1835.] one of the Malacca States. 539 



discovered to have been fraudulently exported from the places above- 

 mentioned." 



A profit equal to about 18,000 Spanish dollars is supposed to have 

 accrued to the Dutcli annually from this monopoly ; which so rigid 

 were they in enforcing", that we find it stipulated in the same treaty, 

 " that no boats or vessels, to whomsoever they may belong-, sliall be 

 allowed to pass the Company's settlement at Lingie without touching, 

 in order that a search may be made in such boats or vessels for tin ; 

 any person attempting to evade these rules, will be liable to have 

 their boats, and the tin which may be found in them, confiscated and 

 sold, and the proceeds appropriated for the use of the Company and 

 the said chiefs." Also, that " no boats or vessels of any description 

 whatever be permitted to proceed from the north to south, or passing 

 from the latter to the former part, or passing the straits of Malacca, 

 without being provided with a pass, on pain of being seized." 



During the British Government at Malacca, from 1795 to 1818, the 

 trade fell into the hands of private individuals, principally Dutch and 

 Chinese merchants residing at Malacca. In 1819, the Dutch resumed 

 the monopoly, as we find from the 7th article of a treaty, dated Naning, 

 the 5th day of June, 1819, between the Supreme Government of 

 Netherlands India and Raja Ali, the Panghulu and Ampcit Suku of 

 Rumbowe, which runs thus : " Raja Ali, the Panghulu and Ampdt 

 Sukd of Rumbowe, must give up to Government all the tin from Lingie, 

 Sungie Ujong, Rumbowe, and any place under their authority, without 

 reservation. The Government binds itself to pay 40 Spanish dollars 

 per bhar of 300 catties, or 370 lbs., &c." 



On the resumption of Malacca by the English, in 1825, the tin trade 

 relapsed into the hands of the private merchants. 



Miners. — In 1828, the number of Chinese miners amounted to 

 nearly 1000 men, who were regularly divided into nine Kongsis or 

 companies, each under its respective Tao-kae. They were chiefly of 

 that singular fraternity, the Tian Tay Huay, or Triad Society, whose 

 mysterious oaths and secret laws appear to be not very dissimilar 

 from those which bound the Carbonari of Modern Europe. Jealousy 

 of their fast increasing power and numbers, or some alleged oiFence, 

 but more probably the treasure amassed by this brotherhood, (whose 

 property was in common,) led in 1828, to their massacre by the 

 Malays. 



In 1830, the mines were again worked by about 400 Chinese, who 

 went up, at the inducement of some Malacca merchants, and continued 

 there until the late disturbances in 1833, when many of them returned 

 to Malacca. The mines at present are but partially worked, and very 



