242 SEALING OF THE TREATY. [1845. 



Sultan offers to give them a separate place within his 

 town to live in, to protect them, to give them a prefer- 

 ence in trade, and as a further exhibition of his sincerity 

 to open trading connexions, he gave me a letter* under 

 his official seal, containing the list of goods which he 

 would engage as certain cargo, to any vessel which I 

 would send in the May following ; he further volunteered 

 to cede to Great Britain any of the outer islands which 

 might be adapted for a settlement, and which I promised 

 to examine, particularly Maratua, after quitting the river. 

 During these proceedings, it became necessary to 

 attach my seal to the Treaties ; they are not in the habit 

 of using wax, and were much pleased with the sharp 

 impression produced by it. He inquired very earnestly 

 whether he could obtain a seal exactly similar to mine, 

 adding, " that will be more lasting than writing, no one 

 can alter the meaning ; any letter I send with it will be 

 immediately understood, and any which you may send 

 will instantly be attended to by my people, who cannot 

 read, and the persons bringing it will be assured of the 

 kindest reception." Fortunately, I possessed a duplicate, 

 and this, together with some wax and a supply of sta- 

 tionery, were forwarded to him. The Sultan having 

 expressed a wish that I would procure him two seals 

 similar to his own, but with his titles in Roman charac- 

 ters as well as Malay, I promised, on reaching China, to 

 comply with his wishes. Two of these were duly ex- 

 ecuted, one in Malay, the other in English characters, 



* This letter was delivered to Mr. Wyndham, and I have the satis- 

 faction of learning from him that the vessel he sent was very hand- 

 somely received, and that great anxiety was expressed for his personal 

 visit. 



