The times., 1901-03-31
A War OF LONG DURATION
Little Peace Enjoyed in Achin for
One Hundred Years.
The Dutch Believe They Have Con-
quered at LaSt-A Conflict About
which Little Is known-N struggle
for Iadepende 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
I being carried on daily Some Of them
have never been heard Of IN this country.
others have been forgotten.
Under the latter head comes Achiu.
, where for years the Dutch have been
striving to subJugate the natives, a 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 10 result in the surrender of the
natives.
A race that can resist for a number
of years "a well organized invasion Of
European troops is worthy OF some at
tentfon. The country is situated in the
north of Sumatra. IT Is the only State in
the island that still remains independent
of the Dutch. but. as already foreshadow-
ed it's Independence appears to be now
doomed. The population numbers aboat
32s. 600.
Before It's decline. which commenced
early in the eighteenth century, Achln
was in close touch commercially with
England. IL 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
speciaI envoy and James [ also cor
responded with the reigning monarch.
who lived in such luxurious style that ne
had go state elephants
To this day there stand near the gate
of the Kings palace a couple OF brass
cannon of extraordinary size. They We're
a present from James to the ruler OF
Achin
So considerable. in fact. was Achin's
One-time power that to reduce Malacca
it fitted out an armada Of no fewer than
SEQ ships, 100 of which We're larger than
any then used in Europe. The ships car
ried GG.09G men, with the King himself in
command.
more gold than any other country IN the
East, excepting perhaps Japan one
chTOnicler fixes the annual output at o12,-
0C0 ounces.
For fffty-eight years female sovereigns
reigned, and the foreign residents OF
Achiu believe. though enormously, that
the Queen of Shcba was Queen OF Achla.
The Achinese employ minted money, =
cluding gold coin stamped with Arabic
characters.
Great stretches of the interior have not
yet been explored, but from seaward two
Gigantic volcanic mountains rising to a
height of about II 600 feet are visible
Little also is known of the language.
This, perhaps, Is not strange, notwlth-
standing the great career which Achin
once had Laugua ges, like peoples and
like greatness wither away and are for
gotten where there is diminuti0n IN IA
tfonnl vigor or else they change so COM
pIeteIy that they are UnTecog gaizable.
Though once powerful enough 70 drive
Che Portuguese out of the island ana u
have "a fleet and an army that were the
envy of larger countries. Achin now ap-
pears destined tn disappear from the
map altogether The London Mail