$04 
SUMATRA. 
many tribes. Her grandfon, the reignhig prince, had lately been mur- 
dered by an invader^ and ftie had aifcnibled an army of two or three 
thou fan d ,mcti, to take tevenge. An agent of the Company went up 
the river, about fifteen miles, in hopes of being able to accommodate a 
matter which feemed to threaten materially the peace of the country; 
but he was told by the e&tee^ that unlefs he would land his men and guns, 
anflfalcf* a decided part in her favor* he had no bufinefs there; and he 
was obliged to rcimbark without effedVing any thing. The aggrefibr fol- 
lowed him the fame night, and made his efcape. It does not appear 
likely, from the manners and difpoficions of the people, that the whole 
of the country has ever been united under the jurifdidton of one mo- 
narch,* 
The more powerful r/yas afTumc authority over the lives of their fub* 
je£ts. The dependants, in all the campongs, are bound to attend their 
Scrvitesdoc chlcf in his iourneys and in his wars, and when an individual refufes, 
to^thcir chiefs, is expelled from the fociety, without permiffion to take his property 
along with him* The raja fupplies them with food for their expeditions, 
and aUuwa a rewara of two Me-ictangs^ tor each perfon they kill* When 
he pays his gaming debts, he impofes what arbitrary value he thinks 
proper, on the horfes and buffaloes (no coin being ufed in the coun- 
• The account giren by Mendei Fioto of his crobajTy to Ai;g<eejtty Timnr rajaj king of ihe 
BattaSf]n the year 1539, may perhaps be thought to contradi£V this obfci-vatton j but it h di/ii- 
ctjltto recoticHt; many of the clrcumftances he relates, or to form an idea of the place he went to. 
After leaving Malacca and doubling Ach«n head, he failed for four days dowa the coaft of the 
ocean, till he came to a riirer called Gaatiomgim ( Alqyajiffi'jt)t which had feven fathom water 
(quaere SiMl)' He proceeded eight leagues up this river, when he anchored at ButUrfndait^ 
nizt FenaiUi the refjdcnce of the king. Returning, he coaftcd back for twenty fix leagues, 
when he peered ihe ftrsits of MZ/iA/^f ar* and then ftwid over to Juitkcelon, The kingmcii- 
tioned hi* having lot two glacis called Jocur and lingati, by the Achcnefc, who put many of 
his Qol'scbAlIarj^i and Amborajai to death, (tiiefe are Malay t not £fl/;a officers), and that he had 
fworn by his God ^iay Hixambinor^ the dirpeofcr of juftioc, to take revenge. (This name h 
* likewrfe Mal'iy fomcwhat corrupted,) The king alfo paid adoration to a cow's head. He 
marched to Achecrt, which is bni twenty three leagues over land, and attacked the city with fif- 
teen ihoufand men. He fumifhed a cargoc of Tin and Benjamin for the veffcl Pinto came in, and 
Tent a prefent of gold headed lances, adam&uca wood, and ^ tortoiTe&ell box ornamented with 
gold^ to the governor of Malacca. 
* 4a imE^inary valuation^ abonit ei|ual to four Sp^nifh Bolkrs* 
try) 
