CO882-(2-3) — Page 715

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O.

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882

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

3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

Dec. 19. 1875.

268

From the enclosel letter dated 12th instant, your Lordship will observe, that Encoure 7. Mr. Plunket had no reason to doubt but that the Datu of Rambowe was strictly loyal.

4. On the 10th instant, the 250 Goorkhas and half battery of artillery which I had sent to Sungie Ujong, as reported in paragraph 10 of the Despatch before referred to, arrived there, and on the 15th & reinforcement of 32 officers and men of H.M.9. "Thistle," under the command of Commander Stirling, R.N., also arrived.

Enclosures

8 and 9.

Dee. 17, 1875.

On the 17th instant, an additional reinforcement of 50 Goorkhas was drawn from Malacca.

As reported in paragraph 10 of Despatch, No. 354, of the 17th_instant;* I had appointed Colonel Anson to act temporarily as my representative in Sungie Ujong, under instructions of which I have already furnished copies to your Lordship.

5. I enclose copies of letters, dated 17th instant, addressed by him to Rajah Anter and to Datu Muar, impressing upon them the consequences of acting in hostility against our authority.

I also enclose copy of a letter which he addressed to the Datu of Rambowe, thanking Enclosure to him for the friendly spirit which he had displayed in the matter, and asking him to use Dec. 17, 1875. his influence with the Ďatus of the other States.

Vaclosures

6. The enemy occupied a very strong position at a pass about 12 miles from the Residency, called the Bukit Putoos pass, and fortified it with stockades and other

obstacles.

This position was so strong that it was determined that a portion of the force should make a wide turning movement Pantay, and by crossing the mountains to get into the Terrachee valley some five or six miles in rear of the enemy's position. Accordingly early on the morning of the 19th instant, Lieutenant Colonel Hill, 1st Goorkhas, Com- mander Stirling, R.N., and Captain Murray, with 123 Goorkhas, 32 officers and men of H.M.S." Thistle," and a detachment of 12 artillery, under Lieutenant Henriques, R.A., having with them one 7-pr. mountain gun, 100 rounds of ammunition, and 52 24-pr. rockets, left the Datu Klana's residence for Pantay and Terrachee,

Colonel Clay, lat Goorkhas, with a force consisting of Captain Rigg, R.A., and 20 artillery, Lieutenant North, R.E., two officers and 37 men of the 1/10th Regiment, three officers and 150 Goorkhas, two officers and 70 men of the Arab contingent, one 7-pr. mountain gun, 100 rounds of ammunition, one 5 Coëhorn mortar, with 100 rounds of ammunition and 42 9-pr. rockets, left the Klana's residence on the afternoon of the 20th, and advanced towards the front of Bukit Putoos pass, to commence the attack as soon as the movement was completed in rear.

The enemy consisted of the fighting men from the States of Dato Muar, Sri Menanti, and Jumpole, but no estimate of their strength can be accurately arrived at from any of the reports which have been received.

7. As yet no reports have been received from the military officers in command of the forces.

I enclose, however, two reports from Colonel Anson, which will inform your Lordship

of the success which attended these movements. He speaks highly of the gallantry and

21 and 14. judgment displayed by Captain Channer, of the 1st Goorkhas, and states that to him it is due that success was gained with very small loss; the position was almost impregnable, and had it been attacked by an advance in front, our loss would probably have been very

Dee. 11, and 23, 1825.

severe.

Captain Channer, however, obtained possession of a stockade on one flank, from which it appears that he commanded a considerable part of the position, and this, together with the wide flanking movement, caused the enemy to flee, after we had suffered a loss of only one man killed and one wounded.

would also call your Lordship's attention to the skill and perseverance in which the difficulties of the arduous flank march with guns and rockets for three days and a half through the dense jungle was effected by Lieut.-Colonel Hill and Commander Stirling, R.N., with the officers and men under their commands.

Rajah Antar, Datu Moar, and Siamang Rajah (a great fighting man) were all engaged at Bukit Putoos.

8. From the Sub-Enclosure which accompanies Enclosure No. 12, your Lordship will observe that the forces were going to advance into Sri Menanti and Dato Muar on the 24th instant by two roads. Upon the completion of this march they will return to Sungie Ujong and await my further instructions.

9. I do not propose to carry on any further military operations in the States about Malacca, but these States appear to be in so disturbed a condition that I think it

• No. 114.

269

prudent (as stated in my Despatch No. 372, dated 29th instant",) to send a reinforcement to Malacca and its neighbourhood.

When I have been able to obtain reliable information as to what extent there has been a general movement in the "Nine States," and what Datus and Chiefs have been really friendly or hostile, I shall be able to arrive at a conclusion as to the steps which I would recommend to be taken in respect to our relations with these States.

I have, &c.

SI,

(Signed) WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS.

The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon,

&c. Colonial Office.

&G.

&c.

Enclosure 1. in No. 130.

CAPTAIN MURRAY to COLONIAL SECRETARY, Straits Settlements.

Sungie Ujong, December 8, 1875. I HAVE the honour to report that on the evening of Saturday the 4th December the enemy came down from the direction of Terrachee and Paroe and established them- selves in the houses and compound of Datu Sultan, which they strongly fortified during the night.

On Sunday morning I proceeded with a force of police under Messrs. Bird and Skimmer to Umpangan, where we got a gun into position and fired a few rounds at the enemy; then crossing the river took the position from the rear, the enemy not waiting for us.

We found the position very strongly fortified, so I told the Datu Dagan to hold it with his men; they, however, all ran away during the night.

The same evening I received a letter from Mr. Trevenen saying that 85 Arabs had been sent to us.

On Monday the 6th, Mr. Fontaine and his Arab force arrived, and it was arranged we should next day endeavour to expel the enemy from Paroe, distant five miles from here, where they had established themselves.

On Tuesday morning a force of 35 troops under Lieuts. Hinxman and Peyton, 48 police under Serjeant Bird, and the force under Mr. de Fontaine, started for Paroe, Mr. Plunket accompanying.

On arrival at Umpangan we were joined by the Datu Klans and a number of his followers.

A brass gun in charge of Mr. Skinner was also added, but being very heavy delayed

us so much that it was considered advisable to proceed without waiting for it.

On arriving near Paroe flanking parties were sent out, that under Mr. Robinson doing good service by coming unexpectedly on the enemy, killing and wounding several.

The main body advanced along the direct path, and were soon engaged with the eDemy who were strongly entrenched.

The fire was comparatively not heavy, they having apparently but few guns, but being so thoroughly protected by their stockades, almost every shot either told on our party or passed very close, in consequence of which we soon had a considerable number of killed and wounded.

After some three-quarters of an hour's firing and no signs of the enemy retreating, Messrs. Hinxman, Peyton, and de Fontaine, with some 12 men of the 10th Regiment, charged a stockade on the left, and after losing several men captured it, some of the enemy remaining till they were bayoneted.

They were then in a most perilous position, enemy firing from all quarters with the most obstinate determination, when fortunately and unexpectedly the gun arrived.

It was at once got into position, and opened on the front stockade at a distance of

150 yards.

After the sixth round the gun capsized, but the enemy were then in full retreat, and when we again got it into position were enabled to do good service by firing on them as they retreated up the hills.

A general advance was then ordered, and all the houses in the valley being fortified were destroyed.

* No. 129.

L13

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