PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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IT CO-882
2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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said he had come to the stockade. They told me that his boat had been plundered. I did not examine into the details but told them to take him to the Yam Tuan at Bandar. I did not go to the Yam Tuan with them. After Mat Syed was taken to the Yam Tuan, I do not know if he gave any orders, I was sick. Mat Syed was brought to me first, because I was then at Sungie Mab Sejoh, not at Sungie Durien. I went to the Yam Tuan's about this, but cannot say how long after. Yam Tuan ordered to make search for the pirates. Datu Bandar went and searched with his men and four of my men also went, named, Andah, Saman, Lamat, and Tahir. Mat Syed was still present at Langat then, cannot say how long Mat Syed was at Langat. I was then looking after the paddy fields. I was well enough to go and look after the paddy fields. I knew that the plundered boat was a naddy.
Andah, Saman, Lamat, and Tahir went in search of the boat and brought it and gave it to me.
The boat was brought to me two nights after Mat Syed was taken back to Langat. Mat Syed was still at Langat when the boat was given to me. I do not know personally about the letter being brought by Mahomet bin Hassan, but I heard of it. I heard of it when he was at Langat. The naddy was at Sungie Durien when Mahomet bin Hassan arrived with the Lieutenant-Governor's letter, and at that time I was looking after my paddy at Sungrie Durien. Cannot say how long I remained there' on that occasion. When the boat was given to me I kept it at Sungrie Durien. Yam Tuan ordered it to be kept there. I cannot say how long the boat was given to me before Mat Syed left Langat for Malacca. The boat was not given to Mat Syed or his friends, because it was put at Sungie Durien by order of the Yam Tuan. There was a water-cask in the boat when it was given to me. See Seng, & Chinaman, claimed the rattans in the boat and got delivery of them, and See Mat took away the water-cask to the stockade without my orders. I have seen the water-cask here when I came myself. I do not know if stakes were put in Sungrie Durien to prevent boats going
in or out.
When the piracy took place I was at the big hill. I visited the stockade two days after the piracy, Sallam and Mat were the headmen of the stockade,
I kept two small boats at the stockade and a larger one. The two small ones are here now, but the big one I do not see here and do not know where it is.
I kept small arms in the stockade, but cannot say how many, never up to twenty.
I knew Hadjee Doraman, who was killed, very well, I do not recollect his leaving Langat last, did not see him when he was leaving. I knew the witness Ahkim very well. I do not know if any Bugis have visited Langat during last year. I do not know if there were any Bugis visiting Langat at the time of the piracy. Did not know of any Bugis boat being in Langat or at the stockade about the time of the piracy.
I do not know if there was any money in Doraman's boat. People must report to the Datu Bandar when they go out what money or property they take away. I did not see any money in the boat when it was handed over to me.
Court adjourns till to-morrow, 15th February, 1874, case resumed.
Raja Yacob, continued.
See Seng who got the rattans is now at Bandar.
The duty collected here was for food for the people in charge of this stockade.
I was at this stockade when the paddy was brought in two days after the piracy. There was nothing in the naddy when it was brought in. There was also an empty box, do not know what become of it. There were some old clothes also, do not know what became of them. I did not have the boat examined at the stockade to see what was in it.
I informed the Yam Tuan that the boat had been got, on the same day as it was found. I think at that time Mat Syed was still at Bandar Langat. (The witness Daga is now called into Court and shown to witness who says "I have never seen him before.") He never sold any fish to me. He did not sell two piculs of fish to me on 3rd Poasah. He did not come to the stockade on 23rd Poasah and ask the price of fish from me, and I did not ask him for two days time. I did not on the 25th Foasah order Kassim to go to Bandar and see if any one was sending down money. Kassim did not tell me that much money was coming down in Doraman's boat, I did not order Musa to amok Hadjee Dorahman's boat. About that time Musa was working in my prow at Bandar. Musa did not report to me that all the people in Doraman's boat were killed. The money in Doraman's boat were not brought to me. I did not give Musa any money a day or two after the piracy, nor to No. 1, nor to No. 2, or to any other one in the >lockade.
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I did come to this stockade two days after the piracy. No. 1 was not here then or No. 2, or No. 3, or No. 4, or any one of the prisoners. I never met the witness Daga at any time before this.
(The witness Daga has been in Court all this time and is now confronted with Rajs Yacob and says that he still adheres to his former statement and that it is all true.)
Wah Maruga (called by Nos. 1 and 2, sworn, states, examined by No. 1)-No. ! is employed in Raja Yacob's prow, of which I am the Nacodah, and he is a good man. Last month he got from me 20 dollars, and he went away to Malacca to trade.
By No. 2.-No. 2 was also employed in Raja Yacob's prow under me.
By Court. The prow is now hauled up at the Bandar. It is a schooner. It was hauled up after Poasah. There were nine of the crew, including myself in the boat. It was a trading boat took tin to Malacca and brought back rice. The last time the ţin was sold to Tomby Jenal.
Nos. 1 and 2 were never employed at this stockade so far as I know. I have only sailed one voyage in the prow, and I then went to Malacca. I have not been in the habit of going out or into this river. I had returned from my voyage before the month of Poasah. Marsat was in charge of this stockade, I cannot say for how long. After the prow was hauled up, Nos. 1 and 2 were not employed in it. There was a Langat during the month of Poasah. Wah Bellah and Hadjee Mat Dangwang were Bugis boat at headmen of that boat. I do not recollect when it left, cannot say if they left during the month of Poasah, or after it.
Cheun Dags.-1 never saw this man before, know nothing about him. Mahomed Tyre (called by No. 1):-I am a trader, and live at Bandar Langat. No. 1 was a Juragan in Raja Yacob's schooner, and I never heard anything against him. By Court.-I have been trading at the interior of Langat for the last four years. I am a Bugis man. I recollect a Bugis boat being at Langat last Poasab. It went out during the month of Poasah, I was in the interior when the piracy was committed.
Tee Hory (called by No. 3, and warned to speak the truth, but not sworn)-I keep a shop at Bandar, I am a servant to No. 3 at wages 3 dollars per month, and look after No. 3's shop. He trades, and is a good man,
By Court.-I do not know anything about the piracy, except hearing people speak of it. Punghulu Dagang, where was your towkay on the 25th Poasah ?-He was at the shop. He sometimes comes to the Qualla and gets fish. He is always at the shop.
Goh Chew Pay (called by No. 3.)-I live at Bandar and am employed by Eng Chin, a shop-keeper there. My towkay assisted No. 3 with money to keep a shop. He is a very good man,
By Court.-I have lived at Bandar two years, and have known No. 3 all that time. (Shown the witness Daga.) I know this man. He has always traded with me. brought tobacco and betel for me. I sold things to him about four months ago.
He has The prisoners are then asked if they have any other witnesses and reply, no. They are then asked if they wish to say anything before the case is closed, and say nothing except that they are not guilty.
The Court is then cleared for deliberation, and after full and careful consideration by the members of the Court in presence of the Commissioners, the Court comes to the following decisions:--
1. That the boat of Hadjce Doraman had been pirated and eight people murdered.
2. That the statement of Mahomed Syed that he arrived at the stockade is correct.
3. That Hadjee Doraman's boat has been found at Sungie Durien.
4. That the water-cask which was in the boat has been found in the stockade.
5. That the statement of Mat Syed that a Bugis boat was in the river when he reached the stockade is correct.
6. That the witness Daga was at Langat about the time of the piracy.
7. That the prisoners are all guilty of piracy and murder, but there is no evidence
to prove that they did it by orders from Baja Yacub.
The prisoners are then called into Court and informed that they have been all found guilty of piracy and murder, and Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 are sentenced to death, and to be executed to-morrow, and sentence against No. 8 is suspended.
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(No. 1)
The Sultan of Halangore to his Excellency the Governor, Straits Settlements.
(After compliments.)
Banda Termasa, February 11, 1874. WE inform our friend, that our friend's letter, which was sent to us, has safely arrived, and we understood all its contents, and, about the witnesses whom our friend required, if they are in our territory, we will send them to the mouth of Jugra River; and about the witnesses named Mahomed Arshat, and Bilal Sineese, they are Malacca people; now our Raja Yacoob, Datu Bandar, Mahomed Arshed, and See Ah Kim, they will accompany the Datu Aroo, Punghulu Dagang, and See Ah Keng; this is what we inform our friend.
(After compliments.)
(No. 2.)
To the Sultan of Salangore.
"Thalia," February 12, 1874. IN continuation of our letter of yesterday, we have to inform our friend that the accused persons now on board Her Majesty's ship "Rinaldo" have desired that the following persons resident at Langat should appear at their trial as witnesses in their behalf; and we now ask our friend to send these persons in the "Mata-Mata," with the Chiefs and other witnesses requested in our letter of yesterday.
Names of Witnesses.
Wah Maruga.
Nacoda Mahomed Tahir.
Hoee (Chinese).
See Ah Poy (do.)
(Signed)
J. F. A. Mc NAIR. J. G. DAVIDSON.
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(No. 5.)
To the Sultan of Salangore.
14
(After compliments.)
WE beg to inform our friend, that after a long and patient inquiry by his Highness
"Thalia," February 15, 1874. Tunku Dia Oodin, Datu Aroo, Punghulu Dagang, and Ah Keng, the eight prisoners charged with piracy and murder have been unanimously found guilty of these crimes, and sentenced to death.
One of the prisoners being young, and not connected actively in the crime, has been taken charge of by his Highness Tunku Dia Oodin.
We inform our friend that we fully concur in the conclusion at which the Court has arrived.
We think that this crime has arisen from the bad state of government in Langat, and by evil-disposed persons who are protected. there; and we trust that our friend will see that so grave an offence does not again occur within his Dominions.
(Signed) J. F. A. Mc NAIR.
(No. 6.)
To the Sultan of Salangore.
J. G. DAVIDSON.
(After compliments.)
WE inform our friend, that reliable information has just reached us, through Tunku
"Thalia," February 16, 1874. Dia Oodin, that Raja Mahdi and Raja Mahmood, whom our friend has stated in his letter of the 22nd July, 1871, to be evil persons, and the ruin of our friend's country, are now living at Langat; and we request that our friend will arrest them for the piracies they have committed at Salangore, and other places, and send them on board Her Majesty's ship "Midge," to be dealt with according to law.
(Signed) J. F. A. Mc NAIR.
J. G. DAVIDSON,
(No. 3.)
(No. 7.)
Sultan Abdolsamat of Salangore to Major Mc Nair, R.A., and J. G. Davidson, Esq.
(After compliments.)
February 12, 1874.
WE inform our friends, that our friends' letter, which was brought by the steamer "Mata-Mata," has safely reached us, and we understood all its contents about the witnesses whom our friends require; they have all left Bandar Termasa at 3 a.m. on Thursday to go down in the steamer; and besides all other witnesses whom our friends mentioned in their letter, that is, Wah Maja Aga, and Nacodah Mahomed Tabir; they are with Raja Yacob, and the witness (Chinaman) named Ab Poy is in the steamer “Mata-Mata;” this is what we inform our friends.
To the Sultan of Salangore.
(After compliments.)
"Thalia," February 17, 1874. WE have to inform our friend that we have made inquiries into the losses sustained by British subjects on the occasion of the piracy committed in our friend's territory; and we are of opinion that our friend will see the necessity of making compensation to the survivor, and the friends and relatives of the deceased.
We consider that a sum of 5,000 dollars is not more than sufficient for this purpose; and we request our friend to place this amount in dollars, or its equivalent in tin, on board Her Majesty's ship "Midge," that this case may be properly settled.
(Signed) J. F. A. Mc NAIR.
(No. 4.)
J. G. DAVIDSON.
Sir,
"Thalia," February 15, 1874.
HIS Highness Tunku Dia Oodin having determined to destroy the stockades in the Qualla Jugra, and having at the same time stated that he would be glad of assistance in effecting this, we have the honour to request you will render his Highness the necessary aid in their destruction.
To Captain Woollcombe, R.N.,
Senior Naval Officer.
We have, &c. (Signed)
J. F. A. Mc NAIR. J. G. DAVIDSON.
(No. 8.)
The Sultan of Salangore to Major McNair, R.A., and J.`Davidson, Esq. (After compliments.)
February 16, 1874.
WE inform our friends, that the letter which our friends sent to us has safely arrived, and we understood its contents.
About the tin which our friends mentioned in their letter, we have given it in charge of Captain Grant, amounting to 286 slabs of tin, weighing 150 piculs and one catty,
Moreover, about the letter of our friends relating to Rajas Mahdi and Mahmood, we have no knowledge where they are now, because their wives did not stay in our Government; this is what we inform our friend.