The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1881-10-22
SATURDAY
INTERESTING DETAILS ABOUT
ACHEEN.
LIE CHTNEsE QUEsTION IN ACHEEN

Translated from SsraI1ya CARA Oaranfl
The whole area OF Acheen Proper amounts to
about 30 square geographical miles. The native
population in outward appearance, costume,
charar;er, and customs, differ markedly from the
other inhabitants Of Sumatra. The place to be
assigned to the Achinese in ethnology is, how
ever, not yet determined. The same is tie case
with their language, although in all likelihood it
belongs also to the Polynesian family. The
number Of the native population of Acheen proper
amounted before the war to probably 300, 600 or
400 600 souls, actively engaged not only in agri-
culture and cattle breeding, but also especially
in industrial pursuits, such as silk-growing and
weaving, working in gold, silver, and iron, fish
ing, and trade. This number has now fallen To
so 600 at the utmost. Large tracts Of cultiyable
land are lying untitled, especially in the XXIV
Mukims, and are gradually ~relapsIng into wilder
ness. The stock Of cattle las almost died out
in many districts, and the silk industry has
almost come to naught.
Later adyices from Acheen announce no further
attacks on the Chinese, but another attempt by
the marauders to surprise the Chinese settlement
at Anagaulng by night had been frustrated by a
patrol. Further particulars show that seven
Chinese were killed and twelve wounded. and
about fifty houses burned by the marauders in
their previous attack on that place. MANY
AAh-o NCNLAN HAoAS 90 AA0Nh II OOh6C4uCIGt.
had left Acheen for Penang. The Government
had declined to sanction the proposal to supply
the Chinese in Acheen Proper with arms to defend
themselves, but had authorized their settlements
being strengthened by palisades. The marauders
had made an unsuccessful attempt to surprise a
fort at Samalangan. On the East coast, an
abundant pepper crop was expected. At Langsar
and Modiopahit it amounted to fully 200 coyans.
At Langsar, a marauding chief had been arrested
tried, and sentenced to twenty years transporta-
ton i'll chains. Under date the 18th June, ir was
officially reported that news had been received to
the effect that several chiefs Of the Achinese war
party had become discouraged, were short Of
money, and were also inclined to submit.
Peace has been decreed in Acheen, but fighting,
night surprises. and guerilla warfare continue.
After the attack on Penajung where several
Chinese fell victims, more attacks have followed
on Bell, Lambaru, and Kotta Alan. Regarding
that on Bell, the following particulars have
reached us from well-iniormed military sources
When the Chinese settlement there was sur
prised at night, the firing Of the enemy or
marauders, and the cries for help Of the poor
Chinese were plainly heard at u military post
only twenty minutes march distant. The com,
mandant of the post dared not sally out on his
own responsibility, and hence sent fret q mes
senger to Kotta Rajah, the head quarters, tc
deliver n report and ask for orders. The mes
senger returned with an order to sally out
When this, however, was done, the poor Chinese
had long been murdered, and the assailants could
nowhere be found, so that our troops had tc
march back unsuccessful.
The Achinese are continually harassing thu
Chinese. Lately they made an attack on thu
Chinese camp at Kotta Alan and robbed them o
several oxen, and now a similar occurrence har
happened at Lambaru. The authorities have
hence determined to supply the Chinese will
muskets and cartridges in order that they ma,
defend themselves against attacks by the enemy
The measure is a good one but this arming o
peOple apainst robbers does not bear out tn
assertion that the civil authority, with it's polio
force, is able to maintain order.
There is every prospect of Acheen Prope
having a large Chinese population, and Of tn
problem presented by the situation there beinI
thereby solved. Hence it is remarkable that th
correspondent of a Samarang paper asserts tina
these recent attacks on Chinese there are par
TALLY prompted by jealousy, whereby such attack
to a certain extent may be compared to those il
America and Australia against immigrants.