CO882-(2-3) — Page 632

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C.O. 882

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shouting the firing ceased, and the Sepoys, who had been the authors of it, came up to the fence.

We again started to move round when Captain Booth came up, and deeming the movement inadvisable, I returned over the fence with the men and took up a centre position in the cornfield, Captain Booth forward on the left, and the others on the right; there we opened a heavy fire on the enemy and kept it up some time; the rocket party endeavouring to put some rockets in the stockade, but most of them went over it.

We knew pretty well the position of the enemy, but it was most difficult to see our own people, owing to the height (about 10 feet) and thickness of the Indian corn and the paddy which was planted with it,

The firing was carried on at intervals until I heard Captain Innes, some 20 yards on my right, call out "Forward men," and a general advance of the 10th was made, which we (some 15 men of the 10th and two Malays) joined at once, and completing the line advanced close up to the stockade, and kept up a steady fire until Lieutenant Elliott was severely wounded, and his party fell back to the tree.

Five or ten minutes after that, we still firing on the stockade, and being I suppose no longer visible to those behind, owing to the denseness of the cover, we were exposed to a severe fire from our own people, and one of the 10th being badly wounded we carried him to the big tree already mentioned and joined the others.

Arrived here, I found Captain Booth wounded but refusing help, while Captain Innes and Lieutenant Elliott had been taken to the rear.

The Sepoys had refused the Inst advance in spite of Mr. Plunket's exertions, and indeed he had been at no little difficulty and danger in endeavouring more than once to stop them firing without orders. Want of knowledge of their language was also a serious difficulty in dealing with the Seikhs, and Mr. Plunket had to give orders through an interpreter.

The police I did not see, except one or two of them on the march back, but I believe they most of them left shortly after the action began.

It was now deemed advisable to retire, and the wounded having been carried to the rear, those left fired a volley on the stockade, which was not replied to, and keeping up ♣ steady fire for a short distance retired slowly in order.

The return march was conducted slowly, owing to the carrying of the wounded, but carefully and in complete order, the rear guard facing about whenever there was a diffi- culty in the road.

The march back was begun at 1.15 p.m., and we reached the boats at 2.45 p.m., the distance about two miles.

The greater part of the troops had already embarked and got under way, and the remainder, with the Malays, were at once got into the boats and taken to the Residency, which we reached at 3.15 p.m.

I may be allowed to remark on the gallant conduct of the officers and men of H.M.'s 10th Regiment for one and three-quarter hours under the beavy fire of an unseen enemy, and more than once exposed to a fire from the rear.

Lieutenant Abbott and the seamen of H.M.S. "Thistle" were at the front the whole time, and returned with the rear guard. Mr. Plunket, when the Sepoys retired, joined this party and returned with them.

Captain Booth, shot in the foot, walked down to the boats without assistance, and Lieutenant Elliott, severely wounded in the arm and side, walked the greater part of the way to Rajah Cheh Muda's house, where he fainted from loss of blood.

It was not till we reached the Residency that Corporal Fay, H.M.'s 10th, was found to be missing. He was last seen by Lieutenant Abbott, to whom he gave his rifle, being apparently wounded through the hand, and taking Mr. Abbott's revolver.

The following are the casualties:---

Captain Innes, R.E., killed (shot through the heart).

Lieutenant Elliott, H.M.'s 10th Regiment, severely wounded. Captain Booth, H.M.'s 10th Regiment, slightly wounded.

Corporal Fay, H.M.'. 10th Regiment, missing (supposed to be killed).

4 men of H.M.'s 10th Regiment severely wounded.

do.

do.

4

lightly.

Nacodah Orlong (Malay scout) killed.

1 Malay scout slightly wounded.

1 Seikh severely wounded.

1 Seikh killed.

1 policeman severely wounded.

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Immediately on our arrival every care in our power was taken of the wounded, and a building was set aside for a hospital for them.

About 4 p.in. Nacodah Orlong's brother came, and told me he must return and look for his brother's body, as he believed the missing Malay was guarding it.

We had already sent some Bughis to look for Corporal Fay, and I asked Nacodah Orlong's brother also to look for him.

In the evening we buried Captain Innes close beside Mr. Birch, with military honours, the men of the 10th Regiment firing three volleys over his grave.

Captain Innes was too well known and appreciated for me to be able to add anything

in his praise. He was, as I have already told, the first officer to come up to the front, and he remained there until he was shot down just before the last.

About 8 p.m. Nacodah Orlong's people returned with his body and the missing Malay.

Nacodah Orlong was shot through the brain, and the missing man had stood by the body and defended it from the beginning of the action, getting slightly wounded in the hand with a kriss. Nacodah Orlong fell just at the stockade, and his follower, Allang, had dragged his body into the bushes close by on the river bank, the enemy firing on When the party had got up there Allang had got the body into

him without effect.

the river, and was swimming it down.

He

the enemy says retired.

left the stockade before we did, and that it was empty when we

The party of Nacodah Orlong's men who went up for the body got into the stockade, which was quite deserted, and brought away a helmet belonging to one of the wounded 10th men.

They said they heard Corporal Fay was quite dead, and had been thrown into the river by the enemy, when they returned after our departure.

I may here remark that the conduct of Raja Mahmud, Nacodaà Orlong, and their Malay followers, who formed the scouts, was gallant to a degree.

We kept a careful look out through the night, Lieutenant Abbott, Mr. Plunket, and

I going round to visit the sentries, and we also had a guard boat on the river to examine passing boats.

When we returned yesterday I found a telegram from Penang, stating that the "Pluto" was to meet his Excellency the Governor at the mouth of the river this morning, and Mr. Kynnersley bad already sent her down.

I wrote letters to his Excellency the Governor and the Honourable the Lieutenant Governor of Penang, and directed Mr. Kynnersley to take them to the "Pluto" this morning, and meet his Excellency, as I did not like to leave the Residency without a relief being sent.

At 6.30 p.m. Dr. Orton arrived and saw the wounded, whom he found doing well, and Major Dunlop, R.A., arrived with Dr. Randell in the course of the night, and took charge as Special Commissioner.

I have, &c. (Signed) FRANK A. SWettenham,

The Honourable the Colonial Secretary,

Straits Settlements.

H.B.M.'s Acting Resident,

Salangor.

RI

P.S.-November 9th. Corporal Fay's body floated down the river this afternoon, and was buried beside Mr. Birch and Captain Innes. He was not wounded through the hand, but through the head and chest.

I attach a tracing of part of the Perak River, with an enlarged sketch of the position attacked on the 7th instant.

Enclosure 6, in No. 82.

(Translation.)

From Has MaнOMED DAWD to Cray Mohamed Ahlas, dated Shawal 2nd, 1292,

November 1st, 1875.

In the year 1992, on the 2nd day of the month Shawal, at this time a letter (of report F) is made by the younger brother Haji Mahomed Dawood to the elder brother Chay Mohamed Allee in the district of Simgie Abgir (or Lakir) concerning the things of the dis- turbances between Mr. Birch and the Maharaja Lela. Mr. Birch affixed the Proclamation, N 4

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