CO882-(3-4) — Page 316

PUBLIC RECORD

OFFICE

9:

Reference:→

C.O. 882

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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XVI. That in consequence of this threat, and on the failure of the object of the deputation to Singapore, the Sultan summoned a meeting of all the chiefs of Perak to decide what cause they should adopt, and invited Mr. Kim Cheng to come to Perak and give him advice.

XVII. That this meeting was held on or about the 21st July at Durian Sebatang when all the chiefs of Perak except Rajah Yusuf were either present or represented

authorised to act for them on the occasion.

by

XVIII. That it was unanimously agreed at this meeting to kill Mr. Birch, and, if possible, effect a combined movement of the chiefs of the "Ülu" and "Ilir" to attack Bandar Bahru and drive the British from Perak.

XIX. That the Sultan, accompanied by the Laxamana and Shahbandar, met Mr. Kim Cheng by appointment at Kota Stia on the 23rd July, Mr. Birch also being present; and the Sultan, after considerable pressure, on the 24th July signed three notifications: 1st, one appointing the Laxamana a commissioner for the boundary question; 2nd, one authorising the British Resident and Shahbandar to manage all taxes with power to make taxes and to abolish any existing taxes and to appoint and dismiss all headmen; 3rd, one appointing the British Resident and Rajah Driss, judges.

XX. That the Sultan, although he signed these notifications, excused himself from putting his seal to them on the pretence that his "chop was broken.

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XXI. That in the month of August several circumstances, chiefly connected with the protection afforded to runaway slaves by Mr. Birch, contributed to increase the personal hostility of the Sultan to him; and that he dispatched Nacodah Ketek to Penang to purchase large quantities of muskets and ammunition, and held mein berhantoos in his house at Battak Rabbit to forecast the fate of Mr. Birch.

XXII.-That in the same month the Mantri supplied Punghulu Mat Alli of Kurow with $1,000 to purchase arms and ammunition.

XXIII. That in September his Excellency Sir William Jervois visited Perak, and made proposals, on one occasion to the ex-Sultan at Blanja, and on another occasion to Sultan Abdullah at Bandar Bahru, that the country should be handed over to the Queen, and submitted to them a plan for British officers to be appointed by the Queen, and for suitable allowances to be made to such of the chiefs as accepted his proposals.

XXIV. That the ex-Sultan Ismail, by letter dated 15th September, refused to accept either the proposal of his Excellency or to acknowledge the validity of the Pangkor Treaty, stating that he considered himself bound only by the treaty formerly entered into with the Honourable East India Company.

XXV. That Sultan Abdullah replied under date 16th September that he was unable to give an answer to the proposals of the Governor without first consulting the other chiefs of royal blood, and that he wished to follow the terms of the Pangkor Treaty.

XXVI. That at the request of Abdullah a period of 15 days was given him to consult with the ex-Sultan, and the other chiefs of the royal blood, before giving an answer to the proposals of the Governor.

XXVII. That during the stated time of 15 days allowed the Sultan, very great pressure was brought to bear upon him by Mr. Birch to get him to accede to the proposals of the Governor.

XXVIII. That on the 9th of September, Rajah Yusuf and Bajah Driss, both chiefs of royal blood, addressed a letter to the Governor stating their desire that the country should be taken over by the British; and that Mr. Birch gave Yusuf a written guarantee that he should receive $1,000 a month, and a similar guarantee to Rajah Driss that he should receive $150 a month.

XXIX. That on the 29th September, Sultan Abdullah signed a letter which had been prepared for him by Mr. Birch, accepting in full the proposals of the Governor, and was given a promise in writing from Mr. Birch that he should receive $2,000 a month, and that until the question of slave debtors had been legislated for Mr. Birch would give up any of his slaves that might take refuge at Bandar Bahru.

XXX.-That on the same day the steamer "Pluto" arrived at Perak bringing a letter for the Sultan from the Governor conceding the point, that the Government should be carried on in his name as Sultan, and another letter for Rajah Yusuf offering to make him Sultan, and to be delivered to him in case Abdullah refused the Governor's proposals,

XXXI. That on the 30th September Mr. Birch gave the Sultan the Governor's letter, and congratulated him on his being allowed to retain the title of Sultan.

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XXXII. That on the 1st October Mr. Birch again visited the Sultan, and put before him for signature the two proclamations I and J, already referred to; and on Abdullah hesitating to sign them, Mr. Birch held out the threat to him, that unless he did sign them he would send the Governor's letter to Yusuf.

XXXIII.-That under this pressure the Sultan, on the 3rd of October, sent Mr. Birch the two proclamations with his " chop

XXXIV. That a few days after this three slave women ran away from the Sultan to Bandar Bahru, and where harboured by Mr. Bacon during the absence of Mr. Birch, who had gone down to the Dindings.

on them.

XXXV. That Sultan Abdullah was at this time visited by the Maharajah Lela, who declared that he would never submit to Mr. Birch; and, that according to the statement of one of the principal witnesses, Abdullah then gave the Maharajah Lela a written authority under his "chop" to kill Mr. Birch, promising to supply him with arms and provisions, the Datu Sagor being present at the time.

XXXVI.-That on the 9th October, the Sultan, with a large following of chiefs, moved down from Passir Panjang to Bandar Bahru, and demanded through the Shahbandar that the women should be given up.

XXXVII.-That Mr. Birch told the Shahbandar that he might search for the women, and take them if they were willing to go; but that if they came before him and complained of ill-treatment, now that Abdullah had given him full powers, he should interfere for their protection.

XXXVIII. That about this time ex-Sultan Ismail summoned a meeting of all the chiefs of the Ulu and Ilir to consider whether they would submit to the British authority in Perak, or whether they would combine and attack Bandar Bahru and drive the British out of Perak,

XXXIX. That on the 12th September, the Laxamana, by order of the Sultan, sent a letter by the hand of Haji Mat Yassim to the ex-Sultan, informing him that the Maharajah Lela had been definitely authorised to kill Mr. Birch whenever he went up the river.

XL-That Haji Mat Yassim was received with great cordiality by Ismail, who read out the letter of the Laxamana to a large meeting, when it was unanimously agreed that they should render every assistance to the Maharajah Lela and attack Bandar Bahru after the celebration of the Hari Ryah,-1st November, and the Sri Maharajah Lela was at once sent to invite the Bandahara, Mantri and Tumunggong to attend with their ryots.

XLI.-That on the 27th September, Mr. Sweetenham arrived in Perak with printed copies of the Governor's proclamations of the 15th October, as well as copies of the two proclamations by the Sultan, dated 3rd October, and Mr. Birch's six notifications relating to the taxes of the country; and that they were posted the same day in front of the Residency under a salute of 21 guns.

XLII. That on the 29th September, Sultan Abdullah sent up large quantities of arms and ammunition to Passir Sala, and sent letters to the Maharajah Lela and ex-Sultan Ismail.

XLIII.—That on receipt of the Sultan's letter at Blanja Ismail gave the messengers a quantity of tin to take to the Maharajah Lela to make bullets, besides $100 to buy powder, and directed the Datu Narah to order the people of Lembow and Pulo Tiga to go to the assistance of the Maharajah Lela

XLIV. That on the 81st October the Sultan went up at night secretly to Passir Punjang, and directed the Maharajah Dindah and his brother, styled the Datur Narab, to collect all the men at Salat Pulo and go to the assistance of the Maharajah Lela, and entrusted the Datu Narah with a valuable kriss to be given to the Maharajah Lela.

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XLV. That on the night of the 1st November Mr. Birch arrived at Passir Sala, and that as soon as it was known he had arrived the Maharajah Lela sent out messengers in all directions to collect people.

XLVI. That on the morning of the 2nd November Mr. Birch attempted to post up proclamations on a Chinaman's house, when he and others were attacked and killed by persons acting under the orders of the Maharajah Lela.

XLVII.-That immediately after the murder of Mr. Birch the Maharajah Lela took possession of the effects found in Mr. Birch's boat; divided the spoil among those who had taken the most prominent part in the murder of Mr. Birch, and the same day sent word to the Sultan and Laxamana of what had occurred, and organized a party to attack Bandar Bahru under the leadership of Wan Hoosein, brother of the Tumonggong, and the Datu Sagor.

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