PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
ELLIT C.O.882
וויזייוויי
2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE Í BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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passage. None of the men on these junks being identified as having participated in this attack, and there being no one to charge them with any offence, they were, on their arrival at Penang, allowed by Captain Denison to go on shore. The remaining junk was, by the advice of the Bolicitor-General, placed in the Admiralty Court, by which she has since been condemned; but i am informed that the proceedings in her case cannot be brought to a close until February next.
5. It is perfectly well known that these disturbances in Laroot would long ago have been brought to an end, but for the supplies of men, money, and material, which the rival factions receive from their friends outside. The Honourable Mr. Whampoa informed me several months since, that one faction was expecting the arrival from Macao of two heavily-armed war junks, greatly superior in size to any of those hitherto employed; and he told me that he had been credibly informed, that in one fight that had taken place, 3,000 Chinamen had been killed. It is also alleged, that money and assistance have been given from Singapore, but by far the greatest amount of aid has been derived from Penang. I myself saw, when in Province Wellesley, at Christmas last, large numbers of Chinese, who had been landed there ostensibly as labourers, but who, from their appearance and dress, it was apparent had been engaged as fighting men, and who were being passed into the interior of Laroot from the south-eastern part of our territory.
6. In the absence of any law for the registration of the arrival and employment of Chinese immigrants, such as I am now about to introduce, it was impossible to exercise any control over these people, or to prevent them from leaving our territory as freely as they had entered it.
7. But I confess I do not understand how it has been possible for these factions to derive the assistance they have had from Penang, in the shape of junks, boats, arms, ammunition, and provisions, unknown to the authorities of that settlement. I, again and again, urged on the Acting Lieutenant-Governor, that if due vigilance were used, it should be impossible for such supplies and assistance to be afforded without the knowledge of the "Zebra," local Government. The settlement has been visited by Her Majesty's ships "Nassau," "Hornet," (twice), "Midge," and " Thalia," during the past twelve months; and their Commanders have been requested by me, and have been perfectly ready to give their assistance in checking or detecting these evasions of our laws; but the local autho- rities have not succeeded in bringing any offender to justice for participation in these illegal proceedings.
8. Within the last month I have been informed that certain boats which were concerned in an attack on a place called Gula, on the Laroot coast, had been dispatched from Penang; and the Lieutenant-Governor was instructed to take the necessary steps for prosecuting them; but he now reports, that although some of the boats and men have come back to Penang, there appears to be but little chance of bringing the charge home to them.
9. I am sorry to say that there is no appearance of a change for the better in the Larout affairs, nor do I see that this Government is at all likely to be able to bring about a solution of the existing difficulties.
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Inclosure 2 in No. 25.
Sir,
Lieutenant-Governor's Office, Penang, July 15, 1873. IN continuation of my letter of the 9th instant, and in reply to your letter of 12th instant just received, I have the honour to forward the inclosed copy of the correspondence relative to the proceedings of the "Zebra" at Laroot, when she went to inquire about the attack on the "Fair Malacca" by the junks, &c. I have, &c.
(Signed) A. E. H. ANSON, Lieutenant-Governor.
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements.
Inclosure 3 in No. 25.
Petition of the Captain and Owner of the steamer “Fair Malacca."
[See Inclosure 3 in No. 19.]
The Governor to the Acting Lieutenant-Governor,
Please to report to me all that has passed on this subject, and inclose any correspondence, depositions, and other documents there may be in connection with it.
(Signed)
December 17, 1872.
H. ST. GEORGE ORD.
The Acting Lieutenant-Governor to the Governor.
December 17, 1872. Petitioners' report is nearly correct. All the correspondence on the subject is attached. I telegraphed the substance of Captain Jeremiah's statement to Bingapore, and suggested that the presence of Her Majesty's ship "Zebra" was desirable. I told the Petitioners that I had done so when they made the statement (oral) to which they refer. Meanwhile I referred the statement of Captain Jeremiah to the Solicitor-General for his opinion as to the attack being of a piratical nature. I, however, recalled the document (before I received the opinion) that I might show it to the Governor. It is one of the inclosed papers.
(Signed)
G. W. R. CAMPBELL,
Acting Lieutenant-Governor.
Sir,
I have, &c
(Signed)
H. ST. GEORGE ORD.
Inclosure 1 in No. 25.
Lieutenant-Governor's Office, Penang, July 9, 1873.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram as per margin of this day, and to state that a copy of the correspondence regarding the "Fair Malacca " will be forwarded as soon as it can be made.
I have, &c. (Signed)
A. E. H. ANSON, Lieutenant-Governor,
The Hon, the Colonial Secretary,
Straits Settlements.
* "Please report everything that 'Zebra' did when she went to inquire about 'Fair Malacca;" and also all the story of Fair Malaoca'at Laroot."
Sir,
Inclosure 4 in No. 25.
Harbour-Master's Office, Prince of Wales Island,
December 14, 1872.
I HAVE the honour to bring to your notice that on making further inquiries regarding the attack on the steamer "Fair Malacca" by the junks off the Laroot river, I have been informed by the chief engineer that from the appearance of the large junks he is of opinion they are regular piratical boats, and must have come direct from China, as he states that he has never seen any junks of their description in this harbour or anywhere about the coast.
I think it would be advisable to offer large rewards to the Chinese detectives to use their utmost endeavour in obtaining information which would lead to the identification of any of these junks on their return to this port.
I further beg to bring to your notice that as most of the junks trading between this port and Perak are British registered vessels, are therefore liable to the heaviest penalty of the law if they are found in any way assisting in the stoppage of free trade. Likewise the five junks at present in the Laroot river stated by Commander Jeremiah to be under the pay of the Rajah, if not entirely his private property, I should consider the owners are also liable