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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

Reference :-

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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2. It is requested the enclosures to Sir Charles Shadwell's letter, which are in original, may be returned as soon as convenient.

Sir,

I am, (Signed)

&c.

Inclosure 1 in No. 15.

VERNON LUSHINGTON.

"Iron Duke," at Hong Kong, December 23, 1874. I HAVE the honour to forward herewith for the information of the Lords Commis- sioners of the Admiralty, the accompanying letter from Captain Thomas E. Smith of the "Charybdis," giving an account of the proceedings of a combined naval and military force sent to Lukut River, by desire of his Excellency the Governor of the Straits Settlements, in order to rescue Mr. Pickering, a Government officer, who, with his small force of Police, was surrounded by hostile Malays under the control of Rajah Mahmood.

2. The objects of the expedition appear to have been successfully obtained, but we have to deplore the loss of Robert Chambers Captain of the main top of the "Charybdis," who was mortally wounded in the back by a chance shot and has since died.

3. I have expressed to Captain Smith my approval of his proceeding, and I desire to call their Lordship's attention to the commendatory terms in which Captain Smith reports the good conduct of the officers and men forming the force, and to the high opinion he entertains of the valuable services of Lieutenant J. G. Jones, first of the " Charybdis," which I trust may be noted in that officer's favour.

I have, &c.

The Secretary of the Admiralty.

Sir,

(Signed) CHARLES SHADWELL, Vice-Admiral.

Inclosure 2 in No. 15.

C

Charybdis," off Lukut River, November 26, 1874.

I HAVE the honour to report that almost immediately after the departure of the mail from Singapore on Monday the 23rd ultimo, I received a requisition from his Excellency the Governor for the services of both this ship and the "Hart" to convey himself and suite, as well as troops from the Royal Artillery and 10th Regiment, to the Lukut River, that being the nearest place to that part of the Sungie Ujong territory where disturbances had broken out, and where, by the last reports, a Government official (Mr. Pickering) and a party of police were surrounded by hostile natives, headed by a a warlike Rajah named Mahmood.

2. I should here explain that I had been misinformed when I reported to you in my last letter that this Chief, Mahmood, together with another named Mahdie, had surrendered to his Excellency the Governor, and were then in Singapore. The notorious Mahdie and a young Chief called Mahmood are certainly there, and I have both seen and conversed with them, but how the latter ever came to be mistaken for the man who is mixed

up

in the present trouble is more than I can conjecture. This is the Chief who fought against the " Rinaldo" at Salangore, and is considered the fighting Chief of this part of the country.

3. The causes of the present hostilities arise from the action taken by the Colonial Government after the destruction of the stockade on the Sungie River. The Chief then placed by the Government in command at Sungie Ujong bas never really been able to cause his power to be generally acknowledged, and, for some time past, he and the next Chief in rank have been on very unfriendly terms. Mr. Pickering (Chinese Interpreter and Government official) was sent by his Excellency with a guard of Police to endeavour to arrange matters amicably, but failing in this, he appears to have accompanied the Government Chief (the Datu Klana of Sungie Ujong) on an expedition against the rebel Chief (the "Bandar" of same territory) for the purpose of chastising him and bringing him to subjection by force of arms. They started with a force of some 500 men, armed with breech-loaders, and accompanied by a Krupp breech-loading field piece. After entering the enemy's territory, and having had a few skirmishes, they were suddenly encountered by the Chief Mahmood (now in the employ of the "Bandar") with about 150 men, before whom the whole force of the Datu Klana's men dispersed and fled. In vain did Mr. Pickering with his Police and a few Arabs try to allay their panic and arrest their flight. The Datu Klana had no power over them, and he, with Mr. Pickering and party, had to retire to his stockaded fort, leaving the Krupp gun in the hands of the

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enemy. It was from this fort that Mr. Pickering sent his last note, saying he was surrounded and in danger, and for this reason, as well as to support the Government authority, the force in question was dispatched from Singapore.

4. Having made such arrangements as the time would admit of, I embarked, during the forenoon of the next day (the 24th ultimo), the troops chosen for the expedition. These were fifty-five officers and men of the 10th Regiment, and twenty-two officers and men of the Royal Artillery, together with an officer and two men of Control Department. Captain Dunlop, R.A. (Superintendent of Police), with a force of fifty constables, started at the same time in the small steam tug the "Pilot Fish," the Colonial steamer " Pluto” being under repair, and there being no other steamer available at the time.

Having embarked his Excellency the Governor and staff, at 3 P.M. we proceeded, accom- panied by "Hart" (the latter towing the newly-arrived steamer pinnace, and ourselves a Government steam launch), up the Straits, Malacca being the rendezvous. Arrived there at 10 A.M. next day, and his Excellency having communicated with the Lieutenant-Governor, we anchored off that place until the evening, when, taking in tow four roomy native sailing boats, we proceeded at 9:30 en route for the entrance of the Lukut River. of two officers and twenty-eight men of the 10th Regiment had left this place two days A force previously to the relief of Mr. Pickering and party, Captain Dunlop and the police in "Pilot Fish," and accompanied by Government steam launch, had proceeded earlier in order to have everything in readiness for disembarking at Lakut. Arrived off the river at 7:30 A.M. of the 26th, and anchored outside the shoals in twelve fathoms water, about four miles off shore. Meanwhile, a Naval Brigade of forty-five seamen and twenty-two marines, under the command of the Senior Lieutenants, and accompanied by Acting Lieutenant Brooke; Lieutenant Montgomery, R.M.L.I.; Mr. Bailey, Gunner; Mr. Mac- donald, Midshipman; with Dr. Gibson, Surgeon in medical charge, had been got ready for landing, equipped according to the instructions, and carrying with them a rocket tube. The Royal Artillery had also utilized the 7-pounder steel gun sent out for use of steam pinnace, and had constructed a temporary carriage on wheels to make it act as a mountain gun. At about 10 A.M., his Excellency proceeded to Langut in "Hart" for the purpose of warning the Sultan of Salangore against giving assistance to the insurgent forces.

Everything being in readiness the troops and stores were, with five days' provisions, placed in the Malacca shore boats and taken in tow by steam pinnace, and the Naval Brigade placed in ship's launch and towed by steam cutter. the force having proceeded up the river within half a mile of the Rajah of Lakut's house, I accompanied the latter, and and about seven miles from ship, proceeded to land, which was accomplished without much difficulty, but very slowly as, it being dead low water, only one boat at a time could lay alongside the rude contrivance serving as a jetty. Owing to the want of coolies, and the general apathy of the resident Malays, it was found impossible to proceed that day, and it was getting late in the afternoon before men, stores, provisions, &c., had been collected and settled in the Rajah's house and premises. Captain Dunlop, R.A., having been appointed by his Excellency the Government Commissioner in civil charge of the force, had been, and still was, making strenuous exertions to procure coolies as bearers, but had not been able to furnish more than fifty or thereabouts, many of whom were pressed into the service; some of these, of necessity, had to carry heavy weights. The force having been told off for the line of march, and accompanied by coolies and police, &c., got fairly under way by 5:30 A.M. on the 27th, from which date they have been absent from this ship, engaged on the duties for which they were landed. It being considered advisable to have a guard in Lakut, I ordered Lieutenant Montgomery with a corporal and ten marines to remain behind in charge of stores and provisions, &c., and also to see that the necessary communications were kept up as required, which has been done by requisitioning the coolies from the Rajah (Botte) and dispatching them to the front with a guard of police. From time to time provisions have been forwarded in this manner, and, on one occasion, I sent a fresh suit of serge and flannel to the naval brigade, the soldiers having been provided with great coats and blankets. From the 27th, therefore, I must beg to report informa.' tion as it occurred on the spot, and as it arrived from head quarters.

November 27.-Weather mild and cloudy. Heard to-day of the arrival of Malacca force and the safety of Mr. Pickering. The son of the Bundar of Sungie Ujong came on board and had an interview with his Excellency, imploring terms of peace for his father, &c. His Excellency gave him a letter to Captain Dunlop, with a safe conduct to British forces.

November 28.-Same weather, with mist and showers. Landed with his Excellency and walked about three miles inland in direction taken by troops. Found route rough walking, but not so bad as had been described. During the afternoon heard volley firing in the interior, and an occasional flight of rocket. Returned to ship at 8 P.M.