OPIUM. 423 



boat and ask ' whose barque this ?' My captain 

 say, ' rajah Trumong's ;' then grab's men take 

 prisoners, and say, ' barque belong now to Acheen 

 rajah ;' so he pull down colours — our colours be- 

 fore white and black — now Acheen colours red 

 and white." 



The quantity of betel-nut agreed for (three 

 thousand peculs) was sent on board ; and a fur- 

 ther agreement entered into for three thousand 

 peculs more, to be delivered in a few days after. 

 Opium, at nine hundred dollars the chest, was 

 taken in part payment : this was a high price, 

 but netted to the sellers a profit of only ninety- 

 five Java rupees, or forty-seven dollars ; from 

 the large quantity in the market at this place, 

 it was with the greatest difficulty it could be dis- 

 posed of even at that price : the dollars to be 

 given in addition must have been the principal 

 inducement, for opium had been purchased from 

 the Penang brig, " Calder Bux," at seven hun- 

 dred and seventy dollars the chest ; but we after- 

 wards found only one dollar the pecul, or rather 

 laxar, had been paid by that vessel, which will 

 account for their giving in barter a higher price 

 for the opium. 



On the second agreement being made, the 

 rajah and suite came on board to ratify it, which, 

 after some disputes and discussions with all 



