CO882-(2-3) — Page 712

'" या ग

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

C.O.

882

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

262

with two 24-pr. rocket tubes. At 1.30 a.m., about four miles from Blanjah, we met with our first serious obstacle, several trees felled across the elephant track. Here we were received with a sharp attack of musketry, and Dr. Randall received a musket ball in his left thigh. A few rounds from the 7-pr. gun and a couple of rockets dislodged the enemy, and we proceeded for about a mile and a half further without molestation. Here we again found the road obstructed by felled trees, and on our approach were received by a discharge of musketry, fortunately without effect. the enemy, and after clearing the road we were again enabled to advance.

A rocket dislodged a mile further on we found a strong stockade just erected, and recently evacuated, About half sleeping mats, water bottles, &c. being left behind. Here there were sheds for, at least, 100 men, and in a very short time it could have been made a formidable defence. This we destroyed, and proceeded onward to our halting place about 7 or 8 miles from Blanjab.

From all the information we can obtain the Maharajah Lela is at present at Kinta, and from the opposition offered to our advance, it is clear that Ex-Sultan Ismail is determined to shelter him. He is a determined liar, and no faith can be placed in him. Provisions are coming in, am glad to say, and I trust we shall be able to move on as soon as I can get them to the front. The road is a difficult one for artillery, but the men are willing and anxious to get on. I but return with them this afternoon.

came to Blanja to-day to hurry on provisions,

SIB,

His Excellency

Sir W. F. D. Jervois, K.C.M.G., C.B., Governor, Straits Settlements,

I have, &c. (Signed)

S. DUNLOP, Major, R.A., Commissioner.

Enclosure 3. in No. 129.

From MAJOR DUNLOP to HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR,

Kinta, December 18, 1875.

I HAVE the honour to report for your Excellency's information the capture of Kinta on the 17th instant, by the field force under Major-General the Hon. F. Colborne, C.B., and Captain Buller, R.N.; 200 men in all were engaged, and though the march through the jungle from Pappan, our last halting place, was an exceedingly heavy one, it reflects great credit on the officers and men engaged, that one 7-pr. rifle gun and two 24-pr. rocket tubes, with ammunition, were brought to the front.

I, myself, only arrived at Kinta late in the afternoon, having left Pappan on the previous day for Blanja to arrange about the transport of provisions, &c., I, therefore, forward for your Excellency's information the official report of Deputy Commissioner Swettenham who was present during the whole affair, and whose courage in going forward on a scouting expedition on the previous day with Rajah Mahmood, of Salangore, and his followers, deserves especial notice.

I have, &c. (Signed)

His Excellency

Sia,

Sir W. F. D. Jervois, C.B., K.C.M.G.,

Governor, Straits Settlements.

Enclosure 4. in No. 129.

From MR. F. Swettenham to MAJOR DUNLOP

S. DUNLOP, Major,

Commissioner.

The Camp, Kinta, December 18, 1875. In accordance with your verbal request that I should give you an account of what occurred after you left Pappan for Blanja on the morning of the 16th instant, I have the honour to inform you that just at the time you started, 8.30 a.m., Rajah Outih, whom I Lad sent the previous night to scout towards Kinta, returned.

Raja Outih stated that he had reached Kints, that is, he had been on the river bank just opposite Ex-Sultan Ismail's house, and from thence he had seen about 20 armed men on the island of Kinta. He had met no opposition on the road.

With a view to obtaining more information, and to enable the troops to move towards Kinta at once and without opposition, I offered to go on with Raja Mahmood and his men (45 in all) until we reached some good camping ground as near Kinta as possible.

203

Major-General Colborne approved of this proposal, and I started from Pappan at 12.50 p.m. The road from the first was bad, but it got worse and worse until it became nothing but logs, roots of trees, and elephant holes full of water, the track being up and down hill for the greater part of the way.

It rained heavily from the time we started until we encamped for the night.

For 4 miles the road was as I have described it, and then the jungle and bad ground was passed, and after another 14 miles I determined to encamp in some small houses in a field of hill paddy on the left of the road about a quarter of an hour's walk from Kinta. The Malays were very anxious to go straight on to Kints, but I did not feel I could consent to that without the General's approval.

It was now 3.30 p.m., so I at once sent two men back with a note to General Colborne telling him of my position, of the state of the road, and that I thought the guns if brought must be carried, and asking that a party might be sent to join me early the next

morning.

At the same time I sent two scouts on to Kinta, who returned in 20 minutes to say that they had been to the river bank from whence they saw 10 men with muskets and they heard the voices as of about 20 more in Ex-Sultan Ismail's house. There was alro

green "katiap" (boat) alongside the bathing house near Ismail's place.

a

I then had the fence of the field near the house I occupied pulled down, and made it into a stockade round the house, and I sent roen to occupy the other three houses in sight towards Kints. At night I had large fires made round our house and on the road to Kinta, with sentries at each.

About 6.30 a.m. yesterday, my messengers of the previous evening returned with a note from General Colborne, saying he was sending would follow with the rest of the force.

on an officer and 30 men early and

We had not been disturbed during the night, but at daybreak we heard the enemy close by, apparently on the road, shouting and striking gongs. Expecting they might attack us we were just preparing for it, when, at 8.30 a.m., Lieutenant Peyton, Staff Surgeon-Major Gaye, and 30 men of the 1/10 Regiment arrived.

I told Lieutenant Peyton of the proximity of the enemy and he put out bis inen in the houses and in the front and rear of the house I had stockaded, at the same time I sent on three scouts to see where the enemy were posted.

At 9 a.m. we heard about 10 musket shots and one or two shots from a gun in the road just outside the paddy field, whilst the enemy shouted and we cheered in return.

The scouts returned in a few minutes to say they had met on the road three of the enemy's scouts, had fired on them and driven them back, the enemy running into the jungle. The other shots had been fired by the body of the enemy behind. Nothing further occurred until at 11 a.m. General Colborne and Captain Buller, H.N., arrived with a rocket tube and a party having hurried on in consequence of a note I sent when the scouts were fired on.

Knowing the position and distance of Kinta two rockets were fired in the direction, and the 7-pr. field gun arriving at noon with Major Nicolls, R.A., two shells were fired from it, one in the direction of Kinta and the other into a campong on the road to it.

Whilst the men had some breakfast at General Colborne's request, I again sent four scouts on to Kinta. Within 20 minutes, i.e., about 2 p.m., we heard five musket shots and then three more, and knew at once that the scouts had again been fired on.

The rest of the Malays with Rajah Mahmood went down at once to meet them and returned in a few minutes bringing them back safely. They had got close to Kinta when four of the enemy, hiding in the jungle, fired on them; our scouts were armed with sniders and fired twice on the enemy who took to the river and swam across.

Our scouts reported that there did not appear to be anyone in Kinta.

Two rockets and three shells were fired into Kinta, and the whole force started for that place. Three deserted houses were passed and burnt, and after about three-quarters

of a mile walk we found ourselves on the bank of the Kinta River, here about 50 yards wide, with the village just above us on an island.

A party of the 1/10th were leading, then a rocket, the 7-pr. steel gun, and a party of the 80th bringing up the rear.

another rocket,

I got into the river with a few natives to wade over to the island, and when all but across several shots were fired from above the island, one apparently from a "Lela" (native swivel gun) falling into the middle of the stream just in front of us.

This fire was soon silenced by the gun and rockets, and, a party of soldiers having crossed the river, I took the Malays with them straight through the town to the other end of it, seeing no one.

Kk 4

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

། ། ། ། ། །

Reference :--

C.O.

882

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT SO

||PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :--

།]ཀ།། mmmmmmm CO.

882

264