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sequence of the want of good faith on the part of Abdullah, who set the advice of the Resident entirely at nought and rendered him utterly powerless. Under these circumstances a change of system was resolved upon, and, with Abdullah's apparent acquiescence, the direct power of Government was given into the hands of two British Commissioners, who, it was agreed, should govern the country, with the assistance of a Malay Council, and in the name of the Sultan.
9. Proclamations to this effect were prepared in the Malay language, and during the last days of October they were posted under Mr. Birch's supervision, and without any opposition, at the villages on the portion of the river below Banda Babiru. On the 1st of November Mr. Birch proceeded further up the river to the village of Passir Sala, the place of residence of the Maharajah Lela, and there be slept that night in perfect security. On the following day he gave directions for posting the proclama- tions. This was done by his Malay interpreter, but they were repeatedly torn down by some Malays, and on the interpreter giving a blow to one of the men with a stick he was immediately stabbed by the man in return. "A rush was then made on the rest of the party, and Mr. Birch, who was bathing at the time, was murdered.
10. Notwithstanding the apparently accidental manner in which the affray arose, there are circum stances which point to the Maharajah Lela as having been the instigator of the crime, and grave suspicions of a similar complicity attach to another Chief bearing the title of Datu Saga.
11. The position which the Ex-Sultan Ismail has taken in regard to this transaction, and the sub- sequent resistance offered to the British troops, has not yet been ascertained. Reports vary from the statement that he was utterly unconcerned in the outrage, and that he entirely repudiates its perpe- trators, to statements that he is adopting their cause, and collecting a force of not less than 10,000 men to oppose any attempt on the part of the British Government to bring them to punishment.
12. On the news of Mr. Birch's murder being heard at Penang, a force of 60 men of the 1/10th Regi- ment was sent to the Residency, accompanied by Captain Innes, R.E., Assistant Colonial Engineer, as Civil Commissioner. This force was repulsed at a stockade at Passir Sala on the 7th of November, with a loss of about 13 officers and men killed and wounded, Captain Innes being among the killed.
13. Since then reinforcements bave been sent from Singapore, and the Residency at Banda Bahru has been made secure. The force in the river at present consists of about 140 men of the 1/10th Regi- ment, 40 artillery, 50 colonial police, and a body of about 50 Sikh police, raised for the service of the Residency. The gun-boats "Thistle" and "Fly" are also on the Perak River, which is navigable up to Durian Sabatang, about 10 miles below the Residency at Banda Bahru.
14. At Laroot Captain Speedy, the Assistant Resident, holds the narrow pass that alone commu- nicates between that district and the valley of the Perak River with a party of Sikhs and others. Laroot is a Chinese peopled district, and its inhabitants are most unlikely to feel any sympathy with the Malays of the neighbouring districts.
15. Besides the "Thistle " and " Fly," the gun-boats "Egeria" and "Ringdove" are now, as you are aware, in these waters. The "Philomel" may be shortly expected from Calcutta, and the "Modeste is on her way from Hong Kong via Manila and Labuan. Steps have been taken with a view to hasten her movements, but the date of her arrival here is still uncertain.
16. The following forces have been asked for from Calcutta:-Two European battalions, say, 1,500 effective men, and one battery of artillery, with mountain guns such as can be moved by hand. It was requested that the troops might be accompanied by tents and all other appliances requisite for enabling them to take the field at once. Fifty miles of telegraph wire and the proper telegraph apparatus were also asked for.
17. The telegram asking for such a force was despatched on the 11th inst, but before the arrange- ments were completed telegraphic communication between Penang and India failed, and 1 am at pre- sent in a state of uncertainty as to whether the force has been or will be despatched or not. But the Commissariat Department is acting as though the force was known to have left Calcutta about the
12th inst
18. Independently of the preparations that are being made by the Commissariat Department, the following preparations have been made by officers of the Colonial Government under my directions :--
1st. A sailing vessel of 1,000 tone, the "Argonaut," has been chartered, and will leave to-morrow for the Dindings, close by the mouth of the Perak River, where there is a good anchorage. She will take 800 tons of coals, and 1,200 planks for building huts, besides provisions and other stores.
The vessel will be available as a coaling depot and also as a hospital ship.
2nd. Forty-six flat-bottomed boats are being prepared for iver navigation; six of them will be capable of carrying guns.
3rd. Six thousand kajangs (light mats) are being sent for the construction of temporary huts. They will be sufficient to give shelter to your whole force.
4th. A coolie corps is being raised; they will be available for carrying stores, clearing roada, making rafts, bridges, &c.
19. Civil Commissioners have been appointed to accompany the troope, and to give to the officers commanding every sesistance in their power. The officers so appointed are;—
Major McNair, Colonial Engineer, Senior Commissioner.
Major Dunlop, R.A., Inspector-General of Police, Second Commissioner. Mr. W. Maxwell, Magistrate of Province Wellesly, Deputy Commissioner. Mr. F. A. Swettenham, Assistant Resident, Salangore, Deputy Commissioner.
20. Having thus described the present position of the country, the nature of the force which will probably be at your disposal, and the arrangements and preparations that have been carried out in anticipation of your arrival, it is necessary that I should now state the views that I entertain as to the line of conduct to be adopted in dealing with the country.
91. The first object is to bring to justice the perpetrators of the murder of the British Resident, and the suspicions that point to the Maharajah Lela as the instigator of the crime are so strong that the occupation of his village, to be followed by an uncompromising demand for his surrender, is the first object to be aimed at. The occupation of Pasir Sala will probably present no difficulty, but the demand for the surrender of the Maharajah Lela is not to be expected until an imposing display of
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force has been exhibited. The view, however, with which I have addressed requisitions to Her Majesty's Government for a force on so considerable a scale as that above described is, that it is not until such a display of force has been made, and certain points of the country have been occupied, that I shall feel in a position to indicate with any exactness the procedure to be adopted with a view to the final settlement of the affairs of the country.
22. Such a display of force as that on which I am relying for any permanent settlement of the present difficulties will be a matter for your consideration, as General in command of the forces, but the following views which I bave arrived at, and which are based on my own personal knowledge of the country, I present for your consideration, not without considerable confidence in their soundness, in favour of which the view of the configuration of the territory, as shown in the maps which have been prepared, has already, if I mistake not, inclined your own judgment.
23. My view is, that whilst one part of the force moves up the river in boats towed by light draught steam launches, or poled up against the stream, which is somewhat strong, another part of the fores should move through Laroot to Qualla Kangsa, from whence, if necessary, they might drop down the river in boats or on rafts with the stream. Seeing that the course of the Perak River is for the most part in a direction parallel to the coast, and that Blanja and other points on the river can be reached from the coast by short lines of road leading over the country between the coast and the Perak Valley, some such line of advance might also be adopted, and one such line, viz., that from the Bruas River to Blanja, is now being reconnoitred. It is believed that the march by this route would not occupy the troops more than ten hours.
24. With the establishment of the force at Passir Sala, Qualla Kangsa, and Blanja, and the holding of the river, the definite views at which I have arrived come to an end.
Ulterior proceedings cannot but be dependent on contingencies, the probabilities in regard to which it appears unnecessary now to discuss.
25. There is one subsidiary project which I have omitted to mention, viz, the cutting of a road from Kota Stia to the Residency at Banda Bahru. Owing to the winding of the river a road of only six or eight miles will conduct to a point that by water is distant at least 60 miles. The road has already been commenced, and I would suggest that a force of one company should be stationed at Kota Stia with a view to protecting the working parties and taking charge of the Custom-house and other buildings there.
I have, &c.
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Major-General Hon. F. Colborne, C.B.,
Commanding the Forces, Perak.
(Signed) WM. F. DRUMMOND JERTON
P.S. Since the foregoing was written the following telegram has been received (via Penang) from Major Dunlop. It was written on Tuesday 16th, probably from Banda Babru.
morning (Monday 15th) we made a combined land and water attack on the enemy, and after a long "Yesterday "day's fighting, the enemy making an obstinate and prolonged resistance, we took and destroyed "four stockades, including the Maharajah Lela's house and campong, the Datu Saga's house and campong; in fact all Passir Sala and Campong Gaja. We captured are guns, recovered Birch's two boats, bram gun, and papers, and much of bis property in the Maharajah's house. Only "Ladgis (one of the Resident's police) wounded. The campaign is by no means finished yet, but "I do not propose to act again immediately; particulars follow by post."
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In view of this telegram, I would ask you to give directions that no further operations should be undertaken till I shall have arrived myself in the Perak River. I propose leaving Singapore early to morrow morning in the colonial steamer "Pluto," and shall be at a point between Battarabit and Durian Sabatang early on Sunday morning.
Enclosure & in No. 100.
(Signed) W. F. D. J.
SIR
Perak River, November 20, 1875. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th inst., containing 4 distinct and valuable account of the events that have led to the present state of affairs in the Malay Peninsula, and information as to the steps that have hitherto been taken by the Colonial Government.
I beg to assure your Excellency that I entirely concur in the proposed distribution of forces, and that I shall be most anxious to meet your Excellency's views in every respect.
every have, &c.
(Signed) FRANCIA COLBORNE,
Major-General Commanding,
China and Straits.
His Excellency Sir Wm. Drummond Jervois, C.B., K.C.M.G.,
Sin
c.,
&C.,
&c.
Enclosure 9. in No. 100. (4 Sub-Enclosures).
Bandar Bahru, November 16, 1875.
I HAVE the honour to state, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, that after leaving his Excellency in the Perak River on the 8th inst. I went to Bandar Bahru, which I reached about 8 a.m. on the 9th, and took over charge of the Residency from Mr. Swettenham.
In accordance with instructions from his Excellency, dated the 9th inst., I at once communicated Bub-hool. 1
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with Captain Stirling, R.N., the Senior Naval Officer, and with Captain Whitla, of the 1/10th Regiment, commanding the troops, with respect to the arangements to be made for a combined attack by land Nov, 4, 1674. and river upon Pamir Sala as soon as possible.
The force at Bandar Bahru on my arrival was as follows:-Three officers and 181 men of the 1/10th Regiment and 50 Sikhs, and on the 10th there arrived one officer and 20 men of the Royal Artillery.
Our chief difficulty in preparing for the attack was to secure boats to carry the guns and rockets, and to transport the troops to an advantageous landing-place as near as possible to the enemy's first S 3
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