CO882-(2-3) — Page 244

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

CO

Reference -

882

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

2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. LONDON

180

Sir,

"Avon," at Penang, January 21, 1874. HAVING received an urgent requisition from the Lieutenant-Governor of Penang to convey to Larut Mr. Swettenham, who had been ordered to proceed there on special duty, also to give to that officer, and to the Chinese, and others, who might be appointed to go with him, every assistance and protection; and, further, after the duty required of Mr. Swettenham at Larut had been performed, that I would convey that officer to the residence of the Rajah Muda, of Perak, in the river of that nanie, communicating with the Dinding station; and that after Mr. Swettenham had carried out his duty with the above-mentioned Rajah, that I should return to the Island of Pangkor, to meet his Excel- lency Sir A. Clarke, on the 14th instant.

I have the honour to inform you, that having obtained the services of a small steamer, I took her in tow, and proceeded to Larut River in her, with the before-mentioned persons, the "Avon" remaining at anchor as near as her draught of water would permit. Having reached Larut, Mr. Swettenham found it necessary to proceed to the Rajah Mantri's head-quarters, some 13 miles inland, so I joined him, taking with us three marines, and marched through all the stockades, the occupants of both factions being most friendly. After Mr. Swettenham's instructions were carried out, we returned (the follow- ing morning) by the same route, and joined the "Avon" that evening; then steamed on for Pulo Pangkor, and communicated with the Police Station, proceeding in "Fair Malacca" with " Avon's" boat in tow, up the Perak River to the Rajah Muda's residence.

Mr. Swettenham having performed his duty there, I proceeded down the river, and reached the anchorage at the Dindings on the evening of the 13th, and found the "Pluto" with his Excellency Sir Andrew Clarke on board, and paid an official visit that evening.

I On the forenoon of the 15th three row-boats and their crews arrived from Larut. boarded these boats, taking with me Mr. Nicholson, Sub-Lieutenant, and the Chinese interpreter, they having seen the properly built row-boats both at Silensing and other places.

I also questioned three Malays who were wounded in these waters during an attack by the rows-boats, which came under my own observation; and after the examination of the above-mentioned row-boats just arrived here and their crews, who clearly state that neither they nor the boats have been employed down here, but only in the Larut river, and generally employed for carrying rice to Silensing, and lately manned by Larut people, some of whom I recognized as having been, a short time back, at that place, I am fully convinced they are not the people (or boats) who have committed the inurders and robberies, which to a large extent have been checked by our cruizers.

I, therefore, pointed out to his Excellency Sir A. Clarke the expediency of a more close search for the proper boats and crews, stating that the piratical village Silensing ought to be strictly searched, it being the haunt of these marauders, and requested an order from him, should I feel satisfied as to the notoriety of that place, together with the information generally given about the place, that I might make its occupants suffer as pirates should. Upon such request I received the inclosed letter, and proceeded immediately to carry out the service, first arming the steamer Johore" with a 20-pounder Armstrong gun and crew, and placing the vessel under the command of a Sub-Lieutenant, with the white ensign flying, and left late that evening for Larut, was then arriving off the place, and anchoring in 2 fathoms water. The "Johore dispatched, written instructions being given to Mr. Nicholson, Sub-Lieutenant, a copy of which I beg to inclose. This service was carried out with but little difficulty through the energy of the headmen of the Go Kwan faction, assisted by the zeal of the Chinese interpreter, who landed and brought the people to terms. I am also glad to say the white ensign has now become quite known in these parts, and much respected.

12

The Sub-Lieutenant of this ship piloted the steamer in a very able manner through the low intricate channel leading to the first and second stockades. On the "Johore's appearance at the mouth of Larut river with eight armed junks and row-boats in tow (unfortunately two piratical row-boats of about thirty-five feet long with low sides and sharp bottoms, and painted slate colour, which were also in tow, got foul of the junks when rounding the bend of the river, and were so damaged that they sunk, and were left behind), I signalled her to close, and we steered for Silensing, but had to wait for high water to cross the bar; and fearing a long delay, I proceeded in towards the village with cutter and whaler manned and armed, taking with me the headmen of the Sing Neng party who knew the place, also Mr. Skinner, who spoke the Malay language, and Mr. Pickering, the Chinese interpreter. Captain Dunlop, R.A., accompanied us. The occupants of this village Silensing stated they had not been made aware of the arrangements, for the surrender of the row-boats and arms, with a view to a submission of the differences existing to the British Government, which I then laid before them.

181

They were questioned as to the reason they endeavoured to prevent the boats of this ship from landing about the middle of last month, and behaving in a violent manner to the interpreter, and stating we would not be allowed to land again; also that they confessed that the row-boats did come there for water and provisions. Their reply was, they thought we were Malays; the occasion being in the daytime, with three white ensigns hoisted in our boats, one boat with officers in uniform speaking to them on shore, and the other boats close to. When asked about firing on the "Midge's" boats, they stated some of their men were killed on that occasion. I also asked them where the three or four large guns were, which lay on the bank during the visit of the boats of this ship, the reply was, they were sold; then as to the two row-boats now afloat within a few yards of the beach, the reply was, they did not know how they came there, and it was only a short time ago. They were told the two row-boats and crews of sixty men each, and guns and arms, were to be surrendered that afternoon, but only twenty-eight men would come forward.

As to the arms, they denied having any; so I went round to the houses taking with me five marines and made strict search, and succeeded in finding some rifles, and many muskets and pikes, a small quantity of powder, and a package of the latest rifle ammu- nition, but not that of the pattern rifle. All these I had placed in the row-boats I found together, with the above number of men, and every method which could be used to endeavour to make these people come to terins was tried, but to no effect. The remainder of the inhabitants made towards the bush, and defied us; and finding all efforts lost, and so many obstacles thrown in the way, I desired the boats to move outside the stakes, and warned them with a blank gun from the cutter. I then ordered a rocket to be fired over their heads, but this had no effect in inducing them to comply with my orders to complete the row-boats' crews. Then a rocket was fired direct at their head quarters, which caused two more men to join the row boats I had closed to me. After a short interval I used rockets at other parts of the place, all acting well; and finding no more of these people coming off, I pulled on board the "Avon," distant about 1,400 yards, disarmed all boats, and the crews of the row-boats were brought on board.

I then ordered one shell to be fired over the village (to convince these people our gun could reach), when two more men came on board, and stated that no one was burt, and one bouse destroyed, but that the villagers were very much frightened and ran into the bush.

And having disarmed this village, and taken the guns remaining there, the two row-boats and part of the crews I demanded, also giving them a lesson for not complying with my orders; and the spring-tide rapidly falling, I deemed it prudent to move the "Avon" and the "Johore at once into deep water, and proceeded to the Dindings, which were reached next morning at day-light; and after anchoring reported my proceedings to his Excellency Sir A. Clarke, who ordered the row-boats, junks, crews, and arms to be handed over to the police authorities.

On the afternoon of the 20th instant, his Excellency Sir. A. Clarke requested me to be present on board Her Majesty's Colonial steamer "Pluto" at the signing of the new Treaty on the occasion of the Raja Muda's installation as Ruler of Perak, also to fire a salute of eleven guns at the same moment, all of which I complied with, making a temporary flag of entirely white bunting.

I

Almost immediately after this ceremony had been completed, his Excellency left in the "Pluto," and the other steamers towed all the junks and row-boats and their crews to Larut. I left the following day to be at this anchorage by the evening of the 21st. Before concluding this letter, allow me to state that both the officers and men left on board, and those on boat service, carried out their duties in a most zealous manner. have also to bring especially before your notice that, in consequence of the navigating officer having met with an accident, and placed in sick list, I was ably assisted in the navigation of the ship by first Lieutenant Sulivan, whom I placed in charge on my proceeding into Silensing in the boats, with orders to place the "Avon" about 1,400 yards from and covering the town with spring on cable. Let me call your attention to my having before mentioned Sub-Lieutenant Nicholson's name as having carried out 'his written instructions with much ability, also Mr. Lee, gunner, who used the rockets with good precision. I would further ask you to bring before his Excellency's notice the great zeal and tact displayed by Mr. Pickering, Chinese interpreter, in carrying out the combined wishes of his Excellency and myself, also the valuable assistance rendered by the unbiased opinion of Mr. Skinner, of the Straits Civil Service, as in this case many parties were concerned.

Captain Dunlop, R.A., not being placed at my disposal, and having a separate mission (with verval instructions) to Larut, took a passage in "Johore."

I also granted [133]

3 A