322 
REPORT ON THE ISLAND OP BANKA. 
he obtained the protection of the king*, who as the enemy of Plena* 
b$ng artfully associated him with Panglima Raman, whose occa¬ 
sional retreat was still at Koba. After various piratical expeditions 
which they undertook in conjunction, they carried on a regular block¬ 
ade of the western coast of B&nka; they occupied for this purpose, 
a situation near the Nangka islands, whence they intercepted all the 
vessels that passed through the straits, or that attempted to leave 
• - i‘ 
the river of Plemb&ng, About this period they also plundered, in 
fellowship, the stockade of Jehus. The rank of Japhar was suffi¬ 
cient to prevent any opposition from the inhabitants, whether Chi¬ 
nese, Malays or natives, and they carried away, without meeting an 
attempt at resistance, a large store of tin, and everything valuable 
which the stockade contained. Having separated himself from 
Panglima Raman, in consequence of a dispute concerning a valua¬ 
ble prize (of which the annals of Java can give some account) Ja¬ 
phar visited the kingdom of Kedah, and upon his return perma¬ 
nently established himself at Minto. Here lie bid complete de¬ 
fiance to his sovereign (who to appearance approved of his situation) 
he occupied the fort of the Sultan, Bintang-saribu above mentioned, 
and exercised over the inhabitants of the neighbourhood every species 
of unlawful oppression. 
He summoned all the officers of the most distant settlements, in 
the regular service of and under responsibility to the persons to 
whom the sovereign had committed the administration of the mines, 
and compelled them by threats and by violence to deliver to him at 
Minto the tin they manufactured or the money they had charge of. 
Every species of abuse and torture was employed to discover the 
places where their actual or supposed'treasures might be concealed, 
and many of the unfortunate inhabitants were cruelly put to death. 
The spot is still pointed out at the river Mlnto-azin whither the vic¬ 
tims were conveyed at night to satisfy the revengeful spirit of this 
miscreant. 
It is probable that the same causes which prevented the former- 
ally of Plembang from affording succour to Banka, prevented also 
an interference on account of the atrocities of Japhar; it is evident 
