PUBLIC RECORD
OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
3
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
86
Let the Governor of Singora prepare elephants and provisions, officials and interpreters, and deliver them to Phra Nara, the Kha Luang to go to Raman and inquire and find
ut 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 Kha Luang (Commissioner) act according to the
instructions first delivered.
Should they, however, be aware that Rajah Lela has come within the confines of any 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 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,
Enclosure 4.
GOVERNOR, Straits Settlements, to Her Britannic Majesty's CONSUL GENERAL,
Bangkok.
Government House, Singapore, May 16, 1876.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 29th April and 3rd instant, and in reply to state that I am greatly obliged to you for the action taken by you in this matter, and I beg that you will thank the Siamese Government for the steps taken by them to effect the capture of the Maharajah Lela, and others with him.
With reference to your observation that the Siamese Government are not very well pleased at their tributary, the Rajah of Quedah, having been made the means of handing over ex-Sultan Ismail, without any reference having been made to them, I should state that I understood that the Rajah, in surrendering the ex- Sultan, was acting upon general instructions which he had received from the Siamese Government, and I regret that there should be any misunderstanding on this point.
I have also to inform you that since I last wrote to you on this subject, I have received undoubted information that the Maharajah Lela and his party have returned to Perak, and, therefore, I will not at present send the evidence asked for to connect the persons accused with the crimes laid to their charge. Should I, however, find that they again take refuge in Patani, or any other state tributary to Siam, I will lose no time in supplying the required depositions.
Begging you again to thank the Siamese Government for the friendly action they have taken,
I have, &c.
Her Britannic Majesty's Consul General, (Signed)
Bangkok, Siam.
Enclosure 5.
Translation,
WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.
In the year 1292, on the 29th day of the month, Shaban (1st October 1875) on that date we, Paduka Sri Sultan Abdullah Mahomed Shah, son of the late Sultan Jaffar Shah, on the throne of Perak, the blessed of God, and all its Provinces and Dependencies, make this document and give it to Sepatum.
Let them all know (i.e., Be it known to every one) that we order this Sepatum to do Mr. Birch to death, Sepatum must do this work without fail. When Mr. Birch is dead, if any complaint is made by anyone (lit. comes from any direction) we will bear it (ie., accept the responsibility) and let not Sepatum hesitate to carry out the above-mentioned
work.
Moreover, when Mr. Birch is dead, Sepatum must return this document to us, and we will pay Sepatum a reward of $1,000. That is why this is authentic and true, and we have put our chop and signature at the head of this paper.
SIR,
87
Enclosure 6.
MAHARAJAH OF JOHORE to His Excellency the GovERNOR.
Istana, Johore, July 29, 1876. THIS letter will be forwarded to your Excellency through the hands of my Government Secretary the Datu Buitara and my private Secretary Mr. Hole, who at my request accompany Maharajah Lela, Pandak Indut, Nga Jabbor, Panjang Buh, and Kolup Alli, persons suspected by the English Government of complicity with the murder of the late Mr. Birch, and who voluntarily surrender themselves to the British Government.
I have assured these persons, as arranged verbally with your Excellency, that, after surrendering themselves to your Excellency, they will have a fair and open trial on the charges made against them, before a competent and impartial tribunal, with a full opportunity of preparing and making their defence, and that, if acquitted of such charges, they will at once be restored to liberty, and it is, upon this express understanding, that they now surrender themselves.
Having thus given them my personal assurance to this effect, I shall be glad to receive your Excellency's confirmation of the same.
I have, &c.
His Excellency,
(Signed) MAHARAJAH OF JOHORE.
Sir Wm. F. Drummond Jervois, C.B., K.C.M.G.,
Governor and Commander-in-Chief of
the Straits Settlements.
Enclosure 7.
(In Malay characters.)
His Excellency the GOVERNOR to MAHARAJAH of Johore.
Government House, Singapore, July 29, 1876.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Highness' letter of this day's date, on the subject of the surrender of Maharajah Lela, Pandak Indut, Nga Jabbor, Panjang Beeh, and Kulup Alli, persons charged with complicity in the murder of the
late Mr. Birch.
2. Your Highness informs me that, as verbally arranged between us, you have assured these persons that, after surrendering themselves to the British Government, they will have a fair and open trial on the charges made against them, before a competent and impartial tribunal, with a full opportunity of preparing their defence, and that, if acquitted of such charges, they will at once be restored to liberty, and that it is upon this express understanding that they now surrender; further, that you have given them your personal assurance to this effect, and now ask for my confirmation of the same.
3. In reply, I have now to inform your Highness that the statement as expressed in your Highness' letter is in every respect correct.
I have, &c. (Signed) WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.
The Maharajah of Jobore, G.C.M.G., K.C.S.I.,
&c.
His Highness
&c. Johore.
&c.
No. 66.
GOVERNOR SIR WM. JERVOIS, K.C.M.G., C.B., to the EARL OF CARNARVON. (Received 12th September.) (Telegraphic.)
September 5th. Referring to telegram August 5th, Abdullah and Chiefs have obeyed summons, and are now in Singapore. I propose examining Abdullah before Executive Council it is desirable we should have aid of Chief Justice Sidgreaves however goes home on medical certificate this week. When may I expect Judge asked for?
GOVERNOR, Singapore.