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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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Arrival of new Governor.

37. Such was the state of affairs on the arrival of Governor Sir Andrew Clarke in the beginning of November 1873,

Previous attempts to effect a Settlement.

38. An attempt had been made to effect a settlement in September last, when Governor Sir Harry Ord went to Perak, with Her Majesty's ships "Thalia" and "Midge," on the report of the Lieutenant-Governor of Penang that the Chinese faction fights were likely to be transferred to Penang. On this occasion the action seems to have been confined to dealing with the sea forces, which had long overstepped the limits of war, and had become piratical. The fighting men were successfully attacked by the boats of the men-of-war; but, as soon as the men-of-war left the place, the fighting and piracies broke out worse than before, nothing having been done to get to the root of the difficulty in Perak.

39. In November last, on Colonel Anson's visit to Larut, an armed police post was established at Pulò Pangkor; but this appears to have had no effect, as he shortly afterwards had to report that piracies had become bolder and more frequent than ever.

Questions to be dealt with.

40. The Governor therefore determined to take up the matter himself.

41. There were four questions to be dealt with,—

(1.) The disputed succession to the throne of Perak.

(2.) The position of the Mantri at Larut.

(3.) The disputes at Larut between the Chinese.

(4.) The action of the combatants at sea, which had degenerated into piracy.

42. To understand the first and second questions fully, it was necessary that the Governor should himself go to Perak and examine personally into the facts of the case, as to which the information before Government was conflicting and for this purpose that all the Chiefs of Perak, including the Mantri, should be called together for the purpose of discussion and explanation. At the same time, all parties having requested the interven- tion of Government, it was necessary, as a preliminary, that all fighting should cease, and that both sides should disarm.

43. It was thought that the Chinese factions had already suffered so much that they were prepared to come to terms with each other, and return to work at the mines, if they could be relieved from the complications arising out of their alliances with the contending Malay parties; and it was hoped that, by dealing with the whole question, a solution might finally be come to, not merely for restoring peace for the moment, but also for securing tranquillity and good government for the future.

Preliminary Arrangements.

44. Mr. Pickering, the only European officer ever in the service of the Straits' Govern- ment who could speak Chinese, had acquired great influence with all classes of Chinese in the Colony, and was selected by the Governor to proceed to Penang to see the headmen of the Chinese factions, to ascertain if they were willing to come to terms with each other, disarm their parties at the mines, and submit their differences to Government.

45. Mr. Pickering arrived at Penang on the 3rd January, and on the 4th January telegraphed that the Ghee-Hin party gladly agreed to submit, and would disarm in seven days, but asked for an armistice on the part of Captain Speedy's men.

46. On this, Major McNair and Captain Dunlop were sent in the chartered steam- vessel "Johore," on a mission to Penang and Perak, to carry out the disarmament and armistice, and to arrange to have the boats and arms brought to the Dindings by the 14th January, where the Governor would proceed to receive them; and, at the same time, they were charged to make arrangements to have all the Perak Chiefs brought to the same meeting, when the Governor would inquire into the whole matter.

47. Instructions were also given to Messrs. McNair and Dunlop to collect all available information on the subject of the disputed succession, the relationship among the different Chiefs, and how each was disposed as to the succession; and also to inquire as to the posi- tion, powers, and relations of the Mantri. They also had authority to supply food to both the contending parties.

48. It was supposed that there were several hundred fighting men who had been brought down from China and who would desire to remove from the country on peace

being made.

A steam-vessel, the "Luzon," was therefore chartered to attend for the purpose of removing them, and also to take up a supply of rice for them, and for the great numbers of people who were understood to be without food at Larut.

49. A telegram was dispatched to the Lieutenant-Governor of Penang to send Mr. Swettenham to Larut to see the Mantri and Captain Speedy about the surrender of the Hye-Sans, and to request an armistice, and to take all steps to secure the attendance of the Perak Chiefs at the Dindings on the 14th of January.

Arrival of the Governor at Dindings.

50. All these preliminary arrangements having been made and precautions taken, the. Governor left Singapore on the evening of the 11th January on board the Colonial steamer Pluto," having with him Mr. Braddell, Attorney General, Mr. Skinner, of the Civil Service, and Lieutenant Brackenbury, R.E.

Tuesday, January 13, 1874.

Arrival of Chinese Headmen.

51. Her Majesty's ship "Avon "was at the anchorage; but Captain Patterson had gone up the Perak River with Mr. Swettenham in one of the Mantri's steam-vessels, the "Fair Malacca," to bring down the Raja Muda and other Chiefs. The "Avon," however, had on board some of the headmen of the Hye-San party. At 11 A.M. Messrs. McNair and Dunlop arrived in the steam-ship "Johore," bringing Mr. Pickering and several headmen of the Ghee-Hin party, last from Larut, where they had been refused admission through a boom, placed by the Hye-San men across the river, but had left a supply of rice for the Ghee-Hins at the mouth of a creek in con.munication with their men, and which was after- wards ascertained to have reached them. Messrs. McNair and Dunlop confirmed the report originally made by Mr. Pickering, and which had been doubted at Penang, that the Ghee-Hins were willing to disarm and submit, and produced a paper to that effect, signed, on the 16th January, by twenty-four of their headmen.

52. They also brought from Larut some of the Hye-San headmen, who had informed them that nothing was known to them about an armistice; and that, as they had no authority over the fighting boats in the river, they could not order them, either to let the "Johore" pass the boom, or to come to surrender at the Dindings.

Steamer sent to bring the Raja Muda.

53. There was a general feeling of doubt as to the coming of the Raja Muda in the way he had been sent for. Major M'Nair and Captain Dunlop therefore left at 1 P.M. in the "Johore" to bring him down, with such Chiefs as were near him; and at the same time, Mr. Pickering went, taking with him the chief Headmen of each of the Chinese parties, in order that he might speak to them himself, and allow them a good opportunity of con- ferring together, to which they seemed quite disposed, a measure which was attended with the best effect, as during the two days they were on board together, they became quite friendly, discussed their affairs, and felicitated themselves on the prospect of a settlement. At 9 r.. the Fair Malacca" arrived, bringing Captain Patterson and Mr. Swettenham, but, as had been anticipated, not the Raja Muda.

Wednesday, January 14.

Arrival of the Mantri.

54. On Wednesday, the 14th January, at noon, the Mantri arrived in his steam- yacht.

Arrival of the “Luson."

55. At 7 P.M. the "Luzon" arrived from Singapore with rice, having on board a boat with Lieutenant Moysey, and twelve men from Her Majesty's ship "Thalia."