CO882-(2-3) — Page 215

me,

124

How

side of the Tanjong, near to the canal cut by Rajah Dollah; a boat with two men in came close where I was and grounded; the two men got out and came and spoke to me. One of them asked me where I belonged to: I told him to the lighthouse. He asked

"What wages do you get a month ?" I said, “6 dollars." He asked me,

I said, "40 dollars, more or less" much does your superior officer (Kapala) get?" (lebeh Korang). He asked, "Do they send your pay here every mouth, and where does it come from?" I said, "Get from Malacca." He asked. "How long your superior He asked, "When he will been at the lighthouse?" I said, "More or less, one year." go away?" I said, "Perhaps one or two months." He asked, "How many men are I heard Maharis ask him, there stationed in the lighthouse." I said, "Seven men." "Where do you belong to ?" He answered, "I am from Langat; am going to Qualla Lingey." I saw in the boat four muskets, four sundangs, four creeses, a brass tobacco priok. What else there might have been in the boat covered up I cannot say. I did not speak any more with them, but walked away to return to the lighthouse, Tindal Fernandez. I did not see the men again that day, but about 8 o'clock at night I was laying in the old convict barracks outside the lighthouse reading a book; I heard the door shake, I thought it was some of my fellow lascars; I got up and stood a little behind the door; the man pushed the door open and camesin; I saw it was not one of my men but a stranger; I got frightened and remained quiet; he went up to a box belonging to me and tried the lid with his foot; it was not locked, and he opened it; he felt about with his hand inside the box and then shook his head; he then went and felt a bag of rice, and then took hold of a fishing net, and then looked round the roofs of the barracks. He was then going out when I struck him in the mouth with an iron weapon I had in my hand and drew blood. I ran towards the lighthouse and called out, "Baba, Tolong. Penchoorey, Basah !" Tindal Fernandez answered; he asked, "Where is he? where is he?" and opened the door and came out. When he opened the door two men ran down the road frou by the barracks. When I came out from the door of the barracks another man caught hold of my shoulder; I struck at him with the iron I had in my hand; he drew his creese and stabbed at me. I defended myself with the iron; he stabbed at me four times; the fifth time he stabbed me in the arm; he struck me several times afterwards, and scratched my side a little; it was while he was doing this that 1 called out to Fernandez. There were four men altogether; one man I struck in the mouth; the second was the one that struck I recognized at me, and the others run away from near the barracks when I called out. two of them as the men who had been talking with me in the afternoon; I never saw the men before I saw them on Sunday when I was fishing; I did not see any fire-arms with then, only creeses. Mr. Lucas came out with a musket and fired at one man. The man that I struck and the man that stabbed at me were the two men whom I saw on the beach.

Maharis states: 1 am employed at Cape Rachado light-house as a substitute for Lascar Dollah, who is sick at Malacca. I have been here a little over one month. On Sunday afternoon, the 11th, I went fishing with Omar near to the drain cut by Rajah Dollah. I saw a boat come from sea towards the land where we were; there were two men in the boat. They came and asked, "What are you doing?" I said, "Fishing." I He asked where I lived; I said on the hill. He asked, "Are there any Europeans ?" said, "Yes; there are five or six Sepoys." He asked me, "Where is the well for drinking I asked him water" I said, "There is no well for water here; we drink rain water." where he came from. He said, "I am from Langat; I belong to Lingey." I did not have any further talk with him; I saw in the boats three or four muskets, two or three swords, and two or three creeses; it was a small fishing-boat. I was not in the barracks with Omar when the men came at night. I went inside the light-house, as there were too many mosquitoes; I heard Omar call out "Baba, Baba!" and I saw Mr. Lucas run out; but I did not see the men before, but I will recognize them if I see them again.

Mr. Lucas states that he heard the Lascar Omar reporting to the assistant light- keeper Fernandez, about 5 (o'clock P.M., his interview with these men, and said that perhaps they meant to attack the light-house; but Fernandez said there was no fear of that, as they would not dare to attack a Government place. At night, about 8 o'clock, he heard the Lascur calling out," Baba, Penchoory, Tolong!" and run away from the light, calling the two men who were with him to follow out, but they were afraid to go; and one of then, a Malay, named Allee bin Ismail, put a wooden cover over the trap-door leading up He (Mr. Lucas) run down, and into the light-room, to prevent anyone getting up. seizing a musket, louded it as fast as he could, and ran outside with Fernandez and Lascar Faberino, who also were loading muskets. He ran out of the yard, and saw a man come out of the house (convict barracks), and fired at him; the man ran into the jungle. He

125

(Mr. Lucas) and Fernandez fired several times into the jungle, as they heard the man moving amongst the bushes, but could not say whether they hit anyone.

Christian Fernandez states much the same as the above, except that when he ran out first time he saw two men run away down the rail, and he followed a little way.

Chee, a Malay youth (makes "Damar") states: I live at Seginting. On four different evenings I saw two boats, one large and one small, sometimes going one way and sometimes the other, about 100 fathoms from the shore. They landed once on the west side the Tanjong (Cape Rachado); I saw them from a distance; I counted twelve men; I could not see whether they were armed or not; it was about 5 o'clock P.M. when I saw them land. I saw them at different hours; twice about 5 P.M., once about 12 A.M., and once early in the morning. I cannot tell where the boat and men belong to, but I thought they must be bad people, as they did not go near anyone's houses, or talk to anyone. I saw them yesterday about 12 o'clock; they were going east; they were rowing; the small boat was fastened alongside. On Hari Ah Hat (Sunday) night I heard firing at the light-house, but I was frightened to go out, and remained quiet in my house. I saw these boats about 5 o'clock that evening pulling east-ward very lazily.

Ah Soo, China boy, son of Ah Ghing, lives at Seginting: On four different days I saw two boats, one large and one small, sometimes going one way and sometimes another. I saw them land one day at Tanjong Gunnoh, and burnt "lalang." I counted twelve men; they were about 100 fathoms from me. I did not see them enter any house. They burnt "lalang," and then went back to their boat again. I could not see whether they had any arms with them; I heard firing at the light-house about three nights ago, a little after 8 o'clock. I did not leave the house, but I said, "So long they did not fire at the light-house to-night, they fire so much, what can be the matter?" I did not see these boats, or hear any boat after the firing; but I saw these boats at 5 o'clock about, in the same evening as the firing was; they went towards Pulo. Babi. I saw them yesterday again, about 12 o'clock noon, going towards Pulo Judi. I think they must be bad men, from the way they act-come close into shore, but don't land; if called out to they won't

Assam, Chinaman, lives at Seginting, works for Ah Thing, corroborates the above, and states, further, that he saw them near Seginting on the beach, about twenty days ago; their boats (the same as these now seen), were lying over on the west side the Tanjong. They were going to them. They had muskets and krisses. There were five men; they had two muskets; each man had a kriss. If I saw their faces again I could recognise them. I think they must be bad men. The large boat was a dark colour; I could not what colour; had cloth sail.

answer.

Sir,

Inclosure 19 in No. 78.

Lieutenant-Governor's Office, Malacca, January 22, 1874.

I HAVE the honour to report, for the information of his Excellency, that yesterday morning the boat hired to carry the reliefs to light-vessel "Torch" returned to Malacca, and reported that they were afraid to proceed to the North Sands on account of pirates said to be at Qualla Sempang. A schooner also came in and reported having been chased by a wang kang.

As the "Torch" must be relieved, I have hired a larger boat, and placed on board a police guard, consisting of 1 inspector and 12 men, and she started at 4 A.M. this morning. I do not think that any attempt will be made to attack this boat; still, as she has money, rations, &c., on board, they might be tempted to do so, and therefore I sent a guard which ought to give a very good account of any of these small piratical boats. This, I would submit, points out how very useful a steam-launch would be at this Settlement: these three boats have twice entered the Qualla Lingey river and got out again before we could get up there.

With a good steam-launch I would guarantee to take them; they are said to be under the command of Rajah Mahmond and Řajah Bote of Lookout, and belong to Tunku Allam (Rajah Jacob, third son of Sultan of Salangore), and I believe this informa- tion to be correct.

The Hon, the Colonial Secretary,

Singapore.

[133]

I am, &c. (Signed) E. W. SHAW, Lieutenant, Governor.

2 K

ནྭ

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TELLICO. 882

2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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