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C.O. 882
3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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about if miles off. They were not molested by the enemy, who, according to an account brought in next morning by Rajah Mahmoud, evacuated the stockade at the very time when the order wa given to our troops to retire. It appears that there were only about 30 men in the stockade when it was attacked, and that they probably fell back on another stockade after suffering from our fire, N. exact information was brought as to the lows on their side, but it was probably not very great owing to the strength of their position. The troops seem to have been within a few yards of the stockade at one time and the firing was not at close quarters, so that the Martini-Henry had little advantage over the weapons of the enemy. Our losses were as follows: Captain Innes killed; one private of the 10th Regiment reported missing (the body was afterwards recovered); eight men of the 10th wounded, three severely, all with gunshot wounds. One of the Malays who were with Mr. Swetten- ham, Makhoda Orlong, a man of some distinction, was also killed-shot through the brain. These men showed admirable pluck and went back that night to the scene of the recent fight to recover the body of their dead comrade, and also to look for the body of one of the 10th supposed to bave been killed. The body was washed down by the current next day and showed several wounds, one through the head and one in the jaw. About 12.15 despatches brought to Captain Innes from Penang were brought to me having been carried as far as Kota Lumut by the "Alert," and thence by the "Engineer." I opened them. One was from the Lieutenant-Governor, Penang, enclosing a telegram from his Excellency the Governor, saying that he would be at the mouth of the Perak River early on Monday morning, and wanted the "Pluto" to meet him. The Lieutenant-Governor asked that a short account of the state of affairs in Perak might be sent down to his Excellency.
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The wounded were by this time being brought in, and Mr. Keyt (Mr. Birch's clerk) arrived, and informed me that our troops had suffered terribly. Lieutenants Booth and Elliott had been wounded, Captain Innes killed, and Mr. Swettenham (he reported) missing. He said he had left the field of action in order to secure the boats, there was no one now in command, and the troops were falling back and might be cut off Making allowance for probable exaggeration, I thought it best to send a hurried report of what had occurred by the "Alert" to Captain Welner, stating that we should hold the Residency but needed reinforcements. Matters certainly looked very bad, and I feared from what I had heard that the troops would suffer heavily before they reached the boats if indeed they were not cut off. I made all the preparations I could in case we should be attacked and concentrated the men on the island. Soon, however, the boats appeared one after another, and I found the news was true, for one boat contained Lieutenant Elliott, who was severely wounded, and the body of Captain Innes. One by one the wounded were carried up to the Residency and laid on mats and sofas while their wounds were attended to by Mr. Legge, apothecary, and a dresser. The men seemed fearfully depressed at the reverse they had sustained, and exhausted with the heat. The ball in Lieutenant Booth's foot had lodgeci near the surface and was extracted without difficulty. The severer cases could not be dealt with for want of the requisite instruments.
A man of the 10th told me that he was standing beside Captain Innes when he fell. The man begged him to lie down or get under cover, but at that moment Captain lanes, who was standing erect, sword in hand, was struck and fell dead. The expression on his face when the body was brought in was perfectly calm, and he must have died without pain. That night, as the moon was rising, we buried him beside Mr. Birch with military honours.
Sentries were doubled that night, and as all the others were tired to death with the day's work I stayed up till 2 going round from time to time to see that the sentries were on guard at their posts.
Monday, November 8.-I started off at 9 by Mr. Swettenham's request, to meet his Excellency the Governor and tell him what had occurred. Below Kota Lumut I met the Corporal from Durien Sabatang, who told me that he was going up to Mr. Plunket for instructions as the police were afraid to remain there. I took him down the river with me. He told me that the Sultan had received letters from the Ulu, warning him that if he did not join them, they (the Ulu Chiefs) would come down and attack him. The Sultan and Laksamana, he told me, had gone up the Bidor River the day before at 12. I landed and found the seven police at the station whom we had left, ordered him to remain there, and show the people there that there was no reason to be afraid. I warned him against believing vague reports from the interior. I then sent for one of the Sultan's chief men, who told me that the Sultan and Laksamana were coming back to Durien Sabatang,
A little below Durien Sabatang I met the "Mata Mata" (which I had expected to find much higher up) piloting H.M.S. "Fly" and the "Phys Pekhet," Capt. Bower's steamer, which has since been chartered. Went on board the Fly," and found Captain Whitla (10th Regiment) from Penang, and Lieute. Meyrick and Louth; Dr. Orton and 80 men of the 10th Regiment from Singapore. Capt. Bruce of the "Fly," finding the "Mata Mata" going up the river, had kept her, otherwise I should have reached his Excellency's steamer in good time. He asked me to go down in the "Phya Pekhot" instead, as he wanted the "Mata Mata" to take the troops up. The "Phys Pekhet," in swinging, got hard and fast on the sand, which at this point nearly bars the channel; and I had no alternative but to wait for the rising tide, as the "Mata Mata" and all the available boats were required for the transport of the troops to Bandar Bahru, which was immediately commenced under the direction of Capt. Bruce. About 4 p.m. the "Mata Mata" and three other launches towing ships, bosts got away, having on board all the troops for the front. Soon after this the Lak- samana came on board. He told me that he had received a report that a Punghulu at Bidor mines had been sent for by Ismail, and he was afraid if the Ulu Chief joined Maharaja Lela there would be a great deal of trouble, and the "Orang Rawah" would come down and plunder and burn their camponga. About 5.30 the corporal came on board with a message that the Sultan would like to see me, so I went to the police station where found him and the Laksamana. The Sultan expressed great fear of the Ulu Chiefs, who be said were angry with him for consenting to the appointment of Commissioners to conduct the government of the country, especially as there was no stipulation in the recent proclamation as there was in the Pangkor engagement, that the Malay religion and custom
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should not be interfered with. I pointed out that it was expressly said that all such questions should be dealt with by the Council of native Chiefs.
About 10.80 p.m. Major Dunlop arrived on board H.M.S. "Fly" in a launch from the Governor's ateamer. I gave him all the information I could and he told me that his Excellency wished to sea the Sultan as soon as possible. He was going up to the Residency that night to assume civil charge of the place. I found one of the Sultan's men on shore, but it was hopeless to attempt to take the Sultan down that night as it was about 12, so I left word I would call for him early next morning. I went down the river in the " Alert," but owing to her tubes getting out of order, she stopped and I did not reach his Excellency's steamer till about 2 a.m.
Tuesday, 9th November.-The "Pluto” had been despatched to Penang for stores. The Governor's chartered steamer was anchored above Bata Rabit, and H.M.S. "Thistle," Captain Stirling, was lying near ber. I remained on deck with the Governor till 4 a.m., and then lay down for an hour, having in structions to go up and bring the Sultan on board the first thing in the morning. The "Alert," which I had ordered to "make fast astern, had drifted off, and was leaking, so after waiting an hour or more I took one of the ship's boats as far as the "Thistle," having despatches for Captain Stirling. The "Alert" bere overtook me, and I went up to Durien Sabatang, reaching the "Fly" about 8.80. At the station I found Mr. Swettenham, who had just come down, waiting for the Sultan. After keeping waiting about half an hour he arrived with two boats and a lot of followers. The Sultan came with us in the Mata Mata," the boata being towed and we reached the Governor's steamer about 12. As we got near the Sultan asked me to come into his boat and have a talk. He was evidently getting rather nervous and asked me what he should say to the Governor. After lunch he was sent for on board, but as Mr. Swettenham interpreted I was not present during his interview with the Governor, which lasted some time. His Excellency declined to allow him to send men, but said he looked to him to provide boats for the troops.
Major Dunlop was appointed to act as Commissioner, and Mr. Swettenham Assistant Commissioner, for the time being. My services as special interpreter being no longer required, I received instruc- tions to proceed to my ordinary duties in province Wellesley. His Excellency left for Singapore about 4.50, and Captain Bruce, Mr. Swettenham, and I, who accompanied him some way down the river, returned that night to Durien Sabatang in the "Mata Mata," calling at Bata Rabit by his Excellency's orders to explain to the Sultan, who saluted our flag as we passed, that his Excellency was pressed for time and could not stop. We took the Sultan's boat in tow. Captain Bower's steamer crossed us, steaming down the river, having the wounded on board for Penang. The steamship "Kedah "had arrived about mid-day from Penang, and came alongside his Excellency's steamer at her anchorage, Lieutenant Monckton who came in her took command of the artillery. At Durien Sabatang I went on board the "Fly" for the night, and the "Mata Mata" went on up the river with Captain Bruce and Mr. Swettenham.
Wednesday, 10th November.-Waited for the "Kedah" which went up to discharge cargo, and was then to return to Penang. About mid-day the "Pluto" arrived from Penang, and the "Thistle followed her from her former anchorage. Went on board the "Pluto," which had brought fresh mest, ice, and other supplies, and then on board the "Thistle." Captain Stirling left for Bandar Bahru as Senior Naval Officer. Went on shore with Captain Welner and Lieutenant Forsyth ("Fly") to see the Sultan, whom we found in a boat and had a talk with. We then went on to see the Laksamana, and, while talking to him by the river bank, the Maharajah of Johore's little steamer, the "Pulai," came up the river and anchored close to. Mr. Houltbee came ashore and said that the
· Maharajah had sent him up on hearing of Mr. Birch's murder, and that he had expected to find the Governor there and place the steamer at his disposal. I afterwards went on board the "Pulai” and had a talk with the Datu Bandahars of Johore, a very shrewd man, who seemed well up in Perak politics. The idea was that the Mantri was at the bottom of all the intrigues. Ismail he described as not likely to take any active measures. He would probably remain up country and watch the course of events.
Thursday, 11th November.-Accounts from Bandar Bahru reported all quiet, but it was currently said that the enemy were erecting stockades up the river above Passir Sala. The "Quedah "caine down the river early. Nakhoda Trang came on board the "Pluto," and I had a talk with him. He showed me a letter, which he had just received, giving the names of six men who bad (as it was said) came down from Blanja to help the Maharaja Lela at Pasir Sala and were in the stookade at the time of of the attack, Hadji Alli was the Chief, and the others were the Tunku Panglima Besar (first consin of Ismail's, I believe,) To Muda Jafir, Kulub Jab, Semang Je, and Kulub Dut. After breakfast I løft for Penang in the "Quedah," touching at Kota Stia. All was quiet down the river, but it was reported that the Maharaja Lelah's boats had been seen in the Sungby Dedap. Found it blowing hard at the Qualla Perak with a heavy sea running, and reached Penang on Friday 12th at 7 p.m.
Nov. 18, 1875.
C. W. SNEYD-KYNKERSLEY.
(Signed)
Enclosure 64. in No. 100.
REPORT from Mr. W. E. MAXWELL, Magistrate, Province Wellesley, Penaga, Wednesday, 17th November 1875.
Nakhoda Mat Jadi, a Siak Malay, and Tahib came yesterday, 16th instant, to Tano Che, bringing
■ letter from Sultan Ismail, who wants advice and assistance. They have a similar letter for the Maharajah of Johore, which Nakhoda Mat Jadi takes to Singapore to-morrow. What they say is in
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Reference :-
TITLE CO. 882
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ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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