PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference --
TTILL CO. 882
لسلة سياسيا
3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
310
money, and some of Mr. Birch's and my property, fell into the hands of the Passir Sala people.
I then proceeded to call together Captain Welner (of the Colonial steamer “Pluto "), Mr. Bacon, Mr. Keyt, and Inspectors Warne and Lagis, to resolve upon the best measures to be adopted.
We decided to despatch the "Pluto immediately to Penang to communicate with the Lieutenant-Governor; telegraph to Sir William Jervois and ask for assistance; to inform the Sultan, Abdullah, of what had occurred, and to send Mr. Warne back to Pangkore to be at his post, with_orders (if necessary for their safety) to withdraw the police from the Bruas and Teluk Batu stations, and concentrate at the Dindings.
I then proceeded to fortify the island on which the Residency stands as the best defensive position, and there to concentrate all the Sepoys and arms and ammunition.
I next examined what arms and ammunition we bad'in store, paraded the Sepoys, gare them their orders, and kept a strict watch throughout the night, as we bad reason to expect an attack.
On the following morning our scouts, a few Chinese who volunteered to give us every assistance, brought us intelligence that armed parties had assembled at night upon both banks to attack us, within a very short distance above the Residency, but had changed their minds and returned.
I had a stockade constructed on the 3rd, and ran a strong chevaux-de-frise of strong sticks round the island, and used every other precaution, according to our means, to bold our position during the night, which passed off without any incidents, excepting the wound- ing of a Sepoy by the accidental discharge of a rifle during a false alarm.
I deemed it best simply to protect the Residency for the present, and to adhere to this policy until reinforcements should have arrived, or other instructions from Penang by
the "Pluto."
The four men of the "Thistle" who were left with me were detailed to work the three guns we have here (a Vavasour 9-pounder, a brass 12-pounder howitzer, and a mortar), and otherwise to make themselves useful.
The Sepoys, numbering about 50 active men, were our only other force. They are, with two or three exceptions, recruits from the neighbourhood of Lahore, in India, and are still far from perfect in the use of arms, and are to a great extent wanting in discipline, but they did their duty well.
On the morning of the 5th Mr. Swettenham arrived from Qualla Kangsa, and assumed civil charge of the Residency.
I append a list of killed and wounded, and letters that have passed between the Sultan and myself, also depositions of the most reliable witnesses of the murder of Mr. Birch.
Before concluding I feel it due to them to state that I was greatly assisted in my operations by the members of the Resident's staff, viz., Messrs. Bacon and Keyt, and Police Inspector Laggis, Mr. Kenn also proved useful in attending to the sick and wounded.
I have, &c. (Signed) T. F. ABBOTT,
Commander F. Stirling,
Her Majesty's ship " Thistle,"
Senior Naval Officer, Straits of Malacca.
Sub-Enclosure 2.
Sub-Lieutenant.
LIST OF KILLed and Wounded at PAR SAla od November 2, 1875.
Killed.
The Hon. S. W. Birch.
Arabad, Interpreter.
Hit Sersing, Sepoy.
Dim Laroot, Bostman.
Wounded.
Doolah, Boatman, severely.
Karet Singh, Sepoy, severely. Chet Singh, Corporal Sepoy, severely. Mahomed, Boatman, slightly.
Mahomed, Boatman, slightly. Mya Singh, Sepoy, slightly.
т
311
Sub-Enclosure 3.
To His Highness Sultan Abdullah Mahomed SHAH, son of the late Sultan JappIR DIN AL MAATHUM SHAH, Sultan of Perak.
Bandhar Babru,
November 2, 1875.
I HAVE to inform my friend that Mr. Birch was killed by some of our friend's people at Passir Sala this morning, and I shall be obliged if my friend will come up here and consult with me, and give me every assistance in the matter.
T. F. ABBOTT, Sub-Lieutenant,
in charge of the Residency, Bandhar Bahru.
Sub-Enclosure. 4.
From SULTAN ABDULLAH MAHOMED SHAB, Sultan of Perak, &c., to Sub-1 ieutenant T. F. ABBOTT.
Durian Sabatang,
I BAVE received friend's letter, and I am very sorry.
my
November 3, 1875.
As soon as I received my friend's letter I began to collect my people to come up to Bandhar Bahru.
And when my people are ready I shall come and consult with my friend, and give every assistance in my power.
ABDULLAH.
Sub-Enclosure 5.
From Sub-Lieutenant T. F. ABBOTT, in charge of Her Britannic Majesty's Residency at Perak, to his Highness SULTAN Abdullah MAHOMED SHAH, son of the late SULTAN JAPPIR AL Maatham Shah.
I THANK my friend for my friend's answer to my letter, and for the expression of my friend's readiness to assist us.
I shall be glad if my friend will aucceed in collecting our friend's subjects, to come to our aid, and I shall put the Balu on the Residency premises at my friend's disposal; and I shall be glad also if my friend will come here as early as convenient, and consult with us and the great officers of the British Government, whom we expect soon to arrive, as
to the best means of punishing the murderers of Mr. Birch and several other British subjects, and restoring quiet to the country. The body of the late Resident has not been found up to this day, and I am told that the Resident boat and the property in it have been sent up to the Sultan Ismael.
Sub-Enclosure 6.
Mahomed Noor, private servant of Mr. Birch, states :-
14
At about half-past 8 I was on shore at Passir Sala, near the goldsmith's shop. I was sitting in an empty boat. I saw a large number of Malays come to where the proclamation was posted, and say, What, "more! let us tear it down; if they try to prevent us we will stab them." They then tore it down, and rushed at Arshad, and stabbed him. I saw the crew of Mr. Birch's boat jump into the river. I also jumped into the river. I saw the small sampan panjanj coming down the river, and I swam after it, and got in. The Malays were firing at us from both banks as we were coming down.
By Mr. Abbott.- Where did you see Mr. Birch last ? Answer.—In the boat.
Interpreted by Edward Bacon.
"Witness, F. G. Kryt.
Before me,
(Signed)
T. F. ABBOTT,
Sub-Lieutenant.
'ग य
PUBLIC
RECORD OFFICE
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Reference:
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TEC.O. 882
سلسلا
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
| COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
3 PURI
PUBLIC
RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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