CO882-(2-3) — Page 665

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

C.O.

Reference :-

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accordance with what I have already heard, viz, that Ismail was not concerned in Mr. Birch's murder, and is anxious to keep out of the quarrel.

The following Chiefs are with Ismail at Blanja :-

Orang Kaya Besar,

Punghina Bukit Gantang, Datu Nara,

Sedika Rajab,

Kajah Yusof has gone to Chigah Galah. It is denied that stockades are being made at Kints or elsewhere. The Campongs are surrounded on the land sides by ditches and banks to keep out the buffaloes, of which there are great numbers. These earthworks may easily be mistaken for works of defence or stockades, and will serve as such at need.

According to Nakhoda Mat Iadi and Tahib, Ismail got the news of Mr. Birch's death two days after the event. Their story goes on to say that on that day or the next, Mr. Swettenham came down from higher up the river and said he wanted to see Rajah Ismail. The meeting did not take place as Mr. Swettenham sent a second message saying he could not wait. He went down the river and the Malays at Blanja supected that he too had got the news and had gone away on that account Subsequently Pahib heard that the body of Mr. Birch was given up by the Malays at Mr. Swettenham's request.

The following are memoranda furnished to me by the two messengers above named and Tuan Che whom I questioned.

The Malay version of the circumstances of Mr. Birch's death, as reported to Sultan Ismail, is as follows:-

Mr. Birch had insisted upon seeing Maharajab Lelah to obtain his consent to the abolition of the independent levy of duties by the Chiefs. The Maharajah Lelah had in vain pleaded that he had nothing to do with the matter, as he derived no revenue from such duties. Mat Arshad was endeavour- ing to force his way to the house, and broke down part of the fence to get there. A Malay interfered to prevent Mat Arshad from breaking the fence; the latter knocked him down with the butt ead of his gun, and was himself immediately stabbed by another Malay. Mr. Birch's men then fired on the Malays, several of whom were killed or wounded; a general attack was then made by the Malays, and Mr. Birch was killed. (How far there is any foundation for this I am unable to say.)

The policy of Abdullah, Yusof, and others, has latterly been to encourage Mr. Birch to high-handed acts, saying that the country was his (Mr. Birch's), and that he could do as he liked.

The Maharajah Lelah is the man who has held the same office in former reigns. He bore the character of being a determined man, and Mr. Birch was therefore encouraged and advised to go there, being assured that other Datus would follow if the Maharajah Lelah accepted the new order of things. They knew, nevertheless, that the Maharajah Lelah would agree to nothing. He had already refused to sign the Pangkor Convention.

They know perfectly well that any force or threats used there (Pamir Salah) would result in a disaster, and it turned out as they hoped.

When the affair occurred the Maharajah shouted out from the steps of his house, "This is not the "will of the Rajah or his order, it is our will because we cannot stand it any longer; other's houses "have been burnt, and where are we to go if our houses are burnt too? It is better that we should "die at once."

Tuan Che remarked that if Abdullah, the Laksamana, and Datu Bandar had not been implicated in the murder they would certainly have taken some active steps to avenge Mr. Birch's death. They had plenty of men, besides the prestige of their rank and influence, and could have had no difficulty in securing the murderers.

Abdullah's wives and family are said to bave gone to Bidor.

Tuan Che said that Ismail wants him in order to hand over to him as his wife the girl (Ismail's daughter) to whom he is engaged. Tuan Che says that a rock will thus be fastened round his neck, and he will no longer be his own master.

Tunku Ibrahim of Quedah has written a letter of advice to Sultan Ismail, recommending him not to oppose the British, but to try negociation.

To His Excellency the Governor.

I have, &c. (Signed) W. E. MAXWELI,

Magistrate, P.W.

Enclosure 65. in No. 100.

S.S." Pluto," below Durian Sabatang,

I HAVE the honour to report that I arrived here about noon this day, in S.S. "Pluto," with the

Friday evening, November 6, 1874. detachment of HM. 10th Regiment. We called at Kotah Stiah, where all the police on the river balow

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Bandar Bahru had been concentrated by Capt. Welner on his way down. They reported the country in a very disturbed state, many of the people having deserted their homes, and were apprehensive of being attacked by the Maharajah Lola's men, who it appears have an overland path from near Passir Sala. There were 20 armed police and a considerably greater number of Chinese (well- affected), and I did not consider it necessary to strengthen the station.

We picked up here one Nacodah Trong, a well-affected Bughis, previously known to me, and one or two Penang Malays belonging to Bandar Bahru.

Nacodah Trong told us that Mr. Birch's assassination had been contrived between the Laxamana, the Toh Bandar, the Maharajah Lela, Unku Dein, and Seyed Masahor, with the privity of Ismail, Abdullah, and the Mantri. If, indeed, his account be true, Rajah Yusuf, Rajah Drisse, and Rajah Undut are about the only men of note in the country not implicated. He said that he and another had heard something of it, and warned Mr. Birch when he last went up the river, and that there had been a previous attempt on his (Mr. Birch's) life by poison, which only failed in consequence of a timely warning. The only information in confirmation of the above is that of a Malay in Mr. Birch's employ at Bandar Bahru, who says that immediately in getting news of Mr. Birch's death, the Sultan sent Unku Dein a Bughis connexion of his own) up to Passir Sala, ostensibly to recover the body, but really to tell the Maharajah Lelah to send Mr. Birch's boat up the river and hide it. This he says he had of one of Abdullah's own people.

There seems no doubt that the Maharajah Lelah and Datu Sagar at least were all but actual par- ticipators in the attack on Mr. Birch, they were both present when he landed at Passir Sala, and it was their men who attacked him if the testimony of his coxswain, whom I have seen, may be trusted.

Mr. Abbott wrote to the Sultan by the "Pluto" telling what had occurred and asking for help, to which the Sultan responded by going up to Bandar Bahru with 30 or 40 men, the Tob Bandar and perhaps the Laxamana, but he does not seem to bave taken any steps to find out or seize Mr. Birch'a murderers or to have given Mr. Abbott any satisfactory assurance of support.

The state of the tide would not allow the small steamer to start to go up till 4 p.m. to Kota Lumut (whence there is a road to the Residency), which could have brought as there after dark, and I had moreover sent away the "Mata Mata" with a party to search for boats, of which we had not sufficient, so that we were unable to push on to-night but have everything ready to start before daylight to morrow morning; the Quedah goes with us as far as Kota Lumut whence I intend sending her back to Penang with this letter. Mr. Swettenham is reported safe by Mr. Abbott.

The information I have so far got is very meagre and unsatisfactory but there seems at least a possibility of a very general conspiracy amongst the Chiefs; and if this is the case a larger force than that now with me may be required to exact satisfaction for the late outrage, but I will know more in a day or two; it would in any case be extremely desirable to have the "Thistle" in the river if she is not coming up already. I missed her at the Dindings and left a letter with a copy of my instructions which left her the option of going to Klang.

The man in

When the Quedah returns she should bring rations for the troops, and should also bring say a fort- night's rice and 500 rounds of Snider ammunition for the 20 police at Kotah Stiah. charge of the "Quedah" says he has a general order to bring down cargoes of rice and other provi- sions every trip from Penang, it is desirable that it may be seen that this is done without fail or the Sepoys and others at Bandar Bahru will be short of food. I understand this is done as a private speculation, but it should be inquired after on this occasion. The Hon. the Lieutenant-Governor,

Penang.

I have, &c.

(Signed) W. INNEL, Capt., R.E.

P.S.-Mr. Plunket's party of 30 and 10 coolies must also be rationed, if not relieved, within a fortnight from this date.

DEAR COL. Axsox,

(Signed) W

I AM on my way up from the place I wrote you an official last night; have seen Abdullah and Laxamana, who are at Durian Sabatang, first town from Bandar Bahru, they professed themselves willing to assist in searching out and seizing those concerned in Mr. Birch's assassination but professed inability to do anything at present and declined to accompany me to Bandar Babru under pretence of having no boats, they assisted me in getting boats however. Both said the Maharajah Lelah was the chief man concerned, and that I was welcome to take him if I could. I half suspect their fighting men are with him at this moment, they are waiting to see which way the cat will jump before committing themselves.

From what I now see of the river and of difficulties of transport, I am satisfied it would be very difficult to keep communications open in case of determined opposition; if they were closed we should soon be starved out, and on this ground I am anxious to have a ship of war in the stream until things get settled.

Yours, Le (Signed) W. INx, Capt., R.E.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference:-

TTILL CO. 882

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