REPORT ON THE ISLAND OF BANKA. 
327 
truth. A respectable native, Demang Sat jo Truno abovementioned, 
in giving an account of his labours and fatigues in establishing the 
stockade at Mampang, assured me that his rest at night was dis¬ 
turbed by every rustling leaf, he added with apparent sincerity since 
Banka had become a British possession he reposed in safety. This 
is truly the sentiment of the inhabitants in general whether Malays, 
Chinese or original natives. The statements in preceding parts of 
this introduction as to the former conduct of the sovereigns of Plem¬ 
bang to this unfortunate island require no comment. The interest 
and happiness of the inhabitants without exception is deeply con¬ 
cerned in the change of government. The miners often oppressed 
by the officers of Plembang confide implicitly in the justice and liber¬ 
ality of the present administration ; the natives are secure from be¬ 
ing surprised at their plantations by the pirates. The re-establish¬ 
ment of many productive mining situations will be attempted again 
in the extensive southern districts ; many of the exiled nation have 
already returned or await anxiously an opportunity to revisit their 
native shores. 
It is not requisite to the object of this introduction to report the 
detail of the circumstances connected with the acquisition of Ban¬ 
ka ; and the authentic documents relating thereto have already been 
made public under the sanction of government. 
If it were necessary to increase the number of accusations against 
the exiled Sultan, these would largely be afforded by the unfortu¬ 
nate natives of Banka, and by their reproaches for withholding that 
security and protection which they deserved, as his own riches and 
greatness as well as those of his ancestors were chiefly derived from 
the revenue of that small island, and even the superstition of the 
capital has discovered in his fate a just punishment of this indiffer¬ 
ence to the affairs of Banka, superadded to the violation of the most 
sacred engagements. In the month of April 1812, the British flag 
was hoisted on Banka: and the following month the rights of the 
Sultan of Plembang to the island were solemnly transferred to the 
British Government. 
Of the various inhabitants of Banka that have been mentioned in 
