PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:→→→
C.O.882
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON!
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
36
and to represent our affairs and ourselves to our friend. We, at this time, are in great troubles concerning ourselves and our country, and we send these three agents and our friend will be able to examine them concerning our affairs. We trust upon the assistance of our friend, and trust our friend will settle our troubles, because we have great faith in obtaining the help of our friend, and that our friend will settle our affairs, because our friend is about, we hear, to leave this country, and proceed to another country with a position more exalted. This we are very glad to hear of, and pray to God Almighty to give for ever to our friend the knowledge to govern with justice. We further hope that our friend will accept our request and help as much as possible in our affairs, and we wish much to have à letter under the hand and seal of our friend confirming us in our position, in order that we may have the same in our possession when our friend has left the country.
No. XX.-MEMORANDUM of POINTS according to Government Records, upon which the Deputation of Perak Chiefs spoke to Sir Andrew Clarke, May 1875.
There is great trouble because the Rajahs and chiefs in the interior do not believe that the Kingdom of Perak is under the jurisdiction of the Sultan according to the Treaty of Pulo Pangkor.
Because of this trouble in the country the people in the Bidor side have come out of it. Because they are afraid of the Rajah Ngha. Perhaps there will a disturbance, and the Chinese also of Larut have come and complained to the Sultan that they are sustaining great losses.
We beg his Excellency will confirm the whole of Perak to the Sultan, and if anything is to be done the Resident must consult the Sultan.
What salary, monthly, does the Resident receive?
NOTE-According to the evidence of Haji Hoosein, this memorandum must, for some reason or other, have
bean substituted for the original one dictated by the Sultan.
(Signed) C. B. PLUNKET.
No. XXI.-From Sir ANDREW CLARKE to Sultan ABDULLAH, dated 13th May 1875.
We inform our friend that we have received our friend's letter brought by Rajah Driss, the Datu Laxamana, and the Orang Kaya Mahomed Arshad.
We have read the letter and spoken with our friend's representatives.
As regards the people in the Ulu, we think there are only two courses open, either our friend must wait and all these matters will be satisfactorily settled, or our friend must make war on the people of the Ulu. We think our friend would do well to wait, and take no (offensive) step, and in time our friend will be sure to gain it.
As our friend requests that the Resident may always consult with our friend before acting in the country's business. This is the Resident's mission as stated in the Pangkor Engagement, but it is also stated that our friend must consult with the Resident before undertaking any work.
Now the Resident has as yet done nothing without consulting our friend and his chiefs; but our friend has done many things without consulting. Moreover, our friend has not yet replied to our letter on this very point. If our friend has full confidence in the Resident and follows his advice it cannot be but to the advantage of our friend and his country. All our friend's troubles arise from a want of confidence and a want of thought which is most unreasonable. Let not our friend think these are harsh words, for now that we are leaving this country it would be well for our friend to remember these words of ours, for we hope for the prosperity of our friend and his country.
As to the Resident's salary it has not yet been fixed by Her Majesty the Queen. When it is fixed our friend may be informed. We are very glad to have met our friend's three chiefs because they wish to do what is right, and our friend would do well to follow their advice.
SUMMARY.
The result of the voluminous evidence taken on the question of the complicity of the chiefs in Perak in the murder of Mr. Birch, and the subsequent outrages arising out of it, may be very shortly summarised as follows. The evidence as it stands shows:-
37
I. That from the very commencement there was a growing dissatisfaction against the Pangkor Treaty evinced by the Sultan and other chiefs who had signed the treaty, whilst there was open opposition to it on the part of Ismail and his supporters.
II. That very shortly after the appointment of the late Mr. Birch as Her Britannic Majesty's Resident of Perak, after he had been only a few days in the country,- the Sultan and chiefs bound by the Pangkor Treaty took offence at his proposing abruptly to introduce radical changes in the administration of the government of the country, especially as regarded the system of collecting the revenue.
III. That on December 14th, Mr. Birch submitted a comprehensive scheme for the better government of the country and collection of the revenue.
IV. That the antagonistic feeling on the part of the Sultan was so strong, that, on the occasion of Mr. Birch taking him up to Blanja in January 1876, for the purpose of reconciling him to ex-Sultan Ismail, Abdullah sent word to Ismail on no account to sign the Treaty of Pangkor, or to give up the Regalia at the instance of Mr. Birch, on the ground that by so doing he would strengthen Mr. Birch's authority in Perak.
V. That in February Mr. Birch applied to the Sultan to sign two proclamations based on the report which he had submitted under the authority of which he desired to introduce his scheme for the better government of the country; and that the Sultan, after consultation with some of his chiefs, refused to sign them.
VI. That in the beginning of March, while Mr. Birch was in Penang, Sultan Abdullah wrote secretly to ex-Sultan Ismail proposing to join him at Kinta if he would give up the Regalia to him.
VII. That immediately afterwards Sultan Abdullah paid a visit for a few days to the Maharajah Lela at Passir Sala, who at once commenced putting up a strong stockade round his house with the avowed purpose of resisting the white people.
VIII. That while there Sultan Abdullah heard that Mr. Birch was expected back
in Perak in a few days, and summoned a number of chiefs to meet him at Qualla Kinta to decide what course he should pursue towards Mr. Birch.
IX.-That in consequence, a meeting of the chiefs was held at Qualla Kinta about the 19th March, when it was resolved that the Sultan should not treat personally on any matter of State with Mr. Birch, and Abdullah gave a kuassa to the Laxamana, Shahbandar, Datu Sagor and Orang Kyah Mat Arshad to represent him on all such occasions before Mr. Birch.
X-That the Mantri, anticipating disturbances in Perak, in consequence of Mr. Birch's demands on the Sultan, came to Perak in a steamer in order to remove his wife and all his dependents from Durian Sebatang to Larut.
XI. That on the 26th March Mr. Birch having received the approval of the Government to his proposed scheme, visited the Sultan at Qualla Kinta with the Mantri and Laxamana, and again asked him to sign the two proclamations, and that, after several hours discussion, the Sultan for the second time refused to sign them.
XII.--That after the meeting was over, the Mantri returned to Larut with his wife and family, and the Sultan went back to Passir Sala and was present at a great feast given on the completion of the stockade.
XIII. That on the 22nd April Sir Andrew Clarke, the Governor of the Straits Settlements, wrote a letter foom Pangkor to Sultan Abdullah, reproving him for the obstinacy with which he opposed the reforms proposed by Mr. Birch, especially with regard to the collection of the revenue of the country; pointing out to him that he was thereby breaking the terms of the Pangkor Treaty; and enclosed a proclamation, under his own hand, warning all men, against collecting any taxes except such as were authorised by the Resident.
XIV. That in May, a deputation from Sultan Abdullah, waited on Sir Andrew Clarke at Singapore, to complain against Mr. Birch, with the object of getting him removed from Perak, or having his powers greatly restricted, and that Sir Andrew Clarke, after receiving the deputation, declined to reply officially to the Sultan, ís his tenue of office as Governor of the Straits Settlements had expired, and merely sent him a letter of advice.
XV. That on the 4th June Mr. Birch, in accordance with his Scheme put before the Sultan six notices: lat, one against smuggling; 2nd, one imposing a tax on boats built in the country; 8rd, one imposing rates on fishing and trading boats at the Qualla; 4th, one imposing a poll tax; 8th, one abolishing certain taxes collected by the chiefs of their own account; 8th, one fixing the rates of duties to be levied at the Qualla, and that Mr. Birch give the Sultan till the 20th July to make up his mind whether he would sign them or not, telling him that, if he did not take care he would soon be put off the throne by the British Government.
E 3