CO882-(3-4) — Page 387

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference:

EPIC.O. 882

4PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO |

5. After getting as much information as I could, I left Sabba, taking Rajah Indote with me to Sungei Melinting. I had hoped to find Rajah Mahmood there, but he had gone back to Sungei Lanchong.

Tunku Panglima Rajah had been taken on board the " Abdul Samat" with a view of bringing him before the Sultan on the charge of attempting to bribe Mr. Newbronner. I arrived here on the 30th ultimo and proceeded to Ingra yesterday, taking Tunku Panglima Rajah with me.

6. On my arrival the mixed Council met, in pursuance of a summons I had issued on the 30th, and the business stated in the enclosed copy of our proceedings took place.

7. Immediately after the meeting of the Council, accompanied by the members, I visited the Sultan, who fully approved of the resolutions; stated he considered half-pay as sufficient for Tunku Panglima Rajab's support in the meantime, and desired me to request that, his Excellency the Governor will be pleased to sanction the sending of Rajah Dolah from Singapore to this place.

8. With reference to the case against Tunku Panglima Kajah, for having attempted to bribe Mr. Newbronner, I have but little to remark, further than I have no doubt, from a Malayan point of view, the offence is considered by the Sultan, the Tunku Musah, and Rajah Kabar as a very venial one, the crime being more in the want of success and the folly in writing that which Tunku Panglima Rajah might have hinted without so seriously compromising himself. But I can only deal with it as it stands before me, and after my interview with the Sultan, I must solicit his Excellency's sanction to the removal of Tunku Panglima Rajah from the Council, and that pending further inquiry into the question of his action in reference to Rajah Mahdie's letter, that his allowance of #50 (fifty dollars) per month be reduced to $25 (twenty-five dollars).

9. In the case of Rajah Mahmood, I shall again send for him, and if he does not return here within a reasonable time, I shall propose for the consideration of his Excellency that quassa at Sephang be cancelled by the Sultan; his allowance has been stopped on account of his unauthorised and continued absence.

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10. And I must bere record that whatever may be Rajah Mahdie's claim to any share in the government of this country, it would be fatal to its advancement and development to attempt to recognize Rajab Mahdie in any way, beyond granting him such an allowance as will enable him to live away, either in Singapore or any other place authorised by his Excellency.

I am aware of all the good qualities Rajah Mahdie has during and since his detention manifested, but I am constrained to say the slightest hint of his being allowed to reside here and introduce his followers, either as a mere private person or in charge of any district, would cause such distrust and absolute fear on the part of the Chinese who supported Tunku Dia Oodin, that the mines would be deserted and the country retarded in development for years.

The Hon, the Colonial Secretary,

Singapore.

I have, &c.

(Signed) B. DOUGLAS. Her Britannic Majesty's Resident, Salangore.

Before B. DOUGLAS, Judge, and HER BRITANNIC Majesty's ResideNT.

Birnam, April 25, 1878.

Sultan Tunku Panglima Rajah, member of Council, and a recipient of pay to the smount of 50 dollars per month as headman of Kanchong.

Charge of attempt to bribe the collector and magistrate of Birnam in the sum of 40 dollars.

The Tunku Panglima Rajah stated that he wrote the letter, and knew the contents of it.

Louis E. Newbronner, collector and magistrate, sworn:-I received the letter produced at 2 p.m. on the 4th instant, from Tunku Panglima Rajah; one of his followers gave the

letter to me.

I know the contents of the letter. It offers me a bribe of 40 dollars to decide

■ civil case against Abdul Hamid in the favour of the plaintiff, Tunku Panglima Rajah.

I did not see the defendant before I got the letter. He had only just arrived from Langat, and I had no conversation with him. When I got the letter I sent for the defendant. I told him he was guilty of a fault, and I arrested him.

The defendant made no statement to me.

Nothing more has occurred in reference to this case.

No questions by the defendant.

The Resident informed Tunku Panglima Rajah that he should reserve his decision until be had seen the Sultan on the subject.

The superintendent of police asked for a remand until the prisoner was brought before the Sultan.

(Signed) B. DOUGLAS,

Judge of Salangore and Resident.

TRANSLATION of a LETTER from TUNKU PANGLIMA RAJAH to Mr. NEWBRONNER. "Here is a plan for us to consult upon.

"Abdulhamid owes me 120 dollars, and a sword worth 15 dollars, but I have no written acknowledgment from him. Total, 135 dollars.

"If you will receive that sum of money for me I will give you 40 dollars. "Please let me know by letter as soon as possible whether you can do this or not."

True translation.

8/5/78. FRANK A. SWETTENHAM.

(Signed)

INFORMATION of HOOGOP BIN MOWHOOLOOT, taken before me, L. E. NEWBBONNER, Collector and Magistrate, Birnam, on the 27th day of April 1878.

Birnam, April 27, 1878. Hoosop bin Mowhooloot, sworn, states:-I live at Ootan Malinting. I am a planter. About 20 days ago Rajah Dollah came to my house and showed me a paper and asked me to sign it. I refused to do so. Rajah Dollah then read the letter, Is he not the son of Rajah and the wording was "Who is Rajah Mahdie ? Slayman ?" This was all he read out, but he said " If you will sign the letter I will tell you afterwards what else it contains." Rajab Dollah came to my house on three different occasions begging of me to sign. I refused still. He then said, “What are you afraid of?" I replied, "We have a Sultan, if we had not perhaps I might sign." I then went and related the circumstances connected with Rajah Dollah's visit to Rajah Etam.

About five days after the departure of Rajah Dollah, the Tunku Panglima Rajah came to Ootan Malinting and stayed at the house of Datu Bandar. I saw him there, and be said to me,

"Did Rajah Dollah ask you to sign a petition ?" I said, "Yes, he did.” was only to state He said if you had signed it there would have been no harm done, that Rajah Mahdie was the son of Rajah Slayman. The late ex-Datu Bandar of Langat was present when the Panglima Rajah spoke to me.

(Signed) Mark + of HoOSOP BIN MOWHOOLOOT.

INFORMATION Of Datoo DaheMan taken before me, L. E. NEWBRONNER, Collector and Magistrate, Birnam, on the 27th April 1878.

Birnam, April 27, 1878. Datoo Daheman, sworn, staten :—I live at Ootan Malinting, in the Birnam district. I am a planter. I remember that about 20 days ago Rajah Dollah bin Tunku Abbass of Salangore came to my house at Ootan Malinting and showed me a paper and said he wished we to sign it; he also said try and obtain the signatures of nine other persons. I asked him what were the contents of the paper. He said it is to show that Rajaħ Mahdie is the son of Rajah Slayman. I told him to wait till I had read the paper, a I was ignorant of the contents. I subsequently heard the letter read and found that the contents were not the same as stated by Rajah Dollah; the substance of the letter was to the effect that the people of Birnam were troubled because Rajsh Mahdie had been deprived of his inheritance, viz., "The State of Salangore." I then refused to sign the letter, because I was afraid that it might bring me into some political complication, When I refused to sign the and thereby get me into trouble with the present ruler. letter Rajah Dollah asked me to return it; I refused to do so, and kept the same, intending to show it to Rajah Indoot, and afterwards gave it to him. I don't know if any other person signed the letter. Rajah Dollah stayed at my house for half an hour, and then went away to Sungei Lanchang. I was told by Rajah Dollah that Hadjee Ismail and some others signed a similar letter at Sungei Lanchang. At the time when

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