PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TC.O.882
2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
Sir,
114
Inclosure 1 in No. 78.
Government House, Singapore, February 1, 1874. I HAVE the honour herewith to forward to your Excellency all the papers relating to a piracy which has recently been perpetrated near the Langat or Ingra River, where a British boat, registered at Malacca, which had gone to Langat for the purposes of trade and was returning, having on board six Malays, all British subjects, and three Chinese, a considerable amount of produce, and 2,000 dollars in cash, was attacked within the Ingru River in the territory of Salangore, and eight out of the nine men on board the boat brutally murdered.
2. It would appear from the depositions that the attack was made at the instigation of Tunku Alang (Rajah Yacub), one of the sons of the Sultan of Salangore, who has a stockade on the River Ingru.
3. The survivor got back to Malacca, and some days after, the, men (or, at least several of them) who committed this act, came to Malacca, and pine have been arrested, of whom one has turned Queen's evidence.
4. The evidence against the men in custody is most conclusive, but a doubt might possibly arise at the trial before the Supreme Court as to our jurisdiction, and it appears to me that the safest course will be to deliver over the prisoners to the Governor or Viceroy of Salangore, Tunku Dia Oodin, in whose territory the crime was committed.
5. It is, perhaps, right that I should here point out to your Excellency the present position of affaire in Salangore. You are probably aware that, for some years, there was a good deal of dissension in this State, and that the Sultan, who is an old man, and a confirmed opium smoker, finding great difficulty in retaining his power from the turbulence of his Chiefs, appointed, in 1868, his son-in-law, Tunku Dia Oodin, Governor of the whole Kingdom, with full powers, and who has since that time endeavoured to govern the country properly, and above all to check piracy.
6. He has had, however, a very difficult and even dangerous task, since he has been eystematically opposed by the various petty Chiefs, some of whom, directly connected with the Sultan by blood, Rajah Mahdie, Syed Mashor, Rajah Mahmud, and their followers, for some years have resisted him by open fighting, and by lawless raids on the Chinese labourers he employed to open up the country, and have been, one or other, directly concerned in all the acts of piracy which have occurred along that coast since 1868.
7. I may here remark that the Salangore country, and the Kallang Straits, were specially famous in former days, and in the earlier times of our connection with the east, for piratical attacks of the most daring nature, but the attempts persistently made by the Indian Government to put it down ended in almost complete success, whilst, since 1868, our action has been very intermittent, though some cases have been dealt with by our navy, which have resulted in the capture, trial, and conviction of the offenders.
8. It is a matter of regret to notice that these bond fide acts of piracy by Malays (which must be looked upon as very distinct from the lawless attacks by Chinese, which have been lately put down in the more northern waters of the Peninsula) are again becoming frequent, and as they are supported now by the sons of the Sultan, and one Rajah Lant, it appears have created a great deal of alarm, and are completely paralyzing the trade of Malacca.
9. Another case has been reported by me within the last few days; and on the night of the 11th instant a boat, suid to belong to Rajah Mahmud of Langat, made an attack on Cape Rachado Lighthouse, where the people had that day received their pay, and wounded one man; while the Lieutenant-Governor of Malacca now reports to me that it is impossible to procure the usual relief to the lighthouse, as well as to the lightship at the North Sands, but has become necessary to send them up under a strong guard of police.
10. Your Excellency will consequently perceive that these attacks have at last reached a point when they are threatening the peaceful navigation of the Straits, the great highway between Europe and China.
11. I am, therefore, most anxious to take advantage of your Excellency's presence with an unusually large force, and endeavour by a vigorous effort to finally suppress these piratical expeditions from Salangore.
12. I am confident that Tunku Dia Oodin will do everything to assist your Excellency, and in anticipation of your acquiescence in my views, I have despatched a Mission to Tunku Dia Oodin to request him to meet your Excellency at the North Sands, or at the entrance to the Kallang Straits.
13. I propose, at the same time and place, to meet your Excellency in the "Pluto," bringing with me a steam-launch.
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14. The measures which I venture to suggest for adoption are the delivery of the pirates whom we have in custody to Tunku Dia Oodin, who demands them from us, under the Indian Extradition Act, and providing him with evidence, require him to try them on the spot.
15. For that purpose it will be necessary to proceed to Langat by the river from Kallang Qualla, up which river any of the gunboats and the "Pluto" can safely go, and any vessel not drawing over 11 feet.
16. When there, I propose to obtain at once an audience of the Sultan, and, if possible, to insist on his coming on board, while I shall require Tunku Dia Oodin to make a prisoner for the time of his brother-in-law Rajah Yacub (Tunku Alang) and other suspected Chiefs, and to destroy all the stockades which this faction of Chiefs living at Langat have erected for the purpose of protecting themselves in the attacks which they contemplate on trading vessels.
17. In destroying these stockades, Tunku Dia Oodin will doubtless require support, and material assistance if necessary, or if any of the pirates should resist.
18. But as these stockades all exist on the Ingru River, along which only boats can proceed, I would suggest boats from the larger ships proceeding up that river, with the steam launches, and joining the ships at Langat. I understand the course is a short one, and on two occasions the boats of Her Majesty's ships "Icarus" and "Zebra," went up with the steam-launch "Mata-Mata."
19. I beg to ask in the meantime your Excellency's permission to allow Her Majesty's Ship Rinaldo," now here, to proceed to Malacca, to take on board the pirates and witnesses, and join the fleet at the rendezvous.
20. Trusting that your Excellency will concur with me in my proposal, I will proceed with Her Majesty's Attorney-General to meet you, as soon as I hear from you by telegram your movements.
I have, &c. (Signed) A. CLARKE.
His Excellency Vice-Admiral Sir C. Shadwell, K.C.B.,
Sir,
&c.
&c.
*
Inclosure 2 in No. 78. .
Lieutenant-Governor's Office, Malacca, November 18, 1873.
I HAVE the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, that a complaint has been made to me by Mahamed bin Hassan of an act of piracy committed upon British subjects at Merib in the territory of the Sultan of Salangore and Langat.
It appears that six Malacca men had gone to Langat for the purposes of trading, and that after disposing of their merchandise they proceeded to return, bring with them three Chinese passengers and about 600 dollars in cash on board their boat; having anchored for the night at the mouth of the Langat river they were attacked and all killed with the exception of one man.
I have written to the Sultan of Salangore at Langat, and I inclose a copy of the letter. The boat is registered No. 71; Nacodah or Commander's name is Hadji Abdul Rahman; the names of the crew are, 1 Tomby Etam, 2 Alikim, 3 Manan, 4 Matnil, 5 Mahamad Syed (only survivor), also three Chinese passengers, names unknown, all killed.
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements.
(Signed)
I am, &c.
E. W. SHAW, Lieutenant-Governor.
Inclosure 3 in No. 78.
Complaint made by Mohamad bin Hassan.
HE states that on the 17th instant he received information that his brother-in-law, Hadji Abdul Rahman, and brother Tomby Etam, had been robbed and murdered on board their boat at Merib, at the mouth of the River Langat, when returning to Malacca from a trading expedition in Langat. He further states that three other men, the crew of the
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
C.O.
Reference:
882
2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
116
boat, named Alikim, Manan, and Matnil, together with 3 Chinese passengers were also murdered.
One of the crew only escaped, named Mahomed Syed; he swam to the shore, and remains at Langat.
There was on board the boat rattans and money, about 600 to 700 dollars.
The owner of the boat and crew were all Malacca men, and the boat is registered in Malacca.
Statement made before me, and translated this 18th day of November, 1873.
(Signed) E. E. ISEMONGER.
Another Malacca man named Belal Senin has just arrived from Langat and confirms
(Signed) E. E. ISEMONGER.
the statement.
Inclosure 4 in No. 78.
Captain Shaw to the Sultan of Salangore and Langat.
(After compliments.)
WE inform our friend that a Malacca Scotchie, belonging to nien under our Govern- ment, who were trading in Langat in the rule of our friend, when on her way back to Malacca was attacked by pirates at Merib at the mouth of Langat river, and five men of Malacca, together with three Chinese passengers were murdered by the pirates, one man only remaining alive; this man is at present in the country our friend governs, and said to be detained.
The man who carries this letter, Mahomed Bin Hassan, is sent by us to fetch the survivor. The scotchie when she left Langat (as was well known to many of the Langat people) had about 600 or 700 dollars on board, and this was doubtless the cause of her being attacked in our friend's Government at Merib.
We trust that our friend will assist the bearer in finding the surviving man, and we also trust that our friend will search for and arrest the pirates and send them to Malacca ; in the meantime we must hold our friend responsible for the return of the survivor, as well as for the arrest of the pirates, who have done this wrong.
We request an early answer from our friend, which will be laid before the Governor of the three Settlements.
Sir,
Inclosure 5 in No. 78.
Lieutenant-Governor's Office, Malacca, November 22, 1873.
IN continuation of my letter of the 18th instant, I have the honour to forward the inclosed copy of a letter received from the Sultan of Salangore, in reply to mine, relative to the piracy and murder at the mouth of the Langat river, also the statement of the survivor, by which it appears that the Sultan's own men were implicated in the piracy.
I am, &c.
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements.
(Signed) E. W. SHAW, Lieutenant-Governor.
(Translation.)
117
Inclosure 7 in No. 78.
Statement of the Survivor, Mahomed Syed, of Malacca.
That on the night his boat was attacked, about twenty men came on board from another boat, and murdered all his friends and the three Chinese passengers; he slipped over the side, held on to the rudder chains for an hour, and then swam to the shore (about 600 yards). He then concealed himself in the moat of the fort called Qualiang, and feared to show himself; while there he saw the boat which had attacked them come back, and was near enough to hear them say that they had been unfortunate in letting one man escape as he might convey the news to Malacca; the others said they did not care for Malacca; the boat continued up the river, and in about an hour returned to the fort. On the return of the boat the fortmen hailed them to inquire what news, they replied that they had murdered all but one man, and brought the-plunder to Tunku Alang of Sultan Abdul Samat.
He says he knows the men well, and could identify more than half of them, as are some of the fortmen at Quallang, they belong to Tunku Alang (Rajab Kaha).
He saw the men come out of the boat and land their guns &c., and things belonging to his boat.
After remaining some time in the moat a Bugis boat came in, he got on board and prayed for protection. The crew hid him until the next day, and then gave him up to Tunku Alang, who gave him to the Sultan.
The boat which was plundered is at present at the house of Tunku Alang in his custody, some of the goods, rattan, &c. remain in the boat.
Sir,
Inclosure 8 in No. 78.
Lieutenant-Governor's Office, Malacca, December 17, 1873. I HAVE the honour to report to his Excellency the Governor that, upon information received by the Acting Superintendent of Police, nine men have been arrested, said to be implicated in the piracy and murder case committed at Langat, and reported by me in my letter of the 22nd November, 1873, They have been identified by the only survivor of the Malacca boat's crew; they were in three boats fully armed, which came into this road- stead; the boats have been seized, but the rest of the men have, for the present, escaped. When these men have been committed by the police magistrate, I will forward further details; and if the evidence is strong and satisfactory, I would submit to his Excellency that a special session to try these men thight have a good effect.
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements.
Sir,
I am, &c.
(Signed)
E. W. SHAW, Lieutenant-Governor.
Inclosure 9 in No. 78.
Lieutenant-Governor's Office, Malacca, January 10, 1874.
IN continuation of my letter of the 17th ultimo, I have the honour to forward copies of the deposition taken before the police magistrate in the case of piracy committed at the mouth of the Langat River.
(Translation.)
Inclosure 6 in No: 78.
The Sultan of Salangore and Langat to Captain Shaw.
REGARDING the letter written by our friend on the 27th Ramilan, it reached me safely, and we have read its contents. Regarding the man remaining, the friend of those who were attacked, he is given to Mahomed, the bearer of this letter; also there are three men of mine dead together with those who were attacked; this we inform our friend.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
E. W. SHAW, Lieutenant-Governor.
The Hon. the Colonial Secretary, Straits Settlements.
Malacca to wit.
Inclosure 10 in No. 78.
Depositions.
DEPOSITIONS taken on oath before me, A. R. Ord, Esquire, one of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace for the Colony of the Straits' Settlements and Magistrate of Police in
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