248 THE DUTCH IN PERAK. 
Chiefs to accept terms from the Dutch and to agree to pay a money 
indemnity of $50,000, besides giving up the murderers of the Euro- 
peans. It is curious to find that in 1650, as in 1875, the Shahban- 
dar for the time being was one of the Chiefs implicated in the 
murder of the foreigners. 
To sign an engagement is one thing, and to carry out its pro- 
visions is another. The Dutch. we learn from VaLENTYN, re-opened 
their factory on the Perak river in 1655. Notwithstanding the 
promise of ‘‘ perpetual peace,’ they had by no means given up 
their determination to avenge the murder of their countrymen 
when a fitting occasion should be found. In 1656 this time arrived 
and operations were commenced against Achin, the State which 
the Dutch Company in Batavia held to be answerable for the con- 
duct of its tributary province. 
“In July, 1656,” says VALENTYN “ they sent JOHN TRUITMANS, the Com- 
missary, with the ships Domburg and Concordia to Malakka, which they reached 
on the 25th, together with the Ambassadors from Acheh. His instructions 
were to attack the people of Peirah as enemies, but not to venture upon doing 
so until it should be seen what would be the result of his negotiations at 
Acheh, after he had landed the Ambassadors there and had conferred with 
the Queen. He was also instructed, after the withdrawal of our factory at 
' Peirah, to keep away all foreigners from that place by blockadine the road- 
stead there. : 
Thereupon Mr. TRUITMANS departed on the 2nd August wita the afore- 
said vessels for Acheh along with the Queen’s Ambassadors. He blockaded 
the roadstead there for several months taking out of all vessels whatever 
goods he found in them, in accordance with the instructions he had received 
from their Excellencies, thereby to bring that Sovereign to her senses. 
Ao. 1657. On the 25th July, their Excellencies gave orders to avenge the 
foul massacre in Peirah and to occupy Acheh roadstead anew. Mr. BORT was 
appointed head of the blockading force owing to Mr. TRUITMANS being una- 
ble to proceed there. Later Mr. SYBEN, the Fiscal, was appomted Command- 
er ( when Bort was detained elsewhere ), to be subsequently replaced by Mr. 
BoRT again. 
Ao. 1658. Between our people and those of Peirah several skirmishes 
took place on the 27th May. Taey came down upon us with 7 war-vessels (to 
which the Queen of Acheh was to add 30 more) after the people of Ujong 
Salang (on the 23rd April) had surprised and burned our establisoment there, 
killing and wounding several of our people both there and on board the chaloep, 
Barnam, which they had captured (on which occasion they killed nine per- 
sons). Among the wounded were the merchant GROENEWHGEN, the Chief 
Officer, VAN GUNST, and many more.” 
This narrative shews that there had been a fruitless embassy 
from Achin to Batavia in 1656, the members of which were taken 
back to Achin by Trurrmans. The desultory warfare which then 
