CO882-(3-4) — Page 65

لسا

T ། ༅། ག།

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

3

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

Encl 2

keb 2, 1876

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a report of the Assistant Resident, Sungie Ujong, written soon after my visit to Malacca, descriptive of the progress made in the States under review, and of the friendly attitude of their inhabitants towards us.

11. Tunku Ahmat had been summoned to meet me at Malacca, but did not arrive there until the commencement of February, soon after which he came to see me at Singapore. I was, upon the whole, favorably impressed with him, for though nervous at first he seemed to gain confidence and appeared anxious to meet the wishes of the British Government. After my interview with him Tunku Ahmat proceeded to Johore to spend a few days with the Maharajah of Johore, who thinks highly of him. Upon his return to Singapore he assented, at my request, to remain here, pending a decision respecting the course to be pursued with reference to the States under review.

12. Until quite recently everything was quiet and satisfactory in Sri Menanti, Ulu Moar, and Jumpole. I enclose a report by the Assistant Resident, Sungie Ujong, March 28.1876 dated 28th ultimo, stating that a man in his employ, Paki Boli by name, had been

round the country, and that everything was quiet.

Enel 3

April 5, 1876." Encl. 4.

Koel $

On the 7th instant, however, information reached me that the police stations (the establishment of which I reported to your Lordship in paragraph 6 of No. 18 of 14th January last) had been attacked by a party of Malays; that the police had evacuated the police station at Qualla Jumpole without waiting to be attacked, and had retired to Malacca that Captain Murray had proceeded with the greater part of the detachment stationed in Sungie Ujong to Terratchee and Sri Menanti to disperse the offenders; and that a detachment of 50 men of the 1/10th Regiment, and 10 men of the Royal Artillery had been sent from Malacca to Sungie Ujong to garrison Rassa, during the absence of the troops in Sri Menanti.

13. Upon receipt of this intelligence I requested the officer commanding the troops here to embark 50 men of the 80th Regiment on board Her Majesty's ship "Ringdove," to complete the garrison of Malacca, and there to be held available for service, if neces- sary, in Sungie Ujong and the neighbouring States. Early the following morning I myself proceeded in Her Majesty's ship "Modeste" to Malacca, where I received the enclosed report from Captain Murray, dated 5th instant. From this report I gathered that the disturbance had only been made by a band of freebooters from two small States named Kapess and Eenas, supposed to form part of Johole; that their object was simply robbery and plunder, and opposition to authority. Neither Tunku Antar nor the Datu of Moar appear to have taken part in these disturbances.

There seems to have been no excuse on the part of the police for abandoning the station Qualla Jumpole. It will be seen from the report of Captain Murray that the post was perfectly defensible, and I may add that the communication to it was comparatively easy. A smaller body of men successfully repulsed, and without loss, the attacks made by the band on the police station at Sri Menanti.

14. As the inhabitants of Sri Menanti were suffering much damage and loss from the hands of these robbers, and as they begged for our protection, Captain Murray requested the officer commanding the troops at Rassa to send a detachment to Sri Menanti, so as to allow the police to scour the country and to afford protection to the inhabitants. On the following day I met Captain Murray at Lukut, and informed him that I approved of April 10, 1876 his having requested this detachment to be sent to Sri Menanti, that the strength of this detachment should be raised to 50 men (including artillery), and that he abould request the officer commanding at Rassa to send a detachment of equal strength to Qualla Jumpole. Irrespective of other considerations, it appeared to me essential to that post in order that the well-disposed inhabitants might feel reliance on our re-occupy protection, and that the disturbers of order might not gain confidence and strength in consequence of the abandonment of the station.

Each 6.

I enclose copy of a letter which I have addressed to the officer commanding troops, April 17, 1878. Straits Settlements, relative to the military occupation of the posts at Sri Menanti and Qualla Jumpole. Captain Murray assured me that there was no ground for apprehen- sion concerning these States, and that all that was wanted was a settled form of govern. ment.

15. I have come to the conclusion that the provisional government which had been instituted by the appointment of Datu Sultan as head authority should now come to an end, and that there will be no chance of maintaining order and peace in these States until the form of government laid down in paragraph 5 of this Despatch has been established. After discussing the matter with my Executive Council I telegraphed to your Lordship for instructions, and I now await an answer to that telegram." Tele- graphic communication between Singapore and England is at present interrupted, so that ain afraid some delay may ensue. I am anxious, however, that the course which I

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have proposed for the Government of these States should be adopted with as little delay as possible.

In the meantime I have requested the Maharajah of Johore to send for Tunku Antar, who is at present living in the northern part of Johore, to come and see me. My intention is to conciliate him and to induce him to accept a small pension, in the same manner as was arranged by my predecessor in the case of the Datu Bandar of Sungie Ujong, and Rajah Mahmood of Salangore.

The pension would be only paid during good behaviour and would be defrayed out of Native States funds.

As regards Datu Sultan, who, in the absence of Tunku Ahmat, had been placed in authority as a temporary measure (see paragraph 2), there will be no difficulty in dealing with him. He quite understands that he has no claim-to the position which he is temporarily holding, and, if he wishes, I can arrange to obtain for him employment on a suitable salary, which will compensate him for the service which he has rendered.

16. I have ordered Captain Murray to proceed to Sri Menanti to act as Commissioner with the troops.

I have directed Mr. Trevenen, an able young officer in the Colonial Service, to pro- ceed to Sungie Ujong, to take up the duties of Captain Murray there. Should your Lordship approve of the course which I have proposed for the government of the States of Sri Menanti, Ulu Moar, and Jumpole, I would, subject to the sanction of your Lord- ship, appoint Captain Murray on his present salary of 7501. a year as British Agent with Tunku Ahmat in Sri Menanti, and Mr. Trevenen in Sungie Ujong, on a salary of 600/. a year.

Captain Murray knows the country and people well, is an officer of ability and much resource, and possesses in a high degree the necessary qualifications for the duties which will devolve upon him.

Mr. Trevenen unites, with a good knowledge of the Malay language, much ability as a man of business, together with tact and discretion in dealing with natives.

17. If your Lordship approves of the policy which I propose, I would, as stated in paragraph 5, for the present leave the States of Rambowe, Johole, and Jellabu to be governed as heretofore by their respective Datus. I would propose, however, to enter into treaties with them to prevent these States becoming a refuge for bad characters, and generally to maintain friendly relations with them.

I

To ensure these treaties being carried out, and to strengthen our friendship with the rulers of the States referred to, I propose that subsidies should be granted to their Datus during their good behaviour. Advantage may be taken, when entering into the treaty with Rambowe, to settle a disputed question of boundary between that State and Sungie Ujong; and in the treaty with Jobole I would propose to insert a stipulation for the construction of a road from our Malacca frontier through Johole to Sri Menanti and Qualla Jumpole.

I have, &c.

(Signed) WM. F. DRUMMOND JERVOIS,

The Right Hon. the Earl of Carnarvon,

&c. Colonial Office.

SIR,

&c.

&c.

Enclosure 1. in No. 82.

Hon. C. B. PLUNKET to the COLONIAL SECRETARY.

Malacca, February 8, 1876. I HAVE the honour to inform you that on the 5th instant Tunco Ahamat Toongal, of Sri Menanti, or Ruler of Qualla Pelah, waited upon me, in accordance with a request contained in my letter despatched to him shortly before the last visit of his Excellency to this station. He was accompanied by Tuan Syed Alowie, and appeared very nervous and ill at ease.

He apologised for not having come sooner on the grounds that he had returned to Qualla Pelah for some days from Qualla Gomachee, where he had retired after the taking of Sri Menanti by our troops at the request of the Klana.

I told him I thought he had better go on to Singapore and see his Excellency, as I myself did not know what the Governor's intentions were with reference to the policy to be pursued in reference to Sri Menanti, but assured him he would meet with a favourable reception.

He said he would do so, but that he wished to spend a few days in Malacca first, and see Sultan Ali.

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