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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :--

TPERC.O. 882

3

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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having again explained the terms of agreement, I named 8 A.M. on the morrow as the time He asked at which hostilities would be renewed, unless my terms were complied with. me to await his return, and I said I would remain twenty minutes. He returned within that time, and said that Datu Bandar had run away from Kapayang during the night, and he asked for longer time. This I refused, and he again went into the stockade. The war gong had been beaten all this time, and when Inche Karree left us, Mr. Pickering and myself followed him, concealing ourselves in the bushwood and jungle, and watched him enter the stockade. This we saw was full of men, and they were evidently expecting us to attack them. We returned to Ampanyan clearing the path of all the obstructions we could.

November 30.-As Inche Karree did not appear at 8 A.M., according to appointment, we went with our full force to Kapayang. On arrival we found that the place bad been evacuated, and that the Chinese had commenced to carry away the large store of rice in the stockade. The occupants of the houses had evidently cleared out in a great hurry, as the large guns and lelas were still mounted in the kubus; furniture, clothing, &c., was in In the Datu Bandar's every house; and in some cases I saw food cooked and not eaten. house there were many old letters and papers scattered about. They were of no value or importance. I sent to the Datu Klana to know if he wished to occupy Kapayang, and if I so, to send men at once. I burnt the kubus, and on the return of my messenger. burnt all the houses, as he stated the Klana had no one whom he could trust to send. They were all afraid of the Bandar's vengeance. I was sorry to have to burn this place, but no other course was left open to me. The three or four large houses of which the campong consisted, were each so many stockades inside a large one, prepared for defence with kubus, ditch, palisading, &c.; and I knew that as soon as we had gone, should Mahmoud or the Bandar appear, the Klana's followers would run away and leave the place in their hands. I am surprised at Mohmood's evacuating this strong position. A few resolute men, such as he is said to have with him, could have inflicted very serious loss on us, and most of them could have escaped by the rear into the jungle long before we could have cut our way into the stockade. There was a deep ditch leading from the interior of the stockade to the jungle, and it was clear that the enemy had used this as a means of escape. My desire was now to follow up the Bandar, and, if posssible, seize him before he could get out of the country. Mahmood would hardly, I thought, leave the Bandar until he had got clear of danger. I accordingly returned to Ampanyan to try and obtain from the Chinese some information as to his whereabouts, and to seek amongst the Malays for guides on whom we could depend. I asked the officers in command to select only such sailors and soldiers as were strong and well fitted for jungle work to accompany us on this expedition. In the evening I had a long interview with the Klana. I explained to him what I intended doing and asked for his best assistance. promised to give, saying he would follow whatever advice I gave him, but that Mr. Picker- ing knew well how helpless he was to do anything, and that he could place no reliance on his own Chiefs. I then pointed out to him that the strength of his country lay in the 10,000 or 11,000 Chinese miners, and not in the 300 or 400 cowardly Malay followers he had, and that he had a splendid opportunity now of placing the whole of the Chinese in perfect subjection to himself. I pointed out how the Bandar, in refusing to accept terms and in fighting against his Sovereign, was a rebel, and that all who assisted him were rebels. That, as he knew well, two out of his three captains, China, had sided with the Bandar, and had given him (the Bandar) more than moral support in his recent operations. (I here showed him the Chinese document attached, which is an order of the head of the Macaos, Wong Hin, to any of his people to render prompt assistance at any time and in any way to the Bandar.) I advised him to send for these two men, and to tell them plainly they had by their conduct forfeited all claim for consideration, that the proper punishment for rebels was death and confiscation of property, and that all who aided and assisted in rebellion deserved the same fate. By thus working on their fears and holding ut hopes of safety only in complete submission, I showed him how I thought he could bring them round to his side. After some more conversation we parted, but shortly afterwards he brought to our quarters the two captains, China, I had been advising him about, Wong Hin and Ugoli Kim, and said that, as the Governor had sent me to assist him, he had made up his mind to put the management of everything into my hands, and that he had brought his captains, China, before me to tell them so in my presence. I then, through my Chinese interpreter, Marcus, explained to these men my commission from the Governor of Straits Settlements, and said that they themselves had heard their own Ruler, of his own free will, place the management of everything in my handa. I further said that I had evidence of their complicity in the Datu Bandar's rebellion, that I was certain their men had assisted in the escape of both the Bandar and Mahmood, and

This he at once

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that they must know well where they had gone. They, of course, denied all knowledge, so I at once made prisoners of them. I then sent for four of the most influential headmen of the Macaos (Wong Hin's party), and for four of Khehs (Ugoli Kim's). These I detained to assist ns in our search to-morrow, explaining clearly to them that unless I got every assistance, I should, in the Klana's name, inflict severe and summary punishment.

December 1.-After great trouble about 10 A.M. coolies were got to carry stores for the expedition selected to search after the Bandar and Mahmood, and the main body under Lieutenant Jones, R.N., marched by the direct road to Kapayang. With a small party of the 10th under Lieutenant Palmer, I proceeded to the same place via Rassa, as we had received information that the Bandar's tin had been concealed in or near a Chinese kongsee house on that road. Our guide deserted us whilst we were seeking coolies, and as the other Malays showed perfect indifference, Mr. Pickering suggested that our only course now was to get the, Klana, and to take him with us on our expedition. He also offered to go back and bring him and to join us at Kapayang. To this I agreed. On my way to Rassa I met one of the Klana's sons, who told me he knew where the Bandar's tin was concealed, and that it was near Kapayang. He led us to the kongsee house just above Kapayang on the Rassa road, and here I found a quantity of tin (180 slabs) with the Bandar's chop on it. It had evidently been lately buried, for it had marks of wet mud on it. I seized it and put in charge of the 10th Regiment. The Towkay acknowledged it was the Bandar's, and said it had been brought two days before by one of the Datu's headmen, and hidden in a deep drain, which he afterwards showed me close to the house. There were about forty Chinese coolies in the house, and spears and swords were laid out in readiness for use. The house was surrounded by a strong palisading, and when we first approached the door was shut. There was no opposition shown to us, but I felt convinced that any force of the Klana's unsupported by Europeans would have been resisted. After a considerable amount of trouble I forced the Chinese coolies in the house to carry the tin to Kapayang. During the time the tin was being removed the Klana and Mr. Pickering passed on their way to Kapayang. I arrived there shortly afterwards, and on inquiring for guides, found that the Klana had no one who knew more than himself, and he had only once been to Jec Jian and Seppang. This was most unsatisfactory, and as the day was far spent, and it was undesirable to bivouac for the night in an unknown jungle, I decided on returning to Ampanyan, and making fresh arrangements for a start on the morrow. I was greatly annoyed at the apathy of the Malays, and to show my opinion of it I ordered the followers of the Klana to carry to the bungalow the surplus tin, for which I had not coolies. What use these lazy fellows will ever be in the country I cannot see; they could only carry one slab, whereas every Chinaman had two. I should mention here that the adherents of the Bandar had burnt three good Malay houses, which I had reserved for the use of the troops, about a quarter-of-a-mile from Kapayang on the way to Battang Labu. I feel certain that a number of the Bandar's followers are amongst the crowd which keeps close to Klana, and I quite believe these houses were burnt by them on discovering that I intended occupying them. We reached Ampanyan a little after dark, and I had an interview with the Klana, in which I spoke very strongly about the treatment I had received. He expressed his regret, saying he could do nothing with his people. I then summoned the Datu Muda and the Datu Bandar Bahm (Panglima Besir), and directed him to instruct them and their followers to remain in personal attendance on me until I had scoured the jungle. This he willingly did, and these Chiefs promised to give me all the assistance in their power. I am convinced the Datu Bandar Babm is anxious to prevent me following up the old Bandar. He is, I understand, his son-in-law. After this I had the captains, China, brought before me, and I told Wong Hin and Ugoli Kim that I had that day received convincing proof that their men had helped the Bandar and Mahmood to escape, and that I had actually found the Bandar's tin in their possession. They promised to do whatever I wished, so I contented myself for the present with directing them to order their headmen to have 300 coolies, 100 from each captain at the bungalow at daylight on the morrow.

December 2-We started at 6 A.M. The coolies for the first time since my arrival were furnished as I had ordered. Lieutenant Jones, R.N.. with sailors, marines, and rocket party, went as an advance guard; Lieutenant Huntley, 10th Regiment, was in charge of main body, and Captain Tatham, with the gunners and their gun, brought up the rear. The coolies in charge of the police, were in rear of the main body. After reaching Kapayang it came on to rain, and rained heavily all day. The path was execrable, and got worse as we advanced. We reached Jec Jian, which lies about a quarter-of-a-mile to the right of the main path, about 2 r.., with the advanced guard, and found the place to consist of only two houses, in one of which were two Malays. We waited about half-an-hour, expecting every moment the arrival of the 10th, under Lieu-

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