PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
། ། །
Reference :-
CO. 882
3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
134
9. Upon receiving the intelligence that Passir Sala and Campong Gaja had been destroyed, I considered that our position was such that I should communicate with certain influential Chiefs of the country with reference to the state of affairs in Perak, and that the object of employing a military force in the country should be made known to the Rajaks and people.
I started, therefore, in the Colonial steamer "Pluto" on the morning of the 19th instant, accompanied by the Hon. G. Philippo, Attorney-General, Captain Paton, 1/24th Regiment, A.D.C., and Lieut. McCallum, R.E., Acting Private Secretary; and at 11 p.m. on the following day I arrived in the Perak River, where I found the Major. General Commanding, who had arrived some hours previously, on board H.M.S. "Ringdove," which, with H.M.S. "Fly," was conveying troops to Durian Sabatang,
On the following morning the detachment on board H.M.S. "Fly" was transferred to Nov. 21, 1875. the "Pluto," and the "Fly" was despatched to Singapore, with orders to bring up to Kotastis-to protect working parties and the Custom-house-the remainder of the troops who had arrived with the Major-General from Hong Kong.
Solosure 17.
Enclosure 16.
13
At the same time I instructed the Colonial Secretary to send the 200 "polera Nov. 21, 1875, who had been engaged at Singapore with the least possible delay, as I was anxious that
the road from Kotastia to the Residency should be got on with at once.
The objects to be gained by the cutting of this road are stated in paragraph 25 of my letter to the Major-General, Enclosure No. 7.
Enclosures
19, 20. Nov. 22, 1875. Enclosures
Upon my arrival at Durian Sabatang I put myself into communication with the Major-General, the Senior Naval Officer, and the Commissioners, and I requested that, except under special circumstances, no active operations should take place without a further communication from me. I enclose a copy of the Major-General's reply to my request, enclosing a copy of the instructions which he left with the officer in command Nov. 28, 1875. at Bandar Bahru, when he was subsequently called to Penang by the arrival of troops
from India.
11, 22.
(1 Sub-Encl.) Nov. 26, 18738.
Enclosure 28. Νοτ. 11.
–זו.
Enclomers 34. Nor. 99.
Enclosure 25. Nov. 11.
Enclosures 30, 17. Nov. 12.
Locloseres 28. 29. Nor 10.
Δίον. Τ.
10. On the same day, November 22nd, I issued a proclamation (copy enclosed), stating the reasons for bringing a British force into the country, and calling on all people who are well affected to separate themselves from those who are acting in hostility against us, and to support the cause of law and order.
I also caused to be issued a notice, calling upon all persons to give information as to the murderers and instigators of the murder of Mr. Birch, and promising an ample reward should such information be instrumental in procuring the arrest of the guilty parties.
Aware of the importance of avoiding, as far as possible, the punishment of the inno cent with those engaged in armed resistance, I addressed a letter to the Commissioners to the effect that I would look to them to exercise a wise discrimination in this par ticular; and I enclosed copies of this communication, along with copies of the proclama- tion and notice, to the Major-General Commanding and the Senior Naval Officer, and I suggested that the substance of the communication should be embodied in a General Order to Her Majesty's Forces.
11. On my arrival at Durian Sabatang, two letters were handed to me, one addremed by Rajah Muda Yusuf to Mr. Swettenham, the other by Rajah Dris to Mr. Bacon, an employé at the Residency at Bandar Bahru. The tone of these letters is particularly satisfactory, and fully confirms the opinion which I had previously formed, based on information received, that Rajaba Yusuf and Dris remained staunch and friendly to the British Government.
•
Before leaving Durian Sabatang, I had an interview with Sultan Abdullah, who came on board the "Pluto," accompanied by the Laxamana, the Shahbandar, and Rajah Makota. They all expressed themselves moet willing to assist in every way, and they unanimously expressed a hearty approval at the terms of the proclamation and notice which I had drawn up. Sultan Abdullah promised to forward any letter which I wished to send to the influential Chiefs, and to distribute the proclamations and notices sa far an lay in his power. They one and all denied any complicity in the murder of Mr. Birch, and appeared to appreciate the action which had been taken by the British Government in the matter. As I have mentioned, however, in my Despatch No. 835 of this day's date," there are reports and information which seem to lead to the conclusion that the Sultan and his party are not altogether free from complicity in the recent outrages.
The Sultan having informed me that he found it very difficult to procure food, I immediately requested the Senior Naval Officer to draw a supply of rice and fish from the chartered vessel " Argonaut," which was anchored at the Dindings as a depôt ship.
• No. 101.
135
I subsequently communicated with Major Dunlop requesting him to apply to the 30. Senior Military Officer to issue to Sultan Abdullah reasonable quantities of provisions.
Nov. 25, 1875.
12. Immediately after my interview with Abdullah, I left Durian Sabatang and arrived at Penang on the afternoon of the 23rd November.
Hearing that arms and ammunition were being passed into Perak hy the Kurow River, and that there were armed men in the village of Tanjong Piandang between that river Enclosure 21 and the Krean, I requested the Senior Naval Officer to visit that village.
I enclose copies of the letters which I addressed to Rajahs Yusuf and Dris, thanking them for their expressions of loyalty and good faith, and requesting them to make known that we had no desire to disturb those who were not hostile to us.
I'enclose also copies of the letters to Ex-Sultan Ismail, and the Rajah Bandahará Oosman, as to their feelings towards the British Government at the present time, and requesting to be informed whether we were to treat them as friendly or hostile.
Nov, 23, 1875. Nov. 11.
Enclosures
23, 24.
As it was very uncertain whether, in the present condition of affairs, the Ex-Sultan and the Bandahara would receive the letters which I had addressed to them, I took the precaution of not only requesting Sultan Abdullah to forward them with the least possible delay (copy of letter enclosed), but I sent duplicate copies overland through Enclosure 35. Larut by the hands of Hadji Aboobakar, a Province Wellesley Malay, well known in Perak, and of Belial Sinen, a messenger of the Maharajah of Jobore.
I sent a triplicato copy to Ismail overland, from the Dindings to Blanja, by the Punghulu of the Dindings.
13. On the 25th November I received a letter from the Ex-Sultan, dated November 2nd, the day on which Mr. Birch was murdered (copy enclosed), informing me that he never intended to disobey the advice tendered to him."
I enclose also a copy of a letter which he addressed to the Maharajah of Johore at the same time, asking the Maharajah to assist him, but stating that whatever the Goverpor settled and decided on he could not refuse.
I immediately wrote to Ex-Sultan Ismail acknowledging the receipt of his letter, and requesting him not only to assist us in finding out and punishing those who had been guilty of the outrage, but also in settling all differences, and securing good government in Perak.
On November 28th I received from Captain Speedy a letter which had been addressed to him by the Ex-Sultan (copy enclosed), to whom I thereupon wrote fully, explaining to him that food would be allowed to come into the country immediately a pacific settle- ment was effected. I strongly advised him to attempt no resistance, but to amist our troops in every way. I informed him that we must punish, not only the participators, But the instigators of the outrage, and I called on him to assist us, as far as possible, to remove the disgrace which hangs over Perak, and to secure such a settlemant of affairs as will secure happiness and prosperity to the chiefs and people.
14. Having now communicated with the Chiefs of the upper country, and caused to be circulated proclamations and notices as widely as possible, I put myself into commu- nication with the Major-General Commanding and the Senior Naval Officer, and apprised them with what I had done. I suggested, however, that active operations should be still suspended until a combined movement of all the troops that are to be engaged could be effected; and, that if it were deemed desirable to carry on operations against stockaded positions or bodies of men who might have assembled to resist our further progress up the river, that such operations should be confined to the district which is known to be disaffected, until I had received replies to my communications to the Chiefs of the upper country.
Nov. 34.
Nov. 1.
Enclosure 26.
Nov. 1. Enclosure 87.
Nov. 28.
closure 54.
Nov. 24.
elesure 20. Nov. 19.
Eenlosure 40.
Nov. 34.
41, 42.
15. I have been most anxious to improve the communications from Larut to Qualla Kangsa, in order to be able to move, without difficulty, through this district, a force intended to operate from Quaila Kangsa and the upper part of the Perak River. Native labourers have been employed in improving the road, and there will be now no difficulty in up- plying provisions and stores. An adequate supply of provisions has been laid in, camping grounds have been selected, stockades erected," "kadjangs" and " supplied for shelter in the field, huts and storerooms erected.
attaps enclose, for your Lordship's information, reports and communications concerning the arrangements and 44, 44, 45, 48. preparations made, as also a sketch map of the road. The distance from Talok
Beclosures
Nov. 33.
Nov. 23.
Kastang, the place of disembarkation, to Qualla Kangsa, on the Perak River, is 27 miles.
Nov. 18.
Nov. 26. Enclosure 47.
It is proposed to divide the distance into three marches, the camping grounds being at Bukit Gantang and Campong Boys.
16. On the 27th instant the first detachment of troops arrived from India, 200 men of the 3rd Buffs, in the S.S. " Arabia.”
-PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
النسيا
Reference :---
C.O.
882
3
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
R 4