SUMATRA, 
35; 
Maharaja, or go^ ernor of the kingdom, as it became ufiial from that 
time to call him^ was confidered as the chief. It does not appear that 
the queen had the power of appointing or removing any of thefe 
great officers. No applications were made to the throne, but in their 
prefence, nor any public refoludon taken, but as they determined in 
council.* 
In proportion as the political in^portance of the kingdom declined, 
it's hiftory becomes obfcure. There are no accounts to be met with of 
the tranfaftions of this reign, and It is probable that Acheen took no 
active part in the affairs of the neighbouring powers, but fuffered the 
Dutch to remain in quiet poiTelSon of Malacca. Even the period of 
it*3 duration is not marked* In 1688 a qu*een of Acheen died,^ but as 
flie is defcribed by the EngUfh gentlemen who went there on an embaffy 
from Madras in 1684, to be then about forty years of age, fhe muft have 
been a fucceffi>r, and perhaps not the immediate one, of Peducka's 
widow. Thefe perfons declare their fufpicions, which were fuggefted to 
them by a doubt prevailing amongll the inhabitants, that this fovereign was 
not a real qneen, but an eunuch dreffed up in female apparel, and inipofed 
on the public by the artifices of the orang cayos." But as fueh a cheat^ 
though managed with every femb lance of reality ; which they obfervc 
was the cafe; could not be carried on for any number of years without 
detection, and as the fame idea does not appear to have been entertained 
at any other period, it is probable that they were miftaken in their fur- 
mi fe» Her perfon they defcribe to have been large, and her vokc fur, 
prizingly ftrong, but not manly.* 
The 
i India Company' mcorda. ^ D^mpicr's vopges. Vies ties Govern eurs- 
^ India Cotopany's recordii, 
* Th« following curious palTage is cxtrafletl from the joumai of ili^fe gentl'emen*s proceedmgf « 
" We went to give our attendance at chc palace this day as dtAornary. Belog arrived at the 
place of audience with the orang cayos, the ^treen wa» pleafcd to order us to come nearer, when 
her majefl)' wm very inquifitive into the uf& of our wearing Perriwjgs, and what was the coh" 
venicnce of them j to all whkh wc returned (atisfafilory anfwtrSi After this, Iwr majeHy defired 
5 A • of 
