Hamilton’s account of the east indies.

462

near our gun§ as they mu ft have been neceflitated to do before they could get into theriver. When they came to a place about five leagues off, they font a praw to my(Lip, and the officer told me that he had a commifiion to proffer and pay me3000 Spanifti dollars, if I would let them pafs quietly into the river. I ordered himaway, and threatened, that, if they came, they Ihould feel the force of my powder andfiiot. When I came afliore, the King alked me if I would protefl: him. I toldffiirnI would with all the force I had. He wept, as if he had been diffident, and defiredthat I would take him on board of my fliip, and carry him whitherfoever I went, forhis life was burdenfome to him, and he could truft none of his own people. I per-fuaded him that I was fincere in my refolution to protefl; him, and that it would looktoo mean to run away from'his kingdom, while there was a poffibility to regain it.

He told me, that he had fent ambaffadors to the Dutch at Malacca for afliftance, ac-cording to the ancient league between his anceftors and them, when they joined theirforces to expel the fcortugueze from Malacca ; but inftead of finding relief there, hisenemies were afliiled with powder and fhot, and his rebellious fubjects had a faferetreat at Malacca.

I advifed him to take prote&ion from the Dutch , and allow them the monopoliza-tion of the trade of his country, and to part the revenues between him and them. Hefeemed to be offended with the prepofal, but faid he would be glad if the Englifhwould fettle in his dominions, and fortify what places they pleafed, and that he wouldwillingly come under their protection, and that there were none that ever entertainedthe Dutch in their countries as guefts, but would willingly be quit of them again, ifthey could.

There happened to come a French {hip thither at that time, being bound to China .The King gave the captain and me an invitation to dinner, and, after we had regaledourfelves, we entered on a diicourfe of the miferable ftate of a country under the ma-lignancy of a civil war. Fie afked us, if fuch calamities had happened to England orFrance . We allured him there had been often fuch diftempers among us, but thatwhen the difeafe was cured, our ftate became as ftrong and vigorous as ever.

He had feveral times alked me, if I thought the Englifli might be perfuaded to fettlea colony in his country, that Pahaung might be made a place of great trade, if thereW'ere Hupping and ftock to carry off the pepper and tin which that country alone couldproduce. I told him, I could give him no encouragement to believe they would.

He then, defpairing of getting an Englifli colony fettled, propofed to Mr. Pedro-villamont Garden, who commanded the French fliip, if he thought the French nation might be induced to fettle in his dominions, and the French gentleman gavehim hopes that the King of France might be induced to accept of his friendlhip, andfettle a colony, providing he would certify his requeft by a letter, which the King ofJohore readily agreed to. It was written in the Malayan language, and tranflated by aChinefe into-Portugueze, and I tranflated it from that language into Englifli. Theoriginal and the Englifli tranflation were delivered to the French captain, but I neverheard of it fince .

He told me, that when I came to Bombay, I ffiould acquaint the governor of thedefire he had to live under the protection of the Englifli, and that with 150 men theymight bridle the infolence of his own rebellious fubje&s, and their allies, the Bougies, too.

Trangano is a very pleafant and healthful country, and affords a fine land-fcape fromthe fea. I he hills are low, and covered with ever-green trees, that accommodate theinhabitants with variety of delicious fruits, fuch as lemons, oranges, limes, mangoes,mangoftans, ramboftans, letchees and dureans : and in the vallies, corn, pulfe and

2 fugar-canes*