an enemy; but I do not think that they are so, beyond that. The
Dutch have never had any very great difficulty with them, nor have
we in the portion of the peninsula where we have established our
rule. Of course, I know little about them myself, as I have only
been out here a few months; but I am told that as traders they can
be trusted, and that the word of a Malay chief can be taken with
absolute confidence. Of course, among the majority of the people of
the peninsula we are regarded with jealousy and hostility--they
dread that we should extend our dominion over them, and it is not
surprising that they should by every means in their power strive
to prevent our coming far inland. The chiefs on the rivers are, as
a rule, specially hostile.

"In the first place, because their towns and villages are
more accessible to us, and they know more of our power than those
dwelling in the hill country; and, secondly, because they depend
largely upon the revenue that they derive from taxing all goods
passing up and down, and which they not unreasonably think they
might lose if we were to become paramount. No doubt there is much
that Hassan said of Sehi that is true and is applicable to other
chiefs who have placed themselves under our protection--namely,
that they have so injured trade by their exactions as to incur the
hostility of their neighbors. Of course, I am not speaking of such
men as the Rajahs of Johore and Perac, who are enlightened men,
and have seen the benefits to be derived from intercourse with us.
Their people are agriculturists, and they are really on a par with
the protected states in India.

"There is a great future before the country; gold is found in many
of the rivers, tin is probably more abundant than in any other