their stations, or diverted by danger from their predatory vigilance. The
sovereigns of the country have tooi little authority- over, fheir nominal subjects
; and their .resources are, too confined for theni:-to-oppose, any effectual
resistance, to these outrages. All restraints are-withdrawn' by -.the ^visions
and weakness of the native governments ; and men, rendered rdesperat^ by
the experience of lawless violence, are induced to join in the system of
plunder against which they can find no protection.
This extensive, ' rich, and beautiful clustre of islands is thus deprived of
all the advantages which it' might derive • from the sea with which it Is
surrounded ;. its harbours become the retreats of marauders, instead df the
resort of peaceful commerce j. its seafaring people are reduced to a state of
nature. Where force decides right, no sovereign-is-possessed of paramount
authority to sweep this pest from his shores ; no vessel is safe; no flag is
respected. The trade is thus confined to-desperate adventurers only; to
whom the existence of piracy is more advantageous than the unmolested
security of navigation, as the danger which it creat.es drivés away all conn
petitors of a less daring character, and gives them a moiiopolÿkof * these
ports. It is too true, also, that European traders. haVe materially contributed
to the strength of the pirates, by the supply of arms and ammunition.
At the port of Sambas, European vessels had not dared to touèh openly.for
twenty years ; but such means of resistance as the piratés were found to
possess in two' recent attaeks 'upon it* could never have bëen- collected
without large supplies from British traders.
The small colonial craft, so necessary for the prosperity of these regions,
cannot without great risk venture beyond the coast: ; while armed Malayan
and Bugis prâhus, and a few European speculators, engross most of the
trade.
The above observations apply more particularly to the coasts of Borneo
and the adjacent islands ; but they are, in a great measure, applicable to
many parts .of ; Sumatra. The unfortunate king of" Acheen, who has
long been intimately connected :with the British establishments, is a young
man of estimable qualities, with a title ancient and undisputed; rthough
perhaps a weak prince. All his chiefs acknowledge his authority, though
none submit to his control.! Native traders from the coast of Coromandel,
and Europeans from Pinang, frequent every river ; and the profit derived
from their dealings furnishes the inhabitants with inducements and means
to throw off their allegiance. The king, too feeble to reduce the revoltërs,
is
is only able to keep up'a state ofifebntmual alarm and Warfare, to which the'
mutual jealousies among the petty- usurpers themselves mainly contribute-
The trade of -his dominions-is in a great measure carried'on like smuggling,
by armed boats running out at a favourable mdment, 'hiding themselves from
danger, of figh'tihg'th'eir*Jway‘through opposition^1 as:occasion-'may require;
and laying their "account wifh"making-up for-frequent losses by exorbitant-
qjlUfitsJ-In som'e' places, these almost independent bands are1-commanded
by Blalabar chutiahs ; and^'in most-'instaneeSi"the-petty chiefs-whom they
elevate to authority are foreign-vagrants. - Those places which;,'Ifdin their
Vicinity WtheResidence ~of;,*the vkihg, are least able’ to-resist-his power, are
supported in their opposition1 by the interests of the' English traders? and
it'is’ riot to'be- forgotten, ■ that.when he made a partial attempt' to regain his
authority over- allI theJneigKb6uring-ceuntryj'Tth,eyip<etitibbed(Jtii1e!;EuJfopean
authority-to prevent,'-by'its interference;-' ‘his »levy iQ'gt'a’ !dutf mjJ&n 'his own'
subjects. The petition was attended ut&p and the king was compelled, by
the:conimand of strangers'1-to forego -the^bnly^ means ‘by Which he could
have1 preserved his dominions -from anarchy and -confusion. ■:IJAt !th1S-period,
therefore,- when the- resources-o'f -his kingdom would ’ haVe been * urifolffin^1
themselves, improvifig.industryfof-a well-regulated‘population, it is
falling info decays throughithe 'personal-' imbecillity and pblitical weakness
of- the monarch1; and,“ breaking into detached fragments?1 is about'tp form
as many separate principalities,1 - as:formbfly1 there Were:ThdepenrdeMigbve>ih;-''
merits-’ throfighoiif all- the Archipelago.*
^JThatHbërè 'has^Tëeri? a f some time,- a more éxtMsivA -commercé'yh
.sÊbfes’ of the Arfchipelago is highly probable, andthatitKfere might' be cannot 'em
be, doubted. The great resources,, vegetable and mineral, with which they i:^
abound, Jsüch as spices, camphor, -gold' and diamonds, and the facilities
,\lE?cfi”they enjoy for navigation, offermëdns'and inducëïhbmé-oftfie highest'
nature. The general cbatactefof thé péople,. also,- as far as it can‘be ascertained,
appears eqüilly %VöÓ'rabléf to-bbmmèrei'al- intè¥coUrFe.OIiTfiëy are
represented as mild, inoffensive, -not indisposed to industry, free from any
- obstinate'
* If current report is to be credited, the fate’ of this unfortunate prinee has betiVat fast seal--
csd; and the^undisputed successor*of « that great and puissant kingjf'-to whom Queen Elizahie#-
gave an assurance, “ that far from ever halving .cause tdJfdpent an inteijCipMrse srith.the Eng-'
he sho*ijji have a most real and justjcause to rejoice at-^tV’jfgnd to whom, on pie part
of the English nation, she. gave a pledge,, “ that her promises werejEaithfiol, because pon-
' “ dipt,;of her subjects ‘would be prudent am sincere”—has been obliged to abdicate his thrope-
■ in favour of the son of a Pinang merchant!