CO882-(2-3) — Page 155

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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TILTIC.O-882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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sent the junks already mentioned, the grave offence of which they had been guilty; and secondly, to prevent if possible, by the appearance of an English man-of-war at Laroot, the turbulence of the Chinese in Laroot being in any degree imitated by their numerous sympathizers in this settlement. Accordingly, I accepted the loan of a small steamer, the "Fair Penang," which was placed at my disposal, and, taking with me the Solicitor- General, the Superintendent of Police and a party of his men, the harbour master, and an interpreter, I left Penang the same evening on board the "Nassau," and, accompanied by the "Fair Penang," and brought up off the Laroot river at 10 A.M. yesterday.

4. At noon yesterday, having issued the necessary instructions, I despatched the "Fair Penang," with the officers I have already named, into the river.

5. At 2 A.M. to-day they returned. Eight miles up the river they had found three well armed and manned junks blockading the passage to Laroot. All had come from Penang with their armaments, and one was the vessel which, two nights' before, Captain Speedy had boarded in the harbour there. They had on board 200 picked China men, armed with muskets and bayonets. They had thirteen 4-pounders ready for action, and they had powder, and ball, and bullets in plenty. They had, moreover, a large number of spears, and the apparatus for using stink-pots; and close by on shore several Chinamen were observed moving about on a tongue of land which they had cleared, and protected by an abatis. The leading captain was armed with a loaded revolver.

6. The "Fair Penang" anchored close to the junks, and Captain Speedy and a few of his men boarded them. Every information they asked for was given, except as to the business of the junks in the river, and their evident preparations for fighting. All the explanations given in these points was that they were trading, and that in such dangerous times it was necessary to be on the defensive. The junk's people were stout fighting- looking men, many of them belonging to Penang. They were civil in their manner, but seemed very determined.

7. Two Chinamen caught by the junks that day on their way down the river from Laront were found battened down in the hold. Their limbs were cut and bruised by the At Captain Speedy's request tightness with which they had been bound and by blows. they were at once given up to him. They seemed half dead with fear, and told him that they were to have been decapitated that night. Captain Speedy, with these men and with his party, rejoined the "Nassau" at 2 A.M. this morning, and now, at noon, while I write, we are steaming to Penang, which I hope we shall reach in time to send this report by to-day's mail.

8. The two released prisoners say that, when captured, they were flying from the pillage and carnage going on in Laroot. They talk of the killed having amounted to 2,000 two days ago, and one man says he himself saw some 400 dead bodies. It is the old dispute which was going on between the two Chinese factions about six months ago. One faction was then ruined by the other, and driven from their tin mines and from the country, and the Rajah, for the sake of peace, espoused the cause of the victors. Now the vanquished party, helped by the richest merchants in Penang, are trying their luck

once more.

9. The course of action which I prescribe for myself is simply to watch carefully the state of feeling amongst the Chinese in Penang, and to look sharply after the export of arms and ammunition and the departure of vessels from the island. I fancy the presence in the harbour of the "Nassau" has, in some degree, a tranquilizing effect. You will, I believe, receive this on Sunday morning. Captain Chimmo's present intention is to sail on that evening if he is no longer required; there will, therefore, be time for you to tele- graph to me his Excellency's wishes on the subject.

11. I shall, at an early date, address you again on the subject of the condition of Perak and Laroot-a condition alike unsatisfactory to its Chiefs, to its people, and to our mercantile community.

The Hon, the Colonial Secretary,

Singapore.

I am, &c.

(Signed)

G. W. R. CAMPBELL, Acting Lieutenant-Governor, Penang.

Sir,

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Inclosure 2 in No. 12.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Singapore, October 24, 1872.

I AM directed by the Governor to acknowledge your letter of the 18th October, reporting the result of an expedition made by you to the coast of Laroot in Her Majesty's ship "Nassau," "for the purpose of ascertaining how far certain Chinese merchants of Penang are guilty of raising and dispatching to the Laroot State within the-last few days a force which is likely to create very serious disturbances in that State.

2. His Excellency desires me to call your attention to Clauses 125 and 126 of the Penal Code, by which the waging or attempting to wage war, or to commit any depre- dations on the territories of any Power at peace with the Queen can be visited with very severe punishment. It appears that one, at least, of the junks clearly engaged in this contravention of the law was recognized as coming from Penang, and his Excellency cannot understand how, with such a force to support you, you should not have at once required the vessel or vessels to desist at once from their illegal proceedings.

3. It would also appear that the police and harbour authorities were cognizant that these vessels were preparing to commit a breach of the peace, and his Excellency is at a loss to understand how they could have permitted their departure.

4. I am to request that the fullest explanation may be afforded of the reasons of these proceedings on the part of the Government, and I am to request that you will take the necessary steps to prevent any further action which may tend to a repetition of such a violation of the law.

5. I am desired to call your attention to the Proclamation of the 28th of June (Government Notification No. 125 in "Gazette" of 28th of June, 1872), and to request that you will issue a short but peremptory notice, having reference to Clauses 125 and 126 of the Penal Code, in place of the Indian Act No. 10 of 1839, and have it printed in any native languages that may be necessary, and posted everywhere. The Solicitor-General will draw it up for you.

The Hon. the Acting Lieutenant-Governor, Penang.

Sir,

I have, &c.

(Signed) J. W. W. BIRCH,

Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements.

Inclosure 3 in No. 12.

Lieutenant-Governor's Office, Penang, October 24, 1872.

IN continuation of my letter of the 18th instant, regarding the disturbance in Laroot,

I have the honour to append copies of documents for the information of his Excellency the Governor.

2. Since I last wrote officially the fighting in Laroot has, I believe, ended for the time. The powerful faction of Chinese, who were beaten out of the country six months ago, have now, with the aid of another faction, completely triumphed, and are said to be in full possession of the mines they held before. Being wealthy, they were well prepared for the attack which they have made with such success. Their loss has been but small, while of the other side 2,000 are reported killed and missing. This is probably an exaggeration, but the carnage and destruction of property by fire and otherwise have undoubtedly been great; 2,000 refugees, all Chinamen, have already arrived here, of whom above 100 are wounded. Hundreds of other wounded men have perished on the way; eighteen of the wounded who have arrived are doing well in the Civil Hospital.

3. The Rajah of Laroot is reported to have joined the victorious faction this time, as ⚫he did their opponents when the latter were victorious in the fight six months ago. In this case he will, of course, repudiate the statement made by his agents, and declare that the junks fitted out in Penang were not intended to act against him, but for him, which will prevent the prosecution of the persons who sent them. I shall, how- ever, learn his views on this part in a few days. Meanwhile, of the three Chinamen against whom warrants are out for equipping and despatching the junks one only has been found, and he is at large on bail. I may mention here, with reference to your letter of the 19th

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