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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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continued uninterruptedly till they disarmed in January. During this time the Mantri openly supported the Go Kwans, and latterly both parties exerted themselves in every way to endeavour to gain the mastery, to strengthen their defences, while "fighting men sent fur from China.

were

32. In January the Rajah Mudah was joined by the Mantri at Perak, and they for some time resided together in Krean. The Rajah Mudah obtained at this time (February 1873) a written. acknowledgment of his being the rightful Sultan, signed by the Mantri and by several of the great men, which he forwarded to the Governor with a letter, of 28th April, by his relative Rajah Din.

In this letter the Rajah Mudah referred to correspondence with this Government. in June 1872, relative to the succession, and reminded the Governor of the number of British subjects fighting in Laroot, and claimed British assistance to stop the fighting.

The Governor congratulated the Rajah Mudah on his acknowledgment by the great men, but objected to give assistance in Laroot until the Rajah Mudah and the Mantri had decided which was the rightful faction, and the one they intended to support.

On the 4th June, 1873, the Rajah Mudah replied in a very different tone, and ́complained of the conduct of the Mantri, who had gone to Penang, and would not meet

him at the Krean.

33. In August 1873 an attempt was inade at a reconciliation, when the Rajah Mudah and the Mantri met in the presence of Colonel Anson, and came to an agreement to settle their differences, the Mantri recognising the Rajah Mudah as Sultan, and the Rajah Mudah promising to confirm the district of Laroot to the Mantri. But in a few days the Rajah Mudah wrote to the Governor repudiating his agreement, as he found himself unable to trust the Mantri, who was greatly injuring his country, and that he (the Rajah Mudah) At the same had consequently deprived him of all his titles and privileges in Laroot. time he asked for direct assistance in the succession dispute, or that he might seek help from other Governments if the British Government would not definitely settle one Rajah in Perak.

34. To this, however, Sir H. Ord replied on the 5th September by stating that the Mantri had convinced him of his claims, and that he would be acknowledged now by our Government as as independent Prince, and the Order in Council as regards arms was cancelled so far as the Mantri was concerned.

35. The fighting now became very severe on both sides. The Go Kwans, espoused by the Mantri, who now was able to import arms and ammunition openly, and had the moral support of our Government, endeavoured to the utmost to drive out the See Kwans, who, however, held their own.

These See Kwans subsequently took to fast row-boats, at first, probably, with a view to obtain provisions, and to harrass their enemies the Go Kwans, but their natural proclivities for piracy soon led them into the open outrages and atrocities from time to time reported to your Lordship, and which, notwithstanding all the efforts of Her Majesty's ships in these waters, continued until the course of action was adopted by this Government in January last, which I am now reporting.

36. So far for the question of the Chinese; but I must call your Lordship's attention to the petitions presented by the See Kwans, which fully portrayed, many months ago, the losses and sufferings they were undergoing, and complained of their women being taken away into slavery.

I held a long conference with all the Headmen on both sides, when they prayed that the British Government would take over the country, or at least appoint a British officer to reside in the district, and protect them. They exhibited the most perfect readiness to accept any decision at which I might arrive; and their good faith has been fully tested by their subsequent conduct, in laying down their arms, and surrendering to me their row- boats, razing all their stockades, and submitting their individual claims and differences to the final decision of the Commission of British officers whom I nominated.

37. In relating the progress of the Chinese disturbances, I have been obliged ipci- dentally to allude to the two points, which, it cannot be denied, are at the bottom of these disputes, viz., the succession to the Sultanship of Perak, and the claim to an "independent" rule over the district of Laroot, put forward by the Mantri.

38. The question of the "succession" was not a difficult one to settle, if we could only secure the attendance of sucli a number of Chiefs, as, by the custom of the country, would be sufficient to elect a Sultan.

It was not for me, now, to inquire into why, or wherefore, the Rajah Mudah (Abdullah), who was the undoubted rightful heir, had not been elected immediately on the death of the late Sultan on 25th May, 1871.

It had been stated to me, that His Highness was not fitted to assume the sovereignty

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as bis habits and general health rendered him unfit to rule; but, as I have stated to your Lordship, I was most agreeably disappointed, and the result of the conference with the Chiefs was his confirmation as Sultan; while, I think, your Lordship will find, from Mr. Braddell's narrative of what then took place, that the election was a very satisfactory

one.

39. I had anticipated considerable difficulty, and some embarrassment, from the action that had been taken in recognizing the Mantri of Perak, generally, but incorrectly, called Mantri of Laroot, as the independent Ruler of Laroot; but your Lordship will now clearly see, by the conversations which took place amongst the Chiefs, and by the Mantri's general conduct at the conference, that he could not claim to be an independent Ruler, and that it was necessary that he should receive, as he did on this occasion, a confirmation of his powers, as Governor, from the new Sultan.

40. With reference to the claims of the Baudabera Ismail (Acting Sultan), I would refer your Lordship to Mr. Braddell's narrative. I addressed a letter to him, informing him of the decision arrived at by the Chiefs, and advising him to surrender the Regalia to the newly-elected,Sultan.

As I have stated, I have since heard, though not officially, that he has given in his adherence to what occurred at the conference.

41. The decision arrived at by the new Sultan, confirming the other appointments of great officers made by his predecessors, was evidently gratifying to, and met with the concurrence of all the Chiefs.

42. The 5th clause of the "Engagement" calls for no notice from me, as it is a mere matter of routine, but it of course affects, to a certain degree, the Mantri, who enjoyed the revenues of Krean and Laroot for some time past.

At the same time, however, the 10th clause provides, that these revenues shall be collected and controlled under the advice of the Resident, whose appointment I have proposed, as desired by the Chiefs.

By the 9th clause, the Sultan, the Bandahara, the Mantri, and other officers, are to be provided for by a regular Civil List, to be hereafter arranged; and of course the Sultan will be advised to appropriate the balance of the revenue, whatever it may be, to public works and improvements.

43. This watching the collection of the revenue, and controlling its expenditure, will form no insignificant part of a Resident's duties; and as far as bringing about a good system of government is concerned, will be about the most important portion of them.

The collection of the revenue, from whatever source derived, and however legitimate, is carried on at present among these States, with a perfect absence of all system, and with- out any fixed rules or tariff, while it is at all times accompanied by individual instances of extortion, or, as more familiarly known in the Chinese and Malayan States, by "squeezing," To check this, and to induce the Sultan to select proper men for the collection, will be the Resident's special care, and the process will not be an expensive one, as the staff required will be comparatively small, since the country, intersected as it is by rivers, is admirably adapted for the collection of the royalty on the minerals which must pass down these rivers to the sea.

The revenue on grain, and on opium, and spirits, all legitimate sources for raising a revenue from, will require much consideration and care, but will, I have little doubt, here- after, forin an important item in the resources of the country, and afford ample means for its development.

44. By the 11th clause of the Engagement the boundary of the Dindings was proposed to be rectified, and I would beg to refer your Lordship, as far as the discussion which took place is concerned, to Mr. Braddell's narrative.

45. In the correspondence between your Lordship's predecessor and Sir H. Ord, which took place in 1869, it was suggested by Mr. Stanley that, if we acquired the territory (for which Sir II. Ord then asked, and which was identical with what Mr. Bannerman demanded in 1819) and doubtless intended to be given when the Treaty of 1826 was agreed to, this Government would be put to expense for Courts, police, hospitals, &c.

I can, however, confidently assure your Lordship that there is no chance whatever at present of our being put to any such expense, as it is not likely that any settlement whatever will at present take place in the portion of territory I propose to acquire, though even if it should, I believe it can be most satisfactorily conducted at an insignificant cost.

The Island of Pangkor, however, our possession of which has never been disputed, has formed a nucleus for numerous fugitive families of Malays who were compelled to flee during the late disturbances on the mainland, and is now fast becoming, under that feeling of security which the shelter of our flag always gives, a small but thriving settlement.

46. The position is necessary to us, as a pure matter of police, from its situation at

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