Penang at War

By the mid-nineteenth century, however, Penang was firmly established as a busy trading entrepot feeding off regional trading routes to Siam, northern Sumatra, Malaya and Burma. lts commercial and business fortunes fluctuated with the economic cycle but it remained an intensely polyglot and cosmopolitan port without rival in the upper reaches of the Straits of Malacca. In practice, the only serious threat to nineteenth century Penang came from within, such as the nasty and violent conflagration in I858 between two rival Chinese secret societies fighting for control of lucrative trading and other business interests – after a few days of riot and bloodshed, a force of Indian sepoys, police and British volunteers quelled the violence. But, internal riot and affray aside, Penang faced no obvious challenges. This was lucky, because in I889 a British traveller noted that ‘Fort Cornwallis is incapable of affording protection either to shipping in the harbour or to the inhabitants in the town. The sea has made considerable encroachment in recent years.” These minimal defences and the token military presence were, however, then, fit for purpose.

• Author: Andrew Barber

• ISBN: 9789834337247

• Dimension: 25cm x 17cm