The frigate Conqueror fitted out by the king of Siam and the troubles with the Malay pirates in March 1837

P. 164: “His Siamese majesty's frigate Conqueror has arrived at Singapore, a vessel of six hundred tons and carrying forty guns, which was built at the port of Chantiboon, and the voyage she now makes to this port is her first trip to sea. Notwithstanding her warlike designation and appearance, she is intended to be employed as a trader between Singapore and Siam, and instead of going upon the odious principle of monopoly, and, like the ships of the king of Cochin China, trading only on the sovereign's account, and refusing to carry freight for the private merchants, the Conqueror is open for "freight or charter" to any of the king of Siam's subjects. Another vessel of one thousand tons burthen has also been laid down at Chantiboon, and will soon be in a condition to put to sea. She is to be similarly equipped with the Conqueror, and is intended to trade to Singapore upon the same liberal footing. The rate at which this vessel has taken in freight is one tical, or about sixty cents, per pecul, and the principal part of her present cargo is taken in on these terms. She is not a teak-built vessel, that description of timber not being procurable at the place where she was built. The Malay pirates have been committing serious ravages among the native vessels of the country trading along the coast from Chantiboon to Bankok, and within the last ten or twelve days, in the beginning of June, no less than three trading junks had been captured by these marauders, one of them having on board a cargo of three hundred piculs of pepper, and the others being loaded with general cargo, but principally with bark intended for the China market. War-boats had been despatched against them by the Siamese government, but, it would appear, to very little purpose, as the Siamese war-boats, whenever they come in sight of a pirate, let go their anchor and forthwith commence a vigorous discharge of shot, without much troubling themselves, except upon their own account, as to whether the pirates are within its range or not; and if they withstand such a display of their skill and prowess in gunnery, and do not run away, the ammunition of the war-boats is of course very speedily expended, and an excellent excuse is thus found for returning to port. If the pirates make off, the Siamese war-boats are sure to pursue, but generally with such an abatement of their vigour, or such an exercise of their discretion, as to prevent their overtaking the enemy. The king of Siam directed the Praklang to address the Straits government, requesting their aid in “extirpating the pirates from the face of the earth.” His majesty, it seems, is desirous to know from what quarter the pirates come, and makes particular inquiries on this subject, and as to whether Pahang and the neighbouring countries are subject to the English or Dutch government. The royal missive is rather a singular document, not very intelligible in its scope and tendency, but got up with due regard to ceremony and etiquette, being in the first place cased in a fine hollow bamboo, which is put into an envelope of silk, and this is then put into another large stand, with a silk bag and seal over that!—Singapore Free Press, July 27.”

Source

The Asiatic Journal and Monthly Register for British and foreign India, China and Australia. Vol XXV. New Series. January-April 1838. London, 1838. Digitized by Google.