202 



Vance, 5f necessary. The preceding night, the 

 Malay Contingent, having, as they asserted, heard 

 a cnnple of shots from the jungle, began throw- 

 ing away their ammunition in return, but the fir* 

 ing was speedily stopped. At midnisrlit a jinjal 

 shot, with much innm tauMtng, caused the troops 

 to stand to their arms till day break ; but subse- 

 quent events proved that at Uiis period nothing 

 further than needlessly harassing the troops was 

 intended, as Soongei Patty e bad been selected as 

 a fortunate s*pot for re-opening the campaign, 

 lieutenant Watts, of the S, and M., about this 

 time, joined the troops in advance. 



On the 12th or thereabouts, Dool Syed ad-* 

 dressed a letter to J. B. Westerhout Esq. request- 

 ing that gentleman to meet him* at Soongei Pat- 

 tye, and offering to give up the brigade of six- 

 pounders, which had fallen into his hands at the 

 tertninationof the first expedition ; he also express- 

 ed a willingness to vacate the Panghoolooship 

 in favor of either his nephew or his son, provided 

 that, in return for these concessions, no farther 

 steps were taken against bim. . 



To this letter Mr. Westerhout was directed to 

 reply that, if he really wished to avert the storm 

 that was impending over him, he must al once 

 and unconditionally surrender, and bring the 

 guns alotig with him to Malacca. It was obvi* 

 ous, indeed, that the ofFer was made merely in 

 order to g^in time, as he had not at this period 

 received certain promises of assistance from his 

 former allies, and he could not but be aware 

 that the British would look upon the offered 

 transfer of authority, as being, vvhat itreally was, 

 merely nominal. 



