The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-31
A WAR or LONG DURATION
Little Peace Enjoyed in Achin for
One Hundred Years.
The Dutch Believe They Have Con-
aucrcd at Last-A Conflict About
which Little Is Known-N Struggle
for ependepce-Femnie Rulers.

South Africa. China, and the Philip
pines are not the only countries where
war is in progress In different parts Of
the world campaigns of long standing are
being carried on daily. Some of them
have never been heard OF In this country;
others have been forgotten
Under the latter head comes Achin,
| where for years the Dutch have been
striving to subjugate the natives. race
so important that at one time its rulers
received embassies from the greatest po-
tentates in Europe. that OF England in
cluded.
Achiu is probably the most war-ridden
State in the world. For 100 years II has
known little peace. first with one land.
then with another, but principally with
the Dutch.
The end of this protracted war is. how
ever, believed 20 be within sight at last
During the last three years the Dutch
have won repeated victories Batoeilik.
the strongest fortified garrison OF the
Achinese. Is hard pressed. and its fall is
expected TO result in the surrender of the
natives.
A race that can resist for number
of years a well organized invasion of
European troops is worthy OF some at
north of Sumatra. 1t Is the only State In
the island that still remains independent
of the Dutch. but, as already foreshadow-
ed. its independence appears to be now
doomed The population numbers about
32s 600.
Before Its decline. which commenced
early in the eighteenth century. Achin
was in close touch commercially with
England. 1t was to the port of Achin
that London merchants directed their hrst
efforts toward securing trade in the In
dies Queen Elizabeth sent confidential
communications to the King of Achin by
special envoy. and James also cor
responded with the reigning monarch.
who lived In such luxurious style that he
had $50 state elephants.
To this day there stand near the gate
of the Kings palace couple OF brass
cannon of extraordinary size. They were
a present from James l to the ruler or
Aehin.
So considerable. in fact, was AchIn's
one-time power that to reduce Malacca
1t fitted out an armada of no fewer than
500 ships. 100 of which We're larger than
any then used in Europe The ships car
ried GO0e0 men. with the King himself in
command.
Moreover. Achin at one time produced
more gold than any other country in the
East, excepting perhaps Japan. One
chronicler fixes the annual output at 5le,-
For fifty-eight years female soverefgns
reigned, and the foreign residents OF
Achin believe. though enormously, that
the Queen of Sheba was Queen OF Achln.
The Achinese employ miuted money, -
Guiding gold coin stanoed with Arabic
characters.
Great stretches of the interior have not
yet been explored, but IRON seward two
gigantic volcanic mountains rising to a
height of about IL 600 feet are visible.
Little also is known of the language.
This perhaps. is not strange, notwith-
standing the great career which Achin
once had Languages. like peoples and
like greatness. wither away and are for
gotten where there is a diminution In ma
tionai vigor or else they charge so COM
pletely that they are uurecoenizabie.
Though once powerful enough TO drive
the Portuguese out of the island ana 70
have a fleet and an army that were the
envy of larger countries. Achin now APP
pears destined To disappear from the
map altogether. The London Mail