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30. I concur in the view that the Orang Kaya Mat Arshad, Raja Mahkota, and Rajah Driss may be allowed to return to Perak. No doubt they were concerned in the con- spiracy against Mr. Birch, but they do not appear to have been main instigators. They are young men, and it seems that they acted under the influence of the chiefa before named. It must, moreover, be borne in mind that it is desirable, if it can safely be per- mitted, that some of the chiefs should be allowed to return to Perak, in order to take part in the government of that State. And if the evil influence of the Laxamana, the Muntri, and the Shahbandar be removed, I think there is every probability that these chiefs, whom it is proposed should return, will act loyally. Whilst permitting them to back to Perak, it should be impressed upon them that this permission was only granted subject to good behaviour, and they would fully understand the significance of this condition. They have no doubt profited by the occurrences of the past year, and ruust see that it will be to their advantage to be on good terms with the British Government.
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31. With respect to ex-Sultan Ismail, the Datu Narra, Syed Mahmood, and the Panglima Prang Samaon, unless we were prepared to reinstate Ismail as Sultan, a course which, after what has occurred, seems out of the question, it appears desirable that they should remain in Johore, where they are at present, and where there is no pro- bability of any difficulty arising with them. The Maharajah of Johore is quite willing to afford facilities for this arrangement, and he will of course be reimbursed such expenditure As it may be necessary for him to incur for their maintenance.
32. From the evidence which has been obtained, it appears that the whole of the chiefs of Perak, with the exception of Rajah Yusuf, the Tumonggong, and one or two others, are compromised more or less in the conspiracy for the murder of Mr. Birch. They must be classed under three heads :-
1. The main instigators of the murder.
2. Those who, not being actual instigators, were, nevertheless, guilty of complicity in
the crime.
3. Those who were engaged in actually committing the murder.
The minute of the Council, together with the observations which I have made with reference thereto, deals with the Sultan and the chiefs who come under the first two heads. Those under the third head are, the Maharajah Lela, his brother Nga Jabbor, and the Datu Sagor, besides others, not being chiefs, who took part in the commission of the crime, viz. (1.) Pandak Indut, (2.) Kulup Alli, (3.) Panjang Bub, (4.) Se Tuah, (5.) Sepŭtum, (6.) Nga Ahmat, (7.) Se Gondah, (8.) Toh Lela Putra, (9.) Se Tahir.
The two last named have not yet been captured. Nos. 5, 6, and 7 have already been tried and convicted; Sepŭtum has been executed, but the sentence of the two others was, for reasons which I stated to your Lordship in my Despatch No. 137, commuted to penal servitude for life. The remaining four, together with the three chiefs, Maharajah Lela, Nga Jabbor, and Datu Sagor, are now being tried in Perak by a Malay court (appointed by the Regent nominated by Abdullah to act for him during his absence), with two British assessors, Mr. Davidson and Mr. W. E. Maxwell, watching the case.
33. My Lord, shortly after the murder of Mr. Birch, I submitted to your Lordship that first, Perak should be occupied by a military force, that then inquiry should be instituted as to the actual perpetrators of the deed, and that every effort should be used to effect their capture; further, that when the country was sufficiently settled, a complete investigation should take place, in order to ascertain what chiefs, if any, were guilty of instigating, aiding, or abetting, those engaged in the murder.
I have from time to time informed your Lordship of my action with reference to the military occupation of the country; of the steps which have taken to acquire a full knowledge of the circumstances relating to the Perak outbreak; of the means by which, both by sending expeditions against them and by enlisting the good offices of Siam and other neighbouring States, I at length obtained possession of the persons of those who either murdered or instigated the murder of the British Resident; and of the steps taken to bring the offenders to justice.
The plan which a year ago I submitted to your Lordship has been accomplished almost to the letter, and I now await the decision of Her Majesty's Government respecting the action to be taken with regard to Sultan Abdullah and his chiefs.
I have, &c.
(Signed) WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.
The Right Hon, the Earl of Carnarvon,
&o.
&c.
&c.
SIR,
Enclosure I in No. 46.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Singapore,
March 25, 1876.
I AM directed by the Governor to inform you that his Excellency has appointed you in conjunction with Messrs. Phillippo and Plunket to be Commissioners for the purpose of conducting an inquiry into the evidence which may be obtainable as to the participation of ex-Sultan Ismail, the Maharajah Lela, the Datu Sagor, and the Datu Narra, either as actors, abettors, or instigators in the outrage attending the murder of Mr. Birch.
As Mr. Phillippo's services cannot be spared from his duties on the bench for any protracted period, it is his Excellency's wish that Mr. Plunket and you should undertake the preliminary operation of proceeding to Perak with a view of instituting inquiries on the spot, and gathering together such reliable evidence as may be obtainable.
When this operation shall have been completed, Mr. Phillippo will meet you and Mr. Plunket at Banda Bahru, when you will have to examine the witnesses who may have come forward, digest their evidence, and report upon it to the Governor with a view of enabling him to decide whether any and which of the above-named parties shall be brought to trial on a capital charge, or on some lesser charge, or shall be left unmolested there being no proof of their criminality.
It is not his Excellency's desire in naming specially the above persons to limit the scope of your inquiry to their cases alone, but rather it is his desire to leave you a large discretion to extend your investigation to the question of the participation of any other persons not above named, and who may not have already been tried, in the perpetration or investigation of the late outrages in Perak.
And his Excellency fully relies on the three high officers whom he has selected to undertake this important task for insuring that the inquiry shall be searching and impartial.
W. B. Paul, Esq.
&c.
&c. Perak.
&c.
I have, &c. (Signed)
JOHN DOUGLAS,
Colonial Secretary, S.S.
Enclosure 2.
GOVERNOR Sir W. JERVOIS to Sultan Abdullah,
(After compliments.)
August 10, 1876. We inform our friend that, as our friend knows well, we have had officers making inquiry respecting the late disturbances in Perak, and that many things have been said of our friend, in order that he may be in a position to explain what has been said.
Our friend is also aware that Ex-Sultan Ismail, the Maharajah Lela, and others have given themselves up.
Now we request our friend, the Laxamana, the Shahbandar, Rajah Mahkots, and Orang Kaya Mat Arshad to come to Singapore in order that our friend may have an opportunity of exonerating himself from the statements made about him.
We have instructed our Resident, Mr. Davidson, to make arrangements for helping our friend on board the S.S. "Pluto" at Durian Sabatang, [sic] days after receipt of this letter. Let our friend, therefore, immediately communicate with Mr. Davidson, and Mr. Davidson will accompany our friend to Durian Sabatang.
We feel sure that our friend and the chiefs named will not fail to answer this summons, for otherwise, we should be compelled to believe any statements which might be made against our friend and his chiefs.
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