CO882-(2-3) — Page 489

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

TREET

kubibutilu

Reference:

C.O.

882

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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with such signal success; for hardly had the Governor returned to Singapore from Perak when his attention was called to matters at Salangor, where piracy of a different character had long been rife, and where, latterly, the pirates had been so daring as to have terrified peaceful traders, and had not hesitated to attack the light-house at Cape Rachado.

The Salangor pirates have long been famed as more daring and bloodthirsty than those of any of the pure Malay States. The Royal Family is of Burghis descent, and the Chiefs and even members of the Royal Family have connected themselves with piratical pursuits so far, at least, as to give leaders to the expeditions and to share in the booty. The coast, moreover, is singularly well adapted for piracy, with so many rivers falling into the sea near the Kallam Straits, through which smaller trading vessels pass, to escape the rough sea round by the North Sands.

Shortly after his Excellency arrived here, such a case of piracy took place that it was impossible for this Government to decline to interfere, and the interference was so effectual that from that day to this no more piracy has been heard of. At the same time his Excellency took the opportunity of going up the country and sceing the Sultan and his sons. It is unnecessary just now to trouble you much with the internal politics of Salangor; there is a difficulty there, but it is hoped that it will be got over, and that Salangor can be put in as firm a position as regards its Government, as Perak is now. At present, as may be gathered from the Sultan's letter read by his Excellency, matters are going on in a satisfactory way.

The next to be dealt with is the collection of small States round Malacca, which are peculiar in their Government and people, being all governed by Pangulus, and some of them turbulent. Two of these are joined together, Sungie Ujong and Rambow, on our Malacca frontier. Sungie Ujong is a very prosperous tin-mining district. There is a river there which serves the Sungie Ujong tin mines, and, in its lower course, passes by Rambow. The Chiefs of Rambow, who have always had a filibustering character, contend that, as the river passes their territory, they have a right to impose a duty on the trade passing up and down. This has been going on for years, and disputes frequently arise on account of the tin being stopped on this river. The Chiefs have put up stockades, and have claimed duty on account of their position on the river. Several times our Government has been called upon to interfere from complaints by the merchants of Malacca, and very frequently by the Chamber of Commerce of this Settle- ment, and in all cases it has turned out that the difficulties to the trade have been from men putting stockades on this river and demanding duty without authority. In 1855, about the time of Mr. Beadon's letter, from which his Excellency has read extracts, matters were at such a crisis that the Governor of that day, Mr. Blundell, wrote for instructions, and you heard the instructions just now read. On the receipt of that letter a proclamation was made through the native States, and for a short time it had effect, but in 1857 a number of Chiefs again set up their stockades on this river, and Colonel Macpherson, then Resident Councillor at Malacca, went up with Her Majesty's ship "Amethyst," Captain Grenfell, and broke them down. That is the only instance, that am aware of, when a man-of-war was called upon to interfere on that river, but it was done then, and with such good effect that for a year or two the exactions ceased. They soon, however, began again, and from year to year matters have gone on in this way. A short time before his Excellency arrived two of the Chiefs had been called to meet the late Governor, and being old men, by a curious coincidence, both of them died shortly after their return home. A dispute then arose as to the succession. In one State Sungie Ujong, a nephew of the late Pangulu, succeeded at once; but in Rambow there were two claimants, Haji Sahil and Haji Mustapha, and they fought for a long time, till Haji Sahil, whose claim appears to be the stronger one, succeeded in driving Haji Mustapha out of the country. A complication arose in the affairs of these States, arising out of Tunku dia Oodin's interests at Klang. He accused Sungie Ujong Chiefs of joining against his friends to attack him at Klang. This was denied, but there is no doubt that the Datu Banda, nominally under the orders of the Datu Klana, but really independent, did give refuge to the Tunku's enemies, but it has always been denied that he gave any active assistance. This complicated affairs very much in Sungie Ujong › the tin trade was again stopped, and Tunku dia Oodin's allies, the Rambow nien, put uj stockades which remained till his Excellency went up there in May last, and they were pulled down. That was the first interference in the Lingie, and it has been followed up in this river-a most important one from its nearness to Malacca-with the same effect as elsewhere; there has been perfect peace since the interference.

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The next Slate to which our attention is directed is Pahang, on the East coast, one of the provinces of the ancient Malayan Empire, first of Singapore, then of Malacca, and finally of Johore. You are doubtless aware that in 1862 a Treaty was entered into,

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under the sanction of this Government, between the Bandahara of Pehang and the Tumongong of Johore, by which, among other things, the boundary was settled between the two States, which Settlement was affected by an award given in 1869 by the late Governor It is satisfactory to learn that the Chief of Pahang, no doubt having heard of the advantages derived by his neighbours from the intervention of this Government, has presented his claim for similar aid. I have no doubt that means will be found to assist Pahang, which appears now to be in a state requiring attention, as trade has decreased and the country is fast becoming depopulated. It is certainly unfortunate that, just at the time when the Bandahara is asking for assistance, reports should have reached Government of serious outrages committed by his people in the same river, Indau, as to which so much difficulty has always existed, and I trust, in the intervention proposed by his Excellency, means will be found for finally settling all difficulties, and establishing not only outward peace, but real amity and friendship between the rulers of the two countries.

Now, the effect of the interference of this Government in the native States is quite apparent to all of you who are engaged in commercial pursuits. I know myself that for many years it has been suggested that the trade of Singapore, being an entrepôt trade, was likely to decrease, and was decreasing, and that therefore it behoved Singapore merchants to look out for other sources of trade. No doubt, when you consider the enormous wealth, both agricultural and mineral, of the States in our immediate neigh- bourhood, and when you consider what a grand field there is for enterprise in the invest- ment of capital and the employment of our countrymen in those places, there is a fine field for you, and the only thing necessary is protection to life and property. The first thing to secure is, that the Chiefs of those countries should have some assistance to secure them in their several positions. It is only necessary to consider the position of Johore, and Quedah, at the two extremities of the territories of which we are now speaking. At Johore we have the Maharajah, whose constant association and connection with this Government has placed him in a position better, morally and intellectually, than the other Chiefs, and also put him in such a position that he has no fear of his authority being attacked. He has the authority which the protection of the British Government gives him. At the other end the Rajah of Quedah has the protection which the Siamese authority gives him, and in this case also there is no fear. In no other State is that the case. There is no State where the authority is not divided, and the minor Chiefs assume independent jurisdiction, and there is constant confict going on, and to such an extent that there is no security for life or property, and no encourage- ment to capital or industry. The first thing, therefore, in assisting these native Rajahs is to give them a Resident. The very fact of the British flag flying, and a Resident being placed there, will of itself give stability to the Government of the State, and give that protection to life and property which is the first thing to induce people to enter. That is the policy which I understand his Excellency is going to follow, that, first of all, Residents will be appointed, and then property and population will follow. Consider the immense mineral wealth of the Peninsula; consider the gold in the neighbourhood of Mount Ophir, in Pahang, and other districts; the tin deposits scattered throughout the Peninsula, and the plains of extraordinary fertility. Let any one who has gone up those rivers think of the deep vegetable mould, capable of any cultivation in the tropics, and consider, when there is protection for life and property in those territories, the enormous amount of wealth which may be brought from them, and which must pass through these Settlements. And to think that those territories are now occupied by a population of only seven to the square mile! In order to see what may be effected, look at the advance in our own Settlements, and the enormous advance in Johore, though that State is not so rich naturally as other countries further north. Some of them are much richer in agricultural and mineral wealth, and the progress in them is quite capable, under a stable Government, of being carried beyond even that of Johore, because, so far as my limited knowledge goes, there is not one of them which is not wealthier in agricultural capabilities and in minerals than Johore.

Another thing which I must remark is this, that even if it should appear that some of the Chiefs are not satisfied, of which there is but little satisfactory evidence, as I understand his Excellency's policy is intended to provide a suitable employment for all, so that the nobles who now gain a precarious livelihood by irregular courses will be brought within the pale and be led to turn to peaceful and honourable pursuits; if, then, there were even some of the nobles not satisfied with the turn things are taking, in depriving them of the means of preying on the poorer classes, consider the enormous benefit to the cultivators, the people themselves, of the policy of this Government. I ask you again to believe what has been reported to us, that they look forward to the new

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