PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference -
TC.o. 882
2
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON'
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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Lieutenant-Governor, Penang, to Governor.
January 9, 1874. Sin Nengs having been worsted by Speedy have no reason to doubt their good faith, but doubt power to give up row-boats with crews and arms. Hardly sufficient time allowed to get Malay Chiefs Pangkor by 14th. I have done everything possible to ensure success in every way. Six head Sin Nengs, and some of opposite faction, gone with Swettenham to give orders to respective factions.
Sir,
Mr. Pickering to his Excellency the Governor.
Penang, January 5, 1874.
On my arrival here I visited the Lieutenant-Governor, and presented the letter given me by your Excellency. Colonel Anson took me to the gaol and left me there; according to his wish I saw all the condemned prisoners, but without any result; I inclose Report of my interview.
On our way to the gaol, Colonel Anson handed me a letter which he had received from the Sin Nenge' party dated 11th December, begging the Government to interfere in the Larut troubles, and put an end to the great misery and loss of life.
It was signed by Chin-Ah-Yam in the name of seventeen headmen; men who had given him full power to carry out whatever orders the Lieutenant-Governor might give him. The paper further stated that when Colonel Anson asked Ho-Gee-Sew to go in the "Midge" to make a settlement at Larut they were not informed of it, and did not know of it till some time afterwards, when they were much annoyed, and upbraided Ho-Gee-Sew for not calling them. Ho-Gee-Sew had answered that Colonel Anson would not give him time to call the headmen together.
I asked Colonel Anson to let me copy the names of the headmen named in the paper, as some time I might want to see them.
As I knew Chin-Ah-Yam, I called him and another headmen, Booy An (who is a great man amongst the Sin Nengs). From what they said I found that Chin-Ah-Yam had power to act for all bis party, so I gave him Kim Cheng's letter and my advice. He told me that all his party had been anxiously waiting for the new Governor to take the matter up, and to make the settlement which they had in vain begged from the Lieutenant- Governor and the former Governor so many times. He said Colonel Anson had told him that, before anything could be done, the Sin Nengs must turn out of the country, and leave the Raja Mantri's party in possession. He also said that their three former petitions had never been listened to, that his people were ready to do anything and everything your Excellency might order, and that he would call a meeting of all the Chiefs that night, and bring them to me the next morning (4th).
After that I called on Ho-Gee-Sew and told him that at the meeting he would see the advice his best friends gave him, and that the most likely chance of ameliorating his present unhappy position would be in inducing his companions to submit entirely to the Govern- ment which he had so grossly insulted.
He promised to do his best, but he was only one out of many headmen, who, however, he was sure were wishing to obey your orders and leave all to your discretion.
Yesterday morning Chin-Ah-Yam, with eight other elders and headmen of the Sin Neng faction visited me here (Mr. Plunket's). Amongst them were two whom I had seen before at Larut in command of the forts. These men all said that Chin-Ab-Yam had full powers to act for the four divisions of the Sin Neng party. They said that all the Chiefs had met, to the number of twenty, in the Kongsee house, and had spent the night in con- sidering Kim Cheng's letter and my advice. The result was, that they wished to put everything entirely into your Excellency's hands, and were quite ready to give up the rowing boats, stop their men from fighting, and to surrender their cause to your judgment. They, however, beg your Excellency to send orders to Speedy to stop attacking them, for, as they said, "the rowing boats are our legs, and only hope of escape and procuring food; our fighting men are our arms, so if we give up the boats and stop our men from fighting while Speedy continues, then we are giving up our people (who have already fought so well and suffered so much) helpless into the Raja Mantri's hands to be slaughtered." On hearing this I immediately telegraphed to your Excellency, as they proniised to deliver their boats here in seven days, to stop fighting, and to come to Singa- pore, or do anything you might order. They were willing to sign an agreement to that effect, and that if they should break that agreement, then let Speedy do his worst, and the Government punish the people in Larut and the headmen in Penang.
They have altogether about 2,700 men row in Larut and the boats, but they say
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that they cannot hold out much longer, as they are starving and cooped up in a few places. They would be glad if, when the boats are delivered up, they may be allowed to send pro- visions to their people. They will be grateful if the affair can be settled, and they also say that the other party will be just as glad, for during the last three and four
on both sides can be counted by thousands.
years the slain The Sin Nengs say that they hate the Raja Mantri, and that the Muda is the rightful Lord, but that he is no better than the other, and they humbly beg and pray the British Government to take the country in hand. I told them that was neither my nor their business; I could only advise them to leave everything in your hands, whose only object was to deal fairly, and give them a chance to save themselves before it was too late. The headmen continued to say that neither Sin Nengs or Go Kwans were fighting for the sake of fighting; that, under good Government, both were men to make a country flourish, being all men of some trade or handicraft, and only fighting because all they possessed was being ruined by the rapacity of Malay Chiefs. They say that Speedy is a good man, and does not want to kill them; but that, if he were ordered to stay his band and the Government take charge of the country till at least the disputes are arranged then everything would go on right, and all parties of Chinese would be delighted and thankful.
I trust your Excellency will excuse the loose way in which this letter is written, but while writing I have received your telegram of this morning, and have been obliged to leave off many times to see different beadmen. They have now all been here and heard your orders, and are now gone to make out an agreement to obey you in everything.
I have, &c.
Governor Sir A. Clarke, K.C.B.,
&c. &c.
&c.
(Signed) W. A. PICKERING.
Report regarding Condemned Prisoners.
Chang Ah-Cheong, Tiao-Poh-Heung-Poh, and Chew-Ab-Yew not being on my list, I only asked if they would like anything before they died, and they asked permission to write home. They all asserted their innocence and were ready to die.
Chew-Ah-Yin stated that he came from Perak ten days before he was arrested. The evening before he was arrested he went with Sim-Fong and a Malay, Mat Sallee, to ask Chang-Ah-Chong for work. Ab-Chong being drunk, he was told to wait till morning, which he did, when the police arrested both himself, companions, and Ah-Chong. Mat Sallee afterwards was witness against him, and Sim Fong was discharged, not guilty.
Yow-Ah-Kong says he came in the "Japan" from Singapore on the 21st of the 7th moon; he arrived here on the 24th and went to Ah-Chong's house, where he was arrested on the 26th. Another who came from Singapore with him, Chong-Fee, was also arrested, but discharged after trial. Yow-Ah-Kong says he is well known at the Chye-Fung pawn- shop in Singapore.
Yong-Sim states he came from Perak to Penang, and was staying at Chan-Ah-Chong's house, where he was arrested. The rest of his statement is identical with that of Chew- Ah-Yin; they all persist in the innocence of themselves and the other prisoners, denying all knowledge of any quarrels or conspiracies.
Letter from Governor to the several Chiefs of Perak.
His Excellency the Governor of the Straits Settlements to my friends-
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1. The Rajah Bandahara.
2. The Rajah Abdulla Muda.
3. The Mantri of Larut.
4. The Laksamana.
The disturbances in my friends' country have now been going on for so long time that all trade is paralyzed, and my friends' country and people are suffering very much.
I am therefore very anxious to put a stop to this sad state of affairs, and I request that my friend will meet me at the Dindings on the 14th of this month, where I have also requested all the Chiefs of my friends" country to meet me.
I have now sent up two great officers of my Government, Major McNair and Captain Dunlop, who are both known to my friend, and who will fully explain all my views; and I
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