SUMATRA. 
3^5 
Jiities of information on the fubjeft, ufes this flrong exprefHon — that he 
was infinitely rich," He conftancly employed in his caftle three hun- 
dred goldfmiths. This would feem an exaggeration^ but that it is well 
known the Malay princes have them always about them in great num- 
bers, at this day, working in the manufacture of fillagree, for which 
the country is fo famous. His naval flrength has been already fuffici- 
ently defcribed. He was pofleffed of two thoufand brafs guns, and 
fmall arms in proportion* His trained elephants amounted to many 
hundreds. His armies were probably raifcd only upon the occafion 
which called for their ading, and that in a mode fimilar to what was ef- 
tabiiflied under the feudal fyftem in Europe, The valley of Acheen 
alone was faid to be able to furnifh forty thoufand men upon an emer- 
gency, f A certain number of warriors, however, were always kept on 
foot, for the protection of rhe king and his capital. Of thefe the fu- 
perior dafs were called Qokobdlang^ and the inferior, amboraja^ who were 
entirely devoted to Ms fervice, and refembled the janizaries of Conftan. 
tinople.* Two hundred horfemen nightly patrolled the grounds about 
the caflle, the inner courts and apartments of which were guarded by 
three thoufand women. The king's eunuchs amounted to five hundrcd.K 
The difpofition of this monarch was cruel and fanguinary, A multi- 
tude of inftances are recorded of the horrible barbarity of his puniih- 
tnents, and for the moft trivial offences. He imprifoned his own mother, 
and put her to the torture, fufpeCting her to have been engaged in a 
oonfpiracy again ft him, with ibme of the principle nobles, whom he 
oaufed to be executed* He murdered his nephew, the king of Johor's 
fon, whofe favor with his mother he was jealous of. He alfo put to 
^eath a fon of the king of Bantam, and another of the king of Paham^ 
* Beauiieu. ^ BeauileUt 
* The f^okobaScmgs now appear as officers of ftate, and are few ia Dttmbcrf but m the old 
wirs we read of feveu hundrtd falling in one affaon. 
E Beau lieu. 
who 
