CO882-(2-3) — Page 659

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :--

C.O. 882

3

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

SIL,

156

Enclosure 45, in No. 100.

From CAPTAIN SPEEDY, Assistant Queen's Commissioner, Laroot, to The HON. COLONEL ANSON, –

Lieut-Governor, Penang.

Laroot, November 23, 1875.'

I HAVE the honour to report for your information that the storerooms are ready at Matang, Simpang, and Buckit Gantang.

-1 beg to enclose a rough map of the road as far as the Brapit Pase.

I have given Captain Satterthwaite my reconnaissance of the road from thence to Qualla Kangsa, which he is arranging so as to complete Captain Innes' map of the Perak River. The road for troops is now ready as far as Qualla. Kangas, but for carts to Kamp Kling near the Brapit Pass.

The distance from Telloh Kartang to Quaila Kangsa is about 27 miles. I would advise that three marches be made.

First to Bukit Gantang, where there is a good camping ground, second to Kampong Bayah, where the site is, if possible, still better, and the third into Qualls Kangsa Each march is about nine miles.

At Kampong Bayah I bave had a stockade erected; inside of which about 200 men could encamp, and there is room for 400 more outside.

The atores brought by the "Standt von Hochussen" have been housed, a portion of them are being forwarded to Bukit Gantang. I am sending a police guard to take charge.

SIR,

I have, &c.

(Signed)

T. C. S. SPEEDY,

Enclosure 46. in No. 100.

Assistant Queen's Commissioner.

On board Steam Launch "Quedah,”

November 26, 1875..

I HAVE the honour to report that I left Penang yesterday at 8.30 p.m. in the steam launch "Quedah," with the special messengers for the conveyance of letters from his Excellency the Governor to Ex-Sultan Ismail and other Chiefs, and arrived at Telok Kertang at 8.80 a.m. this morning, where I anchored the "Quadah," and proceeded by boat to Matang, which I reached at 9.30 a.m.

Here I found Captain Speedy, Assistant Queen's Commissioner, and Captain Satterthwaite, R.E From the former I learnt that the Mantri of Laroot was at Bukit Gantang, and was rendering us every assistance in his power in the collection of men for improving the communication from.Bukit Gantang to Qualla Kangsa, and bad promised elephants, some twenty-five (25) in number, to assist in transport. The people about the country on the line of march to Qualla Kangsa were all well affected, and Captain Speedy continued to receive favourable reports from the detachment of Sikhs guarding the pass at Gunong Pondok. Coolies have been engaged to the number of about three hundred (800) for the conveyance of baggage from Bukit Gantang to Qualia Kangsa. There is a good cart road to Bukit Gantang. If more Coolies are required there will be no difficulty in procuring them,

Captain Satterthwaite handed me a survey of the road from Teloh Kertang to Bukit Brapit which I enclose, and be informed me that there would be nothing to prevent the ready march of the troops from Matang to Quallah Kangsah two days hence. The line of road crosses two streams, one near Bakit Gantang, and the other across the River Papan leading into the Kangsah River. A trestle bridge has been made over the former, and arrangements are in progress to complete a temporary bridge over the latter in from two to three days.

The march across to Qualla Kangsa, a distance of 27 miles, might be effected in two days, but it would be better to make it in three days. The first march from Matang to Bukit Gantang, nine miles, where there is good camping ground for 200 men, and plenty of good water; the second, to Campong Boyah, nine miles, where there is also good camping ground and a fine stream running near it; the third, on to Qualla Kangsa, nine miles, where the camping ground is also good, and cover has already been prepared for 120 men, and further sheds are, I am informed, in progress to cover a total number of (say) 300 men.

I should propose to send a party of 100 men in advance with the tents, to be followed two daya Afterwards by another party of 200 men, who would encamp at Bukit Gantang, and then push on to Qualla Kangsa as further detachments arrive; but this is a question for the consideration of the Major- General Commanding the Troops, with whom I shall place myself in communication as soon as possible.

I walked over the road which has just been prepared between Taloh Kertang and Matang, about a mile long. It is in very fair order, and as vessels drawing from 6 feet to 7 feet of water can be brought to Telon Kertang at all times of the tide, there will be now no delay in getting on to Matang at whatever time a vessel may reach Teloh Kertang from Penang with troops or stores. There is a shed at Teloh Kertang where a large quantity of stores could now be placed.

The Control Officer at Matang informed me that already provisions for 1,500 men for 20 days had arrived there, half of which have been sent on to Bukit Gantang, but I will communicate with the Senior Control Officer in regard to provisions on reaching Penang.

The special messengers with the letters from his Excellency the Governor to Ex-Sultan Ismail and other Chiefs I personally saw despatched from Matang at 10 a.m., and they expect to return with replies on Tuesday next, when it would be desirable to send a steam launch to meet them at Matang.

A large number of copies of the recent proclamation and notice I handed to Captain Speedy for distribution throughout Laroot and the surrounding districts.

I have, &c. (Signed) J. F. A. MCNAIR, Major R.A.,

Senior Queen's Commissioner for Perak.

Sa,

157

Enclosure 47. in No. 100.—(8ss accompanying Sketch.)

Enclosure 48, in No. 100.

No. 1131.

Government of India, Military Department,

Fort William, November 19, 1875.

I AM desired by the Honourable the President in Council to inform you, for the information of his Excellency the Governor of the Straits Settlements, of the steps taken by the Government of India consequent on the telegram received from you early this month.

2. Instructions having been received in Calcutta on the 9th instant, you were informed the following day by telegraph that 1,000 troops and detachment of artillery with mountain guns would be sent to

you

3. Subsequently orders were received from the Secretary of State for India to hold the troops in readiness, but not to despatch them until further orders. The order for their despatch arrived on the 15th.

4. The composition of the force, which was made under the recommendation of his Excellency the Commander-in-Chief in India, is as following —

Headquarters and 600 men of 3rd Regiment (Buffs).

Headquarters and 400 men of Ist Goorkhas.

3/3th Royal Artillery with four mountain guns, 7-pounder M.L.R. steel 150 lbs., two 5-inch mortars with 500 rounds per piece, and 200 rockets.

A-field-telegraph of 100 miles of wire, one superintendent and 10 signallers accompany the force.

A company of the Madras Sappers and Miners has been directed to proceed direct from Rangoon by mail steamer, and should arrive at Penang by the 28th instant.

In accordance with the request of his Excellency the Governor, one million rounds of Snider ammunition is despatched with the troops in addition to what they carry in pouch.

The whole force proceeds under command of Brigadier-General J. Ross, commanding the Presidency District, who is accompanied by the staff as per margin.

Assistant Quartermaster-General:—Major Mark Heathcote,

Assistant Quartermaster General of the Army.

Major of Brigades-Major H. L. Hawks, Officiating Agade Major, Fort William

-Camp:-Lieutenant J. J. Preston, 4th Battalion, Fila Brigado. Dapidly-divisiont Commissary Gmoral:—Captain A. I.

Badcock, Bengal Constabulary Department. Field Engineers:-Major Twigge, R.E., Captain Crawford,

B.E., Lieutenant North, R.E.

5. The despatch of the force with, so far as can be now arranged, be made as follows:-The " Arabia" steamer, which bears this letter, conveys two com pleted companies, or 200 men with regimental bond- quarters of "The Buffs." She starts on Satur- day the 20th. On Sunday 21st, the "Abyssinia ** will start, carrying two more companies of the Buffa

On Thursday or Friday the 25th or 26th, the "Malda," having in tow the Government ship, the "Czarewitch," will take on board the latter, the remaining two companies of the Buffs and the Battery Royal Artillery, with their guns. The steamer having on board 200 men of the 1st Goorkha Regiment The "Etheopia," starting on Saturday 27th or Sunday the 28th instant, will take the remaining 200 of the Goorkhas, and such other establishments, &c. as may be required.

6. Each ship, I am to inform you, will have a complete equipment for the number of troops on board, so as to make them independent of the movements of the other vessels.

7. Not being able to communicate by telegraph with your Government, the Government of India inquired whether the Secretary of State had any information as to whether it was necessary that coolles should be despatched from here. Lord Salisbury, having consulted the Secretary of State for War, and the Colonies, gave an opinion that their despatch was not needed; accordingly none are sent with the force.

8. But the President in Council, considering it desirable that arrangements should be made for the conveyance of the sick, has ordered that doolies, at the rate of two per company and battery for European troops, and one per company for the Goorkhas, with the regular complement of six bearers per dooly, shall be provided.

9. Sea provisions for six weeks have been placed on board the several transports, and, to allow time for local arrangements on arrival, 10 days shore provisions.

10. The regular regimental camp equipage accompanies the troops, and light tanta, “lascara pawis," for 400 European troops to be at hand for the use of detachments, &c.

11. It has not been thought necessary to attach a Deputy Surgeon-General to so small a force, the Ines so as the Government of India think it likely that the senior medical officer of the China command will probably have repaired to the Straits.

12. It has been arranged to combine the British and Indian medical establishments under one senior medical officer, and to form one general hospital for the treatment of Europeans and Natives, but this arrangement will, of course, be liable to modification hereafter, if this is found desirable.

The hospital establishment has been fixed on such a scale as to admit of its division into three parts when the force is moved by detachments.

13. The arrangements made for the provision of funds for the force have been made without much information being obtainable on the apet as to the resources of the Straits Settlement tresaurios.

A sold treasure chest has been established in charge of the Commissariat Officer of the fores, who has been authorised, if necessary, to negociats bills drawn by him on the treasuries of Caloutta, Rangoon, Moulmein, and Bombay.

I am to request that the Government of the Straits Settlements may be moved to supply such funds sa may be nacemary, on the Commissariat. Officer's receipts, countersigned by the officer in command of the forre..

It will only be in the case of the Colonial Treasury finding it inconvenient to disburse any requisite sums that the Commissariat will act on the authority above-mentioned.

U 3

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO:

BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

882

3

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDONÈ.

1

!

uu