CHAPTER XII.

Early voyages to Sumatra-Portuguese establishments at Acheen and Pasay-Naval power of Acheen-Portuguese defeated-The English well received at AcheenThe Dutch suspected-The French neglected-Rivalry and hostilities between the English and Dutch-English and French-The English at Padang-Americans visit the east-Commercial enterprise of Salem-Carnes's voyage to Sumatra― Loss of his vessel in returning-Sails in the Rajah-His successful voyage-Consequent curiosity and excitement-Unsuccessful attempt at competition-Interesting extracts from the Records of the Salem East India Marine Society-Ship Friendship, Williams-Fanny, Smith-John, Barton-Three Friends, StewartHer accident in the Strait of Bally-Active, Nicholas-Recovery, Dana-and the Putnam-Tribute to the Commercial enterprise of Salem.

THE earliest account we have seen of pepper having been exported from any part of the Island of Sumatra, was in 1509, in a few Portuguese vessels which touched at Pasay, a port of no little importance at that time, situated about twenty leagues from Acheen to the east. These vessels were on their way to China. The spirit of glory, of plunder, and of commerce, which burned so ardently in the Portuguese at this period, received a new impulse, as new expectations were suddenly raised of the importance of this trade, and the resources of the island. As early as 1520, Diego Pacheco, an experienced commander, was despatched to the southwest coast to search for a certain island, of which rumour had spoken much of its treasures in gold. Having proceeded as far as Paya, he was astonished to meet in that port many native vessels from other parts of the island, as well as several from India, which brought with them cotton manufactured goods, for the supply of the inhabitants. Near this port, he was so unfortunate as to lose one of his best vessels; which circumstance put an end to further search of the Isla d'Ouro, which the natives represented to be one hundred leagues off, amid labyrinths of shoals and reefs, where none but small vessels or boats could steer with safety.

On his return to Malacca, Pacheco passed through the Strait of

Sunda, and was thus the first European navigator to sail round the Island of Sumatra. But here, as elsewhere, they had scarcely set foot upon the island, before contentions and bloody feuds took place between them and the Sultans of Acheen and Pasay. It was at the latter place, in 1521, they made an attack on the town and ruling prince Geinal, with the ostensible object of setting up the legal heir to the throne; but which was no sooner accomplished, than they required of this prince, as the reward of their magnanimous interference, the whole monopoly of the pepper trade within his territory, the expenses of the enterprise, and permission to erect forts and establish themselves on his soil. Protection it was: but it was that protection the tiger gives to the kid, when left alone upon the mountains!

Flushed with success, and urged on by cold, heartless, insatiate, all-grasping avarice, during the same year, an expedition under Brito, three hundred strong, and without the slightest provocation, was directed against Acheen. But here a different destiny awaited them. At the moment of landing, other vessels entered the port and proffered their assistance. This was not accepted, as it would increase the number among whom the gold must be divided. The Achenese waited their arrival, couched as the tiger of their own native mountains, and at a concerted signal, rushed upon them with all the tiger's fierceness. The slaughter was terrible, and scarcely a Portuguese escaped.

In less than two years they were driven from their establishment at Pasay, by the same Sultan Abraham, who, having thrown off his allegiance to the King of Pedeer, now reigned at Acheen. This warlike monarch for years not only kept the Portuguese in check, but often, with large armaments, carried on offensive operations against their principal establishment on the coast of Malacca.

In fifteen hundred and thirty-seven, he was succeeded by Alnadin, who followed in his footsteps, and waged perpetual war against their treacherous invaders, whom, in derision, they called "Caffres." The force called into existence by these people is astonishing! Expedition after expedition sailed from Acheen. At one time, no less than one hundred and fifty sail, with seven thousand men, crossed the channel for the destruction of their enemies. At this period arose the great warrior Lacsemanna, whose deeds are still remembered among the Malays. For forty years did he contend

against the Portuguese with various success, but always with a spirit above misfortune.

In fifteen hundred and seventy-five, the King of Acheen, after several years preparations, covered the straits with his forces and armed vessels. These vessels were mostly small, though there were a few junks which carried six hundred men each. In this enterprise were nearly twenty thousand men. The Portuguese were made to tremble for their establishments on the opposite coast, where they were soon besieged. The conflict was bloody and lasted long; several Portuguese frigates were destroyed, and the garrisons were only saved by a timely reinforcement.

In fifteen hundred and eighty-six, the kingdom of Acheen was in the greatest splendour; its friendship was courted by all the Indies, and its ports frequented by the trading vessels from Mecca in the west, to Japan in the east.

It was the close of the sixteenth century before the Hollanders made their appearance in the eastern world; and not until the year sixteen hundred did they touch upon the coast of Sumatra. The English followed close upon their track, and only two years afterward visited the city of Acheen, with a respectable force under the command of Lancaster, who bore a letter from Queen Elizabeth to her "royal and puissant brother," the King of Acheen. In despite of the jealousy of the Portuguese and Spaniards (at that period indeed the same people), Lancaster was most "graciously" received; was banqueted and entertained by " singing and dancing damsels," and, what was more important, succeeded in making a very advantageous commercial treaty. The sultan extended great favour to the English; allowed them to establish a factory; showed them many indulgences; and not far from this time, even condescended to send a message to King James, with the request that a lovely English woman might be sent out to him for a wife; holding out at the same time, as an inducement to the fair one who should become the object of his royal affections and starascendant of his harem, that her first son should be made his heir, and succeed him to the throne of all the Sumatras! Neither history nor any oral tradition that has come to our knowledge informs us how this intended honour was received by our fair ancestors! but we shrewdly suspect that such an overture from an oriental sovereign could not fail to inspire them with glow

ing ambition, at the thoughts of crowns and diadems, and of becoming mothers to a long race of pepper monarchs and spicy kings. How such a proposition would be received at the present day by our own republican fair ones; how far it might inspire them with the desire to depart from the simplicity of their grandmothers, we would not for the world even hazard an opinion!

The Dutch were also viewed with favour by this prince, who appears to have been more mild and humane than some of his immediate predecessors. This harmony, however, was not destined to last long. News of the cruelty and oppression of the Dutch over their neighbours the Javanese was now daily reaching him, and could not but produce in his mind sentiments unfavourable to their characters, as well as create well-grounded fears, that the time might not be far distant when he and his people might become victims to the same policy; and these well-grounded apprehensions on his part led to the interruption of that harmony, which, for several years, had so happily existed.

In sixteen hundred and twenty-one, the French sent out a fleet with magnificent presents to the Sultan of Acheen, the importance of whose trade was greatly exaggerated, and which, in fact, never had been commensurate with his military power and resources. They were by no means successful in their negotiations, and received from the king but little encouragement.

In sixteen hundred and forty-one, a new sultan had ascended the throne, with whom the Dutch concerted a joint expedition against the Portuguese establishments on the coast of Malacca. The Achenese entered with spirit into this campaign, as it was a conquest their ancestors had long, though unsuccessfully, attempted to achieve by their own strength. The Portuguese could not withstand the combined forces of the allies, and were, after a short though desperate struggle, compelled to yield to the fortunes of war. It was the long contest with this power that had raised the Achenese monarchy to so great a height, and with the overthrow of this enemy, its power and splendour began rapidly to decline.

In sixteen hundred and eighty-four, the English turned their attention to Sumatra again, having recently lost their possessions at Bantam, after having had a foothold there for more than eighty years. A deputation was sent to Acheen, to effect such arrangements as would continue to secure them in a share of the pepper

trade. Here they met certain rajahs from Priaman and other ports on the west coast, who had visited the seat of government to seek protection from the Dutch, who had begun to make encroachments in that quarter. These rajahs applied to the English for protection, and proposed to give them not only the profits of an exclusive trade, but to allow them soil, and the privilege of establishing forts. So eager were the rajahs to effect this arrangement, that they embarked for Madras, formally to effect this object with the governor. An expedition was immediately put in preparation, intended to sail for the country of Priaman; but which was diverted for a time from this object, by a similar request having, on the eve of departure, been received from the rajahs of Bencoolen; to which place the English at once made sail, intending afterward to visit Priaman, and complete their establishments in that quarter. The Dutch, in the meantime, had penetrated the designs of the English, and hastened to anticipate them in their establishments in Priaman. The contest between the English and Dutch was severe; the latter continuing to annoy their rivals by every means in their power; often joining with the natives, and compelling the English to leave some of their less considerable establishments-but not Bencoolen, which improved rapidly, and by sixteen hundred and eighty-nine had acquired much strength and respectability, and numbered among its inhabitants many industrious and useful Chinese colonists. By sixteen hundred and ninety-one, the Dutch power was greatly reduced, and that of the English and their trade proportionably increased. The settlement of Natal was established in seventeen hundred and fifty-two, and that of Tappanooly shortly afterward, which involved the English again in fresh disputes with the Dutch, who laid claim to the whole of the country where these forts were situated.

In seventeen hundred and sixty, the French, under Count d'Estaigne, destroyed all the English settlements on the coast of Sumatra, but which were all re-established again under the treaty of Paris in seventeen hundred and sixty-three. In seventeen hundred and eighty-one, the British in their turn took possession of Padang and other Dutch factories, in consequence of war with that nation; and again in seventeen hundred and ninety-four.

We have now arrived at that period in the commercial history