CO882-(3-4) — Page 1

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O.

Reference :-

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

3 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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Sub-Enclosure 7.

November 2, 1875. Ahmid, head boatman, states :-At about 8 o'clock this morning I was lying down at the stern of the boat. I heard the Malays on shore say, "As soon as Mr. Birch has had breakfast we will drive him away. If he does not go, then we will do for him.” Then I got up and looked into the boat, and I did not find Mr. Birch. I heard him talking from the bathing house. I remained in the boat. I saw the Malays with naked spears tearing down the proclamations. Half the Malays came to the river-side and told them to shove off. Then the sampan panjanj men moved off.. Then I saw the Malays cutting and spearing the crew of the other sampan panjanj. I still remained at the stern of the boat fooking on. I turned and looked towards the bathing-house and saw Kaleh Khan with a pistol in his hand jump into the water. I went into Mr. Birch's cabin and saw two Malays there. I took up a rifle, but finding no ammunition, put it down and jumped into the water. Just then I saw the interpreter, Arshad, coming towards the boat. One Malay man who was in the boat prevented him by striking him with a sword. I saw Arshad severely wounded and exhausted; as I was swimming down the river I saw Arshad giving up the attempt to get at Mr. Birch's boat, and

I told the heard him hail the sampan panjanj for help. It was about 20 yards distant. sampan panjanj men to wait; they did so." Then Arshad and I got into it; Arshad was helped in. We then retreated, and the Malays on shore followed and kept firing at us. One of our men was hit, and another complained of being wounded. When I was far away I saw Mr. Abbott and two boys following in a saga, and the Malays from both banks firing at them.

By Mr. Abbott.-When did Arshad die?

Answer. In about an hour after he was taken into the boat.

By Mr. Abbott.-Did Arshad say anything before he died ?

Auswer. He said nothing.

Question. Did you see anybody attack Mr. Birch?

Answer. I saw several Malays entering the bath-house, but there was no noise. Question. You were so close to him, do you think Mr. Birch was killed? Answer. I think he was.

Interpreted by me, EDWARD BACON.

Witness, J. T. KEYT.

Before me,

Sub-Enclosure 8.

T. F. ABBOTT, Sub-Lieutenant.

Mustapha, Mr. Birch's cook, states :-" At half-past 8 this morning Mr. Birch called to me and asked for soap and a towel to go for a bath. I gave them. My master ordered breakfast, and I went to prepare it. I saw a number of Sepoys and boatmen, while I was cooking, rush into a sampan panjanj, which capsized. They swam to another sampan panjanj. I joined them, and came down the river to Banda Bahru.

By Mr. Abbott. Did you hear any firing, or did you see any one stabbed or wounded?

Answer. No, I did not.

Witness, EDWARD Bacon.

Interpreted by me, J. T. Keyr.

Before me,

Sub-Enclosure 9.

T. F. ABBOTT, Sub-Lieutenant. MUSTAPHA.

Kaleh Khan, private of the Resident's guard, states:—

:-Almost all the Sepoys were on shore, and I was among them. A Datu came twice to the boat and spoke to Mr. Birch. Arshad, the interpreter, posted the proclamation near the goldsmith's shop. The first time it was torn down I told Mr. Birch. He spoke to Arshad, and Arshad explained they were taking it away to show to Dato Sagor. Mr. Birch ordered Arshad to post another, and it was done. Then Mr. Birch went to the bathing-house to bathe. Several Malays were on the spot, all armed. I was standing on one of the logs of the floating bath-house, with Mr. Birch's revolver in my hand. All at once, the other proclamation was torn down by a man whom I will recognise if I see him again, and there was a rush upon us with spears and knives. I saw some Malays get into the

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bathing-house where Mr. Birch was. I afterwards fell into the water; the water was very deep, and I could get no footing, but I saw one of our boats at some distance going down towards Banda Bahru, and I hailed it and told our men to fire. The Malays were firing from both banks. I succeeded in getting into the boat, afterwards came down here. If I see the Datu again, I shall know him. I saw him at the Residency often, but do not know his name.

Before me,

Interpreted by J. T. Keyt.

Witness, J. Rozelle.

T. F. ABBOTT, Sub-Lieutenant.

Sub-Enclosure 10.

Bandhar Bahru, November 9, 1875.

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to report to you the following circumstances which have occurred since my last communication, dated November 4. Mr. Swettenham arrived and took civil charge of the Residency.

On the morning of the 5th That day we planned an attack on the enemy, the idea being to divide the Sepoys, taking them along both banks and putting both the guns (12-pounder howitzer and 9-pounder Vavasour) in boats, to use them to annoy and divert the enemy's attention during an attack from the troops.

However, in the evening I heard from Captain Innes, R.E., Acting Assistant Commis sioner, informing me of the arrival of the troops in the Colonial steamer "Pluto," and decided to await their arrival, which we were afterwards glad of.

On the morning of the 6th instant we proceeded to prepare the boats for the transport of guns. I proposed that spars should be placed across the boats, and bamboos lashed under them fore and aft outside (to give greater stability and flotation to the small river boats we had at command), the whole being covered with planks, to enable the polera to walk fore and aft.

About noon Captain Innes arrived, accompanied by Lieutenants Booth and Elliot, with a detachment of 60 men of the 10th Regiment.

In the evening I took the boats with the guns out for a trial and found them answer well in everything, except that the guns were stationary, having no boat-slides, and con- sequently we had to depend upon the polers for direction.

About 6 o'clock this evening the body of Mr. Birch was brought down the river by Rajah Dam.

Upon examination he proved to have received ten spear wounds or

stabs.

It was interred with military honours on the island behind the Residency. The plan of attack having previously been deterinined on, at 6 o'clock on Sunday, November 7, the troops were paraded,

At 7 o'clock the embarkation commenced, but owing to want of transport the whole party was not landed on the western bank, about a mile and a half above the Residency, until 10.30 a.m. We immediately started in the following order of march :- Twenty Malays, under Mr. Swettenham, as scouts; 4 men 10th, under Corporal Anderson, advance guard; 21 men, under Lieutenant Booth, leading half-company; 4 seamen of "Thistle," with coolies carrying rockets, under me, accompanied by Captain Innes; 47 Sepoys and 27 police under Superintendent Plunkett; 25 men of the 10th, under Lieutenant Elliot, bringing up the rear.

We advanced rapidly, showing as large a front as possible, but often having to break into single file from the nature of the country.

We had marched about 2 miles, when suddenly a beavy fire was heard in front, and the leading troops formed in skirmishing order across an Indian-corn field-the corn about eight feet high-moving forward steadily. As soon as I saw the stockade I ordered the seamen to commence rocketting, which they did as fast as possible, under a heavy fire. I may here mention that the rockets were of an obsolete pattern (9-pounder tail, shell), and used in wooden troughs, with paper primers stuck in one of the holes in the base, and ignited by a common match, this being the only means I could devise of using them.

The Sepoys and police were huddled together behind a large tree, close

to the river, and proved utterly useless, and rather dangerous from their wild firing, which wounded some of the troops.

Shortly after the beginning of the action Lieutenant Booth was wounded in the foot, and had to be placed under shelter.

Lieutenant Elliot took command, and we slackened our fire, not being able to see any enemy, though they could evidently see us. The scamen threw in a few rockets, but too high, owing to their inefficient fittings.

Rr

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