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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O. 882

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

3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

94

No. 82.

GOVERNOR SIB W. T. D. JERVOIS, K.C.M.G., C.B., to the EARL OF

CARNARVON.

(Received December 18, 1875.)

(No. 327.) MY LORD,

Is my Despatch, No. 306, dated the 4th instant,* and telegram of the sanie date, I -informed your Lordship of the murder of Mr. J. W. W. Birch, the British Resideot, in Perak, at the place of the Maharajah Lela, called Passir Sala, on the Perak River, some six miles above the Residency at Bandar Bahru.

Government House, Singapore, November 16, 1875.

In my telegram of the 12th instant,† sent just after my return from a visit to Perak, I briefly mentioned the particulars of the outrage. It may be desirable, however, that I should now give your Lordship a consecutive statement of the circumstances connected with this said event.

2. Towards the end of October Mr. Birch visited the several campongs on the Perak River below Bandar Bahru, and the proclamation which accompanied my Despatch to your Lordship, No. 291, of the 16th October last,‡ were posted without the least opposi- tion on the part of chiefs or people.

Mr. Birch found every thing going on so smoothly that he telegraphed to me on the 1st November as follows:-

"All quiet. Proclamations issued in Perak. Laxamana and Shahbandar have written to you and accept offices. Troops not required. Sailors return in Pluto,” ”

After delivering this telegrain to Commander Welner of the "Pluto," steamer, he proceeded up the Perak River on the evening of November 1st to Passir Sala, accom. panied by Sub-Lieutenant Abbott, R.N., and a guard of 10 sepoys. The party occupied

three boats.

I am told that that evening he saw the Maharajah Lela, who shook hands with him, and he and Sub-Lieutenant Abbott, dined and slept on board the Resident's boat with a feeling of perfect security.

3. The next morning, November 2nd, Sub-Lieutenant Abbott, with one attendant, went out shooting in the jungle at Campong Gaja on the opposite side of the river to Passir Sala, and Mr. Birch sent his interpreter, a Malay named Arshad (a man from Province Wellesley), to post the proclamations.

On being posted they were torn down, and Arshad struck with a stick one of the Malays who had been concerned in the proceeding.

On being struck the Malay at once stabbed Arshad with a kriss, the blood of people who witnessed the deed was aroused, they ran "amok," attacked Mr. Birch, who was bathing in a floating bath close to the shore, stabbed and killed him. They at the same time rushed on the boats, attacked the sepoys, who were taken entirely by surprise, killed one, and wounded two. One boatman was killed and one wounded. The party then returned to Bandar Bahru.

I need not say, my Lord, how grieved I am at the sad fate of Mr. Birch. He was one of the most popular and able officers in the service of the Straits Settlements. Possessed of untiring energy and powers of endurance he united with these physical qualities great powers for rapid work and considerable mental ability, high qualifications for the post which he held.

I have seldom met an officer of more energy, loyalty, and zeal. I believe, indeed, that it was partly owing to this very seal that he at length met with his death at Passir Sala. 4. Meanwhile Sub-Lieutenant Abbott, who had been shooting for about three hours on the opposite shore, met a chief named the Datu Sagor, who told him there had been a row at Passir Sula, and advised him to go into the jungle to save himself. Sub-Lieu- tenant Abbott, however, took the first boat he saw, a small native boat, and, with his one attendant, dropped down the river to Bandar Bahru, exposed to fire as he passed.

On his arrival at Bandar Bahru Sub-Lieutenant Abbott took charge of the Residency, and fearing that an attack would be made on it, he withdrew all the sepoys and police to a small island on which the Residency is situated. This island is separated by a small creek from the left bank, on which the sepoy and police barracks are built, and seeing the comparatively small force (about 60 men) which he had at his disposal, Sub-Lieutenant Abbott judiciously determined to occupy and entrench this island. He told off his four scanen each to a native detachment to work the field pieces at the Residency, and took energetic measures to put the island in a state of defence. He wrote also to Sultan

† No. 42.

No. 48,

• No. 64.

95

Enclosures

Abdullah, informing him of the murder of Mr. Birch, and requesting him to collect his mer and come to his assistance at Bandar Bahru. As your Lordship will observe from the three accompanying inclosures, the Sultan immediately complied with Sub-Lieutenant 1,2,3 Abbott's request, and, accompanied by the Laxamana, Shabbandar, and a large number of followers, came to the Residency.

5. On the 28th ultimo, Mr. Swettenham, with two boats, left Bandar Bahru for the purpose of issuing proclamations in the upper part of the river, and he arranged with Mr. Birch to meet him on his return at or near the village of Bhota, which is about mid- way between Passir Sala and Blanja.

Mr. Swettenham arrived at Blanja on the 30th ultimo, where he distributed a number of copies of the proclamation to the head men, but was unable to see Ex-Sultan Ismail, who was said to be asleep. He was told that it was the intention of the Ex-Sultan to establish a custom house at this village and to tax all the passing traffic.

The next day Mr. Swettenham distributed copies at Senggang, and had a very friendly interview with Rajah Muda Yusuf, who expressed an opinion that many of the Ulu chiefs would be as obstructive as they could to any scheme which would secure a better form of government in the country, but that they would never attempt any open resis tance. Such an opinion as this, expressed by a friendly chief of Rajah Yusuf's position, is well worthy of notice, as showing that even at this date there was no openly avowed intention of provoking hostilities.

From Senggang, Mr. Swettenham went to Qualla Kangsa and Kota Lama, and reached Blanja on his return journey down the river on the afternoon of the 4th instant. Here he received intelligence of the nurder of Mr. Birch. One of the chief advisers of Ismail, named Haji Alli, came on board Mr. Swettenham's boat, described the particulars of the murder, and advised him not to go down the river as the people at Passir Sala were looking out to kill him when passing; he, moreover, pressed Mr. Swettenham to come on shore and talk over the position of affairs. Mr. Swettenham, however, sus- pected some treacherous design, and in this opinion he was strongly supported by Rajah Mahmood, of Salangore notoriety, who had accompanied him on the journey, and who carnestly entreated him not to go on shore, but return down the river with all speed, This Mr. Swettenham determined to do, and by keeping the middle of the stream, favoured, moreover, by a dark misty night, he passed through the disaffected district and arrived safely at Bandar Bahru on the morning of the 5th instant.

6. Mr. Sweltenham at once took over charge of the Residency, where he found Abdullah and a large number of followers had assembled. As these followers were not known to us, and as it was most important that information of our movements should not be conveyed to the enemy, Mr. Swettenham thought it advisable, and I think judiciously so, to politely, yet firmly, request them to move a little down the river where their services could be obtained, if required, and where they would not be cognizant of everything that was said or done in our camp.

7. On the evening of the 5th a letter was received at Bandar Bahru from Captain Innes, R.E., at Batarabit, conveying the news that reinforcements (60 infantry and 30 police) had arrived from Penang, and that they would proceed to Bandar Bahru the following day. Captain Innes, R.E., then relieved Mr. Swettenham as Assistant Com- missioner in Perak, under the enclosed instructions received from the Lieutenant- "Back-ure 4- Governor, Penang.

The following day, the 7th instant, an attack was made on Passir Sala, but unfortu- nately failed. The details of this attack are fully described in the enclosed report by Enieure & Mr. Swettenham. I also enclose a translation of a Malay letter which was intercepted No. 1858. by us on the River Perak, and which, while corroborating the statement with regard to the circumstances of the death of Mr. Birch, greatly exaggerates the number of men engaged in the attack on the stockade.

I much regret the loss of Captain Innes, R.E., genial in his manners, talented in his profession, and beloved by all; his loss will be universally deplored, not only in this Colony where he commanded the respect of every one, but by the corps generally, in which he has served with so much distinction.

8. Upon receipt of the intelligence that Mr. Birch had been murdered and that troops had been sent to Bandar Babiu from l'enang, I sent 80 non-commissioned officers and men of the 1st battalion 10th Regiment in H.M.S. "Fly" to Batarabit, and on the 5th instant myself proceeded there, with 20 non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Artillery on board for service in Perak

I first called at Malacca, as it had been reported to me that the small Rumbowe States about Malacca and Sungie Ujong were uneasy, and I accordingly thought it advisable to reinforce the detachment in the latter State.

M 4

Enclosure & Nov. 4, 1875.

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TTIIN CO. 882

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ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH---NOT TO

3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON