OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. 173 



What remonstrance could do the Sultan did, not once but 

 repeatedly, seeing, however, to how little purpose he at length 

 gave it up ; but to take a firm stand by one party and condemn in 

 toto the actions of the other : for this the Sultan had not sufficient 

 strength of purpose. 



And indeed he might have been very much more cordial in 

 his relations with his Viceroy (against whom, however, he lias 

 never made complaint) had it not been that there were interested 

 people ever ready to abuse the Viceroy to the Sultan and to repeat 

 his reputed speeches in disparagement of his father-in-law, whilst 

 these people, in the same way, were continually declaring to Tuuku 

 Dia Unix that the Sultan was aiding his enemies to the utmost. 



The struggle was carried on with varying success, until in 

 1872-73 the Bendahara of Pahang, at the instance of this Grovern- 

 uient, sent Tunku Dca TIdjx very considerable assistance in men 

 and money. 



By their means Tunku Dia Udix succeeded in retaking the 

 whole of the districts of Klang and Selangor, and driving Mahdi 

 and Mahmud to Langat, and Sted Mashor and Eaja Asttl to 

 Perak ; with liaja Itavi, Tunku Dia Unix had already made friends. 



It is, however, but natural to conclude that this cessation of 

 hostilities would only have lasted long enough to allow jVLahdi and 

 his allies to get ready a new expedition, and that, as had occurred 

 before, so would it be again — war, pillage and piracy until the 

 principals on one side were either killed or completely driven from 

 this part of the Peninsula. 



When Tunku Dia TJdix retook SMangor in November, 1873, 

 what had once been a populous and thriving place was almost 

 uninhabited, such few hovels as still remained being in ruins, the 

 plantations overgrown with jungle, the owners fled to another 

 country, whilst the mines in the interior were totally deserted, the 

 machinery burnt or broken and the roads infested by starving 

 bands of robbers, who would hesitate at committing no crime 

 either to obtain plunder or revenge themselves on their enemies. 



