  to  be  afforded  for  extending  my  views  and  plans  to  the  Eastward,  and  this 
 shall  be  the  last  effbrt  I will  make.  If  I succeed  I shall  have  enough  to  occupy  my 
 attention  while  I remain  in  the  East ; and  if  I do  not,  I can  only  retm’n  to  Ben- 
 coolen, and  enjoy  domestic  retirement  in  the  bosom  of  my  family. 
 
 “ In  this  country,  you  will  be  happy  to  hear  that  we  have  completely  turned  the 
 tables  on  the  Dutch.  The  occupation  of  Singapore  has  been  the  death-blow  to  all 
 their  plans  ; and  I trust  that  our  political  and  commercial  interests  will  be  adequately 
 secured,  notwithstanding  the  unhandsome  and  ungenerous  manner  in  which  ministers 
 have  treated  me  individually,  or  the  indifference  they  have  shewn  to  the  subject.  I 
 was  perfectly  aware  that  they  would  not  hke  the  agitation  of  the  question ; but  they 
 ought  to  have  been  aware  that  it  could  not  be  avoided,  and  that  however  easy  it  may 
 be  in  the  Cabinet  to  sacrifice  the  best  interests  of  the  nation,  there  are  spirits  and 
 voices  engendered  by  the  principles  of  our  constitution  that  will  not  remain  quiet 
 under  it.  * * * * ^ 
 
 ‘‘  But  a truce  to  politics ; a few  words  on  our  domestic  arrangements  and  plans 
 wiU,  I doubt  not,  be  far  more  interesting  than  all  my  public  speculations.  You  are 
 already  informed  that  Lady  Raffles  presented  me  with  a son  and  heir  while  at  Penang ; 
 he  is  now  a fine  stout  boy,  and  as  bold  as  a lion ; the  reverse  of  your  god-daughter 
 in  almost  every  thing.  She  is  the  most  gentle  timid  being  in  existence.  It  is  now 
 above  a month  since  I left  them,  and  two  more  will  elapse  before  I see  them  again. 
 
416 
 
 BIBLE  SOCIETY. 
 
 “ I have  endeavoured  to  supply  the  place  of  Dr.  Arnold  by  another  botanical 
 friend,  and  when  other  objects  do  not  distract  us,  we  always  find  abundant  employ- 
 ment among  our  plants  and  animals.  The  two  French  naturalists  are  indefatigable, 
 and  their  collection  is  already  very  extensive.  I am  now  preparing  for  transmission 
 to  Sir  Joseph  a full  description  of  the  Duyong,  or  mermaid  of  these  seas.  I am  afi*aid, 
 however,  that  the  particulars  will  but  ill  accord  with  the  accounts  of  fonner  travellers, 
 and  that  in  this,  as  in  many  other  cases,  when  we  descend  from  imagination  to  simple 
 facts,  there  ^nll  be  a wonderful  falling  off;  were  it  not  so  in  the  present  instance,  I 
 don’t  know  how  I could  detail  to  you  the  relish  wth  which  I dined  off  the  fiesh  of 
 one  of  these  seducing  animals. 
 
 “ I intended  to  have  sent  your  Grace  a detailed  account  of  my  mission  to 
 Acheen,  where  I had  to  put  the  croum  on  the  proper  head ; but  the  subject  is  so 
 mixed  uith  pohtical  matter,  that  I fear  it  would  have  but  httle  interest ; for  what  can 
 you  care  about  a kingdom  at  the  other  end  of  the  world,  and  where  the  people  have 
 no  peculiar  virtues  to  recommend  them  ? I was  detained  in  the  country  for  nearly 
 two  months,  and  to  give  you  an  idea  of  my  employment,  it  may  be  sufficient  to  state, 
 that  our  proceedings  filled  upwards  of  a thousand  pages  of  the  Company’s  largest 
 sized  paper.  This  is  the  laborious  way  in  which  we  are  sometimes  obliged  to  do  busi- 
 ness in  India,  and  will  perhaps  account  for  my  unwillingness  to  enlarge  farther  on  a 
 subject  of  which  I must  be  pretty  well  tired. 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Raffles. 
 
 At  sea,  November  9,  1819,  within  three  days  sail  of  Calcutta, 
 
 “ My  Dear  Cousin, 
 
 “ As  I know  the  w'arm  interest  you  feel  in  our  plans  of  improvement,  I 
 lose  no  time  in  enclosing,  under  a separate  cover,  a copy  of  the  first  proceedings 
 which  have  been  printed  of  our  Bible  Society,  and  a still  more  interesting  account 
 of  our  schools  : the  latter  fonns  but  a part  of  a more  general  and  extensive  plan  that  I 
 have  set  on  foot  for  the  spread  of  knowiedge,  and  the  gi'owth  of  moral  principles 
 throughout  the  Archipelago.  Much  of  my  time  has  lately  been  devoted  to  these 
 objects,  and  if  I am  able  to  cany  my  plan  for  the  estabhshment  of  a native  college 
 at  Singapore,  the  system  will  be  complete.  If  you  refer  to  the  map,  and  observe 
 the  commanding  position  of  Singapore,  situated  at  the  extremity  of  the  Malay 
 Peninsula,  you  will  at  once  see  what  a field  is  opened  for  our  operations.  It  is  very 
 probable  that  I shall  print  a few  copies  of  a paper  which  I have  di'awn  up  on  this 
 subject,  in  which  case  I shall  not  fail  to  send  you  a copy. 
 
 “ The  Baptist  Missionary'  Establishment  have  lately  written  to  me  on  the  sub- 
 ject of  sending  out  missionaries.  My  answ'er  is  encom*aging,  and  I have  accom- 
 
NATIVE  COLLEGE. 
 
 417 
 
 panied  it  by  some  general  observations  on  the  plan  of  conversion.  We  have  already 
 one  young  man,  and  a small  printing  press ; but  we  require  active  zeal,  and  I shall 
 find  enough  to  do  for  all  you  can  send  out ; but  let  them  make  haste — years  roll  on 
 very  fast.  Two  years  have  now  elapsed  since  I left  England,  and  in  five  or  six  more 
 I hope  to  be  thinking  of  returning.  There  is  no  political  objection  whatever  to 
 missionaries  in  this  part  of  the  East,  and  so  far  from  obstructing,  they  may  be  ex- 
 pected to  hasten  and  assist,  the  plans  which  are  already  in  operation.” 
 
 To  the  same. 
 
 “ Off  the  Sand  Heads,  Bengal,  November  10,  1819. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Cousin, 
 
 * * 
 
 “ I wish  to  bespeak  your  good  offices,  and  the  exertion  of  all  your  energies, 
 in  support  of  an  institution  I am  about  to  form  for  generally  educating  the  higher 
 class  of  natives.  The  enclosed  paper  will  place  you  in  full  possession  of  my  views, 
 plans,  and  anticipations  in  this  respect,  and  I shall  not  detain  you  here  by  a repeti- 
 tion of  them. 
 
 “ I have  written  to  Mr.  Wilberforce  on  the  subject,  and  am  anxious  that  he 
 should  take  us  under  the  parental  wing  of  the  African  Institution.  I promise  glo- 
 rious results,  and  all  I ask  is  support  and  encouragement,  not  so  much  for  myself, 
 but  to  aid  and  foster  a proper  spirit  in  those  who  must  practically  assist,  and  on 
 whom  the  immediate  superintendance  and  labour  must  fall,  when  I am  over  the 
 seas,  and  far  away.  All  improvements  of  this  nature  must  be  slow  and  gradual,  and 
 we  should  look  a good  way  forward.  The  short  time  that  I may  remain  in  India 
 will  only  serve  to  set  the  machine  in  motion — and  how  uncertain  after  all  is  life ! 
 Unless  some  permanent  support  is  found  in  England,  an  accident  to  me  might  de- 
 stroy aU  my  highest  anticipations. 
 
 * 
 
 “ I am  now  on  my  way  to  Calcutta,  in  the  hope  of  forwarding  all  my  plans — 
 and  if  I am  successful,  you  shall  soon  hear  further  from  me.  In  the  mean  time, 
 and  always,  beheve  me,  most  affectionately, 
 
 “ T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 Referring  to  this  subject  in  a letter  to  another  friend,  of  the  same  date,  he  says, 
 “ The  field  is  certainly  extensive  and  interesting,  and  among  so  many  good  men  at 
 home,  it  is  hard  if  we  cannot  find  some  friends  to  the  Eastern  Isles.  If  Mr.  Wilber- 
 force vnW  take  them  up  all  will  go  right.” 
 
 To  the  same  friend  he  wrote  again  in  the  same  month  another  letter,  from 
 which  the  following  is  an  extract. 
 
 3 H 
 
418 
 
 ISLAND  OF  BILLITON. 
 
 * * * ife  * 
 
 “ I wish  to  di’aw  your  attention  to  an  Island  which  has  not  hitherto  attracted 
 
 much  notice. 
 
 The  Island  of  Billiton  holds  a remarkably  commanding  position  between  the 
 China  and  Java  Seas : it  is  situated  nearly  mid- way  from  the  Malay  Peninsula  to 
 the  Island  of  Java,  and  is  equi-distant  from  Sumatra  and  Borneo.  It  forms  with 
 Banca,  and  the  numerous  small  Islands  lying  between,  that  passage  into  the  China 
 Seas  known  by  the  name  of  the  Straits  of  Caspar,  and  has  the  Caramata  passage  on 
 the  east. 
 
 “ Billiton  contains  an  area  of  not  less  than  four  or  five  hundi’ed  square  miles ; 
 it  is  for  the  most  part  mountainous  and  covered  with  forests  ; and  the  native  settle- 
 ments which  have  been  formed  are  mostly  situated  on  the  coast,  and  near  the  prin- 
 cipal rivers.  Its  most  valuable  export  is  a particular  kind  of  iron,  in  great  request 
 among  the  Malay  countries  ; but  it  furnishes  tin,  and  most  of  the  other  raw  products 
 which  are  peculiar  to  these  Islands.  Cultivation  does  not  appear  to  have  been  car- 
 ried to  any  considerable  extent ; but  the  soil  is  understood  to  be  fertile,  and  the 
 country  throughout  abmidantly  watered.  From  the  geological  specimens  which 
 have  been  obtained,  and  the  consideration  of  its  position  between  Banca  and  Borneo, 
 with  both  of  which  it  is  connected  by  chains  of  smaller  Islands,  it  may  be  inferred  to 
 be  of  similar  constitution,  and  when  fidly  examined,  will  probably  be  found  equally 
 rich  in  mineral  productions.  The  pro\dnces  of  Borneo,  to  the  southward  of  Succa- 
 dana,  and  immediately  opposite  to  Billiton,  form  part  of  the  ancient  kingdom  of 
 Mattan,  still  independent  of  Dutch  authority  or  claims,  and  are  considered  particu- 
 larly valuable,  on  account  of  the  abundant  produce  of  gold  and  diamonds,  and  the 
 extent  of  native  agricultural  population  in  the  interior.  The  restrictive  policy  of  the 
 Dutch  has  induced  the  Chiefs  to  close  their  ports,  in  a great  measure,  against  general 
 intercourse  and  trade ; but  the  mission  lately  sent  to  Singapore  fi*om  these  states, 
 sufficiently  shews  the  desire  of  the  Chiefs  to  re-open  them,  if  assured  of  our  affiance 
 and  the  non-interference  of  the  Dutch. 
 
 Of  the  population  of  Billiton  it  is  not  easy,  in  the  present  state  of  our  informa- 
 tion, to  form  an  estimate.  It  is  composed  of  several  small  and  independent  esta- 
 blishments, which  have  latterly  considerably  increased,  particularly  since  the  transfer 
 of  Java.  It  has  been  considered  a place  of  refuge  for  those  who  were  unwilling  to 
 submit  to  the  severity  of  the  Dutch  restrictions,  and  has  naturally  become  the  resort 
 of  pirates  and  smugglers.  The  opinion  generally  entertained  by  the  natives,  that 
 this  is  a British  Island,  and  that  they  cannot  be  interfered  with  by  the  Dutch,  has 
 tended  to  increase  the  resort,  particidarly  of  the  smugglers. 
 
 The  opinion  of  the  authorities  in  Europe  is  decisive  in  favour  of  our  sove- 
 reign right  to  this  Island  not  having  been  affected  by  the  convention  with  the 
 Netherlands. 
 
ISLAND  OF  BILLITON. 
 
 419 
 
 “ Billiton  lies  in  the  direct  track  of  the  trade  between  Europe  and  China,  pass- 
 ing through  the  Straits  of  Sunda,  and  would  afford  a convenient  port  of  refreshment 
 for  our  China  ships,  and  might  be  expected  to  become  a most  extensive  entrepot 
 between  Europe  and  China. 
 
 “ When  the  Islands  of  Banca  and  Billiton  were  obtained  in  cession  to  the  East 
 India  Company,  it  was  considered  that  a line  drawn  between  Sumatra  and  Borneo, 
 in  the  latitude  of  Billiton,  woidd  form  a most  advantageous  boundary  between  the 
 French  and  English  authorities,  in  the  possible  event  of  the  restoration  of  Java. 
 This  arrangement  woidd  still  have  left  to  the  power  in  possession  of  Java,  the 
 unbroken  and  uninterrupted  empire  of  that  and  the  more  eastern  Islands. 
 
 ‘‘  An  establishment  of  the  same  nature  as  that  at  Singapore,  would  be  sufficient 
 for  every  immediate  pm-pose.  In  connection  ivith  that  settlement,  it  would  form  a 
 most  valuable  and  important  link  in  our  series  of  stations,  and  would  always  ensure 
 to  us  every  fair  advantage  in  the  trade  of  the  Archipelago. 
 
 “ Of  the  comparative  view  of  Billiton  and  Singapore  it  may  be  observed,  that 
 the  latter  settlement  was  made  solely  with  a riew  to  command  the  Straits  of  Malacca, 
 and  the  protection  of  our  trade  passing  to  and  from  China  in  that  direction.  It  has 
 no  influence  or  command  whatever  over  the  Straits  of  Sunda,  an  advantage  which  is 
 possessed  by  Billiton. 
 
 “ The  two  stations  would  mutually  assist  each  other,  and  answer  almost  every 
 object  we  have  in  riew,  and  the  loss  of  either  would  not  be  easily  supplied. 
 
 “ The  above  observations  are  necessarily  general,  and  it  is  much  to  be  wished 
 that  more  information  should  be  obtained  as  to  its  harbours,  population,  &c.,  and 
 what  changes  have  taken  place  since  it  was  considered  to  have  fallen  under  the 
 British  rule, — what  port  offers  the  greatest  advantages  for  a station,  and  what  the 
 immediate  local  facilities  or  difficulties  of  estabhshing  the  same. 
 
 “ I send  you  a copy  of  Lord  Hastings’  reply  to  a letter  from  me  on  the  subject 
 of  our  eastern  arrangements.  His  Lordship  is  ready  enough  to  act  as  soon  as  he 
 possesses  authority,  and  I know  that  the  other  members  of  Council  concur  in  and 
 approve  of  the  plan  I have  proposed.  His  Lordship  would  perhaps  incline  more  to 
 the  acquisition  of  territory,  and  a disposition  towards  Ava  and  Acheen  is  discernible  ; 
 but  in  this,  I presume,  he  wiU  be  checked  from  home.  Mihtary  men  and  Bengal 
 civilians  are  more  favom-able  to  temtorial  extension  than  the  Court  of  Directors  are 
 likely  to  be,  and,  therefore,  I calculate  that  some  plan  on  the  principle  of  that  I have 
 suggested,  will  be  adopted. 
 
 “ I hope  the  authorities  at  home  will  not  be  induced  to  give  up  Billiton,  under 
 an  idea  that  it  is  of  no  value  to  us.  If  my  proceedings  have  only  saved  this  one 
 spot  from  the  \iTeck,  I shall  have  done  some  good.  I am  just  drawing  up  a memo- 
 randum on  the  subject  for  this  government,  and  will  send  you  a copy  of  it. 
 
 “ This  appears  to  be  the  moment  for  a grand  push.  You  may,  in  good  con- 
 
 3 H 2 
 
420 
 
 LETTER  FROM  LORD  HASTINGS. 
 
 science,  put  my  personal  interest  out  of  the  question,  and  believe  that  I am  solely 
 actuated  by  public  ambition,  to  place  our  Eastern  possessions  on  a respectable  and 
 permanent  footing.” 
 
 Letter  from  Lord  Hastings. 
 
 “ Calcutta,  November  27th,  1819. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ The  consolidation  of  our  Eastern  possessions  into  one  government,  subor- 
 dinate to  the  supreme  authority,  would  unquestionably  be  a desirable  arrangement. 
 I think  it  likely  to  strike  the  Court  of  Directors,  in  consequence  of  the  various  do- 
 cuments which  have  within  the  last  two  years  been  transmitted  to  them.  Their 
 judgment  possibly  may  not  determine  the  point,  for  the  consideration  of  the  subject 
 will  be  complicated  with  the  result  of  discussions  between  the  Com’ts  of  London  and 
 Brussels.  I fear  we  shall  have  but  a patched  determination.  Till  a decision  shall  be 
 signified  to  us,  it  would  be  premature  to  fashion,  even  pro\fisionally,  any  plan ; but  it 
 is  always  expedient  to  scrutinize,  in  the  interval,  all  particulars,  so  as  to  be  prepared 
 to  act  upon  the  principle  which  may  be  dictated  to  us. 
 
 “ I am,  &c.” 
 
 The  state  of  Sir  Stamford’s  mind,  in  private  as  well  as  in  pubhc,  may  be  collected 
 from  the  following  letters  written  about  this  time. 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Caleutta,  December  \7th,  1819. 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 “ I do  all  I can  to  raise  myself  above  these  feelings,  in  the  hope  that  there  is, 
 even  in  this  world,  more  happiness  than  we  weak  mortals  can  comprehend.  I have 
 had  enough  of  sorrow  in  my  short  career  ; and  it  still  comes  too  ready  a guest  without 
 my  bidding  ; but  I drive  it  from  my  door,  and  do  my  best  to  preserve  my  health  and 
 spirits,  that  I may  last  out  a few  years  longer,  and  contribute,  as  far  as  I can,  to  the 
 happiness  of  others. 
 
 “ But  away  with  this  melancholy  strain.  I fear  I am  getting  almost  as  bad  as 
 those  to  whom  I would  preach,  and  in  truth,  I am  at  this  moment  heavy  and  sick  at 
 heart.  I could  lay  me  down  and  cry,  and  weep  for  hours  together,  and  yet  I know 
 not  why,  except  that  I am  unhappy.  But  for  my  dear  sister’s  arrival,  I should  still 
 have  been  a solitary  wretch  in  this  busy  capital.  I left  Lady  Raffles  and  my  dear 
 children  at  Bencoolen  three  months  ago  ; and  I have  no  one  here  of  congenial  feelings 
 with  whom  I can  communicate. 
 
DIPLOMATIC  AGENT  AT  BATAVIA. 
 
 421 
 
 Of  my  public  views  and  plans  I have  not  much  to  say  ; we  remain  quite  neutral 
 pending  the  reference  to  Europe. 
 
 ^ vpT  t|c 
 
 “ It  is  said  that  Captain  Canning  will  be  appointed  to  reside  in  some  diplomatic 
 capacity  at  Batavia ; an  accredited  agent  with  the  Batavian  Government  will  be  the 
 surest  means  of  preventing  serious  disputes. 
 
 ^&  * * * * * 
 
 “ If  there  is  time,  I will  endeavour  to  send  your  Grace  a paper,  which  will 
 explain  to  you  more  fully  what  my  present  views  and  wishes  are.  I do  not,  however, 
 set  my  heart  on  them,  or,  indeed,  on  any  thing  else,  except  returning  to  England 
 as  soon  as  possible.  I am  almost  tempted  to  say  that  this  is  becoming  every  day 
 more  and  more  the  sole  object  of  my  desires,  and  I do  yet  hope  that  ere  the  fifth 
 repetition  of  Christmas,  we  may  be  within  reach  of  one  of  the  Duke’s  parks.  On 
 my  return  to  Bencoolen,  I shall  probably  be  able  to  speak  more  decidedly  on  this 
 point,  and  in  the  mean  time,  what  I have  now  said  will,  I hope,  convince  you  that  I 
 am  beginning  to  turn  my  thoughts  homewards.  I must  look  out  for  some  cottage 
 or  farm,  and  profiting  by  the  distresses  of  the  great  landholders,  endeavour  to  sell 
 butter  and  cheese  to  advantage — do  you  think  this  would  do  ?” 
 
 ***** 
 
 To  W.  Marsden,  Esq. 
 
 '^Calcutta,  December  28,  1819. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I have  the  pleasure  to  forward  to  iyou,  under  separate  covers,  two  or 
 three  papers  connected  with  my  views  and  plans  to  the  eastward,  which  may,  per- 
 haps, be  interesting  to  you.  One  of  these  is  a paper  suggesting  the  advantage  of 
 consolidating  our  eastern  establishments  under  one  government ; another,  which  is 
 printed,  suggests  the  advantage  of  affording  the  means  of  education  to  the  native 
 Chiefs  of  the  Archipelago ; and  a third  is  the  copy  of  a report  of  a committee 
 appointed  to  inquire  into  the  state  of  society  at  Bencoolen,  &c.  I should  he  happy 
 to  receive  your  opinion,  generally,  on  the  arrangements  proposed. 
 
 “ The  paper  on  the  policy  of  uniting  our  establishments  to  the  eastward,  was 
 of  course  drawn  up  for  the  meridian  of  Calcutta,  where  I have  reason  to  believe  the 
 principles  are  most  fully  concurred  in.  In  a more  lengthened  official  report  on 
 the  commercial  resources  of  the  Archipelago,  which  goes  home  in  the  present 
 packet,  I have  of  course  not  alluded  to  the  abohtion  of  the  present  form  of  govern- 
 ment at  Penang.  I believe  it  is  the  wash  of  Lord  Hastings  to  establish  Captain 
 Canning  as  a resident  Agent  at  Batavia,  and  that  this  forms  part  of  the  plan  sug- 
 gested for  the  consideration  of  the  authorities  in  Europe.  The  idea  is,  I think. 
 
422 
 
 APPROVAL  OF  SIR  STAMFORD’S  PLANS. 
 
 good ; but  I hope  the  duties  of  this  Agent  uill  be  strictly  confined  to  communications 
 with  the  Dutch,  and  that  this  appointment  is  not  in  any  way  intended  to  interfere 
 with  the  government  of  the  British  settlements,  in  their  connection  and  intercourse 
 with  the  native  states.” 
 
 To 
 
 “ Diamond  Harbour,  January,  1820. 
 
 “ I have  been  delayed  in  Calcutta  for  a month  longer  than  I expected,  on 
 account  of  a severe  and  trying  illness,  which  has  long  confined  me  to  my  bed  and  room. 
 I am  happy,  however,  to  say,  that  I am  again  convalescent,  and  in  a fair  way  of 
 recovery.  I embarked  yesterday.  Sophia  and  the  childi'en  were  well  the  beginning 
 of  December,  but  I have  not  heard  from  them  since  I sailed. 
 
 “ Singapore,  I am  happy  to  say,  continues  to  rise  most  rapidly  in  importance 
 and  resources.  It  is  already  one  of  the  first  ports  in  the  East,  and  I doubt  not  you 
 will  receive  very  favom'able  reports  by  every  homeward-bound  ship.  I could  write 
 volumes  in  its  favom*,  but  it  may  suffice  to  say,  that  it  has  in  every  respect  answered 
 beyond  my  most  sanguine  expectations. 
 
 “ On  leartng  Calcutta,  you  will  expect  some  opinion  from  me  on  the  state  of 
 my  interests,  and  generally  of  the  opinions  entertained  respecting  my  views  and 
 plans  to  the  eastward.  Here,  as  in  England,  I find  that  my  presence  has  served  to 
 dissipate  many  a cloud,  and  that  opposition  has  receded  as  I approached.  There  is  a 
 very  favourable  disposition  to  me  personally,  but,  I believe,  still  more  so  to  my  plans, 
 which  are  now  approved  of,  and  upheld  by  all  descriptions  of  persons,  high  and  low. 
 The  followng  extract  from  a note  I have  received  from  a very  high  and  influencing 
 authority,  will  speak  for  itself : — ' Your  very  interesting  report,  regarding  the  com- 
 mercial relations  of  the  Eastern  Islands,  is  still  in  circulation  with  the  members  of 
 government.  It  ^rtll  not,  probably,  lead  to  any  practical  result  in  this  country,  but 
 will,  of  course,  be  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  authorities  at  home.  I should  sin- 
 cerely rejoice  to  see  adopted  the  admirable  scheme  which  you  have  sketched  for  the 
 organization  and  management  of  our  eastern  possessions.  I am  surprised  that  the 
 commercial  men  of  Calcutta  have  not  more  distinctly  marked  their  sense  of  the 
 great  advantages  likely  to  accme  to  the  commercial  interests  of  India  and  England, 
 from  the  successful  prosecution  of  your  plan.’ 
 
 “ With  regard  to  the  commercial  men,  nothing  can  exceed  the  attention  I have 
 received  fi*om  them ; they  gave  me  a public  dinner,  and  made  eveiy  demonstration 
 to  me  personally  during  my  stay  in  Calcutta ; but  they  wait  till  I have  left  it  to  send 
 in  a \n-itten  representation  to  Government,  which,  for  many  reasons,  it  is  better 
 should  be  done  during  my  absence. 
 
 “ I hope  the  Supreme  Government  will  also  forward,  by  the  present  ship,  their 
 
 1 
 
APPROVAL  OF  SIR  STAMFORD’S  PLANS. 
 
 423 
 
 sentiments  upon  my  administration  and  proceedings  at  Bencoolen ; they  fully  approve 
 and  applaud  all  I have  done,  and  their  communications  to  me  on  the  subject  are  most 
 flattering. 
 
 " Report  says,  the  Dutch  have  been  driven  out  and  massacred  at  Padang.  No- 
 thing is  more  hkely,  for  their  conduct  was  abominable.  Oh  that  our  politicians  at 
 home  would  act  with  a little  common  sense  and  firmness ; it  is  folly  for  them  to 
 procrastinate ; and  unless  they  do  what  is  just  and  fair,  nature  and  circumstances 
 will  involve  them  in  the  eventual  necessity  of  a still  more  unpleasant  interference 
 hereafter. 
 
 “ It  is  my  intention  to  write  a defence  of  my  conduct  against  the  charge  of  Lord 
 Bathurst,  (of  having  exceeded  my  powers),  and  this  will  be  forwarded  through  the 
 Supreme  Government.  The  public  authorities  at  home  seem  never  to  have  adverted 
 to  my  being  furnished  with  a commission  as  Lieutenant  Governor ; and  that  it  was 
 by  virtue  of  this  commission,  that  I protested  against  the  Dutch,  and  not  as  a sepa- 
 rate or  political  agent.  I maintain,  and  shall  continue  to  maintain,  that  I was  per- 
 fectly authorized  to  make  that  protest ; and  consequently,  that  however  it  may  be 
 condemned,  it  cannot  be  annulled.  I had  full  right  to  make  it,  and  my  commission 
 is  my  warrant.” 
 
CHAPTER  XV. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  did  not  succeed  in  introducing  a more  economical  and  simple  mode  of  government  for  the  Eas- 
 tern Islands — Difficulties  of  altering  established  forms — Illness — Sight  of  Sumatra  — Tappanooly — 
 Battas — Population — Language — Manners — Civilized  cannibals— Eating  their  prisoners  in  mar,  cri- 
 minals, and  parents,  alive — Description  of  eating  a person  as  a punishment — Padries — Cholera  Mor- 
 bus— Camphor  tree — Laws  of  the  Battas — Succession  of  nephews — Mr.  Ward’s  opinion. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  Raffles  failed  in  his  endeavour  to  prevail  upon  the  Supreme  Go- 
 vernment to  introduce  a more  simple  mode  of  management  for  the  Eastern  Islands. 
 It  is,  perhaps,  not  easy  to  break  up  large  and  old  establishments,  or  to  check  the 
 progi'ess  of  patronage  and  power.  The  government  of  Penang  was  admitted  to  be 
 a cumbrous,  useless  machine ; for  which  no  employment  could  be  found.  A Re- 
 sident with  two  or  three  assistants  at  each,  were  acknowledged  to  be  sufficient  for 
 all  the  duties  at  each  of  the  three  stations  of  Penang,  Malacca,  and  Singapore, — the 
 latter  was  so  fixed  by  Sir  Stamford ; but  when  Bencoolen  was  given  up  to  the 
 Dutch  in  1824,  the  East  India  Company  transferred  all  the  civil  servants  from  that 
 estabhshment  to  these  places,  in  two  of  which  there  were  already  more  than  it  was 
 possible  to  find  employment  for;  and  even  since  that  event  more  young  men  have 
 been  sent  out  to  Penang ; under  such  arrangements  it  is  impossible  to  keep  down 
 expenditure ; and  Singapore  has  in  consequence  gi'eatly  increased  in  expense  since 
 Sir  Stamford  relinquished  his  control  over  it. 
 
 In  the  month  of  February,  1820,  Sir  Stamford  prepared  to  leave  Calcutta  and 
 return  to  Sumatra,  uith  the  consciousness  of  having,  to  the  utmost  of  his  ability, 
 endeavoured  to  prevail  upon  those  who  had  the  power,  to  reform  what  was  acknow- 
 ledged to  require  reformation,  and  to  lessen  expense,  where  it  was  confessed  that 
 useless  expenditure  existed. 
 
 The  nature  of  his  feelings,  and  of  his  occupations  on  his  return  to  the  scene 
 of  his  public  duties  in  Sumatra,  is  well  described  by  himself  in  his  letters  to  different 
 friends,  from  which  the  following  are  extracts.  They  contain  a curious  and  almost 
 original  account  of  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  great  Island. 
 
DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  BATTAS. 
 
 425 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Off  Smnatra,  February  12,  1820. 
 
 “ You  will,  perhaps,  have  condemned  me  for  so  long  a silence,  yet  when  you 
 know  the  cause,  I am  satisfied  you  will  cease  to  think  unkindly. 
 
 I have  been  ill — very  ill — so  much  so,  that  for  the  last  month  of  my  stay  in 
 Calcutta,  I was  confined  to  my  bed  and  forbidden  to  write  or  even  to  think.  I was 
 removed  from  my  room  to  the  ship  with  veiy  little  strength,  but  I am  happy  to  say, 
 that  I am  already  nearly  recovered ; the  sight  of  Sumatra,  and  the  health-inspiring 
 breezes  of  the  Malayan  Islands,  have  effected  a wonderful  change,  and  though  I 
 still  feel  weak,  and  am  as  thin  as  a scare-crow,  I may  fairly  say  that  I am  in  good 
 health  and  spirits. 
 
 “ I am  beginning  to  turn  my  thoughts  homew'ards,  and  shall  very  soon  ask 
 your  advice  on  a thousand  pursuits.  * ^ * 
 
 “ I have  just  left  Tappanooly,  situated  in  the  very  heart  of  the  Batta  country, 
 abounding  in  Camphor  and  Benjamin,  and  full  of  interest  for  the  natmahst  and 
 philosopher.  If  you  have  occasionally  looked  into  Mr.  Marsden’s  History  of 
 Sumatra,  you  wll  recollect  that  the  Battas  are  cannibals.  Now  do  not  be  sur- 
 prised at  what  I shall  tell  you  regarding  them,  for  I tell  the  truth,  and  nothing 
 but  the  truth. 
 
 “ To  prepare  you  a little,  I must  premise  that  the  Battas  are  an  extensive  and 
 populous  nation  of  Smnatra,  occupying  the  whole  of  that  part  of  the  Island  lying  be- 
 tween Acheen  and  Menangkabu,  reaching  to  both  the  shores.  The  coast  is  but  thinly 
 inhabited,  but  in  the  interior  the  people  are  said  to  be  ‘ as  thick  as  the  leaves  of  the 
 forest perhaps  the  whole  nation  may  amount  to  between  one  or  two  milhons  of  souls. 
 They  have  a regular  government,  deliberative  assemblies,  and  are  great  orators ; 
 nearly  the  whole  of  them  write,  and  they  possess  a language  and  written  character 
 pecidiar  to  themselves.  In  their  language  and  terms,  as  well  as  in  some  of  their  laws 
 and  usages,  the  influence  of  Hinduism  may  be  traced,  but  they  have  also  a religion 
 pecuhar  to  themselves  ; they  acknowdedge  the  one  and  only  great  God,  under  the  title 
 Dihata  Assl  Assi,  and  they  have  a Trinity  of  great  gods,  supposed  to  have  been  created 
 by  him.  They  are  warlike,  extremely  fair  and  honourable  in  all  their  dealings,  most 
 deliberate  in  all  their  proceedings ; their  country  is  highly  cultivated,  and  crimes 
 are  few. 
 
 “ The  evidence  adduced  by  Mr.  Marsden  must  have  removed  all  doubt  from 
 every  unprejudiced  mind,  that,  notwithstanding  all  this  in  their  favour,  the  Battas  are 
 strictly  cannibals ; but  he  has  not  gone  half  far  enough.  He  seems  to  consider  that 
 it  is  only  in  cases  of  prisoners  taken  in  war,  or  in  extreme  cases  of  adultery,  that  the 
 
 3 I 
 
426 
 
 DESCRIPTION  OF  EATING  A CRIMINAL. 
 
 practice  of  man-eating  is  resorted  to,  and  then  that  it  is  only  in  a fit  of  revenge.  He 
 tells  us  that,  not  satisfied  with  cutting  off  pieces  and  eating  them  raw,  instances  have 
 been  known  where  some  of  the  people  present  have  run  up  to  the  \dctim,  and  actually 
 torn  the  flesh  from  the  bones  uith  their  teeth.  He  also  tell  us,  that  one  of  om'  Resi- 
 dents found  the  remains  of  an  English  soldier,  who  had  been  only  half  eaten,  and 
 afterwards'  discovered  his  finger  sticking  on  a fork,  laid  by,  but  first  taken  wann  from 
 the  fire : but  I had  rather  refer  your  Grace  to  the  book ; and  if  you  have  not  got  it, 
 pray  send  for  it,  and  read  all  that  is  said  about  the  Battas. 
 
 “ In  a small  pamphlet,  lately  addi'essed  to  the  Court  of  Directors,  respecting  the 
 coast,  an  instance  still  more  horrible  than  any  thing  related  by  Mr.  Marsden  is  intro- 
 duced ; and  as  this  pamphlet  was  written  by  a high  authority,  and  the  fact  is  not  dis- 
 puted, there  can  be  no  question  as  to  its  coiTectness ; it  is  nearly  as  follows. 
 
 “ A few  years  ago,  a man  had  been  found  guilty  of  a very  common  crime,  and 
 was  sentenced  to  be  eaten  according  to  the  law  of  the  land ; this  took  place  close  to 
 Tappanooly ; the  Resident  was  invited  to  attend ; he  declined,  but  his  assistant  and  a 
 native  officer  were  present.  As  soon  as  they  reached  the  spot,  they  found  a large 
 assemblage  of  people,  and  the  criminal  tied  to  a tree,  with  his  hands  extended.  The 
 minister  of  justice,  who  was  himself  a Chief  of  some  rank,  then  came  forward  nith  a 
 large  knife  in  his  hand,  which  he  brandished  as  he  approached  the  \ictim.  He  was 
 followed  by  a man  carrying  a dish,  in  which  was  a preparation  or  condiment,  com- 
 posed of  limes,  chillies,  and  salt,  called  by  the  Malays  SamhuL  He  then  called  aloud 
 for  the  injured  husband,  and  demanded  what  part  he  chose ; he  replied  the  right  ear, 
 which  was  immediately  cut  off  with  one  stroke,  and  delivered  to  the  party,  who,  turn- 
 ing round  to  the  man  behind,  dehberately  dipped  it  into  the  Sambul,  and  devoured 
 it ; the  rest  of  the  party  then  fell  upon  the  body,  each  taking  and  eating  the  part  most 
 to  his  hking.  After  they  had  cut  off  a considerable  part  of  the  flesh,  one  man  stabbed 
 him  to  the  heart ; but  this  was  rather  out  of  compliment  to  the  foreign  visitors,  as  it 
 is  by  no  means  the  custom  to  give  the  coup  de  grace. 
 
 “ It  was  with  a knowledge  of  all  these  facts  regarding  the  Battas  that  I paid  a 
 \dsit  to  Tappanooly,  with  a determination  to  satisfy  my  mind  most  fully  in  everything 
 concerning  cannibalism.  I had  previously  set  on  foot  extensive  enquiries,  and  so 
 managed  matters  as  to  concentrate  the  information,  and  to  bring  the  point  within  a 
 narrow  compass.  You  shall  now  hear  the  result ; but,  before  I proceed,  I must  beg 
 of  you  to  have  a little  more  patience  than  you  had  with  Mr.  Mariner.  I recollect  that 
 W'hen  you  came  to  the  story  of  eating  the  aunt,  you  threw  the  book  down.  Now  I 
 can  assure  yom'  Grace  that  I have  fen  times  more  to  report,  and  you  must 
 believe  me. 
 
 “ I have  said  the  Battas  are  not  a bad  people,  and  I still  think  so,  nohvith- 
 standing  they  eat  one  another,  and  relish  the  flesh  of  a man  better  than  that  of  an 
 
EATING  PARENTS. 
 
 427 
 
 ox  or  a pig.  You  must  merely  consider  that  I am  giving  you  an  account  of  a novel 
 state  of  society.  The  Battas  are  not  savages,  for  they  write  and  read,  and  think  full 
 as  much,  and  more  than  those  who  are  brought  up  at  our  Lancastrian  and  National 
 Schools.  They  have  also  codes  of  laws  of  great  antiquity,  and  it  is  from  a regard 
 for  these  laws,  and  a veneration  for  the  institutions  of  their  ancestors,  that  they  eat 
 each  other ; the  law  declares  that  for  certain  crimes,  four  in  number,  the  criminals 
 shall  be  eaten  alive.  The  same  law  declares  also,  that  in  gi’eat  wars,  that  is  to  say, 
 one  district  with  another,  it  shall  be  lawful  to  eat  the  prisoners,  whether  taken  ahve, 
 dead,  or  in  then'  gi'aves. 
 
 “ In  the  four  great  cases  of  crimes  the  criminal  is  also  duly  tried  and  con- 
 demned by  a competent  tribunal.  When  the  e\idence  is  heard  sentence  is  pro- 
 nounced, when  the  Chiefs  drink  a dram  each,  which  last  ceremony  is  equivalent  to 
 signing  and  seahng  with  us. 
 
 “ Two  or  three  days  then  elapse  to  give  time  for  assembhng  the  people,  and  in 
 cases  of  adultery  it  is  not  allowed  to  carry  the  sentence  into  effect,  unless  the  rela- 
 tions of  the  wife  appear  and  partake  of  the  feast.  The  prisoner  is  then  brought 
 forward  on  the  day  appointed,  and  fixed  to  a stake  with  his  hands  extended.  The 
 husband  or  party  injured  comes  up  and  takes  the  first  choice,  generally  the  ears ; 
 the  rest  then,  according  to  their  rank,  take  the  choice  pieces,  each  helping  himself 
 according  to  his  liking.  After  all  have  partaken,  the  chief  person  goes  up  and  cuts 
 off  the  head,  which  he  carries  home  as  a trophy.  The  head  is  hung  up  in  front  of 
 the  house,  and  the  brains  are  carefully  preserved  in  a bottle  for  purposes  of  witch- 
 craft, &c.  In  devouring  the  flesh,  it  is  sometimes  eaten  raw,  and  sometimes  gi'illed, 
 but  it  must  be  eaten  upon  the  spot.  Limes,  salt,  and  pepper  are  always  in  readi- 
 ness, and  they  sometimes  eat  rice  with  the  flesh,  but  never  drink  toddy  or  spirits  ; 
 many  carry  bamboos  with  them,  and  filling  them  with  blood  drink  it  off.  The 
 assembly  consists  of  men  alone,  as  the  flesh  of  man  is  prohibited  to  the  females  : it 
 is  said,  however,  that  they  get  a bit  by  stealth  now  and  then. 
 
 “ I am  assured,  and  really  do  believe,  that  many  of  the  people  prefer  human 
 flesh  to  any  other,  but  norivithstanding  this  penchant  they  never  indulge  the  appetite 
 except  on  lawiiil  occasions.  The  palms  of  the  hands,  and  the  soles  of  the  feet,  are  the 
 dehcacies  of  epicures! 
 
 ‘‘  On  expressing  my  surprise  at  the  continuance  of  such  extraordinary  practices, 
 I was  informed  that  formerly  it  was  usual  for  the  people  to  eat  their  parents  when 
 too  old  for  work.  The  old  people  selected  the  horizontal  branch  of  a tree,  and 
 quietly  suspended  themselves  by  their  hands,  while  their  children  and  neighbours, 
 forming  a circle,  danced  round  them,  crying  out,  ^ When  the  fmit  is  ripe,  then  it 
 will  fall.’  This  practice  took  place  during  the  season  of  hmes,  when  salt  and  pepper 
 w'ere  plenty,  and  as  soon  as  the  rictims  became  fatigued,  and  could  hold  on  no 
 longer,  they  fell  down,  when  all  hands  cut  them  up,  and  made  a hearty  meal  of 
 
 3 I 2 
 
128 
 
 DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  BATTAS. 
 
 them.  This  practice,  however,  of  eating  the  old  people  has  been  abandoned,  and 
 thus  a step  in  civilization  has  been  attained,  and,  therefore,  there  are  hopes  of  future 
 improvement. 
 
 “ This  state  of  society  you  will  admit  to  be  very  peculiar.  It  is  calculated,  that 
 certainly  not  less  than  from  sixty  to  one  hmidi'ed  Battas  are  thus  eaten  in  a year  in 
 times  of  peace. 
 
 I was  going  on  to  tell  your  Grace  much  about  the  treatment  of  the  females 
 and  children,  but  I find  that  I have  already  filled  several  sheets,  and  that  I am  called 
 away  from  the  cabin  ; I will  therefore  conclude,  with  entreating  you  not  to  think  the 
 worse  of  me  for  this  horrible  relation.  You  know  that  I am  far  from  wishing  to 
 paint  any  of  the  Malay  race  in  the  worst  colours,  but  yet  I must  tell  the  truth.  Not- 
 withstanding the  practices  I have  related,  it  is  my  determination  to  take  Lady  Raffles 
 into  the  interior,  and  to  spend  a month  or  two  in  the  midst  of  these  Battas.  Should 
 any  accident  occur  to  us,  or  should  we  never  be  heard  of  more,  you  may  conclude  w^e 
 have  been  eaten. 
 
 “ I am  half  afraid  to  send  this  scrawl,  and  yet  it  may  amuse  you,  if  it  does  not, 
 throw  it  into  the  fire  ; and  still  believe  that,  though  half  a cannibal,  and  living  among 
 cannibals,  I am  not  less  warm  in  heart  and  soul.  In  the  deepest  recesses  of  the 
 forest,  and  among  the  most  savage  of  all  tribes,  my  heart  still  clings  to  those  afar 
 off,  and  I do  believe  that  even  w'ere  I present  at  a Batta  feast,  I should  be  think- 
 ing of  kind  friends  at  Maiden  Bradly.  What  an  association  ! God  forgive  me,  and 
 bless  you  all. 
 
 “ I am  forming  a collection  of  skulls ; some  from  bodies  that  have  been  eaten. 
 Will  your  Grace  allow  them  room  among  the  curiosities  ? ” 
 
 To  W.  Marsden,  Esq. 
 
 “At  sea  off  Anulaha,  February  \3th,  1820. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ Owing  to  my  long  absence  from  Bencoolen,  and  frequent  change  of 
 residence,  my  Europe  letters  have  seldom  reached  me  without  considerable  delay, 
 and  then  en  masse.  I have  now  before  me  your  letters  of  the  * * 
 
 “ After  thanking  you  generally  for  these  kind  proofs  of  your  attention  and 
 friendship,  allow  me  to  express  my  particular  obligations  to  you  for  Marco  Polo, 
 which  I am  happy  to  say  has  reached  me  in  excellent  condition.  I have  not  had 
 time  to  read  it  through,  but  I have  devoted  all  my  spare  hours  to  it,  and  mean  to  go 
 through  it  de  suite  as  soon  as  I am  once  more  settled  at  home. 
 
 I am  looking  with  anxiety  for  Crawdiu’d’s  work,  fr'om  the  time  he  has  taken  to 
 arrange  and  pohsh,  I feel  no  doubt  of  its  value.  I expect  from  him  a somewhat 
 new  view  of  the  lit^ratm'e,  history,  and  antiquities  of  Java,  as  he  appears  in  his 
 
ACCOUNT  OF  THE  PADRIES. 
 
 429 
 
 review  of  my  work  in  the  Edinburgh  to  have  thrown  a cloud  over  that  part  of  my 
 story.  I shall  be  happy  to  stand  corrected  where  I am  wrong,  and  to  acknowledge 
 my  error ; but  I hope  he  will  give  something  more  than  assertion  as  to  the  dates 
 which  he  disputed.  I have  obtained  some  new  lights  on  these  since  my  return  to 
 this  country. 
 
 “ I observe  what  you  say  in  your  last  letter  regarding  the  publication  of  my 
 late  journeys  in  the  interior.  Dr.  Horsfield  has  sufficient  materials.  Should  he  not 
 undertake  it,  I shall  have  no  objection  to  draw  up  the  account  myself;  but  I con- 
 fess I would  prefer  its  being  undertaken  by  some  other  hand  than  mine.  I shall  be 
 most  happy  to  receive  your  suggestions  as  to  the  best  mode  of  giving  the  public  an 
 account  of  the  kind.  I have  a good  deal  to  say  about  the  interior  of  Moco  Moco, 
 and  Sambi-Acheen,  and  Palembang ; and  if  you  purpose  another  edition  of  Su- 
 matra, perhaps  some  of  the  information  may  be  useful  to  you.  I am  not  desirous  of 
 pubhshing,  and  yet  I should  be  sorry  if  the  information  were  lost  for  want  of  it. 
 
 “ From  the  map  you  will  receive,  you  will  perceive  an  essential  difference  in 
 the  situation  of  Pageruyong.  It  is  about  thirty  miles  east  of  the  west  coast.  From 
 the  distracted  state  of  the  Menangkabu  country,  it  was  difficult  to  obtain  extensive 
 infonnation.  The  question  regarding  the  communication  between  the  rivers  of  Siak 
 and  Indragiri,  must  still  rest  on  the  authority  on  which  you  received  it ; as  far  as  I 
 could  infer,  and  calculate  distances  and  probabihties,  I conceive  it  most  hkely  that 
 no  such  communication  exists.  The  Indragiri  river  appears  to  be  narigable  for 
 sloops  of  fifty  and  seventy  tons,  as  high  as  the  Falls,  and  it  is  even  said  that  boats 
 of  considerable  burthen  are  to  be  found  above  them.  These  are  situated  in  that  part 
 of  the  country  usually  called  K’uantan,  near  which  the  Sultan  of  Pageruyong  has 
 recently  fixed  his  residence. 
 
 “ It  occurs  to  me,  that  an  account  of  the  Orang  Putis,  or  Padries,  might  be  well 
 introduced  into  the  account  of  our  journey  to  Menangkabu,  and  I have  already  col- 
 lected some  very  interesting  information  respecting  these  people,  who,  in  many  par- 
 ticidars,  seem  to  resemble  the  Wahabees  of  the  desert.  They  have  proved  them- 
 selves most  unrelenting  and  tyrannical ; but  their  rule  seems  calculated  to  reform 
 and  improve,  inasmuch  as  it  introduces  something  hke  authority,  so  much  wanted 
 over  aU  Sumatra.” 
 
 The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  paper  of  information  collected  on  the  occa- 
 sions to  which  Sir  Stamford  here  alluded  : 
 
 “ The  Padries  are  causing  great  alarm  at  om*  northern  stations,  and  seem  to  be 
 rapidly  increasing  in  power.  The  natives  say,  at  first  one  of  the  Chiefs  of  the 
 country,  who  was  well-read  in  most  rehgious  books,  had  great  sense  and  cunning, 
 and  much  wealth  and  influence,  consulted  with  some  of  his  friends  of  the  neigh- 
 
430 
 
 ACCOUNT  OF  THE  PADRIES. 
 
 bouring  districts,  to  endeavour  to  introduce  some  improvements  among  the  people ; 
 ^ for,’  he  observed,  ‘ not  one-tenth  of  the  population  prayed,  or  seemed  to  have  any 
 fear  of  God,  but,  on  the  contrary,  were  totally  addicted  to  cock-fighting  and 
 inebriety he  was  therefore  determined  to  abohsh  gambling,  and  to  forbid  the  use 
 of  all  intoxicating  beverages. 
 
 His  friends  wished  him  to  go  further ; they  alleged  that  it  was  written,  ‘ that 
 he  who  did  not  pray,  and  refused  to  embrace  the  tenets  of  the  Koran,  merited  death 
 and  confiscation it  was  then  determined  to  enforce  the  tenets  of  the  Mahomedan 
 rehgion  throughout  the  pro\'ince. 
 
 The  Chief  then  proclaimed  that  the  religion  of  Mahomet  consisted  in  four 
 principal  doctrines : faith,  circumcision,  seclusion,  and  the  knowledge  of  God,  and 
 that  prayer  was  the  proof  of  religion ; and  he  entreated  all  people  to  unite  with  him 
 m establishing  these  doctrines  amongst  themselves,  and  in  every  other  country  within 
 their  means ; that  the  tokens  of  union  in  the  cause  of  God  should  be  a beard  for  the 
 males,  and  that  the  w’omen  should  conceal  their  faces ; that  neither  sex  should 
 bathe  naked ; that  the  selling  of  strong  drinks  should  be  unlawful,  and  the  use  of 
 tobacco  for  smoking  or  eating  should  be  abolished. 
 
 “ The  people  generally,  as  may  be  supposed,  were  not  inchned  to  practise  so 
 much  self-denial,  and  war  w'as  soon  declared  against  all  wiio  refused  to  pray  and 
 receive  the  new  tenets.  The  country  was  devastated,  the  people  plundered,  and 
 fines  levied  upon  the  conquered.  A council  w^as  appointed  to  see  that  prayers  were 
 regular,  and  that  drinking,  and  eating  tobacco  were  no  longer  practised.  A man 
 who  shaved  away  his  beard  was  to  be  fined.  The  filing  of  teeth  w^as  to  be  punished 
 by  the  forfeit  of  a buffalo.  If  the  faces  of  females  were  uncovered ; if  w^omen  quar- 
 relled ; if  a child  W'as  beaten,  fines  w^ere  imposed : long  nails  on  the  fingers  were 
 reduced  by  cutting  them  and  the  flesh  together,  besides  a fine.  Repeated  neglect  of 
 fast  and  prayers  w^as  punished  with  death.” 
 
 “ I intended  to  have  wiitten  you  very  fully  from  Bengal,  but  I was  attacked  by 
 a severe  fever,  and  not  allowed  to  use  my  pen  for  ten  minutes  together.  I,  however, 
 forwarded  to  you  from  thence  several  papers,  wiiich  I hope  may  prove  of  some  in- 
 terest. One  of  these  is  the  report  of  a committee  appointed  to  assist  in  forming 
 something  like  a statistical  account  of  Sumatra.  You  are  fully  awm'e  of  my  senti- 
 ments respecting  Bencoolen,  and  will  not,  therefore,  be  surprised  to  find  them  con- 
 firmed in  the  report.  Not  having  a council,  I avail  myself  of  the  assistance  and 
 advice  of  committees  whenever  I find  it  necessary  that  my  opinions  should  be  ex- 
 amined or  confirmed,  and  I have  already  found  considerable  advantage  from  the 
 plan.  In  a small  place  like  Bencoolen,  it  is  likely  that  such  committees  will  gene- 
 rally feel  the  influence  of  the  superior  authority ; but  yet  they  may  possess  inde- 
 pendence and  talent  sufficient  to  assist  and  protect  that  authority  very  essentially. 
 
 7 
 
CHOLERA  MORBUS. 
 
 431 
 
 “ Of  my  plan  for  a college  at  Singapore,  I feel  no  doubt  you  will  approve 
 generally.  The  success  of  the  undertaking  will  depend  on  the  estimate  I have 
 formed  of  the  character  of  the  people  ; if  I am  right,  they  are  a very  different  people 
 from  those  on  the  continent  of  India,  and  it  is  in  this  difference  that  the  advantage 
 exists.  On  this  subject  also,  I hope,  when  you  are  at  leisure,  you  will  favour  me 
 with  your  sentiments. 
 
 “ Of  my  own  circumstances,  plans,  and  expectations,  I have  not  much  to  say 
 at  present.  The  result  of  my  visit  to  Bengal  has  been  a more  intimate  connection 
 with  that  government,  and  a strong  recommendation  home  from  them  in  favour  of 
 all  my  plans,  whether  at  Bencoolen,  Singapore,  or  Penang,  or  of  the  whole  collec- 
 tively. 
 
 “ You  will  be  pleased  to  hear  that  Singapore  has  again  become  a great  and  flou- 
 rishing city.  The  population  is  already  more  than  three  times  that  of  Bencoolen, 
 and  is  rapidly  augmenting.  I do  not  like  to  say  much  on  the  subject,  because  it  is 
 something  like  praising  one’s  own  child ; but  I may  fairly  say  that  it  has  in  every  re- 
 spect exceeded  even  my  most  sanguine  expectation,  and  this,  you  will  admit,  is  saying 
 not  a little. 
 
 With  respect  to  the  Dutch,  every  thing  remains  in  great  suspense  pending  the 
 references  made  to  Europe  by  both  parties.  The  Governor  General  in  council  has 
 declared  his  sentiments  of  their  proceedings  in  much  less  qualified  terms  than  I had 
 previously  done,  and  does  not  hesitate  to  tell  the  authorities  of  Batavia,  that  they  have 
 been  actuated  throughout  by  views  of  unbounded  ambition,  and  an  unfair  and  dis- 
 honourable attempt  to  injure  and  degrade  the  English. 
 
 “ I will  not,  however,  detain  you  * * * * 
 
 “ The  cholera  morbus  has  latterly  committed  dreadful  ravages  at  Acheen,  Penang, 
 and  Quedah  ; it  is  now  raging  at  Malacca,  and  I have  great  apprehensions  for  Singa- 
 pore. From  Bencoolen  I have  not  heard  for  some  months,  but  I am  in  hopes  that 
 the  inhospitable  natiwe  of  our  coast,  and  the  poverty  of  our  inhabitants,  may  for  once 
 be  in  our  favour,  and  that  we  shall  neither  receive  so  unwelcome  a guest,  or,  if  he 
 does  effect  his  landing,  afford  him  sufficient  subsistence  for  his  support.  We  fell  in 
 with  a brig  yesterday  from  the  Isle  of  France,  where  this  fatal  disease  appears  also  to 
 have  arrived : God  knows  where  it  will  go  next ; whether  eastward  to  Siam  and  China, 
 or  westward  to  Africa  and  Em'ope.” 
 
 To  William  Marsden,  Esq. 
 
 “ Off  Nattal,  February  27,  1820, 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ As  I shall  find  an  arrear  of  five  months  to  get  through  at  Bencoolen,  it 
 may  be  as  well  that  I communicate  to  you,  without  loss  of  time,  some  of  the  particulars 
 which  I have  ascertained  in  my  late  visit  to  Tappanooly. 
 
 “ We  had  a fine  view  of  the  waterfall  at  Mansular,  and  I did  not  fail  to  approach 
 
432 
 
 CANNIBALISM  OF  THE  BATTAS. 
 
 it  in  a boat  near  enough  to  ascertain  that  it  does  not  fall  into  a great  Danu,  but  into 
 the  sea.  We  landed  on  the  Island,  and  collected  a few  plants  of  undescribed  species. 
 The  rock  of  which  the  Island  is  composed  is  trap  or  basalt. 
 
 “ A subject  of  greater  interest  was  the  camphor  tree,  and,  as  might  be  expected, 
 I tried  my  luck,  and  was  fortunate  in  procming  a small  quantity  of  camphor  from  the 
 tree  felled  on  the  occasion.  My  friend.  Dr.  Jack,  has  now  satisfied  himself  on  all 
 points,  and  a detailed  description  is  in  progress.  You  are  already  informed  that  the 
 flowers  have  been  examined,  and  found  to  be  monadelphous  ( monadelphia  pohjgamia ); 
 specimens  have  been  sent  home  to  Mr.  Brown  and  Mr.  Lambert. 
 
 “ But  my  attention  was  still  more  attracted  by  the  people  of  the  country ; and 
 though  our  stay  was  short,  I was  enabled  to  satisfy  myself  ftdly  on  several  very  inte- 
 resting points.  I have  found  all  you  say  on  the  subject  of  cannibalism  more  than  con- 
 firmed. I do  not  think  you  have  even  gone  far  enough.  You  might  have  broadly 
 stated,  that  it  is  the  practice  not  only  to  eat  the  victim,  but  to  eat  him  ahve.  I shall 
 pass  over  the  particulars  of  all  previous  information  which  I have  received,  and  endea- 
 vour to  give  you,  in  a few  words,  the  result  of  a dehberate  inquiry  from  the  Batta 
 Chiefs  of  Tappanooly.  I caused  the  most  intelligent  to  be  assembled;  and,  in  the 
 presence  of  Mr.  Prince  and  Dr.  Jack,  obtained  the  following  information,  of  the  truth 
 of  which  none  of  us  have  the  least  doubt. 
 
 “ It  is  the  universal  and  standing  law  of  the  Battas,  that  death  by  eating  shall  be 
 inflicted  in  the  following  cases. 
 
 “ 1st.  For  adultery. 
 
 2d.  For  midnight  robbery;  and, 
 
 “ 3d.  In  wars  of  importance,  that  is  to  say,  one  district  against  another,  the  pri- 
 soners are  sacrificed. 
 
 “ 4th.  For  intermanying  in  the  same  tribe,  which  is  forbidden  from  the  circum- 
 stance of  their  having  ancestors  in  common  ; and, 
 
 “ 5th.  For  treacherous  attack  on  a house,  \illage,  or  person. 
 
 “ In  all  the  above  cases  it  is  lawful  for  the  victims  to  be  eaten,  and  they  are  eaten 
 alive,  that  is  to  say,  they  are  not  previously  put  to  death.  The  \ictim  is  tied  to  a 
 stake,  with  his  arms  extended,  the  party  collect  in  a circle  around  him,  and  the  Chief 
 gives  the  order  to  commence  eating.  The  chief  enemy,  when  it  is  a prisoner,  or  the 
 chief  party  injured  in  other  cases,  has  the  first  selection  ; and  after  he  has  cut  off  his 
 slice,  others  cut  off  pieces  according  to  their  taste  and  fancy,  until  all  the  flesh  is 
 devoured. 
 
 “ It  is  either  eaten  raw  or  grilled,  and  generally  dipped  in  Sambul  (a  preparation 
 of  Chili  pepper  and  salt),  which  is  always  in  readiness.  Rajah  Bandahara,  a Batta, 
 and  one  of  the  Chiefs  of  Tappanooly,  asserted  that  he  was  present  at  a festival  of 
 this  kind  about  eight  years  ago,  at  the  village  of  Subluan  on  the  other  side  of  the 
 bay,  not  nine  miles  distant,  where  the  heads  may  still  be  seen. 
 
 When  the  party  is  a prisoner  taken  in  war,  he  is  eaten  immediately,  and  on 
 
CANNIBALISM  OF  THE  BATTAS. 
 
 433 
 
 the  spot.  Whether  dead  or  alive  he  is  equally  eaten,  and  it  is  usual  even  to  drag 
 the  bodies  from  the  graves,  and  after  disinterring  them,  to  eat  the  flesh.  This  only 
 in  cases  of  war. 
 
 “ From  the  clear  and  concurring  testimony  of  all  parties,  it  is  certain  that  it  is 
 the  practice  not  to  kill  the  victims  till  the  whole  of  the  flesh  cut  off  by  the  party  is 
 eaten,  should  he  live  so  long ; the  Chief  or  party  injured  then  comes  forward  and 
 cuts  off  the  head,  which  he  carries  home  as  a trophy.  Within  the  last  three  years 
 there  have  been  two  instances  of  this  kind  of  punishment  within  ten  miles  of  Tap- 
 panooly,  and  the  heads  are  still  preserved. 
 
 “ In  cases  of  adultery  the  injured  party  usually  takes  the  ear  or  ears;  but  the 
 ceremony  is  not  allowed  to  take  place  except  the  wife’s  relations  are  present  and 
 partake  of  it. 
 
 “ In  these  and  other  cases  where  the  criminal  is  directed  to  be  eaten,  he  is 
 seciu'ed  and  kept  for  two  or  three  days,  till  every  person  (that  is  to  say  males)  is 
 assembled.  He  is  then  eaten  quietly,  and  in  cold  blood,  with  as  much  ceremony, 
 and  perhaps  more,  than  attends  the  execution  of  a capital  sentence  in  Europe. 
 
 “ The  bones  are  scattered  abroad  after  the  flesh  has  been  eaten,  and  the  head 
 alone  preserved.  The  brains  belong  to  the  Chief,  or  injured  party,  who  usually 
 preserves  them  in  a bottle,  for  pmposes  of  witchcraft,  &c.  They  do  not  eat  the 
 bowels,  but  like  the  heart ; and  many  drink  the  blood  from  bamboos.  The  palms 
 of  the  hands  and  the  soles  of  the  feet  are  the  delicacies  of  epicures. 
 
 “ Horrid  and  diabolical  as  these  practices  may  appear,  it  is  no  less  true,  that 
 they  are  the  result  of  much  deliberation  among  the  parties,  and  seldom,  except  in 
 the  case  of  prisoners  in  war,  the  effect  of  immediate  and  private  revenge.  In  all 
 cases  of  crimes,  the  party  has  a regular  trial,  and  no  punishment  can  be  inflicted 
 until  sentence  is  regularly  and  formally  passed  in  the  public  fair.  Here  the  Chiefs 
 of  the  neighbouring  kampong  assemble,  hear  the  evidence,  and  deliberate  upon  the 
 crime  and  probable  guilt  of  the  party ; when  condemned,  the  sentence  is  ratified  by 
 the  Chiefs  drinking  the  tuah,  or  toddy,  which  is  final,  and  may  be  considered  equi- 
 valent to  signing  and  sealing  with  us. 
 
 “ I was  very  particular  in  my  enquiries  whether  the  assembly  were  intoxicated 
 on  occasions  of  these  punishments.  I was  assured  it  was  never  the  case.  The 
 people  take  rice  with  them,  and  eat  it  with  the  meat,  but  no  tuah  is  allowed. 
 The  punishment  is  always  inflicted  in  public.  The  men  alone  are  allowed  to  par- 
 take, as  the  flesh  of  man  is  prohibited  to  the  women  (probably  from  an  apprehen- 
 sion they  might  become  too  fond  of  it).  The  flesh  is  not  allowed  to  be  carried 
 away  from  the  spot,  but  must  be  consumed  at  the  time. 
 
 I am  assured  that  the  Battas  are  more  attached  to  these  laws  than  the  Ma- 
 homedans  are  to  their  Koran,  and  that  the  number  of  the  punishments  is  very  con- 
 siderable. My  informants  considered  that  there  could  not  be  less  than  fifty  or  sixty 
 
 3 K 
 
434- 
 
 CANNIBALISM  OF  THE  BATTAS. 
 
 men  eaten  in  a year,  and  this  in  times  of  peace ; but  they  were  imable  to  estimate 
 the  true  extent,  considering  the  gi-eat  population  of  the  country ; they  were  confident, 
 however,  that  these  laws  were  strictly  enforced,  wherever  the  name  of  Batta  was 
 known,  and  that  it  was  only  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  om*  settlements  that  they 
 were  modified  and  neglected.  For  proof,  they  referred  me  to  every  Batta  in  the 
 vicinity,  and  to  the  number  of  skulls  to  be  seen  in  every  village,  each  of  which  was 
 from  a victiih  of  the  kind. 
 
 “ With  regard  to  the  relish  with  which  the  parties  devour  the  flesh,  it  appeared 
 that,  independent  of  the  desire  of  revenge  which  may  be  supposed  to  exist  among 
 the  principals,  about  one  half  of  the  people  eat  it  with  a rehsh,  and  speak  of  it  with 
 delight ; the  other  half,  though  present,  may  not  partake.  Human  flesh  is,  how- 
 ever, generally  considered  preferable  to  cow  or  buffalo  beef,  or  hog,  and  was  ad- 
 mitted to  be  so  even  by  my  informants. 
 
 “ Adverting  to  the  possible  origin  of  this  practice,  it  was  observed  that  formerly 
 they  ate  their  parents  when  too  old  for  work  ; this,  however,  is  no  longer  the  case, 
 and  thus  a step  has  been  gained  in  civihzation. 
 
 “ It  is  admitted  that  the  parties  may  be  redeemed  for  a pecuniary  compensation, 
 but  this  is  entirely  at  the  option  of  the  chief  enemy  or  injured  party,  who  after  his 
 sentence  is  passed  may  either  have  his  \dctim  eaten,  or  he  may  sell  him  for  a slave ; 
 but  the  law  is  that  he  shall  be  eaten,  and  the  prisoner  is  entirely  at  the  mercy  of 
 his  prosecutor. 
 
 “ The  law's  by  which  these  sentences  are  inflicted,  are  too  well  known  to  re- 
 quire reference  to  books,  but  I am  promised  some  MS.  accounts  which  relate  to  the 
 subject.  These  laws  are  called  huhum  pinang  an,  from  depang  an  to  eat — law  or 
 sentence  to  eat. 
 
 “ I could  give  you  many  more  details,  but  the  above  may  be  sufficient  to  shew 
 that  our  friends  the  Battas  are  even  worse  than  you  have  represented  them,  and 
 that  those  who  are  still  sceptical  have  yet  more  to  learn.  I have  also  a gi'eat  deal 
 to  say  on  the  other  side  of  the  character,  for  the  Battas  have  many  \'ii’tues.  I prize 
 them  highly.  However  horrible  eating  a man  may  sound  in  Em'opean  ears,  I ques- 
 tion whether  the  party  suffers  so  much,  or  the  punishment  itself  is  worse  than  the 
 European  tortures  of  two  centuries  ago.  I have  always  doubted  the  poficy,  and 
 even  the  right  of  capital  punishment  among  cirilized  nations ; but  this  once  ad- 
 mitted, and  torture  allowed,  I see  nothing  more  cruel  in  eating  a man  alive  than  in 
 torturing  him  for  days  with  mangled  fimbs  and  the  like.  Here  they  certainly  eat 
 him  up  at  once,  and  the  party  seldom  suffers  more  than  a few  minutes.  It  is  pro- 
 bable that  he  suffers  more  pain  from  the  loss  of  his  ear  than  from  what  follows ; 
 indeed  he  is  said  to  give  one  shriek  w'hen  that  is  taken  off,  and  then  to  continue 
 silent  till  death. 
 
 “ These  severe  punishments  certainly  tend  to  prevent  crimes.  The  Battas  are 
 
 2 
 
LAWS  OF  INHERITANCE. 
 
 435 
 
 honest  and  honourable,  and  possess  many  more  virtues  than  I have  time  to  put 
 down. 
 
 ‘‘  I have  arranged  to  pay  a visit  to  Tobah,  and  the  banks  of  the  great  lake,  in 
 the  course  of  next  year,  and  my  plan  is  to  go  into  the  interior  by  the  way  of  Bams, 
 and  to  return  by  way  of  Nattal,  taking  the  longest  sweep  where  our  influence  will 
 be  most  felt.  Lady  Raffles  will,  I hope,  accompany  me,  and  I shall  endeavour  to 
 give  up  full  six  weeks  for  the  trip.  I am  perfectly  satisfied  we  shall  be  safe,  and  I 
 hardly  know  any  people  on  whom  I would  sooner  rely  than  the  Battas.  In  exa- 
 mining your  map  it  appears  to  me  that  you  have  carried  the  places  mentioned  in 
 Miller’s  journey  much  too  far  to  the  eastward ; for  instance,  Batangenan,  which  is 
 inserted  near  the  eastern  coast.  He  certainly  never  penetrated  half  across  the  Island, 
 and  in  my  opinion  hardly  beyond  the  first  range  of  low  hills. 
 
 It  may  be  interesting  to  you  to  know,  that  it  is  not  among  the  Battas  that 
 the  nephew  inherits  the  rank  and  title ; they  invariably  marry  by  jujur,  and  the 
 eldest  son  succeeds.  Personal  property  is  divided,  two-thirds  to  the  eldest  son,  and 
 one-third  among  the  rest,  boys  and  girls  alike.  Where  there  are  more  wives  than 
 one,  the  eldest  son  of  the  first  wife  succeeds. 
 
 “ It  is  among  the  Malays  that  the  succession  of  the  nephew  takes  place.  The 
 Malays,  as  you  are  aware,  trace  their  descent  from  Pati  sa  Batang  and  Kai  Tu- 
 mungung  of  Menangkabu.  With  the  descendants  of  the  former  the  nephew  or 
 kammanakan  always  succeeds.  With  the  descendants  of  Kai  Tumungung  the 
 eldest  son  or  anak  succeeds.  The  people  of  the  Bander  su  Pulu,  and  nearly  of  all 
 Padang,  are  of  the  tribe  or  division  of  Pati  sa  Batang,  and  this  will  account  for  the 
 nephew  succeeding  with  them. 
 
 “ At  Nattal  the  grandson  inherits,  unless  the  persons  are  married  by  jujur,  when 
 the  son  succeeds  in  preference. 
 
 “ In  my  enquiries  after  books  Rajah  Bandara  gave  me  the  names  and  contents 
 that  foUow. 
 
 “ 1.  Dha’un.  On  medicine. 
 
 ‘‘  2.  Pehi  on  Balangkahan  Malay.  On  Astrology. 
 
 3.  Tandong.  On  the  Aii;  of  War. 
 
 “ 4.  Rumba.  On  Ditto,  and  which  is  referred  to  in  cases  of  the  last  extremity. 
 
 “ 5.  Pangram  bui.  Rules  for  taking  up  proper  positions,  &c.  in  war,  (Quarter- 
 Master-General’s  department.) 
 
 “ The  great  god  of  the  Battas  is  styled  Debatta  Assi  Assi ; and  he  it  is  who  is 
 supposed  to  have  created  Batara  Guru,  Seri  Pada,  and  Mangala  Bulan,  the  inferior 
 Trinity  of  their  worship. 
 
 It  would  also  appear  that  they  have  also  something  like  an  ecclesiastical  Em- 
 peror or  Chief,  who  is  universally  acknowledged,  and  referred  to  in  aU  cases  of  public 
 calamity,  &c.  His  title  is  Sa  SingaJi  Maha  Rajah,  and  he  resides  at  Bakara  in  the 
 
 3 E 2 
 
i36 
 
 EXCURSION  INTO  THE  BATTA  COUNTRY. 
 
 Toba  district.  He  is  descended  from  the  Menangkabu  race,  and  is  of  an  antiquity 
 which  none  disputes.  My  informants  say  certainly  above  thirty  descents,  or  900 
 years.  He  does  not  live  in  any  very  great  state,  but  is  particular  in  his  observances  ; 
 he  neither  eats  hog  nor  drinks  tuah.  They  believe  him  possessed  of  supernatural 
 powers.  He  can  blight  the  paddy,  or  restore  the  luxuriance  of  a faded  crop. 
 
 Writing  is  said  to  have  been  first  introduced  among  the  Battas  by  two  persons 
 named  Datu  Dalu  and  Datu  Labi. 
 
 “ At  Selindong  is  a stone  image  of  a man,  of  great  antiquity,  supposed  to  have 
 been  brought  from  Pageruyong. 
 
 “ Mr.  Prince  has  recently  discovered  the  mins  of  a temple,  with  an  inscription 
 on  stone,  in  unknown  characters,  inland  of  Nattal.  People  are  at  present  employed 
 in  obtaining  fac  similes,  but  it  is  at  some  distance,  and  until  I can  Hsit  the  spot 
 myself,  I do  not  calculate  on  much.  The  inscriptions  obtained  at  Menangkabu  have 
 been  translated  by  the  Panambahan  of  Samanap  into  Javanese.” 
 
 The  following  is  an  extract  fmm  a letter  of  Mr.  Ward,  a missionary,  wLo  after- 
 wards made  an  excursion  into  the  Batta  coimtry.  It  is  introduced  here  as  a corro- 
 boration of  the  truth  of  this  extraordinary  practice. 
 
 “ Four  days  after  my  arrival  at  Tappanooly,  I commenced  an  excursion  into  the 
 Batta  country  with  Mr.  Burton.  We  entered  at  the  old  settlement  of  Tappanooly, 
 and  pursued  a north-w^esterly  course,  with  the  \iew  of  penetrating  as  far  as  the  great 
 lake  of  Toba.  The  hills  w^ere  clothed  with  their  native  woods,  and  but  thinly.  At  the 
 distance  of  about  tw^enty  miles  from  the  w^estern  coast,  wLere  the  country  assumed  a 
 more  even  surface,  the  forests  entirely  disappeared,  and  gave  place  to  cultivation  and 
 an  extensive  body  of  people.  The  district  of  Silindang  so  highly  gratified  us,  that 
 we  were  tempted  to  remain  a few  days  preHously  to  prosecuting  our  journey  to  the 
 Lake,  a couple  of  days  in  advance.  Three  thousand  people,  who  had  never  beheld  a 
 white  face,  received  us  in  a manner  perhaps  similar  to  wLat  we  read  of  respecting  the 
 first  appearance  of  the  Spaniards  in  America.  We  w^ere  kept  for  four  hours,  on  an 
 elevation  of  tw’elve  feet,  exhibiting  our  persons ; and  not  an  hour  passed  for  several 
 days,  during  which  we  w^ere  not  surrounded  with  crow^ds  fi'om  various  parts  of  the 
 country.  Some  venerated  us  as  gods ; all  paid  us  much  respect ; and  in  point  of 
 treatment,  we  had  nothing  to  complain  of.  To  an  assembly  of  the  Chiefs  the  objects 
 of  our  mission  w^ere  explained ; several  tracts  were  read,  and  the  future  introduction 
 of  books  was  proposed,  to  all  of  which  they  listened  with  interest  and  pleasm*e,  and 
 frankly  invited  Mr.  Bmton  to  take  up  his  abode  with  them ; and  we  may  view  the 
 result  as  a pleasing  prospect  for  his  future  labours.  Our  notions  relative  to  the  Batta 
 character  and  habits  have  been  much  corrected.  We  found  them  quiet  and  harm- 
 less, and  much  more  under  the  influence  of  ciHl  order  than  had  been  supposed. 
 
MISSIONARY  ESTABLISHED  AMONG  THE  BATTAS. 
 
 487 
 
 although  their  government  appeared  of  a singular  nature.  The  practice  of  canni- 
 balism was  general  and  frequent.  Mr.  Burton  had  soon  an  attack  of  dysentery,  in 
 which  he  exhausted  his  little  store  of  medicine,  and  we  were  compelled  to  return 
 without  actually  seeing  the  Lake.  We  gained  some  interesting  particulars  of  it, 
 which  shall  be  duly  mentioned.  We  discovered  a hot  mineral  spring,  depositing 
 large  quantities  of  lime.  On  the  whole,  I may  say  the  Batta  country,  with  regard  to 
 scenery,  surpasses  every  thing  I have  yet  beheld  : it  possesses  a delightful  climate,  an 
 extensive  population,  and  extreme  fertihty. 
 
 “ At  Sibolga  I procured  specimens  for  Batta  types,  and  made  arrangements  for 
 two  native  schools.” 
 
 Mr.  Burton,  the  Missionary  who  is  named  in  the  foregoing  letter,  had  requested 
 permission  to  leave  Bencoolen,  and  settle  in  the  Batta  country,  with  his  wife  and  chil- 
 dren, for  the  purpose  of  estabhshing  schools,  and  devoting  his  life  to  the  education  and 
 improvement  of  a people  whose  character  and  barbarous  customs  excited  general  horror 
 and  detestation.  He  was  exceedingly  well  received,  and  the  people  gladly  availed 
 themselves  of  the  means  of  instruction  thus  offered  them  : but  after  having  laboured 
 dihgently  for  several  years,  and  succeeded  in  establishing  schools,  both  himself  and 
 his  wife  fell  a sacrifice  to  the  climate  ; and  the  Editor  cannot  but  bear  her  testimony 
 to  the  brightness  of  faith,  the  humble  trust  in  God  alone,  the  total  sacrifice  of  all  per- 
 sonal comfort,  which  they  evinced  when  they  went  with  their  infant  children  amongst 
 these  people,  with  the  determination  there  to  live  and  die ; there  to  devote  them- 
 selves to  their  labour  of  love,  in  the  hope  of  conveying  the  glad  tidings  of  the  Gospel 
 to  those  who  had  yet  to  learn  that  the  Son  of  God  died  for  them. 
 
CHAPTER  XVI. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  devotes  himself  to  his  favourite  pursuits,  builds  a house  in  the  country — Collections  in  natural 
 history  sent  home — Correspondence  of  Captain  Flint  with  the  Java  Government — Colonel  Far quhar's 
 account  of  Singapore — Extract  from  Mr.  Grant's  letter — Improvement  inBencoolen — PuloNias — Easy 
 communication  with  Palembang  across  the  Island — Sir  Stamford's  description  of  his  children — His 
 confidence  that  he  has  pursued  a right  course — His  defence  of  his  conduct — His  opinion  of  the  powers 
 he  was  invested  with — Arrival  of  missionaries — Mr.  Burton  settles  in  the  Batta  country — Sir  Stamford 
 not  supported  by  the  ministry — Introduction  of  British  manufactures  into  China — Agricultural  Society — 
 Expense  of  Singapore — Manufacture  of  sugar — Colonization — Lake  of  Korinbie — Cultivation  of  rice — 
 Nutmeg-trees — Malayan  plants — Political  speculation — Death  of  the  Editor's  brother. 
 
 On  his  return  to  Bencoolen  (March,  1820)  Sir  Stamford  felt  that,  pohtically,  he  had 
 done  aU  in  his  power  to  promote  the  best  general  and  national  interests  of  his  coun- 
 try in  the  Eastern  Seas  ; and  from  this  time  he  devoted  himself  to  the  improvement 
 of  the  Httle  settlement,  the  more  immediate  scene  of  his  residence  and  government ; 
 and  indulged  in  pursuits  to  which  he  was  always  passionately  attached.  He  resolved 
 to  build  a house  in  the  comitry ; and  as  soon  as  one  room  was  finished,  took  a part 
 of  his  family,  and  occupied  himself  in  cultivating  the  ground.  He  formed  spice  plan- 
 tations to  a large  extent,  and  succeeded  in  introducing  the  cultivation  of  coffee. 
 The  labom'  was  performed  by  convicts,  who  were  settled  in  a ^dllage,  and  soon  became 
 a useful  community.  The  beauty,  the  retirement,  the  quiet  domestic  fife,  which  he 
 led  in  this  happy  retreat,  soon  restored  his  health ; he  rose  at  four  in  the  morning, 
 worked  in  his  garden  (in  which  he  always  planted  all  the  seeds  himself)  until  break- 
 fast ; then  wrote  and  studied  till  dinner ; after  which  he  examined  his  plantations, 
 always  accompanied  by  his  children  ; and  often  walked  about  until  a late  hour  of  the 
 night.  But  his  manner  of  life  at  this  period  may  be  best  known  by  a reference  to 
 the  following  selections  and  extracts  from  his  coirespondence. 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  March  12,  1820. 
 
 “ You  wiU  be  happy  to  hear  that  I am  once  more  in  the  bosom  of  my  family, 
 and  in  the  enjoyment  of  every  possible  domestic  fehcity.  We  arrived  here  a few  days 
 
SENDS  HOME  HIS  COLLECTIONS  IN  NATURAL  HISTORY. 
 
 439 
 
 ago,  and  found  every  thing  going  on  well,  and  as  it  should  do.  The  country  is  per- 
 fectly quiet,  the  people  satisfied,  and  Bencoolen,  on  the  whole,  improving ; so  much 
 so,  that  as  far  as  our  personal  comforts  are  concerned,  we  shall  regret  whenever  the 
 order  arrives  that  we  must  quit  it. 
 
 “ Charlotte  and  Leopold  are  in  high  health  and  spirits ; and  in  the  course  of  two 
 or  three  months,  we  hope  to  make  up  the  trio.  Sophia  is  quite  well ; and,  as  you 
 may  well  conceive,  quite  happy  at  my  return,  after  an  absence  of  five  months  : for 
 myself,  I never  was  in  better  health. 
 
 “We  are  doing  wonders  in  natm'al  history,  notwithstanding  the  want  of  support 
 on  the  part  of  the  Government. 
 
 “ We  have  hterally  nothing  for  the  civil  servants  to  do  at  Bencoolen,  and  idle- 
 ness is  the  root  of  all  evils  ; they  ought  to  be  transferred  to  some  other  settlement, 
 and  not  to  be  obfiged  to  waste  their  time,  life,  and  health,  here. 
 
 “ The  Sultan  of  Palembang  stiU  maintains  his  independence,  having  driven  the 
 Dutch  out  of  the  river  with  the  loss  of  many  ships  and  lives. 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  March  14, 1820. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I shall  have  the  opportunity  of  writing  you  very  fully  by  the  Mary  in  the 
 com'se  of  a few  days ; in  the  meantime  it  may  be  interesting  to  you  to  know  that  I 
 purpose  sending  by  her  the  whole  of  our  zoological  collection,  among  which  are  beau- 
 tiful specimens  of  the  tapir,  rhinoceros,  kijangs,  &c.  stuffed,  in  skeleton,  and  in  spirits. 
 It  will,  I think,  be  as  important  and  interesting  a consignment  as  was  ever  sent  home. 
 I have  had,  as  you  may  suppose,  a great  deal  of  trouble. 
 
 The  term  of  their  engagement  is  now  concluded  with  my  French  naturahsts  ; 
 and  they  are  pledged  by  duty  and  honour  not  to  publish  until  the  collections  arrive 
 and  are  noticed  in  England. 
 
 “ I find  the  krabut,  or  great  flower,  to  be  much  more  general  and  more  exten- 
 sively known  than  I expected ; in  some  districts  it  is  simply  called  ambem  amhem,  and 
 it  seems  to  spring  from  the  horizontal  roots  of  those  immense  climbers  or  limes  which 
 are  attached  like  cables  to  the  largest  trees  of  the  forest.  It  takes  three  months  from 
 the  first  appearance  of  the  bud  to  the  full  expansion  of  the  flower ; and  the  flower 
 appears  but  once  a year,  at  the  conclusion  of  the  rainy  season. 
 
 “ Further  enquiries  respecting  the  tunnu  and  babi-ala,  induce  me  to  believe  that 
 there  is  still  some  large  animal  in  our  forests  not  inferior  in  size  to  the  tapir,  marked 
 with  a narrow  riband  of  white  around  the  belly  and  back.  The  tapir  having  remained 
 so  long  undiscovered,  affords  at  least  some  grounds  for  concluding  it  possible  that 
 others  may  exist.  The  natives  who  describe  this  animal  simply  say,  that  the  white 
 
440 
 
 ANIMALS  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 band  is  naiTow,  the  feet  three-toed,  head  truncated,  and  tail  long.  The  chungkor  of 
 Palembang  may  be  a third  animal. 
 
 “ I have  a long  list  of  animals,  of  which  nothing  yet  is  known  beyond  the  name 
 and  native  description. 
 
 “ I have  recently  heard  of  several  interesting  remains  of  antiquity  in  the 
 interior. 
 
 " As  the  French  gentlemen  decline  giving  me  the  Linnaean  descriptions  I require, 
 I shall  set  to  work  directly  in  framing  a kind  of  catalogue  raisonne,  which  shall  be 
 sent  by  the  Mary,  or  the  first  ship  that  follows.  In  this  I shall  give  a short  descrip- 
 tion of  the  most  remarkable  subjects,  without  reference  to  what  the  French  artists 
 may  say  on  availing  myself  of  their  papers. 
 
 “ The  Duyong,  which  I sent  to  Sir  Joseph  Banks,  will,  I hope,  have  arrived  safe. 
 I have  the  skin  and  another  complete  skeleton  here ; also  one  about  four  and  a half 
 feet  long,  preserved  in  spirits.  In  consequence  of  Sir  Everard  Home’s  notice,  I 
 immediately  tm'ned  my  attention  towards  it,  and  procured  two  specimens  in  a few 
 months. 
 
 “ With  respect  to  the  tapir,  I am  not  sui’prised  that  an  account  was  first  pub- 
 lished in  France.  IMajor  Farquhar  had  sent  a stuffed  specimen  and  a head  to  the 
 Asiatic  Society,  >\dth  a paper  descriptive  of  the  animal,  and  ghing  an  account  of  the 
 discovery.  About  the  same  time  a HHng  animal  was  sent  from  Bencoolen  to  the 
 menagerie  at  Calcutta. 
 
 “ It  w^as  fi-om  the  examination  of  these  in  Calcutta  that  the  Frenchmen  prepared 
 their  accounts ; and  the  omission  on  our  part  is  attributable,  in  a gi’eat  measure,  to 
 the  dilatoriness  in  the  pubhcations  of  the  Asiatic  Society. 
 
 “ I have  now  several  specimens,  two  male  and  female  dried  and  stuffed,  four 
 in  spirits,  and  four  in  skeleton. 
 
 “ The  Frenchmen  maintain  that  the  babi  ala  is  one  and  the  same  animal  vvth  the 
 tunnu : I suspect,  however,  that  they  are  mistaken.  The  true  babi  ala  is  represented 
 to  be  a very  different  animal : it  is  the  chungkor  of  Palembang,  and  abounds  parti- 
 cularly in  the  district  of  Banguasin  : the  bones  are  preserved  for  medicinal  purposes. 
 
 “ If  the  description  is  correct,  and  you  know  how  far  reliance  is  to  be  placed  on 
 the  unvarnished  tale  of  the  Sumatrans,  this  must  be  either  a new'  animal  altogether, 
 or  the  babi  rusa. 
 
 “ I should  here  mention,  that  I do  not  find  the  babi  rusa  to  be  know  n as  a native 
 of  Sumatra,  and  unless  it  should  turn  out  to  be  the  babi  ala,  which  is  at  least  doubtful, 
 it  cannot,  I think,  be  yet  considered  as  part  of  our  fauna.  What  our  future  disco- 
 veries may  lead  to,  I will  not  say. 
 
 Of  the  deer  we  have  several  specimens. 
 
 “ The  skins  of  our  rhinoceroses  are  aU  soft.  As  yet  I can  only  trace  the  tw’o- 
 
CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  THE  DUTCH  GOVERNMENT  OF  BATAVIA. 
 
 441 
 
 horned  animal  in  Sumatra.  The  white-handed  animal,  which  I have  provisionally 
 termfed  a rhinoceros,  on  account  of  the  horn,  must  be  an  entirely  new  animal. 
 
 “ I break  off  to  give  audience  to  no  less  than  three  Sultans,  who  have  been  wait- 
 ing for  me  for  the  last  hour,  and  a man  this  moment  appears  with  a cobra  capella 
 winding  round  his  arm ; it  is  not  so  large  as  the  serpent  of  India,  but  has  exactly  the 
 same  description  of  hood. 
 
 My  tunjong  segara  expands  rapidly,  and  is  by  far  the  brightest  flowret  of  our 
 Eastern  Isle  ; and  my  little  boy  Leopold  is  following  quickly  in  her  steps  : in  a few 
 weeks  Lady  Raffles  promises  me  a continuation  of  the  series. 
 
 To . 
 
 “ Bencoolen. 
 
 “ By  the  ship  Mary  I have  sent  a most  valuable  collection  in  natural  his- 
 tory. The  greatest  possible  care  has  been  taken  to  render  the  collection  valuable, 
 and  an  appropriate  accompaniment  to  that  from  Java.  All  I ask  is,  that  you  will  not 
 be  lukewarm  in  promoting  the  interests  of  science  and  general  knowledge. 
 
 I have  thrown  politics  far  away ; and  since  I must  have  nothing  more  to  do  with 
 men,  have  taken  to  the  wilder  but  less  sophisticated  animals  of  our  woods.  Our  house 
 is  on  one  side  a perfect  menagerie,  on  another  a perfect  flora ; here,  a pile  of  stones ; 
 there,  a collection  of  sea-weeds,  shells,  &c.  I enclose  you  a curious  correspondence, 
 which  has  taken  place  between  the  authorities  in  Java,  and  my  brother-in-law.  Cap- 
 tain Flint,  who  touched  at  Batavia  on  his  way  to  Singapore : it  will  shew  you  the 
 degree  of  personal  feeling  that  still  exists  on  the  part  of  the  Dutch. 
 
 Frojn  Mr.  Brand,  Resident  of  Batavia,  to  Captain  Flint,  R.  N. 
 
 Batavia,  March  29,  1820. 
 
 “ Sir, 
 
 “ The  Resident  of  Batavia  having  laid  before  his  Excellency  the  Governor 
 General  your  application  for  leave  to  proceed  to  Samarang,  I am  directed  to  inform 
 you  that,  under  existing  circumstances,  no  person  who  may  any  ways  be  supposed  to 
 be  connected  with  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  and  his  views,  either  avowed  or  concealed,  can 
 be  allowed  a free  ingress  into  the  Island  of  Java,  and  that  your  request  to  be  per- 
 mitted to  proceed  to  the  eastern  districts  cannot  therefore  be  acquiesced  in. 
 
 “ In  regretting  that  public  grounds  should  lead  to  a refusal  which  may,  per- 
 haps, be  productive  of  individual  hardships,  it  is,  however,  satisfactory  to  reflect, 
 that  the  alleged  object  of  your  voyage  to  Samarang,  viz.  the  adjustment  of  private 
 concerns  with  Messrs.  Deans,  Scott,  and  Co.,  may  be  obtained  with  equal  facility  at 
 Batavia,  where  a branch  of  that  house  is  established. 
 
 3 L 
 
442  CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  THE  DUTCH  GOVERNMENT  OF  BATAVIA. 
 
 “ I retain  the  passport  under  which  you  proceeded  to  this  place,  and  have  the 
 honoui*  to  be.  Sir,  your  obedient  servant, 
 
 (Signed)  J.  E.  Brand.” 
 
 To  J.  E.  Brand,  Esq.  Secretary  to  Government. 
 
 “ Batavia,  April  Qth,  1820. 
 
 “ Sir, 
 
 “ In  adverting  to  the  general  tenor  of  your  letter  of  the  29th  of  iSIarch, 
 I cannot  but  express  my  astonishment  at  so  unexpected  a commmiication ; and  I 
 should  be  wanting  in  duty  to  myself  and  to  the  rank  I have  the  honour  to  hold  in 
 the  seixdce  of  my  country,  did  I allow  it  to  pass  unnoticed. 
 
 “ The  cause  of  my  ^isit  to  Java  was  entirely  of  a private  nature,  which  I con- 
 ceive is  sufficiently  proved  by  my  having  brought  out  a passport  from  his  Excellency 
 the  Dutch  Ambassador  in  London,  which  I had  the  honour  to  enclose  in  my  letter  to 
 the  Resident,  for  the  information  of  his  Excellency  the  Governor  General,  and  there- 
 fore cannot,  by  liberal  minds,  be  construed  as  in  any  w ay  connected  with  the  situation 
 or  Aiews  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  : and  allow  me  here  to  observe,  that  it  is  not  con- 
 sistent with  the  knoivn  character  of  a Captain  in  the  British  na^y,  to  act  so  degrad- 
 ing a part  as  that  of  a spy — a teiTn  not  absolutely  expressed,  but  most  distinctly 
 implied  by  the  whole  tenor  of  your  letter. 
 
 “ My  conduct,  from  the  moment  of  my  amval,  will  bear  the  strictest  scrutiny. 
 I landed  in  my  uniform,  and  immediately  called  at  the  Government-house.  The 
 following  day  I had  the  honour  to  dine  with  his  Excellency,  in  the  same  di'ess.  I 
 took  that  opportunity  to  mention  my  wish  to  proceed  to  Samarang. 
 
 “ At  that  time  the  Governor  General  made  no  objection  whatever,  but,  on  the 
 contrary,  inquired  if  I wished  to  proceed  over-land.  This  I declined  in  the  most 
 respectful  manner,  and  on  my  quitting  the  Government-house,  his  Excellency  referred 
 me  to  the  Resident,  as  the  channel  through  which  all  public  communications  are 
 made.  I have  wiitten  my  name  in  full  on  the  cover  of  every  letter  I have  sent 
 through  the  post-office,  or  otherwise. 
 
 “ This  does  not  savour  of  concealment.  That  part  of  your  letter  negativing  my 
 being  allowed,  therefore,  a free  ingi'ess  into  the  Island  of  Java,  must  have  been 
 written  in  total  misconception  of  mine  to  the  Governor  General ; and  my  subse- 
 quent letter  to  the  Resident,  if  proof  be  w'anting,  is  sufficient  of  itself  to  show  I had 
 no  wish  or  inclination  to  visit  the  interior  of  the  Island. 
 
 “ I have  the  honour  to  be.  Sir, 
 
 “ Your  obedient  servant, 
 
 (Signed)  “ Wm.  Flint.” 
 
CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  THE  DUTCH  GOVERNMENT  OF  BATAVIA. 
 
 US 
 
 To  W.  Flint,  Esq. 
 
 “ Batavia,  April  Sth,  1820. 
 
 “ Sir, 
 
 " Ha\ing  laid  your  letter  of  the  30th  March  and  6th  instant  before  his 
 Excellency  the  Governor  General,  I am  now  directed  to  give  the  following  reply 
 thereto : 
 
 “ The  communication  which  I had  the  honour  to  address  to  you  on  the  29th 
 cannot,  but  by  a studious  misconstruction,  be  made  subservient  to  inferences  of  the 
 natiue  alluded  to  by  you.  The  tenor  of  that  letter  was  frank  and  unequivocal,  and 
 sprung  from  no  other  motive  but  the  very  natural  desire  to  restrain  the  admittance 
 of  all  persons,  who  might  be  supposed  to  possess  that  same  eagerness  of  disseminat- 
 ing a hostile  spirit  towards  the  Dutch  authorities,  of  which  the  late  acts  and  attempts 
 of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  bear  such  decided  and  irrefragable  testimony ; for  although 
 the  aspersions  here  alluded  to,  in  whatever  form  thrown  out,  have  been  met  by  the 
 Government  with  the  only  feeling  which  they  are  calculated  to  excite,  yet  it  cannot 
 be  a matter  of  astonishment,  that  the  Government  should  be  unwilling  to  admit, 
 without  restraint,  persons  in  whom  the  same  tendency  to  indiscreet  and  ungenerous 
 censure  may  be  expected. 
 
 “ The  tenor,  however,  of  your  last  letter  to  my  address  has  induced  the 
 Governor  General  not  to  apply  to  you  personally,  a measure  in  which,  at  first  view, 
 you  appeared  from  a general  consideration  of  your  private  and  pubhc  connexions 
 wath  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  to  be  included ; and  relyingj  therefore,  in  the  most  unre- 
 served manner,  and  with  all  confidence  due  to  the  rank  you  occupy  in  the  British 
 navy,  a corps  so  eminently  distinguished  for  honom’able  principles,  on  the  assurance 
 given  by  you  as  to  the  object  of  your  \dsit  to  this  Island,  his  Excellency  is  pleased 
 to  permit  you  to  proceed  to  Samarang,  for  which  purpose  the  necessary  passport 
 \\ill  be  issued  to  you  on  application  to  the  Resident  of  Batavia. 
 
 “ I have  the  honour  to  be.  Sir, 
 
 “ Your  most  obedient  humble  servant, 
 
 (Signed)  “J.  E.  Brand.” 
 
 The  following  letter  from  Colonel  Farquhar  to  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  describes 
 the  state  of  Singapore  at  this  period. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Raffles, 
 
 Fro?n  Colonel  Farquhar. 
 
 “ Singapore,  March  31,  1820. 
 
 “ As  a vessel  sails  from  hence  this  morning,  bound  for  Batavia,  touching 
 at  Rhio,  I avail  myself  of  the  opportunity  of  sending  these  few  lines  to  Mr.  Skelton 
 
 3 L 2 
 
444 
 
 RAPID  IMPROVEMENT  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 at  Batavia,  to  be  forwarded  on  to  Bencoolen  by  any  opportunity  that  may  offer. 
 The  public  accounts  from  January  are  all  ready  to  be  despatched,  and  I should  hav'e 
 sent  them  on  by  the  Betsy,  but  as  that  vessel  is  quite  at  the  disposal  of  the  Com- 
 mander, who  may  alter  his  voyage  at  Rhio  or  elsewhere,  I have  deemed  it  most 
 expedient  to  wait  a more  certain  conveyance,  which  we  may  daily  expect  from 
 Bengal. 
 
 We  have  now  been  nearly  seven  weeks  without  news  of  any  kind  from  Cal- 
 cutta. Your  letters  of  the  3d  of  January  are  the  latest  that  have  come  to  hand. 
 I hav^e  written  to  you  frequently  by  way  of  Java,  Penang,  and  lastly  via  Palembang. 
 
 " Nothing  can  possibly  exceed  the  rising  trade  and  general  prosperity  of  this 
 infant  colony ; indeed,  to  look  at  our  harbour  just  now,  where  upwards  of  twenty 
 junks,  three  of  which  are  from  China,  and  two  from  Cochin  China,  the  rest  from 
 Siam  and  other  quarters,  are  at  anchor,  besides  ships,  brigs,  prows,  &c.  &c.,  a per- 
 son would  naturally  exclaim,  smely  this  cannot  be  an  estabhshment  of  only  a twelve- 
 month  standing!  One  of  the  principal  Chinese  merchants  here  told  me,  in  the 
 course  of  conversation,  that  he  would  be  very  glad  to  give  five  hundred  thousand 
 dollars  for  the  revenues  of  Singapore  five  years  hence.  Merchants  of  all  descrip- 
 tions are  collecting  here  so  fast,  that  nothing  is  heard  in  the  shape  of  complaint, 
 but  the  want  of  more  ground  to  build  on.  The  swampy  ground  on  the  opposite 
 side  of  the  riv'er  is  now  almost  covered  with  Chinese  houses,  and  the  Bugguese 
 village  is  become  an  extensive  town.  Settlements  are  forming  up  the  different  rivers, 
 and  from  the  public  roads  which  have  been  made,  the  communication  to  various 
 parts  of  the  country  is  now  quite  open  and  convenient. 
 
 “ A trade  direct  with  Japan  will,  I have  no  doubt,  be  opened  very  soon,  and 
 the  advantages  that  are  likely  to  result  from  such  a commerce  you  are  well  aware 
 of ; in  short,  this  settlement  bids  fair  to  become  the  emporium  of  Eastern  trade,  and 
 in  time  may  surpass  even  Batavia  itself. 
 
 “ The  Dutch  Admiral  has  been  at  Rhio  for  some  time,  as  has  Mr.  Timmerman, 
 Dutch  Resident  at  Malacca.  They  have  been  holding  a consultation  on  various 
 points  : amongst  others,  how  a reconciliation  with  the  Bugguese  can  be  best  effected. 
 This,  I fancy,  they  will  have  a difficult  measure  to  bring  about,  as  the  Bugguese 
 appear  to  have  lost  all  confidence  in  their  system  of  government. 
 
 “ Here  we  may  expect  a gi*eat  accession  of  strength  from  the  natives.  I have 
 transmitted  to  you  Mr.  Timmennan’s  protest  respecting  Rajah  Bellavva,  who  sought 
 an  asylum  here  with  his  family  and  followers,  after  being  driven  out  of  Rhio  by  the 
 Dutch.  I have  likewise  forwarded  copies  of  the  same  to  the  Supreme  Government. 
 
 “ I have  most  reluctantly  been  obliged  to  assume  charge  of  the  military  pay 
 department,  but  sincerely  hope  that  you  may  have  succeeded  in  establishing  some 
 other  arrangement  than  what  was  last  received  from  Bengal. 
 
 “ Our  treasury  is  at  present  at  a low  ehb — the  troops  are  now  nearly  two 
 
RAPID  IMPROVEMENT  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 445 
 
 months  in  arrears.  I have  wTitten  to  Penang  for  cash,  but  as  trade  increases,  we 
 shall  have  now  frequent  opportunities  of  getting  supplies  fi'om  the  merchants  for 
 bills  on  Bengal.  The  httle  capital  at  present  here  is  employed  on  the  spot.  We 
 are,  as  you  may  suppose,  most  anxious  to  hear  from  you  again.  I hope  you  have, 
 long  ere  this,  reached  Bencoolen  in  safety.  Pray  present  my  best  wishes  to  Lady 
 Raffles,  and  give  your  dear  httle  ones  a kiss  each  on  my  account. 
 
 “ Beheve  me,  ever  your’s,  &c. 
 
 “ W.  Farquhar.” 
 
 To 
 
 “Bencoolen,  April  3,  1820. 
 
 " Singapore,  I am  happy  to  say,  continues  to  thrive  beyond  all  calculation,  not- 
 withstanding the  ******* 
 and  the  uncertainty  of  possession.  The  exports  and  imports  even  by  native  boats 
 alone  exceed  four  millions  of  dollars  in  the  year. 
 
 “ Sophia  and  our  httle  ones  are  quite  well.  I enclose  you  an  extract  from  a 
 letter  I have  just  received  from  Mr.  Grant : (the  late  Charles  Grant,  Esq.  one  of 
 the  Directors  of  the  East  India  Company),  his  favourable  opinion  of  what  I have 
 done  is  very  satisfactory.” 
 
 “ London,  July  19,  1820. 
 
 “ You  will  easily  conceive  that  it  has  not  been  possible  for  me  to  enter  fully 
 with  you  into  the  various  subjects  of  the  letters  and  papers  you  have  sent  me.  I 
 have,  however,  done  all  that  I beheve  you  expected  from  me,  that  is  to  uphold  your 
 view's  of  what  our  national  pohcy  ought  to  be  with  respect  to  the  Eastern  Archipe- 
 lago— views,  the  leading  principles  of  which  I entertained  before  your  return  to 
 India,  as  favouring  not  only  the  fair  commercial  interests  of  our  country,  and  of  a 
 vast  region  of  Asia,  but  the  moral  and  political  benefit  of  its  immense  population. 
 
 “ You  are  probably  aware  of  the  obstacles  which  have  been  opposed  to  the 
 adoption  of  your  measures,  and  even  threatened  your  position  in  the  service.  Your 
 zeal  considerably  outstepped  your  prudence,  and  the  first  operations  of  it  became 
 known  at  an  unfavourable  juncture.  It  was  thought  that  the  state  of  affairs  in 
 Europe  required  that  they  should  be  discountenanced. 
 
 “ The  acquisition  of  Singapore  has  grown  in  importance.  The  stir  made  here 
 lately  for  the  further  enlargement  of  the  eastern  trade  fortified  that  impression.  It 
 is  now  accredited  in  the  India  House.  Of  late,  in  an  examination  before  a com- 
 mittee of  the  House  of  Lords,  I gave  my  opinion  of  the  value,  in  a moral,  pohtical, 
 and  commercial  \dew,  of  a British  estabhshment  in  the  locahty  of  Singapore,  under 
 the  auspices  of  the  Company.  From  all  these  circmnstances  and  others,  I augur 
 
446 
 
 EXPENSES  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 well  as  to  the  retention  and  encom*agement  of  the  station  your  rapidity  has  pre- 
 occupied, Accept  of  these  few  hints  instead  of  an  elaborate  letter. 
 
 “ I have  heard  of  your  efforts  for  introducing  religious  improvement  into  Ben- 
 coolen.  I hope  that  disposition  will  follow  you  wherever  you  go. 
 
 (Signed)  C.  Grant.” 
 
 To 
 
 Bcncoolen,  April  7,  1820. 
 
 “ The  unexpected  amval  of  the  Borneo  enables  me  to  send  you  a few  lines. 
 
 “ Singapore  continues  to  thrive  and  prosper  beyond  my  most  sanguine  expecta- 
 tions. Once  permanently  settled,  it  wll  give  advantages  in  commerce  far  beyond 
 your  contemplation.  Major  F'arquhar  being  anxious  to  return  home,  I have  ap- 
 pointed Travers  to  relieve  him,  and  he  sailed  from  hence  for  that  purpose  about  ten 
 days  ago.  The  whole  of  the  establishments  at  Singapore — civil,  military,  and  poli- 
 tical— do  not  exceed  5000  dollars,  <£1200,  a month.  Of  Bencoolen  I have  little  to 
 add,  except  that  the  place  is  improving.  I should  be  sorry  to  find  the  place  given 
 to  the  Dutch,  but  if  it  must  be  so,  I hope  we  shall  have  an  equivalent. 
 
 “ I hear  the  Dutch  place  all  their  hopes  on  being  able  to  remove  me  from  the 
 Eastward.  I have  become  so  much  identified  wdth  the  question  now  pending  be- 
 tween the  two  governments,  that  they  conceive  their  interests  Avill  be  best  secured 
 by  getting  me  out  of  the  way. 
 
 “ I have  just  received  accounts  of  the  Dutch  left  at  Rhio  and  Banca.  They 
 must  now  regret  the  uild  ambition  which  induced  them  to  aim  at  such  extensive 
 sovereignty ; their  empire  is  literally  crumbling  to  pieces. 
 
 “ The  only  loss  in  our  family  has  been  in  the  death  of  my  favourite  bear, 
 whose  demise  I shall  not  fail  to  notice  with  due  honour  when  treating  on  natural 
 history.” 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  April  \ Mh,  1820. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 I cannot  allow  a direct  opportunity  to  pass  without  again  thanking  you 
 for  the  kind  interest  you  continue  to  take  in  oim  welfare,  and  letting  you  know  that 
 we  continue  in  excellent  health,  with  as  fair  prospects  as  political  circumstances  at 
 present  admit.  My  two  children  expand  daily,  and  are  all  and  every  thing 
 we  could  wish  them.  Lady  Raffles  bears  the  climate  better  than  I expected. 
 
 “ In  the  political  world  I have  nothing  to  communicate.  In  Java  all  remains 
 cjuiet.  The  Dutch  have  wisely  followed  up  the  revenue  system  I established,  and 
 though  I could  say  a gi-eat  deal  against  particulars,  I am  on  the  whole  tolerably  satis- 
 fied with  what  they  have  done  in  this  respect. 
 
SIR  STAMFORD’S  OCCUPATIONS. 
 
 447 
 
 “ We  are  anxiously  awaiting  the  final  arrangements  from  home.  My  last 
 ad\ices  were  in  August,  at  which  date  the  subject  had  been  taken  up.  Java,  and  the 
 Moluccas,  with  Macassar,  or  Celebes,  is  all  that  strictly  ought  to  be  left  to  the  Dutch. 
 Banca  is  of  no  further  value  to  them. 
 
 * iif  * * 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  April  \ ^th,  1820. 
 
 I wrote  you  very  fully  about  three  weeks  ago  by  the  Mary,  by  which  ship  I 
 sent  Sir  Joseph  Banks  a large  consignment  of  prepared  animals.  I hope  they  have 
 arrived  safe,  and  proved  that  we  are  not  idle.  I have  just  now  so  little  to  do  with 
 politics,  that  I am  able  to  devote  a good  deal  of  time  to  natural  history ; and  I think 
 you  would  be  amused  to  see  the  extensive  collection  I am  making.  I intend  to 
 send  you  a large  consignment  by  the  first  favourable  conveyance,  of  which  I shall 
 request  your  Grace’s  kind  care,  until  my  retmai  to  England.  This  may  serve  as  an 
 indication  that  I am  looking  forward  to  the  day  when  we  may  again  meet.  Two 
 years  have  rolled  away  already ; three  or  four  more  will,  I hope,  accomplish  all  the 
 
 objects  I have  in  view  in  this  country ; and  then we  shall  I hope  meet  again, 
 
 all  parties  a few  years  older,  but  in  other  respects  neither  colder  nor  less  happy  than 
 before  we  parted.  We  must  now  begin  to  forget  those  hateful  words,  ‘ Good  bye’ 
 and  to  think  of  ' how  do  you  do  ; ’ — time  flies  fast, — where  are  the  years  that  are 
 past — and  how  short  may  those  which  are  to  come  appear  when  once  we  have  again 
 met,  and  look  back  upon  them  ! 
 
 Your  Grace  will,  I doubt  not,  be  happy  to  hear,  that  our  prospects,  even  at 
 Bencoolen,  are  improving  ; the  place  no  longer  has  that  gloomy  and  desolate  appear- 
 ance of  which  I first  complained.  Population  and  industry  are  increasing ; the  inland 
 merchants  begin  to  bring  down  the  gold  and  cassia  from  the  interior,  and  a stranger 
 would  hardly  know  the  place  again,  so  much  is  it  changed  from  what  it  was  two  years 
 ago.  We  have  a good  many  comforts  about  us,  and  shall  really  regret  any  political  ne- 
 cessity which  obliges  us  to  remove  from  what  has  now  become  our  second  home.  We 
 have  a delightful  garden,  and  so  many  living  pets,  children  tame  and  wild ; monkeys, 
 dogs,  birds,  &c.  that  we  have  a perfect  regne  animale  within  our  own  walls,  to  say 
 nothing  of  the  surrounding  forests  now  under  contribution.  I have  one  of  the  most 
 beautiful  little  men  of  the  woods  that  can  be  conceived ; he  is  not  much  above  two 
 feet  high,  wears  a beautiful  surtout  of  fine  white  woollen,  and  in  his  disposition  and 
 habits  the  kindest  and  most  correct  creature  imaginable ; his  face  is  jet  black,  and 
 his  features  most  expressive ; he  has  not  the  slightest  rudiments  of  a tail,  always 
 walks  erect,  and  would  I am  sure  become  a favourite  in  Park  Lane. 
 
 Not  long  ago  I gave  your  Grace  a short  account  of  my  Batta  friends.  I am 
 
 2 
 
448 
 
 ACCOUNT  OF  THE  PULO  NIAS. 
 
 now  much  engaged  in  obtaining  particulars  of  a very  extensive  and  interesting  popu- 
 lation in  one  of  the  larger  Islands  lying  off  Sumatra,  Pulo  Nias. 
 
 “ The  Nias  people  believe  in  one  Supreme  God,  Lora  Langi,  but  they  do  not 
 pay  him  any  kind  of  public  worship.  Below  him  is  another  God,  called  Batu  Ba 
 Danaw,  who  has  charge  of  the  earth,  which  they  say  is  suspended  from  a stalk,  or 
 string,  as  an  orange  from  the  branch  of  a tree.  This  is,  perhaps,  as  happy  an  idea 
 as  the  double-headed  shot  of  Lord  Erskine,  and  perhaps  his  Lordship  may  avail 
 himself  of  the  hint  in  the  next  volume  of  Armata.  The  world  they  suppose  to  have 
 seven  stages,  or  gradations,  inhabited  by  as  many  different  orders  of  beings.  The 
 stage  immediately  under  us  is  possessed  by  dwarfs.  The  heavens,  or  sky  above  us, 
 (Hob  Yawa,)  are  peopled  by  a superior  order  of  men,  (Bamcki,)  of  a most  beautiful 
 form  and  appearance.  These  are  gifted  'v\dth  mngs,  and  are  imisible  at  pleasure, 
 and  they  take  an  interest  in  all  that  passes  on  earth ; they  are  governed  by  kings  of 
 their  oum : the  one  at  present  reigning  is  called  Luo  Mehuhana ; there  were  four 
 kings  who  ruled  before  him,  and  from  whom  he  is  descended. 
 
 “ ‘ The  people  of  the  earth,’  they  say,  ' had  for  a length  of  time  continued  in  a 
 state  of  the  grossest  ignorance  and  barbarism ; they  neither  hved  in  houses  nor 
 tilled  the  gi'omid,  but  wandered  about,  subsisting  on  what  the  earth  spontaneously 
 produced.  At  last,  the  wife  of  Luo  Mehuhana  took  pity  upon  their  miserable  con- 
 dition, and  ordered  one  of  her  subjects  to  descend  to  the  earth,  and  teach  its  inhabit- 
 ants the  arts  of  chilization.  He  accordingly  descended  on  Pulo  Nias,  and  instructed 
 them  how  to  till  the  ground,  to  live  in  houses,  to  cook  their  "victuals,  and  to  form 
 in  societies.  He  taught  them  also  to  speak,  for  hitherto  they  had  not  possessed  even 
 this  means  of  communication.’ 
 
 “ Their  laws  are  remarkably  severe.  It  is  death  to  touch  any  part,  even  the 
 finger,  of  an  mimarried  woman,  or  the  wife  of  another  man ; but,  notwithstanding 
 this,  I do  not  learn  that  they  are  particularly  chaste.  The  wives  are  bought  fr'om 
 the  parents,  as  in  Sumatra ; and  a man  may  have  as  many  as  he  can  afford  to 
 pay  for. 
 
 “ I will  not,  at  present,  trouble  you  with  further  particulars ; the  above  will  be 
 sufficient  to  shew  that  they  are  at  least  very  original  in  their  ideas ; and  on  this 
 account,  if  on  no  other,  they  must  excite  an  interest. 
 
 “ I must  not  close  my  letter  without  a few  words  on  the  politics  of  this  part  of 
 the  w’orld,  in  which  I hope  your  Grace  still  continues  to  take  some  interest. 
 
 “ It  will  be  satisfactory  to  you  to  know  that  the  Dutch  authorities  in  this  coun- 
 tiy  have  at  length  been  brought  to  their  senses ; and  if  wiiat  has  been  done  here  is 
 only  supported  and  followed  up  with  common  pmdence  and  decision,  w'e  may  at 
 least  save  our  commercial  interests  from  the  ruin  w hich  so  lately  impended.  Singa- 
 pore continues  to  rise  as  rapidly  as  all  the  out-stations  of  the  Dutch  dechne.” 
 
IMPROVEMENT  AT  BENCOOLEN, 
 
 449 
 
 The  following  extract  of  a letter  from  Sir  Joseph  Banks  to  Dr.  Horsfield,  will 
 shew  the  high  opinion  he  entertained  of  Sir  Stamford,  as  well  as  of  the  botanical 
 collections  made  in  Java,  and  the  encouragement  he  so  liberally  and  generously 
 extended  to  all  those  in  pursuit  of  scientific  objects  ; it  was  written  in  the  year  1817, 
 when  Sir  Stamford  was  in  England  : 
 
 “ The  collections  are  interesting  in  the  extreme,  and  will,  when  published,  make 
 very  valuable  additions  to  the  science  of  botany.  Your  industry.  Sir,  in  collecting 
 them  is  praise-worthy  in  the  extreme ; and  the  talent  you  have  shewn  in  arranging 
 them  encourages  a well-founded  hope  of  much  advantage  to  science  being  derived 
 from  your  arrangement  and  observations  on  them. 
 
 “ We  are  all  here  delighted  with  the  acquaintance  of  Governor  Raffles ; he  is 
 certainly  among  the  best  informed  of  men,  and  possesses  a larger  stock  of  useful 
 talent  than  any  other  individual  of  my  acquaintance. 
 
 “ I beg.  Sir,  that  you  will  be  assured  that  I shall  always  be  ready  and  happy 
 to  give  you  every  assistance  in  my  power,  and  that  you  will  have  no  scruple  in 
 addressing  questions  to  me.  Gentlemen  who,  hke  you,  cultivate  science  in  the 
 wilderness  of  nature,  where  books  are  not  to  be  found,  have  a right  to  call  upon  us 
 inhabitants  of  hbraries  for  every  assistance  you  stand  in  need  of,  which  we  have  the 
 power  of  affording. 
 
 “ I beg,  Sir,  that  you  will  believe  me  your  obliged  and  obedient  servant, 
 
 Joseph  Banks.” 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  April  20,  1820. 
 
 As  you  may  not  possess  a correct  vocabulary  in  the  Nias  language,  I send 
 you  a few  words ; and  you  may,  perhaps,  be  glad  to  learn,  that  I am  at  present 
 directing  my  attention  a good  deal  to  that  Island. 
 
 I hope  hereafter  to  give  you  a comparative  vocabulary  in  the  Nias  and  Batta 
 languages,  of  not  less  than  three  thousand  words.  My  object  is  to  compare  them 
 particularly  with  the  Malay  and  Buggis.  I shall  follow  the  same  arrangement  as 
 adopted  in  the  Appendix  to  my  History  of  Java,  in  order  to  render  it  more  con- 
 venient for  reference. 
 
 “ My  small  establishment  in  the  interior  at  Bukit  Kabut  has  been  of  the  greatest 
 service  in  attracting  traders  and  settlers  from  the  interior ; and  were  the  affairs  of 
 Palembang  once  settled  to  our  satisfaction,  the  interior  would  soon  be  as  well  known 
 as  the  coast.  There  is  a very  good  horse-road  from  Marlborough  to  Muara  Billiti, 
 on  the  Palembang  river,  whence  the  passage  by  water  to  Palembang  can  be  accom- 
 phshed  in  less  than  three  days.  Were  Palembang  free  from  the  Dutch,  I should 
 make  it  the  usual  route  between  this  place  and  Singapore. 
 
 3 M 
 
450 
 
 IMPROVEMENT  AT  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 “ I have  the  pleasure  to  send  Mrs.  Marsden  three  boxes  of  spices,  the  produce 
 of  our  own  garden.  We  are  now  commencing  plantations  in  the  interior.” 
 
 * 
 
 To 
 
 * * 
 
 " Bencoolen,  May  26,  1820. 
 * * 
 
 “ At  Singapore  our  interests  and  influence  are  rapidly  extending;  all  goes  on 
 just  as  I could  wish ; and  I think  that  you  will  be  happy  to  hear  that  even  Ben- 
 cool  en  has  assumed  a new  interest  in  my  eyes,  and  that  I really  feel  a satisfaction  in 
 the  progressive  improvement  of  the  place.  The  last  few  months’  leisure  has  enabled 
 me  to  investigate  the  ancient  tenure  and  history  of  the  place  and  people,  and  the 
 causes  which  have  retarded  the  improvement  of  both ; and  to  apply  remedies  which 
 are  hkely  to  be  effective  : the  old  system  may  be  now  considered  as  destroyed,  root 
 and  branch  ; and  although  a few  of  the  decayed  branches,  and  some  noxious  weeds 
 may  here  and  there  appear,  the  country  has  generally  assumed  a new  aspect,  cultiva- 
 tion is  quite  the  order  of  the  day,  and  commenced  upon  with  a spirit  I hardly 
 expected. 
 
 ***** 
 
 “ Under  these  circumstances  I should  be  sorry  if  any  thing  removed  me  from 
 the  place  for  the  next  year — and  it  will  certainly  require  attentive  management  for 
 a few  years  subsequent — the  country  and  people  are,  in  many  respects,  so  different 
 from  what  I fomid  them,  that  a stranger  would  hardly  know  them  again.  It  some- 
 times occurs  to  me  as  possible,  that  Bencoolen  may  be  given  to  the  Dutch,  in  ex- 
 change for  some  other  place.  Sooner  than  we  should  lose  our  footing  in  the  Archi- 
 pelago I would  wiUingly  resign  it ; but,  under  any  circumstances,  it  would  be  heart- 
 breaking to  give  up  the  place  just  as  the  fruits  of  my  system,  and  the  returns  for  my 
 labour,  are  about  to  be  seen.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 Bencoolen,  June  2,  1820. 
 
 It  is  almost  an  age  since  I heard  from  England.  Your  last  letters  were  dated 
 nearly  a twelvemonth  ago ! — what  a lapse ! — and  what  may  not  have  occurred  in 
 the  interim?  I dread  to  think  of  it;  and  yet,  after  all,  I believe  it  is  these  cares 
 and  anxieties  that  are  the  chief  source  of  all  our  earthly  bliss,  for  wthout  them  we 
 could  not  appreciate  their  reverse,  or  know  what  real  happiness  is.  Had  I not  re- 
 turned to  India  I should  never  have  contemplated  the  delight  which  I now  anticipate 
 of  once  more  meetmg  a long  absent  friend.  You  see  w^hat  a philosopher  I am. 
 
 “ Nothing  very  particular  has  occurred  since  my  last,  except  the  birth  of 
 another  boy.  My  dear  little  Charlotte  is,  of  all  creatures,  the  most  angelic  I ever 
 
 2 
 
SIR  STAMFORD’S  OCCUPATIONS. 
 
 451 
 
 beheld.  She  has  those  inborn  graces  which,  as  she  expands,  must  attract  the  ad- 
 miration of  every  one — but  she  has  a soft  heart,  and  is  so  full  of  mildness  and 
 gentleness,  that  I fear  she  will  have  many  trials  to  go  through  in  this  unfeeling 
 world.  Her  brother  Leopold,  however,  will  take  her  part,  for  he  has  the  spirit  of  a 
 lion,  and  is  absolutely  beautiful ; but  I will  not  tire  you  with  any  more  family 
 details,  it  will  be  sufficient  to  add,  that  we  are  all  well,  and  as  happy  as  absence 
 from  dear  and  relative  friends  will  admit.  My  life  is  at  present  rather  monotonous, 
 not  however  unpleasantly  so,  for  I have  all  the  regular  and  substantial  employment 
 of  domestic  comfort  in  the  bosom  of  a happy  and  thriving  family;  and  in  the  daily 
 pursuits  of  agriculture  and  magisterial  duty  I find  abundance  to  interest  and  amuse 
 — but  I am  no  longer  striding  from  one  side  of  India  to  another,  overleaping  moun- 
 tains, or  forming  new  countries — I am  trying  to  do  the  best  I can  with  a very  old 
 and  nearly  worn-out  one,  in  which  I hope,  by  infusing  a new  spirit,  and  encouraging 
 habits  of  industry,  and  motives  of  enterprize,  much  may  be  done.  I am  busily  en- 
 gaged in  taking  a census  of  the  population,  and  inquiring  into  the  processes  of 
 husbandry,  and  the  village  institutions,  and  I think  you  would  be  amused  to  see  me 
 amid  my  mde  and  untutored  mountaineers,  collecting  the  details,  and  entering  into 
 all  the  particulars,  as  if  they  were  the  peasants  of  my  own  estate.  I am  becoming 
 so  attached  to  these  pursuits,  and  find  them  so  much  more  satisfactory  than  poli- 
 tical discussion,  that  I believe  I shall  be  sorry  to  change  this  mode  of  life.  Allow 
 me,  therefore,  to  indulge  my  whim  for  a short  time  longer,  and  then  I shall  be  able 
 to  carry  home  such  a weight  of  experience,  as  may  perhaps  bring  all  yom*  barren 
 lands  into  cultivation.  If  I am  not  rich  enough  to  have  a farm  of  my  own,  I shall 
 wish  to  become  a farmer  on  your  lands,  and  then  * ^ * 
 
 “ This  is  a veiy  hmried  letter,  written  at  a moment  when  the  ship  is  under 
 weigh  ” 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 Perhaps  this  was  one  of  the  most  happy  periods  in  Sir  Stamford’s  life ; politically 
 he  had  attained  the  object  which  he  felt  so  necessary  for  the  good  of  his  country  (the 
 establishment  of  Singapore).  He  w^as  beloved  by  all  those  under  his  immediate 
 controul,  who  united  in  showing  him  every  mark  of  respect  and  attachment,  and 
 many  were  bound  to  him  by  ties  of  gratitude  for  offices  of  kindness,  for  private  acts 
 of  benevolence  and  assistance  which  he  delighted  to  exercise  towards  them.  The 
 settlement,  like  many  other  small  societies,  was  divided  into  almost  as  many  parties 
 as  there  were  famihes  on  his  first  arrival ; but  these  differences  were  soon  healed 
 and  quieted,  and  a general  interchange  of  good  offices  had  succeeded.  The  natives 
 and  Chiefs  appreciated  the  interest  which  he  took  in  their  improvement,  and  placed 
 implicit  reliance  upon  his  opinion  and  counsel. 
 
 The  consciousness  of  being  beloved  is  a delightful,  happy  feeling,  and  Sir  Stam- 
 
 3 M 2 
 
452 
 
 SIR  STAMFORD’S  DOMESTIC  HABITS. 
 
 ford  acknowledged  with  thankfulness  at  this  time  that  every  wish  of  his  heart  was 
 gratified.  UninteiTupted  health  had  prevailed  in  his  family,  his  children  were  his 
 pride  and  delight,  and  they  had  already  imbibed  from  him  those  tastes  it  was  his 
 pleasure  to  cultivate;  this  will  not  be  wondered  at,  even  at  their  early  age,  when  it 
 is  added,  that  two  young  tigers  and  a bear  were  for  some  time  in  the  children’s 
 apartments,  under  the  charge  of  their  attendant,  without  being  confined  in  cages, 
 and  it  was  rather  a curious  scene  to  see  the  children,  the  bear,  the  tigers,  a blue 
 mountain  bird,  and  a favourite  cat,  all  playing  together,  the  parrot’s  beak  being  the 
 only  object  of  awe  to  all  the  party. 
 
 Perhaps  few  people  in  a public  station  led  so  simple  a fife ; his  mode  of  passing 
 his  time  in  the  country  has  been  already  described.  When  he  was  in  Bencoolen  he 
 rose  early  and  delighted  in  driving  into  the  villages,  inspecting  the  plantations,  and 
 encom-aging  the  industry  of  the  people;  at  nine  a party  assembled  at  breakfast, 
 which  separated  immediately  afterwards ; and  he  WTOte,  read,  studied  natural  his- 
 tory, chemistry,  and  geology,  superintended  the  draftsmen,  of  whom  he  had  con- 
 stantly five  or  six  employed  in  a verandah,  and  always  had  his  children  with  him  as 
 he  went  from  one  pursuit  to  another,  visiting  his  beautiful  and  extensive  aviary,  as 
 well  as  the  extraordinary  collection  of  animals  which  were  always  domesticating  in 
 the  house.  At  four  he  dined,  and  seldom  alone,  as  he  considered  the  settlement 
 but  as  a family  of  which  he  was  the  head ; immediately  after  dinner  all  the  party 
 drove  out,  and  the  evening  was  spent  in  reading  and  music  and  conversation.  He 
 never  had  any  game  of  amusement  in  his  house.  After  the  party  had  dispersed,  he 
 was  fond  of  walking  out  with  the  Editor,  and  enjoying  the  delicious  coolness  of  the 
 night  land-wind,  and  a moon  whose  beauty  those  only  who  have  been  in  tropical 
 climates  can  judge  of,  so  clear  and  penetrating  are  its  rays  that  many  fear  them  as 
 much  as  the  glare  of  the  sun.  Though  scarcely  a day  passed  without  reptiles  of  all 
 kinds  being  brought  in,  and  the  Cobra  de  Capello  in  numbers,  the  Editor  never 
 remembers  these  pleasm’es  being  intermpted  by  any  alarm. 
 
 Amidst  these  numerous  sources  of  enjoyment,  however.  Sir  Stamford  never 
 forgot  that  the  scene  was  too  bright  to  continue  unclouded,  and  often  gently  warned 
 the  Editor  not  to  expect  to  retain  all  the  blessings  God  in  his  bounty  had  heaped 
 upon  them  at  this  time,  but  to  feel  that  such  happiness  once  enjoyed  ought  to  shed 
 a bright  ray  over  the  future,  however  dark  and  trying  it  might  become. 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  June  9,1th,  1820. 
 
 “ As  the  notice  given  of  the  present  opportunity  of  sending  letters  has  been 
 unexpected  and  short,  I am  not  able  to  enter  so  fully  as  I could  wish  into  the  affairs 
 and  prospects  of  Bencoolen.  This  deficiency,  however,  I shall  endeavour  to  sup- 
 ply by  forwarding  to  you  herewith  copies  of  my  recent  letters  on  the  subject,  toge- 
 
SIR  STAMFORD’S  ATTENTION  TO  NATURAL  HISTORY. 
 
 453 
 
 ther  with  the  regulations  which  I have  recently  established.  It  will,  I am  sure, 
 afford  you  satisfaction  to  find  that  I am  at  length  enabled  to  make  a favourable 
 report.  I am  very  confident  of  success,  but  all  depends  on  a perseverance  in  the 
 plans  commenced,  and  some  liberality  on  the  part  of  Government. 
 
 “ I shall  feel  much  indebted  for  your  advice  and  opinion  on  any  points  which 
 may  strike  you.  I am  perfectly  open  to  conviction  wherever  I may  have  been 
 wrong,  and  shall  not  be  offended  with  the  freedom  of  your  remarks. 
 
 " The  London  arrived  here  on  the  9th  instant,  and  is  now  taking  in  a cargo  of 
 pepper  at  Tappanooly.  By  her  I had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  your  letter  of  De- 
 cember. Pray  tell  Mrs.  Marsden  that  I will  endeavour  to  make  amends  by  sending 
 her  a volume  of  details  on  all  family  matters  the  moment  I can  obtain  an  hour’s 
 leisure ; in  the  mean  time  it  will  be  satisfactory  to  her  to  know  that  we  are  all  well 
 and  happy.  My  three  children,  Charlotte,  Leopold,  and  Marco  Polo,  for  so  he  is 
 still  called,  although  he  was  christened  Stamford  Marsden,  are  certainly  the  finest 
 children  that  were  ever  seen ; and  if  we  can  manage  to  take  them  home  in  about 
 four  or  five  years,  we  hope  to  prove  that  the  climate  of  Bencoolen  is  not  so 
 very  bad. 
 
 “ As  there  was  no  chance  of  a direct  opportunity,  I have  sent  by  the  London 
 duphcates,  and  even  more  complete  sets  of  the  quadrupeds  and  birds  than  those 
 sent  by  the  Mary,  numbered,  named,  and  ticketed,  so  as  to  correspond  with  my 
 catalogues. 
 
 I am  at  this  moment  superintending  a complete  set  of  the  drawings,  to  be 
 forwarded  by  the  present  opportunity,  via  Calcutta. 
 
 “ I fear  there  will  hardly  be  time  for  completing  the  duphcates  of  the  catalogue 
 of  birds.  My  writers  are  now  engaged  upon  it,  and  I will  do  my  best  to  send  it  by 
 the  present  conveyance. 
 
 “ I find  the  natives  in  the  interior  consider  the  Ungka  Puti  as  the  Rajah  Bina- 
 tang,  on  account  of  the  extreme  hghtness  and  celerity  of  his  movements ; they  say 
 that  in  the  morning  he  swings  from  tree  to  tree,  and  runs  along  the  branches  with- 
 out shaking  the  dew  from  the  leaves. 
 
 “ From  the  reports  received  from  Batavia,  it  would  seem  the  Dutch  hesitate 
 with  regard  to  another  attack  on  Palembang ; in  this  I think  they  are  wise — they 
 seem  to  be  in  sad  confusion,  quarrelhng  among  themselves,  and  without  confidence 
 in  any  of  their  subjects.  About  a fortnight  ago  they  shot  seven  Frenchmen  for 
 deserting,  and  attempting  to  go  over  to  Palembang — it  is  not,  however,  true  that 
 the  Sultan  has  any  foreign  aid  whatever.  Singapore  continues  to  prosper  more  and 
 more. 
 
 “ We  are  now  busy  in  arranging  the  reptiles  and  crabs,  of  which  we  have  a 
 very  large  collection.” 
 
454. 
 
 EXERTIONS  TO  IMPROVE  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  June  27th,  1820. 
 
 “ You  will  find  that  I am  not  at  a loss  for  useful  employment  and  amusement 
 at  Bencoolen ; it  is  a small  place,  but  I wiU  make  the  most  of  it  I can.  I no  more 
 trouble  my  head  about  the  Dutch.  I have  turned  farmer,  and  as  President  of  the 
 Agi'icultural  Society,  find  more  real  satisfaction  than  is  to  be  derived  from  all  the 
 success  that  could  attend  a pohtical  life.  We  are  all  quite  well;  Sophia  will  write 
 to  this  point.” 
 
 To  the  same. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  July  7,  1820. 
 
 “ We  are  all  quite  well,  and  shall  be  very  well  content  to  remain  so.  Singa- 
 pore goes  on  progressively,  and  even  Bencoolen  is  assuming  a new  and  interesting 
 character.  My  time  and  attention  are  at  present  devoted  chiefly  to  agricultm*al 
 pursuits,  and  I am  determined,  if  possible,  to  make  the  place  raise  its  own  supphes. 
 I am  taking  a general  census  of  the  population  of  the  country,  and  of  its  agricultural 
 resources ; and  I hope  soon  to  send  you  home  some  reports  of  interest  and  import- 
 ance. The  field  is  not  very  extensive,  but  it  is  new  and  untried,  and  energy  and 
 zeal  shall  not  be  wanting  to  make  the  most  of  it. 
 
 “ Sophia  and  our  three  children  are  quite  well;  Charlotte  and  Leopold  are 
 every  thing  we  could  wish,  and  the  most  intelligent  children  I ever  met  with,  and 
 young  Marco  Polo  promises  well.  Leopold  is  by  far  the  finest  child  of  the  three ; 
 he  is  handsome,  bold,  and  intelhgent,  and  struts  about  the  house  with  an  air  of  the 
 most  complete  independence.  We  are  all  busy  cultivating  potatoes  and  plucking 
 nutmegs.  I hear  that  the  Government  of  Batavia  have  dechned  sending  the  pro- 
 jected expedition  to  Palembang  this  year,  and  I think  they  are  wise  for  so  doing : 
 the  Sultan  holds  out  nobly.  The  Dutch  still  complain  of  me.  God  knows  I have 
 shewn  them  courtesy  enough  on  this  coast,  and  since  the  fate  of  Padang  has  been 
 decided,  I have  felt  but  httle  interest  in  any  other  possession  to  the  northward.” 
 
 To  the  same. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  July  14,  1820. 
 
 “ Since  the  establishment  of  the  factory  of  Singapore,  I have  bid  adieu  to  all 
 political  responsibility.  My  time  has  been  exclusively  devoted  to  the  pursuits  of 
 natural  history,  and  the  immediate  interests  of  Bencoolen,  which  I am  endeavouring 
 to  advance  with  all  my  might. 
 
 “ Should  Mr.  Grant  come  into  the  chair,  there  is  still  a hope  that  all  may  be 
 right.  I am  not,  however,  very  sanguine,  and  shall  be  prepared  for  whatever  igno- 
 rance, injustice,  or  party-spirit  may  dictate. 
 
ANSWERS  TO  THE  CHARGES  BROUGHT  AGAINST  HIM. 
 
 455 
 
 “ I have  lived  long  enough  in  the  world  to  appreciate  what  is  valuable  in  it ; 
 and  the  favour  of  ministers  or  courts  never  appeared  to  me  equal  to  the  conscien- 
 tious conviction  of  ha\ing  done  one’s  duty — even  the  loss  of  fortune,  honours,  or,  I 
 might  add,  health.  I have  more  satisfaction  in  what  I have  done  since  my  return  to 
 India,  than  with  all  my  former  endeavours ; and  the  more  I am  opposed,  the  more 
 my  views  are  thwarted,  destroyed,  and  counteracted,  the  firmer  do  I stand  in  my 
 own  opinion ; for  I am  confident  that  I am  right,  and  that  when  I appear  at  home, 
 even  those  who  are  most  opposed  to  me  will  be  the  first  to  acknowledge  this.  They 
 do  not,  and  will  not,  look  at  the  question  in  its  fair  and  true  hght ; and  such  appears 
 to  be  the  spirit  of  'persecution,  that  it  would  be  idle  to  oppose  it  at  this  distance.  I 
 shall,  therefore,  bend  with  the  blast,  and  endeavour  to  let  the  hurricane  blow  over 
 me ; the  more  violent  it  becomes,  the  sooner  will  it  expend  itself,  and  then  it  will 
 be  time  for  me  to  raise  my  head,  to  shew  the  injury  and  devastation  which  has  been 
 spread  abroad,  and  the  folly  of  the  course  which  has  been  pursued. 
 
 “ The  only  mischief  in  this  line  of  policy  is  this,  that  it  will  force  me  to  become 
 a more  pubhc  and  prominent  character  than  I would  wish.  My  ambition  is  to  end 
 my  days  in  domestic  peace  and  comfort  and  hterary  leisure.  A busy  scene  will 
 oppose  this,  and  though  I may  become  a greater  man,  I perhaps  may  not  become  a 
 happier  one. 
 
 “ This  brings  me  to  my  defence  against  the  charges  for  which  I am  arraigned. 
 It  is  certainly  no  trifling  accusation  against  a man,  to  say  that  he  acted  against 
 positive  orders — that  he  is  impetuous,  injudicious,  and  untrustworthy ; and  I could 
 fill  a volume  in  refutation  of  all  that  has  been  said  against  me  in  this  respect.  Let 
 us  see  how  the  case  stands. 
 
 “ I never  was  instructed  to  consider  my  office  as  purely  commercial,  so  much 
 for  my  Lord  Bathurst’s  assertion ; this  is  a question  of  fact,  and  if  disputed,  the 
 onus  prohandi  must  remain  with  his  Lordship.  It  is  true,  I was  first  appointed 
 Resident ; and  afterwards  informed,  that  I was  allowed  the  same  rank  I had  enjoyed 
 in  Java,  but  expressly  that  it  was  to  occasion  no  additional  expense  to  the  Company — 
 this  was  the  only  reservation,  the  only  condition.  I afterwards  received  a commis- 
 sion fi'om  Government  giving  me  full  authority  as  Lieutenant-Governor  to  do  all  acts 
 of  government,  the  words  being  the  same  as  in  the  commissions  to  Penang,  Madras, 
 and  Bombay,  with  the  single  exception  of  what  related  to  a council  being  struck  out, 
 thereby  giving  me  more  power  than  either  of  those  Governors.  For  this  commission 
 I paid  <£150,  and  the  Deputy  Chairman  informed  me  that  it  had  been  drawn  out 
 with  the  advice  of  a sohcitor.  No  condition  whatever  was  required ; but  that  I 
 should  enter  into  covenants  and  a bond  with  an  immense  security  to  fulfil  them. 
 All  these  things  virtually  made  me  Lieutenant-Governor,  with  all  the  powers  at- 
 tached thereto,  or  they  were  a fi*aud,  and  I have  been  cheated. 
 
 “ It  seems  improbable  that  grave  and  experienced  persons  should  practise  a 
 
456 
 
 ANSWERS  TO  THE  CHARGES  BROUGHT  AGAINST  HIM. 
 
 deliberate  impostui'e,  such  as  giving  a man  a title  and  >vithholding  from  him  pri- 
 vately the  privilege  of  which  that  title  imphes  the  possession : one  has  a difficulty  to 
 suppose  they  would  have  been  so  very  childish.  To  me  it  was  an  affront  to  make  me 
 a party  to  such  an  imposture.  To  a gentleman  the  carrying  of  false  colours  is  surely 
 a most  humihating  office,  and  it  is  clear  that  no  more  invidious  trap  can  be  laid  for 
 a man  than  to  make  him  hold  himself  out  as  something  more  than  he  is.  My  first 
 feeling  w'as  to  get  this  humihating  condition  put  an  end  to — to  step  down  from  the 
 title  of  Lieutenant-Governor  to  that  of  Resident : the  humiliation  might  have  af- 
 fected the  vanity  of  other  men,  but  the  bearing  a false  title  is  what  affects  a man’s 
 honour.  I actually  had  made  some  progress  in  sending  my  commission  to  England, 
 but  prudence  whispered  this  might  give  offence.  I therefore  retain  it  until  the 
 storm  is  past,  when  it  will  be  returned  from  me  with  such  an  appeal  as  shall  de- 
 mand attention. 
 
 “ But  after  all,  what  has  this  to  do  with  the  question  about  the  Dutch?  the 
 commission  only  makes  you  Governor  of  Bencoolen,  and  as  Governor  of  Bencoolen 
 you  can  only  act  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Bencoolen.  The  affairs  of  Samanka 
 arose  out  of  the  affairs  of  Bencoolen — a boundary  was  disputed,  and  whether  I w^as 
 Resident  or  Governor,  I must  have  pursued  the  same  course.  Nearly  similar  was 
 the  case  with  Padang,  and  as  for  Palembang,  it  was  a case  of  emergency  in  which 
 the  British  faith  and  honour  were  concerned ; and  I interfered  and  protested  not  as 
 British  agent,  as  it  is  said,  but  as  the  nearest  British  authority  to  the  scene  of  ac- 
 tion. Had  I been  Resident,  it  w'ould  have  been  the  same,  and  you  wall  find  my 
 protest  signed  as  Lieutenant-Governor. 
 
 “ Now  to  the  third  point.  Was  I not  in  fact  British  agent  over  the  whole  of 
 the  Archipelago — my  commission  as  Lieutenant-Governor  only  applied  to  Ben- 
 coolen ; but  1 had  separate  instructions  from  the  Court  ‘ to  w’atch  the  motions  of 
 foreign  nations  and  particularly  the  Dutch  in  the  Archipelago  generally,  and  to 
 write  to  the  Court  and  the  secret  committee.’  However  vague  these  orders  might 
 be,  they  conveyed  to  me  an  authority  to  inquire  into  the  state  of  the  further  East ; 
 they  required  of  me  to  busy  myself  in  political  inquiries.  How  w^as  I to  gain  the 
 information  required,  but  through  the  means  of  agents?  and  as  this  duty  w^as  al- 
 together distinct  from,  and  gave  me  a jurisdiction  far  heijond  the  limits  of  the  autho- 
 rity of  Bencoolen,  what  was  I but  an  agent — a political  agent  to  all  intents  and 
 pui*poses  ? As  such  I certainly  considered  myself ; but  it  will,  I fancy,  puzzle  my 
 enemies  to  find  any  act  or  deed  in  wiiich  I so  designate  myself — this  I carefully 
 avoided,  and  to  all  papers  I signed  my  name  as  Lieutenant-Governor.  In  fact,  I 
 never  did  assume  the  title  of  British  agent  for  the  Archipelago,  though  I un- 
 doubtedly did,  and  do  act  as  such,  as  these  orders  have  never  been  repealed. 
 
 “ These  are  points  of  fact  which  w ill  form  prominent  items  in  my  defence ; in 
 which  I propose  to  take  a review'  of  the  whole  course  of  measures,  commencing  from 
 
EXPENSE  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 457 
 
 my  appointment  as  agent  to  the  Governor  General,  Lord  Minto,  in  1810,  down  to 
 the  present  time.  The  longer  I delay  it,  the  more  complete  it  will  be,  and  it  will, 
 perhaps,  in  the  end  form  a tolerably  sized  volume.  I fear  that  the  points  are  so 
 strong,  that,  at  the  present  moment,  it  might  perhaps  excite  angry  feelings ; and 
 without  my  personal  presence  it  might  not  have  all  its  effect.  I have  informed  the 
 Supreme  Government  that  I mean  to  appeal,  in  justice  to  my  own  character,  and  that 
 of  the  East  India  Company  whom  I serv'e. 
 
 “ After  all,  it  is  not  impossible  the  ministry  may  be  weak  enough  to  abandon 
 Singapore,  and  to  sacrifice  me,  honour,  and  the  Eastern  Archipelago,  to  the  out- 
 rageous pretensions  of  the  Dutch.  In  this  case,  I may  be  recalled  sooner  than  I 
 expect,  perhaps  immediately.  This  I am  aware  of,  but  I should  be  best  contented 
 with  things  remaining  even  as  they  are  for  two  or  three  years  to  come  ; I should  then 
 be  better  prepared  for  the  contest ; for  a contest  it  must  come  to,  sooner  or  later,  and 
 the  longer  the  adjustment  of  our  differences  with  the  Dutch,  on  a broad  and  just 
 footing,  is  delayed,  the  better  must  it  be  for  our  interests. 
 
 “ I shall  not  fail  to  look  forward,  and  to  be  prepared  for  this  contest,  come 
 when  it  will ; and  if  I cannot  carry  my  plans  here,  they  must  prevail  in  England 
 eventually. 
 
 “ So  much  for  pohtics  and  the  Dutch.  I shall  now  turn  to  more  pleasing,  and, 
 at  the  same  time,  more  safe  subjects  for  discussion — what  I am  doing  at  Bencoolen, 
 and  the  state  of  our  domestic  circle. 
 
 In  all  your  letters,  you  do  not  ask  a question  about  Bencoolen.  Is  it  because 
 it  is  too  insignificant  ? Here,  at  any  rate,  I am  supported  and  upheld  by  the  Bengal 
 Government ; they  have  hitherto  approved,  unconditionally,  of  all  my  arrangements, 
 and  they  have  not  been  trifling.  I have  had  to  upset  every  thing,  and  have  had 
 every  possible  difficulty  to  oppose  in  surmounting  the  prejudices  and  abolishing  the 
 corruptions  of  a hundred  years’  standing.  The  place  is  at  last  thriving,  the  remedy 
 applied  has  been  efficient,  the  turn  has  been  taken,  and  a few  years’  perseverance  will 
 make  this  a new  and  prosperous  country — great  it  can  never  be.  I must,  however, 
 be  prepared  for  an  attack  on  the  score  of  expense.  The  charges  of  the  settlement 
 have,  I fear,  rather  been  increased  than  otherwise,  and  this,  with  many,  will  tell 
 against  it ; but  it  ought  to  be  considered  that  we  have  abolished  all  revenues,  conse- 
 quently have  no  receipts  to  meet  the  charge — this  was  ordered  by  the  Bengal 
 Government — and  that  at  the  present  moment  we  have  a double  establishment, 
 ci\il  and  military.  All  changes  and  reforms  are,  besides,  expensive  ; and  although 
 all  my  plans  lead  to  real  and  practical  economy,  some  hberality  in  effecting  them 
 is  indispensible  in  the  nature  of  things.  I am  endeavouring  to  cultivate  the  soil,  and 
 to  civilize  the  people  ; and,  I am  happy  to  say,  that  some  progress  is  making  in  both, 
 notwithstanding  the  stubbornness  with  which  both  have  been  charged.  It  is  a poor 
 
 3 N 
 
458 
 
 ARRIVAL  OF  MISSIONARIES. 
 
 place,  and  much  can  never  be  made  of  it ; but  as  it  now  nearly  comprises  my  whole 
 jurisdiction,  and  to  act  well  our  part,  as  far  as  our  means  extend,  is  all  that  is  required, 
 I do  not  deem  its  improvement  unworthy  my  attention.  It  has  become  a beautiful 
 place  ; the  spice  gardens  are  rapidly  increasing ; and,  as  a place  of  retirement,  I hardly 
 know  one  which  I would  prefer  to  it.  It  is  now  my  place  of  confinement ; and  as  it 
 is  far  superior  to  St.  Helena,  I ought  not  to  complain.  The  Dutch  \vish  me  to  be 
 confined  at  Engano. 
 
 “ Sophia  and  my  dear  children  enjoy  excellent  health  and  spirits.  We  are  now 
 spending  a few  weeks  in  the  midst  of  groves  of  nutmegs,  cloves,  and  mangosteens.” 
 
 * * * * 
 
 To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Raffles. 
 
 '' Bencoolen,  July\lth,  1820. 
 
 “ IMy  Dear  Cousin, 
 
 “ I have  now  before  me  your  letters  of  the  18th  December,  delivered  to 
 me  by  Messrs.  Burton  and  Evans,  who  arrived  here  early  in  last  month,  and  are 
 both  likely  to  do  well  for  themselves  and  the  good  cause  in  which  they  are  em- 
 barked. I hke  them  much,  and  they  seem  disposed  to  meet  all  my  wishes.  If  any 
 thing,  they  are  rather  above  than  below  the  standard  I would  have  fixed ; and  I am 
 fearful  they  are  hardly  prepared  for  the  difficulties  and  privations  of  a missionary 
 life  in  such  a barbarous  country  as  this ; they  do  not,  however,  appear  to  want  zeal ; 
 they  are  scholars  and  gentlemen ; and  their  wives  are  well  calculated  to  aid  their 
 endeavours.  Mr.  Evans  and  his  wife  remain  at  Bencoolen,  where  they  purpose 
 opening  a school  on  the  15th  of  next  month.  I have  assisted  them  by  placing  the 
 children  of  our  free  school  under  their  superintendence,  and  advancing  them  funds 
 to  commence  the  undertaking.  Mr.  Bmdon  proposes  fixing  himself  at  Tappanooly 
 or  Natal,  in  the  northern  part  of  Sumatra,  with  a view  to  the  conversion  of  the 
 Battas  and  people  of  Pulo  Nias.  The  field  for  his  exertions  is  new  and  interesting, 
 and  I hope  he  will  have  energy  and  courage  enough  to  explore  it.  The  world  knows 
 so  little  of  these  people,  and  their  habits  and  customs  are  so  peculiar,  that  all  the 
 information  which  he  collects  will  be  useful.  You  are  of  course  aware  that  they  are 
 cannibals.  The  population  of  the  Batta  country  does  not  fall  short  of  a million ; 
 and  throughout  the  country  it  is  the  invariable  law  not  only  that  prisoners  taken  in 
 war  should  be  eaten,  but  that  capital  punishment  should  also  be  inflicted  by  eating 
 the  -prisoners  alive  for  the  five  great  crimes.  You  may  rely  on  the  fiict,  and  that 
 eating  alive  is  as  common  with  them  as  hanging  in  England.  I have  lately  passed 
 some  part  of  my  time  in  this  part  of  the  country,  and  can  vouch  for  the  correctness 
 of  what  I state.  The  Island  of  Nias  lies  off  the  coast  of  Sumatra,  nearly  opposite 
 Natal,  and  contains  a population  of  above  a hundred  thousand  souls ; they  have  no 
 
IMPORTANCE  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 459 
 
 religion  whatever,  and  I am  con\inced  that  an  active  government  and  a zealous  mis- 
 sionary may  do  wonders  among  them. 
 
 “ Of  our  progi'ess  at  Bencoolen  I can  now  speak  with  more  confidence  than 
 when  I last  wrote  to  you.  The  native  school  has  fi.dly  answered  my  expectation, 
 and  upwards  of  seventy  children  distinguished  themselves  at  the  last  annual  exami- 
 nation. I am  now  extenchng  the  plan  so  as  to  include  a school  of  industry,  in 
 which  the  children  will  be  instructed  in  the  useful  arts.  The  arrival  of  the  mis- 
 sionaries is  most  fortunate,  and  I hope  they  -will  in  time  complete  what  we  have  so 
 successMly  begun — the  progress,  however,  must  necessarily  be  slow. 
 
 I have  lately  made  a very  long  stride  towards  the  general  civilization  of  the 
 country,  by  the  establishment  of  a property  in  the  land,  and  the  introduction  of 
 order  and  regulation  on  the  principles  of  a fixed  and  steady  government.  You 
 would  I am  sure  be  gi-atified  with  the  details  had  I time  to  send  them,  but  my 
 health  has  not  been  very  good  for  some  weeks,  and  I dare  not  wiite  much.  Here- 
 after you  shall  have  all  the  particulars,  and  it  is  not  improbable  some  of  them  will 
 find  their  way  to  the  press.  My  attention  is  chiefly  directed  to  agriculture,  and  I 
 am  endeavouring  to  improve  the  grain  produce  of  the  country.  This  is  the  basis  of 
 all  national  prosperity,  and  in  countries  hke  Sumatra  constitutes  and  comprises  all 
 that  is  important.  We  have  an  agricultural  Society,  of  which  I am  President,  in 
 which  we  discuss,  without  restraint  or  reserv’e,  all  questions  concerning  the  produce 
 of  the  land  and  the  condition  of  society.  The  latter  is  most  pecidiar,  and  not  to 
 be  explained  in  few  words.  You  have  probably  read  Bowditch’s  Mission  to  Ashantee, 
 I think  I could  give  you  a picture  as  striking,  novel,  and  interesting ; but  this  must 
 be  reserved  for  a future  period. 
 
 “ My  settlement  (Singapore)  continues  to  thrive  most  wonderfidly ; it  is  all  and 
 every  thing  I could  wish,  and  if  no  untimely  fate  awaits  it,  promises  to  become  the 
 emporium  and  the  pride  of  the  East.  I learn  with  much  regret  the  prejudice  and 
 malignity  by  which  I am  attacked  at  home,  for  the  desperate  struggle  I have  main- 
 tained against  the  Dutch.  Instead  of  being  supported  by  my  own  Government, 
 I find  them  deserting  me,  and  gi^dng  way  in  every  instance  to  the  unscrupulous  and 
 enormous  assertions  of  the  Dutch.  All  however  is  safe  so  far,  and  if  matters  are 
 only  allowed  to  remain  as  they  are  all  will  go  well.  The  great  blow  has  been  struck, 
 and  though  I may  personally  suffer  in  the  scuffle  the  nation  must  be  benefited — and 
 I should  not  be  surprised  were  the  ministers  to  recall  me,  though  I should  on  many 
 accounts  regret  it  at  the  present  moment. 
 
 “ Were  the  value  of  Singapore  properly  appreciated,  I am  confident  that  all 
 England  would  be  in  its  favour ; it  positively  takes  nothing  from  the  Dutch  and  is 
 to  us  every  thing ; it  gives  us  the  command  of  China  and  Japan,  with  Siam  and 
 Cambodia,  Cochin  China,  &c.  to  say  nothing  of  the  Islands  themselves.  What  you 
 observe  with  regard  to  British  cottons  through  this  port  to  China  is  a most  import- 
 
 3 N 2 
 
460 
 
 IMPORTANCE  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 ant  question — the  affair  is  perfectly  practicable  and  nothing  more  easy.  I had 
 framed  a plan  and  am  still  bent  upon  the  object,  but  until  I know  from  England 
 how  I am  to  be  supported  in  what  I have  so  far  done,  it  would  be  premature  to 
 suggest  any  speculation — confirm  Singapore,  and  establish  my  authority  in  the 
 Archipelago  on  the  principle  I have  suggested,  and  it  will  not  be  long  before  there 
 is  abundant  demand  for  this  description  of  our  manufactures  at  least.  Upwards  of 
 ten  thousand  tons  of  raw  cotton  are  annually  sent  to  China  from  our  territories  in 
 India — why  should  we  send  our  raw  produce  to  encourage  the  industry  of  a foreign 
 nation,  at  the  expense  of  our  own  manufactures  ? If  India  cannot  manufacture 
 sufficiently  cheap,  England  can  ; and  it  is  idle  to  talk  of  the  cheapness  of  our  goods 
 unless  Ave  can  bring  them  into  fair  competition.  I see  no  reason  why  China  may 
 not  be,  in  a gi'eat  measure,  clothed  from  England — no  people  study  cheapness  so 
 much ; and  if  we  can  undersell  them  we  have  only  to  find  the  way  of  introducing 
 the  article.  The  monopoly  of  the  East  India  Company  in  England,  and  of  the 
 Hong  merchants  in  China,  precludes  the  idea  of  any  thing  like  fair  competition  in 
 our  own  ships,  or  at  the  port  of  Canton — not  but  the  East  India  Company  can  and 
 perhaps  will  assist  as  far  as  in  them  lies ; but  their  ships  are  too  expensive — the 
 articles  would  also  pass  through  the  Hong  merchants  before  they  reached  the  gene- 
 ral trade  and  commerce ; and  their  intermediate  profits  would  form  another  barrier. 
 
 “ At  Singapore,  however,  every  object  may  be  obtained.  Let  the  commercial 
 interests  for  the  present  drop  eveiy  idea  of  a direct  trade  to  China,  and  let  them 
 concentrate  their  influence  in  supporting  Singapore,  and  they  will  do  ten  times 
 better.  As  a free  port,  it  is  as  much  to  them  as  the  possession  of  Macao ; and  it  is 
 here  their  voyages  should  finish.  The  Chinese  themselves  coming  to  Singapore  and 
 purchasing,  they  have  the  means  of  importing  into  the  different  ports  of  Canton, 
 without  the  restraints  and  peculations  of  the  Hong  merchants.  Many  of  the  Chinese 
 viceroys  are  themselves  engaged  clandestinely  in  extensive  trade  ; and  Singapore 
 may,  as  a free  port,  thus  become  the  connecting  link  and  grand  entrepot  between 
 Europe,  Asia,  and  China ; it  is,  in  fact,  fast  becoming  so.  Vessels  come  from  China  to 
 Singapore  in  five  days.  All  will,  however,  depend  on  its  remaining  under  good  go- 
 vernment, and  the  port  being  regulated  on  the  principles  I have  laid  down ; what 
 these  are,  you  may  learn  from  * * * * is  fully  apprised  of  all  my 
 
 views  and  plans.  These  once  confinned  from  home,  I shall  lose  no  time  in  for- 
 warding musters  of  the  cloths  required,  and  the  most  detailed  information  as  to  the 
 extent  and  nature  of  the  speculation. 
 
 ‘‘  You  ask  again  respecting  the  Brata  Yudha,  and  I must  return  you  the  same 
 answer  as  before.  I have  as  little  to  do  with  Java  now  as  you  have  ; and  were  I to 
 communicate  with  any  one  on  that  Island,  it  would  be  considered  as  treason : such 
 is  the  hatred  or  dread  which  the  present  rulers  of  that  country  feel  towards  me. 
 
 God  knows  they  treat  me  unjustly ; for  although  I have  disputed  and  opposed 
 
APPOINTMENT  OF  A COMMITTEE  ON  EASTERN  AFFAIRS. 
 
 461 
 
 their  enormous  designs  in  the  Archipelago  generally,  I have  never  interfered  with 
 
 Java,  or  any  of  their  lawful  possessions  ; but  their  fears  magnify  the  danger.” 
 ***** 
 
 “ Believe  me,  &c.” 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  July  26tk,  1820. 
 
 “ I have  just  received  from  Bengal  some  of  your  letters,  down  to  the  23d  of 
 January ; this  last  informs  me  of  the  appointment  of  a deputation  from  Holland,  and 
 a committee  from  the  Court,  to  discuss  all  points  respecting  the  Eastern  Islands. 
 This  is  as  it  should  be,  and  augurs  well : it  looks  as  if,  at  last,  the  subject  were  about 
 to  be  taken  up  seriously  and  comprehensively.  I feel  that  I have  done  aU  and  every 
 thing  in  my  power  to  enable  the  authorities  at  home  to  act  with  justice,  advantage, 
 and  decision. 
 
 “ From  Bengal  my  accounts,  as  late  as  June,  are  favourable.  At  Bencoolen  I 
 have  not  been  inactive ; all  my  energies  are  now  centred  in  this  bttle  spot,  and  I am 
 improving  it  rapidly ; much  can  never  be  made  of  it,  but  it  may,  and  ought  to  be 
 better.  Agricultm'e  is  what  I most  attend  to,  and  no  stone  is  left  unturned  to 
 advance  it. 
 
 “ Sophia  and  my  dear  children  are  all  well  and  happy.” 
 
 To  Mr.  Thomas  Murdoch. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  July  22,  1820. 
 
 My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I have  been  so  bad  a con-espondent,  that  I fear  it  is  too  late  to  make 
 apologies  for  my  silence : the  truth  is,  so  few  opportunities  offer  of  writing  direct 
 to  Europe,  and  so  many  urgent  calls  always  press  on  my  time  at  the  moment 
 of  a despatch,  that  I am  too  apt  to  defer,  sine  die,  what  may  be  put  off  till  the 
 morrow. 
 
 “ You  will,  I am  sure,  be  happy  to  hear  that  we  continue  in  excellent  health, 
 and  as  yet  unaffected  by  climate,  and  other  drawbacks.  Lady  Raffles  looks  better 
 at  present  than  I ever  knew  her,  and  my  three  children  are  every  thing  that  the 
 fondest  parent  could  wish.  Charlotte  and  Leopold  (your  god-son)  are  both  running 
 about,  and  are  as  blessed  in  intelligence  as  disposition.  Charlotte  is  all  mildness, 
 Leo  aU  boldness  ; the  youngest,  who  is  usually  called  Marco  Polo,  after  his  god- 
 father, Marsden,  bids  fair  to  follow  in  the  same  steps ; and  we  are  as  happy  a family 
 as  you  can  well  conceive.  One  of  Lady  Raffles’  brothers,  from  the  Bengal  army,  is 
 now  with  us  on  a visit,  and  we  are  daily  expecting  another  to  remain  with  us  per- 
 manently. My  sister  and  her  little  boy  also  form  part  of  our  family  at  present. 
 
 “ Having,  by  the  establishment  of  Singapore,  done  all  that  rested  with  me  for 
 
i62 
 
 ENDEAVOURS  TO  IMPROVE  SUMATRA. 
 
 the  protection  of  our  interests  in  the  Archipelago,  I have  long  given  over  all  discus- 
 sions v’ith  the  Dutch  authorities,  and  have  now  been  for  several  months  enjoying  the 
 quiet  of  home ; so  comfortable,  indeed,  have  we  managed  to  make  oiuselves,  that  we 
 shall  feel  regi’et  whenever  the  day  comes  that  we  are  to  leave  Bencoolen,  whether  for 
 better  or  worse.  I know  not  how  it  is,  but  I have  latterly  become  so  much  attached 
 to  the  place,  that  it  is  daily  becoming  more  interesting.  The  changes  which  I have 
 been  able  to  work  have  been  so  satisfactory,  and  the  attachment  of  the  people  is  so 
 great,  that  I have  determined  to  make  a strong  effort  for  the  improvement  of  the 
 place.  My  early  measures  will,  I fear,  have  hardly  met  the  approval  of  our  fiiend 
 Marsden,  as  the  principles  on  w'hich  I proceeded  were  different  to  those  supported 
 by  him  in  his  history ; but,  I think,  w^re  he  to  see  the  different  face  which  the  coun- 
 try has  since  put  on,  that  he  would  be  more  inclined  to  admit  their  propriety.  He 
 reasons  upon  the  state  of  the  country  before  the  destructive  effects  which  have  fol- 
 lowed since  the  abolition  of  the  Government ; I put  the  state  of  things  as  I found 
 them.  How'ever  bad  in  principle  the  old  system  may  have  been,  I am  ready  to  admit 
 that  its  effects  w'ere  good,  when  contrasted  with  those  which  ensued  from  the  intro- 
 duction of  what  is  generally  considered  to  have  been  a more  pure  system.  The  fact 
 is,  the  country  has  gone  rapidly  to  min  ever  since  it  has  been  under  the  Bengal  Go- 
 vernment, and  that  from  the  most  obvious  causes  of  misgovernment  and  neglect ; the 
 affection  of  the  people  has  been  ahenated,  and  the  contempt  with  which  they  have 
 been  treated  has  produced  its  natural  effects.  I have  had  the  task  of  restoring  con- 
 fidence, and  recovering  the  country  from  a state  of  wilderness  and  disorder  into  w^hich 
 it  had  mn,  to  one  of  agricultm-al  industry  and  subordination  ; the  task  has  been  diffi- 
 cult, and  in  some  respects  hazardous ; but  I have,  at  all  events,  carried  the  hearts  of 
 the  people  along  with  me,  and,  in  directing  their  energies  into  proper  channels,  I 
 find  enough  to  occupy  and  amuse  me.  I have  assmned  a new  character  among  them, 
 that  of  lord  paramount : the  Chiefs  are  my  barons  bold,  and  the  people  their  vassals. 
 Under  this  constitution,  and  by  the  establishment  of  a right  of  property  in  the  soil,  I 
 am  enabled  to  do  w onders,  and  if  time  is  only  given  to  persevere  in  the  same  course 
 for  a few  years,  I think  I shall  be  able  to  lay  the  foundation  of  a new  order  of  things 
 on  a basis  that  shall  not  easily  be  shaken.  My  attention  is,  at  present,  principally 
 directed  to  agiiculture : an  agricultural  society  has  been  established,  of  w'hich  I am 
 President,  in  wdiich  we  discuss,  without  reserve,  all  questions  which  relate  to  the  pro- 
 duce of  the  soil  and  the  people  who  cultivate  it.  Agiiculture  is  every  where  the  only 
 solid  basis  of  national  prosperity ; and  in  countries  like  Sumatra,  it  constitutes  and 
 comprises  nearly  all  that  is  valuable  and  interesting. 
 
 “ We  are  very  anxiously  awaiting  the  decision  of  the  higher  powers  on  the 
 numerous  questions  referred  to  them.  It  appears  to  me  impossible  that  Singapore 
 should  be  given  up,  and  yet  the  indecisive  manner  in  which  the  ministers  express 
 themselves,  and  the  unjust  and  harsli  terms  they  use  tow^ards  me,  render  it  doubtful 
 
ENDEAVOURS  TO  IMPROVE  SUMATRA. 
 
 463 
 
 what  course  they  will  adopt.  If  they  do  not  appoint  me  to  Penang,  it  is  probable 
 that  they  will  confine  me  to  Bencoolen  as  a place  of  punishment — banishment  it  cer- 
 tainly is : but  if  even  here  they  will  leave  me  alone,  I will  make  a paradise  for 
 myself. 
 
 “ Bencoolen  is  certainly  the  veiy  worst  selection  that  could  have  been  made  for 
 a settlement ; it  is  completely  shut  out  of  doors ; the  soil  is,  comparatively  with  the 
 other  Malay  countries,  inferior,  the  population  scanty ; neighbourhood,  or  passing 
 trade,  it  has  none ; and,  further,  it  wants  a harbour,  to  say  nothing  of  its  long  re- 
 puted unhealthiness,  and  the  miserable  state  of  ruin  into  which  it  has  latterly  been 
 allowed  to  run.  Against  all  these  drawbacks  I yet  think  something  can  be  done,  and 
 I am  attempting  it ; the  greater  the  difficulties  to  be  encountered,  and  the  greater  the 
 exertion  required,  the  gi'eater  is  the  satisfaction  to  be  obtained.  I have  never  yet 
 found  any  which  repressed  my  energies ; on  the  contrary,  they  have  always  increased 
 in  proportion  to  the  occasion. 
 
 “ I have  found  in  the  Smnatrans  a very  different  people  to  the  inhabitants  of 
 Java : they  are,  perhaps,  a thousand  years  behind  them  in  civilization,  and,  conse- 
 quently, require  a very  different  kind  of  government.  In  Java  I advocated  the 
 doctrine  of  the  liberty  of  the  subject,  and  the  indiridual  rights  of  man— here  I am 
 the  advocate  for  despotism.  The  strong  arm  of  power  is  necessary  to  bring  men 
 together,  and  to  concentrate  them  in  societies,  and  there  is  a certain  stage  in  which 
 despotic  authority  seems  the  only  means  of  promoting  civilization.  Sumatra  is,  in  a 
 great  measure,  peopled  by  innumerable  petty  tribes,  subject  to  no  general  govern- 
 ment, haring  little  or  no  intercourse  \rith  each  other,  and  man  still  remains  inactive, 
 sullen,  and  partaking  of  the  gloom  which  pervades  the  forests  by  which  he  is  sm- 
 rounded.  No  Em'opean  power  seems  to  think  it  worth  its  while  to  subdue  the 
 country  by  conquest,  the  shortest  and  best  way  of  civilizing  it,  and,  therefore,  all 
 that  can  be  done  is,  to  raise  the  importance  of  the  Chiefs,  and  to  assist  in  promot- 
 ing the  advance  of  feudal  authority ; this  once  established,  and  government  being 
 once  firmly  introduced,  let  the  people  be  enhghtened,  and  the  energies  wliich  will 
 be  then  called  forth  in  regaining  a portion  of  their  liberties,  will  be  the  best  pledge 
 of  their  future  character  as  a nation.  At  present  the  people  are  as  wandering  in 
 their  habits  as  the  birds  of  the  air,  and  until  they  are  congregated  and  organized 
 under  something  like  authority,  nothing  can  be  done  with  them.  I have,  fortu- 
 nately, become  very  popular  among  them ; all  classes  seem  persuaded  that  I want 
 to  make  a country,  and  there  is  nothing  which  I wish  or  suggest  which  they  are  not 
 anxious  to  do ; they  have  already  submitted  to  alterations  and  innovations  which,  in 
 former  times,  it  would  have  been  dangerous  to  mention,  and  if  ever  any  thing  is  to 
 be  made  of  them,  this  is  the  time  for  the  effort — the  opportunity  neglected  will 
 never  recur. 
 
 “ I fear  I have  troubled  you  with  a very  dull  discussion  on  a very  uninteresting 
 
 1 
 
i64 
 
 LETTER  TO  THE  DUKE  OF  SOMERSET. 
 
 subject,  but  I am  anxious  to  prove  to  you  that,  however  limited  my  field  of  action, 
 I still  contrive  to  find  something  within  it  w^orthy  of  my  attention.  Bencoolen  will 
 never  become  a place  of  great  commercial  or  political  importance,  but  it  is  the  place 
 where,  at  present,  I can  be  most  practically  useful,  and  instead  of  repining  and  re- 
 senting the  slights  and  injuries  of  the  higher  powers,  I shall,  for  the  next  few  years, 
 content  myself,  if  fixed  here,  with  leaving  a garden  where  I have  found  a wilderness. 
 
 Lady  Raffles  unites  with  me  in  kindest  regards  to  Mrs.  Murdoch,  and  all  the 
 members  of  your  family.  I need  not  tell  you  of  the  esteem  in  which  we  hold  you, 
 and  how  often  W'e  anticipate  the  pleasure  of  once  more  meeting  under  the  same 
 roof,  and  in  that  same  country  where,  spite  of  all  its  faults,  the  best  of  enjoyments 
 are  to  be  found. 
 
 “ Politically,  I have  done  all  that  could  be  expected  from  me  in  this  countrj\ 
 If  the  authorities  at  home  still  demur,  and  are  not  only  opposed  to  my  plans  but  to 
 my  personal  interests,  it  is  clear  that  I can  do  no  good  to  the  cause  here.  I am  at 
 present  bound  and  chained  to  Bencoolen,  almost  as  closely  as  Napoleon  is  to  Saint 
 Helena. 
 
 ****** 
 
 “ I have  now  the  satisfaction  to  state  that  Bencoolen  and  Singapore  together, 
 are  not  as  expensive  as  Bencoolen  was  before  the  change.” 
 
 To  the  Duke  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  August  20,  1820. 
 
 “ The  best  excuse  I can  offer  for  having  allowed  your  letters  to  remain  so 
 long  without  acknowledgment,  is  that  I have  had  nothing  to  communicate  in  reply, 
 to  justify  the  intrusion  on  your  time  and  notice,  and  I have  been  ashamed  to  dwell 
 on  the  never-failing  subject  of  self,  after  troubling  the  Duchess  with  so  many  unin- 
 teresting details  on  this  particular. 
 
 ***** 
 
 “ In  the  present  alarming  and  important  crisis,  I fear  the  public  attention  \vill 
 be  too  much  occupied  with  affairs  nearer  home,  to  trouble  itself  much  with  what  is 
 going  on  in  this  part  of  the  world ; and  yet  I cannot  help  thinking  that  more  exten- 
 sive views,  and  a more  enlarged  policy  with  regard  to  the  colonies,  particularly  in  the 
 East,  would  tend  greatly  to  remove  some  of  the  burdens  by  which  England  seems  to 
 be  at  present  overwhelmed. 
 
 “ I am  at  present  awaiting  with  much  anxiety  the  result  of  the  deliberations  at 
 home  regarding  the  Eastern  Islands.  By  the  last  accounts,  commissioners  had  been 
 appointed  to  adjust  the  differences  with  the  Dutch  Government,  and  a few  months 
 must  decide  whether  we  succumb  to  the  daring  and  unqualified  pretensions  of 
 our  rivals,  and  hide  our  diminished  heads,  or  still  preserve  our  footing  in  the 
 Islands. 
 
LETTER  TO  THE  DUKE  OF  SOMERSET. 
 
 465 
 
 “ It  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  detail  to  your  Grace  the  dangers  to  which  our 
 commerce  was  exposed,  or  the  disabilities  under  which  it  laboured  previously  to  the 
 occupation  of  Singapore.  The  Dutch,  by  reviving  the  principle  on  which  their  esta- 
 blishments in  the  East  were  originally  founded,  and  acting  upon  the  same  with  the 
 increased  power  and  means  which  their  improved  condition  and  rank  among  the 
 nations  of  Europe  gave  them,  had  nearly  succeeded  in  bringing  under  their  control 
 every  native  state  within  the  Archipelago,  and  in  excluding  the  British  Indian  trader 
 from  every  port  eastward  of  the  Straits  of  Malacca  and  Sunda,  while  they  secured 
 to  themselves  the  commerce  of  those  important  passes,  through  which  the  trade  to 
 and  from  China  must  necessarily  be  carried  on.  It  is  not  a little  remarkable,  that 
 the  establishment  of  this  system  of  exclusion  on  the  part  of  the  Dutch  was 
 much  facilitated  by  the  improved  local  resources  of  the  colonies  actually  restored  to 
 them ; and  that  it  is  to  our  having  conquered  and  occupied  Java,  that  they  are 
 mainly  indebted  for  the  means  of  obstructing  and  destroying  our  commerce,  for 
 had  not  that  event  taken  place,  they  would  not  have  had  the  pretext  or  the  means 
 of  establishing  anew  an  empire  and  system  so  diametrically  opposed  to  our  com- 
 mercial interests,  and  which  the  policy  of  our  Government,  and  the  enterprize  of  our 
 merchants,  had  so  successfully  combated  and  destroyed  in  the  preceding  century. 
 
 “ The  commerce,  therefore,  for  which  I have  been  again  contending,  and 
 which  I have  endeavoured  to  secure  by  the  occupation  of  Singapore,  is  no  less  im- 
 portant to  us  than  it  is  our  legitimate  right.  Within  its  narrowest  limits,  it  embraces 
 a fair  participation  in  the  general  trade  of  the  Archipelago  and  Siam,  and  in  a more 
 extensive  view,  is  intimately  connected  with  that  of  China  and  Japan.  We  should 
 not  forget  that  it  was  to  the  Eastern  Islands  that  the  attention  of  Europeans  was 
 first  directed,  and  that  it  was  in  these  seas  the  contest  for  the  commerce  of  the  East 
 was  carried  on  and  decided — that  it  was  this  trade  which  contributed  to  the  power 
 and  splendour  of  Portugal,  and  at  a later  date  raised  Holland  from  insignificance 
 and  obscurity  to  power  and  rank  among  the  nations  of  Europe. 
 
 “ The  occupation  of  Singapore  involves  an  expense  of  about  ^£20,000  per 
 annum,  which  sum  covers  all  the  expense  of  its  estabhshment — and  if  permanently 
 retained,  this  amount  will  of  course  be  paid  out  of  a local  revenue.  So  that  the 
 possession  of  this  important  station  cannot  be  considered  as  adding  one  fraction  to 
 our  pecuniary  burdens,  while  it  secures  to  us  all  the  objects,  both  political  and  com- 
 mercial, which  we  can  require  in  these  seas. 
 
 “ Notwithstanding  the  uncertainty  which  must  prevail  pending  the  decision  of 
 the  higher  powers  in  Europe,  and  the  circumstances  of  its  being  still  held  solely  on 
 my'personal  responsibility,  against  all  the  efforts  of  our  own  government  as  well  as 
 that  of  the  Dutch,  the  settlement  has  advanced  in  the  most  rapid  manner.  From 
 an  insignificant  fishing  village,  the  port  is  now  surrounded  by  an  extensive  town, 
 and  the  population  does  not  fall  short  of  ten  or  twelve  thousand  souls,  principally 
 
 3 o 
 
466 
 
 LETTER  TO  THE  DUKE  OF  SOMERSET. 
 
 Chinese.  The  number  is  daily  increasing,  and  the  trade  of  the  place  has  already  in- 
 duced the  establishment  of  several  mercantile  houses  of  respectabihty. 
 
 “ Should  the  decision  from  home  prove  favom'able,  I hope  to  proceed  there  in 
 the  course  of  next  year,  for  the  pm’pose  of  estabhshing  such  municipal  and  port  re- 
 giUations  as  may  pronde  for  the  increasing  population  and  trade.  Should  it  be 
 otherwise,  I shall  probably  remain  quietly  at  Bencoolen,  where  I am  not  without 
 employment,  and  where,  though  the  field  will  be  less  extensive,  and  the  immediate 
 object  somewhat  different,  there  is  much  to  be  done.  Bencoolen  being  in  a great 
 measure  shut  out  from  the  general  trade  of  the  Eastern  Islands,  and  ha\’ing  no  trade 
 of  its  own,  the  first  and  main  point  to  be  attended  to  is  its  agi'icultm*e ; and  I am 
 now  busily  engaged  in  clearing  forests,  di’aining  morasses,  and  cultivating  the  soil. 
 
 I hope  the  present  year  the  grain  produce  will  be  increased  at  least  two-fold, 
 and  go  on  in  a geometrical  proportion  for  many  years  to  come,  until  we  become  an 
 exporting  rather  than  an  importing  comitry.  Every  man  is  obliged  to  cultivate 
 sufficient  grain  for  his  own  subsistence,  either  with  his  own  hands  or  his  proper 
 funds,  and  I have  already  had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  a large  portion  of  the  people 
 turn  from  habits  of  idleness  to  those  of  industry  and  activity.  By  establishing  a 
 right  of  property  in  the  soil,  and  ghing  the  preference  to  the  actual  cultivator,  an 
 extraordinary  competition  has  been  excited,  and  my  time  is  now  engaged  for  many 
 hours  in  the  day,  in  settling  boundaries  and  claims  to  land,  w'hich  a year  ago  may 
 be  said  to  have  been  without  owner  or  claimant. 
 
 “ But  it  is  not  to  the  grain  cultivation  alone  that  I am  directing  my  attention ; 
 I am  attempting  to  introduce  the  cultivation  and  manufacture  of  sugar  on  the  same 
 principle  as  in  the  West  Indies,  and  to  extend  the  coffee,  pepper,  and  other  plan- 
 tations. 
 
 “ I find  that  a sugar-work  may  be  estabhshed  here  at  less  than  one-sixth  of  the 
 expense  which  must  be  incurred  at  Jamaica ; that  our  soil  is  superior,  our  climate 
 better,  and,  as  we  are  neither  troubled  with  hurricanes  nor  yellow  fever,  that  our 
 advantages  are  almost  beyond  comparison  greater.  For  instance,  in  an  estate  cal- 
 culated to  afford  tw'o  hundred  or  two  hundred  and  fifty  tons  of  sugar  annually,  the 
 land  alone  Vv^ould  cost  eight  thousand  or  ten  thousand  pounds  in  Jamaica,  while 
 here  it  may  be  had  for  nothing.  The  negroes  would  there  cost  ten  or  twelve  thou- 
 sand pounds  more,  while  here  labourers  may  be  obtained  on  contract,  or  by  the 
 month,  with  a very  moderate  advance,  at  wages  not  higher  than  necessary  for  their 
 subsistence.  The  other  expenses  of  a West  India  plantation  are  estimated  at  ten 
 thousand  pounds  more  ; so  that  before  any  return  can  be  received,  an  outlay  of  at 
 least  thirty  thousand  pounds  must  be  made.  Here  about  five  thousand  pounds  may 
 be  considered  to  cover  every  expense,  including  thirteen  hundred  pounds  for  ma- 
 chinery fi-om  England,  and  every  outlay  before  the  sugar  is  made.  A gentleman 
 has  come  over  from  Jamaica,  and  is  establishing  a very  extensive  plantation.  He  is 
 
LETTER  TO  THE  DUKE  OF  SOMERSET. 
 
 467 
 
 now  engaged  in  planting  the  cane,  and,  in  about  a year  hence,  he  will  commence 
 his  sugar.  Water-mills,  &c.  have  been  applied  for  from  Liverpool,  and  if  the  under- 
 taking should  turn  out  favourably,  as  I have  no  doubt  it  will,  I trust  it  will  not  be 
 long  before  his  example  is  generally  followed.  Coffee  and  other  tropical  productions 
 may  of  course  be  cultivated  here  with  equal  advantages ; and,  considering  the  pre- 
 sent state  of  capital  and  labour  in  England,  I cannot  help  regretting  that  the  public 
 attention  is  not  turned  to  the  advantages  which  might  result  from  colonizing  this 
 part  of  Sumatra,  Our  advantages  over  the  West  Indies  are  not  only  in  soil,  climate, 
 and  labour,  but  also  in  constant  markets.  The  West  Indies  always  look  to  the 
 European  market,  and  that  alone : here  we  have  the  India  and  China  markets, 
 besides  an  extensive  local  demand.  The  only  thing  against  us  is  the  freight,  which  is 
 of  course  somewhat  higher,  on  account  of  the  greater  distance  ; but  if  from  the  West 
 Indies  the  planter  could  afford  to  send  his  sugar  home  at  ten  pounds  per  ton,  war- 
 freight,  he  may  surely  pay  five  pounds  per  ton,  peace-freight,  which  is  the  present 
 rate.  In  consequence  of  the  advantages  of  this  Island  being  unknown,  many  British 
 subjects  have  established  sugar  and  coffee  plantations  in  Java,  and  are,  in  conse- 
 quence, now  enriching  a foreign  colony  by  their  labour  and  capital,  while  we  are 
 suffering  from  the  want  of  both. 
 
 “ The  present  regulations  of  the  East  India  Company  are  adverse  to  coloniza- 
 tion ; but  under  the  existing  circumstances  of  the  country,  I should  think  that  body 
 would  not  oppose  any  feasible  plan  which  could  be  devised  for  affording  relief.  The 
 Eastern  Islands  are  so  differently  circumstanced  to  the  continent  of  India,  that  the 
 principle  which  is  considered  to  apply  against  colonization  in  the  latter,  does  not 
 hold  good  in  the  former.  It  is  here  by  colonization,  by  European  talents  and  Chi- 
 nese labour  alone,  that  the  resources  of  the  country  can  be  brought  forward,  whereas 
 in  India  the  country  is  for  the  most  part  cultivated  to  the  highest  pitch,  and  occu- 
 pied by  an  industrious  race  of  inhabitants. 
 
 “ I much  fear  the  expectations  of  advantageous  colonization  at  the  Cape  will  be 
 disappointed.  It  is  sending  poverty  to  feed  on  poverty ; and  the  most  that  can  be 
 expected  by  the  settlers,  after  a life  of  toil  and  misery,  is  a bare  subsistence.  The 
 climate,  it  is  true,  is  more  congenial  to  an  European  constitution,  but  this  is  all ; in 
 every  other  respect  we  have  the  advantage  not  only  over  the  Cape,  but  over  the  West 
 Indies,  America,  New  Holland,  or  any  other  place  that  could  be  named — Java  always 
 excepted.  The  climate  is  certainly  warm  and  unfavourable  to  Europeans,  but  I be- 
 heve  I may  safely  affirm,  that  it  is  the  most  pleasant,  if  not  the  most  healthy  within 
 the  tropics.  In  the  mountainous  districts  the  heat  is  by  no  means  great,  and  I have 
 already  estabhshed  a regular  supply  of  potatoes,  which  are  extensively  cultivated  in 
 the  interior  district,  and  which  previous  to  our  arrival  were  always  imported.  Wheat 
 also  grows,  and  Indian  corn  may  be  cultivated  with  great  advantage : our  cattle  may 
 
 3 o 2 
 
468 
 
 LETTER  TO  THE  DUKE  OF  SOMERSET. 
 
 easily  be  increased,  and  the  breed  improved ; and  water-carriage  is  to  be  found  in 
 almost  every  direction,  in  the  numerous  rivers  which  descend  from  the  central  moun- 
 tains to  the  sea. 
 
 The  principle,  however,  on  which  colonists  settle  here  must  be  very  different 
 to  what  it  appears  to  be  at  the  Cape ; here  nothing  can  be  done  without  capital,  every 
 thing  with  it.  Capitalists  in  England  must  either  send  out  their  relatives,  or  lend 
 their  money  on  mortgage  to  some  active  and  intelligent  planter.  Any  young  man 
 of  steady  habits  and  common  sense,  whose  father  cannot  obtain  emplojnnent  for  him 
 at  home,  but  who  can  advance  him  from  four  to  five  thousand  pounds,  may  thus 
 establish  himself,  and  create  an  estate  of  three  or  four  thousand  pounds  a year  for 
 his  descendants.  These  principals  in  the  concern  would  require  under-surveyors, 
 coopers,  distillers,  miters,  &c.,  and  each  estate  would  give  employment  to  several 
 Europeans.  The  Chinese  and  natives  would  be  the  manual  labourers,  as  the  negroes 
 are  in  the  West  Inches. 
 
 Politically,  the  colonization  of  that  part  of  Sumatra  which  belongs  to  the  Bri- 
 tish Government  would  be  very  important,  as  it  would  enable  us  to  make  a stand 
 against  the  Dutch  encroachments.  They  are  colonizing  Java  very  fast ; and,  not- 
 withstanding om*  power  on  the  continent  of  India,  they  might  easily  overrun  and 
 occupy,  to  our  exclusion,  every  possession  between  the  Straits  of  Sunda  and  Chma. 
 
 “ I have  to  apologize  to  your  Grace  for  these  hasty  remarks,  but  they  are  ch'awn 
 forth  by  the  regret  that  the  forty  thousand  paupers  sent  to  the  Cape  had  not,  on  a 
 different  principle  and  more  enlightened  plan,  found  their  way  here,  w'here,  indepen- 
 dent of  the  advantages  I have  already  pointed  out,  they  might  have  assisted  in 
 extending  our  spice  gardens,  and  dragging  the  golden  ore  from  our  mines. 
 
 “ Whatever  may  be  done  towards  paying  off  the  national  debt,  or  reducing  the 
 interest,  we  must  still  have  recourse  to  extensive  emigration,  and  the  sooner  we  open 
 our  colonies  to  the  settler  the  better.  If  w^e  delay  too  long,  much  of  the  capital  and 
 industry  will  have  found  their  way  into  foreign  countries,  and,  by  assisting  our  rivals, 
 check  our  own  speculations. 
 
 “ The  West  Incha  merchants  and  proprietors  might  at  one  time  have  inveighed 
 against  colonization  in  the  East,  and  I know  they  w^ere  decidedly  opposed  to  the  re- 
 tention of  Java  on  this  account : but  the  progress  in  Sumatra  will  be  slow,  and  the 
 abolition  of  the  slave  trade  has  so  effectually  destroyed  their  prospects,  that  they 
 must  necessarily  retrograde,  so  that  their  opposition  will  be  of  less  w^eight.  At  all 
 events,  what  is  done  in  Sumatra  will  take  nothing  from  them  direct ; and,  as  far  as  I 
 can  judge,  they  would  find  it  more  to  their  advantage  to  embark  themselves  and  their 
 machinery,  and  change  their  residence  to  the  East.  The  superior  advantages  there 
 would  soon  repay  the  expenses  of  transport.” 
 
LAKES  IN  SUMATRA. 
 
 469 
 
 To  W.  Marsden,  Esq. 
 
 Bencoolen,  August  27th,  1820. 
 
 We  are  now  thinking  of  delaying  the  publication  of  the  plants  until  a more 
 general  view  of  the  natural  history  of  these  Islands  can  be  taken,  and  we  think  they 
 might  form  an  advantageous  appendix  to  a work  which  we  purpose  to  entitle  ‘ An 
 Introduction  to  the  Natural  History  of  the  Eastern  Islands ; ’ the  frame-work  of 
 which  has  been  completed,  but  which  will  require  perhaps  a year  or  two  for  the 
 details. 
 
 ‘‘  I have  just  been  closing  a large  consignment  of  subjects  in  spirits  and 
 skeletons. 
 
 You  will  have  learned  that  the  cassowary  is  not  a native  of  Java;  it  is  not 
 found  west  of  the  Moluccas,  and  in  them  I believe  is  confined  exclusively  to  one 
 of  the  large  Islands,  either  Halhambipa  or  Ceram,  I forget  which. 
 
 I have  written  to  you  so  fully  lately,  that  I am  not  aware  that  I have  any 
 thing  of  moment  left  to  communicate,  except  the  discovery  of  the  lake  in  the  Lam- 
 pung  country,  at  the  back  of  Croee,  which  has  been  visited  and  examined  in  the 
 last  four  months.  The  length  of  the  lake  is  about  twelve  miles,  the  breadth  eight ; 
 the  population  is  thin  upon  its  banks,  and  but  few  boats.  None  of  these  carry 
 sails : the  people  have  a superstitious  aversion  to  hoisting  them,  under  an  apprehen- 
 sion that  the  sails  will  in\ite  the  wind,  upset  the  boat,  or  in  other  words,  that  they 
 will  raise  the  devil  by  it. 
 
 “ I have  made  a sketch  of  the  shape  and  position  of  this  lake,  and  have  sent 
 another  party  with  compasses,  &c.  to  correct  our  former  observations,  and  also  to 
 collect  minerals  in  its  vicinity,  and  the  best  information  attainable  of  the  country 
 beyond  it. 
 
 “ I have  had  an  opportunity  of  examining  the  third  lake,  namely,  that  of 
 Koiintki. 
 
 “ The  only  important  lake  not  yet  ascertained  is  that  of  Toba,  in  the  Batta 
 country.  The  moment  I can  well  leave  Marlborough,  I piu'pose  making  an  incur- 
 sion into  the  Batta  country  to  ascertain  this  and  many  other  interesting  points,  and 
 if  I am  not  eaten  on  the  journey  I have  no  doubt  the  results  will  repay  the  labour. 
 
 I am  at  present  confined  to  Marlborough,  on  account  of  the  positive  orders  of  the 
 Court  of  Directors,  who  would  seem  inclined  to  limit  my  perambulations  as  much 
 as  possible,  lest  they  should  excite  the  jealousy  of  our  friendly  allies  the  Dutch ; but 
 for  this,  you  should  long  before  this  time  have  had  an  account  of  the  sources  of 
 most  of  the  principal  rivers.  I do  not  think  the  source  of  the  Siak  river  can  be 
 correctly  laid  down,  and  with  respect  to  the  Tulang  Bawang  river  I am  still  more 
 puzzled,  and  am  much  in  want  of  scientific  and  even  practical  assistance. 
 
 I have  applied  to  the  Bengal  government  respecting  the  want  of  surveys  on 
 
470 
 
 POPULATION  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 this  coast  above  Tappanooly,  and  I hope  that  authority  will  be  inclined  to  attend  to 
 the  subject.  In  the  mean  time  I am  collecting  all  the  information  I can. 
 
 “ I am  at  present  deeply  engaged  in  the  details  of  Bencoolen,  taking  statistical 
 accounts  of  our  population,  &c.  I propose  printing  them,  as  the  only  means  of 
 securing  the  safety  of  the  record,  and  turning  the  pubhc  attention  of  the  place  to 
 the  further  prosecution  of  similar  inquiries  hereafter.  They  will  furnish  excellent 
 data  a hundred  years  hence  to  judge  of  the  advance  or  decline  of  the  place.  Our 
 first  agi'icultural  report  is  finished,  and  I think  you  will  not  only  admit  the  facts  but 
 concur  in  the  reasoning. 
 
 Lady  Raffles  and  the  children  continue  to  enjoy  excellent  health.  She  desires 
 to  be  most  kindly  remembered  to  Mrs.  Marsden.  I am  obliged  to  insist  on  her 
 avoiding  writing.  Your  godson  is  now  three  months  old,  and  does  credit  to  Ben- 
 coolen. 
 
 “ I fear  I shall  have  often  been  very  tedious  in  my  repetitions ; the  fact  is,  that 
 I have  always  so  much  public  business  in  hand  on  the  departure  of  a ship,  and  the 
 notice  is  generally  so  short,  that  I have  no  time  to  write  a connected  letter,  or  keep 
 copies  of  what  I do  write. 
 
 The  population  of  the  Batta  country  far  surpasses  my  expectation ; it  can 
 hardly  be  less  than  a million  and  a half. 
 
 “ The  progress  of  the  Padries,  as  they  are  called,  has  been  surprising,  and  the 
 countries  they  have  ravaged  will  excite  your  astonishment.  I am  collecting  details 
 for  a full  account  of  their  progress. 
 
 The  population  of  the  town  of  Marlborough,  including  Old  Bencoolen  and 
 Tengha  Padang,  is  nearly  10,000  souls ; more  than  one-half  more  than  I was  led  to 
 expect,  when  first  I arrived  here  ; and  there  may  be  5000  more  in  the  Duablas  and 
 Selapan  districts,  and  the  same  in  Soongy  Lamou.  The  quantity  of  rice  yet  culti- 
 vated bears  a very  small  proportion  to  the  consumption.  I have  imported  paddy  and 
 other  seed  from  Java,  and  I trust  a few  years  will  make  a change  in  the  face  of  the 
 country.  I have  induced  a private  individual  to  re-estabhsh  the  sugar-works  at 
 Benterin,  and  I am  in  hopes  my  labours  will  not  be  thrown  away. 
 
 “ The  spice  plantations  have  done  wonders. 
 
 The  statistical  returns  confirm  your  opinion  of  the  infecundity  of  the  people, 
 as  they  shew  an  uncommon  dearth  of  children ; but  they,  at  the  same  time,  attest 
 the  healthiness  of  the  country  by  the  very  small  number  of  deaths. 
 
 “ I have  not  been  very  well  lately,  and  am  rather  apprehensive  I am  not 
 doomed  to  last  much  longer  in  a tropical  climate.  Unless,  therefore,  the  public 
 authorities  at  home  turn  a more  favourable  eye  towards  me,  I shall  think  of  return- 
 ing at  the  close  of  my  five  years.” 
 
ENDEAVOURS  TO  IMPROVE  AGRICULTURE. 
 
 471 
 
 To 
 
 “ August  28,  182Q. 
 
 “ The  total  population  here  being  15,000,  and  the  total  quantity  of  rice  raised 
 in  the  year  only  two  months’  consumption,  you  are  already  informed  of  the  measures 
 in  progress  for  extending  the  rice-cultivation.  Every  man  must  now  have  his  sawah, 
 and  I make  a point  to  set  a good  example,  by  raising  fully  sufficient  for  all  my  per- 
 sonal establishment. 
 
 “ The  statistical  returns  have  been  taken  with  great  accuracy ; every  village 
 has  been  \dsited,  &c. 
 
 “ Out  of  the  number  of  100,000  nutmeg-trees,  one-fourth  are  in  full  bearing ; 
 and  although  their  culture  may  be  more  expensive,  their  luxuriance  and  produce  are 
 considered  fully  equal  to  those  of  the  Moluccas.  Captain  Mackenzie,  my  second 
 assistant,  having  been  seven  years  Resident  in  the  Moluccas,  we  are  able  to  form  a 
 very  fair  comparative  estimate.  As  you  may  wish  to  know  the  sort  of  arguments 
 which  I use  in  inducing  an  agi'icultm’al  spirit,  I shall  conclude  this  letter  with  the 
 concluding  part  of  my  address  on  the  establishment  of  an  agricultural  society. 
 
 “ ‘ The  first  point  for  consideration  is  the  limits  we  should  prescribe  to  our- 
 selves for  future  operations ; on  this  I would  recommend  that  we  should  on  no 
 account  extend  them  beyond  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Bencoolen,  or  beyond  the 
 reach  of  our  personal  observation.  However  ill-judged  may  have  been  the  selection 
 of  Bencoolen  for  our  principal  settlement,  let  us  recollect  that  it  is  the  place  where 
 w^e  can  be  most  practically  useful,  and  that  the  greater  the  difficulties,  the  greater 
 will  be  the  merit  of  overcoming  them. 
 
 “ ‘ The  spice  cultivation  has  been  established  against  almost  every  possible 
 obstacle.  This  will  be  sufficient  to  prove  what  can  be  done  by  the  zeal  and  per- 
 severance of  a few  individuals,  and  should  encourage  your  future  exertions. 
 
 “ ‘ I think  there  is  much  to  condemn  in  the  choice  you  have  made  of  the  soil, 
 and  in  the  mode  of  manuring ; but  I trust  your  intelligence,  when  concentrated  by 
 the  means  of  this  society,  will  lead  to  the  correction  of  these  errors,  and  render  the 
 returns  of  the  gardens  more  commensurate  with  the  zeal  and  industry  bestowed  upon 
 them.  I cannot  help  thinking  that,  had  you  selected  an  allurial  soil  instead  of  the 
 barren  and  unproductive  hills  on  which  your  plantations  now  stand,  you  would  have 
 saved  yourself  much  unnecessary  expense  and  labour,  and  succeeded  more  effectu- 
 ally in  spreading  the  plants  over  the  country. 
 
 * * * * ^ ^ ^ 
 
 “ ‘ The  recent  orders  of  government  AviU  go  far  towards  the  improvement  of 
 yom*  plantations,  by  directing  your  attention  to  the  necessity  of  supplying  your 
 people  and  cattle  ^vith  food,  and  I should  hope  it  would  not  be  long  before  each 
 plantation  has  its  farm,  and  raises  its  supplies  within  itself. 
 
 7 
 
472 
 
 ENDEAVOURS  TO  IMPROVE  AGRICULTURE. 
 
 “ ' I am  more  anxious  however  to  impress  on  yom'  minds  the  greater  importance 
 of  the  gi'ain  cultivation  of  the  country,  as  generally  carried  on  by  the  native  inhabi- 
 tants. It  is  on  this  that  every  thing  must  depend,  for  until  a sufficient  quantity  of 
 rice  is  raised  for  the  consumption  of  the  country,  it  would  be  wild  to  talk  of  pros- 
 perity. All  om-  efforts  must  be  directed  to  the  attainment  of  this  one  great  object, 
 and  this  once  attained,  all  others  will  I trust  follow  easily.  ^\'e  must  quit  the  high 
 lands,  and  abandon  the  forest  cultivation,  ^^'e  must  descend  into  the  plain,  and 
 form  sawahs  or  irrigated  rice-fields.  We  must  assist  the  poprdation  by  our  superior 
 intelligence,  and  endeavoiu*  to  prove  to  them  their  true  interests.  We  must  make 
 om'selves  more  intimately  acquainted  with  their  character  and  feehngs,  rouse  them 
 to  exertion,  and  point  out  the  means  by  which  their  happiness  and  prosperity  may 
 be  best  augmented.  We  must  go  hand-in-hand  with  government  in  the  introduction 
 of  order  and  regulation,  as  far  as  our  influence  extends,  and  finally  determine  on 
 success,  and  persevere  in  om*  exertions  until  we  attain  it. 
 
 “ ‘ I recommend  you  to  abandon  all  former  opinions  on  the  incorrigible  laziness 
 of  the  people  and  unproductiveness  of  the  soil,  and  to  allow  time  for  the  complete 
 operation  of  the  change  of  system  which  has  taken  place,  before  you  form  a judg- 
 ment on  these  important  points.’ 
 
 * * Jie  Jje  * * 
 
 “ One  word  more  before  I say  farewell.  That  you  may  not  misunderstand  me 
 as  to  my  opinion  with  regard  to  the  changes  which  have  taken  place  since  the  re- 
 duction of  the  estabhshment  in  1801,  and  the  good  old  system  which  pre\dously 
 prevailed,  the  following  extracts  from  our  first  agi'icultural  report  will  be  the  best 
 elucidation  of  my  sentiments  on  the  subject ; and  I think  we  shall  in  the  end  come 
 to  pretty  nearly  the  same  point,  though  we  may  have  gone  a different  way  about. 
 
 “ ‘ There  appears  little  doubt  that  the  population  in  the  neighbourhood  has 
 greatly  decreased,  and  that  the  country  was  once  in  a more  flourishing  condition. 
 The  diminution  of  the  population  has  been  estimated  by  some  at  fully  one-half ; the 
 extensive  tracts  of  now  abandoned  lands  to  be  seen  in  various  places,  particularly  in 
 the  neighbourhood  of  the  Sellibar  River,  attest  the  fact  of  the  deterioration.  This 
 unfavom'ahle  alteration  is  unanimously  dated  from  the  period  of  the  change  of  go- 
 vernment and  system  in  1801  ; and  it  deserves  inquiry,  how  the  introduction  of  an 
 administration  acknowledgedly  purer  and  more  enlightened,  operated  to  produce 
 this  effect.  It  will  be  particularly  interesting  at  the  present  moment,  in  order  that 
 by  observing  the  errors  of  the  past  we  may  learn  how  to  avoid  the  same  dangers  for 
 the  future  » * * * * * 
 
 “ ‘ Previously  to  that  time  affairs  were  conducted  by  a Governor  and  Council, 
 who  were  in  fact  the  chief  managers  of  a great  mercantile  concern,  and  held  in  their 
 hands  the  whole  trade  of  the  country.  Being  merchants  on  private  account  as  well 
 as  agents  of  the  Company,  their  own  interests  were  intimately  connected  with  its 
 
REPORT  OF  THE  SUMATRAN  AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
 
 473 
 
 prosperity ; and  though  they  exercised  the  monoj>oly,  and  required  the  services  of 
 the  people  in  the  cultivation  of  the  pepper,  they  could  not  but  see  their  own  ad- 
 vantage in  promoting  their  industry.  In  supplying  them  with  every  article  of  import 
 a mutual  intercourse  of  good  offices  took  place,  and  a close  connexion  was  main- 
 tained between  the  Government  and  the  people.  An  order  then  existed  that  every 
 individual  should  sow  not  less  than  five  bamboos  of  rice,  and  that  article  was  conse- 
 quently but  little  imported  from  abroad.  Foreign  settlers,  both  Chinese  and  Euro- 
 pean, were  encouraged  and  protected.  Sixty  Germans  were  at  one  time  sent  from 
 Europe,  and  settled  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Bencoolen.  Sugar  was  extensively 
 cultivated,  and  a considerable  trade  centred  in  the  port.  A commercial  government 
 might  not  in  principle  have  been  a very  pure  one,  or  very  conducive  to  the  ultimate 
 interests  of  the  people,  but  the  mutual  dependence  on  each  other  engendered  a kind 
 of  parental  consideration  on  the  one  hand,  and  respect  on  the  other,  that  gave  it 
 somewhat  of  an  amiable  character.  The  connection  which  subsisted  between  them 
 bore  some  resemblance  to  that  which  prevailed  in  the  times  of  feudalism.  Whatever 
 was  the  distance  between  the  vassal  and  his  lord,  whatever  might  be  the  poverty  of 
 the  former,  and  the  arbitrary  disposition  of  the  latter,  there  was  a species  of  mutual 
 dependence,  a reciprocity  of  services,  that  softened  its  darker  features,  and  almost 
 atoned  for  its  evil.’ 
 
 “ This,  you  will  admit,  is  saying  enough  on  one  side  of  the  question  ; now  for 
 the  other. 
 
 “ ‘ From  the  period  above  mentioned,  when  Bencoolen  became  a dependency 
 on  Bengal,  these  men  were  succeeded  by  others,  who  had  acquired  their  ideas  of  na- 
 tive character  among  a very  different  race  of  people  ; and  who,  considering  this  as  a 
 temporary  residence,  and  entering  into  no  commercial  speculations,  had  little  induce- 
 ment to  become  acquainted  with  the  language  and  people,  and  but  little  sympathy 
 with  their  local  interests.  Many  of  the  subsequent  measures  have  been  already 
 noticed. 
 
 ^ ^ * 
 
 “ ‘ The  mutual  distrust  to  which  these  occurrences  gave  rise,  had  gone  on  in- 
 creasing of  late  years,  and  contributed  to  the  further  deterioration  of  the  country. 
 Little  intercourse  was  held  with  the  Chiefs,  and  scarcely  any  communication  with 
 the  interior  or  with  the  people.  Neither  Chiefs  nor  people  could  place  confidence  in 
 an  authority  to  which  they  were,  in  a gi’eat  measure,  denied  access ; nor  could  that 
 authority  place  confidence  in  men,  with  whose  character  and  sentiments  it  was,  from 
 want  of  communication,  necessarily  unacquainted.  It  appears  latterly  to  have  been 
 the  object  of  Government  to  make  this  settlement  dependent  in  every  thing  upon 
 Bengal,  and  to  keep  as  distinct  and  remote  as  possible  from  tbe  natives  of  the 
 country. 
 
474 
 
 REPORT  OF  THE  SUMATRAN  AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 
 
 “ ‘ In  reviewing  the  train  of  circumstances  that  have  conducted  to  the  present 
 state  of  the  country  and  people,  we  are  forced  to  admit  there  has  been  much  mis- 
 government ; and  if  we  now  find  the  people  poor,  lazy,  avaricious,  and  intractable, 
 we  must  pause  to  consider  how  much  of  those  vices  may  not  be  owing  to  the  circum- 
 stances in  which  they  have  been  placed,  and  the  treatment  they  have  experienced. 
 We  have  seen,  on  the  one  hand,  inattention  to  the  character  and  habits  of  the  people, 
 and  an  arbitrary  tone  of  proceeding  lead  to  serious  and  fatal  en'ors ; and,  on  the 
 other,  we  have  seen  contracted  and  partial  views,  and  the  bias  communicated  to  the 
 mind  by  local  habits  and  prejudices,  prove  still  more  certainly  ruinous  and  destruc- 
 tive. The  one  brought  destruction  on  the  individual  (Mr.  Parr),  the  other  brought 
 ruin  on  the  settlement.  Temper  and  address  may  be  requisite  to  effect  improvement 
 with  safety  and  success,  but  temporizing  measures  can  only  perpetuate  misery  and 
 desolation. 
 
 “ ‘ I will  not  detain  you  with  the  catalogue  of  causes  which  have  contributed, 
 since  1801,  to  the  ruin  and  declension  of  the  settlement ; you  know  them  gene- 
 rally.’ 
 
 “ The  following  conclusion  to  the  Report  will,  I doubt  not,  be  satisfactory  to 
 
 you 
 
 “ ‘ In  the  view  now  taken  of  the  condition  of  this  settlement,  if  the  picture  of 
 the  past  and  present  is  not  veiy  bright  and  flattering,  it  will  be  admitted  that  there 
 is  nothing  discouraging  in  the  prospect  before  us.  Much  remains  to  be  done,  and 
 success  will  not  be  attained  without  exertion ; but  of  the  ultimate  result  there  seems 
 no  reason  to  despair.  In  the  consideration  of  the  past,  we  think  there  is  sufficient 
 eridence  of  mismanagement  fully  to  account  for  the  settlement  having  not  only  failed 
 to  advance,  but  having  actually  retrograded.  The  experience  of  all  ages  and  times 
 has  showm  that  monopoly  and  slavery  are  utterly  inconsistent  with  the  prosperity  of 
 a country.  Under  both  these  evils  has  Bencoolen  laboured.  Under  the  old  govern- 
 ment there  were  concomitant  circumstances  that  softened  many  of  the  harsher  fea- 
 tures of  the  system,  and  counteracted  some  of  its  ruinous  tendencies.  On  the  change 
 in  1801,  though  a considerable  reform  wus  effected,  enough  of  the  old  leaven  re- 
 mained to  vitiate  and  taint  the  whole.  The  former  fabric  was  overthrown,  but  the 
 new  one  was  erected  on  the  same  foundations  of  monopoly  and  forced  serrices.  It 
 was  purer,  perhaps,  in  as  far  as  regards  the  Company ; hut  to  the  people  it  brought 
 no  benefit  whatever,  while  it  took  aw^ay  all  that  reconciled  them  to  the  former  govern- 
 ment. 
 
 * * ^ ^ * 
 
 “ ‘ Our  interests  are  inseparably  connected  with  those  of  the  native  inhabitants, 
 and  there  cannot  be  a greater  error  than  to  suppose  them  distinct  or  opposed  to 
 each  other  * * * * \Yq  therefore  look  forward 
 
 with  confidence  to  brighter  prospects  and  to  happier  times,  wiien  industry  shall 
 
EXERTIONS  TO  CIVILIZE  THE  SUMATRANS. 
 
 475 
 
 revive,  agriculture  flourish,  and  Bencoolen,  no  longer  a blot  in  our  Indian  history, 
 shall  rise  to  more  than  pristine  prosperity.’ 
 
 I am  afraid,  my  dear  Sir,  you  will  long  ere  this  have  been  tired  with  this  old 
 and  long  story  ; at  all  events,  I hope  you  will  consider  it  an  earnest  of  my  desire  to 
 prove  to  you  that  I am  not  inattentive  to  the  real  interests  of  the  place  entrusted  to 
 my  immediate  charge. 
 
 Lady  Raffles  and  my  dear  children  continue  to  enjoy  excellent  health.  Marco 
 Polo  thrives  apace,  and  is  every  thing  you  could  wish.” 
 
 The  spice  gardens,  of  which  there  were  now  many  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
 Bencoolen,  added  greatly  to  its  interest  and  beauty ; Sir  Stamford’s  residence  in  the 
 country  was  twelve  miles  from  the  town,  and  though  on  first  making  the  attempt  to 
 persuade  people  to  live  out  of  the  settlement,  no  servant  even  could  be  induced  to 
 venture  three  miles  after  sunset,  at  this  time  (1823)  there  were  various  country- 
 houses  on  the  road  to  Permattam  Ballam,  (his  country-house,)  all  of  them  surrounded 
 by  plantations.  The  clove  trees  as  an  avenue  to  a residence  are  perhaps  unrivalled, 
 their  noble  height,  the  beauty  of  their  form,  the  luxuriance  of  their  foliage,  and 
 above  all  the  spicy  fragrance  with  which  they  perfiime  the  air,  produce,  in  driving 
 through  a long  line  of  them,  a degree  of  exquisite  pleasure  only  to  be  enjoyed  in 
 the  clear  light  atmosphere  of  these  latitudes. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  September  23d,  1820. 
 
 “ I am  doing  more  good  here  and  at  Singapore,  at  Nattal  Tappanooly,  and 
 Nias.  I am  making  a country  and  a garden  out  of  a wilderness,  and  I trust  I am 
 laying  the  foundation  of  the  future  civilization  of  Sumatra : the  independence  of 
 the  Eastern  commerce  I have  already  established.  My  letters  from  Bengal  say  that 
 all  my  plans  are  lauded  at  home,  but  others  are  larded  for  them,  and  that  it  is  feared 
 I must  limit  my  recompense  to  the  gratifying  sense  of  my  public  services.  My 
 friends  say,  ‘ Do  not,  however,  allow  any  penury  in  your  superiors  to  damp  your 
 zeal ; for  you  can  at  all  times  shew  to  whose  intelligence  we  are  indebted  for  the 
 civilization  and  independence  of  the  Eastern  countries.’  Are  they  right  ? 
 
 “ My  attention  is  at  this  moment  directed  to  the  Island  of  Nias,  lying  off  Nat- 
 tal, a little  to  the  north  of  Padang : it  contains  a population  of  from  one  to  two 
 hundred  thousand  active,  intelligent,  and  industrious  people,  and  is  the  granary  of 
 this  coast.  The  people  are  heathens,  and  in  great  want  of  civilization  and  improve- 
 ment, and  I contemplate  a fine  field  for  philanthropic  exertions. 
 
 “ Sophia  will  write  you  all  domestic  news.  For  myself  I do  not  feel  my  health 
 so  good  as  it  was,  and  I fear  I cannot  at  the  outside  remain  with  any  comfort  above 
 a year  or  two  longer  in  India : I therefore  think  you  will  see  us  in  1823  or  1824  at 
 farthest. 
 
 3 p 2 
 
476 
 
 LETTER  TO  THE  DUCHESS  OF  SOMERSET. 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  October  9,  1820. 
 
 “ We  are  still  remaining  very  quietly  at  Bencoolen,  and  I fear  the  detail  of  an 
 agricultural  life,  which  mine  is  at  present,  is  too  monotonous  to  afford  many  incidents 
 to  interest  you  at  such  a distance,  were  I to  attempt  any  description  of  my  present 
 occupations.  After  having  drawn  together  all  the  wild  animals  of  the  forests,  and 
 collected  the  rich  plants  of  the  mountains,  I am  now  endeavouring  to  tame  the  one 
 and  cultivate  the  other,  and  have  undertaken  the  arduous  task  of  converting  a wil- 
 derness into  a garden.  I have  established  a law,  that  every  man  shall  sow  gi-ain 
 enough  for  the  consumption  of  himself  and  family.  I am  making  new  roads  and 
 water-comses,  regulating  the  police  of  my  villages,  abolishing  slavery  and  bond-ser- 
 vice, forcing  the  idle  to  be  industrious  and  the  rogues  to  be  honest.  But  all  this 
 would  not  be  half  so  interesting  in  description  as  a Batta  feast,  or  the  discovery  of 
 some  new  and  wild  race. 
 
 * * 
 
 “ In  my  last  letter  I intimated  to  your  Grace  that  I am  now  turning  my 
 thoughts  homewards ; one-half  of  my  period  of  banishment  has  certainly  passed 
 over,  and  in  1823,  or  the  beginning  of  1824,  you  will  certainly  see  us.  I know  of 
 nothing  that  would  induce  me  to  remain  longer.  My  health,  I am  soriy  to  say,  is 
 not  so  good  as  it  was.  I feel  the  effects  of  climate  very  seriously,  and  on  this 
 account,  if  I had  no  other  inducement,  I should  hasten  home.  In  a public  point  of 
 view,  all  I wish  is,  to  remain  long  enough  to  see  my  settlement  at  Singapore  firmly 
 established,  and  lay  something  like  a substantial  foundation  for  the  future  cinlization 
 of  Sumatra : two  or  three  years  will  be  sufficient  for  this,  and  then  I shall  have  an 
 object  at  home  in  endeavouring  to  uphold  and  further  w'hat  will  have  been  so  far 
 proceeded  on.  My  great  object,  the  independence  of  the  Eastern  Islands,  has  been 
 attained. 
 
 “ Lady  Raffles  and  my  dear  children  continue  to  enjoy  excellent  health. 
 Leopold  is  the  wonder  of  all  wiio  see  him.  Charlotte  speaks  English  very  dis- 
 tinctly, and  finds  no  difficulty  in  Malay  and  Hindostanee,  and  it  is  curious  to  observe 
 how  she  selects  her  language  to  the  different  natives.  To  us  or  her  nurse  she 
 ahvays  speaks  English  ; to  a Malay  she  is  fluent  in  his  language,  and  in  an  instant 
 begins  Hindostanee  to  a Bengalee  : if  she  is  sent  with  a message,  she  translates  it  at 
 once  into  the  language  of  the  servant  she  meets  with.  She  is  only  tw'O  years  and  a 
 half  old ; such  is  the  tact  of  children  for  acquiring  languages.  She  always  dines 
 with  us  when  w’e  are  alone,  and  the  cloth  is  no  sooner  removed,  than  in  bounces 
 Master  Leopold,  singing  and  laughing,  and  occupying  his  place.  Mr.  Silvio,  the 
 Siamang,  is  then  introduced,  and  I am  often  accused  of  paying  more  attention  to  the 
 
PROGRESS  OF  CIVILIZATION. 
 
 477 
 
 monkey  than  the  children.  This  last  gentleman  is  so  great  a favourite,  and  in  such 
 high  spirits,  that  I hope  to  take  him  to  England  with  the  family,  and  introduce  him 
 to  my  little  friend  Anna  Maria.” 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  October  9,  1820. 
 
 “ I have  now  the  pleasure  to  send  you  the  third  paper  on  our  Malayan  plants. 
 These  are  only  to  be  considered  notices  made  at  the  moment,  where  we  have  not 
 the  advantage  of  reference  to  late  publications,  or  communication  with  scientific 
 friends.  The  paper  contains  an  account  of  the  nepenthes,  sago,  camphor,  several 
 new  mangifera,  many  ligna  vitas,  the  melastomas,  &c.  You  will  recognize  many 
 of  your  old  friends,  particularly  the  kayu  gadis,  or  \irgin  tree. 
 
 “ Under  Stj^helia  you  will  find  an  interesting  observation  respecting  Sin- 
 gapore. We  have  not  half  gathered  the  rich  harvest  which  surrounds  our  set- 
 tlement, but  I think  you  will  give  me  credit  for  what  has  been  done.  I am  now 
 expecting  an  abundant  supply  of  new  matter  from  Pulo  Nias  and  the  northern  parts 
 of  Sumatra ; and  I hope,  in  the  course  of  next  year,  again  to  visit  Singapore, 
 and  pick  up  something  on  the  Eastern  coast  in  addition  to  our  present  botanical 
 stores.” 
 
 To  Thomas  Murdoch,  Esq. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  October  9,  1820. 
 
 “ As  my  letter  of  July  22d  was  written  at  a time  when  I was  very  much  hurried, 
 I am  anxious  to  correct  any  hasty  expression  I may  have  used,  and  to  explain  more 
 fully  my  reasons  for  now  becoming  so  strong  an  advocate  for  despotic  authority. 
 There  appear  to  be  certain  stages  and  gradations  through  which  society  must  run 
 its  course  to  ci\ilization,  and  which  can  no  more  be  overleaped  or  omitted,  than 
 men  can  arrive  at  maturity  without  passing  through  the  gradations  of  infancy  and 
 youth.  Independence  is  the  characteristic  of  the  savage  state  ; but  while  men  con- 
 tinue disinterested,  and  with  little  mutual  dependence  on  each  other,  they  can  never 
 become  civilized. 
 
 “ The  acquisition  of  power  is  necessary  to  unite  them  and  to  organize  society, 
 and  it  would  perhaps  be  difficult  to  instance  a nation  which  has  arisen  from  bar- 
 barism without  having  been  subjected  to  despotic  authority  in  some  shape  or  other. 
 The  most  rapid  advances  have  probably  been  made,  when  great  power  has  fallen 
 into  enlightened  and  able  hands ; in  such  circumstances  nations  become  wealthy  and 
 powerful,  refinement  and  knowledge  are  diffused,  and  the  seeds  of  internal  freedom 
 are  sown  in  due  time,  to  rise  and  set  limits  to  that  power  whenever  it  may  engender 
 abuse.  Freedom  thus  founded  on  knowledge  and  a consideration  of  reciprocal 
 rights,  is  the  only  species  that  deserves  the  name,  and  it  would  be  folly  to  conceive 
 
478 
 
 PROGRESS  OF  CIVILIZATION. 
 
 the  careless  independence  of  the  savage  as  deserving  of  equal  respect.  In  order  to 
 render  an  uncivilized  people  capable  of  enjoying  true  liberty,  they  must  first  feel 
 the  weight  of  authority,  and  must  become  acquainted  wth  the  mutual  relations  of 
 society. 
 
 “ Wliether  the  power  to  which  they  bow  be  the  despotism  of  force,  or  the  des- 
 potism of  superior  intellect,  it  is  a step  in  their  progress  which  cannot  be  passed 
 over.  Knowledge  is  power,  and  in  the  intercourse  between  enlightened  and  igno- 
 rant nations,  the  fonner  must  and  ^^ill  be  the  rulers.  Instead,  therefore,  out  of  an 
 affected  respect  for  the  customs  of  savages,  of  abstaining  fi-om  all  interference,  and 
 endeavouring  to  peiq)etuate  the  institutions  of  barbarism,  ought  it  not  rather  to 
 be  our  study  to  direct  to  the  advancement  and  improvement  of  the  people,  that 
 power  and  influence  with  which  our  situation  and  character  necessarily  invests  us  ? 
 
 “ Power  we  do  and  have  possessed ; we  have  employed  it  in  the  most  arbitrary 
 of  all  modes,  in  the  exaction  of  forced  serrices  and  in  the  monopoly  of  the  produce 
 of  the  countr}^  While,  as  if  in  mockery,  we  have  professed  to  exercise  no  inter- 
 ference ^rith  the  native  administration  of  the  country,  we  have  made  ourselves  the 
 task-masters  of  the  people,  and  with  a false  humility  have  refused  to  be  their  gover- 
 nors. Ought  we  not  to  discard  this  empty  pretence  ? The  people  are  now  firing 
 without  a head  to  direct  them,  for  we  have  destroyed  the  power  of  the  native  Chiefs ; 
 both  reason  and  humanity  would  urge  us  to  take  the  management  into  our  own 
 hands,  and  to  repair  the  mischief  of  a hundred  years,  by  affording  them  a regular 
 and  organised  government.  Instead  of  compelling  their  services  for  our  o\\ti  com- 
 mercial monopoly,  while  w^e  leave  them  in  their  original  ignorance  and  barbarism, 
 and  by  reducing  them  to  the  condition  of  slaves,  shut  the  door  of  improvement 
 against  them,  ought  we  not  to  endeavour  to  direct  their  industry  to  objects  bene- 
 ficial to  themselves,  and  by  securing  to  them  the  benefits  of  their  labour,  raise  them 
 by  degrees  in  the  scale  of  cirifization  ? 
 
 “ The  case  at  Bencoolen  is  altogether  different  from  what  it  was  in  Java  at  the 
 time  of  our  occupation  of  it,  arising  entirely  from  the  comparatively  higher  state  of 
 civilization  to  which  the  inhabitants  of  that  Island  had  attained : and  even  then,  in 
 some  of  the  mountainous  and  less  civilized  districts,  it  was  questionable  whether  the 
 period  had  yet  arrived  when  the  people  were  competent  to  advance  by  their  own 
 unaided  efforts,  and  they  were  therefore  stiU  left  in  some  measure  under  the  imme- 
 diate sway  of  their  Chiefs.  By  far  the  larger  portion  of  the  inhabitants  of  Java  had 
 already  passed  that  stage,  and  were  thereby  prepared  for  entering  on  the  enjoyment 
 of  a higher  and  improved  condition. 
 
 “ I have  troubled  you  with  the  above  observations,  that  you  may  be  prepared 
 for  the  arguments  in  which  I found  my  assumption  of  sovereign  power.  Tp'ants 
 seldom  want  an  excuse,  and  in  becoming  a despot,  I am  desirous  to  give  you  mine. 
 Hereafter,  when  I have  an  opportunity  of  explaining  to  you  more  fully  the  real 
 
CONDITIONS  OF  JAVA  AND  SUMATRA  CONTRASTED. 
 
 479 
 
 state  of  the  country,  I shall  easily  convince  you  that  my  premises  are  correct.  Our 
 friend  Marsden  will,  I think,  admit  at  once  that  they  are  so ; but  the  course  I am 
 pursuing  is  so  opposite  to  his  notions,  as  expressed  in  his  History,  that  I despair  of 
 carrying  him  along  with  me  without  a struggle.  I know  he  is  kind  enough  to  place 
 great  confidence  in  me,  and  to  be  fully  satisfied  with  my  motives ; but  I fear  that 
 he  looks  upon  some  of  my  plans  as  visionary  and  speculative.  They  may  be  so, 
 and  I am  willing  to  admit  that  they  are  not  without  the  latter  quality,  but  I cannot 
 be  one  of  your  tacit  spectators  of  barbarism.  It  is  well  to  say,  let  things  remain 
 as  they  are — they  have  gone  on  well  enough  heretofore,  why  introduce  new  specu- 
 lations of  improvement  while  the  people  are  content  ? This  might  perhaps  have 
 been  said,  if  not  acted  upon,  if  the  thing  had  been  possible.  Some  few  years  since, 
 in  England,  when  the  people  were  in  the  enjoyment  of  more  substantial  happiness 
 than  recent  reforms,  or  attempts  to  introduce  them,  are  likely  to  prove,  Eng- 
 land may  have  been  said,  if  not  to  have  reached  the  summit,  at  all  events,  to  have 
 attained  an  eminence  above  all  other  nations ; and,  in  all  further  attempts,  we  were 
 necessarily  without  the  aid  of  experience.  But  can  this  be  said  of  Sumatra,  or  more 
 particularly  of  Bencoolen,  where  the  people  are  at  least  a thousand  years  behind 
 their  neighbours  the  Javanese  ? Surely  not. 
 
 “ If  you  would  know  the  extent  of  my  speculations,  I would  be  you  to  contrast 
 the  present  conditions  of  Java  and  Sumatra.  From  the  hand  of  God,  Sumatra  has 
 perhaps  received  higher  advantages  and  capabihties  than  Java,  but  no  two  countries 
 form  a more  decided  contrast  in  the  use  which  has  been  made  of  them  by  man. 
 While  Sumatra  remains  in  a great  part  covered  with  its  primeval  forests,  and  ex- 
 hibiting but  scattered  traces  of  human  industry,  Java  has  become  the  granary  and 
 the  garden  of  the  East.  In  the  former,  we  find  man  inactive,  sullen,  and  partaking 
 of  the  gloom  of  the  forests ; while  in  the  latter  he  is  active  and  cheerful.  They  are 
 considered  to  have  sprung  from  the  same  general  stock,  and  the  Strait  which  sepa- 
 rates them  is  not  twenty  miles  across.  How  are  we  to  account  for  the  difference  ? 
 
 “ It  is  not  hkely  that  I shall  give  the  Dutch  credit  for  having  had  much  share 
 in  the  improvement  of  Java,  but  they  are  not  without  some  claims  in  this  respect. 
 We  must  seek  the  causes  elsewhere.  I shall  not  now  attempt  to  enter  into  them, 
 but  I wish  much  to  remove  the  idea  that  Sumatra  is  by  nature  less  fertile  than  Java. 
 Wretched  as  our  west  coast  districts  may  be,  I can  affirm  that  the  soil  of  the  interior 
 is  for  the  most  part  rich  and  productive.  No  country  is  better  watered ; its  navi- 
 gable rivers  afford  a striking  contrast  to  the  want  of  them  in  Java ; the  population 
 cannot  well  fall  short  of  three  millions,  and  in  some  parts  agriculture  is  equally  ad- 
 vanced with  Java.  We  have,  unfortunately,  selected  the  very  worst  spots,  and 
 adopted  the  very  worst  system  of  government — and  to  this  alone  should  be  attri- 
 buted our  failure. 
 
 “ Now  for  my  speculation.  Palembang  still  remains  independent,  though  the 
 
 2 
 
480 
 
 CAPABILITIES  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 Dutch  blockade  the  river’s  mouth  *.  Let  the  independaiice  of  this  state  be  esta- 
 blished : we  want  no  more.  Palembang  is  able  to  govern  itself — the  people  are 
 nearly  as  far  advanced  as  those  in  Java,  and  recent  events  are  fast  consolidating 
 them  into  a great  and  powerful  nation.  Let  the  Dutch  resign  Padang,  as  not 
 strictly  coming  within  the  tenns  of  the  convention  which  should  refer  to  the  status 
 quo  ante  helium  of  1801,  and  not  of  1795,  and  I ask  no  more  than  a carte  blanche 
 for  five  years  to  make  Sumatra  more  important — more  valuable  to  England,  than 
 even  Java  would  have  been.  I would  spend  no  more  money  in  effecting  this  than 
 is  now  annually  thrown  away  at  Bencoolen,  and  I would  lay  the  foundation  of  a 
 colony  which,  to  a commercial  nation  like  England,  should  eventually  sm'pass 
 all  others. 
 
 “ By  opening  the  communication  between  Bencoolen  and  Palembang,  the 
 grand  navigable  river  of  the  latter  place  would  be  the  outlet  for  all  the  rich  produce 
 of  the  interior,  including  the  spices  of  Bencoolen.  The  Jambi,  Siak,  and  other 
 rivers  to  the  northward  would  again  be  opened  as  the  great  channels  of  trade,  while 
 om*  stations  on  the  west  coast,  which  I would  still  maintain,  would  be  our  military 
 posts,  whence  all  the  rivers  and  all  the  interior  of  the  country  would  be  commanded. 
 I would  open  a high  road  along  the  centre  of  the  Island,  from  one  end  to  the  other, 
 and  the  rivers  should  be  my  transverse  pathways.  I would  assume  supremacy  with- 
 out interfering  with  the  just  independence  of  other  states.  I w'ould  be  the  protector 
 of  the  native  states.  I would,  in  fact,  re-establish  the  ancient  authority  of  Menang- 
 kabu,  and  be  the  great  Mogul  of  the  Island.  I w'oidd,  without  much  expence,  afford 
 employment  for  twenty  or  thirty  thousand  English  colonists,  and  I w'oidd  soon  give 
 employment  to  as  much  British  tonnage,  and  as  many  British  seamen  as  are  now 
 engaged  in  the  West  India  trade. 
 
 “ In  short,  what  would  I not,  and  indeed  wiiat  could  I not  do,  were  I free  to 
 act,  and  encoui'aged  rather  than  abused  ? 
 
 * On  Sir  Stamford’s  going  to  Bencoolen,  the  Sultan  of  Palembang  appealed  to  him  against  the  conduct 
 of  the  Dutch,  who  claimed  to  exercise  their  former  power  over  the  Sultan,  and  were  determined  to  re-establish 
 it  by  force.  It  may  be  proper  to  explain,  that  the  territories  of  Palembang  and  Bencoolen  join,  and  that 
 whatever  affected  the  former  state,  had  an  immediate  influence  on  the  other.  The  Sultan,  as  might  be  ex- 
 pected, appealed  to  the  nearest  British  authority  to  protect  him.  The  treaty  by  which  the  Island  of  Banca 
 was  ceded  to  the  English  Government  in  1812,  stipulated  that  they  should  maintain  the  Sultan  on  his 
 throne.  By  the  convention  of  1814  they  ceded  Banca  to  the  Dutch.  Tlieonly  right  to  make  such  cession 
 was  in  virtue  of  the  treaty  of  1812  : it  was  therefore  not  possible  to  hesitate  in  the  line  of  conduct  neces- 
 sary to  pursue.  There  was  no  other  resident  British  power  nearer  than  Prince  of  Wales’  Island;  and  the 
 fact  of  a Dutch  line-of-battle  ship  lying  opposite  Palembang,  clearly  evinced  the  impossibility  which  ex- 
 isted of  the  Sultan’s  holding  any  communication  with  the  government  on  that  Island. 
 
 Under  these  circumstances  Sir  Stamford  felt  bound  to  enter  a protest  against  the  proceedings  of  the 
 Netherlands’  Government  at  Batavia,  and  to  send  hon-e  direct  to  the  Court  of  Directors  a statement  of  their 
 conduct.  But  the  Court  of  Directors  strongly  disapproved  of  his  liaving  interfered  in  any  way,  and  con- 
 demned this  effort  to  uphold  the  honour  and  credit  of  the  British  Government. 
 
DEATH  OF  MR.  HULL. 
 
 481 
 
 “ This,  I am  willing  to  admit,  is  all  very  speculative,  and  I am  sorry  to  be  obliged 
 to  add,  also  very  visionary,  for  there  is  no  chance  of  my  ever  attempting  any  thing 
 of  the  kind — the  time  has  gone  by  when  I had  the  spirit  for  it.  I have  met  with  so 
 much  injustice  and  ill-usage  on  the  part  of  the  authorities  at  home,  that  the  charm  is 
 gone,  my  confidence  is  lost,  and  I only  think  of  these  changes  as  what  might  have 
 been,  had  circumstances  been  more  favourable. 
 
 “ I am  now  confining  myself  strictly  to  our  own  petty  states  on  the  coast,  and 
 surely  what  I am  doing  in  them  is  rather  practical  than  speculative.  What  I am 
 doing,  will  not  only  benefit  these  districts  immediately,  but  may  enable  some  subse- 
 quent authority,  less  harassed  by  an  unconfiding  government  at  home,  to  enlarge  the 
 sphere  for  the  extension  of  British  principles ; I shall  be  content  with  what  is  imme- 
 diate and  practical. 
 
 I am  afraid,  after  all,  that  I shall  have  failed  to  prove  to  you,  that  in  advocat- 
 ing despotism,  I am  the  true  and  steady  friend  of  national  freedom.  If  so,  I must 
 rely  on  your  friendship  to  be  satisfied  with  my  assertion ; if,  on  the  contrary,  you 
 admit  my  arguments,  pray  enforce  them  with  Mr.  Marsden,  as  I would  rather  have 
 his  concurrence  than  the  first  authority  the  British  legislature  could  give : he  will 
 not  approve  without  being  convinced ; but  if  he  still  thinks  me  speculative,  it  may  be 
 suificient  to  say  that  I have  relinquished  the  only  speculation  which  deserved  the  name 
 of  one,  and  am  now  a plain  practical  man. 
 
 “ Pray  make  our  united  regards,  &c. 
 
 To  prove  to  you  that  when  I assume  and  advocate  despotic  authority,  I do 
 not  forget  that  men  have  rights,  it  may  be  sufficient  to  observe  that  I have  abolished 
 the  whole  system  of  slaves  and  slave-debtors,  so  intimately  interwoven  with  what  are 
 called  the  native  institutions  of  the  country ; that  a time  has  been  fixed  at  which  the 
 condition  of  actual  slavery  shall  cease  to  exist ; and  that  for  the  system  of  slave- 
 debtors,  I have  substituted  one  of  free  contract,  and  this  with  the  full  and  hearty  con- 
 currence of  the  native  Chiefs  and  the  European  population.” 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  October  27, 1820. 
 
 “ The  enclosed  letters  are  to  convey  most  melancholy  tidings. 
 
 * * * * « 
 
 “ The  affliction  they  announce  is  a most  severe  one ; we  have  lost  poor  Robert 
 Hull,  and  now  mourn  his  death  in  all  the  agony  of  grief  and  wretchedness.  He  died 
 on  the  24th  instant,  after  a severe  illness  of  five  days,  which  he  bore  with  exemplary 
 fortitude  and  resignation.  The  immediate  cause  of  his  death  was  inflammation  of 
 the  bowels ; but  he  never  recovered  from  the  illness  occasioned  by  the  fatigue  and 
 exposure  of  the  last  campaign,  and  on  accoimt  of  which  he  was  absent  from  his  sta- 
 tion. Poor  Sophia  and  Nilson  attended  him  day  and  night  during  his  illness  and  last 
 
 3 Q 
 
482 
 
 EXTENSION  OF  AGRICULTURE. 
 
 moments,  and  have  suffered  a severe  shock ; but  the  first  and  most  \iolent  effects  are 
 now  subsiding,  and  I hope  in  a short  time  they  \vill  gain  strength  and  spirits  by  quiet 
 and  resignation. 
 
 “ Every  thing  here  is  going  on  very  quietly,  the  place  manifestly  improving  fast, 
 and  a spirit  of  industry  and  activity  beginning  to  supersede  the  dull  lethargic  torpor 
 which  so  lately  prevailed. 
 
 “ The  attention  of  every  one  is  directed  to  agiiculture,  and  I find  my  little  expe- 
 rience in  Java  of  some  importance  in  directing  the  labours  of  the  people  of  this  coast, 
 who  have  still  so  much  to  learn  from  their  neighbours.” 
 
CHAPTER  XVII. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  forms  an  establishment  on  the  Island  of  Nias  for  the  suppression  of  slavery — Sufficient  spices 
 raised  at  Bencoolenfor  the  supply  of  Great  Britain — Description  of  the  Island  of  Nias — Its  popula- 
 tion, Exports,  Slaves — Period  of  proposed  return  to  England — Poggie  Islands — Description  of  the 
 people — Death  of  Sir  Stamford's  eldest  boy — Death  of  Captain  Auber — Missionaries  engaged  in  print- 
 ing Malay  Bible — Illness  of  another  child — Intended  publication  on  commercial  prospects — Deaths  of 
 two  children — Youngest  child  sent  to  England — Retired  life — Expectation  of  Mr.  Canning  as  Governor 
 General — Sir  Stamfords  opinion  of  the  state  of  England — Arrival  of  a party  for  the  measurement  of 
 the  pendulum  at  the  Equator — Death  of  Dr.  Jack — Voyage  to  Singapore. 
 
 The  suppression  of  slavery  was  never  lost  sight  of  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles ; it  was 
 connected  with  all  his  views,  pohtical  or  commercial ; and  when  he  found  it  pre- 
 vailed to  a serious  extent  in  an  Island  (Pulo  Nias)  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood 
 of  the  British  power,  he  was  anxious  to  make  some  effort  to  reheve  the  inhabitants 
 from  this  oppression  ; and  as  the  English  Resident  at  Tappanooly  and  Nattal  had 
 always  maintained  a small  estabhshment  in  the  Island,  it  appeared  an  object  of  easy 
 attainment.  The  following  letters  contain  references  to  this  subject : 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  January  19,  1821. 
 
 “ I have  much  satisfaction  in  reporting  that  the  Chiefs  of  Pulo  Nias  have  ceded 
 the  sovereignty  of  that  Island  to  the  Company.  Our  principal  station  is  at  Tello 
 Dalum,  near  the  southern  extremity,  and  in  a fine  harbour,  affording  good  and  safe 
 shelter  and  accommodation  for  ships  of  any  size,  at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  The 
 extent  of  population  and  cultivation,  and  the  general  state  of  civilization,  have  far 
 exceeded  my  most  sanguine  expectations.  The  population  is  certainly  not  less  than 
 230,000  souls.  Not  a vestige  of  primeval  forest  is  to  be  found  on  the  Island ; the 
 whole  has  disappeared  before  the  force  of  industry ; the  whole  Island  is  a sheet  of 
 the  richest  cultivation  that  can  be  imagined,  and  the  interior  surpasses  in  beauty  and 
 fertihty  the  richest  parts  of  continental  India,  if  not  of  Java. 
 
 The  people,  and  in  particular  the  Chiefs,  are  active  and  intelhgent,  rich  and 
 powerful,  and,  as  far  as  we  can  judge  of  their  character,  are  the  very  reverse  of  those 
 
 3 Q 2 
 
4S4 
 
 FERTILITY  OF  THE  ISLAND  OF  PULO  NIAS. 
 
 we  find  on  this  coast.  The  exportation  of  rice  annually  is  not  less  than  twelve  thou- 
 sand bags,  of  two  maunds  each.  They  have  cheerfully  entered  into  our  views  for 
 abolishing  the  slave-trade,  and  the  people,  and  the  country  in  general,  promise 
 much. 
 
 “ I have  only  a few  minutes  to  give  you  this  information  ; by  the  next  convey- 
 ance you  shall  have  all  particulars. 
 
 “ My  friends  Dr.  Jack  and  Mr.  Prince  have  been  in  Nias  for  six  weeks,  and 
 have  just  returned,  astonished  and  delighted  with  the  people  and  the  country.  The 
 Island  appears  throughout  to  have  been  a base  of  lime,  probably  of  coral  origin, 
 and  this  will  account  for  its  fertility ; not  a particle  of  our  brick-like  earth  is  to  be 
 seen  there  ; deep  black  mould  throughout. 
 
 “ I enclose  you,  under  separate  covers,  two  or  three  papers,  which  will  fonn 
 part  of  om*  first  agi-icultural  volume  ; and  I shall  be  extremely  gratified  to  find  that 
 you  admit  the  correctness  and  justness  of  the  rfews. 
 
 “ We  are  still  without  any  accounts  regarding  Singapore,  or  the  decision  of  the 
 commissioners  in  Europe.  I hear  the  Dutch  are  follovrfng  my  steps  at  Padang,  and 
 are  about  to  build  a fort  at  Surawasa.  You  will  be  surjnised  to  hear  that 
 the  exportation  of  coffee  from  Padang,  diu-ing  the  last  year,  exceeded  15,000 
 peculs,  and  that  it  is  expected  to  exceed  20,000  during  the  present.  No  less  than 
 four  ships  are  now  there,  taking  in  cargoes  for  Europe.  Our  coffee  cultivation  is  alsa 
 rapidly  extending  ; but  our  means  are  small,  and  the  unwise  pohcy  which  restrains 
 Americans  from  trading  at  our  port,  is  a sad  check  to  our  agricultural  industry. 
 
 “ The  Americans  always  carried  dollars  to  exchange  for  produce,  which  made 
 them  well-adapted  to  trade  with  a people  whose  wants  were  so  few  and  confined  as 
 the  natives  of  Sumatra. 
 
 “ In  a former  letter,  I stated  the  great  improvement  w'hich  had  taken  place  in 
 our  rice  cultivation,  the  quantity  of  seed  being  quadi'uple  what  it  has  been  in  any 
 former  year. 
 
 “ The  value  of  the  landed-property  belonging  to  Europeans  and  their  descend- 
 ants, is  estimated  at  379,031  dollars,  or,  mcluding  stock,  at  445,437  dollars,  and  the 
 spice  plantations  belonging  to  natives  at  75,445  dollars ; the  average  increase  of 
 value  in  the  last  four  years  being  above  fifty  per  cent. 
 
 “ If  Crawford’s  statements  are  coiTect,  our  produce  of  nutmegs  already  exceeds 
 the  average  consumption  of  Great  Britain ; and  as  the  quality  is  fully  equal,  if  not 
 superior,  and  the  cultivators  make  no  question  as  to  price,  Bencoolen  has  certainly 
 attained  a point  of  prosperity  which  deserves  attention. 
 
 “ It  is  hardly  possible  to  conceive  the  numerous  difficulties  the  planters  have 
 hitherto  had  to  contend  Avith.  The  natural  obstacles  arising  from  the  soil,  and  pecu- 
 liar condition  of  native  society,  have  not  been  gi'eater  than  those  thrown  in  the  way 
 by  Government.  At  one  tune,  an  order  w'as  issued  that  no  new  plantations  should 
 
DEATH  OF  SIR  JOSEPH  BANKS. 
 
 485 
 
 be  fornied ; at  another,  a heavy  export-duty  was  established ; and  down  to  the  last 
 peace,  we  find  a bounty  granted  in  England  to  the  cloves,  &c.  of  Cayenne  and 
 Bourbon,  two  war-possessions,  while  the  spices  of  Bencoolen  were  subjected  to  the 
 same  heavy  duties  as  those  of  the  Moluccas.  The  late  act  of  Parliament,  equalizing 
 the  duties,  gives  the  spices  of  Bencoolen,  as  far  as  the  consumption  of  England  goes, 
 an  advantage  of  one  shilhng  per  pound  over  foreign  spices  ; and  if  there  were  oppor- 
 tunities of  sending  them  home  direct,  the  London  market  would  now  be  the  most 
 favom-able,  and  amply  repay  the  planters,  notwithstanding  the  general  depression  of 
 prices.  Were  the  Americans  allowed  to  touch  at  Bencoolen,  they  would,  by  occa- 
 sioning a constant  demand,  act  as  a very  powerful  stimulus  to  our  agriculture.  At 
 Padang  there  are  now  four  Americans  taking  in  coffee.  Here  the  Company’s 
 restrictions,  &c.  are  such,  that  only  one  ship  has  sailed  from  hence  for  Europe 
 within  the  last  three  years.  Our  territorial  hooks  still  show  a dead  loss  of  about 
 <£80,000  a year.  1 shall  probably  take  an  opportunity  of  addressing  you  more  fully 
 on  this  subject,  and  in  the  meantime  it  may  be  satisfactory  to  you  to  know,  that  my 
 labours,  though  confined  to  a very  unpromising  and  hmited  pohcy,  have  not  been 
 entirely  useless. 
 
 “ Our  dear  little  children  enjoy  excellent  health,  and  are  advancing  most 
 rapidly ; Marco  Polo  is  a fine  intelhgent  boy.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  June  22,  1821. 
 
 “ We  have  an  ugly  report  by  the  way  of  Batavia,  that  poor  Sir  Joseph  Banks 
 is  no  more ! I fear  it  is  too  true,  as  by  our  last  accounts  he  appeared  nearly  ex- 
 hausted. It  was  an  event  for  which  I ought  to  have  been  prepared ; but,  notwith- 
 standing this,  his  death  has  been  a severe  shock  to  me,  as  it  must  have  been  to  aU 
 who  knew  him,  and  could  appreciate  his  inestimable  value.  When  shall  we  meet 
 his  like  again,  and  by  whom  will  his  place  be  supphed  ? He  has  left  a sad  blank. 
 To  fill  his  place  as  he  filled  it  is  impossible.  A successor,  however,  must  be  ap- 
 pointed ; and  if  talents,  fortune,  and  entire  devotion  to  the  object  cannot  be  found 
 
 united  in  one  individual,  rank  must  supply  the  deficiency. 
 
 * * * * * * 
 
 “ I am  very  much  afraid  that  the  death  of  Sir  Joseph  will  go  far  to  break  the 
 heart  of  the  Society.  Many  of  the  old  and  sterhng  members  will,  I am  sure,  feel 
 the  loss  most  deeply,  and  want  heart  to  attend  the  future  meetings.  Much,  how- 
 ever, nay  every  thing,  will  depend  on  the  character  of  the  new  President. 
 
 “ I have  a long  account  to  send  your  Grace  of  my  discoveries  in  Pulo  Nias.  I 
 believe  I formerly  told  you  that  I was  engaged  in  some  arrangements  for  bringing 
 that  Island  under  British  authority.  I am  now  happy  to  say  that  I have  succeeded ; 
 the  people  have  unreservedly  become  the  subjects  of  Great  Britain.  As  this  is  an 
 
486 
 
 DESCRIPTION  OF  PULO  NIAS. 
 
 Island  almost  unknown,  and  I may  at  least  claim  the  merit  of  first  visiting  and 
 exploring  its  interior,  some  particulars  may  not  be  uninteresting,  though  I have 
 not  time  to  say  many  words  on  them  at  present. 
 
 “ The  Island  is  in  sight  of  Sumatra,  and  seen  by  most  ships  passing.  I find 
 the  popidation  to  exceed  230,000  souls,  on  a surface  of  about  1500  square  miles, 
 which  gives  a population  of  about  153  to  the  square  mile ; the  country  most  highly 
 cultivated,  the  soil  rich,  and  the  people  the  finest  people,  without  exception,  that  I 
 have  yet  met  with  in  the  East.  They  are  fair,  and  a strong,  athletic,  active  race ; 
 industrious,  ingenious,  and  intelligent,  and  forming  a striking  contrast  to  their  neigh- 
 bours on  the  opposite  coast  of  Sumatra.  What  has  most  astonished  me  is,  the  high 
 degree  (comparatively)  of  civilization  to  which  they  have  attained,  without  commu- 
 nication from  without.  We  have  no  trace,  no  idea  whence  or  how  the  Island 
 became  peopled ; the  people  themselves  say,  a man  and  woman  were  first  sent  from 
 heaven,  fi-om  wiiom  they  are  all  descended.  Their  language,  their  habits,  their 
 character,  and  institutions,  are  strikingly  different  from  all  others  with  which  we  are 
 acquainted.  Hinduism  never  found  its  way  to  their  shores,  and  only  a few  Maho- 
 medans,  traders,  are  here  and  there  to  be  found  on  the  coast,  but  the  religion  itself 
 has  made  no  way. 
 
 " They  dwell  in  excellent  and  commodious  houses,  the  interior  of  which  are 
 laid  out  with  neatness,  not  devoid  of  elegance ; streets  are  regularly  formed  and 
 paved,  with  avenues  of  trees,  and  stone  stairs  to  the  pinnacles  of  the  different  hills, 
 on  which  their  villages  are  mostly  situated,  embosomed  in  the  richest  foliage  ima- 
 ginable. The  slopes  of  the  hills  and  the  valleys  are  covered  with  one  continued 
 sheet  of  the  richest  cultivation,  and  there  is  not  a forest  tree  standing  in  the  Island ; 
 all  have  disappeared  before  the  force  of  industry.  To  each  village  are  attached 
 stone  baths,  appropriated  to  the  different  sexes,  which  remind  us  of  Roman  luxuries. 
 They  w^ear  a profusion  of  gold  and  other  ornaments,  than  which  nothing  can  be 
 conceived  more  original.  I have  a large  collection  now  before  me,  and  only  wish  I 
 could  at  once  transfer  them  to  Park-lane. 
 
 “ We  have  discovered  an  excellent  harbour,  and  made  two  military  stations 
 merely  on  account  of  the  flag ; and  hereafter  I hope  to  have  much  satisfactory  em- 
 ployment. 
 
 “ I am  at  this  moment  called  away  on  particular  business.” 
 
 To . 
 
 “ I beheve  I may  now  affirm  with  safety,  that  Bencoolen  alone  will  be  able  to 
 supply  Great  Britain  with  all  the  spices  she  requires.  You  may  judge  of  the  interest 
 of  this  kind  of  cultivation,  when  I inform  you  that  the  annual  clear  produce  or 
 profit  of  an  acre  of  nutmeg-trees  is  not  less  than  ten  pounds  sterhng,  and  that  we 
 
SLAVE-TRADE  AT  PULO  NIAS. 
 
 487 
 
 are  covering  the  whole  land  with  our  parks  of  them.  Nothing  can  be  more  beau- 
 tiful than  an  avenue  of  clove-trees ; the  luxuriant  foliage  and  the  fragrance  of  the 
 air  make  it  charming. 
 
 “ My  attention  has  been  drawn  to  the  Island  of  Nias,  which  is  situated  opposite 
 the  settlement  of  Tappanooly  and  Nattal,  and  on  which  the  Resident  has  always 
 maintained  a small  establishment. 
 
 Frequent  representations  had  reached  me  from  the  Resident  at  Nattal,  of  the 
 dreadful  ravages  to  which  the  country  was  exposed,  from  the  operation  of  an  active 
 slave  trade,  which  was  carried  on  at  Nias : it  was  at  the  same  time  stated,  that  con- 
 siderable supplies  of  rice  might  be  obtained  for  our  population  on  the  coast ; and  as 
 the  natives  were  tractable,  faithful,  and  industrious,  the  prospect  of  inducing  some  to 
 emigrate,  and  assist  in  improving  our  possessions  in  Sumatra,  formed  additional  rea- 
 sons for  deputing  a commission  to  that  Island,  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  infonna- 
 tion  on  the  above  points. 
 
 “ Under  the  sanction  of  the  Supreme  Government,  I appointed  Mr.  Christie  to 
 proceed  to  Pulo  Nias  in  the  month  of  July,  1820.  That  gentleman  was  obhged  to 
 return  on  account  of  ill  health,  after  having  visited  only  one  of  the  ports.  Captain 
 Sahnond,  on  his  retmm  from  Tappanooly,  surveyed  some  of  its  coasts.  The  joint  in- 
 fonnation  which  they  afforded  was  sufficient  to  invite  further  research,  and  I accord- 
 ingly nominated  a commission  of  two  gentlemen  to  proceed  for  the  pui-pose  of 
 adjusting  the  differences  which  then  existed,  and  to  provide  for  the  tranquillity  of  the 
 country ; to  obtain  the  most  accurate  information  of  its  population  and  resources, 
 and  to  place  the  natives  so  far  under  the  direct  authority  of  the  Company’s  Govern- 
 ment, as  to  leave  the  question  as  to  the  future  management  of  the  Island  entirely  to 
 the  judgment  of  the  Governor  General. 
 
 “ It  is  quite  unnecessary  for  me  to  enlarge  on  the  result  of  the  mission,  from 
 which  we  learnt  that  the  population  consisted  of  not  less  than  230,000  souls ; that 
 the  state  of  cultivation  was  such  as  to  furnish  an  export  of  12,000  bags  of  rice 
 annually ; and  that  the  number  of  slaves  taken  from  Nias  in  each  year  exceeded 
 1500! 
 
 “ The  circumstances  that  attended  the  latter  inhuman  traffic  were  of  the  most 
 appalling  nature,  and  no  less  revolting  than  those  which  attached  to  the  same  abomin- 
 able commerce  on  the  coast  of  Africa. 
 
 “ The  unhappy  victims,  torn  by  violence  from  their  friends  and  country,  are 
 dehvered,  pinioned  hand  and  foot,  to  the  dealers  in  hmnan  flesh,  and  kept  bound 
 during  the  whole  course  of  the  voyage.  Instances  have  occurred,  where  the  captives 
 have  seized  a moment  of  hberty  to  snatch  up  the  first  weapon  within  their  reach,  stab 
 all  whom  they  encountered,  and  conclude  the  scene  by  leaping  overboard,  and  seek- 
 ing dehverance  from  their  persecutors  in  a watery  grave  I 
 
 “ I have  in  another  paper  taken  notice  of  the  connexion  which  existed  between 
 
 2 
 
488 
 
 CAUSES  OF  THE  COMMISSION  TO  PULO  NIAS. 
 
 Nias,  Nattal,  and  the  Menangkabu  country,  and  have  ventured  to  point  out  the  advan- 
 tages which  might,  in  all  probability,  be  derived  by  the  natives  of  the  several  countries, 
 as  well  as  by  the  Company,  from  encouraging  and  prosecuting  such  an  intercourse.” 
 
 Frequent  appeals  made  from  the  Chiefs  of  Pulo  Nias,  and  the  peculiar  connection 
 which  had  always  subsisted  between  that  Island  and  the  districts  in  the  west  of  Sumar- 
 tra,  induced  Sir  Stamford  to  appoint  Mr.  Prince  and  Dr.  Jack  to  enquire  into  the  real 
 circumstances  of  the  case,  in  the  hope  of  adjusting  existing  differences,  and  providing 
 for  the  immediate  tranquillity  of  the  country,  and  at  the  same  time  to  collect  such 
 information  as  would  enable  the  higher  authorities  to  decide  on  the  future  course 
 proper  to  be  pursued.  It  was  impossible  to  witness  the  constant  scenes  of  rapine 
 and  plunder,  to  which  the  coast  of  the  Island  had  so  long  been  a prey,  from  the  in- 
 roads of  pirates  and  slave  dealers,  after  the  express  injunctions  of  the  legislature, 
 and  the  principle  so  universally  declared  to  actuate  the  ci\ilized  nations  of  the  world. 
 It  was  notorious  that  Pulo  Nias,  although  for  a long  period  of  years  nominally  en- 
 joying the  protection  of  the  English  flag,  was  still  the  most  abundant,  and  almost 
 the  only  source  of  the  supply  of  slaves  on  the  coast,  and  that  notwithstanding  the 
 prohibition  against  importation  at  Bencoolen  and  elsewhere,  it  w'as  impossible  to 
 prevent  it  entirely.  It  was  also  well  knowm  that  Pulo  Nias  was  the  principal 
 resort  of  the  French  cruisers  for  refreshment  and  refitment,  and  whence  they  com- 
 manded the  whole  coast  of  Sumatra  during  many  periods  of  the  late  war.  An  un- 
 disputed supremacy  of  the  Island  was  important  in  a political  point  of  view,  as  it  may 
 be  considered  to  complete  the  command  of  the  coast  from  Acheen  to  Nattal.  Another 
 subject  for  consideration  was  the  probability  of  the  natives  being  easily  converted  to 
 the  Christian  religion,  and  that  if  the  favourable  opportunity  were  neglected,  they 
 w'ould  be  likely  to  fall  into  all  the  superstitions  of  the  Mahomedans.” 
 
 The  folloAving  is  from  an  account  of  this  Island  fru-nished  to  Sir  Stamford 
 Raffles  by  Dr.  Jack  and  Mr.  Prince. 
 
 “ Pulo  Nias  is  situated  under  the  1st  degree  of  north  latitude,  and  runs  in  a 
 north-w'est  and  south-east  direction,  throughout  5®  of  latitude  and  48°  of  longitude. 
 The  \illages  are  mostly  situated  on  the  very  pinnacle  of  the  hills,  yet  they  are  always 
 embosomed  in  cocoa-nut  and  fruit  trees  of  the  greatest  luxm'iance,  wdiile  the  land 
 beneath  them  is  devoted  to  rice,  sweet  potatoes,  and  other  articles  of  supply. 
 
 “ The  cultivation  of  rice  is  carried  on  both  in  sawahs  and  ladangs,  according  to 
 the  nature  of  the  ground,  the  latter  prevailing  in  the  more  hilly  parts,  and  the  former 
 along  the  course  of  the  principal  rivers.  The  returns  from  sawahs  are  stated  to  be 
 above  a hundred-fold;  from  ladangs  the  returns  are  about  forty-fold;  and  such  is 
 the  singular  fertility  of  the  soil,  that  they  are  again  fit  for  clearing  in  from  five  to 
 ten  years.  The  gi'eater  part  of  the  rice  is  raised  for  exportation,  the  inhabitants 
 
DESCRIPTION  OF  PULO  NIAS. 
 
 489 
 
 raising  but  little  for  themselves,  and  preferring  sweet  potatoes,  yams,  plantains,  &c. 
 for  their  own  consumption.  They  breed  great  numbers  of  fowls  and  hogs,  which 
 are  chiefly  fed  on  cocoa-nuts ; cattle  and  buffaloes  are  not  indigenous,  but  have  been 
 introduced  at  some  of  the  Malay  settlements ; cocoa-nut  trees  abound  along  all  the 
 shores ; pepper  has  only  lately  become  an  article  of  cultivation  among  the  Achenese 
 settlers,  but  it  promises  to  extend  rapidly : samples  of  coffee  appear  also  of  very 
 good  quality. 
 
 “ The  principal  exports  of  Pulo  Nias  (exclusive  of  slaves)  are,  rice  to  the 
 extent  of  about  12,000  bags  per  annum ; oil,  about  7000  or  8000  bamboos ; cocoa- 
 nuts  in  great  quantities ; pepper  at  present  about  800  peculs,  but  the  quantity 
 increasing ; with  some  minor  articles,  the  total  value  of  which  may^be  about  45,000 
 rupees.  The  payments  on  account  of  slaves  have  not  fallen  short  of  from  70  to 
 80,000  mpees  a year  ; making  the  total  value  of  the  exports  about  120,000  rupees. 
 The  returns  for  this  are  almost  entirely  in  the  following  articles  of  merchandize : — 
 blue  salampores,  white  mamoodies  and  gurrahs,  kerwahs,  iron,  brass  ware,  steel, 
 gold-dust,  coarse  china-ware,  &c.  &c.  Salt  is  manufactured  in  small  quantities  on 
 various  parts  of  the  coast,  by  the  method  of  pouring  salt  water  on  burning  wood, 
 and  is  sold  at  the  rate  of  three  bamboos  for  a dollar.  It  is  very  sparingly  used  by 
 the  Nias  people,  probably  on  account  of  the  enormous  price  ; but  it  is  not  unlikely 
 that  it  would  come  into  more  general  use,  were  they  supplied  at  a cheaper  rate  by 
 importation. 
 
 “ In  the  northern  division  of  the  Island,  the  trade  has  been  principally  in  the 
 hands  of  the  Malays  and  Achenese  who  have  settled  at  the  various  ports,  and  formed 
 alhances  and  connexions  with  the  Nias  Chiefs.  This  connexion  has  subsisted  for  a 
 considerable  length  of  time,  some  of  the  early  settlements  having  been  formed  about 
 sixty  or  eighty  years  ago  ; and  frequent  intermarriages  have  so  united  their  interests, 
 that  the  Nias  Chiefs  are  generally  guided  by  their  Malay  friends  in  all  their  inter- 
 course with  foreigners : they  have  never,  however,  yielded  any  part  of  their  territo- 
 rial rights,  or  admitted  their  interference  in  their  internal  affairs.  The  efforts  of 
 the  Malays  have  been  solely  directed  to  engrossing  the  commerce,  which  they  have 
 in  a great  measure  effected,  and  the  Nias  people  rarely  attempt  to  dispose  of  their 
 produce  at  first  hand.  The  kind  of  monopoly  they  have  thus  succeeded  in  estabhsh- 
 ing,  diminishes  the  profit  to  the  grower,  on  the  one  hand,  at  the  same  time  that  it 
 enhances  the  price  to  the  buyer. 
 
 In  the  southern  districts,  on  the  contrary,  there  are  no  foreign  settlers,  and 
 the  Nias  people  themselves  carry  on  a direct  traffic  with  boats  and  vessels  from  all 
 parts  of  the  Sumatran  coast.  The  consequence  is,  there  is  more  wealth,  and  the 
 people  appear  to  have  made  a greater  advance  in  the  arts  of  life. 
 
 “ The  Achenese  have  generally  been  found  the  most  troublesome  intruders ; 
 wherever  they  have  been  allowed  to  settle,  their  aim  has  been  to  foment  dissensions 
 
 3 R 
 
490 
 
 DESCRIPTION  OF  PULO  NIAS. 
 
 and  troubles,  wth  a view  to  their  own  independence,  and  the  more  easily  gratifying 
 their  rapacity.  They  are  the  principal  agents  in  the  slave-trade,  and  are  not  very 
 scrupulous  in  the  means  they  resort  to  for  procuring  them. 
 
 “ The  Nias  slaves  are  highly  valued  throughout  the  East,  for  their  industry, 
 ingenuity,  and  fidehty ; and  observation  has  shewn,  that  these  are  no  less  the  cha- 
 racteristics of  the  people  in  their  native  country.  The  intercourse  with  them  has 
 given  us  a most  faA'ourahle  impression  of  their  native  character,  and  of  their  capa- 
 bilities of  improvement.  Notwithstanding  the  disadvantages  of  a secluded  situation, 
 the  absence  of  all  instruction  and  example,  and  the  insecmity  arising  from  a state  of 
 internal  di\-ision,  they  have  dra\\m  forth,  by  their  industry,  the  resources  of  their 
 fertile  country  to  a greater  degree  than  has  yet  been  effected  by  any  of  their  neigh- 
 bom's  on  the  coast  of  Sumatra. 
 
 “ The  extent  of  their  gi’ain  export  would  alone  be  sufficient  evidence  of  their 
 industry ; but  the  same  spirit  pervades  their  whole  economy.  Their  towns  and 
 villages,  though  placed  on  elevated  situations,  \vith  a view  to  defence,  are  clean  and 
 neat ; the  ascent  is  facilitated  by  a long  stair  or  causeway,  regularly  built  of  stones, 
 and  shaded  by  a row  of  fruit-trees  on  each  side ; and  the  principal  street  itself  is 
 often  paved  in  a manner  that  would  do  credit  to  European  skill.  Their  houses  are 
 built  of  wood  in  the  most  substantial  manner,  raised  upon  strong  posts,  and  their 
 interior  is  arranged  with  a neatness  not  devoid  of  elegance.  Attached  to  every 
 \dllage  are  two  inclosed  baths,  built  of  stones,  appropriated  to  the  different  sexes ; 
 ^ any  trespass  by  a man  on  that  belonging  to  the  females  subjects  the  offender  to  a 
 heavy  fine.  In  the  manufacture  of  their  arms,  cloathing,  and  gold  ornaments,  (of 
 which  they  wear  a great  many,)  they  display  great  ingenuity  and  considerable  taste. 
 In  their  persons  they  are  a handsome,  athletic  race ; their  warfike  habits,  and 
 perhaps  the  nature  of  their  country,  give  them  an  activity  and  vigom*  of  frame 
 unusual  to  the  inhabitants  of  tropical  countries.  They  are  not  addicted  to  any 
 practice  of  intoxication  or  gambling.  Their  address  is  frank  and  open ; they  are 
 keen  in  their  commercial  dealings,  fond  of  gain,  but  scrupulously  exact  in  the  fulfil- 
 ment of  their  engagements. 
 
 The  country  is  divided  into  a number  of  tribes  and  districts,  whose  Chiefs 
 maintain  a perfect  independence  of  each  other,  and  between  many  of  whom  ancient 
 feuds  and  perpetual  enmity  subsist.  In  his  own  district  the  Rajah  possesses  con- 
 siderable power,  and  is  considered  lord  of  the  soil,  though  he  derives  no  direct 
 revenue  therefrom.  In  the  exercise  of  his  judicial  authority  he  is  assisted  by  the 
 Pamunchu,  which  office  is  always  held  by  one  of  his  relations,  and  their  decisions 
 are  guided  by  the  traditional  usages  or  customs  of  the  country.  Their  laws  are 
 remarkable  for  severity ; offences  are  probably  rare.  Murder,  adultery,  and  robbery, 
 are  punished  with  death,  and  the  slavery  of  the  offender’s  family ; theft,  and  minor 
 offences,  by  heavy  fines. 
 
 2 
 
DESCRIPTION  OF  PULO  NIAS. 
 
 491 
 
 “ In  cases  of  debt,  on  failure  of  payment  at  the  regular  time,  the  amount  is 
 doubled ; on  a second  failure  it  is  doubled  again,  and  so  on  until  it  amounts  to  a 
 certain  sum,  when  the  creditor  is  considered  entitled  to  the  person  of  his  debtor  as 
 a slave.  Should  the  debtor  avoid  compliance,  which  is  often  the  case,  the  creditor 
 may  seize  on  any  member  of  his  family ; and  when  they  belong  to  different  districts, 
 the  first  straggler  of  the  tribe  is  sometimes  made  responsible.  This  practice  pro- 
 duces much  distrust,  as  no  man  is  secure  from  seizure  on  some  pretence  or  other ; 
 and  the  consequence  is,  they  are  always  on  their  guard,  and  never  move  any  where 
 unarmed.  All  mamages  are  by  jujur  (or  purchase),  and  the  amount  is  very  high. 
 It  is  probable  that  a gi*eat  part  of  the  debts  are  incurred  on  this  account. 
 
 All  the  evils  arising  fr'om  the  imperfections  of  their  civil  institutions  have 
 been  aggravated  and  increased  by  the  odious  traffic  in  slaves ; and  as  this  subject  is 
 one  of  peculiar  interest,  we  have  been  particular  in  obtaining  the  most  minute 
 information  concerning  its  extent,  causes,  and  origin. 
 
 “ The  greatest  number  of  slaves  has  hitherto  been  exported  from  Sumanbawa 
 and  Sello  Dalum ; those  from  the  northern  parts  have  been  much  fewer.  It  is  by 
 no  means  easy  to  get  an  exact  account  of  their  numbers,  some  endeavouring  to 
 extenuate  and  diminish  it,  and  others  equally  desirous  of  magnifying  it,  according  as 
 they  wished  to  give  a favourable  impression  of  their  conduct,  or  a high  idea  of  their 
 wealth  ; and  the  very  nature  of  the  trade  in  some  measure  precludes  exactness. 
 From  a comparison,  however,  of  these  different  accounts,  checked  by  an  estimate  of 
 the  number  of  vessels  resorting  thither,  and  the  value  of  their  imports,  we  are  satisfied 
 that  the  annual  number  exported  has  not  fallen  short  of  fifteen  hundred.  According 
 to  some  accounts,  more  than  this  had  been  carried  from  Sumanbawa  alone.  They 
 are  purchased  chiefly  by  Achenese  and  Chinese  vessels,  the  latter  of  whom  carry 
 them  to  Padang  and  Batavia. 
 
 “ The  circumstances  that  attend  the  traffic  are  no  less  revolting  to  humanity 
 than  those  which  marked  it  on  the  coasts  of  Africa.  The  unhappy  victims,  torn  by 
 violence  from  their  friends  and  country,  are  delivered  pinioned  hand  and  foot  to 
 the  dealers  in  human  flesh ; they  are  kept  bound  during  the  whole  course  of  the 
 voyage,  a precaution  which  is  considered  necessary  to  the  safety  of  the  crew.  In- 
 stances have  occuiTed  where  the  captives  have  seized  a moment  of  Hberty  to  snatch 
 up  the  first  weapon  within  their  reach,  stab  all  whom  they  have  encountered,  and 
 conclude  the  scene  by  leaping  overboard,  and  voluntarily  seeking  a watery  death. 
 In  their  country,  the  Nias  people  rarely  make  use  of  rice  as  food,  and  are  almost 
 unacquainted  with  the  use  of  salt.  The  sudden  change  of  diet  to  which  they  are 
 subjected  on  board  ship,  added  to  the  confinement  and  dejection  of  mind,  prove 
 fatal  to  many  : of  a cargo  of  thirty  slaves,  twenty  have  been  known  to  perish  before 
 the  conclusion  of  the  voyage ; and,  on  a moderate  calculation,  it  may  be  estimated, 
 that  of  the  total  number  purchased,  one-fourth  never  reach  their  destinations,  but 
 fall  victims  to  the  various  causes  above  mentioned. 
 
 3 R 2 
 
192 
 
 DESCRIPTION  OF  PULO  NIAS. 
 
 “ On  the  scenes  of  \iolence  that  take  place  in  this  country  itself  in  the  search 
 of  victims,  it  wll  be  useless  to  dwell ; they  can  be  better  imagined  than  described. 
 \^'e  shall  merely  relate  one  well-authenticated  instance,  as  given  by  an  eye-witness. 
 
 ‘ A plan  had  been  laid  to  attack  a single  insulated  house,  inhabited  by  a man,  his 
 wfe,  and  children,  and  to  seize  the  whole  family.  At  the  appointed  hour  the  house 
 was  siu-rounded,  but  the  man  no  sooner  discovered  his  situation,  understood  the  pur- 
 pose, and  saw  that  there  Avas  no  escape,  than  he  locked  himself  into  the  inner  apart- 
 ment, drew  his  kris,  killed  first  his  \Nife  and  cliildi-en,  and  then  plmiged  it  in  his  o\vn 
 breast,  preferring  death  to  a life  of  slavery.’ 
 
 “ Such  are  the  circumstances  that  our  inquiries  have  brought  to  light ; it  is 
 impossible  to  contemplate  such  high  qualities  as  we  have  described,  subjected  to 
 such  e^'ils,  without  feeling  the  strongest  interest  m their  favour.  They  have  ap- 
 pealed to  Britain  for  protection ; they  have  placed  themselves  under  her  flag  and 
 dominion.  We  cannot  forbear  recording  the  remarkable  expression  of  one  of  the 
 Chiefs  of  Tellddalam.  He  earnestly  entreated  us  not  to  leave  him  : ‘ Have  patience 
 with  us,’  he  said ; ‘ we  are  ignorant  uninstmcted  people,  but  w'e  are  desirous  of 
 obtaining  the  means  of  improvement ; formerly  w'e  looked  to  the  Malays  and  to  the 
 Achenese,  but  they  deceived  us ; if  you  should  now  desert  us,  from  w^hom  can  we 
 entertain  any  hope  T We  trust  the  appeal  will  not  be  in  vain. 
 
 With  a \iew  to  ascertain  the  best  means  of  effecting  the  suppression  of  this 
 nefarious  commerce,  we  have  been  minute  in  our  inquiries  into  the  causes  and  origin 
 of  slavery  on  Pulo  Nias,  and  the  mode  in  which  slaves  are  procured.  Slavery  is 
 recognized  by  their  laws  and  customs ; it  is  the  punishment  ordained  for  certain 
 crimes,  and  it  is  permitted  as  the  ultimate  resource  in  cases  of  debt.  These  customs 
 have,  no  doubt,  been  much  increased  in  severity  by  the  temptation  of  an  external  de- 
 mand, and  are  often  employed  on  very  slight  pretences,  but  they  are  quite  inadequate 
 to  account  for  the  great  number  annually  exported.  We  have  abundant  proof  that 
 the  greater  number  are  made  slaves  by  open  and  actual  Anolence.  The  Rajahs  had 
 little  hesitation  in  admitting  the  fact,  but  said  that  the  system  originated  with 
 foreigners,  and  that  the  source  of- the  e^il  w'as  without.  In  fact,  the  temptation  of 
 exorbitant  gain,  and  the  persuasion  of  the  dealers  who  resort  to  the  ports,  prove 
 too  much  for  their  self-denial,  and  induce  the  most  unprincipled  among  them  to 
 have  recourse  to  every  means  of  fi'aud,  stratagem,  or  Holence,  to  procm*e  \dctims  to 
 their  avarice. 
 
 “ It  must  not  be  forgotten  to  record,  that  w'e  have  met  with  a few  instances  of 
 Chiefs  whose  \-irtues  have  been  proof  against  temptation  ; who  had  not  only  pro- 
 hibited the  traffic  in  their  own  districts,  but  even  refused  to  permit  the  transit  of 
 slaves  fi'om  the  interior,  or  their  disposal  in  any  manner  at  their  respective  ports. 
 We  had  still  greater  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  the  conduct  of  the  Rajah  of  Suman- 
 hawa.  On  the  subject  being  first  opened  to  him,  and  our  ^iew’^s  and  intentions 
 explained,  he  expressed  his  own  approbation,  but  wished  to  communicate  with  the 
 
DESCRIPTION  OF  PULO  NIAS. 
 
 493 
 
 Chief  of  the  interior,  with  whom  he  was  connected,  before  entering  into  such  im- 
 portant engagements  ; the  answer  proved  unfavourable,  and  the  Rajah  was  threat- 
 ened with  vengeance.  After  some  consultation,  however,  he  came  on  board  and 
 acquainted  us  that  he  was  determined  to  disregard  the  threats  of  the  interior  Chief, 
 and  to  enter  into  agreements  with  us.  He  professed  himself  ready  to  shut  his  ports 
 against  all  exportation  of  slaves,  on  condition  of  our  affording  protection  and  encou- 
 ragement to  legitimate  commerce.  This  was  peculiarly  gratifying,  as  Sumanbawa 
 has  hitherto  been  the  greatest  slave-port  on  the  Island.  Indeed  it  is  but  justice  to 
 all  the  Chiefs  to  say,  that  on  a full  discussion,  they  entered  into  our  views  with 
 regard  to  the  slave-trade,  with  more  cordiality  than  could  have  been  expected. 
 
 ‘‘  The  measures,  therefore,  to  be  adopted  for  its  suppression  appear  to  divide 
 themselves  into  three  branches.  First,  to  check  as  much  as  possible  the  external 
 demand;  second,  to  endeavour  to  soften  and  modify  the  severity  of  the  native 
 customs ; and  third,  to  provide  the  means  of  relief  to  debtors,  and  such  as  by  exist- 
 ing usages  are  liable  to  the  condition  of  slavery. 
 
 “ On  inquiring  of  the  different  Rajahs  the  number  of  persons  in  a state  of 
 slavery  on  account  of  debt,  whose  redemption  they  wished  to  effect,  the  answer  was 
 uniformly  ‘ we  have  none,  but  if  you  wish  to  purchase  slaves,  wait  a few  days  and  you 
 may  have  a hundred.’  On  inquiring  further  how  this  was  to  be  effected,  we  found 
 that  they  had  only  to  send  notice  to  their  agents  among  the  interior  Rajahs,  and  any 
 number  were  forthwith  brought  down  bound.  They  probably  sent  word  to  catch  so 
 many  slaves,  with  as  much  indifference  as  they  would  have  given  an  order  to  catch 
 so  many  hogs  for  the  same  purpose.  The  fact  is  the  arrival  of  the  trading  boats, 
 which  takes  place  at  a certain  season,  is  the  signal  for  universal  rapine  and  violence 
 throughout  the  interior. 
 
 On  the  subject  of  religion,  the  people  of  Pulo  Nias  have  but  few  ideas ; they 
 acknowledge  a Supreme  Being,  whom  they  caU  Sumban  Quit  or  the  Lord  of  Heaven, 
 but  they  had  no  distinct  notions  respecting  him.  Wooden  images  are  to  be  found 
 in  all  their  houses  which  are  regarded  as  a kind  of  lares  or  protecting  household 
 gods,  but  no  worship  is  addressed  to  them ; they  are  rather  considered  as  representa- 
 tives or  memorials  of  their  ancestors,  for  whom  they  have  a great  reverence.  A 
 belief  in  charms  is  common,  and  every  man  carries  a bundle  of  these  attached  to  his 
 kris — great  occasions  are  celebrated  by  the  slaughter  of  hogs  and  a great  feast ; and 
 when  a Chief  commences  any  affair  of  consequence,  as  the  building  of  a house,  the 
 head  of  an  enemy  is  sometimes  suspended  in  honour  of  the  circumstance.  Their 
 form  of  oath  is  by  cutting  the  throat  of  a hog,  while  the  party  invokes  the  vengeance 
 of  heaven  that  he  may  suffer  the  fate  of  the  said  animal  if  he  prove  unfaithful 
 to  his  oath. 
 
 " In  these  rude  notions  we  can  trace  little  more  than  the  unassisted  efforts  of 
 the  human  mind  in  a low  state  of  civilization,  conscious  of  the  limitation  of  its  own 
 powers,  and  impelled  thereby  to  imagine  a superior  existence.  It  would  be  vain  to 
 
494 
 
 REFORM  IN  THE  SYSTEM  OF  ACCOUNTS. 
 
 trace  a connection  between  them  and  any  of  the  forms  of  Pagan  worship  established 
 in  the  East.  The  people  of  Nias  had  probably  been  separated  at  a very  early 
 period  from  their  original  stock,  and  have  been  exempted  by  their  insular  situation 
 from  the  influence  of  the  various  religions  that  have  at  different  times  pervaded  the 
 greater  islands.  The  settlement  of  Mahomedans  have  been  of  too  recent  a date  to 
 have  much  influence,  and  they  have  made  but  few  converts ; they  have  not,  however, 
 overlooked  the  object,  but  have  generally  defeated  it  by  their  rapacity  and  ^iolence. 
 By  Europeans  the  Island  has  been  ahnost  entirely  neglected.  Thus  abandoned  to 
 the  ravages  of  pirates,  and  to  all  the  evils  of  an  active  slave-trade,  we  cannot  but 
 estimate  highly  those  native  energies  which  have  rendered  their  country  populous 
 and  flomishing  in  spite  of  so  many  obstacles.” 
 
 Sir  Stamford  was  anxious  to  do  the  utmost  possible  good  for  such  an  Island  and 
 such  a people.  It  has  been  stated  that  Pulo  Nias  is  the  granary  of  that  side  of  Sumatra, 
 and  the  extent  of  its  grain  produce  only  hmited  by  the  demand.  The  benefits  arising 
 from  the  suppression  of  the  slave  trade  would  not  be  confined  to  the  rehef  of  the  un- 
 happy victims  alone,  but  would  be  the  first  step  to  the  civilization  of  the  country.  In- 
 dependent of  the  habits  of  cruelty  and  rapine  which  it  tends  to  infuse,  the  exorbitant 
 profit  it  holds  out,  like  those  of  gambling,  excites  an  aversion  to  the  slower  advantages 
 of  legitimate  commerce  and  agricultural  labour.  It  required  no  special  intei-position  of 
 foreign  influence  ; a few  stations  of  police  along  the  coast  would  have  been  sufficient 
 evidence  of  protection,  and  this  Sir  Stamford  warmly  advocated,  and  hoped  so  great  a 
 benefit  so  easily  obtained  would  meet  with  approbation  from  all  the  wise  and  good  : 
 hut  the  Court  of  Directors  “ had  no  hesitation  in  declaring  that  his  proceedings  in 
 regard  to  Pulo  Nias  were  deserving  of  their  decided  reprehension.”  “ And  they  were 
 inclined  to  \nsit  him  wnth  some  severe  mark  of  their  displeasure  for  the  steps  he  had 
 taken,”  and  threatened  to  remove  him  from  his  government. 
 
 After  the  transfer  of  Sumatra  to  the  Dutch,  the  slave-trade  was  resmned 
 with  greater  \ngour  than  ever ; and  numbers  of  these  poor  people  have  since  been 
 earned  away  to  Batavia,  and  the  French  Island  of  Bourbon. 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  Feb.  1st,  1821. 
 
 “ I am  now  engaged  in  drawing  up  a detailed  report  of  the  past,  present,  and 
 anticipated  circumstances  of  this  settlement  with  reference  to  its  finances  in  parti- 
 cular. This  report  will  not  be  long,  but  it  takes  time  to  go  through  the  books,  and 
 draw  out  abstract  statements  of  the  accounts. 
 
 “ I have  had  a great  deal  of  trouble  in  revising  and  reforming  oiu  general  books 
 and  accounts,  and  it  is  only  lately  that  I have  received  authority  fi'om  Bengal  to  clear 
 them  of  the  rubhish  and  confusion  which  has  been  heaped  upon  them  during  the  last 
 twenty  years  of  ruin  and  desolation. 
 
IMPROVEMENT  OF  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 495 
 
 “ It  was  usual  for  the  accounts  of  the  different  public  offices  to  be  invariably 
 framed  in  the  accountant’s  office  some  time  after  the  receipts  and  disbursements  were 
 made,  so  as  to  throw  into  the  accounts  of  each  month  all  charges  belonging  to  it, 
 notwithstanding  the  actual  disbursements  so  brought  to  account  were  made  in  another 
 month  ; a practice  which,  however  it  may  have  tended  to  an  apparent  regularity  in 
 the  form  of  the  accounts,  necessarily  deprived  them  of  all  genuineness  and  honesty  of 
 character ; they  were  in  fact  fabricated  accounts. 
 
 In  the  former  accounts  of  the  settlement,  it  was  the  practice  to  have  all  heavy 
 charges,  whether  on  account  of  buildings,  repairs,  &c.  &c.  or  debts,  as  open  accounts 
 to  the  credit  of  the  Company  as  stock.  I have  had  them  written  off  as  charges  of  the 
 year,  and  the  revised  accounts  and  balances  at  the  beginning  of  the  present  year  will 
 shew  you  the  extent  to  which  this  was  carried,  and  the  enormous  amount  of  the  really 
 unavailable  stock  which  I found  standing  on  the  books.  The  whole  of  this  ought  to 
 have  been  written  off  in  former  years,  and  if  the  amount  is  divided  on  an  average  for 
 the  last  twenty  years,  it  will  be  found  that  not  less  than  a lack  of  rupees  annually 
 should  be  added  to  the  apparent  charges.” 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Bcncoolen,  May  15,  1821. 
 
 “ I have  not  much  to  communicate  from  hence.  We  have  about  half-a-dozen 
 new  animals  to  describe,  and  our  collections  of  plants  are  rapidly  increasing.  What 
 shall  we  do  with  them  ? If  we  do  not  clear  off  as  we  go,  we  shall  find  ourselves  ter- 
 ribly clogged  in  our  future  exertions. 
 
 “ Our  agriculture  is  extending,  and  much  of  my  time  is  spent  in  the  country.  1 
 am  now  completing  a very  comfortable  residence ; the  grounds  are  in  one  direction 
 about  fom*  miles  long,  and  towards  the  hills  about  three  miles  wide.  We  hope  to 
 raise  all  our  supplies  on  them,  as  the  sawah  land  is  very  extensive,  and  I have  up- 
 wards of  two  hundred  head  of  fine  cattle.  Our  roads  are  excellent.  The  distance 
 is  about  thirteen  miles  from  Marlborough ; but  I think  the  communication  is  much 
 quicker  than  between  Aldenham  and  London,  as  our  friends  think  nothing  of  driving 
 out  to  breakfast,  and  returning  before  the  heat  of  the  day. 
 
 “ I sincerely  hope  we  shall  carry  you  along  with  us  in  our  progress  of  improve- 
 ment. I need  not  tell  you  how  anxious  I am  to  know  your  sentiments  on  what  we 
 are  doing ; for  you  must  be  pretty  well  aware  that  in  all  such  proceedings  it  is  rather 
 to  good  and  sincere  fi'iends  that  I can  look  for  advice  and  support,  than  to  the  higher 
 official  authorities  with  whom  I am  in  communication.  Neither  the  Court  of  Direc- 
 tors nor  the  Supreme  Government  seems  inchned  to  enter  into  any  improvements 
 which  do  not  decrease  expenses,  and  raise  immediate  revenues  ; and  I find  that  it  is 
 really  lost  labour  to  enter  into  long  explanations,  and  furnish  them  vrith  despatches 
 which  they  never  read.  While  I am  conscious  of  taking  the  right  path,  I shall  perse- 
 
496 
 
 DUTCH  TREATY  WITH  RACHMET  SHAH. 
 
 vere  ; and  I suppose  that  in  the  end,  when  we  come  to  collect  the  fruits,  we  shall  find 
 all  the  authorities  \nlling  to  gather  them. 
 
 “ Our  climate  is  excellent  and  delightful,  and  the  improvements  which  we  see 
 give  an  interest  in  the  place  which  I never  thought  it  capable  of  exciting. 
 
 ‘‘  Lady  Raffles  bears  up  remarkably  well.  Marsden,  your  godson,  I am  happy 
 to  say,  is  getting  on  very  fast.  My  other  children  are  becoming  quite  companions, 
 and  often  remind  me  of  the  necessity  I shall  be  under  of  returning  to  England  at  no 
 very  distant  date. 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencooleny  May  25,  1821. 
 
 “ You  mention  the  Dutch  treaty  with  Rachmet  Shah  of  Lingin,  and  say  it  is  more 
 liberal  than  ours : either  tlie  Dutch  have  foisted  upon  you  a false  copy  of  the  treaty, 
 or  you  must  have  read  strangely.  I have,  however,  a copy  of  the  true  treaty,  and  the 
 following  observations  will  shew  you  my  opinion  upon  the  subject. 
 
 “ This  treaty  (Para.  3)  is  also  a daring  violation  of  the  very  rights  on  which 
 they  claim  respect  from  other  powers  to  their  treaties,  inasmuch  as  with  full  know- 
 ledge of  the  commercial  treaty,  concluded  by  us  with  the  same  person  on  the  9th  of 
 August  preceding,  they  seem  to  make  no  difficulty  to  stipulate  for  its  violation  in  the 
 sixteenth  article  of  what  they  call  their  treaty,  which  excludes  from  the  ports  of  Rhio 
 and  all  other  ports  of  Johore,  the  ships  of  every  power,  European  or  American,  with 
 the  exception  of  those  belonging  to  Holland. 
 
 “ In  conclusion,  the  terms  of  this  treaty,  and  the  circumstances  under  which  it 
 was  made,  are  so  extraordinary,  and  form  such  a combination  as  we  could  hardly  have 
 supposed  to  belong  to  the  present  age.  They  are  briefly  these  : — 
 
 “ A Dutch  squadron  enters  the  port  of  a power,  which  had  but  three  months 
 before  concluded  a commercial  treaty  with  the  British,  and  proposes  to  the  Chief  the 
 terms  of  a treaty  inconsistent  with  his  pre\dous  engagements  ; on  the  refusal  of  the 
 Chief  his  port  is  blockaded  by  a naval  and  military  force,  and  he  is  at  length  com- 
 pelled to  become  the  commissioner  of  an  absent  prince,  who  did  not  possess  the  title 
 or  the  authority  which  they  gratuitously  bestow  on  him,  and  who  himself  has  dis- 
 claimed all  right  to  their  possession, 
 
 “ One  article  of  this  treaty  confers  on  this  absent  prince,  as  a sincere  token  of 
 their  good-will,  the  favour  of  becoming  a vassal  to  the  power  with  whom  he  is  sup- 
 posed to  be  treating  as  an  independent  prince.  Another,  ‘ as  a token  of  their  earnest 
 desire  to  promote  the  welfare’  of  a trading  people,  excludes  from  the  ports  all  ship- 
 ping but  their  ovm.  They  next  proceed  to  appropriate  half  of  the  revenues  of  the 
 place  to  themselves,  on  the  plea  that  their  King  is  obliged  to  pay  his  own  servants. 
 They  grant  him  a military  force  at  his  particular  desire ; at  length,  on  pretence  of 
 preventing  piracy,  they  pennit  him  to  hoist  their  flag  on  pain  of  his  vessels  being  fired 
 
REASONS  FOR  RETURNING  TO  ENGLAND. 
 
 497 
 
 into  if  he  does  not  do  so ; and,  to  complete  the  series,  the  witness  in  the  beginning 
 becomes  a commissioner  at  the  end.  It  is  difficult  to  look  seriously  on  such  a docu- 
 ment, and  ridiculous  to  maintain  the  validity  of  an  instrument  which  bears  on  its  face 
 so  much  inconsistency  and  absurdity. 
 
 “ Such  are  the  remarks  I have  to  make  on  this  celebrated  treaty  of  1819,  and  I 
 would  repeat  as  my  present  sentiments — such  are  the  facts  of  the  case. 
 
 As  to  Sidtan  Rachmet  Shah,  I never  considered  him  more  than  Rajah  of 
 Lingin.  Rhio  was  always  considered  independent ; it  was  not  until  Rachmet  Shah 
 declared  he  was  not  Sultan,  that  we  inquired  who  really  was  and  ought  to  be  such.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  May  29,  1821. 
 
 ***** 
 
 “ God  willing,  we  hope  to  embark  fi*om  this  for  England,  if  not  in  1823,  certainly 
 in  1824;  I am  not  aware  of  any  changes  which  are  likely  to  protract  my  departure. 
 On  the  contrary,  every  thing  seems  to  concur  in  proving  the  necessity,  to  say  nothing 
 of  the  inchnation  to  return  : political  events  may  hasten,  but  cannot  well  retard  it ; 
 and  my  presence  in  England  may  soon  become  indispensable  in  support  of  what  I 
 have  been  trying  to  do  in  this  part  of  the  world.  It  is  hardly  possible  for  you  to  con- 
 ceive how  much  I have  suffered  for  opening  so  important  a channel  for  trade  as  has 
 been  effected  by  the  establishment  of  Singapore  : every  thing  is  condemned.  But  a 
 truce  to  politics  : I have  other  reasons  to  urge  me  home.  Neither  my  health  nor  that 
 of  Lady  Raffles  is  very  good ; I never  was  strong,  and  during  my  first  residence  in 
 India,  the  climate  made  a considerable  inroad  on  my  constitution.  I have  had  two 
 or  three  severe  attacks  since  my  return,  and  am  now  under  the  necessity  of  being 
 very  careful.  I really  do  not  think  I could  last  out  above  two  or  three  years 
 more ; and  certainly  ambition  shall  not  weigh  with  me  one  moment  against 
 life.  Besides  this,  my  dear  httle  rogues  wiU  be  rapidly  expanding.  Charlotte  is 
 already  as  advanced  as  most  children  of  five  years  old  : she  takes  an  interest  in  every 
 thing  that  is  going  forward,  and  is  really  becoming  quite  a companion.  In  two  or 
 three  years  both  her  mind  and  body  will  require  a colder  climate,  and  to  send  her 
 home  for  her  education,  as  people  usually  send  their  children  from  this  country,  is 
 out  of  the  question  ; we  have  determined  to  take  her  and  all  the  children  (for  we 
 have  now  four  born  within  as  many  years)  and  to  time  our  departure  with  reference 
 to  their  health  and  happiness.  Leopold  also  will,  in  two  or  three  years,  have  grown 
 beyond  my  management,  and  it  will  be  time  to  commence  upon  the  rudiments  of  a 
 better  education  than  I can  give  him.  I believe  people  generally  think  I shall  remain 
 longer,  as  they  hardly  suppose  in  such  times,  and  with  an  increasing  family,  a man 
 will  be  inchned  to  forego  the  advantages  of  the  field  before  me ; but  they  know  me 
 not.  I have  seen  enough  of  power  and  wealth  to  know  that,  however  agreeable  to 
 
 3 s 
 
498 
 
 NASSAU  ISLANDS. 
 
 the  propensities  of  our  nature,  there  is  more  real  happiness  in  domestic  quiet  and 
 repose,  when  blessed  with  a competence,  than  in  all  the  fancied  enjojnnents  of  the 
 great  and  the  rich. 
 
 “ Of  public  news  I have  very  little  to  communicate,  and  perhaps  none  that  will 
 be  interesting.  The  Dutch,  you  know,  are  still  at  war  with  Palembang,  and  they 
 have  lately  fitted  out  a third  expedition,  consisting  of  upwards  of  3000  Europeans, 
 fresh  from  Holland ; poor  fellows  ! They  are  determined  on  vengeance.  No  quarter 
 is  to  be  given,  and  dreadful  will  be  the  massacre  if  they  succeed,  which  God  forbid ! 
 
 Our  establishment  at  Singapore  is  gaining  ground  so  rapidly,  that  the  Dutch 
 are  determined  to  risk  every  thing,  sooner  than  allow  us  to  remain ; and,  as  far  as  I 
 can  judge  of  the  proceedings  between  the  Commissioners  in  England,  there  is  reason 
 to  fear  they  will  gain  their  point.  It  is  the  only  chance  our  ministers  have  of  making 
 some  amends  for  the  manner  in  which  they  restored  Java. 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 “ I am  afraid  you  will  find  this  a very  long  and  selfish  letter,  and  yet  you  beg 
 of  me  to  say  more  of  me  and  mine.  I have  endeavoured  to  obey  your  commands.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ June  12,  1821. 
 
 “ In  my  last  letter,  I informed  you  I was  much  interested  mth  the  people  of 
 Pulo  Nias ; during  the  last  month  my  attention  has  been  entirely  devoted  to  them, 
 and  I am  half  inchned  to  WTite  a book  in  their  favour,  in  order  to  prove  that  they 
 are  the  happiest  and  the  best  people  on  earth.  I had  nearly  made  my  mind  up  to 
 this,  when  I made  further  discoveries  in  the  neighbouring  Islands,  called  the  Nassau 
 or  Poggy  Islands,  where  I fomid  a people  still  more  amiable,  and,  if  possible,  still 
 more  genuine.  If  I go  on  at  this  rate,  I may  expect  to  discover  the  garden  of  Eden, 
 and  the  descendants  of  our  first  parents,  enjoying  all  the  simplicity  of  primeval  times. 
 
 “ It  is  very  certain  that  on  the  first  discovery  of  what  we  term  savage  nations, 
 philosophers  went  beyond  all  reason  and  truth  in  favom’  of  uncivilized  happiness ; 
 but  it  is  no  less  certain,  that  of  late  years,  the  tide  of  prejudice  has  run  equally 
 strong  in  the  opposite  direction ; and  it  is  now  the  fashion  to  consider  all  who  have 
 not  received  the  impression  of  Em-opean  arms  and  laws,  and  the  fights  of  Revela- 
 tion, as  devoid  of  every  feeling  and  principle  which  can  constitute  happiness,  or  pro- 
 duce moral  good.  The  truth,  most  probably,  as  is  generally  the  case,  lies  between 
 the  two  extremes,  and  there  is,  no  doubt,  much  difference,  according  to  the  circum- 
 stances under  which  the  people  may  have  been  placed.  We  find,  in  some  of  the 
 Islands  of  the  South  Seas,  people  who  are  habitually  mischievous,  given  to  thieving, 
 lazy  and  intractable  ; in  others,  we  find  the  very  opposite  qualities ; and  philoso- 
 phers, speculating  upon  the  first  data  that  are  afforded,  without  full  and  general 
 information,  are  led  into  error. 
 
RAVAGES  OF  THE  CHOLERA  MORBUS. 
 
 499 
 
 “ Various  circumstances  have  hitherto  prevented  me  from  penetrating  into  the 
 Batta  country,  but  I lose  no  opportunity  of  collecting  information,  and  your  Grace 
 will  not  perhaps  be  surprised  to  learn,  that  even  among  these  cannibals,  I find  much 
 to  praise  and  admire.  In  one  province  I have  ascertained,  beyond  doubt,  that  a 
 considerable  refinement  has  taken  place  in  the  mode  of  eating  parents.  Here,  in- 
 stead of  the  young  people  eating  the  old  ones,  when  past  work,  they  send  them  to 
 
 their  neighbours,  wiio,  in  due  time,  return  the  compliment  to  them.” 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  July  12,  1821. 
 
 “ You  must,  during  the  last  year,  have  been  so  much  pestered  with  my  letters, 
 that  a respite  of  a few  months  will  be  very  acceptable.  Your  letters  of  the  21st 
 November  and  28th  December  have  duly  arrived ; and  I hardly  know  how  to  thank 
 you  for  the  zealous  interest  you  have  taken  in  all  the  questions  I have  so  unmerci- 
 fully troubled  you  with.  You  have  done  just  as  I could  have  wished  in  every  thing, 
 and,  once  for  all,  allow  me  to  retmm  my  most  sincere  and  grateful  acknowledge- 
 ments. 
 
 I have  obtained  a great  mathematical  assistant,  and  hope  to  do  something 
 respecting  the  geography  of  the  Island.  Dr.  Jack  and  a few  friends  have  just 
 ascended  the  sugar-loaf,  and  were  the  first  Europeans  who  had  reached  the  summit ; 
 they  are  still  out  in  their  rambles,  and  will,  I hope,  bring  in  an  abundant  collection 
 in  the  botanical  department.  Of  animals  they  have  not  yet  obtained  one  that  is 
 new ; and,  indeed,  they  observe,  with  regard  to  the  mountain,  that  it  is  in  vain  to 
 look  for  them  there,  as  none  but  monkeys  can  possibly  climb  the  rocks. 
 
 “ Java,  I am  concerned  to  say,  is  suffering  under  all  the  miseries  of  the  exter- 
 minating cholera ; the  deaths  average  eight  hundred  a day,  and  from  ten  minutes  to 
 fom*  hours  is  the  usual  period  of  illness.  God  grant  it  may  not  extend  this  way, 
 although,  as  one  of  the  Radins  said  on  the  occasion,  if  it  did,  it  would  leave  us 
 much  as  it  found  us,  as  the  population  could  not  be  well  more  scanty  than  at 
 present. 
 
 “ Yom*  god-son  grows  a fine  boy,  and  runs  about.  Lady  Raffles  has  since  pre- 
 sented me  with  another  girl.” 
 
 Upwards  of  three  years  had  passed  in  uninterrupted  health  and  happiness,  but 
 a sad  reverse  took  place  at  this  period ; the  blessings  most  prized  were  withdrawn  ; 
 the  child  most  dear  to  the  father’s  heart,  whose  brightness  and  beauty  were  his 
 pride  and  happiness,  expired  in  all  the  bloom  of  infancy,  after  a few  hours’  illness  ; 
 and  from  this  time  until  his  return  to  England,  sickness  and  death  prevailed  through- 
 out the  settlement  and  in  his  own  family ; but  God’s  Holy  Spirit  enabled  him  to 
 
500 
 
 ANECDOTE  OF  A NATIVE  WOMAN. 
 
 receive  these  afflictions  with  meekness,  and  to  feel  that  they  were  trials  of  faith  not 
 judgments  of  anger. 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  July  \%th,  1821. 
 
 I little  thought  a week  ago,  when  overwhelmed  with  grief  by  the  loss  of  our 
 dear  and  eldest  boy  Leopold,  who  was  snatched  from  us  after  a very  short  illness, 
 that  I should  so  soon  have  been  called  upon  to  report  upon  another,  and  to  you,  my 
 dear  friend,  a still  more  severe  loss.  A vessel  leaves  this  port  immediately,  and  bad 
 news  flies  fast.  Cruel  as  must  be  the  stroke,  and  ill  qualifled  as  I am  at  the  present 
 moment  to  break  it  to  you  with  the  tenderness  and  caution  I could  wish,  I must 
 perform  the  duty ; I must  rend  your  heart  by  telling  you  that  our  dear  friend  and 
 your  brother  Harry  is  no  more  ! 
 
 “He  breathed  his  last  yesterday,  and  was  carried  off  in  a few  days  by  a series 
 of  apoplectic  fits,  which  baffled  all  the  powers  of  medicine.  He  has  just  been  buried, 
 and  I snatch  a moment  from  the  time  I am  obhged  to  devote  to  Sophia  to  send  you 
 the  melancholy  intelligence. 
 
 ***** 
 
 “ I shall  not  trouble  you  with  our  griefs,  you  will  have  enough  of  your  own. 
 Neither  Sophia  nor  myself  are  well,  and  time  and  the  influence  of  God’s  blessed  Spirit 
 can  alone  work  any  change.  My  resolution  is  taken  to  return  home  during  the  next 
 or  the  following  year. 
 
 “ Neither  my  health  nor  spirits,  nor  indeed  my  time,  if  I had  either,  enable  me 
 to  say  more ; in  a few  days  we  shall  be  more  collected.  God  bless  you ! and  believe 
 that  there  are  hearts  here  which  sympathize  with  yours  most  deeply.” 
 
 As  an  example  of  the  character  and  feeling  of  the  people,  the  following  anec- 
 dote may  be  interesting.  Whilst  the  Editor  was  almost  overwhelmed  with  grief  for 
 the  loss  of  this  favourite  child,  unable  to  bear  the  sight  of  her  other  children — 
 unable  to  bear  even  the  hght  of  day, — humbled  upon  her  couch  with  a feeling  of 
 misery, — she  was  addressed  by  a poor,  ignorant,  uninstructed  native  woman  of  the 
 lowest  class,  (who  had  been  employed  about  the  nursery),  in  tenns  of  reproach  not 
 to  be  forgotten.  “ I am  come  because  you  have  been  here  many  days  shut  up  in  a 
 dark  room,  and  no  one  dares  to  come  near  you.  Are  you  not  ashamed  to  grieve  in 
 this  manner,  when  you  ought  to  be  thanking  God  for  having  given  you  the  most 
 beautiful  child  that  ever  was  seen?  Were  you  not  the  envy  of  every  body?  Did 
 any  one  ever  see  him,  or  speak  of  him,  without  admiring  him ; and  instead  of  letting 
 this  child  continue  in  this  world  till  he  should  be  worn  out  with  trouble  and  sorrow, 
 has  not  God  taken  him  to  heaven  in  all  his  beauty  ? What  would  you  have  more  ? 
 for  shame,  leave  off  weeping  and  let  me  open  a window.” 
 
ECONOMY  OF  SIR  STAMFORD’S  GOVERNMENT. 
 
 501 
 
 * 
 
 To 
 
 * 
 
 * 
 
 Bencoolen,  October  I6th,  1821. 
 * * 
 
 " So  far  from  my  administration  being  expensive,  you  will  perceive  that  the  nett 
 charges  are  less  than  any  former  year,  notwithstanding  all  the  changes  that  have 
 
 been  worked,  and  that  they  are  in  a gradual  course  of  reduction. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 “ My  spirits  are  quite  broken  dovra,  and  I can  write  but  httle. 
 
 ^ ^ ^ 
 
 I send  by  this  conveyance  my  report  on  the  past,  present,  and  future,  or 
 rather  prospective  circumstances  of  Bencoolen.  It  is  my  last  effort,  and  will  prove 
 that  my  finances  will  bear  the  test  of  examination.  You  will  perceive  how  we  are 
 reducing  the  nett  charges. 
 
 “ I do  not  expect  an  unlimited  surrender  in  favour  of  colonization,  but  it  is  a 
 great  point  even  to  move  the  question.  If  we  can  go  silently  on,  the  end  will  be 
 accomphshed  eventually ; aU  we  want  is  men  and  capital,  and  certainly  you  have 
 abundance  to  spare. 
 
 We  are  getting  better,  but  Sophia  is  not  competent  to  write.” 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  November  9tk,  1821. 
 
 " My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I have  before  me  your  long  and  kind  letters  of  the  11th,  19th,  and  23d 
 of  March,  the  last  which  I have  received,  and  I can  hardly  find  words  to  express  to 
 you  either  my  acknowledgments  for  the  warm  interest  which  you  have  taken  in  all 
 that  concerns  me,  or  my  regret  and  annoyance  that  I should  have  subjected  you  to 
 so  much  trouble  and  inconvenience.  For  the  latter  I have  no  excuse  to  offer  but 
 the  necessity  which  obliged  me  to  call  upon  some  friend  on  whom  I knew  I could 
 rely ; and  in  the  hope  that  your  kindness,  hke  charity,  will  cover  a multitude  of 
 sins,  I will  fain  trust  that  I am  already  forgiven  for  the  unreasonable  intrusion  on 
 your  time. 
 
 ‘‘  I will  write  you  more  fully  hereafter,  at  present  I am  hurried  and  I am  sorry 
 to  say  very  far  from  well.  The  loss  of  our  eldest  boy  has  been  a severe  stroke  to 
 us,  and  followed  as  it  has  been  by  so  many  deaths  among  our  relatives  and  connec- 
 tions, it  has  nearly  proved  fatal  to  oiu  happiness.  I thank  God  Lady  Raffles  is  at 
 last  recovering,  but  we  are  neither  of  us  what  we  were,  and  I fear  we  must  soon 
 think  seriously  of  returning  home. 
 
 “ I have  some  anxiety  about  a successor  for  this  place  : unless  it  is  some  one 
 
502 
 
 MALAY  VERSION  OF  THE  GOSPEL  OF  ST.  JOHN. 
 
 inclined  to  follow  in  the  track  I have  marked  out,  I fear  all  I have  done  may  be 
 throwm  away.  We  are  certainly  impro^■ing. 
 
 I am  planting  coffee  extensively  at  Pennattam  Ballam,  and  the  country  really 
 begins  to  assmne  a new  character.  At  present,  my  plan  is  to  leave  this  the  end  of 
 next  year,  about  this  time,  for  Singapore,  and  there  to  remain  till  I hear  what  are 
 the  arrangements  at  home.  I have  no  idea  of  its  being  given  up  to  the  Dutch,  but 
 I fear  its  being  put  under  Penang.  Should  every  thing  go  on  favourably,  which  is 
 hardly  to  be  expected,  I should  wish  to  remain  at  Singapore  till  the  early  part  of 
 1824. 
 
 “ My  last  letter  will  have  informed  you  that  our  attention  is  now  devoted  to 
 geographical  and  geological  information.  The  result  is  contained  in  a paper  for- 
 warded to  Mr.  Colebrooke  : for  the  correctness  as  far  as  it  goes,  I hold  myself  fully 
 responsible.  About  January  I expect  a party  ^^^ll  be  here  from  the  observatory  at 
 Madras,  for  the  puiimse  of  trying  the  \1bration  of  the  pendulum  on  the  line : if  we 
 have  good  weather  and  zealous  men  we  shall  do  much.  We  go  on  collecting  the 
 never-failing  wonders  of  our  extraordinary  and  abundant  vegetation.  I have  lately 
 thought  it  adnsable  to  draw  up  a short  review  of  the  circiunstances  of  Bencoolen, 
 particularly  \nth  reference  to  its  finances ; should  you  be  disposed  to  read  it,  it  may 
 perhaps  serve  to  amuse  an  idle  hour,  and  it  will  prove  to  you  that  I am  leaving  no 
 stone  untimied  to  make  the  most  of  this  place  before  I leave  it.  I am  working  upon 
 rather  a stubborn  soil,  but  I think  I feel  it  give  way  before  the  exertions  we  are  now 
 making. 
 
 “ Our  little  family  are  upon  the  whole  veiy  well ; they  have  their  share  of  trials 
 but  bear  them  pretty  well,  and  at  present  are  all  in  good  health.  Charlotte  is  every 
 thing  mamma  could  wish,  and  Marsden,  now  alas,  the  only  son,  is  advancing  rapidly. 
 He  has  not  the  beauty  and  lovehness  of  poor  Leopold,  but  he  is  a fine  boy,  and  re- 
 markably quiet  and  intelligent.  Our  last,  Ella,  is  a great  beauty. 
 
 “ We  live  in  the  country  quite  retired,  and  when  the  sun  admits,  which  is  not 
 for  many  hours  in  the  day,  we  are  always  in  the  grounds  superintending  oiu*  im- 
 provements. We  call  our  house  Permattam  Ballam — the  abode  of  peace. 
 
 “ Our  missionaries  are  engaged  in  printing  a new  version  of  the  gospel  of  St. 
 John.  Mr.  Robinson,  the  author  of  the  work  on  ^Malayan  orthography,  is  a Baptist 
 missionary,  who  settled  mider  my  administration  in  Java,  and  has  since  sought  my 
 protection  here  ; he  has  been  a close  student  of  Malay  literature  and  language  for 
 the  last  seven  years,  and  has  long  been  in  the  habit  of  preaching  to  the  natives.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of 
 
 “ November  9,  1821. 
 
 “ My  heart  has  been  nigh  broken,  and  my  spirit  is  gone : I have  lost  almost  all 
 that  I prided  myself  upon  in  this  world,  and  the  affliction  came  upon  us  at  a moment 
 
 7 
 
ILL  HEALTH  OF  SIR  STAMFORD. 
 
 503 
 
 when  we  least  expected  such  a calamity.  Had  this  dear  boy  been  such  as  we  usually 
 meet  ^vith  in  this  world,  time  would  ere  this  have  reconciled  us  to  the  loss — but  such 
 a child ! Had  you  but  seen  him  and  known  him  you  must  have  doated — his  beauty 
 and  intelligence  were  so  far  above  those  of  other  children  of  the  same  age,  that  he 
 shone  among  them  as  a sun,  enlivening  and  enlightening  every  thing  around  him. 
 I had  vainly  formed  such  notions  of  future  happiness  when  he  should  have  become 
 a man,  and  be  all  his  father  wished  him,  that  I find  nothing  left  but  what  is  stale, 
 fiat,  and  unprofitable.  My  remaining  children  are,  I thank  God,  rather  superior  to 
 the  ordinary  run,  and  Charlotte  is  every  thing  we  could  wish  her.  How  is  it  that  I 
 feel  less  interest  in  them  than  in  the  one  that  is  gone  ? — perhaps  it  is  in  our  nature. 
 
 “ But  I must  leave  this  subject  or  you  will  have  cause  to  regret  my  corres- 
 pondence. You  will  be  sorry  to  hear  that  Lady  Raffles  and  myself  have  been 
 seriously  ill,  and  that  I am  still  so  far  complaining  that  I hardly  know  whether  I 
 shall  live  or  die.  At  one  time  I am  sorry  to  say  I cared  but  little  which  way  my  fate 
 turned ; but  I now  begin  to  think  of  the  necessity  of  exertion  for  those  about  me, 
 and  sometimes  ventm'e  to  look  forward ; but  T am  too  low  and  wretched  to  write 
 much  more  even  if  my  paper  allowed.” 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  November  \0th,  1821. 
 
 “ Sophia  has  at  last  undertaken  to  write  to  her  mother.  She  is  getting  better, 
 and  I am  happy  to  say  the  children  are  well ; for  myself  I am  at  this  moment  under 
 the  operation  of  mercury,  and  maintain  but  a crazy  kind  of  existence.  I sometimes 
 think  it  very  doubtful  that  I shall  ever  reach  England  again  : at  other  times,  I rally 
 a little  ; but,  upon  the  whole,  I begin  to  be  more  indifferent  as  to  the  result  than  I 
 used  to  be. 
 
 ‘‘  My  present  plan  is  to  leave  Bencoolen  about  this  time  next  year  for  Singa- 
 pore, and  to  remain  there  till  I go  home. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 “ As  far  as  comfort  and  accommodation  go,  I think  we  might  more  advan- 
 tageously remain  all  our  time  at  Bencoolen,  but  we  want  a change,  and  I dread  the 
 chance  of  two  years’  idleness.” 
 
 To  the  same. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  December  6th,  1821. 
 
 “ Our  health  has  upon  the  whole  improved,  but  we  have  still  a sick  house  ; 
 nothing  however  serious.  I calculate  that  by  the  next  China  ship  we  shall  be  able 
 to  see  our  way  clear.  If  it  is  certain  that  I am  not  to  administer  Singapore  on  my 
 own  principles,  then  I shall  feel  httle  interest  in  going  round  as  I at  first  proposed. 
 If  I do  not  go  the  end  of  next  year  it  will  probably  be  March,  1823,  before  I move 
 
504 
 
 ILLNESS  OF  SIR  STAMFORD’S  ELDEST  CHILD. 
 
 from  hence  to  Singapore,  my  object  being  to  remain  there  till  I start  for  England. 
 This  event  will,  I hope,  take  place  in  January,  1824,  at  furthest;  my  health  and  con- 
 stitution will  not  stand  longer. 
 
 “ I observe  what  you  say  regarding  trade  and  the  opening  which  now  offers  by 
 the  late  act.  I fear  trade  any  wiiere  just  now  is  a bad  concern.  At  any  rate  it  is 
 not  likely  to  be  much  improved  in  India  by  this  unimportant  act — it  merely  grants 
 to  English  ships  indulgences  wiiich  they  formerly  took  upon  themselves  to  enjoy. 
 
 “ We  have  thousands  of  ships  canying  on  the  port  to  port  trade,  including 
 China,  and  the  only  advantage  now  gained  by  the  English  shipping  is  that  they  are 
 allowed  to  compete  with  those  of  India  on  pretty  nearly  fair  terms.  It  may  possibly 
 raise  the  value  of  English  ships,  and  will  in  proportion  depress  those  of  India,  and  it 
 may  be  the  means  of  satisfjing  John  Bull  for  a year  or  two,  when  he  will  find  that 
 he  has  not  gained  much  by  it : you  see,  therefore,  that  we  view  this  subject  in  India 
 somewhat  differently  to  what  you  do  in  England.” 
 
 * ^if  * 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  December  \0th,  1821. 
 
 We  are  at  this  moment  in  gi’eat  alarm  for  our  dear  Charlotte,  who  labours 
 under  a violent  dysentery — Sophia  has  not  left  her  for  three  days  and  nights,  and 
 our  almost  only  hope  is  now  in  effecting  a salivation  with  mercury.  So  severe  has 
 been  our  affliction  in  the  loss  of  poor  Leopold,  that  w^e  are  hardly  capable  of  sus- 
 taining a second  shock  of  the  kind  just  now.  The  younger  children  have  also  been 
 seriously  ill,  but  are  getting  better.  We  have  at  any  rate  resolved  to  send  home  all 
 we  have  left  as  soon  as  a ship  going  direct  can  be  procured  : I have  half  made  an 
 agreement  with  the  Captain  of  the  Borneo  for  the  purpose,  and  they  wall  probably  sail 
 in  February. 
 
 '^^'hat  a sad  reverse  is  this ! but  the  other  day  we  were  alarmed  lest  we 
 should  have  too  many,  now  all  our  anxiety  is  to  preserve  some  even  of  those  we  have. 
 The  change  of  climate  may  do  wonders,  and  we  shall  hope  to  follow  them  in  a year 
 or  eighteen  months. 
 
 “ I keep  to  my  resolution  of  going  to  Singapore  in  the  course  of  the  present 
 year  ; some  change  will  be  necessary  for  Sophia.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  December  16,  1821, 
 
 My  last  letter  will  have  informed  you  of  our  sad  affliction  in  the  loss  of  my 
 dear  boy  Leopold,  I cannot  yet  reflect  on  the  event  with  any  degree  of  calmness, 
 Charlotte  has  also  nearly  fallen  a sacrifice  to  the  climate,  and  is  at  this  moment  far 
 
EXTENSION  OF  THE  EASTERN  TRADE. 
 
 505 
 
 from  being  out  of  danger.  Our  house  for  the  last  six  months  has  been  a complete 
 hospital.  This  change  has  within  a few  days  induced  us  to  resolve  upon  sending  all 
 the  children  we  may  have  left  to  England  without  loss  of  time,  and  we  propose  em- 
 barking them  on  the  Borneo,  to  touch  here  for  them  in  February  next.  If  our  dear 
 Charlotte  hves  to  embark  I shall  write  you  more  particularly,  if  not  I shall  want 
 spirits  to  address  you. 
 
 ‘‘  My  own  health  still  continues  most  seriously  affected.  I am  seldom  well  for 
 twelve  hours,  and  always  laid  up  for  several  days  in  the  month.  Nothing  but  a 
 sense  of  public  duty  would  weigh  with  me,  under  these  circumstances,  to  stay  a day 
 longer ; but  I cannot  leave  my  post  without  previous  notice,  and  completing  some 
 aiTangements  which  are  in  progress.  I shall,  however,  be  at  liberty  to  move  where 
 I please,  by  the  time  our  answer  can  be  received  from  England  to  letters  written  by 
 the  present  opportunity.  Lady  Raffles  is  almost  exhausted  with  continual  watching, 
 night  and  day.” 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  December  26th,  1821. 
 
 “ My  former  letters  will  apprise  you  that  we  send  our  dear  children  home  by 
 the  first  of  March,  so  that  you  may  expect  them  in  June.  Charlotte  is  improving, 
 though  very  slowly. 
 
 With  regard  to  the  increased  facilities  in  trade  to  arise  from  the  new  act,  you 
 will  see  fi*om  my  former  letters,  that  I do  not  rank  them  very  high.  They  will,  to 
 a certain  extent,  be  injm'ious  to  the  country  traders ; but,  I think,  the  local  know- 
 ledge of  the  latter,  and  their  greater  facilities  of  knowing  the  state  of  the  markets, 
 and  taking  advantage  of  the  moment,  will  still  enable  them  to  sustain  a successful 
 competition. 
 
 “ I have  said  and  done  all  that  was  possible  in  the  political  department.  My 
 attention  will  occasionally  be  directed  to  the  agricultural  interests  at  Bencoolen  ; but 
 as  soon  as  I proceed  to  Singapore,  commercial  plans  will  occupy  all  my  time.  All 
 the  information  which  has  yet  reached  England  seems  to  be  very  general.  You 
 want  something  practical,  and  my  idea  is  to  collect  all  particulars  in  detail ; that  is 
 to  say,  specimens  of  the  manufactures  that  may  be  introduced  into  Siam,  Cochin- 
 China,  Japan,  &c.,  through  Singapore ; the  extent  of  the  demand,  the  price  to  be 
 obtained,  and  the  returns  to  be  procured.  A body  of  information  of  this  kind,  col- 
 lected by  me  on  the  spot,  with  the  advantage  of  personal  explanation  in  Europe,  is 
 likely  to  be  very  valuable. 
 
 “ I shall  probably  point  out  great  advantages ; such  as  the  introduction  into 
 China  of  manufactured  cottons,  in  lieu  of  twenty  thousand  tons  of  raw  material,  that 
 we  now  send  them  from  India ; the  supercession  in  the  China  market  of  the  iron  and 
 
 3 T 
 
506 
 
 DEATH  OF  SIR  STAMFORD’S  ELDEST  CHILD. 
 
 crockery-ware,  now  so  extensively  in  demand  from  China  throughout  the  whole 
 Ai'chipelago ; the  extensive  circulation  of  a British  copper  coinage  throughout  the 
 Archipelago. 
 
 “ I hope  to  prove  to  the  Company  and  my  country,  that  in  my  views  and  ex- 
 pectations regarding  Singapore,  I have  not  been  visionary.” 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  January  15, 1822. 
 
 “ We  have  this  morning  buried  our  beloved  Charlotte.  Poor  Marsden  was 
 carried  to  the  grave  not  ten  days  before,  and  within  the  last  six  months  we  have  lost 
 our  three  eldest  children  : judge  what  must  be  our  distress. 
 
 “ This  is  a melancholy  day,  and  I have  turned  my  thoughts  to  serious  subjects  : 
 among  the  rest,  to  the  risk  we  run  by  remaining  longer  in  this  country.  I 
 have,  therefore,  taken  the  first  step  towards  going  home,  by  sending  in  my  resig- 
 nation. 
 
 On  refeiTing  to  my  commission,  I find  that  I am  not  allowed  to  leave  India 
 without  permission  fi’om  the  Court,  under  the  hand  of  thirteen  or  more  Directors. 
 
 This  is  intended  merely  to  apprise  you  of  the  misfortunes  and  afflictions  we 
 are  still  doomed  to  suffer.  We  have  now  only  one  child  left,  the  little  Ella,  still  an 
 infant ; thank  God,  she  is  apparently  well,  and  it  is  our  determination  she  shall  go 
 home  in  the  Borneo,  in  which  ship  I had  engaged  accommodation  for  the  three. 
 
 “ I shall  not  attempt  to  convey  to  you  any  thing  like  an  idea  of  poor  Sophia’s 
 sufferings.  Charlotte  had  attained  that  age  that  she  was  quite  a companion,  and  of 
 all  the  misfortunes  likely  to  happen,  this  was  the  last  looked  to.  Yet,  severe  as  the 
 dispensation  is,  we  are  resigned  to  it ; we  have  still  reason  to  thank  God. 
 
 “ I still  propose  \isiting  Singapore  about  September  next,  to  return  here  the 
 following  May.  By  the  1st  January,  1824),  God  wilhng,  we  hope  to  be  on  our  way 
 home  ; but  more  of  this  hereafter.” 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  February  19,  1822. 
 
 ***** 
 
 “ I am  sending  home  various  collections,  principally  rocks  and  corals. 
 ***** 
 
 “ I have  been  desperately  ill  and  confined  to  a dark  room  the  last  ten  days,  but, 
 thank  God,  I am  better : I dare  not  uTite  much.” 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  February  26,  1822. 
 
 As  the  Borneo  will  be  off  in  a day  or  two,  I sit  down  to  give  you  something 
 of  a general  letter,  but  I am  too  ill  and  weak  to  write  much,  and  you  must  excuse 
 repetition,  should  I fall  into  it.  For  the  last  three  weeks  I have  been  confined  to 
 
BURNING  OF  QUEDA  BY  THE  SIAMESE. 
 
 507 
 
 my  room  by  a severe  fever,  which  fell  on  the  brain,  and  drove  me  almost  to  mad- 
 ness. I thank  God,  however,  that  I have  now  got  over  it,  and  am  on  my  legs  again ; 
 but  I am  still  weak,  and  unable  to  converse  with  strangers. 
 
 “ The  first  and  most  interesting  subject  is  our  dear  child.  * * ^ 
 
 “ Our  little  darling  is  under  the  immediate  charge  of  Nurse  Grimes.  She  leaves 
 us  in  excellent  health,  and  we  indulge  the  hope  that  by  the  strong  measure  we  have 
 taken  of  sending  her  to  a healthier  climate,  we  may  be  spared  this  one  comfort  to 
 solace  and  enliven  our  declining  days. 
 
 “ Sophia’s  health,  though  it  has  suffered  severely,  is,  I thank  God,  improving, 
 and  if  it  is  the  will  of  God  that  we  even  continue  as  well  as  we  are,  we  hope  to  be 
 able  to  stand  out  another  year  or  two  with  tolerable  comfort. 
 
 “ I fancy  I shall  find  plenty  to  do  at  Singapore.  * * * * 
 
 “ The  place  thrives  wonderfully.  The  amount  of  the  tonnage  arrived  during 
 the  first  two  years  and  a half,  will  speak  volumes  in  its  favour. 
 
 “ We  sent  lately  a commercial  embassy  to  Siam,  which  was  well  received.  So 
 convenient  and  contiguous  is  Singapore,  that  Siam  sugars  and  other  articles  are  sell- 
 ing there  a dollar  cheaper  than  in  Siam  itself : this  is  owing  to  their  being  conveyed 
 in  native  junks  to  Singapore. 
 
 “ There  is  a sad  confusion  at  Penang,  first  among  the  Governor  and  his  coun- 
 sellors, and  next  with  the  Siamese,  who  have  burnt  and  sacked  Queda,  and  obliged 
 the  King  to  take  refuge  at  Penang. 
 
 You  of  course  are  aware  of  the  history  of  these  proceedings ; it  is  a result 
 that  has  long  been  anticipated,  but  need  not  now  have  been  brought  to  issue.  Had 
 the  Government  of  Penang  possessed  sufficient  foresight  to  have  supported  the  King 
 by  sending  him  a force  when  he  was  still  in  his  capital,  they  would  have  averted  the 
 stoian  ; but  having  neglected  this,  they  now  talk  of  sending  a force  to  drive  out  the 
 Siamese,  and  recover  the  sacked  ruins  of  the  city  of  Queda,  in  which  they  have  no 
 chance  of  success  whatever,  if  the  Siamese  hold  out. 
 
 “ This  is  not  intended  as  a quarrel  with  us.  Queda  has  always  been  tributary 
 to  Siam,  and  when  we  got  the  grant  of  Penang  from  the  former,  we  ought  to  have 
 procured  the  sanction  of  the  latter  as  lord  paramount.  The  Siamese,  however,  do 
 not  dispute  our  possession  of  Penang,  as  we  have  been  so  long  there ; but  they  do 
 not  choose  to  lose  the  King  of  Queda  as  a vassal,  particularly  as  he  gets  10,000 
 dollars  a year  from  the  Company.  Every  three  years  he  is  bound  to  send  a golden 
 tree  to  Siam  in  token  of  his  vassalage. 
 
 “ Siam  requires  that  whenever  the  urgency  of  the  state  demands,  he  shall  assist 
 with  money  and  men.  Repeated  contributions  of  the  kind  have  been  levied  ; some 
 resisted,  and  the  matter  was  generally  accommodated  and  all  parties  satisfied,  until 
 the  King  of  Queda,  relying  on  the  strength  of  our  name,  power,  and  alhance,  seems 
 to  have  set  his  sovereign  lord  the  King  of  Siam  at  defiance  ; who  in  return  has  chas- 
 
 3 T 2 
 
o08 
 
 CONSIGNMENT  OF  SPICES  FROM  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 tised  him,  by  burning  his  town  and  driving  him  from  his  dominions.  The  affair  as 
 a political  one  is  of  no  great  importance.  Thank  God  we  have  nothing  to  do  with 
 this  quaiTel  at  Singapore  and  the  other  side  of  the  Archipelago,  where  our  connec- 
 tion is  purely  commercial  and  daily  improving. 
 
 “ You  seem  anxious  to  know  how  we  go  on  with  our  schools  and  Bible  Society, 
 and  I am  happy  to  report  favourably  of  them.  Upon  the  whole  we  go  on  well,  par- 
 ticularly with  the  schools.  We  are  printing  the  Gospels  in  an  improved  Malay  ver- 
 sion suited  to  this  coast,  and  I have  it  in  contemplation  to  print  the  New  Testament 
 in  Javanese,  which  is  now  ready  for  the  press. 
 
 “ The  spices  I think  must  attract  the  attention  of  the  Coiu't  of  Directors.  The 
 private  consignments  by  the  Borneo  are  nearly  equal  to  the  Company’s,  and  the 
 whole  will  afford  a supply  for  the  British  Isles  for  nearly  twelve  months. 
 
 “ Look  after  the  engraving  of  the  chart  of  the  pepper  ports  by  Captain  Ash- 
 more, and  interest  Horsburgh  : he  will  know  the  value  of  them.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  February  27,  1822. 
 
 “ You  will,  I am  sure,  giieve  to  learn  what  has  befallen  us.  My  last  letter 
 announced  to  your  Grace  the  loss  of  my  dear  Leopold.  I have  now  to  add,  that 
 during  the  last  month,  and  within  a few  days  of  each  other,  we  have  been  succes- 
 sively deprived  of  my  only  remaining  boy,  and  of  Charlotte,  your  god-daughter. 
 We  have  now  only  one  left,  an  infant,  the  little  Ella ; and  that  we  may  not  run  the 
 risk  of  a tropical  climate,  we  send  her  home  by  the  present  opportunity,  under  the 
 charge  of  our  good  old  nurse. 
 
 “ Such  severe  trials  in  a climate  by  no  means  congenial  to  an  European  consti- 
 tution, and  broken  down  as  we  were  by  former  afflictions,  have  had  their  effect  in 
 producing  severe  illnesses.  Lady  Raffles  has  in  point  of  health  shared  better  than 
 myself,  hut  she  is  miserably  reduced  and  lowered.  For  myself,  I have  had  two  of 
 the  most  severe  attacks  I ever  suffered.  The  last  a fever  which  fell  on  the  brain, 
 and  I was  almost  mad.  I am  still  an  invalid,  and  confined  to  my  room. 
 
 “ How  different  are  these  communications  to  those  I was  so  happy  as  to  make 
 during  our  first  three  years  residence  ? We  were  then  perhaps  too  happy,  and 
 prided  ourselves  too  highly  on  future  prospects.  It  has  pleased  God  to  blight  our 
 hopes,  and  we  must  now  lower  our  expectations  more  to  the  standard  of  the  ordi- 
 nary lot  of  human  nature — God’s  will  be  done ! 
 
 All  our  thoughts,  and  all  our  wishes  are  now  turned  homewards.  Sometimes 
 the  prospect  is  bright,  and  the  heart  expands  in  the  contemplation ; at  others,  dark 
 clouds  intervene,  and  the  dread  of  meeting  old  friends  with  new  faces  and  colder 
 hearts,  chills  every  feeling  of  pleasure.  For  ourselves  I can  only  say,  that  with 
 every  remove  we  have  dragged  a lengthened  chain ; and  that  our  attachments  and 
 
AMOUNT  OF  TONNAGE  ARRIVED  AT  SINGAPORE, 
 
 .509 
 
 affections  have  only  warmed  and  encreased  in  the  ratio  of  the  distance  to  which  we 
 have  been  driven,  and  the  time  we  have  been  banished.  We  shall  carry  home  the 
 same  hearts,  the  same  principles  and  attachments  with  which  we  left  England, 
 heightened  only  by  the  force  which  absence  and  privation  give  to  every  enjoyment. 
 Lady  Raffles  prays  you  to  excuse  her : since  the  loss  of  my  dear  Leopold  she  has 
 never  dared  to  take  a pen  in  her  hand. 
 
 ‘‘  In  a day  or  two  we  shall  he  left  without  a single  child ! What  a change  ! We 
 who  had  recently  such  a round  and  happy  circle.  All  our  fears  were  once  that  we 
 should  have  too  many : all  our  cares  are  now  to  preserve  one — our  only  one.  I 
 cannot  say  any  more : my  heart  is  sick  and  nigh  broken.” 
 
 To  the  Duke  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  February  28,  1822. 
 
 “ Our  domestic  misfortunes  have  borne  so  heavily  upon  us,  that  I have  been 
 obliged  for  many  months  to  forego  the  satisfaction  of  any  thing  like  a regular  cor- 
 respondence with  my  friends.  The  loss  of  our  three  eldest  children  added  to  severe 
 and  dangerous  illnesses,  have  so  completely  broken  our  spirits,  that  we  are  almost 
 afraid  to  look  forward,  and  under  these  circumstances  I am  sure  I shall  not  plead 
 in  vain  to  your  Grace,  that  you  will  excuse  my  long  silence. 
 
 “ I am  still  confined  to  my  room  from  the  effects  of  a violent  nervous  fever, 
 and  my  medical  attendants  limit  me  to  the  number  of  lines  I may  write,  this  will 
 therefore  account  for  my  unusual  brevity. 
 
 Jif  * * * * 
 
 “ I send  by  the  Borneo  a very  considerable  collection  of  plants  and  seeds  for 
 the  Horticultural  Society  : among  them  some  very  thriving  plants  of  the  mangosteen 
 and  other  Malayan  fruits,  our  choicest  flowers,  the  sago  and  sugar-tree,  with  all  the 
 va'rieties  of  our  pine-apples,  &c.  If  the  ship  meets  with  good  weather  they  will  I 
 think  be  a very  valuable  addition  to  their  stock. 
 
 “ My  settlement  of  Singapore  continues  to  prosper.  By  the  returns  of  ship- 
 ping, and  native  vessels  arrived  since  it  has  been  in  our  possession,  the  following 
 results  appear. 
 
 “ The  total  tonnage  arrived  in  two  years  and  a half  has  been  upwards  of  161,000 
 tons,  and  the  estimated  value  of  imports  and  exports,  8,000,000  dok,  or  ^2,000,000. 
 
 “ Considering  all  the  disadvantages  under  which  Singapore  has  been  placed,  the 
 want  of  confidence  in  its  retention  even  for  a month,  the  opposition  of  the  English 
 settlement  at  Panang,  and  of  the  Dutch,  a stronger  proof  of  its  commercial  import- 
 ance could  hardly  be  afforded. 
 
 “ It  is  my  intention  to  go  round  to  Singapore  in  about  three  months,  and  to 
 remain  there  until  I have  made  the  necessary  arrangements  for  establishing  the 
 place  on  a proper  and  lasting  foundation. 
 
510 
 
 CONSIGNMENT  OF  SPICES  FROM  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 “ The  change  for  a few  months  will,  I doubt  not,  prove  beneficial  to  Lady 
 Raffles’  health  and  spirits.” 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  Feb.  28,  1822. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 ‘‘  Our  domestic  afflictions  have  been  so  gi'eat,  that  I have  been  quite  un- 
 equal, during  several  months,  to  maintain  any  thing  like  a regular  correspondence 
 with  my  friends.  You  will  have  heard  of  our  severe  loss  in  the  death  of  my  eldest 
 l)oy  Leopold,  and  I have  now  to  add,  that,  during  the  last  month,  and  within  a few 
 days  of  each  other,  we  w^ere  doomed  to  lose  our  eldest  daughter  Charlotte,  our  first 
 born,  and  my  only  remaining  boy,  Marsden,  your  godson.  These  have  been  dreadful 
 trials  to  my  dear  Sophia ; but,  I thank  God,  she  is  now  becoming  tolerably  recon- 
 ciled, and  that,  upon  the  wiiole,  the  shock  has  been  got  over  as  well  as  could  have 
 been  expected. 
 
 “ ^^  e have  still  one  little  prattler  left,  an  infant ; but  after  what  has  passed  we 
 have  lost  all  confidence  in  the  climate,  and  lose  not  a moment  in  sending  her  to 
 England.  She  proceeds  in  the  Borneo,  now  about  to  quit  this  port  for  London. 
 Parting  with  our  only  one  is  an  additional  trial  to  Lady  Raffles,  but  we  have  judged 
 it  the  best,  and  have  not  allow^ed  feelings  to  predominate.  This  will  prove  to  you, 
 that  however  we  may  be  depressed  the  spring  of  our  minds  is  not  destroyed. 
 
 “ I have  myself'  suffered  most  severely  from  illness,  and  am  at  this  moment 
 hardly  convalescent,  not  haring  left  my  room  for  three  weeks.  This  last  attack  is 
 the  most  severe  I have  felt,  and  I can  compare  it  to  nothing  short  of  a brain  fever, 
 which  almost  made  me  mad.  It  is  the  first  and  only  fever  I ever  experienced,  and 
 by  falling  on  the  nerves  w^as  doubly  distressing. 
 
 “ All  these  circumstances  combined  have  only  tended  the  more  firmly  to  fix 
 our  determination  of  going  to  England  in  the  course  of  next  year,  and  I have  ac- 
 cordingly sent  home  my  resignation. 
 
 “ By  the  Borneo  I send  a considerable  consignment  of  Bencoolen  spices  to  the 
 Company,  and  the  planters  have  shipped  a still  larger  quantity  on  their  own  ac- 
 count : the  invoices  cannot  amount  to  less  than  100,000  dollars,  and  probably  more. 
 This  will  afford  the  means  of  a fair  experiment,  and  I am  anxious  to  interest  all  the 
 friends  of  Bencoolen  in  it.  Our  cultivation  is  extending,  but  w^e  are  sadly  off  for 
 capital  and  European  industry,  tlie  very  commodities  with  which  you  overflow. 
 
 “ You  will  be  pleased  to  hear  that  my  settlement  at  Singapore  continues  to 
 advance.  The  enclosed  list  of  arrivals  and  departures  during  the  first  two  years 
 and  a half  will  speak  volumes  in  its  favour.  The  tonnage  amounted  to  161,515 
 tons.  If  such  has  been  the  result  wfflile  the  settlement  has  laboured  under  every 
 possible  disadvantage  (w^ant  of  confidence  in  its  retention  even  for  a month,  and  the 
 
DEFEAT  OF  THE  DUTCH  IN  SUMATRA. 
 
 511 
 
 efforts  of  the  Dutch  to  crush  it)  what  may  we  not  expect  hereafter,  when  con- 
 fidence is  established,  capital  accumulated,  and  the  British  merchant  has  fair  play 
 for  his  industry  and  speculation  ? The  trade  with  Siam  has  most  rapidly  increased ; 
 indeed,  Singapore  would  seem  to  be  in  a fair  way  of  becoming  the  great  trading 
 port  for  Siam  goods.  Already  the  sugar  of  Siam  sells  at  Singapore  for  less  than  it 
 can  be  pmchased  at  the  capital  of  Siam,  and  many  of  the  Siamese  traders  (principally 
 Chinese  in  junks)  come  to  enjoy  the  advantage  of  a free  port. 
 
 “ Crawfurd  has  been  deputed  by  the  Governor  General  to  visit  Siam  and  Cochin 
 China.  With  the  former  place  we  are  going  on  so  well,  that  if  commerce  alone  is 
 our  object,  I think  it  is  a pity  to  disturb  the  progress  that  is  so  rapidly  making  with- 
 out our  direct  interference.  As  to  Cochin  China,  some  information  may  be  obtained 
 regarding  the  coasts  and  country ; but  the  latter  is  in  too  unsettled  and  disturbed  a 
 state  to  promise  much  advantageous  intercourse  of  a commercial  nature.” 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  March  6,  1822. 
 
 “ The  Borneo  sailed  from  hence  on  the  4th  instant,  having  our  dear  and  only 
 child  on  board.  Sophia  has  borne  the  parting  tolerably  well ; but  what  a sad  and 
 lonely  house,  without  nurse  and  the  children — never  was  there  such  a change — we 
 wander  from  room  to  room,  sohtary  and  dejected ; but  God’s  will  be  done,  and  we 
 must  be  content. 
 
 “ I see  no  reason  for  altering  the  course  I am  steering,  and  my  mind  is  made  up 
 to  stand  or  fall  by  my  own  views  or  measures  ; thank  you,  however.  * * 
 
 Our  schools  here  are  extending,  and  the  missionaries  gaining  ground.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  April  12,  1822. 
 
 “ It  is  now  above  a month  since  I wrote  to  your  Grace  by  the  ship  in  which  we 
 sent  home  our  dear  and  only  remaining  child  Ella ; and  though,  as  you  may  well  sup- 
 pose, we  have  been  left  as  solitary  and  disconsolate  as  can  well  be  imagined,  I think 
 it  will  be  satisfactory  to  you  to  know  that  both  Lady  Raffles  and  I have  been  gaining 
 ground  in  health  and  spirits.  We  now  begin  to  look  with  some  confidence  on  return- 
 ing to  our  native  land,  and  to  indulge  in  a thousand  anticipations  of  joy  and  anxiety. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 “ In  the  way  of  news,  or  interesting  information,  you  cannot  expect  much.  The 
 only  political  event  in  our  neighbourhood  of  recent  occurrence  is  the  defeat  of  the 
 Dutch  in  the  interior  of  Padang,  where  they  have  become  engaged  in  a war  with  the 
 Padries,  a sect  of  Mahomedans,  which  is  rapidly  gaining  ground  throughout  the 
 northern  parts  of  Sumatra.  It  is  the  practice  of  these  people,  when  they  are  attacked, 
 to  place  the  women  and  children  in  front ; and  in  the  last  onset  by  the  Dutch,  it  is 
 
 7 
 
512 
 
 DUTCH  PUNISHMENT  OF  A PADRI  CHIEF. 
 
 reported  that  not  less  than  one  hundred  and  twenty  women,  each  with  a child  in  her 
 arms,  were  sacrificed,  the  women  standing  firm. 
 
 “ The  discomfiture  of  the  Dutch  on  the  last  occasion  is  stated  to  have  been 
 occasioned  by  the  treachery  of  a Padri  Chief,  who  apparently  came  over  to  their  side, 
 and  led  them  into  a snare  ; and  the  Dutch  took  their  revenge  of  his  perfidy  by  assem- 
 hhng  all  the  troops  and  Chiefs  of  the  country,  sha^ing  off  the  poor  man’s  beard,  &c. 
 and  then  chopping  off  his  head,  embalming  it,  and  sending  it  down  to  the  seat  of 
 government,  to  the  Resident’s,  where  it  is  exhibited. 
 
 To  Thomas  Murdoch,  Esq. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  Jpril  12,  1822. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I am  afraid  you  will  have  thought  me  very  remiss  in  not  acknowledging 
 the  receipt  of  your  kind  and  friendly  letters ; and  yet  could  you  know  the  state  of 
 misery  and  anxiety  into  which  we  have  been  plunged  during  the  last  year,  I am  sure 
 you  would  make  allowances.  Our  first  serious  misfortune  was  the  death  of  Lady 
 Raffles’  eldest  brother,  who  had  come  to  us  from  Bengal  on  a rtsit.  Next  followed 
 my  dear  and  eldest  boy  Leopold,  your  godson,  the  pride  and  hope  of  my  life  ; but  we 
 were  perhaps  too  proud,  and  we  hoped  for  too  much,  and,  if  so,  we  have  been  justly 
 humbled.  Our  brother-in-law.  Captain  Auber,  who  brought  us  out  to  this  country, 
 was  the  next ; and  after  him,  in  rapid  succession,  nearly  every  person  in  India  whom 
 I could  call  a friend;  all  those  who  had  been  in  my  confidence  in  Java:  and  to  close 
 the  year,  I was  myself  attacked  with  a serious  and  alarming  illness,  which  I did  not 
 shake  off  for  many  months.  Lady  Raffles,  though  not  laid  up,  was  in  a very  preca- 
 rious state  ; and  though  her  anxiety  for  me  might  be  of  temporary  service  in  turning 
 her  thoughts  from  former  afflictions,  it  could  not  do  otherwise  than  still  further 
 reduce  her. 
 
 “ With  the  past  year,  however,  w^e  had  vainly  hoped  that  w'e  had  overcome  our 
 afflictions.  M e endeavoured  to  raise  ourselves  about  Christmas  ; but  before  the  20th 
 of  Januaiy  two  more  of  my  children,  my  eldest  daughter  Charlotte,  and  my  only  re- 
 maining boy  Marsden,  w^ere  in  the  grave ! This  blow  w^as  almost  too  much  for  us. 
 But  w'e  had  still  one  little  one  left,  and  embraced  the  first  opportunity  of  sending  her 
 to  a safer  climate,  wiiere,  w'e  trust  in  God,  she  will  have  duly  arrived  long  before  this 
 reaches  you.  Our  misfortunes  did  not  even  end  here ; for  I again  fell  ill,  and  was 
 confined  for  nearly  tw'o  months,  with  something  very  like  a brain  fever.  It  is  only 
 wathin  the  last  month  that  I have  got  about  at  all ; but  I now  feel  myself  completely 
 recovered,  though  much  shaken  in  constitution.  Lady  Raffles  most  fortunately,  and 
 unexpectedly,  has  kept  her  health  tolerably  w^ell ; and  if  it  pleases  God  that  our  afflic- 
 tions now^  cease,  we  will  still  look  forw'ard  to  brighter  days  and  better  times. 
 
 I have  thus  detailed  my  sorrows,  not  so  much  to  excite  yoiw  commiseration. 
 
IMPORTANCE  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 513 
 
 as  to  prove  to  you  that  it  was  incapacity  alone  which  prevented  my  writing.  It  is 
 of  no  use  to  brood  over  misfortunes,  and  you  will  I am  sure  be  happy  to  learn  that 
 we  have  both  recovered  our  usual  tone  of  mind  and  spirits ; the  body  however  is 
 weak,  and  the  only  remedy  for  this  is  change  of  climate ; on  this  also  we  have  re- 
 solved, and  I hope  to  reach  England  early  in  1824. 
 
 “ I propose  going  round  to  Singapore  in  the  course  of  a few  months,  for  the 
 purpose  of  completing  all  my  arrangements  in  that  quarter.  Its  rise  still  continues 
 to  astonish  those  who  did  not  at  first  look  deeply.  From  a statement  of  the  arrivals 
 and  departures,  imports,  &c.  during  the  first  two  years  and  a half,  it  appears,  that, 
 during  that  period  no  less  than  2889  vessels  have  entered  at  the  port,  of  which  383 
 were  armed  and  commanded  by  Europeans,  and  2506  by  natives  of  independent 
 states,  and  that  their  united  tonnage  amounted  to  161,515  tons. 
 
 “ It  further  appears  that  the  value  of  merchandize  in  native  vessels  that  have 
 entered  the  Port  during  the  same  period  has  exceeded  five  milUons  of  dollars,  and 
 that  the  imports  and  exports  by  ships,  have  not  been  less  than  three  millions  more, 
 making  a gross  amount  of  eight  milhons  of  dollars,  or  nearly  .£200,000  sterling. 
 
 “ These  statements  have  been  forwarded  to  Europe,  and  from  this  proof  of  the 
 extent  of  commercial  dealings  at  Singapore  during  the  infancy  of  the  establishment, 
 and  whilst  it  has  laboured  under  many  disadvantages,  some  estimate  may  be  formed 
 of  its  real  value  and  importance. 
 
 To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  April  \7th,  1822. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Cousin, 
 
 “ I wrote  to  you  so  lately  by  the  Borneo,  that  I have  httle  to  add  beyond 
 the  assurance  of  my  continued  esteem  and  affection.  We  have,  thank  God,  reco- 
 vered very  much  of  late,  and  Sophia  is  quite  herself  again.  I am  but  a crazy 
 mortal  at  best,  but  on  the  whole  am  quite  as  well  in  health  as  I have  any  right  to 
 expect  in  a climate  which  is  any  thing  but  congenial  to  my  constitution. 
 
 “ We  still  hold  our  determination  of  quitting  India,  God  willing,  for  Europe, 
 
 about  the  end  of  next  year — neither  of  us  can  last  out  longer. 
 
 « * * * » 
 
 “ We  now  pass  our  time  in  great  retirement.  I have  lately  completed  a very 
 comfortable  country-house,  and  much  of  my  time  is  taken  up  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
 I am  by  far  the  most  active  farmer  in  the  country,  and  as  President  of  the  Agricul- 
 tural Society,  not  only  take  precedence  at  the  board,  but  in  the  field.  I have  a dozen 
 ploughs  constantly  going,  and  before  I quit  the  estate,  I hope  it  will  realize  a revenue 
 of  two  or  three  thousand  a year,  besides  feeding  its  population.  It  is  an  experiment, 
 
 3 u 
 
514 
 
 SIR  STAMFORD’S  AGRICULTURAL  EXERTIONS. 
 
 but  it  will  encourage  others  ; and  as  it  is  a property  which  belongs  to  the  Company, 
 no  one  can  accuse  me  of  interested  views  in  the  efforts  which  I am  making.  It  is 
 possible  that  in  England  I may  look  with  interest  to  the  returns  in  money  which 
 my  oats  and  barley  may  afford ; but  here  I am  quite  satisfied  with  seeing  and  col- 
 lecting the  produce  of  my  industry  and  exertions.  I am  cultivating  and  improving 
 for  the  mere  love  of  the  thing,  and  the  desire  of  employing  my  time  advantageously 
 for  others. 
 
 “ Our  sugar  at  last  succeeds  very  well,  but  the  disappointment  in  the  mills  has 
 been  great  indeed.  It  was  only  a few  weeks  ago  that  I received  the  letters  from 
 Messrs.  Littledale.  We  then  immediately  set  to  w'ork  to  construct  a mill  here  as 
 w'ell  as  w^e  could  ; and  it  has  now  commenced  to  w ork  at  the  rate  of  half  a ton  a day. 
 The  sugar  is  excellent,  and  I have  no  doubt  the  rum  will  be  of  equally  good  quality. 
 This  is  the  first  part  of  my  mechanical  operations,  for  which  I take  to  myself  no  little 
 credit,  considering  our  w'ant  of  assistance  and  experience.  We  took  our  model  from 
 the  Encyclopaedia. 
 
 “ Adieu,  my  dear  Cousin,  &c.” 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolcn,  July  25th,  1822. 
 
 “ I am  sure  it  will  be  satisfactory  to  you  to  know  that  both  Sophia  and  myself 
 have  become  ourselves  again  : not  that  we  can  forget  our  past  and  heavy  afflictions, 
 or  cease  to  mourn  over  them  ; but  we  can  now  again  enjoy  the  present  hour,  and 
 look  forward  with  steadiness  and  satisfaction.  I am  not  one  of  that  ‘ Satanic  school’ 
 w ho  look  upon  this  w orld  as  the  hell  of  some  former  and  past  creation,  but  am  con- 
 tent to  take  it  as  I find  it,  firmly  believing,  from  all  I have  known  and  seen,  that 
 whatever  is,  is  for  our  good  and  happiness,  and  that  there  is  actually  more  of  both, 
 even  in  this  world,  than  in  our  consciences  we  can  think  we  have  deserved.  Our 
 health  too,  has  improved  and  if  in  this  respect  we  could  remain  as  we  are,  w'e 
 might  risk  tw'o  or  three  years  more,  at  least  so  say  our  present  feelings,  but  we 
 must  not  trust  them  : experience  dictates  prudence,  and  if  we  only  hold  out  till  the 
 appointed  time,  we  shall  be  satisfied.  We  have  had  a very  sickly  season,  and  among 
 the  casualties  are  our  chaplain  and  doctor;  Jack  also  has  been  obliged  to  fly  to 
 Batavia  for  change  of  air,  and  deaths  are  of  daily  occurrence  in  our  small  circle  : but 
 notw  ithstanding  this  w^e  still  look  up ; therefore,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  don’t 
 despair  of  seeing  us  in  1824. 
 
 “ I have  long  looked  for  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Canning  as  Governor-General; 
 and,  upon  the  whole,  I augur  w'ell  of  his  government,  not  from  any  personal  views 
 as  to  myself,  but  w'ith  respect  to  the  public  interests,  to  which  I cannot  but  look 
 w'ith  anxiety.  My  life  has  hitherto  been  a public  one ; and  long  habit,  if  it  is 
 nothing  else,  has  made  the  pubhc  weal  as  interesting  to  me  as  my  owm  personal 
 
 1 
 
EXPECTED  ARRIVAL  OF  MR.  CANNING  IN  THE  EAST. 
 
 515 
 
 prospects  ever  can  be.  Without  attending  to  it  I should  lose  half  the  interest  of  my 
 life,  so  that  you  must  not  he  surprised  if  I still  hold  on  the  same  course,  even 
 though  I may  not  be  able  to  prove  that  my  interests  are  advanced  by  it.  To  these 
 I never  looked  primarily,  and  God  grant  I never  may.  I believe,  paradoxical  as  it 
 may  seem  to  say  so,  I should  lose  my  identity  were  I to  cease  to  love  other  things 
 better  than  myself.  It  may  be  a wrong  turn  of  mind,  but  such  is  the  twist  of  it, 
 and  matured  as  it  now  is  by  forty  years’  growth,  I fear  I must  change  myself  ere  I 
 think  or  act  otherwise. 
 
 “ Do  not,  however,  do  me  the  injustice  to  suppose  that  I am  overweeningly  attached 
 to  the  things  of  this  world — am  in  love  v\dth  ambition,  or  suppose  I can  reform  the 
 world  by  my  endeavours.  I think  I know  myself  better.  I would  rather  be  a 
 simple  unit  with  the  united  few  who  act  rightly  and  on  principle,  than  a blazing 
 cypher  acting  for  self  and  my  own  nothingness.  But  a truce  to  this.  I hope  to  be 
 at  Singapore  by  the  time  Canning  arrives,  so  that  he  will  find  me  at  my  post  of 
 danger,  and  I yet  hope  of  honour  too. 
 
 “ As  for  Crawfurd,  what  you  say,  to  a certain  extent,  had  now  and  then  presented 
 itself  transiently  to  my  mind  in  the  same  light ; but  you  mistake  me  if  you  suppose  I 
 entertain  any  unpleasant  feeling  on  the  account ; whatever  his  faults,  he  is  devoting 
 his  mind  exclusively  to  objects  in  which  my  heart  and  soul  are  deeply  interested.  Let 
 CrawTurd  have  his  swing,  and  the  more  extended  the  better ; in  the  present  times  we, 
 perhaps,  require  such  bold  and  fearless  men.  The  cloud  of  ignorance,  which  still 
 hangs  over  England,  with  regard  to  the  Eastern  Islands,  cannot  be  dissipated  by  ordi- 
 nary means,  or  by  dint  of  reason ; it  requires  the  agency  of  some  of  those  powerful 
 elements  which,  while  they  disperse,  cannot  avoid  partially  destroying. 
 
 “ Where  we  differ  we  shall  explain,  and  longer  and  cooler  heads  may  light  their 
 matches  from  the  sparks  which  we  strike  out.  Two  of  a trade,  they  say,  can  never 
 agree  ; and  Crawfurd  and  I are,  perhaps,  running  too  much  on  the  same  parallel,  not 
 now  and  then  to  be  jostling  each  other ; but  if  in  following  my  steps  he  profits  by  my 
 en'ors  and  experience,  it  will  be  a satisfaction  to  me.  He  writes  to  me  that  his  views 
 are  turned  homewards  in  1825,  but  this  I don’t  believe.  I think  he  expects  to  return 
 from  his  cruise  about  the  fall  of  the  next  year,  and  will,  I have  no  doubt,  convey  a 
 fine  collection  to  the  Governor  General ; it  is  not  impossible  we  may  meet. 
 
 “ I observe  what  you  say  on  the  state  of  the  nation.  I agree  with  you,  as  far  as 
 we  can  perceive  from  this  distance,  that  things  look  better.  Manufactures  and  com- 
 merce are  certainly  improving,  and  agriculture  will  come  about  in  due  time.  It  is 
 very  amusing  to  hear  the  complaints  of  the  imin  of  the  country  in  consequence  of  its 
 too  great  riches  and  abundance.  For  those  who  suffer,  and  they  are  very  many,  I 
 feel  most  sincerely : most  deeply  do  I commiserate  the  wretchedness  which  must 
 necessarily  be  felt  by  certain  classes ; and  all  must  be  content  to  retrograde  from  the 
 
 3 u 2 
 
516 
 
 SIR  STAMFORD’S  OPINION  ON  THE  STATE  OF  ENGLAND. 
 
 high  pitch  of  ease  and  luxury,  which  were  created  by  an  over,  but,  perhaps,  necessary 
 excitement ; yet  I never  can  bring  my  mind  to  suppose  our  case  desperate,  while 
 we  not  only  have  more  people,  but  more  food,  and  more  money  than  we  know 
 what  to  do  with.  \^^ere  I to  land,  for  the  first  time,  on  some  large  and  highly 
 populous  island,  and  to  observe  a similar  state  of  things,  what  would  be  my  impres- 
 sion ? Not  that  it  was  a mined,  but  a badly  governed  country.  Ours,  perhaps,  is  so 
 circumstanced  ; although  among  the  many  quacks  and  pretenders  to  heal  the  diseases 
 of  the  state,  I have  seen  but  few  whose  panacea  were  worth  the  trial.  Upon  the 
 whole,  perhaps,  we  cannot  go  on  much  better  than  w'e  are  doing : our  circumstances 
 have  changed,  and  greatly  changed,  and  the  gi'eat  object  is  to  assist  the  wheel  as  it 
 turns  round,  and  render  the  change  as  gi*adual  and  imperceptible  as  possible.  Most 
 certainly  do  I think  we  have  not  changed  for  the  w^orse.  Scarcity  and  high  price  never 
 can  be  better  than  cheapness  and  abundance : for  a time,  it  may  serve  to  gorge  the 
 appetites  of  the  few ; but  in  the  long  run,  and  for  the  nation  at  large,  it  never  can  last, 
 but  must  inevitably  end  in  ruin.  Industry  and  plain  living  suit  better  with  good 
 morals,  sound  understanding,  and,  consequently,  with  the  happiness  of  this  life,  and 
 the  prospects  of  the  future,  than  idleness  and  luxury,  though  they  were  to  be  bought 
 without  the  sacrifice  of  the  many  to  the  few.  I look  highly  on  the  resources  of  the 
 country,  I consider  them  as  inexhaustible,  and  that  the  days  of  our  true  greatness 
 are  now  approaching.  So  much  for  politics. 
 
 I must  not  omit  to  tell  you  a curious  fact : the  Java  Government  were  dis- 
 tressed for  money,  and  proposed  to  raise  a loan  of  thirty  lacs  in  Bengal,  at  fi'om 
 seven  to  nine  per  cent.,  payable  in  five  years.  The  terms  were  communicated  to 
 me,  and  the  loan  opened ; but  there  was  a feverish  anxiety  in  Calcutta  as  to  the 
 security  of  the  Dutch,  notwithstanding  their  power  and  means  in  the  East  were 
 never  less  equivocal ; and  the  Dutch  themselves  thought  better  of  it,  and  the  loan 
 was  closed,  when,  lo  and  behold  ! the  only  subscription  to  the  loan,  actually  realized, 
 was  from  me.  This  has  occasioned  a reference  to  Batavia  from  Bengal ; and  it  is 
 odd  enough,  after  all  our  battlings,  that  I should  be  found  to  be  the  only  man  in 
 India  who  would  hear  their  distress,  and  trust  them  with  a penny.  This  is,  at  least, 
 an  amusing  anecdote  for  the  entertainment  of  his  Netherlands’  Majesty,  when  he 
 may  honour  me  with  another  invitation  to  his  palace  at  Lacken. 
 
 “ Your  letter  respecting  young  M’Lean  I purposely  put  aside  to  answer,  after 
 turning  the  matter  in  my  thoughts  ; it  is  a serious  matter  to  direct  the  destination  of 
 a young  man,  and,  as  I never  like  to  drop  those  whom  I once  take  up,  I am  anxious 
 to  see  that  all  is  right  in  the  beginning.  So  much  depends  upon  the  start  that  we 
 cannot  be  too  cautious. 
 
 “ My  former  letters  will  have  informed  you  of  my  present  plan  for  going  home, 
 and,  I thank  God,  the  necessity  does  not  exist  for  our  going  in  the  Layton. 
 
SIR  STAMFORD’S  RESPONSIBLE  SITUATION. 
 
 517 
 
 “ I observe  what  you  say  respecting  Pulo  Nias  ; I must  again  refer  you  to  my 
 principles  of  action,  with  an  assurance  that  I do,  and  will,  to  the  utmost  of  my  power, 
 act  prudently  and  cautiously. 
 
 “ I am  placed  here,  as  it  has  been  my  lot  ever  since  I have  been  entrusted  with 
 a government,  to  administer  the  public  affairs  according  to  my  best  ability.  I lose 
 no  time  in  informing  my  superiors  of  my  situation,  and  the  circumstances  of  the 
 country,  and  their  interests.  I implore  advice,  and  ask  for  authority ; I receive 
 none ; scarce  an  acknowledgment,  and  when  I do,  one  that  only  proves  they  can 
 never  have  read  what  I have  written.  Year  after  year  rolls  on ; the  pubhc  weal  must 
 be  attended  to,  and  time  and  tide  stand  still  for  no  man.  How  is  it  possible  that  a 
 man,  having  the  honour  of  his  country  at  heart,  and  any  conscience  whatever,  can 
 remain  a silent  spectator  of  what  is  daily  getting  worse  and  worse  ? Either  he  must 
 step  in  to  stop  the  ruin,  or  he  must  eat  the  bread  of  idleness,  and  pocket  the  wages 
 of  iniquity,  for  they  cannot  be  honestly  earned  without  the  performance  of  corres- 
 ponding duties,  to  say  nothing  of  the  happiness  or  misery  of  the  thousands  and  tens 
 of  thousands  committed  to  his  charge,  and  whose  destiny  must,  in  a great  measure, 
 be  considered  in  his  hands. 
 
 “ I receive  very  kind  letters  from  Mr.  Grant  and  Mr.  Edward  Parry ; I have 
 reason  to  value  and  esteem  them,  and  I am  deeply  sensible  of  their  kindness. 
 
 “ My  hand  aches,  and  I must  leave  off  with  an  apology  for  writing  you  so  long 
 a letter ; but,  in  truth,  I have  not  had  time  to  write  a shorter,  and,  therefore,  give 
 you  in  haste  what  comes  uppermost.  We  are  all  well.” 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  July  26th,  1822. 
 
 “ You  say  our  new  Deputy  Master- Attendant  is  o.  protege  of  Mr.  Robinson,  and 
 on  this  account  entitled  to  my  attentions. 
 
 “ I am  not  aware  that,  as  yet,  I am  under  any  obhgation  to  Mr.  Robinson,  for 
 if  report  says  true,  he  is  most  hostile  to  me,  but  for  why  I know  not.  Be  it  as  it 
 may,  I would  always  rather  return  good  for  evil ; and,  in  the  hope  that  he  may  one 
 day  lay  aside  his  prejudice,  and  be  open  to  reason  and  conviction,  you  may  assure 
 him  that  I only  regret  I am  not  better  known  to  him.  Times  may  alter  as  they 
 have  once  altered,  and,  really,  I cannot  account  for  much  that  I see  and  hear ; never- 
 theless, I shall  continue  to  pursue  a straight-forward  course,  as  I have  hitherto  done, 
 without  swerving  to  the  right  or  left,  quarrelling  with  no  one.” 
 
 To 
 
 Bencoolen,  July  28,  1822. 
 
 “ I will  now  reply  to  your  letter  respecting  young  M'Lean. 
 
 “ With  industry  and  perseverance,  a good  constitution  and  frugal  habits,  there 
 wants  but  one  thing  more  to  complete  the  requisites,  and  that  is  capital,  or  credit, 
 
518 
 
 OPENING  FOR  COMMERCIAL  SPECULATIONS  AT  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 which  is  the  same  thing ; '^^^thout  this  last,  it  is  chance  if  the  others  have  fair  play, 
 and  with  it,  I think  few  places  offer  better  prospects  than  the  spot  from  whence  I 
 write — Bencoolen,  w'here  there  are  most  advantageous  openings  for  advantageous 
 speculations,  in  the  cultivation  and  manufacture  of  sugar  and  rum,  the  culture  of 
 coffee,  spices,  &c.,  and  where,  notwithstanding  all  its  supposed  disadvantages,  more 
 may  now  be  done  \\dth  dollars  than  ever  could  be  effected  in  the  West  Indies  Avith 
 pounds. 
 
 “ Commercial  speculations  are,  in  a great  measure,  at  a stand,  and  Singapore 
 is  overstocked  with  merchants.  They  will  be  too  keen  for  a novice,  and  in  these 
 times  it  is  quite  a science,  even  for  the  first  houses,  to  know  how  to  make  money : 
 the  most  they  can  do  is  to  prevent  loss.  In  Java  there  are  great  facilities  and  advan- 
 tages, both  for  trade  and  cultivation,  particularly  the  latter,  but  then  it  is  under  a 
 Dutch  government.  Of  the  extent  of  capital  required,  any  thing  from  one  to  five 
 thousand  pmmds  mil  answer,  but,  of  course,  the  more  the  better.  With  tw^o  or 
 three  thousand  pounds  to  sink  in  the  land  at  Bencoolen,  I really  think  a pretty  for- 
 tune might  be  made  in  ten  years,  paying  back  the  first  capital  with  a high  interest 
 in  three  or  four. 
 
 “ One  thing,  however,  must  not  on  any  account  be  expected  either  here  or  at 
 Singapore — there  are  no  appointments  to  be  had — not  more  than  you  can  pick  up 
 in  the  streets  of  London ; therefore,  every  thing  must  depend  upon  the  party  him- 
 self, and  on  his  own  ffugahty  and  exertions.” 
 
 To 
 
 ^‘Bencoolen,  September  1822. 
 
 “ We  have  had  a very  sickly  season.  I am  concerned  to  say,  my  inestimable 
 friend  Jack  stiU  remains  in  a very  dangerous  state,  and  is  obliged  to  embark  in  the 
 Layton  for  the  Cape.  In  him  I lose  my  right  hand ; but  if  he  survives,  he  will 
 rejoin  me  in  six  months,  and  accompany  us  home. 
 
 “ I am  afraid  I shall  have  a good  deal  to  do  at  Singapore,  as  the  place  grows 
 so  rapidly,  that  some  important  pro\dsions  must  be  made  for  its  internal  manage- 
 ment and  comfort. 
 
 ^ » 
 
 " Sophia,  I am  sorry  to  say,  has  had  an  illness  which  has  lowered  her  very 
 much,  and  makes  me  very  anxious  to  get  her  home.  Would  to  God  we  were  once 
 
 safe  with  you,  and  out  of  these  enervating  regions. 
 
 **«*»#* 
 
 “ The  idea  of  a pepper  cargo  without  dead  weight  is  such  a farce,  that  the 
 Layton  has  been  the  laughing-stock  to  all  the  private  traders,  and,  were  the  whole 
 
REDUCTION  IN  THE  EXPENSES  OF  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 519 
 
 proceeding  to  be  published,  I know  of  no  instance  that  would  expose  more  igno- 
 rance and  absurdity  in  the  Company’s  proceedings  as  merchants  *. 
 
 “ I am  off  for  Singapore  to-morrow,  very  far  from  well,  and  the  change  may 
 do  us  good. 
 
 “ For  the  past  year  the  only  item  in  our  books  worthy  of  remark  is,  that  the 
 charges  of  the  settlement  have  been  reduced  about  7 0,000  rupees ; but  the  place  is 
 still  so  exorbitantly  high  and  expensive,  that,  perhaps,  the  less  that  is  said  on  the 
 subject  the  better.” 
 
 To  W.  Marsden,  Esq. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  September  8th,  1823. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I promised  myself  the  satisfaction  of  writing  to  you  very  fully  by  the 
 Layton,  but  illness,  and  the  variety  of  detail  which  must  be  got  through  in  the  few 
 days  between  this  and  my  embarkation  for  Singapore,  v^ill,  I fear,  compel  me  to  be 
 more  brief  than  usual.  I still  continue  to  suffer  so  severely  from  a nervous  affec- 
 tion in  my  head,  that  I cannot  calculate  upon  an  hour’s  health  ; Lady  Raffles  too,  is 
 only  just  recovering  from  an  illness  ; and  my  invaluable  friend.  Dr.  Jack,  is  on  the 
 eve  of  embarking  for  the  Cape  as  a last  hope.  Under  these  circumstances,  and  the 
 bustle  of  packing  and  delivering  over  the  charge  of  the  settlement  for  some  months, 
 you  will,  I am  confident,  make  allowances.  Your  kind  letters,  from  the  19th  of 
 August,  1821,  to  the  7th  of  March  last,  are  now  before  me,  and  although  there  are 
 many  points  in  them  to  which  I could  have  wished  to  advert,  I must  be  content  to 
 notice  a few. 
 
 “ Your  observations  on  our  press  are  as  just  as  they  are  liberal ; and  I only  wish 
 it  was  in  my  power  to  convince  you  that  we  have  sufficiently  profited  by  them.  You 
 were,  of  course,  aware,  that  my  object  is  rather  to  excite  others  than  to  come  for- 
 ward myself,  and  that  in  our  present  pubhcations  I necessarily  keep  in  the  back 
 ground.  I allow  nothing  to  appear  as  direct  from  myself. 
 
 ‘‘  The  following  is  the  latest  and  best  information  which  I can  obtain  respecting 
 the  Rakan  river. 
 
 « « « « 
 
 * The  Court  of  Directors  sent  the  Layton  out  to  Bencoolen  with  strict  orders  to  fill  her  entirely  with 
 pepper  ; and  so  strictly  forbad  any  thing  else  being  put  on  board,  that  Sir  Stamford  could  not  alter  their 
 orders.  A moment’s  consideration  will  lead  to  the  inference,  that  pepper  is  in  itself  so  light,  that  a vessel 
 entirely  laden  with  it  would  be  buoyed  up,  and  float  entirely  on  the  surface  of  the  water  ; consequently 
 could  not,  with  safety,  venture  to  sea.  A proportion  of  sugar  had  been  prepared  as  ballast ; but  as  it  was 
 not  allowed  to  be  received  on  board,  the  vessel  sailed  with  that  small  quantity  of  pepper  which  would  not 
 endanger  her  safety  in  passing  the  Cape,  &c. 
 
520 
 
 GENERAL  SURVEY  OF  SUMATRA. 
 
 The  above  is  abstracted  from  the  journal  of  the  cruizer  Timir,  sent  over  for 
 the  express  pm-pose,  at  my  suggestion.  This  will  shew  you  that  I am  doing  aU  I 
 can  to  ascertain  the  true  fonn  of  the  coast  in  this  quarter.  This  long  extract  has 
 occupied  so  much  of  my  paper,  that  I must  defer  our  further  geographical  dis- 
 coveries till  another  opportunity.  I enclose  you  Captain  Crisp’s  calculations  on  the 
 longitude  of  Bencoolen : we  are  just  commencing  with  Jupiter’s  satellites,  and  I 
 shaD,  certainly,  not  allow  the  present  astronomical  party  to  leave  the  coast  until  I 
 have  laid  down  all  the  principal  points. 
 
 September  19th.  I had  written  thus  far,  when  I was  broken  in  upon  by  a host 
 of  people,  and  on  business ; and  my  time  is  now  so  short,  that  I can  do  little  more 
 than  close  this  letter,  as  w^e  embark  at  daylight  to-morrow.  Dr.  Jack  is  still  alive, 
 and  sails  for  the  Cape  this  evening,  but  I have  very  little  hope  for  him  ; I shall  feel 
 his  loss  most  severely,  both  as  a private  friend  and  as  an  able  assistant,  not  only  in 
 the  particular  line  of  natural  history,  but  in  our  geographical  pursuits.  With  his 
 assistance  and  Captain  Crisp’s,  I had  commenced  our  general  survey  of  Sumatra  with 
 some  hope  of  success ; but  I am  now  no  longer  sanguine  of  doing  much  in  my  oum 
 time.  In  a country  hke  this,  where  nothing  material  of  this  natm'e  has  been  effected, 
 the  scope  of  our  operations  seemed  naturally  to  divide  itself  into  three  branches ; 
 first,  the  determining  the  geographical  position  of  all  the  sea-ports  and  harbours, 
 and  the  hydi'ographic  delineation  of  the  line  of  coast  and  the  adjacent  Islands ; in 
 this  we  have  done,  and  I am  happy  to  say  we  are  still  doing  a good  deal ; secondly, 
 the  conducting  a series  of  triangles  from  a measm'ed  base,  in  order  to  fix  the  site  of 
 to\Nms,  the  extent,  and  direction  of  the  several  ranges  of  mountains,  and  the  points 
 where  the  rivers  take  their  rise ; in  this  we  have  gone  so  far  as  to  lay  doum  a 
 tolerably  extensive  base  from  the  tower  of  IVIarlborough  Fort,  which  we  pm*pose  to 
 adopt  as  the  leading  point,  or  meridian,  and  to  carry  on  the  triangles  as  far  as  the 
 eye  will  reach  from  hence  ; and,  thirdly,  the  stretching  the  more  minute  topo- 
 graphical details,  in  w^hich  we  neither  have  wasted  nor  shall  waste  our  time. 
 
 “ I must,  however,  here  close,  in  the  hope  that  my  health  will  enable  me  to 
 take  advantage  of  the  leisure  of  the  voyage  to  write  you  more  fully.  I take  the 
 liberty  of  presenting  Mrs.  Marsden  Avith  a cask  of  Bencoolen  sugar,  in  the  hope 
 that  she  will  patronize  our  manufacture.  The  superior  authorities  will  insist  that 
 we  can  neither  manufacture  sugar  nor  grow  coffee,  though  we  have  already  produced 
 the  former  of  better  quality  than  any  known  in  the  East,  and  oirr  coffee-gardens 
 are  in  every  way  promising,  and  the  export  from  Padang  alone,  during  the  last  year, 
 exceeded  20,000  peculs.  You  will  observe,  that  our  sugar  is  muscovado,  and  not 
 the  light  article  usually  obtained  fi*om  India,  and  as  the  worth  of  sugar  must  be  in 
 its  sweetness,  we  think  we  stand  high.  I am  confident  you  will  give  it  all  the  credit 
 it  deserves,  and  more  we  do  not  wish.” 
 
DEATH  OF  DR.  JACK. 
 
 521 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ September  11,  1822. 
 
 “ The  last  arrivals  have  brought  us  many  kind  letters  from  you ; and  I need  not 
 attempt  to  say  how  truly,  and  how  deeply,  we  feel  your  kindness.  The  hand  of 
 affliction  has  been  heavy  upon  us ; and  it  is  in  such  times  that  the  kindness  of  friends, 
 and  of  those  we  love  and  esteem,  is  doubly  valued. 
 
 “ I did  intend  to  write  you  a very  long  letter  by  this  opportunity ; but  illness, 
 and  the  multiplicity  of  detail  which  crowds  upon  me  at  the  moment,  deprive  me  of 
 the  leisure  of  even  five  minutes.  We  embark  for  Singapore  to-morrow  morning. 
 
 “ If  I am  able  to  hold  up  my  head,  and  use  my  pen  at  all,  I shall  certainly  avail 
 myself  of  the  leisure  of  the  voyage  to  endeavour  to  make  amends  for  my  long  silence 
 by  writing  you  a very  prosing  letter.  I will  not  attempt  to  say  more  at  present,  as 
 you  will  easily  perceive  from  the  wi'iting  that  I hold  my  pen  with  difficulty ; but 
 though  my  head  fail,  my  heart  nevei"  will.” 
 
 aI*  ^ 
 
 ^ ^ 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  September  15,  1822. 
 
 “ We  were  to  have  embarked  this  morning  for  Singapore,  but  the  wind  has 
 proved  foul,  and  it  w^as  ordained  that  w'e  should  remain  another  day,  to  bury  our 
 dear  and  invaluable  Mend,  William  Jack.  Poor  fellow  ! a finer  head  or  heart  there 
 never  w'as ; and  whether  as  a bosom  friend,  or  as  a scientific  assistant,  he  was  to  me 
 invaluable  ; he  had  been  ill  long,  and  returned  from  Java  about  a fortnight  ago,  after 
 an  unsuccessful  \isit  for  change  of  air : w^e  embarked  him  yesterday  morning  in  the 
 Layton,  for  the  Cape ; and  he  died  this  morning  before  the  ship  weighed  her  anchor. 
 
 “ I am  so  depressed  in  spirits,  and  altogether  so  incompetent  to  the  task  of 
 writing  to  his  father  at  this  hurried  moment,  when  all  is  confusion  for  my  embarka- 
 tion, that  I must  postpone  it ; but  I beg  you  to  assure  him,  that  the  loss  is  as  deeply 
 deplored  by  his  friends  here,  as  it  is  possible  it  can  be  by  his  family  at  home ; and  that 
 for  myself,  I am  so  overwhelmed  by  the  misfortune,  that  I cannot  command  myself 
 to  enter  into  particulars.  His  character  and  talents  stood  deservedly  high  with  all 
 who  knew  him ; and  if  any  thing  can  afford  relief  to  a parent  in  the  loss  of  such  a 
 son,  it  ought  to  be  the  reflection  that  he  has  performed  the  course  w^hich  he  w^as  des- 
 tined to  run  with  honour  and  integrity,  and  that  his  sphere  of  usefulness  wns  as  ex- 
 tended as  his  talents  and  ability,  themselves  of  no  common  order,  could  command,” 
 
 “ Straits  of  Sunda,  off  Angler,  September  26,  1822. 
 
 “ I am  happy  to  say  that  we  are  thus  far  on  our  way  to  Singapore,  all  well.  The 
 melancholy  addition  to  the  number  of  deaths  in  our  family,  by  the  loss  of  William 
 
 3 X 
 
522 
 
 DEPARTURE  FOR  SINGAPORE. 
 
 Jack,  made  us  quit  the  place  without  much  regret ; and  God  grant  the  change  of  air 
 and  scene  may  work  a favourable  change  both  in  our  health  and  spirits. 
 
 “ It  is  indispensable  that  the  ship  which  comes  out  for  us  should  have  a poop,  as 
 Sophia  could  not  undergo  the  voyage  below  hatches ; indeed,  she  is  so  bad  a sailor, 
 and  we  are  both  so  weak  and  unfit  for  a long  voyage,  that  we  sometimes  think  of 
 making  a port-to-port  voyage  home  ; that  is  to  say,  going  to  the  Isle  of  France,  the 
 Cape,  St.  Helena,  and  the  Cape  de  Verd  Islands,  and  stopping  at  each  place  a week 
 or  a fortnight  to  recruit. 
 
 To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ In  the  Straits  of  Banca,  October  1,  1822. 
 
 My  Dear  Cousin, 
 
 “ Our  correspondence  has  latterly  flagged,  though  I hardly  know  why,  except 
 it  be  that  we  may  neither  of  us  have  had  heart  or  spirit  enough  to  enter  on  the  sad 
 subjects  w^hich  have  most  absorbed  our  attention.  You  will,  I think,  be  glad  to  hear 
 that  we  have  quitted  Bencoolen  for  a season  ; for  though  I still  adhere  to  its  being, 
 on  the  whole,  as  healthy  as  other  parts  of  the  East,  the  melancholy  events  which 
 have  accumulated  in  our  own  family,  must  produce  a contrary  impression  on  all  who 
 look  to  us  with  interest  and  affection.  Death,  as  if  he  seemed  determined  to  glut 
 himself  to  the  last,  snatched  from  us,  two  days  before  we  sailed,  another  member  of 
 our  family,  my  invaluable  and  highly  respected  friend.  Dr.  Jack ; he  had  supphed 
 the  place  of  Dr.  Arnold,  and  all  my  future  Hews  in  life  w'ere  intimately  blended  with 
 the  plans  and  projects  which  we  had  formed.  He  was  to  have  accompanied  me  to 
 England,  and  his  death  has  left  a blank  which  vdll  not  be  easily  or  speedily  filled  up. 
 
 I am  now  on  my  passage  to  Singapore,  accompanied  by  Sophia  and  her 
 youngest  brother ; and  my  plan  is  to  remain  there  about  six  months,  with  the  Hew 
 of  arranging  and  modelling  something  hke  a constitution  for  the  place,  and  transfer- 
 ring its  future  management  to  a successor.  Should  God  spare  oiu*  lives,  Ave  then 
 look  to  return  to  Bencoolen  for  the  purpose  of  winding  up ; and  then,  about  the  end 
 of  the  year,  if  it  be  not  too  presumptuous  to  look  forward  so  far  after  what  has 
 passed,  we  contemplate  the  prospect  of  revisiting  old  England.  At  all  events,  no 
 Hews  of  ambition  will  weigh  with  us  beyond  that  period ; and,  considering  the  pre- 
 carious state  of  our  health,  and  the  many  ties  at  home,  it  seems,  in  the  natural  course 
 of  things,  that  we  should  then  take  this  step. 
 
 “ Among  the  numerous  deaths  which  have  occuiTed  at  Bencoolen,  we  have  lost 
 no  less  than  three  doctors,  and  our  worthy  chaplain,  Mr.  Winter,  w'hose  widow  and 
 family  are  now  on  their  Avay  to  England.  As  the  advance  of  good  principles  so 
 essentially  depends  on  the  character  of  the  pastor,  and  particularly  at  Bencoolen, 
 where  there  is  only  one  of  our  Establishment,  and  his  union  with  the  Missionaries  is 
 so  essential,  I am  not  a httle  interested  in  the  choice  that  may  be  made  of  a sue- 
 
APPOINTMENT  OF  A CHAPLAIN  TO  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 523 
 
 cessor.  He  will  be  appointed  from  home,  and,  most  likely,  become  known  to  you 
 before  his  departure.  This,  I think,  would  be  advantageous,  particularly  with  reference 
 to  future  correspondence  after  I may  leave  the  countiy.  Of  all  places,  a ship  is  the 
 worst  for  apphcation,  or  even  for  writing  a letter,  for  there  is  always  something  going 
 on,  and  generally  what  is  annoying  either  one  way  or  the  other.  I am  subject  to 
 constant  interruptions,  and  am  at  this  moment  obliged  to  break  off  my  letter. 
 
 “ I again  resume  the  pen,  though  I have  little  to  add,  except  a farewell.” 
 
 3 X 2 
 
CHAPTER  XVIII. 
 
 Arrival  at  Singapore — Description  of  the  settlement — Grounds  of  right  to  its  retention — Occupation  at 
 Singapore — Selection  of  site  for  college — Value  of  land — Contrast  of  Bencoolen  and  Singapore — 
 Number  of  vessels  arrived  in  the  first  tno  years  and  a half — Bungalow  on  Singapore  hill — Botanic 
 garden — Description  of  plant  described  by  Dr.  Finlayson — Mission  to  Bali — Drawing  up  laws  and 
 regulations  for  the  settlement — Magistrates — Memorial  against  slavery — Resolution  of  the  Bengal 
 Government — Instructions  to  Mr.  Crawfurd — Addresses  from  the  inhabitants — Singapore  the  only  place 
 in  India  where  slavery  cannot  exist — Leaves  Singapore — Touches  at  Batavia — Correspondence  with  the 
 Baron  Van  de  Capellan. 
 
 The  pleasui'e  of  ^v^tnessing  the  encreasing  prosperity  of  a settlement  which  he  had 
 himself  formed,  in  which  he  was  hailed  as  a benefactor,  and  welcomed  as  a friend  by 
 all  ranks  and  classes,  raised  the  spirit  which  sorrow  had  depressed ; and  Sir  Stamford’s 
 heart  again  expanded  with  the  hope  of  happiness,  and  rejoiced  in  the  consciousness 
 of  possessing  the  pow'er  of  diffusing  chdlization  and  blessings  around  him. 
 
 To 
 
 “ Singapore,  October  ll//(,  1822. 
 
 “ We  landed  yesterday,  and  I have  once  more  established  my  head-quarters  in 
 the  centre  of  my  Malayan  friends.  I have  just  time  to  say  thus  much,  more  you  shall 
 have  soon  and  often  ; in  the  meantime  you  nail  he  glad  to  know  that  I feel  sufficient 
 health  and  strength  to  do  all  I uish.  The  coldest  and  most  disinterested  could  not 
 quit  Bencoolen,  and  land  at  Singapore,  without  surprise  and  emotion.  What,  then, 
 must  have  been  my  feehngs,  after  the  loss  of  almost  every  thing  that  was  dear  to  me 
 on  that  ill-fated  coast  ? After  all  the  risks  and  dangers  to  which  this  my  almost  only 
 child  had  been  exposed,  to  find  it  grown  and  advanced  beyond  measure,  and  even  my 
 warmest  anticipations  and  expectations,  in  importance,  wealth,  and  interest — in  every 
 thing  that  can  give  it  value  and  permanence  ? 
 
 “ I did  feel  when  I left  Bencoolen,  that  the  time  had  passed  when  I could  take 
 much  active  interest  in  Indian  affairs,  and  I wished  myself  safe  home  ; but  I already 
 feel  differently ; I feel  a new  life  and  vigour  about  me  ; and  if  it  please  God  to  grant 
 me  health,  the  next  six  months  wall,  I hope,  make  some  amends  for  the  gloom  of  the 
 last  sixteen. 
 
'7L.  y.Ay 
 
ARRIVAL  AT  SINGAPORE. 
 
 525 
 
 “ Rob  me  not  of  this  my  political  child,  and  you  may  yet  see  me  at  home  in  all 
 my  wonted  spirits,  and  with  an  elasticity  about  me  which  will  hear  me  up  against  all 
 that  party  spirit  can  do  to  depress  me. 
 
 “ I have  not  time  to  write  to  any  one  else,  therefore  let  all  friends  know  that  we 
 are  well,  and  again.  Heaven  he  praised,  in  the  land  of  the  living.  Sophia  is  quite 
 well. 
 
 “ Mary  Anne  and  her  child  are  well  also,  and  in  our  hearts  we  sing,  ‘ Oh  be 
 jojdul  in  the  Lord.’” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Singapore,  November  30,  1822. 
 
 “ I am  sure  you  will  congi’atulate  us  in  haAing  escaped  from  Bencoolen  with  our 
 lives,  after  the  rapid  succession  of  miseries  which  we  experienced  there.  To  close 
 the  melancholy  list  of  casualties  in  my  own  family,  I have  to  add  the  loss  of  my  most 
 excellent,  valued  friend.  Dr.  Jack.  He  was  carried  off  the  day  before  we  sailed  from 
 Bencoolen. 
 
 “ We  have  already  experienced  the  benefit  of  change  of  scene  and  climate ; and 
 the  prosperous  state  of  this  rising  colony  has  made  amends  for  the  dull  and  sombre 
 Hews  which  we  have  left.  Here  all  is  life  and  activity ; and  it  would  be  difficult  to 
 name  a place  on  the  face  of  the  globe,  with  brighter  prospects  or  more  present  satis- 
 faction. In  little  more  than  three  years  it  has  risen  from  an  insignificant  fishing  vil- 
 lage, to  a large  and  prosperous  town,  containing  at  least  10,000  inhabitants  of  all 
 nations,  actively  engaged  in  commercial  pursuits,  which  afford  to  each  and  all  a hand- 
 some livelihood,  and  abundant  profit.  There  are  no  complaints  here  of  want  of 
 employment,  no  deficiency  of  rents,  or  dissatisfaction  at  taxes.  Land  is  rapidly  rising 
 in  value,  and  instead  of  the  present  number  of  inhabitants,  we  have  reason  to  expect 
 that  we  shall  have  at  least  ten  times  as  many  before  many  years  have  passed.  This 
 may  he  considered  as  the  simple,  but  almost  magic  result  of  that  perfect  freedom  of 
 trade,  which  it  has  been  my  good  fortune  to  establish. 
 
 We  are  daily  looking  for  accounts  of  the  arrival  of  our  new  Governor  General; 
 and  it  is  not  improbable  he  may  bring  out  final  instructions  respecting  this  place,  as 
 far  as  concerns  the  question  with  the  Dutch.  I have,  however,  very  little  mieasiness 
 on  the  subject,  as  I think  it  now  nearly  impossible  to  dispossess  us ; and  the  time  for 
 my  going  home  now  draws  so  nigh,  that  I shall  be  able  to  fight  the  battle  out  in 
 England,  upon  more  equal  ground  than  I have  been  obliged  to  do  here. 
 
 “ I could  fill  a volume  with  new  matter,  on  new  people,  new  manners,  and  new 
 comitiies,  but  I must  be  content  to  hold  my  tongue  until  I have  the  gratification  of 
 telling  you  aU  my  long  stories  in  person. 
 
 * * 
 
 “ I am  at  present  engaged  in  establishing  a constitution  for  Singapore,  the 
 
526 
 
 SAILING  FISH. 
 
 principles  of  which  will,  I hope,  ensure  its  prosperity.  The  utmost  possible  freedom 
 of  trade  and  equal  rights  to  all,  with  protection  of  property  and  person,  are  the  ob- 
 jects to  be  obtained,  and  I shall  spare  no  pains  to  estabhsh  such  laws  and  regulations 
 as  may  be  most  conducive  to  them.  In  Java  I had  to  remodel,  and  in  doing  so  to 
 remove  the  rubbish  and  incumbrances  of  tw^o  centuries  of  Dutch  mal-administration 
 — here  I have  an  easier  task — and  the  task  is  new.  In  Java  I had  to  look  princi- 
 pally to  the  agi'icultural  interests,  and  the  commercial  only  so  far  as  they  were  con- 
 nected with  them ; here,  on  the  contrary,  commerce  is  every  thing,  agriculture  only 
 in  its  infancy.  The  people  are  different  as  well  as  their  pursuits.  I assure  you  I 
 stand  much  in  need  of  ad\dce,  and  were  it  not  for  Lady  Raffles,  I should  have  no 
 counsellor  at  all.  She  is  nevertheless  a host  to  me,  and  if  I do  live  to  see  you  again, 
 it  will  be  entirely  owing  to  her  love  and  affection  : wthout  this  I should  have  been 
 cast  away  long  ago.  If  it  please  God  we  have  health,  we  hope  to  pass  the  next  two 
 months  pleasantly  enough  in  this  interesting  occupation. 
 
 “ The  only  amusing  discovery  which  we  have  recently  made  is  that  of  a sailing 
 fish,  called  by  the  natives  ikan  layer,  of  about  ten  or  twelve  feet  long,  which  hoists  a 
 mainsail,  and  often  sails  in  the  manner  of  a native  boat,  and  with  considerable  swift- 
 ness. I have  sent  a set  of  the  sails  home,  as  they  are  beautifully  cut,  and  form  a 
 model  for  a fast-sailing  boat — they  are  composed  of  the  dorsal  fins  of  the  animal, 
 and  wiien  a shoal  of  these  are  mider  sail  together,  they  are  frequently  mistaken  for 
 a fleet  of  native  boats.” 
 
 To  W.  Marsden,  Esq. 
 
 ''Singapore,  Nov.  30,  1822. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 " You  will,  I am  sure,  be  glad  to  learn  that  we  have  derived  every  ad. 
 vantage  from  change  of  scene  and  climate  wliich  we  calculated  upon,  and  that  both 
 Lady  Raffles  and  myself  have  daily  improved  in  health  and  spirits  since  our  arrival 
 here.  The  last  blow  reserved  for  us  at  Bencoolen  was  the  death  of  my  most  valued 
 friend.  Dr.  Jack,  and  gi'eat  indeed  has  been  the  loss  which  I have  sustained  by  this 
 event.  Poor  fellow,  we  had  become  so  intimate,  and  our  futm-e  plans  had  become 
 so  interwoven  with  each  other’s  views  in  life,  that  I could  not  have  felt  the  loss  of  a 
 brother  more  than  I did  his.  But  I must  not  get  into  a melancholy  train  of  thought, 
 and  will  drop  the  subject  till  w^e  meet. 
 
 “ Of  Singapore  I could  of  course  say  a good  deal ; but  when  I say  that  it  is 
 going  on  as  prosperously  as  possible,  you  will  infer  much  of  what  I w^ould  communi- 
 cate. I have  nearly  got  over  the  job  of  undoing,  and  am  steadily  going  on  in  the 
 establishment  of  something  like  a constitution  for  the  place,  on  the  principle  of  esta- 
 blishing it  permanently  as  a fi'ee  port  in  every  sense  of  the  word.  The  active  spirit 
 of  enterprize  which  prevails  among  all  classes  is  truly  astonishing,  and  for  its  extent, 
 7 
 
FIRE  AT  CANTON. 
 
 527 
 
 I believe  I may  safely  say,  that  no  part  of  the  world  exhibits  a busier  scene  than  the 
 town  and  environs  of  Singapore.  The  Dutch  have  been  obliged  to  take  off  their 
 duties  at  Java  and  elsewhere  on  native  prows,  and  as  far  as  appearances  go,  they 
 seem  to  see  the  necessity  of  adopting  a more  liberal  system  throughout.  I am  sorry, 
 however,  to  say  that  a recent  act,  in  which  they  were  the  principals,  is  perhaps  as 
 disgraceful  and  abominable  over  a defenceless  woman,  as  ever  was  committed  by  a 
 civilized  nation. 
 
 “ You  must  be  aware  that  the  grounds  on  which  I maintain  our  right  to  Singa- 
 pore rested  on  the  following  facts,  which  it  has  never  been  in  their  power  to  disprove. 
 
 1st.  That  subsequent  to  the  death  of  Sultan  Mahomed,  which  happened 
 about  twelve  years  ago,  there  had  been  no  regular  installation  of  a successor,  nor 
 had  any  Chief  been  acknowledged  as  such,  with  the  essential  forms  required  by  the 
 Malay  custom. 
 
 “ That  the  regaha  (the  possession  of  which  is  considered  essential  to  sove- 
 reignty), still  remained  in  the  custody  of  Tunku  Putrie,  widow  of  the  deceased 
 Sultan. 
 
 3d.  That  the  Rajah  of  Lingin  had  never  exercised  the  authority  of  Sultan  of 
 Johore,  and  explicitly  disclaimed  the  title,  and 
 
 “ 4th.  That  the  prince  whom  we  supported  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  late  Sul- 
 tan, and  was  intended  for  the  succession.  That  he  was  acknowledged  by  one  at 
 least,  if  not  both  the  constituting  authorities  of  the  empire,  and  that  he  himself 
 stood  in  no  way  committed  to  the  Dutch,  when  I formed  the  treaty  with  him. 
 
 “ The  Dutch  have  allowed  nearly  four  years  to  pass  since  our  occupation  of 
 Singapore,  in  trying  to  prove  that  the  Sultan  of  Lingin  was  actually  invested  with 
 the  sovereignty  of  Johore ; but  finding  our  ministry  more  firm  than  they  expected, 
 and  that  their  assertions  were  not  admitted  as  proofs,  they  have  at  last  given  up  the 
 point,  and  actually  proceeded  to  the  seizure  of  the  regalia  from  the  hands  of  Tunku 
 Putrie.  I enclose  you  the  particulars ; it  is  a curious  document  and  may  deserve 
 preservation  as  connected  with  the  history  of  this  part  of  the  world. 
 
 “ The  details  of  the  destructive  fire  which  has  taken  place  in  China  will  reach 
 you  through  the  public  prints ; I will  therefore  only  notice  that  the  whole  of  the 
 factories,  English  and  foreign,  with  two  exceptions,  and  upwards  of  12,000  Chinese 
 houses,  including  six  belonging  to  the  Hong  merchants,  were  burnt  to  the  ground 
 between  the  first  and  third  instant,  and  that  the  fire  was  by  no  means  extinguished 
 on  the  twentieth,  when  our  last  accounts  came  away.  The  whole  of  the  Company’s 
 w'oollens  of  the  season,  worth  about  <£400,000  have  been  destroyed,  and  about  five 
 hundred  tons  of  tea — 700,000  dollars  were  fortunately  saved  from  the  Company’s 
 treasury,  but  nothing  else  from  the  factory,  and  the  supercargoes  have  for  the  most 
 part  lost  every  thing  but  the  clothes  on  their  backs.  This  will  occasion  some  long 
 
528 
 
 MR.  CRAWFURD’S  MISSION  TO  SIAM  AND  COCHIN  CHINA. 
 
 faces  in  Leadenhall-street,  but  it  will  set  the  manufacturers  at  work  to  supply  the 
 woollens  lost. 
 
 “ You  will  no  doubt  have  heard  of  Crawfurd’s  mission  to  Siam  and  Cochin 
 China.  He  has  failed  in  the  essential  objects  of  his  mission,  but  has  had  the  means 
 of  collecting  a good  deal  of  information  respecting  the  countries  he  has  visited, 
 which  will  afford  him  the  opportunity  of  ^^Titing  a very  interesting  book  or  two. 
 He  was  vith  me  last  week  on  his  retmai  to  Bengal,  and  I had  the  opportunity  of 
 entering  fully  into  the  subject.  At  Siam  he  was  detained  five  months.  The  King 
 received  him  in  the  first  instance,  but  all  his  communications  subsequently  were  with 
 an  officer  of  the  second  rank  below  the  sovereign ; and  the  only  acknowledgment 
 he  could  obtain  of  the  Governor  General’s  letter,  was  a short  reply  from  an  officer 
 of  the  third  rank,  specifying  the  duties  and  regulations  of  the  port ; but  which  was 
 no  sooner  dehvered  than  the  terms  were  broken,  and  the  first  act  after  Crawfurd’s 
 departure  was  to  seize  the  supercargo.  Captain,  and  part  of  the  crew  of  an  Enghsh 
 vessel,  and  to  beat  and  knock  them  about  till  they  had  nearly  deprived  them  of 
 life  ; aftenvards  putting  them  in  irons  and  treating  them  with  a barbarity  which  would 
 disgrace  savages : and  this  purposely  as  an  insult  to  our  embassy,  and  to  shew  their 
 contempt  of  our  power. 
 
 “ At  Cochin  China  he  met  with  a somewhat  better  reception  personally,  but 
 the  King  woidd  not  grant  him  an  audience,  or  receive  the  letter  from  the  Governor 
 General  at  all.  The  reason  assigned  was  its  not  coming  from  a crowned  head, 
 and  that  a similar  letter  fi-om  France  had  not  been  received.  A certificate  from 
 one  of  the  mandarins  that  we  should  be  allowed  to  trade  on  the  same  terms  as 
 the  French,  was  all  that  Craufurd  could  obtain. 
 
 It  does  not  seem  that  there  is  any  foreign  European  influence  at  either 
 court,  prejuchcial  to  our  political  or  national  interest ; and  Crawfurd  seems  to  think 
 they  are  both  too  jealous  to  admit  of  any.  They  have  undoubtedly  gi-eat  apprehen- 
 sions of  any  European  power  gaining  a footing  among  them  ; and  nothing  could 
 equal  the  strict  manner  in  which  the  embassy  was  watched  at  Cochin  China. 
 
 “ Siam  proves  to  be  fully  as  rich  a country  as  we  supposed.  Its  population  is 
 estimated  at  six  millions,  of  which  one-sixth  may  be  Chinese,  and  nearly  one-half  the 
 whole  are  included  at  the  districts  of  Lao,  the  other  half  occupying  Lower  Siam. 
 The  produce  in  sugar,  pepper,  &c.  &c.  is  immense ; and  the  tonnage  on  junks  which 
 annually  enter  the  Minam  is  not  estimated  at  less  than  40,000  tons ; of  these, 
 eighteen  or  twenty  of  the  largest  junks  belong  to  the  King,  who  uith  the  court, 
 monopolizes  all  the  foreign  trade  of  this  country.  The  value  of  this  junk  trade  is  so 
 important  to  the  King  and  all  concerned  in  it,  that  they  are  naturally  averse  to  the 
 admission  of  our  shipping  to  its  supercession,  and  perhaps  destruction  ; and  this 
 circumstance  added  to  the  despotic  nature  of  the  Government,  its  jealousy  and 
 
SIAMESE  TRADE. 
 
 529 
 
 general  bad  character,  seem  to  preclude  the  hope  of  our  enjoying  a direct  trade  to 
 any  extent,  by  means  of  our  own  shipping.  We  must  be  satisfied  with  the  entrepot 
 which  we  have  established  at  Singapore,  whither  their  junks  regularly  come  with  a 
 large  portion  of  the  produce  of  the  country,  and  can  afford  to  sell  it  at  a lower  rate 
 than  foreigners  can  procure  the  same  articles  in  Siam  itself ; and  now  under  the  pro- 
 tection of  the  British  flag  the  exchange  must  take  place.  In  the  extension  of  this 
 trade,  the  King  and  his  court  are  so  much  interested,  that  he  will  in  a manner  feel  de- 
 pendent on  us  for  the  accommodation  and  protection  afforded. 
 
 “ The  richest  province  of  Lower  Siam  seems  to  be  Chantibun,  on  the  eastern 
 side  of  the  gulph.  It  is  said  to  export  upwards  of  80,000  peculs  of  pepper  in  a 
 year. 
 
 On  his  way  to  Cochin  China,  Crawfurd  touched  at  Saigun,  the  capital  of  Lower 
 Cochi,  and  situated  on  the  northern  bank  of  the  Camboja  river.  This  place  he  de- 
 scribes as  full  of  activity  and  produce,  and  abounding  with  Chinese,  who  seemed 
 anxious  for  a more  general  intercourse  with  us.  Cochin  China  is  a poor  country 
 comparatively  with  Sjam ; but  the  principal  value  of  our  connection  with  it  seems  to 
 be  with  reference  to  the  channel  which  it  may  afford  for  a more  extensive  intercourse 
 with  several  of  the  provinces  of  the  Chinese. 
 
 “ For  further  details  I must  refer  you  to  Crawfurd’s  book  when  published,  or 
 beg  of  you  to  await  my  arrival  in  England,  as  I am  ashamed  to  lengthen  this  letter 
 further.” 
 
 To  W.  Marsden,  Esq. 
 
 “ Singapore,  November  30,  1822. 
 
 “ My  plan  is  to  resign  Singapore  as  soon  as  I can  make  arrangements  for  the 
 appointment  of  a successor. 
 
 “ Since  I have  been  here  I have  caught  no  less  than  six  duyongs,  (the  animal 
 described  by  Valentin,  and  so  long  talked  of  as  the  mermaid),  some  as  large  as  nine 
 feet  two  inches.  A full-grown  female  is  now  under  the  dissecting  knife,  so  that  the 
 natural  history  of  this  extraordinary  animal  is  hkely  to  be  better  known  than  any  of 
 the  other  cetce. 
 
 “ Crawfurd’s  astronomers  omitted  to  take  either  the  latitude  or  longitude  of 
 Bankok,  the  present  capital  of  Siam,  although  they  were  there  upwards  of  four 
 months.  The  most  remarkable  production  which  they  fell  in  with  was  a large  potatoe 
 or  yam  (a  species  of  inenispermurn)  weighing  no  less  than  four  hundred  and  eighty 
 pounds  avoirdupoise ! This  is  a match  for  my  gi*eat  flower.  Crawfurd  carried  up 
 two  dmjongs  from  hence,  and  I have  now  three,  ready  prepared  for  England. 
 
 “We  are  making  some  advances  towards  a general  survey  of  Singapore  and  the 
 adjacent  Islands ; and  I am  happy  to  say  I have  succeeded  at  last  in  getting  a very 
 correct  survey  of  the  eastern  coast  of  Sumatra  from  Diamond  Point  down  to  the  Ca- 
 
 3 Y 
 
530 
 
 BENEFICIAL  EFFECTS  OF  CHANGE  OF  SCENE. 
 
 rimons.  By  the  time  I return  to  Bencoolen,  I trust  my  astronomical  party  at  the  Line 
 will  have  done  something ; and,  at  all  events,  I hope  I shall  have  it  in  my  power  to 
 shew  you  that  I have  not  been  idle. 
 
 “ You  will  be  surprised  to  hear  that  a considerable  quantity  of  the  finest  benjamin 
 is  produced  in  Lao,  about  the  latitude  of  15°  or  16°,  if  not  more. 
 
 “ My  hand  is  rather  unsteady  from  my  late  illness,  therefore  excuse  my  scrawl, 
 whidi  I am  almost  ashamed  to  send.” 
 
 To  T.  Murdoch,  Esq. 
 
 “ Singapore,  December  4,  1822. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I am  afraid  you  will  accuse  me  of  neglect  in  not  writing  to  you  for  so  long 
 a period,  but  I must  tell  the  truth,  and  rely  on  your  kindness.  I have  not  been  able 
 to  bring  myself  to  the  point  since  the  loss  of  my  dear  boy,  Leopold,  and  even  now  feel 
 a reluctance  in  doing  so,  which  I can  hardly  overcome.  The  loss  of  that  dear  boy, 
 in  whom  all  om'  hopes  were  centered,  has  indeed  been  a severe  blow ; and  the  rapid 
 succession  in  which  our  other  darlings  have  been  swept  from  us,  has  been  almost  too 
 much  to  bear.  But,  I thank  God,  the  worst  is  past ; and  though  we  may  have  hard- 
 ened our  hearts  a httle  in  order  to  get  over  it,  I will  yet  hope  that  there  is  as  much 
 happiness  left  for  us  in  this  world  as  we  deserve  to  enjoy.  We  were,  perhaps,  too 
 happy,  too  proud  of  our  blessings ; and,  if  we  had  not  received  this  severe  check,  we 
 might  not  sufficiently  have  felt  and  known  the  necessity  of  an  hereafter.  The  Lord’s 
 will  be  done,  and  we  are  satisfied. 
 
 “ You  wll,  I am  sure,  congi'atulate  us  on  our  removal  fi'om  Bencoolen.  Only 
 two  days  before  we  left  it  we  lost  another  member  of  our  family,  my  inestimable 
 friend.  Dr.  Jack.  This  blow  was  reserved  tiU  the  last,  but  it  has  not  been  the  less 
 severe.  Poor  fellow,  we  have  lost  in  him  one  of  the  clearest  heads  and  warmest 
 hearts  I ever  met  with ; but  death  has  so  assailed  us  in  every  quarter  wthin  the  last 
 year,  that  I hardly  yet  know  or  feel  all  that  I have  lost. 
 
 “ We  have  been  here  nearly  two  months,  and  the  change  of  air  and  scene  has 
 done  us  great  good.  Lady  Raffles  in  particular  has  greatly  recovered  both  in  her 
 health  and  spirits,  and  I am  myself  very  sensibly  better,  though  still  occasionally 
 dreadfully  oppressed  with  head-aches. 
 
 “ Public  report  speaks  so  favourably  of  this  place,  that  I cannot  well  say  more 
 about  it,  without  subjecting  myself  to  the  charge  of  egotism,  for  it  is,  indeed,  every 
 thing  I could  wish,  and  rising  and  improring  in  every  way  fully  equal  to  my  expectations. 
 It  is  at  least  a child  of  my  own  ; and  now  that  I am  in  other  respects  childless,  I may 
 perhaps  be  indulged  with  this ; and  I can  assure  you,  that  the  interest  I take  in  it, 
 cheers  many  a day  that  would  otherwise  be  gloomy  and  sad  enough  in  reflections  on 
 the  past. 
 
MR.  CRAWFURD’S  MISSION  TO  SIAM. 
 
 531 
 
 “ I am  now  busy  in  allotting  the  lands  and  laying  out  the  several  towns,  defin- 
 ing rights,  and  establishing  powers  and  rules  for  their  protection  and  preservation. 
 I have  been  a good  deal  impeded,  but  the  task,  though  an  arduous  and  serious  one, 
 is  not  one  that  I find  unpleasant.  What  I feel  most  is  the  want  of  good  counsel  and 
 advice,  and  of  sufficient  confidence  in  my  own  experience  and  judgment  to  lay  down 
 so  broad  and  permanent  a foundation  as  I could  wish.  I have  already  upwards  of 
 10,000  souls  to  legislate  for,  and  this  number  will,  I doubt  not,  be  increased  during 
 the  next  year.  The  entei-prize  and  activity  which  prevails  are  wonderful,  and  the 
 effects  of  a free-trade  and  liberal  principles  have  operated  hke  magic.  But  that  the 
 past  prosperity  of  the  place  may  not  prove  ephemeral,  it  requires  that  I be  the  more 
 careful  in  wiiat  I do  for  the  future  ; for  if  the  past,  under  all  our  uncertainty  of  pos- 
 session, has  so  far  exceeded  my  expectations,  w^hat  may  not  be  calculated  upon 
 hereafter,  when  our  principles  are  better  understood,  when  our  possession  is  con- 
 sidered secure,  and  when  British  capital  and  enterprize  come  into  full  and  fair 
 play ! 
 
 “ You  will  probably  have  heard  of  Mr.  CrawTurd’s  mission  to  Siam  and  Cochin 
 China,  which  I am  sorry  to  say  has  failed  in  all  essential  objects  ; that  is  to  say,  of 
 the  mission  ; for  in  other  respects  his  rtsit  to  those  countries  has,  I doubt  not,  been 
 attended  w ith  gi'eat  advantage,  in  affording  him  the  means  of  obtaining  information 
 of  the  people  and  countiy  not  previously,  or  at  least  not  generally  known.  He  has 
 ascertained  that,  in  a political  point  of  rtew%  they  are  a most  impracticable  people, 
 and  that  it  is  folly  for  us  to  attempt  political  negociations  with  them ; and  as  the  su- 
 perior authorities  are  satisfied  of  this,  they  will,  I hope,  be  content  with  the  retention 
 of  Singapore,  where,  as  an  extensive  depot  for  the  produce  of  all  these  countries,  the 
 British  and  the  British-India  merchant  may  always  effect  his  exchange  under  the 
 protection  of  the  British  flag.  On  this  point  I shall  hope  to  write  you  more  fully 
 hereafter,  now  that  I have  once  broken  the  ice. 
 
 “ My  sister  and  Captain  Flint  are  here,  and  it  is  no  small  gratification  for  us  to 
 be  with  them.  Flint  is  anxious  to  testify  his  recollection  of  your  kindness  and  atten- 
 tion, and  proposes  sending  you  by  the  first  opportunity  the  skeleton  of  an  enormous 
 ape,  standing  about  five  feet  six,  lately  obtained  fi’om  Borneo. 
 
 “ We  are  overwhelmed  with  duyongs.  While  writing  this  I am  informed  of  the 
 arrival  of  another,  which  makes  the  seventh  since  I have  been  here. 
 
 “ Lady  Raffles  will  wiite  to  IVIrs.  Murdoch  very  soon.  She  pleads  the  same 
 excuse  for  her  silence  that  I have  done  for  mine.  The  kindness  of  yourself  and 
 family  has  induced  such  a feehng  on  our  part,  that  w^e  calculate  upon  your  sjunpathy 
 in  all  our  misfortunes.” 
 
 3 Y 2 
 
o32 
 
 VALUE  OF  LAND  AT  SINGAPORE. 
 
 To 
 
 “ Singapore,  December  10,  1822. 
 
 “ My  time  is  at  present  engaged  in  remodelling  and  laying  out  my  new  city, 
 and  in  establishing  institutions  and  laws  for  its  futm'e  constitution ; a pleasant  duty 
 enough  in  England,  where  you  have  books,  hard  heads,  and  lawyers  to  refer  to,  but 
 here  by  no  means  easy,  where  all  must  depend  on  my  own  judgment  and  foresight. 
 Nevertheless  I hope  that  though  Singapore  may  be  the  first  capital  established  in 
 the  nineteenth  century,  it  will  not  disgi'ace  the  brightest  period  of  it. 
 
 “ You  will  be  surprised  to  hear  of  the  value  of  land  here.  A few  spots  of 
 ground  hitherto  considered  of  no  value,  and  passed  over  by  the  local  resident,  sold 
 in  the  course  of  an  hour  for  upwards  of  50,000  dollars.  You  uill  perceive  that  I 
 have  been  very  cautious  in  wording  the  grants  of  land,  so  as  not  to  alarm  the  anti- 
 colonists at  home. 
 
 “ We  have  heard  nothing  of  the  Borneo  since  her  leaving  the  Cape,  and 
 are  looking  out  most  anxiously  for  news  of  our  dear  child.  Sophia’s  patience  is 
 almost  exhausted,  and  her  spirits  begin  to  flag,  but  I thank  God  she  is  again  in  ex- 
 cellent health,  and  better  than  I have  seen  her  for  the  last  two  years.  The  hope  of 
 getting  away  from  this  country  the  end  of  the  year  buoys  us  both  up,  and  enables  us 
 to  get  on  from  day  to  day  with  something  like  satisfaction. 
 
 “ I have  been  very  severely  attacked  since  my  arrival  here,  and  it  would  be 
 madness  to  think  of  remaining  in  the  country  a day  longer  than  the  time  1 have 
 limited.  I must  remain  here  till  April  or  May,  and  be  at  Bencoolen  in  June  to  meet 
 and  despatch  the  Indiaman. 
 
 “ Nothing  can  be  more  striking  than  the  contrast  between  the  two  settlements. 
 At  Bencoolen  the  public  expenses  are  more  in  one  month  than  they  are  at  Singapore 
 in  twelve.  The  capital  turned  at  Bencoolen  never  exceeds  400,000  dollars  in  a 
 year,  and  nearly  the  whole  of  this  is  in  Company’s  bills  on  Bengal,  the  only  returns 
 that  can  be  made ; at  Singapore,  the  capital  turned  in  a year  exceeds  eight  millions, 
 without  any  government  bills  or  civil  establishment  whatever.” 
 
 Extract  of  a Letter  to  the  Rev.  Dr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Singapore,  January  12,  1823. 
 
 My  Dear  Cousin, 
 
 “ Since  my  arrival  here  I have  received  two  letters  from  you  of  rather 
 ancient  date  ; but  they  remind  me  that  I am  very  much  your  debtor  in  the  way  of 
 correspondence  ; and  if  my  health  admitted  it,  should  not  long  be  so.  As  it  is,  you 
 must  be  satisfied  with  a few  lines,  the  doctor  prohibiting  me  from  writing  more. 
 
 “ The  progress  of  my  new  settlement  is  in  every  way  most  satisfactory,  and  it 
 
ENDOWMENT  OF  A COLLEGE  AT  SINGAPORE. 
 
 533 
 
 would  gladden  your  heart  to  witness  the  activity  and  cheerfulness  which  prevail 
 throughout ; every  day  brings  us  new  settlers,  and  Singapore  has  already  become  a 
 great  emporium.  Houses  and  warehouses  are  springing  up  in  every  direction,  and 
 the  inland  forests  are  fast  giving  way  before  the  industrious  cultivator.  I am  now 
 engaged  in  marking  out  the  towns  and  roads,  and  in  establishing  laws  and  regu- 
 lations for  the  protection  of  person  and  property.  We  have  no  less  than  nine  mer- 
 cantile houses  (European),  and  there  is  abundant  employment  for  capital  as  fast  as 
 it  accumulates. 
 
 “ Both  Sophia  and  I have  improved  in  health  since  our  arrival  here,  but  I still 
 feel  myself  so  weak  and  broken  down  in  constitution,  that  it  will  be  as  much  as  I 
 can  do  to  hold  out  for  the  year.  My  principal  attack  is  in  the  head,  and  for  days 
 together  I am  nearly  distracted,  and  almost  unconscious  of  what  I am  doing. 
 
 “ The  death  of  my  friend.  Dr.  Milne,  of  Malacca,  has  for  a time  thrown  a damp 
 on  missionary  exertions  in  this  quarter,  but  I expect  Dr.  Morrison,  of  China,  to 
 visit  this  place  in  March,  and  I hope  to  make  some  satisfactory  arrangement  with 
 him  for  future  labours.  The  two  missionaries  who  are  here  are  not  idle.  Messrs. 
 Milton  and  Thompson,  the  former  in  Chinese  and  Siamese,  and  the  latter  in  Malay 
 and  English  printing.  I have  selected  a spot  for  my  intended  college ; and  all  I 
 now  require  is  a good  head-master  or  superintendant.  It  is  my  intention  to  endow 
 it  with  lands,  the  rents  of  which  will  cover  its  ordinary  expences.  I am  also  about 
 to  commence  upon  a church,  the  plan  of  which  is  already  approved. 
 
 “ Believe  me,  &c.” 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Singapore,  January  21,  1823. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ By  a statement  I forwarded  to  the  Court  of  Directors  in  February  last, 
 it  was  shewn  that  during  the  first  two  years  and  a half  of  this  estabhshment,  no  less 
 than  two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-nine  vessels  entered  and  cleared  from 
 the  port,  of  which  three  hundred  and  eighty-three  were  o^vned  and  commanded  by 
 Europeans,  and  two  thousand  five  hundred  and  six  by  natives,  and  that  their  united 
 tonnage  was  one  hundred  and  sixty-one  thousand  tons.  It  appeared  also,  that  the 
 value  of  merchandize  in  native  vessels  arrived  and  cleared,  amounted  to  about  five 
 milhons  of  dollars  during  the  same  period,  and  in  ships  not  less  than  three  milhons, 
 giving  a total  amount  of  about  eight  millions  as  the  capital  turned. 
 
 “ This  statement  I thought  very  favourable ; but  I have  now  the  satisfaction 
 of  forwarding  to  the  same  authority  official  statements,  from  which  the  following 
 results  appear  for  the  year  1822,  a detailed  and  accurate  account  having  been  kept 
 during  that  period  of  the  trade  of  the  place. 
 
534 
 
 TRADE  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 Total  amount  of  tonnage,  importing  and  exporting,  one  hundred  and  thirty 
 thousand  six  hundred  and  eighty-nine. 
 
 Total  value  of  imports  and  exports  in  the  year  1822,  eight  milhons  five  hun- 
 dred and  sixty-eight  thousand  one  hundred  and  seventy-two. 
 
 “ Nearly  the  whole  of  this  trade  is  carried  on  by  a borrowed  capital,  for  which 
 interest  is  paid  from  nine  to  twelve  per  cent,  per  annum ; and  it  is  not  a little 
 remarkable,  that  since  the  establishment  of  the  settlement,  now  four  years,  not  a 
 single  ship  has  arrived  from  England,  notwithstanding  Europe  goods  are  in  con- 
 stant demand.  All  British  manufactures  that  heretofore  found  their  way  into  the 
 settlement  have  come  by  circuitous  routes,  and  with  heavy  charges  of  freight  and 
 duties  at  other  ports  added  to  their  invoice  value.  No  less  than  four  fi’ee  traders 
 loaded  home  from  Singapore  last  year;  and  the  Venelia,  by  which  I send  this,  now 
 goes  home  wth  a full  and  valuable  cargo  of  sugar,  pepper,  tin,  tortoise-shell,  &c. ; 
 and  we  could  load  half  a dozen  more  ships  in  the  com’se  of  the  season  were  they 
 here 
 
 “ It  being  a great  object  to  establish  the  freedom  and  independence  of  the  port 
 on  a sohd  foundation,  I take  the  liberty  of  enclosing  you  copies  of  several  regula- 
 tions I have  recently  passed  for  the  registry  of  land,  the  rules  of  the  port,  and  the 
 establishment  of  a local  magistracy,  in  the  hope  that  you  will  consider  them  apph- 
 cable  to  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  Singapore.  Land  has  already  assumed  a high 
 value,  and  a few  lots  of  about  sixty  feet  front,  in  a convenient  situation  for  mercan- 
 tile purposes,  realized  at  pubhc  sale  upwards  of  fifty  thousand  dollars  in  the  course 
 of  half-an-hour.  Small  lots  in  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  of  only  eighteen  feet  fi-ont, 
 are  bought  and  sold  by  the  Chinese  as  high  as  seventy  or  eighty  dollars  each,  at  the 
 same  time  that  they  pay  an  annual  quit  rent  of  eight  dollars  to  government. 
 
 ‘‘  I have  established  a revenue  without  any  tax  whatever  on  the  trade,  which 
 more  than  covers  all  civil  disbursements,  and  which  must  annually  increase  in  future 
 years,  while  these  disbursements  should  remain  the  same. 
 
 “ I give  you  these  outlines,  knowing  how  much  interest  you  take  in  the  settle- 
 ment, and  how  satisfactory  they  will  be  to  you.  We  yet  remain  without  any  accounts 
 as  to  the  final  decision  in  Europe,  but  I cannot  bring  my  mind  to  suppose  that  it  will 
 be  unfavourable. 
 
 * It  may  be  interesting  to  compare  the  relative  trade  at  Singapore,  Penang,  and  Malacca  : the  following 
 is  the  value  of  the  Exports  and  Imports  in  the  year  1827-8  : — 
 
 IMPORTS. 
 
 EXPORTS. 
 
 Singapore. 
 
 dollars. 
 
 14,885,999. 
 
 Penang. 
 
 dollars. 
 
 6,437,042. 
 
 Malacca. 
 
 dollars. 
 
 1,266,090. 
 
 Singapore. 
 
 dollars. 
 
 13,872,010. 
 
 Penang. 
 
 dollars. 
 
 5,586,707. 
 
 Malacca. 
 
 dollars. 
 
 7,918,163. 
 
 Some  details  on  the  Singapore  trade  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix. 
 
 7 
 
EXTENSIVE  SPECULATIONS  OF  THE  CHINESE. 
 
 535 
 
 “ We  have  lately  built  a small  bungalow  on  Singapore  Hill,  where,  though  the 
 height  is  inconsiderable,  we  find  a great  difference  of  climate.  Nothing  can  be  more 
 interesting  and  beautiful  than  the  view  from  this  spot.  I am  happy  to  say  the 
 change  has  had  a very  beneficial  effect  on  my  health,  which  has  been  better  during 
 the  last  fortnight  than  I have  knovMi  it  for  two  years  before.  The  tombs  of  the 
 Malay  kings  are,  however,  close  at  hand ; and  I have  settled  that  if  it  is  my  fate 
 to  die  here,  I shall  take  my  place  amongst  them : this  will,  at  any  rate,  be  better 
 than  leaving  one’s  bones  at  Bencoolen.  If  it  please  God,  we  still  live  in  the  hope 
 of  embarking  for  Europe  towards  the  end  of  the  year. 
 
 “ I am  la)dng  out  a botanic  and  experimental  garden,  and  it  would  delight  you 
 to  see  how  rapidly  the  whole  country  is  coming  under  cultivation.  My  residence 
 here  has  naturally  given  much  confidence,  and  the  extent  of  the  speculations  entered 
 into  by  the  Chinese  quite  astonishes  me.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Singapore,  January  23,  182J. 
 
 “ Since  I last  wrote  to  your  Grace,  about  a month  ago,  I have  had  another 
 very  severe  attack  in  my  head,  which  nearly  proved  fatal,  and  the  Doctors  were  for 
 hurrying  me  on  board  ship  for  Europe  without  much  ceremony.  However,  as  I 
 could  not  reconcile  myself  to  become  food  for  fishes,  I preferred  ascending  the  hill 
 of  Singapore,  where,  if  my  bones  must  remain  in  the  East,  they  would  have  the 
 honour  of  mixing  with  the  ashes  of  the  Malayan  kings ; and  the  result  has  been, 
 that  instead  of  dying,  I have  almost  entirely  recovered.  I have  built  a very  com- 
 fortable house,  which  is  sufficient  to  accommodate  my  sister’s  family  as  well  as  our 
 own  ; and  I only  wish  you  were  here  but  for  half-an-hour,  to  enjoy  the  unequalled 
 beauty  and  interest  of  the  scene.  My  house,  which  is  one  hundred  feet  front,  and 
 fifty  deep,  was  finished  in  a fortnight  from  its  commencement.  When  wifi  your 
 cottage  be  done  ? 
 
 “ We  have  been  a long  time  without  news  from  Europe,  and  as  yet  have  had 
 no  account  of  the  arrival  of  our  dear  httle  girl.  God  grant  she  may  have  reached 
 England  in  safety.  She  is  now  our  only  one,  and  any  accident  to  this  our  last  and 
 only  remaining  hope  and  consolation,  would  be  severe  indeed. 
 
 “ We  have  recently  discovered  a companion  for  my  great  flower,  in  a noble 
 Orchideous  plant,  which  will  shortly  be  described  by  Mr.  Finlayson  and  my  friend 
 Dr.  Wallich,  the  latter  of  whom  has  taken  several  growing  specimens  to  Calcutta,  in 
 the  hope  of  getting  them  to  England.  It  grows  parasitically  on  rocks,  or  roots,  in 
 several  of  the  Islands  in  the  Straits  of  Malacca,  and  the  stems  are  as  thick  as  a man’s 
 wrist,  and  from  six  to  ten  feet  long,  without  branches,  at  the  extremity  of  which  they 
 
536 
 
 MISSIONARIES  AT  SINGAPORE. 
 
 produce  abundance  of  leaves.  But  the  wonder  is,  its  magnificent  inflorescence, 
 which  forms  an  erect  spike  six  feet  high,  wth  upwards  of  one  hundred  large-spread- 
 ing brown  and  white  chequered  fragrant  flowers,  between  two  and  three  inches  in 
 diameter.” 
 
 To  T.  A.  Hankeij,  Esq.  Treasurer  to  the  London  Missionanj  Society. 
 
 “ Singapore,  Januarij  23,  1823. 
 
 “ Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ Since  my  return  to  Singapore,  I have  had  occasion  to  notice  the  very 
 zealous  and  successful  exertions  of  the  Rev.  C.  H.  Thomson,  settled  at  this  place  as 
 a missionary  in  connection  with  your  Society.  His  acquirements  in  the  Malay  lan- 
 guage are  considerable,  and  he  has  succeeded  in  establishing  a iSIalay  school  of  from 
 twenty  to  thirty  pupils,  several  of  whom  he  has  converted  to  Christianity.  He  has 
 also  a small  portable  press,  with  Roman  and  Malay  types.  Considering  his  means 
 and  the  circumstances  of  the  place,  he  has  already  done  more  than  could  be  ex- 
 pected ; and,  at  any  rate,  laid  a good  foundation  for  future  labours.  I have  given 
 the  necessary  permission  for  the  erection  of  a Malay  chapel. 
 
 “ The  proposal  of  a mission  to  Bali  seems  to  me  to  deserve  attention.  The 
 Dutch  have  no  influence  on  that  Island,  and  Mahomedanism  has  made  but  little  or 
 no  progress  on  it.  The  population  is  estimated  at  between  half  a million  and  a mil- 
 lion ; and  I am  not  aware  that  a missionary,  properly  quahfied,  would  find  many 
 obstacles  to  his  establishment.  He  should,  however,  in  the  first  instance,  come  to 
 Singapore  to  study  the  language,  and  become  acquainted  with  the  manners  and  cha- 
 racter of  the  people.  He  must  be  content  to  suffer  some  privations,  and  to  overcome 
 some  difficulties,  at  the  outset ; but  if  he  has  temper  and  a good  constitution,  the 
 spirit  of  the  good  cause  should  carry  him  through  it  with  satisfaction  and  credit.” 
 
 To 
 
 “ Singapore,  January  23,  1823. 
 
 “ I am  anxious  to  interest  you  in  favour  of  our  misssionary  labourers,  and  par- 
 ticularly in  support  of  the  Rev.  C.  H.  Thomson,  who  is  established  here,  in  connec- 
 tion with  the  London  Missionary  Society.  His  means  have  been  very  limited,  but 
 he  has  done  a good  deal,  and  is  making  a sure  and  steady  progress.  He  has  made 
 several  converts,  and  established  a very  respectable  school. 
 
 I have  witten  home  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Society,  recommending  their 
 sending  out  to  him  two  printing-presses : pray  support  this  recommendation,  if  you 
 have  any  interest  with  the  Society,  as  I look  with  great  confidence  to  the  influence 
 
RAPID  PROGRESS  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 5S7 
 
 of  a well-conducted  press  in  this  part  of  the  East,  and  the  superintendance  can  never 
 be  better  placed  than  in  the  hands  of  the  missionaries. 
 
 ‘‘We  have  also  proposed  a mission  to  Bali,  and  some  other  measures.” 
 
 ^ * * 
 
 To  Dr.  Wallich. 
 
 “ Singapore,  February  8,  1823. 
 
 “ You  would  hardly  know  the  south  bank  of  the  river  again.  From  the  point, 
 as  far  as  the  small  nullah,  all  is  in  active  improvement.  Messrs.  Mackenzie,  Napier, 
 and  Scott,  Che  Sang,  and  others,  building  substantial  warehouses,  according  to  an 
 approved  plan ; and  two  high-streets  forming  from  the  river,  through  the  centre  of 
 the  Chinese  town,  to  the  sea.  The  bridge,  too,  is  in  great  forwardness  ; and  in  two 
 months  more  the  whole  plan  for  that  side  of  the  water  will  be  so  far  proceeded  upon, 
 that  my  successor  cannot  help  following  it  up. 
 
 “ The  botanic  garden  goes  on  well.  I am  now  employed  in  laying  out  the 
 walks,  and  stones  are  collected  for  the  foundation  of  a handsome  rail-way  round  it. 
 
 “ I shall  soon  become  anxious  about  the  arrangements  of  this  place.” 
 ***** 
 
 To 
 
 “ Singapore,  February  26,  1823. 
 
 “We  are  still  without  accounts  respecting  our  dear  little  one,  although 
 the  papers  announce  the  arrival  of  the  Borneo,  and  letters  as  late  as  the  20th 
 August,  have  been  received. 
 
 “ It  is  impossible  that  I can  leave  this  place  under  its  present  circumstances. 
 I have  no  one  about  me  to  put  in  charge  of  it,  on  whom  I could  rely.  I have  had, 
 and  still  have  much  to  do  in  remodelling  almost  every  thing,  so  that  my  time  is  fully 
 taken  up,  and  the  days  pass  more  quickly  than  I expected.  Thank  God,  both 
 Sophia  and  I keep  our  health  much  better  than  we  expected,  and  we  only  pray  that 
 we  may  so  continue  till  the  end  of  the  year ; then,  if  it  pleases  God,  we  will  make 
 an  attempt  to  join  you  in  the  land  of  our  fathers.” 
 
 To  Dr.  Wallich. 
 
 “ Singapore,  March  8,  1823. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Friend, 
 
 “ I snatch  a few  minutes  to  thank  you  for  your  kind  and  welcome  letter  of 
 the  10th  of  January,  and  congratulate  you  most  sincerely  on  your  return  to  the  bosom 
 of  your  family,  and  the  delights  of  your  second  Eden. 
 
 “ It  will  be  satisfactory  to  you  to  learn,  that  notwithstanding  the  delays  attending 
 
 3 z 
 
538 
 
 ABOLITION  OF  SLAVERY  AT  SINGAPORE. 
 
 the  wet  season,  my  job  here  is  nigh  accomplished,  the  gi-ound  being  raised  as  far  as  the 
 small  nullah,  and  the  new  warehouses  rising  in  eveiy  direction. 
 
 “ Your  principles  are  too  pure,  and  your  heart  too  warm,  to  encounter  the  shafts 
 of  ridicule,  which  en^y  and  malice  may  fling  at  you.  These  are  the  weapons  of  the 
 heartless  and  unprincipled;  of  those  who  have  no  sympathy  vith  the  feelings  of 
 others,  no  consideration  for  their  happiness,  no  common  feelings  for  the  common  be- 
 nefit of  mankind.  Never  mind,  magna  est  veritas  et  grevalehit , and  truth  is  rirtue. 
 You  must  recollect  my  warning.  We  live  in  a strange  world.  Unfortunately  in  the 
 political  part  of  it  we  are  often  obliged  to  smother  feelings  : this  I say  in  my  own  de- 
 fence, lest  you  should  think  I do  not  sufficiently  espouse  your  cause.  ]SIy  heart  and 
 soul  are  with  you  and  for  you,  and  therefore  you  may  judge  how  I feel. 
 
 “ The  magistrates  have  commenced  operations  with  great  pimdence  and  judg- 
 ment ; their  first  presentation  was  upon  the  arrangement  of  the  town. 
 
 “ The  second  came  in  yesterday  in  the  shape  of  a memorial  against  slavery — the 
 slave-master  and  slave-debtor  system — which  seems  to  have  been  permitted  here  to 
 an  unlimited  extent.  I have  not  yet  finally  decided  upon  the  question,  but  I am  much 
 inclined  to  think  the  wisest  and  safest  plan  will  be  to  do  in  this  as  I did  in  the  lands, 
 annul  all  that  has  gone  before.  This  establishment  was  fonned  long  after  the  enact- 
 ments of  the  British  legislature,  which  made  it  felony  to  import  slaves  into  a British 
 colony,  and  both  importers  and  exporters  are  ahke  guilty,  to  say  nothing  of  the  Bri- 
 tish authority  who  countenanced  the  trade.  The  acknowledgment  of  slavery  in  any 
 shape  in  a settlement  like  Singapore,  founded  on  principles  so  diametrically  opposed 
 to  the  admission  of  such  a practice,  is  an  anomaly  in  the  constitution  of  the  place, 
 which  cannot,  I think,  be  allowed  to  exist.  But  of  this  more  hereafter. 
 
 “ I am  now  in  negociation  uith  Dr.  INIorrison  for  the  transfer  of  the  Anglo-Chi- 
 nese  College  from  Malacca  to  this  place,  and  its  union  with  my  proposed  Malay  Col- 
 lege, under  the  general  designation  of  the  ‘ Singapore  Institution.’  * * 
 
 “ I notice  your  request  about  my  book  (History  of  Java),  and  shall  most  heartily 
 and  ^rillingly  meet  your  wishes.  The  book  itself  was  a hasty  performance,  and  I have 
 often  been  ashamed  of  it ; but  the  true  circumstances  under  which  it  was  UTitten  are 
 stated  in  the  preface,  and  all  the  world  must  know  that  I am  no  book-maker. 
 
 “ I shall  write  to  our  excellent  friend  General  Hardwicke  by  the  present  oppor- 
 tunity, if  I can  snatch  a few  moments  time.  I feel  most  gi*ateful  for  his  kind  and 
 generous  attachment,  and  I beseech  you  to  say  from  me  to  him  all  and  every  thing  that 
 with  such  feelings  I ought  to  say.  I have  indeed  a warm  and  affectionate  regard  for 
 him,  and  to  tell  you  the  truth,  I love  you  both ; and  what  can  I say  more  ?” 
 
 To 
 
 “ Singapore,  April  1823. 
 
 “ Yesterday  brought  us  our  letters  and  packets  up  to  the  30th  of  August,  and 
 
ESTABLISHMENT  OF  A NATIVE  COLLEGE. 
 
 539 
 
 truly  satisfactory  have  they  been  to  us.  The  accounts  of  our  dear  child,  the  welfare 
 of  all  have  been  most  gratifying,  and  we  return  thanks  to  God  for  the  blessings  we 
 have  received. 
 
 I have  lately  had  two  or  three  severe  attacks,  but  am  getting  over  them,  and 
 Sophia  is  improving ; she  is  to  be  confined  in  October,  and  in  January  we  hope  to 
 start  for  England. 
 
 I am  anxiously  looking  out  for  Crawfurd  to  take  charge  here,  that  I 
 may  proceed  to  Bencoolen,  where  my  presence  is  urgently  required,  Mackenzie, 
 my  deputy,  having  been  obliged  to  fly  on  account  of  ill  health.  I hope  to  be 
 there  by  June. 
 
 I have  had  two  very  kind  letters  from  Mr.  Edward  Parry  and  Mr.  Money, 
 pledging  themselves  to  support  my  claims. 
 
 I am  now  engaged  with  my  valuable  friend  Dr.  Morrison,  of  China,  in  rearing 
 and  establishing  an  institution  at  Singapore,  for  the  cultivation  of  Chinese  and 
 Malayan  hterature,  and  for  the  moral  and  intellectual  improvement  of  the  Archi- 
 pelago and  the  surrounding  countries.  It  will  be  my  last  public  act.  Singapore 
 continues  to  thrive  and  expand.” 
 
 To  Dr.  Wallicli. 
 
 “ Singapore,  April  \ lth,  1823. 
 
 “ My  health  is  upon  the  whole  much  the  same  as  when  you  left  us — not  over 
 good  at  any  time,  and  at  others  miserable ; nevertheless,  I hold  up  with  a good 
 heart,  and  again  feel  some  confidence  that  I may  last  out  the  year.  More  I dare 
 not  risk  in  these  climes. 
 
 I have  just  established  an  Institution  which  will,  I am  sure,  give  you  satisfac- 
 tion. The  particulars  I shall  hereafter  communicate,  not  having  time  at  present. 
 The  object  is  the  cultivation  of  Chinese  and  Malayan  literature,  with  the  improve- 
 ment of  the  moral  and  intellectual  condition  of  the  people.  The  Anglo-Chinese 
 College  at  Malacca  is  to  be  removed  here,  and  united  with  a Malay  college,  and 
 both  fonn  parts  of  the  Institution,  which  has  a scientific  department,  and  places  for 
 professors  in  natural  philosophy,  &c.  &c.  I have  put  poor  Finlayson’s  name  down 
 for  the  latter,  partly  as  a just  compliment  I wished  to  pay  him,  and  partly  to  raise 
 the  character  of  our  Institution,  by  associating  so  creditable  a name  with  it.  I have 
 also  taken  the  liberty  of  naming  you  as  a trustee. 
 
 “We  have  about  20,000  dollars  in  funds,  and  have  voted  15,000  for  the  build- 
 ings ; the  site  is  fixed  upon  near  the  beach,  and  the  plan  and  appearance  will  be  very 
 respectable. 
 
 “ I trust  in  God  this  Institution  may  be  the  means  of  civilizing  and  bettering 
 the  condition  of  millions  ; it  has  not  been  hastily  entered  into,  nor  have  its  possible 
 advantages  been  over-rated.  Our  field  is  India  beyond  the  Ganges,  including  the 
 
 3 z 2 
 
o40 
 
 RESOLUTIONS  OF  THE  BENGAL  GOVERNMENT. 
 
 Malayan  Aixliipelago,  Australasia,  China,  Japan,  and  the  Islands  in  the  Pacific 
 ocean — by  far  the  most  populous  half  of  the  world ! Do  not,  my  dear  fiiend,  think 
 that  I am  led  to  it  by  a vain  ambition  of  raising  a name — it  is  an  act  of  duty  and 
 gratitude  only.  In  these  countries  has  my  httle  independence  been  gained.  In 
 these  countries  have  I passed  the  most  valuable,  if  not,  perhaps,  the  whole  period  of 
 my  public  life.  I am  hnked  to  them  by  many  a bitter,  many  a pleasant  tie.  It  is 
 here  that  I think  I may  have  done  some  little  good,  and  instead  of  frittering  away 
 the  stock  of  zeal  and  means  that  may  yet  be  left  me  in  objects  for  which  I may  not 
 be  fitted,  I am  anxious  to  do  all  the  good  I can  here,  where  experience  has  proved 
 to  me  that  my  labours  will  not  be  thrown  away.  Ill  health  forces  me  to  leave 
 Singapore,  before  even  the  material  aiTangements  are  made  for  its  prosperity ; but 
 in  pro^■iding  for  its  moral  improvement,  I look  to  its  more  certain  and  permanent 
 advance.  Would  that  I could  infuse  into  the  Institution  a portion  of  that  spirit  and 
 soul  by  which  I would  have  it  animated,  as  easily  as  I endow  it  ^^^th  lands,  &c.  It 
 will  long  be  in  its  infancy,  and  to  arrive  at  matmity  wll  require  all  the  aid  of  friends 
 and  constant  support.  It  is  my  last  public  act,  and  rise  or  fall,  it  vnW  always  be  a 
 satisfactory  reflection,  that  I have  done  my  best  towards  it.  I pray  you  befi'iend  it. 
 
 “ Adieu — I am  called  to  breakfast,  and  have  wTitten  this  random  letter  "vrith  so 
 much  haste  and  inattention,  that  you  will  hardly  make  it  out. 
 
 I remain,  now  and  for  ever, 
 
 “ Yom*s  most  devotedly  and  affectionately, 
 
 “ T.  S.  R.” 
 
 The  follo^ring  resolutions  of  the  Bengal  Government,  on  Sir  Stamford’s  learing 
 Singapore,  were  very  satisfactoiy  to  him. 
 
 “ Fort  William,  March  29,  1823. 
 
 “ The  first  question  for  consideration  is  the  natm’e  of  the  controul  to  be  exer- 
 cised henceforward  over  the  affairs  of  Singapore,  and  the  proceedings  of  the  local 
 Resident.  The  aiTangement  under  which  that  trust  was  vested  in  the  Lieutenant 
 Governor  of  Fort  Marlborough  originated  in  the  circumstances  under  which  the 
 settlement  was  founded,  and  the  temporarj'  convenience  resulting  from  it  wll  cease 
 with  the  relinquishment  of  the  charge  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  under  whose  imme- 
 diate direction  the  settlement  was  established,  and  whose  personal  superintendence 
 of  it,  in  its  early  stage,  therefore  possessed  a peculiar  value. 
 
 “ It  would  seem  more  naturally  to  fall  within  the  range  of  the  government  of 
 Penang,  but  there  are  objections  of  a different  kind  to  that  arrangement.  There  is 
 a general  impression  that  the  prosperity  of  Singapore  must  in  a great  degree  be 
 attended  wth  a proportionate  deterioration  of  Penang.  As  far  as  the  information 
 
SIR  STAMFORD’S  REPORT  ON  HIS  GOVERNMENT  AT  SINGAPORE. 
 
 511 
 
 furnished  by  the  records  of  the  custom-house  at  the  latter  place  affords  the  means 
 of  judging,  it  would  not  appear  that  this  has  yet  been  the  case ; but  there  is  no 
 doubt  that  the  feeling  prevails  among  the  inhabitants  of  both  settlements  generally^ 
 and  without  supposing  that  it  reaches  the  Government,  or  that  if  it  did,  it  would 
 bias  their  conduct,  there  seems  no  such  advantage  to  be  contemplated  in  rendering 
 Singapore  dependent  on  Penang,  as  to  justify  the  risk  of  injury  to  the  interests  of 
 the  rising  establishment,  from  the  direct  or  incidental  consequences  of  such  an 
 arrangement.  The  system  of  government  and  the  principles  of  commercial  pohcy 
 prevailing  at  the  two  settlements  are  moreover  radically  different,  and  it  is  not  rea- 
 sonable to  expect  that  each  could  be  administered  under  the  direction  of  a subordi- 
 nate and  limited  authority  with  equal  effect. 
 
 “ On  the  occasion  of  relieving  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  from  the  superintendence 
 of  Singapore,  the  Governor  General  in  Council  deems  it  an  act  of  justice  to  that 
 gentleman,  to  record  his  sense  of  the  activity,  zeal,  judgment,  and  attention  to  the 
 principles  prescribed  for  the  management  of  the  settlement,  which  has  marked  his 
 conduct  in  the  execution  of  that  duty. 
 
 “ On  placing  Mr.  Crawfurd  in  charge  of  the  settlement  of  Singapore,  you  will 
 be  pleased  to  communicate  with  him  fully  on  all  points,  and  furnish  him  with  such 
 instmctions  as  you  may  deem  necessary  for  carrying  into  effect  the  orders  which 
 are  now  communicated  to  you,  in  reply  to  your  several  despatches  relative  to  the 
 affairs  of  that  settlement.” 
 
 Sir  Stamford  framed  a short  code  of  laws  and  regulations  for  the  preservation 
 of  peace  and  good  order,  in  a settlement  which  existed  for  upwards  of  five  years 
 entirely  on  his  responsibility,  and  the  confidence  reposed  in  him  individually  ; from 
 this  responsibility  neither  the  Bengal  Government  nor  the  Court  of  Directors  would 
 relieve  him ; yet  trade  increased  greatly,  and  population  collected  rapidly,  in  the 
 confidence  he  inspired.  A short  extract  from  Sir  Stamford’s  Report  to  the  Bengal 
 Government  on  these  Laws  and  Regulations  will  shew  the  reasons  which  influenced 
 him,  and  the  principles  on  which  he  acted. 
 
 First  I have  declared  that  the  port  of  Singapore  is  a free  port,  and  the  trade 
 thereof  open  to  ships  and  vessels  of  every  nation,  free  of  duty,  equally  and  alike 
 to  all. 
 
 “ I am  satisfied  that  nothing  has  tended  more  to  the  discomfort  and  constant 
 jarrings  which  have  hitherto  occurred  in  om*  remote  settlements,  than  the  policy 
 which  has  dictated  the  exclusion  of  the  European  merchants  from  all  share,  much 
 less  credit,  in  the  domestic  regulation  of  the  settlement,  of  which  they  are  frequently 
 its  most  important  members.  Some  degree  of  legislative  power  must  necessarily 
 exist  in  every  distant  dependency.  The  laws  of  the  mother-country  cannot  be 
 
542 
 
 PRINCIPLES  OF  THE  GOVERNMENT  AT  SINGAPORE. 
 
 commensurate  with  the  wants  of  the  dependency : it  has  wants  of  which  a remote 
 legislature  can  very  imperfectly  judge,  and  which  are  sometimes  too  urgent  to  admit 
 the  delay  of  reference. 
 
 “ It  may  be  expected  that  I should  explain  the  grounds  on  which  I have  felt 
 myself  authorised  to  go,  even  as  far  as  I have  done,  in  legislating,  and  constituting  a 
 power  of  legislating  provisionally  for  Singapore,  and  at  the  same  time  state  the  mode 
 in  which  I consider  the  legislative  and  judicial  branch  of  the  pubhc  administration 
 can  be  best  prorided  for,  in  any  permanent  arrangement  to  be  made  by  the  authori- 
 ties at  home. 
 
 “ I shall  briefly  state  that  an  actual  and  urgent  necessity  existed  for  some  imme- 
 diate and  prorisional  arrangements  ; and  that,  in  adopting  those  which  I have  esta- 
 blished, it  has  been  my  endeavour,  while  I gave  all  due  weight  to  local  considerations, 
 to  adhere,  as  closely  as  possible,  to  those  principles,  which,  from  immemorial  usage, 
 have  ever  been  considered  the  most  essential  and  sacred  parts  of  the  British  consti- 
 tution. The  peculiar  tenure  on  which  Singapore  is  at  present  politically  held,  the 
 unusual  degree  of  responsibihty  still  resting  on  me  personally,  and  the  actual  circum- 
 stances under  which  a large  population  and  extensive  capital  has  accumulated  under 
 my  administration,  naturally  called  upon  me  to  adopt  all  such  prorisional  measures 
 as  necessity  might  dictate.  More  than  this  I have  not  attempted ; and  I should  have 
 but  ill  fulfilled  the  high  and  important  trust  reposed  in  me,  if,  after  haring  congre- 
 gated so  large  a portion  of  my  fellow-creatm’es,  I had  left  them  without  something 
 like  law  and  regulation  for  their  security  and  comfort.” 
 
 With  these  views  and  feehngs  Sir  Stamford  selected  twelve  of  the  most  respect- 
 able merchants,  and  appointed  them  to  act  as  magistrates  for  one  year.  A list  was 
 ordered  to  be  kept  of  persojis  eligible  for  the  magistracy,  from  whom  and  the  ex- 
 magistrates the  Resident  was  in  future  to  appoint  twelve  annually.  Two  of  these 
 magistrates  were  to  sit  with  the  Resident  in  court,  to  decide  in  ciril  and  criminal 
 cases ; and  two  were  to  act  in  rotation  each  week  for  the  minor  duties  of  this  office. 
 Juries  were  to  consist  either  of  five  Europeans,  or  four  Europeans  and  three  respect- 
 able natives.  In  criminal  cases  the  jury  might  be  either  pm'ely  European,  or  purely 
 native. 
 
 The  Resident’s  Court  was  to  assemble  once  a week,  the  Magistrates’  twice,  but 
 their  office  was  to  be  open  daily. 
 
 It  will  be  erident  that  this  simple  arrangement,  w'hich  had  never  before  been 
 attempted,  is  w^ell  adapted  to  bring  the  ignorant  natives  acquainted  with  a knowledge 
 of  right  principles  of  action,  and  to  inspire  them  with  respect  for  those  who  thus  ad- 
 ministered justice ; but  Sir  Stamford  did  not  rest  satisfied  with  the  mere  enaction  of 
 punishment,  his  object  was  also  the  prevention  of  crime,  an  equal  or  even  more  im- 
 portant duty  of  a legislator : with  this  view,  gambling  and  cock-fighting  were  prohibited, 
 
 7 
 
SUPREME  GOVERNMENT  APPROVE  OF  SIR  STAMFORD’S  REGULATIONS.  543 
 
 and  declared  to  be  illegal,  the  persons  foimd  to  have  conducted  a gaming-table  or  cock- 
 pit were  liable  to  the  confiscation  of  their  property,  and  banishment  from  the  settle- 
 ment, and  no  gaming  debts  could  be  recognized  by  the  magistrates,  but  the  winners 
 were  to  be  compelled  to  restore  the  amount  to  the  losers. 
 
 The  Bengal  Government  highly  approved  of  this  effort  to  check  the  vicious 
 propensities  of  the  natives;  but  after  Sir  Stamford’s  return  to  England,  Mr. 
 Crawliu'd,  whom  he  had  placed  in  charge  of  the  settlement,  anxious  to  raise  a re- 
 venue at  any  cost,  estabhshed  Government  licenses  for  indulgences  in  both  these 
 vices,  and  they  were  in  consequence  farmed  out  to  the  highest  bidder.  The  Grand 
 Jury  soon  gave  a proof  that  Sir  Stamford  judged  wisely  in  employing  the  European 
 merchants  as  guardians  of  the  public  peace  and  morals ; for  on  the  assembling  of  the 
 Court  of  Judicature,  they  presented  a bill  against  such  a pubhc  sanction  of  \fice,  as 
 appearing  to  them  deeply  to  affect  the  interests  of  the  community  of  Singapore ; 
 stating  that  the  subject  which  they  (the  Grand  Jury)  present,  is  one  to  which  they 
 advert  with  some  degree  of  dehcacy,  because  they  are  aware  that  two  opinions  exist 
 on  the  subject ; and,  secondly,  because  it  is  a source  of  revenue  to  the  Honourable 
 Company.  However,  as  only  one  sentiment  prevails  in  the  minds  of  the  Grand 
 Jurors  with  regard  to  the  propriety  or  expediency  of  licensing  public  gambhng-houses, 
 they  consider  it  would  be  a dereliction  of  their  duty,  were  they  not  to  present  the 
 system  as,  in  their  opinion,  fraught  with  considerable  e^dl  to  the  community.  To 
 them  it  appears  as  detrimental  to  the  security  of  property,  to  the  peace  and  good 
 order  of  the  settlement,  and  to  the  moral  character  of  the  lower  classes  of  its  inha- 
 bitants, as  it  is  repugnant  to  the  laws  of  their  country.  They  do  not  deem  it  neces- 
 sary to  enter  into  any  lengthened  arguments  to  prove  the  truth  of  this  proposition. 
 Suffice  it  to  observe,  that  their  opinion  is  fonned  on  the  experience  of  this  settlement 
 for  the  last  five  years  ; and  that  of  foiu*teen  bills  of  indictment,  which  have  been  pre- 
 ferred during  the  present  sitting  of  the  Grand  Jury,  no  less  than  three  of  the  offences 
 originated  in,  or  were  connected  with,  pubhc  gambling-houses.” 
 
 The  recorder  stated,  “ There  is  no  doubt  but  that  gambhng-houses  are  pubhc 
 nuisances  at  common  law,  and  indictable  as  such.  It  was  not  at  all  necessary  for 
 you  to  have  stated  in  your  Presentment,  that  you  felt  any  dehcacy  on  the  subject, 
 because  the  gambhng-houses  in  Singapore  were  a source  of  revenue  to  the  Govern- 
 ment. You  have  done  no  more  than  your  duty  in  presenting  them,”  &c.  It  appears 
 that  this  Hcious  system  of  legahsing  vice  amongst  the  lower  orders  of  society  has  in 
 consequence  been  given  up,  and  Sir  Stamford’s  original  laws  and  regulations  en- 
 forced. Above  all,  it  must  not  be  forgotten  Sir  Stamford  declared,  “ As  the  condi- 
 tion of  slavery,  under  any  denomination  whatever,  cannot  be  recognised  within  the 
 jurisdiction  of  the  British  authority,  all  persons  who  may  have  been  so  imported, 
 transferred,  or  sold  as  slaves  or  slave-debtors,  since  the  29th  day  of  Febmary,  1819, 
 
544 
 
 ADDRESS  OF  THE  MERCHANTS  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 are  entitled  to  claim  their  freedom,  on  application  to  the  registrar,  as  hereafter  pro- 
 vided ; and  it  is  hereby  declared,  that  no  indi\ddual  can  hereafter  be  imported  for 
 sale,  transferred  or  sold  as  a slave  or  slave-debtor,  or  having  his  or  \\erjixed  re- 
 sidence under  the  protection  of  the  British  authorities  at  Singapore,  can  hereafter  be 
 considered  or  treated  as  a slave,  under  any  denomination,  condition,  colour,  or  pre- 
 tence whatever. 
 
 “ Hereafter,  a continued  residence  of  twelve  months  at  Singapore  shall  be  con- 
 sidered to  constitute  a fixed  residence,  and  to  entitle  the  party  to  all  the  benefits  of 
 the  British  administration.”  The  further  detail  of  the  laws  and  regulations  of  Sin- 
 gapore will  be  found  in  the  Appendix. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  had  the  gi’atification  to  receive  from  those  best  qualified  to  ap- 
 preciate the  commercial  advantages  of  Singapore,  the  following  address  on  his  de- 
 parture fi’om  the  settlement.  His  feelings  are,  however,  best  expressed  in  his  replies, 
 which  are  annexed. 
 
 Address  of  the  Merchants  of  Singapore,  on  the  occasion  of  the  departure  of  the 
 
 Honourable  Sir  T.  S.  Raffles  in  1823. 
 
 To  the  Honourable  Sir  T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Honorable  Sir, 
 
 “ It  is  with  pecuhar  satisfaction  that  I find  myself  made  the  channel  of 
 conveying  to  you  the  thanks  and  acknowledgments  of  the  mercantile  community 
 of  Singapore,  a body  distinguished  for  good  sense  and  discrimination,  and  who  have 
 at  once  felt  the  benefits  of  your  rule  and  enjoyed  the  best  means  of  appreciating 
 your  exertions.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  for  myself,  who  have  for  so  many  years 
 had  the  advantage  of  your  confidence  and  friendship,  and  the  honor  of  serving  under 
 your  government,  to  say  how  cordially  I join  in  all  the  sentiments  expressed  in 
 the  address,  and  I shall  only  take  this  opportunity,  when  we  are  on  the  point  of 
 being  separated  by  a long  interval  of  time  and  place,  to  renew  to  you  the  assurance 
 of  my  affectionate  attachment  to  yoiu'  person,  and  my  respect  and  esteem  for  your 
 public  talents. 
 
 I remain  with  sincere  regard, 
 
 ‘‘  Your  faithful  and  obedient  Servant, 
 
 (Signed)  “ J.  Crawfurd. 
 
 “ Resident." 
 
 “ Singapore,  June  5,  1823. 
 
SIR  STAMFORD’S  REPLY  TO  MR.  CRAWFORD. 
 
 545 
 
 “ To  Sir  T.  S.  Raffles,  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Fort  Marlborough. 
 
 “ Honorable  Sir, 
 
 “ The  period  of  your  approaching  and  final  departure  is  one  of  peculiar 
 interest  to  the  commercial  community  of  this  place,  and  we  the  undersigned  mem- 
 bers of  it  gladly  seize  the  opportunity  which  it  affords  us  of  indulging  in  the  ex- 
 pression of  those  feehngs  towards  your  person,  which  the  occasion  is  so  well  calcu- 
 lated to  excite. 
 
 “ At  such  a moment  we  cannot  be  suspected  of  panegyric,  when  we  advert  to 
 the  distinguished  advantages  which  the  commercial  interests  of  our  nation  at  large, 
 and  ourselves  more  especially,  have  derived  from  your  personal  exertions.  To  your 
 unwearied  zeal,  your  vigilance,  and  your  comprehensive  views,  we  owe  at  once  the 
 foundation  and  maintenance  of  a settlement  unparalleled  for  the  liberality  of  the 
 principles  on  which  it  has  been  established ; principles,  the  operation  of  which  has 
 converted,  m a period  short  beyond  all  example,  a haunt  of  pirates  into  the  abode 
 of  enterprize,  secmity,  and  opulence. 
 
 “ AVhile  we  acknowledge  our  own  peculiar  obligations  to  you,  we  reflect  at  the 
 same  time  with  pride  and  satisfaction  upon  the  active  and  beneficent  means  by  which 
 you  have  promoted  and  patronized  the  diffusion  of  intellectual  and  moral  improve- 
 ment, and  we  anticipate,  with  confidence,  their  happy  influence  in  advancing  the 
 cause  of  humanity  and  ci\ilization. 
 
 “ We  cannot  take  leave  of  the  author  of  so  many  benefits  without  emotion,  or 
 ^^^thout  expressing  our  sorrow  for  the  loss  of  his  protection  and  his  society.  Accept, 
 Sir,  we  beseech  you,  without  distinction  of  tribe  or  nation,  the  expression  of  our 
 sincere  respect  and  esteem,  and  be  assured  of  the  deep  interest  we  shall  ever  take 
 in  your  own  prosperity,  as  well  as  in  the  happiness  of  those  who  are  most  tenderly 
 related  to  you. 
 
 “We  remain  with  the  deepest  respect, 
 
 “ Your  most  obedient  Servants, 
 
 “ Signed  by  the  European  and  Native  Merchants  of  Singapore.” 
 ‘ Singapore,  June  5,  1823.” 
 
 To  John  Crawfurd,  Esq.  Resident  of  Singapore. 
 
 “ Sir, 
 
 “ I have  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  letter  with  the  address  from  the 
 mercantile  community  of  Singapore,  and  you  will  oblige  me  by  submitting  to  that 
 highly  respectable  body  the  accompanying  reply. 
 
 “ My  experience  enables  me  to  bear  ample  testimony  to  the  disinterestedness 
 and  honor  of  the  principal  merchants  of  Singapore,  European  and  Native,  and  while 
 
 4 A 
 
o46 
 
 SIR  STAMFORD’S  REPLY  TO  THE  MERCHANTS  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 it  is  a high  satisfaction  to  me  to  find  such  truly  respectable  establishments  formed  in 
 the  early  period  of  the  settlement,  it  can  be  no  less  a proportionate  gratification  to 
 me  personally  to  receive  from  men  so  distinguished,  so  unexpected  an  expression  of 
 their  pubhc  opinion  in  favor  of  the  measures  which  I have  felt  it  my  duty  to  adopt 
 for  the  general  prosperity  of  the  place. 
 
 “ The  sentiments  of  respect  and  attachment  which  you  are  pleased  to  express 
 towards  my  person  are  most  grateful  to  my  feelings,  and  while  I thank  you  most 
 sincerely  for  the  kind  and  handsome  manner  in  which  you  have  conveyed  them,  you 
 must  allow  me  in  return,  to  wish  you  all  prosperity  in  the  discharge  of  the  important 
 duties  to  which  you  are  now  called,  and  for  which  you  are  so  highly  and  eminently 
 qualified,  and  at  the  same  time  that  you  may  enjoy  all  happiness  and  comfort  in 
 your  social  and  domestic  circle. 
 
 With  an  affectionate  and  sincere  regard. 
 
 Believe  me,  your’s  truly, 
 
 (Signed)  " T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 “ Singapore,  June  9,  1823.” 
 
 To  Alexander  Morgan,  Esq.  and  other  European  and  Native  Merchants  of  Singapore. 
 
 “ Gentlemen, 
 
 Mr.  Crawfurd  has  dehvered  to  me  the  address,  which  you  have  so  kindly 
 and  dehcately  draivn  up  on  the  occasion  of  my  departure. 
 
 “ Under  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  my  personal  connection  with  the  esta- 
 blishment of  Singapore,  it  is  impossible  to  suppose  that  I can  be  indifferent  to  any  of 
 its  interests,  far  less  to  its  commercial  interests,  of  which  I consider  you  to  be  the 
 representatives. 
 
 “ It  has  happily  been  consistent  with  the  policy  of  Great  Britain,  and  accordant 
 with  the  principles  of  the  East  India  Company,  that  Singapore  should  be  established 
 as  a Free  Port ; that  no  sinister,  no  sordid  view,  no  considerations  either  of  political 
 importance  or  pecmiiary  advantage,  should  interfere  with  the  broad  and  liberal 
 principles,  on  which  the  British  interests  have  been  established.  Monopoly  and 
 exclusive  privileges,  against  which  public  opinion  has  long  raised  its  voice,  are  here 
 unknown,  and  while  the  free  Port  of  Singapore  is  allowed  to  continue  and  prosper,  as 
 it  hitherto  has  done,  the  policy  and  liberahty  of  the  East  India  Company,  by  whom 
 the  settlement  was  founded,  and  under  whose  protection  and  control  it  is  still  ad- 
 ministered, can  never  be  disputed. 
 
 “ That  Singapore  will  long  and  always  remain  a fi'ee  Port,  and  that  no  taxes 
 on  trade  or  industry  will  be  estabhshed  to  check  its  future  rise  and  prosperity,  I can 
 have  no  doubt.  I am  justified  in  saying  thus  much,  on  the  authority  of  the  Supreme 
 
SIR  STAMFORD’S  REPLY  TO  THE  MERCHANTS  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 547 
 
 Government  of  India,  and  on  the  authority  of  those  who  are  most  likely  to  have 
 weight  in  the  councils  of  our  nation  at  home. 
 
 For  the  public  and  peculiar  mark  of  respect,  which  you.  Gentlemen,  have 
 been  desirous  of  shewing  me  on  the  occasion  of  my  departure  from  the  settlement,  I 
 beg  that  you  will  accept  my  most  sincere  thanks.  I know  the  feehng  which  dictated 
 it,  I acknowledge  the  delicacy  with  which  it  has  been  conveyed,  and  I prize  most 
 highly  the  gratifying  terms  to  me  personally  in  which  it  has  been  expressed. 
 
 “ During  my  residence  among  you,  it  has  afforded  me  the  highest  satisfaction 
 to  witness  the  prudence,  the  regularity,  the  honourable  character  of  your  proceed- 
 ings, and  when  I quit  you  for  other  lands  I shall  be  proud  to  bear  testimony  in  your 
 favour,  not  only  as  your  due,  but  as  the  best  proof  of  the  sure  and  certain  result 
 which  the  adoption  of  hberal  and  enhghtened  principles  on  the  part  of  Government 
 must  always  ensure. 
 
 “ There  are  some  among  you.  Gentlemen,  who  had  to  encounter  difficulties 
 on  the  first  establishment  of  the  freedom  of  the  Port,  and  against  whom  party  spirit 
 and  its  concomitant,  partial  judgment,  was  allowed  for  a time  to  operate.  In  the 
 commanding  station  in  which  my  public  duty  has  placed  me,  I have  had  an  oppor- 
 tunity of,  in  a great  measure,  investigating  and  determining  the  merits  of  the  case, 
 and  the  result  renders  it  a duty  on  my  part,  and  which  I perform  with  much  satisfac- 
 tion, to  express  my  most  unqualified  approbation  of  the  honorable  principles  which 
 actuated  the  merchants  of  Singapore  on  that  occasion. 
 
 ‘‘  I am  not  aware.  Gentlemen,  that  I have  done  any  of  you  a favom-,  that  is  to 
 say,  that  I have  done  to  any  man  amongst  you,  that  which  I would  not  have  done  to 
 his  neighbour,  or  more  than  what  my  duty  required  of  me,  acting,  as  I have  done,  on 
 the  liberal  and  enlightened  principles  authorized  by  my  superiors.  My  best  endea- 
 vours have  not  been  wanting  to  establish  such  principles,  and  to  sketch  such  out- 
 lines, as  have  appeared  to  me  necessary  for  the  future  prosperity  of  the  settlement, 
 and  in  doing  this  it  has  been  most  satisfactory  to  me  to  have  found  in  you  that  ready 
 concurrence,  and  at  all  times  that  steady  support,  which  was  essential  to  my  Govern- 
 ment and  authority. 
 
 “ May  you.  Gentlemen,  English  and  Native,  and  as  the  language  of  your 
 address  expresses  it,  without  class  or  distinction,  long  continue  in  the  honourable 
 and  distinguished  course  which  you  have  so  happily  commenced,  and  may  the  prin- 
 ciples which  you  respect  and  act  upon,  long  distinguish  you  among  the  merchants 
 of  the  East. 
 
 ‘‘  I can  never  forget  that  the  Singapore  Institution  could  not  have  been  founded 
 without  your  aid.  The  liberal  manner  in  which  you  came  forward,  to  spare  from 
 your  hard  earnings  so  large  a portion  for  the  improvement  and  civihzation  of  the 
 surrounding  tribes,  and  in  the  furtherance  of  general  knowledge  and  science,  would 
 
 4 A 2 
 
548 
 
 EMBARKS  FOR  BENCOOLEN. 
 
 at  once  stamp  the  character  of  the  Singapore  merchant,  even  if  it  did  not  daily  come 
 forward  on  more  ostensible  occasions. 
 
 “ I am  most  grateful  for  the  kind  expression  of  your  personal  regards  to  me, 
 and  those  who  may  be  dear  to  me ; and,  in  return,  beg  you  will  accept  my  most 
 sincere  and  heartfelt  wishes  for  yoirr  health,  comfort,  and  prosperity. 
 
 I have  the  honour  to  be, 
 
 " Gentlemen, 
 
 “ Your’s  most  faithfully, 
 (Signed)  “ T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 “ Singapore,  June  9ih,  1823.” 
 
 Sir  Stamford  now  returned  to  Bencoolen,  and  on  the  voyage  wrote  the’  letters 
 fi-om  which  the  follo^ving  are  extracts  : 
 
 To 
 
 “ Off  Borneo,  June  12,  1823. 
 
 “ Ha\dng  placed  Crawfurd  in  charge  of  Singapore,  and  sailed  from  thence  on 
 the  9th  instant,  we  are  thus  far  on  our  return  to  Bencoolen,  being  under  the  neces- 
 sity of  touching  at  Batavia  on  the  way,  the  ship  having  goods  to  land  there.  Don’t 
 alaiTn  yourself  at  this  last  intimation,  for  I am  most  peaceably  inchned,  and  do  not 
 intend  to  land. 
 
 “ You  will  hear  from  Bengal  that  all  my  proceedings  and  plans  at  Singapore 
 have  been  approved;  that  Crawfurd  has  been  appointed  Resident  immediately 
 under  the  Bengal  Government.  This  is  exactly  what  I wished ; and  I am  happy  to 
 say,  every  thing  has  turned  out  to  my  entire  satisfaction. 
 
 “ I have  not,  as  you  may  suppose,  remained  at  Singapore  eight  months  for  no- 
 thing ; two-thirds  of  the  time  have,  no  doubt,  been  spent  in  pain  and  annoyance, 
 from  the  dreadful  head-aches  I am  doomed  to  suffer  in  this  country,  but  the  remain- 
 ing third  has  been  actively  employed. 
 
 “ I have  had  every  thing  to  new-mould  from  first  to  last ; to  introduce  a system 
 of  energy,  purity,  and  encouragement ; to  remove  nearly  all  the  inhabitants,  and  to 
 resettle  them  ; to  line  out  towns,  streets,  and  roads  ; to  level  the  high  and  fill  up  the 
 low  lands : to  give  property  in  the  soil  and  rights  to  the  people ; to  lay  down  prin- 
 ciples, and  sketch  institutions  for  the  domestic  order  and  comfort  of  the  place,  as 
 well  as  its  future  character  and  importance  ; to  look  for  a century  or  two  before- 
 hand, and  provide  for  what  Singapore  may  one  day  become,  by  the  adoption  of  all 
 such  measures  of  forecast  as  reason  and  experience  can  suggest. 
 
 “ That  I have  not  forgotten  the  moral  interests  and  character  of  the  settlement. 
 
LETTER  TO  DR.  RAFFLES. 
 
 549 
 
 the  establishment  of  the  Singapore  Institution  will  be  the  best  proof.  I have  given 
 it  as  free  a constitution  as  possible ; and  Singapore  is  now,  perhaps,  the  only  place 
 in  India  where  slavery  cannot  exist. 
 
 “ Sophia  bears  up  very  well.  We  expect  to  reach  Bencoolen  by  the  10th 
 of  July.” 
 
 To  the  Rev,  Dr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ At  Sea,  off  the  Coast  of  Borneo,  June  14,  1823. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Cousin, 
 
 “ We  left  Singapore  on  the  9th,  and  are  thus  far  on  our  return  to  Ben- 
 coolen, with  the  intention  of  touching  at  Batavia  on  the  way.  My  time  was  so  fully 
 occupied  while  closing  my  administration  at  Singapore,  that  I really  had  it  not  in 
 my  power  to  sit  down  as  I ought  to  have  done,  to  thank  you  most  sincerely  for  your 
 letter  announcing  the  andval  of  our  dear  little  Ella ; it  was  the  first  account  we 
 received,  and  I need  not  attempt  to  express  the  joy  and  gladness  which  it  diffused 
 throughout  our  domestic  circle.  Sophia’s  patience  was  almost  tired  out,  and  the 
 news  has  given  her  almost  a new  life.  I am  sorry  that  I have  been  obliged  to  leave 
 Singapore  before  the  printing  of  the  papers  on  the  formation  of  the  Singapore  Insti- 
 tution was  completed.  Printing  in  this  country  is,  indeed,  most  tedious  and  expen- 
 sive work.  I have  left  orders  that  several  copies  be  sent  to  you  by  the  very  first 
 opportunity,  and  you  will  perceive  that  I have  put  your  name  down  as  a Trustee. 
 I laid  the  foundation-stone  of  the  buildings  three  days  before  I embarked. 
 
 “ Mr.  Crawfiird  is  now  the  Resident  of  Singapore ; and,  in  anticipation  of  my 
 return  to  Europe  at  the  end  of  the  year,  I have  resigned  all  further  charge  of  the 
 place.  It  is  a most  promising  settlement,  and  is  fast  realizing  my  most  sanguine 
 views  regarding  it. 
 
 We  have  under  our  charge  for  Europe  my  sister  Mary  Anne’s  little  boy 
 Charles,  and  are  thinking  of  preparations  for  the  voyage  home,  which,  with  the 
 blessing  of  God,  we  hope  to  commence  with  the  new  year,  touching  at  the  Cape  and 
 at  St.  Helena  on  the  way,  so  as  to  be  with  you  in  May  or  June.  My  health  has  now 
 become  w'orse,  but  Sophia’s  is  much  improved. 
 
 “ You  know  by  experience  the  misery  of  ship-board,  and  will,  therefore,  not 
 expect  that  I should,  in  such  a situation,  write  you  a very  long  and  interesting 
 letter.  I write  these  few  lines  with  a very  unsteady  hand  and  giddy  head  ; but  as  I 
 may  have  a chance  of  sending  them  by  some  vessel  about  to  sail  from  Batavia,  I am 
 unwilling  to  lose  the  opportunity  of  writing  at  all.” 
 
550 
 
 LETTER  TO  DR,  WALLICH. 
 
 To  Dr.  Wallich. 
 
 “ At  Sea,  off  the  Coast  of  Borneo,  July,  1823. 
 
 My  Dear  Friend, 
 
 “ It  is  quite  an  age  since  we  heard  from  you,  and  we  have  been  some- 
 what disappointed  in  not  receiving  a hne  from  you  by  Crawdurd,  or,  at  any  rate, 
 by  the  ship  in  which  he  came  down.  He,  however,  brought  Sophia  your  bottle 
 of  aether,  which  has  proved  that  you  did  not  forget  us : accept  our  best  thanks 
 for  it. 
 
 It  will,  I am  sure,  be  satisfactory  to  you  to  know,  that  all  my  arrangements 
 have  been  approved  in  Bengal,  and  that  I have  cause  to  be  highly  satisfied  with  the 
 considerate  attention  and  support  which  I have  uniformly  met  with  from  Mr.  Adams’ 
 Government.  They  appeared  to  have  entered  into,  and  fully  understood  my  views, 
 and,  what  is  more,  fully  appreciated  them.  I placed  Crawdurd  in  full  charge  before 
 my  departure. 
 
 “ I give  you  this  parish  news,  because  I am  confident  it  will  interest  you,  and 
 be  at  the  same  time  satisfactory  to  you  to  know,  that  however  annoyed  I may  have 
 been  for  a time,  the  close  of  my  administration  at  Singapore  has  been  just  what  I 
 wished. 
 
 “ You  will  probably  hear  much  of  my  College,  and  the  laws  of  the  former ; the 
 pamphlet  now  in  the  press  will  give  you  all  information,  and  of  the  latter  I have  not 
 time  to  enter  into  the  details.  It  was  impossible  that,  after  collecting  together  so 
 great  a population,  and  so  much  wealth  as  is  now  accumulated  at  Singapore,  I could 
 with  any  satisfaction  to  myself,  leave  the  place,  without  estabhshing  something  like 
 law  and  regulation.  The  constitution  which  I have  given  to  Singapore  is  cer- 
 tainly the  purest  and  most  hberal  in  India ; but  this,  perhaps,  is  not  saying  much 
 for  it. 
 
 “ I left  Singapore  on  the  9th  instant.  I am  forced  to  touch  at  Batavia  on  my 
 way  to  Bencoolen,  very  much  against  my  will ; but  the  Captain  has  goods  to  land, 
 and  no  other  opportunity  was  likely  to  offer  of  getting  round.  The  Dutch  will  be  a 
 little  astonished,  but  I cannot  help  it ; I do  not  intend  to  land. 
 
 “ You  will  be  gratified  to  hear,  that  although  I was  dreadfully  harassed  and 
 fagged  before  leaving  Singapore,  I feel  no  ill  effects  fi’om  it,  and  now  do  not  have  a 
 dreadful  head-ache  above  once  or  twice  a week,  instead  of  for  two  or  three  days 
 together  as  heretofore.  Lady  Raffles  also  bears  the  voyage  better  than  I expected ; 
 and  upon  the  whole  we  have  great  cause  to  be  thankful  for  the  comparatively  tole- 
 rable health  w'e  now  enjoy.  So  that  I hope  we  may  yet  last  out  till  the  end  of  the 
 year,  after  which  it  would  be  madness  to  attempt  to  hold  out  in  this  country. 
 
ARRIVAL  AT  BATAVIA. 
 
 551 
 
 “ Write  me  fully  and  frequently  to  Bencoolen,  and  say  what  I can  but  do 
 for  you  at  home.  God  bless  you,  my  dear  friend,  and  that  you  may  enjoy  health  and 
 prosperity,  is  the  ardent  wish  of  your  most  affectionate  friend.” 
 
 To  Dr.  Wallich. 
 
 “ Java  Seas,  July  20,  1823. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Friend, 
 
 “ Before  we  arrive  at  Batavia,  where  recollections  of  the  past  and  change 
 of  scene  may  occupy  my  whole  attention,  let  me  remind  you  of  two  or  three  little 
 things  in  which  I require  yom'  good  offices.  First  and  foremost  stands  my  desire  to 
 obtain  for  Sir  Everard  Home  the  foetus  of  the  tiger,  lion,  whale,  rhinoceros,  &c.  &c. 
 
 In  the  next  place,  a particular  description  of  the  Jackia  formosa,  and  memo- 
 randum for  the  life  or  memoir  of  our  departed  friend,  to  be  completed  with  the 
 assistance  of  his  brother. 
 
 " I wish  you  to  send  me  drawings  of  all  the  varieties  of  nutmegs  in  your  pos- 
 session. I shall  have  much  to  say  respecting  the  cultivation  of  the  nutmeg  at  Ben- 
 coolen, and  it  would  be  interesting  to  enhven  the  description  with  an  account  of 
 the  natural  gi’owth,  habitude,  &c.  I have  already  a large  collection,  upwards  of  ten 
 varieties. 
 
 “ I enclose  you  my  decision  on  the  slave  question.  Do  not  forget  the  dwarf 
 bull  and  cow  to  Bencoolen  before  I go. 
 
 Adieu  my  good  friend,  and  God  bless  you  and  yours.” 
 
 To 
 
 “ Batavia  Roads,  June  28, 1823. 
 
 “ We  arrived  here  on  the  25th.  Sophia  was  taken  on  shore  on  the  same  day, 
 and  is  now  under  the  hospitable  roof  of  Macquoid,  where  she  is  gaining  health  and 
 strength  to  enable  her  to  get  through  the  remainder  of  the  voyage.  This  is  Satur- 
 day and  we  hope  to  be  off  on  Tuesday  morning. 
 
 “ For  myself,  I remain  on  board  according  to  the  resolution  I took  on  embark- 
 ing. I have,  however,  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  all  the  English  gentlemen,  and 
 have  no  particular  cause  to  regret  the  necessity  which  forced  us  to  touch  here,  as  I 
 have  been  able  to  see  the  sort  of  material  of  which  the  Dutch  Governor  General  is 
 made.  I deemed  it  respectful  and  proper  to  send  Nilson  on  shore,  telling  him,  I 
 was  in  the  roads,  and  that  Sophia  would  land  on  account  of  her  health  ; but  that  it 
 was  neither  my  wish  or  intention  to  land.  His  surprise  and  apprehension,  however, 
 on  the  occasion  were  such  that  he  would  not  ask  Nilson  a single  question,  but 
 returned  an  answer  to  my  note  verbally  by  Macquoid. 
 
 “ In  the  evening,  however,  he  thought  a written  acknowledgment  necessary. 
 Had  Bonaparte  returned  to  life,  and  anchored  in  the  Downs,  it  would  not  have 
 
 2 
 
552 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  BARON  VAN  DER  CAPELLAN. 
 
 excited  greater  agitation  in  England,  than  my  arrival  has  done  here,  though  the  sen- 
 sation might  have  been  very  different.  Here  fear  and  apprehension  are  every  thing, 
 and  to  these  all  courtesy,  principle,  and  interest  give  way. 
 
 “ I send  you  the  correspondence  which  has  taken  place  on  the  subject,  as  it  is 
 rather  amusing.” 
 
 No.  I. 
 
 To  His  Excellency  The  Baron  Van  der  Capellan. 
 
 “ Tuesday  Evening, 
 
 ‘‘  Sir, 
 
 “ I have  the  honor  to  inform  your  Excellency  of  my  andval  in  Batavia 
 Roads,  in  the  ship  Hero  of  Malown,  in  which  I am  returning  to  Bencoolen,  being 
 under  the  necessity  of  touching  at  this  port,  for  the  purpose  of  landing  some  con- 
 signments from  Bengal. 
 
 “ I trust  our  detention  will  not  exceed  two  or  three  days ; but  as  Lady  Raffles 
 is  in  a very  delicate  state  of  health  and  suffers  much  at  sea,  the  advantage  of  going 
 on  shore  will  be  a great  rehef  to  her. 
 
 “ Captain  Hull,  of  my  personal  staff*,  will  have  the  honor  of  dehvering  this 
 letter. 
 
 “ I have  the  honor  to  be,  with  the  highest  consideration,  &c.  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  " T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 No.  II. 
 
 To  Mr.  Le  Chev.  Thos.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Batavia,  Juin  25,  1823. 
 
 " Monsieur, 
 
 “ J’ai  re9U  avec  une  extreme  surprise  la  lettre  que  M.  le  Capitaine  Hull 
 m’a  remise  de  votre  part. 
 
 J’ai  charge  M.  IVIacquoid  de  vous  donner  verbalement  ma  reponse,  et  ne 
 doute  point  qu’il  ne  s’acquitte  avec  exactitude  de  cette  commission. 
 
 “ Je  veux  cependant  aj outer  encore  a ce  qu’il  vous  dira  de  ma  part,  que  j’etois 
 loin  de  m’attendre  a vous  voir  arriver  a Batavia  apres  tout  ce  qui  a eu  heu  depuis 
 
 1818. 
 
 Vous  ne  pomiez  ignorer.  Monsieur,  qu’une  pareille  visite  que  vous  amiez  pu 
 eviter,  ne  pent  que  m’etre  extremement  desagreable. 
 
 “ L’indisposition  de  Madame  Raffles  est  cependant  un  motif  que  je  respecte  trop 
 ])our  m’opposer  a votre  sejour  a Batavia  pendant  quelques  jours. 
 
 “ Je  regrette.  Monsieur,  de  ne  pouvoir  apres  tout  ce  qui  a eu  lieu  vous  ac- 
 cueilleir,  comme  je  me  fais  toujours  un  devoir  et  plaisir  de  recevoir  les  fonctionnaires 
 d’un  Gouvernement  si  intimement  lie  avec  celui  que  j’ai  I’honneur  de  representer  ici. 
 
CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  THE  BARON  VAN  DER  CAPELLEN. 
 
 553 
 
 “ Vous  connoissez  trop  bien  I’etat  des  choses,  Monsieur,  pour  ce  que  j’ai  besoin 
 de  vous  observer,  que  toute  communication  ou  entrevue  personelle  entre  nous  doit 
 etre  evitee.  Je  ne  pourrais  que  repeter  de  nouveau  toute  la  serie  de  plaintes  que 
 j’ai  era  de  mon  devoir  d’adresser  k mon  Gouvernement  comme  a votre,  depuis  plu- 
 sieurs  annees,  contre  un  gi-and  nombre  de  vos  actions  dirigees  contre  les  interets 
 de  mon  Souverain ; une  pareille  communication  n’ofFrirait  aucun  agrement  ni  pour 
 vous  ni  pour  moi-meme. 
 
 J’ai  I’honneur  d’etre,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  Van  Der  Capellen.” 
 
 No.  III. 
 
 To  His  Excellency  Baron  Van  der  Capellen. 
 
 “ On  board  the  Hero  of  Malorvn,  Batavia  Roads,  Thursday  morning. 
 
 “ Sir, 
 
 Your  Excellency’s  letter  was  delivered  to  me  during  the  night. 
 
 “ I am  sorry  that  what  was  intended  merely  as  a mark  of  respect,  should  have 
 given  rise  to  the  extreme  surprise  which  you  express.  I felt  it  right  to  inform  your 
 Excellency  of  my  being  in  the  roads  of  Batavia,  and  I stated  the  circumstance  which 
 had  led  to  it. 
 
 “ You  would  appear  to  have  been  misinformed,  in  supposing  that  it  was  my  in- 
 tention or  my  desire  to  land  or  court  a personal  interview.  My  landing  in  Java,  while 
 under  your  Excellency’s  government,  could  only  have  been  attended  with  painful 
 feelings,  public  as  w'ell  as  private,  and  there  certainly  has  been  nothing  in  the  con- 
 duct of  your  Excellency,  which  could  have  rendered  me  particularly  desirous  of  per- 
 sonal communication  or  acquaintance. 
 
 “ I caused  it  to  be  publicly  known  before  I embarked,  that  I neither  intended 
 nor  wished  to  land;  and  under  these  circumstances  I trust  you  ^vill  admit,  that  the 
 proscription  you  have  thought  proper  to  issue  might,  in  common  courtesy,  have  been 
 delayed,  until  a solicitation  on  my  part  might  have  called  for  it. 
 
 “ Your  Excellency  also  appears  to  have  been  misinformed,  when  you  state  that 
 I might  or  should  have  avoided  touching  at  Batavia,  knowing  how  disagreeable  it 
 would  be  to  you.  I can  assure  you  it  w'as  a matter  of  absolute  necessity,  in  every 
 way  against  my  wishes  and  feelings ; though  I must  say,  I never  for  a moment  sup- 
 posed it  would  have  given  rise  to  any  apprehensions  or  unpleasant  feelings  on  your 
 part. 
 
 “ You  have.  Sir,  thought  proper  to  refer  to  political  differences,  and  to  the  com- 
 plaints which  you  have  thought  proper  to  make  against  my  proceedings,  which  you 
 considered  to  be  directed  against  the  interests  of  your  Sovereign  ; on  which  it  is  ne- 
 cessary for  me  to  call  to  your  recollection,  that  I have  at  least  had  similar  grounds  of 
 
 4 B 
 
554 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  THE  BARON  VAN  DER  CAPELLEN. 
 
 complaining  of  some  of  the  proceedings  of  your  government,  and  that  the  very  acts 
 on  my  part,  which  you  call  into  question,  arose  solely  from  a conviction,  that  such 
 proceedings  on  your  Excellency’s  part  were  directed  against  the  interests  of  my  coun- 
 try. The  decision,  as  to  whose  views  on  the  subject  have  been  most  connect,  remains 
 wth  higher  authorities ; and  while  I cheerfully  give  your  Excellency  the  credit  of 
 harfng  acted  as  you  deemed  best  for  the  interests  of  your  country,  I hope  you  will 
 judge  equally  charitably  of  the  motives  which  may  have  dictated  my  conduct. 
 
 I have  thought  the  above  explanation  due  as  'W'ell  to  your  Excellency  as  myself, 
 as  I should  have  presumed  you  to  have  been  as  incapable  of  offering  a personal  incivi- 
 lity, as  I am  of  receiving  one  without  noticing  it  as  it  deserves. 
 
 “ I did  not.  Sir,  consider  it  necessary  to  request  your  permission  for  Lady  Raffles 
 to  land,  as  I could  not  suppose  it  to  be  so  in  the  present  state  of  civilized  society ; 
 but  I have  now  respectfully  to  request  that,  as  she  is  in  delicate  health,  and  far  ad- 
 vanced in  her  pregnancy,  your  Excellency  will  insure  her  a safe  passport  to  the  ship 
 whenever  she  may  be  desirous  of  re-embarking. 
 
 “ I have  the  honour  to  be,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 This  correspondence  may  be  left  without  comment.  It  is  not  necessary  to 
 add  more  than  that  the  request  contained  in  the  closing  lines  was  granted : and 
 that,  though  Sir  Stamford  himself  remained  on  board,  during  the  week  of  the  vessel’s 
 stay  at  Bataria,  and  did  not  once  rfsit  the  shore,  the  people  of  the  Island  were  not 
 to  be  restrained ; and  he  there  held  as  it  were  a continual  levee  every  day,  people  of 
 all  ranks  flocking  to  him. 
 
CHAPTER  XIX. 
 
 Arrival  at  Bencoolen — Plans  for  the  future — Freedom  of  the  port  of  Singapore — Account  of  the  Padries — 
 State  of  health — Death  of  friends — Death  of  child — Anxiety  about  the  arrival  of  the  ship  Fame — De- 
 termines to  ernhark  in  the  Borneo — Arrival  of  the  Fame — Embarkation — Burning  of  the  ship — Appeal 
 to  the  Court  of  Directors — Extract  from  memorandum  book,  for  regulation  of  time — Embarks  in  the 
 Mariner — Storm  off  the  Cape — Arrival  at  St,  Helena — Landing  at  Plymouth. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  had  now  closed  his  official  connection  with  Singapore,  the  most  in- 
 teresting object  of  the  latter  part  of  his  public  life  in  the  East,  and  he  proposed  to 
 have  passed  the  few  remaining  months  of  his  residence  in  India,  in  completing  and 
 arranging  his  affairs,  both  public  and  private.  During  his  residence  in  these  regions, 
 he  had  devoted  himself  with  aU  his  mind,  health,  and  strength,  for  twenty  years,  to 
 the  duties  of  the  several  stations  entrusted  to  him,  and  he  had  combined  with  the 
 performance  of  those  duties,  which  peculiar  circumstances  had  made  more  responsible 
 and  arduous  than  usual  in  such  situations,  an  unwearied  pursuit  of  the  literature  of 
 the  several  countries  within  his  reach.  He  also  pursued,  as  will  have  been  perceived, 
 the  study  of  chemistry,  geology,  and  natural  history,  and  in  fact  was  unceasingly 
 occupied  in  the  acquirement  of  various  kinds  of  knowledge. 
 
 The  following  are  extracts  from  the  letters  written  during  this  period  of  his 
 residence  in  Sumatra. 
 
 To  Dr.  Wallich. 
 
 “ Beneoolen,  November  1, 1823. 
 
 “ Crawford  has  promised  most  solemnly  to  adhere  to  and  uphold  all  my  ar- 
 rangements. 
 
 * ^&  * * * * * 
 
 God  knows  I have  had  but  one  object  in  view, — the  interests  of  Singapore, — 
 and  if  a brother  had  been  opposed  to  them,  I must  have  acted  as  I did  towards  Co- 
 lonel Farquhar,  for  whom  I ever  had,  and  stiU  do  retain,  a warm  personal  affection 
 and  regard.  I upheld  him  as  long  as  I could,  and  many  were  the  sacrifices  I made  to 
 prevent  a rupture,  but  when  it  did  take  place,  I foimd  it  necessary  to  prosecute  my 
 cause  with  vigour  and  effect. 
 
 4 B 2 
 
556 
 
 PLANS  FOR  THE  FUTURE. 
 
 I lament  to  observe  by  the  papers  that  poor  Finlayson  breathed  bis  last  in  the 
 way  home.  Poor  fellow,  I never  had  much  hope  that  he  would  be  spared ; yet  his 
 death  has  been  to  me  a severe  shock,  admiring  and  valuing  as  I did,  his  talents,  dis- 
 position, and  principles. 
 
 “ It  is  only  a week  ago  that  we  had  another  death  in  our  family  : Mr.  Dmm- 
 mond,  a gentleman  who  had  come  out  to  us  highly  recommended  from  home,  and  was 
 embarking  largely  in  our  agricultural  pursuits,  was  carried  off  in  less  than  twelve 
 hours.  I know  not  how  it  is,  but  these  continual  breaches  in  our  domestic  circle 
 seem  to  be  sad  warnings. 
 
 “ I had  hoped  to  have  got  away  by  the  end  of  the  present  year,  but  an  accu- 
 mulation of  details,  and  the  arrival  of  a detachment  of  troops  most  unexpectedly 
 sent  by  the  Bengal  Government  to  the  northern  part  of  the  Island,  may  keep  me  for 
 some  time.  My  health  for  the  last  week  or  two  has  rather  improved,  but  I am 
 still  subject  to  the  same  attacks  which  so  often  and  so  completely  overpowered  me 
 at  Singapore. 
 
 “ Lady  Raffles,  though  entirely  recovered  from  her  last  confinement,  is  in  a 
 very  delicate  state,  and  it  was  only  last  night  that  we  were  forced  to  apply  thirty 
 leeches,  and  have  recourse  to  warm  baths  and  laudanum,  to  keep  down  inflam- 
 mation. 
 
 “ My  time  has  been  so  occupied  since  my  return,  that  I have  hardly  been  able 
 to  arrange  the  papers  of  our  friend  Jack.  I prepare  to  take  them  all  hence  with 
 me.  They  are  not  very  extensive,  but  they  are  generally  to  the  point,  and 
 valuable. 
 
 We  are  desirous  of  placing  an  inscription  over  his  grave,  and  I have  wi-itten 
 to  Calder  to  send  an  appropriate  stone  from  Calcutta.  I learn  from  his  brother  that 
 his  age  was  only  27;  he  died  at  Bencoolen,  at  the  Government-house,  on  the  11th 
 July,  1823.  I must  beg  of  you  to  do  the  last  kind  office,  of  adding  to  the  above 
 particulars  a few  words  expressive  of  his  character  and  attainments.” 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  November  4,  1823. 
 
 “ Sophia,  I am  sorry  to  say,  has  had  an  attack  of  fever,  and  alarmed  us  very 
 much,  but  she  is  improving ; and  if  we  get  awny  this  season  all  may  yet  be  well. 
 
 “ I propose  on  the  voyage  hence,  if  my  health  admits,  to  sketch  out  something 
 like  an  account  of  the  establishment  of  Singapore,  wath  a description  of  the  place, 
 map,  &c.  Something  of  the  kind  seems  necessary  for  general  information. 
 
 Our  little  Flora  expands  daily.” 
 
PROPOSED  PLAN  FOR  THE  VOYAGE  HOME. 
 
 557 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 ‘'November  6,  1823. 
 
 This  is  the  last  opportunity  that  will  offer  for  writing  to  England,  before  we 
 ourselves  intend  embarking. 
 
 “ The  voyage  out  looked  long,  and  was  long,  but  we  shall  no  longer  draw  a 
 lengthening  chain,  each  day  will  bring  us  nearer  to  that  spot  where  all  our  best  af- 
 fections are  centered,  and  we  shall  hope  to  land  in  far  better  spirits  than  the  day  we 
 parted.  That  indeed  was  a dismal  day ; and  yet,  if  we  do  meet  again,  shall  we  not 
 forget  it  ? 
 
 “ I am  sorry  to  say  that  we  have  had  another  death  in  our  family,  and  that  I 
 have  been  under  great  alarm  for  Lady  Raffles.  She  had  first  presented  me  with 
 another  little  girl,  and  recovered  from  her  confinement,  when  she  was  attacked  by  a 
 most  severe  fever. 
 
 “ By  touching  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  which  we  hope  to  reach  from  this  in 
 six  weeks,  remaining  there  ten  days,  and  then  stopping  at  St.  Helena,  which  we 
 should  reach  in  ten  days,  and  proceeding  from  thence  to  England,  in  seven  weeks 
 more,  we  hope  to  break  the  length  of  the  passage,  and  to  keep  up  her  strength,  as 
 well  as  that  of  the  infant,  by  occasional  rest  and  refreshment. 
 
 “ I believe  I have  already  informed  your  Grace,  that  I had  delivered  over  charge 
 of  Singapore,  and  that  it  only  remains  for  me  to  wind  up  my  administration  here.” 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 To  Mr.  Murdoch. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  November  14,  1823. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I have  received  your  kind  and  friendly  letters  down  to  the  23d  of  January 
 last,  and  feel  most  grateful  for  the  warm  and  kind  interest  which  you  continue  to 
 take  in  our  welfare  and  happiness.  Indeed,  I hardly  know  how  to  thank  you  suf- 
 ficiently, except  it  is  by  saying  that  we  justly  appreciate  it. 
 
 “ As  this  may  be  the  last  opportunity  afforded  of  writing  to  England  before  we 
 ourselves  may  embark,  I am  anxious  not  to  let  it  pass  without  once  more  praying 
 your  forgiveness  for  all  my  omissions  in  the  way  of  letter-writing.  I feel  conscious 
 that  I have  not  written  to  you  so  often  nor  so  fully  as  I ought  to  have  done,  and 
 that  I have  a long  arrear  of  debt,  which  I fear  I shall  never  discharge,  unless  you 
 will  accept  of  the  only  composition  which  it  is  in  my  power  to  offer — the  assurance 
 that,  though  I may  not  have  written  much,  I have  not  felt  the  less,  and  that  both 
 Lady  Raffles  and  myself  have  not  only  retained  our  respect  and  affection  for  you 
 and  your  family  unabated,  but  that  time  and  distance  have  only  tended  to  strengthen 
 
558 
 
 PROPOSED  ACCOUNT  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 the  feeling  into  that  kind  of  affectionate  attachment  and  regard,  that  in  returning  to 
 Europe,  we  look  forward  to  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you,  as  to  the  meeting  with  those 
 of  our  own  blood  and  family. 
 
 “ Our  plan  is  to  leave  this  about  February,  or  so  as  to  make  England  in  July ; 
 hut  so  fatally  have  our  anticipations  been  disappointed  hitherto,  that  I hardly  dare 
 look  forward  with  confidence  to  its  execution.  Lady  Raffles  had  hardly  recovered 
 from  her  last  confinement,  when  she  was  attacked  by  a \iolent  fever,  which  has 
 hardly  yet  left  her,  and  she  is  still  confined  to  her  couch.  I am  scarcely  able  to  hold 
 up  my  head  two  days  together ; but  yet  we  will  hope  that  our  period  of  banishment 
 is  nearly  terminated,  and  that  we  may,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  see  you  in  the 
 course  of  next  summer. 
 
 “ What  may  be  my  future  plan  of  life  is  still  more  uncertain ; but  if  I am  for- 
 tunate enough  to  reach  England  ahve,  I am  certain  that  no  inducement  shall  ever 
 lead  me  to  re\dsit  India.  I have  already  passed  nearly  thirty  years  of  my  hfe  in  the 
 Company’s  service,  and  have  always  been  placed  in  situations  of  so  much  responsi- 
 bility, that  my  mind  has  always  been  on  the  stretch,  and  never  without  some  serious 
 anxiety. 
 
 “ I naturally  look  forward  to  retirement,  when  these  anxieties  may  cease,  and 
 I can  enjoy  that  serenity  which  is  above  all  things  necessary  for  the  peace  and  com- 
 fort of  this  hfe.  Accustomed,  however,  to  activity,  and  necessarily  to  habits  of 
 business,  I am  aware  that  I cannot  be  idle  and  happy  at  the  same  time,  and  there- 
 fore I shall  be  ready  to  enter  with  some  degree  of  zeal  upon  any  pursuits  that  appear 
 to  promise  eventual  satisfaction. 
 
 “ I enclose  you  a copy  of  the  address  presented  to  me  by  the  merchants  of 
 Singapore,  on  the  occasion  of  my  resigning  charge  of  that  settlement,  preparatory 
 to  my  proceeding  to  Europe,  and  hope  that,  in  the  pledge  which  I gave  them,  of 
 the  'permanency  of  the  freedom  of  the  Port,  without  duties  or  restrictions  of  any 
 kind,  I shall  be  supported  and  borne  out  by  the  authorities  at  home.  I cannot  but 
 think  that  we  have  now  taken  too  firm  a root  at  Singapore,  to  render  it  even  pos- 
 sible that  it  should  be  dehvered  over  to  the  Dutch,  and  therefore  I did  not  advert  to 
 such  a possible  contingency.  Hereafter  I hope  to  present  you  with  a pamphlet, 
 containing  the  particulars  of  the  estabhshment  of  the  Singapore  Institution,  as  well 
 as  with  the  regulations  which  I have  adopted  there  for  the  administration  of  justice, 
 until  more  regular  prortsions  are  made.  They  will,  I think,  meet  your  approba- 
 tion. I notice  what  you  say  regarding  the  publication  of  some  account  of  the  esta- 
 blishment of  Singapore,  with  a map  annexed,  and  thank  you  for  the  hint.  I have 
 little  to  say  on  the  subject,  more  than  has  been  repeated  over  and  over  again  in  my 
 official  despatches,  though  perhaps  in  different  words ; but  as  these  are  likely  to 
 moulder  away  in  Leadenhall-street,  \vithout  perhaps  being  twice  read,  it  may  be 
 useful  should  I attempt  a more  public  exposition  of  my  sentiments  and  Hews. 
 
PROPOSED  ACCOUNT  OF  SINGAPORE. 
 
 .559 
 
 Indeed,  after  what  has  taken  place,  and  particularly  with  reference  to  the  extra- 
 ordinary assertion  of  Lord  Bathurst  as  to  the  nature  of  my  appointment,  something 
 of  a public  nature  will  be  required  from  me  ; and  although  I am  far  from  wishing  to 
 obtrude  myself  or  my  proceedings  on  the  public,  I feel  confident,  that  the  more  my 
 conduct  is  investigated  and  known,  the  more  credit  will  at  any  rate  be  given  to  my 
 motives ; so  that,  in  this  point  of  view,  I have  rather  an  inducement  to  publish  than 
 otherwise. 
 
 “ Should,  therefore,  my  health  admit,  I shall  probably  devote  a few  hours  in  the 
 day,  during  the  voyage  home,  to  condense  into  a convenient  space  what  I think  may 
 be  interesting  on  the  subject,  to  be  revised  after  my  arrival  in  England,  according  to 
 circumstances.  It  is  not  my  wish  any  more  than  my  interest,  to  run  counter  to  the 
 authorities  that  be ; but  as  a public  man,  I hardly  know  how  I can  pass  over  the 
 direfid  sacrifices  made  by  Lord  Castlereagh  without  remark.  My  sole  object,  in 
 a pohtical  point  of  view,  is  to  do  justice  to  the  cause  I have  undertaken,  and  I think 
 it  only  requires  to  be  fairly  and  honestly  stated,  to  make  its  way  wherever  it  is 
 known. 
 
 " According  to  my  present  notion  of  the  subject,  it  occurs  to  me  that,  by  way 
 of  introduction,  I might  enlarge  on  the  course  and  value  of  the  trade  of  the  Eastern 
 Islands  and  China,  its  past  history  and  present  state,  with  a description  of  the  more 
 interesting  points  of  character  among  the  inhabitants,  and  some  account  of  the  geo- 
 graphy and  natural  history  of  the  different  countries.  I might  then  give  a short, 
 but  pointed  account  of  the  question  with  the  Dutch ; the  reasons  which  induced  the 
 establishment  at  Singapore  ; how  that  establishment  was  effected ; the  principle  on 
 which  it  was  maintained,  and  the  rapidity  of  its  rise  ; a short  description  of  the 
 place,  its  inhabitants,  productions,  and  localities,  might  follow,  with  an  account  of 
 its  institutions,  and  an  appendix,  containing  the  regulations  for  the  Chinese  and 
 Malay  College,  &c. 
 
 “ You  will  hardly  believe,  that  at  the  close  of  my  administration  of  that  settlement, 
 I received  the  unreserved  approbation  of  the  Government  of  Bengal  of  all  the  mea- 
 sures of  a public  nature  that  I had  adopted.  I have,  however,  been  opposed  through- 
 out in  establishing  the  freedom  of  the  port,  and  any  thing  like  a hberal  mode  of 
 management,  and  not  only  by  the  Penang  Government,  but  also  in  Bengal.  The 
 Bengal  merchants,  or  rather  one  or  two  of  them,  whom  I could  name,  would  have 
 preferred  the  old  system,  by  which  they  might  have  monopohzed  the  early  resources 
 of  the  place,  and  thus  checked  its  progress  to  importance.  My  views  have  been 
 more  enlarged,  and  as  the  authorities  at  home  have  fortunately  not  yet  interfered 
 with  the  details,  I have  taken  upon  myself  to  widen  the  base,  and  to  look  to  a more 
 important  superstructure.  I have  given  the  place  something  like  a constitution,  a 
 representative  body,  and  fashioned  all  my  regulations  more  with  reference  to  the 
 pure  principles  of  the  British  constitution,  than  upon  the  half-cast,  or  country-born 
 
 1 
 
560 
 
 MENDEZ  PINTO’S  ACCOUNT  OF  JAVA. 
 
 regulations  of  our  Indian  administration,  which,  however  well  they  may  be  suited  to 
 the  circumstances  of  continental  India,  are  altogether  inapphcable  to  the  state  of 
 society  in  the  Eastern  Islands.  This  has  brought  upon  me  what  may  be  called  a 
 local  opposition-party  in  Bengal,  and  I must  be  content  to  look  for  the  just  appre- 
 ciation of  my  views  and  plans  rather  in  England  than  in  India. 
 
 “ I was  the  other  day  looking  over  the  translation  you  was  so  kind  to  make  for 
 me  from  iSIendez  Pinto  relating  to  Java,  and  though  he  may  exaggerate  numbers, 
 and  tell  a story  with  embellishments,  his  localities  are  so  correct,  that,  as  far  as  I 
 can  judge  from  this  instance,  I am  inchned  to  think  he  deserves  more  credit  than  he 
 has  yet  received.  His  statements  regarding  Borneo  and  other  countries  of  the 
 Archipelago  less  knoum  than  Java,  would  be  interesting;  and  if  from  the  history  of 
 the  last-mentioned  Island  we  could  vouch  for  his  correctness,  it  might  set  people 
 thinking  of  what  was  possibly  the  fonner  condition  of  the  Archipelago,  before  the 
 valour  of  Portugal  broke  down  its  power,  and  the  sordid  pohcy  of  the  Dutch  de- 
 stroyed its  spirit  and  energies.  It  would  be  an  odd  coincidence  if,  as  Marsden 
 has  undertaken  the  cause  of  Marco  Polo,  on  account  of  what  he  said  of  Sumatra,  I 
 should  be  the  advocate  of  Pinto  from  the  relation  he  gives  of  Java. 
 
 “ Your  observations  respecting  the  bark  of  the  nutmeg-tree  have  not  passed  un- 
 noticed, and  I have  now  a parcel  of  the  bark  preparing  for  Europe  as  an  experiment : 
 it  does  not,  however,  appear  to  me  to  be  peculiarly  fi'agrant.” 
 
 In  returning  to  Bencoolen  Sir  Stamford  had  to  encounter  once  more  a scene  of 
 trial,  sickness,  and  death.  His  few  remaining  friends  fell  a sacrifice  to  the  chmate  ; 
 his  family  it  pleased  God  to  afflict  with  illness ; and  it  seemed  as  if  his  life  was  to 
 end  uith  his  labours.  It  is  not  easy  to  describe  the  state  of  anxiety  in  which  the  two 
 last  months  were  spent : ready  and  anxious  to  leave  a place  in  which  so  many  earthly 
 ties  of  happiness  had  been  broken,  and  yet  seeing  hour  after  hour  pass  away,  with- 
 out the  means  of  escape,  and  with  scarcely  a hope  that  fife  would  be  prolonged  from 
 one  day  to  another. 
 
 The  following  letters  give  a lively  picture  of  the  state  of  his  feehngs  at  this 
 period. 
 
 To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Cousin, 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  November  \5th,  1823. 
 
 As  this  may  be  the  last  opportunity  of  writing  before  we  ourselves 
 embark,  I am  anxious  not  to  let  it  pass  without  endeavouring  to  repay  some  part  of 
 the  heavy  debt  standing  against  me  on  the  score  of  omissions  in  letter  wviting. 
 
 # * * lis- 
 
 “ We  have  suffered  much  in  health  and  spirits  since  we  said  farewell ; but  our 
 
PROGRESS  OF  THE  PADRIES. 
 
 561 
 
 hearts  are  the  same  ; and  we  trust,  that,  if  we  can  regain  our  health  by  a change  of 
 climate,  there  may  yet  be  many  happy  days  in  store  for  us,  even  in  this  sublunary 
 and  transitory  scene. 
 
 ***** 
 
 “ I have  already  informed  you  that  I resigned  the  charge  of  Singapore,  and  of 
 all  questions  with  the  Dutch  in  June  last,  as  preparatory  to  my  winding  up  on 
 this  coast  and  proceeding  to  Europe.  I enclose  you  a printed  copy  of  the  address 
 presented  to  me  on  the  occasion  by  the  merchants  of  the  place,  with  my  reply, 
 which  uill  shew  you  the  sort  of  policy  I wish  to  support  at  that  settlement.  I have 
 heard  nothing  more  of  the  question  with  the  Dutch,  but  I doubt  not  that  it  will  be 
 agitated  on  my  arrival  in  England.  I rely  more  upon  the  support  of  the  mercantile 
 community  than  upon  any  hberal  views  of  the  ministry,  by  whom  I have  been 
 opposed  as  much  throughout  as  by  the  Dutch. 
 
 ***** 
 
 “ Of  this  place  I have  nothing  at  present  very  particular  to  communicate,  or  that 
 will  not  as  conveniently  be  left  for  personal  intercourse ; but  it  will  be  satisfactory  for 
 you  to  know  that  we  are  doing  wonders  with  our  schools,  and  that  our  Bible  Society 
 is  not  inactive  : the  two  missionaries  whom  we  have  here,  Messrs.  Robinson  and  Ward 
 are  very  zealous  ; and  Reports  are  now  framing  to  be  laid  before  the  General  Meeting 
 on  the  1st  of  January,  which  will,  I hope,  prove  that  we  have  not  been  inactive  ; 
 and  that  the  results  are  as  great  as  we  could  rationally  have  expected  in  so  short  a 
 time. 
 
 ***** 
 Considerable  interest  has  lately  been  excited  by  the  progress  in  Sumatra  of 
 the  ISIahomedan  sect,  usually  termed  the  Padries,  or  more  particularly  the  Putcho 
 or  Whites,  in  opposition  to  the  Elaws  or  Blacks,  by  which  latter  term  they  designate 
 all  who  do  not  embrace  their  doctrine. 
 
 “ It  was  to  the  ravages  of  these  people  that  I alluded  in  my  account  of  the 
 journey  to  Menangkabu,  as  having  repeatedly  pillaged  and  burnt  the  capital  of  that 
 celebrated  seat  of  the  Malay  empire  : and  it  is  with  them  that  the  Dutch,  since  their 
 occupation  of  Padang,  have  been  involved  in  a desperate  and  relentless  war,  neither 
 party  girtng  quarter,  and  prices  being  set  upon  the  heads  of  the  principal  Chiefs. 
 The  first  notice  of  this  powerful  sect,  which  had  its  origin  near  Mount  Ophir,  was 
 about  ten  years  ago  ; but  it  has  been  dirring  the  last  three,  and  principally  since  the 
 occupation  of  Padang  by  the  Dutch,  that  it  has  become  formidable,  and  occasioned 
 alarm  for  the  safety  of  the  European  settlements  on  the  west  coast  of  Sumatra. 
 
 “ The  policy  of  the  British  Government  has  hitherto  been  that  of  neutrality, 
 considering  that  the  question  related  principally  to  peculiar  doctrines  of  Mahomed- 
 anism,  in  which  the  natives  might  be  best  left  to  themselves  : but  the  success  of  the 
 
 4 c 
 
562 
 
 PROGRESS  OF  THE  PADRIES. 
 
 Padries  during  the  last  year,  in  which  they  have  overrun  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
 rich  and  populous  countries  of  the  interior,  has  at  length  called  for  measures  of 
 decision  even  on  the  part  of  the  British  authority.  A considerable  force  was 
 detached  from  Bengal  in  September  last,  direct  to  Nattal;  and  measures  are  in 
 progress  for  the  adoption  of  offensive  operations,  should  negociation  fail.  The 
 tenets  of  the  Padries  require,  that  all  Mahomedans  shall  refrain  from  the  use  of 
 opium,  from  cock-fighting,  and  other  Malayan  vices,  that  they  should  wear  a pecuhar 
 dress,  and  submit  to  ecclesiastical  authority.  The  Malays,  who  form  the  population 
 of  the  coast  districts,  are  averse  to  this  change,  as  altering  their  habits,  and  depart- 
 ing from  their  ancient  customs ; and  the  European  Governments  are  actually  em- 
 ployed in  protecting  them  against  the  improvement  which  would  necessarily  follow 
 from  their  adoption  of  the  tenets  of  the  Padries. 
 
 “ It  is  not  to  be  denied,  that  with  people  of  so  low  a state  of  civilization  as 
 those  in  the  interior  of  Sumatra  must  be,  success  will  too  often  make  them  wanton ; 
 and  that  their  practice  is  fi'equently  inconsistent  with  their  doctrines — this  is 
 naturally  expected — and  the  1 ve  of  plunder  and  thirst  of  revenge  over  those  who 
 are  most  obstinate  in  resisting  them  is  too  often  predominant. 
 
 “ The  resources  of  these  people  seem  considerable ; and  their  engagements  with 
 the  Dutch  have  taught  them  to  know  their  own  strength.  Their  power  in  the 
 interior  of  Sumatra  may  now  be  considered  as  completely  established  : and  various 
 speculations  are  formed  as  to  the  result. 
 
 “ We  thus  see  one  of  the  finest  islands  in  the  world,  on  which  we  have  had 
 establishments  for  upwards  of  a century,  without  once  venturing  to  improve  the 
 condition  of  the  people,  or  to  send  one  Christian  Missionary  among  them,  giving 
 way  before  the  desolating  influence  of  the  false  prophet  of  Mecca,  and  becoming 
 rapidly  a strong  Mahomedan  resting  ground,  with  our  eyes  open,  and  with  scarcely 
 one  effort  made  by  ourselves  to  oppose  them  by  a purer  faith.  The  Missionaries  we 
 have  lately  employed  in  Sumatra  are  too  few  in  number  to  do  much.  That  they 
 will  do  good,  as  far  as  their  influence  reaches,  there  can  be  no  doubt ; but  that 
 influence  will  long  be  limited  to  our  own  immediate  stations,  unless  we  increase 
 their  numbers.  Instead  of  three  missionaries  we  ought  to  have  three  hundred; 
 and  the  object  of  these  three  hundred  should  be  to  initiate  three  thousand  of  the 
 natives  to  act  as  Missionaries  in  the  interior.  There  are  yet  hundreds  of  thousands, 
 perhaps  millions,  in  Sumatra,  who  at  this  moment  possess  no  religion  at  all,  among 
 whom  we  may  include  the  Battas.  The  Padries  are  now  on  their  very  borders, 
 with  the  Koran  in  one  hand,  and  the  sword  in  the  other : and  the  only  JVIissionary 
 whom  we  have  is  an  isolated  individual,  residing  under  the  protection  of  the  British 
 factory  at  Tappanooly,  but  who  has  not  the  means  of  penetrating  into  the  interior. 
 This  individual,  however,  (Mr.  Burton,)  has  translated  part  of  the  Scriptures  into 
 
DEATH  OF  CAPTAIN  SALMOND. 
 
 563 
 
 the  Batta  language,  and  his  success  in  this  respect  is  highly  praiseworthy  to  his 
 application  and  character ; but  alone  he  can  do  little  beyond  the  influence  of  our 
 own  factory,  which  does  not  extend  one  mile  inland. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 It  would  be  useful  to  draw  public  attention  to  this  subject  now,  particularly, 
 as  it  has  excited  much  interest  in  India ; and  is  the  only  cause  likely  to  detain  me 
 here  longer  than  I could  wish.  I cannot  well  leave  the  coast  till  some  decisive 
 measure  is  adopted ; and  yet  in  politics  who  can  see  the  end  ? My  desire  is  to 
 avoid  all  involvement  as  much  as  possible  ; and  if  our  measures  are  likely  to  be  of  a 
 protracted  nature,  I shall  not  think  of  waiting  the  issue. 
 
 “ Believe  me,  &c.” 
 
 To 
 
 '' Permattam  Ballam,  Bencoolen,  November  23,  1823. 
 
 “ This  is  a most  melancholy  day.  One  of  my  last  letters  informed  you  of  the 
 death  of  poor  Drummond  after  a few  hours  illness ; one  of  the  Mr.  Days  died  about 
 the  same  time.  Two  days  ago  Mr.  Halhed  was  carried  off,  and  I have  just  received 
 information  that  my  dear  and  valued  friend  Salmond  is  no  more. 
 
 This  last  blow  has  been  almost  too  much  for  us,  for  Salmond  was  as  dear  and 
 intimate  with  us  as  our  own  family.  I have  just  opened  his  will,  and  find  he  has 
 nominated  me  as  his  sole  executor  in  the  following  words : — ^ I appoint  my  only 
 friend  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  to  be  my  executor,  and  I pray  to  God  he  will  take  charge 
 of  my  estate  and  children.’  The  loss  of  poor  Salmond  is  quite  a death-blow  to  the 
 settlement.  How  is  it  that  all  we  love  and  esteem,  all  those  whose  principles  we 
 admire,  and  in  whom  we  can  place  confidence,  are  thus  carried  off,  while  the  vile 
 and  worthless  remain  ? 
 
 “ Sophia  is  recovering  slowly  from  her  late  illness,  but  she  has  suffered  severely. 
 I am  much  the  same  in  health,  but  we  are  both  low  in  spirits.  Would  that  a ship 
 had  come  out  as  I wrote  for  direct,  that  we  might  have  been  off ! 
 
 We  have  as  yet  heard  nothing  of  the  Fame,  nor  is  there  any  opportunity 
 besides  her  likely  to  offer.” 
 
 To  Dr.  Wallich. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  November  24,  1823. 
 
 “ You  will  grieve  to  hear  that  we  have  just  lost  our  worthy  inestimable  friend 
 Captain  Salmond ; he  is  the  second  in  our  family  and  the  fourth  in  our  small  society 
 who  has  paid  the  debt  of  nature  within  the  last  month ! W ould  to  God  we  were 
 ourselves  fairly  out  of  the  place ! Sophia  recovers  but  very  slowly  from  her  late 
 dangerous  illness,  and  these  events  cast  a sad  and  melancholy  gloom  over  every  thing. 
 
 4 c 2 
 
564 
 
 DEATH  OF  SIR  STAMFORD’S  YOUNGEST  CHILD. 
 
 I write  these  few  lines  at  her  very  particular  request,  to  remind  you  of  my  picture. 
 Whether  I go  home  or  not,  I must,  if  Lady  Raffles  sur^'ives,  send  her  home  by 
 an  early  opportunity. 
 
 “ Om'  united  regards  and  fervent  prayers  for  your  health  and  happiness.  Be. 
 lieve  me  always  your’s  affectionately.” 
 
 To  Dr.  Wallich. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  December  10,  1823. 
 
 “ We  are,  I am  sorry  to  say,  in  gi-eat  distress,  ha^^ng  lost  several  friends  during 
 the  last  month,  but  the  worst  of  all  has  been  the  loss  of  our  only  remaining  child  in 
 this  country,  at  a time  when  Lady  Raffles  was  herself  dangerously  ill  \rith  fever ; 
 the  shock  has  been  too  much  for  us,  and  I hardly  expect  she  will  get  over  it.  We 
 have  indeed  been  severely  afflicted,  and  what  is  worse,  we  are  both  so  ill  ourselves 
 that  neither  of  us  dare  quit  the  room. 
 
 “ These  circumstances  will  be  a sufficient  excuse  for  not  writing  you  more 
 fully.” 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  December  20,  1823. 
 
 “ You  will  grieve  to  hear  that  we  have  had  another  affliction  in  the  loss  of  our 
 dear  babe,  whose  birth  I formerly  announced. 
 
 “ She  was  carried  off  very  suddenly,  and  at  a moment  when  we  were  least  pre- 
 pared to  meet  such  a shock.  The  death  of  poor  Salmond  and  iSIr.  Dmmmond, 
 besides  several  other  deaths  in  the  settlement,  had  cast  a gloom  over  every  thing, 
 and  Sophia  was  but  very  slowly  recovering  from  a severe  inflammatory  fever  which 
 nearly  proved  fatal.  The  loss  of  an  infant  only  a few  months  old  is  one  of  those 
 things  which  in  itself  perhaps  might  soon  be  got  over,  knowng  how  uncertain  hfe  is 
 at  that  period,  but  this  loss  of  our  fourth  and  only  remaining  child  in  India  has 
 rerived  all  former  afflictions,  and  been  almost  too  much  for  us.  Fortunately  Sophia’s 
 fever  has  not  returned  since  the  event,  and  upon  the  whole  she  is  in  better  health 
 than  she  was  preceding,  but  she  has  not  yet  left  the  house ; her  spirits  as  well  as 
 my  own  are  completely  broken,  and  most  anxious  are  we  to  get  away  fi’om  such  a 
 charnel-house,  but  here  we  are  detained  for  want  of  an  opportunity.  How  often  do 
 we  wish  the  Fame  had  come  out  direct — we  might  have  saved  this  last  misfortune — 
 but  we  have  neither  seen  nor  heard  of  her,  and  God  only  knows  when  the  day  of  our 
 deliverance  will  arrive.  Either  I must  go  to  England  or  by  remaining  in  India  die. 
 
 “ If  we  are  to  meet  again  in  this  world,  it  must  be  soon  after  the  receipt  of 
 this — till  then  farewell,  and  God  grant  that  you  may  never  be  subjected  to  such  mis- 
 fortunes with  your  children  as  we  have  been.  I shall  wait  a day  or  two  in  writing 
 to  Cheltenham,  in  hope  of  having  better  spirits  than  to-day. 
 
SIR  STAMFORD’S  ANXIETY  TO  RETURN  TO  ENGLAND. 
 
 565 
 
 As  the  management  of  convicts  ought  to  be  a subject  of  consideration,  I 
 inclose  you  a copy  of  the  regulations  established  for  those  of  this  place.  The  con- 
 victs now  at  Bencoolen  amount  to  eight  or  nine  hundred,  and  the  number  is  gradually 
 increasing ; they  are  natives  of  Bengal  and  Madras — that  is  to  say,  of  those  Pre- 
 sidencies. The  arrangement  has  been  brought  about  gradually,  but  the  system  now 
 appears  complete,  and  as  far  as  we  have  yet  gone,  has  been  attended  with  the  best 
 effects.  I have  entrusted  John  Hull  with  the  superintendence  of  the  department, 
 and  he  feels  great  pleasure  and  satisfaction  in  the  general  improvement  of  this  class 
 of  people.” 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  January  4,  1824. 
 
 We  have  entered  the  new  year,  and  as  yet  no  accounts  of  the  Fame.  You 
 can  hardly  imagine  to  yourself  the  serious  disappointment  to  all  our  hopes  and  plans 
 which  this  occasions.  We  begin  to  think  we  are  doomed  to  end  our  days  here,  and 
 that  there  is  something  like  a spell  upon  our  movements.  After  Sophia’s  severe  ill- 
 ness and  om*  last  affliction,  the  delay  of  a day  is  most  serious,  and  night  and  day  we 
 cannot  help  regretting  that  you  have  not  ensured  a ship  on  the  strength  of  my 
 letters  to  you — I rehed  exclusively  on  what  you  would  do,  and  still  have  no  other 
 hope  than  that  the  Fame  will  be  in  time  to  save  our  lives,  though  we  have  very  little 
 confidence  that  this  will  be  the  case.” 
 
 To 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  January  14,  1824, 
 
 I have  before  I embark  to  wind  up  all  my  affairs. 
 
 God  grant  that  we  may  have  a happy  and  satisfactory  meeting  in  old  Eng- 
 land, for  which  I may  in  truth  say  my  heart  yearneth  much  indeed  and  sadly. 
 
 " We  are  such  poor  creatures,  that  hke  the  aspen  leaf,  we  shake  with  every 
 breath  of  air,  and  are  daily  treading  on  the  edge  of  eternity.” 
 
 Months  having  elapsed  beyond  the  time  fixed  for  the  arrival  of  the  ship  Fame, 
 which  was  to  carry  Sir  Stamford  and  his  family  to  England,  without  any  accounts  of  her, 
 he  determined  to  take  the  cargo  out  of  the  Borneo,  a small  vessel  which  had  touched 
 at  Bencoolen  on  her  passage  to  England,  and  in  which  he  had  two  years  before  sent 
 home  his  infant  child ; but  the  very  day  the  arrangement  was  to  have  been  completed 
 (fortunately  it  was  then  supposed)  the  Fame  arrived.  The  Borneo  made  a safe  and 
 good  passage  ; of  the  fate  of  the  Fame  Sir  Stamford’s  own  letters  give  an  account ; it 
 is  only  necessary  to  add,  that  the  ship  was  insured,  which  prevented  any  loss  to  the 
 
566 
 
 BURNING  OF  THE  FAME. 
 
 owners — that  the  captain  had  no  interest  in  her — that  the  East  India  Company  had 
 only  a few  tons  of  salt-petre  on  board  for  ballast — that  the  loss  fell  entirely  on  the 
 individual,  whom  it  pleased  God  to  humble  by  the  overwhelming  calamity. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  February  4,  1 824. 
 
 “ We  embarked  on  the  2d  instant  in  the  Fame,  and  sailed  at  day-light  for  Eng- 
 land with  a fair  wind,  and  every  prospect  of  a quick  and  comfortable  passage. 
 
 ‘‘  The  ship  was  every  thing  we  could  wish  ; and  having  closed  my  charge  here 
 much  to  my  satisfaction,  it  was  one  of  the  happiest  days  of  my  life.  We  were, 
 perhaps,  too  happy ; for  in  the  evening  came  a sad  reverse.  Sophia  had  just  gone  to 
 bed,  and  I had  thrown  off  half  my  clothes,  when  a cry  of  fire,  fire  ! roused  us  from  our 
 calm  content,  and  in  five  minutes  the  whole  ship  was  in  flames ! I ran  to  examine 
 whence  the  flames  principally  issued,  and  found  that  the  fire  had  its  origin  immedi- 
 ately under  our  cabin.  Down  \\ith  the  boats.  Where  is  Sophia  ? — Here.  The  chil- 
 dren ?— Here.  A rope  to  the  side.  Lower  Lady  Raffles.  Give  her  to  me,  says 
 one  ; I’ll  take  her,  says  the  Captain.  Throw  the  gunpowder  overboard.  It  cannot 
 be  got  at ; it  is  in  the  magazine  close  to  the  fire.  Stand  clear  of  the  powder.  Shuttle 
 the  water-casks.  Water ! water ! Where’s  Sir  Stamford  ? Come  into  the  boat, 
 Nilson ! Nilson,  come  into  the  boat.  Push  off,  push  off.  Stand  clear  of  the  after 
 part  of  the  ship. 
 
 “ All  this  passed  much  quicker  than  I can  write  it ; w^e  pushed  off,  and  as  we 
 did  so,  the  flames  burst  out  of  our  cabin-window,  and  the  wLole  of  the  after  part  of 
 the  ship  w'as  in  flames ; the  masts  and  sails  now^  taking  fire,  we  moved  to  a distance 
 sufficient  to  avoid  the  immediate  explosion ; but  the  flames  were  now  coming  out  of 
 the  main  hatchw'ay  ; and  seeing  the  rest  of  the  crew,  with  the  Captain,  still  on  board, 
 we  pulled  back  to  her  under  the  bow^s,  so  as  to  be  more  distant  from  the  powder.  As 
 we  approached  we  perceived  that  the  people  on  board  were  getting  into  another  boat 
 on  the  opposite  side.  She  pushed  off;  we  hailed  her  : have  you  all  on  board.  Yes, 
 all,  save  one.  Who  is  he  ? — Johnson,  sick  in  his  cot.  Can  w^e  save  him  ? — No,  im- 
 possible. The  flames  w'ere  issuing  from  the  hatchw’ay ; at  this  moment  the  poor 
 fellow',  scorched,  I imagine,  by  the  flames,  roared  out  most  lustily,  having  run  upon 
 the  deck.  I will  go  for  him,  says  the  Captain.  The  tw'O  boats  then  came  together, 
 and  we  took  out  some  of  the  persons  from  the  Captain’s  boat,  wdiich  w'as  overladen  ; 
 he  then  pulled  under  the  bow'sprit  of  the  ship,  and  picked  the  poor  fellow  up.  Are 
 you  all  safe  ? — Yes,  w'e  have  got  the  man;  all  lives  safe.  Thank  God ! Pull  off  from 
 the  ship.  Keep  your  eye  on  a star.  Sir  Stamford. — There’s  one  scarcely  \isible. 
 
 “ We  then  hauled  close  to  each  other,  and  found  the  Captain  fortunately  had  a 
 compass,  but  w^e  had  no  light  except  from  the  ship.  Our  distance  from  Bencoolen  we 
 estimated  to  be  about  fifty  miles  in  a south-west  direction.  There  being  no  landing 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
BURNING  OF  THE  FAME. 
 
 567 
 
 place  to  the  southward  of  Bencoolen,  our  only  chance  was  to  regain  that  port.  The 
 Captain  then  undertook  to  lead,  and  we  to  follow,  in  a N.  N.  E.  course,  as  well  as  we 
 could ; no  chance,  no  possibility  being  left,  that  we  could  again  approach  the  ship ; 
 for  she  was  now  one  splendid  flame,  fore  and  aft,  and  aloft,  her  masts  and  sails  in  a 
 blaze,  and  rocking  to  and  fi'O,  threatening  to  fall  in  an  instant.  There  goes  her 
 mizen  mast ; pull  away,  my  boys  : there  goes  the  gunpowder.  Thank  God ! thank 
 God! 
 
 “ You  may  judge  of  our  situation  without  further  particulars.  *The  alarm  was 
 given  at  about  twenty  minutes  past  eight,  and. in  less  than  ten  minutes  she  was  in 
 flames ; there  was  not  a soul  on  board  at  half-past  eight,  and  in  less  than  ten  minutes 
 afterwards  she  was  one  grand  mass  of  fire. 
 
 “ My  only  apprehension  was  the  want  of  boats  to  hold  the  people,  as  there  was 
 not  time  to  have  got  out  the  long-boat,  or  to  make  a raft ; all  we  had  to  rely  upon  were 
 two  small  quarter-boats,  which  fortunately  were  lowered  without  accident ; and  in 
 these  two  small  open  boats,  without  a drop  of  water  or  grain  of  food,  or  a rag  of  co- 
 vering, except  what  we  happened  at  the  moment  to  have  on  our  backs,  we  embarked 
 on  the  ocean,  thankful  to  God  for  his  mercies ! Poor  Sophia,  having  been  taken  out 
 of  her  bed,  had  nothing  on  but  a wrapper,  neither  shoes  nor  stockings ; the  children 
 were  just  as  taken  out  of  bed,  whence  one  had  been  snatched  after  the  flames  had 
 attacked  it ; in  short,  there  was  not  time  for  any  one  to  think  of  more  than  two 
 things.  Can  the  ship  be  saved  ? — No.  Let  us  save  ourselves,  then.  All  else  was 
 swallowed  up  in  one  grand  ruin. 
 
 “ To  make  the  best  of  our  misfortune,  we  availed  ourselves  of  the  light  from  the 
 ship  to  steer  a tolerably  good  course  towards  the  shore.  She  continued  to  burn  till 
 about  midnight,  when  the  saltpetre,  which  she  had  on  board,  took  fire,  and  sent  up 
 one  of  the  most  splendid  and  brilliant  flames  that  ever  was  seen,  illumining  the  hori- 
 zon in  every  direction,  to  an  extent  of  not  less  than  fifty  miles,  and  casting  that  kind 
 of  blue  light  over  us,  which  is  of  all  others  most  horrible.  She  burnt  and  continued 
 to  flame  in  this  style  for  about  an  hour  or  two,  when  we  lost  sight  of  the  object  in  a 
 cloud  of  smoke. 
 
 “ Neither  Nilson  nor  Mr.  Bell,  our  medical  friend  who  had  accompanied  us, 
 had  saved  their  coats ; but  the  tail  of  mine,  with  a pocket-handkerchief,  served  to 
 keep  Sophia’s  feet  warm,  and  we  made  breeches  for  the  children  with  our  neck- 
 cloths. Rain  now  came  on,  but  fortunately  it  was  not  of  long  continuance,  and  we 
 got  dry  again.  The  night  became  serene  and  star-light ; we  were  now  certain  of 
 our  course,  and  the  men  behaved  manfidly  ; they  rowed  incessantly,  and  with  good 
 heart  and  spirit,  and  never  did  poor  mortals  look  out  more  for  day-light  and  for 
 land  than  we  did ; not  that  our  sufferings  or  grounds  of  complaint  were  any  thing 
 to  what  has  often  befallen  others ; but  from  Sophia’s  delicate  health,  as  well  as 
 
568 
 
 BURNING  OF  THE  FAME. 
 
 my  o\ni,  and  the  stormy  nature  of  our  coast,  I felt  perfectly  cominced  we  were 
 unable  to  undergo  starvation  and  exposure  to  sun  and  weather  many  days,  and 
 aware  of  the  rapidity  of  the  cm-rents,  I feared  we  might  fall  to  the  southward  of  the 
 port. 
 
 “ At  day-light  we  recognized  the  coast  and  Rat  Island,  which  gave  us  great 
 spirits ; and  though  we  found  ourselves  much  to  the  southward  of  the  port,  we  con- 
 sidered ourselves  almost  at  home.  Sophia  had  gone  through  the  night  better  than 
 could  have  been  expected,  and  we  continued  to  pull  on  vith  all  our  strength.  About 
 eight  or  nine  we  saw  a ship  standing  to  us  from  the  Roads ; they  had  seen  the  flames 
 on  shore,  and  sent  out  vessels  to  our  relief;  and  here  certainly  came  a minister  of 
 Pro\idence  in  the  character  of  a minister  of  the  Gospel,  for  the  first  person  I 
 recognized  was  one  of  our  missionaries.  They  gave  us  a bucket  of  water,  and  we 
 took  the  Captain  on  board  as  a pilot.  The  wind,  however,  was  adverse,  and  we 
 could  not  reach  the  shore,  and  took  to  the  ship,  where  we  got  some  refreshment  and 
 shelter  from  the  sun.  By  this  time  Sophia  was  quite  exhausted,  fainting  continually. 
 About  two  o’clock  we  landed  safe  and  sound,  and  no  words  of  mine  can  do  justice  to 
 the  expressions  of  feeling,  sjnnpathy,  and  kindness  wth  which  we  were  hailed  by 
 every  one.  If  any  proof  had  been  wanting,  that  my  administration  had  been  satis- 
 factory here,  we  had  it  unequivocally  from  all ; there  was  not  a dry  eye,  and  as  we 
 di'ove  back  to  om*  former  home,  loud  was  the  cry  of  ‘ God  be  praised.’ 
 
 But  enough ; and  I mil  only  add,  that  we  are  now  greatly  recovered,  in 
 good  spirits,  and  busy  at  work  getting  ready-made  clothes  for  present  use.  We 
 went  to  bed  at  three  in  the  afternoon,  and  I did  not  awake  till  six  this  morning. 
 Sophia  had  nearly  as  sound  a sleep,  and,  with  the  exception  of  a bruise  or  two,  and 
 a httle  pain  in  the  bones  from  fatigue,  we  have  nothing  to  complain  of. 
 
 “ The  loss  I have  to  regret,  beyond  all,  is  my  papers  and  drawings, — all  my  notes 
 and  observations,  with  memoirs  and  collections,  sufficient  for  a full  and  ample  history, 
 not  only  of  Sumatra,  but  of  Borneo,  and  almost  every  other  Island  of  note  in  these 
 seas  ; — my  intended  account  of  the  establishment  of  Singapore  ; — the  history  of  my 
 own  administration  ; — eastern  grammars,  dictionaries,  and  vocabularies  ; — and  last, 
 not  least,  a grand  map  of  Sumatra,  on  which  I had  been  employed  since  my  arrival 
 here,  and  on  which,  for  the  last  six  months,  I had  bestowed  almost  my  whole  undi- 
 Gded  attention.  This,  however,  was  not  all ; — all  my  collections  in  natural  history, — 
 all  my  splendid  collection  of  drawings,  upwards  of  two  thousand  in  number, — "with  all 
 the  valuable  papers  and  notes  of  my  friends,  Arnold  and  Jack ; and,  to  conclude,  I 
 will  merely  notice,  that  there  was  scarce  an  unknown  animal,  bird,  beast,  or  fish,  or 
 an  interesting  plant,  which  we  had  not  on  board  : a living  tapir,  a new  species  of 
 tiger,  splendid  pheasants,  &c.,  domesticated  for  the  voyage ; we  were,  in  short,  in 
 this  respect,  a perfect  Noah’s  ai'k. 
 
ORIGIN  OF  THE  FIRE. 
 
 569 
 
 “ All,  all  has  perished ; but,  thank  God,  our  lives  have  been  spared,  and  we  do 
 not  repine. 
 
 “ Our  plan  is  to  get  another  ship  as  soon  as  possible,  and,  I think,  you  may  still 
 expect  us  in  July.  There  is  a chance  of  a ship,  called  the  Lady  Flora,  touching 
 here  on  her  way  home,  and  there  is  a small  ship  in  the  Roads  which  may  be 
 converted  into  a packet,  and  take  us  home,  as  I have  a captain  and  crew  at 
 command. 
 
 “ Make  your  minds  easy  about  us,  even  if  we  should  be  later  than  you  expected. 
 No  news  will  be  good  news.” 
 
 A striking  proof  of  the  attachment  of  those  who  had  no  longer  any  interested 
 motive  to  influence  them  deserves  to  be  recorded.  After  the  boat  which  contained 
 Sir  Stamford  and  his  family  got  within  sight  of  the  shore,  the  numerous  little  native 
 craft,  which  were  all  in  requisition  at  the  moment,  approached  in  every  direction  with 
 great  velocity,  and  the  people  put,  without  exception,  this  one  question  ; Is  the 
 Tuan  Besar  (the  great  man)  safe  ?” — receiving  an  affirmative  answer,  they  darted  off 
 as  if  there  was  no  other  point  of  interest  to  them. 
 
 In  wi’iting  to  the  Court  of  Directors  on  this  subject.  Sir  Stamford  states : 
 
 “ The  fire  had  its  origin  in  the  store-room,  immediately  under  the  apartments 
 occupied  by  myself  and  family,  and  was  occasioned  by  the  shameful  carelessness  of 
 the  steward  going  with  a naked  light  to  draw  off  brandy  from  a cask,  which  took 
 fire  ; but  I am  bound  to  speak  in  the  highest  terms  of  the  conduct  of  the  captain, 
 officers,  and  ship’s  company,  who  spared  no  exertions  to  save  the  ship,  and  when  that 
 was  found  impracticable,  to  secure  the  lives  of  all  on  board,  acting  throughout  with 
 the  utmost  coolness  and  self-possession  which  such  a moment  would  admit  of. 
 
 “ We  had  scarcely  time  to  lower  two  small  boats  hanging  over  the  quarter, 
 before  the  whole  of  the  poop  was  on  fire,  and  the  flames  had  ascended  the  mizen- 
 rigging.  So  rapid,  indeed,  was  the  progress  of  the  fire,  that  before  even  a small 
 canoe  could  be  got  out  forward,  the  flames  were  issuing  from  the  main  and  fore 
 hatchways,  and  we  were  of  necessity  forced  to  trust  our  fives,  forty-one  in  number, 
 to  the  mercy  of  the  waves,  in  these  two  open  boats,  quitting  the  ship  in  such  haste, 
 that  it  was  impossible  to  save  a single  article,  or  even  to  secure  a drop  of  water,  or 
 other  refreshment.  We  were  fortunate  enough,  however,  to  push  off  from  the  ship 
 before  the  magazine  exploded,  when  the  fire  immediately  became  general  over  the 
 whole  ship,  the  masts  and  sails  flaming,  and  rocking  to  and  fro,  till  they  fell  one  by 
 one,  affording,  in  the  darkness  of  the  night  and  in  the  midst  of  the  ocean,  one  of  the 
 most  truly  awful  and  sublime  spectacles  that  ever  was  witnessed. 
 
 “ We  estimated  that  our  distance  from  the  shore  could  not  exceed  fifty  miles, 
 and  that  by  steering  towards  Sumatra,  and  in  the  direction  of  Bencoolen,  we  might 
 
 4 D 
 
570 
 
 SIR  STAMFORD’S  LETTER  TO  THE  COURT  OF  DIRECTORS. 
 
 possibly  regain  that  port,  should  the  weather  continue  moderate ; and  accordingly 
 adopted  this  course,  the  captain  leading  in  the  larger  boat  of  the  two  ; this  indeed 
 was  the  only  chance,  for  if  carried  to  the  southward  there  was  no  other  landing- 
 place  on  the  Island,  and  we  must  inevitably  have  perished  at  sea  by  the  most  hor- 
 rible of  all  deaths,  there  not  being  a drop  of  water  or  other  refreshment  in  either  of 
 the  boats — not  a mast  or  sail,  but  imperfect  rudders,  and  most  of  us  \rfthout  even  a 
 complete  suit  of  clothes.  My  wife  had  been  taken  from  her  bed  without  shoes  or 
 stockings,  or  other  covering  but  a loose  wrapper,  and  the  children  under  our  charge 
 had  been  literally  snatched  from  their  beds  when  actually  in  flames. 
 
 “ It  however  pleased  the  Almighty  Disposer  of  events  to  temper  his  judgments 
 with  mercy,  and  to  allay  the  storms  and  currents  which  so  constantly  prevail  in 
 these  seas  during  the  present  monsoon,  and  through  the  steady  and  great  exertions 
 of  the  men  in  the  boats,  we  had  the  satisfaction  to  make  the  land  in  the  morninof 
 within  about  fifteen  miles  from  Bencoolen.  The  flames  fi'om  the  ship,  which  had 
 served  to  assist  us  in  keeping  a direct  course  to  the  land,  had  hkewise  been  seen 
 on  shore,  illumining  a circumference  of  not  less  than  fifty  miles,  and  boats  had  been 
 sent  out  in  every  direction  to  our  assistance.  By  the  aid  of  one  of  these  we  reached 
 Bencoolen  about  four  o’clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day,  after  having  had  to 
 contend  vdth  an  unfavourable  current,  and  latterly  a turbulent  sea  and  adverse  wind 
 for  upwards  of  sixteen  hours,  every  moment  of  which,  under  om*  destitute  circum- 
 stances and  the  boisterous  nature  of  this  coast,  was  pregnant  with  a degree  of 
 anxiety  and  apprehension  not  to  be  described.  The  state  both  of  Lady  Raffles  and 
 myself,  already  worn  down  by  illness  and  affliction  to  the  last  stage  of  existence, 
 was  ill  calculated  to  support  the  privations  and  exposure  to  which  we  were  sub_ 
 jected,  and  long  before  we  reached  the  harbour  she  had  fallen  into  a succession  of 
 fainting  fits,  from  which  we  with  difficulty  recovered  her. 
 
 It  may  however  be  satisfactory  to  state,  in  concluding  this  melancholy  ac- 
 count, that  no  lives  have  been  lost,  and  that  the  whole  of  the  ship’s  company 
 and  passengers  have  reached  this  port  in  safety,  thankful  to  the  Almighty  for  his 
 mercies. 
 
 “ Submitting,  as  it  is  my  duty  to  do,  with  patient  resignation  to  this  awful  dis- 
 pensation of  Prorfdence,  I make  the  following  statement,  not  in  the  spirit  of  com- 
 plaint, for  I repine  not,  but  simply  as  illustrative  of  my  personal  circumstances  and 
 prospects,  as  they  stand  affected  by  this  dire  and  unlooked-for  calamity. 
 
 After  a service  of  nearly  thirty  years,  and  the  exercise  of  supreme  authority 
 as  a Governor  for  nearly  twelve  years  of  that  period,  over  the  finest  and  most  in- 
 teresting, but  perhaps  least  known  countries  in  creation,  I had,  as  I vainly  thought, 
 closed  my  Indian  life  with  benefit  to  my  country,  and  satisfaction  to  myself ; carrying 
 with  me  such  testimonials  and  information  as  I trusted  would  have  proved  that  I 
 
ACCOUNT  OF  THE  FIRE  TO  THE  COURT  OF  DIRECTORS. 
 
 571 
 
 had  not  been  an  unprofitable  servant  or  a dilatory  labourer  in  this  fruitful  and  ex- 
 tensive vineyard. 
 
 “ This  lovely  and  highly  interesting  portion  of  the  globe  had,  politically  speak- 
 ing, long  sunk  into  insignificance  from  the  withering  effects  of  that  baneful  policy, 
 udth  which  the  Hollanders  were  permitted  to  visit  these  regions,  when  it  fell  to  my 
 lot  to  direct  the  course  of  the  British  arms  to  the  Island  of  Java,  and  there  on  the 
 ruins  of  monopoly,  torture,  and  oppression,  in  all  its  shapes,  to  re-establish  man  in 
 his  native  rights  and  prerogatives,  and  re-open  the  channel  of  an  extensive  com- 
 merce. Political  events  required  our  secession  from  that  quarter,  but  the  establish- 
 ment of  Singapore,  and  the  reforms  introduced  on  this  coast  have  no  less  afforded 
 opportunities  for  the  application  and  extension  of  the  same  principles. 
 
 “ In  the  course  of  those  measures,  numerous  and  weighty  responsibilities 
 became  necessary — the  European  world — the  Indian  world — (the  continental  part 
 of  it  at  least)  were  wholly  uninformed  of  the  nature  of  these  countries,  their  cha- 
 racter, and  resources.  I did  not  hesitate  to  take  these  responsibilities  as  the  occa- 
 sion required  them,  and  though  from  imperfect  information  many  of  my  measures 
 in  Java  were  at  first  condemned,  I had  the  satisfaction  to  find  them  in  the  end  not 
 only  approved  but  applauded,  far  beyond  my  humble  pretensions,  and  even  by  those 
 who  at  first  had  been  most  opposed  to  me.  I need  refer  to  no  stronger  case  than 
 that  of  the  Marquis  of  Hastings. 
 
 “ During  the  last  six  years  of  my  administration,  and  since  I have  ceased  to 
 have  any  concern  in  the  affairs  of  Java,  the  situations  in  which  I have  been  placed, 
 and  the  responsibilities  which  I have  been  compelled  to  take  in  support  of  the  in- 
 terests of  my  coimtry,  and  of  my  employers,  have  been,  if  possible,  still  greater  than 
 during  my  former  career ; I allude  to  the  struggle  which  I have  felt  it  my  duty  to 
 make  against  Dutch  rapacity  and  power,  and  to  the  difficulties  that  I had  to 
 contend  "with  in  the  establishment  of  Singapore,  and  the  reforms  which  have  been 
 effected  on  this  coast. 
 
 In  addition  to  the  opposition  of  avowed  enemies  to  British  power  and  Chris- 
 tian principles,  I had  to  contend  with  deep-rooted  prejudices,  and  the  secret  machi- 
 nations of  those  who  dared  not  to  act  openly ; and  standing  alone,  the  envy  of  some 
 and  the  fear  of  many,  distant  authorities  were  unable  to  form  a correct  estimate  of 
 my  proceedings.  Without  local  explanation  some  appeared  objectionable,  while 
 party  spirit  and  Dutch  intrigue  have  never  been  wanting  to  discolour  transactions 
 and  misrepresent  facts. 
 
 It  was  at  the  close  of  such  an  administration  that  I embarked  with  my  family 
 on  the  Fame,  carrying  with  me  endless  volumes  and  papers  of  information  on  the 
 civil  and  natural  history  of  nearly  every  Island  within  the  Malayan  Archipelago, 
 collected  at  great  expense  and  labour,  under  the  most  favourable  circumstances, 
 during  a life  of  constant  and  active  research,  and  in  an  especial  manner  calculated 
 
 4 D 2 
 
572 
 
 SIR  STAMFORD’S  LETTER  TO  THE  COURT  OF  DIRECTORS. 
 
 to  throw  light  not  only  on  the  commercial  and  other  resources  of  these  Islands,  but 
 to  advance  the  state  of  natural  knowledge  and  science,  and  finally  to  extend  the 
 civilization  of  mankind. 
 
 These,  ^^^th  all  my  books,  manuscripts,  drawings,  correspondence,  records,  and 
 other  documents,  including  tokens  of  regard  from  the  absent,  and  memorials  from 
 the  dead,  have  been  all  lost  for  ever  in  this  dreadful  conflagration ; and  I am  left 
 single  and  unaided,  without  the  help  of  one  voucher  to  tell  my  story,  and  uphold  my 
 proceedings,  w'hen  I appear  before  your  honourable  Court. 
 
 “ It  has  always  appeared  to  me,  that  the  value  of  these  countries  w^as  to  be 
 traced  rather  through  the  means  of  their  natiwal  history,  than  in  the  dark  recesses  of 
 Dutch  diplomacy  and  intrigue ; and  I accordingly,  at  all  times,  felt  disposed  to  give 
 encouragement  to  those  deser\ing  men,  who  devote  themselves  to  the  pursuits  of  sci- 
 ence. Latterly,  when  political  interests  seemed  to  require  that  I should,  for  a time, 
 retire  from  the  field,  and  there  w^as  little  more  to  be  done  for  this  small  settlement,  I 
 have  myself  devoted  a considerable  portion  of  my  time  to  these  pursuits,  and  in  fonn- 
 ing  extensive  collections  in  natural  history  : my  attention  had  also  been  directed  in  a 
 particular  manner  to  the  geography  of  the  Island  of  Sumatra. 
 
 “ To  be  brief,  I may  sum  up  the  collections  and  papers  which  I have  had  the 
 misfortune  to  lose,  under  the  following  heads.  They  were  carefully  packed  in  no 
 less  than  one  hundred  and  tw^enty-twm  cases,  independent  of  those  for  immediate  re- 
 ference, but  wdiich  last  are  also  lost,  not  one  scrap  of  paper  having  been  saved,  or  one 
 duplicate  left. 
 
 “ Of  Sumatra. — A map  on  a large  scale,  constructed  during  a residence  of  six 
 years,  from  observations  made  by  myself  and  persons  under  my  authority,  European 
 and  native,  calculated  to  exhibit,  at  one  view%  the  real  nature  and  general  resources 
 of  the  country,  on  a very  different  scale  to  what  w’as  formerly  supposed,  together  with 
 statistical  reports,  tables,  memoirs,  notices,  histories  of  the  Battas,  and  other  original 
 races,  native  and  European  vocabularies,  dictionaries,  and  manuscripts  in  the  different 
 languages,  contained  in  several  cases. 
 
 “ Of  Borneo. — A detailed  account  of  the  former  history,  present  state,  popula- 
 tion, and  resources,  of  that  long-neglected  island,  already  dra^vn  out  to  the  extent  of 
 upwards  of  one  thousand  pages  of  waiting,  with  numerous  notes,  sketches,  details  of 
 the  Dayak  population,  their  government,  customs,  history,  usages,  &c.  with  notices 
 of  the  different  ports,  their  produce,  and  commercial  resources. 
 
 “ Of  Celebes. — Nearly  a similar  account. 
 
 “ And  of  Java  and  the  Moluccas. — The  wiiole  of  the  voluminous  history,  as  care- 
 fully abstracted  from  the  Dutch  archives  wiiile  I w^as  in  Java,  with  careful  translations 
 of  the  most  valuable  native  books,  vocabularies,  memoirs,  and  various  papers  intended 
 principally  to  assist  in  a new^  edition  of  my  History  of  Java. 
 
 “ Of  Singapore. — A detailed  account  of  its  establishment ; the  principles  on 
 
ACCOUNT  OF  THE  FIRE  TO  THE  COURT  OF  DIRECTORS. 
 
 573 
 
 which  it  is  founded ; the  pohcy  of  our  Government  in  founding  it ; the  history  of  com- 
 merce in  the  Eastern  Islands ; its  present  state  and  prospects  ; the  rapid  rise  of  Sin- 
 gapore ; its  history  until  I gave  over  charge ; with  all  the  original  documents  con- 
 nected with  the  discussion  with  the  Dutch,  and  every  voucher  and  testimony  which 
 could  have  been  required  to  make  good  the  British  claim,  and  uphold  the  measures  I 
 had  adopted. 
 
 “ In  Natural  Histonj — The  loss  to  myself  and  to  science  has  been  still  greater. 
 The  choicest,  the  cream  and  flower  of  all  my  collections,  I retained  to  take  under  my 
 personal  charge,  together  with  the  manuscripts  and  papers  of  my  invaluable  deceased 
 friends,  Drs.  Arnold  and  Jack.  Among  these  also  was  that  invaluable,  and,  I may  say, 
 superb  collection  of  drawings  in  natural  history,  executed  under  my  immediate  eye, 
 and  intended,  with  other  interesting  subjects  of  natural  history,  for  the  museum  of 
 the  Honourable  Court.  They  exceeded  in  number  two  thousand  ; and  having  been 
 taken  from  life,  and  with  scientific  accuracy,  were  executed  in  a style  far  superior  to 
 any  thing  I had  seen  or  heard  of  in  Europe ; in  short,  they  were  my  pride : but  as 
 man  has  no  business  to  be  proud,  it  may  be  well  that  they  are  lost.  Cases  of  plants, 
 minerals,  animals,  &c.  &c.  I shall  not  name. 
 
 Indeed  it  would  be  endless  for  me  to  attempt  even  a general  description  of  all 
 that  has  perished,  and  I will  only  add  that,  besides  the  above,  all  the  papers  con- 
 nected with  my  administration  of  Java,  as  collected  and  arranged  by  my  deceased 
 friend  and  secretary,  Mr.  Assey,  have  also  been  lost,  with  all  my  correspondence. 
 
 " A loss  hke  this  can  never  be  replaced,  but  I bow  to  it  without  repining. 
 
 “ In  a pecuniary  point  of  view,  my  loss  has  not  been  less  extensive,  as  may  be 
 perceived  by  the  annexed  statement,  in  which  I have  assumed  the  actual  cost  of  the 
 principal  articles  which  have  been  sacrificed.  Most  of  them  are  what  no  money  can 
 replace;  such  as  the  service  of  plate  presented  to  me  by  the  inhabitants  of  Java; 
 the  diamonds  presented  to  my  family  by  the  captors  of  Djocjocarta ; the  diamond 
 ring  presented  to  me  by  the  Princess  Charlotte  on  my  embarkation  for  India,  a 
 week  before  her  death.  These  and  many  other  tokens  of  regard,  friendship,  and 
 respect,  during  an  active  and  varied  life,  can  never  be  replaced.  Money  may  com- 
 pensate perhaps  for  other  losses,  but  no  insurance  was,  or  could  be,  effected  from 
 home.  It  rests  solely  and  exclusively  with  the  Court,  to  consider  in  how  far  my 
 claims,  on  account  of  services,  may  be  strengthened  by  the  severity  of  misfortune, 
 which  has  latterly  attached  itself  to  my  case. 
 
 “ The  anxiety  and  fatigue  occasioned  by  the  calamitous  event  which  I have 
 detailed,  have  been  such,  that  however  much  I may  feel  desirous,  from  motives  of 
 pecuniary  necessity,  to  prolong  my  stay  in  India,  in  the  hope  of  replacing,  in  part, 
 some  of  the  personal  property  which  I have  lost,  I dare  not  look  forward  to  such  a 
 measure,  and  I am  under  the  necessity  of  taking  advantage  of  the  first  opportunity 
 that  offers  of  proceeding  to  Europe,  where  I shall  throw  myself  on  your  Honourable 
 
574 
 
 SIR  STAMFORD’S  LETTER  TO  THE  COURT  OF  DIRECTORS. 
 
 Court,  to  enable  me  to  end  my  days  in  honourable  retirement,  trusting  to  an  all- 
 bounteous  Providence  to  restore  me  and  my  family  to  health  and  peace  in  my 
 native  land. 
 
 “ In  the  mean  time  I have  thought  it  my  duty  to  resume  charge  of  the  Com- 
 pany’s affairs  on  this  coast,  and  have  advised  the  Supreme  Government  accordingly. 
 
 “ With  a former  letter  I had  the  honom*  to  submit  a copy  of  the  address  which 
 was  presented  to  me  on  the  occasion  of  my  departure  for  Europe,  with  the  reply 
 w'hich  I have  felt  myself  called  upon  to  make  on  so  favom-able  an  expression  of  the 
 pubhc  feeling,  and  it  is  now  with  satisfaction  that  I transmit,  for  the  perusal  of 
 your  Honourable  Court,  the  addi'ess  of  condolence  which  was  presented  to  me  on 
 my  unexpected  return  under  such  a sad  reverse  of  fortune. 
 
 “ In  expressing  my  deep-felt  gratitude  to  the  inhabitants  of  this  settlement,  for 
 their  sjmpathy  in  our  sufferings,  and  genuine  hospitality,  I can  only  say,  that 
 having  been  thrown  back  on  their  shores  most  unexpectedly, — We  were  naked,  and 
 they  clothed  us, — hungry  and  athirst,  and  they  fed  us, — weary  and  exhausted,  and 
 they  comforted  and  consoled  us ; and  I pray  to  God  that  your  Honourable  Court,- 
 as  the  immediate  guardian  of  their  interests,  will  bless  this  land  of  Smnatra  in 
 retmn,  even  for  their  sakes. 
 
 “ I have  the  honour  to  be, 
 
 Honoiuable  Sirs, 
 
 “ Your  devoted,  sincere,  and  faithful  servant, 
 (Signed)  “ T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Fort  Marlborough,  February  8,  1824.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  February  20,  1824. 
 
 “ We  have  just  suffered  a sad  calamity,  but  as  we  have  been  so  long  iniued  to 
 misfortune,  it  perhaps  falls  more  lightly  upon  us  than  it  would  otherwise  have  done. 
 Time  does  not  admit  of  my  waiting  a long  letter,  and,  therefore,  I take  the  hberty 
 of  enclosing  a copy  of  what  I have  written  at  the  moment,  and  in  gi'eat  haste,  but 
 which  will  afford  you  all  particulars. 
 
 “ I have  this  day  engaged  another  ship,  in  which  we  hope  to  hav^e  better  for- 
 tune, but  she  will  not  be  able  to  sail  till  the  end  of  next  month. 
 
 “ It  was  not  enough  that  we  should  have  the  dangers  of  storms,  rocks,  and 
 seas  to  contend  with  ; but  another  element  must  rise  up  against  us  : earth,  air,  fire, 
 water,  all  combined  to  oppose  our  progress ! but  I will  not  despair. 
 
 “ Pray  excuse  the  brevity  of  this.  In  truth,  it  is  with  the  utmost  difficulty  I 
 hold  the  pen.” 
 
LETTER  TO  DR.  WALLICH. 
 
 575 
 
 To  Dr.  Wallich. 
 
 “ Bencoolen,  March  28,  1824. 
 
 My  Dear  Friend, 
 
 “ Y ou  will  have  heard  of  our  dreadful  misfortune  long  before  this  reaches 
 you,  and  therefore  I shall  not  enter  into  particulars  further  than  hy  stating,  that  I 
 have  lost  all  and  every  thing  belonging  to  me  save  my  wife.  We,  thank  God, 
 escaped  by  a miracle,  and  are  grateful  to  Providence  for  so  wonderful  a deliver- 
 ance. 
 
 The  whole  of  my  drawings,  between  two  or  three  thousand ; all  my  collec- 
 tions, descriptions,  and  papers  of  every  kind ; all  those  of  our  invaluable  friend  Jack, 
 with  every  document  and  memorandum  that  I possessed  on  earth,  fell  a prey  to  the 
 all-devouring  flame. 
 
 A subsequent  attempt  to  get  home  in  the  Wellington  has  failed  in  success ; 
 for  after  taking  her  up  and  being  prepared  to  embark,  the  commander  most  suddenly 
 and  unexpectedly  went  out  of  his  mind,  and  is  now  raving  mad. 
 
 This,  in  fact,  was  the  tliird  ship  we  had  engaged,  and  in  which  something 
 occurred  to  check  our  progress.  I have  now  engaged  a fourth,  the  Mariner,  a small 
 Botany  Bay  ship,  to  take  home  the  crew  and  passengers  of  the  unfortunate  ship 
 Fame,  and  God  grant  w'e  may  be  more  successful  in  her.  We  hope  to  embark  on 
 her  in  the  course  of  the  week,  and  once  more  to  trust  ourselves  to  the  mercy  of  the 
 elements. 
 
 “ If  it  pleases  God  that  we  should  arrive  in  England,  you  will  hear  from  me 
 ere  long,  and  I shall  not  fail  to  inform  you  of  all  I think  likely  to  interest  you. 
 
 “ Adieu ! and  excuse  haste.  All  I have  time  to  add  is  a repetition  of  what  I 
 have  often  said  before,  and  will  continue  to  say  till  my  dying  day : God  bless  you, 
 and  be  assured  of  my  devoted  friendship  and  affection. 
 
 “ Lady  Raffles  sends  thanks  for  having  kept  my  picture  so  long,  as  it  otherwise 
 would  have  been  lost,  with  every  thing  else,  by  the  Fame.” 
 
 So  heavy  a misfortune  was  sufficient  to  have  depressed  the  spirit  and  damped 
 the  ardour  of  the  strongest  mind ; but  it  seemed  to  have  no  other  effect  on  that 
 of  Sir  Stamford  than  to  rouse  him  to  greater  exertion.  The  morning  after  the 
 loss  of  all  that  he  had  been  collecting  for  so  many  years,  with  such  unwearied  zeal, 
 interest,  and  labour,  he  recommenced  sketching  the  map  of  Sumatra,  set  all  his 
 draftsmen  to  work  in  making  new  drawings  of  some  of  the  most  interesting  speci- 
 mens in  natural  history,  dispatched  a number  of  people  into  the  forests  to  collect 
 more  animals,  and  neither  murmur  nor  lamentation  ever  escaped  his  hps ; on  the 
 contrary,  upon  the  ensuing  Sabbath,  he  publicly  returned  thanks  to  Almighty  God, 
 
 2 
 
576 
 
 EXTRACT  FROM  SIR  STAMFORD’S  MEMORANDUxM  BOOK. 
 
 for  having  preserved  the  lives  of  all  those  who  had  for  some  time  contemplated  a 
 death  from  which  there  appeared  no  human  probabihty  of  escaping.  And  here  the 
 Editor  cannot  forbear  offering  her  testimony  to  the  admirable  conduct  of  the  sailors. 
 When  Sir  Stamford  first  got  into  the  boat,  and  they  were  requested  to  move  to  a 
 little  distance,  a slight  murmur  took  place  at  the  idea  of  deserting  their  comrades, 
 but  on  being  assured  that  the  only  object  was  to  choose  the  easiest  death,  they  one 
 and  all  yielded  in  perfect  silence,  and  calmly  watched  the  success  of  an  effort  to 
 lower  another  boat ; nor  did  they  aftenvards  indulge  in  any  complaint,  but  toiled 
 with  the  greatest  good  humour,  sometimes  laughing  at  the  Purser  and  the  Stew'ard, 
 on  whom  they  laid  the  blame  of  the  accident ; sometimes  expressing  pity  for  “ the 
 lady”  and  comforting  themselves  with  the  idea  that  they  were  not  much  w^orse  off  than 
 they  w^ere  before.  When  the  boat  approached  the  shore,  they  entreated  that  they 
 might  be  indulged  in  the  pleasure  of  landing  the  party  in  safety,  only  requesting 
 first — to  have  some  w^ater ; and  when  a large  bucket  full  was  lowered  from  the  side 
 of  the  vessel,  which  came  to  meet  the  boats,  the  eager  rush  with  which  they  plunged 
 their  heads  into  it,  will  easily  be  imagined  when  it  is  recollected  that  they  had  been 
 working  for  eighteen  hours,  without  intennission  against  a strong  current,  and  in  a 
 tropical  climate.  Some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  danger  which  the  boats  were  in, 
 when  it  is  stated  that  there  w'as  no  handle  to  the  rudder ; and  that  the  only  way  of 
 stopping  the  aperture  in  the  bottom  of  the  boat,  was  by  one  of  the  men  keeping  his 
 thumb  in  it ; as  he  often  fell  asleep  and  forgot  his  office,  the  w^ater  w'ould  rush  in,  and 
 the  boat  w^as  frequently  nearly  filled  with  water  and  in  a sinking  state.  So  crammed 
 W'as  it  with  people,  that  none  of  those  W'ho  w^ere  not  engaged  in  rowing  could, 
 during  these  many  hours,  move  either  hand  or  foot. 
 
 Though  Sir  Stamford’s  health  received  a severe  shock  by  this  calamity,  the 
 following  extract  from  his  memorandum  book,  on  his  second  embarkation,  affords 
 another  proof  that  the  energy  of  his  mind  w'as  not  shaken,  nor  the  buoyancy  of  his 
 spirit  broken. 
 
 “ On  the  8th  April  embarked  in  the  Manner,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  10th 
 w'eighed  and  sailed  for  England  in  that  ship,  in  company  with  the  Lady  Flora,  Cap- 
 tain M‘Donnel.  She,  how'ever,  kept  to  windward  and  parted  firom  us  during  the 
 night ; a few  days  afterwards  she  came  in  company  again,  but  on  the  20th  we  again 
 lost  sight  of  her. 
 
 “ 20th  April. — I this  day  commenced  to  apply  to  study,  and  devoted  the  early 
 part  of  the  morning  to  Euclid,  and  the  remainder  to  the  arrangement  of  my  papers, 
 &c.  As  far  as  circumstances  admit,  I propose  to  divide  my  time  and  application  as 
 follows,  during  the  voyage ; appropriating  eight  hours  in  each  day  to  study,  reading, 
 or  writing,  and  with  an  intention  of  making  up  one  day  for  any  loss  of  time  on 
 another. 
 
EXTRACT  FROM  SIR  STAMFORD’S  MEI\IORANDUM  BOOK. 
 
 577 
 
 “ Breakfast  being  fixed  at  9 and  dinner  at  4,  I appropriate,  before 
 
 breakfast,  from  7 to  9 bonrs  2 
 
 “ Between  breakfast  and  dinner,  fi'om  10  to  1 and  from  2 to  4 . . — 5 
 
 “ In  the  evening,  from  8 to  9 — 1 
 
 hours  . . 8 
 
 “ Before  breakfast. — One  hour  mathematics  or  logic — one  hour  Latin,  Greek, 
 or  Hebrew. 
 
 “ After  breakfast,  from  10  to  11. — In  committing  to  paper  and  arranging  and 
 revie'wing  what  I studied  before  breakfast. 
 
 “ From  11  to  1. — '^^h•iting  an  account  of  my  administration  in  the  East. 
 
 “ From  2 to  4. — General  reading  and  reading  out  to  Sophia. 
 
 “ In  the  evening  for  one  hour. — Reading  a play  of  Shakspeare’s,  or  other  enter- 
 taining productions. 
 
 “ By  this  arrangement,  I have  in  the  morning,  by  rising  at  6,  one  hour  for  exer- 
 cise before  breakfast,  and  half  an  horn'  for  the  same  after  breakfast.  One  hour  from 
 1 to  2 for  tiffin  and  exercise,  and  after  dining  from  5 to  7,  three  hours  for  exercise 
 or  relaxation  in  the  cool  of  the  evening.  As  the  servants  are  always  behind-hand  in 
 furnishing  the  meals,  I may  freely  trust  to  their  affording  me  time  for  dressing  by 
 such  delays,  which  wall  only  eventually  break  in  on  the  proposed  three  hours 
 relaxation  for  the  evening,  a portion  of  which  may  well  be  spared ; or  half  an  hour 
 may  be  added  to  the  day  by  going  to  bed  at  half  past  9 or  10,  instead  of  9 as 
 proposed. 
 
 “ My  object  in  making  this  memorandum  is,  that  I may  hold  the  rule  as  invio- 
 lable as  I can,  and  by  frequently  recm’ring  to  it,  revive  my  sleeping  energies,  should 
 I at  any  time  be  inclined  to  indolence.  I should  not,  however,  omit  to  add,  that  all 
 reading  and  study  on  a Sunday  is  to  be  confined  to  the  Bible  and  rehgious  subjects. 
 The  Greek  and  Hebrew,  however,  as  connected,  may  nevertheless  form  a part  of 
 the  study  of  that  day. 
 
 “ 25th  June,  1824. — Arrived  at  St.  Helena  on  the  afternoon  of  the  25th  June, 
 after  a passage  of  eleven  weeks  from  Bencoolen,  and  encountering  constant  and 
 severe  gales  off  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  during  three  weeks  of  that  period.  The 
 gale  was  so  severe  that  during  this  period  we  were  unable  to  leave  our  cots,  the  sea 
 poured  through  the  decks  into  our  cabin,  and  the  war  of  the  wind  was  such  that 
 we  could  not  hear  each  other  speak.  Lady  Raffles,  though  boarded  up  in  her 
 couch,  was  obhged  to  have  ropes  to  hold  by  to  prevent  her  knocking  from  one  side 
 of  it  to  the  other ; the  ship  lay  hke  a wreck  upon  the  ocean  at  the  mercy  of  the 
 winds  and  waves,  and  we  resigned  om’selves  to  the  feeling  that  our  pilgrimage  in 
 this  world  was  soon  to  close.” 
 
 4 E 
 
578 
 
 STORM  OFF  THE  CAPE  OF  GOOD  HOPE, 
 
 Those  who  have  never  experienced  such  a scene  can  form  no  idea  of  the 
 severity  of  the  gale.  Captain  Young,  who  had  passed  the  Cape  nineteen  times, 
 declared  he  had  never  witnessed  any  thing  like  it ; nor  can  the  Editor  ever  forget  one 
 night,  on  which  Captain  Herbert,  (for  all  on  board  were  worn  out  with  fatigue  and 
 watching,)  as  he  retired  to  take  a little  rest,  desired  the  officer  on  the  watch  to 
 observe  in  one  particular  direction,  and  call  him  the  moment  he  saw  the  smallest 
 speck  in  the  horizon  ; the  Captain  then  came  to  tell  Sir  Stamford  that  the  ship  still 
 held  well  together.  It  was  a dreadful  night,  the  sky  appeared  a heavy  dense  arch, 
 threatening  to  fall  with  its  own  weight,  and  crush  every  thing  beneath  it,  save  in 
 one  spot,  w^here  a full  moon  of  the  deepest  blood  red  shed  an  unnatural  crimson  hue 
 that  just  rendered  the  darkness  risible.  It  w as  not  long  before  the  expected  mark 
 appeared,  and  before  the  Captain  could  get  on  deck,  the  fury  of  the  wind  was 
 sweeping  away  all  before  it. 
 
 “ Landed  the  evening  of  the  25th  of  June,  and  the  next  morning  were  kindly 
 received  by  General  and  Mrs.  Walker,  with  whom  we  remained  at  Plantation-house 
 during  our  stay. 
 
 “ Sailed  from  St.  Helena  the  3d  of  July,  and  crossed  the  Line  the  12th  of  July, 
 1824. 
 
 There  are  some  souls  bright  and  precious,  which,  like  gold  and  silver,  may  be 
 subdued  by  the  fiery  trial,  and  yield  to  a new  mould ; but  there  are  others  firm  and 
 solid  as  the  diamond,  which  may  be  shivered  to  pieces,  yet  in  every  fragment  retain 
 their  indelible  character.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ St.  Helena,  June  26,  1824. 
 
 “ Thank  God,  w'e  are  once  more  on  the  right  side  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
 with  a fair  prospect  of  a favourable  passage  home.  After  being  eleven  wrecks  at  sea, 
 and  suffering  a dreadful  gale  of  three  whole  wrecks  off  the  Cape,  w^e  landed  here 
 last  night.  ^ ^ ^ * 
 
 “ I have  neither  time  or  spirits  to  say  more  than  that  w^e  are  alive  and  tolerably 
 well,  and  have  a hope  to  reach  England  in  August.  My  health  and  strength  are 
 entirely  gone,  but  I trust  I have  yet  enough  spirit  to  bear  up  for  the  voyage.  To 
 complete  om*  sorrow,  I have  just  received  an  account  of  the  death  of  my  dear  mother, 
 an  event  for  which  I had  for  some  time  been  prepared,  but  wJiich  has  been  a sad 
 stroke  at  such  a moment,  just  as  I felt  the  possibility  of  once  more  embracing  her, 
 and  cheering  her  latter  hours ; but  God’s  w ill  be  done. 
 
 “ We  propose,  wind  and  weather  permitting,  to  land  at  Plymouth,  and  from 
 thence  to  cross  the  country,  through  Exeter  and  Bath  to  Cheltenham,  where  Lady 
 Raffles’  family  are  at  present  residing. 
 
ARRIVAL  AT  PLYMOUTH. 
 
 579 
 
 “ I mention  this  because,  next  to  the  duty  and  inclination  I feel  to  place  my 
 dear  wife  in  the  bosom  of  her  anxious  family,  I am  led  to  look  towards  you  and 
 yours. 
 
 ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 “ Pray  excuse  this  hasty  scrawl ; my  eyes  are  quite  blinded  with  tears,  and  my 
 hand  is  so  nervous  that  I can  scarcely  hold  my  pen.” 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ St.  Helena,  July  3,  1824. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ After  our  dreadful  misfortune  you  will,  I am  sure,  be  glad  to  hear  that 
 we  have  at  length  reached  this  place  in  safety,  and  that  with  the  blessing  of  Provi- 
 dence we  hope  to  be  with  you  in  the  course  of  the  next  month.  My  constitution  is 
 sadly  broken,  and  the  last  accident  has  given  both  Lady  Raffles  and  myself  so  severe 
 a shock,  that  we  have  with  difficulty  been  able  to  bear  up ; but  the  change  of  scene 
 within  the  last  few  days,  and  the  kind  attentions  of  General  and  Mrs.  Walker,  added 
 to  the  near  prospect  of  home,  have  again  cheered  us,  and  we  will  yet  hope  that  there 
 may  be  many  happy  days  in  store  for  us. 
 
 “ As  the  account  of  the  loss  of  the  Fame  by  fire  will,  no  doubt,  have  reached 
 England  before  this  can  arrive,  I will  not  distress  you  by  recurring  to  the  particu- 
 lars of  that  dreadful  event,  by  which,  though  we  fortunately  escaped  with  our  lives, 
 I have  been  a sufferer  beyond  what  it  is  in  my  power  to  express.  Nearly  one-third 
 of  the  ship  was  occupied  by  my  collections  and  packages,  and  I fondly,  but  vainly, 
 flattered  myself  that  I would  astonish  you  with  the  extent  of  our  exertions  and 
 research,  particularly  in  the  departments  of  natural  history,  to  which  my  attention 
 had  latterly  been  so  much  directed.  Our  friends.  Sir  Everard  Home  and  Dr.  Hors- 
 field,  will  have  to  regret  the  loss  of  many  interesting  subjects,  as  I had  endeavoured  to 
 comply  with  all  their  wishes,  and  succeeded  beyond  my  expectations.  You  too,  my 
 dear  Sir,  will  suffer  no  less,  for  without  vanity  I may  say,  that  I had  collected  a body 
 of  information  regarding  Sumatra,  that  would  have  been  highly  interesting  to  you. 
 I had  completed  a general  map  of  the  whole  Island,  with  more  detailed  particulars 
 of  the  principal  divisions,  extensive  vocabularies,  &c.,  and  I regret  to  say,  that  I had 
 not  taken  the  precaution  of  leaving  duphcates  behind : of  most  it  would  have  been 
 difficult  to  have  done  it.  It  is,  however,  of  no  use  to  repine.  I have  set  to  work 
 again  upon  the  map,  but  I fear  it  will  very  imperfectly  supply  the  place  of  the  one 
 I intended  for  you.” 
 
 To . 
 
 “ Plymouth,  Sunday,  August  22,  1824. 
 
 “ Here  we  are,  thank  God,  safe  and  sound.  We  made  the  land  on  the  20th, 
 
 4 E 2 
 
o80 
 
 ARRIVAL  AT  PLYMOUTH. 
 
 and  landed  here  this  morning,  I am  happy  to  say,  in  better  health  than  could  have 
 been  expected.  Your’s  of  the  20th  has  just  been  put  into  my  hands,  so  that 
 you  will  perceive  I have  neither  lost  my  punctuality  nor  my  activity.  I have  a sad 
 head-ache  fi-om  the  fatigue  of  landing,  and  therefore  you  must  excuse  my  saving 
 more  to-day ; but  as  we  shall  reach  Exeter  to-moiTow,  I will  write  more  fully  from 
 thence. 
 
 “ Mr.  Rosedew  is  with  us,  and  we  shall  sleep  at  Beechwood  to-night.  Sophia 
 will  speak  for  herself,  and  Nilson  is  well.  My  hand  is  so  cramped  that  I cannot 
 hold  my  pen.” 
 
CHAPTER  XX. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  lands  at  Plymouth — Interview  with  his  ehild — Resumes  his  labours — Interrupted  by  ill  health 
 — Views  of  the  civilization  and  conversion  of  the  heathen — Retrospect  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Bible 
 Society  in  Sumatra — Malay  schools  preparing  the  way  for  the  Scriptures — Translation  of  St,  John’s 
 gospel — Effect  of  the  transfer  of  the  island  to  the  Dutch  — Access  to  China — Singapore  institution — 
 Sir  Stamford’s  life  at  home — The  magistracy — Sudden  illness — Purchase  of  Highwood — Judgment  of 
 the  Court  of  Directors  on  his  administration  of  Java,  Sumatra,  and  Singapore — His  death. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  Raffles  landed  at  Plymouth  with  health  and  strength  greatly  reduced, 
 and  after  remaining  one  night  with  Mr.  Rosedew  at  Beechwood,  in  whose  house 
 he  had  last  enjoyed  the  pleasures  of  social  intercourse  previous  to  his  departure 
 seven  years  before,  he  hurried  on  to  Cheltenham.  The  following  letters  describe 
 his  feehngs  at  this  period. 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Cheltenham,  August  24,  1824. 
 
 “ Once  more  we  are  safe  at  home,  and  I trust  it  will  not  be  long  before  I have 
 it  in  my  power  to  overcome  the  short  distance  which  separates  us. 
 
 * 
 
 “We  are  safe,  but,  I am  sorry  to  say,  far  from  sound;  for  my  constitution  is 
 terribly  shattered ; nevertheless,  I live  in  confidence  that,  as  the  spirit  is  good,  the 
 body  will  yet  mend.  How  happy  shall  I be  to  see  you  once  more. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 “ Your  letter  must  have  arrived  at  Plymouth  the  day  after  I left  it.  We  were 
 most  anxious,  as  you  may  well  suppose,  to  throw  ourselves  into  the  arms  of  our 
 family  as  soon  as  possible,  and  did  not  remain  at  Plymouth  above  three  hours ; but 
 what  with  assizes,  horse-races,  air-balloons,  and  other  festivities  of  the  season,  we 
 got  on  so  slowly  for  the  first  two  days,  that  I was  obliged  to  push  the  post-boys  from 
 Bath  to  this  place  at  about  thirteen  miles  in  the  hour,  until  our  front  wheel  caught 
 fire,  in  order  to  satisfy  Sophia’s  impatience  to  see  her  child.  This  has  rather  fatigued 
 
582 
 
 SIR  STAMFORD’S  INTENDED  OCCUPATIONS. 
 
 US  ; but  you  mil  I am  sure  be  happy  to  hear  that  we  have  found  her  all  that  our 
 fondest  wishes  could  have  desired. 
 
 “ I am  unfortunately  so  troubled  mth  cramp,  that  I can  scarcely  hold  my  pen ; 
 therefore,  pray  excuse  my  mating  all  that  my  heart  and  feelings  dictate. 
 
 “ How  pleasant  it  is  to  be  near  one’s  friends;  for  what  are  a hundred  miles 
 after  fourteen  thousand ! 
 
 “ Of  my  future  plans  in  life  I cannot  say  that  I have  fixed  any  * * » 
 
 I confess  that  I have  a great  desire  to  turn  farmer,  and  have  the  vanity  to  think  I 
 could  manage  about  two  hundred  acres  as  well  as  my  neighbom's.  With  this,  I sup- 
 pose, I should  in  time  become  a country  magistrate,  an  office  of  all  others  which  I 
 should  delight  in  ; and  if  I could  eventually  get  a seat  in  parliament,  without  sacrifice 
 in  principle,  I should  be  content  to  pass  through  the  rest  of  my  life  without  aiming 
 at  any  thing  further,  beyond  the  occupation  of  my  spare  time  in  promoting,  as  far  as 
 my  humhle  means  and  talents  admitted,  the  pursuits  of  knowledge  and  science,  and 
 the  advancement  of  philanthropic  and  religious  principles. 
 
 “ Your  Grace  will,  perhaps,  say,  that  I have  chalked  out  for  myself  a very 
 varied  and  diversified  course  ; but  what  is  fife  without  variety  ? and  what  is  existence 
 without  occupation  ?” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Cheltenham,  Oetoberd,  1824. 
 
 “ Your  advice  is  so  good,  so  friendly,  and  so  kind,  that  I will  at  once  pledge 
 myself  to  follow  it  in  every  thing.  My  only  wish  is  not  to  be  idle,  but  to  be  useful 
 to  the  extent  of  my  means.  * ^ ^ ^ 
 
 “ I have  been  engaged  for  the  last  two  or  three  days  in  di*awing  out  a brief 
 review  of  my  public  administration  during  the  last  twelve  years.  After  the  loss  of 
 all  my  documents  and  records,  a paper  of  this  kind  becomes  the  more  interesting. 
 I hope  I shall  not  be  found  to  have  said  too  much  in  favour  of  my  own  services  and 
 ])retensions ; and  yet  the  countries  in  which  I have  been  placed  have  been  so  new, 
 untrodden,  and  interesting,  and  the  situations  in  which  I have  been  thrown  have 
 been  so  peculiar  and  trying,  that  unless  I state  them  myself,  few  will  either  know  or 
 understand  any  thing  about  them.  I feel  confident  that  my  course  has  been  so 
 straight  forward,  that  the  more  light  may  be  thrown  upon  it,  the  more  obvious  it  will 
 aj)pear,  and  the  more  creditable  it  will  be  to  my  character.” 
 
 To  Mr.  Marsden. 
 
 “ Cheltenham,  October  22,  1824. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I have  been  so  unwell  since  I had  the  pleasure  to  receive  your  kind 
 letter,  that  I have  been  quite  unable  to  answer  it  till  now ; not  that  I have,  on  the 
 
SIR  STAMFORD'S  ILL  HEALTH. 
 
 583 
 
 whole,  cause  to  complain  as  to  the  general  improvement  of  my  heath  since  my  arrival, 
 which,  I am  happy  to  say,  has  been  gi*eater  than  I expected ; but  I am  still  occasion- 
 ally subject  to  severe  attacks  in  the  head,  and  have  been  confined  for  days  together 
 to  my  bed,  from  this  and  a severe  cold,  which  for  the  time  incapacitated  me  from 
 wi'iting.  I am,  however,  on  my  legs  again ; and  you  will,  I am  sure,  be  happy  to 
 hear  that  both  Lady  Raffles  and  myself  already  feel  some  confidence  that  we  may 
 weather  the  winter,  and  look  forward  to  next  summer  for  the  full  re-establishment 
 of  our  health.  Our  dear  little  one  we  have  found  every  thing  the  fondest  parents 
 could  desire ; and  I would  hope  we  have  at  length  come  to  the  tennination  of  the 
 long  series  of  misfortunes,  with  which  it  has  pleased  an  all-wise  Providence  to  afflict 
 
 us  of  late,  and  that  there  is  still  much  comfort  and  happiness  in  store  for  us.” 
 ***** 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Cheltenham f October,  9.S,  1824. 
 
 “ Your  Grace  will  have  been  surprised  at  my  long  silence ; I have  been  ill  and 
 confined  to  my  bed  almost  ever  since  I received  your  last  letter,  and  I am  only  able 
 to-day  to  refer  to  the  date,  and  apologize  for  not  acknowledging  it.  When  Lord 
 Seymour  was  with  us,  I had  entirely  lost  my  voice  from  a violent  cold ; so  that  we 
 had  some  difficulty  in  communicating ; but  he  had  hardly  left  us,  than  I had  one  of 
 those  severe  attacks  in  my  head  that  nearly  deprived  me  of  reason ; and  I began  to 
 think  I must  bid  you  a long  farewell.  Thank  God,  however,  I am  better ; though 
 I am  hardly  able  to  hold  my  pen,  and  which  I dare  not  trust  except  within  very 
 close  limitation ; for  I believe  it  was  in  consequence  of  using  it  too  much  on  the 
 paper  I was  drawing  up  that  I have  to  attribute  this  unfortunate  relapse ; which  has 
 throw  n me  back  in  point  of  health  at  least  two  months ; and  as  Avinter  is  fast 
 approaching  time  is  precious. 
 
 “ I have  finished  the  paper  I was  writing  some  time  ago,  and  it  is  now  at  the 
 printer’s — it  is  not  exactly  what  I could  have  wished,  and  the  state  of  my  health 
 obliged  me  to  contract  it  within  very  narrow  limits,  and  bring  it  to  a conclusion 
 rather  suddenly,  and  with  less  spirit  than  I could  have  wished.  Such  as  it  is,  you 
 shall  have  it  in  a few  days.” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Cheltenham,  November  2d,  1824. 
 
 “ I have  corrected  the  proof  of  the  paper  which  I am  sending  in  to  the  Court 
 of  Directors,  and  have  desired  a copy  to  be  sent  to  you.  I am  afraid  you  w'ill  not 
 find  it  very  interesting ; but  as  it  takes  a general  view  of  my  services  and  the 
 situations  in  which  I have  been  placed,  it  may  amuse  you  for  half  an  hour  during  a 
 dull  November  day.  You  must  bear  in  mind  to  whom  it  is  addressed,  and  the 
 
 7 
 
584 
 
 MAPS  OF  SUMATRA  AND  SINGAPORE. 
 
 necessity  of  my  keeping  within  bounds  ; as  well  as  wth  reference  to  a body  so  con- 
 stituted, as  on  account  of  my  oum  health,  which  does  not  admit  of  my  enlarging  on 
 the  subject.  You  will  see  that  I have  pledged  myself  to  give  the  public  a memoir 
 on  Singapore.  I hope  you  will  not  disapprove  of  my  taking  so  much  blame  to 
 mvself  as  I have  been  willing  to  do.  I am  ready  to  justify  every  act  of  my  ad- 
 ministration, and  feel  perfectly  easy  on  that  score,  but  it  is  for  others  to  judge — not 
 me ; and  all  I am  anxious  to  do  is  to  get  the  question  agitated,  as  I am  ready  to 
 stand  or  fall  by  the  result. 
 
 “ I am  veiy  sensible  of  the  Duke’s  kindness,  and  am  only  sorry  that  I give  you 
 so  much  trouble  and  so  little  satisfaction.  Time  was  when  I wanted  not  strength  to 
 second  my  will ; but  I am  now,  alas  ! shattered,  and  altogether  unequal  to  one- 
 thousandth  part  of  all  I would  wish  or  desire  to  do. 
 
 “ Promising,  uith  God’s  help,  to  be  a better  coiTespondent  during  the  next 
 than  I have  been  during  the  last  week, 
 
 “ I am,  &c.  &c. 
 
 T.  S.  R. 
 
 “ I have  put  the  maps  of  Sumatra  and  Singapore  into  the  hands  of  an  artist 
 this  morning,  to  be  constructed  and  engraved  on  a scale  to  suit  a quarto  volume” 
 
 To  the  Duchess  of  Somerset. 
 
 “ Piccadilly,  December  9th,  1824. 
 
 I have  been  following  yom'  kind  ad^^ce — idhng  and  playing  the  fool  with 
 my  time  as  much  as  possible. 
 
 “ W e are  beginning  to  get  a httle  more  to  rights  than  when  you  left  us,  but  I 
 have  only  been  able  to  unpack  two  cases  out  of  one  hundred  and  seventy-three  in 
 course  of  transport  to  the  house.” 
 
 As  soon  as  Sir  Stamford  was  settled  in  London,  he  commenced  an  examination, 
 as  intimated  in  the  last  letter,  into  the  week  of  the  immense  collections  which  he 
 had  made  during  the  twenty  years  he  had  passed  in  India.  He  also  designed  to 
 arrange  his  papers ; and  whilst  India,  with  all  its  varied  interests,  was  fresh  in  his 
 memory,  to  record  whatever  he  thought  would  promote  the  general  improvement  of 
 mankind,  or  the  particular  advantage  of  his  country ; but  his  health  was  so  delicate, 
 that  he  was  prevented  from  applying  himself  as  he  wished  to  the  objects  and  pur- 
 suits which  he  had  most  at  heart ; the  least  exertion  of  mind  or  body  was  followed 
 by  days  of  pain  and  sickness,  and  he  was  continually  regretting  how  much  he  was 
 losing  time — how  little  he  was  doing  for  the  good  of  others. 
 
 The  following  letter  is  to  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible 
 
BRITISH  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 
 
 585 
 
 Society.  Sir  Stamford  always  conceived  that  the  idea  of  converting  the  natives  of 
 India  by  preaching  only  was  fallacious,  and  that  the  miraculous  outpouring  of  the 
 Holy  Spirit  which  attended  the  first  preaching  of  the  Gospel,  and  by  which  its  nume- 
 rous converts  were  so  multiplied,  was  not  now  to  be  looked  for.  It  was  his  conviction 
 that  the  best  means  of  securing  this  object  was  to  civilize  and  instruct  the  people, 
 and,  together  with  cirilization  and  instruction,  convey  to  them  the  blessed  truths 
 of  the  Gospel,  trusting  that  God  in  his  own  good  time  would  bestow  upon  them  that 
 faith  in  a Redeemer,  without  which  all  knowledge  is  vain,  and  which  alone  is  for  the 
 “ healing  of  nations.” 
 
 To  the  Committee  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society. 
 
 “ February,  1825. 
 
 “ In  compliance  \rith  the  desire  expressed  by  the  Committee,  I now  have  the 
 honour  to  report  generally  on  the  state  of  the  Sumatran  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  at 
 the  period  of  my  quitting  Bencoolen,  and  to  offer  such  suggestions  as  occur  to  me, 
 with  a view  to  the  continuance  of  its  operations  under  the  political  changes  in  that 
 part  of  the  East. 
 
 “ Detailed  reports  of  the  proceedings  of  this  Society  from  its  commencement 
 until  January,  1824,  w'ere  entrusted  to  me  for  the  Parent  Society  in  England ; but, 
 unfortunately,  the  w'hole  of  these  w'ere  lost  by  the  destruction  by  fire  of  the  ship 
 Fame,  on  w^hich  I had  embarked  for  England:  and,  during  the  confusion  attending 
 my  second  embarkation  fr-om  Bencoolen,  I am  sorry  to  find  that  I was  by  no  means 
 furnished  with  a complete  series  to  supply  their  place ; nevertheless,  I will  endea- 
 vour to  convey  to  the  Committee  an  outline,  as  far  as  I bear  them  in  recollection, 
 w'hich  I hope  will  be  sufficient  to  prove  that  it  has  not  been  without  its  usefuhiess ; 
 and  that  if  owing  to  the  pecuhar  circumstances  of  the  place,  much  may  not  have 
 been  done  in  the  actual  distribution  of  the  Scriptures,  the  w^ay  had  been  paved  to  a 
 considerable  extent ; and  that  time  alone  w^as  w^anting  to  ripen  into  effect  the  opera- 
 tions of  those  who  had  entered  on  the  undertaking. 
 
 “ I cannot  charge  my  memory  with  the  exact  number  of  Bibles  distributed  by 
 means  of  the  Auxiliary  Society ; I believe  it  was  inconsiderable  wdth  reference  to  the 
 extent  of  population ; but  when  it  is  considered  that  previous  to  its  establishment 
 few’,  if  any,  could  read,  or  had  any  idea  of  the  existence  of  such  a book,  or  that 
 Christians  had  such  a boon  to  confer  upon  them,  this  will  not  be  surprising. 
 
 At  an  early  period  of  the  Society,  my  attention  w’as  directed  more  especially 
 to  the  necessity  of  introducing  letters,  and,  with  them,  moral  and  industrious  habits 
 were  gradually  attended  to.  The  rapid  progress  made  by  the  childi'en  in  the  dif- 
 ferent pubhc  schools,  afforded  an  earnest  that  perseverance  alone,  for  a few  years, 
 was  necessary  to  effect  a complete  change  in  the  condition  of  the  people,  and  to 
 place  within  their  comprehension  the  leading  truths  of  the  sacred  volume. 
 
 4 F 
 
586 
 
 BRITISH  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 
 
 Although  the  progress  and  success  of  these  schools  may  not  be  considered  as 
 falling  directly  within  the  immediate  objects  of  the  Bible  Society,  yet,  as  without 
 them  we  never  could  have  expected  that  the  Bible  could  have  been  read,  I may 
 perhaps  be  permitted  to  annex  to  this  memorandum  the  last  report  of  our  School 
 Committee,  which  shews  that  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Bencoolen,  the  number 
 of  boys  who  had  been  taught  to  read,  and  who  had  been  disciplined  in  regular  habits, 
 amounted  to  some  hundreds ; and  that  in  the  dependent  districts  along  the  coast  of 
 Sumatra,  among  a population  of  not  less  than  60,000  souls,  a considerable  anxiety 
 prevailed  for  the  extension  of  the  system. 
 
 “ I may  add  in  truth  that  I never  witnessed  a more  animating  and  interesting 
 spectacle  than  the  pubhc  examination  of  the  children  of  Bencoolen.  It  was  one  in 
 which  all  classes  of  people  united  to  express  their  admiration  and  sui*prise  ; and  the 
 fair  promise  which  the  children  afforded,  was  the  most  satisfactory  earnest  of  their 
 future  advancement  in  ci\ilization  and  happiness,  if  good  seed  were  sown,  and  the 
 tiller  were  not  idle. 
 
 Order  and  industry  were  more  generally  introduced  among  the  adults  than 
 in  former  times ; and  I have  reason  to  beheve,  that  throughout  the  beneficial 
 changes  effected  were  considered  as  springing  directly  fi*om  the  pure  motives  of  a 
 Christian  Government,  whose  principles  the  people  could  not  but  revere. 
 
 ‘‘  Thus  far,  in  connection  with,  and  under  the  auspices  of,  the  Bible  Society, 
 has  the  way  been  prepared  for  the  reception  of  the  sacred  volume  on  the  west  coast  of 
 Sumatra.  In  other  parts,  perhaps,  little  has  been  done,  owing  to  the  want  of  means. 
 The  Island  itself  probably  contains  a population  of  not  less  than  three  milllions ; 
 and  these  are  for  the  most  part  under  independent  and  worse  than  semi-barbarous 
 Chiefs. 
 
 “ One  of  the  most  interesting  and  promising  estabhshments,  however,  foraied 
 in  furtherance  of  these  objects,  was  at  Tappanooly,  in  the  heart  of  the  Batta  country; 
 where  Mr.  Burton,  a Baptist  Missionary,  has  been  successfully  established  under  the 
 protection  of  the  British  Government.  This  gentleman  has  already  made  himself, 
 in  a great  measure,  master  of  the  Batta  language ; and  after  translating  several 
 tracts  into  it,  was  engaged  at  the  period  of  my  leaving  Smnatra,  in  a plan  with  the 
 Missionaries  at  Bencoolen,  for  translating  the  Gospel  of  St.  John.  Mr.  Burton  has 
 since  that  period  penetrated,  in  company  with  Mr.  Ward,  into  the  interior  of  the 
 Batta  country ; the  particulars  of  their  discoveries  in  this  part  of  Sumatra  will,  I 
 doubt  not,  soon  meet  the  public  eye.  In  the  mean  time,  it  may  be  satisfactory  to 
 state  that  they  found  the  population  more  extensive,  and  the  productions  more 
 valuable  than  they  expected ; and  that,  instead  of  finding  obstacles  and  difficulties 
 thrown  in  their  way,  they  were  universally  treated  with  kindness  and  hospitality. 
 They  entered  the  country  without  disguise,  as  Englishmen  and  Missionaries,  and  w^ere 
 treated  with  respect. 
 
BRITISH  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 
 
 587 
 
 But  if,  on  the  one  hand,  the  friends  of  the  Society  at  Bencoolen  were  anxious 
 to  open  the  eyes  and  ears  of  the  ignorant  to  a knowledge  of  the  Word  of  God,  they 
 were  no  less  active  in  endeavouring  to  prepare  the  sacred  word  in  such  a form  as 
 might  most  readily  and  most  correctly  meet  their  conception. 
 
 " Superior  knowledge  of  the  languages  into  which  it  was  to  be  translated  became 
 indispensable ; and  without  entering  into  the  difficulties  which  stood  in  the  way  in 
 this  respect,  I will  merely  take  the  liberty  of  adverting  to  the  state  of  the  question,  as 
 concerns  the  Malay  Bible,  and  which  was,  I believe,  the  first  specimen  of  a transla- 
 tion into  any  of  the  Eastern  languages.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Robinson,  whose  exertions 
 in  promoting  the  great  objects  of  the  Society,  and  in  cultivating  the  waste  and  barren 
 soil  of  the  native  mind  with  indefatigable  industry,  entitle  him  to  the  highest  praise, 
 has,  among  his  other  publications  for  the  use  of  the  schools,  recently  edited  a work 
 on  Malay  orthography  ; in  the  preface  to  which  he  has  introduced  some  observations 
 on  this  translation,  which  may  deserve  the  attention  of  the  Committee  ; and  I am  in 
 consequence  induced  to  annex  the  volume ; and  at  the  same  time  to  refer  to  the 
 note  at  the  end  of  the  36th  page  of  the  Introduction. 
 
 I take  this  opportunity  of  forwarding  a few  copies  of  the  Gospel  of  St.  John, 
 as  rendered  into  Malay  by  Mr.  Robinson ; on  the  merits  of  which  it  would  be 
 desirable  that  a decision  should  be  formed  as  early  as  circumstances  admit.  The 
 only  step,  with  this  view,  taken  on  the  spot  was,  to  submit  it  to  a Committee  of  two 
 of  the  senior  civil  servants  on  the  Bencoolen  establishment,  and  who  were  considered 
 to  be  the  best  versed  in  the  Malay  language  ; who  gave  their  opinion  generally  in 
 favour  of  the  translation,  and  more  particularly  in  support  of  the  orthography  adopted 
 by  Mr.  Robinson. — I do  not  feel  myself  prepared  at  the  present  moment  to  offer  any 
 decided  advice  on  the  subject ; but  as  there  is  every  reason  to  hope  that  the  Insti- 
 tution, recently  established  at  Singapore,  may  prosper  and  become  efficient,  I should 
 think  this  a point  which  might  well  be  considered  and  adjudged  by  the  collective 
 knowledge  which  will  be  assembled  within  its  walls. 
 
 “ I now  turn  to  the  probable  state  of  the  Auxiliary  Society  at  Bencoolen,  as  it 
 will  be  affected  by  the  transfer  of  that  settlement  to  the  Dutch,  and  from  the  British 
 withdrawing  from  the  whole  of  Sumatra  on  the  1st  of  March  last,  conformably  to  the 
 treaty. 
 
 When  the  last  accounts  left  Bencoolen,  the  official  advice  of  the  intended 
 transfer  had  not  reached  that  settlement ; but  sufficieiit  intimation  of  the  probability 
 of  such  an  event  had  been  received  to  throw  the  whole  country  into  a state  of  the 
 greatest  confusion  and  alarm. 
 
 “ The  following  is  an  extract  from  one  of  the  latest  letters,  which  may  serve  in 
 some  degree  to  convey  an  idea  of  the  apprehension. 
 
 ^ What  the  effect  of  this  change  may  be  upon  our  mission,  it  is  impossible  fully 
 to  conjecture  ; — but  there  seems  just  cause  to  fear  that  it  will  be  attended  with  some 
 
 4 F 2 
 
588 
 
 BRITISH  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 
 
 present  evil.  The  Bible  Society,  which  was  to  have  supported  our  translation,  will 
 exist  no  more ; and  the  liberal  sum  which  we  have  hitherto  enjoyed  for  the  support 
 of  the  native  schools  will  also  be  withdi'awn.’ 
 
 “ I introduce  this  extract  to  shew,  that,  on  the  spot,  little  hope  is  entertained 
 that,  after  the  British  flag  is  lowered,  there  will  be  any  chance  of  the  society  at  Ben- 
 coolen  holding  up  its  head,  and  to  submit  whether,  considering  that  the  British 
 Government  has  agi'eed  to  withdraw  itself  in  toto  from  all  futm-e  concern  in  the 
 administration  of  Sumatra,  and  has  left  that  Island  to  the  exclusive  control  of  the 
 Netherlands’  Government,  it  might  not  be  advisable  to  concert  with  the  Bible  So- 
 ciety of  the  Netherlands,  to  receive  its  especial  control  and  care. 
 
 “ I should  be  loth  to  recommend  the  abandonment  of  any  interest  by  the  British 
 and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  however  distant  the  hope  of  success,  and  more  particu- 
 larly of  one,  ^^^th  the  rise  of  which  I had  the  satisfaction  to  take  some  pains,  and 
 with  which  I was  in  a great  measure  personally  connected ; but  when  I reflect  on 
 the  local  discussions  and  difiiculties  which  may  arise  among  contending  authorities, 
 jealous  even  of  each  other’s  good  name,  I feel  that  I am  taking  a higher  and  a safer 
 ground,  when  I look  rather  to  the  Netherlands’  authority,  and  to  the  zeal  of  their 
 Bible  Society,  for  carrying  into  effect  the  plan  which  we  have  begun  in  Sumatra. 
 
 “ If  the  Committee  should  view  the  question  in  the  same  light,  I would  suggest 
 the  advantage  of  an  early  and  candid  communication  being  made  to  the  Netherlands’ 
 authorities,  and  that  it  should  be  clearly  understood,  whether  the  four  missionaries 
 (Baptists)  now  in  Sumatra  will  be  permitted  to  remain,  and  to  continue  their  labors 
 on  the  same  principle  as  heretofore,  on  an  assurance  of  protection  on  the  part  of 
 the  Dutch  Government ; or  if  not,  whether  any  and  what  countenance  will  be  given 
 to  them  under  the  change  of  circmnstances  which  has  taken  place  ; or  otherwise, 
 whether  the  Netherlands’  Society  itself  will  undertake  the  whole  duty,  and  they  may 
 withdraw. 
 
 “ It  would  be  highly  ad\isable  that  such  an  understanding  should  be  effected  as 
 would  effectually  prevent  the  possibility  of  clashing  on  the  spot.  The  Government 
 at  home  as  well  as  the  Parent  Societies,  are  actuated  but  by  one  common  and  social 
 cause,  and  will  mutually  aid  each  other ; but  the  same  spirit  is  not  always  predomi- 
 nant abroad ; and  at  all  events  we  ought  to  do  every  thing  in  our  power  in  Europe 
 to  prevent  the  possibility  of  misunderstanding  them. 
 
 “ On  the  restoration  of  Java  to  the  Dutch,  the  Auxiliary  Bible  Society  estab- 
 lished there  by  the  Enghsh  was  allowed  to  decline  and  go  into  decay ; and  it  was 
 not  until  an  offer  was  made  to  Mr.  Bruchnor,  at  Samarang,  to  print  a version  of  the 
 Javanese  Bible  at  Bencoolen  under  his  revision,  that  the  Dutch  Government  came 
 forward  and  assisted  in  the  prosecution  of  the  work ; in  which,  I am  happy  to  say, 
 he  is  now  successfully  employed. 
 
 “ In  the  Moluccas,  the  Netherlands’  Government  have  afforded  considerable 
 
BRITISH  AND  FOREIGN  BIBLE  SOCIETY. 
 
 589 
 
 countenance  and  assistance  ; and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  subject  will  he  taken  up 
 in  the  Netherlands  with  the  same  liberality  and  spirit.  The  religion  of  Christ  will 
 then  not  long  be  prevented  from  exercising  its  improving  and  resuscitating  influence 
 over  this  long-neglected  portion  of  the  globe. 
 
 “ At  the  same  time  that  I feel  myself  hound  to  offer  an  apology  for  the  length 
 of  this  communication,  I am  induced  to  make  one  observation  more,  for  which  I 
 crave  yom'  indulgence. 
 
 “ In  the  last  Annual  Report  of  the  British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  notice 
 was  taken  of  the  labours  of  Dr.  Morrison,  and  particularly  of  the  advantage  that 
 might  arise  in  appointing  an  agent  to  proceed  to  Singapore,  and  from  thence  to 
 China  and  different  parts  of  the  East,  with  the  \iew  of  distributing  the  Scriptures  in 
 China.  I take  this  occasion  to  offer  my  entire  concuiTence  and  unreserved  testi- 
 mony in  support  of  the  suggestion  of  Dr.  Morrison ; and  to  state  that,  situated  as 
 we  are  now  on  the  threshold  of  China,  and  surrounded  by  perhaps  half  a million  of 
 that  people,  who  have  emigrated  and  settled  around  us  in  the  adjacent  countries, 
 with  almost  constant  intercourse,  and  means  of  communication  even  with  the  heart 
 of  China  itself,  Loochoo,  and  Japan,  I consider  this  the  most  favourable  oppor- 
 tunity that  could  be  embraced,  for  furthering  the  objects  of  the  Society  in  that 
 quarter.  I ought  also  to  add,  that  Siam  and  Cochin  China  are  now,  for  the  first 
 time,  open  to  our  commerce ; and  that,  whatever  may  be  the  result  of  the  present 
 contest  in  the  Birman  country,  a field  seems  to  be  opening  in  that  quarter,  from 
 which  we  shall  no  longer  be  debarred  entrance.  India  beyond  the  Ganges,  or 
 Eastern  Asia,  at  no  former  period  of  its  history  seems  to  have  been  pregnant  with 
 gi'eater  changes  than  at  present : and,  though  all  good  and  great  works  must  be  the 
 work  of  time,  yet  I trust  I may  stand  excused  in  suggesting  whether  the  time  has 
 not  arrived,  when  a knowledge  of  the  languages  and  character  of  the  people  ought 
 to  be  cultivated,  in  order  that  we  may  have  agents  prepared  to  act  whenever  safe 
 openings  offer.  Instead  of  one  or  two  persons  learned  in  the  Chinese,  should  we 
 not  at  least  have  a dozen  ? Siam  and  Cochin  China  are  extremely  populous ; and 
 I am  not  aware  that  any  Protestant  missionary  has  ever  been  among  them ; or  that 
 any  versions  of  the  Scriptures  in  their  languages  has  been  attempted. 
 
 “ With  the  view  of  affording  to  the  Committee  every  information  as  to  the  pre- 
 sent state  of  Eastern  Asia,  I have  taken  the  liberty  to  transmit  herewith  a memo- 
 randum of  the  Institution  at  Singapore  ; an  institution  which  in  its  degree  will,  I 
 trust,  be  found  essentially  conducive  to  the  civilization  and  adv^ancement  of  the 
 countries  by  which  it  is  surrounded.” 
 
 Sir  Stamford  had  not  been  many  months  in  England  when  he  suggested  a plan 
 to  Sir  Humphrey  Davy  for  the  formation  of  a Zoological  Society,  which  should  com- 
 bine with  the  pursuit  of  science  the  introduction  and  domestication  of  such  quadru- 
 
590 
 
 ESTABLISHMENT  OF  THE  ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 
 
 peds,  birds,  and  fishes,  as  might  be  most  hkely  to  prove  useful  to  agricultural  and 
 domestic  purposes. 
 
 The  following  letters  allude  to  this  subject. 
 
 To  Sir  R.  H.  IngUs,  Bart. 
 
 April  28th,  1825. 
 
 My  Dear  Sir  Robert, 
 
 As  Sir  Humphrey  has  gone  out  of  town,  leaving  with  me  the  list  of 
 names  in  support  of  the  plan  for  extending  our  zoological  researches,  &c.,  to  add  the 
 names  of  as  many  of  my  friends  as  might  be  desirous  of  promoting  it,  I am  induced 
 to  ask  if  I may  have  the  honour  of  putting  down  your  name. 
 
 Mr.  Peel’s  name  is  at  the  head  of  the  list,  and  those  of  Lord  Spencer,  Lord 
 LansdowTie,  Lord  Stanley.  Mr.  Keber,  and  many  others  of  weight  follow. 
 
 When  the  list  is  completed  to  a hundred,  which  I conclude  it  will  be  in  a day 
 or  two,  it  is  proposed  to  appoint  a committee,  when  the  objects  of  the  society  \riU  be 
 more  clearly  defined.  In  the  first  instance,  we  look  mainly  to  the  country  gentle- 
 men for  support,  in  point  of  numbers  ; but  the  character  of  the  institution  must  of 
 course  depend  on  the  proportion  of  men  of  science  and  sound  principles  which  it 
 contains.  I look  more  to  the  scientific  part  of  it,  and  propose,  if  it  is  established  on 
 a respectable  footing,  to  transfer  to  it  the  collections  in  natural  history  which  I have 
 brought  home  uith  me. 
 
 Yours  sincerely, 
 
 T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 To  the  same. 
 
 “ Grosvenor-street,  June  16tk,  1825. 
 
 My  Dear  Sir  Robert, 
 
 I have  duly  registered  Sir  Thomas  Acland’s  name  on  the  list  of  sub- 
 scribers to  the  proposed  society,  which  I am  now  happy  to  find  is  to  be  honoured 
 and  benefited  by  his  support. 
 
 A meeting  is  proposed  to  be  held  next  week,  when  some  kind  of  form  or  con- 
 stitution will  be  given  to  it ; at  present  it  is  almost  ‘ without  a local  habitation  or  a 
 name.’ 
 
 In  the  mean  time  I enclose  you  the  last  prospectus,  with  a list  of  the  names 
 as  they  stood  a week  ago,  since  which  there  have  been  several  accessions. 
 
 “ The  state  of  my  health  has  been  such,  that  I have  found  it  impossible  to  caU 
 at  Manchester  Buildings,  notwithstanding  many  attempts,  and  I am  now  forced  to 
 fly  from  town  rather  suddenly.  We  go  as  far  as  Hornsey  on  Saturday,  and  expect 
 early  in  next  month  to  remove  to  High  Wood,  which  I have  purchased;  at  pre- 
 sent, hoivever,  'we  have  some  difficulty  about  the  period  of  possession,  on  account 
 2 
 
REQUESTED  TO  ACT  IN  THE  MAGISTRACY. 
 
 591 
 
 of  delay  in  making  out  the  title  ; and,  as  the  case  stands,  I have  been  obliged  to 
 say,  that  unless  I can  remove  at  an  early  date,  our  agreement  must  fall  to  the 
 gi'ound.  " Yours,  &c. 
 
 “ T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 To  Sir  Stamford  the  enjoyments  of  a country  life  were  peculiarly  delightful, 
 indeed  almost  necessary  ; and  when  he  found  himself  once  more  at  liberty  to  cultivate 
 his  garden,  to  attend  to  his  farm,  and  to  interest  himself  in  those  simple  pleasures  in 
 which  he  had  always  delighted,  he  hoped  to  regain  that  health  and  strength  which 
 alone  were  wanting  to  his  happiness.  Here  he  could  indulge  the  feelings  of  his 
 heart  without  restraint;  and  it  was  his  intention,  had  not  God  ordained  better 
 things  for  him,  to  have  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  time  in  the  happy  retirement 
 which  the  spot  he  selected  for  his  residence  promised  to  secure  to  him. 
 
 To  Sir  R.  H.  Inglis,  Bart. 
 
 “ High  Wood,  December  31,  1825. 
 
 My  Dear  Sir  Robert, 
 
 “ The  application  I am  about  to  make  to  you  will  be  the  best  proof  I 
 can  give  that  I am  recovering  my  health,  and  feel  some  confidence  in  my  future 
 exertions. 
 
 My  neighbours  here  have  urged  me  strongly  to  act  as  a magistrate,  and  the 
 necessity  of  such  an  authority  is  unquestionable.  We  are  more  than  four  miles 
 removed  from  our  parish  church,  and  the  exercise  of  any  thing  like  police ; and  the 
 consequences  are  as  might  be  expected : the  poorer  classes,  left  to  themselves  with- 
 out control  in  this  world,  and  neither  checked  by  moral  or  any  other  authority,  are 
 in  a sad  degraded  and  irregular  state.  We  are  just  on  the  borders  of  another 
 county,  not  famous  for  the  moral  character  of  its  inhabitants,  in  the  vicinity  of 
 Barnet  and  Whetstone,  which  is  a further  reason  for  my  undertaking  the  office. 
 
 “We  are  now  concerting  a plan  for  the  erection  of  a Chapel  of  Ease ; and  the 
 next  object  is  an  efficient  magistracy.  For  some  time  I resisted  the  entreaties  of 
 my  friends  that  I should  endeavour  to  get  into  the  commission,  not  feeling  my 
 health  equal  to  the  duties,  and  apprehensive  that,  although  during  the  longest  part 
 of  my  public  life,  I have  been  acting  on  the  principle,  and  directing  others  how  to 
 execute  similar  offices,  I might  myself  be  deficient  in  the  details ; but  from  the  im- 
 provement in  my  health,  and  from  a desire  to  be  useful  to  the  extent  of  my  ability, 
 added  to  the  consideration  that  it  may  afford  me  the  means  of  becoming  'practically 
 acquainted  with  the  real  state  of  our  society,  and  of  much  regarding  our  laws  and 
 usages,  which  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  know  otherwise  than  theoretically,  I no 
 longer  hesitate. 
 
o92  PLAN  FOR  PROMOTING  THE  STUDY  OF  THE  CHINESE  LANGUAGE. 
 
 “ I have,  in  a great  measirre,  recovered  my  health,  by  being  quietly  in  the 
 country',  and  avoiding  public  or  large  parties,  and  the  benefit  of  a pure  air ; but  we 
 propose  going  into  town  in  the  coiu-se  of  a few  months. 
 
 “ Yours,  &c. 
 
 “ T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ 23,  Loner  Grosvenor  Street,  Mareh  9,  1825. 
 
 My  Dear  Cousin, 
 
 “ I have  been  intending  to  wiite  to  you  for  the  last  three  weeks,  and  par- 
 ticularly in  answer  to  your  reference  to  Sophia  respecting  the  Singapore  Institution ; 
 but  I have  been  far  from  well,  and  not  able  to  communicate  with  Dr.  Morrison  and 
 other  friends  so  fully  as  I could  have  wished. 
 
 “ It  is  now  detennined  that  he  does  not  return  to  China  this  season ; and  he 
 has  for  the  present  established  himself  at  Hackney,  where  he  lectures  twice  a w’eek, 
 and  affords  instmction  in  the  Chinese  language.  His  object  is  to  introduce  the 
 study  of  it  into  this  country  ; and  a plan  is  in  progi*ess  for  appointing  a professor  in 
 Oxford. 
 
 I am  decidedly  of  opinion,  that  the  interests  of  the  Institution  uill  be  better 
 foiAvarded  by  considering  it  as  a whole  ; it  being  of  course  optional  with  subscribers 
 to  give  their  assistance  either  generally,  or  to  either  of  the  three  departments — 
 literary,  Chinese,  or  Malay.  Dr.  Momson  looks  piincipally  to  the  Chinese,  but  he 
 by  no  means  \nshes  to  throw  the  other  departments  into  the  back-gi'ound ; and  I 
 believe  he  is  fully  convinced  that  we  must  uphold  the  literary  and  scientific  depart- 
 ment, as  most  essential  for  the  well-being  of  the  whole.  * 
 
 I propose  after  Easter  to  take  it  up,  and  will  then  unite  you  more  fully. 
 
 “ It  uill  I think  be  advisable  to  move  in  the  first  instance  in  London,  wiiere  I 
 propose  appointing  a Committee.  Dr.  ’Morrison  does  not  appear  sanguine  about 
 pubhc  meetings,  and  seems  to  think  we  can  do  more  by  committees. 
 
 “ My  health  has  improved,  but  I am  still  dehcate  and  imsomid ; so  much  so, 
 that  I am  unable  to  bear  the  fatigue  of  going  into  the  city,  or  attending  to  any 
 thing  like  business.  I look  forward  with  no  httle  anxiety  to  May  and  June,  when 
 we  may  hope  to  quit  London  and  riualize. 
 
 “ I am  much  interested  at  present  in  estabhshing  a gi'and  Zoological  collection 
 in  the  metropolis,  uith  a Society  for  the  introduction  of  living  animals,  bearing  the 
 same  relations  to  Zoology  as  a science,  that  the  Horticultural  Society  does  to 
 Botany.  The  Prospectus  is  drawn  out,  and  when  a few  copies  are  printed  I will 
 send  some  to  you.  We  hope  to  have  2000  subscribers  at  £2  each ; and  it  is  further 
 
ON  THE  ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 
 
 59.3 
 
 expected  we  may  go  far  beyond  the  Jardin  des  Plantes  at  Paris.  Sir  Humphrey 
 Davy  and  myself  are  the  projectors ; and  while  he  looks  more  to  the  practical  and 
 immediate  utility  to  the  country  gentlemen,  my  attention  is  more  directed  to  the 
 scientific  department.  More  of  this,  however,  hereafter. 
 
 # # * * 
 
 " T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Lower  Grosvenor-street,  May  18,  1826. 
 
 My  Dear  Cousin, 
 
 You  are  kind,  indeed,  to  be  thinking  of  me  and  my  prospects,  at  a time 
 when  I fear  I shall  have  given  you  too  much  reason  for  accusing  me  of  neglect. 
 My  conscience  has  for  many  a-day  told  me  that  I ought  to  have  written  to  you  more 
 than  I have  done ; and  the  only  way  in  which  I have  been  able  to  satisfy  it,  has 
 been  by  reflecting  on  your  kindness  and  consideration  to  make  allowance  for  all  my 
 sins  of  omission ; — and  which  in  the  way  of  con'espondence  have  latterly  accumu- 
 lated most  frightfully.  I feel  in  the  light  of  an  unfortunate  debtor,  with  but  httle 
 prospect  of  ever  discharging  my  arrears. 
 
 “ My  health,  thank  God,  is  upon  the  whole  improved : — and  I am  happy  to 
 say  both  Sophia  and  my  little  one  are  quite  well.  Necessity  has  compelled  me  to 
 go  much  into  society  ; and  I am  almost  surprised,  that,  at  this  gay  season  of  festhity, 
 I have  been  able  to  carry  on  the  war.  Seldom  a day  passes  without  an  engagement 
 for  dinner,  and  for  many  weeks  I have  not  been  able  to  command  an  hour’s  leisure. 
 It  is  true  I have  not  attended  very  closely  to  any  thing,  hut  all  is  so  new,  varied, 
 and  important  in  the  metropohs  of  this  great  empire,  after  so  long  an  absence  in  the 
 w'oods  and  wilds  of  the  East,  that  like  the  bee,  I wander  from  flower  to  flower,  and 
 drink  in  delicious  nutriment  from  the  numerous  intellectual  and  moral  sources  which 
 surround  me.” 
 
 ******  sif 
 
 “ The  few  copies  of  the  Zoological  plan  which  were  struck  off  were  soon  dis- 
 persed ; and  I did  not  think  of  sending  some  to  you  until  I found  I had  not  one 
 left  for  myself.  Some  idea  has  been  entertained  of  throwing  the  prospectus  into  a 
 new  form ; and  at  this  very  time  I am  a little  at  issue  with  Sir  Humphrey  Davy,  as 
 to  the  share  which  science  is  to  have  in  the  project.  As  soon  as  I have  a copy  of 
 the  plan  resolved  upon,  I will  send  it  to  you : and  in  the  mean  time  I shall  take  the 
 liberty,  save  permission,  of  placing  your  name  with  the  lionorahles  w'ho  support  it. 
 
 “ Do  you  know  of  any  layman  who  w^ould  go  to  Singapore  and  China  as  an 
 Agent  to  the  Bible  Society ; — or  w^ho  would  devote  himself  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
 Chinese  language?  He  w^ould  have  a salary  of  £100  per  annum,  and  all  expences 
 
 4 G 
 
594 
 
 ILLNESS  OF  SIR  STAMFORD. 
 
 for  travelling,  &c.  paid.  I am  looking  out  for  such  a person,  at  the  suggestion  of 
 the  Bible  Society ; and  considering  the  great  opening,  and  the  extent  of  the  field, 
 surely  there  must  be  sufficient  interest  in  the  country  to  rouse  some  one  into  ac- 
 tion. I think  it  likely  that  you  will  see  some  notice  on  the  subject  in  the  next 
 
 monthly  extracts  published  by  the  Society. 
 
 * * * * * 
 
 “ T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Lower  Grosvenor-street,  May  24<A,  1826. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Cousin, 
 
 “ Thank  God  I can  return  a tolerably  satisfactory  answer  to  your  kind 
 enquiry,  by  saying,  that  though  still  rather  weak  and  nen^ous,  I am  again  getting 
 about.  My  attack  was  sudden  and  unexpected,  but  fortmiately  was  not  apoplectic 
 as  was  at  first  feared.  I was  inanimate  for  about  an  hour ; but,  on  being  bled,  got 
 better,  and  I have  had  no  return. 
 
 “ It  has  reminded  me,  however,  that  I have  been  quite  long  enough  in  London, 
 and  its  dissipations  and  excitements  ; and  we  are  now  making  arrangements  for  retreat- 
 ing as  soon  as  we  can.  Nothing  has  yet  been  determined  respecting  the  property 
 at  Hendon ; but  we  are  still  in  treaty ; the  difference  being  about  a thousand 
 pounds. 
 
 * * iif  5if  * * 
 
 “ I am  afraid  of  writing  much  as  my  head  is  not  quite  what  it  should  be. 
 
 “ Your’s  most  affectionately, 
 
 “ T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 Sir  Stamford  alludes  to  an  illness  in  the  foregoing  letter  ; he  had  been  to  call 
 on  his  friend  Mr.  Murdoch ; and  after  leaving  his  house  was  suddenly  seized  uith  a 
 fainting-fit,  and  brought  home  by  a surgeon  who  happened  to  be  passing  at  the 
 time.  The  hope  that  it  was  not  an  attack  of  apoplexy  was,  alas  ! fallacious  ; but 
 how  often  are  the  warnings  of  God  rendered  of  no  avail  by  the  reluctance  of  man  to 
 apply  them.  In  this  instance  those  near  and  dear  to  him  refused  to  listen,  because 
 to  have  done  so  would  have  been  to  yield  up  every  hope  of  earthly  happiness. 
 
 To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Lower  Grosvenor-street,  June  6th,  1826. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Cousin, 
 
 “ I sent  you  by  the  coach  of  Saturday  a few  of  the  copies  of  the 
 Prospectus  of  the  Zoological  Society.  It  is  a subject  on  which  much  has  been 
 said,  and  more  might  be  written  ; but  it  has  been  thought  best  in  the  present  state 
 
PROSPECTUS  OF  THE  ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 
 
 595 
 
 of  the  speculation  to  confine  the  notice  to  a few  words.  The  names  are  coming  in 
 fast ; and  I shall  be  happy  to  receive  a list  of  any  of  your  friends  at  Liverpool,  who 
 may  be  desirous  of  becoming  subscribers.  The  amount  of  the  sum  will  not  ruin 
 them,  neither  Avill  they  find  themselves  in  bad  company : and  no  pecuniary  call  will 
 be  made  until  the  plan  is  advanced,  and  we  can  shew  them  something  for  their 
 money. 
 
 It  is  proposed  to  have  a general  meeting  of  the  subscribers  who  may  be 
 in  town,  in  course  of  the  present  month,  in  order  to  appoint  a Committee,  and 
 proceed  to  business. 
 
 “ We  expect  to  have  at  least  500  members  to  begin  with,  and  that  Government 
 will  provide  us  Avith  ground,  &c. 
 
 “ I am  happy  to  say  that  I continue  tolerably  Avell ; although  the  last  serious 
 attack,  in  reminding  me  of  my  mortahty,  has  throAvn  me  back  considerably  both  in 
 strength  and  spirits ; so  much  so,  that  I am  obhged  to  forego  society  in  a great 
 measure,  and  to  come  to  the  resolution  of  quitting  London  almost  immediately. 
 We  have  fixed  on  the  15th  to  moA’e  to  Hornsey,  for  a Aveek  or  tAvo,  Avhence  Ave  shall 
 remove  to  oiu*  neAv  dAvelhng  at  High  Wood.  This  place  I have  just  purchased,  and 
 Ave  are  to  ha\"e  possession  at  IMidsmnmer.  It  is  in  the  parish  of  Hendon,  and  on 
 the  borders  of  Hertfordshire,  but  in  Middlesex,  eleven  miles  from  London,  and 
 three  from  Barnet,  so  that  Ave  shall  be  at  least  ten  miles  nearer  to  you  than  Ave  are 
 in  London.  The  house  is  small,  but  compact,  and  the  grounds  Avell  laid  out  for 
 appearance  and  economy.  The  land,  112  acres,  in  grass;  and,  as  I have  taken  the 
 groAAing  crops,  I must  begin  hay-making  Avhile  the  sun  shines.  There  is  a very  good 
 farming  estabhshment  on  a small  scale ; and  I am  noAv  rejoiced  that  I can  offer  you 
 and  Mrs.  Raffles  and  the  children  comfortable  beds  and  accommodation  Avhenever 
 you  can  pass  a feAv  Aveeks  with  us.  I anticipate,  Avith  the  blessing  of  God,  great 
 adA^antage  fi'om  the  change  of  air  and  occupation.  We  have  noAV  been  nearly 
 eight  months  in  London,  and  most  heartily  am  I tired  of  it ; indeed,  I do  not  think 
 I could  stand  a month  longer  at  the  rate  we  have  been  obhged  to  five,  Avithout  quiet 
 or  retirement  for  a day. 
 
 * ^ ^ ^ ^ 
 
 “ The  last  attack  has  so  shaken  my  confidence  and  nerves,  that  I have  hardly 
 spirit  at  the  present  moment  to  enter  upon  pubhc  fife ; and  prudence  dictates  the 
 necessity  of  my  keeping  as  quiet  as  I can,  until  I completely  re-establish  my 
 
 health.  A feAv  months  in  the  country,  and  on  the  farm,  may  set  me  up  again. 
 
 * * « * 
 
 " Sophia  unites  in  kindest  love  to  Mrs.  Raffles  and  yourself. 
 
 And  I remain, 
 
 Your’s,  most  affectionately, 
 
 “ T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 4 G 2 
 
596 
 
 ESTABLISHES  THE  ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 
 
 “ I am  not  sure  that  I mentioned  in  my  former  letter  that  my  attention  was 
 directed  to  High  Wood,  in  the  first  instance,  by  our  respected  friend,  Mr.  Wilberforce, 
 who  has  purchased  the  estate  adjoining,  so  that  we  are  to  be  next  door  neighbours, 
 and  to  divide  the  hill  between  us. 
 
 “ I am  happy  to  say  that  his  health  is  improving. — Do  you  not  almost  envy  us 
 such  a neighbour  ?” 
 
 It  vnW  be  seen  from  the  notices  in  this  and  some  of  the  preceding  letters,  that 
 Sir  Stamford  had  at  this  time  the  gratification  of  carrying  into  execution  in  London 
 his  favourite  plan  of  an  establishment  similar  to  the  Jardin  des  Plantes  at  Paris.  His 
 own  taste  led  him,  as  he  has  stated  himself,  to  consider  the  scientific  department  as 
 the  one  of  the  greatest  interest  and  advantage  to  his  country. 
 
 The  Zoological  Society  now  possesses  that  portion  of  the  collections  which  he 
 made  during  his  last  government,  and  sent  home  previously  to  his  return  from  Su- 
 matra. A more  detailed  account  of  this  subject  Avill  be  found  in  the  Appendix, 
 as  well  as  the  Prospectus  of  the  Society  to  which  in  the  last  letter  he  had  alluded, 
 which  shews  the  objects  contemplated  on  its  establishment. 
 
 To  the  Rev.  Dr.  Raffles. 
 
 High  Wood,  Middlesex,  June  15,  1826. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Cousin, 
 
 “ I have  just  received  your  welcome  letter  of  the  12th,  and  should  send 
 this  immediate  acknowledgment  to  Liverpool,  if  it  did  not  appear  that  I should  best 
 ensure  its  delivery  and  meet  your  arrangements  by  forwarding  it  to  Highbmy  Place. 
 
 “ We  are  here,  thank  God,  once  more  out  of  the  trammels  and  disorders  of  a 
 London  life.  We  came  dovm  last  week,  and  are  looking  forward  to  the  hope  of 
 remaining  some  time.  We  have  nearly  dismantled  the  house  in  Grosvenor-street 
 so  that  I fear  you  would  find  but  poor  accommodations  there  : here  we  cannot  have 
 you  too  much  vith  us ; and  from  the  nature  of  the  house  you  can  best  judge  the 
 accommodation  we  can  afford. 
 
 “ We  have  the  same  dread  of  the  measles  that  you  appear  to  have.  Neither 
 of  the  children  have  had  them ; and,  as  they  have  had  a sad  hout,  and  are  only  just 
 recovering  from  the  hooping-cough,  which  I caught  from  them,  we  cannot  be  too 
 particular. 
 
 “ As  to  my  engagements  for  the  next  three  weeks,  I know  but  of  one  or  two 
 likely  to  interfere  with  any  aiTangement  which  we  can  make  for  being  together,  as 
 much  as  possible,  while  you  are  in  the  Hcinity  of  London. 
 
 “ We  are  daily  waiting  a summons  from  Lady  Harcourt  to  go  to  St.  Leonard’s, 
 where  we  have  promised  to  take  the  children  for  a week.  W e are  also  under  the 
 
DIFFICULTIES  OF  SIR  STAMFORD’S  PUBLIC  LIFE. 
 
 597 
 
 necessity  of  going  into  Essex  after  the  Midsummer  holidays,  to  put  Charles  to 
 school,  and  spend  a few  days  with  Mr.  Sotheby,  the  poet,  and  our  friend  Mr.  Ha- 
 milton ; with  these  exceptions  the  coast  is  clear. 
 
 You  do  not  say  the  time  that  Mrs.  Raffles  proposes  coming  to  town : but  I 
 hope  you  will  arrange  for  her  coming  to  us  when  she  does  come : and  that,  at  all 
 events,  we  may  be  able  to  make  a comfortable  family  circle,  previous  to  your  trip 
 to  Hamburgh. 
 
 “ Let  me  have  a line  from  you  when  you  reach  Highbury,  should  you  not  stop 
 by  the  way  at  Barnet,  and  first  look  in  upon  us.  I generally  go  into  town  once  a 
 week,  and  we  must  lose  no  time  in  meeting. 
 
 “ I have  had  a great  deal  to  annoy  me  since  I saw  you  last ; but  it  is  a worldly 
 affair,  and  I trust  will  not  materially  affect  our  happiness. 
 
 “ Sophia  is  quite  well,  and  desires  her  kindest  love. 
 
 “ Yours  affectionately, 
 
 “ T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 “ We  suffer  a little  from  the  heat;  but,  as  we  hope  to  make  our  hay  in  the 
 com'se  of  next  week,  I don’t  complain ; High  Wood  is  now  in  its  best  dress,  and  will, 
 I am  sure,  please  you. 
 
 “ My  neighbom',  Mr.  Wilberforce,  takes  possession  to-morrow,  and  will  pre- 
 viously spend  the  day  with  us.” 
 
 This  is  the  last  letter  from  which  the  Editor  can  present  any  extract,  and  her 
 duty  now  approaches  to  its  close. 
 
 Through  fhe  whole  course  of  the  narrative  it  will  have  been  obvious,  that  from  the 
 first  period  of  public  action,  preceding  and  during  the  expedition  to  Java,  Sir  Stamford’s 
 course  of  duty  forced  him  to  act  on  his  own  responsibility  ; that,  in  very  few  instances, 
 were  his  superiors  pleased  to  view  in  the  same  hght  the  interests  of  the  charge  en- 
 trusted to  his  management ; that  in  the  absence  of  instructions  solicited,  and  of  replies 
 to  his  frequent  references,  he  was  impelled  onwards  by  the  course  of  events ; that 
 in  the  administration  of  the  Government  of  that  Island,  and  in  his  subsequent  Govern- 
 ment of  Bencoolen,  and  the  important  estabhshment  of  Singapore,  unfortunately, 
 when  his  superiors  did  interfere,  it  was  in  general  only  to  raise  objections,  and  to 
 suggest  a different  course  of  measures,  when,  by  their  own  delays,  the  time  was  past 
 in  which  their  views  could  have  been  adopted.  This  may  be  supposed  to  have 
 arisen  more  from  their  ignorance  of  the  subjects,  on  which  they  thought  it  necessary 
 to  decide,  than  from  any  intention  of  being  unjust  or  harsh  towards  the  individual 
 whose  merits  and  services  many  of  them,  no  doubt,  justly  appreciated.  Among  the 
 Directors  of  the  East  India  Company, — Sir  Stamford  had  the  happiness  to  possess 
 the  friendship  of  Sir  Hugh  Inglis,  Mr.  Grant,  Mr.  Edmondstone,  Mr.  Money,  and  Mr. 
 
598 
 
 DECISION  OF  THE  COURT  OF  DIRECTORS 
 
 Edward  Parry,  to  every  one  of  whom,  indmdually,  he  would  have  referred  with  the 
 greatest  confidence  for  an  opinion  on  any  and  every  point  of  his  public  life. 
 
 The  second  period  of  his  services  in  the  East,  his  government  in  Sumatra,  placed 
 him  in  a predicament  equally  trjdng ; every  act  which  tended  to  benefit  his  country 
 generally,  and  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  people  more  immediately  subject  to  his 
 authority,  interfered  in  the  same  degree  with  the  principles  of  monopoly  on  which 
 the  East  India  Company  have  founded  their  policy. 
 
 It  was  the  opinion  of  Sir  Stamford,  that  during  the  infancy  of  our  intercourse 
 with  India,  the  union  of  merchant  and  legislator  might  exist  without  injury  to  the 
 general  interests  of  the  country;  but  that  it  was  a short-sighted  policy  which  induced 
 the  reluctance  to  share  with  competitors  those  benefits  formerly  enjoyed  by  the 
 Company  alone  ; and  that,  as  it  is  impossible  for  the  Company  to  compete  with  the 
 private  trader,  it  would  be  for  their  honour  and  advantage  to  withdraw  from  this 
 field.  By  being  known  as  Legislators  and  Governors  only  ; by  encouraging  general 
 trade,  and  removing  all  obstacles  to  general  intercourse,  they  would  in  reality  in- 
 crease their  revenue,  and  secure  the  support  of  the  public. 
 
 Sir  Stamford,  as  a servant  of  the  Company,  was  bound  indeed  to  promote  their 
 peculiar  and  corporate  interests,  but  he  looked  beyond  the  mere  question  of  the 
 profits  of  a retail  trade ; and  he  felt  that  no  Government  could  prosper  unless  it 
 went  hand  in  hand  with  the  improvement  of  the  people.  That  the  Company  have 
 not  reaped  the  results  of  his  labours,  cannot  be  imputed  to  him. 
 
 It  remains  only  to  state  the  judgment  of  his  superiors  upon  his  general  mea- 
 sures. On  the  12th  of  April,  1826,  the  Court  of  Directors  gave  their  opinion  of  the 
 services  of  Sir  Stamford  under  the  three  heads  of  Java,  Sumatra,  and  Singapore. 
 
 Of  Java — the  Court  admit,  that  the  success  of  the  expedition  to  Java  was  pro- 
 moted by  the  plans  and  information  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles. 
 
 That  the  representation  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  as  to  the  financial  embarrass- 
 ment of  Java  on  the  outset  of  his  government  is  correct. 
 
 That  those  financial  difficulties  were  enhanced  by  the  inevitable  hostihties  * 
 with  Palembang  and  Djojocarta. 
 
 That  of  the  measures  introduced  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  for  the  removal  of  the 
 financial  embarrassments  ; ^iz.  the  sale  of  lands,  withdrawal  of  Dutch  paper  currency, 
 and  a new  system  of  land  revenue ; 
 
 The  sale  of  lands  f is  considered  to  have  been  a questionable  proceeding. 
 
 The  entire  series  of  measures  for  the  reform  of  the  currency  are  conceded  to 
 have  been  well  adapted  to  their  object. 
 
 * Measures  approved  hy  the  Bengal  Government. 
 
 t Pronounced  hy  the  Governor  General  to  have  been  an  able  expedient  in  a moment  of  great  emer- 
 
 gency. 
 
ON  SIR  STAMFORD’S  GOVERNMENT. 
 
 599 
 
 With  regard  to  the  system  of  revenue  introduced  by  him,  the  Court  state  that 
 they  would  have  been  inclined  to  augur  favourably  of  the  success  of  his  measures, 
 and  consider  it  highly  probable  that  the  colony  would  have  soon  been  brought  at 
 least  to  hquidate  its  own  expenses  by  the  lenient  and  equitable  administration  of  Sir 
 Stamford  Raffles’  system. 
 
 The  regidations  for  reform  in  the  judicial  department  and  police,  the  Court 
 consider  entitled,  both  in  their  principles  and  in  their  details,  to  a considerable  degree 
 of  praise. 
 
 On  the  measures  respecting  Borneo,  Banco,  and  Japan,  the  Court  remark,  that, 
 under  a permanent  tenure  of  Java,  and  a different  system  of  policy,  the  measures  in 
 question  (promoting  intercourse  and  enlarging  the  British  power)  would  have  been 
 valuable  service. 
 
 Sumatra. — The  measures  of  internal  reform  introduced  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles 
 are  generally  approved. 
 
 In  his  political  measures  he  incurred  the  strong  disapprobation  of  the  Court ; 
 but  the  motives  by  which  he  was  actuated  were  unquestionably  those  of  zealous 
 solicitude  for  the  British  interests  in  the  Eastern  Seas,  and  form  a part  of  a series  of 
 measures  which  have  terminated  in  the  establishment  of  Singapore. 
 
 Singapore. — It  is  allowed  that  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  developed  the  exclusive 
 views  of  the  Dutch,  and  the  measures  ultimately  carried  into  effect  are  to  be  attri- 
 buted to  his  instrumentality,  and  to  him  the  country  is  chiefly  indebted  for  the 
 advantages  which  the  settlement  of  Singapore  has  secured  to  it.  The  Court  con- 
 sider this  to  be  a very  strong  point  in  Sir  Stamford  Raffles’  favour,  and  are  willing 
 to  give  him  to  the  full  extent  the  benefit  of  their  testimony  respecting  it. 
 
 His  administration  of  Singapore  has  been  approved  by  the  Bengal  Go- 
 vernment. 
 
 The  Court’s  opinion  with  regard  to  the  general  services  of  Sir  Stamford  R.affles 
 is  summed  up  in  the  following  terms  : — 
 
 “ The  Government  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  appears  with  sufficient  evidence  to 
 have  conciliated  the  good  feelings  of,  at  least,  the  great  majority  of  the  European 
 and  Native  population ; his  exertions  for  the  interests  of  literature  and  science  are 
 highly  honourable  to  him,  and  have  been  attended  with  distinguished  success ; and 
 although  his  precipitate  and  unauthorised  emancipation  of  the  Company’s  slaves, 
 and  his  formation  of  a settlement  at  Pulo  Nias,  chiefly  with  a \iew  to  the  suppres- 
 sion of  a slave  traffic,  are  justly  censured  by  the  Court,  his  motives  in  those  pro- 
 ceedings, and  his  unwearied  zeal  for  the  abolition  of  slavery,  ought  not  to  be  passed 
 over  without  an  expression  of  approbation.” 
 
 It  is  unnecessary  for  the  Editor  to  comment  on  these  opinions. 
 
 The  period  of  two  years  which  Sir  Stamford  had  now  spent  in  England,  had 
 
GOO 
 
 HIS  DEATH. 
 
 rapidly  passed  away ; for  who  takes  note  of  the  days  of  happiness  ? It  was  his  often- 
 expressed  hope  that  he  had  experienced  sufficient  trial  to  purify  his  soul ; and  it  is 
 humbly  trusted  that  the  many  and  heavy  afflictions,  vith  which  he  was  visited,  were 
 sanctified  by  the  grace  of  God,  and  were  made  instrumental,  through  faith  in  a 
 Saviour,  to  prepare  him  for  the  world  where  sorrow  and  sighing  are  no  more. 
 
 The  few  letters  which  have  been  introduced  in  the  last  pages,  are  sufficient  to 
 prove  tliat  the  death-blow  had  been  struck — the  silver  chord  was  broken  at  the 
 wheel.  His  sense  of  enjoyment,  indeed,  was  as  keen  as  ever,  his  spirit  as  gay,  his 
 heart  as  warm,  his  imagination  still  brighter,  though  his  hopes  in  this  world  were 
 less.  He  was  contented  with  the  happiness  of  the  present  moment,  and  only  prayed 
 for  its  continuance.  That  his  prayer  was  not  gi'anted  is  his  everlasting  gain ; yet 
 even  here,  and  after  so  many  trials  and  privations,  he  enjoyed  no  common  pleasmes; 
 the  delight  of  being  united  to  fi’iends  from  whom  he  had  been  so  long  separated  ; the 
 charms  of  society  ; the  interests  of  literature  and  science  ; the  general  improvement 
 of  man  ; and,  above  all,  the  nearer  charities  of  domestic  life,  all  combined  to  engage 
 and  occupy  his  mind.  His  heart  was  full  of  enjoyment ; and  in  the  retirement  for 
 which  he  had  so  long  sighed,  and  surrounded  by  all  the  ties  which  it  had  pleased 
 God  to  spare  to  him,  he  indulged  his  happy  spirit.  In  the  midst  of  all  these  best  of 
 worldly  treasures,  in  the  bosom  of  his  family,  that  spirit  which  had  won  its  way 
 through  a greatly  chequered  course,  was  suddenly  smnmoned  to  the  throne  of 
 God,  on  the  day  previous  to  the  completion  of  his  forty-fifth  year,  the  5th  of  July, 
 1826. 
 
 “ Be  ye  therefore  ready  also,  for  the  Son  of  man  cometh  at  an  hour  when  ye 
 think  not.” 
 
 FINIS. 
 
The  following  is  a memorandum  of  an  intended  Work,  which  was  found 
 after  Sir  Stamford’s  death. 
 
 NOTES  ON  THE  EASTERN  ISLANDS. 
 
 Comprehending  an  account  of  the  British  Administration  of  Java ; the  Proceedings  of  the  Local  Autho- 
 rities on  the  Restoration  of  that  Colony  under  the  Convention  of  1815  ; the  Establishment  of  the  Settlement 
 of  Singapore,  and  the  final  adjustment  of  differences  with  the  Netherlands’  Government  under  the  Treaty  of 
 1824 ; with  Observations  on  that  Treaty,  and  its  probable  effects  with  reference  to  the  present  condition  and 
 circumstances  of  the  Archipelago. 
 
 By  Sir  T.  Stamford  Raffles. 
 
 To  be  printed  in  one  volume  quarto,  uniformly  with  the  History  of  Java  by  the  same  Author,  to  which 
 work  it  may  be  considered  supplementary. 
 
 Also,  (in  connexion  with  the  above,  and  as  introductory  to  the  publications  of  Dr.  Horsfield,)  Notes 
 illustrative  of  the  Natural  History,  and  more  especially  of  the  Geology  of  the  Malay  Islands,  containing 
 geographical  and  geological  notices,  with  an  account  of  some  of  the  more  remarkable  vegetable  productions, 
 and  the  outline  of  a Fauna  Malayana ; With  Plates: 
 
 By  the  same  Author, — Assisted  by  Dr.  Horsfield. 
 
 Contents. — Introduction.  Geographical  and  geological  outline  of  the  Archipelago.  Ditto  of  Java,  with 
 plates.  Ditto  of  Sumatra,  with  ditto ; and  journey  to  Menangkabu.  Banca,  with  map  and  abstract  memoir ; 
 principal  vegetable  productions,  and  their  distribution  and  localities.  Fauna  Malayana.  Larger  animals. 
 See. ; distribution  and  account  of,  generally,  as  introductory  to  the  descriptive  catalogue.  Catalogue  arranged 
 scientifically  with  relation  to  the  order  of  nature. 
 
The  following  letter  from  Dr.  Horsfield  is  in  reply  to  a request  from  the  Editor 
 that  he  would  give  her  some  account  of  Sir  Stamford’s  efforts  to  promote  the 
 objects  of  science  during  the  period  of  the  British  Government  in  Java. 
 
 “ When  you  were  pleased,  in  your  letter  dated  3d  ult.,  to  intimate  to  me  your  wish,  that  I would 
 ‘ draw  up  a short  memoir  on  the  subject  of  what  was  done  during  Sir  Stamford's  administration, 
 in  the  promotion  of  science,  from  the  period  of  my  researches  in  Java  to  the  presentation  of  his 
 collection  to  the  Museum  of  the  Zoological  Society  in  Bruton  Street;  ’ I was  for  some  time  in 
 doubt  as  to  the  manner  in  which  I might  most  appropriately  meet  your  views.  A mere  catalogue 
 of  objects  of  natural  history,  collected  during  the  British  government  of  Java,  even  if  it  were  in  my 
 power  at  the  present  period  to  furnish  it  complete,  in  the  various  branches  to  which  my  attention 
 had  been  directed,  appeared  to  me  little  adapted  to  the  nature  of  your  memoir.  After  some  deli- 
 beration, I therefore  determined  to  prepare  a historical  sketch,  exhibiting  concisely  the  various 
 investigations,  journeys,  and  employments  in  which  I had  been  engaged,  with  occasional  extracts 
 from  Sir  Stamford’s  correspondence,  relating  to  those  subjects  in  which  he  took  a peculiar  interest. 
 With  these  I resolved  to  combine  various  prominent  instances  both  of  Sir  Stamford’s  general  attach- 
 ment to  science,  and  of  my  knowledge  of  the  liberality  of  his  views,  commencing  with  that  early 
 measure  of  his  public  administration,  which  was  the  means  of  bringing  my  personal  investigations  to 
 his  notice. 
 
 “No  sooner  had  the  officers  of  the  new  Government  of  Java  been  appointed,  and  the  regula- 
 tions required  at  Batavia  and  its  immediate  vicinity  been  established,  than  Sir  Stamford  directed  his 
 mind  to  the  whole  of  that  valuable  Island,  which  had  been  conquered  by  the  British  arms.  Accord- 
 ingly he  determined  in  November,  1811,  scarcely  two  months  after  the  restoration  of  peace  and 
 tranquillity,  to  visit  in  person  the  capitals,  residencies,  ports,  and  establishments  along  the  whole  of 
 that  part  of  Java  which  is  situated  eastward  of  the  Batavian  Regencies,  and  which,  by  the  Dutch, 
 was  pre-eminently  distinguished  by  the  name  of  Java.  In  this  tour  his  attention  was  particularly 
 directed  to  Samarang  and  Surabaya,  two  places  of  incalculable  importance  in  the  domestic  and 
 political  relations  of  the  northern  coast  and  eastern  extremity  of  the  Island.  In  my  opinion,  this 
 
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LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 603 
 
 measure  laid  the  foundation  of  those  important  improvements  and  entire  modifications  of  the  system 
 of  the  administration  of  Java,  which  reflect  so  much  honour,  not  only  on  Sir  Stamford’s  character, 
 but  on  the  British  nation,  and  which  was  so  much  admired  by  the  natives  themselves.  It  was  the 
 means,  in  the  very  commencement  of  his  government,  of  affording  the  practical  information  which, 
 in  an  Island  so  differently  constituted  in  the  character  of  the  natives,  and  in  the  nature  of  its  internal 
 resources,  from  the  Company’s  possessions  in  continental  India,  was  so  essentially  important. 
 This  early  and  personal  inspection  of  a country  so  imperfectly  and  so  unfavourably  known  by  pre- 
 vious accounts,  and  so  recently  conquered,  must  always  be  considered  indicative  of  a peculiar  energy 
 of  mind  and  comprehensive  correctness  of  design.  It  likewise  afforded  the  means  of  bringing  under 
 effectual  observation  and  study  the  character  of  the  natives  of  all  ranks  and  conditions,  and  of 
 attaching  to  the  British  nation  the  Regents  of  provinces,  or  domestic  native  sub-governors,  a class 
 of  intelligent  and  influential  officers.  From  his  perfect  acquaintance  with  the  Malayan  language. 
 Sir  Stamford  was  eminently  qualified  to  derive  every  possible  advantage  from  such  an  enterprize ; 
 and  his  future  regulations,  as  well  as  his  works,  show  how  well  he  profited  by  the  excellent  oppor- 
 tunities which  his  high  station  afforded  him. 
 
 “ In  the  course  of  this  tour  he  made,  about  the  end  of  December,  1811,  a digression  to  the 
 territories  of  the  native  Princes,  which  brought  him,  the  23d  of  the  month,  to  Suracarta,  the  capital 
 of  the  Emperor  of  Java.  Being  at  this  time  established  at  this  place,  in  the  prosecution  of  a series 
 of  inquiries  into  the  natural  productions  of  the  Island,  under  the  auspices  of  the  existing  Colonial 
 Government,  I had  the  honour  of  being  invited  to  the  solemnities  of  the  day,  and  to  the  assembly 
 convened  according  to  custom  at  the  dwelling  of  the  Resident.  The  Emperor  went  in  person 
 several  miles  from  his  capital  to  meet  the  Lieutenant-Governor,  at  a public  station  where  he  was 
 accustomed  to  receive  the  Dutch  Governors  of  the  east  coast  of  Java,  and  conducted  him  in  state  to 
 the  Residency.  As  soon  as  the  ceremonies  of  reception  were  completed.  Sir  Stamford  left  his  seat, 
 and  saluted  many  of  the  persons  convened  on  the  occasion.  He  also  came  up  to  me,  and  with  an 
 affability  and  suavity  of  manner  peculiar  to  himself,  offered  me  his  acquaintance  without  the  forma- 
 lity of  an  introduction.  On  the  following  day,  after  a visit  to  the  palace,  he  proceeded  to  my 
 dwelling,  where  he  devoted  several  hours  to  a patient  examination  of  the  objects  of  natural  history, 
 drawings,  maps,  and  illustrations  which  had  been  collected  and  prepared  during  my  excursions 
 through  the  central  and  eastern  territories  of  Java.  He  expressed  his  satisfaction  at  the  result  of 
 my  inquiries,  determined  my  relation  to  the  Honourable  Company’s  Government,  and  fixed  the 
 allowances  for  my  services.  He  afforded  me  his  sanction  to  extend  my  inquiries  to  all  divisions  of 
 natural  history,  without  limitation  or  restriction,  and  likewise  recommended  to  my  attention,  in  an 
 official  communication,  various  subjects  of  general  curiosity  and  utility. 
 
 “ Before  his  departure  from  Suracarta,  he  favoured  met  with  several  private  interviews,  in 
 which  he  received,  with  much  interest,  many  minute  details  on  the  subjects  of  my  researches ; he 
 strongly  encouraged  me  to  continue  my  inquiries  with  unwearied  diligence,  promised  me  his 
 
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604 
 
 LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 assistance  whenever  I might  require  it,  and  approved  of  a plan  which  I submitted  to  him  of  de- 
 voting several  months  to  the  more  minute  investigation  of  the  Priangan  Regencies.  He  men- 
 tioned the  vicinities  of  his  own  residence  at  Buitenzorg,  where  a friendly  co-operation  with  Dr. 
 William  Hunter  promised  a successful  result  to  a botanical  excursion. 
 
 “ In  conformity  with  his  instructions  I devoted  the  early  part  of  the  year  1812,  to  the  pre- 
 paration of  several  essays  from  the  notes  and  materials  collected  during  my  travels.  In  one  of  these 
 I gave  a concise  account  of  the  medicinal  plants  which  I had  observed  in  Java.  The  second  forms 
 the  commencement  of  a series  of  projected  essays  on  the  Geology  and  Mineralogy  of  that  Island. 
 In  the  third  I detailed  my  experiments  and  observations  on  two  native  poisons,  the  Anchar  axiH  the 
 CJiettik,  to  which  the  name  of  Upas  is  indiscriminately  applied.  These  essays  were  presented  by 
 Sir  Stamford  to  the  Batavian  Society  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  have  subsequently  been  published 
 in  the  7th  and  8th  volumes  of  their  Transactions. 
 
 “ While  I was  employed  on  these  essays,  and  in  the  occasional  extension  of  my  collections,  in 
 the  early  part  of  the  year,  1812,  I had  an  opportunity  of  observing  a measure  which  afforded  a 
 striking  proof,  both  of  the  enlightened  views  and  of  the  liberality  of  Sir  Stamford.  The  defects, 
 errors,  and  abuses  of  the  former  government  having  early  been  noticed  by  him,  he  determined,  soon 
 after  his  return  from  the  eastern  districts  of  Java,  to  concentrate  such  a body  of  information  from 
 all  the  documents  which  were  accessible,  relating  to  the  statistics,  domestic  economy,  and  internal  re- 
 sources, the  laws  and  judicature,  and  the  peculiarities  of  the  former  administration,  as  w'ould  enable 
 him  to  establish  an  improved  system  of  internal  government,  and  a more  equitable  administration  of 
 justice.  A Committee,  consisting  of  several  of  the  best  informed  functionaries  of  the  late  government, 
 was  accordingly  appointed  for  this  purpose,  and  Colonel  Colin  Mackenzie  was  selected  for  the 
 presidency.  It  is  not  my  intention  to  offer  any  remarks  on  the  operations  of  this  Committee,  but 
 it  is  quite  consistent  with  my  plan  to  state,  from  actual  observation,  that  the  course  adopted  reflects 
 a lasting  honour  on  Sir  Stamford  in  a two-fold  point  of  view ; I allude  to  the  political  wisdom  of 
 the  measure  itself,  and  to  the  singular  liberality  of  his  views  and  principles.  The  primary  object  of 
 that  commission,  unquestionably,  was  to  collect  a mass  of  statistical  and  general  information,  and 
 the  result  has  proved  how  essentially  their  labours  contributed  to  Sir  Stamford’s  subsequent  im- 
 provement ; but  the  instructions  and  powers  afforded  to  Colonial  Mackenzie  were  so  ample  and  un- 
 controlled, that  they  enabled  him  to  accumulate  at  a most  favourable  juncture,  immediately  after  the 
 conquest,  a mass  of  information  relating  to  the  antiquities,  history,  internal  administration,  cha- 
 racter, manners,  and  peculiarities  of  the  Javanese,  to  an  extent  entirely  surprising.  And  it  must 
 always  be  considered  that  it  is,  in  a great  measure,  to  be  ascribed  to  the  liberality  of  Sir  Stamford 
 exemplified  in  the  unlimited  extent  of  his  indulgence  to  that  officer.  Indeed,  in  all  his  measures 
 his  ruling  object  was  general  usefulness  and  the  public  good.  His  countenance  and  pati’onage 
 were  generous,  and  divested  of  personal  or  ambitious  feelings.  Although  he  followed  in  person 
 the  same  route  afterwards,  and  may  be  supposed,  even  at  that  period,  to  have  contemplated  an  im- 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 ()05 
 
 dertaking  for  which  similar  materials  were  essentially  important,  he  interfered  not  with  the  efforts 
 of  his  friend,  but  afforded  him  full  scope  in  the  indulgence  of  his  favourite  pursuits.  It  is  at  the 
 present  period  an  agreeable  reflection,  that  the  whole  Javanese  treasure  collected  at  this  auspicious 
 crisis,  by  the  perseverance  and  industry  of  Colonel  Mackenzie,  is  now  securely  deposited  in  the 
 library  of  the  East  India  Company  ; to  which  repository  a large  portion  of  the  Colonel’s  collections, 
 made  during  a long  period  of  years  in  peninsular  India,  has  likewise  been  removed,  and  where  a 
 considerable  part  still  remaining  in  Calcutta  is  in  due  time  expected;  the  Honourable  Court  of 
 Directors  having  crowned  many  partial  and  successive  acts  of  munificence,  during  the  meritorious 
 labours  of  this  gentleman,  by  the  purchase  of  his  entire  collection,  consisting  of  books,  manu- 
 scripts, drawings,  maps,  coins,  Indian  statuary,  and  more  than  8000  ancient  inscriptions.  I cannot 
 close  this  hasty  notice  on  one  of  Sir  Stamford’s  friends,  and  on  his  visit  to  Suracarta,  without  stating, 
 that  although  I had  but  few  opportunities  of  contributing  to  his  more  immediate  purpose,  yet  I 
 shared  much  of  his  friendship ; and  at  a later  period  of  the  year,  I had  the  pleasure  of  accompany- 
 ing him  to  the  summit  of  one  of  the  principal  volcanoes  of  central  J ava. 
 
 “ In  the  month  of  July,  I submitted  to  Sir  Stamford  a proposal  to  prepare  a collection  of 
 objects  of  natural  history,  for  despatch  to  the  museum  of  the  Honorable  East  India  Company. 
 
 “ To  this  I received,  through  the  secretary,  the  following  reply:  ‘ The  Lieutenant-Governor 
 highly  approves  of  the  proposal;  he  is  convinced  that  it  will  be  satisfactory  to  the  Honorable  Court 
 to  receive  specimens  of  the  natural  history  of  an  Island  respecting  which  so  little  is  known  in 
 Europe,  and  he  will  have  much  pleasure  in  recommending  to  the  favourable  notice  of  the  Court, 
 the  zeal,  knowledge,  and  ability  which  have  been  displayed  in  your  researches.’  . . . ‘ I am 
 
 desired  to  point  out  to  you  most  particularly,  that  a description  of  the  peculiarities  and  habits  of 
 such  animals  as  are  of  new  species  will  be  almost  necessary  to  complete  the  value  of  the  collection.’ 
 In  the  course  of  this  year  I likewise  communicated  to  the  Lieutenant-Governor  some  remarks  on 
 an  entomological  subject,  which  had  been  advantageously  employed  in  medical  practice  as  a sub- 
 stitute for  the  Spanish  fly.  To  this  I received  an  answer,  through  the  secretary,  stating  that  the 
 Lieutenant-Governor  had  considered  the  discovery  worthy  of  being  made  known  to  the  public  at 
 large,  through  the  medium  of  the  Java  Government  Gazette. 
 
 “ In  the  month  of  September  of  the  same  year  I obtained  Sir  Stamford’s  official  sanction  for 
 undertaking  the  projected  tour  through  the  western  districts  of  the  Island  of  Java,  generally  called 
 the  ‘ Priangan  Regencies.’  I arrived  at  Buitenzorg  in  the  early  part  of  October,  during  his  absence, 
 but  was  most  hospitably  received,  agreeably  to  his  instructions,  at  his  residence.  I followed  him 
 to  Batavia,  and  at  an  early  interview  with  his  Excellency,  he  notified  the  intention  of  Government 
 to  despatch  a commission  to  Banca,  for  the  purpose  of  making  an  accurate  inquiry  into  the  affairs 
 and  resources  of  that  Island,  and  expressed  his  particular  desire  that  I should  be  added  to  the 
 projected  commission.  Although  my  favourite  plan  of  traversing  the  fair  regencies  of  Western 
 Java  was,  for  the  present  at  least,  delayed  by  this  appointment,  yet  I cheerfully  acceded  to  his 
 
606 
 
 LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 wish,  and  prepared  my  small  establishment,  consisting  of  a draughtsman,  an  assistant,  and  various 
 native  collectors,  with  the  requisite  materials,  for  an  excursion  to  Palembang  and  Banca.  The 
 nature  of  this  commission  will  most  satisfactorily  appear  from  his  instructions  to  us,  and  I have 
 accordingly  inserted  the  document  at  large,  as  it  affords  an  example  of  his  practical  energy  and 
 comprehensive  views.  The  commission  consisted  of  Colonel  Bales  the  Resident,  Lieutenant  Han- 
 son, and  myself.” 
 
 To  Colonel  Bales,  Lieutenant  Hanson,  and  Dr.  Horsjield. 
 
 “ ‘ Gentlemen, 
 
 “ ‘You  are  hereby  appointed  a commission,  for  the  purpose  of  examining  and  reporting 
 on  the  Island  of  Banca,  now  Duke  of  York’s  Island. 
 
 “ ‘ 2.  The  object  of  your  appointment  is  to  obtain  the  fullest  possible  information  on  its  former 
 connection  with  the  Government  of  Palembang,  and  on  the  mode  on  which  it  was  governed  pre- 
 viously to  its  becoming  a British  possession — on  its  commerce  and  commercial  advantages — on  its 
 climate,  population,  and  inhabitants — and  on  its  relative  connection  and  value  with  the  neighbour- 
 ing Eastern  states. 
 
 “ ‘ 3.  In  the  course  of  this  inquiry  your  attention  is  particularly  directed  to  the  following 
 points,  on  which  the  most  authentic  and  detailed  information  is  desired,  together  with  a statement 
 of  the  sources  from  which  such  information  is  derived. 
 
 “ ‘ (a)  What  were  the  rights  of  the  Sultan  of  Palembang  over  Banca  ? 
 
 “ ‘ {b)  Was  he  full  Sovereign,  or  only  the  feudal  superior  of  the  Island? 
 
 “ ‘ (c)  Did  he  possess  or  claim  the  absolute  property  of  the  soil,  or  was  he  compelled  to  make 
 conventional  arrangements  with  the  owners  of  the  mines  ? 
 
 “ ‘(rf)  In  what  degree  w'ere  those  connections  more  beneficial  than  a treaty  which  might  be 
 made  by  the  British  Government  with  the  Sultan,  or  with  those  individuals  themselves? 
 
 “ ‘ (e)  Do  the  inhabitants  of  Banca  acknowledge  our  dominion  and  submit  to  it  willingly? 
 
 “ ‘ {f)  In  a contrary  event  what  means  do  the  population,  the  character  of  the  people,  and 
 the  nature  of  the  country  afford  for  resistance,  and  what  force  w'ould  be  required  to  keep  them  in 
 subjection  ? 
 
 “ ‘ {g)  W’hat  is  the  lowest  establishment,  under  the  existing  circumstances  of  the  Island,  with 
 which  in  your  opinion  the  civil  and  military  duties  can  be  performed  with  efficacy  ? 
 
 “ ‘ {h)  In  any  event,  the  most  favourable  that  can  be  supposed,  will  one  or  at  most  two  mili- 
 tary posts  to  be  held  by  inconsiderable  detachments,  suffice  for  the  protection,  tranquillity,  and 
 service  of  the  Island  ? 
 
 “ ‘ 4.  On  the  result  of  the  above  inquiries  will  depend  the  decision  of  the  following  proposi- 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 607 
 
 “ ‘ (a)  That  nothing  should  be  assumed  or  extorted  in  Banca  by  force,  which  was  not  included 
 in  the  prior  and  legitimate  rights  enjoyed  by  or  justly  belonging  to  the  Sultan  of  Palembang, 
 
 “ ‘ (6)  That  Banca  should  not  be  annexed  to  our  dominions,  unless  upon  full  investigation  a 
 reasonable  expectation  should  be  shown,  that  by  our  occupation  of  the  country  upon  that  footing  the 
 revenue  which  it  can  afford,  or  in  other  words  the  produce  and  proceeds  of  its  tin,  will  defray  all 
 the  charges,  civil  and  military,  and  yield  a nett  balance,  the  excess  of  which,  above  the  profit 
 that  might  be  derived  from  a treaty  either  with  the  Sultan  or  the  people  of  the  country  supported 
 by  a suitable  force,  would  justify  the  policy  of  annexing  it  to  the  British  dominions. 
 
 “ ‘ 5.  On  these  inquiries  also  a comparison  will  be  made  between  the  advantages  to  be  derived 
 respectively  from  the  two  modes  of  enjoying  the  tin  trade,  whether  by  convention  with  the  Sultan 
 as  formerly,  or  by  the  occupation  of  Banca  as  at  present. 
 
 “ ‘ 6.  From  this  view  of  the  subject  you  will  observe,  that  your  attention  is  especially  directed 
 to  the  tin  mines ; that  you  will  be  required  to  report  particularly  on  the  nature  and  extent  of  them  ; 
 on  the  mode  in  which  they  have  heretofore  been,  and  are  now  worked ; on  the  extent  to  which 
 they  have  been,  or  may  be  worked ; on  the  description  of  people  employed  therein,  and  the  mode 
 in  which  they  are  remunerated  for  their  labour.  You  will  also  suggest  such  general  observations 
 and  improvements  as  may  occur  to  you  on  the  subject. 
 
 “ ‘ 7.  In  the  course  of  your  investigation,  every  point  connected  with  the  tenure  and  regulation 
 of  landed  property,  and  cultivation  on  the  Island  of  Banca,  as  well  as  the  laws,  habits,  manners 
 and  customs  of  the  inhabitants,  and  the  nature  of  the  soil  and  description  of  the  country,  will  be 
 desirable.  And  it  is  fully  expected  that  your  report  will  be  drawn  out  in  that  detailed,  comprehen- 
 sive, and  authentic  form,  which  will  enable  Government  to  decide  permanently  on  the  regulations 
 best  adapted  to  secure  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  the  Island,  and  to  establish  its  relative  con- 
 nection with  the  British  possessions. 
 
 “ ‘ 8.  Although  it  is  by  no  means  the  wish  of  Government  to  urge  an  earlier  period  for  the 
 close  of  your  report  than  the  nature  and  importance  of  your  personal  inquiries  may  justify,  you 
 will  be  careful  not  to  prolong  the  same  beyond  what  is  absolutely  necessary,  and  you  will  not  fail 
 to  transmit  by  every  opportunity  a report  of  your  progress. 
 
 “ ‘ 9.  It  is  further  indispensably  necessary,  that  in  the  course  of  your  inquiry  no  alarm  should 
 be  given  to  the  inhabitants,  nor  any  idea  received  of  a change  being  contemplated  in  the  arrange- 
 ments now  existing  in  Banca ; but  if  you  find  it  necessary  to  proceed  to  Palembang,  in  order  to 
 rectify  any  particular  facts,  or  to  ascertain  more  exactly  the  former  relation  and  present  connection 
 of  the  two  countries,  you  are  at  liberty  to  do  so. 
 
 “ ‘ 10.  The  latest  accounts  received  from  Minto  are  very  unfavourable  with  regard  to  the 
 healthiness  of  the  garrison;  and  it  becomes  the  serious  consideration  of  Government,  whether 
 under  the  circumstances  of  that  unhealthiness  and  the  present  state  of  Palembang,  it  would  not  be 
 desirable  to  remove  the  principal  part  of  the  garrison  to  the  latter  place,  retaining  only  at 
 
608 
 
 LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 Minto  a sufficient  force  to  protect  the  factory  against  the  attacks  of  pirates.  As,  however,  the 
 season  of  the  year  will  prevent  an  immediate  report  on  this  subject,  the  Resident  has  been 
 authorized  and  directed  to  use  his  discretion  in  the  removal  of  such  part  of  the  force  as  he  may 
 judge  expedient ; and  in  the  event  of  any  alteration  therein,  you  will  in  your  calculations  make  such 
 reduction  in  the  existing  establishment  as  the  change  may  admit. 
 
 “ ‘ 11.  Your  particular  attention  is  directed  to  the  native  government,  and  in  the  course  of 
 your  inquiries  you  will  inform  yourselves  fully  respecting  the  character  and  ability  of  Raden  Ma- 
 homed and  Syed  Abo  Bakker,  persons  who  were  in  the  first  instance  employed  as  agents,  who 
 naturally  look  forward  for  advantageous  employment  under  the  British  Government,  and  whose 
 interest  it  is  the  wish  of  this  Government  to  promote,  unless  they  are  found  disqualified  or  unfit  to 
 be  trusted. 
 
 “ ‘ 12.  Authority  has  been  granted  to  the  public  officers  at  Batavia  to  afford  you  access  to  the 
 records  of  government  relating  to  the  objects  of  your  commission ; and  the  Resident  at  Palem- 
 bang  and  Minto  has  been  directed  to  afford  you  every  aid  and  assistance  in  the  prosecution  of  your 
 inquiries. 
 
 “ ‘ 13.  The  brig  Minerva  is  placed  under  the  order  of  the  Commissioners,  but  is  to  return  to 
 Batavia  as  soon  as  her  services  can  be  dispensed  with.’ 
 
 “ ‘ Buitenzorg,  October  22,  1812.’ 
 
 “ We  left  Batavia  on  the  1st  of  November.  After  a short  visit  to  Fort  Nugent  on  Banca, 
 we  proceeded  to  Palerabang  in  order  to  obtain,  at  that  Court,  the  information  on  which  our  future 
 proceedings  would  essentially  be  founded.  Our  proposed  visit  having  been  notified  to  the  Sultan, 
 we  were  met  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  of  Palembang  by  an  embassy  from  that  Prince,  and  mag- 
 nificently conveyed  in  boats  to  the  capital,  situated  about  120  miles  from  the  coast.  The  facility 
 and  rapidity  of  the  conveyance  were  really  surprising.  The  boats  or  canoes  consist  of  excavated 
 trunks  of  trees  of  great  length  : they  are  narrow,  flat-bottomed,  and  rest  lightly  on  the  surface. 
 They  are  moved  by  natives  sitting  in  alternate  rows  in  the  anterior  part,  who,  by  a regular  impulse 
 with  their  oars,  cause  the  vessels  to  ascend  the  stream  with  an  uniform  but  rapid  motion.  We 
 were  delighted  and  amused  by  the  appearance  of  the  capital.  The  houses  rest  on  rafts  of  immense 
 timber,  floating  in  the  stream,  removable  at  the  pleasure  of  the  inhabitants,  and  skirting  the  sides 
 of  the  river,  for  several  miles,  in  successive  rows.  The  palace  alone  and  the  European  Fort  stand 
 on  solid  ground.  An  impenetrable  forest,  rising  from  an  extensive  marsh,  stretches  along  the 
 banks  for  many  miles,  and  there  is  no  possible  access  to  Palembang  but  by  means  of  the  river. 
 The  situation  has  been  selected  for  the  convenience  of  trade.  Brigs  of  moderate  size  can  approach 
 the  town  ; and  the  river  commands  the  produce  of  an  extensive  portion  of  Southern  Sumatra.  The 
 interior  is  fertile,  and  the  supplies  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  as  well  as  of  various  articles  of  traffic, 
 are  very  considerable. 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 GOO 
 
 “ Having  accomplished  our  object,  and  obtained  the  required  details  and  documents  regarding 
 the  former  relation  of  Banca  to  the  princes  of  Palembang,  we  returned  to  Fort  Nugent.  Here  our 
 first  duty  was  to  afford  all  the  assistance  in  our  power  to  the  relief  of  the  garrison.  The  situation 
 of  Fort  Nugent,  although  selected  with  every  prospect  of  healthfulness,  was,  on  experience,  found 
 to  be  the  very  reverse.  It  was  dry  and  elevated,  and  to  appearance,  beyond  the  reach  of  marshy 
 exhalations : but  the  nakedness  and  exposure  of  its  site  afforded  no  shelter  from  the  violent  gusts 
 of  wind,  which  were  impregnated  with  the  effluvia  of  distant  marshes.  The  military  removed 
 hither  on  the  formal  cession  of  Banca  to  the  British  Government,  had  no  other  accommodation  in 
 the  commencement  than  their  tents,  and  soon  became  very  sickly.  A more  salubrious  and  sheltered 
 situation  was  selected  with  the  advice  of  the  best  informed  natives  a few  miles  to  the  east  of  Minto, 
 the  commercial  capital  of  Banca.  Here  at  a small  village  named  Rangam,  a temporary  hospital 
 was  established,  which  appeared  to  answer  every  expectation,  and  the  invalids  speedily  recovered. 
 At  this  place  I likewise  formed  a temporary  domicil,  and  enjoyed,  for  several  months,  uninterruj)ted 
 health. 
 
 The  Resident,  however,  being  confined  by  official  duties  to  Fort  Nugent,  soon  became 
 ill,  and  his  return  to  Batavia  was  found  advisable.  Lieutenant  Hanson  also  was  seized  with 
 the  prevailing  fever,  in  consequence  of  excessive  fatigue,  and  he  likewise  resolved  to  visit 
 Batavia  for  the  recovery  of  his  health.  At  this  period  the  medical  duties  of  the  garrison  and 
 hospital  required  my  active  attentions.  Under  such  circumstances  little  progress  could  be  made  in 
 the  objects  of  the  commission.  I had,  however,  the  satisfaction  to  be  informed  by  Major  Robison, 
 who  succeeded  Colonel  Eales,  in  March,  that  my  exertions  met  with  the  approbation  of  the  Java 
 Government.  He  likewise  informed  me,  that  it  was  left  to  my  own  determination  to  return  to 
 
 Batavia,  or  to  prosecute  those  inquiries,  which  were  expected  of  me  when  I was  appointed  a 
 
 member  of  the  commission.  I resolved  without  hesitation  not  to  lose  so  favourable  an  opportunity 
 to  make  a general  survey  of  the  Island  in  a mineralogical  point  of  view  : and  the  prospect  which  I 
 entertained  of  extending  my  researches  to  Zoology,  and  particularly  to  Botany,  afforded  a strong 
 incitement  to  my  resolution.  I had  already,  with  the  assistance  of  the  most  intelligent  natives 
 residing  at  Minto,  together  with  that  supplied  by  occasional  visitors  from  Palembang,  formed  a 
 sketch  of  a route  throughout  the  Island,  which  would  enable  me  to  examine  every  valuable  mine 
 and  establishment,  exclusive  of  several  of  minor  importance  at  the  southern  extremity.  In  the 
 inquiries,  which  I prosecuted  as  far  as  circumstances  allowed  during  my  residence  at  Rangam 
 
 and  Minto,  I had  obtained  considerable  information  on  the  general  state  of  the  Island,  the 
 
 administration  of  the  mines,  and  the  relations  of  the  Chinese  miners  to  the  former  government ; 
 these  I communicated  in  the  form  of  a short  essay  to  Major  Robison  at  his  arrival. 
 
 “ I commenced  my  journey  in  March,  and  in  June  I completed  the  plan  originally  proposed. 
 The  information  which  I collected  was  submitted  to  Sir  Stamford  in  form  of  a Report  on  Banca. 
 This  is  occasionally  referred  to  in  his  correspondence,  and  he  has  likewise  mentioned  it  in  very 
 
 4 I 
 
610 
 
 LETTEH  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 favourable  terras  in  his  address  to  the  Batavian  Society  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  Soon  after  ray  return 
 to  Rangara  I had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  a coraraunication  from  Sir  Stamford,  which  forms  the 
 commencement  of  a correspondence  from  which  I shall  give  more  copious  extracts  in  future.  In 
 the  present  instance  I shall  restrict  myself  to  a few  minor  paragi’aphs. 
 
 “ ‘ In  j)rovisionally  persevering  in  the  system  which  appears  to  have  been  lately  adopted  in 
 Banca,  it  is  not  to  be  inferred  that  w'e  have  any  doubts  of  the  propriety  of  finally  establishing  it. 
 On  the  contrary,  it  appears  in  every  point  of  view  the  best,  but  I am  anxious  to  be  in  possession 
 of  your  full  Report,  before  the  final  arrangement  is  decided  upon,  and  as  that  Report  must  soon  be 
 forthcoming,  no  inconvenience  is  likely  to  arise  from  provisional  measures  only  being  adopted  in 
 the  meantime. 
 
 “ ‘ You  will  perceive  that  the  Literary  Society  of  Batavia  has  attempted  the  publication  of  a 
 seventh  Volume  of  its  transactions.  It  will  be  completed,  how'ever,  principally  with  your  papers  ; 
 but  these  are  fully  sufficient  of  themselves  to  render  the  volume  valuable  and  interesting.  The 
 loss  of  our  late  secretary.  Dr.  Hunter,  has  been  severely  felt : Dr.  Ainslie  for  a time  has  supplied 
 his  place,  but  is  now  on  the  eve  of  departing  for  Japan,  and  we  have  not  at  hand  a person  compe- 
 tent to  fill  the  office. 
 
 “ ‘ Colonel  Mackenzie  is  closing  his  Reports,  and  calculates  upon  leaving  Java  for  Bengal 
 in  the  course  of  the  present  month.  He  has  some  idea  of  touching  at  Banca,  when  he  will  pro- 
 bably have  the  opportunity  of  seeing  you.  This,  however,  will  materially  depend  on  circumstances, 
 and  the  route  which  the  ship  will  take.’ 
 
 “ In  the  month  of  August  I returned  to  Batavia,  where  I prepared  a concise  abstract  of 
 the  iriformation,  of  a general  political  nature,  obtained  at  Palembang  and  Banca,  in  conformity  with 
 the  first  part  of  the  instructions  imparted  to  the  commission.  The  chief  object  of  this  was  to  place 
 in  a distinct  point  of  view  the  former  connection  of  Banca  with  Palembang,  and  to  illustrate  the 
 authentic  rights  which  the  Sultan  of  Palembang  possessed  over  Banca.  Having  completed  these  I 
 proceeded  to  Buitenzorg,  where  I again  met  wdth  a most  cordial  reception.  The  Lieutenant-Go- 
 vernor had  now  fully  matured  his  plans  of  a general  reform  in  the  internal  administration ; and  in 
 many  parts  his  system  of  an  improved  land-revenue  was  already  in  operation  ; his  Excellency  was 
 pleased  to  give  me  many  circumstantial  details  on  this  subject  in  those  interviews  in  which  I 
 personally  related  my  proceedings  in  Banca. 
 
 “ After  a short  abode  at  Buitenzorg,  I obtained  Sir  Stamford’s  consent  to  prosecute  my  journey 
 to  Suracarta.  On  my  passage  through  the  province  of  Cheribon  I already  found  the  new  system 
 in  complete  operation.  The  feudal  services  had  been  abolished.  Instead  of  applying,  as  was  for- 
 merly the  custom,  to  the  native  governor  for  an  allowance  of  carriers  to  convey  my  baggage  on 
 public  account,  I sent  to  the  bazaar  wdiere  the  carriers,  or  ‘ coolies,’  were  ready  to  afford  their 
 services  for  a regular  payment.  I may  be  allowed  to  adduce  this  as  a prominent  instance  of  Sir 
 Stamford’s  energy.  Many  persons  even  among  his  friends  entertained  doubts  as  to  the  immediate 
 
 I 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 611 
 
 practicability  of  establishing  his  new  system  in  Cheribon,  which  was  considered  to  be  one  of  the 
 most  refractory  districts,  and  most  likely  to  be  unfavourably  swayed  by  the  influence  of  the  native 
 chiefs.  He  however  determined  to  commence  the  execution  of  his  plan  at  a point  where  most 
 obstacles  presented  themselves,  or  to  make  use  of  his  own  expression  on  the  subject,  ‘ to  take  the 
 bull  by  the  horns.’ 
 
 “ In  the  month  of  September  1 safely  reached  my  residence  at  Suracarta.  At  my  departure 
 I had  made  my  arrangements  for  an  absence  of  four  months ; I had  in  prospect  a tour  through  the 
 ‘ Priangan,’  the  most  romantic  and  perhaps  the  most  interesting  portion  of  Java,  where  the  natives 
 are  characterised  by  honesty  and  simplicity  of  manners,  and  by  a distinguished  attention  to  Euro- 
 pean travellers.  Instead  of  this  excursion,  promising  to  my  hopes  much  rational  delight,  I spent 
 many  months  among  rude  and  boisterous  Chinese  miners — among  Malays,  scarcely  approaching  a 
 state  of  civilization,  many  of  whom  lead  a roving  life  in  forests,  and  among  Rayads,  or  Ichthyophagi, 
 who  gain  their  subsistence  on  the  ocean,  form  no  fixed  dwellings  on  land,  but  pass  their  life  in  their 
 boats,  feed  almost  exclusively  on  fish,  and  are  emphatically  designated  in  the  Eastern  world  ‘ Orang 
 lout,’  men  of  the  sea.  Java  is  universally  famed  for  its  abundance  in  every  necessary  of  life : in  Banca 
 the  most  common  provisions  can  often  scarcely  be  obtained  for  money.  In  Java  the  roads,  in 
 many  parts,  bear  a resemblance  to  those  in  England : in  Banca  the  traveller  can  in  most  cases 
 advance  with  difficulty  on  foot,  and  his  progress  is  frequently  stopped  by  marshes  and  rivers.  In 
 addition  to  these,  circumstances  of  a public  nature  afforded  much  uneasiness.  The  affairs  of  Pa- 
 lembang  became  again  perplexed  by  the  machinations  of  a fugitive  prince.  The  garrison  intended 
 to  give  countenance  to  the  Honourable  Company’s  establishments  in  Banca,  was  required  at  the 
 capital  of  the  new  sultan.  When  I returned  to  Rangam  I found  our  infant  hospital,  which  I had  left 
 under  favourable  auspices,  without  an  inhabitant.  The  only  source  of  real  consolation  which  had 
 supported  me  under  many  privations  was  destroyed  during  the  last  days  of  my  journey.  I had 
 been,  upon  the  whole,  successful  in  my  geological  and  botanical  researches.  My  herbarium  was 
 extensive,  and  many  new  and  intei’esting  plants  had  been  hastily  sketched,  the  completion  of  which 
 promised  to  afford  a delightful  relaxation  on  my  return  to  Rangam.  The  day  before  I intended  to 
 embark  at  Kotta- War  ingin,  the  last  post  which  remained  for  examination,  my  draughtsman  was 
 imprudently  involved  in  an  affray  with  the  natives,  and  fell  a victim  to  their  ferocity.  Many  of  my 
 geological  and  botanical  acquisitions  were  destroyed  in  the  confusion  occasioned  by  this  unforeseen 
 event,  and  I retreated  to  the  boats,  which  fortunately  had  already  been  prepared  for  our  convey- 
 ance, and  after  several  anxious  days  returned  to  my  deserted  hamlet  at  Rangam. 
 
 “ After  ray  return  to  Suracarta,  I devoted  several  months  to  the  preparation  of  a geogra- 
 phical and  mineralogical  description  of  Banca,  from  the  documents  and  materials  collected  during 
 my  tour.  I enlarged  more  particularly  on  those  practical  subjects  to  which  the  attention  of  the 
 Commission  had  been  directed  by  Sir  Stamford’s  instructions. 
 
 “ In  the  early  part  of  1814,  we  were  honoured  at  the  native  courts,  by  a second  visit  from  the 
 
 4 I 2 
 
612 
 
 LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 Lieutenant-Governor.  Many  very  pleasing  reflections  are  associated  with  this  visit.  Its  tenor 
 was  very  different  from  the  former,  which  immediately  followed  the  conquest  of  Java.  In  the 
 government  districts  the  improvements  projected  by  Sir  Stamford  in  the  administration,  were  already 
 established  to  a considerable  extent.  The  commotions  which  had  for  many  years  distracted  the 
 neighbouring  Court  of  Djocjocarta  had  been  set  at  rest.  Peace,  and  a large  share  of  prosperity 
 prevailed  generally  throughout  the  Island.  The  affairs  of  the  capital  likewise  were  in  an  orga- 
 nized state,  allowing  the  temporary  absence  of  the  Lieutenant-Governor;  Sir  Stamford,  there- 
 fore, had  full  opportunity  to  devote  some  days  to  a studious  observation  of  the  manners  and  pecu- 
 liarities of  the  natives,  in  a place  where  they  prevail  in  their  purest  state,  and  to  the  inspection  of 
 those  public  attentions  and  festivities  which  the  Princes  are  proud  to  exhibit  when  they  are  visited 
 by  persons  of  high  political  rank. 
 
 “In  the  com'se  of  this  visit  I had  an  opportunity  of  submitting  to  the  inspection  of  the 
 Lieutenant-Governor,  the  result  of  my  excursion  through  Banca,  which  was  now  in  an  improved 
 state  of  arrangement,  and  also  the  additions  which  had  been  made  in  Java  in  the  interval  since  his 
 former  visit.  A few  days  later  I handed  to  him  at  Samarang,  a considerable  portion  of  my  general 
 report  on  Banca,  with  the  illustrations  accompanying  it : in  all  these  I had  the  satisfaction  to  receive 
 decided  marks  of  his  approbation. 
 
 “ Being  desirous  of  resuming  my  researches  in  Java,  before  the  farther  advancement  of  the  dry 
 season,  1814, 1 submitted  to  Sir  Stamford,  in  June,  the  plan  of  a journey  through  the  western  por- 
 tions of  the  teiTitories  of  the  native  princes.  He  was  pleased  to  afford  me  his  approbation,  in  a 
 very  interesting  communication,  and  as  it  is  characteristic  both  of  his  zeal  for  science  and  affability 
 of  manner,  I have  transcribed  a considerable  part  of  it.” 
 
 “ ‘ To  Dr,  Horsjield. 
 
 “ ‘ Buitenzorgy  June  18,  1814. 
 
 “ ‘ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  1st  instant,  and  to  offer  an 
 apology  for  not  previously  replying  to  your  several  interesting  communications  respecting  Banca, 
 which  have  been  duly  received;  the  late  important  events  in  Europe  have  come  in  upon  us  so  thick 
 and  unexpectedly,  as  almost  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  attending  to  other  subjects. 
 
 “ ‘ I request  to  assure  you  of  my  entire  concurrence  in  the  plan  you  propose,  of  laying  by  for 
 a time  the  completion  of  your  Report  on  Banca,  in  order  that  you  may  be  able  to  avail  yourself  of 
 the  favourable  season  to  visit  the  southern  districts  of  Java.  A part  of  your  Report  on  Banca,  with 
 the  minerals  wdiich  you  forwarded  to  me  at  Samarang,  has  already  been  sent  to  Europe  ; but  your 
 later  communications,  with  the  drawings  of  the  plants,  still  remain  on  my  table.  I had  intended  to 
 forward  them  by  one  of  the  ships  now  under  despatch ; but  the  risk  from  American  cruizers,  and  the 
 change  of  affairs  in  Europe,  have  determined  me  to  delay  them  until  I can  know  your  sentiments. 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 61.3 
 
 “ ‘ The  charts  of  Banca  I forwarded  by  the  Isabella,  under  charge  of  Captain  Travers,  with 
 directions  that  they  might  be  engraved  at  my  own  expence.  Every  preparation,  therefore,  for  the 
 printing  of  the  paper  will  be  made. 
 
 “ ‘ In  the  despatches  from  the  Court  of  Directors,  they  simply  acknowledge  many  of  my  letters 
 — this  is  the  case  with  those  forwarding  your  Reports. 
 
 “ ‘ It  is  most  probable,  nay,  almost  certain,  that  a peace  will  soon  take  place  ; and  it  is  clear 
 to  my  mind,  that  these  colonies  will,  in  such  an  event,  revert  to  the  Dutch.  Under  this  impression, 
 I naturally  look  forward  to  the  close  of  my  administration  in  Java.  Calculating  upon  such  an 
 event  in  the  course  of  the  next  twelve  or  eighteen  months,  it  has  occurred  to  me,  that  I can  per- 
 sonally do  more  towards  the  establishment  of  the  correspondence  which  you  wish,  and  also  in  super- 
 intending the  printing  of  your  Banca  work,  than  can  be  expected  from  friends  at  a distance. 
 
 “ ‘ I am  naturally  deeply  interested  in  the  publication  of  your  merits,  and  in  obtaining  for  you 
 a just  and  appropriate  acknowledgment  for  your  labours.  And  if  such  an  event  should  happen,  as 
 the  restoration  of  this  colony  to  the  Dutch,  I shall  be  still  more  interested  in  making  known  the 
 attention  which  has  been  paid  to  science  during  the  short  period  of  the  British  dominion ; at  least, 
 I shall  be  anxious  for  it  to  be  known,  that  our  pursuits  in  useful  knowledge,  have  kept  pace  with 
 our  other  more  ordinary  pursuits.  And  it  is  not  impossible  that  I may  be  tempted  to  give  a short 
 sketch  of  the  political  history  and  statistics  of  the  Island  myself,  in  which  case  I should  have  the 
 opportunity  of  bringing  your  claims  forward  to  public  notice. 
 
 “‘lam  inclined  therefore  to  propose  to  you,  that  in  our  present  uncertainty,  the  transmission 
 of  the  further  parts  of  your  Report  be  delayed.  A few  months  must  decide  the  fate  of  Europe 
 and  with  it  the  fate  of  this  colony.  Should  it  remain  to  the  English  Government  as  a permanent 
 possession,  then  they  can  be  forwarded  regularly  as  opportunities  offer ; otherwise  I propose  to 
 you  to  take  charge  of  them  myself,  together  with  any  other  communications  which  may  be  pre- 
 pared at  the  period  of  my  leaving  this  colony. 
 
 “ ‘ I request  you  will  consider  the  opinion  which  I have  given  you  regarding  the  possible 
 and  probable  transfer  of  this  colony  as  confidential — as  yet  I have  no  certain  information,  and  my 
 opinion  arises  from  the  natural  inference  to  be  drawn  from  the  state  of  European  politics  at  the 
 present  moment. 
 
 “ ‘ I shall  be  happy  to  receive  your  further  collections,  and  to  forward  them  by  safe  oppor- 
 tunities. 
 
 “ ‘ I remain.  My  dear  Sir, 
 
 “ ‘ Your  attached  friend. 
 
 “ ‘ Thos.  S.  Raffles.’ 
 
614 
 
 LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 ” In  the  course  of  this  journey,  while  employed  in  the  capital  of  Banyumas,  in  examining 
 tlie  collections  made  in  the  southern  districts  of  this  province,  I received  another  communication 
 from  Sir  Stamford,  which,  at  a time  when  I was  left  to  the  resources  of  my  own  mind,  afforded 
 me  inexpressible  delight,  and  of  which  I shall  always  retain  a pleasing  remembrance.  It  likewise 
 was  the  means  of  bringing  my  feeble  efforts  to  the  notice  of  Sir  Joseph  Banks,  and  of  opening 
 a con-espondence,  which  had  a considerable  influence  on  my  pursuits.  Having  given  me  various 
 scientific  details,  which  I shall  notice  in  the  sequel,  Sir  Stamford  proceeds : — ‘ In  addition  to  the 
 above  communications,  I have  received  a letter  from  Sir  Joseph  Banks,  of  which  I think  it  best 
 to  enclose  you  a copy,  in  the  hope  that  you  will  be  able  to  assist  me  in  meeting  his  wishes.  You 
 are  aware  that  he  takes  the  lead  in  England  in  every  branch  of  natural  history,  and  I shall  be 
 truly  happy  in  being  the  medium  of  introducing  to  him,  and  to  the  society  in  wdiich  he  moves, 
 your  pretensions  and  meritorious  exertions.’  He  then  offers  his  kind  services  in  commencing  a 
 correspondence ; I was  not  dilatory  in  embracing  it,  but  on  my  return  to  Suracarta  prepared  a 
 series  of  specimens  for  Sir  Joseph,  the  catalogue  of  which  was  returned  to  me  wth  Mr.  Brown’s 
 elucidations  and  remarks,  which  in  my  distant  situation  were  really  invaluable.  This  letter  further 
 contains  very  copious  extracts  from  the  communications  of  Sir  Stamford’s  friends  in  England,  relating 
 to  the  objects  in  which  I was  engaged : it  affords  a striking  instance  of  the  admirable  industry  and 
 friendly  zeal  of  the  Lieutenant  Governor,  who,  amidst  the  multifarious  and  important  duties  of 
 his  public  station,  did  not  regret  the  trouble  of  writing,  on  this  occasion,  three  full  sheets  on  sub- 
 jects purely  scientific. 
 
 “ After  an  absence  of  several  months  I returned  to  Suracarta,  and  immediately  communi- 
 cated to  Sir  Stamford  a sketch  of  my  route,  and  an  abstract  of  my  more  interesting  observations. 
 In  reply  to  this  I received  the  following  letter. 
 
 “ ‘ To  Dr.  Horsfield. 
 
 “ ‘ Buitenzorg,  December  15,  1814. 
 
 “ ‘ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ ‘ I have  to  thank  you  for  your  interesting  communication  of  the  3d  instant,  and  I am 
 happy  to  find  your  recent  tour  has  been  so  satisfactory. 
 
 “ ‘ I have  taken  due  care  to  comply  with  your  wish  respecting  the  books  which  you  require 
 from  England. 
 
 “ ‘ I am  glad  you  have  seen  Gunung  Prau ; some  time  since  I had  an  intimation  of  the  valu- 
 able ruins  which  you  mention,  and  directed  Mr.  Cornelius  to  survey  them  and  take  drawings. 
 
 “ ‘ At  your  leisure  it  would  be  useful  if  you  w'ould  correct  the  map  according  to  the  informa- 
 tion you  received — the  districts,  or  rather  provinces,  in  the  native  parts  of  the  Island  are  very  ill 
 and  irregularly  defined  in  all  the  maps  which  I have  seen.  A sketch  of  the  native  provinces,  with 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 615 
 
 the  principal  places  laid  down  as  you  have  found  them  on  your  tour,  would  be  interesting,  as  no 
 actual  survey  has  taken  place,  or  is  likely  to  take  place,  for  many  years. 
 
 “ ‘ I hope  in  describing  the  Karrang  Bolong  Rocks  you  will  favour  us  with  some  accounts 
 of  their  inhabitants.  Whatever  naturalists  may  know  on  the  subject,  the  public  in  general 
 are  very  much  divided  in  opinion  regarding  the  process  by  which  the  edible  nests  are  pro- 
 duced ; perhaps,  indeed,  you  might  prefer  a separate  paper  on  this  subject.  On  what  do  the  birds 
 subsist,  or  is  any  peculiar  food  or  nourishment  required  to  produce  the  substance  of  which  the 
 nests  are  composed?  Is  there  any  foundation  in  the  opinion,  that  certain  scum  produced  by  the 
 surf  of  the  sea  is  in  request  by  them,  or  can  the  birds  equally  well  build  their  nests  inland,  where 
 they  can  have  no  immediate  communication  with  the  sea?  The  process  itself  I apprehend  to  be 
 something  like  honey  making.  There  is  also  said  to  be  a difference  between  those  of  the  cock 
 and  of  the  hen ; the  former  I apprehend  to  be  resting  places  made  for  convenience  ; but,  on  the 
 whole,  I have  to  confess  myself  very  ill  informed  on  the  subject,  although  it  is  one  of  very  general 
 conversation  and  enquiry. 
 
 “ ‘ I remain,  My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ ‘ Very  faithfully  your’s, 
 
 “ ‘ Thos.  S.  Raffles.’  ” 
 
 “ In  the  following  months  I prepai'ed  a more  copious  description  of  my  route,  with  an  accurate 
 account  of  the  districts  and  provinces  of  the  western  part  of  the  native  princes’  territory ; a detailed 
 enumeration  of  all  the  villages  which  I had  visited  or  observed,  a catalogue  of  the  plants  discovered, 
 and  a notice  of  the  geological  specimens  added  to  my  series.  I likewise  prepared  a general  map, 
 geographical  and  geological,  of  the  whole  of  this  western  portion  of  the  territory,  extending  from 
 the  longitude  of  Suracarta  to  the  boundary  of  the  Priangan  Regencies,  The  geographical  notices 
 I had  collected  agreeably  to  my  injunctions  were,  in  the  sequel,  usefully  employed  in  the  construc- 
 tion of  the  general  map  of  Java  given  in  Sir  Stamford’s  history  of  that  Island.  The  materials 
 collected  during  this  tour  formed  the  basis  of  an  essay  which  was  printed  in  the  8th  volume  of  the 
 Batavian  Society’s  Transactions. 
 
 “ The  latter  part  of  1814,  and  the  commencement  of  1815,  were  characterized  by  ‘a  series 
 of  domestic  afflctions,’  which  are  pathetically  alluded  to  in  Sir  Stamford’s  address  to  the  Batavian 
 Society,  delivered  on  the  11th  of  September.  Some  weeks  before  this  period  of  sufferings  he 
 received  from  his  friends  in  England  a number  of  queries  relating  chiefly  to  those  natural  produc- 
 tions of  Java,  which  are  important  in  a commercial  or  economical  point  of  view,  in  respect  to  which 
 he  desired  my  detailed  communications.  My  replies  were  forwarded  in  February,  and  on  the  7th 
 of  March  he  wrote  the  following  letter. 
 
616 
 
 LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 “ ‘ To  Dr.  Horsfield. 
 
 “ ‘ Buitcnzorg,  March  7,  1815. 
 
 “ ‘ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ ‘ I have  to  convey  to  you  ray  acknowledgments  for  your  letter  of  the  3d  ultimo,  giving 
 cover  to  your  very  interesting  replies  to  the  queries  which  I had  formerly  transmitted ; I request 
 you  w'ill  accept  my  thanks  for  the  trouble  and  attention  which  have  been  required  on  the 
 occasion. 
 
 “ ‘ The  replies  are  so  full  that  there  are  only  two  points  on  which  I feel  an  anxiety  to  derive 
 more  detailed  information,  and  which,  after  the  trouble  I have  already  given  you,  I am  almost 
 ashamed  to  notice.  I allude  to  the  natural  history  of  the  teak-tree,  and  some  account  of  the  Java- 
 woot ; the  former  I hope  (and  indeed  as  you  have  stated)  you  reserve  for  a separate  paper ; the 
 latter,  I believe,  is  not  mentioned  amongst  the  list  of  grains. 
 
 “ ‘ The  natural  history  of  the  teak-tree,  with  an  account  of  the  different  species  growing  on 
 this  Island  is  highly  interesting  in  a public  point  of  view,  and  would  form  a fair  subject  for  a paper 
 in  the  Transactions.  I should  also  like  to  possess  the  information  to  communicate  it  to  the 
 authorities  at  home. 
 
 “ ‘ The  grain,  which  the  Javanese  call  Java-woot,  and  from  which  they  pretend  the  name  of 
 Java  for  this  Island  to  have  been  derived,  cannot  be  unknown  to  you:  I have  it  growing  in  my 
 garden,  and  possess  specimens  of  the  flower  and  seed.  The  Javanese  support  the  opinion,  that 
 the  seed  of  this  plant  was  the  principal  article  of  food  before  rice  was  introduced ; and  I feel  some 
 curiosity  to  ascertain  if  it  be  a grain  peculiar  to  this  Island,  or  a grain  already  described,  and  com- 
 mon to  Western  India — the  grain  has  much  the  appearance  of  millet,  and  the  ears  are  peculiarly 
 rich  and  beautiful.  You  will  oblige  me  by  noticing  the  classical  name,  if  already  described,  and  if 
 not,  by  classing  it  yourself,  as  it  is  a plant  which  seems  unknown  to  Europeans  at  this  end  of  the 
 Island. 
 
 “ ‘ Every  care  shall  be  taken  of  the  boxes  of  plants,  &c.  they  are  daily  expected  from  Sama- 
 rang  in  the  Mary  Anne. 
 
 “ ‘ To  change  the  scene  : I was  lately  induced  to  ascend  the  Gunung  Gidi,  which  I accom- 
 plished with  some  difficulty;  we  found  some  parts  extremely  steep,  at  12  o’clock  (noon)  the  ther- 
 mometer was  at  55°  (Fahrenheit),  at  six  in  the  evening  it  fell  to  47°,  and  soon  to  46°,  at  which  it 
 continued  until  we  retired  to  rest,  about  9 ; at  daylight  in  the  morning,  we  found  it  at  45° ; but  the 
 night  was  foggy  and  damp,  and  in  clear  weather,  1 have  no  doubt  the  tliermoraeter  is  some  degrees 
 lower.  The  barometer  was  out  of  order,  and  we  did  not  take  it ; but  calculating  on  the  principle 
 which  has  been  adopted  in  the  ascent  of  balloons,  that  16  degrees  difference  of  the  thermometer 
 gives  a height  of  3500  feet;  we  cannot  estimate  the  Gidi  at  less  than  7000  feet,  the  difference  in 
 the  thermometer  being  at  the  least  32  degrees.  The  hill  at  Penang,  has  been  repeatedly  measured. 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 617 
 
 and  the  average  results  give  2750  feet,  the  difference  in  the  tliermometer  averages  12  degrees, 
 which  on  the  above  principle  gives  2755.  I shall  endeavour  to  have  the  height  of  the  Cede  ascer- 
 tained from  below ; and  if  you  have  not  already  ascertained  the  heights  of  the  other  principal  hills 
 shall  be  happy  to  prosecute  the  inquiry  throughout  the  Island.  I conclude  you  are  aware  that 
 Mr.  Heyland  ascended  Sindoro  last  year,  and  in  the  night  observed  the  thermometer  below  freez- 
 ing point. 
 
 “ ‘ We  had  a most  extensive  prospect  from  the  summit : — Batavia  roads,  with  the  shipping  so 
 distinct  that  we  could  distinguish  a ship  from  a brig  on  one  side,  and  Wine  Coops  Bay  still  more 
 distinct  on  the  other ; the  Islands  all  round  were  quite  distinct,  and  we  traced  the  sea  beyond  the 
 southernmost  point  of  Sumatra;  the  surf  on  the  south  coast  was  visible  to  the  naked  eye;  to  the 
 eastwai’d  we  included  Indi’a  Mayu  point  in  the  prospect,  and  Cheribon  Hill  rose  high  above  the 
 rest.  I think  we  may  say  that  we  had  nearly  within  our  range  all  that  part  of  the  Island  which 
 by  the  former  Government  was  not  called  Jam. 
 
 “ ‘ I remain,  my  dear  Sir, 
 
 “ ‘ Very  sincerely  yours, 
 
 “ ‘ Tho.  S.  Raffles.’ 
 
 “ Soon  after  this  Sir  Stamford  projected  a tour  to  the  Eastward,  on  a novel  and  previously 
 unattempted  route.  He  determined  to  pass  through  the  interior  and  mountainous  parts  of  the  Island, 
 regardless  of  the  difficulties  attending  such  an  enterprize.  Before  he  left  Buitenzorg  I was  favoured 
 with  the  following  communication. 
 
 “ ‘ To  Dr,  Horsjield. 
 
 “ ‘ Buitenzorg,  April  17,  1815. 
 
 “ ‘ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ ‘ I have  to  thank  you  for  your  very  interesting  and  instructive  letter  of  the  15th 
 
 March. 
 
 “ ‘ You  will  probably  have  heard  that  I purpose  a visit  to  the  Eastward  early  in  next  month ; 
 and  as  my  intention  is  to  go  to  Solo,  I shall  defer  entering  into  particulars  until  I have  the  plea- 
 sure of  a personal  communication.  I will  only  notice  that  I have  sent  instructions  to  England  for 
 the  barometers  agreeably  to  your  wish,  and  have  requested  Sir  Joseph  Banks  to  examine  them 
 before  they  are  sent  off ; my  agents  in  England  will  defi’ay  all  expences. 
 
 “ ‘ My  plan  is  to  proceed  by  the  middle  road  from  Sukapura  through  Banyumas  to  the 
 Kedu ; afterwards  to  Solo,  and  down  the  river  to  Gressic.  As  there  will  be  time  to  receive  your 
 reply  before  I leave  Bandong,  which  will  be  about  the  3d  of  May,  I shall  be  obliged  for  any  hints 
 
 4 K 
 
()18 
 
 LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD, 
 
 or  notices  regarding  particular  objects  which  may  deseiwe  attention  in  passing  by  this  route.  I 
 hope  to  pass  by  Gunung  Prahu. 
 
 “ ‘ 1 remain,  my  dear  Sir, 
 
 “ ‘ Very  faithfully  yours, 
 
 “ ‘ Thos.  S.  Raffles.’ 
 
 “In  the  month  of  May  the  Lieutenant-Governor  reached  the  capital  of  Suracarta.  He  was 
 accompanied  by  Lieutenant  M'atson,  Lieutenant  Baker,  and  several  other  military  officers,  who 
 gave  us  a full  account  of  the  difficulties  of  the  enterprize,  and  of  the  beauties  of  the  country. 
 Some  particulars  of  this  tour,  which  was  truly  characteristic  of  Sir  Stamford’s  energy  and  persever- 
 ance, are  preserved  in  a short  diary  kept  by  Lieutenant  Watson,  which  has  been  printed  in  the  first 
 volume  of  the  Asiatic  Journal,  (see  vol.  i.  124.)  After  leaving  the  Priangan  Regencies  and  Cheribon, 
 the  party  entered  the  district  of  Dayu-luhur,  situated  at  the  western  extremity  of  the  territory  of 
 the  native  princes ; and  it  may  be  interesting  to  preserve  a specimen  of  this  route,  by  an  account  of 
 the  passage  through  this  district,  in  the  words  of  Mr.  Watson. — ‘ On  the  following  day  (after 
 entering  the  dominions  of  the  Emperor  of  Solo)  we  performed  a long  and  arduous  journey  of 
 nearly  fifty  miles,  through  the  forest  of  Dayu-luhur,  a route  which  has  never  before  been  attempted 
 by  Europeans.  On  leaving  Maganang,  the  road  entered  at  once  into  a thick  forest  of  bamboos, 
 which  grow  in  clumps  at  some  distance  from  each  other,  leaving  the  space  between  perfectly  unoc- 
 cupied with  any  kind  of  vegetation.  At  a considerable  height  the  trees  branch  off  and  meet, 
 giving  a mutual  support,  and  forming  a canopy  so  close  and  thick  as  almost  to  exclude  the  light  at 
 mid-day.  Each  clump  forms,  with  the  adjacent  ones,  on  every  side,  natural  lofty  gothic  arches, 
 which  in  the  deep  gloom  that  surrounds  them,  except  from  the  partial  light  of  torches,  present  as 
 grand  and  awfully  romantic  a scene  as  can  be  well  imagined.  The  road,  or  rather  path,  through 
 the  forest  is  so  seldom  passed,  that  it  was  frequently  hardly  distinguishable.  In  some  places  it 
 lay  over  steep  mountains  and  almost  abrupt  precipices;  and,  in  others,  followed  the  courses  of 
 rivers,  or  wound  through  the  mazes  of  deep  ravines.  Our  horses  were  fortunately  excellent,  or  we 
 could  not  possibly  have  surmounted  the  difficulties  we  had  to  encounter.  As  it  was,  our  journey 
 was  completed  by  twelve  o’clock  in  the  day,  when  we  arrived  safely  at  Adji  Barang.  The  road  we 
 travelled  that  day  is  much  infested  by  tigers,  leopards,  &c. ; and  a follower  of  ours  was  actually 
 seized  by  one  of  these  destructive  animals,  and  much  torn  before  he  could  be  rescued  by  his  com- 
 panions.’ 
 
 “ Having  visited,  in  the  year  preceding  this  tour,  the  village  x\dji-barang,  on  the  confines  of 
 the  province  of  Dayu-luhur,  I am  enabled,  from  personal  experience,  to  estimate  the  difficulties 
 of  this  enterprize : at  the  same  time,  it  is  a gratifying  recollection,  that  in  my  return  to  the  capital 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 610 
 
 I prosecuted  the  same  route  which  Sir  Stamford  afterwards  followed : but  he  traversed  in  a few 
 days  a distance  which  occupied,  at  the  rate  of  my  usual  progress,  several  weeks. 
 
 “ This  journey  was  in  every  point  of  view  truly  gratifying  to  Sir  Stamford’s  mind.  The  scenery 
 is  in  no  part  of  Java  more  diversified  or  beautiful:  part  of  the  road  winds  through  an  extensive 
 valley,  in  which  one  of  the  largest  rivers  of  the  Island  flows  to  the  southern  ocean  ; it  then  passes 
 over  the  elevated  ridges  connected  with  Gunung  Prahu  : subsequently  enters  the  extensive  plain  of 
 the  Kedu,  which  is  bounded  on  the  north  and  south  by  two  of  the  most  majestic  volcanic  peaks  of  the 
 Island ; and  finally  leads  between  the  Merapi  and  Merbabu  to  the  extensive  plain  of  Suracarta. 
 
 “ This  journey  likewise  afforded  Sir  Stamford  an  opportunity  of  examining  in  person  those  stu- 
 pendous monumental  remains  of  a hierarchy  long  since  obsolete,  which  are  promiscuously  scattered 
 through  all  parts  of  the  Island.  In  the  dominions  of  the  native  princes  they  exist,  however,  in 
 greater  abundance,  and  possess  a more  important  character.  They  consist  of  ruins  of  Hindu  temples 
 or  pagodas,  and  of  images,  sculptures,  and  inscriptions ; and  the  route  which  Sir  Stamford  pursued 
 from  Cheribon  to  the  capital  of  Suracarta  afforded  a very  convenient  opportunity  of  inspecting  those 
 of  Gunung  Prahu,  Boro-budur,  Brambanan,  and  Chandi-sewu.  Many  of  these  had  previously 
 been  surveyed  and  delineated,  under  his  orders,  by  proper  officers ; but  his  personal  examination 
 was  required,  to  enable  him  to  determine  the  accuracy  of  their  plans  and  delineations,  and  to  add 
 those  practical  details  which  w'ould  give  full  authenticity  to  the  descriptions.  From  the  capital  he 
 subsequently  proceeded  to  the  grotesque  antiquities  at  Suku,  which  possess  a very  peculiar  cha- 
 racter, and  the  existence  of  which  had  been  communicated  to  the  Resident  at  the  Emperor’s  court 
 but  a few  weeks  before  the  visit  of  the  Lieutenant-Governor.  On  his  further  route  to  the  east- 
 ward he  also  inspected  the  remains  of  Majapahit,  and  the  beautiful  edifices  of  Singo-Sari  in  the 
 province  of  Malang.  It  fell  to  my  lot  to  examine,  in  the  course  of  this  year,  many  other  ruins  of 
 a similar  description,  which  are  found  in  the  distant  eastern  provinces  of  the  native  princes ; a 
 concise  notice  of  them  is  contained  in  Sir  Stamford’s  general  account  of  the  Javan  antiquities. 
 Various  details  on  particular  ruins  were  likewise  communicated  to  the  Lieutenant-Governor  by  his 
 friends,  from  which  collectively  he  has  been  enabled  to  give,  in  the  9th  chapter  of  the  History  of 
 Java,  those  copious  details,  accompanied  by  beautiful  illustrations,  which  add  a peculiar  interest  to 
 his  work,  enhanced  by  the  consideration,  that,  during  the  short  period  of  the  British  possession  of 
 Java,  these  stupendous  remains  of  antiquity,  the  history  of  which  has  not  been  preserved  among 
 the  present  inhabitants,  w-ere  either  discovered  or  rescued  from  the  obscurity  in  which  they 
 had  been  buried  for  many  centuries.  Indeed,  Sir  Stamford  has  largely  contributed  to  the  gratifi- 
 cation and  instruction  of  the  present  generation,  by  his  labours  in  this  department ; and  it  is  but 
 justice  to  allow,  that  in  this  particular  both  his  personal  exertions  and  his  general  liberality  have 
 been  very  great. 
 
 “ During  this  visit  to  the  native  courts  I had  the  satisfaction  to  perceive  that  Sir  Stamford’s 
 interest  in  my  pursuits  was  undiminished;  he  received  with  attention  ray  details,  and  exa- 
 
 4 K 2 
 
620 
 
 LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 mined  carefully  the  collections,  drawings,  maps,  &c.  prepared  since  the  period  of  his  former 
 visit.  I submitted  to  him  a plan  of  an  extensive  excursion  through  the  eastern  provincss  of  the 
 native  princes’  territory,  and  he  fully  approved  of  my  design.  In  accordance  with  this,  I com- 
 menced my  journey  soon  after  the  Lieutenant-Governor’s  departure ; I proceeded  in  an  eastern 
 direction,  and  skirting  the  northern  declivities  of  the  mountain  Lawu,  traversed  the  provinces  of 
 Sukkowati,  Jogorogo,  Madiun,  and  Kediri ; at  the  capital  of  the  latter  I remained  some  days 
 to  work  up  my  drawings,  and  to  arrange  my  collections.  I then  went  on  to  Srengat,  an  exten- 
 sive and  important  district  at  the  eastern  confines  of  the  princes’  dominions,  and  abounding  in 
 extensive  and  interesting  remains  of  the  former  Hindu  race  of  inhabitants.  Leaving  this  place,  I 
 passed  through  desolate  tracts  to  the  southern  coast,  then  northward  again  to  Pronorogo,  and  finally 
 returned  to  the  capital  along  the  southern  declivities  of  the  mountain  Lawu,  where  I devoted  a few 
 days  to  the  examination  of  the  astonishing  ruins  at  Suku.  Immediately  after  my  return  to  the 
 capital  I sent  Sir  Stamford  an  abstract  of  my  route,  which  he  acknowledged  without  delay,  and 
 from  his  letter,  which  was  dated  the  25th  of  November,  I give  the  following  extract. 
 
 “ ‘ To  Dr.  Horsjield. 
 
 “ ‘ Buitenzorg,  November  25,  1815. 
 
 “ ‘ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ ‘ I wrote  you  a few  hasty  lines  by  Major  Johnson,  who  left  this  for  Solo  a few  days  ago. 
 I have  now  more  particularly  to  thank  you  for  your  communication  regarding  your  late  tour ; it  is, 
 perhaps,  fortunate  that  yon  availed  yourself  of  the  present  season,  as  we  may  certainly  expect  the 
 Dutch  before  the  next,  and  I conclude  that  you  will  now  be  pretty  soon  prepared  for  a trip  to 
 Europe,  happen  what  may. 
 
 “ ‘ The  transfer  of  these  colonies  being  now  no  longer  doubtful,  and  there  being  fair  grounds  for 
 expecting  the  arrival  of  the  Dutch  authorities  in  the  spring  of  next  year,  I am  desirous  of  making  all 
 my  arrangements  for  the  voyage  home  ; and  I have  requested  Major  J ohnson  to  communicate  to  you 
 the  outline  of  my  plans.  Should  you  determine  to  attach  yourself  to  me  in  proceeding  to  England, 
 you  may  rest  assured  of  the  exertion  of  all  the  influence  which  I may  possess  in  bringing  forward  to 
 notice  and  reward,  those  exertions  and  talents,  which  only  require  to  be  known  to  be  acknowledged. 
 
 “ ‘ In  the  meantime,  as  favourable  opportunities  occur  during  the  succeeding  months,  I think 
 it  would  be  advisable  for  you  to  send  your  collections  to  Batavia  as  early  as  possible,  in  order  that 
 they  may  be  sent  to  Europe  at  once. 
 
 “ ‘ I take  this  occasion  to  enclose  to  you  a copy  of  my  last  discourse  to  the  Society,  in  which 
 you  will  perceive  that  I have  indented  pretty  largely  on  your  stores.  My  object  has  been  to  bring 
 your  labours  forward  as  much  as  possible ; and  I have  availed  myself  of  your  accurate  style ; in 
 many  instances  I have  used  your  own  words — it  is  very  incorrectly  printed,  and  since  it  has  come 
 from  the  press,  I perceive  many  errors  which  did  not  previously  occur. 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 621 
 
 “ ‘Your  first  paper  is  through  the  press,  and  the  essays  on  the  western  provinces  are  in  pro- 
 gress. I am  very  anxious  to  get  the  eighth  volume  out  before  we  leave  J ava,  and  to  lay  the  foun- 
 dation of  a ninth,  to  be  printed  in  India. 
 
 “ ‘ Yours  sincerely, 
 
 “ ‘ T.  S.  Raffles.’ 
 
 “ Not  many  weeks  after  the  date  of  this  letter.  Sir  Stamford  was  suddenly  summoned  to  the 
 Eastward,  in  consequence  of  a conspiracy  among  the  Sepoys  serving  in  Java.  As  this  conspiracy 
 had  originated  at  the  native  courts,  he  likewise  proceeded  to  Suracarta,  in  order  to  regulate  in 
 person,  several  important  points  on  which  the  future  tranquillity  of  the  Island  materially  depended. 
 His  visit  was  short  and  abrupt,  and  I mention  it  chiefly  as  a pi’oof  of  the  great  activity  and  energy 
 which  characterized  his  public  conduct.  Of  this  mysterious  event,  the  European  inhabitants  fortu- 
 nately I’emained  almost  entirely  unapprized,  although  their  existence  probably  depended  on  the  prompt 
 decision  of  a moment,  which  under  Providence,  was  displayed  by  the  British  officers  in  the  garrison 
 of  Djojocarta.  And  as  Sir  Stamford  has  himself  mentioned  this  transaction  in  the  History  of 
 Java,  it  may  properly  be  stated  that  the  confidential  friends  of  the  Susuhunan  of  Suracarta,  a prince 
 who  possessed  many  distinguished  talents,  and  much  amiableness  of  disposition,  were  peculiarly 
 gi’atified  by  the  promptness  and  mildness  of  Sir  Stamford’s  conduct,  which  essentially  contributed  to 
 save  this  Prince  from  the  ruin,  which  in  all  probability  his  weakness,  in  listening  to  the  insinu- 
 ation of  the  treacherous  conspii’ators,  had  otherwise  entailed  on  him.  On  the  occasion  of  this  visit 
 of  His  Excellency,  I was  enabled  to  make  in  person,  several  preparatory  dispositions  towards  a 
 despatch  of  my  collection  to  England,  in  the  event  of  the  transfer  of  this  colony,  which  had  already 
 been  intimated  to  me. 
 
 “ This  arduous  enterprize  to  the  eastward,  undertaken  in  the  most  insalubrious  season  of  the 
 year,  appears  to  have  unfavourably  affected  the  constitution  of  the  Lieutenant-Governor ; after  a 
 lapse  of  two  months,  I received  the  following  letter. 
 
 “ ‘ Buitemorg,  February  28,  1816. 
 
 “ ‘ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ ‘ I should  have  written  to  you  some  time  since,  had  I not  been  confined  to  my  bed  from 
 serious  indisposition.  I am  happy,  however,  to  say  that  I am  now  on  my  recovei'y,  and  in  a tew 
 weeks  I trust  to  be  restored  to  a better  state  of  health  than  I have  enjoyed  for  some  years : at  any 
 rate,  if  complete  salivation  is  likely  to  have  that  effect,  I ought  to  have  every  confidence. 
 
 “ ‘ You  will,  no  doubt,  have  heard  of  the  expected  changes  in  the  administration  of  this  colony. 
 It  seems  the  authorities  at  home  have  no  idea  of  its  immediate  resumption  by  the  Dutch,  and  have 
 been  induced  to  believe,  that  it  may  be  more  economically  managed  than  at  present.  My  period  of 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR,  HORSFIELD. 
 
 ()22 
 
 five  years  is  nearly  expired,  and  by  appointing  me  to  the  charge  of  the  settlements  on  the  West 
 coast  of  Sumatra,  they  consider  they  have  adequately  rewarded  my  services — be  this  as  it  may,  it 
 is  clear  you  are  to  expect  a new  Governor,  (Mr.  Fendall,  who  came  to  India  in  1778),  in  the  course 
 of  the  ensuing  month,  a new  Commander  in  Chief,  Sir  Wm.  Keir,  and  a new  civil  member  of 
 Council,  Mr.  Abrahams. 
 
 “ ‘ The  state  of  my  health  has  been  such,  that  with  reference  to  the  possibility  of  Java 
 remaining  for  some  time  in  English  hands,  I had  almost  determined  on  going  home  direct;  but 
 unless  I could  get  away  before  the  end  of  March,  I should  have  the  risk  of  a winter  passage  round 
 the  Cape,  which  the  weak  state  of  my  constitution  could  not  stand.  I have  therefore  nearly  made 
 up  my  mind  to  proceed  to  Bencoolen. 
 
 “ ‘ At  Bencoolen,  although  my  emoluments  will  be  nearly  equal  to  what  I receive  here, 
 I shall  comparatively  have  nothing  to  do  in  a public  capacity ; and  therefore  my  whole  time  will 
 be  devoted  to  the  arrangement  of  the  materials  which  I have  collected,  regarding  the  history,  lan- 
 guages, and  antiquities  of  Java,  It  is  possible  I may  take  a more  correct  view  of  the  subject 
 at  a short  distance,  than  actually  on  the  spot;  as  a man  cannot  judge  of  the  shape  of  a mountain 
 when  close  to  it,  so  well  as  he  can  at  a distance. 
 
 “ ‘ It  may  be  of  use  to  your  researches  that  I collect  the  different  mineral  appearances  of  Su- 
 matra, and  forward  them  to  you,  with  a description  of  the  situations  in  which  they  are  found.  I 
 request  you  will  call  upon  me  without  reserve  for  any  assistance  which  an  wwscientific  man  can 
 afford. 
 
 “ ‘ I regret  to  say  that  I have  not  yet  succeeded  in  decyphering  the  inscription,  of  which  you 
 sent  me  a fac-simile.  The  Panumbahan  was  only  able  to  make  out  a few  letters : although  he 
 acknowledges  that  the  characters  are,  in  many  points,  like  the  Kawd,  he  observes,  that  either  the 
 stone  must  have  been  injured,  or  the  characters  not  exactly  taken  off ; but  this  may  be  only  an 
 excuse  to  cover  his  ignorance  ; the  contents,  therefore,  can  only  be  looked  for  at  Solo  from  Yuso 
 Dipuro,  to  whom  I hope  you  have  entrusted  the  others.  Major  Johnson  will,  at  your  request, 
 give  him  an  order  which  he  must  attend  to  immediately ; and  should  we  fail  in  this  quarter,  I think 
 we  may  at  all  events  conclude  with  the  satisfaction  that  the  characters  are  at  this  day  unintelligible 
 on  Java.  I confess,  however,  that  I do  not  expect  this  result;  I calculate  much  on  Yuso  Dipuro, 
 and  particularly  respecting  the  dates,  which  are  the  most  important  points. 
 
 “ ‘ I believe  that  I mentioned  to  you  when  at  Solo,  that  I purposed  submitting  my  drawings 
 of  the  antiquities  to  the  persons  most  versed  on  this  subject  in  Europe,  and  subsequently  to 
 engrave  at  my  own  expence  such  as  might  be  selected,  on  account  of  their  peculiarity  and  refer- 
 ence to  the  history  of  the  country ; those  which  you  possess  of  the  Eastern  Provinces  are  entirely 
 new  to  me ; some  of  them  are  magnificent,  and  at  any  rate  rank  with  the  most  remarkable  on  the 
 Island,  and  most  of  them  evince  considerable  peculiarity,  differing  in  form  and  structure  from  those 
 generally  observed  elsewhere.  Cojiies  of  such  as  you  can  spare  will  be  very  acceptable,  and  if 
 
 o 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  FIORSFIELD. 
 
 623 
 
 eventually  engraved,  the  full  credit  of  the  discovery,  and  of  the  attention  paid  in  taking  the  copies, 
 will  be  given  to  you.  It  is  far  from  my  wish  to  interfere  in  any  branch  which  you  may  be  inclined 
 yourself  to  take  up,  but  knowing  your  determination  to  confine  yourself  generally  to  natural  his- 
 tory, it  has  occurred  to  me,  that  the  means  I now  offer  may  tend  more  immediately  to  bring  your 
 exertions  in  other  pursuits  sooner  to  light,  and  more  advantageously  than  otherwise ; while,  at  the 
 same  time,  it  will  be  a great  object  to  bring  all  the  remains  of  antiquity  into  one  view. 
 
 “ ‘ As  far  as  I can  at  present  judge,  Mr.  Fendall  may  be  expected  about  the  10th  or  15th  of 
 March,  if  not  earlier ; and  I may  remain  here  about  a fortnight  after  his  arrival.  I should  be 
 happy  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  introduce  you  to  him  personally.  From  what  I hear,  I think  you 
 will  find  him  inclined  to  continue  to  you  every  protection  and  assistance ; and  I need  not  add,  no 
 exertion  of  mine  shall  be  wanting  to  ensure  it. 
 
 “ ‘ Arrangements  will  soon  be  made  for  conveying  the  birds’  nests  to  Batavia,  and  the  same 
 conveyance  will  answer  very  well  for  sending  to  Batavia  the  collection  which  you  may  have  prepared 
 for  Europe,  as  the  object  will  be  to  prevent  their  delay  at  Samarang. 
 
 “ ‘ I remain,  my  dear  Sir, 
 
 <•  « Very  sincerely  yours, 
 
 “ ‘ Thos.  S.  Raffles.’ 
 
 “In  the  course  of  a very  few  days  I was  favoured  with  the  following  communication : 
 
 “ ‘ Buitenzorg,  March  2,  1816. 
 
 “ ‘ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 ‘ Since  last  writing  you,  the  turn  of  my  illness  has  been  such,  that  I have  been  induced 
 to  relinquish  the  idea  of  going  to  Bencoolen,  and  have  resolved  to  take  passage  for  Europe  direct. 
 I shall  certainly  quit  Batavia  in  the  course  of  the  present  month,  and  therefore  lose  no  time  in  com- 
 municating this  point  to  you,  in  the  hope  that  I may  still  have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you  before  I 
 go,  and,  at  all  events,  of  receiving  a full  communication  of  your  wishes  in  Europe,  in  order  that  I 
 may  promote  your  views  to  the  utmost;  make  use  of  me  in  any  way,  and  depend  upon  every  atten- 
 tion being  paid  to  your  memorandums. 
 
 “ ‘ Adverting  to  the  advantage  which  may  be  derived  by  any  of  your  collections  of  birds,  ani- 
 mals, &c.,  which  may  be  ready,  going  in  the  same  ship  with  me,  on  account  of  the  care  I can  take 
 of  them  on  the  voyage  and  delivery,  I have  sent  a circular  order  to  the  Residents,  desiring  them  to 
 forward  whatever  boxes  you  may  have  ready,  by  land,  night  or  day ; they  can  easily  be  secured 
 from  the  weather,  and  if  sent  off  immediately,  will  arrive  in  time.  Should  there  be  a cruizer  or  any 
 good  sea  conveyance  at  Samarang,  Captain  Bidwell  will  avail  himself  of  it ; otherwise  forward  them 
 on  by  coolies. 
 
62i 
 
 LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 “ ‘ Should  you  have  at  hand  a collection  of  rare  seeds,  or  any  thing  else  likely  to  be  acceptable 
 to  Sir  Joseph  Banks,  send  them  on. 
 
 “ ‘ In  the  hope  of  seeing  you  at  Batavia,  I shall  prepare  some  boxes  for  plants,  which  you  can 
 perhaps  select  on  the  spot,  as  it  is  too  late  to  receive  them  from  Samarang. 
 
 “ ‘ Whatever  you  do  send  on,  let  them  be  despatched  quickly,  otherwise  they  may  arrive  too 
 late.  I have  written  particularly  to  Major  Johnson  on  the  subject. 
 
 “ ‘ Yours  sincerely, 
 
 “ ‘ Thos.  S.  Raffles.’ 
 
 “ This  was  followed  on  the  6th  of  March  by  more  precise  notice  of  the  prospects  of  the 
 colony. 
 
 “ ‘ Buitenzorg,  March  6,  1816. 
 
 “ ‘ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ ‘ The  fate  of  Java  is  no  longer  doubtful;  a Dutch  ship  arrived  yesterday,  having  on 
 board  Major  Nahuys  and  twenty  other  passengers.  She  sailed  from  the  Texel  on  the  29th  of 
 October,  in  company  with  the  expedition  for  taking  possession  of  this  colony,  on  board  which  the 
 Commissioners,  Governor  General,  and  3,500  troops  embarked.  The  ship  parted  from  the  fleet 
 off  the  Land’s-End,  and,  giving  them  time  for  stopping  at  the  Cape,  they  may  be  expected  in  a 
 month  or  six  weeks ; so  that  the  duration  of  the  English  Government  cannot  now  be  of  many 
 months’  duration.’ 
 
 “ In  conforming  with  the  recommendations  contained  in  the  preceding  letters,  I prepared,  \vith 
 every  possible  dispatch,  complete  series  of  all  my  collections  of  plants,  of  mammalia,  and  of  birds ; 
 these  were  forwarded  to  Batavia  in  the  manner  pointed  out  by  himself:  and  although  they  did  not 
 reach  that  place  before  Sir  Stamford’s  departure,  yet  they  followed  him  without  delay,  and  arrived 
 at  their  destination  without  accident. 
 
 “ The  last  communication  I received  from  Java  was  written  after  his  embarkation. 
 
 ‘ “ On  hoard  the  Ganges,  off  Anjer,  March  26,  1816. 
 
 “ ‘ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ ‘ We  have  had  so  quick  a run  to  this  place,  that  I have  only  now  time  to  say,  that 
 prior  to  my  embarking  from  Batavia  yesterday  morning,  I had  the  pleasure  to  receive  your  letter, 
 accompanied  by  three  packages — the  seeds,  the  Upas,  and  the  drawings  of  plants  and  antiquities ; 
 the  other  collections  had  not  arrived. 
 
 “ ‘ I have  communicated  very  fully  with  my  successor,  Mr.  Fendall,  on  the  subject  of  your 
 undertaking ; and  I am  authorized  to  assure  you,  that  he  will  continue  to  you  every  protection  and 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 625 
 
 assistance  which  has  heretofore  been  afforded ; and  that  when  the  Dutch  authorities  arrive,  he  will 
 be  ready  to  adopt  any  arrangement  which  may  be  conducive  to  your  views.  Captain  Watson,  who 
 will  continue  on  Mr.  Fendall’s  staff,  will  take  care  that  all  your  collections  are  carefully  forwarded 
 jo  Europe.  Direct  them  to  Mr.  Cobb ; but  desire  Captain  Watson  to  inform  me,  in  duplicate,  of 
 the  ships  by  which  they  are  sent,  that  on  their  arrival  in  England  I may  look  out  for  them,  and 
 take  care  they  are  not  neglected. 
 
 “ ‘ I have  not  time  to  say  more  than  that  all  your  wishes,  as  far  as  I know,  shall  be  most  scru- 
 pulously attended  to.  I will  write  you  very  fully  after  my  arrival  in  England ; and  in  the  hope 
 that  you  will  not  fail  to  WTite  me  very  frequently, 
 
 “ ‘ I remain,  my  dear  Sir, 
 
 “ ‘ With  much  esteem, 
 
 “ ‘ Your  very  sincere  friend, 
 
 “ ‘ Tiios.  Raffles.’ 
 
 “ The  sentiments  of  sorrow  I naturally  and  deeply  felt  on  the  receipt  of  this  letter,  which 
 closed  for  the  present  a correspondence  that  had  afforded  me  so  much  encouragement  and  delight, 
 were  soon  followed  by  a train  of  soothing  and  exhilarating  reflections.  As  far  as  these  regarded 
 Sir  Stamford  in  person,  it  was  consolatory  to  anticipate  that  the  voyage  would  restore  his  health ; 
 and  to  consider  that  he  was  returning  to  his  native  country  with  prospects  and  recommendations 
 which  are  rarely  the  portion,  even  of  the  most  meritorious  and  successful  public  functionaries.  On 
 the  other  hand,  when  I adverted  to  my  own  situation,  I could  reasonably  entertain  the  hope  that 
 the  departure  of  my  distinguished  patron  would  have  no  injurious  effect  on  my  pursuits.  By  his 
 kind  exertions  and  recommendations,  the  countenance  and  support  of  his  successor  were  fully 
 secured  to  me,  so  that  I was  enabled  to  resume  my  inquiries  without  interruption.  I accordingly 
 determined  to  employ  the  period  that  might  still  be  allotted  to  me,  as  advantageously  as  possible. 
 Among  many  other  objects  of  examination,  the  mountain  Prahu  appeared  at  this  time  the  most 
 important.  My  former  visit  had  been  very  hasty,  and  had  rather  awakened  than  satisfied  my 
 attention  in  regard  to  its  high  interest,  both  in  a geological  and  botanical  point  of  view.  As  soon 
 as  my  preparations  were  completed,  I proceeded  thither,  and  spent  nearly  one  month  in  those 
 elevated  regions.  I then  took  a southern  direction,  and  after  a short  abode  at  Djojocarta,  once 
 more  visited  the  sea-coast  of  the  medial  portion  of  Java.  Soon  after  my  return  to  the  residency  of 
 Suracarta,  the  Island  of  Java,  and  consequently  the  Government  establishments  at  the  native 
 courts,  were  restored  to  the  Dutch : the  British  garrison  took  its  final  departure  at  a period  much 
 earlier  than  I had  flattered  myself  would  be  the  case;  but  by  the  friendly  relation  existing  at  this  time 
 between  the  two  nations;  by  the  liberal  exertions  in  my  behalf  of  the  Honorable  John  Fendall, 
 and  by  the  active  zeal  of  the  Secretary,  Mr.  Assey,  who  was  minutely  acquainted  with  every  thing 
 regarding  my  pursuits,  I obtained,  through  an  official  communication,  the  assurance  of  the  protec- 
 
 4 L 
 
626 
 
 LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 tion  and  support  of  the  Netherlands’  Government,  in  the  prosecution  of  my  researches.  I was, 
 therefore,  enabled  to  devote  another  year  to  the  desirable  object  of  bringing  my  labours  to  a satis- 
 factory conclusion.  The  plan  I accordingly  formed  embraced  principally  the  following  objects : — 
 First,  the  examination  of  various  localities  in  the  territory  of  the  native  princes,  more  particularly 
 interesting  in  a botanical  and  geological  point  of  view ; secondly,  the  extension  of  my  observations 
 on  the  metamorphosis  of  Javanese  Lepidopterous  insects,  and  of  the  series  of  drawings  in  progress 
 for  their  illustration ; thirdly,  the  Flora  of  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  the  capital  of  Suracarta, 
 and  the  description  of  the  agriculture  of  this  district ; fourthly,  the  completion  of  various  miscel- 
 laneous notices  of  the  native  courts,  the  statistics  of  their  territories,  the  manners  and  domestic 
 arrangements  of  the  Princes,  their  amusements,  and  public  spectacles  ; fifthly,  the  working  up  of 
 an  extensive  series  of  drawings  in  all  departments  of  natural  history,  as  well  as  of  views,  maps, 
 and  plans. 
 
 “ Accordingly,  I undertook  another  visit  to  the  confines  of  the  two  principal  volcanos  of  this 
 part  of  the  Island,  and  examined  in  detail  the  summit  of  mountain  Merapi.  I then  proceeded  to 
 the  districts  of  Pajittan  and  Kalak,  near  the  Southern  Ocean,  in  order  to  examine  the  geological 
 constitution  of  the  ridges  along  the  coast,  and  to  devote  the  most  productive  season  of  the  year  to 
 general  entomology,  and  to  the  metamorphosis  of  Lepidoptera,  in  a tract  abounding  with  a most 
 luxuriant  vegetation.  After  my  return  to  the  capital,  early  in  the  year  1817,  I employed  several 
 months  to  the  third  and  fourth  points  above  enumerated,  namely,  the  peculiarities  of  the  natives, 
 and  the  flora  and  agriculture  of  the  central  districts.  I then  secured  my  collections  for  a voyage  to 
 England,  forwarded  them  to  Samarang,  and  prepared  for  a final  departure  from  my  long  and 
 favourite  place  of  sojourn.  I concluded  my  investigations  of  the  native  princes’  territories  by  a visit 
 to  the  antiquities  of  Boro-budur,  in  the  Kedu,  and  to  those  of  Brambanan  and  Chandi-sew'u,  in  Mat- 
 taram,  thence  proceeding  in  an  eastern  direction,  I traversed  the  provinces  of  Sukkowati  and  Gro- 
 bogan,  surveyed  once  more  the  mud-fountains  of  Kuwu,  then  directing  my  course  westward  through 
 Damak,  reached  the  capital  of  Samarang  on  the  1st  of  January,  1818. 
 
 “ In  the  course  of  the  year  just  closed,  and  wdiile  I was  preparing  for  my  departure  from 
 Suracarta,  I received  a proof  that  Sir  Stamford  had  not  been  unmindful  of  me  or  of  my  interests 
 since  his  arrival  in  England.  A very  opportune  despatch  from  him  reached  me  in  perfect  safety  : 
 it  consisted  of  several  well  preserved  mountain  barometers,  and  a variety  of  books  and  literary 
 notices  of  great  interest.  The  letter  which  accompanied  these  was  peculiarly  exhilarating  at  the 
 moment  I received  it,  when  I w'as  actually  employed  in  securing  my  collections  for  the  voyage  to 
 England:  it  contained  the  pleasing  intelligence  that  the  former  despatch  had  arrived  in  safety,  and 
 in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation.  I was  therefore  encouraged  to  make  every  possible  effort,  in 
 securing  the  most  important  portion  which  still  remained  under  my  charge,  together  \vith  my  draw- 
 ings and  manuscripts. 
 
 “ With  this  letter  I shall  close  my  extracts  from  Sir  Stamford’s  correspondence. 
 
 7 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 627 
 
 “ ‘ London,  February  G,  1817. 
 
 “ ‘ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ ‘ Referring  you  to  my  former  letters,  I will  now  only  repeat  that  the  scientific  world 
 are  looking  forward  with  the  gi’eatest  anxiety  for  your  safe  arrival  in  England,  and  that  you  may 
 be  assured  of  receiving  every  assistance  and  encouragement  in  your  intended  publications  which 
 your  most  sanguine  wishes  could  have  anticipated.  I have  the  satisfaction  to  inform  you  that  the 
 whole  of  your  collections,  I mean  the  twelve  chests  which  were  intended  to  have  accompanied  me, 
 have  arrived  safe,  and  have  been  examined  by  the  custom-house  officers  in  my  presence.  The 
 whole  are  in  the  best  preservation,  and  I can  assure  you  that  your  exertions  have  not  only  delighted 
 but  astonished  every  one  who  has  been  made  acquainted  with  them.  I have  the  opportunity  of 
 seeing  Sir  Joseph  Banks  very  frequently,  and  he  will  be  ready  to  give  you  the  warmest  welcome  on 
 your  arrival  here.  I have  delayed  writing  this  letter  until  the  last  moment,  in  the  hope  of  having 
 a communication  to  make  to  you  from  him,  and  yet  hope  his  packet  will  be  in  time ; it  will  contain 
 two  lists  of  the  Herbaria  you  formerly  sent  to  him,  with  his  notes  on  each  subject.  He  seems 
 particularly  desirous  of  further  information  on  the  Pine  of  Java,  which  is  noticed  in  one  of  the 
 volumes  of  the  Transactions,  and  which  I conclude  to  be  that  found  on  the  Teng’ger  mountains. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 “ ‘ You  will  perceive  by  the  public  prints  that  I am  under  engagement  to  prepare  an  account 
 of  Java.  In  the  introductory  chapter  I shall  endeavour  to  pave  the  way  for  your  more  valuable  and 
 interesting  publications. 
 
 “ ‘ It  is  most  probable  I shall  be  again  returning  to  the  East  in  the  course  of  the  present  year ; 
 and  if  I am  likely  to  reach  the  Eastern  Islands  before  the  time  you  proposed  remaining  elapses,  I 
 shall  be  tempted  to  touch  at  Batavia,  in  the  hope  of  seeing  you ; it  is  possible  that  I may  in  conse- 
 quence be  at  Batavia  by  next  Christmas ; but  on  this  point,  you  shall  hereafter  hear  from  me  more 
 fully. 
 
 “ ‘ Believe  me,  my  dear  Sir, 
 
 “ ‘ Most  truly  yours, 
 
 “ ‘ Thos.  S.  Raffles.’ 
 
 “ In  the  early  part  of  1818,  I proceeded  towards  the  western  extremity  of  Java.  The  inti- 
 mation contained  in  Sir  Stamford’s  letter,  and  the  necessity  of  terminating  my  labours  at  the  present 
 juncture,  concurred  in  directing  me  in  this  determination.  Any  opportunity  of  adding  to  my  re- 
 searches still  afforded  me,  would  be  employed  most  advantageously  in  the  Priangan  Regencies. 
 At  Buitenzorg  I received  the  liberal  protection  of  the  Dutch  authorities,  with  many  personal  atten- 
 tions most  politely  offered  me  by  their  Excellencies  the  Governor-General  and  the  Commissioner 
 M.  Elhout.  My  time  was,  for  some  weeks,  profitably  employed,  and  I resolved  to  make  an  excur- 
 sion to  the  province  of  Bantam. 
 
 4 L 2 
 
628 
 
 LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 “ In  prosecuting  this  tour  I passed  through  Batavia,  and  while  expecting  the  local  assistance 
 to  proceed,  Major  Travers  ai’rived,  in  the  ship  ‘ Lady  Raffles,’  with  intelligence  that  Sir  Stamford 
 had  reached  Bencoolen,  and  wdth  a cordial  and  pressing  invitation  to  accompany  the  Major  on 
 his  return,  with  all  my  collections  and  appendages.  The  accomplishment  of  this  was  facilitated 
 by  the  destination  of  the  vessel  on  the  coast  of  J ava ; instead  therefore  of  proceeding  to  Bantam, 
 I accompanied  the  commander  to  Samarang,  where  my  collections  were  safely  conveyed  on  board ; 
 and  not  many  days  after  this  auspicious  event,  I had  the  pleasure  and  satisfaction  of  saluting  Sir 
 Stamford  at  Bencoolen,  and  of  being  introduced  to  the  acquaintance  of  your  Ladyship. 
 
 “It  was  peculiarly  gratifying  to  observe,  that  the  visit  to  England  had  not  only  increased  the 
 zeal  and  ardour  of  Sir  Stamford  in  the  promotion  of  every  useful  object,  but  had  also  directed  his 
 attention  to  many  specific  subjects  of  curiosity  and  interest  in  science.  In  natural  history  par- 
 ticularly he  had  resolved  not  to  rest  satisfied  in  patronizing  the  labours  of  others,  but  likewise 
 to  afford  his  personal  co-operation.  When  we  arrived  he  had  already  performed  an  extensive 
 excursion  to  the  Passumah  district,  situated  south-eastward  of  Bencoolen,  during  which  that 
 remarkable  vegetable  production,  which  has  since  been  named  after  him,  was  discovered;  and 
 one  of  the  first  objects  of  curiosity  I observed,  on  ray  arrival  in  his  hospitable  residence,  was  a 
 di'awing  of  this  plant  in  the  hands  of  Dr.  Arnold. 
 
 “ Sir  Stamford  had  further  projected  a voyage  along  the  w’est  coast  of  Sumati’a,  and  a visit 
 to  Padang:  the  vessel  on  w'hich  my  collections  were  embarked  was  engaged  for  this  voyage, 
 and  as  her  subsequent  destination  was  to  return  to  Java,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  a cargo  for 
 England,  I readily  embraced  the  opportunity  of  inspecting  an  interesting  portion  of  the  Island  of 
 Sumatra. 
 
 “ During  the  voyage  to  Padang,  which  was  uncommonly  placid,  I submitted  to  Sir  Stamford 
 the  entire  result  of  my  previous  labours.  The  bulk  of  my  collections  was  on  board,  and  a 
 number  of  chests  had  intentionally  been  left  accessible ; he  therefore  inspected  so  many  of  the 
 quadrupeds,  birds  and  insects,  as  well  as  of  the  botanical  and  geological  specimens,  as  enabled 
 him  to  form  an  adequate  estimate  of  the  extent  of  the  collection  in  these  departments,  and  of  the 
 state  of  its  preseiwation.  He  likewise  examined  the  drawings,  maps,  and  manuscripts,  with 
 patient  attention,  and  was  therefore  enabled  subsequently  to  describe  the  whole  from  personal 
 inspection. 
 
 “ It  is  foreign  to  my  object  to  extend  this  hasty  sketch  by  any  remarks  on  the  expedition  to 
 Padang,  or  on  the  visit  to  the  interior  of  Sumatra,  which  was  subsequently  undertaken  from  that 
 place.  I may,  however,  be  allowed  to  state,  that  this  journey  afforded  me  a striking  opportunity 
 of  noticing  the  beneficial  and  invigorating  effects  of  European  atmosphere  and  society,  in  the 
 example  of  Sir  Stamford  and  of  your  Ladyship,  and  of  contrasting  it  with  the  debilitating  and 
 apathetic  influence  of  a long  residence  in  an  equinoctial  climate,  as  exhibited  in  my  own  person. 
 Indeed,  while  prosecuting  this  route,  I was  frequently  at  a loss  whether  most  to  admire  the  energy 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 (J29 
 
 and  enterprise  of  Sir  Stamford  in  surmounting  obstacles,  and  in  employing  every  practicable  effort 
 towards  obtaining  new  and  valuable  information ; or  the  patience,  perseverance,  and  fortitude  dis- 
 played by  your  Ladyship,  under  circumstances  of  difficulty  and  danger,  which  would  have  presented' 
 insurmountable  terrors  to  most  female  minds. 
 
 “ On  our  return  to  Bencoolen,  Sir  Stamford  added  several  very  important  acts  of  kindness  to 
 the  favours  already  conferred  on  me ; he  made  the  necessary  arrangements  with  the  commander 
 of  the  vessel  in  which  my  passage  to  England  was  engaged;  he  supplied  me  with  letters  of 
 introduction  to  his  numerous  friends;  and  he  added  to  the  official  communication  to  the  Ho- 
 nourable Court  of  Directors  which  accompanied  me,  a copious  description  of  all  the  collections 
 under  my  charge.  The  vessel  being  destined  to  receive  part  of  her  cargo  at  Surabaya,  I was 
 enabled  to  employ  several  months  very  advantageously  in  Java.  From  Batavia  I made  an  excur- 
 sion in  a western  direction  to  Bantam.  I then  proceeded,  through  the  interior,  to  the  Priangan 
 Regencies.  At  Chianjur  I left  the  road  for  an  excursion  to  the  mountain  Gede ; and  along  the 
 further  route  to  Samarang,  I had  many  opportunities  of  correcting  and  extending  my  former 
 observations.  In  the  month  of  January,  1819,  I went  on  board  at  Samarang,  and  in  July  I arrived 
 in  London. 
 
 “ The  recommendations  and  letters  of  introduction  with  which,  as  already  stated,  I was 
 copiously  provided  by  Sir  Stamford  at  my  departure  from  Bencoolen,  procured  me  a most  cordial 
 reception  from  his  friends  ; and  although  a perfect  stranger  in  England,  I obtained,  through  their 
 means,  those  kind  offices  and  friendly  attentions  which  gi'eatly  facilitated  and  encouraged  the  com- 
 mencement of  my  career.  And  here  I have  more  particularly  to  record  the  favourable  manner  in 
 which  he  was  pleased  to  bring  the  nature  of  my  employments  and  researches  to  the  notice  of 
 the  Honourable  Court  of  Directors  of  the  East  India  Company.  By  the  liberality  of  that  honour- 
 able body,  an  effectual  px’ovision  has  been  made  for  my  collections  in  the  Museum  at  the  India 
 House ; and  by  the  bountiful  support  granted  to  me,  I have  been  enabled  to  commence  and  prose- 
 cute the  primary  and  essential  object  of  all  my  labours — the  communication  of  the  discoveries  which 
 have  resulted  from  them  to  the  scientific  public ; and  although  ray  progress  hitherto  has  been 
 retarded,  yet  I am  not  discouraged  in  persevering  in  the  attempt.  But  scientific  details  are  not  the 
 object  of  this  communication ; and  I can,  therefore,  only  refer  to  the  works  already  published  from 
 ray  materials,  or  to  those  in  progress.  It  is,  however,  a vety  gratifying  consideration,  that  our 
 friend,  Mr.  Vigors,  has  undertaken  to  supply  any  deficiency  in  this  department,  which  might  be 
 expected  in  your  Memoir.  For  this  purpose  he  has  prepared  a nomenclatural  abstract  of  the  col- 
 lections presented  by  Sir  Stamford  to  the  Zoological  Society  in  Bruton  Street,  so  far  as  regards  the 
 vertebrated  animals,  with  more  concise  notices  of  the  insects,  while  he  I’eserves  a detailed  descrip- 
 tion and  a full  account  of  all  these  subjects,  to  a more  extensive  work  which  he  has  projected,  with 
 the  title  of  ‘ Museum  Rafflesianura.’  In  this  undertaking,  to  which  Mr.  Kirby,  Mr.  Bell,  Mr. 
 
()30 
 
 LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD, 
 
 Bennett,  and  myself  will  lend  our  aid,  full  justice  will  be  done  to  Sir  Stamford’s  zeal  and  suc- 
 cess in  this  branch  of  natural  history. 
 
 “ In  the  mean  time,  the  collection  in  Bruton  Street,  as  far  as  yet  examined,  will  form  a very 
 appropriate  basis  of  a nomenclatural  abstract  for  the  present  publication ; to  this  Mr.  Vigors  will 
 further  add  the  names  of  all  the  quadrupeds  and  birds  which  were  deposited  in  the  Museum  of  the 
 Honorable  East  India  Company  on  my  arrival  in  England.  The  combination  of  these  will  exhibit 
 a tolerably  extensive  view  of  the  zoology  of  the  Eastern  Islands  in  these  departments;  and  if  it 
 be  compared  with  the  animals  from  this  part  of  the  world,  enumerated  in  Pennant’s  Indian 
 Zoology,  [the  most  complete  synopsis,  which  towards  the  close  of  the  last  century  was  before 
 the  public,]  it  will  afford  an  instructive  specimen  of  the  accessions  to  natural  history  in  later 
 periods. 
 
 “ On  this  occasion  it  may  not  be  quite  irrelevant  to  advert  to  the  history  of  those  investiga- 
 tions, which  have  been  carried  on  since  the  commencement  of  the  present  century  in  the  Islands 
 of  the  Indian  Archipelago ; especially  as  some  notice  may  be  expected  of  the  nature  of  my 
 researches,  and  of  the  means  by  which  they  were  carried  on,  prior  to  the  period  when  they  received 
 the  patronage  of  Sir  Stamford. 
 
 “ Until  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century,  little  comparatively  was  known  of  the  natural 
 productions  of  this  part  of  the  world.  In  the  year  1779  the  Batavian  Society  of  Arts  and 
 Sciences  was  established,  and  from  this  period  the  commencement  of  a more  regular  train  of 
 investigations  may  be  dated.  The  first  six  volumes  of  the  Transactions  of  this  Society,  pub- 
 lished between  the  years  1779  and  1792,  contain  various  interesting  and  valuable  communi- 
 cations on  natural  history,  besides  many  incidental  remarks  on  this  subject  in  the  geographical 
 essays. 
 
 “ Soon  after  the  commencement  of  the  present  century,  Mons.  Leschenault  de  la  Tour,  a 
 distinguished  naturalist  and  pupil  of  J ussieu,  who  accompanied  Captain  Baudin  on  his  voyage  of 
 discovery,  determined,  on  the  return  of  that  expedition,  to  devote  some  time  to  the  investigation  of 
 Java,  and  having  obtained  the  patronage  of  the  Honourable  N.  Engelhard!,  Governor  of  the 
 East  Coast,  he  successfully  explored  the  middle  and  eastern  portion  of  the  Island,  and  made  exten- 
 sive collections  in  all  departments  of  natural  history.  On  completing  his  engagement,  a large 
 portion  of  the  collection  became  his  property,  and  he  returned  to  France  with  this  acquisition  about 
 the  year  1806.  The  collections  were  deposited  in  the  National  Museum,  and  many  of  his  disco- 
 veries in  Zoology  have  been  successively  published  by  Geoffroy  St.  Hilaire,  Frederic  Cuvier,  and 
 M.  A.  G.  Desmarest. 
 
 “ Very  near  the  same  period,  when  Mr.  Leschenault  entered  on  his  researches  in  the  eastern 
 part  of  Java,  in  the  course  of  the  year  1802,  I commenced  a similar  enterprise  in  the  western 
 portion  of  the  Island,  in  the  vicinity  of  Batavia.  The  effectual  prosecution,  however,  of  the 
 
LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 «31 
 
 design  I had  particularly  in  view,  rendered  it  necessary  that  I should  enter  the  service  of  the  Dutch 
 East  India  Company.  I was  accordingly  appointed  a surgeon;  commenced  my  inquiries  in 
 tliat  capacity,  and  after  the  lapse  of  about  a year  reported  to  the  Colonial  Government  the  result. 
 This  was  submitted  to  the  Batavian  Society,  and  through  the  recommendation  of  that  body,  I was 
 engaged  for  a more  extensive  enterprise,  which  comprised  a general  investigation  of  the  natural 
 productions  of  the  Island,  and  particularly  of  those  which  might  become  useful  articles  of  Materia 
 Medica.  Having  laboured  some  time  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Batavia,  I was  desirous  to  take  a 
 wider  range,  and  obtained  permission  to  visit  the  eastern  provinces,  and  to  proceed  to  the  farthest 
 extremity  of  Java.  After  some  years  spent  in  continual  peregrinations  I was  desirous  of  obtaining 
 a more  permanent  place  of  abode,  and,  with  the  consent  of  the  Colonial  Government,  established 
 myself  provisionally  at  Suracarta  as  a central  situation,  from  which  I might  conveniently  visit  the 
 neighbouring  provinces.  To  this  place  I removed  the  whole  of  my  collections,  in  order  to  await 
 the  destination  of  Government,  as  soon  as  the  communication  with  Holland  should  be  re-esta- 
 blished ; when,  in  the  course  of  events,  Java  surrendered  to  the  British  arms,  and  the  Commissioner 
 from  the  Commander  of  the  Forces  in  the  eastern  parts  of  the  Island  came  to  the  Emperor’s 
 court,  the  enterprise  in  which  I was  engaged,  and  the  collections  I had  made,  for  the  former  Go- 
 vernment, came  under  consideration ; and  the  Commissioner  was  pleased  to  direct  that  I should 
 persevere  in  my  pursuits  until  the  pleasure  of  the  Right  Honourable  the  Lord  Minto  should  be 
 known.  I therefore  continued  my  researches  for  several  months  in  a state  of  suspense,  until  Sir 
 Stamford  came  to  Suracarta,  when  he  made  those  dispositions  regarding  my  future  employment  and 
 my  relation  to  the  Honourable  East  India  Company,  which  have  been  detailed  in  the  com- 
 mencement of  this  communication,  and  this  liberal  determination  was  the  means,  not  only  of 
 preventing  the  dispersion  of  the  labours  of  many  years,  but  also  of  preserving  a private  establish- 
 ment for  the  purpose  of  my  investigations,  which  I had  accumulated  with  considerable  pains  and 
 expense. 
 
 “ By  my  residence  in  England  my  intercourse  with  Sir  Stamford  was  not  intennpted.  He 
 continued  to  take  an  earnest  and  affectionate  interest  in  my  progress,  and  to  afford  his  liberal 
 patronage  to  my  publications.  I have  likewise  an  extensive  series  of  letters  from  Bencoolen, 
 Penang,  Calcutta,  and  Singapore,  which  contain  many  valuable  remarks  on  the  natural  productions 
 of  the  Eastern  Archipelago,  and  on  the  enterprises  in  which  he  was  engaged  while  he  con- 
 tinued in  India.  But  I shall  not  extend  this  hasty  sketch.  My  object  throughout  has  been  to 
 record  as  simply  as  possible,  from  personal  observation,  and  from  the  correspondence  with  which 
 I have  been  favoured,  the  zeal,  ardour,  and  liberality  with  which  Sir  Stamford  both  pursued  and 
 patronised  science. 
 
 “ Your  Ladyship  requires  from  me  no  apology  on  behalf  of  the  imperfections  of  this  com- 
 
632 
 
 LETTER  FROM  DR.  HORSFIELD. 
 
 munication,  nor  any  assurance  of  the  sincerity  of  the  sentiments  expressed ; I therefore  request 
 you  to  make  that  use  of  it  which  may  best  suit  the  important  and  laudable  object  which  you  have 
 undertaken. 
 
 “ I am,  most  respectfully, 
 
 “ Your  Ladyship’s  faithful  and  obliged  servant, 
 
 “ Thos.  Horsfield.” 
 
 December  3 1st,  1S29. 
 
 To  Lady  Sophia  Raffles. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 The  following  catalogue  contains  the  names  of  the  animals  collected  in  Sumatra,  under  the  imme- 
 diate superintendance  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  and  now  exhibited  in  the  Museum  of  the  Zoological 
 Society;  as  well  as  of  those  previously  collected  by  Dr.  Horsfield  in  Java,  and  deposited  in  the 
 Museum  of  the  India  House.  To  these  are  added  the  names  of  a few  species  which  are  reported 
 by  Sir  Stamford  in  the  Linnean  Transactions  to  be  natives  of  Sumatra,  but  of  which  specimens 
 have  not  as  yet  been  observed  in  either  collection. 
 
 The  native  names  of  these  animals  have  been  added,  where  accurately  ascertained,  to  the  more 
 important  scientific  names.  The  latter  have  been  selected  with  due  deference  to  the  law  which 
 should  prevail  in  all  such  cases — that  of  priority. 
 
 The  habitat  of  each  animal  is  given  according  as  it  has  been  found  in  Sumatra  or  Java,  or 
 both  countries.  In  this  reference  to  its  native  place,  it  is  not  inferred  that  the  species  is  exclusively 
 found  in  such  locality,  but  that  it  has  been  actually  either  collected  or  observed  there.  The  refer- 
 ence to  the  Museum  in  which  the  specimens  are  exhibited  comes  under  the  same  observation. 
 
 MAMMALIA. 
 
 Ordo  I Fer^,  Linn. 
 
 Tribus  Plantigrada. 
 
 Genus  Helarctos,  Horsf. 
 
 Hel.  Malayanus,  Horsf.,  Zool.  Journ.,  Vol.  II.  p.  221,  pi.  7. 
 
 Ursus  Malayanus,  Raffies,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  pj.  254. — Horsf,  Zool.  Re- 
 searches in  Java,  No.  4.  pi.  2. 
 
 Bruang  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceis  Societatum  Zoologies  et  Ind.  Orientalis. 
 
 This  species  of  bear  was  discovered  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  in  Sumatra,  and  first  described 
 by  him  in  a Paper  read  before  the  Linnean  Society  in  the  year  1820  on  the  Animals  of  Sumatra, 
 and  afterwards  published  in  the  Society’s  Transactions.  It  was  subsequently  figured  in  Dr.  Hors- 
 
 4 M 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 «3T 
 
 field’s  “ Zoological  Researches,"  from  a specimen  sent  by  Sir  Stamford  to  the  Museum  of  the 
 India  House. 
 
 Genus  Mydaus,  Fred.  Cuv. 
 
 Myd.  Javanensis. 
 
 Mephitis  Javanensis,  Desmarest,  Mammalogie,  p.  187.  sp.  288. — RafH., 
 Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  251. 
 
 Mydaus  Meliceps,  Fred.  Cuv., — Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  2.  pi.  1. 
 
 Le  Telagon,  Fred.  Cuv.,  Mammiferes. 
 
 Teledu  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Setig-gung  of  the  Sunda  Javanese. 
 
 Teleggo  of  the  Sumati-ans.  Marsden,  Hist,  of  Sumatra,  p.  117. 
 
 Telagu  of  the  Malays.  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Soc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Linn. 
 
 Genus  Gulo,  Storr. 
 
 Gulo  Orientalis,  Horsf,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  2.  pi.  2. 
 Mydaus  Macrourus,  Kuhl. 
 
 Nyenteh  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Ictides,  Valenciennes. 
 
 (Arctictis.  Temminch.) 
 
 let.  ater. 
 
 Le  Benturong  noir,  Fred.  Cuv.,  Mamm. 
 
 Binturong  of  the  Malays.  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 Li  Musccis  Soc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 We  are  indebted  for  the  discovery  of  this  species  to  the  researches  of  another  of  our  country- 
 men, Major  Farquhar,  who  communicated  an  account  of  it,  together  with  a drawing  and  a speci- 
 men, to  the  Asiatic  Society.  (See  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  253.) 
 
 Tribus  Digitigrada. 
 Genus  Mustela,  Linn. 
 
 Must,  nudipes,  Fred.  Cuv. 
 
 Furet  de  Java.  Fred.  Cuv.,  Mammif. 
 
 Marte  de  Java,  Desm.,  Mamm.,  Supp.  p.  537.  sp.  828. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 This  species,  although  supposed  by  the  French  writers  to  have  been  sent  from  Java,  whence 
 they  gave  it  the  above  names,  was  never  met  with  by  Dr.  Horsfield  in  his  extensive  researches  in 
 that  Island.  It  is  probable  that  the  specimen  sent  by  M.  Diard  from  Batavia  had  been  originally 
 imported  from  Sumatra. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 035 
 
 Genus  Viverra,  Linn. 
 
 Viv.  Musanga,  Rnffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  252. — Ho7\'sf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  I. 
 
 pi.  2. 
 
 Musang,  Marsden,  Hist,  of  Sum.  p.  118,  pi.  12,  No.  2. 
 
 Miisang-bulang  of  the  jMalays. 
 
 Luicalc  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Soc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Viv.  Rasse,  Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  6.  pi.  2. 
 
 Rasse  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Soc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Viv.  Zibetha,  Linn. 
 
 Tangalung  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Viv.  Genetta,  Linn. 
 
 Musang  sapulut  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 No  specimen  of  this  animal  was  found  in  the  Sumatran  collection  sent  home  to  this  country, 
 although  the  species  is  included  in  the  catalogue  of  the  animals  collected  by  Sir  Stamford  in  Su- 
 matra. 
 
 Genus  Mangusta,  Olivier. 
 
 (Ichneumon,  Lacepede.  Herpestes,  lUiger.) 
 
 Mangusta  Javanica,  Horsf,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  5.  pi.  2. 
 
 Ichneumon  Javanicus,  Geoff.,  Description  de  VEgypte,  Mem.  d'Histoire  Nat., 
 Tom.  II.,  p.  138.  n.  5. 
 
 Herpestes  Javanicus,  Desm.,  Mamm.,  jj.  118.  s/>.  326. 
 
 Mangouste  de  Java,  Fred.  Cuv.,  Mammif. 
 
 Garangan  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumati’a  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Soc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Lutra,  Linn. 
 
 Lutra  leptonyx,  Horsf,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  7.  pi,  2. 
 
 Simung  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Anjing-ayer  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Welingsang,  or  Wargul,  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Soc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 A second  species,  supposed  to  be  the  Barang  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  is  in  the  Sumatran  col- 
 lection, but  its  chai’acters  have  not  as  yet  been  sufficiently  ascertained. 
 
 4 M 2 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 ()36 
 
 Genus  Prionodon,  Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No,  5. 
 
 Prion,  gracile.  Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  1.  pi,  2. 
 
 Viverra?  Linsang,  Hardwicke,  Linn,  Trans,,  Po/.  XIII.  ja.  235.  Tab.  2^. 
 Delnndung  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musa;o  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Feus,  Lhin. 
 
 Fel.  Tigris,  Lhui. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Fel.  Leopardus,  Linn. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Felis  Macroscelis,  Horsf,  Zool.  Journ.,  Vol.  I.  p.  542.  pi.  21. — Temm.,  Monographie  de 
 Mamm.  p.  102. 
 
 Rimau  dahan  of  the  IMalays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  Raffles  was  the  first  who  discovered  and  described  this  animal.  His  description 
 is  in  the  thirteenth  volume  of  the  Linnean  Transactions,  p.  250,  under  the  Malayan  name  of  Rimau 
 dahan. 
 
 Felis  Javanensis,  Desm.,  Diet.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  Vol.  VI./?.  115. — Mamm.,j).  229.  sp.  358. — 
 Horsf,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  \.  pi.  1. 
 
 Chat  de  Java,  Ctw.,  Annales  du  Mus.,  Tom.  XIV./?.  159.  n.  26. 
 
 Kurwuk  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fel.  Sumatrana,  Horsf,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  2.  f.  4. 
 
 Rimau  bulu  of  the  Malays,  Raff.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  /?.  249. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceis  Soc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fel.  Temminckii,  Vigors  and  Horsf .,  Zool.  Journ.,  Vol.  III.  /?.  451.  pi.  Sitpp.  25. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 This  new  species  was  one  of  the  results  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles’  researches  in  Sumatra.  A 
 specimen  is  in  the  collection  presented  by  him  to  the  Zoological  Society.  It  is  remarkable  by  the 
 uniform  red  colour  which  pervades  the  body. 
 
 Felis  planiceps,  Vigors  and  Horsf,  Zool.  Journ.,  lol.  111.  /?.  450.  pi.  12. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 ()37 
 
 This  species  also,  distinguished  by  the  flat  shape  of  the  head,  is  among  the  discoveries  of 
 Sir  Stamford.  Three  specimens  are  in  his  Sumatran  collection,  all  agreeing  in  this  singular 
 formation. 
 
 Felismelas?  Peron  et  Lesueur. 
 
 Le  Melas,  Cuv.,  Annales  du  Mus.,  Tom.  XIII.  152.  No.  10. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Soc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 The  specimen  in  the  Zoological  Society’s  collection  is  young.  Doubts  exist  as  to  this  species 
 being  distinct  from  Felis  Leopardus. 
 
 Genus  Canis,  Linn. 
 
 Can.  familiaris,  Linn.  var.  Sumatrensis. 
 
 Wild  Dog  of  Sumatra,  Hardwicke,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  jo.  236.  Tab,  23. 
 
 Can.  rutilans,  Temm. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java, 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Tribus  Insectivora. 
 
 Genus  Gymnura,  Vigors  and  Horsf. 
 
 Gym,  Rafflesii,  Vigors  and  Horsf.,  Zool.  Journ.,  Vol.  Ill,  />.  248.  pi.  8. 
 
 Viverra  gymnura.  Raff,.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  III.  p.  272. 
 
 Tikus  Ambang  bulan  of  the  Malays  ? 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 This  new  form  of  animal  is  among  the  most  conspicuous  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles’  discoveries  in 
 zoology.  Doubts  exist  as  to  there  being  two  species  in  the  specimens  contained  in  his  collection. 
 The  native  name  given  above  is  that  of  an  animal  brought  to  Major  Farquhar  from  the  interior  of 
 Malacca,  some  time  previously  to  the  discovery  of  the  Gymnura  in  Sumatra,  which  Sir  Stamford 
 believes  to  be  identical  with  it. 
 
 Genus  Tupaia,  Raffes. 
 
 Tup.  Tana,  Raff.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  257. — Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  3. 
 pi.  2. 
 
 T upai-tana  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Tup.  Javanica,  Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  3.  pi.  1. 
 
 Bangsrmg,  or  Sinsring,  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Tup.  ferruginea.  Raff.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  256. 
 
 Tupaiypress  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
638 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Science  is  indebted  to  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  also  for  the  discovery  of  this  new  form  among  the 
 Insectivorous  animals,  two  species  of  which  he  described  in  the  Linnean  Transactions.  An  attempt 
 has  been  made  by  some  of  the  French  naturalists  to  supersede  the  name  of  Tupaia.  No  less  than 
 four  different  writers  have  given  separate  names  to  the  genus.  There  can  be  little  doubt  that  the 
 law  of  priority,  as  well  as  the  justice  of  the  case,  will  eventually  prevail  here,  as  in  similar 
 instances. 
 
 Genus  Sorex,  Linn. 
 
 Sor.  Indicus,  Geoff.,  Ann.  du.  Mas.,  Tome  XVII.  p.  183.  sp.  8. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Sor.  Myoxurus,  Pallas. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ordo  II  Primates,  Linn. 
 
 Tribus  Cheiroptera. 
 
 Genus  Pteropus,  Brisson. 
 
 Pter.  Javanicus,  Desm.,  Manim.,  p.  109.  sp.  136. — Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  4.  2)1.  4. 
 Kalong  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatrd  et  Java. 
 
 In  MuscEis  Soc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Pter.  marginatus,  Desm.,  Marnm.,  p.  111.  s}i.  146. 
 
 Habitat  in  Jav^. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Pter.  Titthoecheilus,  Temm.,  Monogr.  de  Mamm.,  p.  198. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Macroglossus,  Fred.  Cuv. 
 
 Macroglossus  rostratus. 
 
 Pteropus  rostratus,  Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  3.  pi.  4. 
 
 Pteropus  minimus,  Geoff. 
 
 The  name  of  7ninimus  being  inappropriate  where  but  one  species  belongs  to  a genus,  that  of 
 rostratus  is  here  adopted. 
 
 Genus  Nyctinomus,  Geoff. 
 
 Nyct.  tenuis,  Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  5.  pi.  1. 
 Lowo-churut  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Nyct.  dilatatus.  Id.,  Ib.,  No.  4. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 (),39 
 
 Genus  Megaderma,  Geoff. 
 
 Meg.  Lyra.  Geoff.,  Ann.  du  Mas.,  Tome  XV.  pj).  190.  198.  pi.  12. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musoeo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Ruinolopiius,  Geoff. 
 
 Rhin.  affinis.  Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  6. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Rhin.  minor.  Id.,  Ib. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Rhin.  nobilis.  Id.,  Ib.,  No.  7.  pi.  4. 
 
 Kebblek  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  J ava. 
 
 In  Musoeo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Rhin.  larvatus.  Id.,  Ib.,  No.  6.  pi.  3. 
 
 Lowo-sumbo  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  J ava. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Rhin.  vulgaris,  Id.,  Ib.,  No.  6. 
 
 Habitat  in  Jav&. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Rhin.  deformis,  Id.,  Ib. 
 
 Habitat  in  J av^. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Rhin.  insignis,  Hors/.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  6. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Oi'ient. 
 
 Genus  Nycteris,  Geoff. 
 
 Nyct.  Javanicus,  Desm.,  Mamm.,p>.  129.  sp.  192. 
 
 Nyctere  de  Java,  Geoff.,  Mem.  sur  VRgypte,  Hist.  Nat.  Tome  II.  /;.  123. 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Vespertilio,  Auct. 
 
 Vesp.  Temminckii,  Horsf .,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  8.  pi.  3. 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Vesp.  adversus,  Id.,  Ib.,  No.  8. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 2 
 
640 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Vesp.  Hardwickii,  Id.,  Ib. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Vesp.  tralatitius,  Id.,  Ib. 
 
 LoiL'o-manir  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Javi. 
 
 In  MmcBO  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Vesp.  imbricatus,  Id.,  Ib. 
 
 Loivo-lesser  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Vesp.  pictus,  Pall.  Spie.,  \\\.p.  7. 
 
 Lowo-Kembang  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Tribus  Quadrumaka. 
 Genus  Simia,  Auct. 
 
 Simia  Satyrus,  Linn. 
 
 Orang  Utan  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  MiuiCEO  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Genus  Hylobates,  III. 
 
 Hyl.  syndactyla. 
 
 Simia  syndactyla,  Raf^.,Linn.  Trans. ,*Vol.  XIII.^;.  241 . — Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches, 
 No.  3.  f.  3.  ' 
 
 Siamang  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceis  Soc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 This  species  is  one  of  the  results  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles’  researches  in  Sumatra,  and  was  first 
 described  and  named  by  him  in  the  Linnean  Transactions. 
 
 Hyl.  agilis,  Fred.  Cuv.,  Mamm. 
 
 Hylobates  variegatus,  Desm.  ? 
 
 Ungha  puti  of  the  Sumatrans,  Rajjfl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  242. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 This  species  also  was  first  pointed  out  as  new  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  who  described  its  cfis- 
 tinguishing  characters  in  the  Linnean  Transactions,  under  its  native  name  of  Ungha  puti.  M. 
 Fred.  Cuvier  afterwards  figured  the  animal,  and  gave  it  the  scientific  name  of  agilis.  Doubts  are 
 entertained  of  its  being  specifically  distinct  from  the  Hyl.  variegatus  of  M.  Desmarest. 
 
 Hyl.  Lar,  Geoff. 
 
 Simia  albimana.  Vigors  and  Horsf .,  Zool.  Journ.,  Vol.  IV.  107. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 (Ml 
 
 'Fwo  species  have  hitherto  been  confounded  under  the  name  of  Simia  Lav,  Linn.,  whicli 
 differ  from  each  other  cliiefly  by  the  hands  of  one  being  whitish,  while  those  of  tlie  second  are  of 
 the  same  black  colour  as  the  rest  of  the  body.  The  species  were  first  distinguished  as  quoted 
 above  in  the  Zoological  Journal,  the  black  species  being  considered  the  type  of  the  Linnean 
 species  Lar,  and  the  present  animal  with  the  white  hands  being  designated  as  distinct  under  the 
 name  of  alhimanu.  M.  Geoffi’oy  de  St.  Hilaire  has  subsequently  reversed  the  disposition  of  the 
 species,  and  has  selected  the  present  animal  as  the  typical  Lar,  while  he  calls  the  black  species 
 Hyl.  RqfflesiL  This  order  of  nomenclature  may  well  be  adopted  in  the  present  instance,  although 
 it  is  contrary  to  the  usual  practice  by  which  the  courtesy  of  naturalists,  and  indeed  the  justice  of 
 the  case,  secures  to  the  first  distinguisher  of  a species  the  name  which  he  confers  upon  it.  In 
 superseding  the  prior  name  conferred  on  the  present  species  by  that  of  Rajfflesii,  M.  Geoff,  de 
 St.  Hilaire  has  made  an  appeal  to  the  feelings  of  the  first  describers,  which  cannot  be  resisted. 
 
 Hyl.  Rafflesii,  Geoff.,  Coins  de  I'Hist.  nat.  des  Mamm.,  Le^.  7.  p.  34. 
 
 Simia  Lar,  Vigors  and  Horsf.,  Zool.  Joimi.,  Vol.  W . p.  106. 
 
 L’Ounko.  Fred.  Cuv.,  Mamm. 
 
 Ungka  etam  of  the  Malays,  Raffes,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  242. 
 
 Habitat  in  Malaccae  Peninsula. 
 
 Although  this  species  is  indicated  in  Sir  Stamford’s  catalogue  of  the  Sumatran  animals,  no 
 specimen  was  found  in  the  collection.  The  specimen  in  the  Zoological  Collection,  accurately 
 agreeing  with  his  description  in  the  Linnean  Transactions,  is  fi'om  the  continent  of  India. 
 
 Genus  Lasiopyga,  III. 
 
 Lasiopyga  Nemaeus,  Rl. 
 
 Le  douc,  Buff- 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 A specimen  of  this  species  belongs  to  the  Rafflesian  collection;  but  it  is  believed  that  it  was 
 brought  from  Borneo,  whence  Sir  Stamford  obtained  some  valuable  subjects  of  Natural  History, 
 particularly  the  two  following  subjects. 
 
 Genus  Nasalis,  Geoff. 
 
 Nas.  larvatus. 
 
 Simia  nasalis,  Shaw. 
 
 Guenon  a long  nez.  Buff. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Nas.  recurvus.  Vigors  and  Horsf.,  Zool.  Journ.,  Vol.  IV.  p.  110. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 This  animal,  brought  from  Borneo  with  the  preceding,  may  probably  be  the  young  of  the 
 species,  as  suggested  by  the  Authors  quoted  above.  No  proof,  however,  of  the  fact  has  as  yet 
 appeared. 
 
 4 N 
 
642 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Genus  Semnopithecus,  Fred.  Cut. 
 
 Semn.  Maurus,  Fred.  Cut. — Horsf.,  Zool.  Researehes,  No.  4.  f.  I. 
 
 Simia  Maura,  Schreh. 
 
 Lotong  of  the  Malays,  Raffles,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.,  p.  247. 
 
 Budeng  or  Lutung  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Suinatrd  and  JavS. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Immature  specimens  of  this  species,  exhibiting  different  gradations  of  colour  from  bright  red 
 to  entire  black,  are  in  the  Sumatran  collection. 
 
 Semn.  cristatus. 
 
 Simia  cristata,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  244. 
 
 Chingkau  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatrd. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 This  species,  together  with  the  succeeding,  are  among  the  discoveries  of  Sir  Stamford 
 Raffles. 
 
 Semn.  melalophos. 
 
 Simia  melalophos,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  245. 
 
 Simpai  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Semn.  femoralis,  Horsf. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Semn.  Pyrrhus,  Horsf,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  7.  pi.  3. 
 
 Lutung  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Semn.  ? fascicularis. 
 
 Simia  fascicularis,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  246. 
 
 Kra  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 No  specimen  of  this  species,  although  it  appears  to  be  frequent  in  the  forests  of  Sumatra  and 
 the  Malay  Islands,  was  found  in  Sir  Stamford’s  collection.  It  is  of  course  doubtful  whether  it  is  a 
 true  Semnopithecus. 
 
 Genus  Macacus,  Lacepede. 
 
 Mac.  nemestrinus. 
 
 Simia  carpolegus?  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  jo.  243. 
 Bruh  of  the  Malays  ? 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 2 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 64.1 
 
 It  is  probable  that  the  Briih  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles’  Catalogue  is  referable  to  the  above 
 species. 
 
 Genus  Loris,  Geoff. 
 
 Loris  tardigradus. 
 
 Lemur  tardigradus,  Linn. 
 
 Kukang  of  the  Malays. 
 
 This  species  has  been  described  by  Sir  Stamford  as  inhabiting  the  Malay  Islands,  but  no 
 specimen  is  in  the  Sumatran  collection. 
 
 Loris  Javanicus. 
 
 Nycticebus  Javanicus,  Geoff. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musoeis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Tarsius,  Storr. 
 
 Tars,  spectrum? 
 
 Lemur  spectrum,  Pall. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Tars.  Bancanus,  Horsf , Zool.  Researches,  No.  2,  pi.  2. 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Galeopithecus,  Pallas. 
 
 Gal.  variegatus,  Cuv. 
 
 Gal.  rufus,  Pall? 
 
 Kubung  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 This  species  of  M.  Cuvier  is  generally  considered  to  be  the  young  of  the  Gal.  rufus  of  Pal- 
 las. This  supposition  is  chiefly  founded  upon  the  inferior  size  of  Gal.  variegatus.  [See  Aude- 
 bert,  Histoire  des  Galeopitheques,  p.  37.]  But  there  are  several  specimens  in  the  Rafflesian 
 collection  of  different  sizes,  some  of  which  considerably  exceed  the  dimensions  assigned  to  Gcd. 
 rufus.  The  question  is  by  no  means  set  at  rest. 
 
 Gal.  rufus,  Pall. 
 
 Kubung  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 4 N 2 
 
G44 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Ordo  III  Pecora. 
 
 Tribus  Edentata. 
 
 Genus  Manis,  Linn. 
 
 Man.  pentadactyla,  Linn. 
 
 Pangoling  .sisik  or  Tangiling  of  the  Malays,  Roffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII./;.  249. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Jav^. 
 
 In  Museeo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Manis  Javanica,  Desmarest,  Mamm.,  p.  376.  sp.  596. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Museeo  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Tribus  Pachydermata. 
 
 Genus  Elephas,  Linn. 
 
 El.  maximus,  Linn. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Museeo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 The  teeth  and  tusks  only  of  this  animal  are  preserved  in  the  Sumatran  collection. 
 
 Genus  Rhinoceros,  Linn. 
 
 Rhin.  Sumatrensis,  Cut. 
 
 Sumati’an  Rhinoceros,  Bell,  Phil.  Tra?is.  1793. 
 
 Badak  of  the  Malays,  Raffi.,  Linn.  Tra?is.,  Vol.  III.  p.  268. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Museeo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Rhin.  Sondaicus,  Cui\ — Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  VI.  pi.  4. 
 Warak  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Badak  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 Genus  Tapirus,  Briss. 
 
 Tap.  Indicus,  Desm.,  Mamm.,  p.  411.  sp.  646. 
 
 Tap.  Malayanus,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  270. — Horsf.,  Zool.  Re- 
 searches, No.  1.  pi.  4. 
 
 Le  Maiba,  Fred.  Cuv.,  Mamm. 
 
 Saladang,  Gindol,  Babi  Alu,  and  Tennu  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Miiseeis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Sus,  Linn. 
 
 Sus  scrofa,  Linn. 
 
 Babi  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Museeo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 ()45 
 
 Tribus  Ruminantia. 
 Genus  Moschus,  Linn. 
 
 Mosc.  Javanicus,  Pall. 
 
 Napu  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Inch  Orient. 
 
 Mosc.  Kanchil,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Traits.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  262. 
 Kanchil  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 A third  species  of  the  Musk  deer  has  been  mentioned  by  Sir  Stamford  as  inhabiting  Sumatra, 
 which  he  calls  Pelandok,  but  no  specimen  has  appeared  in  the  collection. 
 
 Genus  Cervus,  Linn. 
 
 Cervus  Muntjac,  Schreh. — Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  VI.  pi.  I. 
 
 Muntjac  of  the  Sunda  Javanese. 
 
 Kidang  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Kljang  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Cervus  Tunjuc? 
 
 Rusa  ubi,  Rusa  sapid,  and  Rusa  Tunjuc  of  the  Malays,  Raffi.,  Linn,  Trans.,  Vol. 
 XIII.  p.  266. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumati'd  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 This  species,  very  nearly  allied  to  the  Muntjac,  which  is  probably  the  same  as  that  mentioned 
 by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  in  the  Linnean  Transactions,  under  the  above  native  names,  is  in  the  Su- 
 matran collection.  It  appears  to  be  undescribed;  but  the  horns  not  being  sufficiently  grown,  it  is 
 deemed  advisable  not  to  enter  into  further  particulars  until  more  extensive  information  has  been 
 acquired  on  the  subject. 
 
 Cervus  Axis,  Er.xl. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Mus(Co  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 The  horns  only  of  this  animal  have  been  sent  home  in  the  Sumatran  collection. 
 
 Cervus  Hippelaphus? 
 
 Rusa  of  the  Sumatrans 
 Menjangan  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
(>16 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Genus  Antilope,  Pall. 
 
 Antilope  Sumatrensis,  Penn. 
 
 Cambtan,  Fred.  Cue.,  Mamm. 
 
 Camhing  Utan,  JMarsden. — Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  266. 
 
 Ordo  IV  Glires,  Linn. 
 
 Fam.  ScruRiD.E. 
 
 Genus  Sciurus,  Linn. 
 
 Sciur.  maximus,  Schreb. 
 
 Tupai  Jinjang  or  Tankrawa  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 Sciur.  bicolor,  Sparm. — Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  8.  pi.  1 . 
 
 Jelarang  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  J ava. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Sciur.  Leschenaultii,  Desm. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Sciur.  affinis,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  259. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatrd. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Sciur.  vittatus,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  259. 
 
 Sciur.  bivittatus,  Desm. 
 
 Ecureuil  Toupaye,  Fred.  Cuv.,  Mamm. 
 
 Tupai  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Sciur.  nigrovittatus,  Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  7. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Sciur.  Plantani,  LJung. — Horsf,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  7.  pi.  1. 
 
 Sciur.  bilineatus,  Geoff. 
 
 Bajing  of  the  J avanese  and  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Sciur.  insignis,  Fred.  Cuv. — Horsf,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  5.  pi.  3. 
 
 Le  Lary,  Fred.  Cuv.,  Mamm. 
 
 Bokkol  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Oi'ient. 
 
 Sciur.  Rafflesii,  Vigors  and  Horsf.,  Zool.Joum.,  Vol.  IV^.  p.  113.  pi.  4. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 ()47 
 
 Sciur.  tenuis,  Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  7. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Museis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Pteromys,  Cuv. 
 
 Pter.  nitidus,  Desm. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musais  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Pter.  sagitta,  Cuv. 
 
 Sciurus  sagitta,  Linn. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumati’a. 
 
 In  Musa.0  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Pter.  lepidus,  Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  4.  pi.  4. 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musao  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Pter.  genibarbis,  Id.,  Ib.,  No.  4.  pi.  3. 
 Kechubu  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  JavL 
 /«  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fam.  MuRiDiE. 
 
 Genus  Mus,  Linn,  et  Auct. 
 
 Mus  setifer,  Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  8.  pi.  2. 
 
 Tikus-wirok  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 M.  Temminck  asserts  that  this  animal  is  the  young  of  the  Mus  giganteus  of  General  Hard- 
 wicke.  As  yet  we  have  had  no  proof  of  the  assertion. 
 
 Fam.  Hystricid.e. 
 Genus  Hystrix,  Linn. 
 
 Hyst.  fas  cicu  lata,  Shaw. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 Hyst.  longicauda,  Marsden,  Hist,  of  Sumatra. 
 Landak  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 Ordo  V Cetacea,  Linn. 
 Genus  Halicore,  III. 
 
 Hal.  Dugong,  Rajf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  272. 
 Duyong  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Mari  Sum. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
6i8 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Classis  A V E S. 
 
 Ordo  I Raptores. 
 
 Fam.  Falconid.e. 
 
 {Halang,  or  Lang,  of  the  Malays.) 
 
 Sub-fam.  Aquilina. 
 
 Genus  Pandion,  Savigny. 
 
 Pand.  Ichthyaetus. 
 
 Falco  Ichthyaetus,  Ilorsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  \?,Q>.—Zool.  Researches, 
 No.  3.  pi.  5. 
 
 Jokomiru  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 This  species,  with  the  general  appearance  and  the  cylindrical  claws  of  Pandion,  has  the  scutel- 
 lated  tarsi  of  Haliaetus. 
 
 Genus  Haliaetus,  Sav. 
 
 Haliaetus  Pondicerianus. 
 
 Aquila  Pondiceriana,  Briss. 
 
 Lang  Bondol  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Ulang  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Haliaetus  albicilla. 
 
 Falco  albicilla.  Lath. 
 
 • Lang  Bomboon  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatrix. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Haliaetus  dimidiatus. 
 
 Falco  dimidiatus.  Raff,.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  275. 
 Lang  laid  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Genus  Limnaetus. 
 
 Rostrum  forte,  subelongatum,  compressum  ; ungue  elongate,  tomiis  mandibulae  superioris  Sub- 
 familim  Asturinae  more  subemarginatis ; naribus  ovalibus,  grandibus,  transversim  positis. 
 
 Alee  subbreves;  remigibus,  Ima  brevi,  2da  et  3tia ’gradatira  longioribus,  4ta  et  5ta  aequa- 
 libus  longissimis,  reliquis  gradatim  breviscentibus ; Ima — Gta  interne,  2da — 7ma  externe  emar- 
 ginatis. 
 
 Pedes  elongati ; tarsis  usque  ad  digitos  plumosis ; unguibus  gracilibus  elongatis. 
 
 Cauda  aequalis. 
 
 'I'his  group,  which,  from  its  strength  and  general  appearance,  must  be  ranked  w'ith  the  Eagles, 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 619 
 
 exhibits  a strong  affinity  to  the  Hawks  in  its  somewhat  short  wings,  lengthened  tarsi,  and  the  emar- 
 gination  as  well  as  the  general  shape  of  its  bill.  Its  place  seems  immediately  between  the  sub- 
 families of  Hawks  and  Eagles. 
 
 Lymn.  Horsfieldii. 
 
 Falco  Limnaetus,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol,  XIII.  p.  138. 
 
 Autour  unicolore,  Temm.,  PL  Col.  134. 
 
 Wuru-rawa  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Muscco  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Lymn.  caligatus. 
 
 Falco  caligatus,  Rajfl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  278. 
 
 Lang  Tanjbikar  of  the  Sumati’ans. 
 
 Falco  niveus,  Temm. 
 
 Autour  neigeux.  Id.,  PI.  Col.  127. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Muscso  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Subfam.  Asturina. 
 
 Genus  Accipiter,  Ray. 
 
 Acc.  fringillarius,  Ray,  var. 
 
 Falco  Nisus,  Linn. 
 
 Sikap  Balam  of  the  Malays,  Raffl. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Acc.  Soloensis. 
 
 Falco  Soloensis,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  137. 
 
 Falco  cuculoides,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  129  $ , 110  $ . 
 
 Allap-allap  Lallar  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 This  species,  or  more  probably  the  Astur  mrgatus,  Reinw.,  is  the  supposed  variety  of  the 
 Sparrow  Hawk,  called  by  the  Malays belalang,  or  Mangkas. — See  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII. 
 p.  278. 
 
 Subfam.  Falconina. 
 
 Genus  Hierax,  Vigors. 
 
 Hier.  caerulescens.  Vigors,  Zool.  Journ.,  Vol.  I.  p.  328. 
 
 Falco  caerulescens,  Linn. — Horsf,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  3.  pi.  6. 
 
 Allap,  or  Allap-allap,  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  JavL 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Falco,  Auct. 
 
 Falco  peregrinus,  Ray. 
 
 Rajawali  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Sikaj)  Lang  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Laki  Angin  of  the  Passummahs. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  278. 
 
 4 o 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECLMENS. 
 
 (ioO 
 
 Falco  tinnunculus,  Linn. 
 
 Allap-allap  Sapi  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  JavL 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Falco  severus,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  fol.  XITI.  p.  133. 
 Faucon  Aldrovandin,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  128. 
 Allap-allap  Ginjeng  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Subfam.  Buteonina. 
 Genus  Buteo 
 
 Buteo  Bacha. 
 
 Falco  Bacha,  Hand. 
 
 Bido  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 This  species  is  generally  ranked  among  the  Buzzards,  but  doubts  may  be  entertained  respect- 
 ing the  propriety  of  placing  it  in  this  group. 
 
 Sub-fam.  Milvina. 
 
 Genus  El  anus,  Savignp. 
 
 El.  melanopterus,  Leach. 
 
 Falco  melanopterus,  Baud. 
 
 Anghal-angkal  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fam.  Strigid^. 
 
 Genus  Strix,  Linn. 
 
 {Burong  Hantoo,  or  Pongo,  of  the  Malays. 
 ToohooJc  of  the  Sumatrans.) 
 
 * Capite  aurito. 
 
 Strix  orientalis,  Hor,^f.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  y?.  140. 
 
 Strix  Sumatrana,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  279. 
 
 Strix  strepitans,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  174.  229  juv. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Strix  Ceylonensis,  Lath. 
 
 Strix  Ketupu,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII. 141. 
 Hibou  Ketupu,  Temm.  PL  Col.  74. 
 
 Blo-ketupu  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 G5l 
 
 Strix  Lempiji,  Hors/.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  140. 
 Hibou  noctule,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  99. 
 
 Lempiji  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatr<i  et  Java. 
 
 Ln  Miisceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 **  Capite  inaurito. 
 
 Strix  flamraea,  Linn.,  var  Javanica,  Gmel. 
 Daris  (Deris)  of  the  Javanese. 
 Serrah  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Museo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Sti’ix  badia,  Horsf.,  Linn.Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  139. — Zool.  Researches,  No,  4.  pi.  6. 
 IVoivo-whvi,  or  Kalong-wiwi  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Strix  selo-puto,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  140. 
 Strix  Pagodarum,  Temm. 
 
 Chouette  des  Pagodes,  Id.,  PI.  Col.  230. 
 Selo-puto  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Javd. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Strix  castanoptera,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  140. 
 Chouette  spadiacee,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  98. 
 
 Blo-watu  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  J ava. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 An  additional  species  of  hornless  owl  is  indicated  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  under  the  name  of 
 scutellata  in  the  Linnean  Transactions,  as  inhabiting  Sumatra.  No  specimen,  however,  agreeing 
 with  this  description  has  been  found  either  in  the  Sumatran  or  the  J avanese  collection. 
 
 Ordo  II  Insessores. 
 
 Tribus  Fissirostres. 
 
 Fam.  Meropid^. 
 
 Genus  Merops,  Linn,  et  Auct. 
 
 Mer.  Javanicus,  Horsf.,  Linn,  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  171. 
 
 Mer.  Savignii,  Temm. 
 
 Kachangan  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Biri-biri  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatrd  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Mer.  Sumatranus,  Rqffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  294. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 4 o 2 
 
652 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Mer.  urica.  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  172. 
 Pirik  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musccis  Socc.  Zool,  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fam.  Hirundixid.e. 
 
 Genus  Hirundo,  Linn,  et  Auct. 
 
 {Layang  Laijang  of  the  Malays.) 
 
 Hir.  esculenta,  Linn. 
 
 Lawet  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Hir.  fuciphaga,  Acta  Holm.  33.  p.  151. 
 Linchi  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Ja\4. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient, 
 
 Hir.  rustica,  Linn. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 Hir.  urbica,  Linn. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 Genus  Cypselus,  III. 
 
 Cyselus  Klecho. 
 
 Hir.  Klecho,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  143. 
 Gyps,  longipennis,  Temm.,  PL  Col.  83. 
 
 Samber-galeng  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fam.  Caprimulgid^, 
 
 Genus  Podargus,  Cuv. 
 
 Pod.  Javanensis,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  141. — Zool  Researches,  Xo.  2. 
 j)l.  6. 
 
 Podarge  cornu,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  159. 
 
 Chaba-iconno  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  J ava. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Pod.  auritus,  not.  sp. 
 
 Pod.  supra  fcrrugineo-brunneus,  plu7nis  cirea  aures  longissimis ; subtus  pallidior ; nucha' 
 scapulariumque  plumis  albo  notatis ; 7'eniigibus  rectricibusque  ferrugineo  fasciatis. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 ()5ii 
 
 Pod.  auritus,  Vigors  and  Horsf.,  Griffiths'  Tratisl.  of  Cuv.  An.  Kingd. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 This  species  is  one  of  the  new  acquisitions  to  science  which  we  owe  to  the  zeal  of  Sir  Stam- 
 ford Raffles.  Its  length  is  about  fifteen  inches. 
 
 Genus  Caprimulgus,  Linn,  et  Auct. 
 
 Capr.  Europaeus,  Linn. 
 
 Sang  Sagan  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 No  specimen  of  this  species,  described  as  common  in  Sumatra  by  Sir  Stamford,  has  as  yet 
 been  found  in  the  collection. 
 
 Capr.  affinis,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  142. 
 
 Chaba  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Miisceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Capr.  raacrourus.  Id.,  lb. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Earn.  ToDiDiE. 
 
 Genus  Eurylaimus,  Horsf. 
 
 Eur.  Javanicus,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  170. — Zool.  Researches,  No.  2.  pi.  5. 
 
 Eurylaimus  Horsfieldii,  Temm. 
 
 Eurylaime  Horsfield,  Id.,  PI.  Col.  130  $ , 131  $ . • 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Eurylaimus  ochromalus,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  297. 
 
 Eurylaimus  cucullatus,  Temm. 
 
 Eurylaime  a capuchon.  Id.,  PI.  Col.  261 . 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 It  is  difficult  to  account  for  M.  Temminck’s  passing  over  the  accurate  description  of  the  charac- 
 ters and  habits  of  this  bird,  given  in  the  Linnean  Transactions  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  who  first 
 discovered  and  named  it.  M.  Temminck,  many  years  after  the  publication  of  Sir  Stamford’s  paper, 
 to  which  he  frequently  refers  in  the  text  of  his  Planches  Coloriees,  speaks  of  the  species  being 
 new,  and  of  its  habits  being  unknown. 
 
 Eur.  Sumatranus. 
 
 Coracias  Sumatranus,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  303. 
 Eurylaimus  Corydon,  Temm, 
 
 Eurylaime  Corydon,  Id.,  PI.  Col.  297. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 654- 
 
 Genus  Cymbirhynchus. 
 
 Rostrum  subelongatum,  depressum,  ad  basin  latissimum,  setis  raris  rigidis  obsitum ; rictu  am- 
 plissimo  ; culmine  obsolete,  arcuato ; mandihuld  superiori  prope  apicem  aduncum  emarginata ; nari- 
 Ims  ovalibus,  oblongis,  longitudinalibus,  nudis,  in  medio  mandibulae  positis. 
 
 Ala:  rotundatae,  subbreves ; remigihus  3tia  et  4ta  longissimis. 
 
 Tarsi  subfortes,  pedibus  gressoriis. 
 
 Cauda  subelongata,  gradata. 
 
 This  group  is  closely  allied  to  that  of  Eurylaimus,  but  differs  essentially  in  the  form  of  the  bill, 
 and  in  other  particulars.  The  position  of  the  nostrils  affords  a sticking  mark  of  distinction. 
 
 Cymb.  nasutus. 
 
 Todus  nasutus,  Lath.,  Ind.  Orn.,  268. 
 
 Great-billed  Tody,  Id.,  Gen.  Hist.,  Vol.  IV.  p.  94,  pi.  65. 
 
 Eurylaimus  nasutus,  Ternm. 
 
 Eurylaime  nasique.  Id.,  PI.  Col.  154. 
 
 Burong  Palano,  or  Tampalano,  of  the  Sumatrans,  Rajffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII. 
 p.  296. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Muscbo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Genus  Colaris,  Cuv. 
 
 (Eurystomus  Vieill.) 
 
 Col.  orientalis,  Cuv. 
 
 Coracias  orientalis,  Linn. 
 
 Tiong  Batu  of  the  Malays, 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumati'a  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Earn.  HalcyoniD/E. 
 
 Genus  Dacelo,  Leach. 
 
 Dac.  pulchella,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  y?.  175. — Zool.  Researches,  No.  2.  pi.  8. 
 Martin-chasseur  mignon,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  277. 
 
 Tenghe-ivatu  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musa;o  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Halcyon,  Swainson. 
 
 Hale,  leucocephalus. 
 
 Alcedo  leucocephala.  Lath. 
 
 Bang  Kako  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Tenglce-buto  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  JavL 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Hale.  Coromandelicus. 
 
 Alcedo  Coromanda,  Lath. 
 
 Tengke-sumbo  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS.  g.55 
 
 Hale,  chlorocephalus. 
 
 Alcedo  chlorocephala,  Lath. 
 
 TengJce-cheger  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Hale,  sacer. 
 
 Alcedo  sacer,  Lath- 
 Tengke  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musao  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Hale,  melanopterus. 
 
 Alcedo  melanoptera,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  jt.  174. 
 
 Martin-p6cheiu’  omnicolore,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  130. 
 
 Tengke-urang  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Hale,  atricapillus. 
 
 Alcedo  atricapilla.  Lath. 
 
 Btirong  Udang  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra,  Raff..,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  jo.  293. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Genus  Alcedo,  Linn,  et  Auct. 
 
 Ale.  ispida,  Linn.,  var.  Bengalensis. 
 
 Binti  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra,  Raff.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  293. 
 
 Ale.  Biru,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  172. — Zool.  Researches,  No.  4.  pi.  7. 
 Martin-pecheur  Biru,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  239.  y.  1. 
 
 Meninting-watii,  or  Burung-biru  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ale.  Bengalensis,  Lath. 
 
 Alcedo  Meninting,  Horsf. 
 
 Martin-pecheur  Meninting,  Temm.  PL  Col.  239.  pi.  2. 
 
 Meninting  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Ceyx,  Laeepede. 
 
 Ceyx  tridactylus. 
 
 Alcedo  tridactyla,  Linn. 
 
 Binti  Abang  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 Chuchack-urang  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 2 
 
656 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Tribus  Dentirostres. 
 
 Fam.  Muscicapid^. 
 
 Genus  Muscicapa,  Linn,  et  Aiict. 
 
 Muse.  Banyumas,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  146. — Zool.  Researches,  Ao.  8. 
 2)1.  7./.  1. 
 
 Muse,  rufigasti’a,  Rnffl- 
 Muse,  eantatrix,  Temm. 
 
 Gobe-mouche  chanteur,  Id.,  PI.  Col.  226. 
 
 Chiching-goleng  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Soec.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Muse,  hirundinacea,  Reinic. 
 
 Muse,  obseura,  Horsf. 
 
 Gobe-mouche  veloce,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  119. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  J ava. 
 
 In  Mnstsis  Soec.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Muse.  Indigo,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  146. — Zool.  Researches,  No.  5.  pi.  8. 
 
 Nil-nilan  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Muse,  latirostris,  Rqffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  S\2. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 This  bird,  which  is  somewhat  obscure  in  its  colour  and  markings,  may  probably  be  the  female 
 of  some  described  species. 
 
 Muse,  caerulea,  Gmel. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra,  Raff.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  312. 
 
 Genus  Muscipeta,  Cuv.  et  Auct. 
 
 Muscip.  flaramea. 
 
 Muscicapa  flammea,  Penn. 
 
 Uwis,  or  Semuttan  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Muscip.  miniata. 
 
 Muscicapa  miniata,  Temm. 
 
 Gobe-mouche  vermilion.  Id.,  PI.  Col.  156. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Muscip.  Javanica,  Sj)armann. 
 
 Moorai-Kandang  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 Sikattan  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musms  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 657 
 
 The  genus  Muscipeta  is  here  restricted  to  the  group  with  the  broad  and  somewhat  elongated 
 bill,  and  lengthened  graduated  tail,  of  which  Muse.  Parodist,  Linn.,  forms  the  type.  This  form 
 belongs  to  Africa  and  India. 
 
 Fam.  LANiADiE. 
 
 Genus  Ocypterus,  Cuv. 
 
 (Artamus,  Vieill.) 
 
 Ocypt.  leucorhynchus. 
 
 Lanius  leucorhynchus,  Linn. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musoiis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Edolius.  Cuv. 
 
 (Dicrurus,  Vieill.) 
 
 Ed.  forficatus,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  144. 
 Lanius  forficatus,  Linn. 
 
 Sri-gunting  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ed.  cineraceus,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  145. 
 Chenta  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Jav5. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ed.  Malabai'icus. 
 
 Lanius  Malabaricus,  Lath. 
 
 Edolius  retifer,  Temm. 
 
 Barong  Saweh  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ed.  divaricatus. 
 
 Lanius  divaricatus,  Raffl  , Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  305. 
 Beribba  burong  lilin  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 This  species  is  indicated  from  a female  specimen,  which  probably  may  be  found  to  belong  to 
 a previously-named  species  of  the  fork-tailed  Shrikes. 
 
 Genus  Irena,  Horsf. 
 
 Ir.  puella,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII./).  152.  Zool.  Researches,  No.  \ . pi.  1,  2. 
 Coracias  puella.  Lath. 
 
 Edolius  puella,  Temm. 
 
 Biang  Kapoor  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Bressi  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 4 p 
 
G58 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Genus  Lanius,  LAnn.  et  Auct. 
 
 Lanius  Bentet,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  144. 
 Bentet  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Burong  Papa,  or  Tiitj)  Api,  of  the  Malays. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Miisceis  Socc.  Zool  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Lanius  superciliosus,  Lath. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Muscbo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Lanius  gularis,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  304. 
 Baron  Baron  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Lanius  virgatus,  Tenon.?  PI.  Col.25Q.f.  1. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 The  bird  figured  by  M.  Temminck  as  Lanius  virgatus  appears  the  same  as  the  Sumatran 
 species,  with  the  exception  of  the  white  colour  of  the  tiropijgiuni,  which  is  not  mentioned  in  the 
 text  of  the  Planches  Coloriees.  A female  bird  in  the  Sumatran  collection,  apparently  belonging  to 
 this  species,  is  ferruginous-grey  above,  with  the  head  mottled  with  white,  and  the  bill  light  coloured, 
 which  is  black  in  the  male ; the  tail  also  is  longer. 
 
 Genus  Ceblepyris,  Cuv. 
 
 Cebl.  Javensis,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  145. 
 Kepodang-snngu  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Cebl.  Orientalis. 
 
 Turdus  Orientalis,  Lath. 
 
 Lenjettan  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Vanga,  Cuv. 
 
 Vanga?  coronata. 
 
 Lanius  coronatus,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  306. 
 Burong  J’ri  of  the  iMalays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 The  female  only  of  this  species  has  been  described  by  Sir  Stamfoi'd  Raffles ; the  male  bird  is 
 
 black  where  the  female  is  ferruginous  in  its  plumage. 
 
 2 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 G59 
 
 Fam.  Merulid.®. 
 
 Genus  Pitta,  Vieill. 
 
 Pitta  caerulea. 
 
 Mycothera  cierulea,  lloffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII./;.  301. 
 Pitta  gigas,  Temm. 
 
 Breve  geant.  Id.,  PI.  Col.  217. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musa;o  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Pitta  cyanoptera,  Temm. 
 
 Breve  cyanoptere,  Id.,  PI.  Col.  218. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musaeo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Pitta  cyanura. 
 
 Turclus  cyanurus,  Lath. 
 
 Punglor  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Sintar  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Oriolus,  Linn,  et  Auct. 
 
 Or.  chinersis,  Linn. 
 
 Tiong  alou  or  Punting  alou  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Kepodang  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  J ava. 
 
 In  Musoeis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Or.  xanthonotus,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  152. — Zool.  Researches,  No.  6. 
 pi.  7. 
 
 Loriot  a ventre  blanc,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  214. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Muscbo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Turdus,  Linn,  et  Auct. 
 
 Turdus  varius,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trayis.,  Fo/.  XIII.  p.  148. — Zool.  Researches,  No.  11.  pi.  7. 
 Ayum-ayaman  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Turdus  ochrocephalus,  Gmel. 
 
 Chuchah-raiva  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatrii  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Turdus  cyaneus,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  149. — Zool.  Researches,  No.  4.  pi.  8. 
 Breve  bleuet,  Temm.  PI.  Col.  194. 
 
 Arreng-arrengan  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Muscco  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 It  is  not  easy  to  determine  the  true  situation  of  this  bird.  It  cannot  well  be  placed  among  the 
 
 4 p 2 
 
660 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Breves,  where  M.  Temminck  arranges  it;  with  which,  although  it  accords  in  some  characters,  it 
 totally  differs  in  its  general  appearance.  It  appears  more  nearly  allied  to  Myopltonus.  At  present 
 it  may  be  enumerated  in  the  comprehensive  group  of  Thrushes,  among  the  species  of  which  it  was 
 originally  enrolled. 
 
 Turdus  Macrourus,  Gmel. 
 
 Lariva  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  and  Java. 
 
 In  Musads  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 The  exact  situation  of  this  species,  in  this  extensive  family,  is  also  doubtful. 
 
 % Genus  Myophonus,  Temm. 
 
 Myoph.  flavirostris. 
 
 Turdus  flavirosti'is,  llorsf. 
 
 Myoph.  metallicus,  Temm. 
 
 Myophone  luisant.  Id.,  PL  Col.  170. 
 
 Chiung  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Timalia,  Horsf. 
 
 Tim.  pileata,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  151. — Zool.  Researches,  No.  3.  pi.  7. 
 
 Dawit,  or  Gogo-stite,  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Tim.  gularis.  Id.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  3.  pi.  7.  f.  2. 
 
 Motacilla  gularis,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  j).  312. 
 
 Burong  Pooding  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumati’a. 
 
 In  Musais  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Ixos,  Temm. 
 
 Ixos  dispar. 
 
 Turdus  dispar, Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  150. 
 Turdoide  ensanglante,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  137. 
 
 Chichi ng-goleng  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ixos  melanocephalus. 
 
 Turdus  melanocephalus,  Rajfl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  310. 
 Lanius  melanocephalus.  Lath. 
 
 Turdoide  cap-negre,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  147. 
 
 Burong  Lilin  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 (>()l 
 
 Ixos  biraaculatus, 
 
 Turdus  bimaculatus,  Hors/.,  Lhm.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII. />.  147. 
 Chuchak-gtniung  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  JavS,. 
 
 In  Miisceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ixos  Psidii. 
 
 Muscicapa  Psidii,  Gmel. 
 
 Turdus  analis,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.,  p.  147. 
 Biribba  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Chuchak  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musais  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ixos  haemorrhous. 
 
 Turdus  haemorrhous,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  147. 
 Muscicapa  haemon’housa,  j3.  Gmel. 
 
 Ketilan  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ixos  gularis. 
 
 Turdus  gularis,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  150. 
 
 Bres  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Mus(Zo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fam.  SylviadjE. 
 
 Genus  Iora,  Horsf. 
 
 I ora  tiphia. 
 
 Motacilla  tiphia,  Linn. 
 
 Iora  scapularis,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  152. — Zool.  Researches, 
 No.  6.  pi.  5. 
 
 Cheetoo  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Sylvia,  Lath,  et  Aiict. 
 
 Sylv.  Javanica,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  156. 
 
 Opior-opior  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Sylv.  montana.  Id.,  Ib. 
 
 Chret  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 f Genus  Zosterops. 
 
 Zost.  Maderaspatanus. 
 
 Motacilla  Maderaspatana,  Linn. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 I 
 
662 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Genus  Motacilla,  Lath. 
 
 Mot.  Indica,  Gmel. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumati’a. 
 
 In  Mus&o  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Mot.  flava,  Linn 
 
 Bessit  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Museeis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Enicurus,  Temm. 
 
 En.  speciosus. 
 
 Motacilla  speciosa,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  155. — Zool.  Researches, 
 No.  1.  pi.  8. 
 
 Enicurus  coronatus,  Temm. 
 
 Enicure  couronne,  Id.,  PI.  Col.  115. 
 
 Genus  Saxicola,  Bcchst. 
 
 Sax.  caprata,  Horsf. 
 
 Dechu  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musao  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Brachypteryx,  Horsf. 
 
 Brachypt.  montana,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  157. — Zool.  Researches,  No.  7. 
 pi.  5. 
 
 Ketek  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Brachypt.  sepiaria,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  156. 
 
 Chichohan  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Anthus,  Bechst. 
 
 Anthus  pratensis,  Bechst.,  var. 
 
 Alauda  pratensis,  Linn. 
 
 Lancha  Lancha,  or  Hamba  Puyu,  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra,  Raff,.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  j).  315. 
 
 Genus  Megalurus,  Horsf 
 
 Megalurus  palustris,  Ilorf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  159. 
 Merion  longibandes,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  65.  f.  2. 
 Larri-angon  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 ()63 
 
 Fam.  PiPRiDiE. 
 
 Genus  Parus. 
 
 Parus  atriceps,  Horsf.  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII,  p.  160. 
 Glate-wingko  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Calyptomena,  Raffl. 
 
 Calypt.  viridis,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  295. — Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  4. 
 . pi.  5. 
 
 Rupicola  viridis,  Tenim. 
 
 Rupicola  verdin,  Id.,  PI.  Col.  216. 
 
 Burong  Tampo  Pinang  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musais  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Tribus  Conirostres. 
 
 Fam.  Fringillid.e. 
 
 Genus  Mirafra,  Horsf. 
 
 Mirafra  Javanica,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  159. 
 Branjangan  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musoeo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Fringilla,  Linn,  et  Auct. 
 
 Fring.  Amandava,  Linn. 
 
 Menyiring  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Mus(Zo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fring.  striata. 
 
 Loxia  striata,  Linn. 
 
 Prit  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fring.  Malacca. 
 
 Loxia  Malacca,  Linn. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musoeo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Fring.  punctularia. 
 
 Loxia  punctularia,  Linn. 
 
 Pekking  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java.  ’ 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc,  Ind.  Orient.  ' ‘ 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 ()6i 
 
 F'ring.  Maja. 
 
 Loxia  Maia,  Linn. 
 
 Pipit  Bondol  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 Bondol  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Javh. 
 
 In  Mtisceo  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fring.  prasina,  Spartn. 
 
 Fringilla  sphecura,  Temm. 
 
 Gros-bec  long  cone,  Id.,  PI.  Col.  96. 
 Ra)mas  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Binglis  of  the  Eastern  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musms  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fring.  oryzivora. 
 
 Loxia  oryzivora,  Linn. 
 
 Gelatik  of  the  Malays. 
 date  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Javd. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Ploceus,  Cuv. 
 
 Ploceus  Philippinus. 
 
 Loxia  Philippina,  Linn. 
 
 Tampooa  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Pintail  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Manyar-kembang  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musoeis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ploceus  Manyar. 
 
 Fringilla  Manyar,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII. />.  160. 
 Manyar  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fam.  Sturnid^. 
 Genus  Pastor,  Temm. 
 
 Past,  cristatellus. 
 
 Gracula  cristatella,  Linn. 
 
 Pastor  griseus,  Horsf. 
 
 Jallak  sungu  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Past.  Capensis. 
 
 Sturnus  Capensis,  Linn. 
 
 Pastor  Jalla,  Horsf. 
 
 Jallak,  or  Jallak-uring  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 065 
 
 Past,  tricolor,  Hors/.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  155. 
 
 Jallak-awu  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  JavL 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Pastor  Saularis. 
 
 Gracula  Saularis,  Linn. 
 
 Moorai  or  Moorai  Kichou  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musao  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Pastor  amsenus. 
 
 Turdus  amoenus,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  147. 
 Kacher  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  J ava. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Lamprotornis,  Temm. 
 
 Lamp,  cantor. 
 
 Turdus  cantor.  Lath. 
 
 Biang  or  Kalaloyang,  also  Burong  Kling,  of  the  Malays. 
 Sling  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fam.  CoRViDiE. 
 
 Genus  Corvus,  Linn. 
 
 Corvus  Enca,  Horsf. 
 
 Enca  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Gracula,  Linn,  et  Auct. 
 
 Gracula  religiosa,  Linn. 
 
 Tiong  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Bed  or  Mencho  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Glaucopis,  Forst. 
 
 Glaucopis  leucopterus,  Temm. 
 
 Glaucope  a ailes  blanches.  Id.,  PI.  Col.  265. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Genus  Crypserina,  Vieill. 
 
 Cryps.  varians. 
 
 Corvus  varians.  Lath. 
 
 Phrenotrix  temia,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  165. — Zool.  Researches, 
 No.  1.  pi.  7. 
 
 Chehitut  or  Benteot  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
666 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Fam.  Bucerid.®. 
 Genus  Buceros,  Linn. 
 
 Buc.  Rhinoceros,  Linn. 
 
 Jnggang  Danto  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Rangkok  or  Jong  rang  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Buc.  undulatus,  Shaw. 
 
 Goge  or  Bobosan  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Museeis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Buc.  Malabaricus,  Lath. 
 
 Klinglingan  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 An^a  Angka  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Museeis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Buc.  monoceros,  Shaw. 
 
 Kiki  of  the  Malays. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 In  JMusceo  Soc.  Zool 
 
 Buc.  cavatus. 
 
 Ingghan  Papan  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 Burong  Oondan  of  the  Malays. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Buc.  galeatus,  Gmel. 
 
 Toko  and  Burong  Gading  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Tibbang  Mantooa  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 The  bills  only  of  this  species  are  preserved  in  the  Sumatran  collection. 
 
 Tribus  ScANSORES. 
 
 Fam.  PsiTTACiD.®. 
 
 Genus  Pal.eornis,  Vigors. 
 
 Pal.  Pondicerianus. 
 
 Bettet  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Museeis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Pal.  Malaccensis. 
 
 Psittacus  erubescens,  Shaw. 
 Burong  Bayau  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 067 
 
 Genus  Psittacula,  Kiehl. 
 
 Psittac.  Galgulus. 
 
 Psittacus  Galgulus,  Linn. 
 
 Serindit  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 SiUndit  or  SiUnditun  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Jav^. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Psittacus,  Auct. 
 
 Psittacus  Sumatranus. 
 
 Keke  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra,  Raffl. 
 
 No  specimen  of  this  species,  which  has  been  mentioned  under  the  above  name  by  Sir  Stamford 
 Raffles  as  inhabiting  Sumatra,  has  been  as  yet  found  in  his  collection. 
 
 Fam.  PiciD^. 
 
 Genus  Bucco,  Linn,  et  Auct. 
 
 Bucco  Philippensis,  Linn. 
 
 Chanda  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Engku  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Bucco  roseicollis. 
 
 Barbu  a gorge  rose,  Le  Vaill. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Bucco  australis,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Traits.,  Vol.  XIII.  181. 
 
 Bucco  gularis,  Reinw. 
 
 Barbu  gorge-bleu,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  89.  f.  2. 
 
 Truntung  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java, 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Bucco  Lathami,  Gmel. 
 
 Ampis  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra, 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Bucco  Javensis,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  181. 
 
 Bucco  Kotoreus,  Temm. 
 
 Chodok  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  J ava. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Bucco  versicolor,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  284. 
 
 Barbu  bigarre,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  309. 
 
 Takoo  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 4 Q 2 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 (m 
 
 Bucco  mystacophonos,  Temm. 
 
 Barbu  mystacophone,  Id.,  PI.  Col.  315. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musaso  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Bucco  Chrysopogon,  Teinm. 
 
 Barbu  a moustaches  jaunes. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Mmceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Genus  Picus,  Linn. 
 
 * Pedibus  tetradactylis. 
 
 Pic.  Javensis,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  175. 
 Picus  Horsfieldii,  Wagler. 
 
 Picus  leucogaster,  Temm.  ? 
 
 Platuk-atjam  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Pic.  affinis,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  288. 
 
 Picus  dimidiatus,  Temm. 
 
 Tukki  Baicang  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Platnk  Bawang  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 This  species  has  a close  affinity  to  the  Linnean  species  Pic.  Bengalensis,  and  probably  may 
 be  but  a variety  of  it.  It  seems  also  to  agree  with  M.  Vieillot’s  description  of  his  Pic.  rittatus.  If 
 this  should  be  the  case,  and  the  bird  be  distinct  from  the  before-mentioned  Linnean  species,  M.  Vieil- 
 lot’s name  must  be  adopted  for  the  species,  as  having  the  right  of  priority. 
 
 Pic.  Goensis,  Gmel. 
 
 Pic.  strictus,  Horsf. 
 
 Platuk  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Muscco  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Pic.  puniceus,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  176. 
 
 Pic  grenadin,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  423. 
 
 Tukki  Bajukarap  or  Belatu  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  JMusceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Pic.  mentalis,  Temm. 
 
 Pic  gorgeret,  Id.,  PI.  Col.  384. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Pic.  validus.  Id. 
 
 Pic  vigoureux,  Id.,  PI.  Col.  378. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musa:o  Soc.  Zool. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 6G9 
 
 Pic.  pulverulentus,  Id. 
 
 Pic  Meunier,  Id.,  PL  Col.  389. 
 Habitat  in  J ava. 
 
 In  Musoco  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Pic.  rainiatus,  Gmel. 
 
 Platuk  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  MuseBis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Pic.  badius,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  289. 
 Tukki  Kalabu  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Muscbo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Pic.  tristis,  Horsf.,  Linn.Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  jo.  177. 
 Pic.  paecilophos,  Temm. 
 
 Pic  Strikup,  Id.,  PI.  Col.  197. 
 
 Tukki  boreh  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Platuk-watu  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumati'a  et  J ava. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Pic.  Moluccensis,  Gmel.  ? 
 
 Petit  pic  des  Moluques,  PI.  Enl.  748.  f.  2. 
 Tukki  lilit  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Mus&o  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 **  Pedibus  tridactylis. 
 
 Pic.  ^ga.,  Horsf .,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII. y?.  177. 
 Tukki  besar  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Pic.  Rafflesii.  Nov.  sp. 
 
 Pic.  supra  flaviscenti-brunneus,  subtus  brunneus;  capite  coccineo ; guld  pallide  ferrugined  ; 
 strigis  und  ab  oculis,  secunda  a rictu  extendentibus,  maculisque  ad  latera  abdominis  albis  ; strigis 
 duabus  ad  latera  genarum,  alter d pared  super ciliari,  remigibus,  rectricibusque  nigris. 
 
 Magnitude  Pic.  Tigce. 
 
 Fam.  Certhiad.®. 
 
 Genus  Orthotomus,  Horsf. 
 
 Orth,  sepium,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  166. 
 Kachichi,  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Chiglet  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatri  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
1 
 
 (>70 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Genus  Sitta,  JJinn. 
 
 Sitta  frontalis,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  J ol.  XIII.  162. 
 Sitta  velata,  Temm. 
 
 Torchepot  voile,  Id.,  PI.  Col.  72./“.  3. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  J ava. 
 
 In  Musais  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Prinia,  Horsf. 
 
 Prinia  familiaris,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.,  p.  165. — Zool.  Researches,  No.  8. 
 2il.  5. 
 
 Prinya  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Pomatorhinus,  Horsf. 
 
 Poraat.  montanus,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  js.  165. — Zool.  Researches,  No.  5.  PI.  5. 
 Bokkreli  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  J ava. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fam.  CucuLiDiE. 
 
 Genus  Centropus,  Rl. 
 
 Cent,  affinis,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII. /j.  180. 
 
 Kradoh,  or  Booboot,  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Bubut-allang-allang  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Cent.  Philippensis,  Cuv. — Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  6.  pi.  8. 
 
 Centropus  Bubutus, //or/.,  Linn,  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  180. 
 
 Bubut  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Muscds  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Phcemcophaus,  Vie'dl. 
 
 * Rostro  arcuato. 
 
 Phcen.  melanognathus,  Hor.f.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  178. 
 
 Inggang  Balukar  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Kadallun  or  Sintok  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Mus^is  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Phcen.  Javanicus,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  178. — Zool.  Researches,  Ao.  5.  pi.  7. 
 Bubut-kembang  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 671 
 
 Phcen,  Sumatranus. 
 
 Cuculus  Sumatranus,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  287. 
 Sepando  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musao  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 **  Rostro  subrecto. 
 
 Phoen.  chlorophaeus. 
 
 Cuculus  chlorophaeus,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  288. 
 
 Booboot  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Phoen.  caniceps. 
 
 Phoen.  capite,  collo,  pectoreque  griseo-canis ; alis,  dorso,  abdomine,  cauddque  ferrugineis, 
 hac  fascia  nigra  prope  apicem  albidum. 
 
 Magnitudo  Phoen.  chlorophoei. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musao  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 The  two  latter  species  belong  to  a group  which  differs  from  Phoenicophaus  in  the  form  of  the 
 bill  and  nostrils,  and  some  other  particulars.  It  seems,  however,  to  bear  the  nearest  affinity  to  that 
 genus  among  the  hitherto  described  groups,  and  for  the  present  is  arranged  among  the  species  of  it. 
 The  group  will  be  hereafter  published,  when  more  information  is  acquired  of  its  characters  and 
 economy  in  the  ‘ Museum  Rafflesianum,'  under  the  generic  title  of  Rhinortha. 
 
 Genus  Eudynamys,  Vigors  and  Horsf. 
 
 Eud.  orientalis.  Vigors  et  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XV.  p.  303. 
 
 Cuculus  orientalis,  Ziww. 
 
 Tuhu  $ , Chule  $ , of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatrfi  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Cuculus,  Linn,  et  Auct. 
 
 Cue.  canorus,  Linn.,  var. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Some  doubts  are  entertained  of  the  Sumatran  specimens  belonging  to  this  species. 
 
 Cue.  fugax,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  178. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Cue.  flavus,  Gmel. 
 
 Gedasse  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  JavL 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 2 
 
672 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Cue.  lugubris,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  179. — Zool.  Researches,  No.  7.  pi.  8. 
 Awon-awon  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Cue.  xanthorhjTiehus,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  179. — Zool.  Researches,  No.  3. 
 pi.  8. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soe.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Cue.  basalis,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  179. 
 
 Cueulus  ehaleites,  Ill.l 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Soee.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 This  speeies  requires  examination.  It  is  doubtful  whether  there  are  not  more  than  one  speeies 
 in  the  Zoologieal  and  Sumatran  eolleetions,  or  whether  all  may  not  belong  to  the  Cue.  ehaleites  of 
 Illiger.  The  group  to  whieh  the  bird  belongs  also  requires  revision ; it  exhibits  a very  distinct 
 form,  and  most  probably  economy,  from  that  of  Cueulus. 
 
 Genus  Trogon,  Linn. 
 
 Trog.  Duvaucelii,  Temm. 
 
 Trogon  Kasumba,  Raffles. 
 
 Burong  Kasumba  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 This  species  was  first  distinguished  as  distinct  from  Trog.  fasciatus  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles, 
 and  named  as  above.  The  subsequent  name,  however,  may,  in  the  present  instance,  be  cheerfully 
 adopted,  as  that  of  a naturalist  to  whom  Sir  Stamford  himself  would  doubtlessly  have  been  the  first 
 to  award  the  compliment. 
 
 Tribus  Tenuirostres. 
 
 Fam.  C1NNYRID.E. 
 
 Genus  Cinnyris,  Cav. 
 
 Cinn.  longirostra,  Horsf. 
 
 Certhia  longirostra.  Lath. 
 
 Siajj  Jantung  of  the  IMalays. 
 
 Prit  Andun  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Mus<eis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Cinn.  affinis,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  166. 
 Nectarinia  inornata,  Temm. 
 
 Souimanga  modeste.  Id.,  PI.  Col.  84.  f.  2. 
 Chess  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  J ava. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 1 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Cinn.  Javanica. 
 
 Nectarinia  Javanica,  Horsf. 
 
 Prit-gantil  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  J ava. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Cinn.  pectoralis. 
 
 Nectarinia  pectoralis,  Horsf. 
 
 Souimanga  distingue,  Temtn.,  PI.  Col.  1 38.  f.  I . and  2. 
 Sri-ganti  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  JaviL 
 In  Muscco  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Cinn.  eximia. 
 
 Nectarinia  eximia,  Horsf. 
 
 Souimanga  pectoral,  Temm.,  PI.  Col.  138.  f.  3. 
 Plichi-kembang  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Javh. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Cinn.  Siparaja. 
 
 Certhia  Siparaja,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  299. 
 Nectarinia  mystacalis,  Temm. 
 
 Souimanga  moustac.  Id.,  PI.  Col.  126.  f.  3. 
 
 Sipa  Raja  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Genus  Dictum,  Cuv. 
 
 Die.  cruentatum,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  168. 
 
 Sopa  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Die.  flavum.  Id.,  Ib.p.  170. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Die.  croceoventre,  Nov.  sp. 
 
 Die.  capite,  alis,  cauddque  grisescenti-atris ; guld,  pectoreque  cano-griseis ; dorso,  abdomi- 
 neque  croceis  ; crisso  Jlavo. 
 
 Magnitude  Die.  cruentati. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Fam.  Meliphagid.®:. 
 
 » 
 
 Genus  Chloropsis,  Jardine  and  Selby. 
 
 Chlor.  Cochinchinensis. 
 
 Turdus  Cochinchinensis,  Lath. 
 
 Bur  on g Daun  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Chuchack-iju  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 4 R 
 
674 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Some  doubts  may  be  entertained  of  the  synonomy  of  ‘this  bird ; it  agrees  with  the  figure  of 
 Turdus  Cochinchinensis  in  the  PI.  Enl.  643,  with  the  exception  of  its  having  a yelloiv  forehead, 
 and  disagrees  with  the  figure  of  Turdus  Malabaricus  in  Sir  W.  J ardine’s  and  Mr.  Selby’s  Illustra- 
 tions of  Ornithologij,  in  not  having  a blue  throat  or  orange  forehead.  There  probably  are"  three 
 species,  nearly  allied  to  each  other,  or  perhaps  only  one.  The  authors  of  the  Illustrations,  it  is  to 
 be  hoped,  will  clear  up  the  point. 
 
 Chlor.  zosterops,  Nov.  sp. 
 
 Chlor.  viridis  concolor,  supra  dilution  ; guld  jugidoque  flaviscentibus,  circulo  oeulari  fiavo. 
 
 This  species  is  nearly  allied  to  Chlor.  gampsorhyncJms  of  the  Illustrations  of  Ornithology ; but 
 it  has  a conspicuous  circle  of  yellow  feathers  around  the  eye,  which  does  not  appear  to  belong  to 
 that  bird.  There  are  one  or  two  additional  species  of  this  gi’oup,  apparently  undescribed,  in  the 
 Sumatran  collection  ; but  they  are  probably  females  of  some  of  the  described  species,  and  require 
 examination. 
 
 Ordo  III.  Rasores. 
 
 Fam.  CoLUMBiD.E. 
 
 Genus  Vinago,  Cuv. 
 
 Vin.  vernans. 
 
 Columba  vernans,  Linn. 
 
 Poonai  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Kate  i , Jowan  $ , of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musreis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Vin.  curvirostris. 
 
 Columba  curvirostra,  Gmel. 
 
 Poonai  JJbar  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Vin.  giganteus? 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 The  specimen  of  this  group,  supposed  to  be  the  above  bird,  is  in  indifferent  condition,  and  the 
 name  is  given  with  doubt.  A species  entirely  purple  on  the  head,  breast,  and  upper  part  of  the  back, 
 is  in  the  Sumatran  collection,  but  it  wants  the  tail,  and  cannot  well  be  identified  or  described  ; it 
 
 appears  a new  species. 
 
 Genus  Columba. 
 
 Col.  aenea,  Linn. 
 
 Per  gam  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Col.  badia,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  317. 
 
 Lampattu  or  Pergam  Kalabu  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 An.  var.  precedentis  ? 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 G75 
 
 Col.  alba,  Linn. 
 
 Col.  litoralis,  Temm. 
 
 Burung-dara  lahnt  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra,  et  Java. 
 
 In  Mnsceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Col.  melanocephala,  Gniel. 
 
 Joican-bondol  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Col.  Javanica,  Lath. 
 
 Poonai  Tanna  of  the  Malays. 
 Limoo-an  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Delimu  or  GUmukan  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Muscais  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Col.  Jambu,  Gmel. 
 
 Poonai  Jambu  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 Ln  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Col.  bitorquata,  Temm. 
 
 Puter-genni  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Col.  Tigi’ina,  Temm. 
 
 Hero  or  Derkuku  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Col.  Turtui’,  Linn.  VAX. 
 
 Balam  or  Terkooku  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Col.  risoria,  Linn. 
 
 Puter  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Muscxis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Col.  Bantamensis,  Sparm. 
 
 Katitiran  of  the  Sumati’ans. 
 
 Berkutut  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Col.  Amboinensis,  Linn. 
 
 Derkuku-sopa  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 4 R 2 
 
676 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Genus  Pavo,  Linn. 
 
 Pavo  cristatus,  Linn. 
 
 M'ra  or  JSIarak  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 Pavo  muticus,  Linn. 
 
 Merak  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatrd  et  Jav&. 
 
 In  Musosis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Polyplectron,  Temm. 
 
 Polyp,  bicalcaratus. 
 
 Kuaoiv  Chirmin  of  the  Malays. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musao  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Genus  Gallus. 
 
 Gallus  Bankiva,  Temm. 
 
 Aijam  Utan  or  Brooga  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Bengkiwo  or  Bekikko  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  ISIusceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Gallus  varius. 
 
 Phasianus  varius,  S/iaw. 
 
 Pitte-ivonno  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musms  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Gallus  ignitus. 
 
 Phasianus  ignitus,  Lath. 
 
 Tugang  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musao  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Gallus  erythropthalmus. 
 
 Phasianus  erythropthalmos.  Raff,.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  321. 
 Mira  Mata  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 This  bird  is  generally  asserted  to  be  the  young  of  the  preceding  species.  The  ditference, 
 however,  of  the  native  names,  and  the  observations  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  on  the  spot,  are  suffi- 
 cient to  authorize  the  birds  being  kept  apart,  until  proof  appears  of  their  being  the  same. 
 
 Genus  Argus,  Temm. 
 
 .Argus  giganteus,  Temm. 
 
 Kuaow  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
CATALOGUE  OE  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 G77 
 
 Genus  Cryptonyx,  Termn. 
 
 Crypt,  cristatus,  Vigors,  Zool.  Journal,  Vol.  IV.  p.  318. 
 
 Beniol  of  tlie  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musao  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Crypt,  ocellatus,  Id.,  Ib.,  p.  319. 
 
 Tetrao  ocellatus,  Raffi.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XI 11.  p.  322. 
 Burong  Troong  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  ]\Ius(Eo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Crypt,  niger,  Id.,  Ib. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 In  Muscco  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Crypt.  feiTugineus,  Id.,  Ib. 
 
 Habitat 'm  Sumatia. 
 In  Mus(Zo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Genus  Ortygis,  III. 
 
 Ort.  Luzoniensis. 
 
 Tetrao  Luzoniensis,  Gmel. 
 
 Puyo  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Drigul  $,  Gomrna  $,  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Coturnix,  Cuv. 
 
 Cot.  Sinensis. 
 
 Tetrao  Sinensis,  Gmel. 
 
 Pikau  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Piker  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Perdix,  Lath. 
 
 Perd.  Javanica,  Lath. 
 
 Dagu  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Perd.  personata,  Horsf.,  Zool.  Researehes,  No.  8.  pi.  G. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Oi'ient. 
 
 Perd.  curvirostris. 
 
 Tetrao  curvirostris,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII. /j.  323. 
 
 Lanting  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 1 
 
678 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 These  birds  belong  to  the  division  of  the  gentis  Perdix  of  Dr.  Latham,  which  includes  the 
 FrancoUns.  Their  place  will  be  more  accurately  assigned  in  the  Museum  Rafflesianum,  where 
 some  other  gallinaceous  birds  in  the  Sumatran  collection  will  be  included,  that  have  not  as  yet 
 undergone  examination. 
 
 Ordo  IV.  Grallatores. 
 
 Fam.  Gruid^e. 
 
 Genus  Ardea,  Linn,  et  Auct. 
 
 Ard.  cinerea,  Linn.  var. 
 
 Changa-aivu  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ard.  purpurea.  Id. 
 
 Changa-idu  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ard.  alba,  Id. 
 
 Kuntul  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  iu  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ard.  garzetta.  Id. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Ard.  affinis,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  189. 
 Kuntul-cliilik  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 .\rd.  Malaccensis,  Gmel. 
 
 Ardea  speciosa,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  189. — Zool.  Researches, 
 No.  7.  pi.  6. 
 
 Blekko-ireng  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  J ava. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ard.  Sinensis,  Gmel. 
 
 Ard.  lepida,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  189. 
 Bambangan  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ard.  flavicollis.  Lath. 
 
 Tomtomman  or  Tototan  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 679 
 
 Ard.  cinnamomea,  Gmel. 
 
 Burong  Kaladi  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 A}/qm-ayaman  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musccis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ard.  virescens,  Linn.  ? 
 
 Burong  Piichong  of  the  Malays. 
 Upi-upian  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 InMiisceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Ard.  Nycticorax,  Linn. 
 
 Gnwo  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Mus(Zo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Ciconia,  Brisson. 
 
 Cic.  Argala. 
 
 Ardea  Argala,  Lath. 
 
 Bangou  Sula,  Burong  Kambing,  and  Burong  Gaja  of  the  Malays. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 A variety  of  this  bird  is  in  the  collection,  which  is  probably  the  Modun  Crane  of  Dr.  Latham. 
 
 Cic.  Javanica,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  188. 
 Ciconia  capillata,  Temm. 
 
 Bangu  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musoeo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Cic.  leucocephala. 
 
 Sandang-laice  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 There  are  some  more  species  of  this  family  of  Ardeidce  indicated  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  as 
 inhabiting  Sumatra,  and  there  are  also  some  birds  in  the  Sumatran  collection  not  referred  to  in 
 the  foregoing  list.  A more  perfect  enumeration  of  both  will  be  given  in  the  Museum  Raffiesi- 
 anum. 
 
 Genus  Ibis. 
 
 Ibis  falcinellus,  Temm. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 7 
 
680 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Fam.  SCOLOPACID.E. 
 Genus  Numenius,  Brisson. 
 
 Num.  arquata. 
 
 Terok  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 /«  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Num.  phaeopus. 
 
 Gajahan  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Limosa,  Brisson. 
 
 Lim.  raelanura,  Leisl. 
 
 Biru-lahnt  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Mus&is  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Lim.  Terek,  Temm. 
 
 Bedaran  or  Choweyan  of  the  Javanese, 
 Habitat  in  J ava. 
 
 In  Mus(£0  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Totanus,  Bechst. 
 
 , Tot.  affinis,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  191. 
 Trinil  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc,  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Tot.  hypoleucos. 
 
 Trinil  batu  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Tot.  acuminatus,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII,  p.  192. 
 Trinil  gung  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java, 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Tot.  tenuirostris,  Id.,  Ib. 
 
 Keeyo  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient, 
 
 Tot.  Damacensis,  Id.,  Ib. 
 
 Habitat  in  Javd. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Tot.  Glottis,  Bechst. 
 
 Bcnoiichung  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 681 
 
 Genus  Scolopax,  Linii.  et  Auct. 
 
 Scol.  gallinago,  Linn. 
 
 Sekadidi  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Burchet  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Jav&. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Scol.  saturata,  Ilorsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  191. — Zool.  Researches,  No.  5.  pi.  7. 
 Tekken  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Scolopax?  Sumatrana,  Rafft.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  321. 
 
 Kooning  Kaki  of  the  Sumati'ans. 
 
 Ilabitcit  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 This  is  a small  species,  with  its  bill  turned  upwards,  the  situation  of  which  in  the  present 
 family  remains  to  be  investigated. 
 
 There  is  a species  in  the  Sumatran  cabinet  nearly  allied  to  the  British  Woodcock,  which  remains 
 to  be  examined. 
 
 Genus  Rhynch.ea,  Cuv. 
 
 Rhynch.  Capensis. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra,  Raffl. 
 
 Rhynch.  Orientalis,  Ilorsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  193. 
 
 Pengung  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Tringa,  Linn. 
 
 Tringa  subarquata,  Temm. 
 
 Mayatan  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fam.  R.\llid^. 
 
 Genus  Parra,  Linn. 
 
 Parra  superciliosa,  Ilorsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  ji.  194'. — Zool.  Researches,  No.  8. 
 pi.  7. 
 
 Pichisan  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Rallus,  Linn. 
 
 Rail,  gularis,  Ilorsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  196. 
 
 Ayam  Ayani  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Tikussan  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  J ava. 
 
 In  Musais  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
682 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Rail,  fuscus,  Linn. 
 
 Habitat  in  J ava. 
 
 In  Musao  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Rail,  quadristrigatus,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p,  196. 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Muscbo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Gallinula,  Linn. 
 
 Gallin.  lugubris,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  195. 
 Bontod  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  J ava. 
 
 In  Musxo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Gallin.  Orientalis,  Id.,  Ib. 
 
 Pro  or  Opel-opellan  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musoeis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Gallin.  phaenicura,  Penn. 
 
 Sri-bombo  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Porphyrio,  Briss. 
 
 Porph.  Indicus,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  194. 
 Porph.  smaragdinus,  Temm. 
 
 Pelliing  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  J ava. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Fulica,  Linn. 
 
 Ful.  atra,  Linn. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient 
 
 Fam.  Charadriad^. 
 Genus  CuRSORrcs,  Lath. 
 
 Curs,  isabellinus,  Meyer. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Vanellus,  Brisson. 
 
 Van.  melanogaster,  Bcclist. 
 
 Chibugan  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Van.  tricolor,  Horsf,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII./).  186. 
 Terek  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  J ava. 
 
 In  Musao  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 683 
 
 Genus  Charadrius,  Linn,  et  Auct. 
 
 Char.  Cantianus,  Lath. 
 
 Trendasan  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  J ava. 
 
 In  Mnsceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Char,  pluvialis,  Linn.,  var. 
 
 Chertding  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Trull  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  J ava. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Char.  Asiaticus,  Gmel. 
 
 Habitat  in  Jav&. 
 
 In  Muscbo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Char,  pusillus,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  187. 
 Habitat  in  J ava. 
 
 In  Muscbo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Chai'.  haticula,  Linn.,  var. 
 
 Btcrong  Booi  of  the  Sumati’ans. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Muscbo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Genus  Himantopus,  Brisson. 
 
 Himant.  melanopterus,  Meyer. 
 
 Gagang-bayem  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Muscbo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  CEdicnemus,  Cuv. 
 
 (Edicn.  crepitans,  Temm. 
 
 Gadang  Kapala  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Muscbo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Ordo  V.  Natatores. 
 
 Fam.  ANATiDyE. 
 
 Genus  Anas,  Linn,  et  Auct. 
 
 Anas  arcuata,  Cuv. — Horsf.,  Zool.  Researches,  No.  8.  pi.  8. 
 
 Bilibi  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 
 Melivis  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  MuscBis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 A species  of  Teal  is  in  the  Sumatran  collection,  which  requires  examination. 
 
 4s2 
 
684 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Fam.  CoLYMBiD^. 
 Genus  Podiceps,  Lath. 
 
 Pod.  minor,  Lath. 
 
 Titihan  of  the  J avanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  J ava. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Fam.  Pelecanid^. 
 Genus  Pelecaxus,  Linn. 
 
 Pel.  onocrotalus,  Lbm. 
 
 La?npipi  of  the  Malays. 
 fVa/ang  Kadda  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Phalacrocorax,  Brisson. 
 
 Phal.  Africanus. 
 
 Pelecanus  Africanus,  Lath. 
 
 Pechuch  of  the  Javanese. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java. 
 
 In  Mtiscds  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Genus  Sula,  Brisson. 
 
 Sula  Bassana. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Genus  Tachypetes,  Vieill. 
 
 Tach.  Aquilus,  Vieill. 
 
 Pelecanus  Aquilus,  Linn. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Tach.  leucocephalus.  Id. 
 
 Pelecanus  leucocephalus,  Gmel. 
 Dandang  Laid  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Genus  Plotus,  Linn. 
 
 Plot,  melanogaster,  Gmel. 
 
 Dandang  Ayer  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra  et  Java, 
 
 In  Musceis  Socc.  Zool.  et  Ind.  Orient. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 685 
 
 Fara.  Larid^e. 
 Genus  Sterna,  Linn. 
 
 Sterna  stolida,  Linn. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatrd. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Sterna  Cantiaca,  Gmel.  ? 
 
 Samiir  Laid  of  the  Sumatrans. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musao  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Sterna  Panayensis,  Gmel. 
 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 Sterna  Javanica,  Horsf.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  jo.  198. 
 Sterna  melanogastra,  Temm. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Sterna  media,  Id.,  Ib, 
 
 Toyang-kacher  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Sterna  gidsea,  Id.,  Ib. 
 
 Puter-lahut  of  the  Javanese. 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Sterna  affinis.  Id.,  Ib. 
 
 Habitat  in  Java. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Ind.  Orient. 
 
 Sterna  Sumatrana,  Raffl.,  Linn.  Trans.,  Vol.  XIII.  p.  329. 
 Habitat  in  Sumatra. 
 
 In  Musceo  Soc.  Zool. 
 
 This  bird  seems  to  be  immature,  with  the  tail  feathers  not  grown  to  their  full  length.  It 
 appears  to  be  the  Larus  Pulo-condor  of  the  Index  Ornithologicus,  and  of  the  Mus.  Carlson.  Fuse. 
 4.  t.  83. 
 
686 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 CLASS  PISCES*. 
 
 Acanthopterygii. 
 
 Fam.  Percid.®. 
 
 In  the  list  of  Fishes  given  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  in  his  Descriptive  Catalogue  of  a Zoolo- 
 gical Collection  made  in  Sumatra,  (Linnean  Transactions,  Vol.  XIII.,  pages  335  and  336,)  ten 
 species  of  Perea  are  stated  to  have  been  obtained ; but  as  no  particulars  respecting  them  are  men- 
 tioned, it  is  impossible  to  identify  them,  or  to  refer  them  to  their  proper  stations.  The  under- 
 mentioned species  are  in  the  Sumatran  Collection. 
 
 Genus  Serranus,  Cuv. 
 
 Serr.  confertus. 
 
 Serr.  corpore  pinnisque  omnibus  undique  confertim  maculatis ; corporis  maculis  majoribus 
 subhexagonis,  pinnarum  capitisque  minoribus  rotundatis. 
 
 Di  1 
 
 • TS‘ 
 
 Serr.  diacopaeformis. 
 
 Serr.  praeoperculo  supra  angulum  subemarginato,  angulo  rotundato  dentibus  4 vel  5 majori- 
 bus ; corpore  pinnisque  rotundatis  maculatis  ; maculis  pinnae  dorsalis  plagaeformibus,  reliquis  rotun- 
 datis. 
 
 D.  H- 
 
 Genus  Mesoprion,  Cuv. 
 
 Mes.  Malabaricus?  Cuv.  et  Val.,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Poiss.,  Tom.  II.,  480. 
 
 Sparus  Malabaricus  ? Sekn.,  Blochii  Syst.  Ichth.,  p.  278. 
 
 Mes. 
 
 • Genus  Holocentrum,  Guv. 
 
 Hoi.  orientale,  Cuv.  et  Val.,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Poiss.,  Tom.  III.,  p.  197. 
 
 Hoi.  Diadema,  Cuv.  et  Val.,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Poiss.,  Tom.  III.,  p.  213. 
 
 Holocentrus  Diadema,  Lacep.,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Poiss.,  Tom.  IV.,  p.  372.,  Tom. 
 III.,  pl.Z2,f.fi. 
 
 Pei'ca  pulchella,  Benn.,  Zool.  Journ.,  Vol.  III.,  p.  377,  pi.  9,  f.  3. 
 
 • The  Fishes  specified  in  the  foUo\ving  catalogue  are  in  the  collection  presented  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  to  the 
 Zoological  Society,  and  they  were  all  collected  by  him  during  his  residence  in  Sumatra.  No  reference,  conse- 
 quently, is  made  to  their  habitat,  or  the  museum  in  which  they  are  preserved,  as  in  the  foregoing  classes  of  Mam- 
 malia and  Aves.  The  species  marked  by  a star  * are  those  indicated  in  Sir  Stamford’s  Catalogue  in  the  Linnean 
 Transactions,  but  of  which  no  specimens  are  in  the  Sumatran  Collection. 
 
 7 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 687 
 
 Genus  Uranoscopus,  Linn. 
 
 Ur.  malacopterus. 
 
 Ur.  pinna  dorsali  unica,  vix  spinosa,  anali  longiore ; pinnis  pectoralibus  rotundatis,  dorsalem 
 vix  attingentibus. 
 
 Genus  Polynemus,  Linn. 
 
 Two  species  of  this  genus  are  mentioned  in  the  “Descriptive  Catalogue,”  but  there  is  no 
 specimen  referable  to  it  in  the  Sumatran  Collection. 
 
 Fam.  Triglid^. 
 
 Genus  Dactylopterus,  Lactp. 
 
 Dact.  orientalis,  Cut.  et  Val.,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Poiss.,  Tom.  IV.,  p.  134,  pi.  76. 
 
 Mooree  Godoo,  Russel,  Coromandel  Fishes,  161. 
 
 Genus  Platycephalus,  Schn. 
 
 Plat.  Sumatranus. 
 
 Plat,  capite  elongate,  cranio  cristis  spinosis  quatuor;  crista  superciliari  antice  1-spinosa,  pos- 
 tice serrata ; infra-oculari  spin^  brevi  acuta  pone  oculum  alterhque  brevi  terminali. 
 
 D.  11.  A.  11.  C.  11. 
 
 Genus  Pterois,  Cuv. 
 
 Pter.  volitans,  Cuv.  et  Val.,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Poiss.,  tom.  IV.,  p.  S5^.pl.  88. 
 
 Gasterosteus  volitans,  Linn.,  Syst.  Nat.,  p.  491. 
 
 Scorpasna  volitans,  Gmel.,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.,  p.  1217.  Schn.,  Blochii  Syst.  Ichth., 
 p.  193. 
 
 Pter.  antennata,  Cuv.  et  Val.,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Poiss.,  tom.  IV.,  jo.  361. 
 
 Scorpaena  antennata,  Gmel.,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.,  p.  1217.  Schn.  Blochii  Syst.  Icth., 
 p.  193. 
 
 Genus  Synanceia,  Schn. 
 
 Syn.  horrida,  Schn.,  Blochii  Syst.  Ichth.,  p.  194. 
 
 Scorpaena  homda,  Gmel.,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.,  ^.1217.  Lac'ep.,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Poiss., 
 tom.  III.,  p.  263.,  tom.  \\.,  pi.  \7.,f.  2. 
 
 Genus  Gasterosteus,  Linn. 
 
 One  species  of  this  genus  is  mentioned  in  the  “ Descriptive  Catalogue,”  but  does  not  exist  in 
 the  collection,  unless  the  Pterois  volitans  be  meant,  which  was  with  Linnaeus  a Gasterosteus. 
 
 Fam.  Sci^NiDiE. 
 
 Four  species  of  Sciaena  are  noticed  in  the  Descriptive  Catalogue.  The  following  are  in  the 
 Sumatran  Collection  of  the  Zoological  Society. 
 
688 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Genus  Diagramma,  Cuv. 
 
 Two  species  of  this  genus  are  contained  in  the  collection,  but  the  bad  condition  of  the  speci- 
 mens does  not  admit  of  their  being  satisfactorily  determined. 
 
 Genus  Scolopsis,  Cuv. 
 
 Scol.  cancellata,  Val.  MSS. 
 
 Scol.  dorso  brunneo-fusco,  rivulis  duobus  longitudinalibus  albidis,  superiore  usque  ad 
 finem  pinnae  dorsalis  percmTente,  inferiore  dimidiato,  inter  hos  plagae  quadratae  variae  magnitudinis 
 4 vel  5 : ventre  flavido-ai’genteo. 
 
 Genus  Leiopsis. 
 
 Pinna  dorsalis  unica.  Radii  membranae  branchiostegae  quinque.  Praeoperculum  osque 
 suborbitale  integra,  squamato-crenata.  Operculum  ad  angulum  breviter  1-spinosum.  Dentes  velu- 
 tini  caninique.  Linea  lateralis  continua.  Dorsum  subrectum. 
 
 Leiops.  Rafflesii. 
 
 Genus  Amphiprion,  Bloch. 
 
 Amph.  Polymnus,  Bloch,  Ichth.,  tab.  S\Q.f.  1. 
 
 Var.'marginatus,  Ih.,f.  3. 
 
 Genus  Pomacentrus,  Lacep. 
 
 Pom.  nuchalis. 
 
 Pom.  macula  elongata  nucham  circumdante,  maculaque  rotundata  dorsi  ub’inque  albidis. 
 
 Genus  Dascyllus,  Cuv. 
 
 Dasc.  Aruanus,  Cuv. 
 
 Chaetodon  Aruanus,  Linn.,  Mus.  Ad.  Frid.  R.,  ji.  63.  t.  33,  f.  8. 
 
 Fam.  SpARiDiE. 
 
 Genus  Monotaxis. 
 
 Dentes  antici  velutini  caninique ; laterales  molares  in  unica  serie.  Operculum  superne 
 emarginatum. 
 
 Mon.  Indica. 
 
 Fam.  CHiETODONTIDiE. 
 
 Seven  species  of  Chaetodon  are  noticed  in  the  “ Descriptive  Catalogue.”  Those  in  the  Suma- 
 
 tran Collection  are  the  following. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 689 
 
 Genus  CiiiExoDON,  Linn 
 
 Chaet.  Rafflesii. 
 
 Chaet.  flavescens,  fascia  oculari  nigra,  pinnis  dorsi  anique  nigro  intra  marginem 
 circumdatis,  caudali  fascia  nigrL 
 
 Genus  Chelmon,  Cuv. 
 
 Chelmon  rostratus,  Cuv. 
 
 Chaetodon  rostratus,  Linn.,  Mus.  Ad.  Frid.  R.,  p.  61.,  t.  SS.,f.  2. 
 
 Genus  Platax,  Cuv. 
 
 Platax  orbicularis,  Cuv. 
 
 Chaetodon  orbicularis,  Forsk.,  Faun.  Arab.,p.  59. 
 
 Chaet.  pentacanthus,  Laccp.,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Poiss.,  Tom.  IV.,  jo.  4<76.,pl.  XII.,y.  2. 
 Acanthinion  orbicularis.  Id.,  ib.  W.,p.  500. 
 
 Fam.  ScOMBRIDiE. 
 
 The  “ Descriptive  Catalogue”  mentions  the  Scomber  Madagascariensis,  {Shaw,  Scomberoides 
 Commersonii,  Lactp.^  and  five  others.  Only  one  species  of  this  family  exists  in  the  Sumatran 
 Collection.  v 
 
 Genus  Caranx,  Lacep. 
 
 Car.  praeustus. 
 
 Car.  corpore  ovali,  fronte  obliquo  parum  convexo  : dentibus  parvis  in  seriebus  pluribus 
 dispositis:  pinna  dorsali  secunda  superre  nigra. 
 
 D.  8,  A.  2,  i-r.  C.  18. 
 
 One  species  of  Zeus,  ( Linn.,)  and  the 
 
 * Coryphaena  Hippurus,  (Linn.) 
 
 are  also  mentioned  in  the  “ Descriptive  Catalogue but  neither  of  these  fishes  exists  in  the  Suma- 
 tran collection  presented  to  the  Zoological  Society  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles. 
 
 Fam.  Trichiurid.®. 
 
 Genus  Trichiurus,  Linn. 
 
 The  “ Descriptive  Catalogue”  includes  one  species, 
 
 * Trichiurus  lepturus,  Linn. 
 
 but  it  is  probable,  from  the  habitat,  that  the  fish  was  rather  the  Trichiurus  Haumela,  Schn. 
 
 4 T 
 
690 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Fam.  Gobiid.e. 
 
 No  specimen  of  this  family  exists  in  the  Sumati’an  collection  of  the  Zoological  Society.  The 
 “ Descriptive  Catalogue”  enumerates  the 
 
 * Gobius  niger,  Linn.,  var. 
 
 probably  specifically  distinct  from  the  European  race. 
 
 * Gobius  Schlosseri. 
 
 (Periophthalmus  Schlosseri,  Schn.) 
 
 and  two  other  species  of  the  Linnsean  genus  Gobius,  which  are  noticed  as  probably  undescribed. 
 
 Fam.  Batrachid.^:. 
 
 This  family  is  also  without  a representative  in  the  Sumatran  collection.  The  “ Descriptive 
 Catalogue”  has 
 
 * Batrachus  Tau,  Bloch. 
 
 Gadus  Tau,  Linn. 
 
 Fam.  Labrid^. 
 
 Genus  Julis,  Cuv. 
 
 Julis  Argus,  Benii.,  Zool.  Journ.,  Vol.  III.,  p.  577.,  pi.  13.,  y.  7. 
 
 Gomph.  ornatus. 
 
 Genus  Gomphosus,  Lactp. 
 
 Gomph.  brunneus,  pinnis  verticalibus  flavescentibus,  caudali  supra  infraque  nigro 
 marginata ; pinna  pectorali  apicem  versus  purpurascente,  fascia  dilute  caerulea. 
 
 MALACOPTERYGII. 
 
 * ABDOMINALES. 
 
 Fam.  EsociDiE. 
 
 Of  the  Linnaean  genus  Esox  no  specimen  exists  in  the  Sumatran  collection.  The  three  follow- 
 ing are  enumerated  in  the  “ Descriptive  Catalogue.” 
 
 * Esox  belone,  (Linn.,  Belone  vulgaris,  Cuv.) 
 
 * Esox  marginatus,  (Forsk.,  Hemirhamphus  marginatus,  Cuv.) 
 
 * Esox  Becuna,  ( Shaw,  Sphyraena  Picuda,  Schn.,  Sphyr.  Becuna,  Lacep.) 
 
 The  latter  species  is  properly  referable  to  the  Percidae. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 691 
 
 Genus  Exoccetus,  Linn. 
 
 Exoc.  exiliens,  Linn.,  Syst.  Nat.,  p.  316. 
 
 The 
 
 * Exoc.  volitans,  Linn. 
 occurs  in  the  “ Descriptive  Catalogue.” 
 
 Fam.  S1LURID.E. 
 
 Two  species  of  Silurus,  Linn.,  are  included  in  the  “ Descriptive  Catalogue,”  but  they  are  not 
 particularized.  Those  in  the  Sumatran  collection  are 
 
 Genus  Bagrus,  Cuv. 
 
 Bag.  Sumatranus. 
 
 Bagr.  cirris  sex ; capite  ovali,  cranio  rudo,  granuloso,  vix  radiato ; pinna  adiposa  brevi. 
 
 D.  i 0.  A.  19.  P.  C.  15. 
 
 Genus  Plotosus,  Lacep. 
 
 Plot,  marginatus. 
 
 Plot,  plumbeus,  lineis  longitudinalibus  4 albis,  pinnis  verticalibus  nigro  limbatis : 
 pinnarum  dorsalis  pectoraliumque  radio  primo  utrinque  serrato,  breviori. 
 
 D.  cum  C.  et  A.  100  +.  V.  13.  P. 
 
 Fam.  Salmonid^e. 
 
 One  species  is  mentioned  in  the  “ Descriptive  Catalogue,”  but  none  exists  in  the  collection. 
 
 Fam.  Clupeid^. 
 
 Genus  Clupea,  Linn. 
 
 Clup.  ovalis. 
 
 Clup.  corpore  ovali : pinna  dorsali  media,  antice  elevata : macula  humerali  nigra. 
 D.  18.  A.  17.  C.  18.?  P.  15.  V.  7. 
 
 Genus  Alosa,  Cuv. 
 
 Al.  elongata. 
 
 Al.  corpore  elongate : ossibus  maxillaribus  intermaxillaribusque  dentibus  minutis 
 acutis  instructs ; pinna  dorsali  media,  brevi,  antice  elevata ; anali  prmlonga  ; pectoral!  radio  primo 
 complanato. 
 
 D.  17.  A.  49. 
 
 4x2 
 
69-2 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Genus  Megalops  ? Cuv. 
 
 Meg.  filaraentosum  ? Cuv. 
 
 Kundinga  ? Russel,  Coromandel  Fishes,  203. 
 
 **  THORACICI. 
 
 Fam.  Pleuronectid^. 
 
 No  specimen  of  this  family  is  in  the  Sumatran  collection.  In  addition  to  one  unnamed  species 
 the  following  are  enumerated  in  the  “ Descriptive  Catalogue 
 
 * Pleur.  macrolepidotus,  {Blgch,  Ichth.,  Tab.  190,  Hippoglossus  macrolepidotus,  Cuv.) 
 
 * Pleur.  Zebra,  {Bloch,  Ichth.,  Tab.  187,  Solea  Zebra,  Cuv) 
 
 * Pleur.  bilineatus,  {Bloch,  Ichth.,  Tab.  188,  Achirus  bilineatus,  Lacep.,  Jerre  Potoo,  E. 
 
 Russel,  Tab.  74.) 
 
 Fam.  Echeneid.e. 
 
 The  “ Descriptive  Catalogue  ” contains 
 
 * Echeneis  Neucrates,  {Linn.) 
 
 APODI. 
 
 Fam.  Mur.enid.e. 
 
 Genus  Conger,  Cuv. 
 
 Cong,  longirostris. 
 
 Cong,  pinna  dorsali  ante  basin  pinnarum  pectoralium  incipiente ; linea  laterali  inermi 
 dentibus  vomerinis  maximis,  triangularibus,  acutis. 
 
 Genus  Ophisurus,  Lacep. 
 
 Ophis.  apicalis. 
 
 Ophis.  pinnis  pectoralibus  mediocribus,  dorsali  analique  caudas  apicem  pene  attingen 
 tibus ; dorso  fusco,  ventre  pallidiore,  rufo  fuscoque  pallide  nebuloso. 
 
 Genus  Mur^na,  Thunb. 
 
 Mur.  picta,  Thunb.,  Spec.  Ichth.  de  Mur.  Sfc.,  p.  8.,  Tab.  2.,f.  2. 
 
 Gymnothorax  pictus,  Schn.,  Blochii  Syst.  Ichth.,  p.  529. 
 
 Muraenophis  pantherinus.  Lace]).,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Poiss.,  Tom.  \ .,p.  643. 
 Mur.  nebulosa,  Thunb.,  Spec.  Ichth.  de  Mur.^-c.,  p.  7.,  tab.  \.,f.  2. 
 
 Gymnothorax  nebulosus,  Schn.,  Blochii  Syst.  Ichth.,  p.  528. 
 
 Muraenophis  stellata,  Lacep.,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Poiss.,  Tom.  V.,  p.  644. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 G93 
 
 M ur.  grisea. 
 
 Muraenophis  grisea,  Lacep.,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Poiss.,  Tom.  V.,p.  644. 
 
 Genus  Gymnomur.ena,  Lacep. 
 
 Gymn.  Zebra. 
 
 Muraena  Zebra,  Shaio,  Gen.  Zool.,  Vol.  \W .,  p.  31.  Nat.  Misc.,pl.  323. 
 Gymnothorax  Zebra,  Schn.,  Blochii  Syst.  Ichth.,  p.  528. 
 
 Gymnomuraena  doliata,  Lacep.,  Hist.  Nat.  des  Poiss.,  Tom.  V.,  649,  2)1.  19,  f.  4. 
 
 BRANCHIOSTEGI. 
 
 Fam.  SYNGNATHIDiE. 
 
 A species  of  Hippocampus,  Cuv.,  is  indicated  in  the  “ Descriptive  Catalogue  ” as  the 
 
 * Syngnathus  Hippocampus,  {Linn) 
 
 Fam.  DiODONTiDiE. 
 
 * Diodon  Hystrix,  {Linn.) 
 
 * Tetrodon  hispidus,  {Linn.) 
 
 These  species  are  enumerated  in  the  “ Descriptive  Catalogue.” 
 
 Fam.  Balistid^. 
 
 Genus  Balistes,  Linn. 
 
 Bal.  ? 
 
 Genus  Monacanthus,  Cuv. 
 
 Mon.  Sinensis?  Cuv. 
 
 Balistes  Sinensis?  Gmel.,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.,  p.  1470. — Bloch,  Ichth.,  Tab.  \ 52,f.  1. 
 Genus  Triacanthus,  Cuv. 
 
 Triac.  biaculeatus,  Cuv. 
 
 Balistes  biaculeatus,  Gmel.,  Linn.  Syst.  Nat.,p.  1465. — Bloch,  Ichth.,  Tab.  148,y.  2. 
 Bouree,  or  Abatoo,  Russel,  Coromandel  Fishes,  21. 
 
 Genus  Ostracion,  Linn. 
 
 Ostr.  quadricornis,  Linn.,  Syst.  Nat.,  p.  331. — Bloch,  Ichth.,  Tab.  134. 
 
 Ostr.  cornutus,  Linn.,  Mus.  Ad.  Frid.  R.,  p.  59. — Bloch,  Ichth.,  Tab.  133. 
 
 CHONDROPTERYGII. 
 
 Fam.  Squalid^. 
 
 Genus  Scyllium,  Cuv. 
 
 Scyll.  marmoratum. 
 
 Scyll.  dorso  maculis  subrotundatis  nigris  albisque  vario,  illis  longitudinaliter  coalitis 
 vittasque  moniliformes  circiter  sex  fingentibus : pinna  dorsali  secunda  ultra  analem  extensa. 
 
694 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Scyll.  plagiosum. 
 
 Scyll.  dorso  pallide  brunneo,  plagis  latis  saturate  brunneis  subfasciaeformibus  undecim 
 maculas  rotundas  pallidas  includentibus : pinn4  dorsali  secunda  longe  ante  analera  posita,  hac 
 cum  caudali  subcoalita. 
 
 Genus  Carcharias,  Cuv. 
 
 Carch.  melanopterus  ? Quoy  et  Gaim.,  Voyage  de  Freycinet,  ZooL,  pi.  43./.  1. 
 
 Genus  Zyg.ena,  Cuv. 
 
 Zyg.  Blochii,  Val.,  Mem.  duMus.  d'Hist.Kat.,  Tom.  \X.,p.  221,  pi.  11.,/  2. 
 
 Squalus  Zygaena,  Bloch,  Ichth.,  Tab.  117,  baud  Lhm. 
 
 Fam.  Raiid.e. 
 
 Genus  Rhixobatus,  Schn. 
 
 Rhin.  typus? 
 
 Rhinobatus  Rhinobatus  ? Schn.,  Blochii  Syst.  Ichth.,  p.  353. 
 
 M.  Cuvier  regards  as  a variety  of  this  species  the  Raia  Thouiniana,  Shaw,  mentioned  in  the 
 Descriptive  Catalogue.” 
 
 Rhin.  Djiddensis 
 
 Raja  Djiddensis,  ForsJc.,  Faun.  Arah.,p.  18. 
 
 Rhin.  laevis?  Schn.,  Blochii  Syst.  Ichth.,  p.  354. 
 
 Walawah  Tenkee?  Russel,  Coromandel  Fishes,  10. 
 
 Genus  Trygox,  Adans. 
 
 Trygon  immunis. 
 
 Tryg.  corpore  subquadrato,  omnino  laevi;  cauda  longiore,  spinis  duabus  serratis  citra 
 medium  armata. 
 
 Tryg.  paecilurus. 
 
 Raja  paecilura,  Shaw,  Gen.  Zool.,  Vol.  \.,p.  291. 
 
 Tryg.  Kunsua,  Cuv. 
 
 Tenkee  Kunsul,  Russel,  Coromandel  Fishes,  6. 
 
 Genus  Myliobatis,  Bum. 
 
 Myl.  Narinari,  Cuv. 
 
 Raja  Narinari,  Euphr.,  N.  S.  A.,  XL,  p.  205,  t.  10. 
 
 Eel  Tenkee,  Russel,  Coromandel  Fishes,  8. 
 
 This  is  the  Raja  guttata  of  Dr.  Shaw’s  General  Zoology,  under  which  name  it  is  enumerated 
 in  the  “ Descriptive  Catalogue.”  In  addition  to  it,  and  to  the  Raja  Thouiniana,  eight  other  species 
 are  mentioned,  but  without  names  or  references. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 «95 
 
 Classis  REPTILIA. 
 
 Ordo  I,  Testudinata. 
 
 Genus  Emys. 
 
 Em.  crassicollis,  Bell,  M.S. 
 
 Hitherto  unpublished. 
 
 Genus  Trionyx. 
 
 Tr.  subplanus,  Geoff.,  Ann.  Mus.  d'Hist.  Nat.,  Tom.  XIV.  p.W. 
 
 A dry  specimen. 
 
 Tr.  carinatus,  Geoff.,  L.  C.p.  14.  T.  IV.,  Testudo  rostrata,  Auctorum. 
 
 These  specimens  are  particularly  interesting,  as  they  establish  the  habitat  of  two  species  which 
 had  been  described  by  GeofFroy,  and  the  latter  by  other  authors,  but  without  any  certain  know- 
 ledge of  their  native  country. 
 
 Ordo  II.  Loricata. 
 
 Genus  Crocodilus. 
 
 Cr.  biporcatus,  Cuv.,  Ossem.  Foss.,  V.,  Ft.  2.  p.  49. 
 
 Ordo  III.  Sauria. 
 
 There  are  several  species  of  this  order  in  the  collection,  but  one  apparently  undescribed 
 They  will  be  particulai-ized  in  the  “ Museum  Rafflesianum." 
 
 Ordo  IV.  Serpentes. 
 
 Genus  Anguis. 
 
 Two  specimens  of  this  genus,  of  doubtful  synonymy,  if  as  yet  described,  are  in  the  collection. 
 
 Genus  Boa. 
 
 B.  Phrygia,  Auctorum. 
 
 Genus  Coluber. 
 
 Col.  ornatus,  Merrem,  p.  109. 
 
 Kalla  Jin,  Russell,  Ind.  Serp.,  II.,  p.  4.,  t.  2. 
 
 Col.  umbratus,  Baud.,  Rept.  VII.  144. 
 
 Dooblee,  Russell,  Ind.  Serp.,  \\., p.  5.  t.  3. 
 
 7 
 
696 
 
 CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 Col.  8-lineata,  Auct. 
 
 There  are  several  other  species,  but  the  foregoing  are  amongst  the  most  interesting. 
 
 Genus  Dryinus,  Merrem. 
 
 Dr.  nasutus,  Bell,  Zool.  Journ.  W,  p.  327. 
 
 Dr.  oxyrynchus,  Id.,  Ib.  p.  326. 
 
 Genus  Leptophis,  Bell. 
 
 Leptophis  purpurescens  ? Id.,  Zool.  Journ.  II.  328. 
 
 Another  interesting  and  beautiful  species  of  this  genus,  probably  not  described,  is  in  the 
 collection. 
 
 Genus  Pelamis. 
 
 Pelamis  bicolor,  Auct. 
 
 Nallawahla-gillee  Pam,  Russell,  Ind.  Serp.,  I.  t.  41. 
 
 P.  Chloris,  Merr.  139. 
 
 There  is  a peculiarly  interesting  specimen  of  this  species,  with  eggs  not  yet  excluded,  which 
 are  enveloped  with  a thin  membranous  covering  only,  like  all  those  serpents  which  are  ovi-vivipa- 
 rous,  w^hich  is  undoubtedly  the  case  with  this. 
 
 Genus  Naja,  Merrem. 
 
 N.  repudians.  Id.  147. 
 
 Genus  Hurria,  Baud. 
 
 H.  bilineata,  Baud.,  V.,  p.  277.,  T.  LXVI. 
 
 Genus  Dipsas. 
 
 Dips,  dendrophila,  Wagler,  Amphib.  Fasc.  I.,  T.  VIII. 
 
 Genus  Cophias. 
 
 Of  this  genus  there  ai'e  three  species  which  do  not  appear  to  have  been  figui'ed,  and  are 
 probably  undescribed. 
 
CATALOGUE  OF  ZOOLOGICAL  SPECIMENS. 
 
 697 
 
 ANNULOSA. 
 
 The  Insects  in  the  Sumatran  collection  have  not  as  yet  been  accurately  examined.  The  fol- 
 lowing is  about  the  number  of  species  contained  in  each  department.  A detailed  account  of  them 
 is  in  preparation  for  the  Museum  Rafflesianum. 
 
 Classis  Mandibulata. 
 
 Ordo  I.  COLEOPTERA. 
 
 320  species. 
 
 Ordo  II.  Orthoptera. 
 
 30  species. 
 
 Ordo  III.  Neuroptera. 
 
 20  species. 
 
 Ordo  IV.  Trichoptera. 
 
 10  species. 
 
 Ordo  \ . Hymenoptera. 
 
 60  species. 
 
 Classis  Haustellata. 
 
 Ordo  I.  Aptera. 
 
 None. 
 
 Ordo  II.  Hemiptera. 
 
 40  species. 
 
 Ordo  III.  Homoptera. 
 
 30  species. 
 
 Ordo  IV.  Lepidoptera. 
 
 200  species. 
 
 Ordo  V.  Diptera. 
 
 20  species. 
 
ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 
 
 “ For  the  general  advancement  of  Zoological  science,  it  is  proposed  that  a Society  shall  be  esta- 
 blished, the  immediate  object  of  which  will  be  the  collection  of  such  living  subjects  of  the  Animal 
 Kingdom  as  may  be  introduced  and  domesticated  with  advantage  in  this  country. 
 
 “ For  this  purpose  a collection  of  living  animals  belonging  to  the  Society  will  be  established 
 in  the  vicinity  of  the  metropolis  ; to  which  the  members  of  the  Society  will  have  access  as  a matter 
 of  right,  and  the  public  on  such  conditions  as  may  be  hereafter  arranged. 
 
 “ It  is  proposed  that  the  Society  shall  have  a museum,  as  well  as  a library  of  all  books  con- 
 nected with  the  subject ; to  which  access  will  be  given  to  the  members  and  the  public  as  above  stated. 
 
 ” As  it  is  impossible  to  attain  all  the  objects  of  the  Society  on  its  first  establishment,  those  of 
 utility  will  engage  its  earliest  attention,  and  the  more  scientific  views  will  be  attended  to  as  the 
 means  of  the  Society  admit. 
 
 “ The  Society  will  be  directed  as  other  public  societies  are, — by  a President,  Council  and 
 Officers,  and  regulated  by  laws  to  be  established  wth  the  concurrence  of  the  members  of  the 
 Society. 
 
 “ A detailed  Prospectus  of  the  objects  of  this  Society  having  been  circulated  privately  last  year, 
 a corrected  copy  is  annexed. 
 
 “ The  Terms  of  Admission  to  the  Society  will  be  Three  Pounds,  and  the  Annual  Subscription 
 Two  Pounds  ; or  the  w'hole  to  be  compounded  for  on  the  usual  terms. 
 
 “ A Committee  consisting  of  the  following  noblemen  and  gentlemen  was  originally  nominated 
 by  a meeting  of  fi'iends  of  the  proposed  Society  in  J uly  last,  and  the  Prospectus  is  published  under 
 their  authority : — 
 
 “ CHAIRMAN, 
 
 “ SIR  STAMFORD  RAFFLES,  LL.D.,  F.R.S.,  &c. 
 
 “ Duke  of  Somerset,  LL.D.,  F.R.S.,  &c.  “ Earl  of  Egremont,  F.R.S.,  &c. 
 
 “ Earl  of  Darnley,  F.R.S.,  &c.  “ Earl  of  Malmesbury. 
 
ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 
 
 699 
 
 “ Viscount  Gage,  M.A.,  See. 
 
 “ Samuel,  Lord  Bishop  of  Carlisle,  LL.D., 
 V.P.R.S.,  &c. 
 
 “ Lord  Stanley,  M.P.,  V.P.L.S.,  See. 
 
 “ Sir  H.  Davy,  Bart.,  LL.D.,  Pres.  R.S.,  &c. 
 
 “ Sir  Everard  Home,  Bart.,  V.P.R.S.,  &c. 
 
 “ E.  Barnard,  Esq.,  F.L.S.,  ic. 
 
 “ H.  T.  CoLEBROOKE,  EsQ.,  F.R.S.,  &c. 
 
 “ Davies  Gilbert,  Esq.,  V.P.R.S.  &c. 
 
 “ Rev.  Dr.  Goodenough,  F.R.S.,  &c. 
 
 “ Thos.  Horsfield,  M.D.,  F.L.S.,  &c. 
 
 “ The  Rev.  W.  Kirby,  M.A.,  F.R.S.,  &c. 
 
 “ T.  A.  Knight,  Esq.,  F.R.S.,  Pres.  H.S.,  &c. 
 
 “ T.  A.  Knight,  Jun.  Esq.,  M.A.,  See. 
 
 “ W.  Sharpe  Mac  Leay,  Esq.,  M.A.,  F.L.S.,  &c. 
 “ J.  Sabine,  Esq.,  F.R.S.,  &c. 
 
 “ N.  A.  Vigors,  Esq.,  M.A.  F.R.S.,  See. 
 
 “ CiiAS.  Baring  Wall,  Esq.,  M.P. 
 
 “ Noblemen  and  gentlemen  desirous  of  becoming  members  of  this  Society,  are  requested  to 
 give  their  names  to  any  member  of  the  above  Committee,  or  to  Mr.  Griffiths  at  the  Royal  Institution 
 in  Albemarle  Sti'eet. 
 
 “ Prospectus  of  a Society  for  introducing  and  domesticating  new  Breeds  or  Varieties  of  Animals, 
 such  as  Quadrupeds,  Birds,  or  Fishes,  likely  to  he  useful  in  Common  Life ; and  for  forming  a 
 General  Collection  in  Zoology. 
 
 “ Zoology,  which  exhibits  the  nature  and  properties  of  animated  beings,  their  analogies  to 
 each  other,  the  wonderful  delicacy  of  their  structure,  and  the  fitness  of  their  organs  to  the  peculiar 
 purposes  of  their  existence,  must  be  regarded  not  only  as  an  interesting  and  intellectual  study,  but 
 as  a most  important  branch  of  Natural  Theology,  teaching  by  the  design  and  wonderful  results  of 
 organization,  the  wisdom  and  power  of  the  Creator.  In  its  relation  to  useful  and  immediate 
 (Economical  purposes  it  is  no  less  important.  The  different  races  of  animals  employed  in  social 
 life,  for  labour,  clothing,  food,  &c.  are  the  direct  objects  of  its  attention ; their  improvement,  the 
 manner  in  which  their  number  may  be  increased,  the  application  of  their  produce,  and  its  con- 
 nection with  various  departments  of  industry  and  manufactures,  are  of  the  utmost  importance  to 
 Man  in  every  stage  of  his  existence,  but  most  so  in  proportion  as  he  advances  in  wealth,  civiliza- 
 tion, and  refinement. 
 
 “ It  has  long  been  a matter  of  deep  regret  to  the  cultivators  of  Natural  History,  that  we 
 possess  no  great  scientific  establishments  either  for  teaching  or  elucidating  Zoology,  and  no  public 
 menageries  or  collections  of  living  animals,  where  their  nature,  properties  and  habits  may  be 
 studied.  In  almost  every  other  part  of  Europe,  except  in  the  metropolis  of  the  British  empire, 
 something  of  this  kind  exists ; but  though  richer  than  any  other  country  in  the  extent  and  variety 
 of  our  possessions,  and  having  more  facilities  from  our  colonies,  our  fleets,  and  our  varied  and 
 constant  intercourse  with  every  quarter  of  the  globe,  for  collecting  specimens  and  introducing 
 living  animals,  we  have  as  yet  attempted  little  and  effected  almost  nothing;  and  the  student  of 
 
 4 u 2 
 
700 
 
 ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 
 
 Natural  History,  or  the  philosopher  who  wishes  to  examine  animated  nature,  has  no  other  resource 
 but  that  of  visiting  and  profiting  by  the  magnificent  institutions  of  neighbouring  countries. 
 
 “ In  the  hope  of  removing  this  opprobrium  to  our  age  and  nation,  it  is  proposed  to  establish  a 
 Society  bearing  the  same  relation  to  Zoology  that  the  Horticultural  does  to  Botany,  and  upon  a 
 similar  principle  and  plan.  The  great  objects  should  be,  the  introduction  of  new  varieties,  breeds, 
 and  races  of  animals,  for  the  purpose  of  domestication,  or  for  stocking  our  farm-yards,  woods, 
 pleasure-grounds,  and  wastes  ; with  the  establishment  of  a general  Zoological  Collection,  consisting 
 of  prepared  specimens  in  the  different  classes  and  orders,  so  as  to  afford  a correct  view  of  the 
 Animal  Kingdom  at  large  in  as  complete  a series  as  may  be  practicable,  and  at  the  same  time 
 point  out  the  analogies  between  the  animals  already  domesticated,  and  those  which  are  similar  in 
 character,  upon  which  the  first  experiments  may  be  made. 
 
 “To  promote  these  objects,  a piece  of  ground  should  be  provided  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
 the  metropolis,  affording  sufficient  accommodation  for  the  above  purposes ; with  a suitable  esta- 
 blishment, so  conducted  as  to  admit  of  its  extension  on  additional  means  being  afforded. 
 
 “ As  it  is  presumed  that  a number  of  persons  would  feel  disposed  to  encourage  an  institution 
 of  this  kind,  it  is  proposed  to  make  the  Annual  Subscription  from  each  individual  only  Two 
 Pounds,  and  the  Admission  Fee  Three  Pounds.  The  Members  of  course  will  have  free  and  con- 
 stant access  to  the  Collection  and  Grounds,  and  might,  at  a reasonable  price,  be  furnished  with 
 living  specimens,  or  the  ova  of  fishes  and  birds. 
 
 “ When  it  is  considered  how  few  amongst  the  immense  variety  of  animated  beings  have  been 
 hitherto  applied  to  the  uses  of  Man,  and  that  most  of  those  which  have  been  domesticated  or 
 subdued  belong  to  the  early  periods  of  society,  and  to  the  efforts  of  savage  or  uncultivated 
 nations  *,  it  is  impossible  not  to  hope  for  many  new,  brilliant  and  useful  results  in  the  same  field, 
 by  the  application  of  the  wealth,  ingenuity,  and  varied  resources  of  a civilized  people. 
 
 “ It  is  well  known  with  respect  to  the  most  of  the  Animal  Tribes,  that  domestication  is  a 
 process  which  requires  time ; that  the  offspring  of  wild  animals  raised  in  a domestic  state  are  more 
 easily  tamed  than  their  parents ; and  that  in  a certain  number  of  generations  the  effect  is  made 
 permanent,  and  connected  with  a change,  not  merely  in  the  habits  but  even  in  the  nature  of  the 
 animal.  The  inconveniences  of  migration  may  be,  in  certain  cases,  prevented,  and  the  wildest 
 animals,  when  supplied  abundantly  with  food,  may  lose  the  instinct  of  locomotion,  and  their 
 offspring  acquire  new  habits ; and  it  is  known  that  a breed,  fairly  domesticated,  is  with  difficulty 
 brought  back  to  its  original  state.  Should  the  Society  flourish  and  succeed,  it  will  not  only  be 
 useful  in  common  life ; but  would  likewise  promote  the  best  and  most  extensive  objects  of  the 
 
 I 
 
 “ * We  owe  the  peacock  and  common  fowl  to  the  natives  of  India  ; most  of  our  races  of  cattle,  and 
 swans,  geese,  and  ducks,  to  tlie  aborigines  of  Europe : the  turkey  to  the  natives  of  America  ; the  Guinea- 
 fowl  to  those  of  Africa.  The  pike  and  carp,  with  some  other  fishes,  were  probably  introduced  by  the 
 monks.” 
 
ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 
 
 701 
 
 Scientific  History  of  Animated  Nature,  and  offer  a collection  of  living  animals,  such  as  never  yet 
 existed  in  ancient  or  modern  times.  Rome,  at  the  period  of  her  greatest  splendour,  brought 
 savage  monsters  from  every  quarter  of  the  world  then  known,  to  be  shewn  in  her  amphitheatres,  to 
 destroy  or  be  destroyed  as  spectacles  of  wonder  to  her  citizens.  It  would  well  become  Britain  to 
 offer  another,  and  a very  different  series  of  exhibitions  to  the  population  of  her  metropolis ; 
 namely,  animals  brought  from  every  part  of  the  globe  to  be  applied  either  to  some  useful  purpose, 
 or  as  objects  of  scientific  research,  not  of  vulgar  admiration.  Upon  such  an  institution,  a philosophy 
 of  Zoology  may  be  founded,  pointing  out  the  comparative  anatomy,  the  habits  of  life,  the  improve- 
 ment and  the  methods  of  multiplying  those  races  of  animals  which  are  most  useful  to  man,  and 
 thus  fixing  a most  beautiful  and  important  branch  of  knowledge  on  the  permanent  basis  of 
 direct  utility.” 
 
 “ March  1*<,  1 825. 
 
CORRESPONDENCE 
 
 WITH 
 
 MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 The  following  series  of  letters  comprises  the  correspondence  alluded  to  in  page  373,  as  containing 
 the  original  contract  between  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  and  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel,  by  which  the 
 services  of  these  gentlemen  were  engaged  on  the  part  of  the  East  India  Company.  The  sub- 
 sequent correspondence  that  took  place  on  the  subject,  when  circumstances  rendered  it  necessary 
 that  their  services  should  be  dispensed  with,  is  given  in  continuation.  As  some  observations 
 have  been  made  on  the  Continent,  which  do  not  appear  to  set  this  action  in  its  true  light,  it  is  con- 
 sidered expedient  to  publish  the  whole  of  this  correspondence ; and  to  publish  it  without  note  or 
 comment.  The  facts  of  the  case  will  best  speak  for  themselves.  An  additional  reason  may  be 
 assigned  for  giving  the  whole  of  these  letters,  as  they  will  exhibit  not  merely  the  zeal  of  Sir 
 Stamford  in  promoting  the  cause  of  science,  but  the  comprehensiveness  of  the  views,  and  the  judi- 
 ciousness of  the  mode,  by  which  he  lent  his  own  assistance  to  the  attainment  of  this  object. 
 There  are  few  individuals  involved  in  the  serious  and  important  duties  of  so  elevated  a station  as 
 that  which  he  held  at  the  time  of  this  correspondence,  who  could  have  commanded  time  or  ability 
 for  drawing  up  the  appropriate  instructions  for  collecting  and  describing  subjects  of  natural  his- 
 tory, which  wdll  appear  in  the  course  of  these  letters.  Indeed,  the  account  of  the  animals 
 collected  in  Sumatra  under  his  immediate  inspection  and  influence,  w'hich  he  subsequently  drew 
 up  himself*,  and  sent  to  England  with  the  collection,  when  deprived  of  the  assistance  of  the 
 French  naturalists,  gives  a striking  proof  of  the  versatility  of  his  genius,  which  could  embrace,  as  if 
 by  intuition,  that  clearness  and  exactness  in  the  technical  details  of  science,  which  less  gifted 
 individuals  attain  alone  by  a previous  professional  education,  and  a long  course  of  study.  Another 
 distinguishing  feature  in  his  character  will  be  equally  prominent  in  the  accompanying  corres- 
 pondence, the  liberality  by  w'hich  he  pursued  his  praiseworthy  objects.  It  will  appear  by  some 
 passages  in  these  letters,  that,  when  likely  to  be  deprived  of  the  public  means  of  recompensing 
 Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel,  he  volunteered  to  prevent  the  loss  which  would  accrue  to  science 
 by  their  discontinuance  of  their  services,  by  defraying  their  expenses  from  his  private  resources. 
 
 See  Linn.  Transactions,  Vol.  XIII.  pp.  239 — 341. 
 
CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 703 
 
 “ To  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel. 
 
 “ Gentlemen, 
 
 “ I have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  5th  instant,  explanatory  of 
 the  object  of  your  researches,  and  of  the  circumstances  in  which  you  are  placed. 
 
 “ It  is  my  intention  at  an  early  period,  to  submit  to  the  Most  Noble  the  Governor-General 
 in  Council,  and  also  to  the  Honourable  the  Court  of  Directors,  my  opinion  on  the  advantages  which 
 may  result  to  science  and  general  knowledge,  by  the  prosecution  of  the  pursuits  in  which  you  are 
 engaged,  and  in  the  mean  time  request  to  make  you  the  following  offer : — 
 
 “ Your  researches  to  be  confined  to  Sumatra,  and  the  smaller  Islands  in  its  immediate 
 vicinity. 
 
 “ The  draftsmen,  &c.  engaged  by  you  to  be  entertained  at  the  charge  of  Government,  who 
 will  also  defray  all  incidental  and  necessary  expences  to  which  you  may  be  subjected  in  the  prose- 
 cution of  your  researches,  on  condition  that  such  researches  are  made  for  and  on  account  of  the 
 Honourable  the  East  India  Company,  and  that  your  collections,  &c.  are  considered  as  their 
 property. 
 
 “ An  estimate  to  be  framed  of  your  monthly  expences  for  such  establishment,  &c.  on  which 
 a fixed  sum  will  be  paid  to  you  to  cover  all  charges  of  every  description,  and  the  arrangement  and 
 transmission  to  Europe,  or  to  Bengal,  of  such  information  and  materials  as  you  may  collect,  to  be 
 subject  to  the  orders  of  Government. 
 
 “ With  reference  to  your  present  establishment,  and  the  expences  you  must  necessarily  be 
 subjected  to,  a fixed  monthly  allowance  of  500  ducats  is  considered  adequate  to  cover  all  your  dis- 
 bursements, and  at  the  same  time  to  provide  draftsmen,  &c.  for  the  botanical  department ; this 
 sum  will  therefore  be  authorized  until  I may  be  honoured  with  the  further  orders  of  the  Supreme 
 Authorities,  and  I shall  hereafter  have  the  honor  to  communicate  with  you  personally,  my  sentiments 
 regarding  the  arrangement  of  your  materials,  and  the  plan  which  it  may  be  advisable  to  pursue  in 
 order  to  combine  economy  and  efficiency. 
 
 “ I am,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Prince  of  Wales’s  Island,  March  7,  1819.” 
 
 “ To  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel. 
 
 “ Gentlemen, 
 
 “ A period  of  six  months  having  elapsed  since  you  commenced  your  important  labours 
 in  the  Eastern  Islands,  it  becomes  my  duty  to  communicate  to  the  higher  authorities  the  progress 
 you  have  made,  and  the  plan  on  which  you  propose  to  prosecute  your  further  enquiries  and  col- 
 lections. It  is,  therefore,  necessary  that  I should  receive  from  you  a general  catalogue  of  the  col- 
 
 1 
 
70i 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 lections  you  have  made,  accompanied  by  such  observations  as  may  be  necessary  to  aid  my  judgment 
 in  framing  this  Report. 
 
 “ Catalogues  framed  on  the  principle  of  that  which  you  have  recently  submitted  to  me  for 
 the  class  Aves  seem  sufficient  to  answer  the  purpose  of  general  reference,  but  I would  recommend 
 the  introduction  of  another  column  of  genera  being  reserved  for  the  Linnaean  names. 
 
 “ I avail  myself  of  this  occasion  to  point  out  to  you  the  arrangement  which  appears  to  me  best 
 calculated  for  insuring  the  efficiency  of  your  labours  and  my  own  convenience,  it  is  essential  towards 
 a proper  understanding  that  some  regular  and  consistent  mode  should  be  observed. 
 
 “ In  order  to  enable  me  to  comprehend  the  importance  and  extent  of  your  discoveries  and 
 collections,  as  well  as  to  provide  against  the  inconvenience  which  might  otherwise  arise  in  the 
 eventual  communication  of  your  observations  in  England,  in  consequence  of  the  difference  of 
 language,  and  difficulty  of  reading  a foreign  hand-writing,  I am  desirous  that  a particular  and 
 scientific  description,  however  dry  and  laborious,  should  be  made  of  every  subject  which  you 
 collect,  which  may  in  any  one  respect  differ  from  the  already  received  and  published  accounts  of 
 Europe,  or  which  may  be  imperfectly  described.  The  forms  of  which  I have  availed  myself  on  a 
 former  occasion,  and  which  are  prescribed  by  the  leading  members  of  the  Royal  Society  in 
 England,  are  such  as  I would  recommend  to  your  adoption.  I enclose  sketches  for  the  Mammalia, 
 Aves,  and  Pisces,  and  I have  no  doubt  you  will  at  once  perceive  the  extent  of  my  wishes  in  this 
 respect.  The  generic  character,  as  well  as  the  essential  part  of  the  specific  character,  I would 
 recommend  to  be  invariably  in  Latin;  the  remaining  points  may  either  be  in  Latin  or  French  as  you 
 may  find  most  convenient ; the  miscellaneous  observations,  which  are  not  limited  either  as  to 
 extent  or  form,  will  of  course  be  invariably  in  French,  and  are  intended  to  include  whatever  addi- 
 tional particulars  you  may  be  desirous  of  stating. 
 
 “ Of  the  three  first  classes  I conceive  a very  short  time  will  enable  you  to  complete  the 
 detailed  descriptions  thus  required.  The  amphiboe  may  next  be  proceeded  on,  and  eventually 
 the  insects  may  be  included  in  a general  descriptive  catalogue,  arranged  according  to  the  Linnaean 
 system. 
 
 “ A separate  sheet  should  be  appropriated  and  numbered  for  each  subject,  and  a duplicate 
 transmitted  to  me  as  soon  as  prepared,  accompanied  by  a dried  specimen  and  a drawing,  when 
 completed,  which  latter  I can  compare  and  return. 
 
 “ Whenever  you  may  have  completed  the  descriptions  of  those  animals  you  already  possess,  I 
 conceive  that  it  will  be  easy  for  you  to  make  me  a monthly  report  of  your  proceedings,  accompanied 
 by  descriptions  of  the  collections  you  have  made  during  the  preceding  month. 
 
 “ I would  wish  you  to  lose  no  time  in  sending  me  the  descriptions  of  all  the  subjects  you 
 possess,  framed  on  the  principle  now  laid  down ; and  until  these  are  fully  completed,  I shall  be 
 happy  to  receive  your  daily  labours,  in  preference  to  waiting  until  you  have  completed  any  given 
 number  or  class.  By  these  means  1 can  bestow  a certain  portion  of  each  day  to  your  pursuits. 
 
CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 705 
 
 and  communicate  to  you  without  delay  on  all  questions  which  may  occur.  As  your  collections  arc 
 already  extensive  and  important,  it  appears  to  me  that  it  would  be  advisable  to  bring  up  the 
 arrears  of  descriptions  on  the  plan  now  proposed,  in  preference  to  the  commencement  of  more 
 extensive  researches  in  the  interior  of  the  Island.  A few  days’  delay  will  be  of  no  material  import- 
 ance, and  the  advantage  of  arranging  your  materials  as  you  proceed  is  incalculable. 
 
 “ Each  of  the  descriptions  will  be  dated,  and  of  course  open  to  revision  at  a future  period,  as 
 your  observations  may  be  corrected  and  enlarged. 
 
 “ I am  aware  that  in  requiring  of  you  to  attend  scrupulously  to  the  forms  I have  submitted,  I 
 am  imposing  an  irksome,  and  perhaps,  in  your  opinion,  in  some  respects  an  unnecessarily  laborious 
 task,  but  you  are  to  consider  that,  however  unnecessary  these  details  and  forms  are  to  persons 
 whose  lives  are  devoted  to  the  subject,  and  whose  acquisitions  and  experience  place  them  above 
 such  considerations,  I am  myself  a plain  man,  and  do  not  possess  these  advantages.  I have  under- 
 taken that  your  labours  shall  be  duly  appreciated  in  England ; and  to  effect  this,  it  is  necessary  I 
 should  go  hand-in-hand  with  you,  and  that  you  should  descend  to  the  forms  which  are  indispensible 
 for  my  assistance. 
 
 “ In  conclusion,  I request  to  call  your  attention  to  the  importance  of  making  a selection  of 
 a few  objects  of  interest  preserved  in  spirits,  or  prepared  as  skeletons,  for  transmission  to  the  East 
 India  Company  by  the  first  favourable  opportunity,  a similar  selection  annually  should  be  contem- 
 plated. Each  of  the  subjects  sent  home  should  be  fully  described  here,  and  the  description  printed 
 according  to  such  form  as  may  be  agreed  upon. 
 
 “ I am,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ T.  S.  Raffles." 
 
 ‘'Fort  Marlborough,  September  18,  1819.” 
 
 “ A Monsieur  liaff.es,  Lieutenant  Gouverneur  d Bencoulen. 
 
 “ Monsieur  le  Gouverneur, 
 
 “ Nous  avons  I’honneur  de  vous  adresser  ci-joint  la  lettre  officielle  que  vous  avez  bien 
 voulu  nous  communiquer ; ses  conclusions  ne  pouvaient  pas  nous  surprendre  beaucoup,  et  nous 
 les  avons  trouvees  d’ailleurs  ti’op  justes  pour  nous  en  plaindre,  et  trop  liberales  pour  ne  pas  etre 
 penetre  de  la  plus  vive  reconnoissance  envers  son  Excellence  le  Gouverneur  Genei’al. 
 
 “ Ne  pouvant  plus  par  consequent.  Monsieur,  compter  sur  un  etablissement  fixe  et  sur  des 
 moyens  pecuniaires  qui  nous  eussent  permis  de  continuer,  pendant  un  grand  nombre  d’annees,  un 
 plan  de  recherches  dont  nous  avions  tout  lieu  d’esperer  d’immenses  resultats,  nous  nous  permettrons 
 de  vous  soumettre  quelques  rMexions  auxquelles  nous  nous  sommes  arretes  des  le  moment  ou  nous 
 avons  ete  informes  de  la  decision  du  Concile  Supreme. 
 
 “ Une  annee  d’experience  nous  ayant  appris  au  Bengal,  que  dans  I’lnde  notre  fortune  parti- 
 culiere  serait  bien  loin  de  pouvoir  suffire  aux  depenses  dans  lesquelles  nous  entrames  en  poursui- 
 
 4 X 
 
706 
 
 CORRESPONDEN'CE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 vant  le  plan  de  recherches  Zoologiques  que  nous  avions  con9U ; persuades  en  outre  que  quelques  fus- 
 sent  les  somnies  dont  nous  pussions  disposer,  nous  ne  pouvions  jamais  esperer  d’atteindre  de  bien 
 grands  resultats  sans  I’assistance  immediate  du  Gouvernement  local  de  I’Honorable  Compagnie, 
 nous  nous  decidames,  Monsieur,  d’apres  les  propositions  que  notre  excellent  ami  Monsieur  Rick- 
 etts voulut  bien  nous  faire  en  votre  nom,  a cesser  toutes  nos  correspondences  avec  la  France,  et  a 
 faire  taire  dans  I’interet  de  la  science  le  desir  si  naturel  de  consacrer  nos  travaux  tout  entiers  k nos 
 parens  et  a notre  pays ; nous  partimes  done  avec  vous  et  serions  bien  ingrats  si  nous  ne  nous 
 applaudissions  pas  chaque  jour  de  notre  vie  d’avoir  ecoute  les  presentimens  que  quelques  instans 
 d’entretien  avec  vous  avaient  suffi  pour  faire  naitre  en  nous.  Ces  presentimens.  Monsieur,  ont  ete 
 plus  que  realises,  en  m’honorant  en  particuliere  du  titre  de  votre  medecin  ; vous  nous  avez  permis  de 
 nous  nous  considerer  comme  faisant  partie  de  votre  famille ; et,  en  mettant  a noti'e  disposition  tons 
 les  moyens  que  la  plus  extreme  bienveillance  a pu  vous  inspirer  a notre  egard,  vous  nous  avez  mis 
 en  etat  d’explorer  avec  fruit  tous  les  pays  interessans  que  nous  avons  visite  avec  vous : bien 
 plus.  Monsieur,  au  milieu  des  importantes  negociations  que  vous  venez  de  terminer  au  Bengal, 
 vous  n’avez  pas  oublie  ceux  que  vous  vous  plaisez  a nommer  vos  amis,  et  nous  voyons  avec  la  plus 
 vive  reconnoissance  combien  vous  etes  peines  de  ce  que  les  circonstances  n’ont  pu  permettre  le 
 changement  de  la  decision  de  son  Excellence  le  Gouverneur  General.  Heureusement  pour  nous. 
 Monsieur,  nous  sommes  persuades  que  cette  resolution  ne  pent  nous  forcer  a nous  eloigner  de 
 Sumatra,  et  meme,  apres  y avoir  reflechi,  nous  sommes  alles  jusqu’  a penser,  quelle  pomTait 
 bien  au  contraire  nous  fournir  I’occasion  de  nous  attacher  plus  particulierement  a vous. 
 
 “ En  effet,  IMonsieur,  puisque  nous  ne  pouvons  plus  compter  sur  I’etablissement  fixe  que  vous 
 aviez  eu  la  bonte  de  solliciter  pour  nous,  I’etat  brillant  de  votre  fortune  ne  poun’ait-il  pas  vous  per- 
 mettre de  disposer  vous-meme  dune  certaine  somme  pour  cet  objet  ? nous  pourrions  de  notre  cote, 
 sans  deranger  beaucoup  la  notre,  faire  une  partie  des  frais  des  collections  que  nous  pourrions 
 recueillir ; elle  serait  de  meme  en  somme,  et  de  cette  maniere  nous  aurions  le  double  avantage  de 
 pouvoir  trouver  I’occasion  de  vous  donner  quelques  preuves  de  notre  reconnoissance,  et  de  pour- 
 suivre  avec  les  memes  moyens  des  recherclies  qui  ont  commence  sous  d’aussi  heureux  auspices. 
 
 “ Voila,  Monsieur,  I’idee  a laquelle  nous  nous  sommes  plus  a nous  arreter  depuis  deux  mois ; 
 si  elle  vous  etait  agreable,  elle  nous  en  plairait  bien  d’avantage  encore ; mais.  Monsieur,  quelques 
 soient  vos  propres  resolutions,  nous  vous  prions  de  rester  bien  convaincu  que  nous  mettons  toute 
 notre  confiance  et  toutes  nos  esperances  en  vous,  et  que  notre  seule  ambition  est  de  continuer  avec 
 votre  assistance  des  travaux  que  nous  serions  probablement  obliges  d’interrompre,  si  nous  etions 
 obliges  de  les  continuer  a nos  propres  depens. 
 
 “ Nous  avons  I’honneur,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ Diard  et  D.  C. 
 
 “ 9 Mais,  1820.” 
 
 “ Nous  venons  de  recevoir  votre  beau  tigre  et  nous  allons  nous  en  occuper  de  suite;  nous 
 vous  remercions  beaucoup  pour  nos  caisses.” 
 
 1 
 
CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 707 
 
 To  A.  M.  Diard. 
 
 ^‘Sunday,  March  12,  1820. 
 
 “ My  Dear  Sir, 
 
 “ I fear  the  plan  you  propose  for  making  the  future  collections,  may  he  attended  with 
 more  difficulties  than  you  are  aware  of,  and  it  besides  appears  to  be  open  to  several  objections.  1 
 can  hardly  see  any  other  course  than  the  two  following : —either  that  you  should  continue  to  make 
 your  collections  as  heretofore,  proceeding  on  a more  limited  scale,  or  that  you  should  at  once  make 
 the  collections  on  your  own  account,  or  on  account  of  your  Government. 
 
 “ We  have  hitherto  gone  on  so  well,  that  in  my  extreme  desire  to  meet  your  wishes,  and  to 
 give  all  the  possible  aid  in  my  power  to  your  highly  important  and  interesting  labours,  I am  willing 
 to  make  great  sacrifices,  and  though  the  Supreme  Government  do  not  approve  of  my  first  proposi- 
 tion in  your  favour,  I will  undertake  to  supply  you  with  funds  to  the  extent  of  600  rupees  monthly, 
 at  my  own  risk,  provided  you  are  willing  to  continue  your  collections  on  the  same  terms  as 
 heretofore. 
 
 “ Whatever  I do  must  necessarily  be  in  my  public  capacity,  or  with  reference  to  it,  whether 
 I pay  the  money  out  of  my  own  pocket  or  not ; and  it  will  be  expected  of  me,  that  the  collection 
 be  received  and  notieed  in  England  in  the  first  instance  ; after  this,  and  the  scientific  description 
 has  once  appeared  in  England,  I shall  be  most  happy  to  transfer  to  you  the  spare  subjects,  and 
 you  will,  of  course,  be  at  perfect  liberty  to  publish  in  France  any  more  detailed  or  elaborate  ac- 
 count that  you  may  think  proper,  on  your  own  account. 
 
 “ Yours  very  truly, 
 
 (Signed)  “ T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 “ A Monsieur  Raffles,  Lieutenant  Gouverneur,  ^c.  ^c. 
 
 “ Monsieur  le  Gouverneur, 
 
 “ En  abandonnant  des  travaux  heureusement  commences  au  Bengal,  en  renon9ant  a 
 toute  espece  de  correspondence  avec  nos  parens,  nos  amis,  notre  pays,  en  contentant  enfin  a vous 
 accompagner  a Sumatra,  nous  avions  cru  recevoir  I’assurance  d’un  etablissement  qui  nous  eut  de- 
 dommage  des  sacrifices  que  nous  nous  imposions,  en  nous  permettant  de  donner  au  plan  de  re- 
 cherches  Zoologiques  que  nous  avions  con9u,  un  developpement  et  une  importance  dignes  du 
 gouvernement  de  I’Honorable  Compagnie. 
 
 “ Devant  nous  considerer  dans  ce  cas  corame  charges  d’une  mission  publique,  nous  nous 
 fussions  scrupuleusement  interdit  toute  espoir  de  publication  particuliere  avant  d’en  avoir  rc9u 
 I’autorisation  des  autorites  superieures. 
 
 “ Mais,  Monsieur  le  Gouverneur,  nos  esperances  n’ayant  point  ete  realizees,  nous  ne  pourrions 
 
 4x2 
 
708 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 contenter  a retarder  d’une  annee  la  publication  de  nos  observations,  sans  nous  exposer  a perdre  le 
 seul  avantage  que  nous  puissions  retirer  aujourd’hui  de  tant  de  peines  et  de  tant  de  privations. 
 
 “ Cependant,  comme  il  ne  serait  pas  juste  que  nous  fissions  connoitre  d’abord  en  France  les 
 resultats  de  recherches  dont  les  frais  ont  ete  supportes  par  votre  Gouverneraent,  nous  vous  pro- 
 poserons  un  moyen  convenable  de  parer  aux  inconveniens  d’un  retard  que  nous  ne  pouvons  trop 
 redouter,  sans  diminuer  en  rien  I’interet  que  peuvent  avoir  en  Angleterre  les  collections  que  nous 
 avons  recueillies  ; c’est  de  remettre  a la  Societe  des  Recherches  Asiatiques  les  notes  que  nous  desi- 
 rons  publier  sans  detail. 
 
 “ Si  vous  pensiez  pourtant,  Monsieur  le  Gouverneur,  qua  ces  conditions  I’Honorable  Com- 
 pagnie  ne  desapprouvat  les  frais  qu’ont  facilite  nos  recherches,  alors  plutot  que  de  renoncer  a la 
 libre  disposition  de  nos  observations,  nous  vous  prierions  de  considerer  les  avances  que  nous  avons 
 re9ues  comme  un  simple  pret,  que  nous  engagerions  a rembourser,  en  conservant  pour  nous 
 raemes  une  collection  sur  laquelle  nous  croyons  pouvoir  fonder  quelques  esperances  honorables. 
 
 “ Nous  avons  I’honneur  d’etre,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ Diaud, 
 
 “ A.  Duvaucel. 
 
 “ 13  iVars,  1820  ” 
 
 “ A Monsieur  Kaff.es,  lieutenant  Gouverneur  a Bencoolen,  ^’c.  ^-c. 
 
 “ Monsieur  le  Gouverneur, 
 
 “ Nous  avons  pense  devoir  repondre  separement  a la  seconde  proposition  que  vous  avez 
 bien  voulu  nous  faire. 
 
 “ D’abord,  puisque  nous  ne  pouvons  compter  sur  un  etablissement  fixe,  nous  desirons  ne 
 pas  continuer  plus  long  terns  nos  recherches  pour  le  compte  de  I’Honorable  Compagnie ; nous 
 aurons  au  contraire  infiniment  de  plaisir  a les  poursuivre  avec  votre  assistance  particuliere. 
 
 “ Nous  acceptons  done  bien  volontiers  les  propositions  que  vous  voulez  bien  nous  faire,  et 
 en  ajoutant  nous  memes  400  Rupees  avec  600  que  vous  consentez  a nous  fournir  chaque  mois, 
 nous  osons  vous  promettre  des  resultats  dignes  des  sacrifices  qu’un  tel  projet  exige. 
 
 “ Nous  n’avons  pas  hesite.  Monsieur  le  Gouverneur,  a vous  soumettre  le  plan  auquel  vous 
 voulez  bien  acceder,  pareeque  nous  savons  que  vous  etes  convaincu  qu’aucun  motif  d’interet  ne 
 pent  etre  le  mobile  de  nos  determinations,  et  qu’en  toutes  choses  nous  ne  sommes  guides,  comme 
 vous,  que  par  notre  zele  et  notre  amour  pour  la  science. 
 
 “ Nous  avons  I’lionneur  d’etre,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ Diard.” 
 
 “ 13  Mars,  1820. 
 
CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 709 
 
 To  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucelle. 
 
 “ Gentlemen, 
 
 “ I have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  two  letters  from  you  of  this  date,  one  signed  by 
 Mons.  Diard,  and  one  by  you  jointly. 
 
 “ In  answer  to  the  former,  I apprehend  that  you  must  have  misunderstood  my  offer.  It  is 
 impossible  for  me  to  recognize  your  services,  except  in  my  public  capacity,  and  I expressly  stated, 
 that  there  were  objections  to  the  joint  plan  which  you  had  proposed. 
 
 “ Your  joint  letter  has  occasioned  me  no  less  surprize  than  regret,  surprize  at  the  tone  in 
 which  it  is  couched,  and  the  pretensions  which  it  advances,  and  regret  that  my  endeavours  and 
 views  should  have  been  so  ill  appreciated.  Nothing  can  be  clearer  than  the  condition  under  which 
 I undertook  to  engage  your  services  on  account  of  the  Honourable  Company,  and  while  you  might 
 have  been  assured  of  every  liberal  consideration,  and  fair  acknowledgment,  it  was  clearly  under- 
 stood that  the  whole  of  your  collections,  with  the  result  of  your  observations,  wei’e  the  property  of 
 the  East  India  Company,  and  it  was  from  its  liberality  alone,  and  not  as  a matter  of  right,  that  you 
 could  expect  an  authority  for  publishing  on  your  own  account.  You  were  bound  in  duty  and 
 honour  to  leave  the  full  disposition  of  your  collections,  &c.  at  my  disposal,  without  condition  or 
 limitation,  as  to  the  use  I might  make  of  them,  and  I very  much  regret  that  you  have  not  been  con- 
 tent to  rely  on  that  liberality  and  indulgent  consideration,  which  you  have  so  often  acknowledged. 
 
 “ The  terms  on  which  you  were  engaged  do  not  authorize  the  pretension  which  you  ap- 
 pear to  advance,  wdth  regard  to  the  free  disposition  of  your  materials  ; and  the  whole  tenor  of  your 
 letter  is  altogether  so  much  at  variance  with  what  I expected,  and  with  the  explicit  and  unequivocal 
 proposals  made  to  and  accepted  by  you,  as  to  render  it  impossible  to  continue  to  you  the  support 
 you  have  hitherto  received,  or  to  prolong  the  term  of  our  agreement. 
 
 “ Under  these  circumstances,  it  is  not  necessary  for  me  to  enter  into  a refutation  of  several 
 statements  and  insinuations  contained  in  your  letter,  in  regard  to  the  disappointment  you  represent 
 yourselves  to  have  experienced;  but  I request  expressly  to  state  that  I know  not  of  a single  in- 
 stance in  which  any  expectations  held  out  to  you  have  not  been  more  than  realized,  nor  was  I pre- 
 pared to  receive  such  a complaint,  after  the  repeated  acknowledgments  of  a contrary  nature,  which 
 you  have  so  often  expressed.  That  your  indefinite  continuance  in  the  service  of  the  Company 
 depended  on  a higher  authority  you  were  always  aware.  That  superior  authority  disapproves  of 
 your  employment,  and  I regret  that  consistently  with  my  public  duty,  I cannot,  after  your  present 
 communication,  authorize  you  to  expect  further  encouragement.  I am,  therefore,  under  the  necessity 
 of  declining  the  consideration  of  any  of  your  proposals,  and  I have  to  request  that  you  will  be  pre- 
 pared to  deliver  to  such  persons  as  may  be  appointed  for  the  purpose,  the  whole  of  your  collections 
 and  descriptions. 
 
 “ To  prevent  the  possibility  of  future  misunderstanding,  it  may  be  proper  to  state,  that  1 
 
710 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 hold  you  bound  not  to  communicate  or  permit  to  be  communicated  to  the  public  any  of  the  results 
 of  your  researches  in  the  Eastern  Islands,  except  with  my  express  and  written  permission.  I ex- 
 pect that  you  will  transfer  all  your  collections  and  descriptions  without  reservation,  in  order  that  I 
 may,  by  your  ready  compliance  with  this  requisition,  be  afforded  the  opportunity  of  still  extending 
 to  you  the  liberal  consideration  which  it  was  always  my  intention  to  shew  you. 
 
 “ I am,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Fort  Marlborough,  March  13,  1820.” 
 
 “ A Monsieur  Raffles,  Gouverneur  de  Bencoolen,  ^c.  ^c. 
 
 “ Monsieur  le  Gouverneur, 
 
 “ La  proposition  que  vous  nous  avez  faite  par  votre  lettre  du  7 Mars,  1819,  n’ayant  pas 
 eu  la  sanction  du  Gouvernement  Supreme,  nous  vous  avons  manifeste  dansnotre  lettre  du  13  Mars, 
 1820,  I’intention  ou  nous  etions  de  rembourser  a I’Honorable  Compagnie  les  avances  que  nous  en 
 avions  re9ues,  en  considerant  tons  les  objets  recueillis  comme  notre  propriete  particuliere. 
 
 “ Par  votre  lettre  du  meme  jour,  vous  vous  etes  refuse  a cette  juste  proposition,  en  vous 
 croyant  fonde  a nous  demander  d’autorite  la  remise  entiere  de  notre  collection. 
 
 “ Sans  examiner.  Monsieur  le  Gouverneur,  jusques  ou  peuvent  s’entrer  vos  droits,  a cet 
 egard,  nous  vous  ferons  observer  qu’un  tel  acte  de  votre  part  est  loin  d’etre  en  harmonie  avec  les 
 intentions  liberales  de  I’Honorable  Compagnie. 
 
 “ En  effet,  en  refusant  nos  services,  I’Honorable  Compagnie  a consenti  a acquitter  nos  de- 
 penses. 
 
 “ Nous  devons  done  en  conclure  qu’elle  a desire  nous  etre  favorable. 
 
 “ Or,  Monsieur  le  Gouverneur,  ce  serait  nous  rendre  un  bien  mauvais  service,  ce  serait 
 mal  interpreter  sa  bienveillante  decision  que  de  vouloir  nous  forcer  a accepter  un  don  pr^ju- 
 diciable,  lorsque  au  contraire  elle  a temoigne  le  desir  de  nous  accorder  une  faveur. 
 
 “ Nous  reiterons  done  la  demande  que  nous  avons  faite  le  13  Mars,  de  prendre  a notre  compte 
 la  totalite  de  nos  depenses. 
 
 “ Cependant,  Monsieur,  desirant  autant  que  possible  entrer  dans  vos  vues,  nous  mettrions  avec 
 plaisir  entre  vos  mains  tous  les  objets  que  nous  avons  recueillis,  si  vous  vouliez  bien  consentir  aux 
 propositions  suivantes : — 
 
 “ Les  objets  envoyes  seront  accompagnes  d’un  catalogue  numerique  des  especes. 
 
 “ Les  especes  en  nombre  pair  seront  partagees  egalement. 
 
 “ Et  quand  a celles  en  nombre  impair,  la  Compagnie  en  prendra  la  moitie  plus  une. 
 
 “ Dans  ce  cas.  Monsieur,  nous  renon9ons  a toute  espece  de  droit  sur  les  dessins,  et  vous 
 pourrez  les  publier  ainsi  que  vous  le  jugerez  convenable ; nous  engagerous  meme,  si  vous  le  pre- 
 
CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 711 
 
 ferez,  a ne  rien  imprimer  qu’en  Angleterre,  et  I’un  de  nous  deux  a cet  effet  partirait  pour  accom- 
 pagner  et  soigner  cette  precieuse  collection. 
 
 “ Recevez,  Monsieur  le  Gouverneur,  I’assurance  de  notre  profond  respect. 
 
 (Signed)  “ Diard,  A.  Duvaucel.” 
 
 “ Le  14  Mars,  1820.” 
 
 To  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel. 
 
 “ Gentlemen, 
 
 “ I have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of  the  4th  instant,  in  reply  to  my 
 communication  of  the  preceding  day. 
 
 “ The  assumption  on  which  you  proceed,  is  so  unfounded  in  fact,  that  I decline  entering  into 
 any  argument  with  you  on  the  subject,  and  the  offer  you  pretend  to  make  of  reimbursing  the 
 government  is  altogether  so  frivolous  and  evasive,  that  I am  much  surprised  that  you  should 
 persist  in  it. 
 
 “ You  would  wish  to  make  it  appear  that  I solicited  you  to  accompany  me  from  Bengal,  and 
 that  you  made  great  saci’ifices  for  the  purpose.  This  is  altogether  at  variance  with  the  fact ; on  the 
 contrary,  you  requested  to  accompany  me,  and  offered  to  place  the  whole  of  the  collections  and  ob- 
 servations at  my  disposal,  on  any  terms  I might  think  proper.  You  subsequently  represented,  that 
 notwithstanding  the  aid  I was  otherwise  enabled  to  afford  you,  you  could  not  proceed  without  con- 
 siderable pecuniary  assistance,  as  your  own  funds  had  already  been  expended  in  Bengal.  I then 
 agreed  to  pay  you  a sum  not  exceeding  1000  rupees  monthly,  on  account  of  the  Company,  and  to 
 recommend  to  the  Superior  Authorities,  that  such  an  allowance  should  be  continued  to  you  as  long 
 as  I might  feel  myself  justified  in  continuing  your  services.  This  was  done  on  the  express  condi- 
 tion accepted  by  you,  that  the  whole  of  your  collections  and  researches  should  be  the  absolute 
 property  of  the  East  India  Company,  and  that  you  should  obey  whatever  instructions  I might 
 issue  to  you  regarding  them.  During  the  past  year,  you  have  continued  to  receive  from  me  the 
 allowance  of  1000  rupees  per  month,  which  has  been  sanctioned  by  the  Supreme  Government,  but 
 that  authority  considers  it  inexpedient  to  continue  your  services. 
 
 “ Under  these  circumstances,  it  rested  with  me  simply  to  notify  to  you  the  period  at  which 
 these  allowances  were  to  cease ; but  with  a view  of  enabling  you  to  continue  your  collections,  1 
 offered,  at  my  own  risk,  to  continue  your  employment  on  the  same  footing,  though  on  somewhat  a 
 more  limited  scale ; one,  however,  fully  adequate  to  the  further  prosecution  of  every  useful  re- 
 search. This  you  have  rejected. 
 
 “ With  these  facts,  I am  utterly  at  a loss  to  account  for  the  principle  on  which  you  pretend 
 to  assert  that  my  agreement  with  you  has  not  been  more  than  fulfilled,  or  that  you  have  any  right 
 to  demand  conditions  and  stipulations  at  variance  with  it. 
 
 “ With  regard  to  your  reimbursing  me  the  expences  already  incurred,  you  w'ill  excuse  me,  if 
 
712 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DL\RD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 under  your  pecuniary  circumstances,  as  i-epeatedly  stated  to  me  by  yom’selves,  I am  compelled  to 
 consider  the  proposal  as  absolutely  nugatory ; to  detain  the  collections  while  you  go  in  search  of 
 money,  would  be  ridiculous.  On  this  point,  I will  only  notice,  that  you  seem  to  have  forgotten  in 
 the  account  the  many  advantages  you  have  enjoyed  independently,  and  in  excess  of  this  allowance. 
 From  the  period  of  your  departure  from  Bengal,  until  your  arrival  in  Bencoolen,  in  August  last,  a 
 period  of  nine  months,  you  and  your  whole  establishments  were  accommodated  on  board  ship,  and 
 elsewhere,  entirely  at  my  expence ; and  since  your  arrival  here,  have  occupied  one  of  the  government 
 houses,  with  various  indulgences,  which,  if  it  were  possible  to  estimate  the  value  of,  would  not 
 perhaps  fall  short  of  the  direct  pecuniary  assistance.  Even  had  you  funds  to  repay  the  whole  of 
 these,  I am  at  a loss  to  conceive  in  what  light  you  would  consider  the  influence  and  authority  I 
 have  exerted,  and  the  requisitions  under  which  1 have  laid  all  my  friends  in  order  to  contribute  to 
 the  extent  of  the  collection.  You  seem  to  forget  that  many  of  the  subjects  were  not  collected  by 
 you,  but  merely  placed  in  your  charge  by  me.  For  instance,  the  Duyong,  both  subjects  of  which 
 were  delivered  into  your  hands  by  myself,  as  intended  for  Sir  Everard  Home; — the  large  deer,  and 
 a variety  of  others.  In  short,  you  would,  as  you  have  often  acknowledged,  have  been  unable  to 
 eflect  any  thing  whatever  without  the  aid  of  my  influence  and  authority,  and  what  equivalent  you 
 can  propose  for  that,  is  more  than  I can  imagine. 
 
 \ 
 
 “ This  proposition  of  yours,  therefore,  being,  as  you  must  be  well  aware,  absolutely  inadmis- 
 sible, I cannot  take  into  consideration  the  conditions  you  pretend  to  dictate  in  the  subsequent  part 
 of  your  letter,  as  you  can  have  no  right  to  make  any  stipulations  whatever.  I now  confine  myself 
 to  requiring  from  you  the  simple  performance  of  your  duty  in  delivering  over  the  whole  of  the  col- 
 lections, descriptions,  &c.  now  under  your  charge,  and  have  to  acquaint  you  that  a committee  has 
 been  appointed  for  this  purpose,  with  whose  instructions  you  will  be  made  acquainted.  It  is  also 
 to  be  understood,  that  I can  receive  no  further  communications  from  you,  that  do  not  distinctly  re- 
 cognize my  absolute  right  of  disposal,  and  that  your  claim  to  future  consideration  must  entirely 
 depend  on  your  prompt  compliance  with  my  directions.  I cannot  persuade  myself  that  you  will 
 persevere  in  an  opposition  which  can  neither  be  supported  by  honour  or  justice, 
 
 “ Before  concluding  this  letter,  I must  further  observe,  that  even  had  the  Supreme  Govern- 
 ment sanctioned  the  continuance  of  the  allowance  to  you  of  1000  rupees  per  month,  I should,  on 
 the  knowledge  I now  have  of  your  sentiments,  and  the  disregard  you  have  lately  shewn  to  my 
 repeated  instructions,  have  felt  it  my  duty  at  once  to  have  discontinued  your  employment.  On 
 leaving  this  place  for  Calcutta,  I left  with  you  precise  directions  for  drawing  up  accurate  Linnaean 
 descriptions  of  every  subject ; but  it  now  appears  you  have  thought  fit  entirely  to  disregard  those 
 orders.  Your  neglect  in  this  respect  will  oblige  me  to  supply  the  deficiency  otherwise,  and  what- 
 ever may  be  the  course  adopted,  the  consequence  to  yourselves  will  be  entirely  attributable  to  your 
 unwarrantable  disregard  of  my  desire.  On  these  accounts,  and  considering  the  wiiole  tenor  of 
 your  late  conduct,  and  the  disposition  you  have  manifested,  I should  feel  it  impossible  to  continue 
 
CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 7i;i 
 
 to  employ  your  services  under  any  circumstances,  and  have  only  to  convey  to  you  my  determina- 
 tion to  bring  your  engagement  to  an  immediate  close. 
 
 “Fort  Marlborough,  March  15,  1820.” 
 
 “ I am,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 Captain  Watson,  William  Lewis,  Esq.,  and  Lieutenant  Trueman. 
 
 “ Gentlemen, 
 
 “ I have  thought  it  proper  to  appoint  you  to  be  a Committee  for  the  purpose  of  taking 
 charge  from  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel  of  the  several  subjects  of  natural  history  in  their  pos- 
 session, and  of  superintending  the  packing  and  shipment  of  that  portion  which  is  intended  to  be 
 transmitted  to  Europe  by  the  Mary. 
 
 “ You  are  accordingly  directed  to  proceed  forthwith  to  Mount  Edgecumbe,  and  after 
 apprizing  these  gentlemen  of  your  appointment,  require  of  them  to  deliver  into  your  charge  the 
 whole  of  their  collections  of  every  description,  whether  dried,  in  skeleton,  or  in  spirits. 
 
 “In  the  first  place  you  will  take  charge  of  the  whole  of  the  drawings  and  sketches  of  every 
 description,  and  forward  them  without  delay  to  me. 
 
 “ This  effected,  you  will  proceed  to  take  an  account  of  the  several  subjects  in  the  collection, 
 and  forthwith  to  send  one  of  each  to  the  Government-house  in  the  most  convenient  package  at 
 hand.  You  will  next  set  apart  a duplicate  of  each  to  be  sent  to  Europe,  and  take  measures  for 
 having  them  packed  in  the  best  manner,  and  with  the  least  possible  delay. 
 
 “ In  the  packing  of  these  last,  it  is  expected  that  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel  will  themselves 
 give  every  aid,  under  your  general  superintendence.  You  will  of  course  attend  to  all  their  sug- 
 gestions on  the  subject  for  the  preservation  of  the  articles,  and  you  are  to  furnish  all  further  mate- 
 rials which  may  be  required,  such  as  boxes,  spirits,  casks,  &c. 
 
 “ Rooms  in  the  lower  part  of  the  old  Government-house  have  been  appropriated  for  the 
 surplus  of  the  collections  beyond  those  two  sets  above  mentioned,  and  you  are  to  take  measures  for 
 removing  these  as  soon  as  possible. 
 
 “ Your  immediate  attention  should  be  directed  to  a general  catalogue  of  the  whole  collection, 
 according  to  the  accompanying  form.  Each  individual  subject  is  to  be  ticketed  with  the  number 
 corresponding  to  that  in  the  catalogue.  This  is  an  object  of  essential  importance,  and  will  deserve 
 your  particular  care. 
 
 “ You  are  to  send  the  cases  for  Europe,  when  packed,  to  the  Company’s  warehouse,  where  they 
 are  to  be  placed  under  the  charge  of  the  store-keeper,  whose  receipt  will  be  your  acquittance,  and 
 who  will  be  held  subsequently  responsible  for  them  until  shipped.  You  will  of  course  take  an  account 
 of  the  contents  of  each  case,  and  affix  a number  to  each. 
 
 “ It  is  to  be  hoped  that  no  difficulties  or  delays  will  be  thrown  in  the  way  by  Messrs.  Diard 
 
 4 Y 
 
714 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 and  Duvaucel,  and  that  they  will  go  hand  in  hand  with  you  in  carrying  these  measures  into  effect. 
 Should  a contrary  disposition  be  evinced,  you  will  of  course  use  your  discretion  in  the  adoption  of 
 all  necessary  precaution  for  preventing  injury  or  defalcation  in  the  collection,  or  delay  in  the 
 execution  of  the  duties  imposed  on  you. 
 
 “ Enclosed  I transmit  an  intimation  to  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel  of  your  appointment. 
 
 “ I am,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ Thos.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Fort  Marlborough,  March  15,  1820.” 
 
 FORM  OF  CATALOGUE. 
 
 No. 
 
 NAMES. 
 
 Dry 
 
 In  Spirits. 
 
 In 
 
 Remarks. 
 
 Linnaean. 
 
 Cuvier. 
 
 Malay. 
 
 Specimens. 
 
 Skeleton. 
 
 To  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel. 
 
 “ Gentlemen, 
 
 “ I have  to  acquaint  you  that  a Committee,  consisting  of  Captain  Watson,  Mr.  Lewis,  and 
 Lieutenant  Trueman,  has  been  appointed  to  receive  charge  of  the  Honourable  Company’s  collections 
 under  your  care,  and  further  to  express  my  expectation  that  you  will  afford  every  facility  to  those 
 Gentlemen  in  the  execution  of  the  duty  confided  to  them. 
 
 “ I am,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ T.  S.  Raffles.” 
 
 “ Fort  Marlborough,  March  15,  1820. 
 
CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 715 
 
 To  Captain  Watson,  William  Lewis,  Esq.  and  Lieutenant  Trueman. 
 
 “ Gentlemen, 
 
 “ As  you  have  verbally  reported  that  you  will,  in  the  course  of  to-mon’ow,  receive  over 
 the  whole  of  the  remaining  collections  of  subjects  in  natural  history,  I request  to  give  you  the  fol- 
 lowing additional  instructions  with  regard  to  the  descriptions,  &c. 
 
 “ By  the  enclosed  copy  of  the  terms  on  which  I engaged  the  services  of  Messrs.  Diard  and 
 Duvaucel,  you  will  perceive  that  they  are  bound  to  deliver  over  not  only  the  whole  of  the  subjects 
 contained  in  the  collection,  but  also  their  descriptions  and  observations  on  the  same. 
 
 “ You  will,  in  consequence,  call  upon  those  Gentlemen  to  fulfil  their  agreement,  by  delivering 
 over  to  you  the  whole  of  their  papers  on  the  subject. 
 
 In  the  event  of  a ready  compliance  with  this,  and  their  giving  you  their  assurance  on  honour 
 that  they  have  made  over  the  whole  of  their  collections,  drawings,  and  descriptions,  without  reserva- 
 tion, I authorize  you  to  make  them  the  following  communication.  I have  no  objection  to  take  upon 
 myself  to  draw  up  a short  account,  or  descriptive  catalogue,  of  the  collection  formed  under  my  autho- 
 rity, for  the  purpose  of  being  published  in  England.  This  I can  effect  in  two  ways,  either  with 
 occasional  reference  to  their  papers,  or  from  the  specimens  alone,  without  referring  to  their  descrip- 
 tions. Should  they  prefer  the  former,  and  pledge  themselves  not  to  publish  on  their  own  account, 
 within  twelve  months,  the  whole  of  their  papers  shall  be  returned  to  them,  or  to  such  persons  as 
 they  may  appoint,  within  a month  from  the  date  of  their  delivery,  with  full  permission  to  make  them 
 public  at  the  expiration  of  the  twelve  months.  Should  they  further  give  their  unequivocal  assent  to 
 this  arrangement,  and  comply  in  full  with  the  condition,  it  will  afford  me  pleasure  to  recommend 
 to  the  Court  of  Directors  that  a donation  be  made  to  France  of  some  of  the  most  interesting  dupli- 
 cates of  the  subjects  which  have  been  prepared ; and  in  order  to  make  this  the  more  valuable,  I shall 
 be  happy  to  receive  from  them  a statement  of  the  objects  which,  in  their  opinion,  will  be  most 
 acceptable. 
 
 “ Should  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel  hesitate  to  give  their  full  assent  to  this  arrangement,  you 
 will  be  pleased  to  acquaint  them  that  it  will  become  my  duty  to  act  upon  the  literal  construction  of 
 the  terms  of  the  engagement. 
 
 “ I am,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Fort  Marlborough,  March  18,  1820.” 
 
 To  the  Honorable  Sir  Stamford  Rajfles,  Lieutenant  Governor. 
 
 “ Honourable  Sir, 
 
 “ We  have  the  honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  under  date  the  15th 
 instant,  appointing  us  a Committee  to  receive  charge  of  the  collection  of  specimens  of  Natural 
 
 4t  Y 2 
 
716 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 History  which  have  been  made  by  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel,  under  the  direction  of  the  British 
 administration  at  Fort  Marlborough. 
 
 “ Having  assembled  at  Mount  Edgecumbe  on  the  morning  of  the  16th  instant,  we  communi- 
 cated to  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel  the  object  of  our  nomination,  putting  into  their  hands  at  the 
 same  time  your  letter  acquainting  them  of  it.  These  gentlemen,  in  reply  to  our  request  that  the 
 specimens  of  Natural  History,  which  had  been  collected  by  them  during  the  period  of  their  having 
 received  an  allowance  from  the  Honourable  Company,  might  be  delivered  over  to  us,  gave  us  dis- 
 tinctly to  understand  they  would  not  oppose  our  taking  possession  of  them,  but  that  they  protested 
 against  our  doing  so ; yet,  as  the  Government  thought  proper  to  lay  claim  to  the  collection,  and  to 
 possess  themselves  of  it,  they  would  certainly  use  every  exertion  to  deliver  it  over  in  the  best  state 
 of  preservation  possible. 
 
 “ We  accordingly  took  charge  of  all  the  drawings  they  professed  to  have  made,  which  we  for- 
 warded forthwith  to  Government,  transmitting  a list  of  the  same. 
 
 “ We  then  commenced  making  a catalogue  * of  the  different  articles,  agreeable  to  the  form 
 transmitted  with  your  letter  of  instructions,  which  we  have  the  honour  to  enclose ; and  having 
 separated  them  according  to  the  form  prescribed,  forwarded  each  set  to  the  destination  allotted ; 
 that  is  to  say,  one  set  the  most  complete  direct  to  Government,  one  duplicate  to  Civil  Store-keeper 
 for  immediate  transmission  to  Europe,  and  a triplicate  to  old  Government  House  for  deposit.  It 
 will  be  seen  from  the  accompanying  catalogue,  that  the  duplicate  for  Europe  is  wanting  in  several 
 articles  contained  in  the  original  set  sent  to  Government ; and  the  triplicate  is  still  more  deficient 
 generally,  whilst,  on  the  other  hand,  it  is  more  than  complete  in  some  particular  articles. 
 
 “ The  early  departure  of  the  ship  Mary  for  Europe,  induced  the  Committee  to  report  ver- 
 bally to  Government  the  progress  they  had  made  in  the  duties  assigned  them ; in  consequence  of 
 which  Government  thought  proper  to  direct,  that  the  specific  names  of  each  subject  should  be 
 affixed  to  the  different  numbers  in  the  catalogue,  in  addition  to  the  general  classification  which 
 had  been  adopted ; the  Committee  accordingly  requested  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel  to  afford 
 their  assistance  in  effecting  this  object ; these  gentlemen,  however,  excused  themselves  on  the  plea 
 of  unwillingness  to  venture  a positive  opinion  where  they  had  no  extensive  means  of  reference, 
 as  it  might  ultimately  prove  detrimental  to  their  scientific  reputation. 
 
 “In  conformity  with  additional  instructions  from  Government,  dated  18th  instant,  the  Com- 
 mittee again  assembled  at  Mount  Edgecumbe,  and  having  submitted  to  Messrs.  Diard  and  Du- 
 vaucel a copy  of  their  original  engagement  with  Government,  whereby  it  is  stipulated,  in  con- 
 sideration of  a certain  monthly  allowance,  ‘ That  their  researches  are  to  be  made  for  and  on 
 account  of  the  Honourable  Company;  that  their  collections,  &c.  are  to  be  considered  as  their 
 property;  that  the  arrangement  and  transmission  to  Europe  or  Bengal  of  such  information  and 
 
 See  Enclosure  No.  1 . 
 
CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 717 
 
 materials  as  they  may  collect,  are  to  be  subject  to  the  order  of  Government ; and  that  the  payment 
 of  the  said  allowance  is  accordingly  authorised  by  the  local  Government,  pending  a reference  to 
 the  superior  authorities.’ 
 
 “ Having  pointedly  brought  this  engagement  to  their  notice  and  recollection,  Messrs.  Diard 
 and  Duvaucel  were  addressed  by  the  Committee  as  follows. 
 
 “ ‘ As  it  appears  that  you  are  bound  by  the  terms  of  your  engagement  with  Government  to 
 deliver  over  the  whole  of  the  subjects  of  Natural  History  which  you  have  collected  since  the  date 
 thereof,  together  with  their  descriptions  and  your  observations  on  them,  we  now  call  on  you  to 
 complete  its  fulfilment  by  delivering  over  the  whole  of  your  papers  connected  with  your  researches 
 during  that  period : in  the  event  of  your  doing  so,  and  giving  us  your  assurance,  on  honour,  that 
 you  have  made  over  the  whole  of  your  collection,  drawings,  and  descriptions,  without  reservation, 
 we  are  authorized  to  make  you  a certain  communication.’ 
 
 “ In  reply  to  this,  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel  positively  refused  to  give  up  the  papers 
 required ; and  in  order  that  this  refusal  might  be  more  explicit,  and  the  gi’ounds  of  it  the  more 
 apparent,  they  requested  time  to  draw  up  a note  on  the  subject ; they  accordingly  retired,  and  after 
 due  deliberation  they  delivered  a paper  to  the  Committee,  wherein  they  set  forth  their  reasons  for 
 non-compliance  with  the  requisition.  The  Committee  being  of  opinion  that  the  first  part  of  this 
 paper  exhibits  an  assertion  which  not  only  carries  contradiction  on  its  face,  but  appears  so  improper 
 and  disrespectful,  they  decline  entering  it  into  their  proceedings  *.  The  last  paragraph,  how- 
 ever, of  their  note  requires  and  has  received  due  consideration.  On  a reference  being  made  to 
 Mr.  Jennings,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  Government  during  the  month  of  January,  1820,  it 
 appears  that  the  refusal  of  their  services  was  not  signified  to  them  at  the  period  asserted  in  their 
 note,  or  at  any  time  whilst  he  was  in  charge  of  the  Government.  It  further  appears  that  this 
 refusal  has  not  yet  been  officially  communicated,  and  that  a bill  presented  by  these  gentlemen  on 
 the  12th  instant,  for  their  allowances  from  the  1st  of  January,  1819,  to  the  1st  of  April,  1820,  has 
 passed  and  ordered  to  be  paid,  which  document  is  in  our  hands.  Whether  the  amount  so  passed 
 has  been  yet  received  by  those  gentlemen  or  not,  does  not  concern  the  Committee ; its  being 
 authorized  is  sufficient  to  obviate  the  objection  stated,  as  the  amount  is  of  course  payable  on 
 demand ; and  should  these  gentlemen  wish  to  refuse  receiving  any  part  of  it,  it  rests  with  them  to 
 make  the  necessary  application  to  Government  to  that  effect;  and  should  the  Government  think 
 proper  to  consider  the  services  of  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel  as  having  ceased  from  the  time 
 specified  by  them,  doubtless  they  will  be  permitted  to  retain  such  part  of  their  collection  as  they 
 can  prove  to  have  been  made  since  that  period,  and  to  have  been  obtained  altogether  independent 
 of  the  aid  and  assistance  of  the  public  establishment  of  Government.  The  Committee  holding  in 
 their  hands  the  bill  of  these  gentlemen  for  the  whole  of  their  allowances  for  fifteen  months,  ending 
 
 * See  Enclosure  No.  2. 
 
718 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS,  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 the  1st  of  April,  18'20,  which  has  received  the  sanction  of  Government,  must  consider  them  as  in 
 the  service  of  Government  during  the  whole  of  that  period.  The  objection,  ^therefore,  on  the 
 ground  of  the  services  of  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel  having  been  refused  by  Government,  appears 
 to  be  unsupported  by  facts ; and  as  they  in  the  same  note  fully  admit  ‘ that  the  witten  agreement 
 obliges  them  to  place  at  the  disposal  of  the  Company  the  whole  of  the  collections  and  observations,’ 
 the  Committee  trust  that  no  further  obstacle  will  arise  to  its  fulfilment,  and  therefore  proceed  to 
 make  known  to  them  the  liberal  intention  of  the  Lieutenant  Governor,  provided  they  comply  with 
 their  original  obligation. 
 
 “ An  extract  * from  the  Honourable  the  Lieutenant  Governor’s  letter  was  accordingly  read 
 and  explained  to  them,  and  they  were  requested  to  state  explicitly  whether  they  would  avail 
 themselves  of  the  terms  proposed.  After  a few  minutes’  deliberation  they  gave  the  Committee  to 
 understand,  that  the  whole  of  their  collections,  and  all  their  notes  on  the  subject  of  their  researches, 
 should  be  delivered  up  without  reservation,  to  which  they  pledged  their  honour,  as  well  as  not  to 
 publish  any  thing  for  the  time  specified ; but  they  expressed  a determination  not  to  accept  their 
 allowance  for  the  months  which  remained  unpaid.  The  Committee  recommended  them,  in  this 
 case,  to  make  out  a list  of  the  articles  collected  by  them  during  those  months,  giving  it  as  their 
 opinion,  that  the  Honourable  the  Lieutenant  Governor  would  not  hesitate  to  consider  such  as  their 
 private  property ; but  they  declined  this,  saying,  it  would  now  be  difficult  to  select  the  articles, 
 besides  they  were  anxious  to  have  permission  to  depart  as  soon  as  possible  from  Bencoolen. 
 
 “ They  then  informed  the  Committee  of  a robbery  which  had  been  committed  the  preceding 
 night,  when,  amongst  other, things  that  were  carried  off,  was  a box  containing  the  papers  of  Mr. 
 Duvaucel ; they  had  made  application  to  the  police  on  the  subject,  and  hoped  that  it  might  be 
 recovered.  The  papers  of  M.  Diard  were  safe,  and  were  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Honourable  the 
 Lieutenant  Governor  as  soon  as  they  could  be  put  in  order. 
 
 “ We  have  the  honour,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ Thos.  C.  Watson, 
 
 “ Wm.  T.  Lewis, 
 
 “ N.  S.  Trueman. 
 
 “ Fort  Marlborough,  March  21,  1820.” 
 
 MEMORANDUM. 
 
 “ Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel  having  pledged  their  word  of  honour,  that  they  have  fulfilled 
 their  public  engagements  with  the  Company,  as  expressed  in  the  letter  addressed  to  them  under 
 date  the  7th  March,  1819,  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  is  happy  to  extend  to  them  the  consideration 
 
 See  Enclosure  No.  3. 
 
CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 719 
 
 which  he  has  always  been  desirous  of  shewing  them,  and  in  order  that  no  possible  misunderstanding 
 may  hereafter  arise,  this  Memorandum  is  exchanged  between  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  and  those  gen- 
 tlemen. 
 
 “ — Messrs.  Diardand  Duvaucel  on  their  part  pledge  themselves  not  to  publish  in  France, 
 
 or  in  any  country  foreign  to  England,  any  particulars  regarding  their  Researches  in  the  Eastern 
 Islands  until  the  expiration  of  a year  from  this  date. 
 
 “ — Sir  Stamford  Raffles  on  his  part  will  return  to  them  or  their  agents,  within  one  month 
 
 from  this  date,  all  papers  which  have  or  may  be  delivered  by  them. 
 
 “ Sd. — Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel  are  at  liberty  hereafter  to  publish  them,  if  they  think 
 proper,  in  the  Asiatic  Researches  in  Bengal,  or  in  the  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Society  of 
 London. 
 
 “ 4//<. — As  a proof  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles’  desire  to  shew  every  possible  consideration  to 
 Messrs  Diard  and  Duvaucel,  they  have  been  requested  to  select  from  the  duplicates  whatever 
 
 articles  they  are  desirous  of  sending  to  France;  they  have  in  consequence  delivered  in  the  annexed 
 
 List  of  Specimens  which  is  complied  with,  on  condition  that  the  articles  do  not  arrive  in  France 
 before  those  sent  to  England  are  received  and  noticed ; and  with  a view  to  secure  this  object,  it  is 
 mutually  agreed  that  these  articles  shall  be  consigned  to  Mr.  Palmer,  at  Calcutta,  by  Sir  Stamford 
 Raffles,  wdth  the  instructions  hereunto  annexed. 
 
 “ 5th. — In  conclusion,  it  is  mutually  agreed,  that  on  the  fulfiment  of  the  above  conditions  the 
 present  shall  be  a full  acquittal  of  all  claims  and  demands  on  both  sides. 
 
 (Signed)  “ Diard, 
 
 . “ Duvaucel.” 
 
 On  the  above  being  signed,  a similar  memorandum,  under  the  signature  of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles, 
 was  delivered  to  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel. 
 
 List  of  Specimens  requested  by  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel. 
 
 A Siamang. 
 
 A Champay. 
 
 A Chinco. 
 
 A Coo. 
 
 A skeleton  of  Rhinoceros. 
 
 A skin  and  skeleton  of  Tapir. 
 
 A Kidjang,  male  and  female. 
 
 A skeleton  of  the  Duyong. 
 
 One  of  each  species  of  Birds  and  Insects,  of  which  there  may  be  triplicates  or  quad- 
 ruplicates. 
 
 2 
 
720 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 To  John  Palmer,  Esq. 
 
 “ Calcutta, 
 
 “ Sir, 
 
 “ In  pursuance  of  an  understanding  between  myself  and  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel, 
 several  specimens  of  Natural  History,  as  per  annexed  memorandum,  are  consigned  to  you,  with  a 
 request  that  you  will  receive  charge  of  them,  for  the  purpose  and  on  the  condition  hereafter 
 mentioned. 
 
 “ These  gentlemen  having  been  engaged  to  make  collections  on  account  of  the  Company,  I 
 have  made  over  to  them  these  specimens,  at  the  close  of  their  engagement,  on  condition  that  the 
 same  do  not  arrive  in  France  before  the  originals,  of  which  they  are  duplicates,  be  received  in 
 England.  These  originals  have  been  forwarded  by  your  ship,  the  Mary,  ria  Batavia,  and  it  is  left 
 to  your  discretion  to  place  these  gentlemen  in  possession  of  these  specimens,  whenever  you  may  be 
 satisfied  that  the  object  of  the  condition  is  attained. 
 
 “ I am,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Fort  Marlborough,  March  27,  1820.” 
 
 To  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel. 
 
 “ Gentlemen, 
 
 “ In  reply  to  your  letter  of  this  date,  I request  to  inform  you  that  I am  not  aware  of  any 
 impediment  which  exists  to  your  embarking  on  the  Indiana,  or  any  other  ship  you  think  proper ; 
 and  whenever  you  may  furnish  me  with  the  list  of  your  establishment,  the  necessary  certificates 
 shall  be  granted. 
 
 “ I request  to  dispense  Muth  a personal  visit  from  either  yourself  or  Mr.  Duvaucel  before 
 your  departure. 
 
 “ I am,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Fort  Marlborough,  March  27,  1820.” 
 
 To  Captain  M atson,  W.  T.  Lewis,  Esq.,  and  Lieutenant  Trueman. 
 
 “ Gentlemen, 
 
 “ Mr.  Diard  having  intimated  the  desire  of  himself  and  Mr.  Duvaucel  to  proceed  to 
 Batavia  on  the  Indiana,  I think  it  necessary  to  re-assemble  you,  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  from 
 those  gentlemen  the  fulfilment  of  their  pledge,  and  enabling  them  to  close  their  accounts,  and 
 quit  the  settlement  without  delay,  and  with  the  least  possible  inconvenience  to  themselves. 
 
 “ You  will  accordingly  call  upon  those  gentlemen  to  place  in  your  possession  all  the  remaining 
 specimens,  drawings,  and  descriptions  which  may  be  forthcoming. 
 
CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 721 
 
 “ I enclose  for  your  information,  a copy  of  a letter  I addressed  to  those  gentlemen  on  receipt 
 of  your  Report,  together  with  their  reply,  and  the  list  of  specimens  which  they  have  in  consequence 
 selected ; and  in  furtherance  of  the  desire  therein  expressed  in  order  to  obviate  future  misunder- 
 standing, I at  the  same  time  enclose  a memorandum,  which,  if  signed,  shall  be  exchanged  for  a 
 similar  document  under  my  signature. 
 
 “ Whenever  you  shall  have  satisfied  yourselves  of  the  complete  fulfilment  of  the  terms  of 
 their  engagement  and  pledge,  you  will  make  your  Report  accordingly. 
 
 “ I am,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Fort  Marlborough,  March  27,  1820.” 
 
 To  Messrs.  Dlard  and  Duvaucel. 
 
 “ Gentlemen, 
 
 “ The  proceedings  of  the  Committee  having  closed  in  a satisfactory  manner,  I lose  no 
 time  in  assuring  you  that  it  was  with  very  sincere  regret  I felt  myself  compelled  by  an  imperious 
 sense  of  public  duty,  to  adopt  a course  so  unpleasant  to  my  feelings ; the  public  question  being 
 now  at  rest,  I am  permitted  to  evince  towards  you  that  attention  and  consideration,  which  it  was 
 always  my  wish  amd  intention  to  offer  you. 
 
 “No  man  can  appreciate  more  highly  than  myself  the  zeal  and  personal  exertion  which  you 
 have  displayed  in  making  these  collections  and  researches  ; I am  sincerely  desirous  of  securing  to 
 you  the  full  measure  of  credit  due  to  them,  and  I think  you  must  be  satisfied  that  it  has  always  been 
 my  wish  to  contribute  to  this  end  as  much  as  was  in  my  power. 
 
 “ I had  always  anticipated  such  a satisfactory  close  of  your  labours,  that  it  would  not  have 
 been  necessary  to  adhere  to  the  rigid  performance  of  the  terms  of  agreement ; I expected  that  we 
 might  mutually  contribute  to  the  extension  of  science,  by  co-operating  eventually  in  some  unob- 
 jectionable plan  for  publication,  and  that  while  I secured  to  the  Honourable  the  East  India 
 Company  the  credit  of  having  patronized  and  supported  these  Researches,  your  own  character 
 and  fame  would  have  been  proportionately  advanced : it  was  further  my  intention,  afler  the  col- 
 lection of  the  Company  was  completed,  that  a portion  of  the  duplicates  should  be  placed  at  your 
 disposal,  a consideration  due  to  your  indefatigable  exertions,  and  as  the  best  acknowledgment  I 
 could  make  to  you. 
 
 “ The  satisfactory  conclusion  of  your  arrangement  with  the  Committee  enables  me  to  assure 
 you  that  these  sentiments  and  intentions  remain  unaltered,  and  that  I shall  be  most  happy  to 
 confer  with  you  on  any  plan  you  may  suggest. 
 
 4 z 
 
722 
 
 CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 “ I conclude  with  expressing  my  regret  at  the  necessary  close  of  our  public  relation,  but  at  the 
 same  time  my  satisfaction  at  its  being  about  to  terminate  in  an  amicable  adjustment. 
 
 “ I am,  &c. 
 
 (Signed)  “ T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 “ Fort  Marlborough,  March  22,  1820.” 
 
 Additional  Proceedings  of  the  Committee  appointed  to  receive  Charge  of  the  Specimens  of 
 Natural  History  collected  hy  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel  on  Account  of  the 
 Honourable  East  India  Company. 
 
 “ Fort  Marlborough,  March  29,  1820. 
 
 “ Pursuant  to  instructions  communicated  to  the  Committee  under  date  27th  March,  they  assem- 
 bled at  the  old  Government-House  this  day,  where  Messrs.  Diard  and  Duvaucel  met  them  by  appoint- 
 ment, and  requested  them,  in  conformity  therewith,  to  deliver  over  the  remaining  specimens  of  draw- 
 ings, descriptions,  and  papers  appertaining  thereto,  in  compliance  with  their  former  agreement.  The 
 naturalists  accordingly  made  over  a parcel  of  papers  and  drawings,  which  they  declare  to  be  the 
 only  documents  of  the  kind  remaining  in  their  possession,  having  burnt  the  duplicates,  as  well  as 
 those  of  such  as  have  already  been  given  up ; and  that  those  which  w^ere  formerly  reported  to  the 
 Committee  as  having  been  stolen,  have  not  since  been  recovered.  They  further  state,  that  at  this  time 
 no  articles  w hatever  of  their  collection  remain  in  their  hands. 
 
 “ The  memorandum  accompanying  the  above-mentioned  instructions  was  handed  to  Messrs. 
 Diard  and  Duvaucel,  and  their  signature  was  affixed  to  it  after  due  deliberation,  and  a perfect 
 comprehension  of  its  contents. 
 
 “ The  Honourable  the  Lieutenant  Governor’s  letter  to  Mr.  Palmer  was  also  read  to  them, 
 and  they  approved  of  the  plan  proposed  with  reference  to  the  articles  w'hich  have  been  presented 
 to  them,  which  are  now  in  possession  of  the  store-keeper. 
 
 (Signed)  “ Thos.  C.  Watson, 
 
 “ Wm.  T.  Lew'is, 
 
 “ N.  L.  Trueman.” 
 
 A Monsieur  Raffles,  Lieutenant  Gourerneur,  ^-c.  ^-c. 
 
 “ Monsieur  le  Gouverneur, 
 
 “ S’il  nous  a ete  penible  d’entrer  avec  vous  dans  une  discussion  publique,  il  doit  nous  etre 
 bien  agreable  en  recompense  de  recevoir  de  vous  I’assurance,  que  cette  opposition  de  notre  part 
 
 o 
 
CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  MESSRS.  DIARD  AND  DUVAUCEL. 
 
 723 
 
 n’a  pas  altere  I’estime  que  vous  nous  avez  toujours  temoignee : nous  nous  empressons  done  de 
 vous  laire  connoitre  combien  nous  avons  ete  sensibles  a cette  nouvelle  preuve  de  votre  bien- 
 veillance. 
 
 “ II  est  trop  satisfaisant  pour  nous,  Monsieur  le  Gouverneur,  de  voir  que  vous  avez  S9U  appre- 
 cier  les  motifs  de  notre  conduite,  pour  que  nous  puissions  desormais  avoir  d’autre  desir  que  celui  de 
 nous  conformer  aux  vues  que  vous  nous  avez  manifestees,  nous  vous  prions  done  d’etre  persuade 
 que  nous  souserions  avee  plaisir  a toutes  vos  propositions  et  que  rien  ne  peut  etre  plus  satisfaisant 
 pour  nous,  avant  de  quitter  Beneoolen,  que  de  vous  prouver  notre  parfaite  eonfianee  en  vos 
 intentions  amicables. 
 
 “ Nous  avons  I’honneur,  &e. 
 
 (Signed)  “ Diard, 
 
 “ A.  Duvaucel.” 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
f'r 
 
 1 
 
 «r.  ■..  .'(V#  ••jitf'  - 
 
 « » ' » - • • - 
 
 ft 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 ON  THE 
 
 ADMINISTRATION  OF  THE  EASTERN  ISLANDS 
 
 IN  1819. 
 
 The  necessity  of  adopting  a more  uniform  and  consistent  plan  for  the  security  and  superintend- 
 ance of  our  interests  to  the  Eastward  is  generally  admitted,  and  as  recent  events  at  Penang  and 
 Bencoolen  have  called  for  the  immediate  interposition  of  the  superior  authorities,  the  following  sug- 
 gestions on  the  subject  are  respectfully  submitted  for  consideration. 
 
 The  failure  of  the  settlements  alluded  to,  in  the  objects  of  their  original  establishment,  the  diffi- 
 culties and  irregularities  which  have  hitherto  attended  their  administration,  and  the  dangers  to 
 which  our  political  interests  were  exposed,  in  a recent  instance,  by  the  clashing  of  divided  powers, 
 indicate  the  propriety  of  uniting  them  under  one  authority,  on  a system  more  suited  to  their  nature 
 and  object,  and  which  shall  be  at  once  simple,  efficient,  and  comprehensive.  Such  a reform  be- 
 comes more  urgent,  from  a consideration  of  the  greater  extent  and  importance  which  these  interests 
 have  assumed  in  consequence  of  late  political  events  and  arrangements. 
 
 In  order  to  shew  in  how  far  the  establishments  hitherto  formed  to  the  Eastward  have  failed  in 
 their  objects,  it  may  be  sufficient  to  advert  to  the  instructions  of  the  Court  of  Directors  on  the 
 formation  of  the  government  of  Penang  in  1805.  This  island,  from  its  position  and  resources, 
 appeared  to  the  authorities  in  Europe  “ well  calculated  to  secure  the  British  interests,  political 
 and  commercial,  on  the  eastern  side  of  Bengal.”  The  attention  of  the  new  government  was  in 
 consequence  directed  to  the  importance  of  forming  establishments  at  Acheen  and  Mergui,  and  of 
 extending  our  influence  among  the  Malay  States  by  the  negociation  of  treaties  with  their  respective 
 chiefs ; above  all,  the  command  of  the  Straits  of  Malacca,  and  the  exclusion  of  foreign  European 
 nations,  were  insisted  upon  as  political  objects  connected  with  the  establishment  of  Penang  as  an 
 extensive  naval  station.  In  a commercial  point  of  view,  it  was  expected  to  become  a general  depot 
 for  the  commodities  of  India  and  China,  and  “ an  emporium  so  situated  as  to  afford  a convenient 
 approach  from  every  part  of  India,  from  the  extremity  of  China  to  the  coasts  of  Africa,  and  where 
 merchants  of  all  nations  might  conveniently  meet  and  exchange  their  goods.”  It  was  considered, 
 “ a reasonable  expectation  that  the  commercial  advantages  of  Prince  of  Wales’  Island”  (to  the 
 Company  as  traders  in  opium,  pepper,  &c.)  “ would  reimburse  the  expences  which  had  already 
 been  sustained,  and  were  likely  to  be  sustained  in  maintaining  that  settlement.” 
 
 Of  these  expectations,  political  and  commercial,  not  one  has  been  realized.  Instead  of  availing 
 itself  of  the  opportunity  early  afforded  of  establishing  the  British  interests  at  Acheen,  while  the 
 authority  of  its  chief  was  yet  respectable,  various  local  interests  were  allowed  to  influence  its  pro- 
 ceedings, and  all  the  communications  to  the-  superior  authorities  only  served  to  embarrass  and  de- 
 feat the  object  originally  contemplated.  The  question  of  excluding  foreigners  from  Mergui  and 
 the  adjacent  coasts  of  Pegu,  seems  never  to  have  been  considered ; and  so  far  from  extending  our 
 influence  among  the  Malay  states  in  the  manner  directed,  not  a single  attempt  appears  to  have 
 
 a 2 
 
4 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 been  made  to  negociate  a treaty  with  any  one  of  them,  until  a Dutch  force  had  actually  arrived  off 
 Malacca  in  1818,  and  disputed  our  right  to  do  so.  The  restitution  of  Malacca  to  the  Dutch  was 
 an  event  which  could  not  have  been  contemplated  in  1805,  but  as  the  command  of  the  Straits  was 
 one  of  the  first  objects  in  the  establishment  of  Penang,  it  was  the  duty  of  the  local  government  to 
 have  provided  for  the  emergency.  The  consequence  of  inattention  to  this  object,  and  the  embar- 
 rassment created  at  Acheen,  have  been  so  recently  and  so  sensibly  felt,  that  it  is  unnecessary  to 
 enlarge  upon  them.  The  plan  for  establishing  an  arsenal  and  dock-yard  has  long  been  abandoned, 
 and  the  port  is  no  longer  considered  convenient  for  the  refitment  or  supply  of  his  Majesty’s  navy. 
 
 Of  the  great  commercial  advantages  contemplated,  it  may  be  observed,  that  instead  of  an  in- 
 creased resort  of  shipping  and  prows,  its  trade  never  rose  into  importance,  and  is  already  on  the 
 decline.  The  inconveniences  and  expences  of  the  port  are  generally  complained  of,  and  ships 
 passing  through  the  Straits  usually  prefer  Malacca,  as  a port  of  refreshment.  The  commercial 
 profits  which  were  to  reimburse  the  Company  by  a trade  in  pepper,  spices,  &c.  have  never  been 
 realized.  The  pepper  produce  of  Penang  was  expected  to  supersede  that  of  the  west  coast  of 
 Sumatra,  and  a high  estimate  was  formed  of  the  spice  cultivation.  Of  the  former  no  purchases 
 have  ever  been  made ; and  of  the  latter  not  a single  pound  has  been  exported  in  a fit  state  for  the 
 Europe  market.  The  practice  of  sending  out  Europe  goods  on  account  of  the  Company,  has  been 
 discontinued  as  an  unprofitable  concern. 
 
 In  explanation  of  these  disappointments  it  may  be  observed,  that  although  a higher  estimate  of 
 the  resources  of  the  place  may  have  been  formed  than  subsequent  experience  has  justified,  many 
 of  the  failures  must  be  considered  attributable  to  the  defects  inherent  in  a government  unsuited  to 
 the  nature  and  objects  of  the  establishment.  The  island  affords  no  natural  advantages  for  a naval 
 arsenal  or  docks  ; but  with  a decisive  influence  at  Acheen  and  on  the  coast  of  Pegu,  it  would  be  a 
 commanding  station  on  the  Eastern  side  of  the  Bay  of  Bengal,  both  for  political  and  commercial 
 purposes.  Connected  with  Acheen  it  may  be  said  also  to  command  the  northern  entrance  of,  the 
 Straits  of  Malacca,  but  it  can  exercise  no  influence  to  the  eastward,  and  the  free  navigation  of  the 
 Straits  must  always  depend  on  the  power  in  possession  of  the  southern  and  more  important 
 entrance.  This  fact  w'as  not  overlooked  by  the  Court  of  Directors  ; for  it  is  observed  in  their  first 
 instructions,  that  “ while  the  Dutch  were  in  possession  of  Malacca,  they  always  had  it  in  their 
 power  to  prevent  the  Malay  and  Bugguese  prows  from  passing  that  station.” 
 
 Possessing  no  internal  resources,  trade  could  alone  be  attracted  by  the  facilities  and  advantages 
 of  the  port ; and  it  is  obvious  that  as  restrictions  were  introduced  and  duties  exacted,  the  object 
 of  rendering  it  a general  emporium  would  be  defeated.  The  Government  were  early  apprized  of 
 the  impolicy  of  levying  duties  on  the  passing  trade,  and  it  would  not  be  easy  to  account  for  the 
 deviation  from  so  essential  a principle,  did  we  not  find  a solution  of  the  difficulty,  and  some  expla- 
 nation of  the  contradiction,  in  the  nature  of  the  government  itself.  Failing  in  the  more  extensive 
 objects  of  their  appointment,  and  confining  themselves  within  the  narrow  precincts  of  a small  island, 
 the  whole  weight  of  a cumbrous  machinery  fell  direct  on  the  people,  while  the  formalities,  pro- 
 cesses, and  delays  of  a complicated  administration  contributed  to  depress  the  energy  and  check  the 
 commerce  of  the  place.  To  uphold  the  existing  system,  in  which  the  personal  interests  of  all  were 
 concerned,  it  was  attempted  to  make  the  local  revenues  equal  to  the  expenditure,  and  the  true  end 
 and  purpose  of  the  establishment  seem  to  have  been  overlooked  in  a premature  and  inordinate 
 desire  of  attaining  this  mistaken  object.  Further,  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  men  in  possession 
 of  power  and  dignities  would  be  content  to  forego  the  exercise  of  them ; and  as  the  necessary 
 duties  of  the  place  could  not  afford  useful  employment  for  so  many  heads,  the  natural  result  was 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 5 
 
 the  creation  of  unnecessary  business,  and  a meddling  interference  in  the  concerns  of  individuals ; 
 to  say  nothing  of  the  differences  and  disputes  among  the  members  of  government  themselves,  which 
 made  as  many  parties  in  the  settlement  as  there  were  opinions  in  the  council. 
 
 Having  thus  exemplified  the  defects  of  the  existing  system  in  an  establishment  which  was  in- 
 tended to  supersede  all  others,  and  to  embrace  the  whole  field  of  our  eastern  policy  on  this  side 
 Bengal,  it  may  be  proper,  previous  to  the  consideration  of  the  changes  which  are  expedient,  to  take 
 a general  review  of  the  interests  which  ai’e  involved,  and  of  the  objects  to  be  attained. 
 
 Of  the  countries  which  lie  to  the  eastward  of  Bengal,  those  which  first  attract  our  attention  are 
 continental,  and  included  within  the  great  and  populous  empires  of  Ava  and  Siam. 
 
 The  northern  provinces  of  the  Burman  Empire  coming  in  contact  with  those  of  Bengal,  and 
 negociations  having  been  carried  on  with  the  Court  of  Ava,  under  the  immediate  authority  of  the 
 Governor-General,  it  is  unnecessary  in  this  place  to  enter  on  any  particular  exposition  of  its  nature 
 and  policy.  It  may  be  sufficient  to  observe,  that  its  nature  is  peculiar,  and  its  policy,  particularly 
 towards  us,  has  of  late  been  extremely  jealous  : in  consequence  of  which,  obstructions  at  the  principal 
 port  of  Pegu  have  considerably  increased ; and  the  general  intercourse  and  trade  in  a great  mea- 
 sure been  checked.  The  importance  of  Pegu,  if  only  considered  with  reference  to  the  supply  of 
 teak  timber  to  Bengal,  will  require  that  some  measures,  if  not  of  a direct  political  tendency,  at 
 least  for  obtaining  an  indirect  influence,  should  be  early  adopted : but  it  should  be  taken  into  con- 
 sideration, that  it  is  in  the  more  southern  provinces  that  the  principal  supplies  of  timber  are  to  be 
 obtained,  and  the  best  and  largest  are  from  Martaban.  In  these  provinces,  and  particularly  such 
 as  border  on  the  Siamese  territory,  the  people  are  less  subject  to  the  jealous  restraint  of  Government, 
 more  readily  enter  into  commercial  pursuits,  and  keep  up  a considerable  intercourse  with  Penang, 
 where  many  of  them  have  settled.  By  means  of  this  intercourse  a new  and  extensive  field  may  be 
 opened  for  commercial  speculation,  particularly  in  woollens  and  cottons,  articles  of  which  the  con- 
 sumption is  general,  and  which  might  thus  be  introduced  without  exciting  the  jealousy  which  has 
 hitherto  obstructed  the  demand. 
 
 When  it  is  considered  that  Siam  extends  its  influence  over  the  whole  of  the  Malay  peninsula, 
 with  the  exception  of  Johore,  and  that  our  settlement  of  Penang  is  but  an  islet  recently  subordinate 
 to  one  of  its  dependencies,  and  that  this  influence  prevails  over  states  with  which  our  unrestricted 
 intercourse  is  indispensable,  the  advantage  of  a good  understanding  with  that  Court  is  obvious. 
 The  long  continued  wars  between  the  Burmahs  and  Siamese  have  contracted  the  territorial  limits 
 of  the  latter ; but  if  they  have  on  one  side  given  way  to  the  encroachments  of  a more  powerful 
 neighbour,  they  have  on  the  other  hand  extended  and  strengthened  their  resources  by  opening 
 their  ports  to  general  commerce.  In  this  respect  the  policy  of  Siam  is  widely  diffei’ent  from  that 
 of  Ava,  and  the  contiguity  of  its  principal  port  to  China  has  led  to  the  establishment  of  a numerous 
 Chinese  population,  which  has  given  to  its  commerce  the  same  stimulus  which  that  enterprising 
 people  produce,  wherever  they  are  allowed  to  colonize.  Siam  has  always  carried  on  an  extensive 
 trade  with  the  northern  ports  of  China,  and  in  former  times  kept  up  an  intercourse  with  Japan. 
 The  latter,  though  reduced  in  importance,  might  again  be  opened  and  revived,  and  the  Gulf  of 
 Siam  become  the  centre  of  the  same  commerce  which  it  commanded  before  the  terror  of  the  Por- 
 tuguese arms,  and  the  restrictions  of  the  Dutch  paralyzed  the  native  energies  of  the  Archipelago. 
 Siam  is,  in  fact,  to  the  northern  portion  of  the  Archipelago  what  Java  may  be  considered  to  the  south  : 
 it  is  the  granary  of  these  countries.  In  the  important  articles  of  rice  and  salt,  it  maintains  a suc- 
 cessful competition  with  Java,  and  its  sugar  is  sold  to  advantage  in  the  Batavia  market.  Of  the 
 demand  for  cottons  and  opium,  it  may  be  observed  that  the  former  is  daily  increasing,  and  that  the 
 
6 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 latter  amounts  to  several  hundred  chests  per  annum.  The  disposition  of  the  Court  is  considered  favour- 
 able to  commerce,  even  with  Europeans,  and  notwithstanding  the  impediments  and  inconveniences 
 that  still  attend  the  port,  it  was  frequented  during  the  last  year  by  numerous  American  and  some 
 French  and  English  vessels.  The  higher  prices  and  vexations  of  the  port  of  Batavia  are  daily 
 turning  a portion  of  its  commerce  towards  Siam,  and  the  attention  of  foreign  nations,  particularly 
 the  French,  has  long  been  directed  to  a political  influence  in  that  quarter. 
 
 Contiguous  to  Siam,  and  between  it  and  China,  are  the  countries  of  Camboja  and  Cochin  China. 
 The  former,  though  acknowledging  the  political  supremacy  of  the  latter,  is  in  a great  measure  in- 
 dependent. An  extensive  junk  trade  has  always  been  carried  on  at  this  port;  and  although  our 
 infoi’mation  is  yet  very  imperfect  regarding  the  interior  districts  of  Laos  Champa,  &c.  there  is  rea- 
 son to  believe  that  a very  extensive  population  exists,  with  which  a most  advantageous  commerce 
 might  be  established. 
 
 Respecting  Cochin  China  much  information  is  yet  wanting,  but  from  what  we  already  possess  of 
 a general  nature,  its  importance  and  interests  in  various  respects  is  fully  proved.  The  extent  of  coast, 
 the  number  of  its  harbours,  its  great  population  and  resources,  its  contiguity  to  and  connection  with 
 China,  are  circumstances  which  deserve  serious  attention,  and  the  consequences  to  our  interests,  par- 
 ticularly in  China,  which  might  result  from  the  establishment  of  a foreign  European  power  in  this 
 quarter  are  not  to  be  overlooked.  If  we  consider  the  extent  and  vastness  of  the  designs  formed  by  the 
 French,  with  reference  to  that  country,  as  shewn  in  their  treaty  with  the  king  of  Cochin  China  so 
 late  as  1788,  and  by  what  unforeseen  events  its  execution  was  interrupted,  the  subject  will  de- 
 rive additional  interest.  By  this  treaty,  which  was  concluded  in  Paris,  it  was  stipulated,  that  in 
 return  for  the  immediate  aid  to  be  afforded  by  twenty  French  ships  of  war,  seven  regiments  and 
 one  million  of  dollars,  half  to  be  paid  in  specie  and  half  in  military  stores,  to  enable  him  to 
 retrieve  his  affairs,  the  king  of  Cochin  China  should  pay  the  permanent  expences  of  fourteen 
 ships  of  the  line,  for  which  officers  and  establishments  should  be  sent  from  Europe ; should 
 allow  resident  consuls  on  every  part  of  the  coast,  with  unlimited  authority  to  build  ships  and 
 frigates,  and  to  fell  the  timber  necessary;  should  cede  in  perpetuity  the  Bay  of  Turon  and  Pe- 
 ninsula; and  authorize  the  levy  of  a large  body  of  native  troops  to  be  trained  in  French  discipline, 
 and  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  French  government,  to  be  sent  to  any  part  of  India  that  might 
 be  required.  The  expedition  was  on  the  point  sailing  from  the  Isle  of  France,  when  the  break- 
 ing out  of  the  Revolution  checked  the  proceeding ; but  although  the  treaty  was  not  fulfilled  on 
 the  part  of  France,  her  emissaries  continued  to  maintain  a powerful  influence  in  the  country,  which 
 operated,  in  1804,  to  defeat  the  mission  sent  from  Canton  on  our  part. 
 
 Our  consideration  is  next  directed  to  the  islands,  particularly  Sumatra,  along  the  coast  of  which 
 our  influence  is  extensive. 
 
 Although  the  kingdom  of  Acheen  has  long  ceased  to  exercise  an  extensive  influence,  and  the 
 state  of  anarchy  into  which  it  has  been  thrown  has  rather  repelled  than  invited  foreign  intercourse, 
 the  political  importance  of  its  position  in  commanding  the  eastern  side  of  the  Bay  of  Bengal,  par- 
 ticularly since  the  discovery  of  a safe  and  defensible  harbour,  cannot  be  disputed,  while  the  trade 
 which  it  carries  on,  even  under  its  present  disadvantageous  circumstances,  is  still  considerable. 
 This  trade  on  the  eastern  coast  consists  in  exports,  which  are  principally  carried  to  Penang  for 
 the  China  market,  such  as  pepper,  betel-nut,  and  rattans ; but  the  resources  of  the  country,  par- 
 ticularly of  the  more  eastern  provinces,  are  calculated  to  afford  considerable  exports  in  grain  and 
 cattle.  The  imports  on  this  coast  are  chiefly  opium  and  piece-goods,  and  to  a considerable  extent. 
 On  the  western  coast  the  produce  is  principally  pepper,  to  the  amount  of  5000  tons  annually. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 7 
 
 which  is  for  the  most  part  purchased  by  Americans  with  specie ; the  other  imports  are  opium, 
 and  India  and  Europe  piece-goods:  benjamin,  camphor,  and  gold-dust,  are  sometimes  obtained  in 
 return.  Of  the  west  coast  of  Sumatra  generally,  a few  observations  will  suffice.  The  more 
 northern  ports  are  by  far  the  most  important.  Tappanooly,  on  account  of  its  extensive  and  almost 
 unrivalled  hai'bour,  is  considered  politically  valuable ; and  in  a commercial  view,  in  connnection 
 with  Nattal,  it  commands  the  trade  of  a large  portion  of  the  Batta  country,  and  participates  in  that 
 of  Rau,  Agam,  and  Menangkabu.  Padang,  which  may  be  considered  as  the  key  of  the  rich  and 
 populous  districts  of  the  interior,  and  which  has  latterly  assumed  a commercial  importance,  is  now 
 in  the  hands  of  the  Dutch.  The  districts  to  the  southward  of  this  are  comparatively  insignificant, 
 whether  viewed  politically,  or  with  reference  to  their  commercial  resources ; they  are  included 
 under  the  authority  of  Bencoolen. 
 
 Of  Bencoolen  it  may  be  sufficient  to  quote  the  opinion  expressed  by  the  Court  of  Directors 
 in  1805.  “ As  a commercial  establishment,”  they  observed,  ” Bencoolen  has  become  of  no  im- 
 
 portance : the  only  produce  of  it,  pepper,  is  a losing  concern  to  the  Company.  It  has  no  value 
 in  a political  view,  for  no  other  European  nation  can  turn  it  to  much  account,  or  bear  the  expense 
 which  must  be  incurred  in  maintaining  it.”  Severe  as  this  sentence  may  appear,  it  must  be  ad- 
 mitted, that  with  the  exception  of  the  finer  spices  which  have  since  been  successfully  cultivated,  and 
 now  confer  on  it  a peculiar  interest  with  reference  to  the  abolition  of  the  Dutch  monopoly  of  those 
 articles,  the  place  has  little  to  recommend  it,  either  in  a political  or  commercial  view.  It  however 
 includes  a large  portion  of  the  western  coast  of  the  island ; and  the  population  having  long  been 
 under  our  influence,  are  habituated  to  our  government,  and,  as  far  as  their  means  extend,  are  in- 
 clined to  consume  the  manufactures  which  we  import.  A bad  system  has  depressed  their  energies 
 and  impoverished  their  resources,  but  under  a more  enlightened  and  liberal  policy,  they  may  be 
 expected  to  assume  a more  important  rank. 
 
 On  the  eastern  coast  of  Sumatra,  the  rivers  of  Siak  and  Indragiri  afford  a direct  communication 
 with  the  rich  and  populous  country  of  Menangkabu,  and  were  their  navigation  secured  by  a good 
 understanding  with  the  native  chiefs,  the  course  of  commerce  might  soon  be  diverted  from  Padang 
 on  the  west  coast,  and  the  productions  of  the  interior,  of  which  gold  is  not  the  least  important, 
 brought  dowm  those  channels  by  which  the  tide  of  population  anciently  flowed  to  the  coasts  of 
 most  of  the  other  islands.  The  navigation  of  the  river  Jambi  also  affords  corresponding  advan- 
 tages ; and  the  comparatively  improved  state  of  Palembang,  while  it  distinguishes  that  capital  as 
 the  most  civilized  part  of  Sumatra,  offers  the  prospect  of  an  extensive  and  well  regulated  trade  as 
 long  as  it  maintains  its  independence.  The  island  of  Banca,  in  its  extensive  mines  of  tin  and 
 rising  population  of  Chinese,  is  not  the  least  important  of  these  countries. 
 
 The  immense  island  of  Borneo,  even  the  shores  of  which  are  yet  imperfectly  known,  contains  in 
 its  interior  a more  numerous  agricultural  population  than  has  generally  been  supposed,  and  the 
 rivers  on  its  southern  and  western  coast  have  long  attracted  the  enterprize  of  the  merchant.  Large 
 colonies  of  Chinese  have  established  themselves,  and  in  their  demand  for  Indian  and  European 
 produce,  and  export  of  gold,  offer  a wide  and  almost  inexhaustible  fleld  of  commercial  specula- 
 tion. The  amount  exported  of  gold  alone,  by  far  the  largest  portion  of  which  finds  its  way  to 
 China,  has  been  estimated  at  not  less  than  half  a million  sterling.  The  northern  provinces 
 of  this  island,  though  more  out  of  the  general  track  of  shipping,  are  not  unimportant  in  a commer- 
 cial view,  particularly  when  considered  in  connection  with  Magindanao  and  the  Suolu  Archipelago. 
 The  valuable  pearl-fisheries  of  the  latter  are  at  present  carried  on  almost  exclusively  on  account  of 
 the  Chinese,  who  maintain  an  extensive  junk  trade  with  these  islands.  The  maritime  enterprize 
 
8 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 of  these  people,  though  latterly  too  much  devoted  to  piratical  objects,  might  easily  be  directed  into 
 better  channels. 
 
 The  island  of  Celebes,  of  which  a portion  only  is  yet  known  to  Europeans,  is  inhabited  by  a 
 race  of  people  remarkable  for  their  energy  and  spirit.  From  one  of  the  states  in  particular,  exten- 
 sive commercial  speculations  and  distant  voyages  are  undertaken  to  every  part  of  the  Archipelago, 
 even  to  the  coast  of  New  Holland,  and  in  every  Malay  state  colonies  of  Buggueses  are  found  esta- 
 blished. When  Europeans  first  visited  these  seas,  the  spice  trade  of  the  Moluccas  in  a great 
 measure  centered  in  this  island,  and  though  the  political  power  and  the  restrictions  of  the  Dutch 
 have  turned  the  course  of  this  commerce,  the  main  object  of  their  establishment  at  Macassar  is 
 avowedly  for  securing  this  monopoly  ; but  the  influence  of  the  Dutch  on  Celebes  generally  is  not 
 sufficient  to  prevent  the  commercial  enterprize  of  the  inhabitants  from  being  directed  to  other 
 channels. 
 
 Of  Java  and  the  IMoluccas  our  recent  possession  of  these  important  colonies  has  afforded  the 
 means  of  most  ample  information,  and  though  their  territorial  resources  are  now  transferred  to 
 another  power,  the  trade  must  always  be  in  part  open  to  the  general  merchant.  National  interests 
 and  jealousies  may  obstruct  the  European  merchant  at  the  principal  ports,  but  the  native  trade  of 
 such  extensive  coasts  must  always  continue  in  a great  degree  unfettered,  and  at  liberty  to  seek  the 
 best  markets,  and  native  carriers  will  always  be  found  in  the  Bugguese  and  Chinese  junks,  as  well 
 as  in  the  numerous  Arab  vessels  which  navigate  the  Archipelago. 
 
 The  fate  of  the  Philippines,  in  the  present  sh-uggle  between  Spain  and  her  colonies,  is  at  least 
 uncertain,  and  cannot  be  contemplated  wdth  indifference  by  us,  considering  the  nature  and  import- 
 ance of  these  interesting  islands,  and  their  proximity  to  China. 
 
 The  countries  included  in  the  review,  extend  in  a connected  series  from  the  Bay  of  Bengal 
 to  the  coast  of  New  Holland  in  one  direction,  to  those  of  China  in  another,  and  occupy  a space, 
 from  west  to  east,  of  upwards  of  two  thousand  geographical  miles.  It  may  be  difficult  to  form  a 
 very  accurate  estimate  of  the  population  inhabiting  these  various  countries,  which  differ  so  much 
 in  the  several  degrees  of  civilization,  and  whose  interior  is  so  little  known ; but  if  we  take  the  con- 
 tinental empires  of  Ava'  and  Siam,  and  the  countries  immediately  beyond  at  fifteen  millions  *, 
 which  is  much  below  the  usual  estimate,  even  of  the  two  former,  we  shall  not  over-rate  the  Archi- 
 pelago generally  at  an  equal  number ; but  as  an  accurate  census  has  only  been  taken  at  Java, 
 where  the  population  was  found  to  be  about  five  millions,  and  that  of  Sumatra  has  recently  been 
 estimated  at  about  three,  we  cannot  possibly  exceed  in  allowing  two  millions  for  Borneo  and  the 
 rest  of  the  Archipelago,  making  a total  population  of  certainly  not  less  than  twenty-five  millions, 
 an  estimate  which  will  be  found  on  enquiry  rather  to  fall  short  than  exceed  the  reality.  In  this 
 estimate,  however,  are  not  included  the  countries  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  China  nor  the  Philip- 
 pines, which  latter  alone  contain  a population  of  about  three  millions ; so  that  the  field  of  our 
 commerce,  exclusive  of  China,  involves  the  interests  of  at  least  thirty  millions  of  the  human  race. 
 
 Of  this  extensive  and  varied  population,  the  gradations  in  civilization  are  wide,  from  the  rude 
 untutored  Harafora  to  the  comparatively  civilized  Javan  and  Siamese;  but  the  absence  of  invete- 
 rate prejudice,  and  a spirit  of  enterprize  and  freedom  distinguishes  the  whole.  In  the  interior  of 
 the  larger  islands,  the  population  is  almost  exclusively  devoted  to  agriculture ; but  on  the  coasts, 
 the  adventurous  character  of  the  Bugguese,  and  the  speculative  industry  of  the  Chinese,  have 
 given  a stimulus  and  direction  to  the  energies  of  the  maritime  and  commercial  states.  Establish- 
 
 • The  population  of  the  Burman  Empire  alone  has  been  estimated  at  fifteen  millions ; that  of  Siam  at  six  mil- 
 lions ; and  Camboja  and  Cochin  China  at  about  the  same. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 y 
 
 ments  are  formed  on  each  of  the  principal  rivers,  and  while  the  less  civilized  inhabitant  of  the 
 country  is  engaged  in  collecting  its  valuable  raw  products,  in  traversing  the  woods,  or  sweeping 
 the  shores,  these  native  merchants  become  the  carriers  to  more  distant  markets.  The  natural 
 demand  and  necessities  which  must  exist  in  so  extensive  an  Archipelago,  in  which  the  employments 
 and  condition  of  the  inhabitants  are  so  various,  give  rise  to  a constant  intei’course  between  them, 
 and  consequently  to  an  extensive  native  trade,  which  from  its  nature  must  be  beyond  the  reach  of 
 fiscal  regulations. 
 
 The  whole  of  this  population,  at  least  on  the  Malay  Peninsula  and  throughout  the  islands,  have 
 imbibed  a taste  for  Indian  and  European  manufactures,  and  the  demand  is  only  limited  by  their 
 means.  Artificial  impediments  may  for  a time  check  their  means ; but  in  countries  where,  inde- 
 pendently of  the  cultivation  of  the  soil,  the  treasures  of  the  mines  seem  inexhaustible,  and  the  raw 
 produce  of  its  forests  has  in  all  ages  been  in  equal  demand,  it  is  not  easy  to  fix  limits  to  the  exten- 
 sion of  these  means. 
 
 But  the  peculiar  and  still  higher  interests  which  these  countries  excite,  arises  from  their  vicinity 
 and  intimate  connection  wdth  China.  From  the  earliest  periods  the  Chinese  would  appear  to  have 
 derived  many  of  their  luxuries,  and  to  have  considerable  resources,  from  the  Eastern  Islands. 
 Constant  intercourse  has  made  them  acquainted  with  the  different  products,  and  the  advantages  of 
 trading  .and  mining  operating  upon  a redundant  population  have  given  rise  to  extensive  emigration. 
 The  number  of  Chinese  settlers  in  J ava  does  not  amount  to  less  than  a hundred  thousand ; an 
 equal  number  may  be  found  at  Siam,  and  still  more  on  Borneo.  The  intercourse  is  principally 
 carried  on  with  Amoy  and  the  northern  provinces  of  China,  to  which  the  influence  of  the  Hong 
 merchants  does  not  extend,  and  where  trade  is  comparatively  free.  It  is  certain,  that  while  the 
 British  were  in  possession  of  Java,  the  Junks  from  these  ports  conveyed  to  China  large  quantities 
 of  woollens  and  other  articles  of  British  staple  and  manufacture,  and  it  is  well  known  that  the 
 cargoes  of  the  ten  Junks  which  annually  proceed  from  China  to  Japan  consist  almost  entirely  of 
 these  articles. 
 
 The  number  of  Chinese  which  is  annually  imported  into  the  islands  is  almost  incredible,  and  is 
 only  checked  by  the  want  of  capital  to  defray  the  immediate  expense  of  their  passage.  Any  specu- 
 lator wishing  to  open  a tin  or  gold-mine  may  obtain  from  ten  to  twenty  thousand  in  a season,  by 
 paying  their  passage-money  at  the  rate  of  twelve  dollars  a head,  and  reimburse  himself  for  the 
 same  out  of  the  profits  of  their  labour,  which  they  are  willing  to  give  gratuitously  for  three  years 
 as  a consideration.  Hundreds  of  these  people  have  often  been  seen  at  Penang,  anxiously  waiting 
 on  board  the  ship  on  which  they  had  been  brought  as  a speculation  from  China,  until  some 
 Chinese  capitalist  settled  on  the  island  became  willing  to  land  them  on  these  terms.  In  Java  we 
 know  that  the  extent  of  their  colonization  is  only  checked  by  the  fears  of  the  Dutch  government, 
 lest  they  should  become  too  numerous.  In  the  interior  of  Borneo  the  recent  increase  has  been 
 enormous,  and  the  country  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mines  has  in  every  respect  the  appearance  of  a 
 Chinese  province.  The  Chinese  establishments  on  Borneo  would  appear  to  have  always  been 
 extensive.  The  circumstance  of  one  of  their  emperors  having  formerly  retreated  to  it,  and  having 
 been  buried  on  its  shores,  is  a proof  of  their  early  intercourse ; and  abundant  evidence  in  their 
 tombs  and  ruins  of  their  establishments,  is  adduced  to  shew  the  extent  to  which  it  was  carried, 
 before  the  excluding  system  of  the  Dutch  destroyed  the  trade  of  the  coast.  If  an  instance  were 
 wanting  to  shew  the  eagerness  of  this  extraordinary  people  to  establish  themselves  wherever  they 
 are  likely  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  industry,  a recent  instance  at  Singapore  might  be  adduced. 
 
 b 
 
When  the  British  flag  was  first  hoisted,  there  were  not  perhaps  fifty-three  Chinese  on  the  island : 
 in  three  months  the  number  did  not  fall  short  of  three  thousand,  and  this  was  rapidly  increasing. 
 
 After  this  general  review,  our  attention  is  directed  to  the  nature  and  importance  of  the  inter- 
 course which  the  English  have  held  with  these  countries  and  people ; the  objects  of  that  inter- 
 course, political  and  commercial ; and  the  national  interests  which  are  involved  in  the  protection 
 and  improvement  of  the  existing  connection. 
 
 Politically,  the  securing  of  a free  and  safe  passage  for  our  China  trade,  both  from  Europe  and 
 India,  at  all  times  and  under  all  circumstances,  has  been  considered  of  paramount  importance,  in- 
 dependently of  excluding  European  powers  from  establishing  themselves  to  the  eastward  of  Bengal, 
 so  much  insisted  upon  on  the  first  establishment  of  Penang.  To  these  may  be  added  the  necessity 
 of  at  all  times  preserving  such  a political  influence  and  consideration,  as  may  secm-e  our  full  par- 
 ticipation in  the  general  trade  of  the  Archipelago. 
 
 Commercially,  the  nature  of  our  intercourse  and  objects  may  require  a more  particular  explana- 
 tion. When  Europeans  first  frequented  the  Archipelago,  the  trade  had  long  collected  at  certain 
 established  emporia ; of  these  Acheen,  Malacca,  and  Bantam  were  the  principal ; Macassar  or 
 Celebes  had  also  become  an  emporium  of  the  more  eastern  commerce.  With  the  exception  of  the 
 coffee  in  Java  and  the  spices  of  the  Moluccas,  nearly  the  whole  produce  of  the  islands  may  be 
 considered  as  a trade  of  collection,  which,  by  means  of  the  smooth  seas  of  the  Archipelago,  is 
 readily  conveyed  to  the  most  advantageous  markets.  Foreign  traders  in  large  vessels  found  it  more 
 to  their  interest  to  proceed  to  the  emporia,  where  they  might  at  once  procure  a full  cargo,  than  to 
 run  the  risk  of  collecting  the  articles  in  detail  on  a more  extensive  and  hazardous  voyage,  and  thus 
 the  interests  of  both  were  promoted.  The  foreign  commerce  was  carried  on  with  ease  and  safety, 
 and  to  the  manifest  advantage  of  all  parties. 
 
 The  valour  of  Portugal  broke  the  power  of  the  native  states,  and  left  them  exposed  to  the 
 more  selfish  policy  of  their  successors.  The  Dutch  had  no  sooner  established  their  capital  at 
 Batavia,  than  not  satisfied  with  transferring  to  it  the  emporium  of  Bantam,  they  conceived  the  idea 
 of  making  it  the  sole  and  only  depot  of  the  commerce  of  the  Archipelago,  Had  this  object  been 
 combined  with  a liberal  policy,  and  had  the  local  circumstances  of  Batavia  not  obstructed  it,  the 
 effect  might  have  been  different,  and  instead  of  the  ruin  and  desolation  which  ensued  throughout 
 a large  portion  of  these  islands,  they  might  have  advanced  in  civilization,  while  they  contributed 
 to  raise  the  prosperity,  and  support  the  ascendancy  of  the  Dutch  metropolis.  But  when  we  advert 
 to  the  greedy  policy  which  swallowed  up  the  resources  of  this  extensive  Archipelago  in  a narrow 
 and  rigid  monopoly,  and  that  instead  of  leaving  trade  to  accumulate  as  it  had  previously  done  at 
 the  natural  emporia,  it  was  forced  by  means  of  arbiti'ay  and  restrictive  regulations  into  one,  which, 
 independent  of  other  disadvantages,  soon  proved  the  grave  of  the  majority  of  those  who  were 
 obliged  to  resort  to  it,  we  shall  find  the  cause  which  has  proved  as  ruinous  to  the  Dutch  as  to  the 
 people.  By  attempting  too  much,  they  lost  what  under  other  circumstances  might  have  been 
 turned  into  advantage  ; and  the  native  states,  deprived  of  their  fair  share  of  commerce,  abandoned 
 all  attempts,  and  sunk  into  the  comparative  insignificance  in  which  they  were  found  at  the  period 
 when  our  traders  began  to  navigate  those  seas  from  Madras  and  Bengal.  The  destruction  of  the 
 native  trade  of  the  Archipelago  by  this  withering  policy,  may  be  considered  as  the  origin  of  many 
 of  the  evils,  and  of  all  the  pii’acies  of  which  we  now  complain.  A maritime  and  commercial  people 
 suddenly  deprived  of  all  honest  employment,  or  the  means  of  respectable  subsistence,  either  sunk 
 into  apathy  and  indolence,  or  expended  their  natural  energies  in  piratical  attempts  to  recover  by 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 1 1 
 
 force  and  plunder  what  they  had  been  deprived  of  by  policy  and  fraud.  In  this  state  of  decay 
 they  continued  to  degenerate,  till  the  appearance  of  our  country  traders  revived  their  suppressed 
 and  nearly  extinguished  energies,  and  awoke  to  a new  life  the  commerce  and  enterprise  of  this 
 interesting  portion  of  the  globe.  The  decline  and  corruption  of  the  Dutch  power  in  the  East 
 ofi'ered  little  obsti'uction : as  our  intercourse  increased,  their  establishments  were  withdrawn,  and 
 long  before  the  conquest  of  Java  we  had  already  possessed  ourselves  of  the  largest  portion  of  this 
 trade. 
 
 This  trade,  which  may  now  be  considered  natural  to  and  belonging  to  Bengal,  is  of  course 
 carried  on,  on  the  true  principles  of  commerce ; it  is  not  supported  by  any  artificial  means,  and  no 
 restrictions  are  considered  necessary  for  its  security.  It  consists  chiefly  in  the  exportation  from 
 India  of  opium  and  piece  goods,  to  an  extent  which  has  gradually  been  increasing  from  its  com- 
 mencement: the  returns  are  principally  in  specie  and  gold-dust.  Other  articles,  the  produce  of 
 the  Eastern  Islands,  find  their  way  to  the  general  market  of  Calcutta,  but  they  are  for  the  most 
 part  adapted  for  sale  in  China,  whither  they  are  annually  carried  in  native  and  country  vessels. 
 It  is  not  necessary  to  enter  into  a detail,  on  the  present  occasion,  of  the  extent  to  which  the  trade 
 of  the  Eastern  Islands  is  now  carried ; the  nature  of  the  cargoes,  both  of  import  and  export  from 
 Europe,  is  generally  known,  and  the  increasing  importance  of  the  commerce,  both  to  our  territories 
 in  India  and  the  mother  country,  is  universally  admitted.  Particular  branches  of  trade  which  have 
 excited  most  interest,  and  channels  of  commerce  which  appear  most  important  to  be  encouraged 
 and  improved,  will  be  hereafter  noticed. 
 
 The  preceding  statements  have  prepared  us  to  enter  upon  the  immediate  purpose  of  this  paper, 
 the  consideration  of  the  objects  now  in  view,  and  the  policy  to  be  pursued  in  their  attainment. 
 The  subject  naturally  divides  into  three  heads,  which  will  be  considered  in  succession. 
 
 1.  The  high  importance  of  our  connection  wdth  these  countries,  whether  considei’ed  with  re- 
 ference to  the  national  interest  in  general,  or  to  those  of  British  India  in  particular. 
 
 2.  The  nature  of  our  connection  is  and  ought  to  be  purely  commercial,  and  our  interference 
 politically,  no  further  extended  than  to  secure  the  general  interests  of  that  commerce. 
 
 3.  The  object  of  our  connection  being  purely  commercial,  our  establishments  should  be  con- 
 formable, and  our  relation  with  the  native  states  conducted  exclusively  on  that  principle. 
 
 On  the  first  point  it  would  be  superfluous,  after  what  has  been  said,  to  enter  on  further  dis- 
 cussion. The  importance  of  the  connection  is  great  and  obvious,  and  is  generally  admitted ; but 
 it  is  impossible  to  pass  over  without  some  notice,  the  peculiar  and  additional  interest  which  recent 
 events  have  given  to  our  relation  with  the  Eastern  Islands.  The  supremacy  of  Gi’eat  Britain 
 having  now  been  established  over  the  whole  of  the  continent  of  India,  and  our  empire  consoli- 
 dated by  the  late  territorial  acquisitions,  and  by  the  liberal  principles  and  enlightened  policy  which 
 have  raised  it  to  its  present  pitch  of  unrivalled  eminence  and  prosperity,  it  remains  for  the  wisdom 
 which  accomplished  these  to  draw  forth  and  develop  the  resources  of  the  country,  and  to  open  and 
 secure  the  channels  through  which  they  must  flow.  To  insure  a market  for  the  manufactures 
 of  India,  and  thus  promote  its  industry  and  prosperity,  and  give  an  advantageous  and  beneficial 
 direction  to  the  energies  of  its  people,  becomes  an  object  of  great  and  increasing  importance.  The 
 extraordinary  advance  of  British  manufactures  having  in  a great  measure  excluded  those  of  India 
 from  the  European  market,  it  is  to  the  populous  and  less  civilized  countries  of  the  further  east, 
 that  we  can  alone  look  for  a permanent  demand.  It  is  on  these  countries  that  India  has  always 
 depended  for  the  consumption  of  her  opium  and  piece-goods,  and  the  demand  for  them,  even  under 
 the  unfavourable  circumstances  which  have  hitherto  attended  the  trade,  has  been  always  on  the 
 
 b 2 
 
12 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 increase.  The  consequences  which  would  attend  the  loss  of  this  trade,  limited  as  it  now  is,  are 
 too  obvious  to  require  explanation,  and  the  security  and  improvement  of  it  are  in  consequence  most 
 intimately  connected  mth  the  prosperity  of  our  Indian  empire,  and  essential  to  the  attainment  of 
 the  full  benefits  and  eventful  results  of  our  late  great  and  unparalleled  success. 
 
 On  the  second  point,  that  our  connection  should  be  confined  to  purely  commercial  objects,  it 
 may  be  necessary  to  make  a few  observations.  The  extent  and  high  value  of  our  possessions  in 
 India  renders  the  acquisition  of  further  territory,  particularly  in  new  and  less  civilized  countries, 
 comparatively  unimportant,  and  perhaps  objectionable.  The  only  position  that  might  have  been 
 valuable  to  us  in  this  point  of  view,  has  been  transferred  to  another  power ; and  although  other 
 European  nations  might  find  their  interest  in  colonizing,  it  would  perhaps  neither  suit  the  finances 
 or  policy  of  Great  Britain  to  make  the  outlay,  or  involve  itself  in  the  necessary  difficulties  of  the 
 undertaking.  The  paramount  importance  of  our  commerce,  and  of  securing  its  interest,  being 
 admitted,  it  is  to  this  object  that  our  .policy  should  be  steadily  directed.  It  will  therefore  be 
 essential  to  our  interests  to  acquire  and  maintain  such  an  influence  in  the  countries  in  question, 
 as  shall  best  secure  this  object,  without  involving  ourselves  in  extensive  establishments  and  local 
 difficulties  and  disputes,  which  might  distract  our  attention,  and  divert  us  from  our  proper  and 
 more  immediate  interests. 
 
 On  the  third  point,  enough  has  been  said  to  show  the  fallacy  of  conducting  our  establishments 
 on  any  other  than  purely  commercial  principles.  The  effects  of  a contrary  line  of  policy  have  been 
 exemplified  in  the  ruinous  losses  and  entire  failure  of  all  other  plans.  It  has  been  shewn  that  the 
 establishment  of  Penang  failed  in  its  object  from  this  cause,  and  the  same  observation  applies  to 
 Bencoolen.  Of  the  latter  it  may  be  observed,  that  although  the  object  was  professedly  commercial, 
 the  deviations  in  practice  from  what  may  be  considered  the  true  commercial  spirit,  wei’e  such  as  to 
 defeat  itself  and  entail  poverty  and  ruin  on  the  country.  The  true  and  vivifying  spirit  of  commerce 
 is  one  which  tends  as  much  to  raise  and  excite  the  energies  of  the  cultivator  who  sells,  as  to  promote 
 the  interest  of  the  merchant  who  buys,  and  is  directly  opposed  to  that  system  of  forced  cultivation 
 and  undue  monopoly,  which  while  it  destroys  every  motive  to  exertion,  must  eventually  defeat  the 
 object  of  those  by  whom  it  is  enforced,  and  thus,  even  as  a simple  matter  of  calculation,  turn  to  the 
 loss  of  both  parties. 
 
 On  these  general  principles  we  proceed  to  the  consideration  of  the  nature,  extent,  and  definite 
 objects  of  the  establishments  we  may  form. 
 
 Having  shewn  that  trade,  and  not  territory,  is  our  object,  and  that  this  trade  is  intimately  con- 
 nected and  interwoven  with  the  interests  of  British  India,  it  is  of  the  first  importance  that  the  nature 
 of  this  commerce,  and  the  principles  on  which  it  can  alone  be  secured  and  extended,  should  be 
 clearly  understood.  Our  establishments  should  be  directed  to  no  partial  or  immediate  views  of 
 commercial  profit,  but  to  the  preservation  of  a free  and  unrestricted  commerce,  and  to  the  encourage- 
 ment and  protection  of  individual  enterprize  and  the  interests  of  the  general  merchant.  The 
 advantages  of  these  establishments  are  not  to  be  sought  in  the  columns  of  a debtor  and  creditor 
 account,  but  are  to  be  felt  in  a wider  sphere  than  can  be  subjected  to  ordinary  rules  of  calculation, 
 in  the  general  diffusion  of  a spirit  of  industry  and  enterprize,  and  in  the  far-spread  benefits  which 
 flow  from  the  extension  of  our  general  trade  and  resources.  It  has  been  from  the  enterprize  of 
 individuals  that  India  has  hitherto  derived  advantages  in  this  commerce,  and  it  is  to  this  alone  she 
 can  look  for  their  continuance  and  improvement.  It  is  to  the  general  trade  of  India  that  we  must 
 look  for  the  effects  and  benefits  of  our  more  Eastern  establishments,  and  not  to  the  local  and  com- 
 paratively insignificant  resources  of  any  particular  settlement,  which  should  never  be  allowed  for 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 13 
 
 one  moment  to  weigh  against  the  higher  and  more  general  interests  at  stake.  We  should  consider 
 what  may  be  the  real  value  to  us  of  this  general  trade,  and  what  we  can  afford  to  pay  for  its  security 
 and  improvement.  We  must  look  upon  all  establishments  to  the  eastward  as  an  outlay  for  these 
 purposes,  and  these  purposes  alone.  Our  establishments  should  be  looked  upon  as  so  many  out- 
 posts or  stations  erected  for  the  convenience  and  security  of  our  general  commercial  interests,  and 
 not  as  governments  intended  for  the  rule  and  detailed  management  of  a dominion. 
 
 It  follows  that  the  economy  of  these  establishments  is  to  be  sought  in  their  fitness  for  the 
 objects  intended : they  should  neither  be  too  large  and  weighty,  as  at  Penang ; nor  so  confined  as 
 to  affect  their  efficiency,  and  thus  defeat  their  object.  Wherever  the  British  flag  is  raised,  it 
 should  be  adequate  to  afford  the  full  measure  of  its  protection.  The  establishments  should  be 
 respectable,  and  such  as  to  be  consistent  with  our  national  character,  and  the  promptitude  and 
 efficiency  of  the  public  service. 
 
 The  nature  of  the  Eastern  Islands,  and  the  knowledge  we  possess  of  their  resources  and  of  the 
 course  of  their  internal  trade,  afford  abundant  evidence  that  where  political  obstructions  do  not 
 oppose,  trade  must  and  will  accumulate  wherever  protection  is  afforded  and  advantage  to  be 
 obtained.  We  have  seen  that  this  was  the  case  when  Europeans  first  visited  these  seas,  and  that 
 the  flourishing  era  of  that  commerce  may  be  considered  to  have  been  while  it  continued  in  this 
 state.  Its  decline  may  be  dated  from  the  period  when  the  Dutch  attempted  to  divert  the  trade 
 from  its  natural  course,  and  every  attempt  at  improvement  on  our  part  must  be  founded  on  a 
 recurrence  to  these  general  principles;  and  it  is  fortunate  that  an  attention  to  these  principles  is  in 
 every  respect  consistent  with  our  present  views,  interests,  and  means.  The  events  of  two  centuries 
 have  necessarily  effected  a considerable  change  in  the  course  and  channels  of  this  commerce,  but 
 the  principle  remains  unaltered,  and  may  be  applied  with  little  modification  to  existing  circum- 
 stances. Thus,  although  Bantam  and  Acheen  may  have  long  ceased  to  be  two  of  the  principal 
 emporia,  the  place  of  the  former  has  been  supplied  by  Batavia,  while  the  trade  of  the  latter  now 
 centres  in  Penang.  Dutch  policy  destroyed  the  emporium  of  Malacca,  which  had  by  political 
 necessity  been  transferred  from  Singapore,  once  the  great  emporium  of  these  seas,  whose  history  is 
 lost  in  the  mists  of  antiquity,  but  whose  greatness  and  importance  are  still  preserved  in  the  records 
 of  tradition.  The  more  eastern  emporium  of  the  Moluccas  has  shared  the  fate  of  Malacca,  and  the 
 object  of  the  Dutch  settlement  at  Macassar  is  solely  to  prevent  its  rise.  Such,  however,  is  the 
 tendency  of  this  trade  to  collect  at  its  natural  entrepots,  that  it  requires  but  the  protecting  influence 
 of  an  opposite  policy  to  revive  that  commerce  and  restore  the  ancient  order  of  things. 
 
 Thus  by  the  possession  of  Penang  and  Singapore,  and  the  facilities  which  the  latter  affords  of 
 establishing  another  station  still  further  east,  we  have  the  means  of  reviving  and  re-establishing  at 
 least  two  of  the  ancient  emporia,  and  this  without  any  interference  with  the  territorial  rights  of  the 
 Dutch,  to  whom  the  emporium  of  Batavia  will  still  remain. 
 
 It  is  therefore  proposed,  that  the  existing  establishments  be  reformed  on  this  principle,  and 
 that  one  uniform  system  be  adopted  for  the  protection  of  the  British  interests  to  the  eastward,  and 
 the  present  establishments  reduced  and  modified  to  a scale  more  suited  to  their  object  and  duties. 
 
 With  this  view  it  will  be  necessary  to  place  the  establishments  forthwith  on  the  footing  of 
 commercial  stations,  similar  in  principle  to  what  has  lately  been  adopted  at  Singapore,  and  that 
 the  general  superintendence  of  these  stations  be  vested  in  the  hands  of  the  Supreme  Government 
 of  India,  whose  duty  it  will  be  at  all  times  to  protect  and  advance  their  real  objects,  and  to 
 exercise  such  political  influence  over  the  native  states,  as  circumstances  and  the  security  of  our 
 interests  may  render  necessary. 
 
14 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 For  the  duties  of  Penang  and  Bencoolen,  under  this  aiTangement,  a local  resident,  with  two 
 or  three  principal  assistants  at  each,  will  be  sufficient  for  the  civil  and  general  administration.  At 
 Singapore,  the  establishment  is  already  on  this  principle;  and  as  a minor  station  wdth  reference  to 
 the  importance  of  its  harbour,  and  to  the  trade  of  the  north-western  coast  of  Sumatra,  a small 
 establishment  on  the  same  principle  may  be  advisable  at  Tappanooly. 
 
 Under  this  arrangement,  Penang  might  become  an  extensive  emporium  at  the  northern 
 entrance  of  the  straits,  and  rvould  embrace  the  trade  from  the  westward,  and  in  particular  of  the 
 counh'ies  on  the  eastern  coast  of  Acheen,  of  the  southern  provinces  of  the  Burman  territories,  as 
 well  as  those  of  Siam  in  its  immediate  vicinity,  and  the  Malay  states  on  the  western  side  of  the 
 Peninsula.  The  share  which  it  would  possess  of  the  more  eastern  trade  would  depend  on  the 
 advantages  of  its  market,  to  which  the  course  would  be  unobstructed.  Singapore  would  receive 
 that  which  flowed  from  the  surrounding  states,  comprising  those  of  the  eastern  coast  of  Sumatra 
 and  adjacent  islands,  Johore  and  its  dependencies,  Borneo  and  Celebes,  the  ISIalay  states  on  the 
 eastern  coast  of  the  Peninsula,  Siam,  Camboja,  a large  portion  of  the  native  trade  of  China, 
 together  with  such  part  of  that  of  J ava  and  its  immediate  dependencies,  as  may  be  repulsed  by  the 
 restrictive  regulations  and  heavy  duties  of  the  Dutch  settlements.  On  the  west  coast  of  Sumatra, 
 the  extensive  pepper  trade  of  the  northern  ports,  which  has  hitherto  been  almost  exclusively  in  the 
 hands  of  Americans,  would  centre  in  Tappanooly,  while  Bencoolen  would  become  the  depot  of  the 
 more  southern  provinces. 
 
 To  proceed  to  details,  the  changes  to  be  effected  at  Penang  first  came  under  our  consideration. 
 The  manner  in  which  its  local  duties  are  performed  by  a Governor  and  Council  is  objectionable  in 
 principle,  and  must  be  reformed.  The  Collector  of  Customs  and  Land  Revenues  has  hitherto 
 been  considered  the  first  officer  under  government,  and  has  always  held  a seat  in  council  wdth  five 
 per  cent,  on  the  duties  collected:  this  office  will  become  useless,  as  no  duties  are  to  be  levied 
 beyond  such  as  would  more  properly  fall  within  the  province  either  of  the  master  attendant  or  the 
 magistrate.  The  next  office  of  importance  is  the  Warehouse  and  Store-keeper,  who  is  also  a member 
 of  council : this  office  will  become  unnecessary  under  the  system  proposed,  by  which  the  supplies 
 required  by  government  are  proposed  to  be  obtained  on  another  and  more  economical  principle 
 than  that  of  keeping  extensive  civil  and  marine  stores.  The  commissariat  duties  performed  by  this 
 officer  would  be  better  conducted  in  the  military  department.  A separate  Pay-master  will  become 
 unnecessary  for  the  reduced  civil  establishment,  and  in  the  military  may  be  advantageously 
 combined  with  the  commissariat.  The  duties  of  Secretary,  Accountant,  and  Sub-treasurer  would 
 be  so  reduced  as  to  render  unnecessary  the  continuance  of  these  separate  offices.  The  limited 
 duties  would  be  performed  by  the  assistants  to  the  resident ; but  it  is  a point  of  the  first  importance 
 that  he  himself  should  personally  superintend  all  matters  of  cash  and  account,  and  be  responsible 
 for  every  item.  The  existence  of  separate  offices  for  these  departments,  only  tends  to  remove 
 responsibility  from  the  chief  authority,  to  whom  alone  government  look,  and  to  an  unnecessary 
 increase  in  the  minor  establishments.  The  only  offices  which  may  be  considered  separate  and 
 distinct  from  the  immediate  duties  of  the  resident  himself,  are  those  which  must  be  performed  by 
 the  magisti’ate  and  master  attendant,  and  the  efficiency  of  these  two  offices  is  essential.  The 
 reduction  of  expense,  the  relief  which  the  settlement  and  its  trade  would  feel,  and  the  superior 
 efficiency  which  would  be  established  as  the  necessary  consequences  of  such  a change,  are  too 
 obvious  to  require  comment. 
 
 At  Singapore  the  duties  are  already  performed  on  this  principle  by  a resident  and  one 
 assistant  with  a master  attendant ; and  at  Bencoolen,  the  public  interests  have  long  recommended 
 
 4 
 
APPENDIX 
 
 15 
 
 the  reduction  of  the  establishment  to  a resident  and  two  assistants,  with  a magistrate  and  master 
 attendant. 
 
 When  it  is  considered  that  the  immediate  duties  of  the  port,  and  of  police,  are  provided  for 
 by  the  appointment  of  efficient  officers  in  those  departments,  and  that  where  security  is  afforded, 
 and  obstructions  removed,  trade  flourishes  most  where  it  least  feels  the  weight  and  interference  of 
 government,  the  duties  of  the  resident  and  his  assistants  will  not  be  found  very  heavy.  The 
 expense  of  establishments  will  be  clearly  defined,  and  at  all  times  subject  to  the  control  and 
 revision  of  the  superior  authority.  Where,  however,  an  establishment  is  limited  in  number,  strict 
 attention  to  the  efficiency  of  each  officer  is  indispensable,  and  much  must  always  depend  on  the 
 character  and  talent  of  the  local  chief  authority.  On  many  accounts,  the  union  of  the  chief  civil 
 and  military  authority,  when  practicable,  will  be  found  advantageous.  The  rank  and  commanding 
 influence  of  a military  officer  has  a considerable  weight,  and  tends  to  prevent  collision  between  the 
 civil  and  military  branches  of  the  service,  unfortunately  so  frequent  at  remote  stations.  The 
 character  also  of  a military  man  precludes  him  from  trade,  and  his  habits  of  subordination  and 
 duty  insure  promptitude  and  regularity  in  the  fulfilment  of  his  instructions.  The  simplicity  and 
 economy  of  this  union  are  also  in  its  favour. 
 
 It  has  hitherto  been  usual  at  Bencoolen  and  Prince  of  Wales’  Island  to  maintain  a regular 
 establishment  of  civil  servants,  rising  from  the  rank  of  writers  to  the  highest  offices.  Admirable  as 
 this  system  has  proved  to  be  on  the  large  scale,  it  is  to  be  feared,  that  in  these  small  establishments 
 the  same  advantages  have  not  resulted.  The  number  is  too  limited  to  admit  of  competition  or 
 selection,  and  the  narrowness  of  the  field  is  too  apt  to  contract  their  ideas  to  the  local  habits  and 
 prejudices  of  the  place,  and  prevent  the  acquirement  of  those  liberal  and  just  views  which  are 
 obtained  in  a more  general  intercourse  of  society.  On  the  reformed  plan  of  our  Eastern  establish- 
 ments, it  is  conceived  that  it  would  be  far  more  advantageous  that  the  selection  should  be  made 
 from  the  service  in  India  generally.  The  line  of  assistants  will  of  course  be  that  in  which  local 
 experience  may  be  obtained,  and  in  which  the  opportunity  would  be  afforded  for  the  display  of  the 
 requisite  qualifications  for  the  higher  stations. 
 
 In  order  to  confine  the  duties  of  the  proposed  establishments  within  their  proper  sphere,  and 
 to  prevent  loss  or  embarrassment  by  any  partial  recurrence  to  the  old  system,  it  should  be  laid 
 down  as  a fixed  rule,  that  with  the  exception  of  the  military  department,  no  public  stores  whatever 
 should  be  imported  or  kept  on  account  of  government,  and  that  whenever  any  articles  may  be 
 required  for  the  public  service,  they  shall  be  purchased  by  contract  or  tender  in  the  general  market 
 as  required.  The  universal  adoption  of  this  principle  would  be  advantageous  to  the  general  trade, 
 and  economical  to  government,  and  the  injurious  effects  which  have  I'esulted  and  the  losses  which 
 have  accrued  to  the  Company  from  a contrary  practice  need  not  be  dwelt  upon. 
 
 On  the  military  establishment  and  defence  of  these  stations,  it  is  unnecessary  to  enlarge  in  this 
 place.  If  the  general  plan  is  adopted,  no  difficulties  will  arise  on  this  head,  while  a considerable 
 improvement  may  be  anticipated  in  its  efficiency.  The  present  very  expensive  mode  of  effecting 
 the  reliefs  seems  to  require  amendment,  and  the  health  and  efficiency  of  the  regular  troops  may  be 
 improved  by  the  extension  of  local  corps  for  the  minor  and  more  harassing  duties.  For  the  stall’, 
 an  adjutant  or  station  staff,  with  an  officer  who  should  perform  the  joint  duties  of  the  commissariat 
 or  pay  departments,  will  be  sufficient  for  each  station  ; the  latter  should  be  a permanent  appoint- 
 ment. An  engineer  officer  for  the  general  superintendence  of  public  works  over  the  whole  will  be 
 sufficient. 
 
 In  countries  so  circumstanced,  and  with  objects  so  defined,  an  extensive  military  establishment 
 
I 
 
 i 
 
 16  APPENDIX. 
 
 is  not  necessary,  and  at  all  times  the  general  defence  and  protection  of  our  interests  must  depend 
 more  on  the  naval  force.  In  ordinary  times,  when  we  have  no  European  enemies  to  oppose,  the 
 occasional  visit  of  one  of  his  Majesty’s  frigates,  with  two  properly  equipped  vessels  on  account  of 
 the  Company,  will  be  adequate  for  all  purposes.  These  vessels  should  be  suited  to  the  nature  of 
 the  eastern  seas,  and  calculated  to  afford  accommodation  to  officers  and  small  detachments  that  may 
 require  to  be  sent  from  one  station  to  another,  by  which  and  the  occasional  transport  of  military 
 stores,  much  of  the  heavy  expense  now  incurred  in  private  tonnage  will  be  avoided.  In  order  to 
 define  and  limit  the  expense  of  such  vessels,  it  is  proposed  that  they  be  engaged  on  contract  at  a 
 certain  rate  per  month,  government  appointing  the  officers.  The  expense  of  a vessel  of  the 
 description  required  will  not  exceed  four  or  five  thousand  rupees  per  month,  and  no  contingencies 
 or  further  outlay  need  be  calculated  upon.  The  advantage  of  this  mode  over  that  of  building  or 
 purchasing  vessels  to  be  kept  in  repair  and  equipped  by  government  is  evident,  when  we  consider 
 the  enormous  expenses  which  invariably  accrue  at  out-stations  in  all  kinds  of  repairs,  and  in 
 keeping  up  a stock  of  marine  stores  to  provide  for  occasional  demands,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
 accumulation  of  dead  stock,  and  the  loss  which  usually  attends  the  I’esale  of  the  vessels  when  unfit 
 for  further  service.  A certain  and  definite  expense  is  substituted  for  one  which  in  its  nature  is 
 fluctuating  and  increasing,  at  the  same  time  that  it  has  a manifest  superiority  in  point  of  efficiency. 
 
 The  duties  of  the  superintending  authority  form  the  next  subject  of  consideration.  These 
 naturally  divide  themselves  into  two  heads,  the  controul  of  the  different  stations,  and  those  of 
 a political  nature. 
 
 The  local  duties  of  the  stations  having  been  provided  for  by  the  establishments  in  each,  the 
 residence  of  a superintending  authority  is  not  necessary  in  either,  and  they  may  be  at  once  placed 
 under  the  supreme  government  of  India,  whose  duty  it  will  be  to  controul  and  enter  into  the  details 
 of  each,  as  far  as  may  be  deemed  necessary  to  the  public  service,  to  keep  the  establishments 
 efficient,  and  to  check  and  regulate  their  expenditure  and  accounts,  according  to  such  forms  as  may 
 enable  that  authority  to  form  a correct  judgment  on  them.  Measures  will  be  taken  for  raising  the 
 pecuniary  supplies  by  drafts  on  Bengal  or  otherwise,  on  one  uniform  system,  which  will  prevent 
 the  recurrence  of  inconsistency  and  loss  ; and  on  this  head  it  need  only  be  observed,  that  in  raising 
 these  supplies,  it  is  not  the  object  to  obtain  any  partial  advantage  by  artificial  means,  as  it  will  be 
 found  that  a fair  competition  in  the  market  will  always  secure  the  interest  of  government,  at  the 
 same  time  that  it  promotes  that  of  the  general  merchant. 
 
 The  political  duties  are  of  a more  extensive  and  different  nature.  They  will  comprize  the 
 maintenance  of  a due  influence  among  the  native  states,  and  such  an  interference  in  each,  as  may 
 tend  to  secure  the  British  interests  and  remove  obstructions  in  the  way  of  a fi’ee  commercial 
 intercourse  with  them.  It  will  be  an  object  to  avoid  all  interference  which  may  involve  our  govern- 
 ment in  their  internal  disputes,  at  the  same  time  that  we  cultivate  and  improve  our  connection  with 
 them  by  all  the  influence  and  support  that  they  can  reasonably  look  for  from  a powerful  ally  and 
 pi'otecting  authority.  Our  own  interests  are  so  manifestly  connected  with  the  advancement  and 
 improvement  of  the  native  states,  that  it  is  obvious  we  can  have  no  views  which  are  not  equally  to 
 their  advantage,  and  our  interference  is  in  consequence  more  likely  to  be  invited  than  looked  upon 
 with  jealousy  and  distrust.  On  the  same  principle  that  we  consult  our  general  interests  by  fostering 
 and  promoting  the  individual  enterprize  of  our  own  traders  by  giving  them  the  utmost  freedom  in 
 their  speculations,  we  shall,  on  a wider  and  more  extensive  field,  advance  our  higher  political 
 interests,  by  encouraging  and  improving  the  energies  and  resources  of  these  states,  by  upholding 
 their  independence,  and  strengthening  their  power  and  importance.  Our  interference  is  not 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 J7 
 
 intended  to  depress  but  to  raise  these  states,  and  by  the  establishment  of  a free  and  unrestricted 
 commercial  intercourse,  to  draw  forth  their  resources  while  we  improve  our  own. 
 
 Thus  at  Acheen,  by  upholding  the  legitimate  authority  with  our  countenance  and  influence,  we 
 may  give  efiect  to  our  recent  political  engagements  with  that  state,  and  at  the  same  time  restore 
 confidence  and  the  general  tranquillity  and  prosperity  of  the  country.  To  heal  the  long-continued 
 dissensions,  and  to  turn  into  more  advantageous  channels  the  energies  of  the  country,  is  an  object 
 equally  beneficial  to  the  people  themselves  and  to  our  interests ; and  it  is  considered  that  this  is 
 rather  to  be  attained  by  the  political  support  of  the  chief  authority,  than  by  any  direct  interference 
 either  to  enforce  obedience  or  accomplish  our  purposes.  While  the  safety  of  the  ports  is  secured, 
 and  general  intercourse  may  be  carried  on  without  danger,  this  direct  interference  on  our  part  is 
 unnecessary,  and  even  objectionable  ; but  to  secure  this  important  object,  a political  influence  may 
 be  essential,  whether  it  is  to  be  obtained  by  aiding  the  king  with  arms  and  troops,  or  by  the  esta- 
 blishment of  a secret  or  avowed  agent,  to  direct  his  councils. 
 
 The  supreme  government  would  further  turn  its  attention  to  the  improvement  of  the  intercourse 
 already  subsisting  between  the  southern  provinces  of  Ava  and  Penang,  and  in  an  especial  manner 
 to  our  connection  with  Siam.  Considering  the  peculiar  character  of  these  people,  the  little  inter- 
 course we  have  hitherto  had  with  them,  and  the  general  want  of  information  which  exists,  our 
 more  immediate  object  seems  to  be  the  acquirement  of  a knowledge  of  the  policy  and  disposition 
 of  the  chiefs  and  people,  and  of  the  general  nature  and  resources  of  the  country ; and  it  might 
 perhaps  be  sufficient  to  obtain  this,  in  the  first  instance,  through  the  medium  of  intelligent  agents, 
 who  might  be  induced  to  fix  their  residence  in  the  country  for  commercial  objects,  and  without  any 
 avowed  political  connection  with  our  government.  Thus  at  Rangoon,  the  agent,  who  as  a mer- 
 chant might  be  employed  to  supply  the  arsenal  of  Fort  William  with  teak  timber,  might,  without 
 exciting  suspicion  or  jealousy,  obtain  and  secretly  communicate  the  information  required.  Of 
 course  every  thing  would  depend  on  the  ability  of  this  agent ; but  it  is  conceived,  that  the  allow- 
 ance which  might  be  gi’anted  by  government  for  this  duty,  would  be  sufficient  to  command  the 
 necessary  talent.  The  facilities  and  command  which  our  position  at  Singapore  affords  to  the  pro- 
 secution of  an  intercourse  or  negociation  with  Siam  are  great,  and  a proper  understanding  with 
 that  power  would  immediately  be  felt  in  the  general  extension  of  our  influence  throughout  the 
 Archipelago.  The  more  open  and  unrestricted  the  intercourse  with  Siam  may  be,  the  less  will  be 
 the  dependence  of  the  islands  generally  on  the  power  which  may  command  the  resources  of  Java. 
 
 Our  influence  at  Siam  would  be  attended  with  immediate  effects  throughout  the  Malay  states 
 on  the  Peninsula,  which  naturally  look  to  us,  as  a powerful  ally,  for  the  relief  it  would  be  our 
 object  to  obtain.  Released  from  these  continued  vexations,  which  are  of  no  advantage  to  Siam, 
 but  ruinous  to  them,  they  would,  under  our  fostering  care  and  protection,  gradually  rise  into  im- 
 portance. 
 
 Throughout  the  Malay  states  in  general,  it  will  be  proper  to  maintain  an  influence  by  the 
 means  of  occasional  negociation,  which,  while  it  shall  secure  every  commercial  object,  will  protect 
 them  from  the  interference  of  a foreign  European  power.  Our  commercial  treaties  will  have  for 
 their  object  the  free  and  safe  navigation  of  the  coasts  and  rivers,  and  the  security  of  intercourse  at 
 the  different  ports,  rather  on  a principle  of  responsibility  than  one  of  direct  check  and  controul. 
 By  raising  the  importance  of  the  acknowledged  chiefs,  and  making  them  responsible  for  the  pre- 
 vention of  pii’acy,  this  important  object  may  be  obtained  with  far  greater  facility  and  certainty,  than 
 by  the  largest  establishment  of  gun-boats  and  cruizers. 
 
 Having  now  laid  down  the  principles  and  detail  of  the  proposed  plan  for  reforming  our  esta- 
 
 c 
 
18 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 blishraents  to  the  Eastward,  the  obstacles  which  stand  in  the  way  of  its  immediate  and  full  adoption 
 are  next  to  be  considered ; these  fortunately  are  few,  and  comparatively  unimportant,  and  may  be 
 comprized  in  a few  words.  The  existing  form  of  government  at  Penang,  of  a Governor  and  Coun- 
 cil, under  the  especial  authority  of  the  Court  of  Directors,  the  connection  of  that  form  of  govern- 
 ment with  the  court  of  justice  there  established,  and  the  supernumerary  civil  servants  at  Penang 
 and  Bencoolen. 
 
 On  the  first  two  it  may  be  observed,  that  while  it  may  be  expedient,  pending  a distant 
 reference,  to  continue  this  form  of  government,  there  is  nothing  to  prevent  its  being  so  modified,  as 
 to  render  it  subservient  and  accordant  with  the  general  plan.  The  members  of  council  may  still 
 retain  their  present  rank  as  counsellors,  judges,  and  magistrates,  by  which  means  the  form  and 
 authority  of  the  Recorder’s  court  would  still  be  preserved,  and  the  duties  of  police  would  be  duly 
 provided  for.  It  is  in  the  transaction  only  of  the  affairs  of  government  that  modification  would  be 
 necessary.  Instead  of  the  council  meeting  once  in  each  week,  it  might  be  left  optional  to  the 
 governor  to  assemble  them  -whenever  he  might  require  their  advice  on  affairs  of  moment.  They 
 always  hold  other  offices,  and  their  duties  as  councillors  might  indeed  be  confined  to  the  enactment 
 of  legislative  provisions  and  general  regulations.  During  the  absence  of  the  chief  authority,  one 
 of  the  members  of  council  might  be  appointed  to  act  as  vice-president,  under  such  instructions  as 
 may  become  necessary,  and  the  allowances  of  this  officer  on  such  occasions  placed  on  a par  with 
 the  acting  authority  at  Singapore  and  Bencoolen ; all  affairs  with  the  other  stations  and  with  the 
 native  states  would  be  conducted  by  the  superintending  authority,  and  not  be  within  the  cognizance 
 of  the  local  council.  These  modifications  may  be  made  without  inconvenience  to  the  public 
 service,  or  injury  to  the  interests  of  individuals,  and  would  be  sufficient  to  admit  the  immediate 
 operation  of  the  reformed  plan. 
 
 With  regard  to  the  Court  of  Justice,  it  may  be  observed  that  the  personal  interference  of  the 
 members  of  the  government  as  judges  could  never  have  been  contemplated  in  its  original  constitu- 
 tion, and  has  given  rise  to  much  inconvenience  and  irregularity  in  the  administration  of  justice ; 
 and  the  want  of  adherence  to  a more  simple  and  obvious  line  of  proceeding  has  long  been  com- 
 plained of.  The  following  observations  on  the  subject,  by  the  Solicitor  to  the  East-India 
 Company,  may  be  adduced  in  proof.  “ However  simple,”  he  observes,  “ the  establishment  and 
 mode  of  proceeding  in  such  courts  may  be  directed  to  be,  yet  foppery  and  fashion,  which  have  as 
 much  influence  in  legal  as  in  other  institutions  of  mankind,  will  be  continually  tending  to  aggran- 
 dize, and  of  course,  to  increase  the  expense  of  the  theatre,  and  the  performances  of  the  court.  I 
 fear,”  he  adds,  “ that  the  attempt  to  restrain  the  forms  of  legal  proceedings  to  practical  use  at  Prince 
 of  Wales’  Island  have  been  in  a great  measure  ineffectual.”  The  Court  of  Directors  have  already 
 abolished  one  member  of  the  council ; and  by  the  modifications  now  suggested,  the  simplicity  of  the 
 court  will  be  still  further  promoted,  and  the  Recorder  left  to  the  more  free  exercise  of  his  judicial 
 functions. 
 
 With  regard  to  the  civil  servants,  who  -will  become  supernumerary  under  the  proposed  ar- 
 rangements, the  number  at  Penang  is  not  at  present  considerable ; and  if  those  of  Bencoolen  are 
 transfeiTed  to  Bombay,  it  may  only  be  necessary  to  prevent  the  further  increase  by  new  appoint- 
 ments from  home.  Some  additional  expense  may  be  occasioned  in  the  first  instance,  by  retaining 
 more  assistants  at  each  station  than  may  be  eventually  necessary,  in  order  to  afford  a provision  to 
 some  of  these,  but  this  need  only  be  temporary.  Under  these  modifications,  the  proposed  plan  of 
 administration  for  the  Eastern  Islands  may  be  at  once  adopted. 
 
 Having  thus  far  endeavoured  to  prove  the  necessity  and  advantage  of  uniting  our  several  esta- 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 19 
 
 blishments  to  the  Eastward  under  one  uniform  and  appropriate  system  of  administration,  and  sug- 
 gested the  principles  and  plan  on  which  the  proposed  reform  might  be  effected,  and  their  future 
 management  conducted  and  superintended,  a few  general  observations  on  the  immediate  and 
 eventual  results  of  the  change  naturally  present  themselves. 
 
 The  immediate  advantages  have  already  been  shewn ; they  will  be  felt  in  the  greater  economy, 
 efficiency,  and  simplicity  of  the  establishments,  the  defined  nature  of  their  objects,  and  the  general 
 stimulus  that  will  be  given  to  commercial  activity  and  enterprize.  So  much  confusion,  obscurity, 
 and  difference  of  opinion,  have  hitherto  existed,  as  to  the  nature  and  objects  of  our  Eastern  esta- 
 blishments, that  it  is  not  among  the  least  of  the  advantages  of  the  proposed  plan  to  render  them 
 intelligible  and  consistent.  Instead  of  forming  detached,  and  too  often  discordant  portions  of  our 
 Indian  empire,  it  is  now  proposed  to  place  them  on  such  a footing  as  to  make  them  parts  of  one 
 harmonious  and  connected  system,  in  which,  while  they  rise  in  individual  importance,  they  add  to 
 the  strength  and  completeness  of  the  whole. 
 
 Of  the  eventual  and  more  remote,  advantages  which  may  be  contemplated  in  a political  and 
 commercial  view,  the  prospect  is  unbounded.  When  we  consider  the  extent  of  this  unparalleled 
 Archipelago,  the  variety  and  peculiar  character  of  its  people,  the  infinity  of  its  resources,  its  conti- 
 guity to  China  and  J apan,  the  most  populous  regions  of  the  earth,  and  the  extraordinary  facilities 
 it  affords  to  commerce  from  the  smoothness  of  its  seas,  the  number  and  excellence  of  its  harbours, 
 and  the  regularity  of  its  seasons,  it  would  be  vain  to  assign  limits,  or  to  say  how  far  and  wide  the 
 tide  of  commerce  may  flow,  when  once  allowed  to  pursue  its  free  and  uninterrupted  course,  pro- 
 tected by  the  policy  of  an  enlightened  and  powerful  government,  and  receiving  its  impetus  from 
 the  energies  of  an  ardent  and  enterprizing  people. 
 
 On  a nearer  view  of  the  subject,  there  are  some  points  wdiich  cannot  fail  to  attract  attention  as 
 more  immediately  connected  with  our  own  interests.  It  is  obvious  that  the  intercourse  between  a 
 manufacturing  country  and  a people  who  have  made  but  little  advance  in  the  arts,  must  be  to  the 
 manifest  advantage  of  the  former.  It  has  been  shewn  that  the  extent  of  the  demand  for  British 
 and  Indian  manufactures  is  proportioned  to  that  of  the  population,  and  that  the  tendency  which 
 exists  to  a rapid  increase  of  that  population  by  accessions  from  China,  is  almost  without  limits. 
 
 As  an  example  of  the  effect  of  the  stations  which  have  been  proposed,  the  instance  of  Sin- 
 gapore may  be  adduced.  This  station,  though  violently  opposed  by  the  Dutch  government  on 
 principles  which  it  would  be  difficult  for  them  to  avow,  w'as  hardly  established  as  a free  port, 
 when  speculations  were  immediately  entered  into  by  the  Dutch  merchants  of  Batavia,  and  several 
 ships  are  already  engaged  by  them  to  proceed  to  Singapore  for  the  purchase  of  our  Indian  goods, 
 which  they  are  thus  enabled  to  import  without  the  charge  of  double  duties,  which  the  articles  would 
 be  liable  to  if  imported  into  Batavia  in  British  bottoms.  The  produce  of  Java  is  also  imported 
 into  Singapore  on  equally  favourable  terms,  and  thus  the  double  duties  exacted  from  foreign  ves- 
 sels at  Batavia  and  Calcutta  are  naturally  evaded,  to  the  manifest  advantage  of  the  commerce  of 
 both  countries. 
 
 If  this  has  already  been  the  case  in  defiance  of  the  jealousy  of  the  Dutch  government, 
 some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  greater  advantages  which  may  accrue  from  allowing  our  manu- 
 factures to  be  carried  to  China  by  native  vessels  on  the  same  principles.  The  remittances  of 
 the  Chinese  population  to  the  mother  country  are  always  extensive,  and  the  Chinese  trader  has  the 
 advantage  of  importing  free  from  those  duties  and  exactions,  with  which  the  commerce  of  foreigners 
 is  clogged  at  Canton.  Of  the  extent  to  which  the  import  of  our  manufactures  to  China  might  be 
 carried,  some  idea  may  be  formed,  when  it  is  considered  that  the  annual  import  of  raw  cotton,  the 
 
 c 2 
 
I 
 
 20  APPENDIX. 
 
 produce  of  our  territories,  does  not  fall  short  of  ten  thousand  tons.  As  a manufacturing  nation,  it 
 is  an  extraordinary  fact,  that  we  are  thus  encouraging  the  industry  of  a foreign  nation  at  the  ex- 
 pence of  our  own  manufactures.  If  the  exactions  and  difficulties  to  the  foreign  merchant  at  the 
 port  of  Canton  are  such  as  to  render  the  speculation  unprofitable,  the  same  objection  does  not  apply 
 to  their  introduction  through  the  medium  of  the  native  trader,  and  it  can  hardly  be  expected  that 
 this  branch  of  commerce  can  long  remain  on  its  present  footing.  The  opening  which  has  been 
 afforded  by  our  establishment  at  Singapore  may  possibly  turn  it  more  to  our  advantage. 
 
 It  would  swell  this  paper  to  an  unnecessary  length  to  enlarge  further  on  this  subject,  and  it 
 may  be  concluded  by  a few  reflections  which  naturally  occur,  on  the  advantages  which  will  result 
 to  the  natives  of  these  countries,  from  the  extension  of  our  influence  and  commerce  on  the  liberal 
 principles  now  proposed.  The  advantages  of  commerce  so  conducted  are  reciprocal ; if  it  enriches 
 the  one  party,  it  raises  the  other  in  the  scale  of  civilization,  it  creates  new  wants,  and  by  opening 
 new  sources  of  enjoyment  encourages  industry  and  emulation. 
 
 Among  the  Malay  states  we  shall  find  none  of  the  obstacles  which  exist  among  the  more 
 civilized  people  of  India,  to  the  reception  of  new  customs  and  ideas.  They  have  not  undergone 
 the  same  artificial  moulding:  they  are  fresher  from  the  hand  of  nature,  and  the  absence 
 of  bigotry  and  inveterate  prejudice  leaves  them  much  more  open  to  receive  new  impressions 
 and  adopt  new  examples.  Whatever  may  have  been  their  former  religion,  its  character  does 
 not  appear  to  have  been  deeply  imprinted,  and  they  have  carried  the  same  moderate  and  tem- 
 perate spirit  into  their  new  faith.  They  have  no  knowledge  of  the  odious  distinction  of  castes, 
 but  mingle  indiscriminately  in  all  society.  With  a high  reverence  for  ancestry  and  nobility  of 
 descent,  they  are  more  influenced,  and  are  quicker  discerners  of  superiority  of  individual  talent, 
 than  is  usual  among  people  not  far  advanced  in  civilization.  They  are  addicted  to  commerce, 
 which  has  already  given  a taste  for  luxuries,  and  this  propensity  they  indulge  to  the  utmost  extent 
 of  their  means.  Among  a people  so  unsophisticated  and  so  free  from  prejudices,  it  is  obvious  that 
 a greater  scope  is  given  to  the  influence  of  example  ; that  in  proportion  as  their  intercourse  with 
 Europeans  increases,  and  a free  commerce  adds  to  their  resources,  along  with  the  wants  which  will 
 be  created,  and  the  luxuries  supplied,  the  humanizing  arts  of  life  will  also  find  their  way ; and  we 
 may  anticipate  a much  more  rapid  improvement  than  in  nations,  who  having  once  arrived  at  a high 
 point  of  civilization  and  retrograded  in  the  scale,  and  now  hardened  by  the  recollection  of  what 
 they  once  were,  are  brought  up  in  a contempt  for  every  thing  beyond  their  own  narrow  circle,  and 
 who  have  for  centuries  bent  under  the  double  load  of  foreign  tyranny  and  priestly  intolerance. 
 When  these  striking  and  important  differences  are  taken  into  the  account,  we  may  be  permitted  to 
 indulge  more  sanguine  expectations  of  improvement  among  the  tribes  of  the  Eastern  Isles.  We 
 may  look  forward  to  an  early  abolition  of  piracy  and  illicit  traffic,  when  the  seas  shall  be  open 
 to  the  free  current  of  commerce,  and  when  the  British  flag  shall  wave  over  them  in  protection  of 
 its  freedom,  and  in  promotion  of  its  spirit.  Restriction  and  oppression  have  too  often  converted 
 their  shores  to  scenes  of  rapine  and  violence,  but  an  opposite  policy  and  more  enlightened  principles 
 will,  ere  long,  subdue  and  remove  the  evil. 
 
 Thus  in  the  spirit  of  personal  independence  which  distinguishes  these  people,  their  high 
 sense  of  honour,  and  the  habits  of  reasoning  and  reflection  to  which  they  are  accustomed  from 
 their  infancy,  we  shall  find  the  rudiments  of  improvement,  and  the  basis  on  which  a better 
 order  of  society  may  be  established.  By  confining  our  national  regulations  to  the  society  which 
 may  collect  at  our  proposed  emporia,  they  will  become  centres  of  civilization  as  well  as  of  com- 
 merce ; while  by  avoiding  with  the  native  states  all  interference  which  may  not  be  of  a political 
 
 % 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 21 
 
 nature,  we  shall  expose  to  their  view,  and  recommend  for  their  adoption,  those  arts  and  rules  of 
 civilized  life,  which  contribute  to  the  superior  happiness  of  our  condition,  and  leave  them  free  to 
 adopt  and  apply  them  among  themselves,  in  the  degree  and  manner  which  may  be  most  accordant 
 with  their  own  notions  and  feelings 
 
 The  peculiar  interest  which  these  people  excite  may  be  illustrated  by  the  general  feeling  which 
 exists  towards  them  on  the  part  of  almost  every  Englishman  who  has  been  among  them,  and 
 become  acquainted  with  their  character.  Notwithstanding  their  piracies  and  the  vices  usually 
 attributed  to  them  in  their  present  state,  there  is  something  in  the  Malayan  character  which  is 
 congenial  to  British  minds,  and  which  leaves  an  impression  very  opposite  to  that  which  a much 
 longer  intercourse  has  given  of  the  more  subdued  and  cultivated  natives  of  Hindostan.  Retaining 
 much  of  that  boldness  which  marks  the  Tartar  stock,  from  whence  they  are  supposed  to  have 
 sprung,  they  have  acquired  a softness  not  less  remarkable  in  their  manners  than  in  their  language. 
 Few  people  are  more  habitually  polite,  or  attend  more  to  the  courtesies  of  society.  Among 
 many  of  them  traces  of  a former  higher  state  of  civilization  are  obvious,  and  where  the  opportunity 
 has  been  afforded,  even  in  our  own  times,  they  have  been  found  capable  of  receiving  the  highest 
 state  of  intellectual  improvement. 
 
 The  field  which  is  thus  open  to  the  philanthropist  needs  no  comment.  He  will  look  to  the 
 remoter  effects  which  may  be  produced  by  the  diffusion  of  knowledge  by  the  aid  of  the  press,  and 
 of  moral  instruction  by  the  means  of  our  schools,  which  would  emanate  from  our  principal  stations 
 to  the  surrounding  countries  ; and  to  results  which  could  not  fail  to  be  as  creditable  to  us  as  Chris- 
 tians, as  worthy  of  our  character  as  Britons. 
 
 The  subject  of  this  paper  cannot  be  dismissed  without  adverting  to  a question  which  may 
 naturally  be  started.  By  the  proposed  plan  the  general  interests  of  commerce  are  alone  considered, 
 wdiat  are  the  advantages  to  the  Company  in  their  commercial  capacity  ? 
 
 To  this  it  may  be  answered,  that  when  the  first  and  most  important  duties  of  government  are 
 fulfilled,  the  proposed  axTangements,  so  far  from  obstructing  the  commerce  of  the  Company,  are 
 calculated  to  improve  its  advantages  and  resources,  in  a degree  at  least  commensurate  with  the  in- 
 creased facilities  and  security  w'hich  they  are  intended  to  afford  to  ti'ade  in  general.  Hereto- 
 fore the  Company’s  trade  in  this  quarter  has  not  only  been  a losing  one  to  themselves,  but  has 
 tended  to  the  depression  of  industry  among  the  people,  and  to  the  exclusion  and  discouragement 
 of  the  private  meixhant.  This  has  been  in  a great  measure  owing  to  the  mode  in  which  it  has 
 been  conducted,  and  to  the  erroneous  system  of  combining  the  speculations  of  commerce  with  the 
 powers  of  government ; under  another  system  the  result  may  be  very  different.  By  separating 
 entirely  the  two  departments,  and  by  conducting  her  commerce  on  the  principle  of  wholesale  and 
 not  of  retail,  the  Company  may  in  her  commercial  capacity  yet  be  enabled  to  reap  the  full  advan- 
 tage of  her  command  of  capital,  at  the  same  time  that  she  opposes  no  obstacles  to  the  extension  of 
 commerce  or  to  individual  enterprize. 
 
 Of  monopoly  it  may  be  said  as  of  slavery,  that  it  is  twice  cursed ; that  its  effects  are  not  less 
 ruinous  to  those  who  enforce  it,  than  to  those  who  are  subjected  to  it.  The  whole  experience  of 
 Eastern  commerce  goes  to  prove  this  fact,  and  particularly  the  example  of  the  Dutch,  to  say  nothing 
 of  the  striking  instance  afforded  in  our  own  establishment  of  Bencoolen.  Commerce,  like  liberty, 
 is  a jealous  power,  and  refuses  her  blessings  to  all  who  restrain  her  course. 
 
 It  can  no  longer  be  the  interest  or  duty  of  the  East-India  Company,  to  carry  into  her  Indian 
 administration  that  union  of  monopoly  and  coercive  exaction,  which  has  so  long  been  exploded  as 
 impolitic  and  unjust.  She  now  stands  on  a higher  and  more  exalted  footing ; the  strongest  bul- 
 
22 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 wark  of  her  constitution  will  be  found  in  the  attention  which  she  pays  to  the  improvement  and 
 happiness  of  her  subjects,  and  in  the  sacrifice  she  is  always  willing  to  make  of  her  pecuniary  inte- 
 rests, when  these  appear  to  stand  in  the  way  of  the  civilization  and  advancement  of  the  human 
 race.  The  time  is  past  when  the  Company  looked  for  her  profits  from  the  sale  of  a yard  of  broad- 
 cloth or  a pound  of  nails : she  now  acts  in  a more  extended  sphere,  and  her  principles  have  ex- 
 panded with  the  growth  of  her  empire.  She  now  looks  to  the  wealth  and  enterprize  of  those  whom 
 she  governs,  as  the  sure  and  only  sources  of  her  own  financial  prosperity.  While  these  did  not 
 exist,  it  was  necessarily  left  to  the  Company  to  supply  the  wants  of  her  Indian  population,  in  de- 
 tail ; but  now  that,  under  her  fostering  and  enlightened  rule,  this  wealth  is  fast  accumulating,  and 
 the  enterprize  and  energies  of  individuals  are  excited  in  no  common  degree,  she  must  look  to  her 
 trade  in  the  Indian  empire  being  conducted  on  the  same  principles  as  it  is  in  the  mother  country. 
 It  is  only  on  the  great  scale  which  is  consistent  with  her  capital  and  character,  that  her  purchases 
 and  sales  can  be  made  with  advantage  to  herself  and  benefit  to  the  countiy.  It  is  by  the  introduc- 
 tion of  capital  that  trade  is  to  be  improved  and  extended.  The  entrance  of  a great  capitalist  into 
 the  market  is  an  accession  to  its  value  ; and  so  far  from  excluding  the  lesser  capitals,  and  the  en- 
 terprize of  individuals,  it  opens  to  them  a wider  field  than  their  own  unaided  exertions  would  be 
 capable  of.  In  no  part  of  the  world,  perhaps,  is  capital  more  wanted  than  in  the  Eastern  Islands, 
 and  were  that  of  the  Company  thrown  into  it,  so  far  from  repi’essing  the  industry  of  individuals 
 or  checking  the  improvements  contemplated,  the  additional  stimulus  would  only  tend  to  excite  and 
 encourage  new  energies,  to  accelerate  the  progress  of  general  commerce,  and  the  civilization  to 
 which  it  must  inevitably  lead.  But  for  this  end  the  Company  must  not  enter  into  detail : she 
 must  not  become  a cultivator  on  her  own  account,  she  must  not  be  a retail  merchant.  If  she  com- 
 petes with  the  private  merchant,  it  must  be  on  true  mercantile  principles  ; she  must  look  for  success 
 from  the  influence  of  her  superior  capital  alone,  and  must  be  satisfied  with  a moderate  profit  pro- 
 portioned to  its  extent.  On  these  principles,  and  while  the  fabric  of  her  civil  administration 
 would  remain  unshaken,  her  purchases  would  be  made  by  contract  with  inferior  capitalists,  who 
 would  collect  the  articles,  and  her  sales  being  made  to  a similar  description  of  speculators,  they 
 would  distribute  them  in  detail.  Thus  her  capital  would  be  employed  to  open  new  channels  of 
 trade,  to  encourage  industry,  and  by  diffusing  wealth  and  exciting  enterprize,  tend  to  promote  the 
 best  interests  of  mankind,  and  would  resemble  those  sea-born  clouds,  which  descending  in  showers 
 on  her  Indian  mountains,  return  in  a thousand  fertilizing  streams  to  the  source  from  whence  they 
 
 rose. 
 
MINUTES  BY  SIR  T.  S.  RAFFLES, 
 
 ON 
 
 THE  ESTABLISHMENT 
 
 OF  A 
 
 MALAY  COLLEGE  AT  SINGAPORE. 
 
 1819. 
 
 It  is  the  peculiar  characteristic  of  Great  Britain,  that  wherever  her  influence  has  been  extended, 
 it  has  carried  civilization  and  improvement  in  its  train.  To  whatever  quarter  of  the  world  her  arms 
 or  her  policy  have  led  her,  it  has  been  her  object  to  extend  those  blessings  of  freedom  and  justice 
 for  which  she  herself  stands  so  pre-eminent.  Whether  in  asserting  the  rights  of  independent 
 nations,  whether  in  advocating  the  cause  of  the  captive  and  the  slave,  or  in  promoting  the  dif- 
 fusion of  truth  and  knowledge,  England  has  always  led  the  van.  In  the  vast  regions  of  India, 
 where  she  has  raised  an  empire  unparalleled  in  history,  no  sooner  was  the  sword  of  conquest 
 sheathed,  than  her  attention  was  turned  to  the  dispensing  of  justice,  to  giving  security  to  the  per- 
 sons and  property,  and  to  the  improvement  of  the  condition  of  her  new  subjects  ; to  a reform 
 in  the  whole  judicial  and  revenue  administration  of  the  country,  to  the  establishment  of  a system 
 of  internal  management  calculated  to  relieve  the  inhabitants  from  oppression  and  exaction,  and  to 
 the  dissemination  of  those  principles  and  that  knowledge,  which  should  elevate  the  people  whom 
 conquest  had  placed  under  her  sway,  and  thus  to  render  her  own  prosperity  dependent  on  that  of 
 the  people  over  whom  she  ruled.  A desire  to  know  the  origin  and  early  history  of  the  people, 
 their  institutions,  laws,  and  opinions,  led  to  associations  expressly  directed  to  this  end ; while  by 
 the  application  of  the  information  thus  obtained  to  the  present  circumstances  of  the  country,  the 
 spirit  and  principles  of  British  rule  have  rapidly  augmented  the  power  and  increased  the  re- 
 sources of  the  state,  at  the  same  time  that  they  have  in  no  less  degree  tended  to  excite  the  intellec- 
 tual energies,  and  increase  the  individual  happiness  of  the  people. 
 
 The  acquisitions  of  Great  Britain  in  the  East  have  not  been  made  in  the  spirit  of  conquest ; a 
 concurrence  of  circumstances  not  to  be  controlled,  and  the  energies  of  her  sons,  have  carried  her 
 forward  on  a tide  whose  impulse  has  been  irresistible.  Other  nations  may  have  pursued  the  same 
 course  of  conquest  and  success,  but  they  have  not  like  her  paused  in  their  career,  and  by  modera- 
 tion and  justice  consolidated  what  they  had  gained.  This  is  the  rock  on  which  her  Indian  empire 
 is  placed ; and  it  is  on  a perseverance  in  the  principles  which  have  already  guided  her  that  she 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 LM- 
 
 must  depend  for  maintaining  her  commanding  station,  and  for  saving  her  from  adding  one  more  to 
 the  list  of  those,  who  have  contended  for  empire  and  have  sunk  beneath  the  weight  of  their  own 
 ambition.  Conquest  has  led  to  conquest,  and  our  influence  must  continue  to  extend : the  tide  has 
 received  its  impetus  and  it  would  be  in  vain  to  attempt  to  stem  its  current ; but  let  the  same  prin- 
 ciples be  kept  in  view,  let  our  minds  and  policy  expand  with  our  empire,  and  it  will  not  only  be 
 the  gi-eatest,  but  the  firmest  and  most  enduring  that  has  yet  been  held  forth  to  the  view  and  admi- 
 ration of  the  world.  While  we  raise  those  in  the  scale  of  civilization  over  whom  our  influence  or 
 our  empire  is  extended,  we  shall  lay  the  foundations  of  our  dominion  on  the  firm  basis  of  justice 
 and  mutual  advantage,  instead  of  the  uncertain  and  unsubstantial  tenure  of  force  and  intrigue. 
 
 Such  have  been  the  principles  of  our  Indian  administration  wherever  we  have  acquired  a territo- 
 rial influence  ; it  remains  to  be  considered,  how  they  can  be  best  applied  to  countries  where  terri- 
 tory is  not  our  object,  but  whose  commerce  is  not  less  essential  to  our  interests.  With  the 
 countries  east  of  Bengal  an  extensive  commercial  intercourse  has  always  been  carried  on,  and  our 
 influence  is  more  or  less  felt  throughout  the  whole,  from  the  banks  of  the  Ganges  to  China  and 
 New  Holland.  Recent  events  have  directed  our  attention  to  these,  and  in  a particular  manner,  to  the 
 Malayan  Archipelago,  where  a vast  field  of  commercial  speculation  has  been  opened,  the  limits  of 
 which  it  is  difficult  to  foresee.  A variety  of  ch’cumstances  have  concun’ed  to  extend  our  connec- 
 tions in  this  quarter,  and  late  arrangements,  by  giving  them  a consistency  and  consolidation,  and 
 uniting  them  more  closely  with  our  best  interests  both  in  India  and  Europe,  have  added  much  to 
 their  importance  and  consideration.  Our  connection  with  them,  however,  stands  on  a very  different 
 footing  from  that  with  the  people  of  India ; however  inviting  and  extensive  their  resources,  it  is 
 considered  that  they  can  be  best  drawn  forth  by  the  native  energies  of  the  people  themselves,  un- 
 influenced by  foreign  rule  and  unfettered  by  foreign  regulations,  and  that  it  is  by  the  reciprocal 
 advantages  of  commerce,  and  commerce  alone,  that  we  may  best  promote  our  own  interests  and 
 their  advancement.  A few  stations  are  occupied  for  the  security  and  protection  of  our  trade,  and 
 the  independence  of  all  the  surrounding  states  is  not  only  acknowledged  but  maintained  and  sup- 
 ported by  us. 
 
 Commerce  being  therefore  the  principle  on  which  our  connection  with  the  Eastern  States  is 
 formed,  it  behoves  us  to  consider  the  effects  which  it  is  calculated  to  produce.  Commerce  is 
 universally  allowed  to  bring  many  benefits  in  its  train,  and  in  particular  to  be  favourable  to  civili- 
 zation and  general  improvement.  Like  all  other  powerful  agents,  however,  it  has  proved  the 
 cause  of  many  evils  when  improperly  directed  or  not  sufficiently  controlled.  It  creates  wants  and 
 introduces  luxuries;  but  if  there  exists  no  principle  for  the  regulation  of  these,  and  if  there  be 
 nothing  to  check  their  influence,  sensuality,  vice  and  corruption  will  be  the  necessary  results. 
 Whei'ethe  social  institutions  are  favourable  to  independence  and  improvement,  where  the  intellectual 
 powers  are  cultivated  and  expanded,  commerce  opens  a wider  field  for  their  exertion,  and  wealth  and 
 refinement  become  consistent  with  all  that  ennobles  and  exalts  human  nature.  Education  must  keep 
 pace  with  commerce,  in  order  that  its  benefits  may  be  ensured  and  its  evils  avoided ; and  in  our 
 connection  with  these  countries,  it  should  be  our  care  that  while  with  one  hand  we  carry  to  their 
 shores  the  capital  of  our  merchants,  the  other  should  be  stretched  forth  to  offer  them  the  means  of 
 intellectual  improvement.  Happily  our  policy  is  in  accordance  with  these  views  and  principles, 
 and  neither  in  the  state  of  the  countries  themselves,  nor  in  the  character  of  their  varied  and  exten- 
 sive population,  do  we  find  any  thing  opposed.  On  the  contrary,  they  invite  us  to  the  field,  and 
 every  motive  of  humanity,  policy,  and  religion  seem  to  combine  to  recommend  our  early  attention 
 to  this  important  object. 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 25 
 
 A few  words  will  be  sufficient  to  shew  the  nature  and  extent  of  this  field.  Within  its  nar- 
 rowest limits  it  embraces  the  whole  of  that  vast  Archipelago,  which  stretching  from  Sumatra  and 
 Java  to  the  Islands  of  the  Pacific ; and  thence  to  the  shores  of  China  and  Japan,  has  in  all  ages 
 excited  the  attention  and  attracted  the  cupidity  of  more  civilized  nations  ; whose  valuable  and  pecu- 
 liar productions  contributed  to  swell  the  extravagance  of  Roman  luxury,  and  in  more  modern  times 
 has  raised  the  power  and  consequence  of  every  successive  European  nation  into  whose  hands  its 
 commerce  has  fallen.  It  has  raised  several  of  these  from  insignificance  and  obscurity,  to  power 
 and  eminence,  and  perhaps  in  its  earliest  period  among  the  Italian  states,  communicated  the  first 
 electric  spark  which  awoke  to  life  the  energies  and  the  literature  of  Europe.  The  native  population 
 of  these  interesting  Islands  cannot  be  estimated  at  less  than  from  ten  to  fifteen  millions,  of  which 
 Java  alone  contains  five  or  six,  and  Sumatra  not  less  than  three. 
 
 In  a more  extensive  view  must  be  included  the  rich  and  populous  countries  of  Ava  and  Siam, 
 Camboja,  Cochin-China,  and  Tonkin,  the  population  of  which  is  still  more  extensive  than  that  of 
 the  Islands.  And  if  to  this  we  add  the  numerous  Chinese  population  which  is  dispersed  through- 
 out these  countries,  and  through  the  means  of  whom  the  light  of  knowledge  may  be  extended  to 
 the  remotest  part  of  the  Chinese  empire  and  even  to  Japan,  it  will  readily  be  acknowledged  that  the 
 field  is  perhaps  as  extensive,  interesting,  and  important,  as  ever  offered  itself  to  the  contemplation 
 of  the  philanthropic  and  enlightened  mind. 
 
 When  we  descend  to  particulars,  and  consider  the  present  state  and  circumstances  of  this  ex- 
 tensive and  varied  population,  and  the  history  and  character  of  the  nations  and  tribes  of  which  it  is 
 composed,  we  shall  be  more  convinced  of  the  necessity  which  exists,  and  of  the  advantages  which 
 must  result  from  affording  them  the  means  of  education  and  improvement.  Among  no  people  with 
 whom  we  have  become  acquainted  shall  we  find  greater  aptness  to  receive  instruction,  or  fewer 
 obstacles  in  the  way  of  its  communication'. 
 
 With  the  exception  of  Java,  the  Moluccas,  and  Philippines,  nearly  the  whole  of  the  native 
 states  of  the  Archipelago  may  be  considered  independent.  The  European  settlements  on  the  coasts 
 of  Sumatra  and  Borneo  are  confined  to  commercial  objects,  and  the  interior  of  these  large  islands 
 has  never  felt  the  effects  of  European  interference.  A large  portion  of  their  coasts  and  the  whole 
 of  the  smaller  islands,  as  well  as  the  states  on  the  Malay  peninsula,  are  exclusively  under  native 
 authority. 
 
 Of  the  Malays  who  inhabit  the  interior  of  Sumatra,  and  are  settled  on  the  coasts  throughout 
 the  Archipelago,  it  may  be  necessary  to  speak  in  the  first  place.  The  peculiar  character  of  these 
 people  has  always  excited  much  attention,  and  various  and  opposite  opinions  have  been  entertained 
 regarding  them.  By  some,  who  have  viewed  only  the  darker  side,  they  have  been  considered,  with 
 reference  to  their  piracies  and  vices  alone,  as  a people  devoid  of  all  regular  government  and  prin- 
 ciple, and  abandoned  to  the  influence  of  lawless  and  ungovernable  passions.  By  others,  however, 
 who  have  taken  a deeper  view,  and  have  become  more  intimately  acquainted  with  their  character, 
 a different  estimate  has  been  formed.  They  admit  the  want  of  efficient  government,  but  consider 
 the  people  themselves  to  be  possessed  of  high  qualities,  and  such  as  might,  under  more  favourable 
 circumstances,  be  usefully  and  beneficially  directed.  They  find  in  the  personal  independence  of 
 character  which  they  display,  their  high  sense  of  honour  and  impatience  of  insult,  and  in  their 
 habits  of  reasoning  and  reflection,  the  rudiments  of  improvement  and  the  basis  of  a better  order  of 
 society,  while  in  the  obscurity  of  their  early  history,  the  wide  diffusion  of  their  language  and  the  , 
 traces  of  their  former  greatness,  they  discover  an  infinite  source  of  speculation  and  interest. 
 
 That  they  once  occupied  a high  and  commanding  political  station  in  these  seas  appears 
 
 d 
 
‘26 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 to  be  beyond  a doubt,  and  that  they  maintained  this  position  until  the  introduction  of  Mahome- 
 danism  seems  equally  probable.  From  the  geographical  situation  of  the  more  important  countries 
 then  occupied  by  them,  they  were  the  first  to  come  in  contact  with  Mussulman  Missionaries,  and 
 to  embrace  their  tenets,  to  which  circumstance  may  perhaps  be  attributed  the  dismemberment  of 
 the  empire,  and  the  decline  of  their  power  previously  to  the  arrival  of  Europeans  in  these  seas.  At 
 that  period,  however,  the  authority  of  Menangkabu,  the  ancient  seat  of  government,  was  still 
 acknowledged,  and  the  states  of  Acheen  and  Malacca  long  disputed  the  progi-ess  of  the  Portuguese 
 arms.  The  whole  of  Sumati-a,  at  one  period,  was  subject  to  the  supreme  power  of  Menangkabu, 
 and  proofs  of  the  former  grandeur  and  superiority  of  this  state  are  still  found,  not  only  in  the 
 pompous  edicts  of  its  sovereigns,  and  in  the  veneration  and  respect  paid  to  the  most  distant  branches 
 of  the  family,  but  in  the  comparatively  high  and  improved  state  of  cultivation  of  the  country,  and 
 in  the  vestiges  of  antiquity  which  have  recently  been  discovered  in  it.  This  country  occupies  the 
 central  districts  of  Sumatra,  and  contains  between  one  and  two  millions  of  inhabitants,  the  whole 
 of  whom,  with  the  exception  of  such  as  may  be  employed  in  the  gold  mines  for  which  it  has  always 
 been  celebrated,  are  devoted  to  agriculture.  The  remains  of  sculpture  and  inscriptions  found  near 
 the  ancient  capital  correspond  with  those  discovered  in  Java,  and  prove  them  to  have  been  under 
 the  influence  of  the  same  Hindu  faith  which  prevailed  on  that  Island  till  the  establishment  of  Ma- 
 homedanism  there  in  the  fifteenth  century. 
 
 At  what  period  the  people  of  Menangkabu  embraced  the  doctrines  of  the  Prophet  does  not 
 appear,  and  would  form  an  interesting  subject  of  inquiry.  The  conversion  of  Malacca  and  Acheen 
 took  place  in  the  thirteenth  century ; but  it  is  uncertain  whether  Menangkabu  was  converted 
 previous  to  this  date,  although  the  religion  is  said  to  have  been  preached  at  Sumatra  as  early  as 
 the  twelfth  century.  It  was  about  this  latter  period  (1160),  that  a colony  issued  from  the  interior 
 of  Sumatra,  and  established  the  maritime  state  of  Singapura  at  the  extremity  of  the  Malay  penin- 
 sula, where  a line  of  Hindu  princes  continued  to  reign  until  the  establishment  of  Malacca  and 
 the  conversion  of  that  place  in  1276.  Whatever  may  in  more  remote  times  have  been  the  nature 
 of  the  intercourse  between  foreign  nations  and  Menangkabu  itself,  we  know^  that  Singapura, 
 during  the  period  noticed,  was  an  extensively  maritime  and  commercial  state,  and  that  on  the  first 
 arrival  of  the  Portuguese  at  Malacca,  that  emporium  embraced  the  largest  portion  of  the  commerce 
 between  Eastern  and  Western  nations.  It  is  not  necessary  to  enter  into  the  history  of  the  decline 
 and  fall  of  the  Malay  states  of  Malacca  and  Acheen,  or  of  the  establishment  of  Johor.  The  mari- 
 time and  commercial  enterprize  of  the  people  had  already  spread  them  far  and  wide  through  the 
 Archipelago,  and  the  power  and  policy  of  their  European  visitors,  by  breaking  down  their  larger 
 settlements,  contributed  to  scatter  them  still  wider,  and  to  force  them  to  form  still  smaller  establish- 
 ments wherever  they  could  escape  their  power  and  vigilance. 
 
 From  this  general  account  it  will  appear  that  the  Malays  may  be  divided  into  two  classes, 
 agricultural  and  commercial.  Our  acquaintance  with  the  latter  being  more  intimate,  and  the  opi- 
 nion generally  formed  of  the  character  of  this  people  having  been  taken  from  the  maritime  states,  it 
 may  be  sufficient,  on  the  present  occasion,  to  advert  to  some  particulars  in  the  constitution  of  their 
 government,  and  to  the  habits  and  character  of  the  people  who  compose  them. 
 
 The  government  of  these  states,  which  are  established  in  more  or  less  power  on  the  different 
 rivers  on  the  eastern  coasts  of  Sumatra  and  on  the  Malay  peninsula,  as  well  as  on  the  coast  of 
 Borpeo  and  throughout  the  smaller  islands,  is  founded  on  principles  entirely  feudal.  A high  re- 
 spect is  paid  to  the  person  and  family  of  the  prince,  who  usually  traces  his  descent  through  a long 
 line  of  ancestors,  generally  originating  on  the  Malayan  side  from  Menangkabu  or  Johore,  and  not 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 27 
 
 unfrequently  on  the  Mahomedan  side  from  the  descendants  of  the  Prophet.  The  nobles  are 
 Chiefs  at  the  head  of  a numerous  train  of  dependants  whose  services  they  command.  Their  civil 
 institutions  and  internal  policy  are  a mixture  of  the  Mahomedan  with  their  own  more  ancient  and 
 peculiar  customs  and  usages,  the  latter  of  which  predominate : in  the  principal  states  they  arc 
 collected  in  an  ill-digested  code,  but  in  the  inferior  establishments  they  are  trusted  to  tradition. 
 
 The  Malays  are  distinguished  not  only  by  the  high  respect  they  pay  to  ancestry  and  nobility 
 of  descent,  and  their  entire  devotion  to  their  chiefs  and  tlie  cause  they  undertake,  but  by  a vene- 
 ration and  reverence  for  the  experience  and  opinions  of  their  elders.  They  never  enter  on  an 
 enterprize  without  duly  weighing  its  advantages  and  consequences,  but  when  once  embarked  in 
 it,  they  devote  themselves  to  its  accomplishment.  They  are  sparing  of  their  labour,  and  are  judi- 
 cious in  its  application,  but  when  roused  into  action  are  not  wanting  in  spirit  and  enthusiasm.  In 
 their  commercial  dealings  they  are  keen  and  speculative,  and  a spirit  of  gaming  is  prevalent,  but 
 in  their  general  habits  they  are  far  from  penurious. 
 
 With  a knowledge  of  this  character,  we  may  find  in  the  circumstances  in  which  they  have 
 been  placed  some  excuse  for  the  frequent  piracies,  and  the  practice  of  “ running  a muck,”  with 
 which  they  have  so  often  and  justly  been  accused.  That  European  policy  which  first  destroyed 
 the  independence  of  their  more  respectable  states,  and  subsequently  appropriated  to  itself  the 
 whole  trade  of  the  Ai'chipelago,  left  them  without  the  means  of  honest  subsistence,  while  by  the 
 extreme  severity  of  its  tortures  and  punishments  it  drove  them  to  a state  of  desperation.  Thus 
 piracy  became  honourable  ; and  that  devotion,  which  on  another  occasion  would  have  been  called 
 a virtue,  became  a crime. 
 
 Of  the  J avans  a higher  estimate  may  be  formed.  Though  wanting  in  the  native  boldness  and 
 enterprize  of  character  which  distinguishes  the  Malays,  they  have  many  qualities  in  common  with 
 them,  but  bear  deeper  traces  of  foreign  influence,  and  at  the  present  period,  at  least,  stand  much 
 higher  in  civilization.  They  are  almost  exclusively  agincultural,  and  in  the  extraordinary  fertility 
 of  their  country  they  find  sufficient  inducements  to  prefer  a life  of  comparative  ease  and  comfort 
 within  their  own  shores  to  one  of  enterprize  or  hazard  beyond  them.  The  causes  which  have 
 conti’ibuted  to  their  present  improved  state  are  various,  and  however  interesting,  it  would  swell 
 this  paper  beyond  its  due  limits  to  enter  on  them. 
 
 The  Madurese,  who  inhabit  the  neighbouring  Island,  are  distinguished  for  more  spirit  and  enter- 
 prize ; but  the  people  in  that  quarter  who  more  peculiarly  attract  our  interest  are  those  of  Bali,  an 
 Island  lying  immediately  east  of  Java,  and  who  at  the  present  day  exhibit  the  extraordinary  fact  of 
 the  existence  of  an  independent  Hindu  government  in  this  remote  quarter  of  the  East.  It  was  in  this 
 island  that,  on  the  establishment  of  Mahomedanism  in  Java  in  the  fifteenth  century,  the  Hindus 
 who  adhered  to  their  original  faith  took  refuge,  where  they  have  preserved  the  recollection  of  their 
 former  greatness  and  the  records  and  form  of  their  religion.  This  Island,  no  part  of  which  has 
 ever  been  subjected  to  European  authority,  contains  with  Lombok,  immediately  adjoining,  a popu- 
 lation not  far  short  of  a million.  The  shores  are  unfavourable  to  commerce,  and  the  people  have 
 not  hitherto  been  much  inclined  to  distant  enterprize.  The  Island  itself  has  long  been  subjected 
 to  all  the  horrors  of  an  active  slave-trade,  by  which  means  its  inhabitants  have  been  distributed 
 among  the  European  setttlements.  A more  honest  commerce,  however,  has  been  lately  attracted 
 to  it,  and  both  Bugguese  and  Chinese  have  formed  small  establishments  in  the  principal  towns.  In 
 their  personal  character  they  ai'e  remarkable  for  a high  independence  and  impatience  of  control. 
 A redundant  population  added  to  the  slave-trade  has  separated  them  into  various  states,  which  are 
 generally  at  war  with  each  other. 
 
 d2 
 
28 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 In  the  Island  of  Celebes  we  find  the  people  of  a still  more  enterprising  character : the  elective 
 form  of  their  government  offers  a singular  anomaly  among  Asiatic  states,  and  is  not  the  least  pecu- 
 liar of  their  institutions.  The  Bugguese  are  the  most  adventurous  ti’aders  of  the  Archipelago,  to 
 every  part  of  which  they  carry  their  speculations,  and  even  extend  them  to  the  coast  of  New  Hol- 
 land, They  are  remarkable  for  fair  dealing  and  the  extent  of  their  transactions.  They  were 
 converted  to  Mahomedanism  at  a much  later  period  than  either  the  Javans  or  Malays,  and  not 
 generally  till  after  the  arrival  of  the  Portuguese  in  the  sixteenth  century.  This  Island  contains  an 
 extensive  population,  but  its  interior  and  north-western  provinces  are  but  little  known,  and  are  in- 
 habited by  the  same  description  of  uncultivated  people  as  are  found  in  the  interior  of  Borneo  and 
 the  larger  Islands  to  the  Eastward. 
 
 Of  the  population  of  the  Moluccas  it  may  be  remarked,  that  they  are  for  the  most  part  pro- 
 fessing Christianity.  The  magnitude  and  importance  of  Borneo  more  peculiarly  attracts  our  at- 
 tention. Malay  settlements  are  formed  on  its  principal  rivers,  and  extensive  colonies  of  Chinese 
 have  established  themselves  in  the  vicinity  of  the  gold  mines  a short  distance  inland,  but  the  in- 
 terior of  the  Island  is  yet  unknown.  Various  estimates  of  its  population  have  been  formed,  but  the 
 data  are  too  uncertain  to  be  depended  upon.  The  tribes  which  inhabit  the  interior  differ  much  in 
 character,  but  the  majority  appear  to  be  agricultural,  and  a race  of  people  who  might  be  easily  im- 
 proved and  civilized.  Others,  again,  are  extremely  barbarous ; and  it  must  be  admitted,  that  the 
 practice  of  man-hunting,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  the  heads  of  the  victims,  is  too  frequent 
 throughout.  Of  this  latter  description  are  various  tribes  still  inhabiting  the  interior  of  Celebes, 
 Ceram,  and  Jelolo,  usually  known  by  the  name  of  Harafuras  or  Alfoors. 
 
 If  we  add  to  the  above  the  population  of  the  Philippines,  which  is  not  estimated  at  less  than 
 three  millions,  Magindanao  and  the  Sulu  Archipelago,  the  Battas  and  other  inferior  tribes  of  Su- 
 matra, and  the  woolly-headed  race  occasionally  found  on  the  Peninsula  and  the  larger  Islands,  and 
 more  extensively  established  in  Papua  or  New  Guinea,  some  idea  may  be  formed  of  the  extent  and 
 nature  of  the  varied  population  of  this  interesting  Archipelago.  But  the  numerous  Chinese  settlers 
 who  now  form  a considerable  portion  of  this  population,  and  who  have  given  a stimulus  to  the 
 industi’y  of  its  inhabitants,  must  not  be  passed  over  in  silence.  In  the  Island  of  Java  the  number 
 of  these  settlers  is  not  less  than  100,000 ; a similar  number  is  to  be  found  in  Siam : in  Borneo 
 they  are  still  more  numerous,  and  they  are  to  be  met  with  in  every  well  regulated  state.  The 
 valuable  gold  mines  of  the  latter  Island  have  offered  a powerful  inducement  to  their  establishment: 
 they  are  worked  almost  exclusively  by  Chinese,  and  an  extensive  population  of  Dayaks  from  the 
 interior  are  rapidly  extending  cultivation  in  their  vicinity.  There  seems  to  be  no  limits  to  the  in- 
 crease of  Chinese  on  this  Island,  the  redundance  of  population  in  the  mother  country,  the  constant 
 intercourse  which  exists  with  it,  and  the  inducements  afforded  for  colonization  in  a new  soil, 
 where,  in  addition  to  agricultural  and  commercial  resources,  the  produce  of  gold  and  diamonds  ap- 
 pears to  be  only  proportioned  to  the  labour  employed,  are  such  that,  to  a speculating  and  indus- 
 trious people  like  the  Chinese,  they  must  continue  to  operate  in  spite  of  political  restrictions  and 
 partial  exactions.  It  deserves  remark,  that  of  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  Archipelago,  the  Chinese, 
 as  well  from  their  assimilating  more  with  the  customs  of  Europeans  than  the  native  Mahomedans, 
 as  from  their  habits  of  obedience  and  submission  to  power,  are  uniformly  found  to  be  the  most 
 jieaceable  and  improveable. 
 
 From  the  review  now  taken  it  will  be  seen  how  varied  is  the  population  of  this  Archipelago 
 both  in  character  and  employments,  and  that  it  consists  both  of  agricultural  and  commercial  classes, 
 of  ditlerent  ranks  in  the  scale  of  each,  from  the  wildest  tribes  who  seek  a precarious  subsistence  in 
 
rV  P P E N D I X. 
 
 29 
 
 their  woods  and  forests,  to  the  civilized  J avan  who  has  drawn  forth  the  riches  of  his  unequalled 
 soil,  and  made  it  the  granary  of  these  islands  : and  from  the  petty  trader  who  collects  the  scattered 
 produce  of  the  interior,  to  the  Chinese  capitalist  who  receives  it  from  them,  and  disperses  it  again 
 to  more  distant  regions.  Situated  between  the  rich  and  populous  continents  of  China  on  the  one 
 hand  and  India  on  the  other,  and  furnishing  to  Europe  the  means  of  an  extensive  commerce,  the 
 demand  for  the  produce  of  those  Islands  is  unfailing,  and  that  produce  Is  only  limited  by  the 
 extent  of  the  population.  By  means  of  the  variety  of  its  tribes,  their  intermixture  and  connection 
 with  each  other,  and  the  accessible  nature  of  the  coasts  washed  by  the  smoothest  seas  in  the  world, 
 while  large  and  navigable  rivers  open  communication  with  the  interior,  the  stimulus  of  this  com- 
 merce is  propagated  in  successive  waves  through  the  whole,  and  the  inexaustible  resources  of  the 
 country  are  drawn  forth  in  a manner  and  to  an  extent  that  could  not  otherwise  have  been  obtained. 
 Each  is  dependant  on  the  other,  and  receives  and  communicates  a portion  of  the  general  activity. 
 Thus  the  savage  and  intractable  Batta  collects  and  furnishes  the  camphor  and  benjamin,  the 
 spontaneous  produce  of  his  woods ; the  equally  barbarous  Dayak  and  wild  Harafura  ransacks  the 
 bowels  of  the  earth  for  its  gold  and  its  diamonds ; the  inhabitants  of  Sulu  seeks  for  the  pearl 
 beneath  the  waters  that  surround  them,  and  others  traverse  the  shores  for  the  tripang  or  sea-slug, 
 or  descend  into  its  rooky  caverns  for  the  Chinese  luxury  of  birds’  nests.  Ascending  from  these 
 we  find  the  more  civilized  Sumatran,  whose  agriculture  is  yet  rude,  employed  in  the  raising  of 
 pepper;  the  native  of  the  Moluccas  in  the  culture  of  the  nutmeg,  and  the  clove ; the  still  higher 
 Javan  and  Siamese,  besides  their  abundant  harvests  of  rice,  supplying  Europe  with  their  coffee  and 
 sugar,  and  all  impelled  and  set  in  motion  by  the  spirit  of  commerce.  Not  less  varied  are  the 
 people  who  collect  this  produce  from  all  these  different  quarters  till  it  is  finally  shipped  for  Europe, 
 India,  and  China,  from  the  petty  bartering  trader  who  brings  it  from  the  interior  of  the  ports  and 
 mouths  of  the  rivers,  the  Malay  who  conveys  it  from  port  to  port,  the  more  adventurous  Bugguese 
 who  sweeps  the  remote  shoi’es  to  concentrate  their  produce  at  the  emporia,  to  the  Chinese  mer- 
 chant who  sends  his  junks  laden  with  this  accumulated  produce  to  be  dispersed  through  the  empire 
 of  China,  and  furnishes  Europeans  with  the  cargoes  of  their  ships.  Through  the  same  diverging 
 channels  are  again  circulated  the  manufactures  of  India  and  Europe,  and  thus  a constant  intercourse 
 and  circulation  is  maintained  through  the  whole.  How  much  this  intercourse  is  facilitated  by  the 
 nature  of  the  countries,  broken  into  innumerable  islands,  may  be  readily  conceived,  and  the  vast- 
 ness of  the  field  may  be  inferred  from  the  extent  to  which  its  commerce  has  actually  been  carried, 
 under  every  disadvantage  of  monopolizing  policy  and  of  insecurity  of  person  and  property,  by  which 
 the  condition  of  the  people  has  been  depressed  and  their  increase  prevented.  When  we  consider 
 that  they  are  placed  at  the  very  threshold  of  China,  a country  overflowing  with  an  enterprising  and 
 industrious  population,  anxious  and  eager  to  settle  wherever  security  and  protection  is  afforded, 
 that  it  is  this  people  who  have  chiefly  contributed  to  maintain  and  support  the  energies  of  the 
 native  population,  and  have  diffused  the  stimulus  of  their  own  activity  wherever  they  have  settled, 
 and  that  protection  only  is  wanted  to  accumulate  them  in  any  numbers,  to  create  it  may  be  said 
 a second  China,  the  resources  and  means  of  this  extraordinary  Archipelago  will  appear  without 
 limits. 
 
 Viewed  in  this  light,  Borneo  and  the  Eastern  Islands  may  become  to  China,  what  America  is 
 already  to  the  nations  of  Europe.  The  superabundant  and  overflowing  population  of  China  affords 
 an  almost  inexhaustible  source  of  colonization,  while  the  new  and  fertile  soil  of  these  islands  offers 
 tlie  means  of  immediate  and  plentiful  subsistence  to  any  numbers  who  may  settle  in  them.  How 
 rapidly,  under  such  circumstances,  these  colonies  may  increase  in  population,  where  the  climate  is 
 
.30 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 at  least  as  congenial  to  the  Chinese  as  that  of  America  to  Europeans,  may  be  readily  conceived 
 from  the  experience  which  the  latter  has  afforded.  The  wealth  of  their  mines  and  the  extent  of 
 their  own  native  population,  added  to  the  greater  proximity  of  China,  are  advantages  which  were 
 not  enjoyed  by  America,  and  must  contribute  to  accelerate  the  progi’ess  of  colonization. 
 
 A scene  like  this  cannot  be  viewed  with  indifference  by  the  philosophic  and  contemplative 
 mind.  The  diversified  form  in  which  the  human  character  is  exhibited,  the  new  and  original  fea- 
 tures which  it  displays,  and  the  circumstances  which  have  restrained  or  accelerated  the  develop- 
 ment of  our  nature  in  these  extensive  and  remote  regions,  offer  sources  of  almost  inexhaustible 
 inquiry  and  research,  while  the  obscurity  which  darkens  the  origin  and  early  history  of  the  people, 
 the  peculiarity  of  their  languages,  laws  and  customs,  and  the  vestiges  which  remain  of  a higher 
 state  of  the  arts  and  of  learning,  offer,  in  a literary  and  scientific  view,  pursuits  of  no  less  interest 
 than  importance.  Placed  as  we  shall  be  in  the  veiy  centre  of  this  Archipelago,  the  life  and  soul 
 of  its  extensive  commerce,  and  maintaining  with  its  most  distant  parts  and  with  the  adjacent  con- 
 tinent a constant  and  rapidly  increasing  intercourse,  the  means  are  afforded  to  us,  above  all  other 
 nations,  of  prosecuting  these  studies  with  facility  and  advantage. 
 
 We  here  find  human  nature  at  its  lowest  point  in  the  w'oolly-headed  savage  who  roams  his 
 woods  in  absolute  nakedness,  deriving  a precarious  subsistence  from  roots  and  fish,  and  with  no 
 other  habitation  than  a cavern  or  a tree.  We  can  trace  the  progress  of  improvement  in  those  whose 
 agriculture  is  yet  in  its  infancy,  who  clear  a portion  of  their  woods  by  fire,  and  take  a contingency 
 out  of  it  by  planting  a little  rice  in  the  soil  thus  enriched  by  the  ashes.  We  dwell  with  more  plea- 
 sure on  those  rich  tracts  of  cultivation  which  adorn  the  slopes  of  the  central  districts  of  Java  and 
 Sumatra,  where  the  mountain  torrent  is  arrested  in  its  course,  and  made  to  flow  over  and  fertilize 
 successive  terraces  on  which  abundant  harvests  are  reaped.  We  shall  meet  with  states  that  have 
 risen  by  commerce  to  w'ealth  and  eminence,  and  have  now  sunk  since  her  soil  has  been  displayed 
 on  other  shores.  To  the  historian  and  the  antiquarian  the  field  here  presented  is  unbounded.  The 
 latter  will  trace  in  the  languages  and  monuments,  the  origin  and  early  history  of  these  interesting 
 people : he  will  find  the  Malayan  language  diffused  under  various  modifications,  from  Madagascar 
 on  the  coast  of  Africa,  to  the  islands  of  the  Pacific  ; he  will  find  it  connected  with  Hinduism  by  an 
 influx  of  Sanscrit  words,  and  will  trace  the  effects  of  subsequent  conversion  in  an  accession  of 
 Arabic  terms.  In  their  ancient  monuments  and  inscriptions  he  will  find  proofs  of  the  existence  of 
 the  faith  of  Brama  or  Budh,  and  of  their  greatness  as  nations  in  the  magnitude  of  their  remains. 
 He  will  find  temples  and  sculptures  which  rival  in  beauty  and  extent  those  of  continental  India, 
 and  through  the  mists  of  tradition  will  discover  the  faint  light  of  glories  that  have  past  away.  He 
 will  find  languages  of  a singular  perfection  and  richness,  that  are  no  longer  understood  except  by 
 the  learned ; in  short,  he  will  find  abundant  proof  of  a former  higher  state  of  civilization  from 
 which  they  have  fallen.  The  causes  of  this  declension,  the  vicissitudes  they  have  undergone,  and 
 their  history  in  more  modern  times,  when  the  progress  of  the  Mussulman  faith  and  of  European 
 arms  overturned  and  threw  into  confusion  the  ancient  order  of  things,  are  subjects  not  less  inte- 
 resting than  untouched.  Three  centuries  of  intercourse  have  given  but  little  information  upon 
 these  and  other  interesting  points.  War  or  commerce  has  hitherto  absorbed  the  attention  of  those 
 who  have  visited  these  regions,  with  some  exceptions,  which  have  rather  served  to  excite  than  to 
 gratify  curiosity.  Late  years  have  been  more  fertile,  and  have  opened  the  way  to  further  inquiries, 
 and  the  spirit  which  has  been  awakened  should  not  be  suffered  to  sleep. 
 
 It  would  be  endless  to  point  out  the  desiderata  which  yet  remain  to  be  supplied,  or  the  sub- 
 jects of  interest  which  are  yet  to  be  investigated.  The  origin  of  Budhism,  as  it  may  be  traced 
 
APPENDIX. 
 
 31 
 
 in  Siam,  and  particularly  Laos  and  other  countries  not  yet  visited  by  Europeans,  but  with  which  a 
 commercial  intercourse  exists,  is  not  the  least  of  these.  The  objects  of  science  are  not  less  numer- 
 ous, to  say  nothing  of  the  vast  field  which  the  immense  empire  of  China  opens  to  the  speculative 
 mind.  Through  the  means  of  her  native  traders  who  frequent  those  seas  and  are  protected  by  our 
 flag,  we  have  it  in  our  power  to  prosecute  the  most  extensive  researches,  and  to  communicate  as 
 well  as  receive  information  which  may  be  reciprocally  useful  and  acceptable.  While,  as  a manu- 
 facturing nation,  we  are  compelled  to  supply  this  empire  with  the  raw  produce  of  our  territories, 
 we  can  never  want  an  interest  in  inquiring  into  the  principles  and  means  by  which  they  are  thus 
 able  to  supersede  us,  even  with  the  advantage  of  our  unrivalled  machinery.  The  Chinese  mind  itself, 
 the  literature  and  character  of  this  extraordinary  people,  of  whom  so  little  is  known,  that  their 
 place  and  rank  in  the  scale  of  civilization  is  yet  undetermined,  are  questions  which  have  long  at- 
 tracted the  attention  of  the  western  world.  The  current  of  their  ideas,  the  mould  of  their  minds, 
 and  the  whole  bent  and  direction  of  their  powers  differ  so  much  from  our  own,  that  an  estimate  of 
 them  is  no  easy  task.  We  find  them  dispersing  themselves  abroad,  and  carrying  with  them  a spirit 
 of  enterprize  and  speculation  combined  with  an  industry  and  prudence,  that  makes  them  flourish 
 and  acquire  opulence  wherever  they  settle. 
 
 Such  is  the  range  of  inquiry  open  to  the  philosopher ; but  to  him  who  is  interested  in  the 
 cause  of  humanity,  who  thinks  that  the  diffusion  of  the  humanizing  arts  is  as  essential  to  the  cha- 
 racter of  our  nation  as  the  acquisition  of  power  and  wealth,  and  that  wherever  our  flag  is  carried 
 it  should  confer  the  benefits  of  civilization  on  those  whom  it  protects,  it  will  appear  no  less  im- 
 portant, that  in  proportion  as  we  extend  the  field  of  our  own  inquiry  and  information,  we  should 
 apply  it  to  the  advantage  of  those  with  whom  we  are  connected,  and  endeavour  to  diffuse  among 
 them  the  light  of  knowledge  and  the  means  of  moral  and  intellectual  improvement. 
 
 The  object  of  our  stations  being  confined  to  the  protection  and  encouragement  of  a free  and 
 unrestricted  commerce  with  the  whole  of  these  countries,  and  our  establishments  being  on  this 
 footing  and  principle,  no  jealousy  can  exist  where  we  make  our  inquiries.  When  the  man  of 
 science  inquires  for  the  mineral  and  vegetable  productions  of  any  particular  country,  or  the  manner 
 in  which  the  fields  are  cultivated,  or  the  mines  worked,  no  motive  will  exist  for  withholding  infor- 
 mation ; but  if,  in  return,  we  are  anxious  and  ready  to  disseminate  the  superior  knowledge  we 
 ourselves  possess,  how  much  shall  we  increase  this  readiness  and  desire  on  the  part  of  the  natives, 
 and  what  may  not  be  the  extent  of  the  blessings  we  may  in  exchange  confer  on  these  extensive 
 regions  ? How  noble  the  object,  how  beneficial  the  effects  to  carry  with  our  commerce  the  lights  of 
 instruction  and  moral  improvement.  How  much  more  exalted  the  character  in  which  we  shall  ap- 
 pear, how  much  more  congenial  to  every  British  feeling.  By  collecting  the  traditions  of  the  coun- 
 try, and  affording  the  means  of  instruction  to  all  who  visit  our  stations,  we  shall  give  an  additional 
 inducement  to  general  intercourse ; while  the  merchant  will  pursue  his  gain,  the  representative  of 
 our  government  will  acquire  a higher  character  and  more  general  respect,  by  devoting  a portion  of 
 his  time  to  the  diffusion  of  that  knowledge  and  of  those  principles,  w'hich  form  the  happiness  and 
 basis  of  all  civilized  society.  The  native  inhabitant  who  will  be  first  attracted  by  commerce,  will 
 imbibe  a respect  for  our  institutions,  and  when  he  finds  that  some  of  these  are  destined  exclusively 
 for  his  own  benefit,  while  he  applauds  and  respects  the  motive  he  will  not  fail  to  profit  by  them. 
 Our  civil  institutions  and  political  influence  are  calculated  to  increase  the  population  and  wealth 
 of  these  countries,  and  cultivation  of  mind  seems  alone  wanting  to  raise  them  to  such  a rank  among 
 the  nations  of  the  world  as  their  geographical  situation  and  climate  may  admit.  And  shall  we, 
 who  have  been  so  favoured  among  other  nations,  refuse  to  encourage  the  growth  of  intellectual  im- 
 
 2 
 
32 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 proveraent,  or  rather  shall  we  not  consider  it  one  of  our  first  duties  to  afford  the  means  of  educa- 
 tion to  surrounding  countries,  and  thus  render  our  stations  not  only  the  seats  of  commerce  but  of 
 literature  and  the  arts  ? Will  not  our  best  inclinations  and  feelings  be  thus  gratified,  at  the  same 
 time  that  we  are  contributing  to  raise  millions  in  the  scale  of  civilization?  It  may  be  observed, 
 that  in  proportion  as  the  people  are  civilized,  our  intercourse  wdth  the  islands  will  become  more 
 general,  more  secure,  and  more  advantageous ; that  the  native  riches  of  the  countries  which  they 
 inhabit  seem  inexhaustible,  and  that  the  eventual  extent  of  our  commerce  with  them  must  conse- 
 quently depend  on  the  gi’owth  of  intellectual  improvement  and  the  extension  of  moral  principles. 
 A knowledge  of  the  languages  of  these  countries,  considered  on  the  most  extensive  scale,  is  essen- 
 tial to  all  investigation ; and  may  not  the  acquisition  of  these  be  pursued  with  most  advantage  in 
 connection  with  some  defined  plan  for  educating  the  higher  orders  of  the  inhabitants  ? May  not  one 
 object  mutually  aid  the  other,  and  the  interests  of  philanthropy  and  literature  be  best  consulted  by 
 making  the  advantages  reciprocal  ? 
 
 There  is  nothing,  perhaps,  which  distinguishes  the  character  of  these  islanders  from  the  peo- 
 ple of  India  more  than  the  absence  of  inveterate  prejudice,  and  the  little  influence  Mahomedanism 
 has  had  over  their  conduct  and  mode  of  thinking.  With  them  neither  civil  nor  religious  institu- 
 tions seem  to  stand  in  the  way  of  improvement,  while  the  aptness  and  solicitude  of  the  people  to 
 receive  instruction  is  remai'kable  ; and  in  the  higher  classes  we  often  find  a disposition  to  enjoy  the 
 luxuries  and  comforts  of  European  life  and  to  assimilate  to  its  manners  and  courtesies.  The  states 
 more  advanced  in  civilization  have  embraced  the  Mahomedan  faith,  which  still  continues  to  make 
 a slow  progress  throughout  the  Archipelago.  This  faith  was  not  introduced  by  conquest,  but  by 
 the  gradual  progress  of  persuasion  exerted  by  active  missionaries  on  a simple  and  ingenuous  peo- 
 ple. It  is  on  the  Mussulman  teachers  alone  that  they  are  at  present  dependant  for  instruction,  but 
 these  are  now  comparatively  few  and  of  an  inferior  order ; many  of  them  little  better  than  manu- 
 mitted slaves,  though  assuming  the  titles  of  Seids  and  Sheiks.  When  we  consider  that  the  whole 
 of  the  Archipelago  is  left  open  to  the  views  and  schemes  of  these  men,  that  they  promise  the  joys 
 of  paradise  in  recompense  for  the  slight  ceremony  of  circumcision,  and  in  this  world  exemption 
 from  the  pains  of  slavery  to  which  all  unbelievers  are  liable,  we  may  account  for  the  facility 
 w’ith  which  conversion  is  still  effected,  and  the  little  impression  it  makes  on  the  people.  Insti- 
 tutions of  the  nature  of  colleges  were  formerly  maintained  by  the  native  princes  of  Bantam  and  in 
 the  interior  of  Java  and  Sumatra,  particularly  at  Menangkabu,  to  which  latter  a visit  was  con- 
 sidered only  less  meritorious  than  a pilgrimage  to  Mecca.  These  colleges  have  disappeared  with 
 the  power  of  the  native  government  which  supported  them,  and  their  place  is  very  imperfectly 
 supplied  by  the  inferior  and  illiterate  priests  who  are  settled  among  them.  The  want  of  an  insti- 
 tution of  this  nature  has  long  been  felt  and  complained  of  by  the  higher  orders,  and  a desire  has 
 even  been  expressed  of  sending  their  children  to  Bengal,  but  the  distance  and  want  of  means  to 
 defray  the  expense  has  generally  prevented  them  from  doing  so.  In  an  instance,  however,  in 
 which  this  has  taken  place,  we  shall  find  evidence  of  the  capacity  of  the  people  to  receive  instruc- 
 tion, and  are  able  to  form  some  estimate  of  the  degree  of  improvement  to  which  they  might 
 attain  if  similar  advantages  were  enjoyed  by  all.  Shortly  after  the  conquest  of  Java,  two  sons  of 
 the  Regent  of  Samarang  were  sent  to  Bengal,  where  they  remained  only  two  years,  but  returned  to 
 their  native  country  not  only  with  a general  knowledge  of  the  English  language,  but  versed  in  the 
 elements  of  general  history,  science,  and  literature.  The  rapid  progress  made  by  these  youths, 
 not  only  in  these  attainments,  but  in  their  manners,  habits,  and  principles,  has  been  the  surprize  and 
 admiration  of  all  who  have  known  them.  It  may  be  observed  generally  with  regard  to  Maho- 
 
EDUCATION. 
 
 33 
 
 raedanism  in  the  Eastern  Islands,  that  although  the  more  respectable  part  of  the  population  pay 
 some  attention  to  its  forms  as  the  established  religion  of  the  country,  they  are  far  more  attached 
 and  devoted  to  their  ancient  traditions  and  customs,  insomuch  that  in  most  of  the  states  the  civil 
 code  of  the  Koran  is  almost  unknown.  In  many  of  the  countries  which  have  not  yet  embraced 
 Mahomedanism,  such  as  those  of  the  Battas  and  other  interior  tribes  of  Sumatra,  the  Islands  along 
 its  Western  coasts  and  the  Dayaks  of  Borneo,  it  is  difficult  to  say  what  are  their  religious  tenets. 
 Faint  traces  of  Hinduism  are  occasionally  discovered,  blended  with  local  and  original  ideas,  and  it 
 has  even  been  questioned  whether  some  of  them  have  any  religion  at  all. 
 
 The  inducements  and  facilities  which  are  thus  afforded,  suggest  the  advantage  and  necessity 
 of  forming,  under  the  immediate  control  and  superintendence  of  government,  an  Institution  of  the 
 nature  of  a native  college,  which  shall  embrace  not  only  the  object  of  educating  the  higher  classes 
 of  the  native  population,  but  at  the  same  time  that  of  affording  instruction  to  the  officers  of  the 
 Company  in  the  native  languages,  and  of  facilitating  our  more  general  researches  into  the  history, 
 condition,  and  resources  of  these  countries. 
 
 An  institution  of  this  kind,  formed  on  a simple  but  respectable  plan,  would  be  hailed  with 
 satisfaction  by  the  native  Chiefs,  who  as  far  as  their  immediate  means  admit  may  be  expected  to 
 contribute  to  its  support ; and  a class  of  intelligent  natives,  who  would  be  employed  as  teachers, 
 would  always  be  at  the  command  and  disposal  of  government.  The  want  of  such  a class  of  men 
 has  long  been  felt,  and  is  perhaps  in  a considerable  degreee  owing  to  the  absence  of  any  centre  or 
 seat  of  learning  to  which  they  could  resort. 
 
 The  position  and  circumstances  of  Singapura  point  it  out  as  the  most  eligible  situation  for  such 
 an  establishment.  Its  central  situation  among  the  Malay  states,  and  the  commanding  influence  of 
 its  commerce,  render  it  a place  of  general  and  convenient  resort,  while  in  the  minds  of  the  natives 
 it  will  always  be  associated  with  their  fondest  recollections,  as  the  seat  of  their  ancient  government, 
 before  the  influence  of  a foreign  faith  had  shaken  those  institutions  for  which  they  still  preserve  so 
 high  an  attachment  and  reverence.  The  advantage  of  selecting  a place  thus  hallowed  by  the  ideas 
 of  a remote  antiquity,  and  the  veneration  attached  to  its  ancient  line  of  kings,  from  whom  they  are 
 still  proud  to  trace  their  descent,  must  be  obvious. 
 
 The  objects  of  such  an  institution  may  be  briefly  stated  as  follows : 
 
 First.  To  educate  the  sons  of  the  higher  order  of  natives  and  others. 
 
 Secondly.  To  afford  the  means  of  instruction  in  the  native  languages  to  such  of  the  Company’s 
 servants  and  others  as  may  desire  it. 
 
 Thirdly.  To  collect  the  scattered  literature  and  traditions  of  the  country,  with  whatever  may 
 illustrate  their  laws  and  customs,  and  to  publish  and  circulate  in  a correct  form  the  most  important 
 of  these,  with  such  other  works  as  may  be  calculated  to  raise  the  character  of  the  institution  and  to 
 be  useful  or  instructive  to  the  people. 
 
 In  order  to  embrace  these  objects,  it  will  be  sufficient,  in  the  first  instance,  that  an  European 
 superintendant  and  assistant,  with  three  native  professors  or  head  teachers  and  a few  native  assistants, 
 should  be  appointed  to  conduct  the  duties.  Hereafter,  as  the  institution  becomes  more  generally 
 known  and  its  advantages  felt,  an  extension  of  this  establishment  may  become  necessary.  The  im- 
 mediate expenses  may  be  estimated  not  to  exceed  a thousand  rupees  per  month,  and  ten  thousand 
 rupees  for  the  construction  of  an  appropriate  building. 
 
 In  the  formation  of  the  establishment  the  utmost  simplicity  will  be  necessary  as  well  with  a 
 view  to  economy  as  with  reference  to  the  character  and  cii’cumstances  of  the  people.  The  rules  for 
 its  internal  discipline  will  be  few  and  obvious,  and  the  means  of  exciting  emulation  such  as  may  be 
 
 e 
 
34 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 best  suited  to  the  condition  of  the  students.  The  establishment  proposed  will  include  a native 
 professor  in  each  of  the  three  principal  languages,  Malay,  Bugies  and  Siamese,  with  an  assistant  in 
 each  department,  and  four  extra  teachers  in  the  Chinese,  Javan,  Burman,  and  Pali  languages. 
 The  course  of  education  will  be  the  acquirement  of  such  of  the  above  languages  as  the  students  may 
 select,  together  with  Arabic,  to  which  the  same  professors  will  be  competent ; and  in  the  higher 
 classes,  the  Roman  character  and  English  language  will  be  taught,  together  with  such  elementary 
 branches  of  general  knowledge  and  history,  as  their  capacity  and  inclination  may  demand.  The 
 extra  number  of  Moonshees  are  intended  to  afford  instruction  to  the  Company’s  servants  and 
 others  ; and  it  will  be  the  duty  of  the  superintendant  and  native  professors  to  form  the  collections, 
 and  carry  into  effect  the  third  and  last  object,  under  such  directions  as  they  may  from  time  to 
 time  receive. 
 
 The  more  immediate  effects  which  may  be  expected  to  result  from  an  Institution  of  this  nature, 
 have  already  been  pointed  out,  and  are  such  as  will  readily  suggest  themselves.  Native  schools  on 
 the  Lancasterian  plan  have  already  been  established  at  some  of  our  stations,  and  may  be  expected 
 to  spread  in  various  directions ; connected  with  these  an  Institution  of  the  nature  now  proposed  is 
 calculated  to  complete  the  system,  and  by  affording  to  the  higher  classes  a participation  in  the 
 general  progress  of  improvement,  to  raise  them  in  a corresponding  degree,  and  thus  preserve  and 
 cement  the  natural  relations  of  society.  After  what  has  been  said,  it  is  needless  to  enlarge  on  the 
 more  obvious  and  striking  advantages  which  must  result  from  the  general  diffusion  of  knowledge 
 among  the  people  so  situated.  The  natural  and  certain  effect  must  be  the  improvement  of  their 
 condition,  and  a consequent  advancement  in  civilization  and  happiness.  The  weakness  of  the 
 chiefs  is  an  evil  which  has  been  long  felt  and  acknowledged  in  these  countries,  and  to  cultivate  and 
 improve  their  intellectual  powers  seems  to  be  the  most  effectual  remedy.  They  will  duly  appreci- 
 ate the  benefit  conferred,  and  while  it  must  inevitably  tend  to  attach  them  more  closely  to  us,  we 
 shall  find  our  recompence  in  the  stability  of  their  future  authority,  and  the  general  security  and 
 good  order  which  must  be  the  result. 
 
 There  are,  however,  some  results  of  a more  distant  and  speculative  nature,  which  it  is  impossi- 
 ble to  pass  over  unnoticed.  These  relate  more  particularly  to  the  eventual  abolition  of  slavery, 
 the  modification  of  their  more  objectionable  civil  institutions,  particularly  those  relating  to  debts 
 and  marriages,  and  the  discontinuance  of  the  horrid  practices  of  cannibalism  and  man-hunting,  but 
 too  prevalent  among  some  of  the  more  barbarous  tribes,  as  the  Battas  and  Alfoors. 
 
 It  is  almost  unnecessary  to  state,  that  slavery  is  not  only  tolerated  and  acknowledged  by  the 
 Malay  law,  but  until  recently  it  was  openly  encouraged  by  the  chief  European  authority  in  these 
 seas.  Batavia  for  the  last  two  centuries  has  been  the  principal  and  fatal  mart  to  which  the  majority 
 were  carried,  and  the  islands  of  Bali,  Celebes,  and  Nias,  are  the  countries  whence  the  supplies  were 
 principally  procured.  Many  thousands  of  the  victims  of  this  lawless  traffic  were  annually  obtained 
 in  much  the  same  manner  as  on  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  the  trade  has  always  been  a very  profitable 
 one  and  the  principal  support  of  piracy.  While  the  British  were  in  possession  of  Java,  the  act  of 
 Parliament  declaring  the  trade  felony  on  the  part  of  its  own  subjects  was  made  a colonial  law  ; this 
 prohibition  does  not  appear  to  have  been  repealed,  and  much  benefit  may  be  anticipated  from  the 
 Batavian  Government  not  sanctioning  the  practice  by  its  authority.  But  when  we  consider  the 
 extent  and  varied  interests  of  the  Archipelago,  the  number  of  slaves  still  in  Java,  and  the  right 
 which  every  Mahomedan  exercises,  according  to  his  ability,  of  converting  or  reducing  to  slavery 
 every  unbeliever  he  meets  with,  the  extent  of  the  population  still  unconverted,  and  the  sanction 
 given  to  slavery  by  the  Malay  custom,  we  can  only  look  for  the  complete  remedy  of  the  evil  by  the 
 
 7 
 
EDUCATION. 
 
 3.5 
 
 extension  of  our  influence  among  the  native  states,  and  the  eflects  which  a better  education  may 
 produce  on  the  Chiefs. 
 
 Throughout  the  greater  part  of  the  Eastern  states  the  Mahomedan  law  has  never  been 
 adopted  in  its  full  extent.  In  some  it  has  been  blended  with  the  original  customs  and  institutions, 
 and  in  others  not  introduced  at  all.  The  laws  regarding  debts  and  marriages  are  peculiarly  illus- 
 trative of  this,  and  however  in  principle  they  may  have  been  applicable  to  a former  state  of  society, 
 are  now  in  practice  found  to  be  in  many  places  highly  oppressive  and  injurious  to  the  increase  of 
 population.  The  fact  is  fully  exemplified  in  the  vicinity  of  Bencoolen,  where  a large  portion  of  the 
 population  is  reduced  to  a state  little  better  than  that  of  actual  slavery  on  account  of  debts,  and  fully 
 one-fourth  of  the  marriageable  females  remain  in  a state  of  celibacy  from  the  obstacles  which  their 
 customs  oppose  to  marriage.  The  former  arises  from  the  custom  which  gives  the  creditor  an  un- 
 limited right  over  the  services  of  the  debtor  for  any  sum  however  small ; in  many  cases  the  family 
 and  relations  of  the  debtor  are  further  liable  in  the  same  manner.  In  the  case  of  marriage  it  may 
 be  observed  that  the  daughters  are  considered  to  form  a part  of  the  property  of  the  father,  and  are 
 only  to  be  purchased  from  him  by  the  suitor  at  a price  exceeding  the  usual  means  of  the  men.  The 
 effects  of  education  may  be  expected  to  be  felt  in  the  gradual  modification  and  improvement  of  these 
 institutions,  especially  if  aided  by  our  influence  and  example.  However  attached  the  natives  may 
 be  to  the  principles  on  which  these  institutions  are  founded,  experience  has  proved  that  they  are 
 by  no  means  unwilling  to  modify  them  in  practice,  on  conviction  that  they  are  injurious  in  tendency. 
 In  a recent  instance,  they  readily  agreed  to  lower  the  price  paid  for  wives,  on  the  advantage  of  such 
 a measure  being  urged  and  explained  to  them. 
 
 On  the  subject  of  the  barbarous  practices  alluded  to  as  common  among  the  wilder  tribes,  it 
 may  be  sufficient  for  the  present  purpose  to  state  that  the  Battas,  a numerous  people  having  a lan- 
 guage and  written  character  peculiar  to  themselves,  and  inhabiting  a large  portion  of  the  northern 
 part  of  Sumatra,  are  universally  addicted  to  the  horrid  practice  of  devouring  the  flesh  of  their 
 enemies  whom  they  take  in  battle ; and  that  many  tribes  of  the  Dayaks  of  Borneo,  and  the  Alfoors 
 of  the  further  East,  are  addicted  to  the  practice  of  man-hunting,  solely  for  the  purpose  of  presenting 
 the  bleeding  head  as  an  offering  to  their  mistresses.  A man  is  considered  honourable  according  to 
 the  number  of  heads  he  has  thus  procured,  and  by  the  custom  of  the  country  such  an  offering  is  an 
 indispensable  preliminary  to  marriage.  It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  our  schools  will  have  any 
 direct  or  immediate  influence  on  people  where  such  practices  are  prevalent ; but  indirectly  and 
 eventually,  as  the  Chiefs  of  the  more  civilized  states  in  their  neighbourhood  acquire  power  and 
 stability,  they  may  be  expected  gradually  to  be  brought  under  their  influence  and  subjected  to  the 
 restraints  of  a better  state  of  society. 
 
 From  this  it  will  appear,  how  much  more  extensive  are  the  advantages  to  be  obtained  from 
 educating  the  higher  classes,  to  whom  alone  we  can  look  for  effectually  promoting  the  progress  of 
 improvement  among  the  lower  orders,  and  for  extending  the  benefits  of  civilization  to  the  barbarous 
 tribes  who  would  otherwise  be  entirely  beyond  the  sphere  of  our  influence,  than  could  be  obtained 
 from  any  scheme  which  should  reverse  the  order,  and  commence  instruction  from  the  bottom  rather 
 than  the  top  of  the  scale.  In  every  country  the  lights  of  knowledge  and  improvement  have 
 commenced  with  the  higher  orders  of  society,  and  have  been  diffused  from  thence  dowmwards.  No 
 plan  can  be  expected  to  succeed  which  shall  reverse  this  order,  and  attempt  to  propagate  them 
 in  an  opposite  direction ; and  more  especially  in  countries  where  the  influence  of  the  Chiefs,  from 
 the  natmre  of  the  government,  must  always  be  considerable. 
 
 In  affording  to  such  of  the  Chinese  as  are  settled  in  the  islands  a participation  in  the  benefits 
 
 e 2 
 
33 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 of  this  Institution,  the  richer  classes  are  particularly  adverted  to.  Many  of  these,  if  not  possessed 
 of  the  advantages  of  birth,  have  raised  themselves  by  their  talents  to  opulence  and  a respectable 
 rank  in  society.  These  men  at  present  frequently  send  their  sons  to  China  for  education,  for  want 
 of  an  Institution  of  this  nature  which  would  supersede  the  necessity.  A recent  establishment  of 
 the  kind  has  been  formed  at  Malacca,  under  the  superintendance  of  an  enlightened  missionary,  and 
 a branch  of  it  is  already  extended  to  Singapore.  It  has  been  attended  with  considerable  success, 
 but  must  necessarily  be  limited  in  its  operation  by  its  more  immediate  and  direct  object  beino-  that 
 of  religious  conversion.  The  rapid  acquisition  of  the  Chinese  language  which  has  been  the  conse- 
 quence of  this  establishment,  and  the  numerous  tracts  which  have  been  issued  from  its  press  in 
 that  language,  give  the  institution  much  interest,  and  the  means  which  have  thus  been  afforded  of 
 opening  what  may  be  termed  a literary  intercourse  with  this  peculiar  people  are  gradually  increas- 
 ing. The  advantage  of  extending  the  plan  on  a broader  and  more  general  principle  is  acknowledged 
 by  those  under  whom  it  is  conducted,  and  they  may  be  expected,  if  not  to  combine  their  labours 
 with  the  plan  now  proposed,  at  least  to  give  it  all  the  aid  in  their  power.  The  expense  of  this 
 branch  of  the  Institution  will  probably  be  borne  principally  by  the  Chinese  themselves,  who  are 
 w'ealthy  enough  to  do  so,  and  are  sufficiently  aware  of  the  advantages  of  education. 
 
 Having  now  shewn  the  extent  and  objects  of  the  proposed  Institution,  the  field  presented  for 
 its  operation,  and  pointed  out  some  of  the  advantages  which  may  be  expected  to  result,  it  will  be 
 sufficient  in  conclusion  to  remark,  that  the  progress  of  every  plan  of  improvement  on  the  basis  of 
 education  must  be  slow  and  gradual ; its  effects  are  silent  and  unobtrusive,  and  the  present  genera- 
 tion will  probably  pass  away  before  they  are  fully  felt  and  appreciated.  Few  nations  have  made 
 much  advance  in  civilization  by  their  own  unassisted  endeavours,  and  none  have  risen  suddenly 
 from  barbarism  to  refinement.  The  experience  of  the  world  informs  us  that  education  affords  the 
 only  means  of  effecting  any  considerable  amelioration,  or  of  expanding  the  powers  of  the  human 
 mind.  In  estimating  the  results  of  any  scheme  of  the  kind  the  advantages  must  always  be  in  a 
 gi'eat  measure  speculative,  and  dependant  on  the  concurrence  of  a variety  of  circumstances  which 
 cannot  be  foreseen.  This  is  admitted  to  apply  with  its  full  force  to  the  Institution  in  question; 
 but  when  it  is  considered  that  education  affords  the  only  reasonable  and  efficient  means  of  improv- 
 ing the  condition  of  those  who  are  so  much  lower  than  ourselves  in  the  scale  of  civilization,  that 
 the  want  of  this  improvement  is  no  where  more  sensibly  felt  than  in  the  field  before  us,  and  that 
 the  proposed  plan  has  the  double  object  of  obtaining  information  ourselves,  and  affording  instruc- 
 tions to  others,  it  will  be  allowed  to  be  at  least  calculated  to  assist  in  objects  which  are  not  only 
 important  to  our  national  interests,  but  honourable  and  consistent  with  our  national  character. 
 The  outlay  proposed  is  moderate,  when  considered  even  with  reference  to  the  immediate  advan- 
 tages, to  say  nothing  of  those  which  are  of  a more  remote  and  speculative  nature.  One  single 
 family  of  rank  raised  into  importance  and  energy  by  means  of  the  proposed  Institution,  may 
 abundantly  repay  our  labour  by  the  establishment  of  a better  order  of  society  in  its  neighbourhood, 
 by  the  example  it  may  set,  and  by  the  resources  of  the  country  it  may  develope.  M e are  not 
 plodding  on  a barren  soil,  and  while  the  capacity  of  the  people  for  improvement  is  acknowledged, 
 the  inexhaustible  riches  of  the  country  are  no  less  universally  admitted. 
 
 If  we  consider,  also,  that  it  is  in  a great  measure  to  the  influence  of  Europeans,  and  to  the 
 ascendency  they  have  acquired  in  these  seas,  that  the  decline  of  the  people  in  wealth  and  civiliza- 
 tion is  to  be  ascribed,  and  that  the  same  causes  have  contributed  to  take  away  the  means  of 
 instruction  they  formerly  possessed,  it  is  almost  an  act  of  duty  and  justice  to  endeavour  to  repair 
 the  injury  done  them.  The  British  influence  in  these  seas  is  already  hailed  as  bringing  freedom 
 
EDUCATION. 
 
 37 
 
 to  commerce,  and  support  to  the  independence  of  the  native  states  ; and  shall  we  not  also  afford 
 them  the  means  of  reaping  the  fruits  of  these  blessings?  Of  what  use  will  it  be  to  protect  the 
 persons  and  raise  the  wealth  and  independence  of  these  people,  if  we  do  not  also  cultivate  and 
 expand  their  minds  in  the  same  proportion  ? Besides  the  inducements  of  humanity,  besides  the 
 consideration  of  what  is  due  to  our  national  character,  shall  we  not  best  preserve  the  tranquillity  of 
 these  countries  and  the  freedom  and  safety  of  our  own  intercourse,  by  improving  their  moral  and 
 intellectual  condition  ? Shall  we  not  bind  them  to  us  by  the  firmest  of  all  ties,  and  build  an  empire 
 on  the  rock  of  opinion,  where  we  neither  wish  nor  seek  for  it  on  any  other  principle  ? 
 
 It  may  be  urged,  that  the  Institution  here  proposed  is  too  limited  in  its  extent,  and  too  inade- 
 quate in  its  means  to  embrace  the  vastness  of  the  object  contemplated.  It  may  be  said,  is  the 
 improvement  of  so  many  millions  of  the  human  race  to  be  effected,  and  the  light  of  knowledge 
 diffused  over  such  extensive  regions  by  means  so  simple  ? The  objection  is  in  some  respects 
 just:  an  establishment  on  a much  more  extended  scale  would  certainly  have  been  desirable, 
 but  many  obstacles  have  presented  themselves  to  the  immediate  adoption  of  any  very  expensive 
 plan. 
 
 The  object  has  been  to  bring  it  to  the  very  lowest  scale  consistent  with  efficiency,  in  order  to 
 avoid  the  chance  of  failure  were  too  much  attempted  in  the  beginning.  Voluntary  endowments 
 are  what  such  institutions  must  depend  on  for  support ; but  it  has  appeared  unadvisable  to  com- 
 mence a plan  of  this  kind  in  a remote  quarter  of  the  world,  where  its  advantages  are  not  yet  fully 
 comprehended,  on  any  uncertain  calculation  which  might  risk  its  success.  A centre  or  nucleus  is 
 wanting  which  shall  be  placed  on  a footing  beyond  the  reach  of  contingencies  or  accidents ; and 
 the  support  of  government  is  necessary,  in  the  first  instance,  to  give  stability  and  security  to  the 
 infant  institution : this  once  established,  there  can  be  little  doubt  of  its  extension  in  proportion  as 
 the  benefits  become  more  and  more  apparent.  The  noblest  institutions  of  mankind  have  arisen 
 from  small  beginnings,  and  where  the  principles  are  sound,  and  the  benefits  of  unequivocal  appli- 
 cation, such  a commencement  is  perhaps  better  than  one  of  more  boastful  pretensions. 
 
 The  object  at  present  has  been,  with  the  least  pretension  to  commence  an  Institution  which 
 shall  continue  to  grow  and  extend  itself  in  proportion  to  the  benefit  it  affords.  A situation  has 
 been  chosen  the  most  advantageous  for  this  purpose,  from  whence,  as  a centre,  its  influence  may 
 be  diffused  and  its  sphere  gi-adually  extended,  until  it  at  length  embrace  even  the  whole  of  that 
 wide  field  whose  nature  has  already  been  shewn.  That  it  will  spread  may  be  considered  almost 
 beyond  a doubt.  We  know  the  readiness  and  aptness  of  the  people  to  receive  instruction ; we 
 know  that  they  have  had  similar  Institutions  of  their  own  in  happier  and  more  prosperous  times, 
 and  that  they  now  lament  the  want  of  them,  as  not  the  smallest  of  the  evils  that  has  attended  the 
 fall  of  their  power.  It  is  to  Britain  alone  that  they  can  look  for  the  restoration  of  these  advantages  . 
 she  is  now  called  upon  to  lay  the  foundation  stone,  and  there  is  little  doubt  that  this  once  done, 
 the  people  themselves  will  largely  contribute  to  rearing  and  completing  the  edifice. 
 
 But  it  is  not  to  remote  and  speculative  advantages  that  the  effect  of  such  an  Institution  will  be 
 confined ; while  the  enlightened  philanthropist  will  dw'ell  with  pleasure  on  that  part  of  the  pros- 
 pect, the  immediate  advantages  will  be  found  fully  proportionate.  To  afford  the  means  of  instruc- 
 tion in  the  native  languages  to  those  who  are  to  administer  our  affairs,  and  watch  over  our  interests 
 in  such  extensive  regions,  is  surely  no  trifling  or  unimportant  object.  In  promoting  the  interests 
 of  literature  and  science  not  less  will  be  its  effect.  To  Bengal,  where  inquiries  into  the  literature, 
 history,  and  customs  of  oriental  nations  have  been  prosecuted  wdth  such  success,  and  attended 
 with  such  important  results,  such  an  institution  will  prove  a powerful  auxiliary  in  extending  these 
 
38 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 inquiries  among  the  people  of  the  further  East.  Many  of  the  researches  already  begun  can  only 
 be  completed  and  perfected  on  this  soil ; and  they  will  be  forwarded,  on  the  present  plan,  by 
 collecting  the  scattered  remains  of  the  literature  of  these  countries,  by  calling  forth  the  literary 
 spirit  of  the  people  and  awakening  its  dormant  energies.  The  rays  of  intellect,  now  divided  and 
 lost,  will  be  concentrated  into  a focus,  from  whence  they  will  be  again  radiated  with  added  lustre, 
 brightened  and  strengthened  by  our  superior  lights.  Thus  will  our  stations  not  only  become  the 
 centres  of  commerce  and  its  luxuries,  but  of  refinement  and  the  liberal  arts.  If  commerce  brings 
 wealth  to  our  shores,  it  is  the  spirit  of  literature  and  philanthropy  that  teaches  us  how  to  employ  it 
 for  the  noblest  purposes.  It  is  this  that  has  made  Britain  go  forth  among  the  nations,  strong  in 
 her  native  might,  to  dispense  blessings  to  all  around  her.  If  the  time  shall  come  when  her  empire 
 shall  have  passed  away,  these  monuments  of  her  virtue  will  endure  when  her  triumphs  shall  have 
 become  an  empty  name.  Let  it  still  be  the  boast  of  Britain  to  write  her  name  in  characters  of 
 light ; let  her  not  be  remembered  as  the  tempest  whose  course  was  desolation,  but  as  the  gale  of 
 spring  reviving  the  slumbering  seeds  of  mind,  and  calling  them  to  life  from  the  winter  of  ignorance 
 and  oppression.  Let  the  Sun  of  Britain  arise  on  these  islands,  not  to  wither  and  scorch  them  in 
 its  fierceness,  but  like  that  of  her  own  genial  skies,  whose  mild  and  benignant  influence  is  hailed 
 and  blessed  by  all  who  feel  its  beams. 
 
SINGAPORE. 
 
 LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 PROCLAMATION, 
 
 By  the  Honourable  Sir  Thomas  Stamford  Raffles,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Fort  Marlbrd 
 
 and  its  dependencies. 
 
 Instances  having  occurred  in  which  the  orders  of  Government  have  been  misunderstood  or  not 
 properly  promulgated,  and  it  being  desirable  that  this  irregularity  should  be  prevented  for  the 
 futm'e,  and  that  a fixed  rule  be  laid  down  for  the  mode  in  which  such  orders  should  be  publicly 
 notified,  as  well  as  for  the  promulgation  of  whatever  general  Rules  and  Regulations  may  hereafter 
 become  necessary  for  the  order  and  good  government  of  the  Settlement ; 
 
 NOTICE  IS  HEREBY  GIVEN, 
 
 First,  That  all  orders  of  Government  from  and  after  this  date,  having  a general  application, 
 will  be  printed  for  public  information,  and  that  translations  thereof  in  the  Malay  language  will  be 
 affixed  in  convenient  stations,  to  be  selected  for  the  purpose.  It  will  be  the  duty  of  the  Registrar 
 to  see  that  whenever  they  have  reference  to  the  native  population,  the  native  officers  cause  the  same 
 to  be  truly  and  correctly  explained  and  made  known  throughout  their  respective  divisions. 
 
 Secondly,  That  for  the  present,  and  until  the  establishment  of  a regular  court  of  judicature,  all 
 Rules  and  Regulations  of  the  nature  of  legislative  provisions,  affecting  person  or  property,  shall  be 
 drawn  out  and  numbered  according  to  a regular  form,  to  be  printed,  translated,  and  published  as 
 above  directed ; the  originals  thereof  being  deposited  in  the  Registrar’s  office,  for  public  reference 
 when  necessary.  The  mode  in  which  the  Resident  shall  be  assisted  with  advice  in  the  enactment 
 of  such  Regulations  will  be  hereafter  made  known.  In  the  mean  time,  and  during  the  residence 
 of  the  Lieutenant-Governor  at  Singapore,  all  general  Regulations  of  this  nature  will  be  published 
 under  his  signature,  and  have  the  force  of  law  from  the  date  of  their  being  registered. 
 
 Regulation,  No.  1,  entitled  “a  Regulation  for  the  Registry  of  Land,”  will  this  day  be  pub- 
 lished according  to  the  form  prescribed. 
 
 Dated  at  Singapore,  this  1st  day  of  January,  1823. 
 
 (Signed)  T.  S.  RAFFLES. 
 
40 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 REGULATION,  No.  I,  OF  1823. 
 
 A Regulation  for  the  Registry  of  Land  at  Singapore. 
 
 It  being  expedient  for  the  protection  of  property  and  the  prevention  of  disputes  hereafter,  that 
 a general  register  should  be  kept  of  all  appropriations  of  land,  as  well  as  of  the  transfer,  mortgage, 
 or  disposal  of  immoveable  property  in  general,  the  Honourable  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Fort 
 Marlbro’  and  its  dependencies  has  this  day  been  pleased  to  pass  the  following  Rules  and  Regula- 
 tions, to  have  effect  from  this  date. 
 
 1.  That  an  office  be  forthwith  established  for  the  registry  of  land,  and  conducted  by  a respon- 
 sible officer  of  Government,  to  be  termed  Registrar. 
 
 2.  That  all  appropriated  land  in  the  Island  of  Singapore,  and  its  immediate  dependencies, 
 whether  retained  by  the  Sultan  or  Tumungung,  or  ceded  to  the  British  Government,  be  registered 
 in  the  said  office. 
 
 3.  That  the  land  retained  by  their  Flighnesses  the  Sultan  and  Tumungung  be  not  considered 
 .as  tranferable,  or  to  be  appropriated  otherwise  than  for  their  own  benefit  or  that  of  their  families 
 and  immediate  dependants ; and  all  British  subjects  are  forbidden  to  have  any  dealings  therein. 
 
 4.  That  all  grants  by  the  British  Government  be  made  in  conformity  to  public  notification, 
 under  the  signature  of  the  chief  authority,  and  according  to  the  forms  this  day  approved  and  esta- 
 blished for  the  Registrar’s  Office. 
 
 5.  That  all  applications  for,  or  relating  to  land,  be  made  to  the  Resident  through  this  Office  ; 
 and  whenever  land  is  appropriated  by  Government,  it  be  the  duty  of  the  Registrar  to  issue 
 the  grants. 
 
 G.  That  no  title  will  be  admitted  to  any  land  which  may  not  be  regularly  granted,  or  for  which 
 the  party  may  not  have  obtained  a previous  certificate  from  the  Registi-ar’s  office,  authorizing  him 
 to  clear  according  to  the  prescribed  forms. 
 
 7.  That  no  alteration  of  the  original  register  of  any  land  be  made  without  the  express  authority 
 of  the  Resident,  made  known  by  public  notification  under  his  signature. 
 
 8.  That  all  persons  at  present  in  the  occupation  of  land  are  required  to  report  the  particulars  of 
 the  same,  and  apply  for  a grant  thereof  on  or  before  the  1st  of  February  next  ensuing,  in  failure 
 of  which  they  will  be  considered  to  have  forfeited  all  claim  thereto. 
 
 9.  That  the  quit-rents  on  all  grants  be  payable  on  the  1st  of  January  in  each  year,  whatever 
 may  have  been  the  date  of  the  grant. 
 
 10.  That  a separate  Register  be  opened  in  this  office  for  registering  all  deeds  of  transfer  of 
 land,  houses,  &c.  whether  by  sale,  mortgage,  or  otherwise,  and  no  transfers  will  be  recognized 
 unless  they  are  so  registered. 
 
 11.  That  all  such  deeds  of  transfer  be  registered  within  one  month  after  date,  unless  the  delay 
 is  proved  to  have  been  unavoidable. 
 
 12.  That  the  Registrar  be  entitled  to  demand  for  his  own  benefit  a fee  of  one  Spanish  dollar  on 
 the  Registry  of  each  grant  and  on  each  subsequent  transfer  that  may  pass  through  his  Office. 
 
 13.  That  these  Rules  and  Regulations  be  considered  as  provisional,  until  they  may  be  con- 
 firmed by  the  Governor  General  in  Council  of  Fort  William. 
 
 Dated  and  promulgated  at  Singapore,  this  1st  day  of  January,  1823. 
 
 (Signed)  T.  S.  RAFFLES. 
 
 Registered, 
 
 G.  Bonham,  Registrar. 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 41 
 
 REGULATION,  No.  II.  of  1823. 
 
 A Regulation  for  the  Port  of  Singapore. 
 
 The  port  of  Singapore  is  a free  port,  and  the  trade  thereof  is  open  to  ships  and  vessels  of  every 
 nation  free  of  duty,  equally  and  alike  to  all. 
 
 The  subsidiary  Rules  under  these  Regulations  were  revised  on  the  29th  August  1823,  as  follows : 
 
 Provisional  Regulations  for  the  Port  of  Singapore. 
 
 1 . The  arrivals  of  all  ships  and  vessels  shall  be  immediately  reported  to  the  Master-Attendant 
 in  the  ordinary  Report-Book,  and  afterwards  by  the  Commander,  in  person,  at  the  Master- 
 Attendant’s  office,  as  soon  as  the  vessel  shall  have  anchored. 
 
 2.  The  intended  departure  of  any  ship  or  vessel  shall  be  reported  to  the  Master-Attendant, 
 twenty-four  hours  previous  to  her  sailing ; except  in  cases  of  emergency,  w hich  will  be  deter- 
 mined by  the  Resident. 
 
 3.  Commanders  of  all  vessels  are  requested  to  deliver,  when  boarded  by  the  Master- Attendant’s 
 boat,  all  letters,  packets,  and  despatches  for  the  Settlement,  and  to  receive  and  furnish  a receipt 
 for  Post-office  packets  which  may  be  sent  on  board  on  their  departure. 
 
 4.  With  a view  of  affording  an  authentic  record  of  the  progress  of  the  trade  of  the  Settlement, 
 all  Commanders  of  European  or  square-rigged  vessels,  are  required  to  give  in,  on  honour,  before 
 sailing,  to  the  Master-Attendant,  an  accurate  specification  of  the  goods  imported  and  exported  by 
 them ; such  statement  to  be  sealed,  and  not  opened  until  the  vessels  shall  have  quitted  the  port. 
 To  facilitate  this  operation,  the  Master- Attendant  will  supply  the  Commanders  with  proper  forms. 
 
 5.  With  the  same  objects  in  view,  a verbal  statement  of  the  import  and  export  cargoes  of 
 native  vessels  shall  be  given  in  by  their  Commanders. 
 
 6.  After  reporting  at  the  Master-Attendant’s  office  on  their  arrival,  and  immediately  previous 
 to  their  sailing,  all  Commanders  of  European  or  square-rigged  vessels  are  required  to  wait  on  the 
 sitting  Magistrate,  and  supply  him  with  a list  of  the  passengers  intend  ng  to  remain  at  or  depart 
 from  this  Settlement. 
 
 7.  All  vessels,  European  and  native,  will  promptly  receive  a port-clearance  on  application  to  the 
 Master- Attendant’s  office,  and  such  port-clearance  will  be  given  without  fee  or  charge. 
 
 8.  All  cargo-boats  shall  be  regularly  admeasured,  numbered,  and  registered  in  the  Master- 
 Attendant’s  office,  and  each  boat  shall  have  marked  upon  her  bow  her  number  and  her  tonnage. 
 
 9.  All  cargo-boats  shall  be  supplied  with  good  and  sufficient  covering,  adequate  to  protect  the 
 goods  from  damage. 
 
 10.  The  following  shall  be  the  maximum  for  charges  taken  for  boat-hire,  wooding,  watering, 
 and  ballasting,  for  ships  touching  at  the  port,  and  whose  stay  does  not  exceed  forty-eight  hours,  as 
 well  as  in  all  other  cases,  where  no  previous  arrangement  or  contract  is  made ; — 
 
 Boat-hire,  68  cents  of  a hard  Spanish  dollar  per  coyaij  of  40  pecul. 
 
 For  a return  boat,  34  cents,  do.  do. 
 
 Firewood  per  1000  billets,  (of  18  cattin  per  billet)  hard  Spanish  dollars,  with  a propor- 
 tional price  if  the  billet  is  larger  or  smaller. 
 
 Firewood,  boat-hire  included,  8J  do.  do.  do. 
 
 Ballast  (sand)  per  coyan,  including  boat-hire,  80  cents, 
 do.  (stone)  do.  do.  90  cents. 
 
 Water  if  with  ship’s  casks,  112  cents  per  ton,  including  boat-hire, 
 do.  when  ship’s  casks  are  not  used,  100  cents. 
 
 f 
 
42 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 11.  The  business  of  supplying  wood,  water,  and  ballast  for  ships,  and  the  employment  for  cargo- 
 boats,  shall  not  be  considered  subject  to  any  official  restraint  or  regulation  beyond  those  already 
 mentioned;  and  the  mediation  and  assistance  of  the  officers  of  Government  with  regard  to  them  is 
 deemed,  in  the  present  advanced  state  of  the  trade  of  the  port,  no  longer  necessary. 
 
 12.  Nothing  contained  in  these  regulations  shall  be  construed  to  operate  against  the  most 
 perfect  liberty  to  ships  to  wood,  water,  and  ballast  with  their  own  boats. 
 
 These  Regulations  to  have  effect  from  the  1st  September. 
 
 Singapore,  29th  August,  1823. 
 
 (Signed)  T.  S.  RAFFLES. 
 
 Registered, 
 
 G.  Bonham,  Registrar. 
 
 REGULATION,  No.  III.  of  1823. 
 
 A Regulation  for  the  Establishment  of  a Provisional  Magistracy  and  the  Enforcement  of  a 
 due  and  efficient  Police  at  Singapore,  with  certain  Provisions  for  the  Administration  of 
 Justice  in  Cases  of  Emergency. 
 
 POLICE. 
 
 The  extent  of  population  and  capital  already  accumulated  at  Singapore  requiring  an  immediate 
 provision  for  the  preservation  of  order  and  the  protection  of  person  and  property,  the  Lieutenant- 
 Governor  is  pleased,  with  the  concurrence  of  their  Highnesses  the  Sultan  and  Tumungung,  to 
 establish  the  following  provisional  Regulations  for  the  department  of  Police ; which  being  conso- 
 nant with  British  principles,  and  adapted,  as  far  as  consistent,  to  the  usages  of  the  native  settlers, 
 seem  best  calculated  to  meet  the  existing  circumstances  cf  the  Settlement. 
 
 MAGISTRATES. 
 
 1.  The  names  of  the  several  British  inhabitants  of  interest  and  respect  in  the  Settlement,  and 
 who  may  be  considered  competent  to  act  as  Magistrates,  shall  be  enrolled  in  a list  to  be  formed 
 for  the  purpose,  from  which  the  chief  authority  will,  on  or  before  the  1st  February,  1st  ISIay, 
 1st  August,  and  1st  November  in  each  year,  select  three  gentlemen  in  rotation,  to  be  commissioned 
 to  act  as  Magistrates,  for  the  preservation  of  the  peace  and  the  maintenance  of  an  efficient  police 
 during  the  ensuing  quarter. 
 
 2.  Of  the  three  Magistrates  so  commissioned  for  the  quarter,  each  shall  in  turn  act  as  sitting 
 Magistrate  for  the  week  or  month,  and  the  three  Magistrates  collectively  shall,  once  in  the  quarter, 
 at  the  least,  or  as  often  as  occasion  may  require,  hold  a meeting,  of  the  nature  of  quarter-sessions, 
 for  the  hearing  and  deciding  of  cases  which  may  exceed  the  authority  of  a single  Magistrate,  and 
 doing  all  such  things  as  are  usually  done  at  quarter-sessions  in  England,  as  far  as  the  object  and 
 nature  of  that  institution  can  be  considered  applicable  to  the  circumstances  of  this  Settlement. 
 
 3.  The  authority  of  the  Magistrates  who  may  be  commissioned  under  this  Regulation  is  to  be 
 considered  the  same  as  Justices  of  the  Peace  in  England  ; with  this  reservation,  that  whenever  it 
 may  become  necessary  to  commit  a British-born  subject,  except  in  flagrante  delictu,  or  to  affect 
 his  person  or  property,  the  warrant  be  countersigned  by  the  chief  local  Authority. 
 
 4.  The  jurisdiction  of  the  Magistrates  will  extend  over  all  descriptions  of  persons  resorting 
 under  the  British  flag ; but  for  the  present,  as  the  military  are  subject  to  another  tribunal,  this 
 class  is  not  to  be  considered  as  falling  under  their  immediate  cognizance,  unless  in  cases  specially 
 
 2 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 43 
 
 referred  to  them  by  the  Resident  or  commanding  officer : and  in  all  cases  where  the  followers  of 
 their  Highnesses  the  Sultan  and  Tumungung  are  concerned,  due  respect  must  be  paid  to  those 
 independent  Authorities,  and  a reference  made  to  the  Resident,  for  advice  as  to  the  mode  of  pro- 
 cedure to  be  pursued. 
 
 5.  In  cases  where  the  crews  of  vessels  are  concerned,  or  in  which  the  convenience  of  the 
 port  or  the  superintendence  of  the  Master-Attendant  is  in  any  way  connected,  that  officer  will  act 
 in  concert  with  the  Magistrates,  taking  his  seat  in  his  magisterial  capacity  with  the  sitting  Magis- 
 tiate  or  the  Magistrates  assembled  in  quarter-sessions,  as  the  case  may  be. 
 
 6.  For  the  adjustment  of  small  debts,  the  Magistrates  are  empowered  to  decide  in  a summary 
 manner  in  all  cases  of  debt  that  may  be  brought  before  them,  where  the  demand  may  not  exceed 
 fifty  dollars,  if  brought  before  the  sitting  Magistrate  only,  or  one  hundred  dollars  if  brought  before 
 two  or  more  Magistrates  assembled  in  sessions : the  proceedings  of  the  Magistrates,  in  such  cases, 
 being  conformable  to  the  practice  of  Courts  of  Conscience  or  Requests,  and  an  appeal  to  a higher 
 Authority  being  allowed  under  certain  restrictions. 
 
 7.  The  high  opinion  which  the  Lieutenant-Governor  entertains  of  the  intelligence  and  respec- 
 tability of  the  gentlemen  whose  names  may  be  first  enrolled  to  serve  as  Magistrates  under  this 
 Regulation,  renders  it  unnecessary  for  him  to  frame  any  detailed  instructions  for  their  guidance  in 
 the  exercise  of  the  important  duty  about  to  be  entrusted  to  them.  Such  general  rules  of  a local 
 nature  as  may  appear  most  important  to  be  attended  to  on  the  first  establishment  of  this  jurisdic- 
 tion, and  for  the  Court  of  Requests,  will  be  this  day  approved ; and  for  the  rest,  the  Magistrates 
 will  follow  the  course  of  the  British  magistracy,  as  far  as  local  circumstances  admit,  avoiding  legal 
 technicalities  and  unnecessary  forms  as  much  as  possible,  and  executing  the  duties  of  their  office 
 with  temper  and  discretion,  according  to  the  best  of  their  judgment  and  conscience,  and  the  prin- 
 ciples of  substantial  justice. 
 
 NATIVE  CHIEFS. 
 
 8 Subordinate  to  the  Magistrates  there  shall  further  be  appointed  one  Native  Captain  or 
 Head-man,  with  one  or  more  Lieutenants  or  Assistants,  over  each  principal  class  of  the  native 
 inhabitants,  who  will  be  invested  with  especial  authority  over  such  class,  and  held  responsible  for 
 the  general  conduct  of  the  same. 
 
 9.  These  Captains  or  Head  men,  with  the  assistance  of  their  Lieutenants,  when  necessary, 
 will  have  the  power  of  adjusting  and  settling  all  disputes  which  may  happen  among  the  people  of 
 their  respective  classes,  an  appeal  lying  to  the  Magistrates  where  the  amount  of  property  concerned 
 may  exceed  ten  dollars. 
 
 10.  'I'he  Captains  or  Head-men  being  held  responsible  for  the  police  of  their  respective 
 classes,  they  are  empowered  to  call  upon  the  members  thereof  to  keep  watch  in  rotation,  and  to 
 exercise  such  subordinate  duties  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  establishment  of  a well  organized  and 
 efficient  police. 
 
 11.  General  instructions  for  the  guidance  of  these  officers  have  been  this  day  approved,  and  it 
 will  be  the  duty  of  the  Magistrates  to  see  that  they  are  duly  and  strictly  attended  to. 
 
 12.  The  Magistrates  will  be  assisted  by  a moderate  establishment,  to  be  paid  by  Government, 
 consisting  of  one  head  Officer  of  Police  and  Clerk  to  the  Magistrates,  and  a certain  number  of 
 Peons ; and  all  contributions  from  the  inhabitants,  whether  voluntary  or  otherwise,  for  the  support 
 of  the  Police,  are  to  cease  from  this  date. 
 
 f 2 
 
44 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 ADMINISTRATION  OF  JUSTICE. 
 
 1 . For  tlie  present,  and  until  the  establishment  of  a more  regular  court  for  the  hearing  and 
 trying  of  offences  and  the  adjustment  of  civil  suits,  where  the  amount  in  dispute  may  exceed  one 
 hundi’ed  dollars,  the  Resident,  as  chief  authority,  will  hold  a court  as  often  as  may  be  necessary, 
 assisted  by  their  Highnesses  the  Sultan  and  Tumungung,  where  natives  may  be  concerned. 
 
 2.  The  Assistant  to  the  Resident  will,  for  the  present,  act  as  Registrar  of  this  court  and 
 preserve  the  records  thereof. 
 
 3.  The  nile  to  be  observed  by  this  court  in  criminal  cases  where  natives  are  concerned  has 
 already  been  laid  down,  in  the  case  recently  tried  by  the  Lieutenant-Governor ; and  where  Euro- 
 peans, and  more  particularly  British  subjects,  are  concerned,  it  is  considered  that,  in  the  few  cases 
 likely  to  occur,  the  pai'ties  may  be  more  advantageously  transmitted  to  Penang  or  Bengal,  where 
 they  will  be  subject  to  a competent  jurisdiction. 
 
 4.  In  civil  cases,  where  the  amount  in  dispute  may  be  considerable,  the  court  will,  in  the  first 
 instance,  recommend  the  parties  to  adjust  their  differences  by  arbitration,  and  in  the  event  of  their 
 declining  to  do  so,  will  adopt  such  measures  as  shall  ensure  to  the  plaintiff  due  security  for  the 
 trial  of  the  case  in  a competent  court  elsewhere,  in  the  event  of  the  defendant  failing  to  come  to 
 a satisfactory  adjustment  on  the  spot. 
 
 5.  In  consequence  of  the  absence  of  legal  advice,  it  w ill  be  m the  power  of  the  court  to  reject 
 the  consideration  of  all  civil  cases  which  may  not  have  arisen  on  the  spot,  or  be  of  an  emergent 
 nature,  or  which  may  appear  to  involve  intricate  questions  of  law. 
 
 NOTARY  PUBLIC. 
 
 6.  The  Assistant  to  the  Resident  wdll,  in  his  capacity  of  Registrar  to  the  court,  be  authorized 
 to  take  down  depositions,  to  certify  protests  and  other  legal  documents,  and  to  do  all  such  other 
 things  for  the  public  convenience  as  usually  appertain  to  the  office  of  Notary  Public. 
 
 LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 7.  It  being  expedient  that  an  authority  should  exist  for  the  enactment,  from  time  to  time,  of 
 such  local  law's  and  regulations  as  the  cii’cumstances  of  the  Settlement  may  require,  the  Resident 
 is  empowered,  under  the  proclamation  of  the  1st  ultimo,  to  pass  such  Regulations  by  and  with  the 
 advice  of  the  Magistracy,  in  the  following  manner. 
 
 1st.  Such  Regulations  may  either  originate  with  the  Resident  or  the  Magistrates  for  the 
 quarter.  In  the  former  case,  the  Resident  will  submit  the  draft  of  the  same  to  the  Magistrates 
 previous  to  the  Regulation  being  passed,  for  their  opinion  and  observations  thereon ; and  in  the 
 event  of  any  difference  of  opinion  as  to  the  propriety  of  any  part  of  the  proposed  Regulation,  the 
 Resident  will  have  the  power  to  overrule  the  same,  and  to  pass  the  Regulation  provisionally ; but, 
 in  this  case,  the  objections  or  observations  of  the  Magistrates  are  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Governor- 
 General  in  Council  with  the  Regulation  so  passed. 
 
 2d.  In  cases  wherein  proposed  Regulations  may  originate  with  the  Magistrates,  they  will 
 collectively  address  the  Resident,  submitting  the  same  for  his  consideration,  and  the  Resident  w’ill 
 be  required  to  enter  on  the  immediate  consideration  thereof.  In  the  event  of  a difference  of 
 opinion  and  the  Resident  declining  to  enact  the  proposed  Regulation  within  three  months,  the 
 Magistrates  may  request  that  their  recommendation  be  transmitted  for  the  consideration  of  the 
 Governor-General  in  Council. 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 45 
 
 3d.  All  general  Regulations  enacted  by  the  Resident  after  this  manner,  and  according  to  the 
 form  prescribed,  are  to  be  forwarded  (with  the  objections  of  the  Magistrates  where  a difference  of 
 opinion  may  have  existed)  to  Bengal  by  the  first  opportunity  that  offers,  and  to  remain  provisionally 
 in  force  for  six  months  ; at  the  expiration  of  which  period,  if  the  Regulation  is  not  confirmed  by 
 the  Governor-General  in  Council,  the  same  is  to  be  void  and  of  no  effect. 
 
 4th.  It  is  of  course  to  be  understood,  that  the  regulations  to  be  enacted  under  this  authority 
 are  to  be  of  a local  nature,  and  in  no  way  inconsistent  with  any  known  British  law  or  usage. 
 
 5th.  This  Regulation  to  have  effect  from  and  after  the  15th  proximo,  and  to  be  considered  as 
 provisional  until  confirmed  by  the  Governor-General  in  Council,  or  until  such  time  as  a duly  con- 
 stituted Court  of  Judicature  may  be  established  for  Singapore. 
 
 Dated  at  Singapore,  this  20th  day  of  January,  1823. 
 
 (Signed)  T.  S.  RAFFLES. 
 
 Registered, 
 
 G.  Bonham,  Registrar. 
 
 REGULATION,  No.  IV.  of  1823. 
 
 A ^EGVi.x’Vio'ta  prohibiting  Gaming-Houses  and  Cockpits,  and  for  suppressing  the  vice  of 
 
 Gaming  at  Singapore. 
 
 The  practice  of  gaming  being  highly  destructive  to  the  morals  and  happiness  of  the  people, 
 and  it  being  inconsistent  with  the  principles  of  good  government  to  admit  of  public  gaming-houses 
 and  cockpits,  it  is  hereby  declared : 
 
 1.  That  no  public  gaming-house  or  cockpit  will  hereafter  be  tolerated  by  Government  under 
 any  circumstances,  or  for  any  consideration  whatever ; and  that,  from  and  after  this  date,  all  persons 
 are  strictly  prohibited  from  keeping  such  on  any  terms  or  pretence  whatsoever. 
 
 2.  That  any  persons  offending  against  this  Regulation,  or  who  may  be  proved  to  have  here- 
 after received  money,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  for  conducting  a gaming-table  or  cockpit,  shall 
 be  liable,  according  to  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  to  the  confiscation  of  a certain  amount  or  the 
 whole  of  his  property,  and  banished  from  the  Settlement  with  corporal  punishment,  at  the  discre- 
 tion of  the  court. 
 
 3.  That  the  house  or  building,  with  the  ground  on  which  it  stands,  in  which  it  may  be  proved 
 that  such  a gaming-table  or  cockpit  has  been  kept  shall  also  be  liable  to  confiscation. 
 
 4.  That  all  persons  who  may  be  detected  in  the  act  of  gaming  or  cock-fighting,  whether  at  a 
 gaming-table  or  not,  shall  be  taken  up  by  the  Magistrates,  and  punished  according  to  the  circum- 
 stances of  the  case. 
 
 5.  No  gaming  debts  can  be  enforced  by  the  winners;  but  in  all  cases  that  may  come  before 
 the  Magistrates  or  the  Resident  Court,  the  winners  will  be  compelled  to  restore  the  amount  to  the 
 losers. 
 
 6.  The  Magistrates  will  adopt  such  minor  regulations  in  the  department  of  Police,  as  they 
 may  deem  advisable  for  carrying  the  object  of  this  Regulation  into  effect,  and  for  suppressing  the 
 vice  of  gaming  as  far  as  possible,  without  trespassing  on  tlie  free  will  of  private  conduct,  as  long  as 
 it  may  not  be  injurious  to  society  in  general. 
 
46 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 This  Regulation  to  be  in  force  and  effect  from  tliis  date,  and  to  be  considered  as  provisional 
 until  confirmed  by  the  Governor-General  in  Council. 
 
 Singapore,  the  1st  May,  1823. 
 
 (Signed)  T.  S.  RAFFLES. 
 
 ExTRACxyrow?  the  Penal  Code  of  China  concerning  Gambling,  1823. 
 
 “ Whosoever  games  for  money  or  goods  shall  receive  eighty  blows  with  a cudgel  on  the 
 “ breech,  and  all  the  money  or  property  staked  shall  be  forfeited  to  Government.  He  who  opens 
 “ the  gaming-house,  although  he  does  not  gamble,  shall  suffer  the  same  punishment,  and  the 
 “ gaming-house  shall  be  confiscated.  If  Government  Officers  gamble,  their  punishment  shall  be 
 “ increased  one  degree.” 
 
 A subsequent  clause  enacts,  that  “ whoever  gambles,  whether  soldiers  or  people,  shall 
 “ wear  the  broad  heavy  wooden  collar  one  month,  and  be  cudgelled  with  one  hundred  blows.” 
 
 “ Those  who  set  up  an  occasional  gambling-house  and  harbour  gamblers,  shall,  together  with 
 “ the  head  gamblers  (if  not  numerous),  all  be  punished  by  wearing  the  wooden  collar  three 
 “ months,  &c.” 
 
 In  some  cases  the  parties  are  to  be  transported. 
 
 Registered, 
 
 G.  Bonham,  Registrar. 
 
 REGULATION,  No.  V.  of  1823. 
 
 A Regulation  for  the  Prevention  of  the  Slave  Trade  at  Singapore. 
 
 There  being  reason  to  apprehend,  that,  notwithstanding  the  solemn  prohibitions  of  the  Legis- 
 lature, individuals  have  been  imported  into  Singapore  since  the  establishment  of  the  British  autho- 
 rity, either  as  slaves  or  under  the  denomination  of  slave  debtors,  in  both  cases  bought  and  sold  for 
 a price  ; and  it  being  desirable  that  all  persons  resorting  to  or  residing  under  the  protection  of  the 
 British  flag  should  be  aware  of  the  prohibition  and  penalties  attending  such  illegal  transactions,  in 
 order  that  the  humane  and  just  objects  of  the  British  Government  may  not  be  lost  sight  of  or 
 frustrated,  either  from  ignorance  or  design,  the  following  Regulations,  which  are  to  have  the  effect 
 of  law,  are  this  day  passed  and  published  for  general  information  and  guidance. 
 
 SLAVES. 
 
 1.  The  Act  of  Parliament  prohibiting  the  slave  Kide  from  being  carried  on  with  any  British 
 colony  or  settlement,  or  by  any  British  subject,  having  been  passed  previously  to  the  establishment 
 of  the  British  settlement  of  Singapore,  the  provisions  of  the  said  Act  are  considered  to  be  in  force 
 in  this  Settlement,  and  to  apply  to  all  persons  who  may  have  obtained  a fixed  residence  aX  Singapore 
 since  the  establishment  of  the  British  Government. 
 
 2.  As  the  condition  of  slavery,  under  any  denomination  whatever,  cannot  be  recognized  within 
 the  jurisdiction  of  the  British  authority,  all  persons  who  may  have  been  so  imported,  transferred,  or 
 sold  as  slaves  or  slave  debtors,  since  the  2Gth  day  of  February,  1819,  are  entitled  to  claim  their 
 freedom,  on  application  to  the  Magistrates,  as  hereafter  provided  ; and  it  is  hereby  declared,  that  no 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 47 
 
 individual  can  hereafter  be  imported  for  sale,  transferred  or  sold  as  a slave  or  slave  debtor,  or  having 
 his  or  hev  fixed  residence  under  the  protection  of  the  British  authorities  at  Singapore,  can  hereafter 
 be  considered  or  treated  as  a slave,  under  any  denomination,  condition,  colour,  or  pretence 
 whatever. 
 
 3.  Hereafter,  a continued  residence  of  twelve  months  at  Singapore  shall  be  considered  to  con- 
 stitute a fixed  residence,  and  to  entitle  the  party  to  all  the  benefits  of  the  British  administration. 
 
 4.  In  order  to  prevent  inconvenience  or  misunderstanding  in  the  emancipation  of  those  who 
 may  have  been  imported  and  sold  as  slaves  or  slave  debtors  anterior  to  this  date,  and  at  the 
 same  time  to  shew  every  reasonable  indulgence  to  those  who  may  have  acted  in  ignorance  of  the 
 prohibitory  law,  the  Magistrates  are  required  to  make  inquiry  into,  and  record  the  particular  cir- 
 cumstances attending  the  case  of  each  individual  who  may  apply  for  his  or  her  emancipation  ; and 
 in  the  event  of  the  parties  being  of  tender  age,  and  unable  to  conduct  or  maintain  themselves,  the 
 Magistrates  are  empowered  to  bind  them  as  apprentices  to  respectable  and  responsible  persons, 
 giving  a preference  to  their  present  masters  if  unobjectionable  in  this  respect,  for  a period  not 
 exceeding  three  years,  or  until  they  shall  attain  the  age  of  thirteen  years.  In  the  event  of  the 
 parties  being  adults,  the  Magistrates  shall  further  be  empowered  to  require  them  to  render  their 
 personal  services  for  the  benefit  of  those  who  may  have  a just  claim  to  the  same,  for  a period  in  no 
 case  exceeding  three  years,  should  the  parties  freely  consent  thereto,  which  servitude  shall  be 
 considered  as  a complete  acquittal  for  the  expense  of  their  passage  hither,  which  is  the  only  legal 
 demand  that  can  be  admitted,  and  which  shall  be  in  full  of  all  demands  on  their  persons  whatever ; 
 but,  in  both  cases,  the  parties  are  to  be  forthivith  declared  free,  subject  only  to  the  condition  of 
 personal  servitude  on  contract  as  free  persons  for  a limited  period  as  aforesaid. 
 
 5.  There  having  been  few  or  no  slaves  at  Singapore  at  the  period  of  its  occupation  by  the 
 British  authorities,  and  their  Highnesses  the  Sultan  and  Tumungung  having  evinced  their  desire 
 to  aid  the  benevolent  objects  of  the  British  Government,  these  Regulations  are  considered  to  apply, 
 and  to  have  effect  upon  all  persons  who  are  now  or  may  hereafter  have  their  fixed  residence  at 
 Singapore : save  and  except  the  personal  establishments  of  their  Highnesses,  who  though  not  being 
 in  a condition  to  be  bought  and  sold,  are  nevertheless  registered  out  of  deference  to  their  autho" 
 rity,  as  not  coming  under  the  operation  of  the  slave  laws. 
 
 6.  In  order  to  prevent  annoyance  or  obstruction  to  the  ti'ade  of  the  port,  it  is  to  be  clearly 
 understood,  that  the  present  Regulations  are  not  intended  to  apply  to  the  domestic  establishments 
 of  native  Chiefs,  or  traders  who  may  occasionally  resort  to  this  port  and  not  fix  their  residence  under 
 the  protection  of  the  British  flag,  nor  to  the  crews  of  vessels  coming  from  foreign  ports,  further 
 than  to  prohibit  them  from  transferring  or  selling  persons  as  slaves  or  slave  debtors  in  this  Settle- 
 ment, and  provided  the  parties,  if  slaves,  may  not  obtain  a fixed  residence  by  residing  in  the 
 Settlement  for  upwards  of  twelve  months.  In  this  latter  case,  the  slaves,  though  nottrans- 
 ferred,  will  have  a right,  under  Article  2,  to  claim  their  freedom,  and  the  Magistrates  are 
 required  to  grant  the  same,  on  such  conditions  as  may  be  mutually  convenient  and  fair  between  the 
 parties. 
 
 7.  As  the  practice  of  purchasing  slaves  from  boats  as  slave  debtors  under  the  Mengheering 
 system,  and  paying  a price  for  them  as  such,  rendering  the  party  a debtor  for  the  amount,  can  only 
 be  considered  as  an  evasion  of  the  law,  and  equally  calculated  with  the  purchase  of  slaves  to 
 encourage  the  traffic  in  human  beings,  such  transactions  are  declared  to  be  illegal ; and  the  utmost 
 price  which  the  Noquedah  of  a vessel  is  entitled  to  demand  on  the  landing  of  any  such  person  shall 
 in  no  case  exceed  the  sum  of  twenty  dollars,  which  may  be  considered  as  an  equivalent  for  the 
 
48 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 passage-money  of  the  party,  and  who  may  be  bound  to  repay  tlie  same  by  his  services  under  the 
 rules  now  passed  for  bond  debtors- 
 
 BOND  DEBTORS, 
 
 8.  Experience  having  proved  that  the  system  of  slave  debtors,  as  practised  in  the  Malay  states, 
 is  inconsistent  with  that  freedom  of  the  subject  which  it  is  the  desire  of  the  British  Government  to 
 introduce,  the  same  will  not  be  recognized  after  this  date,  in  any  case  in  which  both  parties  may 
 not  be  Malays,  or  native  inhabitants  of  the  Malay  Aixhipelago.  But  with  the  view  of  providing 
 for  such  cases  as  may  occur,  in  which  it  may  be  lawful  to  give  the  creditor  a right  to  the  services 
 of  his  debtor,  the  following  rules  are  passed,  to  have  effect  from  this  date. 
 
 9.  As  it  frequently  happens  that  free  labourers  and  others  are  brought  from  China  and  else- 
 where as  passengers,  who  have  not  the  means  of  paying  for  their  passage,  and  under  the  expectation 
 that  individuals  resident  in  Singapore  will  advance  the  amount  of  it,  on  condition  of  receiving  the 
 sernces  of  tire  parties  for  a limited  period  in  compensation  thereof,  such  arrangements  are  not 
 deemed  objectionable,  provided  the  parties  are  landed  as  free  persons ; but  in  all  such  cases,  the 
 amount  to  be  paid  on  account  of  passage-money  or  otherwise  is  limited  to  twenty  dollars,  and  the 
 period  of  service  by  an  adult,  in  compensation  thereof,  shall  in  no  case  exceed  two  years,  and  every 
 such  engagement  shall  be  entered  into  with  the  free  consent  of  the  parties,  in  presence  of  a Magis- 
 trate, and  duly  registered.  In  cases  where  the  parties  may  be  of  tender  age,  the  Magistrates  may 
 apprentice  them  until  they  attain  the  age  of  puberty  ; but  in  no  cases  are  the  parties  to  be  burthened 
 with  a debt  exceeding  twenty  dollars,  for  which  amount  their  services,  during  the  period  above 
 stated,  shall  be  considered  as  a full  and  ample  compensation. 
 
 10.  In  all  cases  of  Mengheering  or  slave  debtors  which  may  come  before  the  British  courts, 
 the  claim  of  the  creditor  is  in  no  case  to  be  considered  to  exceed  the  services  of  the  debtor  for  a 
 period  of  five  years,  the  debt  being  considered  as  worked  out  at  the  rate  of  twenty  per  cent,  or  not 
 less  than  ten  dollars  per  annum. 
 
 11.  Hereafter,  all  agi’eements  for  personal  services  beyond  twelve  months,  are  required  to  be 
 entered  into  under  a bond  to  be  registered  at  the  Magistrate’s  Office ; the  bond  or  contract  specify- 
 ing the  services  to  be  rendered,  the  consideration  paid  for  the  same,  and  the  penalty  in  case  of 
 failure. 
 
 D2.  Hereafter,  no  contract  shall  be  legal  which  stipulates  for  a longer  period  of  service  than 
 five  years,  under  any  circumstances  or  for  any  consideration  whatever. 
 
 13.  The  parties  in  all  cases  who  may  so  contract  to  render  their  services  for  a valuable  con- 
 sideration, shall  lose  no  natural  rights  to  which  they  may  be  entitled  as  subjects  during  such  ser- 
 vitude, except  the  value  of  their  services,  for  wdiich  it  will  be  the  duty  of  the  Magistrates  to  see 
 that  they  receive  a due  remuneration  ; all  persons,  whatever  may  be  their  condition,  being  equal  in 
 the  eye  of  the  law. 
 
 14.  In  all  cases  wherein  the  Magistrates  may  think  proper,  on  account  of  the  tender  age  of 
 parties,  to  bind  them  apprentices  for  a certain  period,  such  period  shall  in  no  case  exceed  five  years  ; 
 and  it  must  be  an  invariable  condition  in  the  indenture,  that  the  parties  shall  receive  a moral 
 education  and  be  sent  to  a public  school,  under  a pecuniary  penalty  in  case  of  failure  by  the 
 master. 
 
 15.  No  creditor  possessing  a right  to  the  services  of  any  imlividual,  shall  be  at  liberty  to 
 transfer  the  services  of  the  party  to  another,  except  with  the  consent  of  the  debtor ; nor  can  the 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 49 
 
 debtor  change  his  master  at  pleasui’e,  without  proof  of  ill-usage  to  be  given  before  the  Magistrates  : 
 and  in  case  of  the  death  or  bankruptcy  of  the  creditor,  it  shall  remain  with  the  Magistrates  to  decide 
 in  how  far  the  further  services  of  the  debtor  can  be  claimed.  If  the  creditor  dies  solvent,  the 
 debtor  is  to  be  relieved  from  further  servitude ; but  if  he  dies  insolvent  or  becomes  bankrupt,  the 
 debtor  shall  continue  to  render  his  services  till  the  end  of  the  contract,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
 creditors,  he  in  this  case  having  the  liberty  of  choosing  his  master. 
 
 The  Magistrates  are  required  to  cause  this  Regulation  to  be  duly  explained  in  the  native 
 languages,  and  published  by  beat  of  gong  throughout  the  Settlement,  and  the  Master-Attendant 
 will  cause  the  same  to  be  duly  made  known  to  the  Noquedahs  of  all  native  vessels  resorting  to  the 
 port. 
 
 This  Regulation  to  be  in  force  and  have  effect  from  and  after  this  date,  and  to  be  considered  as 
 provisional  until  confirmed  by  the  Governor-General  in  Council. 
 
 Singapore,  the  1st  May,  1823. 
 Registered, 
 
 G.  Bonham,  Registi-ar. 
 
 (Signed)  T.  S.  RAFFLES. 
 
 REGULATION,  No.  VI.  of  1823. 
 
 A Regulation  in  furtherance  of  the  Objects  of  Regulation,  No.  III.  of  1823,  and  containing 
 additional  Provisions  for  the  Magistracy  and  Administration  of  Justice  at  Singapore. 
 
 The  Magistrates  shall  be  appointed  annually  on  the  1st  January  in  each  year,  instead  of  quar- 
 terly, as  provided  by  Regulation,  No.  III.  of  1823. 
 
 Twelve  Magistrates  are  now  appointed,  who  are  to  constitute  the  acting  Magistracy  for  the 
 present  year ; and  to  this  number  it  shall  be  competent  to  the  Resident  to  appoint  supernumeraries, 
 who  are  to  be  borne  on  the  public  roll  of  persons  eligible  for  the  Magistracy. 
 
 Previous  to  the  appointment  of  any  such  supernumerary,  the  Resident  shall  intimate  his  inten- 
 tion to  the  twelve  acting  Magistrates ; and  it  shall  be  competent  to  three-fourths  of  that  body  to  ob- 
 ject, wdthm  one  month,  to  such  nomination,  by  a written  instrument,  stating  the  ground  thereof;  but 
 the  Resident  shall  have  the  power  of  overruling  this  objection,  pending  a reference  to  the  Governor 
 General  in  Council. 
 
 Vacancies  in  the  acting  Magistracy  shall  be  supplied  from  the  supernumeraries  or  ex-Magis- 
 trates. 
 
 The  enactment  of  local  laws  and  regulations  to  continue  in  the  manner  prescribed  under  Regu- 
 lation No.  III.  of  1823 ; save  only  by  the  slight  alteration  now  necessary,  in  order  to  suit  it  to  the 
 change  made  in  the  IMagistracy  from  quarterly  appointments  of  three  to  annual  appointments  of  twelve. 
 Hereafter,  any  proposal  for  a new  law  or  regulation  must  originate  or  be  considered  by  a majority 
 of  the  twelve  acting  Majjistrates. 
 
 There  shall  be  two  courts  : — 
 
 1st.  The  Resident’s  Court,  in  which  that  officer  shall  preside  and  pronounce  the  decisions. 
 It  shall  be  formed  by  the  Resident,  with  the  assistance  of  two  Magistrates  taken  monthly  by  rota- 
 tion from  the  general  list  of  Magistrates. 
 
 g 
 
50 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 2d.  The  Magistrates’  Court,  where  two  Magistrates  shall  jointly  preside,  and  when  they 
 agree  pronounce  the  decision.  When  they  disagree  as  to  the  sentence,  each  shall  record  that  which 
 he  recommends.  But  a new  trial  must  commence  in  the  Resident’s  court. 
 
 The  business  of  the  Resident’s  court  will  be  to  try  : — 
 
 1st.  All  causes  which  are  beyond  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Magistrates. 
 
 2d.  All  causes  referred  to  that  court  by  the  Magistrates. 
 
 The  business  of  the  Magistrates’  court  will  be  to  try  and  decide  in  all  cases  that  may  come  within 
 the  jurisdiction  of  the  Magistrates,  as  defined  in  Regulation,  No.  III.  of  1823. 
 
 All  men  in  the  settlement  are  bound  to  give  their  aid  where  required  towards  the  administration 
 of  justice.  The  cases  where  this  should  be  done  without  any  pecuniary  reward  are  where  the  par- 
 ties are  called  upon 
 
 To  inform  the  court,  either  by  giving  evidence  of  what  they  know  relating  to  the  facts  of  a 
 case,  or 
 
 Furnishing  their  opinion  as  to  its  merits. 
 
 To  aid  the  officers  of  justice,  by  information,  or  by  physical  force,  when  they  are  otherwise  afraid 
 of  being  unable  of  themselves  to  carry  into  effect  the  orders  of  the  court : that  is  to  say,  to  give  evi- 
 dence, to  serve  as  jurors,  to  aid  as  constables  or  posse.  While  employed  in  the  public  service  in 
 these  capacities,  the  individuals  shall  be  entitled  to  peculiar  and  honourable  privileges,  such  as  that 
 any  insult  or  injury  offered  to  them  shall  be  visited  on  the  offending  party  with  much  more  severity 
 than  if  the  offence  were  committed  against  private  individuals. 
 
 The  individuals  selected  for  the  distinguished  duties  of  constables  and  jurymen  may  be  of  any 
 nation  or  religion,  but  they  must  be  able  to  read  and  write.  Ex-Magistrates  will  be  special  consta- 
 bles ex  officio.  Constables  and  jurymen  shall  be  nominated  by  the  Resident  annually. 
 
 Causes  may  be  instituted  either  at  the  suit  of  persons  claiming  private  redress,  or  on  the  prose- 
 cution of  a public  officer  for  breaches  of  public  regulations,  or  for  wrongs  that  render  it  proper  to 
 inflict  punishment  beyond  the  exaction  of  the  redress  due  to  the  individual. 
 
 The  jurisdiction  of  both  courts  shall  extend  geographically  over  the  Island  of  Singapore,  and 
 the  islets  in  its  immediate  vicinity  forming  the  harbour. 
 
 The  annexed  Rules  A and  B are  this  day  approved  for  the  two  courts  : 
 
 Appendix  A,  Rules  for  the  Resident’s  Court. 
 
 Appendix  B,  Rules  for  the  Magistrates’  Court. 
 
 This  Regulation  to  have  effect  from  this  date,  and  to  remain  in  force  until  rescinded  by  a higher 
 and  more  competent  authority,  or  until  such  time  as  a duly  constituted  court  of  judicature  may  be 
 established  at  Singapore. 
 
 (Signed)  T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 Singapore,  the  Gth  of  June,  1823. 
 
 APPENDIX  TO  REGULATION,  No.  VI.  of  1823. 
 
 APPENDIX  A. 
 
 RULES  FOR  THE  RESIDENT’S  COURT. 
 
 The  Resident’s  Court  shall  be  formed  by  the  Resident,  with  the  assistance  of  two  Magistrates, 
 under  the  title  of  Assessors. 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 51 
 
 The  Resident  shall  preside  and  pronounce  the  decisions ; and  the  Assessors  shall  be  taken 
 monthly,  by  rotation,  from  the  List  of  Magistrates. 
 
 On  the  death  or  absence  of  the  Resident,  the  Assistant  Resident,  or  other  persons  succeeding 
 legally  to  the  charge,  shall  fill  his  situation  in  Court : and  in  the  event  of  emergency,  a temporary 
 arrangement  may  be  adopted,  by  the  addition  of  a third  Assessor  from  the  list  of  Magistrates, 
 which  three  Assessors  shall  continue  to  hold  courts  and  administer  justice,  after  the  established 
 practice  and  form  in  the  Resident’s  court,  until  the  chief  civil  authority  is  enabled  to  preside,  and 
 the  court  thereby  restored  to  its  regular  and  proper  form. 
 
 For  the  present,  the  Resident’s  court  shall  sit  once  a week  (every  Monday)  at  nine  o’clock  A.M., 
 but  shall  have  the  power  of  continuing  its  sittings  a die  in  diem,  or  of  holding  them  more  frequently, 
 when  the  accumulation  of  business,  or  other  causes,  may  render  the  same  necessary  and  advisable. 
 
 In  cases  wherein  the  Resident  may  differ  in  opinion  with  the  two  Assessors,  in  passing  a de- 
 cree, the  same,  if  a civil  case,  shall  be  referred  to  a Jury  of  five  respectable  Europeans,  impartially 
 chosen  and  impannelled,  and  shall  be  decided  according  to  their  verdict ; but  in  criminal  cases,  the 
 Resident  shall  always  have  it  in  his  power  to  over-rule  the  opinions  of  the  two  Assessors,  in  so  far 
 as  tends  to  mitigate  the  sentence,  but  not  to  increase  its  severity : only  in  the  event  of  his  doing  so, 
 the  two  Assessors  will  record  their  opinions,  and  may  report  the  case  to  the  Governor  General  in 
 Council. 
 
 When  only  one  of  the  Assessors  may  differ  in  opinion,  it  is  not  necessary  to  record  it. 
 
 ' The  Registrar  shall  be  exclusively  attached  to  the  Resident’s  Court,  and  shall  conduct  the 
 process  of  it.  It  will  also  be  his  business  to  execute  all  warrants,  and  to  be  responsible  to  the 
 court  that  its  decrees  and  sentences  are  legally  and  duly  carried  into  effect,  applying  to  the  Magis- 
 trates for  the  aid  of  the  police  and  posse,  when  the  same  may  be  considered  necessary. 
 
 The  business  of  the  court  will  be  to  ti'y 
 
 1st.  All  causes  which  are  beyond  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Magistrates’  court ; and, 
 
 2d.  All  causes  referred  to  it  by  that  court. 
 
 IN  CIVIL  CASES. 
 
 Civil  causes  may  be  instituted,  either  at  the  suit  of  persons  claiming  private  redress,  or  on  the 
 prosecution  of  a public  officer  for  breaches  of  public  laws  and  regulations,  or  for  wrongs  that  render 
 it  proper  to  inflict  punishment,  beyond  the  exaction  of  the  redress  actually  due  to  the  individual. 
 
 When  a person  has  any  redress  to  seek,  he  will  state  the  circumstances  of  his  complaint  in 
 writing,  addressed  to  the  Resident.  If  he  be  unable  to  write,  he  may  apply  to  the  Registrar,  or 
 any  other  person,  to  draw  it  out  for  him ; and  the  Resident,  or  his  locum  tenens,  will,  on  receiving 
 the  same,  transmit  it  to  the  Registrar,  with  necessary  instructions  for  citing  witnesses,  &c.  &c. 
 
 The  Registrar,  immediately  on  receiving  the  plaint,  will  be  careful  to  number  and  enter  it  on  a 
 roll ; and  every  cause  shall  be  heard  in  court  according  to  its  priority  of  enrolment,  unless  the  court 
 shall  see  strong  reason  for  departing  from  this  course. 
 
 After  having  perused  the  plaint,  or  having  heard  it  interpreted,  the  Registrar  shall  note  on  it,  in 
 English,  the  names  of  the  parties,  the  sum  sued  for,  and  the  ground  of  action  (the  latter  to  be  ex- 
 pressed by  a single  word  if  possible) : and  all  the  plaints  so  noted  shall,  on  the  meeting  of  the  court, 
 be  placed  by  the  Registi'ar,  in  the  order  of  their  enrolment,  before  the  presiding  judge. 
 
 Summonses  for  the  citation  of  parties  and  witnesses,  shall  be  issued  by  the  Registrar  according 
 
 g ^ 
 
52 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 to  the  form  prescribed  in  the  Appendix,  and  shall  be  served  by  the  proper  officers  in  the  manner 
 therein  directed ; and  in  the  event  of  the  plaintiff  solemnly  declaring  in  his  plaint,  that  he  is  appre- 
 hensive of  the  defendant  withdrawing  himself  or  his  property  from  the  jurisdiction  of  the  court,  the 
 summons  to  be  served  on  the  defendant  shall  be  made  returnable  forthwith,  and  the  officer  entrusted 
 wth  serving  it  shall  either  take  the  defendant  to  the  Court-house,  or  take  from  him  money  or  other 
 articles  in  security,  fully  equal  to  the  sum  specified  in  the  summons ; an  acknowledgment  of  which  he 
 shall  ^vrite  on  the  back  of  the  summons,  and  leave  with  the  defendant,  whose  cause  shall  then  be 
 brought  forward  in  due  course,  as  stated  in  the  summons. 
 
 In  any  case  the  plaintiff  may  compromise  his  own  claim  on  the  defendant,  and  withdraw  his 
 own  suit,  when  the  costs  deposited,  if  any,  shall  be  returned ; but  in  cases  where  the  allegation,  if 
 proved,  would  subject  the  defendant  to  punishment,  the  court  may,  at  their  discretion,  direct  him  to 
 be  prosecuted  at  the  instance  of  the  public. 
 
 When  a cause  is  compromised,  it  is  to  be  entered  in  a book  kept  for  that  purpose,  containing 
 the  names  of  the  parties,  the  nature  of  the  action,  the  sum  sued  for,  and  the  date  and  number  of  the 
 summons. 
 
 On  proceeding  with  a cause,  an  officer  of  the  court  shall  call  loudly  the  parties  by  name  (three 
 times  ineffectually  before  he  shall  be  entitled  to  report  their  absence),  and  in  the  first  instance  the 
 parties  should  present  themselves  in  person  ; but  the  court  may,  at  its  discretion,  dispense  with  the 
 further  attendance  of  either  party,  and  may  authorize  an  attorney  to  act  on  his  behalf,  or  may  insist 
 on  his  remaining  present,  to  answer  any  question  that  it  may  be  deemed  expedient  to  put  to  him. 
 
 The  first  question  to  be  asked  of  the  defendant  is,  whether  he  admits  the  plaintifT s claim  in 
 whole  or  in  part  ? If  the  claim  be  in  the  whole  or  in  part  denied  by  the  defendant,  the  original 
 plaint  is  read,  and,  if  necessary,  interpreted,  and  the  court  will  then  proceed  with  the  examination 
 and  cross-examination  of  witnesses,  shortly  noting  the  matter  stated  and  the  result  of  the  examina- 
 tion. The  defendant  will  also  be  allowed  to  adduce  evidence  to  any  points  he  may  wish  to  esta- 
 blish, and  to  cross-examine  any  of  the  witnesses  on  the  opposite  side,  after  which  the  court  will 
 take  the  whole  into  consideration,  and  decide  accordingly. 
 
 In  case  the  defendant  does  not  appear  when  the  cause  is  called,  or  any  one  on  his  behalf  to 
 give  a satisfactory  reason  for  his  absence,  the  plaintiff  or  peon  must  be  closely  examined  as  to  the 
 mode  in  which  the  summons  has  been  disposed  of ; and  if  this  appear  unobjectionable,  the  court 
 will  then  pronounce  judgment  in  the  case  on  the  plaintiff’s  shewing,  supported  by  the  evidence  he 
 adduces.  If  the  plaintiff  be  absent  when  the  cause  is  called,  and  no  satisfactory  excuse  on  his 
 behalf  is  stated  to  the  court,  he  shall  be  nonsuited ; and  the  defendant,  if  he  deny  the  ground  of 
 action,  shall  be  informed  by  the  court  that  he  may  proceed  against  the  plaintiff  by  a new  suit  for  his 
 unnecessary  molestation. 
 
 If  any  of  the  witnesses  who  have  been  subpoened  are  absent,  the  Registrar  shall  inquire  and 
 note  down  the  nature  of  the  evidence  the  party  concerned  expects  from  them ; and  if  it  appear 
 important  to  the  investigation  of  the  case,  the  court  shall  issue  a warrant  to  an  officer  of  the  court, 
 to  compel  either  their  immediate  attendance,  or  on  a future  specified  day.  In  the  latter  case,  the 
 cause  is  of  course  postponed  accordingly.  When  the  witness  is  secured,  he  shall  be  required  to 
 make  deposit  or  give  bail  to  the  amount  of  the  sum  sued  for,  with  costs ; or  if  he  cannot  give  satis- 
 factory excuse  for  his  absence,  he  shall  be  fined,  with  warning,  that  if  not  present  on  the  day  when 
 the  cause  is  next  to  come  to  a hearing,  he  shall  be  liable  to  further  fine  and  imprisonment. 
 
 The  evidence  adduced  by  either  party  may  suggest  the  propriety  of  bringing  forward  wit- 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 53 
 
 nesses  on  the  other  side  not  before  thought  of ; and,  in  this  case,  the  court  may  either  send  for 
 such  witness  to  attend  forthwith,  or  order  them  to  be  subpoened  for  a future  day,  viz.  the  next 
 court  day. 
 
 It  is  recommended  that  there  shall  be  one  general  room  in  which  witnesses  assemble  in  the 
 first  instance,  from  which  they  are  to  be  brought  up  individually  for  examination,  and  another  room 
 where  they  are  to  remain  after  examination,  until  discharged  by  the  court. 
 
 Testimony  shall  not  be  required  on  oath,  unless  where  it  appear  to  the  court  that  the  evidence 
 of  the  witness  is  of  material  consequence,  that  its  truth  or  falsehood  cannot  be  satisfactorily  esta- 
 blished by  collateral  circumstances. 
 
 W hen  it  appears  to  the  court  that  a witness  is  prevaricating,  or  unwilling  to  disclose  the  truth, 
 he  shall  be  seriously  warned  of  the  disgrace  that  will  inevitably  attach  to  his  being  convicted  of 
 falsehood ; and  afterwards  all  questions  put  to  him,  with  his  replies,  must  be  taken  down,  as  the 
 ground-work  of  a criminal  process  against  him. 
 
 When  a decree  has  been  passed  by  the  court  it  shall  be  immediately  recorded,  and  copies 
 thereof  presented  to  the  plaintiff  and  defendant  on  their  application  to  the  Registrar  ; who  shall  also 
 cause  a list  of  all  causes,  with  the  decree  given  on  each,  to  be  placed  in  a conspicuous  situation  in 
 his  office,  to  be  at  all  times  accessible  to  the  public,  and  to  remain  there  from  the  date  of  the  decree 
 until  execution  shall  have  passed  on  it. 
 
 In  the  event  of  neglect  in  this  respect,  the  Registrar  shall  be  personally  liable  to  the  creditors 
 of  the  person  against  whom  the  decree  has  been  obtained  for  the  full  amount  of  the  same. 
 
 On  all  decrees  of  the  court  execution  shall  pass  after  an  interval  of  one  week : that  is,  execu- 
 tion shall  pass  on  Monday  on  all  decrees  that  have  been  given  on  the  Monday  immediately  pre- 
 ceding ; and  during  this  interval,  the  court  or  the  Resident  may,  on  the  application  of  the  plaintiff 
 or  his  agent,  direct  such  steps  as  they  may  think  advisable  to  be  adopted,  towards  preventing  the 
 defendant  from  withdrawing  himself  or  his  property  from  the  jurisdiction  of  the  court. 
 
 Should  the  party  against  whom  a decree  has  been  given,  be  able  to  satisfy  the  same,  or  to  make 
 a satisfactory  arrangement  with  the  person  who  has  obtained  it,  before  an  execution  has  been 
 passed,  both  parties  will  come  before  the  Registrar,  who  will  note  the  satisfaction  made,  and  how 
 made,  immediately  under  the  decree  of  the  court,  and  shall  obtain  the  signature  of  both  parties  to 
 the  same  if  they  can  write,  or  their  usual  mark  before  two  witnesses  if  they  cannot. 
 
 When  the  arrangement  thus  made  amounts  to  an  indulgence  in  point  of  time,  or  is  contingent 
 on  any  particular  circumstance,  the  party  who  has  obtained  the  decree  may,  on  the  expiration  of  the 
 time  agreed  upon,  or  in  failure  of  being  able  to  obtain  satisfaction  in  the  manner  stipulated,  apply 
 to  the  Registrar  for  a warrant  for  citing  the  other  party  to  appear  in  court ; and  on  his  failing  to 
 appear,  or  being  unable  to  prove  that  he  has  already  discharged  the  decree,  execution  shall  imme- 
 diately pass  on  the  same,  without  suffering  prejudice  by  the  delay  that  has  occurred  : only  that  the 
 warrant  for  the  above  purpose  must  be  obtained  from  the  Registrar  within  one  month  from  the  expi- 
 ration of  the  time  granted  as  an  indulgence.  •; 
 
 In  the  event  of  more  than  one  month  having  thus  elapsed,  the  decree  shall  be  cancelled,  and 
 the  party  must  proceed  with  a new  action. 
 
 After  the  court  has  met,  and  before  it  proceeds  with  any  other  business,  it  shall  order  the  Re- 
 gistrar to  give  in  a list  of  all  the  decrees  which  had  been  given  in  the  preceding  court-day,  and  to 
 state  how  far  they  have  been  satisfied  or  discharged;  and  on  such  as  have  not  been  legally  settled, 
 an  execution  shall  immediately  pass  on  each,  severally,  in  the  form  prescribed  in  the  Appendix. 
 
 The  Registrar  will  instantly  record  the  execution,  which  after  having  been  so  passed  and 
 
54 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 recorded,  will  give  the  decree  a preference  before  all  other  executions  on  decrees  obtained  on 
 actions  instituted  subsequent  to  the  date  of  the  said  execution,  over  all  acts  of  subsequent  bank- 
 ruptcy and  composition  with  creditors,  and  every  other  ground  of  claim,  not  specially  entitled  to  a 
 preference  by  a particular  law  and  regulation  of  this  Settlement,  duly  passed  and  legally  enacted. 
 
 Within  twenty-four  hours  from  the  date  of  such  execution  being  issued,  the  Registrar  shall 
 proceed  personally,  or  shall  cause  some  authorized  agent,  for  whose  conduct  he  shall  be  respon- 
 sible, to  proceed  to  the  dwelling  of  the  person  against  whom  the  decree  had  been  obtained ; and 
 on  not  receiving  satisfaction  for  the  full  amount  of  the  same,  with  all  costs  due  thereon,  he  shall 
 execute  an  attachment,  according  to  the  form  prescribed  in  the  Appendix,  against  all  his  property, 
 of  whatever  description,  which  he  shall  be  able  to  discover  there  or  elsewhere ; and  shall  make  an 
 accurate  and  attested  return  of  the  same,  within  two  days  from  the  date  of  the  execution,  to  the 
 Resident  or  the  court,  who  shall  direct  the  same  to  be  published,  and  advertised  for  public  sale, 
 within  three  days  of  the  date  of  receiving  such  return. 
 
 Such  sale  shall  proceed  under  the  direction  of  a Magistrate,  at  the  place  and  hour  stated  in 
 the  advertisement,  which  hour  shall  not  be  earlier  than  nine  A.M.,  or  later  than  four  P.M.,  and 
 shall  be  continued  from  day  to  day,  till  the  IMagistrate  shall  declare  that  the  amount  of  the  decree, 
 with  costs  (if  any),  has  been  satisfied ; after  w'hich  the  remainder  of  the  property  shall  be  duly  re- 
 lieved from  all  restraint. 
 
 Previous  to  the  sale  the  Registrar  shall  deliver  to  the  Magistrate  an  authentic  statement  of 
 the  amount  for  which  the  execution  has  been  passed.  He  shall  note,  or  cause  to  be  noted,  during 
 the  sale,  an  accurate  account  of  all  the  particulars  thereof ; and  at  its  conclusion  the  Magistrate 
 will  forward  the  same,  countersigned  by  himself,  to  the  Resident,  who  will  as  soon  as  possible 
 transmit  a copy  of  it  to  the  person  against  whom  the  execution  had  been  issued,  and  shall  cause 
 the  same  to  be  recorded  at  the  office  of  the  Registrar. 
 
 The  decree  of  the  court  shall  always  be  endorsed  on  the  plaint  or  writing  “ statement  of  the 
 plaintiff,”  and  the  same  shall  be  carefully  preserved  by  the  Registrar  among  the  records  of 
 his  office. 
 
 If  at  any  time  before  execution  has  passed  on  a decree,  the  party  comes  forward  and  states  his 
 inability  to  discharge  the  same  without  injustice  to  his  other  creditors,  the  court  will  receive  this  as 
 a declaration  of  insolvency,  shall  suspend  all  proceedings  on  the  decree,  and  will  call  by  advertise- 
 ment a meeting  of  all  his  creditors,  to  be  held  within  five  days,  for  the  purpose  of  nominating  a 
 trustee,  and  shall  direct  the  bankrupt  to  prepare  and  to  present  to  that  meeting  a schedule  and  list, 
 upon  oath,  of  all  his  effects,  debts  due  to  him,  and  those  debts  which  he  may  owe.  Should  this 
 meeting  fail  in  appointing  a trustee,  the  court  will  take  that  office  on  themselves ; and  the  trustee 
 so  appointed  shall  proceed  in  the  management  of  the  property,  in  the  manner  prescribed  and 
 directed  by  the  laws  then  in  force. 
 
 When  the  subject  of  litigation  before  the  court  equals  or  exceeds  one  thousand  dollars,  it  shall 
 be  competent  to  either  of  the  parties,  at  the  commencement  of  the  suit,  to  demand  that  the  same 
 shall  be  decided  by  the  assistance  of  a jury.  Such  jury  to  consist  of  five  respectable  Europeans,  or 
 of  four  Europeans  and  three  respectable  natives  of  other  countries,  when  the  court  shall  consider  it 
 advisable  to  refer  to  a jury  so  composed. 
 
 It  will  also  be  competent  for  the  court,  after  having  entered  upon  a case,  and  having  agreed 
 unanimously  on  certain  points  on  which  it  hinges,  to  record  these  particular  points  for  reference  to 
 a jury;  and  on  their  finding  it  will  be  incumbent  on  the  court  to  ground  their  decision  as  to  the 
 general  issue. 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 55 
 
 The  points  so  referred  must  be  presented  in  a written  form  to  the  jury,  and  must  be  signed  by 
 all  the  members  of  the  court. 
 
 In  all  cases  in  which  Government  may  be  a party,  either  as  plaintiff  or  defendant,  the  same 
 are  to  be  decided  by  a jury. 
 
 The  jury  will  be  chosen  and  empannelled  according  to  the  form  and  manner  directed  in  the 
 Appendix,  and  will  examine  evidence,  and  deliberate  upon  the  same,  in  the  presence  of  the  Resident 
 or  his  representative,  to  whom  they  shall  deliver  their  verdict  in  writing,  signed  by  their  foreman. 
 
 The  court  will  appoint,  in  every  particular  case,  such  a time  for  calling  together  a jury  as  may 
 be  conducive  to  the  speedy  administration  of  justice,  and  at  the  same  time  not  too  inconvenient  to 
 the  persons  called  upon  to  act  as  jurymen;  but  it  is  recommended  that  some  intermediate  day  be- 
 tween two  court-days  shall  be  fixed  upon  for  this  purpose,  in  order  that  every  opportunity  should 
 be  given  to  the  jury  to  conduct  their  examination  of  the  evidence  with  deliberation  and  calmness, 
 and  that  the  other  business  of  the  court  may  not  be  interrupted. 
 
 On  the  first  court-day  after  the  jury  have  given  in  their  decision,  or  on  the  same  day  if  it 
 should  happen  to  be  a court-day,  the  Resident  or  his  representative,  will  read  in  court  the  verdict 
 of  the  jury,  and  cause  the  same  to  be  duly  recorded  by  the  Registrar. 
 
 Persons  called  upon  to  serve  as  jurors  in  civil  cases,  and  witnesses  cited  to  give  evidence,  are 
 to  be  intitled  to  a rate  of  pay  per  day  according  to  the  scale  fixed  in  Appendix  : and  any  person 
 calling  for  a jury,  in  such  cases  must  deposit  in  court  the  amount  that  may  appear  due  for  jurors 
 and  witnesses,  and  the  same  if  not  accepted  by  all  the  parties,  or  otherwise  appropriated  by  them, 
 shall  be  carried  in  aid  of  a fund  for  charitable  purposes,  under  the  control  of  the  court. 
 
 In  cases  under  one  thousand  dollars,  or  when  the  parties  may  not  claim  the  assistance  of  a 
 jury,  and  that  the  court  may  think  it  advisable  to  refer  the  same  to  arbitration,  it  shall  call  upon 
 each  of  the  parties  to  name  an  arbiter,  with  which  two  the  court  shall  nominate  a third,  to  proceed 
 in  arbitrating  the  case  under  certain  instructions  furnished  by  the  court  and  signed  by  the  Regis- 
 trar ; and  when  the  arbiters  have  made  a return  to  the  court  of  their  opinion,  the  same,  unless  it 
 shall  appear  obviously  to  the  court  to  have  been  founded  on  evident  misconception  or  error,  shall 
 be  recoi'ded  and  have  effect.  When  misconception  or  error  appears  to  the  court  to  have  existed, 
 they  will  remit  the  case  again  to  the  arbiters,  pointing  out  to  them  the  particular  circumstances 
 which  it  is  supposed  may  have  led  the  arbiters  into  error,  and  the  particular  error  if  there  should 
 be  any;  and  if  the  arbiters  should  persevere  in  their  original  decree,  the  case  will  then  be  referred 
 to  a jury  of  five  respectable  Europeans,  legally  and  duly  chosen,  whose  verdict  shall  be  final. 
 
 Should  one  of  the  parties  refuse  to  name  an  arbiter,  the  two  other  arbiters  shall  choose  a third, 
 and  nominate  him  to  the  court  for  this  purpose,  after  which  the  arbitration  shall  proceed  as  above 
 directed. 
 
 When  both  parties  decline  to  name  arbiters,  the  court  shall  not  proceed  in  this  manner  of 
 deciding  the  case. 
 
 The  court  shall  direct  such  forms  of  warrants,  subpoenas,  and  other  instruments  to  be  used,  as 
 may  appear  to  them  most  suitable,  and  shall  institute  such  a table  of  fees  in  civil  cases  as  may  to 
 them  seem  most  advisable  and  proper.  In  criminal  cases  no  fees  can  be  charged. 
 
 The  court  shall  possess  and  exercise  such  powers  for  the  protection  of  their  privileges  and  the 
 exercise  of  their  functions,  as  are  constitutionally  attached  to  the  superior  courts  of  law  in  England; 
 but  they  shall  not  alter  essentially  any  of  the  fundamental  rules  now  prescribed  for  their  govern- 
 ment, excepting  by  and  with  the  consent  of  the  bench  of  Magistrates,  given  and  obtained  in  the 
 
 o 
 
56 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 same  manner  as  at  the  enactment  of  general  laws  for  the  government  of  the  Settlement,  under  Re- 
 gulation No.  III.  of  1823. 
 
 IN  CRIMINAL  CASES. 
 
 In  all  cases  purely  criminal,  the  parties  shall  be  indicted  by  the  authority  which  has  committed 
 them  for  trial. 
 
 When  a prisoner  has  been  committed  by  the  Magistrates,  the  indictment  shall  be  laid  at  their 
 instance,  and  shall  be  served  by  their  assistant,  who  shall  appear  on  their  behalf  as  public  prose- 
 cutor. M’hen  it  has  been  laid  by  the  Resident’s  court,  the  Registrar  shall  undertake  these  duties ; 
 only  that,  in  this  case,  the  indictment  shall  be  sent  in  due  time  to  the  sitting  Magistrates,  who  shall 
 direct  their  assistant  to  serve  the  same  on  the  accu-ed. 
 
 All  indictments  shall  be  served  on  the  parties  at  least  one  week  previous  to  the  day  of  trial, 
 and  after  the  form  prescribed  in  Appendix,  and  the  person  serving  the  same  shall  be  responsible 
 that  it  has  been  interpreted  to  the  accused  in  his  native  language. 
 
 In  all  cases  in  which  an  indictment  has  been  laid,  the  accused  may  demand  to  be  tried  by  a 
 jury ; and  in  no  case  where  the  crime  charged  in  the  indictment  may,  if  proved,  involve  the  punish- 
 ment of  death,  banishment,  removal  from  the  Settlement,  imprisonment  for  more  than  twelve  months, 
 or  a pecuniary  fine  of  more  than  five  hundred  dollars,  can  the  court  proceed  without  a jury. 
 
 The  jury  may  be  purely  European  or  purely  native  ; and,  in  this  last  case,  it  ought,  if  practi- 
 cable, to  be  of  the  same  nation  and  religion  with  the  accused. 
 
 The  jury  shall  consist  of  five  persons  of  respectable  character  who  can  write  and  i-ead,  and  who 
 have  been  borne  on  the  roll  of  jurymen  for  the  settlement  at  least  three  months  previous  to  the  trial. 
 
 Seven  names  shall  be  taken  from  the  roll  of  jurymen  (according  to  the  manner  prescribed  by 
 the  particular  Regulation  regarding  the  formation  and  empannelling  of  juries  in  civil  and  criminal 
 cases),  and  from  these  seven  the  accused  shall  have  the  power  of  rejecting  two : and  should  he  be 
 able  to  afford  the  court  reasons  which  may  appear  to  them  satisfactory,  for  removing  from  the  jury 
 any  of  the  remaining  members,  they  shall  use  their  discretion  in  doing  so ; but  in  that  case  the  court 
 shall  have  the  power  of  summarily  filling  up  the  vacancy  so  occasioned. 
 
 The  court  will  first  cause  the  indictment  to  be  read  in  English,  and  intei’preted  to  the  accused, 
 who  is  then  asked  if  it  had  been  so  interpreted  on  a former  occasion,  and  how  it  had  been  served. 
 
 If  any  thing  objectionable  should  appear  in  this  stage  of  the  proceedings,  or  that  the  prisoner 
 has  not  been  allowed  the  facilities  which  the  court  may  have  directed  for  communication  with  his 
 friends  or  his  counsel,  the  trial  must  be  postponed,  and  a new  indictment  laid,  unless  the  accused 
 may  urge  the  court  to  go  on. 
 
 Should  there,  however,  be  no  objections  on  the  above  grounds,  the  jury  will  be  sworn  and  im- 
 pannelled,  the  prisoner  put  to  the  bar,  and  the  trial  will  proceed. 
 
 The  presiding  Judge  will  then  ask  the  prisoner  whether  he  is  guilty  or  not  guilty  of  the  crime 
 or  crimes  laid  to  his  charge  in  the  indictment,  and  his  answer,  whatever  it  may  be,  is  to  be  recorded. 
 
 The  witnesses  for  the  prosecution  will  then  be  heard  separately,  subject  to  a cross-examination 
 by  the  prisoner. 
 
 After  they  have  been  severally  examined,  the  witnesses  called  by  the  prisoner  shall  severally 
 be  heard,  subject  to  a cross-examination  by  the  public  prosecutor. 
 
 When  these  examinations  have  been  concluded,  the  court  may  recall  any  witness,  and  may  put 
 directly  any  questions  they  may  think  necessary;  but  neither  the  public  prosecutor  nor  the  prisoner 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS.  57 
 
 shall  be  allowed  to  put  any  questions  to  such  a witness,  excepting  through  the  court,  and  by  their 
 unanimous  consent. 
 
 The  same  recommendation  that  has  been  made  in  civil  cases,  for  keeping  witnesses  that  have 
 been  examined  separate  from  those  that  have  not,  is  here  renewed. 
 
 The  evidence  having  been  gone  through,  the  presiding  Judge  may  recapitulate  the  chief  points 
 of  it  to  the  jury,  and  refer  the  same  to  their  consideration  and  for  their  verdict,  how  far  the  prisoner 
 may  be  guilty  or  not  guilty  of  the  crime  or  crimes  charged  in  the  indictment,  or  that  the  same  has 
 been  proven  or  not  proven. 
 
 The  jury  may  then,  if  they  see  fit,  withdraw,  under  certain  limitations  to  be  prescribed  by  the 
 court,  and  shall  be  particularly  instructed  to  restrict  their  verdict  to  the  particular  crime  charged  in 
 the  indictment. 
 
 After  the  evidence  has  been  gone  through  and  the  case  thus  remitted  to  a jury,  the  jury  will, 
 on  no  account,  be  allowed  to  separate  before  they  shall  have  given  in  their  verdict,  which  shall 
 either  be  pronounced  audibly  in  court,  in  their  presence,  by  the  foreman,  or  shall  be  signed  by 
 him  and  handed  to  the  Judge,  by  whom  it  shall  be  read,  and  in  either  case  shall  be  instantly 
 recorded. 
 
 The  verdict  must  state  whether  it  has  been  an  unanimous  one ; and  in  the  event  of  its  not 
 being  so,  by  what  majority  it  has  been  carried  : all  which  circumstances  shall  also  be  entered  on  the 
 records  of  the  court. 
 
 When  a jury  has  not  been  empannelled,  the  court  will  proceed  to  weigh  the  evidence  which 
 has  been  adduced,  and  shall  decide  upon  the  question  of  guilty  or  not  guilty,  proven  or  not  proven; 
 and  in  the  same  manner  as  has  been  prescribed  in  these  cases,  they  shall  restrict  themselves  mi- 
 nutely to  the  crime  or  crimes  charged  in  the  indictment. 
 
 After  the  verdict  of  the  jury  or  of  the  court  (as  the  case  may  be)  shall  have  been  recorded, 
 the  presiding  Judge  will  pronounce  the  sentence;  and  if  guilty,  shall  award  the  punishment 
 prescribed  by  the  approved  code  of  punishments  and  laws  of  the  Settlement  for  the  particular 
 crime. 
 
 In  cases  where  the  crime  shall  have  been  a bailable  offence,  the  indictment  shall  be  served  on 
 the  accused,  and  the  other  proceedings  adopted  in  the  same  manner  as  when  an  actual  committal 
 may  have  taken  place. 
 
 After  sentence  has  been  passed,  the  chief  civil  Authority  may  moderate  the  same  or  grant  a 
 reprieve ; and  all  sentences  require  his  signature  before  being  carried  into  execution. 
 
 A copy  of  the  sentence  of  the  court  is  to  be  sent  to  the  sitting  Magistrates  by  the  Resident, 
 with  a request  that  they  will  afford  the  Registrar  all  the  aid  in  their  power  in  carrying  the  same 
 into  effect. 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 The  rules  and  regulations  now  established  for  the  Resident’s  court,  it  is  hoped,  will  be  suffi- 
 cient to  enable  it  to  proceed  with  consistency  and  uniformity  in  its  duties ; and  it  is  expected  that 
 the  constitution  given  to  it  will  tend  to  secure  and  obtain  the  ends  of  substantial  justice,  in  as  ample 
 and  perfect  a manner  as  can  be  devised  in  the  present  circumstances  of  the  Settlement.  These  ends, 
 it  is  conceived,  can  be  best  approached  by  adopting,  as  far  as  may  be  practicable,  some  of  the  lead- 
 ing means  which  have  been  so  happily  established  for  this  purpose  in  our  mother-country,  leaving 
 
 h 
 
58 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 it  to  time  and  experience  to  facilitate  their  application  in  those  respects  in  which  a difference  of 
 circumstances  may  at  first  appear  to  interpose  some  difficulties. 
 
 "Whatever  diversity  of  feelings  may  exist  among  different  tribes,  however  much  the  influence 
 of  habit  may  have  perverted  their  judgment  in  particular  points,  there  are  still  certain  rights,  neces- 
 sities, and  interests,  common  to  all,  and  which  all  wdll  wish  to  secure.  The  measures  which  tend 
 to  this  result  they  can  be  easily  brought  to  appreciate,  and  while  they  continue  to  view  them  in  that 
 light,  they  will  naturally  incline  to  support  them. 
 
 Nor  is  it  too  much  to  hope,  that  in  framing  laws  for  the  future  government  of  the  Settlement, 
 the  body  to  whom  this  important  trust  is  confided  will  apply  all  their  zeal,  judgment,  and  experi- 
 ence, towards  rendering  them  as  perfectly  and  fully  conducive  to  the  general  benefit  as  may  be 
 practicable ; and  therefore,  that  while  the  different  courts  through  which  these  laws  come  to  be 
 dispensed  to  the  public,  discharge  their  duties  with  diligence  and  purity,  they  may  calculate  on 
 the  animating  and  cheering  support  of  those  for  whose  benefit  their  labours  have  been  under- 
 taken. 
 
 There  is  little  necessity  to  point  out  how  much  such  a feeling,  when  once  generated,  will  aid 
 in  efiecting  and  promoting  good  order  and  regularity,  and  in  alleviating  the  labours  of  all  who  are 
 interested  in  their  preservation. 
 
 A steady  uniform  application  of  the  same  principles  in  judicial  proceedings,  without  reference 
 to  the  rank,  condition,  or  situation  of  the  parties,  will  have  the  effect  of  establishing  a system  to 
 which  persons  of  every  description  must  look  with  confidence  and  respect,  notwithstanding  the  very 
 great  variety  of  those  on  whom  the  laws  of  the  Settlement  may  be  called  to  bear,  and  the  many 
 obstacles  which  may  be  opposed  by  the  force  of  established  habits  and  prejudices. 
 
 To  these  prejudices  it  is  hoped  the  Court  will  always  concede  a humane  and  patient  considera- 
 tion ; and  that  it  will  endeavour  to  remove  them,  by  kindly  exposing  their  erroneous  tendency  on 
 every  proper  occasion,  pointing  out  at  the  same  time  the  superior  objects  held  in  view  in  the  system 
 of  legislation  which  we  have  adopted,  and  safely  trusting  the  issue  to  the  result  of  such  a com- 
 parison. 
 
 APPENDIX  B. 
 
 RULES  for  the  MAGISTRATES’  COURT. 
 
 1.  The  office  of  the  ^Magistrates  shall  be  open  for  the  trial  of  civil  causes  within  their  jurisdic- 
 tion two  days  in  the  week,  viz.  Tuesdays  and  Fridays,  at  ten  o’clock  A.  M. 
 
 2.  F or  the  trial  of  cases  not  purely  of  a civil  nature,  but  arising  out  of  the  police,  it  shall  be 
 open  every  day  at  the  same  hour. 
 
 3.  The  office  to  be  kept  open  daily  from  ten  A.  M.  to  three  P.  M.,  for  the  purpose  of  afford- 
 ing to  the  public  an  opportunity  of  entering  and  enrolling  suits ; and  it  will  be  incumbent  on  the 
 assistant  to  the  Magistrates  to  give  his  attendance  between  those  hours,  and  to  enter  and  enrol  all 
 causes  that  may  be  presented. 
 
 4.  All  causes  to  be  heard  in  the  order  of  their  enrolment,  and  adjourned  cases  to  take  prece- 
 dence of  all  others. 
 
 5.  Excepting  in  such  civil  cases  as  the  Magistrates  may  consider  a deviation  from  this  course 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 5& 
 
 particularly  advisable,  it  will  be  necessary  that  all  citations  and  summonses  to  the  parties  in  an 
 action  should  be  issued  in  the  following  manner,  viz. 
 
 That  for  such  causes  as  are  to  be  tried  on  Friday,  the  citations  and  summonses  shall  have 
 been  issued  previous  to  the  pi’eceding  Tuesday ; and  for  all  causes  to  be  tried  on  Tuesday,  such 
 citations  and  summonses  to  be  issued  previous  to  the  preceding  Friday.  The  Magistrates,  how- 
 ever, are  to  have  the  power  of  departing  from  strict  attention  to  this  course  when  they  concur  in  the 
 necessity  of  doing  so,  and  to  continue  their  sittings  a die  in  diem  in  similar  circumstances. 
 
 G.  When  any  person  applies  at  the  office  of  the  Magistrates  for  the  purpose  of  having  a civil 
 cause  entered  and  enrolled,  the  Assistant  to  the  Magistrates  shall  enrol  the  same  in  the  manner 
 now  in  use,  receiving  at  the  same  time  the  regular  fee  approved  of  for  such  enrolment ; and  he  shall 
 obtain  also  a list  of  all  the  witnesses  which  the  party  may  consider  necessary  and  useful  to  his  cause, 
 being  careful  to  warn  the  party,  and  to  make  him  well  aware  of  the  importance  of  having  all  his 
 witnesses  duly  and  regularly  cited. 
 
 7.  The  Assistant  to  the  Magistrates  shall  issue  no  warrant  for  the  citation  of  any  person 
 without  first  having  obtained  a warrant  for  that  purpose  from  one  of  the  Magistrates ; and  when 
 such  warrants  shall  have  been  duly  and  regularly  issued,  he  shall  put  them  into  the  hands  of  one  of 
 the  police,  in  order  to  have  them  served,  if  possible  one  of  the  J emadars. 
 
 8.  The  person  entrusted  to  serve  the  warrant  shall  then  proceed,  in  company  with  the  com- 
 plainant or  some  person  of  good  character  delegated  by  him  for  that  object,  to  serve  the  warrant  on 
 the  defendant,  and  on  the  different  witnesses  whose  presence  may  be  required,  and  all  warrants  shall 
 be  served  if  possible  on  the  parties  personally ; and  when  that  shall  not  be  found  practicable, 
 the  warrant  is  to  be  left  at  his  usual  domicile,  in  presence  of  one  of  his  family,  to  whom  the  nature 
 of  the  warrant  shall  be  duly  explained  and  notified. 
 
 9.  When  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  a person  may  have  absented  himself,  or  may  have 
 taken  means  to  prevent  a warrant  from  being  served  in  the  manner  prescribed,  the  Magistrates 
 shall  then  issue  a warrant  for  the  apprehension  of  his  person  and  the  attachment  of  his  pro- 
 perty ; and  on  being  taken  into  custody,  he  shall  not  only  be  obliged  to  find  bail  for  his  appearance 
 to  answer  to  the  action  in  question,  but  shall  also  be  liable  to  punishment  and,  at  the  discretion  of 
 the  Magistrates,  so  far  as  it  shall  be  proved  against  him  that  he  may  have  used  means  for  evading 
 the  operation  of  their  warrant. 
 
 10.  All  parties  to  an  action  shall  be  personally  present  in  court  at  the  time  appointed  for  the 
 hearing  of  a cause,  under  the  following  penalties,  viz. 
 
 When  the  defendant  shall  fail  to  appear,  judgment  shall  pass  in  default : and  in  the  case  of  the 
 pursuer,  he  shall  be  nonsuited,  and  subjected  not  only  in  costs  of  suit  so  far  as  it  may  have  gone, 
 but  also  in  compensation,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Magistrates,  to  the  parties  whose  attendance  he 
 may  have  unnecessarily  occasioned. 
 
 11.  Witnesses  failing  to  attend  after  being  regularly  and  duly  cited,  or  contumaciously  refusing 
 to  give  testimony,  shall  be  liable  to  fine  and  punishment  at  the  discretion  of  the  Magistrates. 
 
 12.  The  forms  of  warrants  to  be  such  as  are  at  present  in  use. 
 
 1.3.  When  the  Magistrates  shall  have  heard  a cause,  they  shall  endorse  their  decision,  au- 
 thenticated by  the  signature  of  one  or  more  of  them,  on  the  back  of  the  warrant  which  may  have 
 been  issued  for  that  particular  case ; and  such  warrants  shall  be  filed  monthly,  and  carefully 
 preserved  in  the  I’ecords  of  the  office.  The  Assistant  to  the  Magistrates  shall,  at  the  same  time, 
 make  a short  record  of  the  facts  of  any  case  which  may  be  considered  deserving  of  such  notice,  in  a 
 
 \i2 
 
60 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 book  deposited  at  the  office  for  this  purpose.  He  shall  also  keep  a regular  account  of  all  fees  and 
 fines  received  at  the  office,  distinguishing  each. 
 
 14.  The  form  in  which  appeals  shall  be  made  to  the  Resident’s  court  shall  be  hereafter  fixed 
 by  the  court  with  the  concurrence  of  the  Resident. 
 
 15.  The  annexed  table  of  fees  is  approved,  the  amount  to  be  carried  to  account  of  Go- 
 vernment. 
 
 Table  of  Fees  provisionallij  authorized  for  the  Magistrates'  Court. 
 
 Entering  complaint  and  granting  summons 0 50  Cents 
 
 Subpoena  0 20 
 
 Warrant  and  attachment 0 30 
 
 In  actions  for  debt,  after  judgment  has  been  passed,  such  an  additional  sum  to  be  levied  for  the 
 decree,  as  shall  not  cause  the  whole  amount  of  fees  for  summons,  subpoena,  warrant  and  attachment, 
 and  decree,  to  exceed  a total  of  five  per  cent  on  the  amount  at  issue. 
 
 An  arbitration  bond 1 0 Rupees 
 
 A bail  bond  for  keeping  the  peace 1 0 
 
 Persons  incompetent  to  pay  the  first  costs  of  instituting  a suit,  may  plead  in  forma  pauperis, 
 the  court  afterwards  deciding  how  far  the  party  may  have  been  justified  in  availing  himself  of  this 
 indulgence,  and  awarding  a sufficient  fine  where  it  may  be  unduly  taken  advantage  of. 
 
 COMMISSION  for  the  MAGISTRACY. 
 
 Whereas  it  having  become  indispensible,  in  consequence  of  the  extent  of  population  and 
 capital  already  accumulated  at  Singapore,  that  immediate  provision  should  be  made  for  the  pre- 
 servation of  order  and  the  protection  of  person  and  property,  and  it  having  been  provided  by 
 Regulation  No.  III.  of  1823*,  entitled,  “a  Regulation  for  the  establishment  of  a Provisional 
 “ Magistracy  and  the  enforcement  of  an  efficient  Police  at  Singapore,  with  certain  provisions  for 
 “ the  administration  of  justices  in  cases  of  emergency  and  also  by  Regulation  No.  VI.  of  1823, 
 passed  on  this  day,  entitled  a Regulation  in  furtherance  of  the  objects  of  Regulation  No.  III.  of 
 “ 1823,  and  containing  additional  provisions  for  the  Magistracy  and  administration  of  Justice  at 
 “ Singapore,”  that  a certain  number  of  gentlemen  resident  at  Singapore  should  be  constituted  and 
 appointed  to  act  as  Magistrates,  for  the  preservation  of  the  peace  and  the  establishment  of  due 
 regulation  and  domestic  order  within  the  said  Settlement : 
 
 Be  it  known,  that  in  conformity  with  the  provisions  of  the  aforesaid  Regulations,  and  by 
 virtue  “ of  the  full  power  and  authority”  vested  in  me,  as  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Fort 
 Marlbro’  and  its  dependencies,  by  especial  commission  under  the  common  seal  of  the  Honourable 
 the  United  Company  of  Merchants  of  England  trading  to  the  East  Indies,  bearing  date  the  14th 
 October,  1817,  “ from  time  to  time  to  rule  and  govern,  and  to  do  and  perform  all  such  acts  and 
 “ things,  and  to  use  and  exercise  all  such  powers  and  authorities  as  are  incidental  to,  and  neces- 
 “ sary  for,  the  government  of  the  said  Settlement,  and  of  all  places  subordinate  to,  or  annexed 
 
 Passed  on  the  20th  January,  1823. 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 61 
 
 “ thereto,  and  of  the  servants  and  soldiers  of  the  East  India  Company  there,  and  the  people  and 
 “ inhabitants  thereof:” 
 
 I,  the  Honourable  Sir  Thomas  Stamford  Raffles,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Fort  Marlbro’  and 
 its  dependencies,  do  hereby  nominate,  constitute,  and  appoint  the  undermentioned  twelve  gentle- 
 men, jointly  and  severally,  to  be  Magistrates  of  Singapore  for  the  current  year  1823,  hereby  giving 
 unto  them  full  and  ample  authority,  under  this  commission,  to  act  in  the  same  manner  as  justices 
 of  the  peace  in  England,  and  to  perform  and  execute  the  duties  required  of  them  in  the  capacity  of 
 Magistrates,  to  the  best  of  their  judgment  and  conscience,  and  according  to  the  provisions  in  the 
 said  Regulations  made  and  provided,  to  such  rules  and  orders  as  are  now  or  may  hereafter  be  laid 
 down  by  Government  for  their  guidance  ; for  which  this  shall  be  their  warrant. 
 
 A.  L.  Johnston, 
 I.  A.  Maxwell, 
 D.  S.  Napier, 
 
 A.  Morgan, 
 
 I.  Purvis, 
 
 A.  Guthrie, 
 
 Graham  Mackenzie, 
 William  Montgomerie, 
 Charles  Scott, 
 
 John  Morgan, 
 
 C.  R.  Read,  and 
 Alexander  Hay,  Esqs. 
 
 And  I do  hereby  order,  require  and  command  all  persons  now  resident,  or  who  may  hereafter 
 come  within  the  jurisdiction  of  Singapore,  to  shew  due  respect  and  obedience  to  the  said  A.  L. 
 Johnson,  I.  A.  Maxwell,  D.  S.  Napiei’,  A.  Morgan,  I.  Purvis,  A.  Guthrie,  G.  Mackenzie, 
 W.  Montgomerie,  C.  Scott,  J.  Morgan,  C.  R.  Read,  and  A.  Hay,  Esqs.,  in  the  execution  of  the 
 duties  of  their  office  accordingly. 
 
 And  whereas  a provision  having  been  made  by  Regulation  No.  VI.  of  1823,  that  the  Magis- 
 trates shall  in  future  be  appointed  annually  on  the  1st  July  in  each  year  ; and  that  to  the  number 
 of  twelve  Magistrates,  now  appointed  to  constitute  the  acting  Magistracy  for  the  present  year,  the 
 Resident  should  be  competent,  from  time  to  time,  to  appoint  supernumeraries,  who  are  to  be  borne 
 on  the  public  roll  of  persons  eligible  for  the  Magistracy. 
 
 Be  it  known,  that  I,  the  Honourable  Sir  Thomas  Stamford  Raffles,  Lieutenant-Governor  of 
 Fort  Malbro’  and  its  dependencies,  do  hereby  empower  and  authorize  the  Resident  or  chief  local 
 authority  of  Singapore  for  the  time  being,  hereafter  to  nominate  such  supernumeraries  accordingly, 
 in  the  manner  provided  by  the  said  Regulation,  and  further  to  select,  constitute,  and  appoint  annu- 
 ally, on  the  1st  January  on  each  year,  from  the  roll  of  persons  eligible  for  the  Magistracy  (which 
 will  include  those  now  appointed,  as  well  as  all  such  supernumeraries  as  may  be  hereafter 
 appointed  by  the  Resident),  twelve  gentlemen  to  act  as  Magistrates  for  the  ensuing  year,  with  the 
 same  powers  and  authority  as  are  now  conferred  on  the  acting  Magistracy  for  the  present  year ; for 
 which  this  also  shall  be  his  warrant. 
 
 This  commission  to  be  in  force  and  full  effect  from  the  present  date,  and  to  remain  in  force 
 until  the  establishment  of  a regular  court  of  judicature,  unless  previously  revoked  by  the  Governor- 
 General  in  Council  of  Fort  William,  or  other  equally  competent  authority. 
 
 In  witness  whereof  I have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  the  seal  of  the  East  India  Com- 
 pany at  Singapore,  on  the  6th  of  J une  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
 twenty-three. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 T.  S.  RAFFLES. 
 
62 
 
 APPEN  DIX. 
 
 Form  of  Oath  administered  to  the  Magistrates  of  Singapore. 
 
 We,  the  undersigned,  being  appointed  and  commissioned  to  act  as  hlagistrates  of  Singapore, 
 under  Regulation  No.  III.  of  1823,  entitled  a “ Regulation  for  the  establishment  of  a provisional 
 “ Magistracy  and  the  enforcement  of  an  efficient  Police  at  Singapore,  with  certain  provisions  for 
 “ the  administration  of  Justice  in  cases  of  emergency,”  and  also  under  Regulation  No.  II.  of  1823, 
 entitled,  a “ Regulation  in  furtherance  of  the  objects  of  Regulation  No.  III.  of  1823,  and  con- 
 “ taining  additional  provisions  for  the  administration  of  Justice  at  Singapoi-e,”  do  hereby  make 
 oath  and  swear,  that  in  the  execution  of  the  duties  thereof,  \ve  will  do  equal  right  to  the  poor  and 
 to  the  rich,  without  favour  or  partiality  to  any  one,  to  the  best  of  our  judgment  and  conscience,  and 
 according  to  such  rules  and  regulations  as  are  now,  or  may  hereafter,  be  laid  down  for  the  guidance 
 of  the  Magistrates  of  Singapore. 
 
 So  help  us  God. 
 
 REPORT 
 
 ON  THE 
 
 ADMINISTRATION  OF  JUSTICE. 
 
 To  Holt  Machenzie,  Esq.,  Secretary  to  Government,  Fort  William. 
 
 SIR: 
 
 1.  I have  the  honour  to  report,  for  the  information  of  the  honourable  the  Governor-General 
 in  Council,  that  the  appointment  of  the  provisional  Magistracy  at  Singapore,  as  reported  in  my 
 letter  to  your  address  of  the  10th  January  last,  has  been  attended  with  the  most  beneficial  effects, 
 in  providing  for  the  domestic  order  and  economy  of  the  Settlement,  and  that  the  establishment  of 
 an  authority  so  constituted,  in  aid  of  the  local  administration,  while  it  has  added  strength  and 
 respectability  to  the  Government,  has,  at  the  same  time,  given  universal  satisfaction  and  confidence 
 to  the  community. 
 
 2.  The  experience,  indeed,  which  I have  obtained  during  the  last  five  months  in  which  the 
 system  has  been  in  operation  under  my  own  eye,  has  not  only  convinced  me  of  its  peculiar  fitness 
 in  principle  to  the  existing  circumstances  of  Singapore,  but  at  the  same  time  enabled  me  to  form 
 some  opinion  of  what  remains  to  be  done  hereafter,  with  a view  to  a more  permanent  provision  for 
 the  police  and  administration  of  justice.  I proceed,  however,  in  the  first  instance,  to  submit,  for 
 the  consideration  of  the  Honourable  the  Governor-General  in  Council,  the  more  immediate  provi- 
 sions which  have  called  for  my  attention  in  furtherance  of  these  objects,  some  of  which  I have 
 deemed  it  advisable  to  adopt  at  once,  as  indispensible  for  the  guidance  of  the  constituted  authori- 
 ties, and  essential  for  the  regularity  of  their  proceedings. 
 
 3.  These  consist. 
 
 First,  In  a revision  of  that  part  of  Regulation  No.  III.  of  1823,  which  provides  for  the 
 
 i 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 63 
 
 quarterly  appointment  of  three  Magistrates,  by  the  substitution  of  an  annual  appointment  of  twelve 
 Magistrates  in  lieu  thereof. 
 
 4.  Under  this  revision,  I have  appointed  twelve  Magistrates,  who  are  to  constitute  the  acting 
 Magistracy  for  the  present  year ; and  to  this  number  it  will  be  competent  to  the  Resident  hereafter 
 to  appoint  supernumeraries,  who  are  to  be  borne  on  the  public  roll  of  persons  eligible  for  the  Ma- 
 gistracy, from  whom  and  the  ex-Magistrates  the  twelve  Magistrates  will  in  future  be  annually 
 appointed  by  him.  The  enactment  of  local  laws  and  regulations  will,  of  course,  continue  in  the 
 manner  as  heretofore  prescribed ; save  only  the  slight  alternation  to  suit  the  change  made  in  the 
 Magisti’acy,  from  quarterly  appointments  of  three  to  annual  appointments  of  twelve. 
 
 5.  This  change  in  the  nomination  of  the  Magistrates  became  necessary,  in  order  to  provide 
 for  the  duties  now  required  of  them  in  the  Resident’s  Court,  as  well  as  with  a view  to  the  accom- 
 modation of  the  gentlemen  appointed  to  the  office,  to  whom  it  affords  the  means  of  making  such 
 arrangements  amongst  themselves  for  the  tour  of  duty  as  best  suits  their  convenience.  It  has,  at 
 the  same  time,  the  advantage  of  affording  a more  appropriate  channel  for  the  communication  of 
 public  opinion,  and  of  giving  to  the  Magistrates,  in  their  legislative  capacity,  a just  weight  and 
 importance. 
 
 6.  I am  satisfied  that  nothing  has  tended  more  to  the  discomfort  and  constant  jarrings  which 
 have  hitherto  occurred  in  our  remote  Settlements,  than  the  policy  which  has  dictated  the  exclusion 
 of  the  European  merchants  from  all  share,  much  less  credit,  in  the  domestic  regulation  of  the 
 Settlement  of  which  they  are  frequently  its  most  important  members.  Some  degree  of  legislative 
 power  must  necessarily  exist  in  every  distant  dependency.  The  laws  of  the  mother  country  cannot 
 be  commensurate  with  the  wants  of  the  dependency : she  has  wants  of  which  a remote  legislature 
 can  very  imperfectly  judge,  and  which  are  sometimes  too  urgent  to  admit  the  delay  of  reference* 
 Circumstanced  as  Singapore  is,  even  the  Governor-General  in  Council,  with  whom  the  legislative 
 power  will  probably  rest,  is  hardly  competent  to  legislate  for  such  a state  without  the  assistance  of 
 local  advice.  The  administration  of  the  Settlement  is  necessarily  limited  to  one  individual,  who, 
 having  no  council,  could  not  be  entrusted  with  the  enactment  of  laws,  which  require  deliberation 
 and  advice,  and  the  mode  which  I have  provided  seems  at  once  the  most  congenial  to  our  national 
 institutions,  the  most  simple  in  its  adoption  and  application,  and  the  most  promising  in  its  advan- 
 tages ; at  the  same  time  that  neither  the  Supreme  Government  as  the  higher  legislative  authority, 
 nor  the  local  Resident,  as  the  Governor  and  executive  officer  of  the  state,  loses  any  of  the  powers 
 or  attributes  properly  vested  in  him.  The  nomination  of  Magistrates  is  vested  in  him ; and  as  the 
 appointment  is  a mark  of  respect  to  the  individual,  inasmuch  as  the  exclusion  is  a disgrace,  it  may 
 be  considered  as  rather  extending  his  patronage  and  authority  than  otherwise. 
 
 7.  Secondly.  In  defining  the  jurisdiction  and  laying  down  rules  for  the  Resident’s  and  Ma- 
 gistrates’ courts,  aitd  in  apprizing  the  public  in  how  far  they  are  bound  to  give  their  aid,  when 
 required,  towards  the  administration  of  justice. 
 
 8.  In  the  constitution  of  the  Resident’s  court,  it  became  necessary  to  consider  how  that  officer 
 was  to  be  aided  with  advice,  as  well  in  civil  as  in  criminal  cases,  and  in  what  cases  it  would  be 
 advisable  to  have  recourse  to  a jury : and  it  having  appeared  to  me  advisable  that  this  court  should 
 be  formed  by  the  Resident,  who  should  preside  and  pass  the  decisions,  with  the  assistance  of  two 
 Magistrates  as  assessors,  taken  monthly  by  rotation  from  the  general  list  of  Magistrates,  and  that 
 juries  should  be  allowed  in  all  civil  cases  where  the  amount  in  dispute  exceeded  a certain  amount, 
 or  when  Government  might  be  concerned,  as  also  in  all  criminal  cases  whatever,  the  rules  for  that 
 court  have  been  framed  on  this  principle. 
 
64 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 9.  The  rules  for  the  Magistrates’  Court,  at  which  two  Magistrates  will  jointly  preside  for 
 the  adjustment  of  small  debts,  are  intended  to  provide  for  a more  summary  jurisdiction,  and  require 
 no  particular  remark. 
 
 10.  Enclosed  I have  the  honour  to  transmit  a copy  of  Regulation  No.  VI.  of  1823,  this  day 
 passed,  which,  with  its  Appendices  A.  and  B.  contain  the  particulars  of  the  provisions  which  I 
 have  thus  made ; and  I respectfully  submit  the  same  for  the  approbation  and  confirmation  of  the 
 Governor-General  in  Council,  as  essential  for  the  government  of  the  Settlement,  and  the  best 
 calculated,  as  far  as  my  local  experience  and  information  enables  me  to  form  a judgment,  to  suit  its 
 convenience  and  wants. 
 
 11.  For  the  information  of  the  Governor-General  in  Council,  I have  also,  at  the  same  time, 
 the  honour  to  ti-ansmit  a copy  of  the  commission  under  which  I have  appointed  and  established  the 
 Magistracy,  together  with  the  form  of  oath  which  has  been  administered  on  the  occasion. 
 
 12.  In  adopting  these  Regulations,  I have  felt  that  I have  been  going  no  further  than  what 
 was  indispensably  requisite,  in  furtherance  of  the  principle  laid  down  by  Regulation  No.  III. 
 of  1823;  but  I thought  it  right  to  delay  them  until  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Crawfurd,  in  the  hope 
 of  receiving  the  sentiments  of  the  Supreme  Government  in  reply  to  my  former  I’eference. 
 
 13.  Another,  and  more  serious  question,  has  however  arisen,  namely.  What  law  is  to  be 
 administered?  Is  it  to  be  English  or  Malay,  or  both?  and  how  far  are  the  laws  of  China,  of 
 Hindustan,  and  of  each  particular  state  in  the  Eastern  Seas,  to  be  recognized? 
 
 14.  The  population  of  Singapore  will  probably  consist  of  a mixture  in  various  proportions 
 of  strangers  from  all  parts  of  the  world,  having  commercial  concerns  at  the  port,  though  chiefly  of 
 Malays,  and  Chinese ; and  it  would  be  impracticable  for  any  judicial  authority  to  become  perfectly 
 acquainted  with  the  laws,  and  customs  having  the  force  of  law,  acknowledged  in  their  own 
 countries  respectively,  by  the  varied  classes  of  so  mixed  a population  ; and  it  would  be  still  more 
 so  to  attempt  to  administer  these  in  such  a manner  as  to  preserve  them  inviolate,  even  in  the  mutual 
 intercourse  of  those  classes  severally  amongst  themselves,  much  less  where  justice  is  to  be  admi- 
 nistered between  two  persons  of  different  classes. 
 
 15.  It  is,  I believe,  generally  admitted,  that  in  colonies  formed  entirely  by  Englishmen, 
 they  naturally  carry  the  laws  of  their  country  with  them,  subject  only  to  such  local  modifications 
 as  the  constitution  of  the  colony  may  require  ; .but  nine-tenths  of  the  population  of  Singapore  will 
 most  probably  consist  of  Chinese  and  iMalays,  and  the  restrictions  of  the  legislature  may  for  many 
 years  operate  against  any  considerable  extension  in  the  number  of  Englishmen. 
 
 16.  A case  has  occurred  during  the  period  I have  presided  in  the  court,  wherein  a Chinese, 
 whose  relation  was  killed  in  an  affray,  refused  any  satisfaction  short  of  the  life  of  another  individual 
 as  an  atonement.  The  deceased  was  without  doubt  killed  by  accident,  and  circumstancs  did  not 
 admit  of  tracing  the  fact  to  the  party  who  inflicted  the  blow.  But  the  constant  and  only  argument 
 of  the  Chinese  was,  “ what  proof  do  you  want  ? It  is  proved  my  relation  was  killed,  no  matter 
 “ how : and  if  you  won’t  give  me  the  life  of  another  in  satisfaction,  I must  take  one.”  Again, 
 according  to  the  Malay  law,  a man  who  has  been  purloined  of  his  property  may  follow  the  thief,  and 
 kill  him  wherever  he  finds  him,  provided  it  is  within  twenty-four  hours  after  the  deed  was  com- 
 mitted, otherwise  he  must  bring  him  to  the  Rajah. 
 
 IT.  These  and  other  cases,  which  may  be  readily  conceived  as  arising  out  of  the  long  want 
 of  government  in  these  Islands,  will  be  sufficient  to  shew  that  there  could  be  no  security  of  person 
 or  property  in  a settlement  like  Singapore,  were  the  administration  of  the  laws  to  remain  in  the 
 hands  of  the  native  authorities. 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 65 
 
 18.  The  view  which  I have  been  induced  to  take  of  the  subject,  inclines  me  to  think  that, 
 under  the  peculiar  circumstances  of  the  establishment  of  the  Settlement,  the  manner  in  which 
 nearly  the  whole  of  the  population  has  accumulated  under  the  protection  of  our  flag,  and  the  real 
 character  and  interests  of  the  people  who  are  likely  to  resort  to  it,  we  cannot  do  better  than  apply 
 the  general  principles  of  British  law  to  all,  equally  and  alike,  without  distinction  of  tribe  or 
 nation,  under  such  modifications  only  as  local  circumstances  and  peculiarities,  and  a due  con- 
 sideration for  the  weakness  and  prejudices  of  the  native  part  of  the  population,  may  from  time 
 to  time  suggest. 
 
 19.  Precautionary  measures  for  the  prevention  of  crime  are,  of  course,  the  first  to  be  attended 
 to ; but  something  like  a code,  which  shall  explain  in  few  words  what  is  considered  a crime,  and 
 what  is  the  punishment  attached  to  it,  seems  indispensable,  even  in  this  respect. 
 
 20.  This  subject  has  attracted  my  most  serious  attention : and  I regret  exceedingly  that  cir- 
 cumstances have  not  admitted  of  my  communicating  with  the  Governor-General  in  Council  upon 
 it  previously  to  delivering  over  charge  of  Singapore.  All  that  I have  felt  myself  authorized  in 
 doing,  has  been  to  give  publicity  to  a Minute  which  it  was  my  intention  to  have  submitted  to  the 
 Supreme  Government,  in  which  I have  endeavoured  to  point  out  the  principles  and  objects  to  be 
 kept  in  view  in  framing  local  Regulations,  and  to  suggest  a scale  of  some  of  the  leading  crimes  and 
 punishments  for  the  consideration  and  revision  of  the  Magistracy. 
 
 21.  A copy  of  this  proclamation,  together  with  the  scale  of  crimes  and  jmnishments  therein 
 refeiTed  to,  I have  the  honour  to  enclose,  for  the  information  of  the  Governor-General  in  Council ; 
 and  I trust  that  the  principles  on  which  I have  proceeded,  will  be  found  to  be  such  as  may  merit 
 the  approbation  and  support  of  his  high  authority. 
 
 22.  It  may  be  expected  that  I should  explain  the  grounds  on  which  I have  felt  myself  autho- 
 rized to  go  even  as  far  as  I have  done,  in  legislating  and  constituting  a power  of  legislating  pro- 
 visionally for  Singapore,  and  at  the  same  time  state  the  mode  in  which  I consider  the  legislative  and 
 judicial  branch  of  the  public  administration  can  be  best  provided  for,  in  any  permanent  arrangement 
 to  be  made  by  the  authorities  at  home. 
 
 23.  On  the  first  point,  I shall  briefly  state,  that  an  actual  and  urgent  necessity  existed  for 
 some  immediate  and  provisional  arrangements ; and  that,  in  adopting  those  which  I have  esta- 
 blished, it  has  been  ray  endeavour,  while  I gave  all  due  weight  to  local  considerations,  to  adhere  as 
 closely  as  possible  to  those  principles,  which  from  immemorial  usage  have  ever  been  considered 
 the  most  essential  and  sacred  parts  of  the  British  constitution.  Independently  of  the  authority  with 
 which  ray  commission  vests  me  as  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Fort  Malborough  and  its  dependencies, 
 (whereof  Singapore  for  the  time  being  is  one,)  of  giving  all  such  orders,  and  from  time  to  time 
 doing  all  such  things  as  are  “ necessary,  and  are  incidental  to  the  government  of  the  said  Settle- 
 “ ment,  and  its  dependencies,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof,”  the  peculiar  tenure  on  which  Singapore 
 is  at  present  politically  held,  the  unusual  degree  of  responsibility  still  resting  on  me  personally, 
 and  the  actual  circumstances  under  which  a large  population  and  extensive  capital  has  accumulated 
 under  my  administi'ation,  without  any  provision  having  been  made  by  higher  and  more  competent 
 authority  for  the  judicial  administration,  naturally  called  upon  me  to  adopt  all  such  provisional 
 measures  as  necessity  might  dictate.  More  than  this  I have  not  attempted  ; and  I should  have  but 
 ill  fulfilled  the  high  and  important  trust  reposed  in  me,  if,  after  having  congregated  so  large  a por- 
 tion of  our  fellow-creatures,  I had  left  them  without  something  like  law  and  regulation  for  their 
 security  and  comfort. 
 
 24.  With  regard  to  more  permanent  arrangements  hereafter,  it  appears  to  me,  that  all  that  is 
 
 1 
 
6C 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 wanting  to  the  progressive  improvement  and  completion  of  the  system  so  advantageously  com- 
 menced, is  an  act  of  the  Crown  or  Legislature,  which  may  acknowledge  and  legalize  what  has  been 
 done,  and  provide  for  the  future  on  the  same  principle,  or  on  such  other  as  its  wisdom,  with  a 
 knowledge  of  actual  circumstances,  may  suggest.  As  the  population  and  opulence  of  the  Settle- 
 ment increases,  professional  aid  may  be  required  in  the  Resident’s  court,  by  the  addition  of  a legal 
 assessor  or  judge,  to  relieve  the  Resident  from  the  more  severe  duties  ; and  probably  the  Recorder 
 of  Penang  might  perform  this  duty  by  an  occasional  circuit.  For  the  police  and  judicial  duties, 
 under  the  present  circumstances  of  the  Settlement,  ample  provision  is  already  made  by  the  existing 
 establishments,  which  are  at  once  economical  and  efficient. 
 
 '^5.  Having  the  future  prosperity  of  Singapore  deeply  at  heart,  I trust  I may  be  excused  in 
 making  a respectful  request,  that  the  sentiments  of  the  Supreme  Government  regarding  the  principles 
 I have  laid  down,  with  its  opinion  on  the  best  mode  of  providing  for  the  police  and  judicial  administra- 
 tion in  future,  may  be  communicated  to  the  Honourable  Court  of  Directors  by  an  early  opportunity,  in 
 order  that,  on  my  arrival  in  England,  should  my  services  be  accepted  for  the  purpose,  I may  afford 
 all  assistance  in  my  power  towards  the  attainment  of  such  a charter  or  warrant  from  the  Crown,  as 
 may  be  suitable  to  the  local  circumstances  of  the  place,  and  regarding  which  the  Authorities  at  home 
 must  necessarily  refer  to  those  who  possess  local  information,  and  have  attended  to  the  subject. 
 
 I have  the  honour  to  be.  Sir, 
 
 Your  most  obedient  humble  servant. 
 
 Singapore,  June  6ih,  1823. 
 
 (Signed)  T.  S.  RAFFLES. 
 
 PROCLAMATION. 
 
 Provision  having  been  made  by  Regulations  No.  III.  and  VI.  of  1823,  for  the  establishment 
 of  an  efficient  Magistracy  at  Singapore,  and  for  the  mode  in  which  local  Regulations,  having  the 
 force  of  law,  should  be  enacted,  and  by  whom  such  laws  should  be  administered,  it  now  becomes 
 necessary  to  state  the  principles  and  objects  which  should  be  kept  in  view  in  framing  such  Regula- 
 tions, and  as  far  as  circumstances  may  admit,  to  apprize  all  parties  of  their  respective  rights  and 
 duties,  in  order  that  ignorance  thereof  may  not  hereafter  be  pleaded  on  the  part  of  any  individual  or 
 class  of  people. 
 
 The  Lieutenant-Governor  is  in  consequence  induced  to  give  publicity  to  the  following  Minute, 
 containing  the  leading  principles  and  objects  to  be  attended  to. 
 
 MINUTE  b//  the  LIEUTENANT  GOVERNOR. 
 
 1.  As  the  population  of  Singapore  will  necessarily  consist  of  a mixture,  in  various  proportions, 
 of  strangers  from  all  parts  of  the  world,  having  commercial  concerns  at  this  port,  though  chiefly  of 
 Chinese  and  Malays,  it  would  be  impracticable  for  any  judicial  authority  to  become  perfectly  ac- 
 quainted with  the  laws,  and  customs  having  the  force  of  law,  which  are  acknowledged  in  their  own 
 countries  respectively,  by  the  varied  classes  of  so  mixed  a population,  and  to  administer  these  in 
 such  a manner  as  to  preserve  them  inviolate,  even  in  the  mutual  intercourse  of  those  classes 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS.. 
 
 67 
 
 severally  amongst  themselves  ; far  more  so,  when  justice  is  to  be  done  between  the  Englishman 
 and  Chinese,  the  Bugguese  and  Hindoo,  and  the  like.  On  the  other  hand,  to  apply  the  law  of 
 Europe  direct,  with  all  its  accumulated  processes  and  penalties,  to  a people  of  whom  more  than 
 nine-tenths  will  probably  be  natives  of  China  and  the  Malay  archipelago,  would  be  as  repugnant 
 to  natural  justice,  as  it  would  be  inconsistent  with  the  benevolence  and  liberality  which  has  ever 
 marked  the  British  rule  in  India. 
 
 2.  Under  these  circumstances,  nothing  seems  to  be  left  but  to  have  recourse  to  first  principles, 
 to  use  every  precaution  against  the  existence  of  temptation  to  crime,  that  is  found  consistent  with 
 the  perfect  liberty  of  those  who  have  no  evil  intentions ; and  when  these  precautions  fail,  to  secure 
 redress  to  the  injured  party,  if  possible,  and  such  punishment  as  will  be  most  likely  to  prevent  a 
 repetition  of  the  crime,  either  by  the  party  himself  offending,  or  by  those  who  may  be  inclined  to 
 follow  his  example.  Nothing  should  be  endured  in  the  Settlement,  however  sanctioned  by  the 
 local  usage  of  particular  tribes  who  resort  to  it,  that  has  either  a dii’ect  effect,  or  notoriously  strong 
 tendency  to  endanger  the  safety  or  liberty  of  person,  or  the  security  of  property  : and,  in  the  same 
 manner,  no  want  of  what  are  considered  legal  formalities  in  any  country  should  debar  a person 
 from  having  substantial  justice  rendered  to  him,  so  that  legal  and  moral  obligation  may  never  be 
 at  variance. 
 
 3.  Taking  this  as  the  fundamental  principle  for  the  laws  of  the  Settlement,  it  may  be  presumed 
 that  no  local  Regulation  would  be  enacted  which  the  society,  if  left  to  themselves,  would  not  desire 
 to  see  carried  into  effect ; no  public  institution  or  source  of  expense  would  exist,  of  which  the  benefit 
 was  not  obvious,  to  the  enlightened  part  at  least,  who  would  therefore  soon  feel  that  the  Govern- 
 ment was  not  made  to  tyrannize  over  the  people,  but  for  their  protection  and  happiness. 
 
 4.  Under  such  a system  of  administration,  it  is  not  um'easonable  to  expect  that  every  facility 
 would  be  afforded  by  the  mass  of  the  population  to  the  executive  authority  in  carrying  the  laws 
 into  effect ; for  even  the  midnight  robber  and  swindler  have  no  desire  that  their  own  persons  or 
 property  should  be  liable  to  those  evils  which  they  inflict  on  the  rest  of  the  community,  and  will 
 readily  join  in  their  suppression,  when  other  delinquents  are  the  objects  of  the  terrors  of  the  law. 
 
 5.  In  caiTying  such  a system  into  effect,  it  ought  to  be  fully  understood,  and  maintained  on 
 all  occasions,  that  while  individuals  are  allowed  to  protect  themselves,  as  far  as  possible,  against 
 wrongs,  the  redress  of  wi'ongs  cannot  be  left  to  the  resentment  or  the  revenge  of  the  parties  con- 
 ceiving themselves  injured.  That  must  be  done  solely  by  Government,  through  the  instrumentality 
 of  the  judicial  and  executive  officers  whom  it  appoints  for  that  purpose. 
 
 6.  No  one,  therefore,  being  allowed  to  be  a judge  in  his  own  case,  ought  to  revenge  his  own 
 quarrel,  arms  or  weapons  capable  of  inflicting  instant  death,  as  habitually  worn  by  the  Malays, 
 become  unnecessary;  and  by  dispensing  with  them,  the  greatest  temptation  to,  and  power  of  doing 
 to  others  the  greatest  and  most  irremediable  wTong  in  depriving  them  of  life,  is  in  a gi'eat  measure 
 removed.  If  a man  takes  another’s  horse  or  cow  by  robbery  or  theft,  or  under  a mistaken  idea 
 that  he  has  a right  to  the  property  in  question,  redress  can  be  afforded  to  him  as  soon  as  the 
 ofiTender  is  convicted  of  his  crime,  or  the  party  discovers  his  error ; but  if  from  revenge,  or  under 
 false  impressions,  a man  is  suddenly  excited  to  take  the  life  of  a fellow-creature,  it  is  in  vain  that 
 he  afterwards  discovers  that  he  was  misled  by  passion  or  had  been  deceived  by  appearances.  It 
 often  happens,  too,  in  these  countries,  that  a man  who  considers  himself  aggrieved  by  a particular 
 individual,  and  finding  himself  in  possession  of  a sharp  weapon,  attempts  the  life  of  every  one  he 
 meets  indiscriminately,  and  without  having  any  wrong  at  their  hands  to  complain  of.  It  is  impos- 
 sible to  see  who  may,  or  may  not  be  guilty  of  such  acts  of  inhuman  cruelty,  and  therefore  all  should 
 
 i 2 
 
68 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 agi-ee  to  lay  aside  the  use  of  the  weapon,  that  is  commonly  employed  by  persons  who  thus  transform 
 themselves  into  wild  beasts  by  giving  way  to  brutal  passion. 
 
 7.  On  the  same  principle  it  has  been  found  by  experience,  that  those  who  indulge  frequently 
 in  gaming  and  cock-fighting,  are  not  only  liable  to  engage  in  quarrels  with  those  who  have  won 
 their  money,  but  also  that  they  are  incited  to  acts  of  fraud  and  robbery,  in  order  to  obtain  the 
 means  of  amusement  or  of  attempting  to  retrieve  their  losses  ; it  is,  therefore,  the  duty  of  Govern- 
 ment to  suppress  both  gaming  and  cock-fighting  as  far  as  possible,  without  trespassing  on  the  free- 
 will of  private  conduct.  No  man  should  be  allowed  to  receive  any  money,  either  directly  or  indi- 
 rectly, for  conducting  a gaming-table  or  cock-pit,  and  winners  of  money  at  such  places  should  be 
 compelled  to  restore  the  amount  to  the  losers,  and  should  on  no  account  be  permitted  to  enforce 
 payment  from  those  with  whom  they  have  gambled  on  credit. 
 
 8.  Intoxication  being  a source  of  personal  danger  to  the  community,  and  the  indulgence  in 
 that  vice  being  a frequent  cause  of  betraying  those  who  are  addicted  to  it  to  the  commission  of  acts 
 of  dishonesty,  it  is  the  duty  of  a good  Magistracy  to  throw  every  obstacle  in  its  way.  In  the  first 
 place,  the  officers  of  police  should  be  required  to  place  in  constraint  any  person  seen  in  public  in  a 
 state  of  intoxication  until  he  becomes  sober ; and,  in  the  next  place,  the  vender  of  intoxicating 
 articles,  who  supplied  him  with  the  means  of  inebriety,  should  be  visited  with  reproof,  and  fined, 
 and  be  liable  to  make  good  the  amount  of  any  oss  which  the  person  so  intoxicated  can  prove  he 
 suffered  during  his  inebriety,  from  being  unable  to  take  care  of  himself.  The  extent  of  this  fine 
 must  necessarily  be  discretionary  on  the  part  of  the  Magistrate,  depending  principally  on  the  degree 
 of  inebriety  produced.  It  should  always  be  of  such  an  amount,  that  the  fear  of  being  subject  to  it 
 may  be  sufficient  to  outweigh  in  the  mind  of  the  vender  the  temptation  of  profit  in  the  sale  of  his 
 goods ; of  course  if  it  should  appear  in  evidence,  that  the  individual  was  supplied  with  the  means 
 of  intoxication  for  the  purpose  of  taking  advantage  of  him  in  that  state,  the  object  converts  the 
 simple  misdemeanor  into  a crime,  according  to  the  particular  purpose  contemplated ; and  further 
 punishment  to  the  guilty,  as  well  as  redress  to  the  individual  injured,  must  be  awarded  accordingly. 
 The  use  of  spirituous  liquors,  though  innocent  in  moderation,  becomes  vicious  when  indulged  in  to 
 excess.  The  consumption  may  be  diminished  by  the  enhancement  of  price,  and  in  this  way  the 
 indulgence  may  be  made  so  extensive,  as  to  be  only  attainable,  beyond  the  bounds  of  moderation, 
 by  those  whose  means  give  them  a station  in  society  that  induces  them  to  be  guarded  in  their 
 conduct,  for  the  sake  of  preserving  the  respect  of  those  whose  eyes  are  turned  upon  them.  Thus 
 while  gaming  as  practised  by  the  Chinese,  and  cock-fighting  by  the  Malays,  are  absolutely  per- 
 nicious in  every  degree  in  which  they  come  under  public  cognizance,  the  use  of  opium  and  spirituous 
 liquors  may  be  repressed,  by  exacting  a heavy  tax  in  the  way  of  license  from  the  venders. 
 
 9.  There  are  many  important  considerations  that  stand  in  the  way  of  enacting  laws  against 
 prostitution : indeed  it  would,  in  a country  where  concubinage  is  not  forbidden,  be  difficult  to 
 draw  aline  between  the  concubine  and  the  common  prostitute.  It  is  practicable,  however,  in  some 
 degree,  and  highly  desirable,  that  the  temptation  to  profit  should  not  exist,  to  induce  the  seduction 
 of  women  into  this  course  of  life  by  others  of  their  sex.  The  unfortunate  prostitute  should  be 
 treated  with  compassion,  but  every  obstacle  should  be  thrown  in  the  way  of  her  services  being  a 
 source  of  profit  to  any  one  but  herself.  It  should,  therefore,  be  declared  unlawful  for  any  person 
 whatever,  to  share  the  hire  or  wages  of  prostitution,  or  to  derive  any  profit  or  emolument,  either 
 directly  or  indirectly,  for  bestowing  a female  in  prostitution,  any  custom,  law,  or  usage  of  the 
 country  such  female  or  her  parents  or  her  guardians  were  born  in  notwithstanding  ; reserving  only 
 for  a jury  to  advise  what  constitutes  a legal  obligation  on  the  man  to  support  the  woman  thus 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 69 
 
 bestowed,  or  in  other  words,  what  a contract  of  marriage  by  local  usage,  and  what  a connection  of 
 prostitution.  The  penalty  must  here  also  be  modified  by  circumstances.  It  is  much  more  criminal 
 to  induct  a girl  into  prostitution,  than  to  facilitate  her  pursuit  of  vice  after  she  has  entered  upon  it 
 as  a profession. 
 
 10.  It  may  be  necessary  to  make  specific  regulations  for  the  protection  of  the  community  ge- 
 nerally against  fire,  both  with  regard  to  the  construction  of  buildings,  the  storing  of  gunpowder  and 
 combustibles,  the  manufacture  of  arrack,  &c.,  and  the  power  of  infringing  on  a neighbour’s  property 
 after  a fire  has  broken  out,  either  for  the  purpose  of  access  to  the  means  of  extinguishing  it,  or  to 
 prevent  its  spreading  to  a greater  distance. 
 
 11.  Boatmen,  and  parties  offering  themselves  publicly  for  hire,  may  also  be  subjected  to 
 regulation,  with  the  view  of  facilitating  the  attainment  of  redress  when  they  are  guilty  of  fraud  and 
 negligence. 
 
 12.  Weights  and  measures  of  the  acknowledged  standard  should  be  accessible  to  all,  and 
 those  used  in  purchases  and  sales  ought  to  be  in  strict  conformity  with  such  standards.  Certain 
 magisterial  officers,  therefore,  should  be  employed  to  examine  those  used  by  persons  who  openly 
 keep  goods  exposed  for  sale.  When  found  defective,  the  person  in  whose  behoof  they  are  used 
 should  be  liable  to  fine,  proportioned  to  his  supposed  means  and  the  apparent  degree  of  fraud 
 resorted  to. 
 
 13.  Fraud  with  respect  to  the  quality  of  articles  is  a crime  more  readily  detected,  and  may  be 
 left  to  private  prosecution.  In  giving  redress  to  the  individual,  punishment  ought  to  be  annexed, 
 in  proportion  as  the  fraud  is  of  an  injurious  nature. 
 
 14.  As  a great  check  to  fraud  and  falsehood,  a general  registry  office  for  all  written  agree- 
 ments or  engagements,  which  are  liable  to  be  made  the  ground  of  dispute  before  a court  of  justice, 
 should  be  opened  for  the  public.  Regulations  should  be  made  for  the  authenticity  of  the  document, 
 in  the  first  instance ; and  either  party,  or  any  party  interested,  should  be  entitled  to  a copy,  paying 
 for  the  same  a moderate  fee,  as  a compensation  for  the  trouble  given  to  the  Registrar  and  his  esta- 
 blishment. Precaution  must,  of  course,  be  taken  against  the  falsification  or  abstraction  of  such 
 documents  from  the  Registrar’s  office.  All  deeds  which  may  be  so  registered  should  have  an 
 avowed  preference  over  one  that  is  not  so  registered ; unless  the  holder  of  the  latter  can  shew  a 
 clear,  distinct,  and  satisfactory  cause,  why  he  has  not  been  able  to  have  his  deed  registered,  and  the 
 onus  of  establishing  this  ought  decidedly  to  rest  on  him. 
 
 15.  Nuisances,  generally  speaking,  may  be  safely  left  to  the  complaint  of  individuals,  in  each 
 particular  instance,  where  the  cause  of  nuisance  is  not  obvious  to  all,  or  directly  injurious  to  parti- 
 cular individuals,  as  crowding  the  river  with  vessels,  &c.,  when  it  may  be  made  subject  of  special 
 regulation. 
 
 16.  All  householders  should  be  registered,  and  all  houses  numbered.  Auctioneers  and  pawn- 
 brokers should  be  placed  under  specific  regulations,  and  none  allowed  to  act  as  such  without  giving 
 security  for  complying  with  the  same,  and  taking  out  a license  for  the  purpose. 
 
 17.  With  respect  to  the  employment  of  informers,  it  may  be  observed  that  Magistrates  must 
 have  information  ; but  no  bad  passion  should  be  elicited  in  the  procuring  of  it : no  temptation  to 
 lead  others  to  vice,  for  the  sake  of  reward  for  informing ; no  inducement  to  beti’ay  confidence ; and 
 the  act  of  giving  information  should  be  treated  as  a public  and  honourable  duty. 
 
 18.  Precautionary  measures  being  taken,  on  the  above  principles,  for  preserving  the  peace  and 
 good  order  of  society,  and  removing,  as  far  as  practicable,  the  immediate  temptations  to  crime  and 
 
70 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 violence,  it  next  becomes  necessary  to  define  what  shall  be  considered  crimes,  what  lawful  punish- 
 ments, and  how  injuries  shall  be  redressed. 
 
 19.  By  the  constitution  of  England,  the  absolute  rights  of  the  subject  are  defined  as  follows  : 
 
 1.  The  right  of  personal  security;  which  consists  in  a person’s  legal  uninterrupted  enjoyment 
 of  his  life,  his  limbs,  his  body,  his  health,  and  his  reputation. 
 
 2.  The  right  of  personal  liberty ; which  consists  in  the  power  of  locomotion,  of  changing  situa- 
 tion, or  removing  one’s  person  to  whatever  place  one’s  own  inclination  may  direct,  without  imprison- 
 ment or  restraint,  unless  by  due  course  of  law. 
 
 3.  The  right  of  property ; which  consists  in  the  use,  enjoyment,  and  disposal  of  all  acquisitions, 
 without  any  controul  or  diminution,  save  only  by  the  laws  of  the  land. 
 
 20.  There  seems  no  reason  for  denying  corresponding  rights  to  all  classes  of  people  residing 
 under  the  protection  of  the  British  flag  at  Singapore,  the  laws  of  the  land  being  such  as  are  or  may 
 be  enacted  under  the  provisions  of  Regulation  No.  III.  of  1823,  dated  the  20th  January  last,  with 
 such  others,  of  a more  general  nature,  as  may  be  directed  by  a higher  authority,  or  which  may 
 necessarily  accrue  under  the  provisions  of  the  Legislature,  and  the  political  circumstances  of  the 
 settlement,  as  a dependency  of  Great  Britain. — Admitting  these  rights  to  exist,  it  follows  that  all 
 acts  by  which  they  are  invaded  are  wrongs : that  is  to  say,  crimes  or  injuries. 
 
 21.  In  the  enactment  of  laws  for  securing  these  rights,  legal  obligation  must  never  supersede 
 or  take  place  of,  or  be  inconsistent  with,  or  more  or  less  onerous  than,  moral  obligation.  The 
 English  practice  of  teaching  prisoners  to  plead  not  guilty,  that  they  may  thus  have  a chance  of 
 escaping  from  punishment,  is  inconsistent  with  this,  and  consequently  objectionable.  It  is,  indeed, 
 right  and  proper,  that  the  court  should  inform  itself  of  all  the  circumstances  of  a crime,  from  wit- 
 nesses as  well  as  from  the  declaration  of  the  prisoner  himself.  Denial  is,  in  fact,  an  aggravation  of 
 a crime,  according  to  every  idea  of  common  sense : it  disarms  punishment  of  one  of  its  most  bene- 
 ficial objects,  by  casting  a shade  of  doubt  over  its  justice. 
 
 22.  The  sanctity  of  oaths  should  also  be  more  upheld  than  in  the  English  courts.  This  may 
 be  done  by  never  administering  them  except  as  a dernier  resort.  If  they  are  not  frequently  ad- 
 ministered, not  only  will  their  sanction  be  more  regarded,  and  in  this  way  their  breach  be  less  pro- 
 portionately frequent,  but  of  necessity  much  more  absolutely  uncommon,  and  consequently  much 
 more  certainly  visited  with  due  punishment.  Truth,  however,  must  be  required,  under  pain  of 
 punishment,  in  all  cases  of  evidence  given  before  a court  of  justice. 
 
 23.  The  imprisonment  of  an  unfortunate  debtor  at  the  pleasure  of  the  creditor,  by  which  the 
 services  of  the  individual  are  lost  to  all  parties,  seems  objectionable  in  this  Settlement ; and  it  is 
 considered  that  the  rights  of  property  may  be  sufficiently  protected,  by  giving  to  the  creditor  a 
 right  to  the  value  of  the  debtor’s  services  for  a limited  period,  in  no  case  exceeding  five  years,  and 
 that  the  debtor  should  only  be  liable  to  imprisonment  in  case  of  fraud,  and  as  far  as  may  be 
 necessary  for  the  security  of  his  person,  in  the  event  of  his  not  being  able  to  find  bail  during  the 
 process  of  the  court,  and  for  the  performance  of  the  decree  after  judgment  may  be  passed. 
 
 24.  It  is  well  known,  that  the  Malay  race  are  sensibly  alive  to  shame,  and  that,  in  many 
 instances,  they  would  prefer  death  to  ignominy.  This  is  a high  and  honourable  feeling,  and  ought 
 to  be  cherished.  Let  great  care  be  taken  to  avoid  all  punishments  which  are  unnecessarily  de- 
 grading. Both  the  Malays  and  Chinese  are  a reasoning  people,  and  though  each  may  reason  in  a 
 way  peculiar  to  itself,  and  different  in  some  respects  from  our  own  way  of  reasoning,  this  germ  of 
 civilization  should  not  be  checked.  Let  no  man  be  punished  without  a reason  assigned.  Let  the 
 
 1 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 71 
 
 principles  of  British  law  be  applied,  not  only  with  mildness,  and  a patriarchal  kindness  and  indul- 
 gent consideration  for  the  prejudices  of  each  tribe,  as  far  as  substantial  justice  will  allow,  but  also 
 with  reference  to  their  reasoning  powers,  however  weak,  and  that  moral  principle,  which  however 
 often  disregarded,  still  exists  in  the  consciences  of  all  men. 
 
 Let  native  institutions,  as  far  as  regards  religious  observances,  marriage,  and  inheritance,  be  re- 
 spected, when  the  same  may  not  be  inconsistent  with  justice  and  humanity,  or  injurious  to  the  peace 
 and  morals  of  society. 
 
 Let  all  men  be  considered  equal  in  the  eye  of  the  law. 
 
 Let  no  man  be  banished  the  country  without  a trial  by  his  peers  or  by  due  course  of  law. 
 
 Let  no  man  be  deprived  of  his  liberty  without  a cause,  and  no  man  be  detained  in  confinement 
 beyond  forty-eight  hours,  without  a right  to  demand  a hearing  and  trial  according  to  due  course 
 of  law. 
 
 Let  the  public  have  a voice  through  the  magistracy,  by  which  their  sentiments  may  at  all  times 
 be  freely  expressed. 
 
 25.  In  fixing  a scale  of  punishments,  the  first  principle  to  be  attended  to  is,  that  they  should  be 
 graduated,  as  far  as  practicable,  so  as  to  attach  to  each  particular  crime  its  due  and  relative  punish- 
 ment according  to  its  enormity ; and  with  regard  to  the  nature  of  the  punishments  to  be  inflicted, 
 let  them  be  as  mild  and  humane  as  the  general  security  of  person  and  property  will  admit.  Severity 
 of  punishment  defeats  its  own  end;  and  the  laws  should,  in  all  cases,  be  so  mild,  that  no  one  should 
 be  deterred  from  prosecuting  a criminal  by  considerations  of  humanity.  No  feeling  interferes  with 
 justice  in  behalf  of  a murderer : let  this  crime  be  punished  by  death,  and  no  other.  Banishment  is 
 the  next  in  order.  Solitary  confinement,  proportioned  to  the  degree  of  the  offence,  or  pertinacity  of 
 the  offender  in  his  criminal  course,  seems  the  least  objectionable  of  all  sorts  of  punishment.  Shame 
 and  obloquy  may  likewise  be  safely  resorted  to ; but  much  caution  is  required  in  this  respect,  lest 
 a too  frequent  enforcement  of  the  punishment  destroy  the  feeling  which  can  alone  make  it  a punish- 
 ment. Personal  chastisement  is  only  for  the  lower  orders,  who  are  incapable  of  feeling  the  shame 
 of  disgrace,  and  may  properly  be  had  recourse  to  in  cases  of  wilful  perjury,  where  the  falsehood  of 
 the  witness  is  palpable,  and  his  object  particularly  mischievous.  In  all  cases,  let  it  be  considered 
 as  no  less  an  object  of  the  law  to  afford  redress  to  the  party  injured,  than  to  punish  the  offender. 
 Compensation  should  in  all  cases,  where  it  is  possible,  be  made  to  the  injured  party,  to  the  extent 
 of  the  means  of  the  offender : as  in  the  case  of  the  Malay  Bangoon,  where,  when  the  father  is  mur- 
 dered, the  family  are  entitled  to  pecuniary  compensation  for  his  loss. 
 
 (Signed)  T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 With  these  views  and  principles,  the  Lieutenant  Governor  has  this  day  transmitted  to  the 
 acting  Magistrates  such  a graduated  scale  of  crimes  and  punishments,  as  appears  to  him  sufficient 
 to  meet  the  existing  circumstances  of  the  Settlement,  and  to  answer  the  ends  of  substantial  justice, 
 with  instructions  that  they  will  duly  deliberate  on  the  subject ; and  after  such  revision  as  their  local 
 knowledge  and  experience  may  suggest,  submit  the  same  to  the  chief  local  authority  with  their 
 opinion,  and  in  the  form  of  a code  of  laws  to  be  established  for  the  Settlement,  and  to  be  in  force 
 after  publication  by  the  Resident,  until  rescinded  by  a higher  authority,  or  altered  under  the  pro- 
 visions laid  down  for  the  enactment  of  local  Laws  and  Regulations. 
 
 The  Magistrates  have  further  been  required  to  frame,  in  the  form  of  a Police  Regulation,  to 
 be  approved  and  published  by  Government,  such  further  Regulations  as  may  be  necessary  in  that 
 department. 
 
72 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 It  is  to  be  hoped,  that  the  provision  thus  made  will  be  found  sufficient  for  the  public  peace, 
 and  the  protection  of  person  and  property,  until  circumstances  may  admit  of  the  establishment  of 
 a more  regular  court  of  J udicature,  all  Regulations  now  made  being  necessarily  of  a provisional 
 nature. 
 
 Dated  at  Singapore  on  the  6th  of  June,  1823. 
 
 By  the  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Fort  Marlborough  and  its  dependencies. 
 
 (Signed)  T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 SCALE  OF  CRIMES  AND  PUNISHMENTS, 
 
 Submitted  by  the  Lieutenant-Governor  for  the  consideration  of  the  Magistrates,  and  referred  to 
 
 in  his  Minute  of  the  Qth  of  June,  1823. 
 
 It  is  hereby  enacted  and  ordained,  that  if  any  person  within  the  territory  of  Singapore,  or 
 jurisdiction  thereof,  who  after  a solemn,  legal,  and  deliberate  trial,  according  to  the  forms,  usages, 
 and  laws  at  the  time  in  force,  shall  be  fully  and  fairly  convicted  of  any  of  the  crimes  hereafter 
 stated,  he  shall  be  condemned  to  suffer  for  the  same  the  particular  punishment  specially  annexed  to 
 such  crimes  in  the  underwritten  scheme  and  scale,  vh. 
 
 For  Murder. 
 
 By  Amok 
 
 To  suffer  death,  with  confiscation  of  property; 
 and  the  body  to  be  ignominiously  exposed  on  a 
 gibbet  for  twenty-four  hours-  When  not  taken 
 alive,  the  ignominious  exposure  of  the  body  to 
 take  place  as  above  directed  ; and,  in  both  cases, 
 the  confiscated  property  to  be  divided,  at  the  dis- 
 cretion of  the  court,  among  the  relatives  of  those 
 whom  he  may  have  injured. 
 
 and  Piracy 
 
 By  whatever  other  causes  it  may  have  ensued. . . 
 
 Punishment  the  same  as  the  preceding. 
 Death. 
 
 and  enslaving  of  captives 
 
 Without  aggravating  circumstances 
 
 Piracy, 
 
 , . . . . Death. 
 
 ( Imprisonment  and  hard  labour,  for  a period 
 ^ to  be  fixed  at  the  discretion  of  the  court. 
 
 Simple . . 
 Culpable 
 
 Homicide. 
 
 Solitary  confinement. 
 
 f Solitary  confinement,  and  a fine  for  the  benefit 
 \ of  the  family  of  the  deceased. 
 
LOCAL  LAWS  AND  REGULATIONS. 
 
 73 
 
 Wounding  or  Maiming. 
 
 With  dangerous  weapons,  wantonly  used . . . . / Banishment  and  confiscation  of  property,  with 
 
 (redress  to  the  wounded  person. 
 
 Assaidt. 
 
 Assaulting  the  chief  authority Banishment  and  stripes. 
 
 In  lesser  cases / imprisonment,  at  the  discretion  of 
 
 (the  court. 
 
 Riotous  and  disorderly  Conduct. 
 
 ( Hard  labour  or  banishment,  according  to  cir- 
 “ (cumstances. 
 
 For  exciting  and  conspiring  with  others  to  op-  J Banishment  in  the  higher  cases,  with  solitary 
 
 pose  Government  or  injure  individuals i confinement,  and  sti’ipes  in  the  lowest. 
 
 r Compensation  for  injury,  with  fine  and  impri- 
 ( sonment. 
 
 For  forcible  seizure  of  person  or  property 
 F or  detention  of  person  or  property 
 
 ( Compensation  for  injury,  with  fine  and  impri- 
 
 ( sonment  in  a less  degree. 
 
 For  extortion Compensation  for  the  injury,  or  hard  labour. 
 
 rpij,..  r.  . ( Compensation  for  the  injury,  with  fine  and 
 
 Ihe  destruction  and  iniury  oi  property < . j 
 
 j r IT  j ^ Ignominy. 
 
 Slave  Dealing. 
 
 To  incur  the  penalties  of  the  several  Acts  of 
 
 In  the  case  of  a British-born  subject the  British  Parliament  now  in  force  on  this 
 
 head. 
 
 Loss  of  property  in  the  slave ; fine  and  impri- 
 sonment at  the  discretion  of  the  court. 
 
 In  the  case  of  other  persons 
 
 Gambling  | Confiscation  of  property ; banishment  and 
 
 ( stripes,  according  to  circumstances. 
 
 For 
 
 Stealing  | Compensation  for  injury,  stripes, 
 
 * labour. 
 
 bonds,  hard 
 
 „ . 1 r 1 • 1 i Imprisonment  and  stripes  in  the  more  fla- 
 
 Perjury  and  lalse  evidence 3 ^ . , . 
 
 ( grant  cases,  and  fine  and  ignominy  in  tfie  lesser. 
 
 r Compensation  to  the  injured  party  when  prac- 
 
 Defrauding ticable,  with  imprisonment  and  stripes  at  the 
 
 V discretion  of  the  court. 
 
 „ , „ . ( Fine  and  imprisonment,  with  privation  of  na- 
 
 For  deiaraation J , ^ 
 
 ( tural  rights,  according  to  circumstances. 
 
 For  receiving  or  offering  bribes Ignominy,  with  fine  and  loss  of  suit. 
 
 And  for  all  other  crimes  not  specially  mentioned,  such  punishment  as  the  court  shall,  at  its  discre- 
 tion, see  fit  to  inflict. 
 
 (Signed)  T.  S.  Raffles. 
 
 Singapore,  June  6,  1823. 
 
 k 
 
SINGAPORE  INSTITUTION, 
 
 At  a Meeting  of  the  principal  Inhabitants  of  Singapore,  held  at  the  Residency-House  on  the 
 1st  of  April,  1823.  The  Honourable  Sir  Thomas  Stamford  Raffles,  Lieutenant-Go- 
 vernor of  Fort  Malborough  and  its  Dependencies  presiding. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  Raffles  stated,  that  he  had  convened  the  present  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  laying 
 before  the  public  the  arrangements  which  he  had  adopted  for  the  establishment  of  an  Institution 
 at  Singapore,  having  for  its  object  the  cultivation  of  the  languages  of  China,  Siam,  and  the  Ma- 
 layan Archipelago  ; and  the  improvement  of  the  moral  and  intellectual  condition  of  the  inhabitants 
 of  those  counti’ies. 
 
 He  observed,  that  he  had  for  many  years  contemplated  the  advantages  which  might  arise  from 
 affording  the  means  of  education  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  IMalayan  Archipelago,  and  that  shortly  after 
 the  establishment  of  the  British  Government  in  Singapore,  he  had  suggested  a plan  for  attaining 
 this  object  by  the  establishment  of  an  Institution  of  the  nature  of  a Native  College;  but  that  from 
 political  and  other  circumstances,  the  establishment  of  the  proposed  Institution  had  been  delayed 
 till  the  present  period.  That  providence  however  had  recently  brought  to  these  shores  that  ex- 
 cellent and  good  man  Dr.  Morrison,  the  founder  and  president  of  the  Anglo-Chinese  College  at 
 Malacca ; and  that,  in  concert  with  him,  a plan  had  now  been  adopted  and  decided  upon,  for  re- 
 moving that  College  to  Singapore,  and  uniting  it  with  the  proposed  Malayan  College,  under  the 
 general  designation  of  the  “ Singapore  Institution.” 
 
 Sir  Stamford  Raffles  then  submitted,  in  the  form  of  a Minute,  which  he  was  desirous  of  placing 
 on  the  records  of  the  Institution,  his  ideas  on  the  advantages  of  a Malayan  College,  as  first  con- 
 templated by  him,  together  with  a paper  containing  the  suggestions  of  Dr.  Morrison,  for  uniting 
 the  two  Colleges  in  one  general  Institution,  observing  that  as  these  documents  would  shew,  not 
 only  the  objects  and  views  of  the  founders  of  the  Singapore  Institution,  as  now  adopted,  but  the  pro- 
 gress by  which  its  establishment  was  brought  about,  it  became  unnecessary  for  him  to  detain  them 
 by  further  observations. 
 
SINGAPORE  INSTITUTION. 
 
 75 
 
 THE 
 
 SINGAPORE  INSTITUTION 
 
 Shall  consist  of  three  departments. 
 
 I.  A scientific  department  for  the  common  advantage  of  the  several  Colleges  that  may  be 
 established. 
 
 II.  A literary  and  moral  department  for  die  Chinese,  which  the  Anglo-Chinese  College  affords, 
 
 and 
 
 III.  A literary  and  moral  department  for  the  Siamese,  Malay,  &c.,  which  will  be  provided  for 
 by  the  Malayan  College. 
 
 The  first  department  shall  be  provided  with  funds  from  individual  contributions ; and  such 
 sums  as  the  two  Colleges  shall  see  fit  to  devote  to  this  object ; and  it  shall  be  managed  by  a Com- 
 mittee of  Trustees  of  the  Institution.  The  appointment  of  Professors  in  this  department  shall  be 
 made  by  the  Institution  Trustees. 
 
 The  form  of  all  the  buildings,  their  site,  and  their  annual  repair,  shall  be  made  under  the  direc- 
 tion of  this  Committee ; but  each  College  may  make  such  ^additions  to  its  own  buildings,  for  its 
 own  convenience,  as,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Trustees,  do  not  interfere  with  the  symmetry  and  ge- 
 neral appearance  of  the  Institution. 
 
 The  report  annually  made  to  the  public,  after  the  examination  of  the  students,  and  official  visit 
 paid  to  the  Institution,  shall  be  drawn  up  by  the  Committee  of  Trustees,  and  shall  embrace  the 
 scientific  department,  and  such  paragraphs  of  the  College  reports,  as  this  Committee  shall  choose 
 to  adopt;  and  for  this  report  alone,  thus  constructed,  shall  the  Committee  of  Trustees  consider 
 themselves  responsible. 
 
 The  Colleges  shall  be  permitted  to  print  their  own  reports,  on  their  own  responsibility,  accord- 
 ing as  their  Bye-Laws  may  direct. 
 
 A certain  portion  of  the  ground  granted  by  Government  will  be  allotted  to  each  College  defini- 
 tively, that  they  may  employ  it  as  the  benefit  of  the  particular  College  may  require,  for  erecting 
 printing-offices  in  their  particular  departments,  affording  such  accommodation  for  their  students  as 
 circumstances  may  require,  &c. 
 
 The  officers  of  the  Institution  hereby  nominated  are  as  follow ; 
 
 Patrons,  the  Hon.  SirjThos.  Stamford  Raffles,  F.R.S.  and  A.S.,  &c.  &c. — W.  Wilberforce,  Esq., 
 M.P. — C.  Grant,  Esq.,  M.P. 
 
 President  of  the  Institution,  the  Resident  of  Singapore,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Farquhar. 
 Vice-President,  Robert  Morrison,  D.D. 
 
 Trustees,  the  Hon.  Sir  Thos.  Stamford  Raffles — Lieutenant-Colonel  Farquhar — W.  Wilberforce 
 and  C.  Grant,  Esqrs. — Rev.  T.  Raffles,  D.D. — A.  L.  Johnston,  Esq. — D.  Napier,  Esq. — 
 A.  Maxwell,  Esq. — Nathaniel  Wallich,  Esq.  M.D.  K.D.  &c. — Lieutenant-Colonel  M'Innes — 
 Captain  Flint,  R.  N. — Captain  Davies — Rev.  R.  Morrison,  D.D. — Rev.  J.  Humphreys — Rev. 
 D.  Collie — Rev.  R.  S.  Hutchings — Rev.  G.  H.  Thompson — Rev.  J.  Milton. 
 
 Treasurers,  Messrs.  Johnston  and  Co. 
 
 k 2 
 
76 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Secretary,  J.  Maxwell,  Esq. 
 
 Librarian  of  the  General  Library,  Rev.  R.  Morrison,  D.D. 
 
 Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy,  William  Montgomery,  M.D.  (Chemistry  *.) 
 Professor  of  Natural  History,  G.  Finlayson,  Esq. 
 
 Printer,  Samuel  Roberts. 
 
 OFFICERS  OF  THE  ANGLO-CHINESE  COLLEGE. 
 
 President,  Rev.  R.  Morrison,  D.D. 
 
 Principal,  J.  Humphreys. 
 
 Professor  of  Chinese,  D.  Collie. 
 
 Chinese  Master,  Le  Seen  Sang. 
 
 Treasurer,  J.  Humphreys. 
 
 Librarian,  D.  Collie. 
 
 Patrons,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Farquhar — Hon.  E.  Phillips — Hon.  J.  Erskine. 
 
 Trustees,  Rev.  R.  Morrison — Rev.  G.  Burder — W.  A.  Hankey,  Esq. — C.  W.  Crommelin,  Esq. 
 — Lieutenant-Colonel  Farquhar — D.  S.  Napier,  Esq. — and  Officers  of  the  College. 
 
 OFFICERS  OF  THE  MALAYAN  COLLEGE. 
 
 President,  Rev.  R.  S.  Hutchings. 
 
 Principal,  Rev.  G.  H.  Thomson,  Autg. 
 
 Professor  of  Malayan  Languages,  Rev.  G.  H.  Thompson. 
 
 Professor  of  Siamese,  Rev.  J.  Milton. 
 
 Native  Siamese  Masters,  John  Leyden  and  Nunsid. 
 
 Native  Malay  Masters,  Shaik  Alla  Adin  and  Hassin. 
 
 Treasurer,  Rev.  G.  H.  Thompson. 
 
 Patron,  Sir  Stamford  Raffles. 
 
 Trustees,  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  the  Resident  of  Singapore  for  the  time  being — Rev.  Doctor 
 Morrison — William  Marsden,  Esq. — Lieutenant-Colonel  MTnnes — Captain  Flint — Captain 
 Davies — A.  L.  Johnston,  Esq. — D.  S.  Napier,  Esq. — J.  Maxwell — and  Officers  of  the 
 College. 
 
 CHINESE  PREPARATORY  SCHOOLS. 
 
 Superintendent,  the  Rev.  S.  Milton. 
 Native  Master, 
 
 Provisionally. 
 
SINGAPORE  INSTITUTION. 
 
 77 
 
 MALAYAN  PREPARATORY  SCHOOLS. 
 
 Superintendent,  Rev.  G.  H.  Thompson. 
 Native  Master,  Shaik  Alla  Adin. 
 
 RULES 
 
 FOR  THE  MANAGEMENT  OF  THE  INSTITUTION. 
 
 The  scientific  department  shall  be  managed  by  its  own  Trustees,  one  half  of  whom  shall  be  officers 
 of  the  Colleges,  and  one  half  not  officers  of  the  Colleges.  There  shall  be  three  from  each  Col- 
 lege, which  will  make  six  Trustees  unconnected  with  the  Colleges,  and  resident  in  Singapore.  In 
 a full  meeting  of  the  resident  Trustees,  and  when  their  votes  are  equal,  the  casting  vote  shall  be 
 with  the  President  of  the  Institution. 
 
 Of  these  twelve  Trustees  there  shall  be  an  acting  Committee  of  three  annually  appointed ; 
 who  shall  once  a year  report  to  the  general  meeting  of  resident  Trustees;  and  in  difficult,  or  ex- 
 traordinary cases,  not  provided  for  by  previously-enacted  regulations,  the  acting  Committee  may 
 request  a general  meeting  of  the  resident  Trustees. 
 
 Of  the  twelve  resident  Trustees,  (having  all  been  summoned  to  a general  meeting  by  the 
 Secretary  of  the  Institution,)  seven  shall  constitute  a quorum. 
 
 The  Trustees  shall  be  nominated  for  life  ; and  shall  endeavour  to  promote  the  welfare  of  the 
 Institution  in  whatever  part  of  the  world  they  may  be. 
 
 On  the  demise  of  any  Trustee,  his  place  shall  be  filled  up  by  a general  vote  of  the  Pati’on  or 
 Patrons  ; the  President ; Vice-President,  and  Trustees  of  the  Institution.  On  the  removal  of  any 
 of  the  resident  Trustees,  his  place  shall  be  filled  up  in  a similar  manner. 
 
 Of  the  Patrons  and  Trustees  resident  in  the  United  Kingdom  there  shall  be  formed  a Com- 
 mittee OF  Co-operation,  to  correspond  with,  and  assist  the  efforts  of,  the  acting  Committee  of 
 resident  Trustees. 
 
 The  home  Committee  of  co-operation  shall  equal  in  number  the  resident  Trustees,  and 
 extraordinary  cases,  not  provided  for  by  previous  statutes,  shall  be  decided  by  a majority  of  these 
 two  constituted  bodies  : but  neither  these  nor  any  other  authority  shall  have  the  power  of  altering 
 in  any  future  time  the  fundamental  laws,  or  the  declared  objects  of  the  Institution  ; nor  shall  these 
 tw'o  bodies  have  the  power  of  violating  the  integrity  and  independence  of  either  of  the  existing  Col- 
 leges, or  any  other  that  may  hereafter  be  united  to  them. 
 
 The  resident  Trustees  shall  not  have  the  power  to  vote  away  more  than  £500  of  the  property 
 of  the  Institution,  without  the  concurrence  of  the  home  Committee  of  co-operation. 
 
 Hereafter  in  cases  of  any  alleged  departure  from  the  principles  of  the  Institution,  or  other 
 circumstance  affecting  the  vital  interests  of  it,  the  Patron  or  Patrons,  and  the  home  Committee, 
 may  appoint  gentlemen  to  visit  and  investigate  the  state  of  the  Institution  in  all  its  departments. 
 
 The  affairs  of  each  of  the  Colleges  shall  be  managed  by  their  own  Trustees,  and  other  officers, 
 as  the  laws  and  statutes  of  each  College  may  direct. 
 
 In  case  of  any  misunderstanding  or  dispute  arising  amongst  the  three  departments  of  the 
 
78 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Institution,  oi*any  two  of  them,  the  subject  may  be  referred  to  the  resident  Trustees  ; and  if  their 
 decision  be  satisfactory  to  the  parties,  the  question  shall  be  settled ; but  if  not,  the  subject  must  be 
 referred  to  the  home  Committee  of  co-operation,  together  with  the  home  Patrons  and  Trustees  of 
 each  College ; of  all  of  whom  the  decision  of  the  majority  shall  be  final. 
 
 The  annual  general  meeting  of  the  resident  Trustees  of  the  Institution  shall  take  place  on 
 the  6th  day  of  February. 
 
 At  that  meeting  the  acting  Committee  of  the  scientific  department  shall  present  its  Report  for 
 the  year  preceding.  And  the  Colleges  shall  also  submit  their  Students  to  an  examination,  in  pre- 
 sence of  a general  meeting  of  resident  Trustees,  and  such  visitors  as  they  shall  see  fit  to  invite. 
 The  Colleges  shall  moreover  lay  before  the  meeting  a report  of  their  proceedings ; stating  the 
 number  of  their  pupils,  the  state  of  their  funds,  with  such  suggestions  as  they  may  think  likely  to 
 promote  the  general  good  of  the  Institution. 
 
 The  general  meeting  shall,  on  the  same  day,  visit  the  Institution.  The  Students  and  Officers 
 of  the  College  shall  on  this  occasion  wear  their  college  gowns  and  caps,  and  the  President  of  the 
 Institution  shall  give  a dinner  to  the  Trustees  and  Officers  of  the  Institution,  and  to  such  other 
 ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  Settlement  as  he  shall  be  pleased  to  invite. 
 
 On  this  and  other  occasions,  the  senior  clergyman  connected  with  the  Institution  shall  be 
 considered  the  Institution  Chaplain. 
 
 OFFICERS  OF  THE  SCIENTIFIC  DEPARTMENT. 
 
 Of  this  department  the  Vice-President  shall  have  the  general  management,  and  shall  rank 
 
 first. 
 
 The  Professor  of  natural  philosophy  shall  be  expected  to  teach,  in  the  English  language,  to 
 native  Students  and  others  sent  from  each  College,  the  principles  of  the  Newtonian  system  of 
 astronomy ; the  mechanical  and^chemical  properties  of  matter  ; and  illustrate  them  by  experiments. 
 
 Whilst  this  statement  expresses  generally  his  duties,  it  is  expected  that  he  will  also  teach  such 
 other  branches  of  knowledge  as  he  may  happen  to  be  qualified  for;  as  in  the  case  of  Dr.  Mont- 
 gomery, who  having  taken  charge,  pro  tempoi’e,  of  the  chemical  chair,  is  also  willing  to  give  Lec- 
 tures in  anatomy  and  medical  science. 
 
 The  Professor  of  natural  history  shall  be  expected  to  be  versed  in  whatever  concerns  the 
 animal,  vegetable,  and  mineral  kingdoms;  and  shall  not  only  teach  zoology,  botany,  and  mineralogy 
 to  the  Students,  but  shall  exert  himself  to  procure  new  information  on  these  subjects  from  the 
 surrounding  countries,  to  be  transmitted  to  the  home  Committee  of  co-operation : and  shall  do  his 
 utmost  to  procure  satisfactory  answers  to  such  questions  as  may  be  sent  out,  by  scientific  indivi- 
 duals or  bodies,  through  the  medium  of  the  home  Committee. 
 
 Should  the  scientific  department  of  the  Singapore  Institution  be  liberably  supported,  more 
 Professorships  vvnll  be  made  to  ensure  a greater  division  of  labour. 
 
 And  it  is  expected  that  the  Professor  in  each  department  will  pay  attention  to  the  native  lan- 
 guages, with  the  view  of  eventually  translating  scientific  books  into  those  languages. 
 
 The  Professors  in  the  scientific  department  shall  take  precedence  according  to  the  date  of  their 
 connection  with  the  Institution:  and  in  any  general  meeting  of  all  the  officers  of  the  Institution, 
 seniority  of  service  shall  be  the  rule  of  precedence,  if  it  shall  be  necessary  or  expedient  to  advert 
 to  the  circumstance. 
 
 When  the  funds  can  afford  it,  there  shall  be  an  observatory  on  Institution  Hill,  and  a good 
 1 
 
SINGAPORE  INSTITUTION. 
 
 79 
 
 astronomical  clock  under  the  charge  of  such  of  the  Professors  as  the  Trustees  shall  appoint ; and  it 
 shall  be  made  as  serviceable  as  possible  to  the  ships  in  the  Roads  for  regulating  or  ascertaining  the 
 rates  of  the  chronometers. 
 
 THE 
 
 MALAYAN  COLLEGE 
 
 Established  at  Singapore,  1823. 
 
 Patron,  Sir  Thomas  Stamford  Raffles. 
 
 Trustees,  Sir  Thomas  Stamford  Raffles,  the  Resident  of  Singapore  for  the  time  being — William 
 Marsden,Esq. — Rev.  Dr.  Momson,  D.D. — Lieutenant-Colonel  M'Innes — Captain  Flint,  R.N. 
 — Captain  Davis — A.  L.  Johnston,  Esq. — D.  S.  Napier,  Esq. — J.  A.  Maxwell,  Esq. — Rev. 
 R.  S.  Hutchings — Rev.  G.  H.  Thompson — Rev.  S.  Milton. 
 
 The  objects  of  the  Institution  are — First,  to  educate  the  sons  of  the  higher  order  of  natives 
 and  others. 
 
 Secondly,  to  afford  the  means  of  instruction  in  the  native  languages  to  such  of  the  Company’s 
 servants  and  other  as  may  desire  it.  And 
 
 Thirdly,  to  collect  the  scattered  literature  and  traditions  of  the  country,  with  whatever  may 
 illustrate  their  laws  and  customs,  and  to  publish  and  circulate  in  a correct  form  the  most  important 
 of  these,  with  such  other  works  as  may  be  calculated  to  raise  the  character  of  the  Institution,  and  to 
 be  useful  and  instructive  to  the  people. 
 
 The  College  will  be  supported  by  voluntary  subscriptions  and  endowments,  by  the  fees  which 
 it  will  derive  from  students,  and  by  the  profits  from  the  press,  and  the  cultivation  of  the  College 
 lands. 
 
 OFFICERS  OF  THE  COLLEGE 
 
 A PRESIDENT, 
 
 Who  may  or  may  not  be  resident  at  the  College,  but  whether  present  or  absent,  he  is  to  be 
 considered  as  the  head  of  the  Institution.  His  duty  is  to  promote  the  general  welfare  of  the  College 
 in  every  department. 
 
 A PRINCIPAL. 
 
 A PROFESSOR  IN  THE  MALAYAN  LANGUAGES. 
 
 A PROFESSOR  OF  SIAMESE. 
 
 Native  Masters  in  the  Siamese,  Malayan,  Bugguese,  Javanese,  and  other  languages  of  the 
 Archipelago. 
 
 A treasurer. 
 
 Any  immorality,  generally  condemned  by  Christian  Churches,  shall  incapacitate  Europeans 
 from  holding  offices  in  the  Malayan  College. 
 
 And  Native  Masters  and  Teachers  shall  be,  when  practicable,  correct  moral  men,  according  to 
 the  opinions  of  their  own  nation. 
 
80 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 President,  the  Rev.  R.  S.  Hutchings. 
 
 Principal,  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Thompson,  Actg. 
 
 Professor  of  the  Malayan  Languages,  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Thompson. 
 
 Professor  of  Siamese,  the  Rev.  S.  Milton. 
 
 Native  Masters  in  Malayan,  Shaik  Allah  Adin  and  Hassan. 
 
 IN  Javanese,  in  Bugguese,  in  Bali,  in  Tegala . 
 
 IN  Siamese,  John  Leyden  Siami  and  Nunsid. 
 
 IN  Arabic,  in  Pali, . 
 
 Treasurer,  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Thompson. 
 
 The  duty  of  the  President  is  to  promote  the  general  welfare  of  the  College,  and  when  present 
 to  act  as  chairman  of  the  council. 
 
 THE  PRINCIPAL 
 
 Has  the  ordinary  general  superintendence  of  the  College  concerns  ; and  is  to  teach  native  students 
 the  English  language,  geography,  the  use  of  the  globes,  arithmetic,  history,  and  such  other  branches 
 of  knowledge  as  circumstances  may  direct. 
 
 THE  PROFESSORS 
 
 Are  with  the  aid  of  the  native  masters  to  teach  the  Malayan  and  Siamese  languages  to  European 
 students  ; also,  to  teach  the  natives  history,  logic,  theology,  natural  and  revealed,  ethics  or  moral 
 philosophy,  and  to  assist  the  principal,  as  circumstances  may  require. 
 
 THE  NATIVE  MASTERS 
 
 Are  to  teach  the  correct  reading  and  understanding  of  the  most  approved  works  and  translations  in 
 the  native  languages,  and  to  assist  foreign  students  in  learning  these  languages  and  their  characters. 
 
 LAWS  AND  STATUTES. 
 
 I.  The  College  Council  shall  consist  of  the  President  (when  present)  the  Principal,  and  Pro- 
 fessors, and  in  the  President’s  absence  of  the  Principal  and  Professors  only. 
 
 It  is  understood  that  the  Principal  has  the  direction  of  the  ordinary  daily  concerns  of  the 
 College,  but  in  any  affair  of  importance  to  the  Institution ; or  in  any  new  case  that  may  arise,  not 
 provided  for  by  previously  existing  laws  ; or  in  such  cases  as  may  be  hereafter  specified,  the  Prin- 
 cipal is  required,  by  this  statute,  to  confer  on  the  subject  with  the  Professors. 
 
 II.  In  any  case  of  serious  misconduct  on  the  part  of  any  student,  the  measures  to  be  adopted 
 shall  be  considered  by  the  College  council,  and  their  decision  carried  into  effect  by  the  Principal  in 
 ordinary  cases  ; and  in  particular  cases  by  such  member  of  the  council  as  may  be  appointed. 
 
 III.  When  a difference  of  opinion  shall  arise  amongst  the  members  of  the  council  on  any  sub- 
 ject, the  case  shall  be  referred  to  the  Resident  Trustees,  whose  decision  shall  be  final. 
 
SINGAPORE  INSTITUTION. 
 
 81 
 
 IV.  The  Principal  may  at  any  time  require  a meeting  of  the  council,  and  each  of  the  other 
 members  is  always  allowed  to  request  one.  If  denied,  the  reason  must  be  minuted  by  the  Prin- 
 cipal, and  referred  to  the  Resident  Trustees. 
 
 V.  Should  the  Principal  insist  on  the  immediate  decision  of  a case,  when  another  member 
 thinks  it  right  to  defer,  the  other  member,  by  this  statute,  is  permitted  to  enter  a protest  on  the 
 minutes  of  the  Council. 
 
 VI.  The  appointment  of  European  officers  shall  be  made  by  the  Trustees  of  the  College 
 generally.  The  appointment  of  Native  Masters  shall  be  made  by  the  College  Council. 
 
 VII.  As  often  as  practicable,  those  who  have  been  students  in  the  College  shall  be  appointed 
 Masters ; and  whenever  they  are  equally  well  qualified  for  the  vacant  office,  they  shall  be  preferred 
 to  other  candidates. 
 
 Vm.  Students  shall  be  admitted  by  the  consent  of  the  College  Council.  When  a difference 
 of  opinion  exists,  the  Council  shall  come  to  a decision  in  the  manner  above  directed. 
 
 IX.  The  consent  of  the  College  Council  shall  be  necessary  to  authorize  the  Principal  to  expel 
 any  student. 
 
 X.  Gross  and  open  immorality  persisted  in,  shall  be  a sufficient  cause  for  expelling  a student. 
 
 XI.  A continued  and  obstinate  neglect  of  prescribed  studies  shall  be  a sufficient  cause  to  expel 
 a student. 
 
 XII.  A wilful  pertinacious  disobedience  to  the  rules  of  the  College,  shall  be  a sufficient  cause 
 for  expulsion. 
 
 XIII.  One  of  the  European  officers  of  the  College  shall  act  as  Treasurer. 
 
 XI One  of  the  European  officers  of  the  College  shall  always  be  present  at  morning  and 
 evening  prayers. 
 
 XV.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  officers  of  the  College  to  cherish,  at  all  times,  a paternal  feeling 
 of  kindness  to  the  students;  to  set  an  example  of  patience,  moderation,  good  temper,  and  assiduity; 
 and  to  avail  themselves  of  every  opportunity  to  inculcate  lessons  of  morality  and  true  piety,  con- 
 sidering the  religious  and  moral  instruction  of  the  students  as  no  less  intended  by  the  Malayan 
 College,  than  their  intellectual  education. 
 
 XVI.  The  general  government  of  the  College  will  be  vested  in  Trustees,  under  the  above  pro- 
 visions, and  the  President,  Principal,  and  Professors  will  be  Trustees  by  virtue  of  their  office.  In 
 cases  of  emergency,  the  Resident  Trustees  may  be  referred  to ; but  in  all  cases  where  an  immediate 
 decision  may  not  be  necessary,  the  opinions  of  all  the  Trustees  should  be  obtained,  as  far  as  practi- 
 cable, wdthin  twelve  months. 
 
 XVII.  The  Resident  of  Singapore  is  requested  to  preside  at  the  meetings  of  the  Trustees. 
 
 XVIII.  In  case  of  the  demise  of  any  Trustee,  his  place  shall  be  filled  up  by  a general  vote  of 
 
 the  Trustees ; and  on  the  removal  of  any  of  the  Resident  Trustees,  his  place  shall  be  filled  up  in  a 
 similar  manner. 
 
 BYE-LAWS  OF  THE  MALAYAN  COLLEGE. 
 
 I.  All  students  who  enter  the  College  must  have  a good  character.  Pagans,  Christians,  and 
 Mahomedans  are  all  admissible  as  students. 
 
 II.  Native  students  must  remain  three  months  before  they  are  regularly  received  into  the 
 College. 
 
 1 
 
82 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 III.  If  after  a trial  of  three  months,  they  are  considered  suitable  persons,  they  shall  be 
 received,  on  condition  that  they  remain  three  years. 
 
 IV.  A certain  number  of  native  students  will  be  received  on  the  foundation,  and  supported  at 
 the  expense  of  the  College : this  number  is  at  present  limited  to  six,  but  it  may  be  increased  on  the 
 enlargement  of  the  funds. 
 
 V.  Any  person  desirous  of  educating  a native  youth,  from  the  age  of  twelve  to  eighteen,  may 
 support  him  at  the  Malayan  College  for  100  dollars  a year,  clothes  and  a servant,  if  one  is  required, 
 not  being  included. 
 
 VI.  An  European  youth  may  be  supported  at  the  College  for  £100  per  annum.  For  this 
 sum  he  will  be  supplied  with  food,  lodging,  washing,  and  education. 
 
 \ II.  The  College  will  engage  to  board,  lodge,  clothe,  and  educate  a destitute  Malayan  or 
 Siamese  youth,  or  a fatherless  or  orphan  lad,  for  sixty  dollars  per  annum. 
 
 Vni.  The  Malayan  Schools  intended  to  be  established  at  Singapore,  are  to  be  visited  by  the 
 officers  of  the  College,  and  to  be  considered  under  the  immediate  superintendence  of  the  Malayan 
 Professor. 
 
 IX.  The  students  shall  be  taught  to  read  and  tmderstand  the  best  books  in  their  own  lan- 
 guage, and  particularly  such  as  may  be  translated  into  it  from  European  languages  ; to  read  and 
 write  the  English  language ; history,  geography,  the  use  of  the  globes,  logic,  moral  philosophy, 
 theology,  &c. 
 
 X.  All  moveable  property  belonging  to  the  College  is  to  be  considered  under  the  charge  of 
 the  Principal ; but  the  Professors  in  the  Malayan  and  Siamese  languages  are  expected,  each  in  his 
 department,  to  take  due  care  of  all  manuscripts  or  books  in  those  languages  respectively. 
 
 XI.  The  general  good  behaviour  of  the  students,  and  observation  of  the  rules  of  the  College, 
 shall  be  superintended  by  the  Principal  and  Professors  by  rotation ; that  is  to  say,  each  shall  take 
 this  duty  for  a week,  when  he  is  to  be  relieved  by  another. 
 
 XII.  The  officers  of  the  College  shall  have  a choice  of  apartments,  according  to  the  rank 
 they  hold.  The  students  may  have  a choice  according  to  seniority  of  connection  with  the  College. 
 In  special  cases,  the  Council  shall  have  the  power  of  allotting  what  apartments  they  please. 
 
 XIII.  The  forms  of  Protestant  worship  will  be  observed,  and  strict  moral  decorum  required ; 
 but  neither  native  students  nor  Native  Masters  are  compelled  to  attend  Christian  worship.  The 
 European  officers  of  the  Institution  will  all  be  Protestant  Christians,  but  the  Native  Masters  may 
 or  may  not  be  Christians. 
 
 XIV.  The  Principal  for  the  time  being  shall  act  as  Treasurer,  and  keep  the  accounts  of  the 
 College.  The  accounts  to  be  closed  annually ; on  which  occasion,  a report  on  the  state  and 
 condition  of  the  Institution  must  be  drawn  up  by  the  Council,  and  submitted  to  the  Singapore 
 Institution. 
 
 XV.  The  College  Council  may  from  time  to  time  pass  such  new  bye-laws  as  may  be  neces- 
 sary ; but  such  bye-laws  are  not  to  have  effect  till  approved  by  the  Trustees. 
 
 X\T.  During  the  life  of  the  present  Patron,  he  shall  possess  such  a general  control  over 
 the  affairs  of  the  College  as  may  be  found  necessary  for  enforcing  the  fundamental  laws  and  statues, 
 and  promoting  its  general  object.  He  may,  when  he  sees  occasion,  appoint  visitors  to  examine  into 
 any  particular  department  of  the  Institution,  or  into  its  affairs  generally ; and  on  any  stated  com- 
 plaint or  representation  being  made  to  him,  if  considered  sufficiently  important,  he  is  empowered  to 
 appoint  visitors  for  the  special  purpose  of  examining  into  the  same  ; and  it  shall  be  incumbent  on 
 every  individual  connected  with  the  Institution  to  concur  in  giving  effect  to  the  wishes  of  the  Patron 
 
 o 
 
SINGAPORE  INSTITUTION. 
 
 83 
 
 on  this  head.  His  decision  on  all  cases  submitted  to  him  by  the  Resident  Trustees,  or  in  which  he 
 may  direct  a visitation,  shall  be  final. 
 
 AT  A MEETING  OF  THE  TRUSTEES  OF  THE  SINGAPORE  INSTITUTION, 
 
 Held  on  the  \5th  of  Aprils  1823. 
 
 The  Secretary  lays  before  the  Meeting  an  account  of  the  subscriptions  up  to  the  present  date, 
 shewing  a balance  of  dollars  17,495  in  favour  of  the  Institution  and  Colleges. 
 
 Besides  a monthly  subscription  of  300  dollars  per  month  for  the  schools,  and  of  twenty-five 
 dollars  per  annum  on  account  of  the  library. 
 
 Ordered  that  the  above  account  be  transmitted  to  the  Treasurers  of  the  Institution  and  the 
 Colleges  respectively,  in  order  that  the  amount  may  be  duly  collected  and  carried  to  account 
 accordingly. 
 
 It  appearing  from  the  above  statement  that  the  funds  of  the  Institution  are  already  sufficient  to 
 authorize  the  commencement  of  the  necessary  buildings,  an  advantageous  site  for  the  same  is  fixed 
 upon,  and  the  Lieutenant-Governor  intimates  his  intention  of  authorizing  a grant  of  ground  with- 
 out delay. 
 
 A plan  and  estimate  of  the  expense  of  the  proposed  buildings,  drawn  up  by  Lieutenant  Jackson, 
 being  submitted  to  the  Meeting,  the  same  are  approved,  and  Lieutenant  J ackson  having  offered  his 
 services  to  superintend  the  same,  an  arrangement  is  made  with  that  officer  for  the  construction  of 
 the  buildings  in  twelve  months. 
 
 The  sum  of  15,000  dollars  is,  in  consequence,  voted  for  the  buildings  in  question,  to  be  dis- 
 bursed by  the  Treasurers,  agreeably  to  the  arrangement  with  Lieutenant  Jackson  now  entered 
 into. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  Raffles  and  Dr.  Morrison  propose  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Milton  to  purchase,  on 
 account  of  the  Institution,  the  presses ; English,  Malayan,  and  Siamese  founts  of  types,  with  their 
 furniture,  paper,  &c.,  which  Mr.  Milton  has  recently  brought  from  Calcutta ; and  also  to  employ, 
 on  account  of  the  Institution,  the  Printer  whom  Mr.  Milton  has  brought  down  to  Singapore  ; but  it 
 is  expected  that  Mr.  Milton  will  take  charge  of  the  presses,  &c.  for  the  time  being;  and  if  it  be 
 determined  to  print,  on  account  of  the  Institution,  a dictionary  in  the  Fuh-keen  dialect  by  the  Rev. 
 Mr.  Medhurst  of  Batavia,  that  Mr.  Milton  will  correct  the  press,  and  superintend  the  printing  of 
 the  work. 
 
 Mr.  Milton  having  assented  to  this  arrangement,  the  prime-cost  of  the  presses,  &c.,  the  freight 
 and  expense  of  setting  up  the  Institution-press,  is,  in  consequence,  to  be  borne  by  the  Institution, 
 and  the  Treasurers  are  authorized  to  disburse  the  amount  accordingly. 
 
 Dr.  Morrison  begs  leave  to  lay  the  following  circumstance  before  the  Patron,  the  President, 
 and  the  Trustees  of  the  Institution. 
 
 The  dialect  of  the  Chinese  from  Fuh-keen  province,  including  Chin-cheu,  Amoy,  and  other 
 ports  of  that  province,  is  very  peculiar,  and  so  different  from  the  general  language  of  the  empire,  as 
 to  be  unintelligible  to  those  who  speak  the  Mandarin  tongue.  Of  this  dialect  the  Rev.  Mr.  Med- 
 hurst of  Batavia  has  made  a dictionary,  which  will  probably  be  contained,  when  printed,  in  two 
 volumes  octavo.  He  is  desirous  of  resigning  his  claim  to  the  MS.,  and  to  have  the  work  printed, 
 to  promote  the  general  intercourse  with  the  Chinese  in  the  Archipelago,  on  condition  of  receiving  a 
 few  printed  copies  for  his  friends. 
 
 1 2 
 
84 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 It  is  submitted  whether  it  would  be  proper  and  expedient  for  the  Institution  to  undertake  the 
 printing  of  300  copies  of  this  work,  giving  one  hundred  to  the  Author,  one  hundred  to  the  Cor- 
 rector of  the  press,  (for  as  it  contains  the  Chinese  characters  and  the  accents  of  the  dialect,  correct- 
 ing the  press  and  superintending  the  printing  w'ould  be  a considerable  task,)  and  the  Institution 
 retain  one  hundred  copies,  to  be  appropriated  as  it  may  deem  fit. 
 
 The  Trustees  concurring  with  the  Rev.  Dr.  Morrison  on  the  advantage  of  the  printing  of  the 
 w'ork  in  question,  being  undertaken  by  the  Institution,  it  is 
 
 Resolved,  that  the  said  work  be  printed  at  the  expense  of  the  Institution,  and  under  the  super- 
 intendence of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Milton ; but  that  500  copies  instead  of  300  be  struck  off;  200  on  Euro- 
 pean paper,  and  300  on  Chinese;  the  copies  to  be  distributed,  150  to  the  Author,  150  to  Mr. 
 Milton,  and  the  remaining  200  to  the  Institution,  to  appropriate  as  it  may  see  fit. 
 
 A Committee,  consisting  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Morrison,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson,  Captain  Flint, 
 and  D.  S.  Napier,  Esq.,  with  the  Resident  of  Singapore  as  President,  and  J.  Maxw'ell,  Esq.  as 
 Secretrary,  is  appointed  for  conducting  the  general  affairs  of  the  Institution  during  the  ensuing 
 twelve  months. 
 
 The  superintendence  of  the  Malayan  Schools  is  entrusted  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson,  and 
 those  of  the  Chinese  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Milton. 
 
 Mr.  Maxwell,  as  Secretary  to  the  Institution,  is  requested  to  take  charge  of  the  Library  and 
 Museum  of  the  Institution,  until  suitable  buildings  may  be  erected,  and  to  act  as  Librarian  during 
 the  absence  of  Dr.  Morrison. 
 
 John  Palmer,  and  G.  Gordon,  Esqrs.,  are  requested  to  act  as  agents  for  the  Institution  in 
 Calcutta. 
 
 The  following  establishments  are  provisionally  authorized,  viz. 
 
 SCHOOL  DEPARTMENT. 
 
 The  Rev.  Mr.  Milton  is  authorized  to  engage  three  native  Siamese  Masters  and  Assistants,  at 
 from  fifteen  to  thirty  dollars  per  month  each,  and  one  Chinese  Schoolmaster,  at  twelve  dollars  per 
 month. 
 
 The  Rev.  Mr.  Thompson  is  authorized  to  engage  iMalayan  Masters  and  Assistants  to  the 
 extent  of  thirty  dollars  per  month;  also  Masters  of  the  Javanese  and  Bugguese  languages,  when 
 procurable. 
 
 INSTITUTION  GENERALLY. 
 
 A bookbinder  at  fifteen  dollars  per  month,  and  a printer  (Samuel  Roberts)  at  thirty-five  dollars 
 per  month. 
 
 The  Treasurers  to  be  requested  to  discharge  the  monthly  bills  for  the  same. 
 
 It  is  agreed  that  the  proceedings  of  the  general  meeting  of  the  1st  ultimo  and  of  this  day  be 
 printed  for  general  information,  and  that  the  formation  and  objects  of  the  Institution  be  communi- 
 cated to  the  several  public  Institutions  of  a similar  nature  in  Europe  and  India,  with  a view  to 
 opening  a correspondence  with  them. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  Raffles  is  requested  to  take  the  necessary  measures  in  Europe  for  forming  the 
 Committee  of  Co-operation,  and  appointing  an  agent  to  the  Institution  in  London. 
 
 Sir  Stamford  Raffles  intimates  his  intention  to  endow  each  of  the  Colleges  with  an  appropria- 
 
SINGAPORE  INSTITUTION. 
 
 85 
 
 tion  of  land  at  Singapore  to  the  extent  of  500  acres,  independently  of  one  hundred  acres  attached 
 to  Institution-hill,  already  allotted  to  them  ; and  the  officers  of  the  Chinese  and  Malayan  Colleges 
 respectively  are  requested  to  select  and  define  the  bounds  of  the  same  as  early  as  may  be  convenient. 
 — Adjourned. 
 
 SUBSCRIPTIONS 
 
 FOR  THE 
 
 SINGAPORE  INSTITUTION  GENERALLY. 
 
 Lady  Raffles  ........... 
 
 Sp.  Dolls. 
 200 
 
 Anglo-Chinese  College-House  to  be  sold,  say  for  four  or  five 
 
 . 4000 
 
 To  assist  removal  of  Anglo-Chinese  College  from  the  Company 
 
 . 2000 
 
 For  the  same  purpose  a subscription  from  Dr.  Morrison 
 
 . 1000 
 
 Alexander  L.  Johnson  ......... 
 
 100 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel  Farquhar  ........ 
 
 . 1000 
 
 W.  IMontgomerie,  Esq.  ......... 
 
 50 
 
 D.  S.  Napier,  Esq.  ......... 
 
 100 
 
 G.  A.  Bonham,  Esq.  ......... 
 
 100 
 
 Captain  Davies  .......... 
 
 100 
 
 Lieutenant  L.  N.  Hull  ......... 
 
 100 
 
 Lieutenant  P.  Jackson  ......... 
 
 100 
 
 J.  A.  Maxwell,  Esq.  ......... 
 
 120 
 
 D.  A.  Fraser,  Esq.  ......... 
 
 100 
 
 G.  Mackenzie,  Esq.  ......... 
 
 100 
 
 Thomas  Howard,  Esq.  ......... 
 
 50 
 
 F.  J.  Bernard,  Esq.  ......... 
 
 100 
 
 Mrs.  Napier  ........... 
 
 100 
 
 Charles  Scott,  Esq.  ......... 
 
 100 
 
 A Friend  to  the  Institution,  through  Messrs.  Napier  and  Scott 
 
 50 
 
 G.  Gordon,  Esq.  .......... 
 
 100 
 
 FOR  THE  SCIENTIFIC  DEPARTMENT. 
 
 The  Anglo-Chinese  College  ........ 
 
 400 
 
 Dr.  Morrison  .......... 
 
 200 
 
 Malay  College  .......... 
 
 400 
 
 W.  Montgomerie,  Esq.  ......... 
 
 50 
 
 D.  Napier,  Esq.  for  the  Library  annually 
 
 25 
 
 Spanish  dollars  1075 
 
86 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 FOR  THE  MALAYAN  COLLEGE. 
 
 f 
 
 Sp.  Dolls. 
 
 The  Company  ...........  ,5000 
 
 Sir  Stamford  Raffles  ..........  2000 
 
 The  Sultan  ............  1000 
 
 The  Toomoongoong 1000 
 
 Dr.  Morrison  to  the  Malay  College  .......  200 
 
 Lady  Raffles 200 
 
 Rev.  R.  S.  Hutchings  ..........  200 
 
 Captain  Flint  ...........  100 
 
 Rev.  G.  H.  Thompson 50 
 
 Spanish  dollars  6750 
 
 ABSTRACT  ACCOUNT  OF  SUBSCRIPTIONS. 
 
 For  the  Institution  generally  ........  9670 
 
 For  the  Scientific  Department  ........  1075 
 
 For  the  Malayan  College 9750 
 
 Spanish  dollars  17,495 
 
 FOR  THE  CHINESE  AND  MALAYAN  SCHOOLS. 
 
 The  Honourable  Company  provisionally  subject  to  confirmation  of  the  higher  authorities. 
 
 MALAYAN. 
 
 Monthly  ............  150 
 
 A Donation  by  Dr.  Morrison  .........  50 
 
 Sir  T.  S.  Raffles  ...........  100 
 
 CHINESE. 
 
 Monthly 150 
 
 .-\  Donation  by  Dr.  Morrison  .........  50 
 
 Sir  T.  S.  Raffles  .........  . 100 
 
TRADE  OF  SINGAPORE 
 
 ABSTRACT  OF  IMPORTS  AT  SINGAPORE 
 
 for  the  last  official  Year  1827-28. 
 
 Names  of  Places. 
 
 1827-28. 
 
 Names  of  Places. 
 
 1827-28.  ♦ 
 
 From  Calcutta  
 
 Sicca  Rupees. 
 
 2,316,4661 
 
 414,697| 
 
 376,889^ 
 
 1,920,126| 
 
 541,673 
 
 l,792,674i 
 
 883,015| 
 
 278,627i 
 
 8,524, 169i 
 
 Brought  forward*  • 
 
 Sicca  Rupees. 
 
 8,524,169i 
 
 2,284,627^ 
 
 155,951 
 
 19,355i 
 
 275,819| 
 
 108,449f 
 
 2,8964 
 
 3,514,7204 
 
 Bombay 
 
 England  
 
 Foreign  Europe  
 
 America  
 
 r;Kinq  
 
 Isle  of  France 
 
 Ceylon 
 
 Siam 
 
 Cochin  China 
 
 Prince  of  Wales’  Island  • • 
 
 Other  Native  Ports 
 
 Total 
 
 Carried  forward  • • 
 
 14,885,9894 
 
 ABSTRACT  OF  EXPORTS 
 for  Official  Year  1827-28. 
 
 1 
 
 Names  of  Places. 
 
 1827-28. 
 
 To  Calcutta 
 
 Sicca  Rupees. 
 
 1,631,3491 
 
 Madras 
 
 1,138,099 
 
 Bombay  
 
 188,012 
 
 England  
 
 2,789,5134 
 
 Foreign  Europe  
 
 272,230| 
 
 China  
 
 1,519,897 
 
 Malacca 
 
 480,556 
 
 Penang  
 
 646,122|. 
 
 Carried  forward  • • 
 
 8,665,7804- 
 
 Names  of  Places. 
 
 1827-28. 
 
 Brought  forward  • • 
 
 Sicca  Rupees. 
 
 8,665,7804 
 
 To  Java  
 
 1,026,379 
 
 Mauritius,  &c 
 
 119,1224 
 
 Siam 
 
 457,7134 
 
 Cochin  China 
 
 85,576 
 
 Acheen  
 
 • • • • 
 
 Other  Native  Ports  
 
 3,517,4384 
 
 Total 
 
 13,872,010 
 
S8 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 EXPORTS  TO  ENGLAND. 
 
 Names  of  Articles. 
 
 In  1827-28.  j 
 
 Sicca  Rupees. 
 109,7464 
 205,770 
 2,620| 
 249,7604 
 41,527|  ' 
 11,809 
 15,833| 
 30,322| 
 783,7101 
 5,649| 
 
 Spices 
 
 Tin  
 
 Rattans  
 
 SaffO 
 
 PnflPpp  ....  
 
 T^pnjamln 
 
 Sillf 
 
 339,803|  : 
 
 India  ditto  
 
 318,2824  , 
 
 Carried  forward  • • 
 
 2,115,0364 
 
 Names  of  Articles. 
 
 In  1826-7. 
 
 Brought  forward  • • 
 
 China  ditto  
 
 Straits  ditto 
 
 Spanish  dollars  
 
 Cotton 
 
 China  camphor  
 
 E.  P.  goods 
 
 I.  P.  goods  
 
 Oils 
 
 Saltpetre 
 
 Tobacco  
 
 Woollens 
 
 Java  sundries  . . 
 
 Gold-dust  
 
 Total  sicca  rupees. . . . 
 
 Sicca  rupees. 
 
 2,115,0364 
 
 141,155 
 
 8,257| 
 
 65,2064. 
 
 17,3704 
 
 121,8204 
 
 32,6274 
 
 237,8944 
 
 30,5394 
 
 7,4284 
 
 2,105‘ 
 
 6,315 
 
 2,7364 
 
 1,220| 
 
 2,789,7131 
 
 IMPORTS  FROM  ENGLAND. 
 
 Names  of  Articles. 
 
 1827-28. 
 
 i Brought  forward. . 
 
 Sicca  Rupees. 
 
 1,353,237 
 
 1 Woollens 
 
 131,5263 
 
 ' European  sundries  
 
 410,4244 
 
 Copper  cash 
 
 Salt 
 
 3,641-3 
 
 Spanish  dollars  
 
 21,296^ 
 
 i' 
 
 1 
 
 1. 
 
 i 
 
 1,920,126-4 
 
 Names  of  Articles. 
 
 Brandy,  &c 
 
 Beer 
 
 Piece  goods,  Europe  
 
 Gold  thread  
 
 Iron 
 
 Opium 
 
 Wines  
 
 Carried  forward 
 
 1827-28. 
 
 Sicca  Rupees. 
 
 1,705 
 
 19,1974 
 
 1,062,587 
 
 6734 
 
 66,901 
 
 186,503 
 
 15,669| 
 
 1,353,237 
 
 ABSTRACT  OF  AMOUNT  OF  IMPORTS  AND  EXPORTS  AT  SINGAPORE 
 
 for  the  last  Five  Years. 
 
 1 
 
 Amount  of  Imports. 
 
 Amount  of  Exports. 
 
 Excess  of  Imports. 
 
 Excess  of 
 Exports. 
 
 Total  of  Imports 
 and  Exports. 
 
 1 822.23  
 
 Sicca  Rupees. 
 
 7,746,833 
 
 13,807,072 
 
 13,488,456 
 
 13,159,193 
 
 13,619,793 
 
 Sicca  Rupees. 
 
 6,677,758 
 
 10,222,222 
 
 12,360,120 
 
 11,270,311 
 
 13,883,062 
 
 Sicca  Rupees. 
 
 1,069,075 
 
 3,584,850 
 
 1,128,336 
 
 1,888,882 
 
 Sicca  Rupees. 
 
 Sicca  Rupees. 
 
 14,424,591 
 
 24,029,294 
 
 25,848,576 
 
 24,429,504 
 
 27,502,855 
 
 } • V 
 
 1 kOA  OK  ........ 
 
 X o -c  *±  • •••••••• 
 
 1 
 
 • • • • 
 
 1820.27  
 
 1,263,269 
 
 7,671,143 
 
 Total  5 years  • • • • 
 
 61,821,347 
 
 54,413,473 
 
 116,234,820 
 
 1,917,785 
 average  of  4 yrs. 
 
 •Average  of  5 years. 
 
 12,364,269 
 
 10,882,694 
 
 Average  of  5 yrs.  23,246,964 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Account  of  the  Eastern  Islands,  60. 
 
 Acheen,  a Malay  state,  its  laws  16  ; described,  56  ; 
 king,  57  ; right  to  the  crown  decided,  379  ; teak 
 forests,  Hindu  images,  384  ; its  distracted  condi- 
 tion, 396. 
 
 Achmuty,  Sir  Samuel,  23;  eulogised  by  lord 
 Minto,  91 ; recollected  by  Napoleon,  277. 
 
 Acland,  Sir  Thomas  Dyke,  590. 
 
 Action  of  the  Upas  poison,  108. 
 
 Addat,  or  immemorial  customs,  16. 
 
 Addenbroke,  Col.,  letter  to,  379. 
 
 Address  of  the  Singapore  merchants,  544. 
 
 Adi  Saka,  176  ; his  era,  177  ; his  writings,  179. 
 
 Administration  of  the  Eastern  Islands  in  1819,  Ap- 
 pendix, 3. 
 
 Advantages  of  possessing  Java,  83  ; of  Sumatra  over 
 the  West  Indies,  466. 
 
 Adultery,  how  punished,  432,  3. 
 
 Affection  of  a Chief,  321. 
 
 African  Institution,  409.  417. 
 
 Agriculture,  61  ; in  France,  288  ; in  the  Menang- 
 kabu  country,  388 ; endeavours  to  improve  it  in 
 Sumatra,  471. 
 
 Agricultural  Society,  Report  of  the  Sumatran,  473  ; 
 its  President,  513. 
 
 Ahmed  Shah,  Sultan  of  Malacca,  17. 
 
 Ainslie,  Dr.,  English  secretary  to  the  Batavian 
 Society,  147  : his  communication,  170 ; residence 
 dX  Japan,  182. 
 
 Akal  Malaya,  or  annals  and  traditions  of  the  Ma- 
 lays, 16. 
 
 Alberti,  General,  92. 
 
 Alexander  the  Great,  177. 
 
 Alfur,  or  Arafura,  aborigines  of  Celebes,  145. 
 
 Anr,  Rajah,  46. 
 
 Alphabets,  236. 
 
 Amboyna,  natives  of,  8 ; Dutch  transactions  at  re- 
 probated, 69. 
 
 America,  customs  in,  similar  to  those  of  the  Eastern 
 Isles,  175. 
 
 American  captain,  generosity  of  a,  403. 
 
 Americans,  67  ; their  intercourse  with  Japan,  68  ; 
 regTilation  of  trade  in  the  East,  74 ; vessels  at 
 Sumatra,  295. 
 
 Amiens,  peace  of,  305  ; treaty  of,  390. 
 
 Amphictyonic  council,  25. 
 
 Ancient  temples,  106  ; MS.  of  the  signs  of  the  Zo- 
 diac, 166;  characters  on  stones,  206;  sculpture 
 and  remains,  262. 
 
 Anderson,  Dr.,  2. 
 
 Antiquities,  158.  207. 
 
 Appeal  of  the  native  Chiefs  against  the  Dutch,  341. 
 
 Arabian  chronology,  9. 
 
 Arabs  in  the  Malay  states,  73. 
 
 Arbitrary  distinctions  in  language,  163. 
 
 Archipelago,  the  Eastern,  8 ; its  chieftains,  23  ; cus- 
 toms, 174;  language,  origin  of  the  natives,  176  ; 
 its  beautiful  scenery,  403. 
 
 Arnold,  Dr.  death  of,  Introd.  vii.  365,  522. 
 
 Arrows,  poisoned,  custom  of  discharging,  38. 
 
 Ascent  of  the  sacred  mountain,  325. 
 
 Ascent  of  Gunung  Dingin  mountain,  346  ; of  the 
 Sambung  mountain,  362. 
 
 Asiatic  Researches,  14. 
 
 Asiatic  Society,  11  ; its  rapid  progress,  140;  its  ex- 
 tensive researches,  141. 
 
 Assey,  Mr.  private  Secretary,  211. 
 
 Atrocious  act  of  piracy,  46. 
 
 Attack  of  the  Dutch  on  Malacca,  19. 
 
 Auber,  Captain,  512. 
 
 Ava,  50, 
 
 Badong,  Rajah  of,  32. 
 
 Bagilen,  a strong  hill  country,  37. 
 
 Baker,  Captain,  his  observations  on  ruins,  158; 
 describes  the  thousand  temples,  159. 
 
 Balabac,  39. 
 
 Balambangan  Island,  60. 
 
 Bali  Island,  first  visited  by  the  English,  32 ; dialpct, 
 164;  population,  government,  170  ; Hindu  reli- 
 gion prevalent,  171;  burning  wives,  language, 
 people,  slavery,  172;  marriage,  punishments, 
 173;  domestic  relations,  174;  four  castes  of  na- 
 tives, 240 ; independence  of  the  Chiefs,  307  ; 
 proposed  mission  to,  536. 
 
 Bali  Baliling,  Rajah  of,  friendly  to  the  English,  31  ; 
 alluded  to,  240. 
 
 Banca  Island,  its  importance  to  the  English,  43  ; 
 resources,  44;  tin  mines,  149.  255;  process  of 
 mining,  150;  botany,  151;  government,  170; 
 its  prosperity,  226.  268  ; object  of  the  English  in 
 obtaining,  309  ; ceded  to  the  Dutch,  394. 
 
90 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Banda  Isles,  60  ; nutmegs,  254. 
 
 Banjar  Masing,  Dutch  settlement  at,  59  ; appoint- 
 ment of  Resident  at,  (see  Errata,)  99  ; Hindu  an- 
 tiquities, 143  ; abandoned  by  the  English,  392. 
 
 Ban,  of  Burgundy,  25. 
 
 Banks,  Sir  Joseph,  440;  extract  of  his  letter  to 
 Dr.  Horsfield,  449  ; his  death,  485. 
 
 Bannersian,  Colonel,  395  ; again,  397  ; his  death, 
 412. 
 
 Bantam,  a Malay  state,  19;  again,  33;  language, 
 162  ; fertility,  217  ; tenure  of  land,  221. 
 
 Banyuwangi,  volcanic  phenomena  at,  243. 
 
 Barlow,  Sir  George  Hilars,  88. 
 
 Barrett,  Captain,  8. 
 
 Barrow,  John,  Esq.,  Introd.  p.  viii. 
 
 Barrto,  Mr.  136. 
 
 Bassick,  Rajah,  46. 
 
 Batavia,  Dutch  transactions  at,  69  ; Chinese  op- 
 pression in,  72  ; British  expedition  to,  86;  cap- 
 tured, 91;  European  courts  of  Justice  in,  208; 
 effects  of  British  establishments  in,  257. 
 
 Batavian  Researches,  21  ; additional  volume  of,  133. 
 
 Batavian  Society  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  its  re-esta- 
 blishment, 133;  Mr.  Raffles’ Addresses  to,  134. 
 147  ; first  literary  institution  formed  by  Europeans 
 in  the  East ; 135;  its  objects,  136;  exertions  of 
 the  directors,  137  ; contents  of  the  Transactions, 
 138;  knowledge  of  the  Javanese  language  re- 
 quired by  its  members,  139;  its  supporters,  141  ; 
 its  records,  146  ; death  of  its  patron  announced, 
 147  ; Mr.  Raffles  delivers  an  account  of  the  East- 
 ern Archipelago,  149 — 184  ; success  of  the  Insti- 
 tution, 206. 
 
 Baths,  486. 
 
 Bathurst,  Earl,  559. 
 
 Battas,  cannibalism  of  the,  426  ; laws  of  inheritance, 
 435  ; excursion  into  their  country,  436. 
 
 Beech  wood,  580. 
 
 Bencoolen,  Sir  Stamford’s  appointment  to,  290  ; de- 
 scription of  the  settlement,  293  ; earthquakes, 
 294  ; trade,  295 ; pernicious  system  at,  296.  405  : 
 emancipation  of  slaves,  300  ; improvement  in  the 
 feelings  of  the  inhabitants,  367  ; Bible  Society 
 and  schools  established,  400  ; their  progress,  416  ; 
 condition  of  society,  407  ; improvements  at,  449. 
 495. 
 
 Beneficial  effects  of  change  of  scene,  530. 
 
 Benevolent  Society,  establishment  of,  228. 
 
 Bengal  Government,  23  ; their  resolutions,  540. 
 
 Bengal,  bay  of,  69. 
 
 Bengalee  Vocabulary,  11. 
 
 Berapi,  a volcanic  mountain,  355. 
 
 Bertrand,  Marshal,  276. 
 
 Billiton  Island,  45;  ceded  to  the  English,  309; 
 position,  extent,  population,  418  ; its  advantages, 
 419. 
 
 Births,  ceremonies  performed  at,  168. 
 
 Bitara,  a king’s  title,  71. 
 
 Bloom  farms,  217. 
 
 Blow-pipe,  its  use,  38. 
 
 Blue  IMountains,  36. 
 
 Boeckholtz,  Van,  138. 
 i Boni,  bay  of,  153. 
 
 ’ Bonzes,  a religious  sect,  68. 
 
 Boraiig,  batteries  taken  at,  115. 
 
 Borneo,  natives,  8 ; Malay  states  on,  16;  its  coast, 
 
 I 39  ; productions,  59  ; Dutch  and  English  posses- 
 i sions  in,  60  ; agriculture,  61  ; interior  unknown, 
 
 j ib. ; divided  into  three  empires  ; 142;  human  sa- 
 
 crifices, 144  ; gold  mines  worked  by  the  Chinese, 
 151.255;  customs,  language,  175  ; independent 
 I of  the  native  states,  305. 
 
 I Boro  Bodo,  its  ruins  described,  159. 
 i Bourbon,  Island,  22. 
 
 I Bowdich,  Mr.  his  mission  to  Ashantee,  459. 
 
 I Bowen,  Captain,  116. 
 
 I Brahma,  images  of,  160. 
 j Brahmins,  of  whom  held  in  veneration,  171. 
 
 I Bramanas,  described,  240. 
 i Brambana,  antiquities  of,  207. 
 
 ; Brand,  J.  E.  Esq.,  Resident  of  Batavia,  his  letter 
 to  Captain  Flint,  441  ; letter  to,  from  Captain 
 Flint,  442  ; his  reply,  443. 
 
 Brata  Yudha,  a poem,  235  ; quoted,  358. 
 i Brazil,  78. 
 
 British,  plans  of  the  Government,  22  ; their  influence 
 in  the  Eastern  seas,  23  ; habits  of  the  Malays  not 
 understood  by,  42  ; shipping,  43  ; government  in 
 Prince  of  Wales’  Island,  56  ; inhabitants  of  Ce- 
 lebes attached  to,  65  ; their  policy,  70  ; neglect 
 of  the  Government,  76.  271  ; courage  of  the  army, 
 95  ; importance  of  Java  to  their  interests,  83,  98  ; 
 Residents  appointed  at  native  courts,  101  ; pro- 
 clamation to  the  people  of  Java,  103;  language 
 cultivated  by  the  Japanese,  184  ; their  equal  dis- 
 tribution of  justice,  220  ; their  intercourse  with 
 Japan,  226  ; act  on  the  slave  trade,  227  ; neces- 
 sity of  having  their  agent  in  the  Eastern  seas, 
 306  ; economy  in  the  service,  308  ; effects  of  their 
 administration  at  Java,  310;  necessity  of  their 
 opposition  to  Dutch  power,  370  ; their  interests 
 and  policy  opposed  to  those  of  the  Dutch,  389. 
 j British  Government  in  Java,  letter  from  Dr.  Horsfield 
 I on  Sir  Stamford’s  efforts  for  the  promotion  of 
 j science  during  that  period,  602. 
 
 I British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society,  Sir  Stamford’s 
 1 letter  to  the  Committee,  585. 
 
 ; Broughton,  Commodore,  95. 
 i Bruchnor,  Mr.  588. 
 
 Buckinghamshire,  Earl  of,  letter  to,  on  Eastern 
 j affairs,  252. 
 
 I Buddha,  images  of,  159. 
 
 I Bugguese  alphabet,  12. 
 
 I Bugis,  trade  with  Bali  and  Lombok,  32 ; natives 
 1 driven  to  piracy  by  Dutch  monopoly,  65.  145 ; em- 
 ployed as  the  Swiss  in  Europe,  their  language,  155. 
 
 Buitenzorg,  description  of,  36 ; well  situated  for 
 procuring  supplies,  38  ; Mr.  Raffles  removes  there, 
 101;  his  occupations,  210  ; again  235. 
 
 Buonaparte,  33;  his  re-appearance  in  France, 
 251  ; Mr.  Raffles’  interview  with  him  at  St.  He- 
 lena, 276. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 91 
 
 Burial-ground,  description  of  a,  351. 
 
 Burnians,  50;  language,  163;  customs,  175. 
 
 Burn,  Captain, 40. 
 
 Burning  of  Queda,  507  ; of  the  Fame,  566. 
 
 Burton,  Mr.  437. 
 
 Butler,  Major,  116. 
 
 C;esars,  Twelve,  busts  of,  188. 
 
 Calfres  in  the  Malay  states  described,  10. 
 
 Calcutta,  7 ; Asiatic  Society  in,  11.  14.  140;  Mr. 
 Raffles’  visit  to,  22. 
 
 Camboja,  62  ; singular  customs  in,  175;  language, 
 176. 
 
 Campbell,  Mr.  agent  to  Acheen,  25  ; again,  56. 
 
 Camphor-tree  described,  432. 
 
 Cannibalism  of  the  Battas,  426.  432. 
 
 Canning,  Mr.,  385;  his  expected  arrival  in  the 
 East,  515. 
 
 Canning,  Captain,  421. 
 
 Canton,  Dutch  factory  at,  67  ; fire  at,  527. 
 
 Capabilities  of  Sumatra,  480. 
 
 Capellen,  Baron  Van  Der,  552. 
 
 Capital  punishments,  432. 
 
 Capture  of  Batavia,  91. 
 
 Caramata  passage,  87. 
 
 Carnegie,  Mr.,  402. 
 
 Casas,  Las,  277. 
 
 Castlereagh,  Lord,  559. 
 
 Castes,  their  customs  described,  240. 
 
 Catalogue  of  Zoological  Specimens,  633 — 697. 
 
 Cathcart,  Lord,  311. 
 
 Cattle,  docility  of,  352. 
 
 Causes  of  the  deterioration  of  Malay  character,  77. 
 
 Cawoor,  313;  again,  320;  Dr.  Arnold  ill  at,  322. 
 
 Celebes,  natives,  8.  145 ; well  affected  to  the  Eng- 
 lish, 65;  Dutch  establishments  at,  64;  popula- 
 tion, 152  ; constitution  of  society  in,  153  ; enter- 
 prising character  of  the  people,  239. 
 
 Ceram  island,  70  ; frequented  by  the  Americans,  74. 
 
 Ceremony  on  going  to  war,  154;  at  births,  mar- 
 riages, funerals,  168. 
 
 Cession  of  Java  to  the  English,  95. 
 
 Champa,  62  ; languages,  176  ; connected  with  the 
 Archipelago,  237. 
 
 Chandi  Sewo,  or  Thousand  Temples  described,  159. 
 
 Chapman,  Captain,  47. 
 
 Character  of  the  Malays,  235. 
 
 Charlotte,  the  Princess,  distinguishes  Sir  Stam- 
 ford, 287  ; her  death  alluded  to,  291. 
 
 Cheribon,  MSS.  discovered  in,  161  ; language  of, 
 162. 
 
 Chess,  game  of,  11. 
 
 Children,  Sir  Stamford’s,  named  Charlotte  and  Leo- 
 pold, 380  ; their  death,  500.  506. 
 
 Chili,  language  of,  175. 
 
 China  Proper,  natives  of,  8 ; price  of  tin  in,  44 ; con- 
 trasted with  Japan,  232. 
 
 Chinese,  their  chronology,  1 0 ; junks  attacked  by 
 pirates,  47  ; trade  with  Nangasaki,  67  ; their  mo- 
 nopoly in  Java,72;  market,  84;  miners  in  Banca, 
 151;  in  Borneo,  255;  their  extensive  specula- 
 
 tions, 535  ; plan  for  promoting  the  study  of  the 
 language,  592. 
 
 Cholera  morbus,  its  dreadful  effects,  370.  431.  499. 
 
 Christianity,  its  diffusion,  80 ; its  propagation  in  the 
 Eastern  Isles,  82. 
 
 Chronology  of  the  Malays,  9. 
 
 Chuliahs,  or  men  of  the  Kaling  country,  1 1 . 
 
 Circumcision  practised,  336. 
 
 Clayton,  Colonel,  323. 
 
 Clove  trees,  475. 
 
 Clubley,  Mr.,  28. 
 
 Cobra  de  Capello,  352. 
 
 Cochin  China,  natives  of,  8 ; King  of,  62. 
 
 CocKBURN,  Sir  George,  276. 
 
 Coffee,  that  of  Java,  compared,  84 ; its  cultivation 
 encouraged,  217. 
 
 College  for  the  natives,  408. 
 
 Colonies,  difficulties  attendant  upon,  61. 
 
 Colonization,  sources  of,  176. 
 
 Colossal  statue,  account  of  a,  160. 
 
 Compositions,  historical,  165. 
 
 Condia,  116. 
 
 Conditions  of  Java  and  Sumatra  contrasted,  479. 
 
 Conquest  of  Malacca  by  the  Portuguese,  18. 
 
 Constitution  of  society,  singular  feature  in  the,  153. 
 
 Conversion  of  the  natives.  Sir  Stamford’s  opinion  on 
 the,  585. 
 
 Commerce,  ship,  46. 
 
 COLEBROOKE,  Mr.,  25. 
 
 Coolie,  resuscitation  of  a,  344. 
 
 Coombs,  Captain,  397. 
 
 Copper,  not  a native  Malay  production,  83  ; mines, 
 282. 
 
 Cornells,  its  situation  described,  36 ; battle  of,  93  ; 
 bogs  at,  94. 
 
 Coromandel co2&t,  dialects  on  the,  11  ; ship,  198. 
 
 Correspondence  with  the  Dutch  government,  441. 
 
 CouPERUs,  Mr.,  138.  140. 
 
 Court  of  Directors  appoint  Mr.  Raffles  Deputy  Se- 
 cretary to  Penang,  5 ; Lieutenant  Governor  of 
 Java,  98 ; their  decision  on  the  charges  brought 
 against  him  by  General  Gillespie,  204  ; approve 
 of  Mr.  R.’s  plans  for  the  opening  of  trade  with 
 Japan,  233  ; his  letter  to  them  on  the  revenue  and 
 government  of  Java,  266  ; he  appeals  to  them  on 
 his  return  to  England,  284  ; their  opinion  of  his 
 services,  286 ; appoint  him  Lieutenant  Governor 
 of  Bencoolen,  290 ; Sir  Stamford’s  letter  on  the 
 state  of  that  settlement,  297  ; Sir  Stamford’s  letter 
 on  the  burning  of  the  Fame,  569;  their  decision 
 on  his  government,  598. 
 
 Court,  Captain,  226. 
 
 Cransen,  Mr.,  100.  102.  228. 
 
 Cransend,  Mr.,  270. 
 
 Crawfurd,  Mr.,  515  ; mission  to  AS'iamand  Cochin 
 China,  528.  531  ; letter  to,  545. 
 
 Criminal,  description  of  eating  a,  426. 
 
 Crisp,  Captain,  320. 
 
 Curious  growth  of  the  Krabut  flower,  330. 
 
 Curious  method  of  irrigation,  356. 
 
 Cycle,  adopted  by  the  Malays,  69. 
 
 2 
 
92 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Daexdels,  Marshal,  26;  his  operations,  33;  ex- 
 ertions to  secure  his  defences,  34 ; forces,  35 ; 
 military  works,  36  ; threatens  the  Sultan  of  Pa- 
 lembang,  42 ; abandons  Bangar  Masing  to  the 
 Rajah,  59  ; remarks  on  his  administration  in  Java, 
 198.  213. 
 
 Dalgairns,  Capt.,  Aide-de-Camp.,  Introd.  vi. 
 
 Dalrymple,  Mr.,  on  the  Sulu  Islands,  146. 
 
 Day,  Mr.,  563. 
 
 Davaks,  aborigines  of  Borneo,  83.  145  ; veneration 
 for  their  ancestors,  152. 
 
 Davy,  Sir  Humphry, 589. 
 
 Deficiencies  of  an  early  education  deplored,  2. 
 
 Depreciated  state  of  paper  currency,  191. 
 
 Description  of  the  Tapir,  373. 
 
 Diard  and  Duvaucel,  Messrs.,  letters  to,  372. 703. 
 
 Diarrhoea  occasioned  by  a volcano,  249. 
 
 Difficulties  of  Sir  Stamford’s  public  life,  597. 
 
 Djocjocarta,  disturbances  at,  123  ; Mr.  Raffles’  in- 
 terview with  the  Sultan,  125  ; confederacy  of  the 
 native  states,  126  ; assault  and  capture  of  the  city, 
 127,  128. 
 
 Dompo,  dreadful  effects  of  a volcano  at,  248. 
 
 Drummoxd,  Mr.,  563. 
 
 Drury,  Admiral,  88. 
 
 Duxdas,  Hon.  Philip,  appointed  Governor  of 
 Penang,  5 ; writes  to  iMr.  Raffles,  8 ; letter  to,  on 
 Malayan  literature,  9;  instructions  to,  61. 
 
 Dutch,  obtain  possession  of  Malacca,  19;  territories 
 on  the  island  of  Borneo,  60  ; traffic  in  slaves,  64  ; 
 factories  at  Japan  and  Canton,  66,  67  ; policy  of 
 the  government,  69.  99 ; monopoly  in  the  East, 
 75  ; views  of  colonies,  77  ; garrison  massacred, 
 119;  system  in  Java,  213;  its  debasing  effects, 
 219  ; that  island  transferred  to  them,  228  ; inter- 
 course with  Japan,  229  ; annul  the  leases  of  lands, 
 273;  system  in  the  Eastern  seas,  304;  Mr. 
 Raffles’  views  on  their  proceedings,  305 ; native 
 chiefs  appeal  against  them,  341  ; necessity  of 
 opposing  their  power,  370;  no  factory  at  Singa- 
 pore, 376;  opposition  to  the  British,  391  ; their 
 treaty  with  Rachmet  Shah,  496 ; their  defeat, 
 511. 
 
 Early  Greece  compared  with  the  Malavan  Islands, 
 180. 
 
 Earthquakes,  294. 
 
 Eastern  Archipelago,  8 ; its  chieftains,  23  ; customs, 
 174;  language,  origin  of  the  native,  176;  its 
 beautiful  scenery,  403. 
 
 Eastern  Isles,  account  of  the,  60  ; territorial  right  in 
 the,  69  ; IMoslem  religion  very  partial  in  the,  80  ; 
 commercial  views  on  the,  413. 
 
 East  India  House,  2. 
 
 East  India  Company,  /aua  confirmed  to  the,  125; 
 importance  of  the  connection  between  that  Island 
 and  China  to  their  interests,  185  ; consequence  of 
 a King’s  government  upon  their  monopoly,  186; 
 their  regulations  adverse  to  colonization,  476. 
 
 Economy  of  Sir  Stamford’s  government,  501. 
 
 Edex,  Colonel,  95. 
 
 Edgou  river,  52. 
 
 Edmonstoxe,  N.  B.  Esq.,  30 ; his  view  of  Mr. 
 Raffles’  conduct,  205  ; letter  to  him  from  Mr.  R. 
 on  leaving  Java,  273. 
 
 Education  of  Caffre  children,  406. 
 
 Elephants,  two  kinds  of,  315. 
 
 Elliott,  Captain,  87;  reconciles  Mr.  Raffles  to 
 General  Gillespie,  203. 
 
 Ende,  or  Manggerai  Island,  82. 
 
 Enemy,  cruelty  to  a slain,  154. 
 
 Engleiiart,  Mr.,  140. 
 
 English,  the,  plans  of  the  government,  22  ; their  in- 
 fluence in  the  Eastern  seas,  23  ; habits  of  the 
 Malays  not  understood  by,  42 ; shipping,  43  ; go- 
 vernment in  Prince  of  Wales’  Island,  56  ; inhabi- 
 tants of  Celebes  attached  to,  65 ; their  policy,  70  ; 
 neglect  of  the  government,  76.271  ; courage  of 
 the  army,  95 ; importance  of  Java  to  their  inte- 
 rests, 83.  98  ; residents  appointed  at  native  courts, 
 101  ; proclamation  to  the  people  of  Java,  103; 
 language  cultivated  by  Japanese,  184;  their 
 equal  distribution  of  justice,  220;  intercourse  with 
 Japan,  226 ; acts  on  the  slave  trade,  227  ; neces- 
 sity of  having  their  agent  in  the  Eastern  seas,  306; 
 economy  in  the  service,  308  ; effects  of  their  ad- 
 ministration at  Java,  310;  necessity  of  their  op- 
 position to  Dutch  power,  370  ; interests  and  policy 
 opposed  to  those  of  the  Dutch,  389. 
 
 Erskine,  Lord,  448. 
 
 Essay  on  the  Malayan  nation,  14. 
 
 Establishment  of  a Malay  College  at  Singapore,  mi- 
 nutes by  Sir  S.  on  the,  (Appendix),  23. 
 
 Ethiopia,  traces  of  intercourse  with,  178. 
 
 European  power  first  paramount,  129. 
 
 Excursion  in  the  Malay  peninsula,  28. 
 
 Extension  of  the  Eastern  trade,  505. 
 
 Extract  from  Sir  Stamford’s  memorandum  book, 
 576. 
 
 Factories  of  the  Dutch,  66,  67. 
 
 Falcoxer,  Captain,  275. 
 
 Farquhar,  Mr.,  his  Report  on  Pulo  Penang,  51  ; 
 on  Prince  of  Wales'  Island,  54;  again,  56  ; again, 
 76. 
 
 F.arquhar,  Col.,  letter  to  Sir  Stamford  on  the 
 state  of  Singapore,  443. 
 
 Fexdall,  Mr.,  appointed  to  succeed  Mr.  Raffles  in 
 the  government  of  J ava,  269 ; his  arrival  there, 
 270. 
 
 Feudal  wars  in  the  Malay  states,  77. 
 
 Fixlaysox,  Mr.  509. 
 
 Fire  at  Canton,  527. 
 
 First  excursion  to  the  Hill  of  Mists,  314. 
 
 Flower  of  gold  and  silver,  49. 
 
 Flixt,  Captain,  letter  to,  from  IMr.  Brand,  Resi- 
 dent of  Batavia,  refusing  permission  to  allow  him 
 to  proceed  to  Samarang,  441. 
 
 Forest,  Lieutenant,  16. 
 
 Forster’s  Bengalee  Vocabulary,  11. 
 
 Fort  i\Iarlboro’,  Residency  of,  187  : Mr.  Raffles’  ap- 
 pointment to,  188. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 93 
 
 France,  Holland  annexed  to,  22  ; supplies  from  in 
 the  East,  33;  agriculture,  288. 
 
 French  flag  in  Java,  34. 
 
 Galangore,  8. 
 
 Game  of  chess,  1 1. 
 
 Gappam,  musquitoes  of,  29. 
 
 Garniiam,  Captain,  Introd.  vi.  277. 
 
 Generosity  of  an  American  captain,  403. 
 
 Geography  of  Java,  148. 
 
 Gibbs,  Colonel,  93  ; Cornells 
 
 Gigantic  flower  described,  316. 
 
 Gillespie,  Colonel,  commands  the  advance  at  the 
 capture  of  Batavia,  92  ; distinguishes  himself  at 
 the  battle  of  Cornelis,  93  ; commands  the  expedi- 
 tion to  112;  communicates  with  the 
 
 Sultan,  114;  takes  possession  of  the  batteries  at 
 Berang,  115;  his  intrepidity,  116;  takes  posses- 
 sion of  the  fort,  117  ; letter  to  Mr.  Raffles  on  the 
 deposed  Sultan,  118;  congratulated  on  his  suc- 
 cess by  the  Governor,  122 ; his  unexpected  and 
 fortunate  return,  126  ; his  bravery  at  the  assault 
 and  capture  of  Djocjocarta,  127,  8 ; letter  to  Mr. 
 Raffles  on  the  distribution  of  the  prize-money,  129  ; 
 brings  charges  against  Mr.  R.,  202  ; decision  of 
 the  Court  on  them,  204. 
 
 Goa,  153;  language,  155;  founder  of  the  empire, 
 156. 
 
 Goitres,  natives  affected  with,  323. 
 
 Gold,  Borneo  productive  in,  59  ; mines,  151.  255. 
 
 Gold  and  silver  flower,  49. 
 
 Golden  tortoise,  discovery  of  the,  143. 
 
 Goram  Island,  frequented  by  the  Americans,  74. 
 
 Gordon,  Mr.  26. 
 
 Gourgaud,  General,  276. 
 
 Graham,  Mr.  281. 
 
 Grant,  Mr.  Charles 
 
 Greigh,  Captain,  placed  under  Mr.  Raflies’  com- 
 mand, 26,  27  ; his  report  on  returning  from  Bali 
 Baliling,  31  ; Mr.  R’s  instructions  to  him,  40. 
 
 Grammar,  plan  for  a Javanese,  262. 
 
 Gressie,  port  of,  24 ; town  of,  36  ; explosion  at,  242. 
 
 Gunung  Besi,  or  hill  of  iron,  354. 
 
 Dempo,  331. 
 
 Dingin,  ascent  o 46. 
 
 Gerai,  52. 
 
 Prahu,  160. 
 
 Haliied,  Mr.  563. 
 
 Hall,  Captain  Basil,  R.  N.  Introd.  viii. 
 
 Hamed,  Rajah,  4G. 
 
 Hamilton,  Duke  of,  183  ; Mr.,  597. 
 
 Hammond,  Elton,  Esq.,  letter  from  Mr.  Raffles  to, 
 on  Colonial  affairs,  190, 
 
 Hankey,  T.  a..  Esq.,  Treasurer  to  the  London 
 Missionary  Society,  letter  from  Sir  S.  to,  536. 
 
 Hanson,  Mr.,  129. 
 
 Harcourt,'  Countess,  596. 
 
 Hare,  Mr.,  Alexander,  founder  of  a colony  at 
 Borneo,  152. 
 
 Hardwicke,  General,  538. 
 
 Harrington,  Captain,  5. 
 
 Hastings,  Marquis  of,  letter  to  Sir  S.  permitting 
 him  to  proceed  to  Bengal,  368  ; change  in  his 
 policy,  369 ; his  support  solicited,  409  ; letter  to 
 Sir  S.  on  our  Eastern  possessions,  420. 
 
 Hayes,  Commodore,  27. 
 
 Hegira,  epoch  of  the,  9. 
 
 Height  of  mountains,  157. 
 
 Helena,  St.  577. 
 
 Herbert,  Captain,  578. 
 
 Heyland,  Lieut.,  his  observations  on  ascending 
 Sindoro,  157. 
 
 Hill  of  Mists,  first  excursion  to  the,  314. 
 
 Hindu  mythology,  143.  319;  worshippers,  167; 
 religion,  171  ; deities,  262  ; images,  369.  384. 
 
 Hinduism,  remains  of,  158  ; tenets  of,  171. 
 
 Historical  compositions  of  Java,  165 ; account  of 
 the  same,  263. 
 
 Hogendorp,  Van,  138. 
 
 Holloway,  Mr.,  293, 
 
 Home,  Sir  Everard,  579. 
 
 Homer,  his  Iliad  and  Odyssey,  165. 
 
 Hong  merchants,  67. 
 
 Hooyman,  138. 
 
 Hope,  Mr.  26. 
 
 Hopkins,  Mr.  quoted,  219. 
 
 Horrors  of  a battle,  117. 
 
 Horsburgh,  402. 
 
 Horse  eaten  by  natives,  323. 
 
 Horsfield,  Dr.,Introd.vii.;  on  the  natural  history  of 
 Java,  105;  again,  133;  again,  140;  botanical  disco- 
 veries, 106  ; his  account  of  the  upas  poison-tree, 
 107  ; contributes  to  the  Batavian  Society,  138; 
 exertions  on  Banca,  149 ; mineralogical  details, 
 157 ; collection  for  the  Oriental  Museum,  206  ; 
 botanical  pursuits,  342 ; sends  an  express  to  Sir 
 Stamford,  343 ; discovers  several  plants,  345 ; 
 collects  minerals,  357.  363  ; materials  for  an  ac- 
 count of  his  journey,  422;  extract  of  a letter  from 
 Sii  Joseph  Banks  to  him,  449  ; letter  on  Sir  Stam- 
 ford’s efforts  for  the  promotion  of  science  during 
 the  period  of  the  British  government  in  Java,  602. 
 
 Horticultural  Society,  509;  alluded  to,  592. 
 
 Hull,  Robert,  Esq.,  481. 
 
 Hull,  Nelson,  551. 
 
 Human  sacrifices,  144. 
 
 Hunter,  Lieut.,  128. 
 
 Hunter,  Dr.,  138. 
 
 Humanity  of  a native  chief  to  his  slaves,  411. 
 
 Humboldt,  referred  to,  177. 
 
 Hunter,  Dr.,  138. 
 
 Hypocrisy  of  the  Arabs,  73. 
 
 Iber,  Captain,  19. 
 
 Impolicy  of  transferring  Java  to  the  Dutch,  369. 
 
 Importance  of  Banca  to  the  English,  44. 
 
 Importance  of  Singapore  to  the  English,  459.  513. 
 
 Indee,  Rajah,  46. 
 
 India,  trade  of,  83 ; customs  of  the  Southern  Penin- 
 sula, 174. 
 
 Infecundity,  470. 
 
94 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 IxGLis,  Sir  Hugh,  appoints  Mr.  Raffles  to  Penang, 
 5;  letter  from  Mr.  R.  to,  on  the  fate  of  Java, 
 226. 
 
 IxGLis,  Sir  Robert  Harry,  Introd.  viii.  ; letters 
 from  Sir  Stamford  to,  on  his  occupations  in  the 
 East,  384  ; on  the  Bible  Society  and  schools  esta- 
 blished at  Bencoolen,  411 ; on  the  establishment 
 of  the  Zoological  Society,  590  ; on  the  magis- 
 tracy, 591 . 
 
 Inheritance,  laws  of,  435. 
 
 Instruction  to  residents,  214. 
 
 Intercepted  letter  from  Gen.  Jansens,  96. 
 
 Interesting  account  of  a singular  people,  167. 
 
 Interview  with  Buonaparte,  account  of  an,  276. 
 
 Invisible  men,  337. 
 
 Ionian  Islands,  81. 
 
 IpEREN,  Van,  138. 
 
 Irrigation,  curious  method  of,  356. 
 
 Isa,  Rajah,  46. 
 
 Jack,  Dr.,  372  ; his  botanical  pursuits,  400  ; eulo- 
 gized by  Sir  Stamford,  407  ; his  death,  512. 
 
 Jahui,  the  term  explained,  20. 
 
 Jansen,  General,  at  Cornells,  93;  flies  to  Buiten- 
 zorg,  94 ; intercepted  letter  from,  96. 
 
 Japan,  Dutch  factory  at,  66;  trade  of,  67;  Russian 
 embassy  to,  68;  its  pre-eminence,  181;  people 
 described,  182  ; reception  of  Count  Kreusenstern 
 at,  183;  massacre  of  Samebarra,  183  ; inquisitive 
 character  of  the  natives,  184;  intercourse  with, 
 important  to  the  English,  229;  their  mission  to, 
 230  ; letter  on  that  subject,  231  ; contrasted  with 
 China,  232. 
 
 Java,  religion,  11  ; language,  12.  162.  239.  262; 
 British  communication  with,  23 ; French  flag 
 hoisted  in,  34;  precautions  respecting  the  natives, 
 38 ; Chinese  residents,  72 ; advantages  derived 
 from  its  possession,  83  ; sugar  and  coffee,  84 ; its 
 capitulation  to  the  English,  95  ; importance  of  its 
 acquisition,  98  ; laws,  104;  feudal  tenure  of  land, 
 105;  ancient  temples,  106;  European  power  first 
 paramount,  129;  its  constitution  volcanic,  156; 
 fertility,  157.  180  ; monuments  of  antiquity,  158  ; 
 literature,  164 ; astronomy,  166;  connection  with 
 Siam  diad  China,  177.  185;  colonies  of  foreign- 
 ers, 178;  civilization,  179;  English  trade  with, 
 186;  government,  187;  paper  currency,  191; 
 revenue,  194;  proposed  literary  work  on,  195; 
 sale  of  lands,  198  ; ancient  characters  on  stones, 
 206  ; improved  system  of  government,  208 ; in- 
 structions to  residents,  214;  Dutch  system  in, 
 213  ; its  disturbed  state,  218 ; feudal  service,  222; 
 land  rental,  223  ; transferred  to  the  Dutch,  228. 
 252 ; new  government  proposed,  259  ; ancient 
 sculpture  and  remains,  262  ; contrasted  with  Su- 
 matra, 479. 
 
 Java,  letter  from  Dr.  Horsfield  on  Sir  Stamford’s 
 efforts  for  the  promotion  of  science  during  the  pe- 
 riod of  the  British  government  in,  607. 
 
 .lavanese,  communications  with  the  chieftains,  31  ; 
 manuscripts,  140. 
 
 Jeddo,  court  of,  182. 
 
 Jelolo,  alias  Celebes,  65;  natives,  146. 
 Johore,a.  Malay  state,  16;  Rajah  of,  19.  398. 
 Johnson,  Major,  remains  discovered  by,  161. 
 Jokong,  tribe,  17. 
 
 Jones,  Sir  William,  141  ; quoted,  181. 
 
 Jong’golo,  antiquities  at,  161. 
 
 Junks,  Chinese,  attacked,  47. 
 
 Kjempfer,  his  account  of  Japan,  181. 
 
 Ksempfer,  183. 
 
 Kali  Raiar  village,  riches  of,  161. 
 
 Haling,  language  of,  11;  Chuliahs  of,  20. 
 Kasumha,  stupendous  mountain  of,  355. 
 
 Kawi  character,  inscriptions  in  the,  161.  342.  358. 
 
 361  ; language,  163. 
 
 Kiomanis  river,  N.  W.  of  Borneo,  60. 
 
 Klerk,  Major  General,  135. 
 
 Kock,  Mr.,  28. 
 
 Koran,  laws  of  the,  15  ; in  Java,  220  ; read  at  Pas- 
 sumah,  336  ; its  tenets,  430. 
 
 Krabut  flower,  curious  growth  of  the,  330. 
 Kreusenstern,  Count,  his  mission  to  Japan,  183. 
 Kurile  Islands,  aggressions  of  the  Russians  on  the, 
 69. 
 
 Lakes,  469. 
 
 Lanuns,  or  pirates,  45. 
 
 Laos,  customs  of,  175  ; language,  176  ; connected 
 with  the  Archipelago,  237. 
 
 Las  Casas,  Count,  276. 
 
 Lawrence,  Mr.,  Malay  translator  at  Penang,  56. 
 Leading  principles  of  the  Dutch  government,  99. 
 Lebu  Tappu,  tracts  of  elephants  at,  315. 
 
 Leeches,  316. 
 
 Leith,  Sir  George,  52. 
 
 Leman  Manis,  village,  343  ; situation  described,  344. 
 Leopold,  Prince,  distinguishes  Sir  Stamford,  287. 
 L’Etoile,  a half-caste  native,  57. 
 
 Letter  from  Dr.  Horsfield  on  Sir  Stamford’s  efforts 
 for  the  promotion  of  science  during  the  period  of 
 the  British  government  in  Java,  602. 
 
 Leyden,  Dr.,  becomes  acquainted  with  Mr.  Raffles 
 at  Penang,  7 ; his  letter  to  Mr.  R.  from  Calcutta, 
 21  ; again,  on  Eastern  affairs,  25;  again,  announc- 
 ing Lord  Minto’s  arrival,  and  on  his  excursion  in 
 the  Malay  Peninsula,  28 ; his  death,  97  ; that 
 event  deplored,  98. 
 
 Light,  Mr.,  extract  from  his  report  on  Queda  and 
 Siam,  50. 
 
 Ligore  kingdom,  50. 
 
 Lin  DEMAN,  Rev.  2. 
 
 Lingen,  Sultan  of,  45. 
 
 Lives  of  eminent  men  useful  and  interesting,  1. 
 
 Local  laws  and  regulations  at  •S'tJt^apore  (Appendix  1, 
 39. 
 
 Lomblim  Island,  82. 
 
 Lombok  Island,  Rajah  of,  33. 
 
 Loubec,  his  embassy  to  Siam,  10. 
 
 Love  of  animals,  4. 
 
 Lowe,  Sir  Hudson,  276. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 95 
 
 Ludoivick  fort,  36. 
 
 Luhu  state,  153. 
 
 Maba,  66. 
 
 M ACALisTEK,  Colofiel,  856. 
 
 Macao,  57.  62. 
 
 Macassar,  trade  of,  with  Bali  and  Lombok,  32 ; 
 straits  of,  39  ; principal  settlement  of  Celebes,  64 ; 
 natives  driven  to  piracy  by  Dutch  monopoly,  65  ; 
 described,  145;  tribes  employed  as  the  Swiss  in 
 Europe,  153;  expedition  to,  240;  effects  of  vol- 
 canic phenomena  at,  245. 
 
 Mackenzie,  Lieutenant  Colonel,  39;  his  works 
 alluded  to,  138;  his  exertions,  139;  visit  to  Maja- 
 pahit,  206  ; in  the  Moluccas,  47 1 . 
 
 Maclean,  Lieutenant,  128.  516. 
 
 Macquveil,  Mr.,  552. 
 
 M'Leod,  Lieutenant  Colonel,  93  ; Cornelis 
 
 Madras,  21  ; British  force  at,  26  ; tedious  passage 
 to,  28  ; act  of  the  governor  quoted,  79. 
 
 Madura  Island,  25;  natives,  32.  34;  dialect,  164; 
 inscription,  207. 
 
 Mahomet,  his  religion,  9.  430  ; its  intolerant  spirit, 
 78  ; causes  of  its  success,  135  ; in  Borneo,  144  ; 
 established  in  Java,  179. 
 
 Mahometan  calendar,  10. 
 
 Mahratta  village,  resemblance  to  a,  171. 
 
 Maitland,  General,  186. 
 
 Majapahit,  state  of,  71 ; princes,  170;  antiquities, 
 206  ; division  of  society  into  classes,  207. 
 
 Malabar,  20. 
 
 Malacca,  visit  to,  7 ; orders  for  its  destruction,  12  ; 
 productions,  13;  decline  of  trade  at,  14;  con- 
 quered by  the  Portuguese,  18  ; by  the  Dutch,  20  ; 
 safest  passage  from,  to  Java,  39  ; superior  to  Pe- 
 nang, 41  ; piracies  in  the  Straits,  45. 
 
 Malatj  States,  chronology  of  the,  9 ; game  of  chess, 
 11;  manuscripts,  16;  language,  laws,  20;  239; 
 habits  little  understood  by  the  English,  42;  troupes 
 of  states,  70 ; Arab  and  American  adventurers  in, 
 73,  74  ; feudal  wars  in,  77  ; prevalence  of  piracy 
 on  the  coasts,  78  ; sources  of  slavery,  79  ; causes 
 of  deterioration  of  character  among  the  natives, 
 80;  monopoly  by  the  chiefs,  81  ; propagation  of 
 Christianity,  82  ; productions,  84 ; islands  com- 
 pared with  Greece,  180;  character,  235  ; litera- 
 ture, 236 ; origin,  237  ; resemblance  of  the  creeses 
 to  duelling,  256 ; natives  misrepresented,  358 ; 
 version  of  the  Gospel  of  St.  John  in  their  language, 
 502. 
 
 Malayan  nation,  Mr.  Raffles’  paper  on  the,  13. 
 
 Malluda,  60. 
 
 Mampawa,  60. 
 
 Mandhar  State,  contraband  trade  with,  65. 
 
 Manes,  sacrifice  to  the,  338. 
 
 Manilla,  wars  with  the  Spaniards  of,  63 ; sugar  of,  84. 
 
 Manna  village,  313  ; 320. 
 
 Mansel,  Colonel,  275. 
 
 Manuscripts,  discovery  of,  161. 
 
 Manuscript,  ancient,  166. 
 
 Maps  of  Sumatra  and  Singapore,  584. 
 
 Margauette,  Seignor,  147. 
 
 Marriages,  ceremonies  at,  168;  173. 
 
 Marsden,  Mr.  author  of  the  History  of  Sumatra, 
 9 ; his  Semary  vocabulary,  10;  on  the  Malay  game 
 of  chess,  1 1 ; letters  from  Mr.  Raffles  to,  on  the 
 Malays,  13  ; on  his  appointment  to  Java,  98  ; on 
 its  natural  history,  106;  on  the  Malayan  lan- 
 guage, 176  ; on  the  transfer  of  Java  to  the  Dutch, 
 205  ; on  the  Malays,  235  ; on  the  expedition  to 
 Bali  and  Macassar,  239  ; on  his  tour  of  Java,  250; 
 on  literature  and  science,  261 ; on  his  visit  to  the 
 continent,  289  ; on  his  arrival  at  Bencoolen,  293  ; 
 on  the  state  of  that  settlement,  299  ; on  his  jour- 
 ney in  Sumatra,  339;  again,  364;  on  the  Mar- 
 quess of  Hastings’  policy,  369  ; on  the  indifference 
 of  the  Government  to  his  views  on  Sumatra,  371  ; 
 on  the  Tapir,  373;  on  his  mission  to  the  Eastern 
 Isles,  374;  on  Acheen,  383;  on  his  views  and 
 plans,  421  ; on  the  Padries,  429  ; on  natural  his- 
 tory, 439  ; again,  446  ; again,  452 ; on  the  Nia 
 language,  449;  on  Sumatra,  469;  again,  477 ; on 
 the  improvements  at  Bencoolen,  495  ; again,  519; 
 from  St.  Helena,  579  ; from  Cheltenham,  582. 
 
 Martinez  de  Tuniga  on  the  Philippine  Islands, 
 quoted,  175. 
 
 Masquerier,  Captain,  64. 
 
 Massacre  of  the  Dutch  garrison,  119. 
 
 Mataram,  sultan  of,  31. 
 
 Mauritius,  island  of,  22.  30. 
 
 Meares,  Captain,  Malay  interpreter,  115. 
 
 Memorandum  book,  extract  from  Sir  Stamford’s, 
 576. 
 
 Memorandum  of  an  intended  work  by  the  same,  600. 
 
 Menangkabu,  origin  of  the  people,  14 ; produc- 
 tions, 341.  363;  city  described,  359;  agriculture, 
 388. 
 
 Merambung,  penance  at,  315  ; Lady  Raffles  rests 
 at,  321. 
 
 Method  of  acquiring  the  Japanese  language,  163. 
 
 Methven,  Capt.  aide-de-camp,  Introd.  vii. 
 
 Military  preparations  of  the  enemy,  35 ; force  of 
 Java,  133. 
 
 Milne,  Rev.  Dr.  533. 
 
 Milton,  Rev.  Mr.  533. 
 
 Mindanawi  island,  45  ; described,  63  ; little  known, 
 146. 
 
 Mineralogy,  150.  157. 
 
 Minto,  population  of,  43  ; murder  of  Captain  Ross 
 at,  46. 
 
 Minto,  Earl  of,  receives  Mr.  Raffles  at  Calcutta,  22  ; 
 appoints  him  agent,  23  ; his  indecision,  25 ; letter 
 to  Mr.  R.  on  the  expedition  to  Java,  26;  arrives 
 at  Malacca,  29;  Mr.  R.’s  reports  to  his  Lordship 
 to  facilitate  the  conquest  of  Java,  30;  anxiety 
 respecting  the  passage  thither,  86 ; confides  in 
 Mr.  R.  87 ; letter  from  Sir  S.  Achmuty  to  his 
 Lordship  on  the  capture  of  Batavia,  91  ; an- 
 nounces that  event  to  the  English  authorities,  96  ; 
 letter  from  Mr.  R.  on  the  capture  of  Djocjocarta, 
 127  ; letter  to  the  same  approving  of  his  measures, 
 130;  again,  on  the  transfer  of  Java,  187;  ap- 
 1 
 
96 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 points  Mr.  R.  to  Bencoolen,  188  ; letter  to  Mr.  R. 
 on  his  departure  from  Calcutta,  195  ; again,  201 : 
 letter  from  Mr.  R.  on  the  settlement  of  Java,  224  ; 
 his  Lordship’s  popularity  there,  228;  letter  from 
 Mr.  R.  on  the  mission  to  Japan,  231  ; his  death 
 announced,  147  ; review  of  his  services,  148. 
 
 Minute  by  Sir  Stamford  on  the  Establishment  of  a 
 Malay  college  at  Singapore,  1819.  App.  23. 
 
 Mission  to  Japan,  230. 
 
 Missionaries  at  Singapore,  536. 
 
 Mitford’s  History  of  Greece  quoted,  180. 
 
 Mocha  coffee,  84. 
 
 Mode  of  preparing  the  Upas  poison,  108. 
 
 Mode  of  descending  rivers  on  rafts,  321. 
 
 Moira,  Earl  of,  arrives  in  Calcutta,  197  ; mentioned, 
 279. 
 
 Moluccas,  natives  of  the,  8 ; government,  22  ; gar- 
 risons, 35  ; states,  70;  natural  history,  146 ; cus- 
 toms, 175  ; highest  Malay  spoken  in  the,  237  ; 
 productions,  254. 
 
 Money,  Wm.  Taylor,  Esq.  539.  547. 
 
 Monopoly  of  the  Dutch  in  the  East,  75 ; by  the 
 Malay  chiefs,  81. 
 
 Moore’s  Melodies,  ready  translation  of  one,  4. 
 
 Morrison,  Rev.  Dr.  his  labours,  589  ; his  objects  in 
 the  study  of  the  Chinese  language,  592. 
 
 Muntingiie,  Mr.  contributes  to  the  Batavian  So- 
 ciety, 140  ; assists  the  British  government  in  Java, 
 229. 
 
 Murder  expiated  by  fine,  77. 
 
 Murder  of  Mr.  Parr,  301. 
 
 Murdoch,  Thomas,  Esq.  letters  from  Sir  Stamford, 
 on  Sumatra,  461.  477  ; on  Mr.  Crawford’s  mission 
 to  Siam,  530 ; on  his  return  to  England,  567 ; 
 again,  594. 
 
 Muscat,  74. 
 
 Musquitoes,  29. 
 
 Nairs,  20. 
 
 Naersen,  Van,  140. 
 
 Nangasaki,  port  of,  67. 
 
 Narrow  escape,  322. 
 
 Nassau  islands,  498. 
 
 National  schools  at  Bencoolen,  406. 
 
 Native  account  of  the  Portuguese  airival  at  Malacca, 
 17. 
 
 Native  chief,  a,  his  humanity  to  his  slaves,  41 1. 
 
 Natives,  anecdotes  of  the,  363. 
 
 Native  woman,  anecdote  of  a,  500. 
 
 Natural  history  of  Java,  106;  collections  in  Suma- 
 tra, 439. 
 
 Nearciius,  189. 
 
 Necessity  of  a British  agent  on  the  Eastern  Seas, 
 306. 
 
 Negociation  with  the  sultan  of  Palembang,  42. 
 
 Negrais  expedition,  letter  on  the,  quoted,  54.  61. 
 
 Negritos  del  Monte,  Caffres  so  called,  11. 
 
 Nepenthes,  new  species  of,  382. 
 
 Netherlands,  treaty  of  Great  Britain  with  the  go- 
 vernment, 13  ; the  king,  289. 
 
 New  Holland,  69. 
 
 Nias,  Pulo,  448. 
 
 Nightingale,  General,  relieves  General  Gillespie 
 in  the  command  at  Java,  201.  209 ; supports  Mr. 
 Raffles,  210.  226. 
 
 Nugent,  Sir  George,  201. 
 
 Nutmeg  trees,  culture  of,  471. 
 
 Objects  of  Sir  Stamford’s  government  appreciated, 
 367. 
 
 Oliphant,  Mr.  John,  first  member  of  council  at 
 Penang,  5. 
 
 Ombai  Island,  82. 
 
 Oppression  of  the  Chinese  in  Java,  72. 
 
 Oriental  Museum,  collection  for  the,  206. 
 
 Origin  of  the  Malay  nations,  237. 
 
 Owen,  Captain,  114. 
 
 Oxen  used  in  agriculture,  349. 
 
 Padang,  effects  of  an  earthquake  at,  294  ; Sir  S.’s 
 visit  to,  340. 
 
 Padries,  account  of  the,  429  ; Dutch  punishment  of 
 a chief,  512  ; their  progress,  561. 
 
 Pageruyong  city  described,  359  ; beautiful  scenery, 
 360  ; population,  363.  365  ; its  situation,  425. 
 
 Pahang,  a Malay  state,  16. 
 
 Palembang , a Malay  state,  16  ; its  importance  to 
 the  Dutch,  42  ; British  expedition  to,  under  Gil- 
 lespie, 110;  difficulties  attending  the  passage, 
 113;  arrival  of  the  troops,  114;  batteries  at 
 Borang  taken,  115;  gallantry  of  the  attack,  1 16  ; 
 horrors  of  the  scene,  117  ; fort,  palaces,  and  bat- 
 teries taken,  118  ; account  of  the  deposed  sultan, 
 119;  measures  adopted  by  Gillespie  on  the  suc- 
 cess of  the  British  troops,  121. 
 
 Pangerang  Ratoo,  Sultan  of  Palembang,  118. 
 
 Pang  LI  MO,  a guide,  account  of,  325  ; his  terrors, 
 328. 
 
 Paper  currency,  191. 
 
 Papua,  or  New  Guinea,  natives,  8 ; states,  70. 
 
 Parr,  Mr.  murder  of,  301. 
 
 Parker,  Mr.  resident  of  Bencoolen,  187. 
 
 Parry,  Edward,  Esq.  598. 
 
 Passumah,  journey  to,  315;  productions,  332; 
 costume,  333  ; origin,  manners,  and  customs,  334  ; 
 articles  of  food,  language,  335 ; religion,  336  ; 
 popular  superstitions,  337  ; description  of  the 
 country,  386. 
 
 Patani,  a Malay  state,  16. 
 
 Pattany,  cruelty  of  the  Siamese  General  at,  51. 
 
 Paul,  Lieutenant,  128. 
 
 Pearson,  Mr.  appointed  Secretary  to  Penang,  5 ; 
 his  illness,  6. 
 
 Pegu,  singular  custom  of,  175. 
 
 Pellew,  Hon.  Captain,  at  Nangasaki,  68.  184. 
 
 Penance,  315. 
 
 Penang,  new  government  of,  5 ; Mr.  Raffles’  duties 
 at,  6 ; letter  of  the  governor,  8 ; Lord  Minto’s 
 arrival,  29  ; its  cession  alluded  to,  55  ; advantage 
 of  its  connection  with  the  Malay  peninsula,  56 ; 
 our  right  to  found  a settlement  at,  390. 
 
 People,  account  of  a singular,  167. 
 
 10 
 
INDEX. 
 
 97 
 
 Pepper,  its  demand  for  the  Chinese  market,  84 ; its 
 cultivation,  296  ; declared  free,  301 ; consequence 
 of  freighting  a vessel  with,  519. 
 
 Pernicious  system  at  Bencoolen,  296. 
 
 Persia,  80. 
 
 Peru,  language  of,  175. 
 
 Peter  the  Great,  188. 
 
 Petrie,  Governor,  letter  from  Mr.  Raffles  to, 
 227. 
 
 Phaeton,  Frigate,  228. 
 
 Philippines,  Caffres  of  the,  1 1 ; language  of  the, 
 175. 
 
 Phillips,  Captain,  146. 
 
 Pinto  Mendez,  his  account  of  Java,  560. 
 
 Piracies  in  the  Eastern  Seas,  44 ; suggestions  for 
 their  suppression,  227. 
 
 Pitt,  Mr.  quoted,  78. 
 
 Place  of  death,  322. 
 
 Plan  for  a History  of  Java,  264. 
 
 Plate,  presentation  of,  270. 
 
 Policy  of  the  Dutch  and  English,  69,  70. 
 
 Politeness  of  a Malay  girl,  321. 
 
 Pontiana,  Sultan  of,  40  ; duped  by  the  Arabs,  73. 
 
 Popularity  of  Sir  Stamford  in  the  Eastern  Seas,  311. 
 
 Popular  superstitions,  337. 
 
 Portuguese,  their  conquest  of  Malacca,  1 8 ; slaugh- 
 tered by  the  Malays,  20  ; intercourse  with  Cochin- 
 China,  62. 
 
 Prambana,  ancient  monuments  at,  158. 
 
 Presgrave,  Mr.  his  journal  of  a visit  to  the  Sacred 
 Mountain  quoted,  323. 
 
 Printed  cotton,  English  trade  in,  186. 
 
 Process  of  mining,  150. 
 
 Proclamations  of  the  British  government,  103.  216. 
 
 Pulo  Chepada,  village,  345. 
 
 Lehar,  315.  317. 
 
 Nias  island,  448  ; language,  449  ; population, 
 
 458.  475;  ceded  to  the  East  India  Company, 
 483  ; fertility,  484  ; houses,  baths,  486  ; slave 
 trade,  487  ; villages,  cultivation  of  rice,  488 ; 
 exports,  489  ; tribes,  laws,  490  ; circumstances 
 attending  the  traffic  in  slaves,  49 1 ; means  to 
 effect  its  suppression,  492 ; religion,  493 ; Sir 
 Stamford’s  anxiety  to  improve  its  condition,  494. 
 
 Pulo  Penang,  settlement  of,  53. 
 
 Pulo  Percha,  10. 
 
 Punishments  for  crimes,  173. 
 
 Queda,  a Malay  state,  excursion  to,  9 ; its  supplies 
 to  Penang  cut  off  by  piiates,  48;  annals,  49; 
 connection  with  Siam,  50  ; consequences  of  the 
 king’s  negociations  with  the  Siamese,  51  ; acquire- 
 ment of  lands  in,  neglected  by  the  East  India 
 Company,  52  ; remarks  on  the  event  of  its  cession 
 to  the  English,  55  ; importance  of  its  supplies  to 
 Prince  of  Wales’  island,  56. 
 
 Rachmet  Shah  of  Lingin,  Dutch  treaty  with,496. 
 
 Ra  DERM  A CHER,  Mr.  founder  of  the  Batavian  So- 
 ciety, 135;  his  liberality,  136;  eulogized,  206. 
 
 Raffles,  Mr.  early  life,  1 ; school,  2;  enters  the 
 
 India  House,  3 ; walks  into  Wales,  4 ; appointed 
 deputy-secretary  to  Penang,  5;  Capt.  'Travers’s 
 description  of  him  whilst  there  ; his  labors  ; suc- 
 ceeds as  secretary ; goes  to  Malacca,  7 ; inter- 
 course with  the  natives,  8 ; writes  to  the  Governor 
 of  Penang  on  the  Malays,  9;  proceeds  to  Calcutta, 
 22 ; collects  information  on  the  expedition  to 
 Java,  23  ; reports  to  Lord  Minto  on  that  subject, 
 
 30  ; communicates  with  the  Javanese  chieftains, 
 
 31  ; observations  on  the  state  of  the  Archipelago, 
 
 32  ; on  the  military  preparations  of  the  enemy,  34  ; 
 discovers  a new  passage  for  the  expedition,  39  ; 
 remarks  on  Banca,  its  mines,  44 ; pirate  states, 
 45.  48  ; Queda,  49  ; Penang,  53  ; Borneo,  59  ; 
 Mindanawi,  63  ; Celebes,  64;  Jelolo,  65  ; Japan, 
 66  ; contrasts  Dutch  and  English  policy,  69,  70  ; 
 observations  on  the  Chinese,  72 ; Arabs,  73 ; 
 Americans,  74  ; on  Dutch  monopoly,  75  ; neg- 
 lect of  the  British  Government,  76;  piracy  and 
 slavery,  78  ; propagation  of  Christianity,  82  ; on 
 the  advantages  of  the  possession  of  Java  and  the 
 Eastern  isles  to  the  British  nation,  83  ; obtains 
 Lord  Minto’s  confidence,  87  ; appointed  Lieut. 
 Governor  of  Java  and  its  dependencies,  98  ; dif- 
 ficulties of  the  situation,  99  ; projects  a change  of 
 system,  100;  appoints  English  residents  at  native 
 courts,  101  ; news  connected  with  his  government, 
 102  ; writes  on  the  antiquities  and  natural  history 
 of  Java,  106;  visits  the  Eastern  districts,  108; 
 writes  to  the  Governor-general  on  the  expedition 
 to  Palembang,  110;  proceeds  to  Samarang,  120  ; 
 returns  to  Batavia,  124;  concludes  a treaty  with 
 the  sultan  of  Djocjocarta,  125  ; gives  an  account 
 of  the  assault  and  capture  of  Djocjocarta,  127  ; 
 expostulates  with  the  military  on  their  appropria- 
 tion of  the  plunder,  129;  receives  the  approbation 
 of  Lord  Minto,  130  ; differs  with  Colonel  Gilles- 
 pie, 132;  re-establishes  the  Batavian  Literary 
 Society  and  addresses  that  institution,  134.  147  ; 
 occupations,  184  ; views  of  the  importance  of  con- 
 nection between  Java  and  China  to  the  East  India 
 Company’s  interests,  185;  writes  on  the  condition 
 of  Java,  190;  projects  a history  of  that  island, 
 195 ; charges  brought  against  him  by  Gen.  Gil- 
 lespie, 200  ; decision  of  the  Court  of  Directors  on 
 them,  204 ; writes  on  various  subjects,  205  ; es- 
 tablishes an  improved  system  of  government,  208  ; 
 Capt.  Travers’s  description  of  him  at  that  difficult 
 period,  209  ; reasons  for  introducing  the  change 
 m the  tenure  of  land,  2 12.  221  ; gives  instructions 
 to  residents,  214;  proclamation,  216;  observa- 
 tions on  the  effects  of  the  English  system  of  go- 
 vernment, 220 ; forced  to  act  in  every  measure  of 
 importance  on  his  own  responsibility,  224 ; sug- 
 gests measures  for  the  suppression  of  piracy,  227  ; 
 declares  the  slave  trade  to  be  felony,  by  a colonial 
 law,  228  ; sends  a mission  to  Japan,  229  ; domes- 
 tic affliction,  234  ; tour  of  the  island,  235;  writes 
 to  Lord  Buckinghamshire  on  the  advantages  of 
 retaining  Java,  252;  proposes  a new  government 
 for  it,  257  ; laborious  duties,  260  ; gives  an  ac- 
 
 n 
 
98 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 count  of  his  discoveries  in  Java,  261  ; reviews  of 
 his  administration  there,  266  ; relieved  in  the  go- 
 vernment, 269  ; presentation  of  plate  from  the  in- 
 habitants, 270;  endeavours  to  secure  justice  to 
 the  natives  before  his  departure,  271  ; embarks  for 
 England,  272;  account  of  the  voyage,  274 ; in- 
 terview with  Buonaparte  at  St.  Helena,  276  ; ar- 
 rival in  London,  283  ; appeals  to  the  Court  of 
 Directors,  284;  their  approval  of  his  conduct,  286 ; 
 writes  his  history  of  Java,  marries,  receives  the 
 honor  of  knighthood,  286 ; distinguished  by  the 
 Princess  Charlotte,  visits  the  continent,  287  ; 
 meditates  the  establishment  of  a society  on  the 
 principles  of  the  Jardin  des  Plantes  at  Paris,  290  ; 
 appointed  Lieut.  Governor  of  Bencoolen  and  its 
 dependencies,  290;  embarks,  291;  arrives  in 
 Sumatra,  292 ; describes  the  settlement,  293 ; 
 opinion  of  the  effects  of  forced  labour,  297  ; 
 emancipates  the  slaves,  300  ; views  on  the  pro- 
 ceedings of  the  Dutch,  305  ; appeals  in  favour  of 
 the  native  population,  310;  popularity  in  the 
 Eastern  seas,  311;  determines  to  visit  the  inte- 
 rior, 313  ; goes  to  Passumah,  315;  discovers  a 
 gigantic  flower,  316  ; proceeds  to  Cawoor,  320  ; 
 returns  to  Manna,  322  ; visits  the  Sacred  Moun- 
 tain, 324 ; visits  Padang,  340 ; anxious  to  go  to 
 Menangkabu,  341  ; considered  impracticable,  342 ; 
 determines  to  make  the  attempt,  ibid.;  ascends 
 Gunung  Dingin,  346;  arrives  in  the  Tiga-Blas, 
 347;  reception  by  the  natives,  348;  in  the  coun- 
 try, 349;  conference  with  the  chiefs,  350;  de- 
 scribes the  lake  of  Sincara,  354  ; arrives  at  Saruasa, 
 358 ; desribes  Pageruyong,  359 ; Menangkabu, 
 363  ; objects  of  his  government  appreciated  at 
 Bencoolen,  367  ; w’recked  on  the  passage  to  Ben- 
 gal, 368  ; appearance  in  Calcutta  creates  a sensa- 
 tion, 370;  appointed  agent  for  the  Eastern  seas, 
 372  ; describes  the  Tapir,  373;  hoists  the  British 
 flag  at  Singapore,  375  ; gives  an  account  of  that 
 settlement,  376  ; decides  on  the  right  to  the  j 
 crown  at  Acheen,  379 ; occupation  and  views,  j 
 381.  447.  451  ; general  view  of  his  proceedings  > 
 in  the  East  in  a letter  to  Sir  Robert  Harry  Inglis, 
 384  ; arrives  at  Bencoolen,  404 ; anxiogs  to  im- 
 prove the  condition  of  the  inhabitants,  405  ; es- 
 tablishes national  schools,  406  ; proposes  a col- 
 lege for  the  natives,  408 ; anxiety  for  Mr.  Wil- 
 berforce’s  assistance,  409  ; resolves  to  proceed 
 again  to  Calcutta,  412;  commercial  views,  413 ; 
 describes  the  island  of  Billiton,  418  ; approval  of 
 his  plans,  422 ; illness,  425  ; describes  the  Battas, 
 426  ; the  Padries,  429  ; favourite  pursuits,  438  ; 
 sends  home  his  collecticns  in  Natural  History, 
 439  ; domestic  habits,  452;  attention  to  Natural 
 History,  453;  defends  his  conduct,  455  ; describes 
 his  children,  461  ; endeavours  to  improve  Sumatra, 
 462 ; observations  on  British  commerce  with  the 
 East,  464  ; on  the  progress  of  civilization  in  Su- 
 matra, 477  ; forms  an  establishment  at  Pulo  Nias 
 for  the  suppression  of  slavery,  483 ; reasons  for 
 returning  to  England,  497  ; death  of  his  eldest 
 
 7 
 
 boy,  499  ; economy  of  his  government,  501  ; in- 
 disposition, 503  ; illness  of  another  child,  504 ; 
 death  of  his  eldest  child,  506  ; consigns  spices 
 from  Bencoolen,  510;  agricultural  exertions,  514; 
 opinion  of  the  state  of  England,  515  ; responsible 
 situation,  517  ; departure  for  Singapore,  522 ; 
 arrival,  524 ; describes  the  settlement,  525  ; re- 
 
 , marks  on  Crawfurd’s  mission,  528 ; endows  a col- 
 lege at  Singapore,  533  ; resolution  of  the  Bengal 
 government  at  his  leaving  that  settlement,  540  ; 
 report  on  his  government  there,  541  ; supreme 
 government  approve  of  his  regulations,  543 ; ad- 
 dress of  the  merchants  on  his  departure,  544  ; re- 
 ply, 545 ; embarks  for  Bencoolen,  548  ; arrives  at 
 Batavia,  551  ; correspondence  with  Baron  van  der 
 Capellen,  552  ; arrives  at  Bencoolen,  555  ; plans 
 for  the  future,  557 ; death  of  his  youngest  child, 
 564  ; anxiety  to  return  to  England,  565 ; embarks 
 in  the  Fame,  566  ; loss  on  that  occasion,  568 ; 
 conflagration  on  board  that  vessel,  ibid. ; writes  to 
 the  Court  of  Directors  on  that  subject,  569  ; ex- 
 tract from  his  memorandum  book,  576  ; arrives  at 
 Plymouth,  581;  intended  occupations,  582;  ill 
 health,  583  ; writes  to  the  Bible  Society,  585  ; 
 plans  for  establishing  the  Zoological  Society,  590; 
 requested  to  act  in  the  magistracy,  591  ; illness, 
 594  ; difficulties  of  his  public  life,  597  ; decision 
 of  the  Court  of  Directors  on  his  government,  592  ; 
 his  death,  600. 
 
 Raffles,  Rev.  Dr.,  Letters  from  Sir  Stamford  to 
 his  cousin,  on  his  early  education,  2;  the  events 
 which  led  to  his  appointment  in  the  East,  89  ; 
 the  Bible  Society  and  African  Institution,  416, 
 417  ; the  importance  of  Singapore,  458.  513  ; his 
 departure  for  Singapore,  522 ; returning  to  Ben- 
 coolen, 549  ; the  Padries,  560  ; the  Chinese  lan- 
 guage, 592  ; the  Zoological  Society,  593,  594 ; 
 596. 
 
 Rafts,  their  use,  321, 
 
 Rama,  fabulous  history  of,  177. 
 
 Ramsay, Wm.  Esq.,  recommends  Mr.  Raffles,  5 ; let- 
 ters from  Mr.  R.  to,  on  his  government  at  Java,  102; 
 its  military  force,  132  : its  unsettled  tenure,  185. 
 
 Ramsay,  W.  B.  Esq.,  Introd.  viii.;  letters  to,  on  the 
 expedition  to  Java,  88;  on  its  prosperity,  190  ; his 
 diferences  with  General  Gillespie,  202  ; his  ad- 
 ministration, 251  ; the  revenue  and  government 
 of  Java,  265 ; on  his  voyage  to  England,  279. 
 
 Ratch,  settlement  of  pirates  at,  45. 
 
 Ravages  of  the  cholera  morbus,  370.  431.  499. 
 
 Region  of  tigers,  325. 
 
 Remhan,  a Malay  state,  17. 
 
 Reply,  Sir  S.’s,  to  the  Address  of  the  merchants  of 
 Singapore,  647. 
 
 Report  of  the  Sumatran  Agricultural  Society,  473  ; 
 on  the  administration  of  justice  at  Singapore,  Ap- 
 pendix, 62. 
 
 Responsibilities  of  Sir  Stamford,  224.517. 
 
 Rhio,  40  ; Rajah  Mudah  of,  45  ; inferior  to  Singa- 
 pore, 377. 
 
 Rice,  cultivation  of,  471.  488. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 99 
 
 Robinson,  Lieutenant,  128;  Mr.,  517. 
 
 Ross,  Professor,  140. 
 
 Ross,  Captain,  murder  of,  46. 
 
 Rumbo,  a Malay  kingdom,  14. 
 
 Rumphius,  original  work  of,  146. 
 
 Russian  embassy  to  Japan,  68.  183  ; aggressions  on 
 the  Kurile  islands,  69. 
 
 Ryswick,  101. 
 
 Ryotwar  system,  224. 
 
 Sacadana  empire,  60.  142. 
 
 Sadrayas,  customs  of  the,  240. 
 
 Safest  passage  from  Malacca  to  Java,  39. 
 
 Sailing  fish,  526. 
 
 Salang,  attack  of  the  Burmans  on,  51. 
 
 Salmond  Captain,  quoted,  339;  made  prisoner 
 by  the  Dutch,  395  ; his  death,  563. 
 
 Salt  prohibited  by  the  Dutch,  333. 
 
 Samanap,  Panambuhan  of,  32.  411  ; explosions  at, 
 243. 
 
 Samarang,  24.  123;  European  courts  of  justice  in, 
 208  ; proposed  as  the  new  seat  of  government, 
 257. 
 
 Sambas,  settlement  of  pirates  at,  45  ; propagation 
 of  Christianity,  82  ; expedition  to,  198. 
 
 Sambawa  island,  volcanic  phenomena  on,  178. 
 
 Sambung  mountain,  ascent  of,  362. 
 
 Samebarra,  massacre  of,  183. 
 
 Sandal-wood  in  demand  for  the  Chinese  market,  84. 
 
 Sanggir  island,  82. 
 
 Sangora,  54. 
 
 Sanscrit  Vocabulary,  11;  compared,  163;  terms 
 explained,  177  ; higher  language  in  Java,  239. 
 
 Saugar,  Rajah  of,  describes  the  eruption  from  Tom- 
 boro,  249. 
 
 Sawira  Gading,  first  chief  on  Celebes,  153.  155. 
 
 Sayer,  Captain,  94. 
 
 Scott,  Mr.  his  communication  respecting  the  Cara- 
 mata  passage,  41  ; Queda  and  Siam,  51. 
 
 Scriptures,  Malay  version  of  the,  147.  237. 
 
 Sejarat  Malaya,  or  annals  and  traditions  of  the  Ma- 
 lays, 16. 
 
 Nmawgr  vocabulary,  10;  tribe,  17. 
 
 Searaw,  47. 
 
 Seton,  Mr.  26. 
 
 Siak,  a Malay  state,  8 ; Dutch  factory  at,  14 ; laws, 
 16. 
 
 Siam,  Loubec’s  embassy  to,  9;  its  connexion  with 
 Queda,  49 ; productions,  54 ; singular  customs, 
 175;  connexion  with  Java,  177  ; with  the  Archi- 
 pelago, 237. 
 
 Siamese  chronology,  9 ; hostilities  with  the  Burmans, 
 50 ; their  hatred  of  that  nation,  54 ; language, 
 163  ; trade,  529. 
 
 Simawang  described,  356;  minerals,  357. 
 
 Sincara,  lake  of,  353 ; described,  354,  355. 
 
 Singapore,  Malay  government  at,  16;  British  sta- 
 tion established,  370;  its  favourable  situation, 
 375  ; importance  of  the  settlement,  377.  459  ; in- 
 crease of  population,  383;  opinions  on  its  advan- 
 tages, 401  ; expenses  of  the  government,  446. 
 
 457  ; arrival  of  missionaries,  458.  536  ; settle- 
 ment described,  525  ; value  of  land,  532  ; endow- 
 ment of  a college,  533.  539  ; trade,  534  ; aboli- 
 tion of  slavery,  538  ; principles  of  the  government, 
 542  ; local  laws  and  regulations.  Appendix,  39 ; 
 report  on  the  administration  of  justice.  Appendix, 
 62. 
 
 Singapura  island,  378. 
 
 Slavery,  evils  of,  78;  sources,  79;  abolished,  228; 
 establishment  for  its  suppression,  483 ; horrible 
 circumstances  attending  it,  491 ; abolished,  538. 
 
 Slaves,  Dutch  traffic  in,  64  ; employed  at  Bencoolen, 
 296  ; plan  to  capture  a family,  492. 
 
 Small-pox,  319. 
 
 Solo  Solaya,  349 ; costume,  gold  mines,  burial- 
 ground,  351. 
 
 Smith,  Lieut.  31. 
 
 Somerset,  Duchess  of,  letters  from  Sir  Stamford, 
 to  her  Grace,  on  his  visit  to  the  continent,  287  ; 
 his  arrival  at  Bencoolen,  294;  his  excursion  in 
 Sumatra,  314.  342.  365;  his  visit  to  Bengal,  371; 
 from  Penang,  377  ; on  Singapore,  383  ; his  voy- 
 age to  Bengal,  415;  from  Calcutta,  420;  the 
 manners  and  customs  of  the  Battas,  425;  his  oc- 
 cupations, 447.  450.  476;  his  return  to  England, 
 497.  557  ; the  loss  of  his  child,  504.  521 ; his  ar- 
 rival at  Singapore,  525  ; the  burning  of  the  Fame, 
 574;  from  St.  Helena,  578;  from  Cheltenham, 
 581 ; his  intended  occupations,  582 ; his  ill  health, 
 583,  584. 
 
 Somerset,  Duke  of,  letter  from  Sir  S.  to  his  Grace 
 on  Eastern  affairs,  464.  509. 
 
 Souracarta,  court  of,  123. 
 
 South  America,  76  ; customs  and  language,  175. 
 
 Southern  Peninsula  of  India,  174. 
 
 South  Sea  islands,  15;  supplied  with  fire  arms  by 
 the  Americans,  74. 
 
 Spice  islands,  234. 
 
 Spice  gardens,  475. 
 
 St.  Helena,  interview  with  Napoleon  at,  276. 
 
 Storm  off  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  578. 
 
 Stewart,  Mr.,  41. 
 
 Stopford,  Admiral,  95. 
 
 Stuge,  Vander,  138. 
 
 Sugar,  comparison  of,  84  ; its  cultivation,  466.  514. 
 
 Suggestions  for  the  suppression  of  piracy,  227  ; 
 of  slavery,  483. 
 
 Sulu  Archipelago,  39.  63. 
 
 Sumatra,  293 ; state  of  the  country,  295 ; first  ex- 
 cursion to  the  Hill  of  Mists,  304  ; journey  to 
 Passumah,  315;  gigantic  flower  discovered,  316; 
 mode  of  descending  rivers  on  rafts,  321  ; sacred 
 mountain  described,  324  ; sketch  of  the  country, 
 330  ; popular  superstitions,  336 ; Padang,  340  ; 
 appeal  of  the  native  chiefs  against  the  Dutch,  340  ; 
 account  of  a journey  into  the  interior,  342 ; beau- 
 tiful scenery,  344 ; course  of  the  river,  345  ; cattle, 
 clothing  of  the  people,  349;  gold  mines,  351  ; 
 anecdotes  of  the  natives,  363  ; animals,  440 ; ad- 
 vantages over  the  West  Indies,  466  ; lakes,  469  ; 
 infecundity  of  the  people,  470  ; progress  of  civili- 
 
100 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 zation,  477  ; contrasted  with  Java,  479;  capabi-  I 
 lities,  480  ; general  survey,  520. 
 
 Sunda,  straits  of,  36  ; isles,  70  ; language,  162. 
 Supernatural  beings,  336. 
 
 Surat,  62. 
 
 Surabaga,  36  ; European  courts  of  justice  in,  208. 
 Suruasa,  357. 
 
 Susa,  Pangulu  of,  57. 
 
 Tagala,  its  language  traced,  175. 
 
 T.mt,  Captain,  his  escape  from  pirates,  46. 
 
 Taman,  Rajah  of,  33. 
 
 Tamul  nation,  20. 
 
 Tapir,  description  of  the,  273. 
 
 Tappanooly,  425.  436. 
 
 Taprobane  of  the  ancients,  178.  255. 
 
 Taylor,  Captain,  26. 
 
 Taylor,  Mr.,  54. 
 
 Telinga  nation,  20. 
 
 mountains,  167. 
 
 Ter,  term  of,  11. 
 
 Thory,  Major,  114. 
 
 Tidore,  Sultan  of,  an  old  ally  of  the  English,  66. 
 
 Tiga  Bias,  347  ; population,  354. 
 
 Tiger,  met  by  coolies,  322. 
 
 Tigers,  regarded  as  sacred,  314. 
 
 Timor  Island,  70  ; propagation  of  Christianity  in, 
 82. 
 
 Tin  mines,  149.  255. 
 
 Titsing,  Mr.,  138. 
 
 Tomboro  mountain,  account  of  the  eruption  from  the, 
 249 ; heard  at  Macassar,  245 ; felt  through  the 
 IMoluccas,  247  ; its  ravages,  249. 
 
 Tonnage,  amount  of,  arrived  at  Singapore,  509. 
 Towson  Abia,  bay  of,  60. 
 
 Tradition  of  Celebes,  238. 
 
 Trangaro,  52. 
 
 Transactions  of  the  Batavian  Society,  138. 
 
 Transfer  of  Java  to  the  Dutch,  248. 
 
 Transmigration,  338. 
 
 Travers,  Captain,  Introd.  vii ; his  description  of 
 Mr.  Raffles  while  at  Penang,  6 ; at  Java,  209  ; 
 account  of  his  voyage  to  England,  274. 
 
 Travelling,  fatigues  of,  387. 
 
 Tree,  gold  and  silver,  50. 
 
 Tringano,  a Malay  slate,  16. 
 
 Tuanku  Pasaman,  a religious  reformer,  342.  349. 
 Tuanku  Pau  Erang,  56. 
 
 I Tumugung  Lonong,  villanies  of,  120, 
 
 Tuniga,  Martiner  de,  175. 
 
 Twelve  Caesars,  busts  of  the,  188. 
 
 ‘ Undang  Undang,’  or  Malay  code  of  laws,  15.  28. 
 79. 
 
 Upas  poison,  mode  of  preparing,  107. 
 
 Value  of  land,  533. 
 
 Van  der  Capellen,  Sir  S.’s  correspondence  with, 
 552. 
 
 Vegetation  of  Malayan  forests,  317. 
 
 VicKENS,  Mons.  96. 
 
 Vienna,  declaration  of  the  Allied  Sovereigns  at,  252. 
 
 ViLLNERUIIY,  Mr.,  116. 
 
 Visit  to  the  Sacred  Mountain,  324. 
 
 Volcanic  phenomena,  178,  241. 
 
 "Voyage  from  Java,  274. 
 
 Wallicii,  Dr.,  Introd.  vii;  Sir  Stamford’s  letter  to, 
 on  Singapore,  382.  537 ; on  the  establishment  of 
 a college  there,  539 ; his  return  to  Bencoolen,  550  ; 
 his  arrival  at  Batavia,  5.51 ; his  plans  for  the  future, 
 563  ; the  burning  of  the  Fame,  575. 
 
 Wellesley,  Marquess,  78. 
 
 Weltevreeden,ZQ\  Dutch  cantonment  at,  92;  public 
 ball  at,  124. 
 
 West  Indies,  advantages  of  Sumatra  compared  with 
 the,  467. 
 
 Wetiierall,  Major  General,  93;  Cornelis. 
 
 WiLBERFORCE,  W.  Esq.,  Sir  Stamford’s  letter  to, 
 on  various  subjects,  405. 
 
 Winter,  Rev.  Charles,  406. 
 
 Wives,  burning  of,  172. 
 
 Wood,  Colonel,  93  ; Cornelis. 
 
 Wooden  images,  or  household  gods,  493. 
 
 WuRMB,  Van,  Baron,  138. 
 
 York,  Duke  of.  Island  of  Banca,  called  after,  122. 
 
 Young,  Captain,  128. 
 
 Yule,  Major,  his  spirited  attack  at  Cornelis,  94. 
 
 Zodiac,  ancient  MS.  of  the,  166. 
 
 Zoological  Society,  plans  for  its  establishment,  290  ; 
 Sir  Stamford’s  letters  on  the  subject,  590.  593  ; 
 its  prospectus,  595. 
 
 Zoological  specimens,  catalogue  of,  633. — 697. 
 
 THE  END. 
 
 GILBERT  AND  RIVINGTON,  PRINTERS, 
 
 ST.  JOHN’S  SQUARE,  LONDON. 
 
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