BRITISH CONNECTION WITH MALAYA. 271 
undoubtedly led to an improved position for our Company’s mer- 
chants in Malaya. The Dutch found the difference when they 
tried against them at Bantam (1683) the tactics which had been so 
successful at Amboyna (1625). Our merchants did not, on being 
expelled from the former, yield up the pepper-trade, as they had 
yielded the clove-trade at Amboyna; on the contrary the East India 
Company's Government at Madras took the first opportunity to 
establish new forts and factories in Indrapore (1684) and Ben- 
eoolen (1685). The former settlement did not long continue, but 
that in Bencoolen was afterwards strengthened and secured by a 
strong Fort named after the great Martporovucn (1714); and Ben- 
coolen may thus be considered to be the germ of all our subsequent 
erowth in these parts. 
Other experimental establishments were also made at Achin 
(1666 and 1695), Jambi, Tapanuli, Natali (1752), Moco-Moco, 
Patani, &e., but none of them proved permanent. After 1686 all 
the Sumatran Settlements were rendered subordinate to Bencoolen. 
The latest of the three divisions. comprising the period since 1762, 
is a period of political and military connection, commencing with 
the Bengal Government's expedition against Manila (1762). and 
continuing down to the present time. 
The result of that expedition was that the Spanish possessions 
were captured without difficulty. but were restored at the Peace of 
Paris (1763), when our possessionsin Sumatra were also secured 
tous. The only token of success retained by the English was the 
island of Bélambangan, which was ceded by the Sultan of Sulu 
in gratitude for his release from Spanish captivity on the taking 
of Manila. This island lies off Maludu Bay in Sabah, and is 
interesting as being, together with Labuan, which was then 
occupied for a still shorter period, our first acquisition of territory 
in Bornean waters. It was finally abandoned in 1803. 
The familiarising of the Bengal merchants with this part of the 
world, consequent on such an expedition, and on the negotiations 
that followed at the Peace, was of importance ; and after the Treaty 
of 1763 Fort Marlborough (Beneoolen) was formed into an inde- 
pendent Residency, which arrangement lasted till 1802. In 1781 
LiG2 
