PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:
C.O. 882
3
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
SIR
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GOVERNOR, Straits Settlement, to H.B.M.'s CONSUL GENERALS, Bangkok.
Government House, Singapore, April 17, 1876.
I HAVE the honour to inform you that I have received a report from an officer sent by me with a party of Malays to capture the Maharajah Lela, to the effect that he followed that Chief to the borders of Patani, and that the Maharajah has escaped into that State and is now, without any doubt, near Kendrong, not far from the frontier of Perak.
The officer in charge of the party also reports that he applied to the Patani authori- ties for the surrender of the Maharajah, but that the petty Chiefs would do nothing in the matter.
I would feel greatly obliged if you would be good enough to move the 'Siamese Government to cause energetic steps to be at once taken for the capture of this Chief, and for handing him over to the British Government.
As stated in my letter of the 5th instant, I am fully sensible of the desire of the Siamese Government to assist in bringing to justice the authors of the recent Perak outrages, and I trust that I am not pressing too much on their willingness to aid the British Government, by asking them to use every effort in their power to secure the person of the Maharajah Lela, who is mainly responsible for the murder of the late Mr. Birch.
I understand that the Maharajah Lela has been accompanied to Patani by his brother Che Ngah Jabbor and three or four others implicated in the Perak outrages. I would beg, therefore, that, whilst the principal endeavours are directed towards the capture of the Maharajah Lela, these followers may also be handed over to the British Government.
I have, &c. (Signed)
H.B.M.'s Consul General, Bangkok.
No. 82.
WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.
GOVERNOR SIR W. JERVOIS, K.C.M.G., C.B., to the EARL OF CARNARVON
(Received May 22, 1876.)
(No. 176.) MY LORD,
Government House, Singapore, April 20, 1876. In paragraph 4 of my Despatch to your Lordship, No. 354, of 17th December last, I reviewed the position of the Datu Klana of Sungie Ujong, and of the two rival claimants for the position of Yan Tuan Besar in the so-called "Nine States," viz., Rajah Antar and Rajah Ahmat. In the same paragraph, I endeavoured to trace the causes which led to the invasion of Sungie Ujong, headed by one of the claimants, Rajah Antar, and, in paragraph 14 of the same Despatch, I reported to your Lordship that Rajah Abmat, the other claimant, had promised us every assistance, provided that we would recognise him 18 Yam Tuan Besar, and that I had told him that, although we would do our best to forward his wishes, we could not arrive at a conclusion in a hurry as to whom we should recognise as Yam Tuan Besar.
2. In paragraph 7 of my Despatch, No. 18, of the 14th January last, I informed your Lordship that both Rajah Antar and Rajah Ahmat had fled on the approach of our troops, and that Datu Sultan, a son of the late Klana of Sungie Ujong, had been placed in authority in the States about Malacca, as a temporary measure; that I was proceeding to Malacca to see what course should be adopted to bring about a more settled condition of affairs in the States referred to, and that I would acquaint your Lordship with my views on the subject on a subsequent occasion.
3. On the 18th January I arrived at Malacca, where I was met by Mr. C. B. Plunket, then Acting Lieutenant-Governor; Mr. Davidson, Resident of Salangore; Captain Murray, Assistant Resident, Sungie Ujong; and Mr. Braddell, Attorney-General. Mr. Phillippo, who had just relinquished the post of Acting Attorney-General, was also there. I discussed with these gentlemen the courses which might be pursued in the adjacent States. I had also interviews with the Datu Klana of Sungie Ujong, and with the Datu of Rambowe, who, as I mentioned in paragraph 3 of my Despatch, No. 378, of 30th December, evinced a most friendly spirit during the disturbances, and who has been loyal throughout.
4. It appeared to me that it was impossible to maintain the Datu Sultan in permanent authority, so great is the jealousy which is evinced by the people of the States to which
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he had been appointed towards Sungie Ujong, and so distasteful to them would be any connexion with the Datu Klana of that State. To this may be added the fact that the Datu Sultan had no possible claim to the high position which he was occupying.
5. Upon taking everything into consideration, I arrived at the conclusion that the course which presented the best promise of a permanent settlement would be to establish Rajah Ahmat (or Tunku Abmat Tunggal, as he is more properly called) as the head authority in the States of Sri Menanti, Ulu Muar, and Jumpole, under the appellation of Malay Captain," to take these States under British protection, and to appoint a British agent to assist Tunku Ahmat in his Government, leaving, for the present, the adjacent States of Rambow, Johole and Jellabu, the Datus of which are on friendly relations with us, to be governed, as heretofore, by their respective Datus, but affording them any advice which from time to time might be desirable.
6. Respecting the relative claims of Tunku Antar and Tunku Ahmat to the position of head authority, I find that, according to strict Mahomedan law, Tunku Antar has, but only in a trifling degree, the better title. As I explained to your Lordship in paragraph 4 of my Despatch, No. 354, of 17th December last, his late election was irregular and invalid, and the deposition of the Klana of Sungie Ujong still more so. I am now informed that, besides the Klana, neither the Datu of Rambow nor the Datu of Johole were present at the installation, nor have they ever recognised his election. Even if this election had been regularly conducted, the behaviour of Tunku Antar in attacking Sungie Ujong, then as now under British protection, coupled with his insolent letter to the Resident (Enclosure 33 of Despatch just referred to), should prevent his ever being recognised by our Government. am informed that, personally, he is a young man without
any decided character, and completely in the hands of the Datu of Ulu Moar. 7. Tunku Ahmat Tunggal, cousin of Tunku Antar, and son of the last chief who held the office of Yam Tuan Besar, has, according to Mahomedan law, nearly as good a title, and, according to Malay custom, if supported by the four principal Datus, viz., the Datu Klana of Sungie Ujong, the Datu of Rambowe, the Datu of Jobole, and the Datu of Ulu Moar (who has fled from the country), and by a majority of Sukus or Tribes in Sri Menanti, he would have the preference.
Tunku Ahmat is an older man than Tunku Antar. He would be recognised by the Datu Klana of Sungie Ujong; he is on good terms with the Datus of Johole and Ram- bow, and desirous of establishing friendly relations with us. He possesses much property in buffaloes, land, &c., is enterprising in opening up tin mines, and wishes to see the resources of the country developed. He has also the support of 10 out of the 12 Sukus or Tribes in Sri Menanti, and has kept himself clear of the schemes of his cousin Antar and of the Datu of Ulu Muar.
Excl. 1.
8. I enclose a Report from Mr. C. B. Plunket, relative to the character, wishes, and qualifications of Tunku Ahmat Tunggal, from which your Lordship will observe that he Feb. 8, 187 wished to govern Sri Menanti himself, and if he found himself unable to do so that he would then ask us to give him a Resident. Such an arrangement, however, did not appear to me to contain the elements of success, as, without our support, he would be exposed to the intrigue of those parties whose interest it would be to foment disturbances in the States in which his authority would be exercised. Indeed, whether the native authority set up in the States referred to be Tunku Antar, Tunku Ahmat, or any one else, he would be unable now to maintain his position without British support.
9. The resuscitation of the office of " Yam Tuan Besar," which had fallen into abeyance in 1869, appeared to me to be extremely undesirable, as not only would it be a source of discord, but also because the Datus themselves did not wish for the appointment of such an officer. At the same time it appeared to be most important to appoint a permanent Malay authority in the States of Sri Menanti, Ulu Muar, and Jum- pole. This authority should be a man of good birth, be acceptable to the people, and on friendly terms with the neighbouring Datus. Tunku Ahmat Tunggal essentially fulfils these conditions, and I therefore determined to recognize him, subject to your Lordship's approval, "Malay Captain" of Sri Menanti, Ulu Moar, and Jumpole, a term which will be thoroughly understood by the Malays of those States.
<I
10. When I was at Malacca, however, I was as 1 am still, uncertain as to what might be the future policy of Her Majesty's Government with respect to these States, and as to what instructions your Lordship might deem it expedient to send me on the matter. As, therefore, the Assistant Resident at Sungie Ujong reported to me that everything was quiet in the States, and that progress was being made under the control of the Datu Sultan, I determined to allow matters to remain as they were, until I had learnt the intentions of Her Majesty's Government in respect to the general policy to be pursued towards the Native States of the Malay Peninsula. I enclose extracts from N 3