PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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to receive and maintain, at their expense, a British Resident and an Assistant Resident. with suitable establishments, under whose advice they engaged to act in all matters of government and finance.
This introduction of the seeds of civilized government into the Malay peninsula seems destined to change the face of that country. Endowed with a fertile soil and inexhaustible mineral wealth, chiefly tin, it has remained to the present time little else than an immense primeval forest, the undisturbed abode of the tiger, the elephant, the rhinoceros, and the tapir. Little villages of Malays are thinly scattered along its shores, and on the banks of its rivers, but the bounty of nature has been thrown away on them. Where there is no protection there can be no industry, and there is little or none here. The only idea of government which a Malay has is much the same as that which once prevailed in Europe. He builds a stockade on the river side, and levies black mail on the passing traffic.
The Chinese hawker and miner is suffered to make his way through his wild forests and moun- tains, for the same purpose as that for which the knight of old tolerated the trader. Our policy as regards its petty Princes has hitherto been one of non-interference; or, occasionally, of interference of a kind which did more harm than good, bringing no benefit to them, and reflecting no credit on us. There is every reason to expect, however, that now, as soon as the reasonable security for person and property is established in Laroot and Perak, there will be a considerable influx of population and capital into the country, and an excise on opium will afford an ample revenue for maintaining the necessary establishments for pre- serving order and punishing crime. Not only Chinese traders, shopkeepers, and labourers will flock into the country in increased numbers, but even the Malay fishermen and peasants will come from other States to settle where they feel they are safe from the oppression of their Chiefs, as well as from the attacks of the burglar and pirate.
In no part of the East have they congregated more thickly than in the Straits Settlements ever since these have been under our flag. The success of Sir A. Clarke's experiment, bow- ever, will depend materially on the personal character of the Resident who is to represent British power and to exercise British influence. If he is liked and respected by the Malays he will lead them easily, as the Brookes have done in Borneo. But to be liked and respected he must understand them, their language, character, and habits; he must be patient, cool, and firm, and he must be sober, truthful, and incorruptible.
The engagement entered into by the Perak Chiefs comprises a cession of a strip of their territory adjoining Province Wellesley, and another on the mainland opposite to Pangkor. The object of the former is apparently to protect our southern frontier from the smugglers and robbers who have long given the Penang police trouble on that side. The advantage of the latter cession is not so obvious. The island of Pangkor is a barren rock on which the Dutch once had a fort, for the purpose of levying dues on all the traffic that entered or left Perak by the River Dinding, and our title to it would be questionable if it were worth questioning. The mainland opposite, which is now ceded, is well suited for sugar growing, and is said to be also rich in tin. It will, however, be necessary to provide the requisite establishments for governing the place, and Sir A. Clarke has pro- bably seen his way to making it self-supporting. He will before long find it necessary to turn his attention to the affairs of Salangore, Sungie-ujong, and Rambau, which are in a very unsatisfactory state, and the manner in which he has dealt with the Perak question justifies every confidence in his judgment. Let us hope that from his arrival in the Straits the Peninsula will date a new era of development and civilization.
No. 76.
Yours obediently, (Signed)
MALACCA.
Governor Sir Andrew Clarke, K.C.M.G., to the Earl of Carnarvon.-(Received March 9.)
(No. 27.) My Lord,
I IIAVE the honour to forward the copy of a letter from Captain Grant, of Her Majesty's ship Midge," transmitted to me by the Vice-Admiral commanding, reporting his visit to the Dindings on the 28th January, 1874, and that he found everything quiet off the coast of Laroot.
Government House, Singapore, February 3, 1874.
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Inclosure in No. 76.
Sir,
"Midge," Penang, January 28, 1874. I HAVE the bonour to inform you that, in pursuance of your orders, I left your flag on the evening of the 27th and proceeded for the Dindings, where I arrived at 7 A.M. ON the 28th, and communicated with the Inspector of Police, who informed me that he had nothing to report since the departure of his Excellency Sir Andrew Clarke, everything being quiet.
2. I met there a Mr. Tolson of Penang, an agent of Messrs. Lorraine and Co., who has just arrived from Laroot, and was bound to Perak. He gave me the information that the disarming of the Chinese at Laroot by the Commissioners was expected to be completed to-day, the steamer "Johore" being at present in that river.
3. I left the Dindings at 9 A.M., after having cleaned the fires, and proceeded for this anchorage, where I arrived at 9 P.M. this day.
I have, &c. (Signed) Vice-Admiral Sir Chas. F. A. Shadwell, K.C.B.,
&o.
&c.
&c.
JOHN F. G. GRANT, Commander.
Transmitted for the information of Sir Andrew Clarke. (Signed) Penang, January 29, 1874.
CHAS. F. A. SHADWELL, Vice-Admiral.
No. 77.
Governor Sir Andrew Clarke, K.C.M.G., to the Earl of Kimberley.-(Received March 9.) (No. 28.) My Lord,
Government House, Singapore, February 3, 1874. WITH reference to paragraph 29 of my despatch No. 14 of the 26th January, I have the honour to inform your Lordship that the Lieutenant-Governor of Penang has reported to me, by telegram, the arrival there, and delivery to their relatives, of thirty-six women, who, having been captured by the Muntri of Laroot or his followers, had been rescued from slavery by the Commissioners I have sent to that State.
I have, &c. (Signed)
A. CLARKE.
No. 78.
Governor Sir Andrew Clarke, K.C.M.G., to the Earl of Kimberley.--(Received March 9.)
(No. 30.) My Lord,
Government House, Singapore, February 4, 1874.
I HAVE the honour to report that I have taken advantage of the arrival in these waters of the Vice-Admiral commanding the China Squadron, with an unusually large force, and have requested him to take measures for the effectual suppression of piracy off the coast of Salangore, where it has assumed such proportions as to threaten the safety and maintenance of the lights, which guide navigation through the dangers of these Straits.
2. As this recent growth of piracy is due in a great measure to the political condition of Salangore, I accompany the Vice-Admiral in his visit to that State.
3. I annex a copy of the letter and inclosures which I have addressed to Sir C. Shadwell on the subject.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
A. CLARKE.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
A. CLARKE.
• No. 69.
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