CO882-(3-4) — Page 156

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

3

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON]

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

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Fnclosure 1.

From the RAJAH of Singorah to the Honourable the LECT.-GOVERNOR, Penang.

On Tuesday the 10th day of the 6ith moon in the Rat year, we received the Lieut.- Governor's letter of the 17th April 1876, stating that the wicked men of Perak, Pandak Ailum, and Maharajah Lela, and their companions, have run away and are staying in Campong Kernie, in the territory of Reman, under the government of Singorah, and asking us to direct the Rajah of Reman to arrest them, and, if successful, to send them to Pinang. We fully understand all that has been said.

With regard to Pandak Allum, Marajah Lela, and their companions, having gone to Campong Kernie, in the territory of Reman, we did not know of it until we received the Lieut-Governor's letter, and we gave a letter to Luang Sree Padukah's interpreter to take to the Rajah of Reman; in the letter we stated that the Governor of Penang had informed that Pandak Allum, Marajah Lela, and their companions, had gone to live in Campong Kernie, in the territory of Reman; and asking that the Rajah of Reman nay arrest them and bring them to Singorah; and Luang Sree Padukah left Singorah on Thursday the 12th of the 6th moon, and if he and the Rajah of Reman will succeed or not in arresting Pandak Allum, and Marajah Lelah, and companions, we will inform the Governor of Pinang, but the Governor of Pinang must not suspect that we are siding with these wicked Malays of Perak; we have nothing in common with them.

14th of the 6th moon in the Rat year.

Enclosure 2.

Her Britannic Majesty's Cossut GENERAL, Bangkok, to GOVERNOR, Straits

Settlements.

British Agency, Bangkok, April 29, 1876.

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch of the 17th instant, which reached me on the 28th instant, informing me that Rajah Lela with certain followers had fled to Patani, and requesting me to obtain his apprehension in order that he may be handed over to the British authorities.

In reply, I have to state that I have applied to the Siamese government for the apprehension of the persons above mentioned, and, though I have as yet received no reply, I have every reason to believe that steps will be immediately taken for their apprehension.

His Excellency

I have, &c.

(Signed)

THOMAS GEORGE KNOX.

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

SIR,

&c.

&c.

&c.

Enclosure 3.

Her Britannic Majesty's Consul General, Bangkok, to GOVERNOR, Straits

Settlements.

British Agency, Bangkok, May 3, 1876.

I HAVE the honour to inclose copies of my Despatch to the Siamese government in reference to the arrest of Rajah Lela and those who accompany him, together with their reply to the same.

As there is every probability that these men will be brought up to Bangkok, I have the honour to request that you will be good enough to furnish me with sufficient evidence, documentary or otherwise, to connect these persons accused with the crime laid to their charge.

Though I do not anticipate any great difficulty in getting these men handed over, still I may have some, for I have reason to believe that the Siamese government are not very well pleased at their tributary, the Rajah of Quedah, having been made the means of handing over the ex-Sultan Ismail without any reference having been made to them.

It has been observed to me that as any crime alleged to have been committed by Sultan Ismail was not committed in the Straits Settlements the convention with Quedah could have no reference whatever to his rendition, and that it would have been therefore better that he should have remained there until the government at Bangkok had been communicated with.

I have, &c.

(Signed)

THOMAS GBORGE KNOX.

SIB,

85

Her Britannic Majesty's CoNSUL GENERAL, Bangkok, to MINISTER for Western

Provinces.

British Agency, Bangkok, April 28, 1876.

I HAVE the honour to inform your Excellency that I have by this day's mail received information from the Governor of the Straits Settlements that Rajah Lela has escaped from Perak and is now near Kendrong which, I am given to understand, is a place not far from the frontier of Perak,

Rajah Lela, it is stated, has been accompanied by his brother Che Ngah Jabbor, and three or four others implicated in the Perak outrages.

I have, therefore, to request that your Excellency will be good enough to take immediate steps for the apprehension of these persons, in order that they may be handed over to the Straits Governinent.

I beg to suggest that they may be taken to the borders of Perak, and there made over to the party which, there is every probability, will be found ready to receive them.

I have, &c. His Excellency

Chow Phya Sri Surawongse Phra Kalahome,

&c.

&c.

&c. Minister for the Western Provinces.

(Signed) THOMAS GEORGE KNOX.

(Translation.)

CHOW PHYA SURAWONGBE WAY WADDHU PHRA KALAHOME, Minister for the Western Provinces, to MR. KNOX, Her Britannic Majesty's Agent and Consul General for Siam.

Ia

Dated, April 29, 1876. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th instant. reply, I beg to inform you that with regard to the Chiefs of Perak who committed outrage on the British resident, I formerly sent you a copy of a proclamation forwarded to each province.

The Governor of the Straits Settlements has now sent you a letter to say that Rajah Lela, with his brother and some of his people, have escaped to Kendrong, and you request the Siamese Government to seize them and deliver them to the English Government.

It is not known for certain whether Kendrong is on the borders of Perak, or what Malay provinces tributary to Bangkok it adjoins. I have therefore sent joint instructions to Phra Narathi-rach Phakdi, Commissioner in the Siamese gunboat "Regent," and to the Governor of Singora, a copy of which I beg to enclose herewith.

(Translation.)

CHOW PHYA SURAWONGBE WAY WADDHU PHRA KALAHOME, Minister for the Western Provinces to PHRA NARATHI-RACH-PHAKDI KHA LUANG (Commissioner), and to the GOVERNOR of SINGORA.

Dated, April 29, 1876.

MR. KNOX, the British Agent and Consul-General, has addressed a letter dated April 28th, 1876, to me to state that the Governor of the Straits Settlements has informed him by letter that Rajah Lela, with his brother Chay Ngah Jabbaw, and others implicated in the Perak outrage to the number of three or four persons, have escaped to Muang Kendrong, and be requests the Siamese Government to take immediate steps to seize these men and deliver them over to the British Government or to the English force on the borders of Perak.

*

A circular was formerly sent to the Governors of the Malay tributary states with regard to the people who raised disturbances in Perak and killed the British Resident.

The Governor of the Straits Settlements now sends a letter to the British Agent and Consul General in Bangkok, requesting the Siamese Government to catch these people and deliver them to the British General.

Should the Governors and officials proceed to seize them, according to the request of the English Government, Rajah Lela will object that he and his people are not British subjects and he will not submit to be arrested. It would be very difficult for the Governor and officials to do anything with Rajah Lela, there being no way of answering him which would be consistent with justice, and should they forcibly seize them, a fight might arise, and a small matter would become an affair of importance to the country.