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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

TTTTICO. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

Memorandum by

Mr. Irving, June 10, 1872.

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of the chief officers of Perak, in order that, in Mr. Irving's words, "the Rajah Muda's claims might be re-considered under favourable circumstances;" and, on the part of the native Princes, to raise objections and difficulties, which eventually frustrated the objects of Government. Mr. Irving succeeded, however, in making clear the actual state of affairs, as follows :-

Perak, which was formerly connected with Sumatra, preserves a form of Government similar to that prevailing in Achin and Rambow (which, from 1750 to 1832, received its Rajahs from the ruling House of Menangkabow, in Sumatra).

In all these the following system is maintained:-

The Sultan, the chief titular personage with nominal authority over the whole State. The Rajah Muda, his heir-presumptive (in Perak the Rajah Bandahara enjoys the same rank of Mangkobumi, or "eligible successor," and upon a vacancy is usually elected Rajah Muda): The "Muntri Umpat" (the four officers), called in Rambow the " umpat

suku." viz. :-

The Rajah Bandahara (above-mentioned, holding a somewhat higher rank). Orang kaya besar Maharaja di Rajah (this office is no longer filled).

Orang kaya Tumonggong.

Orang kaya Muntri.

All these have the title “ Paduka Sri Maharaja.”

The Muntri Delapan (or the eight officers).

The Muntri Anamblas (or the sixteen officers); the names are given by Mr. Irving in his Memorandum of the 15th June.

On the demise of the Sultan, it is customary for these officers to assemble, and to elect, before the burial of the body, a lawful successor; there appear to be no settled rules of election, but to judge from the last seven Sultans it is considered necessary that the Sultan elect should be of royal blood on the father's side, and should hold the office of Raja Muda. The letters mentioned in the margin* give a full, though often a conflicting, account of what occurred at Sultan Ali's death.

This event took place at Sayong, about sixty miles up the Perak river, on the 25th May, 1871. Of all the twelve principle officers, the Tumonggong alone was present. Two messengers had previously heen sent for the Raja Muda, but he failed to appear. Three days after the Sultan's death, arrived the Muntri of Laroot and three of the Muntii Delapan (second class); one of them, the Maharaja Lela, was sent to summon the Raja Muda, again unsuccessfully. He brought the news that the Raja Muda's wife Tipah, the late Sultan Ali's sister, had eloped with Raja Daud of Salangore. In the meantime the Raja Bandabara had arrived, reporting that he too had waited in vain to escort the Raja Letter announcing Muda. At length, more than a month having clapsed, the hody was buried, and the election, June 29, Bandahara was proclaimed Sultan (28th June). It would appear that, besides the Raja 1871.

Muda's continued absence, some ground for the Bandahara's election was found in the fact that he was an old Chief, who had held his high office during the last two reigns. It is also said that one of the late Sultan Ali's sons urged this step, displaying much anger against the Raja Muan.

The gist of these facts is not contravened; but the Rajah Muda, in conversation with Mr. Irving, stated that he had been informed by Sa Indra Maharajah, one of the messengers above-mentioned, that the Bandahara wished him to stay away from the meeting of the Chiefs, until the anger of the Sultan's sons had passed off, and that, believing the Bandabara was only to be elected temporarily, he was duped into doing so. The anger of the princes in connection with his (the Rajah Muda's) wife's elopement is in itself not unlikely. Mr. Irving met and questioned the messenger Sa Indra Maharajah, but was unable to satisfy himself about this matter. Sir Harry Ord, in commenting upon Mr. Irving's Memorandum, gives it as his opinion:-10th June, 1872 --that "we can never know the truth." His Excellency forwarded letters on the 13th June to the Rajah Muda, Tumonggong, and Muntri (Larut), urging them to convene and obtain a decided opinion from the elective Chiefs. With this Mr. Irving's mission terminated. The following month the letters named in the margint were received in reply to the Governor's. The Rajah Muda, and the Muntri (Larut) declared that the proposed assembly was impracticable; the Bandahara, for the first time expressing his views, urged that the Chiefs who had gone over to the Rajah Muda were traitors, but invited the Rajah Muda to do what was right towards him; adding that be had "the greatest affection for him as his adopted grandson."

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remained open to the Government: (1) To support the Rajah Muda; (2) to acknowledge the Rajah Bandahara, (3) to withdraw and leave them to fight the quarrel out.

The Rajah Muda soon after began to put his claims in force. With the assistance of the youth Wan Junoos, a connection of the Rajah of Kedah, he collected rent from the paddy planters, on the south bank of the Krean. The Muntri's people met this step with force, and the Lieutenant-Governor reported on the 30th August that several lives had been lost. The Muntri complained, apparently with truth, that Wan Junoos and Mr. Bacon were recruiting followers in Province Wellesley, and at this point the Lieutenant-Governor exerted himself to check the movement. The Malay paddy planters had themselves most cause to complain. Whichever side they took they were sure to incur the ill-will of one, and the taxes of both. Many of them left their homes, and in September, a petition numerously signed by the elders, and one or two district Punglimas (Magistrates), was presented to the Lieutenant-Governor, praying the Government to take their country under its protection.

In

The state of things in Laroot at length brought both parties to their senses. January, the Rajah Mudah was joined by the Muntri at Perak, and they came together to reside in Krean. For the next three or four months they acted in concert. In February they had a joint interview with the Lieutenant-Governor, and 3000 afterwards the Rajah Mudah succeeded in obtaining a written acknowledgment, signed by the son of the Rajah Bandabara, by the Muntri himself, and also by four of the second class of officers, as reported in a letter written at Krean to the Lieutenant-Governor on 28th April, 1873. In this he refers to the Governor's previous letter of the 13th June, and alludes to the number of British subjects fighting in Larooot, in a style so business-like, that it is pretty clear that he was acting at this time under European advice; he concludes by claiming British assistance to stop the fighting. His relative Raja Din brought this letter to Government House, and produced the written acknowledgments at an interview with the Governor on 9th May, 1873. The same day the Governor replied congratulating him on the great men's adherence, but objecting to assist him in Laroot until he and the Muntri had made up their minds as to which was the rightful faction and the one they intended to support. On 4th June, 1873, the Rajah replied, writing this time in a very different tone. It seems difficult to reconcile it with the statements made in the last. He has revived his old quarrel with the Muntri, whom he says he summoned in vain to meet him at Krean. On the 3rd June, the Lieutenant-Governor, in forwarding one of the numerous complaints of piratical outrages in the neighbourhood of Laroot, made a suggestion that the Rajah of Kedah (who is, however, an avowed supporter of Rajah Mudah) should be asked to arbitrate in the affair of the succession. In this letter a statement is made on the authority of Tunku Dia Udin, that "the Raja Muda is supported by the Chinese, and the Raja Bandahara by the Malays," which, if true, has an important bearing on the case; but no evidence on the point has come before Government. Since this nothing has been done, no arbitration has been held, the Rajah Muda is still unable to obtain the Regalia, and a reconciliation seems as remote

as ever.

The dispute as to the Perak Sultanship has practically become a struggle for Laroot, Proceedings of a struggle in which the Muntri takes the place of the Baudahara. In this point of Council, Septem- view, his party may be considered to have gained a step in the Governor's recognition ber 9. of him by Order in Council as lawful ruler of Laroot, and in the accession of Captain Speedy to his cause. The two Chiefs, the Rajah Muda and the Muntri, have sided with the See Kwans and the Go Kwans respectively; and the Malay dispute may be said to have merged in the more determined quarrel between the Chinese factions. The most recent attempt at a reconciliation was that made by the Lieutenant-Governor on 10th August, when be sent down the two Chiefs in Her Majesty's ship "Midge." But the visit was made in the interest of Laroot; and in fact it seems of little importance who is to succeed, while the Chinese continue to dispossess both the Malay parties of the richest district of their country.

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The Muntri is, according to the latest accounts, with Captain Speedy, endeavouring to oust the See Kwans from the mining district.

The Rajah Muda is holding the River Perak with the assistance, it is said, of his

Chinese coolies; within the last few days the Rajah Muda has taken the decisive step Letters from Raja

of "requesting that his country may be allowed to settle under the protection of the Muda (calling

English flag, and that an Englishman may be appointed to organize its government." On the 8th August,

Mr. Irving reported on these letters, pointing out that the proposal to convene an assembly at Kwala Perak bad entirely fallen through; and that three courses only

• Muntri, May 20; Raja Muda. May 17: Tumongyong, May 8, 1872.

↑ Muntri (Larut), no date; Raja Bahara, July 6; Raja Muda, July 24.

himself Sultan of Perak), Decem-

January 9, 1874.

The difficulties in the way of settling the Perak succession are mainly these :— (1.) It is impossible to get at the facts of the Bandahara's election, or to know how ber 31, 1873. far the unbiassed Malay feeling will support him.

(2.) It can hardly be expected that the Muntri will give a willing and loyal adherence

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