26
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.
To H.B.M.'s Consul-General,
SIR,
Bangkok.
I have, &c. (Signed)
WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.
British Agency, Bangkok, April 28, 1876. I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that I have by this day's mail received information from the Governor of the Straits Settlements that Rajah Lela has escaped from Perak, and is now near Kendrong, which, I am given to understand, is a place not far from the frontier of Perak.
Raja Lele, it is stated, has been accompanied by his brother Chay Ngah Jabbor, and three or four others implicated in the Perak outrages.
I have, therefore, to request that your Excellency will be good enough to take immediate steps for the apprehension of these persons, in order that they may be handed over to the Straits Government.
I beg to suggest that they may be taken to the borders of l'erak, and there made over to the party which there is every probability will be found ready to receive them.
I have, &c.
To his Excellency Chow Phya Surawongse
&c.
Phra Kalahome,
&c.
&c.
Minister for Western Provinces.
(Translation.)
(Signed)
THOMAS GEORGE KNOX.
CHOW PHYA SURAWONGS WAY WADDHU PHRA KALAHOME, Minister for the Western
Provinces, to
Mr. KNOX, H.B.M.'s Agent and
April 29, 1876.
Consul-General, dated
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th instant. In reply I beg to inform you that with regard to the Chiefs of Perak who committed an outrage on the British Resident, I formerly sent you copy of a proclamation forwarded to each province.
The Governor of the Straits Settlements has now sent you a letter to say that Rajah Lela with his brother and some of his people have escaped to Kendrong, and you request the Siamese Government to seize and deliver them to the British Government.
It is not known for certain whether Kendrong is on the borders of Perak, or what Malay provinces tributary to Bangkok it adjoins. I have, therefore, sent joint instructions to Phra Narathi rach Phakdi, Commissioner in the Siamese gunboat Regent," and to the Governor of Singora, a copy of which I beg to enclose herewith.
27
Should the Governors and officials proceed to seize them, according to the request of the English Government, Rajah Lela will object that he and his people are not British subjects, and he will not submit to be arrested. It would be very difficult for the Governor and officials to do anything with Rajah Lela, there being no way of answering him which would be consistent with justice; and should they forcibly seize him, a fight might arise, and a small matter would become an affair of importance to the country.
Let the Governor of Singora prepare elephants and provisions, officials and interpreters, an I deliver them to Phra Nara the Kha Luang, to go to Raman and enquire and find out in the " Ya rom" which adjoins the borders of Perak.
If Rajah Lela and his people have not entered the confines of the tributary Malay States, let the Governors and the Kba Luang (Commissioner) act according to the instructions first delivered.
any
Should they, however, be aware that Rajah Lela has come within the confines of of the Malay tributary states, let the Kha Luang order the Governor and officials of that Province to send him and his people to Singora. From thence let the Governor of Singora and the Kha Luang send them up to Bangkok in the gunboat, in order that the British Agent and Consul-General may be consulted, and an unanimous decision be arrived at (in regard to Rajah Lela).
SIR,
British Agency, Bangkok, May 2, 1876.
I HAVE the honour to enclose copies of my despatch to the Siamese Government in reference to the arrest of Rajah Lela and those who accompanied him, together with their reply to the same.
As there is every probability that these men will be brought to Bangkok, I have the honour to request that you will be good enough to furnish me with sufficient evidence, documentary or otherwise, to connect the persons accused with the crime laid to their charge.
Though I do not anticipate any great difficulty in getting these men handed over, still I may have some, for I have reason to believe that the Siamese Government are not very well pleased at their tributary the Rajah of Quedah having been made the means of handing over the ex-Sultan Ismael without any reference having been made
to them.
It has been observed to me that as any crime alleged to have been committed by Sultan Ismael was not committed in the Straits Settlements, the Convention with Quedah would have no reference whatever to his rendition, and that it would, therefore, have been better that he should have remained there until the Government at Bangkok had been communicated with.
To Sir W. F. Drummond Jervois,
&c.
&c.
&c. Governor of Straits Settlements.
No. 23.
I have, &c. (Signed)
THOMAS GEOrge Knox.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
3
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO,
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
(Translation.)
CHOW PHYA SURAWONGSE WAY WADDHU PHRA KALAHOME, Minister for the Western Provinces, to PHRA NARA-THI-RACH PHAKDI KHA LUONG (Commissioner) and to the GOVERNOR OF SINGORA, dated April 29, 1876.
MR. KNOX, the British Agent and Consul-General, has addressed a letter, dated April 28, 1876, to ine to state that the Governor of the Straits Settlements has informned him by letter that Rajah Lela, with his brother Chay Ngah Jabbaw, and others implicated in the Perak outrage, to the number of three or four persons, have escaped to Muang Kendrong, and be requests the Siamese Government to take immediate steps to seize these men and deliver them over to the British Government, or to the English force on the borders of Perak.
A circular was formerly sent to the Governors of the Malay tributary states with regard to the people who raised disturbances in Perak and killed the British Resident.
The Governor of the Straits Settlements now sends a letter to the British Agent and Consul-General in Bangkok requesting the Siamese Government to catch these people and deliver them to the British Government.
SIB,
INDIA OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
India Office, June 24, 1876.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for India in Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th ultimo,* relative to the expenditure from Indian Revenues on account of the Perak Expedition, and to acquaint you in reply that the Government of India will be requested to furnish, as early as practicable, the information desired
therein.
The Hon. R. H. Meade.
No. 24.
I have, &c. (Signed) LOUIS MALLET.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
I HAVE laid before the Earl of Carnarvon your letter of the 22nd of June,†
Downing Street, July 3, 1876. enclosing a despatch from Her Majesty's Agent and Consal General at Bangkok,
SIR,
* No. 77 of Eastern 17a.
D 2
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