10$ 



At last the storm, which had so long hung over 

 the political horizon of Kedah, and which, as it 

 rolled sullenly on, swelled at every concession^ 

 burst like a thunder clap on the terrified inhabi- 

 tants in 1621. A large tieet, * crowded with Si- 

 amese, which bad been silently equipped in the 

 Traang river to the northward, was descried, 

 at mid-day on the 12th November, standing into 

 the Kedali river. Immediate intimation was 

 given by the Panghooloo, or Commander of the 

 fort, to tlie Baudharra, or General, of the Kedah 

 army, and the Lacsaraana, or Admiral, who were 

 at a short distance up the river. The guns of 

 the fort were brought to bear upon the fleet, as 

 these officers apprehended treachery, but they 

 forbade them to open their fire, as the Siamese 

 had not declared war, and they were most pro- 

 bably apprehensive that they would be consider- 

 ed the aggressors if they fired the lirst shot, (al- 

 though in self defence), both by their allies the 

 British, and the Siamese. 



So unexpected was the arrival of the invading 

 force that the Kedali chiefs had only time to 

 assemble a few of their followers, w ith whom 

 they at once proceeded to the landing place in 

 order to ascertain the reason of this unusual ar- 

 mament. The Baudharra, Lacsamana, Tamun- 

 gong, and a few other chiefs, seated themselves 

 on the whan, whilst a party of armed Siamese 

 ascended it from their boats. Upon being in- 

 terrogated as to their wants, they stated that 

 tliey required rice as they were going to attack 

 the Burmahs, and were promised an immediate 

 supply but, having meanwhile landed a large bo- 



* h,ndenoD*t CfiQstlerations, page 2 Ui 129. 



