CO882-(2-3) — Page 485

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

TITLE CO. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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that large and beautiful country which you see on the map,-which was then given as containing 60,000 people, I am assured, on the most reliable authority, that in the whole of that State there are not 10,000 Malays. In Perak, the population of which is given by Colonel Cavenagh as, I think, 50,000 (Newbold gives it as 35,000), I do not believe that there are now more than 25,000, if so many. Upper Perak, I am aware, is more thickly populated than the rest of the country, but I happened to see a very intelligent Malay man, collector of revenue in Perak, who had got a native tracing of the Perak river, and Major MacNair and I gathered from the number of villages shown upon that-the only portion thickly populated-that the number I have given is as many as are there. But still, taking the number of the population as given by Colonel Cavenagh in 1861— though it is well known they have since decreased-the total number was 151,500 natives, or 7 people to one square mile of the whole territory. Now, coming to our own territory, not counting the Chinese or others, but only the Malay part, we find that, our territory of Singapore, Penang, Province Wellesley, and Malacca, (of course excluding the recently acquired territory) comprises 1,225 square miles, and in that there is a population of 147,000 Malays alone, or, in other words, that whilst in their own territory there are only 7 souls, including Malays, to the square mile, in our own there are 250 inhabitants to every square mile of territory, and of them 120 are Malays. That, I think, to any practical man, proves that our rule is not distasteful to the Malays. In cultivation, again, whilst the area of the native States is 21,551 square miles, and the whole area of our own territory is 784,167 acres, or 1,225 square miles,--the total extent of cultivated lands in the native States forms only oth of the whole country, whilst it is more than a third in our own. That shows the effect that anything like decent Government will have in developing a country's wealth.

I had intended to allude to the various Treaties, but they are, in general terms, as you know, of such a nature that the action that we have already taken is quite in accord- anee with, and in no way in violation of, the obligations which we have entered into with these different native States; and I have also guarded myself against any other than the obligations that are due from us as a civilized power in our presence here, and I wish to inform you that in acting thus, I have accepted no binding Treaty with any of these

if people in the arrangements I have made;-you can accept or refuse your countenance dis- and authority to what I have done, and at the same time I leave behind me,

of approve my action, no obligations, no entanglements, on complications, other than this, that if you do retire from the position, there will be a regret that you have done so, and a remembrance that what we have done has been a benefit and an advantage to the native States, which, if followed up, would no doubt have had the effect of placing these Btates in the high position they are from their great wealth and resources entitled to hold in the comity of nations.

you

Another question bears upon this, which is interesting, as it is touched upon in asking you for your authority,-what is the financial effect of our aiding these countries and assisting to improve them? I received this afternoon a reliable statement from a district which has undergone a great deal of disturbance lately, yet still within the last five months, with only 5,000 miners at work in the district, Klang has been able to pay 10 its local authorities 10,000 dollars a month. This shows that there is every reason to Lelieve that, in accepting any further responsibility, or making any payments or advances to open up these countries, or assist by sending officers there, you are undertaking no financial liability that is in any way to be feared; but, on the contrary, as a matter of duty, there, is nothing to be feared, and, as a mere matter of speculation, there is everything to be hoped from it.

I think I have quoted enough, but there is a despatch, which some of you may remember, with reference to the difficulties at Pahang, modifying to a certain extent the instructions which had been given by the Government of India, although, as far as I understand, it repudiated in that special case the direct interference of this Government. 8r Charles Wood, writing to the Supreme Government of India, says, speaking of the action of Colonel Cavenagh—

"In this case, it is not to be doubted that, recognized by the British Government a- Bandahara, Inchi Wan Ahmed would readily consent to submit bis differences with the Tumongong to British arbitration. He might be told that, whilst our authorities will give no encouragement to his enemies to molest him, they would render him responsible for any violation of the peace and any obstruction of the commerce of the Peninsula. On the other hand, it might be pointed out to the Tamongong of Johore that the British Government cannot allow him, whilst resident at Singapore, and in receipt of a stipend from the British Treasury, to carry on aggressive projects against a neighbouring State, and to disturb the tranquillity of the country. By an impartial

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meditation of this character, Her Majesty's Government have reason to hope that the Governor of the Straits Settlements, under your Excellency's instructions, might settle these long pending disputes, and place the relations of the several Chiefs on such a footing as might afford some security for the permanent maintenance of peace Majesty's Government, however, are not forgetful that circumstances may have arisen, before the receipt of this despatch, to render instructions issued at so great a distance from the scene, inapplicable to the state of affairs actually before you. They do not desire, therefore, to fetter, by any more precise instructions, the action of your Excellency's Government, but to indicate generally the course of policy which, as far as they can judge from the information before them, appears to be best calculated to secure the tranquillity of the Peninsula, and to promote the interests of all classes of its inhabitants."

I give these extracts merely to impress upon you, gentlemen, at the present moment, the difficulty that I have had in finding anything to guide me in this matter, and also with regard to the policy of what has been done in the mother-country; so that whatever advice you give me here will have a very important and powerful bearing, in that, for the first time in the history of this now, I think, growingly important part of the British dominions, you will be able to determine upon that policy which should in the future guide and influence us in all our relations to this particular question.

I may mention here that, in regard to the immediate approval of what I have done, I have received a despatch from Lord Carnarvon, and although I had received a semi- official letter perhaps a little more decided in tone, yet still there is quite sufficient to justify me in the course that I have taken, and to show that hitherto I have received the support of the Imperial Government. You are aware of what has taken place in the Imperial Parliament, and there is sufficient evidence there that what has been done by this Government during this year has obtained the support and approval of Parliament itself. His Lordship says--

“I think it desirable that I should no longer delay referring to those despatches, so far as to make known to you the view I at present take of the measures which you have adopted for the pacification of the country, and the repression of piracy.

"It is with satisfaction that I learnt from your despatches that the heade of the different factions of the Chinese at Perak and Larut, and more especially at the latter place, should have submitted to your arbitration their respective claims and disputes in reference to the tin mines at Larut, and all the more so that, on your signifying your assent, they at once agreed to surrender their row-boats and to remove their stockades, I have no doubt their readiness to do this has resulted from a feeling on their part that they could safely rely on your impartiality, and I am glad to express my approval of your course of action as far as it has come before me. I shall hope shortly to hear that the report of the Commission which you appointed has brought about a final and satis- factory settlement of these rival claims for the acceptance of both parties."

The Commission here referred to was that of Captain Dunlop, Mr. Swettenham, and Mr. Pickering, to settle the mines. The Commission has given a Report, and their decision has been adopted by both sides as finally settling the difference about boundaries and claims in resettling the mines. His Lordship goes on to say-

"I ought not to conclude without briefly, adverting to the important engagement into which you entered with the Chiefs of Perak, to the provisions of which you call further attention in your despatch of the 24th February; and though I do not now propose to consider in detail its several provisions, or to express on it more than a general approval, I will not delay the assurance that Her Majesty's Government appreciate the ability and energy which you have shown in dealing with affairs ao complicated and difficult.

"I need not, however, remind you that, though these difficulties are for the present happily disposed of, great prudence and watchfulness, and tact, will still be needed to prevent their revival, possibly even in an aggravated form. I will only add that it was with great satisfaction that I leant the success that attended the mission which you sent to Larut, by means of which many women who had been captured and held in slavery had been rescued and taken to Penang."

I should here allude to this (as it has been called) Treaty; but it is in reality not an obligation which we have entered into. If any one will read it, he will see that it is a voluntary arrangement on the part of the Chiefs. We have given our assistance in bringing them together, and enabling them to understand and discuss the subject, but there is no

obligation whatever on our part. It is a voluntary arrangement entered into by them, and which I hope to support; but still, if it had been necessary for the Imperial Government to decline any further interference, you would retire with honour, not having

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