Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 3.djvu/254

 €38 COMMERCE WITH spondence with the natives in the neighbourhood, as I think ought to be in all trading places especially. When I came thither, there were two neighbouring rajas in the stocks, for no other reason but be- cause they had not brought down to the fort such a quantity of pepper as the governor had sent for. Yet these rajas rule in the country, and have a considerable number of subjects, who were so ex- asperated at these insolences, that, at I have since been informed, they came down and assaulted the fort, under the conduct of one of these rajas." * t ■f Captain Hamilton's account is certainly not more fa- vourable. " In the year 1693, there was a great mortality in the colony, the governor and his council all died in a short time after one another ; and one Mr Sowdon being the eld- est factor, had his residence at Prayman, or Priaman, a sub- ordinate factory to Bencolon, being called to the govern- ment of the colony, but not very fit for that charge, because of his intemperate drinking, it fortuned in his short reign, that four princes differed, and rather than run into acts of hostility, referred their differences to the arbitriment of the English governor, and came to the fort with their plea. Mr Sowdon soon determined their differences in favour of the two that complained ; and because the others seemed dissa- tisfied with his determination, ordered both their heads to be struck off, which ended their disputes effectually, and made them afterwards to make up differences among them- selves, without troubling the English with their contentions and impertinent quarrels, but Governor Sowdon was sent for to Fort St George, and another sent in his place less sanguine." — Nciv Account of the East Indies, Vol. II. p. 114
 * Dampler, Vol. II. p. 183.