THIS 
> 
JOURNAL 
OF THE 
THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO 
AND 
EASTERN ASIA, 
AN ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF THE BRITISH 
COLONIES IN THE STRAITS OF MALACCA.* 
By Lieut-Col. James^ Low, c, m.r.a. s. & ji.a. s.e. 
After the enterprising spirit of the Portuguese had opened 
the route by sea to the Malayan Peninsula and to the Eastern 
Archipelago, it could not have been expected that other European 
nations would not endeavour to participate in the advantages yielded 
by the discovery of these productive fertile regions. The field 
indeed was vast, and although the first adventurers tried hard 
to exclude every rival, and thus to secure lasting monopolies, their 
efforts, according to the natural course of events, proved in vain. 
The Portuguese, the Spaniards, and the Dutch, then became 
the competitors for supremacy, over these favoured and envied 
portions of the globe—regardless almost of the rights of the natives, 
and urged onwards by a thirst for spoliation and gold. 
* It is proper that I should here state that the principal facts to be given in this 
account respecting the history of the Straits Settlements, have been derived from 
official records to which I was personally allowed access by the local government, 
and to the present governor the Hon. Col. Butterworth, my best acknowledgements 
are due for the facilities he has cordially afforded to me for filling up some blanks 
in the latter pages of this account. 
VOL. III. NO. X, OCTOBER, 1849, F 6 
