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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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Perak Succession.

67. The Governor then introduced the question of the Perak Succession, to settle which he had come at the request of the Chiefs interested, all of whom had been invited to attend.

Mr. Swettenham here stated that he had given to the Mantri a letter addressed to the Bandahara Ismail. The Mantri said that he had forwarded the letter, and, if the Bandahara had desired to come, he had had plenty of time, but he was a very old man, and had not been known, for a long time, to leave the interior of the country.

The Governor then said that the British Government was pledged by Treaty to the family of the Sultan of Perak, and must take care that the proper person in the line of succession was chosen, unless there was something in the character or conduct of that person to prevent his being elevated to the throne.

Claims of Mantri.

68. On this the Mantri professed his readiness to give his allegiance to the Sultan, who might be preferred by the British Government, but asserted his claim to the territory of Larut, extending from the Krean River to the Bruas River; this extent of territory had been given to his father by the then reigning Sultan Jaffar, and he claimed to hold it now independent of the Sultan.

69. On this it was pointed out to him that no Sultan bad a right to give away territory in this way, which would amount to actual sovereignty, and the founding of a new State. That he had had a grant of lands, or of certain rights over the lands, or revenues arising from them, but that his grant had been renewed by each succeeding Sultan on his accession, showing that it was, at best, only a life grant. The claim was insisted on at some length, and it was even suggested that the Mantri would consent to a reduction of the extent of territory claimed by him, if he could be allowed to hold it independently of the Sultan, and the case of the Maharajah of Johore was referred to as a precedent. This, however, was declared to be quite inadmissible. It was considered clear that, whatever the Sultans Jaffar and Alli had intended to give to the Mantri or his father, it was not possible for them to have conferred a sovereignty; and as, since their death, unlike the Tumungong of Johore who had held his power, the Mantri had lost his, and been even driven out of the country, the case was entirely different from that of the Maharajah of Johore, whose father and grandfather had long been in possession of Johore; and the agreement made with the Sultan of Johore, by which a new sovereignty was created, was sanctioned by the Government on grounde not at all applicable to the case of Larut. During this discussion the Mantri, persisting in claiming sovereign rights in Larut, was asked if he wished to become Sultan of Perak, as had been suggested, but he repudiated such an intention.

Rank of Mantri.

70. It was observed that the Mantri was spoken to as "Tuanku," a word signifying "My Lord," and confined among Malays to the members of Royal Families. It was known that the present Mantri was the son of one Inche Jaffar, a Malay trader who formerly collected the paddy rents at Bagan Tiang, to the south of Province Wellesley, and, therefore, could not be entitled to use this style. The Mantri himself, on now being referred to, was obliged to admit that he had no right to the title, and did not use it on his chop or seal.

Explanations as to Position and Character of Chiefs.

71. The Governor had now seen the Chiefs of both sides among the Malays, and a considerable amount of information had been collected, which enabled him to form an opinion as to them personally.

72. It may be here stated that the Raja Muda had been represented as a person of such debauched habits, and bad health, mental and bodily, as to be unfit to rule; but it was only necessary to be in his company for a few minutes to see that this was an erroneous opinion. The Raja Muda, not only looked well in health, but was alert, and for a Malay Prince, more than ordinarily sharp and intelligent. He managed his people with perfect ease; he evidently had their respect, and on the following day proved himself to be an able negociator. He was frank and ready in his answers to all questions; in this respect forming a very favourable contrast to the Mantri. It was further ascertained that the Raja Muda was already recognized by the Malaya in Perak River, and that there would be no difficulty in his being recognized generally as the rightful heir, if Government

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gave him countenance. The impression left by the Mantri's behaviour was not favourable- He fenced with the questions put to him, and inspired but little confidence in his truth- fulness, sincerity, or courage.

Constitution of Government of Perak.

73. By the constitution of Perak, the Government consists of the Sultan, the Raja Muda, who is heir apparent, four nobles of the first class, the Bandahara, the Tumongong, the Orang Kaya Besar, and the Mantri; and eight nobles of the second class.

74. The appointment of Mantri is one extending over the whole kingdom, and requiring the presence of the incumbent with the Sultan; but Nga Ibrahim, the present Mantri, has been enabled to escape such service. He has assumed a different position, has exempted himself from all duty as an Officer of Perak; and has, owing to the ignorance or indifference of the Europeans and Chinese connected with Perak, so far raised himself, as to be known and addressed, even in Government correspondence, as the Tuanku Mantri of Larut, a rank not his, and an "office not known in the Perak Government. His wealth and the current use of this title, however, gave him a position at Penang, and probably led Officers of our Government and others to treat him with more respect than he was entitled to; so that at last, in all matters relating to Larut, and its tin-mines, he became virtually the Rajah, to the exclusion of his Suzerain the Sultan of Perak, whose rights and position were altogether overlooked. It appears that the interpretation put by the Government on the grants of the Sultans to the Mantri and his father was, that Larut was released from obedience to Perak, and, in føret, had become an independent country under its own sovereign or ruler, to whom the strange name of Mantri of Larut was given. Mantri is an Hindi word meaning Minister of State or Counsellor, and, therefore, quite applicable to the position as of Perak, but out of place as of Larut. There can be a Mantri of Perak, which country has a ruler, to be advised by his Mantri.

75. The result of the information collected, as well as of the proceedings at the next day's Conference, proved that the Mantri had, no doubt, through the want of proper information on our part, been allowed to assume a position in Larut to which he had no right.

Saturday, January 17.

General Conference with Chiefs.

76. Saturday, the 17th January, having been fixed for a conference with all the Malay Chiefs, the Raja Muda came on board at 1 o'clock, accompanied by the Raja Banda- hara, Raja Engah, Raja Abbas and a number of his Chiefs.

Present Officers of Perak.

77. The conversation commenced by ascertaining the position of the Bandahara, a very important officer in Perak. It was shown that the Bandabara present was duly installed, and recognized by all as Bandahara. Inquiry was then made as to a new Raja Muda to succeed the present one. The Raja Muda Ibrahim said there would be no difficulty in choosing one. In answer to the Governor, the Raja Muda said that all the Malays would be pleased if he were installed as Sultan; that the late Bandahara had no revenues, but had small tin-mines a long way up the river; and had sent one of his men to the present Bandahara to bring him, the Raja Muda, up the river to receive the regalia, the presence of which was necessary to a regular coronation; and he was on the point of going up, when called to meet the Governor: to all which the Bandahara present assented. answer to the question as to what acts of sovereignty he had exercised towards the Mantri, the Raja Muda said, I gave him Letters Patent, and the Mantri gave me a promise in return, a writing acknowledging me as Sultan, and another writing promising to pay me dues. The Raja Muda further said he had not seen the Tumongong for a long time, and did not know if he would be on his side, but he was sure of the Laxamana.

Larut.

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78. The boundaries of Larut were then asked for, and given by the Bandahara, as

on the north, Kurow River, on the south, Juru Mas River, and inland, up to the Rerspit Hills.

The Raja Muda said Larut does not belong to the Mantri, who ought to follow the `Sultan; and it was only the late Sultan Alli who allowed the Mantri to live in Larut.