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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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THEN CO.

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE ¦ BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

| COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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the Patani women and children collected near, to ensure the men being faithful, and issued instructions to that effect. I also sent Wan Aboo Bakar of Hijow and Meer Hamit, both men of influence, who had been driven out of Perak by Seedeekah Rajah and Orang Kaya Besar to act as headman of the Patanis, pending further instructions from his Excellency the Governor. I also despatched Che Karrim with instructions to despatch a force to follow Ismail, who had filed in the direction of Pulsi (Kedah) with Tuam Chee (whom I sent to Ismail some two and a half months ago). This man's intention, as I afterwards learnt, was to draw Ismail to Kedah, where his capture would be easy. I also directed a force to follow Maharajah Lela, who was at Bada, about two days march further up the country, where he was staying under an assumed name, that of Che Ali. Ismail left 17 elephants behind him, of which 3 were captured before I left Hijow. The others, when caught, I directed to be collected at Hijow. I then proceeded with the Province Malays to Salamab, and hurried up the remaining arms and ammunition, which I forwarded to the front, and then returned to Penang to receive further instructions. Ismail's flight was made in great haste, and his capture when in Kedah will I believe be a certainty. The Patanis secured to the side of the Government, about 300 in number, will

feel sure tend greatly to the demoralisation of those carrying on the war at Kota Lama, and any advance of troops from there will meet with assistance instead of resistance at Batu Badinding and the surrounding district. Seedeekah Rajah was looked upon with great dread by the Patanis, and ranked as one of the eight great men of Perak, and held the highest rank as a fighting Chief equal to Punghina Prang Samaon.

I would request you to bring to the notice of his Excellency the good behaviour of all the men who followed me. The privations undergone were very great, the walking fearfully severe, but under it all I never heard a single murmur, and one and all carried out my instructions with promptness and energy. Che Karrim entered with great spirit into the affair, but unfortunately he was not backed up by his men at Salamah. Had my force been 400, as originally designed, I am confident I would have succeeded in capturing Ismail, but had I not advanced as I did, the whole road into Perak would have been stockaded and blocked up, as arrangements were completed to begin operations on the day after that on which Batu Badinding was entered. Ismail's son, Rajah Lat, was within 300 yards of me with Tuan Teh, a female relation of Tuan Chee when I entered Batu Badinding, and he ran over to Ismail and hurried his flight, but I did not know this till afterwards. I would also request that a suitable reward be given to the informer Aboo, who led me faithfully to the spot where Ismail was,

Pandak Indut who was killed at Batu Badinding was the murderer of the late Resident of Perak, and I believe a reward has been proclaimed with reference to him. I attach a sworn statement to the effect that his body was seen and recognized amongst those killed on Wednesday, the 12th instant.

To the Superintendent of Police, Penang.

I have, &c.

(Signed) JOHN E. HEWICK,

Assistant Superintendent of Police,

Province Wellesley.

THE declaration of Aboo taken on oath before me Captain O. H. Strong, one of the Justices of the Peace at Province Wellesley, this 19th day of January, in the year of Our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, who states:-By directions of Mr. Hewick, I proceeded to examine the bodies of certain Perak Malaya killed in an encounter with the force under Mr. Hewick, at Batu Badinding. Of these I recognized as Sedeka Rajah, and another as that of Pandak Indut, whom I had repeatedly heard to aver that he had killed the Honourable J. W, W. Birch, late Resident of Perak.

SIR,

Before me,

(Signed) O. H. STRONG, J.P.

A. A. Superintendent of Police.

(Signed) Anoo,

COLONIAL SECRETARY to RESIDENT, Salangorę.

(In Malay character.)

Colonial Secretary's Office,

Singapore, February 21, 1876.

I AM directed by the Governor to inform you, that three prisoners charged with murder of Mr, Birch have been taken, and are now awaiting trial at Bandar Bahru, They are to be tried by a native Malay court, aided by two British assessors.

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Sultan Abdullah has named Rajah Dris the head of the Malay court.

The Governor has appointed you chief assessor. The other assessor will be Mr. Swettenham, who is now acting deputy commissioner in Perak.

His Excellency requests that you will proceed forthwith to Bandar Bahru, and, after acquainting yourself as far as possible with the circumstances of the case, and obtaining all the evidence you can, that you will arrange with the Sultan and with Mr. Swettenham for the trial of the prisoners.

His Excellency has been guided in selecting you for this responsible office, mainly, by the consideration that your lengthened experience as a practising barrister will ensure a proper regard being maintained throughout the proceedings to the observance of all regular forms of procedure in so far as they may be applicable, as well as of the rules of evidence, with a view to conducting the trial in a fair and impartial manner.

And the great local experience possessed by Mr. Swettenham will be of great advantage to you in the proceedings.

His Excellency requests that you will make a full report of the proceedings and furnish

a copy of the evidence taken in the matter.

J. G. Davidson, Esq.,

H.B.M.'s Resident, Salangore.

No. 33.

I have, &c. (Signed) J. Douglas,

Colonial Secretary, S.S.

GOVERNOR SIR W. F. JERVOIS, K.C.M.G., C.B., to the EARL OF CARNARVON. (Received March 25, 1876.) (No. 84.)

MY LORD,

Government House, Singapore, February 24, 1876. In paragraph 7 of my Despatch No. 17 of January 14th, I reported to your Lordship that I had requested that a body of hostile Malays at Kota Lama, about two miles above Qualla Kangsa, should be dislodged from the former place. I now enclose for your Lordship's information copy of a report from Mr. Maxwell, Acting Deputy Commissioner, relating to the movement which was made on the 20th altimo with this object.

2. The Malays, however, who were thus driven away from Kota Lama retired to places named Enggar and Prek, a few miles higher up the Perak River. From thence, as stated in the accompanying reports of Brigadier General Ross, C.B., and Mr. Max- well, they continued to keep the neighbourhood of Qualla Kangsa in a disturbed state, interfering with the line of communications thereto, murdering individuals, and attacking small parties on the route.

3. On the 3rd instant an armed band of Kota Lama Malays, with Toh Sri Lela, their Chief, came into collision with Rajah Muda Yusuf's people at Sayong, opposite Qualla Kangsa, and Yusuf asked for our assistance. A party of 50 Gourkhas was consequently sent across the river for this object, and after driving the hostile Malays back returned to their camp the same evening.

I much regret to say that, owing to some misunderstanding as to the position of Yusuf's friendly Malays, they were mistaken for the enemy and before the mistake was discovered two of them were killed and two wounded. I have written to the Rajah Muda (who has been most loyal and staunch throughout), expressing my regret, and promising provision for the widows and children of his people who were killed in the

affair.

4. On the 4th instant, a movement was made on the village of Enggar by columns of troops advancing along both banks of the river, under the command of Lieut.-Colonels Hill and Cox, and co-operating with a party of blue jackets in boats with a gun and rockets under Commander Garforth, R,N. The Malays at Enggar opened fire on the troops and boats, but they were soon dislodged from their position and the village destroyed.

Brigadier-General Ross, having directed Lieut.-Colonel Hill's column of 150 men to bivouac for the night at Enggar and to push on to Prek the following morning, returned to Qualla Kangsa with the blue jackets and Lieut.-Colonel Cox's column.

5. On the morning of the 5th instant, Lieut.-Colonel Hill advanced upon Prek, which is about two miles from Enggar in an easterly direction, and, after some little opposition,

* No. 144 of Confidential Paper," Eastern, No. 17.”

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