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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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unless, indeed, they were to say that their seals to the Raja Muda's letter were not genuine, or obtained through misrepresentation.

22. Besides the four persons whose seals are attached to his letter, the Raja Muda also claims to have the support of the Datoh Sadika Raja; and he asserts, I believe with truth, that the three offices of the second class are vacant, viz., the Panglima Guntar, the Panglima of Buki Gantang, and the Imaum Paduka Tuan. The office of Orang Kaya Besar, of the first class is also vacant. The following statements exhibit the distribution of parties at a glance :—

For Raja Bandahara.

For Raja Muda.

First Class

Tumonggong Tunku Mantri

Second Class

Panglima Guntar '

Maharaja Lela Laksamana Shahbandar Datoh Sadiku Raja Datoh Shakgor..

Vacant.

Orang Kaya Besar.

Panglima Guntar. Panglima Bukit Gantong.

Imaum Paduka Tuan.

23. The Raja Muda's letter to the Governor is dated the 21st February, 1872. A copy of it is annexed. But though it bears this date, it was not despatched at that time, and the Raja Muda was taking the letter himself to Penang, when I met him in the Laroot River, as above described on the 25th of April, and he handed it to me for delivery. I sbould add here that, as soon as the Tunku Mantri heard that the letter was in prepara- tion, he wrote to the Acting Lieutenant-Governor of Penang begging him to take no notice of it; and the Acting Lieutenant-Governor wrote back that he had received no communication of the kind as yet from the Raja Muda and that he wished to see the Tunku Mantri on the subject, as he did not understand who the other nobles were to whom the Tunku Mantri had referred.

24. I now resume my narrative which I broke off-(see paragraph 11) at the private interview that I had with the Tunku Mantri ou board the "Pluto" on the 25th of April. At this interview I learnt in a great measure the Bandahara's version of the succession story as above narrated. The story was narrated to me by the Tunku Mantri in a curiously embarrassed manner, and with the repeated request that, in any further pro- ceedings his name might be mentioned as little as possible. He said that he had not liked to say much at the recent interview, as he did not want to involve himself in a quarrel with the Laksamana, his own father-in-law. The fact was, the Laksamana in common with himself, and all the other nobles of the country, had sworn allegiance to Sultan Ismail:-That there was no truth in the story that the appointment had been intended as temporary:-And that for his part he was quite unable to understand how the Laksamana and the others could turn round in the way they were doing, and try to upset an arrangement which had been solemly agreed to,-which had remained for six months unquestioned, and which during that period had worked most beneficially for the country. He went on to say that, for his own part he had sworn allegiance to Sultan Ismail, and that he held his office, and position, under powers granted him by Sultan Ismail, and that he was, for the present at any rate, quite unable, under the present circumstances, to throw off his allegiance:-and that the only course he was able to suggest was to call another assembly of the notables of the country, including the heirs of the late holders of the vacant offices, by whom the question between the two claimants might be authoritatively settled. He further said that he would do what he could to bring about such an assembly, and he strongly advised that in the meantime the Raja Muda and his party should return to the Qualla Perak. This statement, as I have written it, seems intelligible and straightforward, but its effect was marred by the way it was delivered. He seemed not sure of his own ground, and somehow conveyed to my mind the impression that he knew that the Raja Muda's case was very much stronger than he represented it to be.

25. The following day, in accordance with an arrangement which I made with the Tunku Mantri before I left, I went up the river, and called on him at his house, which is situated about a mile-and-a-half from the landing place. Here a good deal of the old ground was gone over again; and while we were talking the Raja Muda, accompanied by the Laksamana, came in. The police presented arms to him as he came into the room, and, as he had done on board the "Pluto," he came up, and sat by me at the top of the table, the Tunku Mantri getting up, and taking his seat in a chair by the wall; I then

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told him the Mantri's proposal for a Conference, and said that I myself was inclined to think it a good plan. The Raja Muda listened to this with evident distaste, and said that it would lead to interminable delays, and further took the position that there was really nothing to confer about; that he as Raja Muda had an indefeasible right to become Sultan on the death of the last holder; and that, as for the Raja Bandahara, under no possible circumstances could he become Sultan as he was not a member of the Royal family. To this I replied that it was impossible for me to decide what could, or could not, be done, under Malayan customs, and that it would be for the Assembly to say what the customs were, and how they could act under them. The Raja Muda then assented to the Con- ference, which it was arranged should take place in the Qualia Perak, as soon as the people could be assembled. I then told the Raja Muda that, as he had now delivered his letter to the Governor into safe hands, I presumed that there was no occasion for his going on to Penang, and advised his returning to the Qualla Perak. This he seemed to assent to, and shortly afterwards took his leave.

26. On my way back to the "Pluto” I overtook the Raja Muda, who came on board my boat and spoke very freely about his affairs. There was certainly no hesitation or embarrassment about his manner. He very soon worked himself up into a state of great excitement, and gave it to be understood that he was going to fight for his rights, if he could not get them in any other way. He charged the Tunku Mantri with double dealing. He said that he, the Raja Muda, since he had been in Laroot river had flown the Sultan's flag. If," he said, "the Tunku Mantri considers the Kaja Bandahara to be Sultan, why does not he arrest me ?" The fact was, he went on to say, that the Tunku Mantri had got hold of all the wealth of the country, and came forward, and communicated with the English Government, and that what he wanted was a Sultan, who should do like Sultan Ali, and the Raja Bandabara, live out of sight in the jungle, and leave the affairs of the State in his own hands; that for his part, he intended, if he came to the throne, to live in the neighbourhood of the sea so as to be in communication with the English Government, and that he intended to follow the example of the Raja of Quedab, and Tunku Dia Udin, and try to develop his country in accordance with European nations. Either on this occasion or subsequently the Raja Muda showed me a letter which he had received from the Sultan of Quedah, acknowledging him as Sultan, and begging him to attach no impor tance to the fact that the insignia of his kingdom had fallen into the hands of the Banda- hara. Before he took leave, the Raja Muda reopened the question of his going back to the Qualla Perak, and expressed a desire to go and see Tunku Dia Udin at Salangore. But I dissuaded him from this, as it did not appear to me to be at all a desirable pro- ceeding, and he finally agreed to return to Qualla Perak, aud await a further communi- cation from the Government.

27. I left the Qualla Laroot the same afternoon, Friday, 26th, about 4 o'clock, and after visiting Salangore, I arrived at Singapore, on Monday, the 29th of April. On the following day I submitted a Report on the affairs of the country, and on my recent proceedings, to the Governor, and, in accordance with my recommendation, letters were written by his Excellency to the Raja Muda, the Raja Bandahara, and the Tunku Mantri to the following effect :-That it was not to be inferred from the fact that the Lieutenant- Governor of Penang had addressed a letter to the Raja Bandalara styling him Sultan, that the Government admitted his claim, now that it had been called in question by the Raja Mudah; that the Governor had heard that an Assembly of the notables of the country was about to he held at Qualla Perak, to consider the question of the succession, and that this appeared to the Governor a wise arrangement, which he trusted might be carried out without delay; that the Governor had been given to understand that, according to the old customs of the country, the Raja Muda succeeded on the death of the Sultan, and that he would be well pleased to find the ancient custom followed on the present occasion, as would also the Sultan of Quedah, and the Viceroy of Salangore. The letters concluded by saying that they would be delivered by Mr. Irving, who was empowered to give further explanations as to his Excellency's views.

28. I left Singapore with these letters on Friday, the 3rd of May, and after visiting Kallang and Salangore, I called at the Dindings on Monday, the 6th, about 5.30 a.m., where I ascertained that the Raja Muda was still at Laroot. I accordingly did not go into the Perak river on this occasion, as I had first intended, but went on to Laroot, where I arrived the same afternoon; I sent the Governor's letter up to the Tunku Mantri, but it appeared that he was away at his house in the country, and I was not able to do any- thing that evening.

29. The next morning the Laksamana came on board, and said that the Rajah Muda was sick with fever. The Rajah of Laroot also came on board, and I arranged with him

• I have incorporated the substance of this Report in the present Memorandum.

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