PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
TILICO.
882
3
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH——NOT TO
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Near Bandole we met the retreating police force from Teratchee, who informed me they had held out from 1 to 5 a.m., and were then obliged to abandon the Station owing to want of ammunition.
Our force now numbered 42 police, and with them I took up quarters at the upper end of Teratchee Valley, to wait for intelligence I had sent to obtain, as to the strength and position of the enemy,
During the afternoon reports came in to the effect that all the police stations had been captured, and the enemy contemplated the occupation of the pass of Bukit Putus the same night.
Under the circumstances I considered it advisable to request Captain Whitty, 1/10th Regiment, to move a force to our assistance. Taking advantage of moonlight I had at first intended to have made a night attack on the Station, but on full consideration, I de- termined to wait for the rocket, well knowing that an unsuccessful attack, and possible retreat, would prove fatal. During the night guns were frequently heard fired from Teratchee Station.
The following morning (April 1st), Captain Whitty with a detachment of 30 men of H.M. 1/10th Regiment, and rocket party under Lieut. Henriques, R.A., joined me, having passed the night at Bukit Putus. At 11 a.m. the whole party advanced, and on arriving at the spot where Mr. Daly was stopped, and where Lieut. Hinxman engaged the enemy at the commencement of these disturbances, a fire was opened on us, of & very trivial nature however.
Instead of returning the fire, as on the former occasion, and having a better knowledge of the country, I conducted the party round the enemy's flank, and dislodged them with firing a abot.
From this point to Teratchee Station is one mile, and on approaching within 500 yards, a desultory fire was opened on the party but without causing any casualties, only one or two shots coming anywhere near. Á rocket was fired at a house supposed to contain some of the enemy, and a couple of volleys by the military. A flanking party of police had been sent out on the left, and hearing shots in that direction, the police made a rush for the Station, and the enemy retreating they jumped over the parapet and captured the Station without loss on either side.
No prisoners were captured on this occasion, and I cannot think that more than 30 or 40, perhaps less, Malays took part in the affair.
Three houses had been burned by them the previous night.
Round the Station is a turf parapet three feet high, and outside it a bamboo fence, both constructed by the police. On the former the Malays had laid across 10 guns, found under the Station, which, on being discharged, fell in succession inside the parapet.
The party advanced during the afternoon, and the night was passed at Ulu Moar. The following morning the police force, 12 in number, stationed at Qualla Pela, turned up, having repulsed a first attack, but were at length forced to give up the Station, which was afterwards burned by the enemy.
At 7 A.M. the party started for Qualla Pela, distant 6 miles, and on arrival a few shots were fired, and replied to by the police who followed some distance into the jungle, and captured several prisoners.
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In the afternoon I sent the police to Qualla Malang, the campong of one Punglima Riman-" Tiger '-a notorious robber. On the police appearing the Malays ran away, but several captures were made, among them Sendara Muda, a very bad character, and who I have reason to believe conducted the attack on Teratchee station..
Punglima Riman made his escape, and as several articles of police uniform, &c. were found in his house, evidence of his complicity, it was set fire to.
Information was brought during the evening that the Station at Jompole had been deserted, but being very strongly fortified, garrisoned by 28 police and 6 Sikhs, all fully armed, four guns in position, a plentiful supply of ammunition (the ammunition that should have gone to Teratchee Station went by mistake to Qualla Jompole), and the ground cleared of all obstructions for a space of 300 yards round about, I did not believe the report, knowing that it should hold out against any Malay force sent against it.
On Monday 3d the troops started for Qualla Jompole, distant 15 miles, Lieut. Peyton with 40 men having joined the party.
The police were sent to a spot indicated, some distance through the jungle, where a gang of robbers were reported to have been feasting on stolen buffaloes the night
before.
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At Sungie Dua a number of friendly Malays came to meet me, who, to my great grief, confirmed the statement of the evacuation of the Station at Qualla Jompole.
I should state that the surrender took place during the temporary absence of the Sergeant-major in charge of the post, on whom I placed every reliance.
He had come to Sungie Ujong as usual at the end of the month to obtain the pay for
his force.
It appears beyond doubt that two hours before any Malays appeared the men left the place, never having fired a shot, and that after their departure Lela Rajab, who had helped to build, came with his men and burned the Station.
'There being no particular object in marching 22 miles to look at a burnt police station, Lela Rajah and his men reported to have gone off to Ulu Jompole, we returned Lo Qualla Pela, the police returning at the same time, having found the robbers, but failing to catch any, one flint gun only captured, having been dropped in their hurry to
escape
We marched to Sri Menanti the same evening, where, to my great satisfaction, I found the police holding out, although they had been attacked three times. On the first occasion the police were not properly prepared, and had to retreat to a house some distance off, but they returned the following morning and recaptured the Station. Two subsequent attacks were made and repulsed.
Sergeant Sultan, who is in charge of this Station, is of a high Menangkabaw family, and is very popular and much respected among the inhabitants of Sri Menanti, who are nearly all Menangkabaw men. He has received both his steps for personal bravery, and has not disappointed me in my selection of him to take charge of this Station.
His force consisted of only 16 police, but the Datu Dagan and many others have joined him, and remain inside the Police Compound to render assistance.
We remained the night at Sri Menanti, and in the morning took the short route over the mountains to Teratchee, where we arrived at 8.30 a.m.
Previous to leaving, I reinforced the Station with 12 police, making a total of 28. The remainder I sent under Serjeant-major Mahmoot round by Moar to Teratchee, as I heard of robbers in that direction.
As Captain Whitty determined to remain till next day, before proceeding homeward, I started to walk back, being anxious to write in time for the Malacca and Singapore post, and arrived at the Residency at 7 p.m.
Before leaving Teratchee I received a message from Sri Menanti, that no sooner had we got fairly out of the way than the enemy came and attacked the Station. I immediately sent the whole police force to their assistance.
At 2 a.m. this morning two friendly Malays appeared at the Residency, bearing the heads of two Panghulus killed in the attack on the Sri Menanti Station yesterday.
They reported that at 9 a.m. yesterday a number of people headed by Datu of Eenas, beating a drum, and calling on his people to advance, attacked the Station, the ground being perfectly open, a number of those who advanced were shot down by the police. Two Punglimas, however, succeeded in reaching the gate, one of whom was shot through the head by the Corporal of Police, the other had his head cut off by a follower of the Datu Dagan, the latter brought the heads to me to verify his statement.
The remainder of the killed and wounded, numbering about 14, were carried off. The people who are keeping the country in this disturbed state, are men from Kapess and Eenas, two States (small) supposed to form part of Johole.
The former are headed by "Bagindah Tan Mas," and the latter by the Datu of Eenas, there are also a few of the expatriated from these Native States joined to them. The Datu of Kapess has always been friendly to us, and wishes to come under our pro- tection.
The object of these people is simply robbery and plunder, and to destroy the British authority which keeps them in check. They also propose to make " Alang Lant", (the great promoter of the first disturbances) Datu of Sri Menanti.
I cannot hear that Tuanku Antar or Datu Moar have joined in this movement, the latter is reported as very sick.
The inhabitants of these States generally are very friendly and well disposed towards us, and if we afford them sufficient protection against these gangs of robbers there would be little or no trouble with them.
I was surprised to see road making going on most satisfactorily, mostly in the district of Ulu Moar and Sri Menanti.
The old Datu "Ankie Bongsee," who was wounded at Paroe, but is now our firm friend, showed me with great pride, nearly 14 miles of road he had lately constructed....
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