CO882-(2-3) — Page 684

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C.O.

882

3

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206?

I was arrested on the third day after my arrival from up country. I heard that Mr. Swettenham was angry with me, because I did not stop at Bandar Bahru on my way down the river.

Examination continued.

The Datoh Bandar is related to Maharajah Lela. He is Maharajah Lela's uncle,

H.M.S. "Fly," December 1, 1875. I think, but I cannot state the precise relationship. I am not aware that the Datok Bandar influenced Maharajah Lela in any way in regard to Mr. Birch's murder, but I strongly suspect him as he is nearly related to Maharajah Lela. The Datoh Bandar is a native of Passir Salah. His father and mother lived there. He was offended with Mr. Birch because a concubine of his (Datoh Bandar) ran away to the Residency with two of Sultan Abdullah's slave girls. Datoh Bandaf asked Mr. Birch to give up the girls. He said she was not at the Residency and allowed Datoh Bandar to search the whole place. The girl was not found, and the Datoh Bandar went away. I am sure. that he was not satisfied, and that he believed that the girl had been concealed from him by Mr. Birch's orders. Alt this occurred after the Governor's visit to Perak. Datoh Bandar was living at Passir Panjang at the time with Sultan Abdullah. any information as to the participation of any of the Rajahs or Chiefs in Mr. Birch's I cannot give murder. I know of no plot or conspiracy. None of the Perak Malays would have trusted me with the secret, knowing that I was a trusted servant of Mr. Birch's. I wan sent by Mr. Birch shortly before his death to obtain the seals of the Laksamana, Datoh Bandah, and Bajah Makota to a document transferring the government of the country to Mr. Birch, which already bore the seals of Sultan Abdullah and Rajah Muda Yusof. I went to the Laksamana in his boat at Bandar Babru. He excused himself, saying that he had left his seal at Durian Sabatang. The Datoh Bandar said he would put his seal to the paper after the Laksamana had done so. Rajah Makota said the same. turned with the documents unsealed by them,

I re-

I believe that I could find out the names of Mr. Birch's murderers if I were allowed to make inquiries at Durian Sabatang, through my relations there. My half-brother Sri Jenah, my cousin Kanda Jafar Sri Brahim, &c. live there. They are poor people,

The truth would come out, if the Datoh Bandar were detained on board a man-of-

war.

On the day on which I was arrested, I and Haji Mat Jassim went from Batu Rabit to Durian Sabatang with several men. Haji Mat Jassim took four bags of powder and one Suider riße, and one Spencer express rifle. I had four guns, a blunderbuss, and five spears besides a krise. We had some tin and other property in the boat. We went to Durina Sabatang. Haji Mat Jassim intended to deposit bis property there. The powder and breach-loading rifles were part of the property of Haja Moosab, deceased, which Haji Mat Jassim had inherited. He did not take away all. There are more rifles and powder left at Haji Moosab's house. My arms were for my own protection, as I had tin and other valuable property in my boat. I was not running away anywhere. My children are at Bandar Lama below Bandar Bahru. I could not, therefore, have intended to run away. I could have escaped into the jungle, if I had wanted to do so, at Durian Saba tang, where I was arrested. I trusted in the justice of the English, and knew that I had nothing to fear if I had done no wrong. I imagine that Rajah Abdullah and 'Datob Bandar, &c. have given me a bad character. They did not like me on account of my intimacy with Mr. Birch, by whom I was much trusted.

I am related to the Panglima Besar, Kanda Hassan, and Haji Abdul Raof of Tanjong Piandang. They are cousins of mine. Crain Abdullah of Bagan Trang is also a connexion of mine.

Q.—Am I to understand that you decline to state anything regarding the implication of the Chiefs of Perak in the murder of Mr. Birch?

A.-I can say nothing because I know nothing. What was conspired and planned is unknown to me. Before God this is the truth. I only know this, that the people of Perak would be glad to live under British Government, and earn money for themselves, instead of being slaves. It is only the Chiefs, who fear that they may lose their power and profits, who are opposed to the British.

Before me,

(Signed) W. E. MAXWELL,

Deputy Commissioner, Perak.

207

No. 114.

(No. 354.) Governor Sir W. JERVOIS, K.C.M.G., C.B., to the EARL CF CARNARVON (Received January 17, 1876.)

MY LORD,

Government House, Penang, December 17, 1975. In a postscript to my Despatch to your Lordship, No. 334, dated December 2nd, I mentioned that I had that day received a telegram from Singapore stating that the Resident at Sungie Ujong apprehended a general rising of Malays in the States in his neighbourhood, and that the tone of the Malays in Malacca was unfriendly if not hostile. I further stated that I had requested the General Commanding to send reinforcements to the scene of the threatened disturbances,

2. I now enclose, for your Lordships' information, copies of the somewhat alarming Enclosures telegrams which I received from the Acting Colonial Secretary, and of that which despatched to him in reply, containing instructions for his guidance.

I and 2.

Dec. 2, 1375.

Enclosure 3.

3. In paragraph 8 of my Despatch, No. 327, dated 16th November, I mentioned to Dec. 2, 1676. your Lordship that on my way to the Perak River I had called at Malacca, and that I had sent a reinforcement of troops to Sungie Ujong. The States in the neighbourhood of Malacca had been reported to be uneasy, the Klana of Sungie Ujong, supported by the British Government, having been deposed by the Chiefs of the other, so-called, nine States, and these Chiefs having chosen a new Klans, with a view of his taking part in the election of a Yam Tuan Besar or head over the whole.

4. It is to be observed that the last Yam Tuan Besar, Rajah Ujong, died in 1869, and the office bas been vacant since that date. During the intervening period the State of Sungie Ujong has greatly increased in importance, owing to the support which the Klanas (especially the present Klana who succeeded in the commencement of 1873) have received from the British Government. The increasing prosperity of Sungie Ujong has awakened a feeling of jealousy on the part of the Chiefs of the remainder of the "Nine States," of which Sungie Ujong is one, and this has particularly been the case with the Datus of Sri Manenti, Dato Moar, Johole, and Jellabu (see Map enclosed). This jealousy Enclosure 4. has given rise to a hatred of the Klana, and a dislike of the English, who have been in- strumental in bringing about a more prosperous condition of affairs in Sungie Ujong. When, therefore, the Chiefs decided to fill the office of Yam Tuan Besar, which had been so long vacant, it appears that they decided that the Klana should not be asked for bis vote, but that as the voice of the Klana was necessary for the election, that they would depose the present Klana and elect another,

A worthless character, the Laxamana of Sungie Ujong, was chosen Klana, but even then the election of the Yam Tuan Besar does not appear to have been a unanimous one. Rajah Antar, the so-called elected Yam Tuan Besar, and son of Rajah Radio, who was Yam Tuan Besar before Rajah Ujong, is said to have secured the votes of the Datus of Sri Manenti, Dato Moar, and Johole, whilst the Datu of Rambowe, who is generally regarded as friendly to us, was represented by his head councillor,

Rajah Ahmat, the cousin and rival of Rajah Antar, and son of Rajan Ujong, is said, however, to have many supporters, especially in Rumbowe, who would be anxious to forward his claims.

If the election of the Yam Tuan Besar was invalid, the deposition of the Klana was still more so, and, considering that the Klana was supported by us, and that we had a Resident assigned to him, it was a distinct act of hostility towards the British Govern ment. I therefore caused Rajah Antar to be informed that we could not recognise him as the head of the Nine States, and that we were surprised at the action taken as regards the Klans. The supporters of Rajah Antar were doubtless discontented at his not being recognised, but no open hostility was apprehended, so much so, that up to the 25th No- vember, Captain Murray, the Assistant Resident in Sungie Ujong, reported that thing was perfectly quiet and peaceful in that State and those adjacent to it, the only every- trouble experienced being from Dato Moar, the Chief of which State gave protection to robbers and other bad characters who took refuge therein.

There were rumours, however, that the Chiefs of some of the States were caballing against us, and I was consequently induced to strengthen the detachment in Sungie Ujong in spite of the seeming quiet in that State.

5. From the information which I have been able to obtain it would appear that the feeling of dislike manifested by some of the Chiefs to the Klans and the English has been fed by designing persons in Malacca itself, and it is probably due to their repre- sentations that the smouldering feeling of hostility has burst into an open flame. The

• No. 100.

Cč 4

↑ No. 82.

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