Map to illustrate the Siamese question.

-8 -POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
RELATIVE TO THE MALAYAN PENINSULA
AND THE BRITISH SETTLEMENTS IN
THE STRAITS OF MALACCA.
CONSIDERATIONS ON THE SIAMESE CONQUEST OF KtDAH AND PARAK.
THE intelligence of a sudden invasion, by a large Siamese force
from Ligor, of the territories of the King of Kedah, the old ally
of the British Government, which reached Prince of Wales Island
in November, 1821, and the various rumours which prevailed
regarding the ulterior objects of the Siamese army, spread terror
throughout the island, and, although there was a considerable military force at the Presidency, the alarms of the native population
were difficult to be appeased. Many of the wealthy inhabitants
buried and concealed their valuable property, while others made
preparations for conveying it away to other British Settlements.
The supplies of grain, cattle and poultry, from the Kedah country,
on which Penang had so long chiefly depended, were suddenly
withheld, and there was considerable distress amongst the poorer
classes, by the increased price of provision.
The prompt and humane measures of Government, however, not
only for quieting the fears of the inhabitants, and allaying all
apprehensions of an attack by the Siamese, but for obtaining supplies of grain from Bengal and other quarters; while, in the meantime, large issues of rice were made from the Hon'ble Company's
stores, which was distributed to the poorer classes at a moderate
price, prevented much distress, which must have otherwise ensued,
and speedily restored greater confidence in the strength and
resources of the Government, which could command ample aid in
case of need.
For a better understanding of this unexpected event, it will be
proper to take a short review of the circumstances connected with
it. On Sunday, the 12th of November, 1821, about noon, a large
fleet of praus, full of Siamese, was observed standing into the Kedah river, coming in the direction from Trang, a large river to
the Northward, where the armament had been equipped. The
Pinghfilu or Commandant of the fort instantly sent notice of its
approach to the Bindahara or General of the Kedah Army and
the Laksamina or High Admiral, who were a short distance up
the river, and having some apprehensions of treachery, prepared
the guns to bear upon the praus, waiting only for the orders of
the BindahAra to fire upon them. The General, however, who
was taken by surprise, did not choose to authorize this, and determined to employ measures of pacification in the first instance.
The arrival of the Siamese was so sudden, that the Malayan