PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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Kwan or Sin Neng faction on board our steamer on the following morning the 11th. These men to the number of thirteen, arrived on board at 8 A.M., and confirmed the statement made by Mr. Pickering in his telegram to his Excellency on the 4th. They also acknowledged the paper produced by Mr. Pickering, and signed by each and all of them as their sworn agreement to abide by his Excellency's arbitration.
At 11 A.M. we saw two of the Headmen of the Goh Kwan, or opposite faction, who informed us that ten of their principal Headmen had proceeded in Her Majesty's gunboat "Avon" on the 8th, accompanied by Mr. Swettenham, to Laroot and Pulo Pangkor. They also told us that they greatly desired a cessation of the Laroot disturbances, and were ready to abide by any action taken by the other Headmnen.
The Datu Turrongong of Perak being present in Penang, and having received a letter from us informing him of our mission, waited on us at 12 o'clock. We had a long conversation with him on the affairs of Perak. He informed us that he regretted very much this disunion amongst the Malay Chiefs, that there were now two Sultans in Perak, that the whole country was in disorder, and that as far as his inclinations went, he for the present sided with the Mantri, but he would be glad if the matters could be settled by the British Government. We warned him to be present to meet his Excellency the Governor at Pulo Pangkor on the 14th, and he left us stating that he would not fail to do so.
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Finding from the Headmen of the See Kwans or Sin Nengs, that their party in Laroot were in want of food, in accordance with our instructions, we purchased ten coyans of rice, and left for Laroot at 2.30 P.M., the same day taking with us all their Headmen, and towing one lighter with half the quantity, directed that the remainder should follow in another immediately. We anchored off the mouth of the river that evening, and at day- break the following morning steamed up the river as far as the first stockade, in occupation by the Goh Kwans. Upon reaching the stockade the boom was immediately put across. We then sent Mr. Pickering in a boat to ask that the boom should be removed, for that an armistice had been agreed upon, and that under instructions from his Excellency the Governor, supplies were now to be given to either party pending negotiations. Mr. Pickering returned having seen the Headman, who refused either to remove the boom, or come on board. Shortly after two Malay Headmen came to the vessel, stating that they were prepared to let us through, but that the Chinese had loaded the guns in their nine junks, and declared that if they attempted to do so they would fire upon them and their party. We then sent them back to bring the Chinese Headmen, which after con- siderable delay they did, in the meantime we steamed close up to the boom, and as the tide was falling, got aground. The Chinese Headmen informed us that they had positive orders not to allow vessels in or out, they had heard nothing about an armistice, that they dared not let us through, for they had no control over the fighting men in the junks, their Head- men being away. laving no orders to use force, and having indeed no fire-arms of any description on board, we made no further attempt to force a passage. In order, however, that the statement of these men might be verified, we brought away the Chief Malay (Nacoda Turoona) and the two principal Chinese. They stated that they were willing to accompany us, and support their statements before their Headmen.
Ascertaining from the Sin Nengs on board that we could send the rice by another way, and having water enough to go out, we steamed off at 3.30 P.M., and on reaching the mouth of the river we fortunately sighted the second rice lighter, which we also took in tow, and leaving them both at sun down, with a fair breeze, and near the creeks where their party was in power, having previously put all but two of the Headmen on board of them, we steamed for Pulo Pangkor. Before leaving us these men faithfully promised to bring in all their row-boats by the 14th at 4 or 5 o'clock P.M. At 10.30 A.M., we anchored off Pulo Pangkor.
The following morning, Tuesday the 13th, we went to the anchorage at Pulo Pangkor where we found Her Majesty's ship "Avon" and the Colonial steamer "Pluto" with his Excellency the Governor on board. Having personally waited upon his Excellency, and reported our proceedings so far, we left again, at 1 P.M., for the Perak river conveying the Governor's letters to the Raja Muda and the Laksamana. We also took with us Ching Ah Quay, the Headman of the Goh Kwan faction in order that Mr. Pickering might have an opportunity of conversing with him, and of bringing him into contact with Ab Yam, the Headman of the Sin Nengs or See Kwans who was on board of us.
During the afternoon Ching Ah Quay handed to Mr. Pickering a paper agreeing for his own part to submit to the arbitration of his Excellency the Governor, and promising on our return to Pulo Pangkor to obtain from the other Headmen of the faction, a paper similar to that he had signed himself.
At the mouth of the Perak river we met the "Fair Malacca," with Captain Patterson
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and Mr. Swettenham on board, and ascertaining that the Raja Muda was not with them, we proceeded on our journey, and anchored at 9.30 P.M., off the Raja Muda's residence. We at ouce despatched, in care of the Government Malay Munshi, his Excellency's letters to the Raja Muda, and Laksamana, directing him to inform the Raja Muda that we should be glad to see him on board before the morning. Accordingly at 11 P.M., His Highness and retinue came on board. We informed him of our mission, and he arranged to start with us for Pulo Pangkor at 10 o'clock the following morning. He stated that he had forwarded by a fast boat his Excellency's letter to the Laksamana, calling upon him to accompany us.
Since leaving Singapore, we have used every means, and taken every opportunity in our power, to make ourselves fully acquainted with the relationship and state of parties in Perak. The papers written by the honourable the Auditor-General on the subject have afforded us much valuable information:-There can be no doubt that the Mantri, lowest in rank of the four principal officers in the Perak_Government, has, owing to. his long residence and intercourse with Europeans in Penang, and to the support he has always received from the British Government, assumed in Perak a position of independence, which his office and rank do not justify. This position has been recently considerably strengthened by the action of the Government in the issue of the Proclamation of August last.
Perceiving all this, and believing him to be recognized by us, as the alone chief authority in Laroot, the most important part of Perak, the Goh Kwans, the most numerous faction of the contending Chinese, have supported him liberally in men and money, to carry out what we believe to be his ultimate object, viz., by keeping back the Raja Muda from the sovereignty of the country on the death of the aged Bandahara now temporarily installed, to proclaim himself the chief ruler in Perak. The Raja Muda is by Malay custom, and by long usage in Perak, the legitimate heir to the throne. Up to the death of the late Sultan no question appears to have been raised, as far as we can ascertain, as to his right to succeed as heir apparent, and had it not been for the contrary influence excited in the country by the Mantri there can be no doubt that in due course he would have been installed with the general approbation of the people. The reasons assigned by the Mantri, and those who have acted with them, for this departure from the line of proper succession, seem to us to be frivolous. Had the custom been followed by the two High Officers of State, the Bandahara and the Mantri,—of waiting upon the Sultan elect, and conveying him to be crowned, no complication could have occurred. The omission of these time-honoured formalities was sufficient in our opinion to justify the Raja Muda in declining to place himself in the power of those at the capital, who, by this very action showed themselves to be opposed to his succession.
It may be as well to state here the titles and position according to rank of the Chief Officers of Perak.
The Sultan.
The Raja Muda.
The Bandahara.
The Orang Kaya Besar.`·
The Tummongong.
The Mantri.
The Maharaja Lela.
The Laksamana.
The Sudeka Raja.
The Orang Kaya Shabundar.
The Panglima Bukit Guntang.
The Panglima Kinta.
The Datu Sagor.
The Emam Paduka Tuan.
Besides these there are sixteen other Datus of less importance, and thirty Punghulu Mukims.
At present, as far as we have been able to ascertain, there are but seven Princes of the blood-royal with any claims to the throne, viz:—
Raja Mudah-Abdullah.
Raja Oosoo.
Raja Oosman.
Raja Idris
Raja Engah.
Raja Ahmed Raja Abbas.
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