CO882-(3-4) — Page 114

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

3

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE

BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

Under these circumstances, all the information that could be obtained regarding the persons denounced, was placed by Major McNair and myself into the hands of the Brigadier-General.

It amounted to this, that three lawless characters, of whom one, Raja Abbass, had escaped from Penang gaol, where he was confined on a charge of murder; another, Kolah, had been once arrested and flogged for attempting armed violence at the tin-miners at Salama, a place under British protection; and a third, Panjang Meroo, was an outlaw in Perak itself, his life having been forfeited for a daring robbery committed at Salah, were living in a stockaded house at Tunning, some ten miles from Kwala Kangsa, under the protection of Syed Mahmood and Toh Sri Lela, two chiefs known to be hostile to us and followers of ex-Sultan Ismail (at that time a fugitive from Kinta); that they were well armed and much feared by the native population, and that they had had the audacity to come down repeatedly to the vicinity of this camp, threatening to make an amok," a threat which, however idle it might appear to ourselves, had sufficient terror for the native followers to make the Malay telegraph coolies desert in the manner mentioned above.

The Brigadier-General issued orders, in consequence of which a party of the Naval Brigade under Lieut. Wood, R.N., proceeded on the night of the 3rd to Tunning, which place it was expected would be reached before daylight next morning. I accompanied the party, with a few Malays and two guides, to identify any prisoners captured.

The journey took longer than had been anticipated, and it had been light for some time before the boats reached Tunning.

It is to this circumstance that Raja Abbass and Kolah owe their escape.

I accompanied Lieut. Wood's party along a jungle path from Tunning to the house where the men were said to be in hiding.

Before we came in sight of it, shouting was heard, and it was evident that the alarm had been given. I took a party of Malays round by a side path to endeavour to intercept any fugitives escaping in the opposite direction to that by which we had come, but I did not see anybody, and made my way to the honse which was already surrounded by Lieut. Wood's party.

Immediately afterwards some of the Malays who had been with me, came and reported that they had brought one of the three men of whom we were in search to another but.

They had gone deeper into the jungle than I had, and had seen three armed men and some women making off. They stopped the last man, Panjang Meroo, and induced him to surrender quietly. He was armed with a musket and two spears.

My duties ended with the identification of the man, and I was not present, nor were my party of Malays, at the execution. Lieut. Wood's party carried out their orders by hanging him to the nearest tree, and destroying the stockaded house in which he and his companions in crime had been living.

On the return of the party to the boats it was reported that immediately after our disappearance in the jungle, a boat had pushed off from Periang (on the left bank of the river) to Tunning, upon which the shouting which we had heard had commenced.

The boat had been despatched, no doubt, by Toh Sri Lela (who was reported to be staying at Periang at the time), or by some of his followers. I crossed the river to Periang with Lieut. Wood and a small escort, but did not meet Toh Sri Lela. was taken and brought down to Kwala Kangsa on our return.

The boat

Before the party left Tunning, a deputation from the elders of the village came down to the boats and asked permission to bury the body. The spokesman said that what had been done was a very good thing for the neighbourhood.

Beralah, near Tunning, where the stockaded house stood, is in the district of the Sedika Raja, who was an adherent of Ismail, and was killed afterwards at Batu Berdinding by the Malays who accompanied the Police expedition sent from Province Wellesley.

any

I desire to guard against the possible supposition that the event above described had connection with the opposition experienced by the troops on the left bank of the river on the following day. have ample proof that that opposition had been long determined on, and I have every reason to believe that Raja Abbass and Toh Sri Lela were among those who sided with Maharaja Lela at Passir Salah.

To the Hon. the Colonial Secretary,

Straits Settlements.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

W. E. MAXWELL, Deputy Commissioner.

SIR,

7

Enclosure 2.

64

CAPTAIN BULLER to GOVERNOR, STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

Modeste," at Singapore, April 1, 1876. In reply to your Excellency's confidential letter of 31 ultimo, relative to the alleged hanging of a Malay called Panjang Meroo, at Tunning, by a party of the Naval Brigade sent from Qualla Kangsa, I have the honour to inform you have received no reports of this affair, except the copy of an order which Brigadier-General Ross gave to Commander Garforth, R.N., of H.M.S." Philomel," a copy of which I beg to enclose for your Excellency's information.

Commander Garforth, of the "Philomel," was in immediate command of the Naval Brigade employed with the Laroot forces, and on my visiting Qualla Kangsa on the 11th February, he informed me that be bad written to me on the subject, but I have not received that letter.

H.M.S." Philomel," has now left for India, and I would therefore suggest that your Excellency should apply to Rear-Admiral Macdonald, commanding on the East Indian Station, under whose orders Commander Garforth is now serving.

His Excellency Sir Wm. F. Drummond Jervois, K.C.M.G., C.B.

&c.

&zc.

&c.

I have, &c. (Signed) ALEX. BULLER. Captain and Senior Officer, Straits of

Malacca.

To CAPTAIN GARFORTH, R.N., Senior Naval Officer Larut Field Force, dated Qualla Kangsa, Jan. 2, 1876. Memo.

Captain Garforth R.N., will be good enough to hold in readiness a party of blue- jackets,-i officer and 20 mner, to proceed up the Perak River at 11 p.m. this evening.

The party will be accompanied by Mr. Maxwell, Deputy Commissioner, with 8 or 10 Malays who will act as guides.

The object for which this party is despatched is to secure the persons, dead or alive, of three notorious outlaws, these men are known individually to Mr. Maxwell and the men accompanying him.

The village where these men are in hiding is from 1 to 2 miles in shore from the banks of the river. The name of the village is Tunning, on the right bank of the river, about seven miles up.

Captain Garforth will be so good as to issue instructions that on the detachment landing eight of the men are to be left in charge of the boats, and as soon as the party has landed, they should haul out into the stream and be at anchor opposite the landing place. In the event of the three men named below being captured and identified by Mr. Maxwell, the officer in command will at once hang them opposite or near their house and set fire to the buildings.

The men are to be left hanging. The officer in command assuring himself of their death before leaving; the party will re-embark and return with the boats to Qualla Kangsa without molesting any other building.

The names of the men to be secured are Raja Abbass, escaped convict from Penang Prison, Kolah, and Panjang Meru.

It may possibly be necessary for the party to visit the village of Passir Prinng, a little further up the stream on the left bank, but in this the officer of the party will be guided by the wishes of Mr. Maxwell, Deputy Commissioner.

(Signed) JOHN ROSS, Brigadier-General, Commanding Larut

Field Force.

Enclosure 3.

(Confidential.)

SIR,

MAJOR MCNAIR to COLONIAL SECRETARY.

Singapore, March 31, 1876.

HAVING been asked, prior to my departure for Europe, for any information that

I have it in my power to give concerning the hanging of a Malay on the Perak River,

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