PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.882
Reference :-
2
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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Inclosure 12 in No. 61.
The information and complaint of Sin Sew taken before me Henry Plunket, Justice of the Peace and Acting Superintendent of Police, Penang, this day 16th Septentber, 1873, who states:-
Penang to wit.
I AM a shrimp catcher. I have lived at Laroot for the last year. I came to Penang about four days ago; formerly I was employed by Chew Torat. I left Laroot because about ten days ago a Chinese boat with about fifty or sixty men brought in a "wong kong" belonging to my Tokay Chew Torat and burnt it, and 1 wanted to give information to Chew Torat. Three men I saw taken out of the "wong kong," two were Teo Chews, and one Hokien. The Teo Chews' names were "Au Pan " and "Teng Hoon;" the Hokien's name I do not know; they were employed by Chew Torat when I was with him. I did not see any other men in the "wong kong." I saw the Chinese taking rice out of the boat and putting it into a house. I do not know the name of the Tokay of the house, but I could recognize him. It is the fourth house on the right hand side from the pier at Laroot. After taking the rice out they got afraid that the English man-of-war might come up, and they blew the "wong kong" up. I can recognize the boat that brought the "wong kong" in, and also the men in the boat. There were about twelve or thirteen boats of the same kind in the Laroot river, when the man-of-war came into the Laroot river they all went up the river, the man-of-war did not follow them. I saw two other boats blown up the same way. The three men who were taken out of the "wong kong" were wounded, and are now detained, or were when I left Laroot, in the same house that the rice was brought into. I will go to Laroot along with Chew Torat and point out the boat who brought in the "wong kong." also the men, and where the three men who formed part of the crew of the "wong kong" are detained.
Signed and sworn before me,
(Signed)
(Signed)
SIN SEW, his mark.
HENRY PLUNKET, Justice of the Peace, and Acting
Superintendent of Police, Penang.
To, Acting Solicitor-General to state whether, under the present state of affairs connected with Laroot, this is a case for the interference of the man-of-war now cruizing the Laroot coast.
(Signed) A. E. H. ANSON, Lieutenant-Governor.
The Captain of the man-of-war might be requested to inquire into the case. It is clear that a piratical attack of a serious nature has been made on the Tong kong.
(Signed) A. LOGAN, Acting Solicitor-General.
September 16, 1873.
Inclosure 13 in No. 61.
Penang, September 4, 1873. The information of Deen, a Maly, residing at Tuloh Kumbah, who states THAT about nine days ago he left Penang for Teloh Suah, in the Malayan territory, for the purpose of bringing over timber and nebeugo; there were other two Malays beside himself in the prow. They sailed to about abreast of Qualla Laroot when they came to an anchor, owing to it falling calm. After eating rice be laid down and went to sleep, but was awoke by one of the others who informed him that a boat was pulling towards their prow. He at once got up and saw a boat close alongside, having on board about absty Macao Chinese of the Ghee Hiu Cougsee. Some of them asked him where he was from and to where bound, and on his replying to their questions, six of them jumped on board his prow, and, after making a thorough search, took away his 6 bags of rice, 20 catties of and 3 catties of Java tobacco; they also lifted up his anchor, but let it go again. Bugar, After leaving his prow they pulled towards a Chinese Tong kong, which was anchored some fathoms off, and commenced firing upon her before getting alongside ; after boarding the Tong kong they fired again on leaving, and then laid off for about half an hour, when a breeze springing up they again boarded the Tong kong, hoisted her sail, and steered her
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into Qualla Laroot. I also made sail and proceeded on my voyage, returning into Penang at 3 P.M., 3rd September, 1873. On my arrival I proceeded at the house of a Chinese timber merchant residing at Singhy Prangin, who I knew had Tong kongs in the timber trade; after relating what I had seen, he asked me to describe the Tong kong, which I did. He then replied that he very much feared that the said Tong kong was his, which left Penang on the 24th August, 1873, and of which he had had no tidings.
(Signed) DEEN, his mark. HENRY PLUNKETT, Acting Superintendent.
Before me,
(Signed)
Chew Teowt states :--
Inclosure 14 in No. 61.
I AM a timber merchant, and live at Singhy Prangin; that on 24th August, 1873, he despatched one of his Tong kongs for a cargo of timber to Selat Dinding; that she had on board, besides a crew of six men, twelve passengers, and provisions and stores to the value of 500 dollars; that he has had no account of her, and fears that the Tong kong, which Deen saw attacked and afterwards taken away, belonged to him.
Sir,
Before me,
(Signed)
(Signed) HENRY PLUNKET, Acting Superintendent. September 6, 1873.
Forwarded for information of Honourable Lieutenant-Governor.
(Signed) Henry Plunket, Acting Superintendent.
Inclosure 15 in No. 61.
CHEW TEOWT.
"Midge," Penang, September 17, 1878.
I HAVE the bonour to inform you that, in pursuance of your orders of the 3rd September, I again left Penang on the 12th instant and arrived off Laroot at 1 .. on the 13th; shortly after weighing, at daylight I saw a suspicious junk, which I proceeded to examine. She was flying the Laroot colours, but her port-clearance specified five guns, whereas she had seven guns mounted and four in the hold, and no papers from the Orang Kayah Mantri to show that she was employed by him. I therefore detained her until I could communicate with him on the subject.
2. At 7 P.M. the Orang Kayah Mantri came out of Laroot in his steamer, I com- municated with him, and he informed me that he was not aware of any junk being in his service, but he would inquire into it the next morning.
8. On the afternoon of the 14th the Orang Kayah Mantri visited me, and having examined the principal Chinese belong to the junk, he said that she was in his employ, but that there had been errors as regards her papers. Under these circumstances released the junk,
4. I then arranged with the Mantri to visit the Laroot River and creeks with his steamer and my boats on the following day if the weather would permit, which had been very unsettled all day with a nasty sea on.
5. The weather, however, was so bad the next day, heavy rains and squally, that I decided on not taking the boats in until it had changed; the Mantri then left in his steamer for Penang where he had important business to transact, leaving me a small schooner fitted to pull and sail, which in the absence of a steam launch I thought would be desirable for the protection of the crew in bad weather.
6. At 5 PM. the weather having cleared, I left the ship with this schooner and my gig manned with three officers, twelve seamen, and two marines, and anchored shortly after dark off the entrance of the Laroot River.
7. In the morning of the 16th I proceeded up the river and the only thing I saw near the entrance was a sampan with four men in, which I boarded and found in her the headman of the Selinsing village, this being the village mentioned in my letter of proceedings of 11th September, as having fired on me; he told me he was going to visit his friends in Laroot. I therefore ordered him out of the river, and also told him that I was going to seize all boats having any provisions in them, which had not passes from the Orang Kayah Mantri (the same being in accordance with the Proclamation of the Governor in Council on 3rd September).
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