Page:Journal Of The Indian Archipelago And Eastern Asia Series.i, Vol.4 (IA in.ernet.dli.2015.107697).pdf/616

 cantile Navy visits Acheen, and favours us with some account of the King whom be visited as well as his son, whom he saw 20 years afterwards. He informs us that a strong feeling of jealousy existed against the nobles of the country, and that the King did not permit them to trade, confining the trade entirely to his own agent, who was a native of the Coromandel Coast. About 12 or 15 ships of 200 to 300 tons were said to come every year from the Coromandel Coast and one from Surat to trade at Acheen. 1764 Captain Forrest visited the King who was seated in an alcove about 5 feet high from the floor of the Hall, he appeared to be about 40 years age, and had an appearance of intelligence, there were two elderly women sitting at his feet one on each side. 1772 The Bencoolen government sent Mr Halliday to request permission to build a factory at Acheen, which request was refused. The country appeared to be ia a disturbed state, armed mobs often coming about the King's palace at night.

[Note 15] Sultan Al-ooodin Shah. This King in his youth was sent to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, the ship he sailed in was driven down to Mauritius, and the Captain was obliged to put in there for water. They remained about a month, during which time the prince had an opportunity of attending frequently at the Arsenal, and being of an enquiring turn of mind, and gifted with strong powers of observation, be became sufficiently skilled in casting metals, to be able on his return, to improve the Arsenal at Acheen, casting guns, shells &c., there himself. He also learned to speak the French language and frequently conversed with Captain Forrest in that language.

Captain Forrest notices the fear entertained by the King of the great nobles, and instances the peculiar care with which he is guarded when in his Alcove, no one being permitted to enter it, but the two women before mentioned. The King was said to be intelligent, and to be actuated by a strong desire to improve the condition and study the interests of his people, who appear to be attached to him. His great stumbling block in the way of improvement was the jealousy of the nobles. 1782 Admiral Suffren called this year at Acheen, but did not see the King, owing to a difficulty on points of ceremony.

[Note 16] Sultan Johore Shah. This prince's mother is said to have taken measures to prevent her son from acquiring the education necessary for his rank in life, and in consequence when he arrived at mature age, he was found incapable of taking his proper part in the government of the country.

He gave great offence to the nobles by his neglect of the observance of the Mahomedan law, having become addicted, from constant association with a few Christians of low origin, to the use of intoxicating liquors, and to other vices which disgusted his subjects to such a degree that the great nobles ceased to attend his court and became very turbulent.

Mr Campbell who was sent to Acheen as Agent to the Governor-General in 1811, reported that the country was in a state of anarchy, and that the King, harrased by his nobles, was unable to collect the ordinary revenue. This state of affairs continued till 1815 when on the death of the Queen mother the nobles, headed by the Panglima of the 22nd mukims, deposed the King and sent letters to Pinang inviting Syed Houssain to send one of his sons to receive from them the crown of Acheen.

Syed Houssain was the grandson of an Arab of high lineage who arrived in Acheen in the commencement of the 18th century, and received in marriages daughter of Queen Kamalat Shah, to whom he stands in the same degree of relationship as Sultan Johore Shah the deposed monarch. Syed Houssain left Acheen at an early age to seek his fortune in the Malayan Peninsula. He resided first in Salangore where he married, and after the English establishment was formed in Pinang he moved there and soon realized in trade an enormous fortune.

On the arrival of the invitation of the Acheen nobles, Syed Houssain after some hesitation decided in sending his second son Saiful Alam to Acheen, and accordingly he fitted out, in Pinang harbour, four ships well provided with warlike stores and an immense stock of goods to be distributed among the Achinese. The Pinang government favoured the Syed's claims and even went so far as to request from the Supreme government a force of 1,000 men with the necessary equipments for the purpose establishing a firm government at Acheen, as commerce had severely suffered of late by the anarchy and confusion which reigned there. Lord Hastings took Sir Stamford Raffles opinion on the point, (1819) and the result was that a commission was sent to Acheen (against the wishes and indeed protests of the Pinang government) for the purpose of using the English influence to tranquilise the country and to establish that King whose claims were to be considered as superior. After an arduous struggle Sir Stamford Raffles succeeded in convincing his colleague in the