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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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that I wanted for use in the field; Ngah Jabbor called out to me to cut about the water with my knife at the rear of the bath house, threatening to spear me if I did not do so, and my knife struck Mr. Birch twice in the head, somewhere near the ear, he sank and I never saw him again.

Datu Sagor, Toh Lela Putra, Pandak Indut and Panjang Umbah (his brother) were with the Maharajah Lela at the time. That day Maharajah Lela sent to collect #5 from every man in his district to buy gunpowder, and if any one refused his house was to have been looted and burnt. I ran away to my field in the jungle, and afterwards because I was starving I went to Lamboh, and there I was arrested by Uda Pulao and Mah Amin.

20th February 1876.

EXHIBIT C.

NGAH AHMAT states:-For a long time before and at the time Mr. Birch was murdered I was the Maharajah Lela's crani. At the moment Mr. Birch was murdered I was not at the Maharajah Lela's house. I was at my own house, in Campong Ulu, which is midway between Passir Sala and Silat Pulo. Immediately after Mr. Birch was killed, about 9 o'clock, Maharajah Lela sent for me, and also for Rajah Paduka, Rajah Oossain and Diu Meroh. I went first, and then Rajah Oossain and Dein Meroh came. Rajah Paduka did not come, he was sick.

Maharajah Lela ordered me to take an account of the things that were in Mr. Birch's boats, and also the names of the people who took some of the articles. Most of the valuable things were taken by Ngah Karri; Culap Mah Assim, Che Setor, Mah Assoot, Panjang Bah, Siputum, Che Gondah, and Culup Alli; besides these people there were others who live between Passir Sala and Teluk Biah, but I do not remember their names. I wrote down the names of these people, and the things they took, and I gave the paper to Maharajah Lela. The people who were with Maharajah Lela at the time were Pandak Indut, Panjang Bah, Ngah Jabbor, Kulup Alli; these were in the house. Toh Lela Putra was on the bank of the river, and Datu Sagor and Dein Meroh, after remaining for a little while, had returned. After I had done taking down the list of things, Maharajah Lela ordered me to write a letter to Rajah Ismail, asking for men and gunpowder, and arms, to prepare himself in case of an attack from the Residency; the letter was not sent the same day, it was kept to show to some of the Passir Sala people first, and consult them; the next day after Mr. Birch was murdered the "Naga" boat was sent to Rajah Ismail; the boat was refused by Rajah Ismail, and came back to Passir Sala, and then the letter was sent.

February 28, 1876.

Enclosure 2. in No. 64.

Bandar Babru, Perak,

March 6, 1876.

"

ŠI,

We have the honour to report that, in obedience to instructions containied in your letter, Mr. Davidson arrived here on the evening of the 24th ultimo. On the following day, Mr. Swettenham wrote to the Sultan, who was then at Bota, forwarding his Excellency's letter, and requesting his Highness to come to Bandar Bahru, and bring Rajah Dris with him, to arrange for the trial of the prisoners charged with the murder of Mr. Birch.

On the 25th of February we informed the prisoners that in the course of two or three days they would be put upon their trial for the murder of Mr. Birch and others, and told them that if they wished to call any witnesses we would endeavour to procure their attendance, but the prisoners all said that they did not wish to call any witnesses.

On the evening of the 28th February, Rajah Dris arrived, and on the 29th we bad an interview with him, and arranged to commence the trial on the morning of the 2nd instant. This was communicated to the prisoners, and Rajah Dris went up the river, promising to return next day, but he did not come back till the morning of the 3rd instant.

The trial commenced on the 3rd instant, before Rajah Dris, as sole Judge of the Court, appointed by the Sultan, and ourselves as assessors. The examination of the witnesses and hearing of the prisoners' defence occupied the greater part of the 3rd and 4th instant, and at the close of the defence the Court was adjourned till the following day, to give Rajah Dris time to consider the evidence.

On the morning of the 5th instant, Rajah Dris found all the prisoners guilty of the murder of Mr. Birch and others as charged, and sentenced them to death by hanging,

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and stated that the sentence would not be carried out till it had been confirmed by the Sultan. The same day we countersigned a letter to the Sultan, who is still at Bota, informing him of the result of the trial, and that we concurred in the verdict and sentence.

We enclose herewith a copy of the proceedings at the trial.

The Hon. the Colonial Secretary,

Straits Settlements.

No. 65.

We have, &c. (Signed) J. G. DAVIDSON,

FRANK A. SWETTENHAM,

The EARL OF CARNARVON to GOVERNOR SIB W. F. D. JERVOIS, K.C.M.G., C.B. PARAPHRASE of Telegram.

April 28, 1876. SORRY I am prevented by pressure of business from at once sending you instructions as to future policy, which can only, after full deliberation, be decided by H.M. Government. Use utmost care not to take any action without authority. Pro- tection or government of Native States near Sungie Ujong cannot be sanctioned. I request you to send full explanations by Despatch, and proposed proclamation for my consideration.

It might be convenient if you would suggest some one paramount Chlef who could be recognised by those States.

No. 66.

The EARL OF CARNARVON to GOVERNOR SIR W. F. D. JERVOIS, K.O.M.G., C.B. (No. 104.)

Downing Street, April 28, 1876.

SIB,

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch, No. 126, of the 21st of March last, enclosing copies of letters which you have recently received from the Sultan of Tringanu and the Rajabs of Kalantan and Patani, written in answer to the letters you addressed to these Chiefs requesting them not to harbour the Maharaja Lela implicated in the recent outrages in Perak.

I

request that you will assure the Sultan of Tringanu, the Rajah of Kalantan, and the Rajah of Patani, that Her Majesty's Government have received with much satis- faction the assurances of their friendly feeling and offers of co-operation.

I am, (Signed)

&c.

CARNARVON.

No. 67.

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The EARL OF CARNARVON to GOVERNOR SB W. F. D. JERVOIS,

K.C.M.G., C.B.

d I (No. 105.) SIR,

Downing Street, April 28, 1876. I HAVE received with satisfaction your Despatch, No. 129, of the 4th ulto.,† re- porting that, consequent on the movements which you have ordered for his capture, Ex- Sultan Ismail had given himself up to the Lieutenant-Governor of Penang, and had at the same time surrendered the regalia of Perak, of which he had retained possession.

I have already, as you are aware, requested the Foreign Office to convey to the Siamese Government the thanks of Her Majesty's Government for their friendly offices, and I have also marked my sense of the services rendered on this, as on all other occasions, by the Maharajah of Johore.

I shall await with interest the result of the inquiry which you have ordered into the alleged complicity of Ismail and other Chiefs in the murder of Mr. Birch.

I am, &c. (Signed) CARNARVON.

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