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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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Raja Mudah Abdullah is the son of the late Sultan Jaffar, who reigned before Sultan Alli.

Raja Oosoo is the son of Sultan Abdullah Mahomed Shah, who reigned before Sultan Jaffir.

Raja Oosman is the eldest son of Sultan Alli.

Raja Idris is the eldest son of Raja Bandahara Secunder, who died whilst he was Bandahara.

Raja Ahmed is the youngest brother of the above.

Raja Bandahara Secunder we are informed was Bandahara when the Treaty was made with the British Government.

Raja Engah is the son of Raja Oosman, Raja Abbass is the son of Raja Abdullah's eldest sister.

We are not prepared to state what are the claims the Mantri has to the provinces of Laroot and Krean; they are said to have been given to his father 'by Sultan Jaffar. Doubts have been expressed to us on all sides as to the genuineness of the documents constituting him the Chief of that part of the country, and further inquiries are, we think, necessary. Whatever these claims may be, and however substantiated, they could not be such as to warrant his using his influence, as he has done against the usages and customs of his country, while still holding the office of Mantri-and the action he has recently taken appears to us to show that they are, at the least, but, of a weak and doubtful character.

We have, &c. (Signed)

To the Honourable the Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements, Singapore.

Sir

J. F. A. McNAIR. S. DUNLOP.

On board the steamer "Johore,"

Perak River, January 15, 1874.

In continuation of our Report of yesterday's date, we have the honour to inform you of our return this day to Pulo Pangkor, with the Raja Muda, and the following Malayan Chiefs :-

Rajah Oosman.

Rajah Engah.

Rajah Abbass.

The Laksamana.

Princes.

The Orang Kayah Shabundur.

The Rajah Makota.

The Dato Rabna, and one of the thirty-two Datos, or Punghulu Mukime.

We should have reached his Excellency by 5 P.M., yesterday, the day appointed by his Excellency for the conference, had it not been that when close to the Laksamana's residence our steamer grounded on a sand-bank, which delayed us for one tide. Fearing, however, that the steamer might be delayed even beyond that time, and not wishing to and went detain his Excellency, we got on board the Laksamana's schooner at 5 P.M.,

Here we down in her to the Raja Muda's Campong, which we reached at about 9 P.M. had to wait to collect the whole party, and the steamer having got off at 1 A.M., reached us at 3 A.M., and we at once went on our return journey to Pulo. Pangkor. We wish here to add in connection with the remarks that we bave made in our former Report upon the state of political parties at Perak, and with reference to paragraph 22 of our instructions, that we consider the letter of the Raja Muda to his Excellency, dated the 2nd of January, and which was handed to us on our departure from Pulo Pangkor, as highly satisfactory, and the proof that the placing a British officer at Laroot is quite in accordance with the wish of the Malayan rulers themselves, who even go further, and desire that one may be placed at Perak itself.

Our own view from the first has been that it is essential that a British officer should be placed not only at Laroot, but also in Perak, the Malay rulers being quite incapable of controlling the large body of Chinese who have already flocked to the country from China, and who will, we are convinced, under a just and frm Government, be augmented tenfold, to the manifest development of the resources of "this fine portion of the Malayan Peninsula."

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The question of the cession of the Dinding territory is now, we are satisfied from communication with the Raja Laksamana, a matter of easy solution.

We have, &c. (Signed)

To the Honourable Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements.

Inclosure 6 in No. 69.

J. F. A. MCNAIR.

S. DUNLOP.

Translation of a Letter from the Sultan Jaffar Matḥalam, Shah of Perak, to Colonel Orfeur Cavanagh, Governor, Straits Settlements, dated 16th, 1862.

WE have received our Friend's letter written on the 16th April last, and brought by Captain Warwick, concerning Laroot. Our answer to our Friend's letter has been delayed by our having summoned Nga Ibrahim to come from Laroot. In two or three days Nga Ibrahim arrived, and we informed him that it had been settled between our agent, the Laksamana, and our Friend's agent to estimate the damages done to the Gee Hin Chinese at 17,447 dols. 4 c. Nga Ibrahim had already agreed to the amount fixed by our agent and our Friend's, and admitted that he would pay without objection whatever seemed proper to our Friend. We have moreover confirmed the Government of Laroot on Nga İbrahim with fall powers in all affairs, so that he can himself govern the country with the advice of the Laksamana.

We rely upon the assistance and kindness of our Friend to release Nga Ibrahim from the burden of the blockade by the steamers; now (let us know), what is the opinion of our Friend, in order that the Laksamana may bring (the money), or that Nga Ibrahim may meet the Honourable Resident Councillor of Penang, to settle these accounts by paying the stipulated sum, as our Friend thinks best.

Written on the 12th of Dalkaidah. 1278.

Inclosure 7 in No. 69.

Engagement entered into by the Chiefs of Perak, dated January 20, 1874. WHEREAS a state of anarchy exists in the Kingdom of Perak owing to the want of settled government in that country, and no efficient power exists for the protection of the people and for securing to them the fruits of their industry: and,

Whereas large numbers of Chinese are employed and large sums of money invested in tin mining in Perak by British subjects and others residing in Her Majesty's posseesions, and the said mines and property are not adequately protected, and piracy, murder, and arson are rife in the said country, whereby British trade and interests greatly suffer, and the peace and good order of the neighbouring British Settlements are some- times menaced: and,

Whereas certain Chiefs for the time being of the said Kingdom of Perak have stated their inability to cope with their present difficulties, and together with those interested in the industry of the country have requested assistance: and,

Whereas Her Majesty's Government is bound by Treaty stipulations to protect the said kingdom, and to assist its rulers: now,

His Excellency Sir Andrew Clarke, K.C.M.G., C.B., Governor of the Colony of the Straits Settlements, in compliance with the said request, and with a view of assisting the said rulers, and of effecting a permanent settlement of affairs in Perak, has proposed the following Articles of arrangement as mutually beneficial to the independent rulers of Perak, their subjects, the subjects of Her Majesty, and others residing in or trading with Perak, that is to say :-

1. That the Raja Muda Abdullah be recognized as the Sultan of Perak.

2. That the Raja Bandahara Ismail, now Acting Sultan, be allowed to retain the title of Sultan Muda, with a pension and a certain small territory assigned to him:

3. That all the other nominations of great officers made at the time the Raja Bandahara Ismail received the regalia be confirmed.

4. That the power given to the Orang Kayah Mantri over Laroot by the late Sultan be confirmed.

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