ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

S U M A T R A . 335
ftruction of his fortrefs, and went with him to make an attack on Bintang.
At the time that Malacca fell into the hands of the Portuguefe, Acbeeti
and Daya were provinces fubject to Pedeer, and governed by two flaves
belonging ^o the fultan of that place, to each of whom he had given a
niece in marriage. It muft be underftood that flaves are in that country
on a different footing from thofe in moft other parts of the world, and
ufually treated as children of the family. It frequently happened alfo
that men of good birth, finding it neceflary to obtain the protection of
fome perfon in power, became voluntary flaves for this purpofe. The
nobles, being proud of the fervice of fuch dependents, encouraged the
practice by treating them with a degree of refpecT, and in many initances
they made them their heirs;* A Have of this defcription who
held the government of Acheen, had two fons, the elder of whom
was named Raja Abraham, and the younger Raja Leila, and were brought
up in the houfe of their mafter. The father being old was recalled
from his poft, but on account of his faithful fervices, the fultan gave
the fuccefiïön to his eldeft fon, who appears to have been a youth of an
ambitious and very fanguinary temper. A jealoufy had taken place
between him and the chief of Daya, whilft they were together at Pedeer,
and as foon as he came into power he refolved to feek revenge,
and with that view entered in a hoftile manner the difiridr. of his rival.
When the fultan interpofcd, it not only added fuel to his refentmenr,
but infpired him with hatred towards his mafter, and he fhewed his difrefpect
by refuting to deliver up on the requifition of the fultan, certain
Portuguefe prifoners taken from a vefTel loft at Poolo Gomez, and
which he afterwards complied with at the intcrceffion of the Shabandar
of Pafay. This conduct manifefting ah intention of entirely throwing
off his allegiance, his father endeavored to recall him to a fenfe
of his duty, by reprefenting the obligations in which the family were
* The fame cuftom prevails at Acheen to this day. Thefe flaves who arc often Moors from
the Weft of India, trade for then- mailers, and have a ceitain proportion of the profits, refiding
in a feparate quarter of the city.
4 Q_ indebted