PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference -
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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the mouth of the Dinding River, and commanding a perfect network of creeks, affording shelter and concealment for pirates, as was abundantly shown in the late disturbances, when they were constantly enabled to evade and set at defiance the ships and boats of Her Majesty by running in shore and hiding in some of the inlets
47. Alteration of our boundary on the Krean River at the south of Province Wellesley, had become of late years a matter of pressing necessity, and I thought this was the proper time to discuss it with the Sultan.
I explained to His Highness the difficulties which had been for a long time felt in both our Police and our Excise administration, from having a navigable river as a boundary.
The cession of such portion as has the Krean for its watershed- up to a line which would be in reality a prolongation of our Kedah, or eastern boundary, was agreed to by all concerned, and it is proposed to have the actual boundary hereafter laid out by Com-
missioners.
48. The 12th Clause provided for the appointment of a Commission, as previously reported, to settle the claims of the miners and to recover the lost women and children. These gentlemen have been engaged in their labours ever since, and have not yet returned; but, I have reason to believe, have been, on the whole, very successful.
49. Since the whole of the disturbances among the Chinese originated in the Laroot district, and had been fomented and eventually brought to the head they had reached by the vacillating policy of the Mantri, it was holden by all the Chiefs that the Mantri of Laroot should bear the expenses of the intervention, and I agreed to consider it, for the present, as a debt due by him to this Government.
50. I have now endeavoured to explain to your Lordship all that has taken place in this last intervention in the affairs of Perak, as well as all the terms of the engagement then entered into between the Chiefs, and my reasons for according to those terms my cordial assent.
I trust your Lordship will understand that by so giving my assent I have in no way bound Her Majesty's Government to any particular cause, and that it is perfectly possible now to withdraw from the position I have temporarily assumed.
51. But your Lordship will, I feel sure, allow me at the same time to express my conviction and that of all the members of my Councils that, looking to the long and inti- mate relations of Great Britain with the Malayan States, to the proximity of these settlements, and to the state of anarchy and misrule which has for some years prevailed in Perak, and Salangore, the time has arrived when, as a nation, we shall be neglecting a great and para- mount duty if we any longer delay that intervention which the causes of civilization and good order now so loudly demand.
I have, &c.
are:-
Inclosure in No. 83.
(A.)
(Signed)
Précis of Perak Affairs, by Mr. Skinner.
A. CLARKE,
THE four principal disputes comprised in what are called "The Perak affairs
1. The "Pulo Dindings" question, arising out of the Treaty made in 1826.
2. The "Bernam boundary" dispute, between Perak and Salangore.
3. The "Perak Succession" quarrel, arising out of the election of the Raja Banda-
hara over the Raja Muda at Sultan Ali's death in May, 1871.
4. The "Larut disturbances," among the Chinese working at the tin mines in that
province.
1. Dindings.
The first in point of date of the questions above enumerated is the "Dindings dispute, turning upon the construction of the Treaty of 1826. By that Treaty "the Pulo Dindings, and the islands of Pangkor, together with all and every one of the islands hitherto included within the Perak State," were surrendered to the East India Company, who undertook to drive out the pirates infesting those parts. The words in italics gave rise to the correspondence with Perak in 1867-8. The dispute turned upon the meaning
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of "Pulo Dindings," the Government maintain that the mainland opposite Pangkor both north and south of the River Dinding is to be understood; while the Malays contend that the phrase "Pulo Dindings" either refers generally to other of the adjacent islands, or is a redundant expression, meaning no more than the islands of Pangkor.
As to the construction of the words, the context itself throws no light on the intention in the minds of the signing parties. But the natural construction of the words at the date of the Treaty, as shown in documents* of that period, and the present usage, undoubtedly favour the Government view. The coast opposite the Pangkor Islands bears the name, sometimes of "Dinding," sometimes of Pangkor Darat (shore), as opposed to the island Pangkor Laut (sea). A hill which forms a landmark about ten miles to the north, has long been called by Europeans, and is mentioned in Horsburgh as False Dinding. The Malays rely much on the use of the word "Pulo" (island), but it is not very ingenuous of them to do so; for they know well that it does not necessarily mean an island in our sense, that is a piece of land surrounded by water; but is used for "Peoin- sula" or even in some cases, figuratively, for "Peaks" and "Dells." Instances, though not common, will occur to all who know the Malay States well, such as Pulo Tiga in Kedah, and also in Perak, Pulo Mertajam in Province Wellesley, and Pulo Sebang in Malacca. Besides which the numerous creeks and rivers on the mainland opposite, are said to form islands for which the expression Pulo Dindings is used by the Malays them- selves, as well as for the hilly promontory on the mainland. There is little doubt of the intention with which the Treaty was drawn up; the letters quoted below are conclusive of this.
On the 17th July, 1819, the Governor (Mr. Bannerman) addressed letters to the Raja of Kedah, to which Perak was then temporarily subject, and to the Raja Muda and Raja Bandahara of Perak, informing them that it was "his intention to occupy Great and Little Pangkor, and the territory opposite to it, that is to say, Sungei Dinding, and the land on its northern and southern banks,"
The Raja of Kedah was willing that we should occupy the territory but hesitated to July 26, 1819. authorise it for fear of offending Siam, to which he was tributary.
The Raja of Perak agreed to the territory mentioned by Governor Bannerman being August 22, 1819. taken over, but hinted at a subsidy being usual in such cases, and asked for information as to limits of the boundary.
From this date till the conclusion of the Treaty with Perak no more correspondence occurred.
On the 22nd August, 1867, the Lieutenant-Governor was instructed to write to the Sultan of Perak asking him to come to Penang and settle for the cession of the Pulo Dindings, &c., to which the Sultan replied that he had despatched the Laksamana to meet the Governor in Singapore, together with bis lawyer, Mr. Rodyk. He added that he knew nothing about the boundary on the mainland. On the 9th October a survey was ordered of the Islands of Pangkor.
Major McNair went up to meet the Laksamana on 30th December, 1868, aud reported in the following words: "After a long and interesting conversation, during which he (Laksamana) examined the chart to judge for himself of the situation of the islands, he was gradually brought to see the force of the argument, and acquiesce in the interpretation put upon the words of the Treaty by his Excellency the Governor. The Laksamana did not deny that the words of the Treaty were somewhat ambiguous, but from all the collateral circumstances, and taken in connection with all that had been said in reference to piracy, he could not but feel that the view taken by the Governor was the correct
Ole."
A letter was written at the Governor's desire by Major McNair (20th January, 1869) to the Laksamana, stating that he was about to go to Pangkor to settle the question.
But when Captain Playfair visited Perak in March, 1869, to carry out Major McNaic's arrangement, the Raja denied that we had any right to the mainland under the Treaty, but had no objection to our forming a Settlement between Pulo Tallang and the R. Dinding, on the condition of a subsidy; but he would not agree on any terma to our occupying both banks.
Since 1869 Mahomed Akib has exercised some authority in the name of Government, and has drawn a salary of 15 dollars a-month from Penang, as Puughulu of Pangkor. The last mention of the question is to be found in the Report of the Commission appointed by Colonel Anson, when administering the Government, to inquire into "the present relations of this Colony in regard to those native States not having Consuls or Consular Agents accredited to this Government."
In their Report, May 19th, 1871, the Commissioners recommended “a new Treaty
• See below, next page. [133]
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