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armed with rifles. The officers of the Avon' report that the men killed on board the last-mentioned junk were so backed and hewed to pieces as to present a dreadful sight. One of the wounded men brought in by the Avon' is the son of the Panghuloo of the Dindings, who has received about sixteen wounds. The pirates are said to have gone up the Perak River; if so, they will be caught. The 'Avon' and 'Midge' are expected back in six or seven days."

Inclosure 3 in No. 58.

From Hatchell, Penang, to Irving, Singapore.

November 17, 1873. PIRACY in Dinding waters, off Pulo Kotta. No piratical boats taken or aunk. Gun-vessels returned yesterday. No row-boats seen; gone Laroot direction. Piratical attempt on schooner, British colours, off Pulo Remoo on Saturday by two boats.

Inclosure 4 in No. 58.

Penang " Guardian” Extraordinary, November 14, 1873.

THE ROW BOATS AGAIN. HER Majesty's steamer "Avon came hither yesterday from a cruise off Laroot, and we give the following particulars: She brought a Chinese junk in tow, belonging to a trader of Penang, and also convoyed a Malay trading-boat from Perak to this port. The crew of the junk were almost all murdered by pirates, the well- known row-boats. The Commander said he was about five miles off when he saw the attack made by the three piratical row-boats on the junk, but, not having his firea lit, be could not get up stearn quick enough to go in pursuit of the row-boats, and it must have been galling to the brave British naval Commander and crew to be within sight and yet not be in time to save the victims of this barbarity. As soon as he got up steam he gave chase to the boats, but these, seeing the smoke of the steamer, made for the shallow water and ran ashore. On their way, however, they fell in with two and destroyed the crew of one of these, but spared the lives of the others, as there were two of their friends on board. The "Avon" brought in six men severely wounded and barbarously hacked, two of whom are not expected to live, and these were at once taken to the hospital. The matter having been reported here, the "Midge" and "Avon," with the "Mata-Mata," left yesterday afternoon in search of these pirates. We hope this timely activity of the officer administering the Government here will be rewarded with success, and these wretches will be caught and punished.

These row-boats are said to be manned each with forty oars and twenty sharp- shooters.

No. 59.

The Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir Andrew Clarke, K.C.M.G.

(No. 288.) Sir,

Downing Street, December 22, 1873. I DESIRE to call your attention to the statements in Sir H. Ord's despatch No. 216 of the 24th of July last, respecting the aid derived from Penang by the contending factions of Chinese in Laroot.

I feel the same difficulty as Sir H. Ord in understanding how these factions can have been supplied from Penang with "junks, boats, arms, ammunition, and provisions, unknown to the authorities of that Settlement."

Such a state of things must not be allowed to continue, and I request that you will impress upon the Lieutenant-Governor that I expect the utmost vigilance to be exercised to prevent Penang from being used as the base of operations for carrying on an armed conflict within a neighbouring friendly State.

The Proclamation against the export of munitions of war to Laroot should be rigidly enforced, and if the hands of the authorities in Penang require to be further strengthened, you should consider in what manner this can best be done without interfering with lawful trade.

You will, no doubt, furnish me with a full Report on the affairs of Laroot under your general instructions to report on the affairs of the Malay States.

I have, &c. (Signed) KIMBERLEY.

(No. 289.)

Sir,

No. 60.

The Earl of Kimberley to Governor Sir Andrew Clarke, K.C.M.G.

Downing Street, December 22, 1873, I HAVE the bonour to acknowledge the receipt of Sir H. Ord's despatches of the numbers and dates noted in the margin,† on the state of affairs in Laroot, and the troubles caused by pirates in the Straits of Malacca.

I have, &c. (Signed) KIMBERLEY.

Inclosure 5 in No. 58.

Newspaper Extract.

WITH respect to the Chinese rebels at Laroot, a letter from Penang, dated the 12th November, states :----

"The rebel row-boatmen at Laroot quarrelled amongst themselves about booty last week, and fought from 6 A.. till dark.-100 killed.

A letter dated Penang, November 14:-

"There have been several dreadful piracies off the Dindings. The 'Avon,' 'Midge,' and 'Mata-Mata' started yesterday to try and catch the guilty parties. Her Majesty's ship ́ ́ Avon' was in sight when the outrages were committed, but was too far off to be of service. The pirates sunk two junks, after killing all the men on board, and killed all but three in another junk. The last-mentioned vessel and the wounded were brought into Penang yesterday by the Avon;' one of the Chinese is said to be mortally wounded. The row-boats are too quick for the boats of the ships of war, though towed by the Mata-Mata. These row-boats have from forty to fifty pullers, and twenty fighting men,

Sir,

No. 61.

Admiralty to Colonial Office.

Admiralty, December 24, 1873. WITH reference to previous correspondence, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, copy of a further letter from Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Shadwell, dated the 27th October, No. 296 with its inclosures in original, relative to the measures which have been adopted by Captain Woollcombe of Her Majesty's ship "Thalia," for the punishment of the Malays at Laroot for having fired into the boats of Her Majesty's ship Midge," on the 16th September, and the salutary effect which has been produced thereby.

+ Nos. 37, 42, 45, and 49.

* No. 95.

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