PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:--
TTIC.O. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
Enclosure 67. in No. 100.—Sas accompanying Sketch.
SIB,
A
170
Enclosure 66. in No. 100.
(Two Sub-Enclosures enclosed in Report.)
To the HONOURABLE the LIEUT.-GOVERNOR of PENANG.
Office of Assistant Superintendant of Police, P.W.,
November 14th, 1875.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that Abdullah, the man I sent to Perak, has returned and brings the following information :—
Seyd Masahore, Mahdi, and Rajah Dowd, brother of the latter, are in Perak, the latter at Kinta and the former at Passir Sala with Maharajah Lela.
Seyd Masahore brought fifty Punglimas from Salangore, and on the "Haree Rajah" went to where Mr. Birch was bathing, seized him, took him on shore and tied him to a tree, and it is said shot him with his own hands, after which the Punglimas rushed in and hacked the body. Maharajah Lola with his own hand stabbed Mat Arsat,.Mr. Birch's interpreter. This information was obtained from two eye witnesses, Lam Sah one of Sultan Ismail's men, and Men Hashim, a retainer of Rajab Jusoh
Ex-Sultan Ismail is said not to have had anything to do with the murder; he is, however, now that hostilities have begun, collecting men and has 3,000 Malays, and 5,000 wild men, Semangs at Kinta, and 1,000 Malays at Blanja. A great number of Malays have refused to join, and Captain Speedy's strict watch keeps the Qualla Kangsa division quiet.
The stockades already erected on Blanja(?) opposite Blanjah, one; Juloh Bakong, one; Pulow Figa, one; Kintah, five.
Abdullah advises a strict watch at Bruas, Ulu Kurow, and Bukit Barafit.
Mr. Maxwell wrote me from Krean and has requested me to inform you that he made inquiries and has no doubt that the boat I mentioned as having come from Tonjang Piandang did so with the intention of endeavouring to unsettle the people and stop the registering of lands; he suggests a station or boat at the Qualla Kreean to search all boats going in and out. Punglima Besar is also said to be at Tanjong Piandang with about 300 Malays and a number of Chinese fully armed, but this he doubts.
From information received this morning everything is quiet in the Transkram district, and the ryots have stated that they consider themselves under the British, and in case of any attack would assist us.
Sub-Enclosure 1. in Enclosure 66.
Penang, November 15, 1875. Smilah, a female, states, I am a slave of Sultan Abdullah in Perak, at Batah Rabet village, together with about 20 other fernales, our chief works are cooking, nursing, carry water, split firewood, pounding rice, and at nights we are to prostitute ourselves, and give half of this earning to the Rajah and half to supply ourselves with clothing and provisions for the Sultan's house and other slaves, if we fail to get money by prostitution we are punished with thick rattans, and sometimes with canes beaten on our heads and backs. We are prevented to marry any one who wishes to offer us in marriage. Finding that we cannot undergo such mal-treatment any longer, I and two other females named Sheawa and Stika escaped from the Sultan's house and went to Mr. Birch for protection, who advised us to return. Six days after our return to the Sultan's house we were compelled to leave it again, and went to Mr. Birch. Mr. Birch then desired us to conceal in a jungle, the next day Mr. Birch brought us into a boat, made us to disguise ourselves by wearing Chinese dresses, with coats over, and took us to Pankore. We remained about 15 days at Pankore, and afterwards inspector Warne brought me and Stika to Penang, leaving Sheawa behind, as she was engaged in marriage with a police constable named Mahomed there. About a month or two previous to my escape from Sultan Abdullah's house, I often witnessed an assembly there, the names of the principals are Sultan Abdullab, Dattu Bandar, Rajah Driss, Toh Sagh, Maharajah Lelah, Dattu Laximanah, Alius Mahomed Amin. I was in the same room where the assembly met, in charge of the Sultan's child. I heard Sultan Abdullah say to get some Kanta and Kabong and put them in bags to throw into the river where Mr. Birch used to wash himself (Kanta and Kabong are poisonous jungle fruits, the substance from which produces unhealing swellings and sores to break out from the bodies of those who come in contact with it). If this do not succeed in causing Mr. Birch's death, we better cut off his head in secrecy, to this all answered "Caik Tuanku." From what I know why Sultan Abdullah would join in the murder of Mr. Birch, are 1st, that because he cannot have the sole Government of Perak; 2nd, that on account of all his slaves have been released by Mr. Birch; and 3rd, the prohibition of cock fighting. It in unly about 15 days after this that I heard of the murder of Mr. Birch, Kranny, Arshat, and others.
Stika stated all to the above effect.
171
about three months ago, because I could not stand the treatment slaves. We were all obliged to prostitute ourselves, and whatever we earn we are obliged to give We were altogether 11 female him a portion, L... half to him and half to ourselves, amongst us, we are to go by turn half for two, and the other half for the two nights; the night which we do not go out, we are obliged to sleep in the house; as long as we are his slaves we are not permitted to be married; besides prostituting ourselves, we are also obliged to do house business, viz., cooking, washing, cutting wood, carry water, and pound- ing paddy, besides all this, we have to provide ourselves with food and clothing out of the moneys we earn by prostitution; we are also bound to buy for him provisions, with the exception of rice, daily. Not being able to stand all these hardships, I ran away from his house together with Peah, Meh, Hah, Elam, Udah, at 7 o'clock p.m. by boat, we hired from Rasip, from whom we have been in the habit of hiring whenever we go to prostitute ourselves. We went to Kota Stiah and reported to Sargeant Sahid, who took our reports. We remained there eight days waiting the arrival of Mr. Birch. After eight days we were taken by Corporal Mat Saman to Mr. Birch at Banda Bahru, and we reported the same as we have stated at Kota Stiah; we were sent back to Kota Stiah by his orders; on the same day we were put on board the green steamer "Quedah" and taken to Pankore, where we remained 40 days and then taken back to Kota Stiah; we remained for eight days, during that time Mr. Birch was murdered. We were then sent to Penang by the Quedah. When we arrived, about six or seven days ago, we came to Kampong Tulloh, because we do not know any person in Penang. We came to Serjeant Sahid wife's house.
One night I was at home shamponing Hadji Musah's wife, named Hadji Hawah, when he came up to the house and said to his wife that Sultan Abdullah is going to kill Mr. Birch, because he has taken our country with its revenue, also our slaves are set at liberty, and in time, we will not be able to have any more slaves. I have heard of this conversation about 20 days before his death. He died on the let of Pushsah before last. A fortnight after his death I saw an assembly at the Sultan'ı house, there were present the Sultan, Toh Bandar, Laxamanah, Mahomed Ahmin, Orang Kabyah, Mat Arshat, Rajah Dreh, at the meeting. An arrangement was made about the assassination of Mr. Birch. I am informed of this by Smilah, the slave of the Sultan Smilah; and Tika, the concubine of the Sultan, are in Penang at Pulo Ticoos.
L. C. Jalni, November 12, 1875, at S. Bakap Station.
In the month of June 1875 I was police serjeant in the Perak service stationed at Kota Loonroot. In that month a Perak Malay man, named Toh Ramah, reported to me that he got information that Rajah Jusoh, Hadji Ali, and Pangliona Prang Smson, and the Mantri, by direction of the Ex-Sultan Ismail, that the Rajsh Jusoh, and Hadji Ali, and Pang linna Prang Smaon were to assemble 600 or 700 fighting men at Kota Lamah, and the Mantri at Bukit Ganting, of Chinese and Malays in one boat. They were to meet on a certain day (he would know when) at Banda Babru alias Ayer Elam, and attack the place and kill Mr. Birch and his forces, this I entered in my report book, also reported it to Mr. Birch on board the steamer "Quedah," through Krany Mahomed Arshat. Mr. Birch said, "Never mind, we will keep a look out;" this was reported in the presence of Mahomed Hussain, and Che-heh-Teh, and Abdullah.
He also advised me not to stop there, as sooner or later the occurrence will take place. Kanda Hassan will confine himself to his own district, I believe, or take reinforcements to Perak, but will not, I think, make any demonstration towards the Krean.
With reference to the order received through Captain Strong to send Inspector Scully for duty in blockading the rivers, I would most respectfully request permission to be allowed to substitute another officer, as if Inspector Scully leaves the south I shall have no one to watch the Krean, especially an Inspector Jeremiah complains of his health, and I am afraid if Inspector Scully is removed be will decline to stay at Nibong Tebal; moreover, Inspector Scully is no sailor and is very much at a loss at sea. Corporal West is very anxious to go on duty in Perak, and would, I think, make a very good officer for the purpose of blockading the rivers.
Abdullah has brought me some very detailed plans of Perak rivers which I will take over to-morrow for your inspection. They will no doubt be useful to the officers commanding the troops.
I have also received a communication from the neighbourhood of the Malakoff östate, in which Mr. Dechornay's report is utterly denied, no single emissary of Perak having been seen there.
The Honourable Lieut-Governor, Penang.
(Signed)
I have &c.
JOHN E. HEWICK,
Assistant Superintendent of Police, P.W.
* Hadji Musah is stated to have died about that time.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
། །
سلتنا
Reference -
C.O. 882
3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Sub-Enclosure 2. in Enclosure 66.
Nibong Sabal, November 13, 1875.
Torah, I am the kept wife of Cassim, a police constable of Perak, stationed at Kota Stish, previous to being the wife of Cassim I was a slave to Hadji Musoh of Batta Rabat. I ran away from his house
૧
!
Y 2
། ། ། །
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
----------------