In the year 1858, the regents of Trat and Trat commissioner reported that Chaozhou Chinese and Hokkien Chinese at Trat and Chantaburi province, had went down to join with Chaozhou Chinese and Hokkien Chinese in Kampot and kampong som, also joining with Hai lam Chinese and Macao Chinese at Sila Khao, front of Kampong Som Bay. They became a large pirate flotilla of one thousands men, waiting to attack ships in the sea, the victims were such as, Tho Chinese ship, Trat customer at Sila Khao district, front of Kampong Som Bay, ship of Captain Khunthep Arkorn Sura, customs at Sila Khao district, front of Kampong Som Bay, xian Chinese ship, a Bangkok customer, Chong Tong Mueng, ship of Captain Khun Pornpitak, tax officer, at Trat town front of Bang Krasob river, Prachanta khirikhet district, Xi Chinese ship, Trat town customer, front of Prachanta khirikhet district.

         The size of those pirate ships were of 9 to 10 Wa in length, equipped with large and small cannons, Black-clay ammunition and other weapons (31). This Chinese pirate was a very huge gang and staying in the area that difficult to suppress, which were Trat Chantaburi, Kampot, and Kampong Som district. These pirates at Sila Khao, after robbing goods from customer ships, they went selling at Kampot local people. Kampot governor was not pay attention, on the other hand, turn to the pirate side. These pirates were recruiting more men, and command the junk owners that if they wanted the junk back, they must pay the redemption at Kampot town. A support from the town governors was the key important factor made up a huge pirate gang. King Rama IV had then ordered Khun Phon Phen Thalae to patrol the sea to Koh chang, and in the fifth month ordered Phraya Ratchawangsan, Jang Wang luang Sri maharaja, Director Khun Wisuthidech, Permanent Secretary of Cham tribe volunteer. These 3 lords commanded Kotchasee gunship on patrol, and sent letter to Lord Phra Maha Isarathibodi, governor of Udom Meechai town to admonish governor of Kampot about the pirate supporting.

         Trat province was considered a significant trade town in Rattanakosin era. Not only this sea route that getting to Siam’s capital city, but foreign ships from the East that came trading with Siam also need this route. Thus, made traffic around the Trat area became much more congestion. Besides, with surrounded by many islands made Trat a good place for pirate gathering.

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¹ Pannee Bualek, same topic