ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

S U M A T R A . ' 329
Pacheco, to take fatisfaction; which he endeavoured to effect by blocking
up the ports, and cutting off from the towns all fources of provision,
particularly their fifheries. As he cruifed between Acheen and Pafay,
a boat with five men going to take in freih water at a river near the
latter, was nigh being cut off, had not the people, by wonderful efforts
of valor, overcome the numerous party which attacked them. The fultan,
alarmed for the confequences of this affray, fent immediately to fue
for reconciliation, offering to make reparation for the lofs of property
the merchants had fuftained by the licentioufnefs of his people, from
a participation in whofe crimes he endeavoured to vindicate himfelf.
The advantage derived from the connexion with this place, induced the
goverment of Malacca to be fatisfied with his apology, and cargoes of
pepper and raw {ilk were fhortly after procured there; the former being
much wanted for the fhips bound to China.
Geinal who had fled to the king of Malacca, as before mentioned,
followed that monarch to the ifland of Bintang, and received one of his
daughters in marriage. Six or feven years elapfed before the fituation
of affairs enabled the king to lend him any effectual affiftance, but at
length fome victories gained over the Portuguefe afforded a proper opportunity,
and accordingly a fleet was fitted out, with which Geinal
failed for Pafay. In order to form a judgment of the tranfaclions of
this kingdom, it muft be underftood, that the people having an idea of
predeflination, always conceived prefent poffeffion to constitute right,
however that poffeffion might have been acquired : but yet they made
no fcruple of depofing and murdering their fovereigns, and juftified
their adts by this argument; that the fate of concerns fo important as
the lives of kings, was in the hands of God, whofe vicegerents they were,
and that if it was not agreeable to him, and the confequence of his will,
that they fhould perifh by the daggers of their fubjects, it could not fq>
happen. Thus it appears that their religious ideas were jult ftrong
enough to banifh from their minds every moral fentiment. The natural
confequence of thefe maxims was, that their kings were merely
the tyrants of the day; and it is faid that whilft a certain ihip remained
in