ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

2^4 S U M A T R A .
from the ufurpation, as they term it, of the Dutch; who formerly laid
ftrong claim to the country, and perfifted in their attempt to eftablifa
themfelves there, till an article of the treaty of Paris, in 1763, put the
matter out of difpute; It is therefore unneceflary to enter into any difcuffion
of the refpedtive claims of the two European nations; for which,
however, I am in poffeffion of the ampleft materials. Neither in facl:
have any right, but what proceeds from the will and confent of the native
powers.
Tappanooly. The other fettlement is on a fmall ifland, called Punchong cached, in
the famous bay of Tappanooly, which is not furpaffed, for natural advantages,
in many parts of the world. Navigators fay that all the
navies of Europe might ride there with perfedt fecurity, in every
weather ; and fuch is the complication of harbours within each other,
as to lead fome to afiert, that a large fhip could be fo hid in them, as
not to be found without a laborious and tedious fearcL Unfortunately
it is but ill fituated with refpect to the general track of fhipping, and
diftance from the feat of our important India concerns; fo that little ufe
has hitherto been made of it. This bay ftretches into the heart of the
Batta dominions, and its borders are inhabited by that people j who
barter here the produce of their country, for the articles which they fland
in need of from abroad. The natives are in general inoffenfive, and give
little disturbance to our eftablifhment. The Achmefe long ftrove to
drive us from Tappanooly, by force of arms, and we were under a neceffity
of carrying on a war, for many years, with parties of that nation,
in order to fecure our tranquility. They wanted to recover the trade
with the country people* which our interference had obftructed and diminished.
Journey made ^ * s ** a *^ t * iat no European ever penetrated twenty miles into the
imo the Batta country which lies at the back of Natal. At Tappanooly, Mr. Holloway^
chief of that place, and Mr. Miller, botanift, by orders from the
council, performed a journey, in the year 1772, through the Batta
diftrifts in that quarter, with a view of enquiring into, and giving en-.
couragement