SUMATRA. 
guefe ihips, m which the fucceft was nearly equal on both fides, the 
Achcnefe proceeded to attack Johor, the king of which was then in al- 
liance with Malacca. Twelve fhips followed them thither, and having 
burned fome of their gallics defeated the refl:, and obliged them to fly to 
Acheen, » 
is56. About four years after this misfortune, the king prepared a fleet of no 
lefs than three hundred fail, and was ready to fet out once more upon 
his favorite cnterprize, when his general, named Moratlza, who had 
long lince defigned to \jfurp the crown, murdered him, his queeOi and 
the principal nobility. ^ 
About this time the confequence of the kingdom of Acheen had 
arrived at a great height. Its friendfliip was courted by the moft con- 
fiderableeaftern potentates ; no city in India pofielTed a more flourifliing 
trade j the cuftoms of the port being moderate, it was crowded with 
merchants from all parts, and though the Portuguefe and their fliips 
were continually plundered, 3^et thofe belonging to eyery native power, 
from Mecca in the weft, to Japan in the eaft, appear to have enjoyed 
perfe<5b fecurity in the buflnefs of their commerce. With rcfpe£t to the 
government, the nobles, or orang cayos as they are called, formed a 
powerful counterpoife to the authority of the king. They were rich ; 
had numerous followers, and cannon planted at the gates of their hou* 
fes ; and thus feeling themfelves independent, often gave a licentious 
range to their proud and impatient tempers* Although the generality 
of Portuguefe hiftorians have indirectly attributed the tranfadions of 
the I aft fifty or fixty years to a iingle reign, yet we have fome authority, 
befide the evident probability of the matter, for faying that during that 
fpace of time, there were many revolutions in the court, brought about 
by the intrigues of the nobles, until at length the ancient royal line be- 
came extindt. * 
I Faria y Soufa. * Park y Soufa. ^ Beaulicu. 
The 
