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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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against Tuanku Kudin, and that he had heard that men of Rumbowe were fighting on both sides.

The Datu Klana's Arms, and the Steam-ship “Johore.”- On the 16th October, 1872, a letter was received from Mr. H. Velge, stating that arms, consisting of 2 brass field- pieces and 100 rifles, ordered from London for Syed Ahman, nephew of the Klana, by Kim Cheng and Co., were really intended for the defence of the country.

On the same day another letter was received from the Klana, fixing a meeting with the Governor, and earnestly asking to have the arms given up, as intended solely for the defence of his country.

Arrangements were at this time made for the Governor, Sir H. Ord, to meet the Datu Klana and Punghulu of Runibowe at Sempang on the 31st October. The officer who took the letters went to the Lingie in the steam-ship "Johore," and in his report says, "I am unable to state whether or no the Datu Klana will purchase the Johore ;* he seemed to think the price (25,000 dollars) too high, and his nephew, Syed Ahman, would try and get an abatement of the price in Singapore."

On the 18th October, Tuanku Kudin wrote to say that this steamer was intended to take away from Langat, for Rajah Mahdi and others, tin belonging to Tuanku Kudin, and asking the Governor to prevent the purchase

On the 15th November, the Datu Klana wrote that he had given strict orders to his people not to have anything to do with the disturbances in Klang, and stating that he had heard that arms and ammunition had been carried, hidden in rice, in boats up the Rumbowe branch of the river to Lubu China. He also begged to have the boundary line with Klang settled, as his place Rokoh was near the scene of disturbances.

On the 5th December, the Laxamana (the present Datu Klana) wrote congratulating Tuanku Kudin on victories he had had over his enemies.

Death of the Punghulu of Rumbowe and Datu Klana.-The Punghulu of Rumbowe was very old, and was obliged from feebleness to stop on his way down the river to meet the Governor in the end of October; and, while resting at Lubu China, news arrived that the Governor, after seeing the Datu Klana, had gone. On this, the Punghulu returned home to Bandar, and, a few days after, he died, while the Datu Klana, also very aged, died almost at the same time.

Claims of Hajee Mustapha.-On the 20th December, the Acting Lieutenant-Governor of Malacca wrote forwarding a letter from Hajee Mustapha, who claimed to be the right heir to the Punguluship of Rumbowe, and reporting a pumour of an intended attack by Rumbowe people on Lingie, where a fort had already been built by the Datu Muda of Lingie.

Stoppage of trade. This was followed by another letter dated the 29th December, reporting that 40 or 50 Malacca boats had been detained at Lingie by the Datu Muda, who made the crews assist in building the fort. The Acting Lieutenant-Governor further reported that the Rumbowe people had taken a fort at Bukit Tiga, where they were levying blackmail; and that the cause of the war was, that Sempang was held by Sungie Ujong, while the Rumbowe people claimed the place as part of Rumbowe, and, therefore, had attacked Sungie Ujong.

Proceedings in 1873.

Mr. Watts was sent up the river to inquire into the truth of these statements; and on the bat of January, 1873, reported that he had found above 500 men at Bukit Tiga fully armed; and although on his going up, Hajee Mahmat, called Masihr, who appeared to be a leader among them, told him boats were not prevented from passing; the same man, on his return from Permatang Passir, admitted that boats must pay, and if they did pay they might pass. They refused to allow Mr. Watts to land. Mr. Watts further reported that he had found a number of boats detained on account of the stockades, and that the boatmen worked willingly at the fort, being paid by the Datu Muda.

On the 30th December, Syed Ahman, wrote that at the last interview with the late Datu Klana, the Governor had expressed a wish that Sungie Ujong should give every assistance to Tuanku Kudin; that, in accordance with their promise then made, they had given every facility to Tuanku Kudin's people. He refers to an unsuccessful expedition, and says that, if the Governor wished them to take an active part in the Klang war, they ought to be helped with funds, as they had not the means of doing anything them- Belves. He then goes on to state that the Rumbowe people had erected a stockade near Lingie (Bukit Tiga), that rice was at famine prices, and, as they had to defend themselves against the Rumbowe people, he asked that the arms ordered from England might be

sent.

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Death of Datu Klana Sendang.-A letter, dated the 28th December, arrived after this informing Government of the death of the Datu Klana Sendang, on the 30th Ramzan 1289 (3rd December, 1872), and that the Laxamana, aided by the Datu Bandar, was carrying on the Government in the mean time. In referring to Rumbowe affairs the Luxamana states that, owing to the Punghulu of Rumbowe not attending the meeting arranged with the Governor, matters had not been settled with Rumbowe, and that the river was shut up by the Rumbowe people, and he had been obliged to occupy Pengalang Kumpas.

Interviews with Governor Sir H. Ord.-On the 10th of January, 1873, the four Sukus of Rumbowe and twelve Datus, in the fort at Bukit Tiga, wrote in answer to a letter asking them to fix a time and place for an interview with the Governor, in order to try and settle the disputes. They fixed Luba China, and stated that they wished for a settlement, adding that they were not stopping Malacca boats, and that it was not in any way possible that they could stop the boats of the Malacca traders.

There is no record among the papers of what occursed at the interviews between the Governor and the Chiefs in the Lingie on or about the 31st October, 1872, and in January 1873; but, from references in the letters, it appears that the Chiefs were advised to keep the peace, and they were urged to proceed with the election of new Chiefs in place of the deceased Klana of Sungie Ujong and Punghulu of Rambowe, in order that arrangements might be made for settling all differences between the two countries; and strict injunctions were given against making stockades and levying blackmail in the river.

On the 30th January the Laxamana wrote that, in accordance with the advice given

to him by the Governor when at Lingie, he had razed to the ground the fort he had made at Pengkalang Kumpas, although with great regret, as he feared the consequences.

Rumbowe, disputed Succession.-Several letters followed from Rumbowe by two parties, one on the side of Hajee Mustapha, and the other of Hajee Saheel, called Datu Perba, each contending that their own man was properly elected. It appears that three of the former Sokus adhered to Hajee Mustapha, and the fourth to Datu Perba, and that the younger and more turbulent men, on Datu Perba's side, had taken possession of Bukit Tiga, where Mr. Watts had found them in great force.

On the 4th February the Acting Lieutenant-Governor reported that the Laxamana had destroyed the fort at Pengkalang Kumpas, but kept a guard boat there; while the Rumbowe men contined to occupy Bukit Tiga, but did not interfere with the trade, and the Chiefs were at Bandar in Rumbowe engaged in electing a new Pungulu.

On the 24th February depositions were taken in Malacca of boatmen forcibly stopped and plundered at Bukit Tigi.

Election of new Datu Klana,On the 27th March the Laxamana wrote to the Lieu- tenant-Governor of Malacca, who had returned from Europe, informing him that he had been unanimously chosen as Datu Klana of Singie Ujong. In his letter the new Klana complains that, although orders had been given by the Governor that no duties were to be levied by the Rumbowe men at Bukit Tiga, they were levying on all the boats.

Contention as to Tuanka Kudin and the Datu Klana.-On the 5th April the Lieu- tenant-Governor sent in a letter from Tunku Kudin, asking to be allowed to attack Sungie Ujong, as some of his enemies were harboured there.

The Lieutenant-Governor combated this idea, and explained that Rajah Mahmood, whose sister is married to the Khanis son, was in Sungie Ujong, and that the real grievance was that the Chinese miners, who had been driven out of Klang, had come to work in Sungie Ujong, and Tuanku Kudin wished to drive them back. The Lieutenant- Governor added that, under the name of a blockade in the Lingie River, Tuanku Kudin was levying money on boats going up and down the river; and, although the Klana's sympathies might be on the side of Rajahs Mahdie and Mahmood, his position as a Resident at Malacca, and completely under the influence of Government, insured his neutrality. The letter ends by stating that Tuanku Kudin's war had already done great injury to Malacca, and, if allowed to extend to Sungie Ujong, the whole frontier, Rumbowe, Johole, Kru, and Moar, would be dragged into it, and that half of Rumbowe, under Data Perba, would join Tuanku Kudin, while the other half, under Hajee Mustapha, with Johole, Kru, and Moar would be on the Klana's side.

On this a correspondence ensued between the Lieutenant-Governor of Malacon and the Colonial Secretary, in which the interests of Tuanku Kudin were warmly espoused on one side, and combated on the other. The Lieutenant-Governor was well acquainted with the Klana, who was an habitual resident in Malacca, where he possesses considerable landed property, and was energetic in maintaining that the Klana was acting in good faith, and, from his circumstances and character, was to be relied upon to do what was proper.

On the other hand, it was alleged that the Sungie Ujong people had forfeited any

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