Genealogy of the Kings, §c. 



[July 



It may be here remarked that, in 1829, Syed Hussain, a native mer- 

 chant of Penang, of great wealth, and considerable influence among 

 the Achinese chiefs, encouraged by the anarchy prevailing, put forth 

 his claims to the crown, and actually caused his son, Saif-al-Alum, as 

 just mentioned, to be elected king by the three Soghis, in room of the 

 rightful prince Jouhar Alum Shah, who fled to Penang. The late Sir 

 Stamford Raffles, and Lieut. Colonel Coombs (then Capt. Coombs) of 

 the Madras service, were joined in a commission by the Marquis of 

 Hastings to decide upnn the claims of Syed Hussain, which, after a 

 long investigation, were found to be wholly groundless. Jouhar Alum 

 was consequently reinstated, and a commercial treaty concluded with 

 him, together with the privilege of having a Resident and establish- 

 ment at Achin. This, however, has been since annulled by the impolitic 

 treaty between Great Britain and Holland, done at London, March 

 17th, 1824; by which the English settlements in Sumatra were ceded 

 to Holland, from the 1st March 1825; and wherein it was stipulated, 

 that no British settlement should be formed in future on the Island of 

 Sumatra, nor any treaty concluded by British authority, with any 

 native prince, chief or state therein. 



On Jouhar Alum's death, a few years ago, his son, the present prince, 

 Sultan Bayang, succeeded. Saif-al-Alum retired to Penang, and is 

 since dead. Achin at present is in a state of anarchy. The little 

 authority formerly exercised by its prince, has been usurped by the 

 Saghis and heads of tribes ; its trade with our ports is still consider- 

 able, though much diminished, and, indeed, in a fair way to become 

 annihilated altogether, if more attention is not paid to scouring the 

 seas of the numerous pirates by which they are infested, and who are 

 daily becoming more presumptuous, from impunity. 



The Dutch, who are now strenuously attempting the subjection of 

 the whole of Sumatra, will probably find Achin an easy conquest, in 

 consequence of the divided state of its councils : that is, if the 

 Menangcabowes and cannibal Battas, do not prevent the Hollanders 

 from ever penetrating so far. This, by the latest accounts, seems to be 

 the case ; the Dutch having sustained repeated losses. 



