CO882-(2-3) — Page 263

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

דוויי

Reference :-

REC.O.

882

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

2 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

218

Letter to the Sultan.

69. The letter congratulated the Sultan on the result of the day's proceedings as 'to Tuanku Kudin's reception; informed him that nine British subjects had been murdered by people of the Sultan's country, and that some persons, charged with this offence, were then awaiting trial. The letter then requested the Sultan to take such steps as might be necessary that justice should be done, by appointing some of his great officers to try the men accused; and informed him that two gentlemen would be deputed to attend the trial on the part of the Governor, and that the Admiral would detach some of his ships for the same purpose.

70. Tuanku Kudin's name was not mentioned in the letter as it was desired to leave the Sultan unbiassed in naming the officers to hold the Court.

Appointment of a Court by the Sultan.

71. An answer was soon received appointing Tuanku Kudin as Commissioner, and stating that some others, would be named next day to accompany the Tuanku, it being too late that evening to procure, their attendance. The letter, satisfactory in other respects, seemed to imply that the justice to be done was the justice of the British Government. A reply was therefore at once sent, pointing out, in order that there might be no mistake in this respect, that the justice was to be that of the Salangore, not of the British, Government. Another letter, properly worded in this respect, was received in reply, appointing Tuanku Kudin, the Datu Aroo, or Regent, and the Pung- hulu Dagang, or head of the strangers with the head Chinaman at Langat, as a Court to try the accused.

Tuesday, 10th February.

Trip up the River.

72. The next morning, Tuesday 10th February, in order to pass the morning usefully while waiting for the house fitted for the second interview with the Sultan, the Governor went up the river in the steam-launch "Mata Mata," with a leadsman, in order to explore. The river was found to alter its character a little above the Jugra, which appears to be almost an artificial canal, dug out at right angles to the Langat river, and carrying down some of the surplus water of the Langat to the sea, by a shorter route, and with a strong current, which ran downwards all the time we were there (neap-tides).

73. The Langat river, above this, passes through a plain beyond the influence of the salt water tides, and capable apparently of any intertropical culture. The large forest does not come near the river anywhere as far as we went up, about ten or twelve miles; showing that, at one time or other, the great plains had been cultivated. There were numerous detached houses, but no villages, all the way up. Numbers of people were met in their boats in the river, all of whom, on seeing the steamer, pushed their boats inshore and ran inland, taking with them whatever portable articles they had in their boats. This distrust of Europeans, unfortunately two common in Malay rivers, was doubtless aggravated, on the present occasion, by false reports of the purpose for which the steamers had come.

74. The depth of water, following the channel from bight to bight, was between three and four fathoms the whole distance we went, and the river could easily be navi- gated by such vessels as the gunboats "Midge" and "Frolic."

Arrival of Raja Moosa.

75. On our return it began to rain very heavily, so that the visit to the Sultan was postponed till later in the afternoon, when the Governor and Admiral, attended as before, went on shore. During the afternoon a message came off, that to-day was a white day for the Sultan, as his son Raja Moosa had arrived at the palace.

Second visit to Sultan.

76. On landing Raja Moosa came to receive the Governor, and we all went up to the palace to the inner room.

Address of the Governor.

77. The Governor, while thanking the Sultan for the reception given to him, and expressing his pleasure at having made his acquaintance, said there was a subject which

219

must be discussed between them, however unpleasant it might be, namely, the piratical outrages which had lately been committed in his, the Sultan's, territory, and by person said to be his subjects; that, unfortunately, these outrages had of late become, not only more frequent, but also more daring, and included an attack on the lighthouse at Cape Rachado, intended for the assistance of vessels passing in the night; that if the attack had been so far successful as to have caused the light to disappear, even for one night, the consequences might have been most serious, and such as to call down on the Sultan the reprobation of the whole civilized world; that it must be apparent to him as ruler of the country that this state of affairs must cease, and it was clearly for his own interest that it should cease; as an example it was only necessary to look at the present state of this very river, which formerly used to be frequented by boats bringing riches to the country, and was now absolutely deserted by traders; that under these circumstances the Governor called on the Sultan to take every possible step for putting an end to piracy; and, at the same time, offered him such assistance as-might properly be given by British men-of-war for the purpose.

78. This address appeared to make a deep impression on all present, many of whom, doubtless, saw in it the foreshadowing of the end of their career as pirates.

79. The Sultan expressed himself ready to do anything in his power to put a stop to piracy; and called on his sons and Chiefs to listen to what had just been said, so that they should not in future plead ignorance.

80: After this the Governor, before leaving, entreated the Sultan, his sons and Chiefs, to be candid, and say anything which might be suggested to their minds by the foregoing remarks. No one responded; on which the Governor asked the Sultan's sons, by name, if they had anything to say, and then the Chiefs; but no one said anything. The Governor then said he boped soon to see the Sultan and his sons in Singapore. On this Raja Moosa entreated that he might be taken to Singapore by the Governor at once; the Governor said he was not prepared to do so then, but would, if possible, make arrangements soon for the purpose.

81. The party then proceeded to the boats, accompanied, with every appearance of respect, by the Sultan, his sons, and Chiefs, and returned on board the "Pluto."

Letter to the Sultan.

82. After leaving the Sultan on the evening of Tuesday the 10th February, a letter was sent to him thanking him for the assurance given as to the suppression of piracy; informing him that the Admiral would leave some of his vessels for the purpose of assisting in that desirable object; and requesting the Sultan to take steps for collecting the necessary witnesses for the trial of the prisoners, and to send them, with the members of the Court, down to the mouth of the Jugra River on Thursday morning.

Character of the Sultan, his Sons, and Tuanku Kudin.

83. There had now been an opportunity of seeing the Sultan, his three sons, Moosa, Yacoob, and Kahar, and his chiefs, and Tuanku Kudin.

84. The Sultan' had been described as a feeble, worn out opium smoker, who took no part in the affairs of the country; but it appeared now that he was an elderly looking gentleman, of fifty-five or sixty years of age, an opium-smoker, but not to excess, having his senses perfectly about him, and quite able to manage his affairs if he pleased; but, from indolence, he had got into the habit of not himself interfering, so long as he was left at peace to enjoy himself in his own way. A rather careless heathen philosopher, who showed his character in one of the conversations on the subject of piracy, when he said "Oh! those are the affairs of the boys (meaning his sons), I have nothing to do with them." That he is not indifferent to his own interest, is shown in the fact that he has hoarded up a large quantity of tin in his stockaded palace, said to be worth more than 100,000 dollars. It is said that he is perfectly cognizant of what is being done about him; but, from indolence, or aversion to exercise his authority over his sons, allows matters to go on as they do; and that, personally of a good disposition, if he were removed from his present residence (said to be the head-quarters of all the evil- disposed and idle characters in the country), where he is surrounded by bad influences, and were placed in a position of independence of these influences, he would be a good ruler.

85. His son Yacoob left an unfavourable impression on every one, as the type of a lawless cruel Chief, who would exercise power ruthlessly. He was vehemently suspected of being the leader of a gang of pirates established at his stockade at the

}