PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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Reference:---
C.O. 882
3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Enclosure 21. Dec. 11, 1075.
Kac.sou.rea
11 & 11.
"Dec. 7 & 15, 1876.
194
campaign. I consulted the Maharajah and the Datu Bintars of Johore, and they both agreed from the tone of his letters that Ismail had no real desire to punish the Maha--~ rajah Lela or any of those concerned, that he was not prepared to submit himself to our wishes in the matter, and, as the Datu Bintara expressed it, his eyes were blinded with obstinacy, and nothing would open them until he had had a lesson.
Although Ismail's letters seem almost subservient, yet I have found that in Malay letters generally there is almost always some hidden meaning, and I feel convinced, especially from the opinion given by the Maharajah of Johore, that these communications from Ismail are anything but friendly or submissive.
11. Your Lordship will see from his letter to Aboobakar and Abdoorahman that he has now alleged as an excuse for not going up to meet Major McNair the advance of troops up the river upon Blanja.
It was impossible for me to have given instructions to the troops to remain at Banda Bahru pending the result of negotiations which might or might not have been successful.
I informed Ismail, however, in a letter which I wrote on the 29th November, forward- ing the proclamation and notification which I had issued, copy of which letter was enclosed in my previous Despatch, that we intended to march through and occupy the country for the present, but that the troops would not disturb any of the peaceable inhabitants of the country. I therefore advised Ismail, in case he was not able to com- municate with Major Dunlop, to send messengers immediately he heard of the advance of troops to meet them, carrying a white flag, with offers of assistance, that Major Dunlop would be with the troops, and I advised him to communicate with Major Dunlop as possible.
89 8000
The receipt of this letter was acknowledged by Ismail in his letter to me dated 6th December. He offered, however, no assistance as he was asked, deprecated the sending of troops into the country, and referred to his proposition, repeatedly reiterated, that we should send an officer to consult with one of the great men of Perak.
12. We hear now that Ismail, without holding any communication with Major Dunlop, has left Blanjah, and has retired to Kinta, and it is reported that some of the Maharajah Lela's people, if not Maharajah Lela himself, are with him. Our troops have found on leaving Blanjah for Kinta, that trees have been felled and preparations made for resistance, and as I have informed your Lordship in another despatch (No. 352)* that our troops have been fired on and Dr. Randall has been wounded.
13. I can only come to the conclusion now, with the information which I possess, that Ismail has never had any real desire to assist us in the punishment of those concerned in the recent outrages, that he is now endeavouring to screen them from justice, that he is not prepared to consider any measure that may be proposed for the pacification of his country, and that he bas only been professing a readiness to enter into negotiations in order to gain time and to prevent troops from entering and occupying the country.
14. The reason assigned by him in his letter to Abubakar and Abdulrahman for leaving Blanjah is not a good one. Abdullah has not left the lower country, because troops have occupied it, and the people who had left their homes are returning, and it is quite certain that Ismail's example and influence would have prevented his people from leaving their homes on the advance of our troops.
15. Indeed I hear from Major Dunlop that all the way up the river Perak, the people held white flags, and it was not till they reached Ismail's own place, Blanja, that they
up found any village deserted.
16. I think it is quite possible that Ismail may make a stand at Kinta, and if defeated, may retire to Patani, as is reported to be his intention, in information obtained by Mehe Karim, copy of which is enclosed.
17. He will, no doubt, attempt to make it appear that he wished to negotiate, but was prevented from doing so by the action taken by our troops, and that he was compelled to stand on the defensive, but I do not think, from what I have already observed, that there is the slightest ground for any such justification of himself, and that if ance is made by his people to our troops, and hostilities ensue, he is the party responsible regist- for anything that may happen to him and to his people.
any
18. I enclose translation of letter from Sultan Abdullah to me, and I have forwarded copies to Major Dunlop.
copy of
my reply. 19. I enclose copy of the statements made by Hadji Alli to Mr. Maxwell. As your Kalore 14. Lordship will observe, not much was got out of him as to the complicity of any of the hov. 39, 1878. Chiefs with the Maharajah Lela, but Mr. Maxwell reports that he was not favourably impressed by his manner in giving his evidence, and that he did not believe that Haji
• No. 112.
195
Alli told the truth. Mr. Maxwell adds that he suspects that Haji Alli could tell much more if he chose to do so, regarding the complicity of the Rajahs and Chiefs of Perak in the murder of Mr. Birch. Moreover, Mr. Maxwell does not consider his explanation of his possession of a quantity of arms and ammunition at all satisfactory. give him another opportunity to be more communicative, as I am still of opinion that 1 intend to we could acquire from him a great deal of information if he chose to furnish it.
I have, &c. (Signed) WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.
The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon,
&c.,
&c.,
&c., Colonial Office.
Enclosure 1. in No. 113.
MEMO. for MAJOR MCNAR.
MAJOR McNair is fully cognizant with what has taken place up to the present time respecting recent events in Perak, and knows that it is my settled policy to avoid turning friends into enemies, or punishing any of the people who are not hostile towards us. He will constantly bear this in mind in all his proceedings. A regiment of British infantry, a battery of artillery, and a company of sappers having now arrived from India, and as the greater part of those troops are detailed for service in Laroot and Upper Perak, Major McNair will proceed at once to join the forces now marching through Laroot.
He will keep me constantly informed as to his movements, and he will transmit any important intelligence at once by special messenger to me.
He will open communications as soon possible with such Chiefs of the country as be may be able to reach, and will explain to them the intentions of the Government as expressed in the recent Proclamation and Notification dated 22nd November. Whilst exercising careful discretion, he will be communicative with those who are decidedly friendly, and will observe a due reticence with regard to those he may suspect to be not acting straightforwardly. This must of course be left to his discretion, in the exercise of which he will need some discrimination.
He will inquire as to whether there is any scarcity of food in the Upper Country, and
if so what, if any, measures can be adopted for relieving those who are not disaffected.
He will endeavour to ascertain from each of the Chiefs that he meets what his feelings are towards the British Government, and what course he recommends for the objects that our Government has in view, viz., the punishment of those concerned in the recent outrages, and the pacification of the country.
Major McNair, however, will take care not to commit the Government to any definite policy, and will prepare Chiefs for meeting me so soon as the military occupation of the country is complete.
WN. F. DRUMMOND JervoW.
Penang, December 3rd, 1875.
(Signed)
Enclosure 2. in No. 113.
مل
TRANSLATION of a LETTER from RAJA DRIS at Campar to MR. Swettenham, Resident at Langat. (After compliments.)
We inform our friend that ou the 25th Ramthan we reached Campar bearing a letter from the Resident, that is a letter conferring authority upon us.
Whilst I was engaged in carrying on work under that authority, on the 6th of the month Shawal people came from Perak (i.e. from the Perak River) atating that the Resident and our friend had gone up the river to the "Hulu" (upper country) Perak, that disturbance bad taken place in the district of Passir Sala, and that murder had been done. We were deeply distressed to hear what had happened to our frienda, for we could get no reliable information. We at once sent a letter to Mr. Bacon and Mr. Keyt at Bandar Bahru, and after sending that letter we sent for all our people in the district of Campar, for we wished at once to go down stream and meet our friend. Whilst we were getting ready to go down there came an order from the ex-Sultan Ismail summoning all the men in that part of Campar above us (4.8., in the "Hulu Campar"). Because of that many of the people of that district became divided in their intentions (lif., broke their hearts), wishing to disobey our orders. Then we called and examined all those men as to who were those who did not intend to obey our orders. If the midst
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