CO882-(2-3) — Page 506

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

TREETC.O. 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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and to invite the Chiefs to come to Singapore. Letters were accordingly sent to the Datu Klana of Sungie Ujong, to the Datu Perba and Hajee Mustapha of Rumbowe, to the Datu Bandar of Sungie Ujong, and to the Datu Muda of Lingie, inviting them to come to Singa- pore with some of their Chiefs; and, if they could not come themselves, that they should send confidential agents, well acquainted with their affairs, in order that Government should be fully informed in the matter.

The Datu Klana came at once with the Datu Muda of Lingie, but the Datu Perba, Hajee Mustapha, and Shahbandar sent agents, and from these agents information was obtained which put matters in a somewhat clearer light.

Attempt of Malacca traders to settle matters. It appears that, about this time, the good effect of what had been done in the way of restoring peace at Perak and Salangore had begun to make itself felt, for the traders of Malacca had been enabled to bring together the Datu Klana, the Datu Perba, and the Datu Muda of Lingie, and had induced them to agree to certain terms for a pacification, and for regulating the collection and distribution of the revenue on the river, an agreement to carry out which arrangement was brought to the Lieutenant-Governor on the 19th March. When, however, the agreement was examined it appeared to be based on false principles, and was of such a character as not to give much hope of being of permanent use.

The parties then separated; the Klana and Datu Muda came on to Singapore, and the other Chiefs returned home,

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Fresh stoppage of trade at Bukit Tiga.-While the Datu Klana and the envoys of the other Chiefs were still in Singapore, news arrived from Malacca, on the 14th April, that the Rumbowe men had again stopped the trade on the river at Bukit Tiga, notwithstanding the arrangement entered into, and partly completed, at Malacca on the 19th March.

The Klana wrote in at once, 15th April, setting out the facts of the case, and asking for the intervention of Government; and especially that the boundaries between Sungie Ujong and Rumbowe, on the one side, and Salangore, on the other, should be settled, so that there might be no further dispute about the river, and finally asking to have his arms given up.

Letter to Datu Perba.-This conduct on the part of the Rumbowe people brought matters to a crisis. A letter was sent, 23rd April, to the Datu Perba, informing him of the facts reported, especially the breach of faith in recommencing disturbances in the middle of negotiations, through Government, for the settlement of all difficulties between Sungie Ujong and Rumbowe; and requiring the river to be forthwith cleared of all bad characters, who were bringing disgrace on Rumbowe; and hoping soon to hear that Datu Perba had had nothing to do with the matter.

Negotiations with the Datu Klana.--While waiting for an answer to this letter, nego- tiations were continned with the Datu Klana, who expressed readiness to do what was right, and to accept any arrangement the Government might think reasonable, and likely to put a stop to the confusion and anarchy then existing on the river.

Engagement signed at Singapore.--The Klana had before this made several applica- tions to have his arms ordered from Europe, and which had arrived two years before, given up to him, to enable him to protect his own country, which was constantly threatened by the fighting men of Rumbowe. He was now able to satisfy the Governor of his peaceful designs, and that he really intended the arms only in defence. An arrangement was entered into, at Government House, on the 21st April, 1874, by which the arms were given up to him, on his entering into an obligation in the sum of 50,000 dollars, conditioned to carry on the government of the country with justice, to offer protection to traders, to keep the river free for trade, except as to the legitimate taxes to be levied by the Chiefs, to give up offenders, not to allow expeditions to be got up against Government or its friends, to give early information to Government, and to place the river, from Sempang as far as Permatang Passir, under the control of Government. This engagement was signed by the Datu Klana and Datu Muda.

Visit of the Governor to Lingie.-After the engagement was executed, it was arranged that the Governor should himself visit the Lingie, where the Chiefs should be assembled: and if it proved that there were free-booters established at Bukit Tiga, and that they were not acting under the orders of the legitimate Chiefs of Rumbowe, that they should be expelled.

Letters were at once sent to the Datu Perba, Hajce Mustapha, and the Chiefs of the Sungie Ujong, to meet the Governor on the morning of the 2nd May at Sempang.

The Governor left Singapore in Her Majesty's ship "Charybdis," on the afternoon of Thursday, the 30th April, having arranged to meet Her Majesty's ship "Avon," and the local steamer "Pluto," at Malacca the next day; and being accompanied by Mr. Braddell, the Attorney-General, and Lieutenant Brackenbury, R.E., A.D.C.

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Friday, 1st May.-On arriving at Malacca on the morning of Friday the 1st May, it was found that the Lieutenant-Governor had received further disquieting news from the Lingie; and not knowing that the Governor was coming, had gone to Singapore. At Malacca Her Majesty's ship "Avon" was found, and a letter was received from Datu Perba, excusing his attendance on the ground of sickness. A reply was at once sent off overland, urging the attendance of Datu Perba, whose sickness was alleged to be feigned, and informing him that the Governor would be at Sempang on Saturday the 2nd May.

Saturday, 2nd Mag.-On Saturday, 2nd May, Her Majesty's ship "Charybdis," accompanied by the "Avon," left Malacca for the Liagie, where they arrived the same afternoon, and anchored off the bar. The "Pluto" had arrived from Singapore with Captain Shaw, who was left to come on in her to Lingie the same night.

Sunday, 3rd May.—The next day, Sunday, 3rd May, the ships lay off the river, wait- ing for an answer from Datu Perba, which arrived in the afternoon, to the effect that be was extremely anxious to meet the Governor, but was unable to move from sickness; that he was carefully following the terms of the arrangement made at Malacca with the Datu Klana; that he had received information that Panglima Prang Seedin, of Tamoosai, and Panglima Prang Jambie of Kampur, and Laxamana Ramp, one of Hajee Mustapha's men, were all living with a person of the name of Inche Karrie, a son of the Datu Bandar, and were the people who were levying black-mail, and stopping the trade on the river.

Attack on Police Messengers-At the same time a report came in that a party of Malacca police, in their uniform, sent up the river to take a letter to the Datu Bandar, had been attacked and robbed at a stockade at Bukit Ibool, above Permatang Passir; an occur. rence almost without precedent, as our police officers have been in the habit of going as messengers all over the Peninsula, in the most perfect security.

Monday, 4th May. Monday morning, the 4th May, the "Pluto" and "Avon" steamed over the bar, towing the boats of the "Charybdis" and "Avon," manned and armed, and got safely up to Sempang, where the Datu Klana was found in his boat.

Destruction of Bukit Tiga.-The Datu Klana came on board, and had a conference with the Goveruor, in which he urged that the stockades at Bukit Tiga should be destroyed; the Datu Perba had already repudiated the men occupying these stockades; and, as the Datu Klana claimed title to the locality, and desired to have them destroyed, the same day, at 1 r.., the boats, towed by steam-launches, and convoying the Datu Klana's boats, with his arms and ammunition on board, went up the river, and arrived at Buka Tiga at 4 P.M. The party landed, and found the place deserted, on which it was burned, and the stockades broken down. A box containing a number of letters from different people was discovered in the stockade, some of which letters, from the Datu Perba, showed that he was aware of what was going on, and, in fact, issued orders to the people in charge of the place.

Tuesday, 5th May. The boats returned at dark; and next morning the "

"Pluto," which had steamed half-way up to Bukit Tiga from Sempang, returned to her anchorage at Sempang, and the armed boats were sent back to their ships.

Tuesday, 5th May, further letters were sent to Datu Perba.

Wednesday, 6th May. Trade Re-opened.-Wednesday, 6th May, at 9 A.M., seven cargo boats, with tin to the value of 50,000 dollars, passed down the river for Malacca. The people on board expressed great satisfaction at the result of the proceedings on Monday, which had freed the river, as they hoped forever, from obstruction.

The headmen of these boats were brought on board the "Pluto," separately; and, on examination, they were unanimous in their account of the oppression and forced exactions at Bukit Tiga. At midnight an answer arrived from Datu Perba, stating as before, that he was unwell, and unable to attend. The messengers who took the letter, said that they had not been allowed to go to the house of the Datu; that there was a great crowd of people there, and that it was generally believed that the Datu was not unwell, and wished to come to see the Governor, but was prevented by the influence of his headmen. The messengers also reported a great difference in the manner of their reception at Banda, the Datu's residence, before and after the destruction of the stockades at Bukit Tiga, they having been received with much more civility after than before that event.

Thursday, 7th May. Return to Singapore.-On Thursday, the 7th May, the " Pluto” steamed out of the river; and the Governor having, with his party, re-embarked on Her Majesty's ship "Charybdis," returned to Malacca, and next morning roached Singapore.

Letter from Datu Perba.--After leaving the river, a letter was received from Datu Perba, to the effect that, being too unwell to come himself, be had sent some of his head- men, who found on arriving at Lubu China that the Governor had gone, on which they returned home. As it was very desirable that the Governor should see the Datu Perba, fresh letters were sent, inviting him to come to Singapore.