fulfilment continue unclouded, those who now endure a dreary exile in a barren country, and surrounded by a hostile people, will or ought to derive much consolation from the thought, that their employment upon a disagreeable duty may prove of the utmost benefit to thousands of their fellow-creatures. It is pleasant to look forward to the civilization of Abyssinia, and other more remote places, by means of commercial intercourse with Aden.

• The reading of the MS is; but the measure requires

ا ---- .. فاعلاتن مفاعلن فعلن The measure of the Hadikah is

. نشناخت : The reading of another MS. is *

SUMATRA.*

ACHEEN, on the great island of Sumatra, was the first place visited in India, in the first voyage performed by the ships of the first East-India Company, under the first charter granted by Queen Elizabeth. The traders were favourably received; they made a treaty of commerce with the sovereign of Acheen, and obtained permission to erect a factory there, which was maintained for some time, and where they obtained abundance of pepper, besides gold, camphor, and benjamin, in return for Indian piece goods. The jealousy of the Dutch, in the first instance, and the extension of our traffic upon the continent of India, in more recent times, have diverted the attention of this country from the lucrative sources of trade in the Eastern Archipelago, whilst our most active commercial rivals, the Hollanders, are availing themselves of our neglect, and establishing their power or influence throughout Sumatra and Borneo, taking possession of the best trading stations, and reducing the native chiefs to a dependence upon them.

Mr. Anderson, late secretary to the Government of Penang, Singapore, and Malacca, whose position and official facilities afforded him the best means of knowing the real designs and policy of the Dutch, and the commercial resources of the countries in which they are now extending their connexions, has put forth this work with the view of drawing the attention of the British Government and public to "the probable consequences of leaving another European power to acquire the command of the most valuable islands in the Eastern seas, and to control the trade and industry of the natives."

The work commences with a review of the treaty with Holland in 1824, the effects of that treaty, and its infraction by the Dutch. "Next to the restoration of Java," the author says, "the cession of all the British ports on the island of Sumatra, and the relinquishment of our rights further to the eastward, and the privileges acquired by treaties with many of the independent chiefs, after much trouble, expense, and hazard, may be considered the greatest sacrifice that history affords an example of in India." He then shows how, in violation of the spirit of the treaty, the Netherlanders are engrossing not merely the trade, but the political control, of the Malay states in the very neighbourhood of our settlements.

Mr. Anderson, in the next place, gives a description of the once-powerful kingdom of Acheen, or Achi, of its government,, people, and resources. This is followed by an account of the policy pursued by the Company's Government in the Straits with relation to Acheen, the internal distractions of the kingdom in later times, which had undermined its political power, offering an inducement to the British authorities to interpose their friendly counsels for the restoration of tranquillity, and the means of cementing a close connexion with Acheen.

* Acheen, and the Ports on the North and East Coasts of Sumatra; with Incidental Notices of the Trade in the Eastern Seas, and the Aggressions of the Dutch. By JOHN ANDERSON, Esq., late of the H.E.I.C. Civil Service at Pinang, &c. London, 1840. Wm. H. Allen and Co.

Asiat.Journ.N.S. VOL.32.No.126.

Q

Johor Alum succeeded, as king of Acheen, in 1802, but his chiefs rebelling against his authority, he applied, in 1805, for aid to the Penang Government, offering them a fort and a station for trading. This application was neglected rather than refused, and Johor Alum, who, from the moment of his accession, had evinced a desire to cultivate the good-will of the British nation, was left for years to struggle with the difficulties which surrounded him, buoyed up, indeed, with hopes of succour and frequent and liberal assurances of regard from Penang. In spite of these assurances, however, he considered himself, in one or two instances, harshly treated by our Government; nevertheless, this Malay sovereign manifested a conciliatory disposition, and, in fact, upon all occasions, acted the part of an humble ally.

a

The kingdom of Acheen continued to be rent by interual disorders. Tuanku Packie, maternal uncle of the king, and formerly regent, notorious and most worthless character," was in open rebellion against Johor Alum, in concert with the queen dowager, and several of the chiefs on the north-east coast of Sumatra followed his example. The king had taken into his councils and employed, as prime minister and admiral, an European named Fenwick, who had been a resident at Penang, and "whose general conduct, while residing there, had proved him to be a most mischievous and evil-principled individual." The acts committed by the king, under his advice, occasioned the mission, in 1814, of Capt. Canning, who was insulted in letters from the king, written evidently by Fenwick. Capt. Canning appears, naturally enough, under these circumstances, to have listened to the representations of Tuanku Packie and his party, who declared that Johor Alum had been dethroned by the sagis,* or chiefs, for his misconduct, and an embassy from the three great sagis, or principal governors, in the interior, Polim, Olema, and Mooda, appeared at Penang, to represent that Johor Alum had been deposed, being of spurious origin, and that Syud Hussain (declared to be the nearest relation of the family) had been elected in his place. The deputation requested that the Penang Government would remove Mr. Fenwick, the cause of the commotions, or sanction his being put to death.

Syud Hussain, it appears, was a rich Malay merchant at Penang, who meditated obtaining the throne of Acheen for his son, in order that he might monopolize the trade, and the sagis being in want of money and opium, which the syud agreed to supply, the bargain was struck, and the chiefs, in their letter to Syud Hussain, announcing his election, intimated that if he considered himself too old to reign, he might send over his son, Syf-ulAlum, to be king of Acheen. The Governor of Penang (Mr. Petrie) adopted the non-intervention policy; but it appears that Syud Hussain was not prevented from fitting out a force at Penang to attack Johor Alum, in conjunction with the refractory chiefs.

The monarchy is hereditary, and more or less absolute; the grand council of the nation consists of the king and certain great chiefs, who, it appears, have sometimes assumed the power of deposing the monarch. Marsden says: "The history of Acheen presents a continual struggle between the monarch and the aristocracy."