70 A LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS 



Cosen to the great King Rama Raia, It is an auncient 

 Custome in this kingdome, that the Kinges devide their 

 Countrie in 3 principall Naicques in manner of a Loane to them 

 and their heires, paying yearlie a certen Rent, and when the 

 King hath any warres, they serve him with a certen Number 

 of Elephantes horses and Souldiers att their owne Costs and 

 Charges, and att this presents tyme this Kingdome is devided 

 into 3 principall Naicques to witt to him of Tanianco; him 

 of Tirepopelir and to the Naicque of Madurie of which 

 country of theise 3 Naicques betweene Xegapatam vntill St. 



Tome and deeper towards the ettle 



for himself and ffortes, and although the 



King eth the souereigne goverment to himself 



and t without his Confirmation nothing is of any 



valliditie but must come yearlie to s'hewe their obedience, yet 

 notwithstanding they are sufficiently Kinges, ech of them in 

 his gouerment doing what hee will, which happened for the 

 most parte by the Kinges age whoe hath not beene able to 

 settle a good order in all thinges ; through which meanes theise 

 Naicques do much pill and poll their subiects, ffarming out 

 their townes to the Bratnanes, which whollie do consume the 

 poore Commons, that it is too bee wondred howe they are able 

 to mainteyne their famillies ; This is the principall goverment 

 of this country. And touching the trade here, the Porting- 

 alles haue had a mightie rich trade which might bee accompt- 

 ed the verie best in the Indies, but in regarde they are put 

 from their Trade in Jaua, Amboine, Banda, Molucca, 

 Solor, Borneo, Siam and Petania, this also is much 

 decayed, so that at this tyme they are hardlie able to 

 mainteyne their famillies; Negapatam and St. Thome 

 beeing so much decayed as is vnspeakeable. In this 

 kingdome the Dutch haue two ffactories, (to witt) one in 

 Tanagapatam belonging to the Naique of Tirepopelir ; 



Jour. Straits Branch 



