PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
TLT T
CO.
882
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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Inclosure 5 in No. 83.
(E.)
CONSISTS of a despatch and voluminous inclosures from Sir A. Clarke to the Earl of Kimberley, dated 26th January, 1874, which will be found printed in its proper place.'
Inclosure 6 in No. 88.
(F.)
Various Correspondence, Petitions, Reports, &c., not included in despatch of January 26, 1874, regarding the late Disturbances in Larut.
Petition to His Excellency the Governor of the Straits Settlements from certain Captain Chinese. (Confidential.)
The humble Petition of Ah Yew, Ung Keng Sin, Soh Ah Pang, See Ah Fooed, and
others,―
Sheweth,
THAT your Petitioners, the Headmen of a kongsee named See Yip, long engaged in tin-mining at Larut, and others connected with that kongsee, beg to be permitted to lay before your Excellency some matters relating to the country called Larut, and to ask for them your Excellency's kind attention and consideration.
1. That about seven years ago, namely, on the fifth moon of the fourth year, Hong Chee, a mining kongsee at Larut named Tan Siang had a quarrel, and commenced fighting with another mining kongsee at the same place named Fee Chew, which was defeated.
2. The Governor, or Mantri, of Larut, did not attempt to arrange this quarrel, and instead of doing so, joined the victorious kongsee Tan Siang. This having been effected, they both attacked the beaten kongsee, and after killing 700 of their number, drove that kongree from their houses and mines, and ultimately from the country.
3. That about seven years afterwards, or in the first moon of the eleventh year, Hong Chee, corresponding to the year 1866, the Headmen of the Tan Siang kongsee entered into an agreement with their own people, 15,000 in number, to destroy your Petitioners* kongsee, See Yip, which did not number more than 8,000 men. They fought, and your Petitioners' kongsee beat the other, who took refuge in the Mantri's fort, and captured this agreement.
4. The Mantri ordered the Tan Siang, the beaten kongsee, to continue the fight, but they were again unsuccessful, and with the exception of eight of their Headmen, who took refuge with, and were protected by the Mantri, they all ran away.
5. After the fight was over, your Petitioners, the Headmen of the See Yip kongsee, carried the agreement they had taken to the Mantri, but he refused to listen to them, and sent the eight Tan Siang Headmen off to a place called Teong.
6. The See Yip kongsee were the first to open mines at Larut, and unless set upon by others have always lived peaceably and quietly, while the Tan Siang people are robbers, and have become so in consequence of the counsel of, and their subsequent connection with, the Mantri.
7. For nine months after the said first moon of the eleventh year Hong Chee, there was no fighting. After that the Mantri entered into an agreement with a kongsee named Ong Tye You. On the 13th of the same moon and year he called the Headmen of the kongsee See Yip to come to his house; they went, and as soon as they had entered, he ordered the Ong Tye You people to make a sudden attack on the See Yip, who, being unprepared, and without their Headmen, suffered severely, and out of their 8,000 men had about 2,000 killed in and about their houses and mines. As the remaining 6,000, who were compelled to 1un for it, must necessarily go by the overland (Krean) route to Penang, the Mantri had ordered the Datus along that route to kill these poor men, and of these 6,000 men about 3000 were killed, either by these Datus, by hunger, by fatigue, or by wild beasts. Their women who accompanied them, were sold as slaves, and not more than 3,000 succeeded in reaching Penang.
8. Of these 3,000 men about 600 or 800, unable to obtain work or food at Penang, returned to larut. On their arrival. the Ong Tye You kongsas again attacked them,
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but the See Yip people being on their guard they, the Ong Tye You men, though 4,000 in number, were driven back to the Mantri's house and many of them killed.
9. Fifteen days after this occurred the Mantri brought from different places about 2,500 Malays, whom he ordered to fight along with the Ong Tye You people and destroy the See Yip men. They fought for ten daya, with doubtful success, until at length the See Yip men beat, and drove them into the fort.
10. The Mantri, being now in great fear and difficulty, left all and went to Penang, where he met his Highness the Raja Muda, and requested an order from him to settle the disputes at Larut, which he was ordered to do in two days.
11. Instead of following this order, he hired four junks from China, which happened to be here at the time, also nine tongkongs and some small boats. He loaded the junks with men, ammunition and arms, and the tongkongs and boats with provisions, for the purpose of attacking your Petitioners' kongsee. These vessels left this, and had got so far as the other side of Pulo Rimau when they were met by, as they believed, a British war-steamer, and as the vessel sailed round about them, evidently for the purpose of counting their number, they made off with great speed for Penang; they were so frightened that they dispersed, and did not reach Larut.
12. At present the Mantri lives in a boat in the Krean river, where, as is said, he has been enlisting men at Ulu Kurow, Krean, and Patani, to the number of 4,000, to carry on war at Larut; but whether these men have been sent or not is unknown to your Petitioners.
13. About fifteen days ago the Mantri agreed with us, before the Lieutenant- Governor, to settle this matter within five days, but up to this time nothing has been done.
14. On the 26th day of the last month his Highness the Raja Muda left the Krean for Kurow, where he found two targe tongkongs belonging to the Mantri, in which were found 150 muskets, 400 bags of rice, 40 bags of gunpowder, 8 large guns, and about 150 men.
15. Having made this statement, which is true and correct, your Petitioners now beg to submit for the consideration of your Excellency their own opinion, and, as they believe. that of the community here, that this Mantri has been the cause of nearly all the fighting that has taken place at Larut lately, and, therefore, indirectly, of the death and ruin of so many people at Larut, and of the ruin of many at this place. Your Petitioners believe, moreover, that, after what bas happened, and judging from his conduct lately, and from his connection with some men here, there can be little hope of peace at that place if he is allowed to be the Governor, or even to stay there; and your Petitioners respectfully pray, therefore, that your Excellency, in the consideration of this matter generally, will likewise be pleased to consider whether or not it might be advisable to request his Highness the Raja Muda to have him appointed to' some situation, at some place other than Larut, and as distant from it as possible.
And your Petitioners will ever pray, &c. Penang, May 3, 1873.
Answer.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Singapore, May 13, 1873.
Ah Yew and others are informed, in answer to their Petition, that his Excellency the Governor is in communication with the Raja Muda, and trusts that steps may be taken which will restore peace to Larut.
(Signed) A. E. IRVING, Assistant Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements.
Petition to Colonel Anson.
The Honourable Colonel A. E. H. Anson, Lieutenant-Governor, Penang.
The humble Petition of Cheang Long Seng, Chin Guan Tak, Ong Pak Lint and Wen
Goh Yong, residing in Bishop Street, Penang, No.
Respectfully sheweth,
THAT your bumble Petitioners were lately traders at Perak in the Malayan territory,
in co-partnership together.
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