SETTLEMENTS. 101 



always enjoyed consideration ; and, notwithstanding 

 the occupation of the Dutch, is still a place of great 

 trade, exporting quantities of gold, diamonds, pepper, 

 rattans, and dragon's blood. In 1706 the English 

 attempted to establish a factory at Banjar, but before 

 their forts were finished their haughty and insolent 

 behaviour brought down upon them the vengeance of 

 the sultan, who attacked and burnt their settlement 

 in the night with 3,000 men ; but as the Euro- 

 peans had received notice of his intention, they had 

 retired to their ships, which, to the number of four, 

 were in the harbour ; but these also were attacked by 

 the infuriated sultan and his injured subjects, so that 

 though the larger two escaped, the two smaller ones 

 were burnt, together with the greater part of their 

 crews. Soon after, the sultan, rinding the loss of 

 trade affected his revenues, informed the English 

 that a free trade might be carried on with his domi- 

 nions, but that he would never suffer them, nor any 

 other nation, to fortify themselves in his country, 



In 1714 the English company, wishing to restore its 

 trade and factory at Banjar, sent Capt. Daniel Beeck- 

 man, a gentleman of great discretion and ability. 

 This person had an opportunity of - seeing the great 

 odium in which the company was held ; but by his 

 conciliatory conduct, and by giving the natives to 

 understand that the ships were in no way connected 

 with the company, but private traders, he succeeded in 

 getting cargoes of pepper, though he found it impos- 

 sible to get permission to re-establish the factory. In 



