(612 AN ACCOUNT OF THE ORIGIN AND PROGRESS OF 
English merchants, demanded a fixed annual payment of 10,000 
dollars, and that the British general should defend the sea coast of 
Kaddah at their own cost, and supply him with a loan of money, 
rand with a contingent of troops and warlike stores at a fair charge, 
to enable him it may be supposed to defy Siam. Thus the Rajah 
-^endeavoured to force on an offensive and defensive alliance. How¬ 
ever hy this new and suddenly adopted intimidating policy he 
^extorted from Captain Light an advance of 10,000 dollars. But 
the Supreme Government directed forbearance to be shewn towards 
'■the Rajah, as a compensation had not yet been fixed for his estimated 
S$oss in trade owing to the British occupation of Pinang. 
It can only be said that forbearance produced effects similar to 
dhose which it has invariably had under almost all circumstances 
: m other parts of the East. 
19th April 1791.-—The Rajah again resolved to try an appeal to 
'force. At his instigation a fleet of twenty Lanun boats entered the 
Pry river which disembogues on the coast nearly opposite the town 
of Pinang and is distant from the latter only about 2§ miles. On 
the same day the Bindahara or general of the Keddah forces joined 
these Lanuns, with his ninety boats or prahus. A land force had 
also proceed to Pry mouth where it threw up entrenchments, still 
visible [1848.] The merchantmen then lying in the harbour set 
sail on the 23rd and on the same day the inhabitants of Pinang 
asked leave to attack the enemy. 
Captain Light -again tried to bribe off the Keddah force by 
sending 5000 dollars to the Bindahara as a portion of the yearly 
stipend, but it had no effect. The combined Malays now tried to ex¬ 
cite discontent in the town, offering a portion of the expected plunder 
to those who would side with them. On the 9th they sent a decla¬ 
ration of war, in which it was stated that as regarded Keddah the 
British had promised much, but had performed nothing. Several 
gun boats were now fitted out to act along with three small armed 
vessels one of which belonged to some Achinese. 
Captain Glass B. N. I. landed on the opposite coast at 4 o’clock 
p. m. with one company of N. Artillerymen, two companies of 
Bengal Sepoys, and twenty European soldiers, while four gun boats 
covered their advance upon the enemy’s entrenched position. 
The latter were not prepared for such an attack and after a feeble 
resistance were broken and driven off. 
At daybreak of the 12th, Lieuts. Rabon and Mihie with the 
vessels and gun boats attacked the enemy who now mustered about 
209 prahus. They were hotly received at first, but they soon 
compelled the enemy to retreat out of sight of the town. 
On the 14th he again appeared. The gun boats supported by a 
Punt having an eighteen pounder gun in her prow, attacked the fleet 
a second time which fled after sustaining considerable loss and 
• was pursued for four miles. Thus the steady discipline of four 
hundred troops of all arms enabled them to triumph over a force 
