PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
།།།།།།
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Reference -
882
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ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
Her Majesty's ship "Thalia" attack.
Colonel Anson's
visit to Pulo
Pangkor.
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Lieutenant-Governor asking for assistance in the succession dispute and that the "English Gvernment will definitely settle on Rajah in Perak," or if not he might "seek help from other Governments," but of this request no notice appears to have been taken, and be was merely informed that he had no right to interfere in the affairs of Laroot.
On the 9th September the Governor stated in Council that having found the Muntri's claims satisfactory he had acknowledged him as "Orang Kaya Muntri," and the legitimate ruler of Laroot, and at his request had cancelled the Order in Council of 23rd February, so far as the exportation of arms and ammunition for his own use was concerned. He further stated that all apprehension of danger (from piratical depredations) was relieved: but this state of things did not last long.
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On the 12th and 13th September two Malay crafts were attacked and several of their crew killed.
On the 16th September the boats of Her Majesty's ship "Midge," which had been left to repress the piracies, were fired on in the Laroot River and two officers were wounded.
On the 20th September Her Majesty's ship "Thalia," together with Her Majesty's ship "Midge," shelled and took the junks and the stockades on both banks; the See Kwans who held them, were for the time completely cowed and offered to surrender, but their punishment seems to have been soon forgotten.
1
It was not inflicted a day too soon. On the same day (20th) four Chinese row-boats attacked a Malay trader, killing and wounding six of the crew, and carrying away plunder to the amount of 544 dollars. On the 29th more piractical row-boats were reported, and Her Majesty's ships "Thalia" and " Midge" again went in search. Mr. Swettenham, who accompanied the party, reported on the 2nd October that three row-boats had been seen and chased, but were too quick for them and got away. He alluded also to other piractical boats infesting the river, one of which was heard firing not far from the ships. Since that time Her Majesty's ships "Avon" and " Midge" have been engaged in attempting to secure these craft, but without much success.
On the 4th November, the first serious piratical affair occurred at Pulo Pangkor. Seven junks were engaged for several hours, and a great number of lives are reported to have been lost. It is supposed they were quarrelling over their booty, but all parties concerned were Chinese, and the only thing clear about the matter is that from this date their row-boats have become more desperate. It is said that they and their friends up the river have lately suffered much from an absolute scarcity of food. Some such explanation is certainly required to explain the series of outrages which now ensued.
On the 10th November, a Malay trader was attacked by three piratical boats off the British Settlement of Pulo Pangkor within sight of Her Majesty's ship "Avon," anchored with her fires out. She got up steam and went to assist as soon as possible, the Malay boat escaped with four killed and wounded; on the same day these very row-boats "attacked three other vessels, murdering most of the crews and carrying off the cargo, and rowed up the Perak River." These words are quoted from Captain Patterson's report dated 13th November, on which day Her Majesty's steamer "Avon" returned to Penang with a trading boat under escort, and another of which the whole crew had been murdered.
On the 13th November three junks were attacked off the Dindings, two of them were sunk, thirty of the crews being killed.
On the 14th a Chinese sampan with opium and other articles was attacked by three piratical row-boats off the south coast of Penang: two men were killed and two jumped
overboard.
On the 15th November a Chinese schooner under British colours was attacked off the south coast of Penang, but a brecze springing up was enabled to escape.
It was now determined that a station should be erected on Pulo Pangkor, and on the 22nd November Colonel Anson visited the island and left a European serjeant with fifteen police in charge, and some boats to assist them. He then visited the lower part of the Laroot River and was informed that Captain Speedy, assisted by 1,000 Malays sent by the Bandahara, was operating in the interior, and not against the piratical villages near the sea. Captain Speedy, here alluded to, has played an important part in the recent proceedings. On the 29th July, having resigned his police appointment, he proceeded to Calcutta under an engagement to assist the Muntri against his opponents the See Kwans. At first some difficulties were met with, but he succeeded in enlisting and bringing down about 100 Punjaubees, and took them straight to Laroot without landing at Penang. At first he met with little success, but the latest reports show that he has driven the Sin Nengs from their strongholds near the mines, and has been partly instrumental in bringing about their present condition.
From the Lieutenant-Governor's visit up to the present time the depredations have
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continued. On the 13th December, the Lieutenant-Governor telegraphed to Government (Captain) Patterson found six row-boats attacking three traders at night off the Dindings, the pirates escaped, nine wounded Malays were brought to Penang. The people on the Perak coast are starving owing to pirates; one gun-vessel insufficient." It appears that on the 11th instant, Her Majesty's ship
"Avon
came up with six row-boats attacking three traders at the south entrance to the Dinding Channel, and drove them off with great guns and small arms, the latter weapons taking effect. Captain Patterson adds that with but one ship against the large force of pirates, and their excellent information, it will be almost impossible to check piracy."
On the 22nd December, a piracy was committed off the Krean, 227 dollars being taken.
On the 24th December, the European sergeant at Pulo Pangkor reported that "the pirates are bolder and more numerous than ever, twice they have attacked three junks in this harbour and tried to carry them off."
On the 2nd January, the police inspector in charge of the south of Province Wellesley reported that his sergeant had been fired upon in the Krean by the Teluk Piandang gang of pirates above mentioned; and that a challenge had been sent to him to come and fight them. This was telegraphed to the Government. Mr. Pickering, the Chinese Interpreter, had already been sent up to Penang to make inquiries as to the actual relations of the parties.
On the 4th January, Mr. Pickering telegraphed to Government "Sin Nengs will gladly sign an agreement, and give boats and everything to your disposal in seven days. Meantime they beg orders for Speedy to hold his hand; boats being given up, they cannot escape death; agreement broken then let Speedy do his worst." To this the Governor replied that he would ratify the agreement, and receive the row-boats and arms himself on the 14th at the Dindings; and that officers of rank would be sent to Laroot to instruct Speedy to stay all further action against the Sin Nengs on shore. Colonel Anson was to be empowered if necessary, to allow the Penang hoad-men to dispatch food to them. It is thus that matters now stand.
The Muntri's part in the latter stages of the Laroot troubles has been of little conse- Muntri's position. quence. Since he left his territory at the beginning of last year, he has been unable to return to it until escorted by Captain Speedy, much hostility has been displayed against him, his property having been destroyed, and his Malays either killed or driven out of the country.
In September his house in Penang was blown up, doubtless in the hope of destroying him. Notwithstanding all this, it is clear that he is the only Perak Chief who can pretend to any authority in Laroot. The virtual independence enjoyed by him for many years is considered by the Rajah Muda's party a usurpation, and they clairn that large sums are due as arrears of payment on account of the Opium farm, &c., but whatever the old custom may be, the present circumstances favour the position assumed by the Muntri. In any arrangements for this district, Chinese rather than Malay, feeling should be considered.
The dispute about the Perak succession has tended to exasperate the Chinese factions, both the contending Malay Chiefs having taken sides. The Muntri's allies latterly have been the Go Kwans, and the Rajah Muda's the See Kwan's (Sing Nengs). Meanwhile their Malay subjects have been the greatest sufferers; some of thein have been killed, and many ruined and forced to leave Laroot, while Malay trading craft have been the most frequent victims of the piratical Chinese row-boats. It is a strange retribution for the many piracies committed by the Malays themselves between Kurrow and the Dindings in former days.
The causes of
The whole of the Laroot difficulty may in effect be traced to two causes :-~~- The inefficiency of the Malays to govern a subject Chinese population, and the disturbance. tendency of the Chinese themselves to quarrel vi et armis about the smallest trifles, which makes it almost hopeless to look for peaceable self-government among them.
By his unwise proceedings, the Muntri entirely forfeited their respect and support; while at the time of all others when the Malays needed to pull together they began quarrelling bitterly.
January 10, 1874.
(Signed)
ALLAN SKINNER,
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