PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
3
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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strongly advised not to attack until the next morning, as he considered that the place could be taken with less loss to our side then, as the gun (a mountain howitzer) could then be brought into position, and would be of great assistance in the attack. The recom- mendation seemed good, and having fallen in, I ordered a retreat of our men. It was at this time that a rifle-shot (probably the last one fired by the enemy) struck Chambers, Captain of maintop, in the shoulder, wounding him mortally, the poor fellow only just living long enough to reach Lukut, to die at Rajah Botte's house at midnight on the 10th instant.
The next morning, 29th (Sunday), I was summoned to attend at the Acting Com- missioner's, wlio, informed me that he had orders from his Excellency the Governor that all hostilities were to cease for twenty-four hours, that the Bandar might have time to consider his Excellency's communication.
On Monday morning (30th), at daylight, the whole force paraded, and, the period of armistice having expired, were moved on to attack the fortified village of Campo Pymg (the place attacked on the 28th), and on arrival found no resistance offered, the place being deserted, except by Chinese coolies looting, and nearly all guns and arms removed by the enemy, who took advantage of the cessation of hostilities to have them carried off. The guns left were four of iron, about 12-pounders, and two brass swivels, about 2-pounders. We also recovered the gun which had been taken from Mr. Pickering on a previous occasion. These were all immediately removed to the Klana for safe keeping, and the works and village fired and utterly destroyed.
Having completed this service, the whole force marched back to our head-quarters at Sungie Ujong at about 5 P.M., tolerably tired with a very hard day's work.
Tuesday, December 1.-Divided the forces, the Acting Commissioner, with Lieutenant Palmer of the 10th, taking one division; myself, with Lieutenant Brooke and Lieutenant Huntly, and Wharton, 10th Regiment, taking another; and Mr. Bishop, gunner, with a small division of seamen, another to scour the country, and endeavour to capture or get information of the whereabouts of Rajah Mahmood, but without success. A certain amount of tin, bearing the Bandar's chop, was captured.
Wednesday, December 2.-Forty of the 10th, under Lieutenant Huntley, and forty of our men, under myself and Lieutenant Brooke, started for Geegong, reported as fortified and hostile; but, after a march of about twelve miles through swamp and jungle, we found only a few Malay houses belonging to the Bandar. Camped there this night. Next day (December 3) I sent, owing to the difficulty of procuring provisions, Lieutenant Brooke back with twenty-nine of the men, and Lieutenant Huntley returned with thirty of the 10th, Lieutenant Wharton with three of the 10th, and three bluejackets were left as guard at Geegong; the Acting Commissioner, myself with eleven bluejackets, and Lieutenant Palmer with ten men of the 10th, and Mr. Pickering, moved on to Seppang, through swamps and jungle of the same nature. We visited in their turns, on the 4th, 5th, and 6th, the villages of Geegong, Labu, and Cappayah, and returned to head-quarters at 7 P.M. on Monday, the 7th, the average marches having been eighteen miles per diem. All the above-mentioned hostile villages were destroyed on our return march. Our work now seemed over, but the Acting Commissioner requested, owing to a serious outburst amongst the Chinese, that the force might be retained another day, and, meeting his wishes, we did all that we could successfully to preserve order by disarming malcontents; and when the country appeared quiet we started on the march back, arriving at Lukut on the 10th instant, and embarked for "Charybdis," leaving Chambers at the Rajah Botte's house under the charge of Dr. Gilson, whose [sic] and care I cannot too highly praise; but to the great sorrow of all employed, and his shipmates generally, he died before he could be brought on board.
I have only further to report the extreme zeal and energy shown by Lieutenant Brooke, Mr. Bishop (gunner), and Mr. Macdonald (midshipman), who showed, through a country where every possible difficulty for a march met them, an indomitable energy and example to their men, and deserve every praise, which example was nobly followed by the petty officers, non-commissioned officers, and men under my command; and I think that the attention and care of the officers accounts, to a certain extent, for the small loss sustained by our people.
Captain Smith, R.N.,
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. GEO. JONES, Senior Lieutenant.
Her Majesty's ship "Charybdis,"
Senior Officer, Straits of Malacca.
87
No. 16.
The Earl of Carnarvon to Governor Sir A. Clarke, K.C.M.G., C.B.
Sir,
Downing Street, March 4, 1875. I HAVE to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch of the 29th December last, reporting the steps you had found it necessary to take against the Datu Bandar, who had been causing disturbances at Sungie Ujong, and its neighbourhood, not only interfer- ing with the peace and good government of the district, but at the same time endangering the lives and property of British subjects trading there.
2. Although it is to be regretted that you should so soon have again been called upon to resume hostile operations against any of the native Malay Chiefs, I perceive that it would have been difficult for you to allow the continuance of such a state of things as are so fully described in your despatch, and in the inclosures.
pro-
3. Under such circumstances I do not hesitate to convey to you my approval of the ceedings which led to so successful a termination of disturbances which might otherwise have led to an unfortunate state of affairs, seriously affecting our newly-assumed position in the Peninsula towards the native rulers.
4. I am glad to acknowledge the assistance you have had, as on previous occasions, from the naval and military authorities; and I have accordingly addressed communication to that effect to the War Office, and to the Admiralty.
5. I consider that much credit is due to Mr. Pickering for the energy and courage he showed under very difficult circumstances.
6. I shall be glad to be informed in what manner you have disposed of their two
Rajahs.
Sir,
I have, &c.
(Signed)
CARNARVON,
No. 17.
The Earl of Carnarvon to Governor Sir A. Clarke, K.C.M.G., C.B.
Downing Street, March 4, 1875,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch dated the 23rd of December last,† reporting on the Mission of Mr. J. W. W. Birch, on the Salama River, in Perak,
2. I shall no doubt hear further from you on the subject; but I wish to know what course has been adopted by the Sultan, of Perak, towards those who have been sent to him
as prisoners. I must add, that full details respecting matters of this importance should invariably be communicated to me with the least possible delay.
3. I await the further Report promised in your despatch of the 24th of December last, respecting the recent action of Mr. Birch as Boundary Commissioner in Perak.
Sir,
I have, &c.
(Signed)
CARNARVON.
No. 18.
The Earl of Carnarvon to the Officer Administering the Government.
Downing Street, March 5, 1875.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the several despatches which are noted in the margin,§ from Sir A. Clarke, referring to the appointments which he had made consequent on the decision to establish Residents at the Courts of certain Rajahs and native rulers in the Malay Peninsula.
I shall duly consider these recommendations, and address a despatch to Sir F. W. Drummond Jervis, in which I shall give him full instructions respecting these appointments; and in the meantime I have to request that you will carefully explain to each of the gentlemen who have received Acting Appointments in consequence of the arrangements made by the late Governor, that such appointments must be considered by them as purely and entirely provisional, and therefore of a temporary character.
I have, &c.
CARNARVON.
(Signed)
• No. 19.
↑ No. 10.
↑ No. 11.
§ Nos. 13 and 14.