Province Wellesley merely acted as a mainland buffer for Penang, and Melaka similarly turned its back on affairs in the hinterland.
Wellesley's main purpose was to connect the provinces to the hinterlands, Melaka functioned similarly.
mnli hypothesis: Wellesley's main purpose was to connect the provinces to the hinterlands, Melaka functioned similarly. premise: Province Wellesley merely acted as a mainland buffer for Penang, and Melaka similarly turned its back on affairs in the hinterland.