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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TILTIC.O. §

.882

2

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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4. The Memorialists point out how greatly the Settlements have benefited by the trade in which they are engaged; when at its height it brought to the Colony great numbers of their countrymen who not only contributed largely to the revenue by their consumption of excisable articles, but when they proceeded into the interior on their trading and mining operations, still continued to draw their food and supplies from our Settlements, to which they also consigned the valuable produce they obtained. This is now at an end, and probably not ten Chinese are employed, where formerly there were a hundred. It is true that that part of the revenue of the Colony which is derived from Excise does not exhibit a falling off, but this is owing to the very great development which has taken place in what may be termed the European trade, which not only demands a large amount of labour in the towns themselves, but has led to a considerable extension of agricultural operations, and a consequent increase in the population in some parts of the Settlements. Considerable as the increase has been in this respect, it would have been far greater but for the circumstances to which the Memorialists draw attention,

5. In a former despatch, No. 189 of the 6th November, 1872,* I gave your Lordship some account of the condition of the principal Malay States on the western side of the Peninsula, and I regret to say that the state of affairs as then represented has in no way improved. In Quedah, which adjoins Province Wellesley on the north, and is under Siamese control, peace and order are maintained, and the country, though by no means a rich one, is making steady progress; but when we pass to the south of Province Wellesley the whole west coast from thence to Malacca is, as the petitioners remark, in such a state of anarchy and disturbance that all trade is virtually at an end. Laroot has been abandoned by its ruler, the Tunkoo Muntri, who has taken refuge in our territory, from whence he writes urgent appeals to the Government to assist him in controling the Chinese factions which have taken complete possession of it, and entirely stopped its large and valuable trade with Penang.

6. In reply to his appeals, I have explained to him that we cannot give him material assistance towards controling his people nor interfere in any way in the internal affairs of his country, but that we have done our best to prevent any further assistance from being sent from Penang to either of the rival factions which occupy it. I have also pointed out to him that if he will only abandon his former vacillating policy and decide which of the two factions has a right to the mining privileges they are fighting about and should receive his acknowledgment and support, I will, on hearing from him to this effect, at once give instructions that the existing restrictions as to the export of arms, &c., shall be relaxed in favour of the body whose claim he recognizes, and that then, under his guidance, they ought to be able in a very short time to drive out the opposite party, and to allow of his re-establishing himself with the other in peaceable possession of the country.

7. This is, however, far too energetic and summary a proceeding to meet the views of or be adopted by an ordinary Malay Chief, and he is content to remain an exile from his country without making an effort for himself except by intriguing alternately with the Rajah Mudah of Perak and his disaffected subjects in the hope that, by promising to throw his influence into the scale on their side, he may induce one or the other to come to his aid. A hope altogether delusive, since neither the Rajah Mudah, nor his opponent the Bandahara, have any furce of their own nor the money which alone would enable them to procure it.

8. In Perak the Rajah Mudah, who would be looked upon as the rightful heir to the Sultan who died last year, has obtained some accession of support from the leading men of his country, but he has not succeeded in overcoming the pretension of the rival claimant, nor, as I have said, has he the means of doing so, and in the absence of a recognized Ruler the trade and resources of this rich and important State are being completely sacrificed.

9. There is, I hope, some slight improvement in the prospects of Salangore, but no re- opening of its trade can take place until the Sultan's authority is completely re-established and order restored.

10. In Sunghy Oojong, Rambow, and Johole, the territories immediately adjoining Mulacca on the north, matters are in a far from satisfactory condition. Rambow having last year re-asserted an old claim to certain territory in Sunghy Oojong, I had offered to arbitrate in the matter, and had actually arranged a meeting for the purpose, but it came to nothing owing to the non-attendance through mistake of the Datoh, or Chief of Rambow, at the appointed time and place, and his sudden death, and that of the Datoh of Sunghy Oojong, directly afterwards, prevented the arrangement being carried out later. The election of new Chiefs has raised a good deal of bad blood in these countries, and I am apprehensive that, if their differences be not soon reconciled, the other neighbouring

• No. 10.

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States, including even Pahang and Salangore, each of which has its alliances or predilections for one or other of the parties, may become involved in the dispute. I have again offered to arbitrate in these differences, and my proposal has been accepted by Sungby Oojong. The Lieutenant-Governor of Malacca reports that through these differences the trade on the Lingie river, which runs through these districts, has been almost entirely put an end to.

11. In fact the present state of affairs in the Malayan Peninsula is, as is stated by the Memorialists, viz., that the richest part of it is in the hands of the lawless and turbulent and, with the exception of Johore, it is only in those States dependent in a certain degree on Siam that order is preserved.

12. The Memorialists also correctly describe the altered circumstances and condition of the extensive trade which was formerly carried on with the neighbouring countries, and they add with justice that it is in the Malayan Peninsula that the finest field for their enterprise and the renewal of their commercial prosperity is to be looked for.

13. The opinions the Memorialists have expressed as to the causes which have produced this disastrous state of affairs, and the conclusions at which they have arrived respecting them, are deserving of every consideration. I can only add that I fully appreciate the force of much that they urge, and venture to express my earnest hope that this subject, so important not only to the interests and prosperity of the Colony, but to the well-being, progress, and even civilization of the native States that surround it, may receive the serious attention of Her Majesty's Government.

I have, &c. (Signed)

Inclosure in No. 24.

Petition.

H. ST. GEORGE ORD.

To His Excellency Major-General Sir Harry St. George Ord, Governor of the Straits

Settlements.

*

WE, the Undersigned, Chinese merchants and traders, British subjects and inhabitants of Singapore, Penang and Malacca, beg to approach your Excellency on the eve of your departure from the Settlements, and to solicit your Excellency's attention to the following important facts, regarding the trade in which we are all so much interested and concerned.

For many years past we have, under the British flag, enjoyed the privileges of trading with the territories and States surrounding these Settlements; and encouraged by the success which has been obtained in prosecuting this business, and the safety and security enjoyed under British Government, large numbers of Chinese have settled them- selves in the Colony, married, and brought up families, and by finding employment for their countrymen, have largely increased the revenues and contributed to the prosperity of the Colony.

This will be apparent from the fact that the greater portion of the revenue of the Colony is derived from the opium and spirit farms, mainly, if not entirely, supported by our countrymen, who, from their large numbers (some 300,000), also absorb a large amount of other produce and merchandize.

But of late the trade on which we so much depend has very much declined, and from circumstances to which we shall advert, seems likely to decline even more, to the serious loss of those who have hitherto engaged in it.

This arises, not from want of capital or a lack of enterprise or ability on the part of those interested, but from causes altogether beyond their control, and which your Petitioners wish to present for your Excellency's kind and careful consideration.

Hitherto there has been a large trade with the Native States of the Malayan Peninsula, but, owing to internal dissensions, this has in some cases, entirely ceased. Laroot, Perak, and Salangore, have been, and are in a state of such disturbance, that all legitimate trade with them is at an end, and unless the British Government interfere to restore order and peace, these rich countries will be impoverished, and their inhabitants ruined,

This spirit of disorder has extended to Langkat, Rambow, and Sunghy Oojong, so that nearly the whole of the West Coast of the Peninsula from Malacca to Province Wellesley may be said to be in a state of anarchy, and anything like regular trade is altogether at an end.

The result of this is that the richest part of the Peninsula is in the hands of the lawless and turbulent; only in those States dependent in a manner on Siam is order