'A New Account of the East-Indies: Being the Observations and Remarks of Capt. Alexander Hamilton who resided in those parts from the Year 1688, to 1723, Trading and Travelling, by Sea and Land, to most of the countries and Islands of Commerce and Navigation, between the Cape of Good-Hope, and the Island of Japan. The Second Edition. Volume II.' [‎181] (210/362)

of. the Eaft Indies. 181
A fter the Ufurper had fettled himfelf
on the Throne of Siatn, he ordered the
French to deliver their Fort at Bencock^to an
Officer that he fent to take PoffelRon of it,
but they refuted, withoutfiril makingTerms
for themfelves, on which he fent aPartofhis
Army to attack it, and threatned every Man's
Life that returned before it was taken. His
Orders were pundually put in Execution, and
all the French got, was the Honour of dying
bravely in the Defence of their Liberty. I he
Fort Hands Hill undemoliflied, but no Artillery
is in it.
I n S'tam they have feveral Ways in punifil
ing Criminals with Death, for Theft and o-
ther fuch like Peccadilloes. Beheading is
the common Way. For Rebellion or Muti
ny they are ript up alive, and their Guts and
. Intrails taken out, and their Carcafes woven
up in a Twig-cafe, and tied up to a Stake for
Vultures and other voracious Fowls, or Dogs
to feed on. I law Eighteen one Morning
going to be executed fo for Mutiny. They
were each put on a triangular Seat, with their
Necks and Hands in wooden Fetters, and
carried by three Slaves in Chains through
the Streets to the Place of Execution, but
they lookt as if they had been almott llarv'd
in Prifon, for they were very meagre. Some
were weeping, others joyful that they were
near the End of a miferable Life.
F or Treafon and Murder, the Elephant is
the Executioner. The condemned Perfon is
made faft to a Stake driven into the Giound
M 3 for