b16497600 Sadka PDF
b16497600 Sadka PDF
b16497600 Sadka PDF
1 8 7 4 -1 8 9 5
E. Sadka
D o c to r o f P h ilo s o p h y in th e
D ecem ber I9 6 0
The t h e s i s i s my own w o rk . Where
I have used th e f in d in g s o f o th e rs
t o s u p p le m e n t my own, t h e n o t e s
c a r r y an a c k n o w le d g m e n t.
I* LIBRARY r-1
tin te d
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
me w i t h t h i s research. I am d e e p l y in d eb ted to P ro fe s so r
J . W . D a v i d s o n a n d my c o l l e a g u e s in th e D epartm ent of
th e ir co u rtesy and h e l p .
i
ABBREVIATIONS USED IN NOTES
Ü
o•
C o lo n ial O ffice
•
C .S . C o lo n ial S e c re tary
PGG P e r a k Government G a z e t t e
SCM S e la n g o r C o u n c il M inutes
ii
PRECIS
iii
iv
t h e r e a l i t i e s w h ic h i t c o v e r e d r e m a i n t o be d i s c u s s e d . The
t h e s i s d e s c r i b e s t h e a cc o m m o d atio n r e a c h e d b e t w e e n f a c t
The s u b j e c t o f t h i s t h e s i s was o r i g i n a l l y c o n c e i v e d
as a s t u d y b o t h o f t h e f o r m a t i o n o f B r i t i s h p o l i c y and
i t s ex ec u tio n through the s t r u c tu r e o f government i n Malaya.
I t was i n t e n d e d t o c o n s i d e r how f a r u n i f o r m i t y i n g o v e r n
ment h a d b e e n a c h i e v e d b e f o r e 1 8 9 5 , when t h e s t a t e ad min
i s t r a t i o n s were p l a c e d u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l o f a F e d e r a l c h i e f
e x e c u t i v e , t h e i r c i v i l s e r v i c e s a m alg am ated and many o f
t h e i r departm ents p lac ed under F ed eral head s. The whole
subject is a larg e o n e , and h a s n o t b e e n c o v e r e d i n t h e
m anne r o r i g i n a l l y intended. The f o r m a t i o n o f p o l i c y i s
d isc u sse d at le n g th , b u t the s t r u c t u r e o f g o v e rn m e n t h a s
been tre a te d s e le c tiv e ly . The r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e Co
l o n i a l O f f i c e and t h e s t a t e s a r e d e a l t w i t h , and t h e
r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e G-overnor, t h e R e s i d e n t , t h e S u l t a n
and t h e C h i n e s e h e ad m en as r e f l e c t e d in th e workings of
t h e S t a t e C o u n c i l , a r e d e a l t w i t h i n a p a p e r on t h e S t a t e
V
C o u n c i l s s u b m i t t e d a s A p pendix I I I . The p o l i c i e s o f t h e
s t a t e g o v e r n m e n t s and t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s o f F e d e r a t i o n have
been om itted.
b e a r i n g on t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e r e s i d e n t i a l s y s t e m i n
P e r a k i s h e r e w i t h s u b m i t t e d i n a m p l i f i c a t i o n o f some o f
t h e p o i n t s made i n t h e s t u d y .
CONTENTS
Page.
Acknowledgments i
Abbreviations ii
Precis iii
Map
PART I The Malay States before Intervention.
APPENDICES
TH E M ALAY STATES
1895
KEDAH SCALE
— 6C
KELANTAN
Penang
TRENGGANU
p <T^
r ^
PPangkor^
Kuala Lipis
----4° 4° —
Kuantan
Kuala Selangor
selangorV ^
f e lJ N G E T p X
d V
\
^ T%l H ^
L a n q a tV |V S E R E M B A N _K uala Pilah
J V1 Ji* N
I NEt U
GKRI /
^ '
MJJONG .SEMBILAN t
Port D ic K s o n V U j #Tarr^ n *
J.U n #
dary with the Malay state of Kedah and the British settle-
1
ment of Province Wellesley; the Bernam river to the south
along the coast to include the Lukut and Sungei Raya valleys,
T
By the Pangkor Engagement of 1874, the Perak-Province
Wellesley boundary was redrawn a few miles south of the
Krian river.
1
2
c o a s t l i n e s o u t h o f t h e S eppang r i v e r , were g i v e n t o S u n g e i
U jo n g , and S e l a n g o r r e c e i v e d i n e x c h a n g e t h e w hole L a n g a t
2
v a l l e y to i t s s o u th e rn w atersh ed .
The N e g r i S e m b ila n ( l i t e r a l l y , ’N ine S t a t e s ’ ) , a c o n
f e d e r a t i o n o f p e t t y s t a t e s w h ich a t one tim e i n c l u d e d
S u n g e i U jong and was t o i n c l u d e i t a g a i n by an a g re e m e n t
r e a c h e d u n d e r B r i t i s h a u s p i c e s , c o m p r is e d t h e h i n t e r l a n d
o f M a la c c a a s f a r as t h e P a h a n g b o r d e r on t h e n o r t h , J o h o r e
on t h e e a s t , and S e l a n g o r on t h e w e s t . I t was d r a i n e d by
th e so u th e rn m o st t r i b u t a r i e s of th e Pahang r i v e r in th e
n o r t h , by t h e u p p e r r e a c h e s o f t h e Muar i n t h e e a s t and
c e n t r e , and b y t h e L i n g g i i n t h e w e s t . The s t a t e of S ungei
U jo n g , w h ich had i n d e p e n d e n t r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e B r i t i s h and
was s e p a r a t e l y a d m i n i s t e r e d d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d u n d e r s t u d y ,
l a y b e tw e e n S e l a n g o r and t h e r e s t o f t h e N e g r i S e m b ila n .
The d e l i n e a t i o n o f i t s w e s t e r n b o u n d a r y h a s a l r e a d y b e e n
d e sc rib e d . On t h e n o r t h i t was s e p a r a t e d fro m t h e c o n f e
d e r a t e s t a t e o f J e l e b u by t h e J e l e b u r a n g e , b e tw e e n t h e
U pper L i n g g i and t h e U pper K law ang; on t h e e a s t i t was s e
p a r a t e d from t h e c o n f e d e r a t e s t a t e o f S r i M e n a n ti by t h e
L i n g g i - T e r a c h i w a t e r s h e d , and from t h e c o n f e d e r a t e s t a t e of
Rembau b y t h e L i n g g i - P e d a s w a t e r s h e d .
2
B o u n d a ry A greem ent b e tw e e n S e l a n g o r and S u n g e i U jo n g ,
10 F e b r u a r y 1 8 7 8 , M axw ell and G-ibson, T r e a t i e s and E n g a g e
m e n ts a f f e c t i n g t h e M alay S t a t e s and B o r n e o , 2 1 2 -1 3 .
3
P a h a n g , t h e o n l y e a s t c o a s t s t a t e t o come u n d e r B r i t i s h
c o n t r o l d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d , em braced m ost o f e a s t - c e n t r a l
M a la y a , b e tw e e n l a t i t u d e s 4° 4 5 ’ and 2° 3 0 ’ n o r t h , and b e
tw e e n t h e c e n t r a l m o u n ta in r a n g e and t h e C h in a s e a . In th e
w i t h t h e N e g r i S e m b ila n , S e l a n g o r and P e r a k ; in th e n o r th
sh e had a common b o u n d a r y w i t h t h e S ia m e s e - d o m in a te d s t a t e s
o f K e l a n t a n and T r e n g g a n u . Pahang i s th e l a r g e s t s t a t e in
t h e P e n i n s u l a , w i t h 1 3 ,8 7 3 s q u a r e m i l e s com pared w i t h 7890
f o r P e r a k , 3166 f o r S e l a n g o r , 2550 f o r N e g r i S e m b ila n i n -
3
e l u d i n g S u n g e i U jo n g , and 660 f o r S u n g e i U jo n g .
The w e st c o a s t s t a t e s a r e i n c l o s e p r o x i m i t y t o t h e
t e r r i t o r i e s w hich t h e n c o n s t i t u t e d t h e Crown C o lo n y o f t h e
S t r a it s S e ttle m e n ts. The n o r t h - w e s t o f P e r a k was c o n t i
guous w i t h P r o v i n c e W e l l e s l e y and was a b o u t e i g h t h o u r s by
c o a s t a l s t e a m e r fro m P e n a n g . The s t e a m i n g d i s t a n c e b e tw e e n
K la n g , i n c e n t r a l S e l a n g o r , and M a la c c a Town, a b o u t 100
3
The f i g u r e s g i v e t h e m odern a r e a s o f t h e s t a t e s , and have
b e e n t a k e n fro m t h e M a lay a n C e n su s R e p o r t f o r 1 9 4 7 , pp.136-7.
The a r e a o f P e r a k h a s b e e n s l i g h t l y i n c r e a s e d i n m odern
t i m e s by t h e r e t u r n o f a s m a l l e n c l a v e on t h e w e s t c o a s t
known a s t h e D i n d i n g s , t r a n s f e r r e d by P e r a k t o t h e S t r a i t s
S e t t l e m e n t s i n 1886 and r e t u r n e d i n 1 9 3 5 ; b u t t h e a r e a i n
v o lv e d was l e s s t h a n 200 s q u a r e m i l e s . The S u n g e i U jong
f i g u r e i s t a k e n fro m D ic k s o n t o K n u t s f o r d , 284 o f 10 J u l y
1 8 9 0 , f o r w a r d i n g A nn u al R e p o r t s o f t h e S t a t e s f o r 1 8 8 9 .
4
about twelve hours. Further south, the Linggi river for six
Sungei Ujong and Malacca, and the Linggi estuary was some
vention are pure guesses and are reproduced here only because
5
t h e y i n d i c a t e th e k in d o f in f o r m a tio n a v a i l a b l e to S t r a i t s
o ffic ia ls on t h i s q u e s t i o n , N ew bold, w r i t i n g i n t h e 1 8 3 0 s ,
e s t i m a t e d t h e M alay p o p u l a t i o n o f P e r a k a t 3 5 ,0 0 0 ; in 1861,
4
N ew bold, P o l i t i c a l and S t a t i s t i c a l A ccount o f t h e B r i t i s h
S e t t l e m e n t s ^ n t h e S t r a i t s o f M a lac ca ^ i , 419; S p e e c h by
C l a r k e , S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s l e g i s l a t i v e C o u n c il P r o c e e d i n g s ,
15 S e p te m b e r 1 8 7 4 , C . l l l l , e n c l o s u r e i n n o . 72; P e r a k A nnual
R e p o r t f o r 1 8 8 1 ; P e r a k A nnual R e p o r t f o r 1 8 9 1 .
5
A n d e r s o n , P o l i t i c a l and C o m m ercial C o n s i d e r a t i o n s r e l a
t i v e t o t h e M alayan P e n i n s u l a ( P r i n c e o f W a le s ' I s l a n d ,
1 8 2 4 ) , c i t e d W i n s t e d t , ' H i s t o r y o f S e l a n g o r ' , JMBRAS, x i i ,
3 , p .1 6 ; R eport o f th e A s s t. R e sid e n t a t S a la n g o re , 8 A p ril
1 8 7 5 , C .1 3 2 0 , e n c l o s u r e i n n o . 2 8 ; S e l a n g o r A nnual R e p o r t
f o r 1 884; S e l a n g o r A n n u al R e p o r t f o r 1 8 9 1 . B etw een August
1874 and A p r i l 1875 t h e A s s t . R e s i d e n t (S w e tte n h a m ) went
up t h e B ernam , S e l a n g o r , K l a n g , L a n g a t and L u k u t r i v e r s ,
v i s i t i n g 'e v e r y tow n and v i l l a g e i n t h e S u l t a n ' s c o u n t r y ,
e x c e p t U lu B e r n a m '. H is r e p o r t g i v e s p o p u l a t i o n f i g u r e s
f o r e a c h d i s t r i c t e x c e p t U lu B ernam , K u a la S e l a n g o r (w h ic h
6
5 (c o n tin u e d )
was d e s e r t e d ) and U lu L a n g a t . The f i g u r e s f o r t h e L a n g a t
t o t h e B ernam , e x c l u d i n g a b o r i g i n e s , t o t a l 1 3 , 6 0 0 ; t h e
C h in e s e p o p u l a t i o n o f K u a l a Lumpur and i t s s u b u r b s t o t a l l e d
8000; t h e p o p u l a t i o n f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e s t a t e was e s
t i m a t e d a t 5600. The g r e a t e r p a r t o f t h i s was i n t h e down
r i v e r a g r i c u l t u r a l d i s t r i c t s and was p r e d o m i n a n t l y M alay.
6
A s s t . G .S . f o r N a t i v e S t a t e s , A u d it R e p o r t on N a t iv e
S t a t e s f o r 1 8 7 7 , C .2 4 1 0 , e n c l o s u r e i n n o . 6; S u n g e i Ujong
Annual R e p o r t f o r 1 8 9 1 . S w e tte n h a m ’ s e s t i m a t e i s a lm o s t
c e r t a i n l y an u n d e r s t a t e m e n t , b a s e d p r o b a b l y on t h e M alay
p o p u l a t i o n n e a r t h e m in e s .
7
7
In 1874 a British observer described the desolation on
the Selangor river, and the rapid reversion to jungle of
an area which had been populous and cultivated three years
before. The people had fled during the wars for possession
of the valley, 1871-3. Most of them had gone to Bernam,
the next valley to the north.
8
A census of the Malay population of Perak in 1879, taken
by village headmen, gave the foreign Malay population as
9274 out of a total free Malay population of 36,632. (The
unfree numbered 3050.) An estimate of the foreign Malays
of Selangor in 1886, made at the request of the Netherlands
Indies Government, put them at 12,000 out of a total Malay
population of 18,000. (Perak Annual Report for 1881;
Selangor Annual Report for 1886.)
8
9
A Bugis trader, Nakhoda Trong, was partner In a syndicate
which leased the tax farms of the Perak river in 1874; a
Rawa, Che Karim b. Ibrahim, was rent-collector for the
Mentri of Perak in the Krian district in the 1860s, and
was sent to open up Selama in the 1870s. During the
British occupation of Perak in 1875-6, Bugis, Rawas and
Mandelings helped the British in their military operations
and in their search for rebels in the north of the state.
s?
9
10
foreigners) as the chief Malay authority in Kuala Lumpur.
Negri Sembilan, traditionally settled by Menangkabau Malays,
IÖ
Report of Resident at Salangore, 16 March 1875, C.1320,
enclosure in no,27; report of Asst. Resident at Salangore,
8 April 1875, C.1320, enclosure in no.28.
10
came from the jungle. The economy was not entirely self-
TI
G-ullick, Indigenous Political Systems of Western Malaya,
provides a full and valuable account.
11
12
Gullick, Sungei Ujong, JMBRAS, xxii, 2, p.17. The ter
ritorial chiefs of Sungei Ujong, Johol, Jelebu and Rembau
12
t h e e a r l y n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y t h e t e r r i t o r i a l c h i e f s had
accommodated t h e m s e l v e s t o t h e p r e v a i l i n g s o c i a l p a t t e r n ;
e l i g i b i l i t y t o o f f i c e d e s c e n d e d i n t h e f e m a l e l i n e , and
t h e s p e c i a l s t a t u s o f t h e c h i e f ' s c l a n was e x p r e s s e d i n
term s a p p r o p r i a t e to th e c la n o r g a n i s a t i o n o f s o c i e t y ; in
a h i g h e r b r i d e p r i c e , f o r e x a m p l e , and a h i g h e r r e p a r a t i o n
scale fo r in ju r ie s . The c l a n ' s t i t l e t o ownership o f th e
s o i l was j u s t i f i e d i n a m an ner c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e m a t r i -
l i n e a l d e s c e n t s y s t e m b y a myth l i n k i n g t h e c l a n w i t h an
a b o r i g i n e a n c e s t r e s s fro m whom i t c l a i m e d i n h e r i t a n c e o f
t h e whole c o u n t r y .
12 ( c o n t i n u e d )
were g i v e n t h e i r h e r e d i t a r y t i t l e s and s e a l s b y t h e S u l t a n s
o f M alacca - J o h o r e . Prom t h e e v i d e n c e of s e a l s and
g e n e a l o g i e s , W ilk in so n d a te s t h e s e c r e a t i o n s from th e
b e g i n n i n g o f t h e e i g h t e e n t h c e n t u r y ( W i l k i n s o n , ' N o t e s on
t h e N e g r i S e m b i l a n ' , P a p e r s on Malay S u b j e c t s . 1 s t s e r i e s ,
H i s t o r y , P a r t V).
13
13
Waris - literally inheritors; used generally to mean any
descent group with a right to office or inheritance. In
Negri Sembilan the term waris negeri was used to distin
guish the clan of the territorial chief; elsewhere the
term was used of the male descendants of former Sultans,
who provided candidates for the succession.
14
14
The Hindu term Raja is the generic term for ruler and
is still the title of the Raja of Perlis; it is also the
title of male and female descendants of a ruler. It has
been generally superseded, as a title of the ruler, by
the Turkish Sultan, which will be used in this study to
refer to the rulers of Perak, Selangor and Pahang. The
Malay designation is Yang di pertuan (’He who is made
Lord’), usually shortened to Yam Tuan.
15
a prescribed income ;^but he did not own the soil, nor might
15
Yam Tuan Besar was the title of the Negri Sembilan ruler;
Yam Tuan Mud a the title of the rulers of Rembau and Jelebu.
16
t h e c o n f e d e r a c y ; t h e r o y a l c a n d i d a t e s (who were c o u s i n s )
continued to l i v e in th e d i s t r i c t s form ing the r o y a l ap
p a n ag e o f S r i M e n a n t i , t h e i r c l a i m s u n r e s o l v e d ; t h e Yam
on t h e b o r d e r o f M a l a c c a ; t h e Yam Tuan o f J e l e b u c o n t i n u e d
to stru g g le in v ain fo r re c o g n itio n . The a t t e m p t t o e s
t a b l i s h a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l k i n g s h i p i n th e N e g ri Sem bilan
16
The peasant class.
17
The Chief Ministers of the Malacca Sultans.
18
between the Sultan and the chiefs, and though the chiefs
18
For an account of the Perak Constitution see below,
Appendix I.
19
a p p o i n t m e n t s and c o m m i s s i o n s were u s u a l l y c o n f i r m a t i o n s o f
c h i e f s a d e g r e e o f c o n t r o l o v e r t h e S u l t a n a t e , g i v i n g them
a s h a r e i n t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e s u c c e s s i o n , and r e
q u i r i n g t h e i r c o n s e n t t o a l l i m p o r t a n t s t a t e d e c i s i o n s and
19
to fo reig n t r e a t i e s . The one s p h e r e i n w h ic h t h e S u l t a n ' s
p r e s t i g e r e c e i v e d u n c h a l l e n g e d e x p r e s s i o n was i n c e r e m o n i a l
life . Here h i s s t a t u s was a f f i r m e d b y an e l a b o r a t e s y s t e m
o f p r o t o c o l and t a b u w h ic h m a i n t a i n e d , b y r i t u a l o b s e r v a n c e ,
s u m p t u a r y r e s t r i c t i o n s and s p e c i a l fo r m s o f a d d r e s s , d i s
t i n c t i o n s b e t w e e n r u l e r and s u b j e c t w h ic h were i n d a n g e r
o f b e i n g b l u r r e d b y t h e i n t i m a c i e s o f Malay v i l l a g e l i f e .
The c o n s t i t u t i o n and c e r e m o n i a l o f t h e P e r a k C o u r t ,
and t h e t i t l e s and f u n c t i o n s o f t h e o f f i c e r s o f s t a t e were
b o r r o w e d fro m M a l a c c a p r a c t i c e , w h ich a g a i n d e r i v e d fro m
H in d u i d e a s o f k i n g s h i p and g o v e rn m e n t g r a f t e d on t o Malay
s o c ie ty during the p re -Is la m ic e ra . The s t a t e o f f i c e s
19
T r e a t i e s b e t w e e n P e r a k and t h e D u t c h E a s t I n d i a Company,
e x e c u t e d i n 1650 and 1 6 5 5 , were s e a l e d b y o f f i c e r s o f t h e
f i r s t r a n k and b y t h e Laksam ana ( W i n s t e d t , ' H i s t o r y o f
P e r a k ' , JMBRAS, x i i , 1 , 1 4 2 ); t h e P a n g k o r Engagement o f
1 8 7 4 , whereby t h e c h i e f s a c c e p t e d R a j a A b d u l l a h as S u l t a n ,
and a c c e p t e d a B r i t i s h R e s i d e n t , was s e a l e d b y t h r e e
o f f i c e r s o f t h e f i r s t r a n k and f o u r o f t h e s e c o n d . (Maxwell
and G-ibson, T r e a t i e s and E n g ag e m e n ts a f f e c t i n g t h e Malay
S t a t e s and B o r n e o , 28 - 5 0 . )
20
were r a n k e d i n m u l t i p l e s o f f o u r , a p a t t e r n w h i c h r e c u r r e d
i n o t h e r M alay s t a t e s and i n Burma, Siam and C a m b o d ia, and
i s t h o u g h t t o d e r i v e f r o m H in d u c o s m o lo g y . F i r s t came t h e
f o u r g r e a t c h i e f s , n e a r e s t the audience h a l l of th e S u lta n ;
t h e n th e e i g h t m ajor c h i e f s , t h e n th e s i x t e e n - t h e l a s t
r a n k c o n s i s t i n g o f d e p u t i e s and s u c c e s s o r s - d e s i g n a t e o f
t h e F o u r and t h e E i g h t . The o f f i c e s b o r e e l a b o r a t e t i t l e s
and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s which may have had some
m e a n in g i n t h e g r e a t p o r t kingd om o f M a l a c c a , b u t w h i c h
h ad v e r y l i t t l e i n a s m a l l a g r i c u l t u r a l r i v e r i n e community
where a p o p u l a t i o n o f 500 c o n s t i t u t e d a l a r g e t o w n s h i p .
By t h e m i d d l e o f t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y h a r d l y a n y t h i n g
r e m a i n e d o f t h e s e f u n c t i o n s e x c e p t a r e s i d u e o f cerem o n y
and sy m b o lis m which b o r e l i t t l e r e l a t i o n to d u tie s a c tu a lly
perform ed. They were i n f a c t t i t u l a r h o n o u r s b e s t o w e d i n
reco g n itio n of lo ca l i n f l u e n c e , and were u s u a l l y a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h l o c a l r i g h t s o f t a x a t i o n and c o n t r o l , which c o n s o l i
dated the c h i e f ’s in flu e n c e in h i s d i s t r i c t .
The c h i e f e x e r c i s e d d i r e c t p e r s o n a l c o n t r o l o v e r h i s
d istric t. H is h e a d q u a r t e r s c o n s i s t e d o f a s e l f - s u f f i c i e n t
household o f about f i f t y f o l l o w e r s , e s t a b l i s h e d in a p a l i
s a d e d compound i n t h e c h i e f v i l l a g e of h i s d i s t r i c t . Here
dependents of v a rio u s k in d s d e a l t w ith the a f f a i r s of h i s
f a m i l y , h i s f o l l o w i n g , h i s f i e l d s and m i n e s , and h i s d i s t r i c t
21
h o ld were met b y t h e i n s t i t u t i o n o f f o r c e d l a b o u r ( k e r a h ) ,
w hereby t h e m ale i n h a b i t a n t s o f e a c h v i l l a g e were l i a b l e
t o a n sw e r a n y c a l l fro m t h e c h i e f t o work on p u b l i c o r
p r i v a t e u n d e r t a k i n g s , from c l e a r i n g r i v e r s and p a t h s t o
20
p o l i n g b o a t s and r u n n i n g m e s s a g e s .
C o n t r o l o v e r t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g v i l l a g e s was m a i n t a i n e d
t h r o u g h t h e v i l l a g e h e ad m en . T hese were u s u a l l y h e r e d i t a r y
a p p o in t m e n t s h e l d i n m ost c a s e s by a member o f one o f t h e
fo u n d in g f a m i li e s of th e v i l l a g e . L e n g th o f r e s i d e n c e and
a s s o c ia tio n w ith th e v i l l a g e , w e a lth , p i e t y , a l l a ff e c te d
t h e c h o ic e o f t h e p e n g h u l u . The a p p o in tm e n t was made
20 " ~
n e r a t i o n s , c h i e f s and p e o p l e had l i v e d i n c l o s e d a i l y c o n
t a c t b e t w e e n t h e same n a r r o w h o r i z o n s ; t h e y h ad i n common
o f law had n o t y e t d e v e lo p e d , t h e c h i e f p ro v id e d a p r i m i
t i v e s o c i a l p r o t e c t i o n , t h o u g h t h e r e was l i t t l e p ro tectio n
fro m h i s own a r b i t r a r y d e c i s i o n s .
The e conom ic r e s o u r c e s o f t h e S u l t a n and c h i e f s were
e x t r e m e l y v a r i e d , b u t t h e y d e r i v e d m a i n l y fro m two s o u r c e s :
s e r v i c e s e x a c t e d fro m s l a v e s , bondmen and k e r a h l e v i e s ,
and c u s t o m s d u t i e s on t r a d e . C u ltiv a tio n fo r subsistence
was n o t t a x e d a s a r u l e , n o r was a c a p i t a t i o n t a x g e n e r a l l y
22
exacted. The S u l t a n ' s c h i e f s o u r c e o f r e v e n u e was t h e
22
B o t h t a x e s were l e v i e d i n t h e K r i a n d i s t r i c t o f P e r a k ,
w h ic h was r e g a r d e d as t h e S u l t a n ' s p e r s o n a l e s t a t e (Maxweül,
'Law and Custom o f t h e M a lay s w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o t h e t e n u r e
o f l a n d ' , JSBRAS, 1 3 , p . 9 8 ) . The K r i a n was a r i c h p a d i
a r e a ; i t was s t i l l a new s e t t l e m e n t i n t h e 1 8 6 0 s , many o f
t h e s e t t l e r s were m i g r a t o r y c u l t i v a t o r s from P r o v i n c e
W e l l e s l e y and K e d ah , who s t a y e d l o n g eno ugh i n t h e d i s t r i c t
t o t a k e a y e a r l y c r o p and t h e n r e t u r n e d t o t h e i r homes.
They were n o t s u b j e c t t o k e r a h s e r v i c e o r i n d e e d t o any
c l o s e c o n t r o l , and t h e p a d i t a x and h o u s e h o l d t a x c o n s t i
t u te d t h e i r only revenue c o n t r i b u t i o n .
24
c o l l e c t i o n o f c u s t o m s d u t i e s a t t h e mouth o f t h e P e r a k
riv er. The c h i e f s had t h e i r own c u sto m s s t a t i o n s on t h e i r
stre tc h e s of riv e r; a c c o r d i n g t o one B r i t i s h o b s e r v e r ,
23
' e v e r y c h i e f i n h i s own p l a c e t o o k s o m e t h i n g ' . Some o f
t h e c o l l e c t i o n s were l e a s e d t o o t h e r M a lay s o r t o C h i n e s e
o r E u r o p e a n s ; o t h e r s we re e n t r u s t e d t o a g e n t s who c o l l e c t e d
on a c o m m i s s i o n b a s i s , so t h a t t h e r e v e n u e c o l l e c t i o n r a m i -
24
f i e d e n d l e s s l y and gave p r o f i t t o l a r g e n u m b e r s .
Some o f t h e c h i e f s drew a l a r g e p a r t o f t h e i r r e v e n u e s
a s t r i b u t e on t h e t i n o b t a i n e d o r t h e ju n g le produce c o l
le c te d in t h e i r d i s t r i c t s , and i n t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y ,
t h e t i n c o n c e s s io n s g r a n t e d by th e S u l t a n t o c h i e f s or
members o f t h e r o y a l f a m i l y were e x t r e m e l y v a l u a b l e . Im
p lic it i n them was t h e r i g h t t o c o l l e c t a p r o p o r t i o n o f
t h e p r o d u c e , on t h e u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t p a r t o f t h i s was t o
be p a i d t o t h e S u l t a n , t h o u g h t h i s c o n d i t i o n was n o t s c r u
p u lo u sly observed. The t r i b u t e was n o r m a l l y c o l l e c t e d i n
23
See A p pendix I f o r d e t a i l s of th e c h i e f s ' revenues.
24
In 1874 th e Bendahara s u b l e t th e K in ta d u t i e s t o the
R a j a M a h k o ta ; t h e (L ak sam an a's '.) t o l l s t a t i o n on t h e B a t a n g
Pad an g had a l a r g e number o f s h a r e h o l d e r s ; t h e S h a h b a n d a r
g o t a c o m m i s s i o n on t h e S u l t a n ' s c u s t o m s c o l l e c t i o n a t t h e
mouth o f t h e P e r a k r i v e r . ( B i r c h , R e p o r t on P e r a k , 13 De
cember 1 8 7 4 , SSGrG- 3 A p r i l 1 8 7 5 ; R e p o r t on P e r a k , 2 A p r i l
1 8 7 5 , C . 1 3 2 Ö, e n c l o s u r e i n n o . 2 6 . ) The c h i e f s commonly
d e p u t e d a g e n t s t o c o l l e c t t h e i r r e v e n u e s , p r e s u m a b l y on
a commission b a s i s .
25
25
Braddell, citing Newbold, mentions four officers of
state in 1874; the Pengawa Permatang, Pengawa Tuah, Penghulu
Aroo and Orang Kaya Kechil (Report of Proceedings at
Selangor, 18 February 1874, C.llll, enclosure 3). Of
these the Dato' Aru appeared as a member of a court ap
pointed by the Sultan to try the Jugra Pirates in February
1874 (ibid.), but none of the four appear by title after
1874 either as state pensioners or holders of penghulu
appointments. In 1881, an applicant for a state pension
claimed to be one of four officers - the Dato' Kaya, the
Dato' Engku, the Dato' Mentri and the Dato' Naga - former
l y possessing jurisdiction over the Klang valley. (To'
Naga to the Governor, 12 September 1881, Sel/Sec., 381/1881).
Winstedt mentions a To'Engku of Klang c. 1700, a relative
26
b e e n d r i v e n b y t h e d i s t u r b a n c e s o f 1 8 6 6 - 7 3 t o t a k e up h i s
re sid e n c e in L angat. I n 1 8 8 3 , when a f u l l e s t a b l i s h m e n t
o f p e n g h u l u s was s e t up f o r S e l a n g o r , more t h a n h a l f t h e
27
a p p o i n t m e n t s were h e l d b y r a j a s . The B u g i s r a j a s r u l e d
a p r e d o m i n a n t l y S u m a tr a n p o p u l a t i o n ; t h e y d e a l t w i t h t h e i r
subjects, i n some c a s e s b y a p p o i n t i n g l o c a l headmen, i n
o t h e r s , by p l a c i n g t h e i r own r e l a t i o n s in a u t h o r i t y ; and
i n t h e t o w n s h i p s o f K u a l a S e l a n g o r , K u a l a L a n g a t and K u a l a
Lumpur, a D a t o ’ Dagang ( ’ c h i e f o f f o r e i g n e r s ’ , o r s y n o
n y m o u sly ’ c h i e f o f t r a d e r s ' ) , was p l a c e d i n c h a r g e o f t h e
25 ( c o n t i n u e d )
o f th e Jo h o r Bendaharas (W in s te d t, ’H is to r y of S e l a n g o r ',
JMBRAS, x i i , 3 , p . 3 ) . A f t e r 1 8 7 4 , t h e D a t o ' Kaya and t h e
D a t o ' Engku o f K la n g became s t a t e p e n s i o n e r s , l i v i n g i n
r e t i r e m e n t a t S i n g a p o r e ; t h e o t h e r two do n o t a p p e a r b y
t i t l e In t h e l i s t s e i t h e r o f p e n s i o n e r s o r p e n g h u l u s .
26
See n o t e on Tengku Z i a ' u ’ d - d i n b e l o w , p . 53, n . 5 4 .
27
The D a t o ’ Dagang was p l a c e d o v e r s e t t l e r s of many d i f
f e r e n t o r i g i n s ; t h i s g a v e r i s e t o some d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n .
The i n h a b i t a n t s o f K u a l a S e l a n g o r c o m p l a i n e d t o t h e R e s i
d e n t a b o u t D a t o ’ Dagang Nakhodah A l l a n g i n 1877; h i s p o s t
was a b o l i s h e d and t h e D a t o ’ p e n s i o n e d o f f . ( SGM 25 August
1877.)
27
I n n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y Malay s o c i e t y , t h e o l d p a t t e r n
o f s m a l l , s e l f - s u f f i c i e n t p e a s a n t c o m m u n i t i e s , l i v i n g by
i n t e r n a l l y r e g u l a t e d c u s t o m , was e s s e n t i a l l y p r e s e r v e d ,
but w ith im portant changes. T r i b a l c o n t r o l s had l o n g b e e n
su p e rse d ed by th e p e r s o n a l r u l e of lo c a l c h ie fs, and t h o u g h
s o c i e t y was s t i l l p a r t i t i o n e d i n t o s m a l l l o c a l l o y a l t i e s ,
a l l were i n p r i n c i p l e u n i t e d u n d e r a s i n g l e ack n o w le d g ed
head of s t a t e . A s o c i a l and p o l i t i c a l f o r m u l a a p p r o p r i a t e
t o t h e s e c o n d i t i o n s had l o n g b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d , i t had
w e a t h e r e d many s t r a i n s , and t h e r e seemed no r e a s o n why i t
should not p e r s i s t in d efin itely . But a l r e a d y In t h e n e i g h
b o u r i n g w o r l d s o c i a l and e conom ic f o r c e s were g a t h e r i n g
w h ic h were t o change t h e f o u n d a t i o n s o f l i f e and g o v e rn m e n t
i n t h e Malay s t a t e s .
T i n and t h e C h i n e s e
For a th o u s a n d y e a r s or more, M a la y a ’ s c h i e f i n t e r e s t
f o r f o r e i g n t r a d e r s l a y i n h e r m i n e r a l and p a r t i c u l a r l y h e r
28
28
Winstedt, The Malays; a Cultural History. 112-13; Thome
Pires, Suma Oriental, 2 vols (Hakluyt Society. 1944;, i,
p.94, n.l; ii, pp.260-1, p.275.
29
t h e L i n g g i s t a t e s p r o v i d e d f o r t h e e n f o r c e d s a l e of a l l t i n
t o t h e Company a t a b u y e r ' s p r i c e , and D u t c h f o r t s command
i n g t h e P e r a k and S e l a n g o r r i v e r m o u th s e n f o r c e d c o m p l i a n c e .
U n t i l t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y , t i n m i n i n g was a Malay
i n d u s t r y , c o n t r o l l e d b y members o f t h e r o y a l and c h i e f l y
t r a d i n g e x p e d i t i o n s o f th e S u l t a n of Kedah, c a r r y i n g t i n
I n t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y t h e whole p i c t u r e c h a n g e d ,
i n a way which m eant n o t o n l y a r e v o l u t i o n i n t h e t i n in
d u s t r y , b u t a f u n d a m e n t a l change i n t h e s t r u c t u r e of so
ciety . Betw een 1786 and 1 8 1 9 , B r i t i s h s e t t l e m e n t s were
29
e s t a b l i s h e d i n P e n a n g , M a l a c c a and S i n g a p o r e ; the t i n
t r a d e was t h r o w n open t o p r i v a t e in d iv id u als. The g r e a t
development o f t h e S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s , th e ex p an sio n o f
p o p u l a t i o n and t r a d e s t i m u l a t e d a s e a r c h f o r new f i e l d s o f
e n t e r p r i s e ; and C h i n e s e f i n a n c e , l a b o u r and m i n i n g t e c h
n i q u e s were i n t r o d u c e d i n t o t h e M a lay a n t i n industry.
E u r o p e a n and C h i n e s e m e r c h a n t s i n M a l a c c a , t h e n a t u r a l o u t
l e t f o r t h e t i n o f L u k u t , S u n g e i Ujong and o t h e r p a r t s o f
t h e N e g r i S e m b i l a n , a p p e a r t o have b e e n t h e f i r s t t o e n g ag e
in l a r g e - s c a l e investm ent in the m ines. At f i r s t t h e i r
i n v e s t m e n t s t o o k t h e form o f a d v a n c e s o f money, r i c e and
30
opium d i r e c t t o t h e c h i e f s , who i n t u r n p r o v i d e d t h e
29
The E n g l i s h E a s t I n d i a Company t o o k M a l a c c a fro m t h e
Dutch in 1795; th e y r e t u r n e d i t in 1819, b u t resumed i t
p e rm a n en tly in 1825.
30
The d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e L a r u t f i e l d s was i n i t i a t e d b y a
Malay c h i e f , ’Che Long J a ' a f a r , who a d v a n c e d money t o t h e
C hinese m iners in h i s d i s t r i c t . I t was o n l y i n h i s s o n ' s
t i m e ( c . 1 8 5 8 - 7 4 ) t h a t t h e C h i n e s e worked t h e m in es w i t h
t h e i r own money. ( E v i d e n c e o f Ah Kwee, R e p o r t o f L a r u t
C o m m i s s i o n e r s , 21 F e b r u a r y 1 8 7 4 , Sw etten h am P a p e r s , n o . 7 2 . )
I n S e l a n g o r a l s o , t h e a d v a n c e r s were i n i t i a l l y M a l a y s . In
1839 R a j a J u m a ' a t , s o n - i n - l a w o f t h e S u l t a n o f S e l a n g o r ,
became s u r e t y f o r h i s f a t h e r - i n - l a w f o r ^ 1 6 9 , 0 0 0 owed t o
M a l a c c a m e r c h a n t s ( I r v i n g , Memorandum on t h e L u k u t g r a n t ,
31
30 ( c o n t i n u e d )
17 J a n u a r y 1 8 7 9 , CO 2 7 3 / 9 8 / 3 6 8 9 ) . The l o a n was a l m o s t
c e r t a i n l y made as a s p e c u l a t i o n on t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t i n
land. I n t h e l a t e 1840s t h e S u l t a n a g a i n b o r r o w e d from
M a l a c c a m e r c h a n t s - one E u r a s i a n and t h r e e C h i n e s e - t o
p r o s p e c t on t h e Upper K l a n g ; and i n t h e 1850s h i s s o n - i n -
l a w b o r r o w e d money fro m two M a l a c c a C h i n e s e and w i t h
/ 3 0 , 0 0 0 b e g a n t o p r o s p e c t i n t h e same a r e a ; t h e d i s c o v e r y
o f t h e K u a l a Lumpur f i e l d s f o l l o w e d . ( M i d d l e b r o o k , ’Yap
Ah L o y ’ , JMBRAS, x x i v , 2, p p . 1 7 - 1 8 ; p . l 0 2 , n . 6 . )
31
Newbold, w r i t i n g i n t h e 1 8 3 0 s r e f e r s t o t h e m a s s a c r e
o f 1000 C h i n e s e m i n e r s i n S u n g e i Ujong by Malays i n 1828
and t h e d e s p a t c h o f 400 more m i n e r s t o t h e s t a t e by M a l a c c a
m e r c h a n t s i n 1 830; he a l s o m e n t i o n s a r e b e l l i o n b y 300- 400
C h i n e s e m i n e r s i n L u k u t i n 1 8 3 4 , a g a i n s t t h e i r Malay
m asters. (N ew bold, P o l i t i c a l and S t a t i s t i c a l Account o f
th e B r i t i s h S e ttle m e n ts in th e S t r a i t s of M alacca, i i ,
97, 34.)
32
B r a d d e ll, in a h i s t o r i c a l account of B r i t i s h r e l a t i o n s
w ith Sungei Ujong, w r i t t e n in 1874, s t a t e s t h a t Malacca
t r a d e r s , who had a d v a n c e d money, r i c e and opium t o t h e
c h i e f s on a c c o u n t o f t i n s u p p l i e s , b e g a n a d v a n c i n g d i r e c t
to th e m iners c. 1840. (C.1320, e n c lo s u re in n o . 8 .) See
also p .3 0 , n.29.
32
t h e f l o w o f w e a l t h from t h e m in e s b y d r a w i n g an a g r e e d
trib u te .
I n v e s t m e n t was a c c o m p a n ie d b y t h e in tro d u c tio n of
C h i n e s e m i n i n g m eth o d s and m a c h i n e r y w h ic h made p o s s i b l e ,
f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e , t h e f u l l - t i m e employment o f a l a r g e
l a b o u r f o r c e , r e c r u i t e d b y mass C h i n e s e i m m i g r a t i o n . M alayan
a s t r a t u m o f g r a v e l and s a n d , s i x t o t h i r t y f e e t u n d e r an
u n p r o d u c t i v e s o i l o v e r b u r d e n , and m in i n g c o n s i s t s s i m p l y
o f r e m o v i n g t h e o v e r b u r d e n and l i f t i n g and w a s h i n g t h e t i n
M a lay s a t a t i m e , u s u a l l y i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e i r o t h e r o c -
33
cupat i o n s .
The C h i n e s e i n t r o d u c e d an i n g e n i o u s h y d r a u l i c d e v i c e ,
34
used to i r r i g a t e r i c e f i e l d s in South C hina, which e n
a b l e d them t o d r a i n t h e m in e s and a t t h e same tim e d i r e c t
t h e d r a i n a g e w a t e r s i n t o l o n g wooden g u t t e r s where t h e o r e
was w a sh e d . I t c o n s i s t e d o f an e n d l e s s c h a i n o f wooden
t r o u g h s r e v o l v i n g r o u n d a w h e el t u r n e d b y m u s c l e - p o w e r -
33
W i n s t e d t , ’Malay A r t s and C r a f t s ’ , P a p e r s on M alay
S u b je c ts ( 1 s t S e r i e s ) , I n d u s t r i e s , p a r t 1 , p p . 27-33.
34
D.H. G r i s t , R i c e ( L o n d o n , 1 9 5 3 ) , p . 2 8 .
35
Newbold, o p . c i t . , i i , 1 0 0 - 1 0 1 . A c c o r d i n g t o an a c c o u n t
o f m i n i n g i n P e r a k i n 1 8 8 6 , a M alay oven s m e l t e d 250 k i l o
grams a d a y , and a C h i n e s e b r i c k oven 2 , 2 0 0 . ( M . J . de
M or ga n, E x p l o r a t i o n s d a n s l a p r e s q u ’ i l e M a l a i s e , 5 9 . )
34
a n n u a l l y , m o s t l y f r o m t h e m in e s o f L u k u t , K la n g and 'L a n g k a t ’.
I n 1872 t h e K u a l a Lumpur f i e l d , which had f i r s t b e g u n e x -
36
p o r t i n g In 1 8 5 9 , was a l o n e e x p o r t i n g 1000 b h a r a s a month.
I n t h e 1 8 3 0 s , P e r a k p r o d u c t i o n came m a i n l y from m in e s on
t h e K i n t a , B a t a n g P a d a n g , B i d o r and Upper P e r a k r i v e r s ,
and Newbold e s t i m a t e d t h e a n n u a l e x p o r t a t r o u g h l y 3000
bharas. I n 1871 P e n a n g ’ s y e a r l y i m p o r t fro m L a r u t a l o n e
37
was a b o u t 1 1 , 0 0 0 b h a r a s . The v a l u e o f t h e t i n i m p o r t s
35
Newbold, o p . c i t . , i , 4 2 5 ; P e t i t i o n o f M a l a c c a T r a d e r s
t o S i n g a p o r e Chamber o f Commerce, 27 J u l y 1 8 7 2 , C . l l l l ,
enclosure in n o . l .
B h a r a = 3 p i c u l s = 400 l b .
37
Newbold, o p . c i t . , i i , 23; S t r a i t s D a i l y T i m e s . 19 March
1 8 7 2 . The f i g u r e o f 1 0 , 0 0 0 b h a r a s a y e a r f o r t h e L a r u t
e x p o r t t o P e n a n g c i r c a 1 8 7 0 - 2 i s s u p p o r t e d from o t h e r
sources. The P e n a n g t r a d e f i g u r e s f o r 1870 p u t t h e im
p o r t fro m t h e Malay s t a t e s ( e x c l u d i n g Siam) a t 1 3 , 0 0 0
b h a r a s ; t h i s p ro b a b ly in c lu d e d th e P e ra k r i v e r e x p o rt of
a b o u t 3000 b h a r a s . (Revenu e f i g u r e s f o r P e n a n g f o r 1 8 7 0 ,
i n C .1 0 3 8 o f 1 8 7 5 , S t a t i s t i c a l T a b l e s r e l a t i n g t o t h e
35
i n p r o p o r t i o n t o t o t a l i m p o r t s i n t o M a la c c a f o r t h i s p e r i o d
shows a s p e c t a c u l a r r i s e . B etw een 1825 and 1835 t h e t i n
i m p o r t s fro m t h e M alay s t a t e s (i.e ., fro m t h e N e g r i S e m b ila n
and S e l a n g o r m in e s ) i n t o M a la c c a a v e r a g e d 9 1 ,1 5 8 s i c c a
r u p e e s o u t o f an a v e r a g e o f 1 ,1 2 3 ,2 8 7 s i c c a r u p e e s f o r a l l
im p o rts; i n 1 8 7 0 , a f t e r t h e f i e l d a t K u a la Lumpur had come
in to p ro d u c tio n , th e t i n im p o r t was $ 8 9 8 ,1 7 8 o u t o f a
38
t o t a l f o r a l l im p o rts o f $ 2 ,2 6 0 ,8 7 5 .
T hese econom ic c h a n g e s t o o k p l a c e i n c o n j u n c t i o n w ith
a s o c i a l ch an g e o f e v e n g r e a t e r i m p o r ta n c e - t h e f i r s t
la rg e -sc a le i m m i g r a t i o n o f t h e C h in e s e i n t o t h e M alay
s ta te s. B e f o r e t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y t h e C h in e s e c o l o n i e s
i n M a lay a w ere s m a l l s e t t l e m e n t s o f m e r c h a n t s , e s t a b l i s h e d
d u r i n g t h e l o n g h i s t o r y o f t r a d e w i t h C h in a . The o l d e s t
r e c o r d e d com m unity was t h a t o f t h e M a la c c a C h in e s e fo u n d e d
d u r i n g t h e r u l e o f t h e M alay S u l t a n s . T h is was p r o b a b l y
th e f i r s t , and c e r t a i n l y t h e l a r g e s t o f many s u c h
37 ( c o n t i n u e d )
C o l o n i e s and o t h e r P o s s e s s i o n s o f t h e U n i t e d K ingdom . ) I n
1 8 7 4 , when t h e m ines were b r o u g h t i n t o w o rk in g o r d e r u n d e r
B r i t i s h a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , a f t e r th e t r o u b le s o f 1873, th e
a v e r a g e p r o d u c t i o n f o r t h e l a s t f o u r m o n th s o f t h e y e a r
was 830 b h a r a s a m onth ( R e p o r t o f t h e A s s t . R e s i d e n t ,
P e r a k , f o r 1 8 7 4 , C .1 3 2 0 , e n c l o s u r e i n n o . 2 0 ) .
38
N ew bold, o p . c i t . , i , 1 4 9 ; Revenue f i g u r e s f o r M a la c c a
f o r 1 8 7 0 , C .1 0 3 8 o f 1 8 7 5 . (The a c t u a l f i g u r e g i v e n f o r
t h e t o t a l v a l u e o f M a l a c c a ’ s i m p o r t s i n 1870 was
£ s t g 4 5 2 ,4 7 5 , and t h i s h a s b e e n c o n v e r t e d i n t o d o l l a r s
a t t h e r a t e o f 4s t o t h e $ 1 . )
36
s e t t l e m e n t s a l l o v e r t h e P e n i n s u l a - l i c e n s e d c o m m u n itie s
o f t r a d e r s and c r a f t s m e n l i v i n g u s u a l l y i n t h e S u l t a n ' s
v i l l a g e a t t h e r i v e r m outh. I n t h e 1 8 3 0 s t h e r e was h a r d l y
an i m p o r t a n t r i v e r - s e t t l e m e n t i n M alaya o r s o u t h Siam
w h ic h d i d n o t h a v e s u c h com m unity, w e l l - e s t a b l i s h e d , a c
c e p t e d and r e a s o n a b l y p r o s p e r o u s , l i v i n g i n one q u a r t e r
women and h a d t h e r e b y e s t a b l i s h e d a h y b r i d t y p e c h a r a c t e r
i s t i c o f M a lay a n s o c i e t y ; s e n t i m e n t a l l y a t t a c h e d t o a
m o th e r c u l t u r e , b u t so o n a c q u i r i n g t h e p a t i n a o f a new
e n v i r o n m e n t , and s h a r i n g w i t h t h e 'lo c a l- b o r n ' of o th e r
r a c e s , a common fu n d o f new e x p e r i e n c e . T hese s e t t l e m e n t s -
p a r t i c u l a r l y t h a t o f M a la c c a - form ed t h e n u c le u s o f t h e
S t r a i t s C h in e s e com m unity, l o n g e s t a b l i s h e d , p r o s p e r o u s ,
e n jo y in g a s t a b le fa m ily l i f e , y e t m ost a d a p t a b l e and
r e s p o n s i v e t o new i n f l u e n c e s and new c u l t u r a l f o r m s .
In th e n i n e t e e n t h c e n tu r y t h i s l e i s u r e l y , s t a b l e ty p e
o f s e t t l e m e n t was s u c c e e d e d b y a new i m m i g r a t i o n p a t t e r n -
t h e w h o l e s a l e i m p o r t a t i o n o f a d u l t m ale l a b o u r e r s . T hey
came m o s t l y fro m t h e m a r i ti m e p r o v i n c e s o f Kwangtung and
F u k ie n i n s o u t h C h i n a , t h e t r a d i t i o n a l p l a c e o f o r i g i n o f
C h in e s e im m ig r a n ts t o S o u th E a s t A s i a . They were r e c r u i t e d
i n M acao, Hongkong and s o u t h C h in a p o r t s by c o o l i e - b r o k e r s ,
37
sto w e d i n ju n k s u n d e r s l a v e - t r a d e c o n d i t i o n s and s h i p p e d
t o t h e S t r a i t s as i n d e n t u r e d l a b o u r . On a r r i v a l t h e y were
bound t o m in e -o w n e rs f o r a y e a r o r m o re, u n t i l t h e c o s t o f
39
K o n g si - any j o i n t a s s o c i a t i o n f o r common s o c i a l , e c o
nom ic o r p o l i t i c a l e n d s .
38
b a r e s t needs - s h e l t e r , a s u i t o f c l o t h e s and a r i c e a l l o w
a n c e - were p r o v i d e d f r e e . E v e r y t h i n g e l s e was p r o v i d e d b y
t h e m in e - o w n e r a t a c o n s i d e r a b l e p r o f i t . The g o v e r n m e n t
r e c o r d s make m a t t e r - o f - f a c t r e f e r e n c e t o t h e i n c i d e n t s o f
th e m in e r ’s l i f e , t h e g a m b l i n g b o o t h , t h e opium s h o p , t h e
a r r a c k s h o p , t h e b r o t h e l , t h e pawnshop and t h e home f o r
d estitu tes. In t h i s p a t t e r n o f hard work, b a r r a c k l i f e
and b a r r a c k c o m p a n i o n s h i p and a m u s e m e n t s , t h o u s a n d s of
C h i n e s e l i v e d and d i e d i n t h e s e c o n d h a l f o f t h e n i n e t e e n t h
century, i n i t i a t i n g t h e p r o f o u n d c h a n g e s i n M alay an l i f e
and s o c i e t y which h ave c o n t i n u e d e v e r s i n c e .
The s i z e o f t h e C h i n e s e m i n i n g p o p u l a t i o n i n t h e
1870s has been th e s u b j e c t o f v a r i o u s e s t i m a t e s , b u t t h e r e
was no c o u n t made b e f o r e B r i t i s h i n t e r v e n t i o n , and t h e
p o p u l a t i o n , l i k e most p i o n e e r m i n i n g p o p u l a t i o n s , f l u c
t u a t e d w i l d l y w i t h c h a n g e s i n t h e t i n p r i c e and t h e p r o
d u c tiv ity of the f i e l d s . I t was a l s o much a f f e c t e d b y
p o l i t i c a l conditions; in the decade b e fo re B r i t i s h in te r
v e n tio n , th e continuous tr o u b le s i n t h e Malay s t a t e s made
life and work p r e c a r i o u s and c a u s e d l a r g e in te rn a l m igra
tio n s. It is th ere fo re im p o ssib le t o e s t a b l i s h numbers.
The e s t i m a t e s do however a t l e a s t i n d i c a t e t h e s c a l e o f
th e Chinese Influx. L a r u t i n n o r t h - w e s t P e r a k had h a r d l y
any C h i n e s e i n 1848 when t i n was f i r s t f o u n d t h e r e . In
39
1872 t h e r e was a C h in e s e p o p u l a t i o n e s t i m a t e d a t 2 0 ,0 0 0 t o
2 5 ,0 0 0 . I n 1873 t h e p o p u l a t i o n d ro p p e d w i t h t h e s e c r e t
s o c i e t y w a r s ; b u t a t t h e end o f 1874 a f t e r a y e a r o f B r i t i s h
40
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , i t r e c o v e r e d , and was e s t i m a t e d a t 2 6 ,0 0 0 .
I n S e l a n g o r , p r o s p e c t i n g on t h e Upper K la n g b e g a n i n 1857
w i t h 87 men. T h is was t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e K u a la Lumpur
fie ld s; i n 1872 t h e number o f m in e r s a t work t h e r e was
41
e s tim a te d a t 1 2 ,0 0 0 .
The m in e s w ere f o r t h e m ost p a r t away fro m t r a d i t i o n a l
40
P e r a k f i g u r e s : 1 8 7 2 , I r v i n g , Memorandum r e l a t i v e t o t h e
A f f a i r s o f P e r a k , 24 J u l y 1 8 7 2 , C . l l l l , e n c l o s u r e 2 i n
n o . 52: 1 8 7 4 , R e p o r t o f t h e A s s i s t a n t R e s i d e n t , P e r a k ,
2 A p r i l 1 8 7 5 , C .1 3 2 0 , e n c l o s u r e i n n o . 20. A c o m p a r is o n
o f t h e C h in e s e and M alay p o p u l a t i o n s o f P e r a k i s g i v e n i n
t h e f o l l o w i n g t a b l e , t a k e n from t h e r o u g h c e n s u s o f 1 8 7 9 .
M alay s ( i n c l u d i n g u n f r e e ) 5 9 ,6 8 2
C h in e s e 2 0 ,3 7 3 ( f i g u r e s fro m P e r a k
T o ta l p o p u la tio n 8 0 ,9 7 7 A nnual R e p o r t f o r 1 8 8 1 )
41
S e l a n g o r f i g u r e s : 1 8 7 2 . P e t i t i o n o f M a la c c a T r a d e r s t o
G o v e r n o r , 20 J u l y 1 8 7 2 , C . l l l l , e n c l o s u r e i n n o . l . (in
1880 a r o u g h c o u n t by t h e S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f P o l i c e f o r
S e l a n g o r p l a c e d t h e m in in g p o p u l a t i o n a t 1 2 , 4 2 4 , S e l / S e c .
1 1 / 1 8 8 0 . ) A c o m p a r is o n o f t h e M alay and C h in e s e p o p u l a
t i o n s o f S elan g o r i s g iv e n in th e fo llo w in g t a b l e , ta k e n
fro m t h e r o u g h c e n s u s o f 1884 ( S e l a n g o r A nnual R e p o r t f o r
1 8 84).
M alay s 1 7 ,0 9 7
C h in ese 2 8 ,2 3 6
T o ta l p o p u la tio n 4 6 ,5 6 8
Ußf i AKr \ .
40
1870 s they had much the same functions, except for the
41
S e c r e t s o c i e t i e s had e x i s t e d i n C h i n a f o r c e n t u r i e s , and
d u r i n g t h e Manchu d y n a s t y h a d t a k e n on a p o l i t i c a l a s p e c t ,
s t i m u l a t i n g r e s i s t a n c e t o t h e Manchu i n v a d e r s and e n c o u r a g
ing a n t i - d y n a s t i c r e b e l l i o n s i n C h i n a i n t h e e i g h t e e n t h and
nineteenth cen tu ries. I n M a lay a t h e y became t h e h a r s h
in s tr u m e n ts of group c o n t r o l , developed by a s t r u g g l i n g
i m m i g r a n t community i n a s t r a n g e and p o t e n t i a l l y h o s t i l e
environm ent. Pear, i s o l a t i o n , the absence of a l l t r a d i
t i o n a l a u t h o r i t y , t h e c o m p l e t e e s t r a n g e m e n t fro m an a l i e n
and i n c o m p r e h e n s i b l e g o v e r n m e n t , r e s u l t e d in a d e lib e r a te
w i t h d r a w a l w i t h i n a m u t u a l p r o t e c t i o n s o c i e t y which t r i e d
t o e x c l u d e e x t e r n a l c o n t a c t s a l t o g e t h e r and i t s e l f p e r f o r m
the fu n c tio n s of g o v e r n m e n t , r a i s e r e v e n u e s b y t h e l e v y o f
p r o t e c t i o n money o r b y c o m p u l s o r y s u b s c r i p t i o n , r e g u l a t e
t h e b e h a v i o u r o f members, a r b i t r a t e in t h e i r q u a rr e ls ,
p u n i s h t r a n s g r e s s i o n s and p r o t e c t members i n t h e i r c o n
f l i c t s w i t h t h e g o v e rn m e n t o r w i t h r i v a l s o c i e t i e s . In
e v i t a b l y t h e s o c i e t y became t y r a n n i c a l i n i t s r e l a t i o n s h i p
42
m ight d i v e r t t h e i r l o y a l t y .
The M alayan s o c i e t i e s were o f f s h o o t s o f t h e T r i a d ,
t h e p a r e n t s o c i e t y i n C h i n a , fro m w h ic h t h e y d e r i v e d t h e i r
ritu a l, s y m b o l i s m , c r y p t i c s i g n s and d i s c i p l i n a r y c o d e s .
They were n o t o r g a n i s e d on a t e r r i t o r i a l b a s i s , and i n
p r i n c i p l e t h e y c u t a c r o s s t e r r i t o r i a l and e v e n k i n d i v i
s i o n s ; b u t t h e l o d g e s came t o be i d e n t i f i e d w i t h p a r t i c u l a r
t e r r i t o r i a l and k i n g r o u p s . The two s o c i e t i e s most p r o
m i n e n t i n t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y M alay s t a t e s - t h e Ghi
Hin and t h e H a i San - were i d e n t i f i e d i n t h e 18 7 0 s w i t h
t h e C a n t o n e s e and Hakka r e s p e c t i v e l y , t h e f o r m e r from t h e
s o u t h , t h e l a t t e r from t h e n o r t h o f Kwangtung P r o v i n c e .
I n t h e S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s fro m a b o u t 1850 t h e s e s o c i e t i e s
were i n o p p o s i t i o n t o e a c h o t h e r . T e r r i t o r i a l antagonism s
i n C h i n a may h a v e c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e h o s t i l i t y b e tw e e n
t h e l o d g e s i n M a l a y a , b u t l o c a l e co n o m ic c o m p e t i t i o n f o r
r e v e n u e m o n o p o l i e s and - i n t h e Malay s t a t e s - f o r t i n
concessions, c e r ta in ly in te n s if ie d if i t d id not i n i t i a t e
the c o n f l i c t s . The s e c r e t s o c i e t i e s were o r g a n i s e d i n
P e n a n g , S i n g a p o r e and M a l a c c a so o n a f t e r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t
of B r i t i s h r u l e , and so o n came t o d o m i n a t e t h e l i f e of th e
C h i n e s e ; and s i n c e C h i n e s e m i n i n g e n t e r p r i s e i n t h e Malay
s t a t e s was I n i t i a t e d b y t h e community i n t h e S t r a i t s S e t t l e
m e n t s , i t was n a t u r a l t h a t t h e m i n i n g c o l o n i e s i n t h e s t a t e s
43
s h o u l d c a r r y w i t h them t h e i r s e c r e t s o c i e t y a f f i l i a t i o n s .
The L a r u t c o l o n y i n p a r t i c u l a r was e c o n o m i c a l l y and p o l i t
i c a l l y a d e p e n d e n c y o f t h e C h i n e s e community I n P e n a n g and
t h e P e n a n g and L a r u t s e c r e t s o c i e t i e s a c k n o w le d g e d a common
lead ersh ip .
The s e c r e t s o c i e t i e s d o m i n a t e d t h e l i f e o f t h e commu
n i t y i n t h e Malay s t a t e s e v e n more t h a n i n t h e S t r a i t s
S e t t l e m e n t s , f o r i n t h e Malay s t a t e s t h e r e was no g o v e r n
ment a b l e t o c h a l l e n g e t h e i r a u t h o r i t y . L eadership in the
community was e x p r e s s e d i n t e r m s o f s e c r e t s o c i e t y l e a d e r
ship. The s o c i e t y headmen combined p o l i t i c a l and e conom ic
p ow er; t h e y were t h e c h i e f a d v a n c e r s , t h e i m p o r t e r s and
e m p l o y e r s o f l a b o u r and t h e t a x f a r m e r s ; and t h e i r p o l i t
i c a l a u t h o r i t y i n t u r n p r o v i d e d o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r an
immense i n c r e a s e i n econom ic p o w e r . They r o s e f r o m immi
grant beginnings, i n c o n d i t i o n s o f g r e a t h a r d s h i p and
violence. T h e i r a d m i n i s t r a t i o n had a s i m p l e m a t e r i a l i s t
o b jec tiv e - to m ain tain se rv ic e s e s s e n tia l to t i n produc
tio n . To t h a t end t h e y b u i l t m i n i n g t r a c k s , k e p t o r d e r
i n t h e comm unity , a r b i t r a t e d in d is p u te s , supervised
m a r k e t s , and opium, s p i r i t and g a m b l i n g s h o p s a n d , most
42
im portant of a l l , o rg a n is e d th e defence o f the m ines.
42
See Appendix I I f o r s h o r t b i o g r a p h y o f Yap Ah L o y ,
Cap i t a n C h i n a o f K u a l a Lumpur, 1 8 6 8 - 8 5 .
44
The headm en c o n s t i t u t e d t h e l i n k b e tw e e n t h e C h in e s e
com m unity and t h e M alay c h i e f s i n whose d i s t r i c t s t h e
m in e s w ere e s t a b l i s h e d . They w ere o f f i c i a l l y r e c o g n i s e d
a s l e a d e r s o f t h e C h i n e s e , and went by t h e h i s t o r i c t i t l e
o f Cap i t an C h i n a . The s t y l e o f Cap i t a n i s r e c o r d e d i n t h e
tim e o f t h e M a la c c a S u l t a n s and t h e p r a c t i c e o f t r e a t i n g
w i t h t h e C h in e s e com m unity t h r o u g h t h e s e headmen p e r s i s t e d
t o t h e end o f t h e n i n e t e e n t h c e n t u r y , i n t h e P o r t u g u e s e ,
D u tc h and B r i t i s h s e t t l e m e n t s a s w e l l as i n t h e M alay
sta te s. The M alay c h i e f s n e g o t i a t e d c o n d i t i o n s o f m in in g
w i t h t h e C a p i t a n s , l e a s e d them t h e fa rm s o f m o n o p o l i e s ,
c o n s u l t e d w i t h them on a l l m a t t e r s r e l a t i n g t o t h e mire s
and t h e C h in e s e com m unity, and j o i n e d w i t h them i n m i l i
ta r y a c tio n . I n S e l a n g o r , w here t h e Ca p i t an o f K u a la
Lum pur, Yap Ah Loy, and t h e M alay r u l e r o f K la n g were th r o w n
i n t o c l o s e m u tu a l d e p e n d e n c e , t h e i n v e s t i t u r e o f t h e
C a p i t a n by t h e M alay r a .j a was a f o r m a l cerem ony i n w h ic h
C h in e s e and M alay c e r e m o n i a l e l e m e n t s c o m b in e d , and w here
43
t h e c h i e f a c t o r i n t h e p r o c e e d i n g s a p p e a r e d i n M alay d r e s s .
The a c c o u n t s o f t h e t i m e s a r e f u l l o f r e f e r e n c e s t o
t h e b u s i n e s s c o n t a c t s b e tw e e n C h in e s e and M a la y s , and t h e
43
See M i d d l e b r o o k , ’Yap Ah L o y ' , JHBRAS, x x i v , 2 , p p . 4 0 - 1 ,
f o r an a c c o u n t o f t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f Yap Ah Loy by R a ja
M ahdi i n K u a la Lumpur i n 1 8 6 9 . The b i o g r a p h y g i v e s a n
i n v a l u a b l e a c c o u n t o f t h e l i f e o f a C h in e s e m in in g commu
n i t y i n a M alay s t a t e .
45
m i l i t a r y a l l i a n c e s t h e y e s t a b l i s h e d i n d e f e n c e o f common
e conom ic i n t e r e s t s . But t h e i r o n l y p o i n t o f c o n t a c t was
the t i n i n d u s t r y - the Chinese w orld. O utside t h i s th e y
fo u n d n o t h i n g i n common. T h e ir r e s p e c t i v e a r e a s of s e t t l e
m e n t , e conom ic c o n c e r n s , s o c i a l i n s t i t u t i o n s and o b j e c t i v e s
were u t t e r l y d i f f e r e n t . The C h i n e s e i n t h e i r m i n i n g
k o n g s i s and t h e M alay s i n t h e i r r i v e r i n e kampongs l i v e d in
m u t u a l i s o l a t i o n , f o l l o w i n g t h e i r s e p a r a t e ways u n d e r s e
parate d isp e n sa tio n s.
C i v i l War
I n 1870 t h e m ain t i n c e n t r e s were i n P e r a k , in the
n o r t h - w e s t c o a s t p r o v i n c e o f L a r u t ; In S e l a n g o r , on t h e
U p p e r K l a n g ( t h e K u a l a Lumpur f i e l d ) and on t h e Upper
S e l a n g o r , and i n S u n g e i Ujong on t h e Upper L i n g g i . The d e
v e l o p m e n t o f L a r u t d a t e d fro m a b o u t 1 8 5 0 , and was c o n t r o l l e d
b y t h e M e n t r i , Che Ngah I b r a h i m , who h ad i n h e r i t e d t h e
c o n c e s s i o n fro m h i s f a t h e r , and who h ad o b t a i n e d t h e t i t l e
44
i n c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f h i s w e a l t h and i n f l u e n c e . The M e n t r i
44
The M e n t r i , ’Che Ngah I b r a h i m , was a f a m i l y c o n n e c t i o n
o f t h e P a n g l i m a B u k i t G-antang, t h e w a r d e n o f t h e w e s t e r n
a p p r o a c h t o t h e P e r a k r i v e r v a l l e y . L a r u t had b e e n p a r t
o f t h e t e r r i t o r y o f t h i s c h i e f , and b e f o r e t h e d i s c o v e r y
o f t i n , h a d b e e n p l a c e d u n d e r t h e management o f h i s b r o t h e r ,
t h e g r a n d f a t h e r o f Ngah I b r a h i m . Ngah I b r a h i m ' s f a t h e r
h ad d e v e l o p e d L a r u t a f t e r t h e t i n d i s c o v e r i e s , and h ad
b e e n g r a n t e d t h e a r e a i n w r i t t e n c o n c e s s i o n s from or on
b e h a l f o f s u c c e s s i v e S u l t a n s i n 1850 and 1 8 5 6 . He d i e d i n
1 8 5 7 , and t h e c o n c e s s i o n was r e i s s u e d t o Ngah I b r a h i m i n
1 8 5 8 . Ngah I b r a h i m was made M e n t r i i n 1862 o r 1 8 6 3 .
46
t o p a y t o t h e S u l t a n ^6 on e v e r y b h a r a o f t i n e x p o r t e d .
I n 1873 t h e S u l t a n , I s m a i l , l i v e d f o r t y m i l e s away on t h e
middle P e r a k ; t h e r e i s no r e c o r d t h a t he e v e r v i s i t e d
L a r u t o r t h a t he had any f i n a n c i a l i n t e r e s t i n t h e m i n e s
there. In S e lan g o r, the r a j a s them selves c o n tr o l le d the
d i s t r i c t s and were d e e p l y i n v o l v e d i n t h e m i n i n g i n v e s t -
46
ment and s h a r e d o u t t h e c o n c e s s i o n s b e t w e e n th e m . R aja
J u m a ' a t , t h e s o n - i n - l a w o f one S u l t a n and b r o t h e r - i n - l a w
o f t h e n e x t , d e v e l o p e d t h e L u k u t c o n c e s s i o n and g o v e r n e d
t h e d i s t r i c t w i t h g r e a t s k i l l u n t i l h i s d e a t h in 1864; h i s
b r o t h e r i n i t i a t e d t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e K u a l a Lumpur
f i e l d , the r i c h e s t in th e s t a t e , and i n 1870 t h i s came
u n d e r t h e a u t h o r i t y o f T engk u Z i a ’u ’ d - d i n , a s o n - i n - l a w o f
the S u lta n , (The S u l t a n , Abdul Samad, had s h a r e s h i m s e l f
45
The M e n t r i a p p e a r s t o h av e farm e d o u t t h e t i n m i n e s t o
a H ai San l e a d e r , Law Ah Sam, who was t h e n l e f t t o make
the d i s t r i b u t i o n of allo tm e n ts (see P a rt I I , p .1 1 5 , n .3 9 ) .
46
The d i a g r a m o v e r l e a f shows some o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s
o f t h e S e l a n g o r r a j a s and t h e i r i n t e r e s t i n v a r i o u s c o n
cessions, I t i s t a k e n f r o m G - u l l ic k , I n d i g e n o u s P o l i t i c a l
S y stem s o f W e s t e r n M a l a y a , p . 7 2 .
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47
The Sultan was the financial backer of one Chin Ah Chan,
a miner in Ulu Selangor, who then moved to Ulu Langat and
opened mines there with the Sultan's support. There are
references in the Selangor Secretariat papers to advances
made by the Sultan to this man (Sel/Sec. 426/1876).
48
Report of Assistant Resident, Perak, for 1874, Appendix
B, SSG-Gr 3 April 1875.
49
th e second y e a r of o rg a n is e d c o l l e c t i o n by B r i t i s h o f f i c e r s ,
th e Langat rev en u es t o t a l l e d $18,233; by c o n t r a s t th e
r e v e n u e s o f K l a n g , t h e o u t l e t f o r t h e K u a l a Lumpur m i n e s ,
49
am ounted i n 1874 t o $ 1 1 4 , 0 0 0 . The c h i e f s owed a p r o p o r
t i o n o f t h e i r c o l l e c t i o n s t o t h e S u l t a n , b u t t h i s was n o t
50
l a r g e , n o r d i d i t a p p e a r t o be r e g u l a r l y p a i d . A part
o f t h e m i n i n g r e v e n u e was s p e n t on a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and w a r ;
b u t t h e r e v e n u e s were s t i l l r e g a r d e d a s t h e p e r s o n a l e s t a t e
49
A s s t . C . S . f o r N a t i v e S t a t e s , A u d i t R e p o r t on N a t i v e
S t a t e s A c c o u n t s f o r 1 8 7 7 , C . 2 4 1 0 , e n c l o s u r e i n n o . 6;
Memorandum on t h e F i n a n c i a l C o n d i t i o n o f t h e N a t i v e S t a t e s ,
8 F e b ru a ry 1877, Paper l a i d b e fo r e th e S t r a i t s S e t tl e m e n ts
L e g i s l a t i v e C o m i c i l , A p p e n d ix 4 o f 1 8 7 8 .
50
The c o n t r i b u t i o n t o P e r a k i n 1 8 7 4 , b a s e d on t h e t r a d i
t i o n a l c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e S u l t a n , was $ 1 6 , 4 4 6 ( s e e n o t e 48
for reference). M iddlebrook p u t s t h e Klang c o n t r i b u t i o n
t o t h e S u l t a n c . 1 8 7 0 a t $6000 a y e a r . (Yap Ah L oy, p . 2 9 . )
50
a s o l u t i o n i n s p i r e d b y h i s f r i e n d and a d v i s e r , t h e R e s i d e n t
C o u n c i l l o r o f M a l a c c a ; he p r o p o s e d t h a t t i n d u t i e s be f i x e d
and p a i d i n t o a S t a t e T r e a s u r y which would t h e n p a y a l l o w -
51
ances e q u it a b l y to a l l Selangor r a j a s . But th e p r e
r e q u i s i t e f o r s u c h a s o l u t i o n was a c e n t r a l i s e d a d m i n i s t r a
t i o n w h ic h S e l a n g o r d i d n o t h a v e . I n S u n g e i Ujong a n o t h e r
s o r t o f a d j u s t m e n t was a t t e m p t e d ; i n 1850 t h e c o n f l i c t i n g
c l a i m s o f t h e D a t o ’ B a n d a r , t h e D a t o ' K l a n a and t h e D a t o ’
Muda L i n g g i were s e t t l e d b y t h e a r b i t r a t i o n o f t h e Yam
52
Tuan B e s a r o f N e g r i S e m b i l a n ; but t h i s s e ttle m e n t again
51
M iddlebrook, ’Yap Ah L o y ’ , p p . 2 3 - 4 .
52
Before the e ig h te e n th c e n tu ry , the p re d e c e s s o rs of the
D a t o ' K l a n a and D a t o ' B a n d a r were s t y l e d P e n g h u l u M e n t r i
and D a t o ’ S h a h b a n d a r r e s p e c t i v e l y , and t h e o f f i c e s t h e y
h eld o r i g in a te d in appointm ents of l o c a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
made b y t h e S u l t a n s o f M a l a c c a - J o h o r . They a p p e a r t o
h a v e b e e n c o - r u l e r s and t h e r e l a t i v e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e
D a t o ’ K l a n a and t h e D a t o ’ B a n d a r , i n c o n s e q u e n c e , h a s
a lw a y s b e e n o b s c u r e , and t h e Malay s o u r c e s a v o i d d e f i n i
tio n s. The D a t o ’ K l a n a h e l d t h e t i t l e of Undang o v e r t h e
whole o f S u n g e i U j o n g , and was f i r s t o f t h e c h i e f s o f t h e
N e g r i S e m b i l a n ; b u t t h e D a t o ’ B a n d ar was I n d e p e n d e n t i n
h i s own d i s t r i c t , and a f t e r t h e K l a n a , t o o k p r e c e d e n c e
o v e r a l l t h e o t h e r c h i e f s o f t h e N e g r i S e m b i l a n ; i n 1898
he j o i n e d w i t h t h e K l a n a i n s i g n i n g an a g r e e m e n t on b e h a l f
o f S u n g e i U j o n g , a c c e p t i n g a Yam Tuan o v e r t h e s t a t e . The
t e r r i t o r y o f t h e K l a n a l a y on a t r i b u t a r y o f t h e Upper
L i n g g i , i n t h e P a n t a i d i s t r i c t ; t h a t o f t h e B a n d a r l a y on
t h e m i d d l e L i n g g i , b e lo w S e r e m b a n , and i n c l u d e d t h e t i n
p o r t o f R a s a h . The B a n d a r was t h e r e f o r e i n a b e t t e r p o
s i t i o n to ta x the t i n t r a d e . A c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n them i n
1849 was s e t t l e d b y t h e a r b i t r a t i o n o f t h e Yam Tuan B e s a r ;
t h e s e t t l e m e n t gave t h e D a t o ’ K l a n a , t h e D a t o ’ B a n d a r and
t h e D a t o ’ Muda L i n g g i ( a B u g i s c h i e f s e t t l e d l o w e r down
51
was p r e c a r i o u s in th e absence o f a u t h o r i t y a b le to e n fo rc e
it.
The s t r u g g l e f o r c o n t r o l o f t h e m in e s and r i v e r o u t
l e t s c o n t i n u e d , and p e r p e t u a t e d o ld r i v a l r i e s i n a new
f o rm . I n P e r a k a s u c c e s s i o n q u a r r e l b e tw e e n t h e r u l i n g
53
S u l t a n , I s m a i l , who c o n t r o l l e d t h e u p p e r P e r a k , and R a ja
A b d u l l a h , a d i s a p p o i n t e d c a n d i d a t e whose s p h e r e o f i n f l u
e n ce was on t h e l o w e r r i v e r , was g i v e n a s h a r p e r edge by
th e v a l u e o f t h e r e v e n u e c o n t r i b u t i o n s from l a r u t ; w h ile
52 ( c o n t i n u e d )
t h e r i v e r ) one t h i r d e a c h o f t h e d u e s on s h i p s and m er
c h a n d i s e e n t e r i n g o r l e a v i n g t h e m outh o f t h e r i v e r .
( G u l l i c k , 'S u n g e i U j o n g ' , JMBRAS, x x i i , 2 , p . 2 9 . ) In
1 8 7 4 , h o w e v e r , t h i s a r r a n g e m e n t seem s t o have b r o k e n down,
a s t h e K l a n a c o m p la in e d t o P i c k e r i n g t h a t he was g e t t i n g
none o f t h e t i n r e v e n u e , and t h a t h i s m ain s o u r c e o f i n
come was t h e c a p i t a t i o n t a x on C h in e s e m i n e r s . (P ic k e rin g ,
J o u r n a l o f a v i s i t t o S u n g e i U jo n g , O c to b er-N o v e m b e r 1 8 7 4 ,
Sw ettenham P a p e r s , n o . 7 2 . ;
53
The P e r a k S u c c e s s i o n r o t a t e d b e tw e e n t h r e e b r a n c h e s o f
t h e r o y a l f a m i l y ; on t h e d e a t h o f e a c h S u l t a n , h i s h e i r
was made R a j a B e n d a h a r a , w h ile t h e c u r r e n t R a j a B e n d a h a ra
became R a j a Muda and t h e R a j a Muda became S u l t a n . On th e
d e a t h o f S u l t a n A b d u lla h Mohammed Shah i n 1 8 5 7 , h i s son
Y usuf s h o u ld have become R a j a B e n d a h a r a ; b u t t h e c h i e f s
p a s s e d him o v e r b e c a u s e o f h i s u n p o p u l a r i t y and I s m a i l ,
who was o f P e r a k r o y a l d e s c e n t o n ly on h i s m o t h e r 's s i d e ,
was made B e n d a h a r a . He had c l e a r l y o n l y a c a r e t a k e r p o s i
t i o n , f o r he r e m a in e d B e n d a h a r a a t t h e d e a t h o f t h e n e x t
S u l t a n ( J a ’ a f a r ) i n 1 8 6 5 ; Y u s u f was a g a i n p a s s e d o v e r , and
A b d u lla h was made R a j a Muda. On S u l t a n A l i ' s d e a t h i n
1 8 7 1 , b o t h A b d u lla h and Y u su f were p a s s e d o v e r , and I s m a i l
was made S u l t a n , a p p a r e n t l y by a coup o f th e u p - r i v e r
c h ie fs. The r e l a t i o n s h i p s b e tw e e n t h e v a r i o u s S u l t a n s and
p r e t e n d e r s b e tw e e n c . 1800 and 1916 a re shown i n t h e d ia g r a m
o v e r l e a f , b a s e d on W i l k i n s o n , H i s t o r y o f th e P e n i n s u l a r
M a l a y s , 9 7 . The d a t e s i n b r a c k e t s a r e t h e r e g n a l d a t e s .
52
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CO ,a 3
53
S u l t a n I s m a i l s u p p o r t e d t h e M e n t r i and h i s H a i San a l l i e s ,
R a j a A b d u l l a h t r i e d t o s e c u r e t h e s u p p o r t of t h e G-hi Hin
opponents o f th e M e n tri, in r e t u r n f o r prom ises o f c o n c e s
sions. In S elan g o r the s t r u g g l e f o r c o n t r o l of t h e S elan g o r
and K l a n g r i v e r s ( p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e l a t t e r ) involved th e
whole r o y a l f a m i l y . The m ain s t r u g g l e was b e t w e e n a
S e l a n g o r r a . i a ( R a j a Mahdi) on t h e one hand and Tengku
54
Z i a ' u ' d - d : L n on t h e o t h e r ; i t l a s t e d from 1869 t o 1873
54
T eng ku Z i a ' u ' d - d i n ( f a m i l i a r a b b v . Tengku K u d in ) was
t h e b r o t h e r o f t h e S u l t a n o f Kedah . I n 1868 he m a r r i e d
t h e d a u g h t e r o f S u l t a n Abdul Samad o f S e l a n g o r , and was
drawn i n t o S e l a n g o r p o l i t i c s i n a l l i a n c e w i t h t h e S u l t a n ’ s
nephews by m a r r i a g e , who h a d b e e n e x p e l l e d fro m K la n g by
R a j a Mahdi ( a c o u s i n o f t h e S u l t a n ) i n 1867. Tengku K u d in
h e l p e d t h e d i s p l a c e d h e i r s t o e x p e l R a j a Mahdi i n h i s t u r n
(March 1 8 7 0 ) . He t h e n assumed c o n t r o l o f t h e K l a n g a d
m i n i s t r a t i o n and e n t e r e d i n t o an a l l i a n c e w i t h Yah Ah L o y ,
t h e C h i n e s e Cap i t an i n K u a l a Lumpur. Mahdi e s t a b l i s h e d
h i m s e l f on t h e S e l a n g o r r i v e r b u t c l a s h e d w i t h t h e S t r a i t s
g o v e rn m e n t i n 1871 a f t e r an a t t a c k on a j u n k fro m P e n a n g ,
w h i c h was f o u n d i n t h e S e l a n g o r r i v e r ; h i s f o r t s a t K u a l a
S e l a n g o r were s h e l l e d b y t h e ’R i n a l d o ’ i n J u l y and o c
c u p i e d by Tengku K u d in t h e same m o n th , and t h e S u l t a n was
c o m p e l l e d b y a B r i t i s h m i s s i o n t o r e c o g n i s e Tengku K u d in
as ’W akil Y a m tu a n ’ o r V i c e r o y o f S e l a n g o r . But by August
1 8 7 2 , b o t h K u a l a S e l a n g o r and K u a l a Lumpur had f a l l e n t o
t h e Mahdi p a r t y . I n March 1 8 7 3 , K u a l a Lumpur was r e t a k e n
w i t h t h e h e l p o f f o r c e s fro m P a h a n g , and i n November
M a h d i ' s p a r t y was e x p e l l e d f r o m K u a l a S e l a n g o r as w e l l .
K u d i n ' s a d v i s e r was t h e S i n g a p o r e l a w y e r , James G-uthrie
D a v i d s o n , who h e l p e d g e t him a d o p t e d a s p r o t e g e o f t h e
S t r a i t s g o v e r n m e n t ; i t was w i t h t h e a p p r o v a l o f t h e g o v e r n
ment t h a t he s e c u r e d t h e h e l p o f P a h a n g . I n March 1 8 7 3 ,
K u d in g r a n t e d a l a r g e m i n i n g c o n c e s s i o n i n S e l a n g o r t o
two men, o f whom D a v i d s o n was o n e ; and i n a l e t t e r o f
3 J u n e 1 8 7 3 , a d d r e s s e d t o Seymour C l a r k e , a d i r e c t o r o f
t h e S e l a n g o r T i n Min ing Company w h ic h was s u b s e q u e n t l y
f l o a t e d t o work t h e c o n c e s s i o n , K u d in a s k e d w h e t h e r t h e
E n g l i s h ' o r any o t h e r G-overnment' would p r o t e c t S e l a n g o r ,
54
and a b o u t 1868 i t d r o v e t h e S u l t a n t o t h e r e l a t i v e p e a c e
and n e u t r a l i t y o f L a n g a t . I n S u n g e i Ujong t h e c o m p e t i t i o n
f o r th e t i n rev e n u es sim ply p e r p e t u a t e d the a n c i e n t r i v a l
r y b e t w e e n t h e D a t o ’ B a n d a r and t h e Dato* K l a n a , jo in t
h o ld e rs of the o f f i c e of t e r r i t o r i a l c h i e f . The D a t o ’
B a n d a r had t h e a d v a n t a g e i n t h a t he c o n t r o l l e d t h e r i v e r
o u t l e t f o r t h e L i n g g i m in e s and t h u s c o n t r o l l e d t h e r e v e n u e s ,
and t h e e q u i t a b l e d i v i s i o n o f t h e s e b e t w e e n t h e K l a n a and
h i m s e l f was t h e s o u r c e o f c o n s t a n t f r i c t i o n . But t h e t i n
54 ( c o n t i n u e d )
i n o r d e r to give s e c u r i t y f o r i n v e s t o r s . T h i s communica
t i o n was d u l y p a s s e d on t o t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e and a p p e a r s
t o have p l a y e d a m a j o r p a r t i n K i m b e r l e y ’ s d e c i s i o n t o
intervene. I n 1 8 7 5 , D a v i d s o n went t o K l a n g as R e s i d e n t ,
s t a y i n g w i t h Tengku K u d in ; b u t i n 1876 D a v i d s o n was r e
p l a c e d and h i s s u c c e s s o r p r e f e r r e d t o d e a l d i r e c t w i t h t h e
S u l t a n and t h e R a j a Muda. I n 1877 o r 1878 K u d in r e t u r n e d
t o Kedah w i t h a g r a t u i t y o f $ 3 0 , 0 0 0 i n S e l a n g o r b o n d s ,
and a p e n s i o n o f $500 a month f o r h i m s e l f and $200 a m o n th
f o r h i s w i f e and c h i l d r e n .
55
o f whom t r i e d t o r a i s e f u n d s by t h e l e v y o f i l l e g a l d u e s ,
w h i l e t h e r i v e r was a l s o b l o c k a d e d by Tengku Z i a ' u ' d - d i n
i n an e f f o r t t o s t o p h i s e n e m ie s u s i n g i t a s an e s c a p e
r o u t e fro m S e l a n g o r .
An a c c o u n t o f t h e r i v a l r i e s b e t w e e n M a lay s on t h e
w e s t c o a s t d u r i n g t h e p e r i o d would be i n c o m p l e t e i f i t d i d
n o t r e f e r t o t h e l a c k a d a i s i c a l way i n w h ic h t h e y p u r s u e d
th e ir anim o sities. The a i r was f i l l e d w i t h a b u se and
i n t r i g u e , b u t nobo dy g o t k i l l e d . A netw ork o f fa m ily r e
l a t i o n s h i p s u s u a l l y e m b raced b o t h c o n t e s t a n t s f o r power
and p r o b a b l y a c t e d a s a d e t e r r e n t t o v i o l e n c e ; t h e low
c a s u a l t y r a t e s may a l s o be due t o t h e Malay t r a d i t i o n o f
w a r f a r e , w h ic h c o n s i s t e d o f i n v e s t i n g a p o s i t i o n and w a i t
i n g f o r i t s d e f e n d e r s t o r u n away. But w hatever the r e a s o n
for re s tra in t, i t was p o s s i b l e f o r S u l t a n I s m a i l o f P e r a k
and h i s r i v a l R a j a A b d u l l a h ( l a t e r made S u l t a n i n h i s p l a c e )
t o l i v e on t h e same r i v e r w i t h o u t coming t o b l o w s . I t was
p o s s i b l e f o r th e r i v a l s t o th e th r o n e o f N e g ri Sembilan
(who were c o u s i n s ) t o l i v e i n t h e same s t a t e , and f o r t h e
D a t o ’ B a n d a r and D a t o ' K l a n a t o l i v e on t h e o u t s k i r t s of
t h e same t i n f i e l d t e n m i l e s from e a c h o t h e r - i f n o t i n
frien d sh ip , a t l e a s t in suspended a n im o s ity . The h o s t i l i t y
b e t w e e n t h e c h i e f s was m a i n l y e x p r e s s e d i n wordy l e t t e r s
o f c o m p l a i n t t o t h e G-overnor o r t o o t h e r B r i t i s h o f f i c i a l s .
56
I n 1 8 7 4 , f o r e x a m p l e , word r e a c h e d S i n g a p o r e t h a t t h e D a t o ’
K l a n a was a b o u t t o s e t o u t t o p u n i s h h i s c o n t u m a c i o u s
fello w -ch ief; a S t r a i t s o f f i c i a l was s e n t up t o s u p p o r t
t h e K l a n a and t o r e s t r a i n him from undue v i o l e n c e , b u t
he f o u n d t h e K l a n a w i t h o u t men and t h e B an d ar u n w i l l i n g
to fig h t. ’ I am t h a n k f u l we c am e ’ , he w r o t e , ’ a s i t would
have been a g r e a t d i s g r a c e to b r i n g a f o r c e to a t t a c k a
p l a c e and f i n d t h e i n m a t e s t o be a c h i l d i s h o l d man and
55
P i c k e r i n g , J o u r n a l of a v i s i t t o Sungei Ujong, 4 O c to b e r -
29 November 1 8 7 4 , Sw etten h a m P a p e r s , n o . 72.
57
offensives .
per cent of the total Penang imports in 1870 and forty per
56
PCM 27 February 1879; Asst. C.S. for Native States,
Audit Report on Selangor, 27 March 1880, C.3095, enclosure
1 in n o .2.
57
Braddell, Report on Proceedings at Sungei Ujong, C.1320,
enclosure in no.8.
58
The f i g h t s r e a c h e d a p e a k o f d e s t r u c t i v e n e s s b e tw e e n
on d e f e a t r e t i r e d t o P en an g t o mount c o u n t e r - o f f e n s i v e s .
I n S e p te m b e r 1873 L a r u t was a N e v e r-N e v e r-L a n d w here t h e
H a i San i n t h e m in e s w ere b l o c k a d e d by t h e G-hi H in on t h e
a l l i e s p r e p a r e d t o a t t a c k them b y l a n d . In S e la n g o r,
Cap i t a n C h in a Yap Ah Loy and t h e M alay f o l l o w e r s o f
Z i a ’ u ’d - d i n f o u g h t f o r t h e u p p e r c o u r s e s o f t h e S e l a n g o r
and K la n g r i v e r s a g a i n s t a r i v a l S in o - M a la y f a c t i o n , w h ile
M alay p a r t i e s f o u g h t f o r t h e r i v e r m o u th s . B etw een 1870
and 1872 t h e S e l a n g o r r i v e r m outh c h an g e d h a n d s t h r e e
t i m e s ; K u a l a Lumpur was a t t a c k e d t w i c e , and i n 1872 i t f e l l ,
l e a v i n g t h e Tengku and t h e C a p i t a n n o t h i n g b u t t h e K la n g
r i v e r m o u th . The n e x t y e a r t h e p i c t u r e was c h an g e d a g a i n
b y M alay m e r c e n a r i e s s e n t o v e r th e m o u n ta in s fro m P a h a n g ,
who h e l p e d t h e K la n g p a r t y r e c a p t u r e K u a l a Lumpur, and
c l e a r e d t h e i r e n e m ie s o f f t h e whole c o u r s e o f t h e S e l a n g o r
riv e r. It i s p r o b a b l e t h a t t h e f i g h t i n g would h a v e b e g u n
a g a i n , and t h e s i t u a t i o n c h an g e d once m o re , had i t n o t b e e n
s ta b ilise d a t t h i s p o i n t by t h e i n te r v e n t i o n o f th e B r i t i s h
G o v e rn m e n t.
59
The D e c i s i o n t o I n t e r v e n e
The B r i t i s h s e t t l e m e n t s o f P e n a n g , M a l a c c a and S i n g a
p o r e , c o l l e c t i v e l y known a s t h e S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s , were
e s t a b l i s h e d b y t h e E a s t I n d i a Company b e t w e e n 1786 and
Th ro u g h t h e s e c h a n g e s i n c o n t r o l , m e t r o p o l i t a n p o l i c y w i t h
r e g a r d t o th e n a t i v e s t a t e s rem ained c o n s i s t e n t in p r i n
cip le, and so d i d l o c a l a t t i t u d e s t o t h e same q u e s t i o n .
The v a l u e o f t h e S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s t o t h e E a s t I n d i a Com
p a n y l a y p r i m a r i l y i n t h e c o m m e r c i a l and s t r a t e g i c l i n k t h e y
p r o v i d e d b e t w e e n t h e I n d i a n e m p i r e on t h e one hand and t h e
C h i n e s e t r a d e on t h e o t h e r ; and t h e aim o f m e t r o p o l i t a n
p o l i c y was, b r o a d l y , t o p r o t e c t t h e s e a r o u t e w i t h o u t i n
c u r r i n g t e r r i t o r i a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s which m ig h t p r o v e
u n e c o n o m i c , and which m i g h t p r o v o k e t h e i n t e r v e n t i o n o f a
58
m ajo r power. B r i t a i n a c c o r d i n g l y e n c o u r a g e d t h e two
m i n o r E u r o p e a n powers i n t h e A r c h i p e l a g o , H o l l a n d and S p a i n ,
t o c o n s o l i d a t e t h e i r p o s i t i o n i n t h e E a s t I n d i e s and t h e
58
The p o i n t i s d e v e l o p e d i n T a r l i n g , ’B r i t i s h P o l i c y i n
t h e Malay P e n i n s u l a and A r c h i p e l a g o , 1 8 2 4 - 1 8 7 1 ' , JMBRAS,
x x x , 3» p p . 9 - 1 8 and s q q . We a r e i n d e b t e d t o him f o r t h i s
an aly sis.
60
P h i l i p p i n e s r e s p e c t i v e l y , d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y were
w h e t h e r s a n c t i o n e d b y c u s t o m o r n o t , were c h a r a c t e r i s e d
a s ’ p i r a c y ’ and n a v a l power invoked t o p u t th e m down.
Co m m e rcia l c o n s i d e r a t i o n s demanded t h a t t h e S i a m e s e , who
a l r e a d y h ad s u z e r a i n t y o v e r Kedah , K e l a n t a n and T r e n g g a n u ,
s h o u l d be p r e v e n t e d fro m e x t e n d i n g t h e i r a u t h o r i t y s o u t h
w a rd . The r e f u s a l o f t h e Home Government t o s a n c t i o n a
forward p o lic y l e f t t h e l o c a l g o v e rn m e n t l i t t l e room t o
manoeuvre; b u t l o c a l o f f i c i a l s did succeed in e s t a b l i s h i n g
B r i t a i n b y t r e a t y and i n p r a c t i c e , as t h e p a r a m o u n t po w e r
in th e independent s t a t e s of the P e n in s u la . The t r e a t i e s ,
in. g e n e r a l , e x c l u d e d Siam f r o m i n t e r f e r e n c e s o u t h o f t h e
K edah-K elantan b o u n d ary , p r e v e n te d t h e s t a t e s from i n t e r
f e r i n g In e a c h o t h e r s ’ a f f a i r s , and a s s e r t e d B r i t i s h c o n
t r e a t i e s was t o i m m o b i l i s e e a c h s t a t e w i t h i n i t s b o u n d a r i e s
a s much as p o s s i b l e . T r e a t i e s w i t h P e r a k and S e l a n g o r i n
1825 e s t a b l i s h e d t h e Bernam r i v e r as t h e b o u n d a r y b e t w e e n
them, p r o v id e d f o r t h e r e c a l l o f S e la n g o r t a x - c o l l e c t o r s
i n Lower P e r a k , and bound S e l a n g o r n o t t o i n t e r f e r e in
Perak a f f a i r s . A t r e a t y w i t h Siam i n 1826 g u a r a n t e e d P e r a k
a g a i n s t a t t a c k , e i t h e r b y Siam o r S e l a n g o r , and a t r e a t y
w i t h P e r a k i n t h e same y e a r ( T r e a t y 2 o f 18 O c t o b e r 1826)
bo und t h e R u l e r t o a p p l y f o r B r i t i s h h e l p i f h i s c o u n t r y
were d i s t u r b e d . On t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e P e n i n s u l a , Pa h a n g
and J o h o r e i n a t r e a t y o f 1862 a g r e e d t o r e f e r an y d i s p u t e
b e t w e e n them t o t h e S t r a i t s G o v e r n m e n t , and u n d e r t o o k n o t
t o c o r r e s p o n d w i t h a f o r e i g n power e x c e p t w i t h t h e c o n s e n t
59
o f t h a t governm ent.
The S t r a i t s Government managed t o m a i n t a i n a b a l a n c e
o f po we r on t h e P e n i n s u l a b y u s i n g c o n s i d e r a b l e d i p l o m a t i c
f i n e s s e , b u t i t had no weapons e x c e p t d i p l o m a c y and t h e
occasional d isp la y of naval fo rce ; and w i t h o u t c o n t r o l o v e r
the i n te r n a l a f f a i r s of the s t a t e s , i t could not s to p
d y n a s t i c q u a r r e l s , o r p u t an end t o i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h t h e
t i n t r a d e , o r sto p th e Chinese s e c r e t s o c i e t y c o n f l i c t s
59
The t r e a t i e s a r e p u b l i s h e d i n Ma xwell and G i b s o n ,
T r e a t i e s and E n g a g e m e n ts a f f e c t i n g t h e Malay S t a t e s and
B o r n e o (Bond. 1 9 2 4 ) .
62
for the mines. The use of naval power gave only temporary
relief. River stockades were destroyed, but the naval and
60
Braddell describes the fruitless attempts to clear the
Linggi in the 1850s (Report of Proceedings in Sungei Ujong
/1874/, C.1320, enclosure in no.8). In 1871, a British
sloop, the ’Rinaldo', destroyed Raja Mahdi’s fort at the
entrance to the Selangor river, and Tengku Zia’u'd-din
occupied it; a year later it was retaken by Mahdi’s party.
61
Sir Henry St. George Ord, R.E., C.B., Commissioner to
the Gold Coast, 1855-6, t t .-Governor of Dominica, 1857,
Governor of Bermuda, 1861, Special Commissioner to West
Africa in 1864, served as Governor of the Straits Settle
ments between April 1867 and November 1873. Lt.-Colonel
Anson, R.A., was Lt.-Governor of Penang from 1867 to 1882,
and administered the government for periods in 1871, 1877
and 1879, in the absence of the Governor.
63
and i n 1868 he n e g o t i a t e d an a g r e e m e n t on t h e s e m a t t e r s
w i t h h e r s u z e r a i n , Siam. The same y e a r , he b e g a n u n a u t h o r
ised n e g o tia tio n s w ith Perak fo r th e c essio n of t e r r i t o r y
on t h e m a i n l a n d o p p o s i t e t h e B r i t i s h - h e l d is la n d of Pangkor.
I n A p r i l 1868 he p o i n t e d o u t t o t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
th at in a l l th e independent s t a t e s except Jo h o re , the i n
s e c u r i t y of l i f e and p r o p e r t y d i s c o u r a g e d i n v e s t m e n t and
C h i n e s e i m m i g r a t i o n , and p r o p o s e d , as a re m e d y , t h e e x t e n
sio n of B r itis h in flu en ce to th a t p a rt of th e P eninsula
s o u t h o f t h e S i a m e s e - d o m i n a t e d Malay s t a t e s . He d e c l a r e d ,
’The s u b j e c t i o n o f t h e n a t i v e S t a t e s o f t h e P e n i n s u l a t o
p o w e r s more c i v i l i s e d t h a n t h e m s e l v e s i s an a d v a n t a g e t o
t h e m s e l v e s and t o a l l who h ave r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e m ' , and
a n n o u n c e d t h a t he would u s e e v e r y o p p o r t u n i t y t h a t p r e -
62
sented i t s e l f fo r extending B r i t i s h in flu e n c e .
Ord’s d e sp atch crossed w ith a C o lo n ia l O ffice d i r e c
t i v e on t h e G o v e r n o r ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s in r e l a t i o n to the
nativ e s ta te s . The d i r e c t i v e a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t t h e G o v e r n
o r m i g h t have t o a c t i n d e p e n d e n t l y i n c e r t a i n c i r c u m s t a n c e s ,
S2
Ord t o Buckin gham , 8 A p r i l 1 8 6 8 , CO 2 7 3 / 1 8 , c i t e d Cowan,
O r ig in s of B r i t i s h P o l i t i c a l C o n tro l in M alaya, 1867-1878,
p .7 4 , n.76.
64
b u t warned h im a g a i n s t e n t e r i n g i n t o f o r m a l n e g o t i a t i o n s
w i t h n a t i v e p o w e r s , and p a r t i c u l a r l y a g a i n s t c o n c l u d i n g any
a g r e e m e n t e x c e p t i n p u r s u a n c e o f a p o l i c y a p p r o v e d b y Her
63
M a j e s t y ’ s G o v e r n m e n t. Ord h ad o f f e n d e d on a l l c o u n t s ;
he had a c t e d i n d e p e n d e n t l y , w i t h no e m e rg en c y t o j u s t i f y
h i m , he had c o n c l u d e d an a g r e e m e n t on h i s own i n i t i a t i v e ,
and h i s p r o p o s a l t o e x t e n d B r i t i s h i n f l u e n c e , and i n d e e d
t o add t o B r i t i s h t e r r i t o r i a l p o s s e s s i o n s in the P e n in s u la ,
was a r a d i c a l d e p a r t u r e f r o m e s t a b l i s h e d p o l i c y . The Co
l o n i a l O ffice re a c te d stro n g ly . I t had a l r e a d y r e c e i v e d
a l e t t e r f r o m W.H. R e a d , a l e a d i n g S i n g a p o r e m e r c h a n t , r e
counting the s t a t e of a f f a i r s i n P e r a k , P a h a n g and S e l a n g o r ,
g i v i n g d e t a i l s o f t h e t r a d e and t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e a r e a
t o S t r a i t s commerce , and b e g g i n g f o r a u t h o r i s e d i n t e r v e n
t i o n and ' r e g u l a r g o v e rn m e n t u n d e r B r i t i s h i n f l u e n c e and
s u p e r v i s i o n ’ ; and i n r e p l y t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e had i n
s t r u c t e d e m p h a t i c a l l y t h a t t h e p o l i c y o f Her M a j e s t y ’ s
64
Gove rnm ent was n o t one o f i n t e r v e n t i o n i n n a t i v e a f f a i r s .
He now w r o t e t o s a y t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t was ' n o t d i s p o s e d
to adopt th e d u ty , d i r e c t l y or i n d i r e c t l y , of ta k in g step s
S3
Buckin gham t o O r d , 22 A p r i l 1 8 6 8 , CO 2 7 3 / 1 8 , c i t e d Cowan,
op. c i t . , 79, n .8 7 .
64
Read t o C . O . , 9 May 1 8 6 8 , e n c l o s e d i n Buckingham t o Ord,
77 o f 20 May 1 8 6 8 .
65
s h o u l d n o t be d i s p o s e d t o a p p r o v e o f any p r o c e e d i n g s w h ich
would e x t e n d t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f Her M a j e s t y ' s G-overn-
66
m ent i n t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o d o f t h e S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s ' .
As Ord c o m p l a i n e d i n p r i v a t e , ' n o t h i n g i s more d i f f i c u l t
t h a n t o g e t t h e s e p e o p l e ( t h e Malay r u l e r s ) t o make t r e a t i e s
f r o m w h ic h t h e y d e r i v e no b e n e f i t , e x c e p t i t be t o p e r s u a d e
67
t h e C o l o n i a l O f f ic e t o approve o f them !'
I n 1871 t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e was a g a i n p r o v o k e d by t h e
65
Bu ckin gham t o O r d , 4 J u n e 1 8 6 8 , CO 2 7 3 / 1 8 , Cowan, o p .
c i t . , p .81, n .8 9 .
66
G r a n v i l l e t o Ord , 157 o f 10 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 6 9 .
67
Ord t o An so n , 20 O c t o b e r 1 8 7 0 , Anson C o r r e s p o n d e n c e ,
R a ffle s L ib ra ry A rchives, Singapore.
66
tions with all these States, and the Injury to trade which
fice did not see that there was the slightest necessity for
68
Anson to Kimberley, 144 of 3 June 1871, and report of
committee, 19 May 1871, CO 273/47/7609. The committee
consisted of A.W. Birch, acting Lt.-Governor of Penang,
Major J.P.A. McNair, Colonial Engineer and Surveyor-
General, and Commander George Robinson, Commander and
Senior Naval Officer, Straits Division.
69
Kimberley to Anson, 180 of 20 August 1871.
67
the Selangor river, and she bombarded the forts and burnt
70
T en g k u i n t h e same d o c u m e n t. B i r c h now r e q u i r e d t h e
the a u th o r ity ;
and he a l s o d e c l a r e d R a j a M a h d i, R a j a Mahmud
71
and Syed Mashor r e b e l s , and empowered B i r c h t o s e i z e th em .
At t h e same t i m e B i r c h p l e d g e d t h e S t r a i t s Government t o
assist ’ o u r f r i e n d ’ s W ak il ( T e n g k u Z i a ' u ’ d - d i n ) in case
any o f our f r i e n d ’s s u b j e c t s v e n tu r e d to d i s p u t e h i s
72
au th o rity ’ .
The C o l o n i a l O f f i c e r e a c t e d t o t h i s w i t h s u r p r i s i n g
e q u a n i m i t y , t h o u g h t h e whole a c t i o n h ad p r o v o k e d a s t r o n g l y
critic a l le tte r i n t h e Times and p r o d u c e d an u n e a s y r e a c t i o n
fro m G l a d s t o n e . The S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e was on f i r m m o r a l
g r o u n d ; t h e S t r a i t s Government had c i t e d ’p i r a c y ’ a s t h e
70
W i l k i n s o n g i v e s t h e document i n i t s E n g l i s h t r a n s l a t i o n
and i n t e r p r e t s i t a s an a u t h o r i t y t o g o v e r n L a n g a t o n l y ,
b ut th e p o in t i s s t i l l in d o u b t. ( W i l k i n s o n , H i s t o r y of
the P e n in s u la r M alays, 145.) On t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h i s
a u t h o r i t y , t h e S t r a i t s o f f i c i a l s s t y l e d t h e T engku ’V i c e r o y
of Selangor’ .
71
S u l t a n t o B i r c h , 22 J u l y 1 8 7 1 ; B i r c h t o Anson, 26 J u l y
1871, C .4 6 6 , e n c l o s u r e s in n o . 6.
72
B i r c h to S u l t a n , J u l y 1871, 0 . 4 6 6 , e n c lo s u r e 3 in n o . 6.
W akil - a g e n t o r a t t o r n e y .
69
i n s u r a n c e c l a u s e i n h i s r e p l y , w a r n i n g Anson a g a i n s t t o o
a c t i v e a p o l i c y , w h i l e a p p r o v i n g h i s s u p p o r t o f t h e Tengku
in p r i n c i p l e . ' I conclude t h a t t h i s (prom ise o f a s s i s t a n c e )
r e f e r r e d t o g e n e r a l c o u n t e n a n c e and s u p p o r t and t h a t no
74
p r o m i s e o f m a t e r i a l a s s i s t a n c e was g i v e n by Mr. B i r c h . '
To q u o t e Cowan, 'B ritis h p o licy at th is tim e was o p p o se d t o
t h e e x t e n s i o n o f B r i t i s h i n f l u e n c e when i t t h r e a t e n e d t o
involve l i a b i l i t i e sand c o m p l i c a t i o n s , b u t condoned i t when
75
i t did n o t in c u r t e c h n i c a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t y ' . This gene
ralisatio n i s a p p l i c a b l e t o C o l o n i a l O f f i c e a t t i t u d e s ev en
a f t e r h e a v y r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s h a d b e e n assumed i n p r a c t i c e .
D e b a r r e d from d i r e c t i n t e r v e n t i o n , t h e S t r a i t s G o v e r n
ment t r i e d t o b r i n g a b o u t a l a s t i n g s o l u t i o n b y i n t e r v e n i n g
d i p l o m a t i c a l l y on b e h a l f o f one o r o t h e r o f t h e Malay
73
K i m b e r l e y t o G l a d s t o n e , 19 and 23 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 7 1 ,
G l a d s t o n e P a p e r s , B r i t i s h Museum, c i t e d Cowan, op. c i t . ,
p.122, n .8 1 .
74
K i m b e r l e y t o Anson, 26 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 7 1 , C . 4 6 6 , n o . 8 .
75
Cowan, o p . c i t . , 1 2 3 .
70
p arties. T h e r e was n o t h i n g t o be a c h i e v e d b y l e n d i n g
w e i g h t t o t h e a u t h o r i t y o f t h e S u l t a n s , s i n c e t h e y were
im potent to r e s t o r e o r d e r , and l i v e d b y c h o i c e a t a d i s
t a n c e fro m t h e m in e s and t h e s c e n e o f t h e f i g h t i n g . In
S e l a n g o r t h e most e l i g i b l e c a n d i d a t e f o r s u p p o r t was Tengku
Z i a ’u ’ d - d i n . He wore a m a n t l e o f l e g i t i m a c y , s i n c e he was
f i g h t i n g on b e h a l f o f t h e t r u e h e i r s t o K l a n g , and m o r e o v e r ,
had a c o m m i s s i o n fro m t h e S u l t a n t o g o v e r n t h e c o u n t r y .
He was r e p r e s e n t e d i n S i n g a p o r e b y an i n f l u e n t i a l l a w y e r ,
76
J.G-. D a v i d s o n , who was h i s f i n a n c i a l b a c k e r a s w e l l as
h i s l e g a l a d v i s e r ; he was f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e l i f e of the
76
See P a r t I I , p .109 , n . 3 5 .
77
I n J u l y 1871 t h e B r i t i s h m i s s i o n t o S e l a n g o r f o u n d one
E u r o p e a n ( a f o r m e r m id s h ip m a n i n t h e F r e n c h Navy) i n c h a r g e
o f t h e T e n g k u ’ s d e f e n c e s a t K l a n g , and a n o t h e r h e l p i n g
w i t h t h e r e v e n u e collie c t i o n t h e r e . (Commander B l o o m f i e l d
t o Commander R o b i n s o n , 6 A u g u s t 1 8 7 1 , C . 4 6 6 , e n c l o s u r e i n
no.2 0 .) The v i s i t o r s were u n i m p r e s s e d w i t h h i s f i n a n c i a l
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , b u t a c k n o w le d g e d t h e s i n c e r i t y o f h i s r e
q u e s t s f o r a d v i c e and h e l p i n t h e c o n d u c t o f h i s a f f a i r s .
( I r v i n g t o Anson, J u l y 1 8 7 1 , C . 4 6 6 , E n c l o s u r e i n n o . 7;
Commander B l o o m f i e l d t o V i c e - A d m i r a l K e l l e t t , 20 S e p tem b er
1871, C .466, e n c lo s u r e 2 in n o . 21.)
71
e x p l a i n e d t h i s t o t h e i r own s a t i s f a c t i o n by a t t r i b u t i n g
i t to th e m align in flu e n c e of th e c o u rt a t L a n g a t.
I n P e r a k t h e c o n t e s t a n t s f o r B r i t i s h s u p p o r t we re t h e
M e n t r i and R a j a A b d u l l a h , t h e d i s a p p o i n t e d c a n d i d a t e f o r
t h e P e r a k t h r o n e ; b u t s i n c e R a j a A b d u l l a h had no s t a n d i n g
i n L a r u t , and t h e M e n t r i h a d , and s i n c e t h e S t r a i t s G o v e r n
ment was o n l y a b l e t o i n t e r v e n e i n d i r e c t l y , and r e q u i r e d
a l l i e s of s u b s ta n c e , i t d e c i d e d i n S e p t e m b e r 1873 t o t h r o w
i t s w e i g h t on t h e s i d e o f t h e M e n t r i . I t p e r m i t t e d h im t o
i m p o r t a r m s , and t o r e c r u i t s e p o y s from I n d i a u n d e r C a p t a i n
78
Speedy, f o r m e r l y Deputy S u p e r i n te n d e n t in th e Penang P o l i c e ,
who e n t e r e d h i s s e r v i c e i n J u l y 1 8 7 3 ; and i t in itiated a
b l o c k a d e o f L a r u t w h ic h was i n e f f e c t a b l o c k a d e o f t h e
M e n t r i ' s C h i n e s e o p p o n e n t s , t h e G-hi Hin.
To a c e r t a i n e x t e n t t h e s e i n d i r e c t t a c t i c s were s u c
cessfu l. By t h e end o f 1 8 7 3 , Tengku Z i a ' u ’ d - d i n was once
more i n c o n t r o l o f t h e K la n g and S e l a n g o r r i v e r s , and i n
L a r u t t h e G-hi Hin were on t h e d e f e n s i v e , h a r d p r e s s e d b y
t h e M e n t r i on l a n d and t h e B r i t i s h b l o c k a d e b y s e a . But
78
See P a r t I I , p.108, n . 3 5 .
72
t h e p o l i c y o f i n d i r e c t s u p p o r t had b e e n f u l l y t e s t e d , how
e v e r , t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e h ad d e c i d e d t o intervene.
From l a t e 1 8 7 2 , O r d ’ s d e s p a t c h e s had d w e l t a t l e n g t h
on t h e d i s t u r b e d c o n d i t i o n o f t h e n a t i v e s t a t e s and t h e
r e p e r c u s s i o n s on t h e t r a d e and i n t e r n a l s e c u r i t y o f t h e
settlem en ts. The e n c l o s u r e s d e s c r i b e d t h e involvem ent of
t h e P e n a n g C h i n e s e i n t h e L a r u t w a r s , and i n c l u d e d a p r o
p o s a l from th e A c tin g L t . -G overnor o f Penang f o r th e annex
a t i o n ( o f P e ra k ) or a t l e a s t th e appointm ent of a R e sid e n t
80
or P o l i t i c a l O ffic e r to c e r t a i n of the s t a t e s . The
G o v e r n o r a l s o f o r w a r d e d r e q u e s t s fro m l o c a l m e r c h a n t s f o r
a lim ited in terv en tio n . Chinese m erchants in M alacca ap
p e a l e d f o r a more a c t i v e s u p p o r t o f T engku Z i a ’ u ' d - d i n ,
and i n J u l y 1873 t h e G-overnor f o r w a r d e d a p e t i t i o n fro m
248 C h i n e s e t r a d e r s i n t h e t h r e e s e t t l e m e n t s , c l a i m i n g ,
79
The P e n a n g a u t h o r i t i e s a p p e a r e d t o be p o w e r l e s s t o s t o p
t h e e x p o r t o f arms t o L a r u t (Ord t o K i m b e r l e y , 216 o f
24 J u l y 1 8 7 3 ) .
80
A c t . L t . - G o v e r n o r o f P e n a n g t o G o v e r n o r , 24 O c t o b e r 1 8 7 2 ,
C . l l l l , e n c l o s u r e 3 i n n o . 3.
73
as s u b j e c t s o f *o u r Most G r a c i o u s M a j e s t y ’ , p r o t e c t i o n i n
c e s s i o n t o work a l l t h e t i n l a n d i n S e l a n g o r n o t a l r e a d y
o c c u p ie d by o t h e r s . The S e l a n g o r T i n M in i n g Company was
p r o m o t e d t o h a n d l e t h i s c o n c e s s i o n , and t h e i r London r e
p resen tativ e, Seymour C l a r k e , a p p l i e d t o t h e C o l o n i a l Of
f i c e f o r p r o t e c t i o n f o r the e n t e r p r i s e . He q u o t e d f r o m a
l e t t e r fro m T engku Z i a ' u ' d - d i n , a s k i n g ' w h e t h e r t h e E n g l i s h
o r an y o t h e r G o v e r n m e n t ' would p r o v i d e s e c u r i t y f o r t r a d e r s
82
and e n t r e p r e n e u r s . The l e t t e r seems t o h ave p r e c i p i t a t e d
t h e ch an g e o f p o l i c y . On 7 J u l y , K i m b e r l e y h a d m i n u t e d on
81
P e t i t i o n o f t h e M a l a c c a T r a d e r s t o t h e Chamber o f Com
m e r c e , S i n g a p o r e , 27 J u l y 1 8 7 2 , C . l l l l , e n c l o s u r e 1 i n
n o . l ; P e t i t i o n of C hinese T ra d e rs in S in g a p o re , Penang
and M a l a c c a , 28 March 1 8 7 3 , C . l l l l , e n c l o s u r e i n n o . 1 2 .
82
Seymour C l a r k e t o C . O . , 18 J u l y 1 8 7 3 , C . l l l l , n o . 2 0 ,
c i t i n g l e t t e r fro m Tengku Z i a ' u ' d - d i n , 3 Ju n e 1 8 7 3 . The
emphasis is added.
74
an a c c o u n t o f th e L a r u t w a rs, ’ I t h i n k we must e n d e a v o u r
to put a sto p t o th e s e d i s t u r b a n c e s . . . . The d i f f i c u l t y i s
how t o do a n y t h i n g w i t h o u t d i r e c t i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h P e r a k ,
w h ic h i s v e r y u n d e s i r a b l e ' . But a f o r t n i g h t l a t e r , he
m i n u t e d on C l a r k e ' s l e t t e r t h a t t h e B r i t i s h Government
c o u l d n o t c o n s e n t t o any E u r o p e a n power a s s u m i n g t h e p r o -
83
t e c t o r a t e o f any M alay s t a t e . The C o l o n i a l O f f i c e was
r e l u c t a n t t o be p u s h e d i n t o i n t e r v e n t i o n a t t h e i n s t a n c e
e i t h e r of l o c a l Chinese or m e t r o p o li t a n B r i t i s h s p e c u l a to r s ;
b u t a t t h e p o i n t whe re l o c a l d i s t u r b a n c e s a p p e a r e d t o e n
d a n g e r, even r e m o t e l y , B r i t i s h param ountcy i n th e P e n i n s u l a ,
84
t h e Home Government was r e a d y f o r c l o s e r c o n t r o l .
The c h an g e o f p o l i c y was c om m unicate d t o t h e S t r a i t s
Government i n a d e s p a t c h o f 20 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 7 3 . The S e c r e
t a r y o f S ta te r e f e r r e d to the p r e v a i l i n g anarchy in th e
P e n i n s u l a , t h e damage t o t r a d e , and t h e n e e d f o r a rem e d y .
He went on:
83
M in u te b y K i m b e r l e y , 7 J u l y 1 8 7 3 , i n CO 2 7 3 / 6 4 , c i t e d
Cowan, o p . c i t . , 2 0 6 , n . 6 4 ; M in u te b y K i m b e r l e y , 22 J u l y
1 8 7 3 , i n CO 2 7 3 / 7 4 / 7 , c i t e d Cowan, op. c i t . , 211, n . 7 9 .
The o m i s s i o n s a r e m in e .
84
T h i s t h e s i s i s d e v e l o p e d i n Cowan, O r i g i n s o f B r i t i s h
P o l i t i c a l C o n t r o l i n M a l a y a , 1 8 6 7 - 1 8 7 8 . The o r i g i n a l d r a f t
o f K im b erley 's d e sp atc h b rin g s out c l e a r l y the s t r a t e g i c
f e a r s t h a t u n d e r l a y t h e change o f p o l i c y ; b u t t h e s e s e c
t i o n s were c u t o u t o f t h e f i n a l d e s p a t c h . (D raft of
K i m b e r l e y t o C l a r k e , 20 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 7 3 , i n CO 2 7 3 / 6 7 / 8 6 4 1 . )
75
Her M a j e s t y ’ s Government h a v e , i t n e e d h a r d l y be
s a i d , no d e s i r e t o i n t e r f e r e i n t h e i n t e r n a l a f f a i r s
o f t h e Malay S t a t e s . But l o o k i n g t o t h e l o n g and
i n t i m a t e c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n them and t h e B r i t i s h
G o v e r n m e n t . . . and t o t h e w e l l - b e i n g o f t h e B r i t i s h
S e t t l e m e n t s t h e m s e l v e s , He r M a j e s t y ’ s Government
f e e l i t i n c u m b e n t upon th em t o employ s u c h i n f l u e n c e
as t h e y p o s s e s s w ith th e n a t i v e P r i n c e s t o r e s c u e ,
i f p o s s i b l e , t h e s e f e r t i l e and p r o d u c t i v e c o u n t r i e s
from t h e r u i n w h ic h m ust b e f a l l th e m , i f t h e p r e s e n t
d i s o r d e r s co n tin u e unchecked.
I h a v e t o r e q u e s t t h a t you w i l l c a r e f u l l y a s c e r t a i n ,
a s f a r as y o u a r e a b l e , t h e a c t u a l c o n d i t i o n o f
a f f a i r s i n e a c h S t a t e , and t h a t you w i l l r e p o r t t o
me w h e t h e r t h e r e a r e , i n y o u r o p i n i o n , an y s t e p s
w h ich c a n p r o p e r l y b e t a k e n b y t h e C o l o n i a l G o v e rn
ment t o p r o m o t e t h e r e s t o r a t i o n o f p e a c e and o r d e r ,
and t o s e c u r e p r o t e c t i o n t o t r a d e and commerce w i t h
the n a tiv e t e r r i t o r i e s . I s h o u ld w ish you e s p e c i a l l y
t o c o n s i d e r w h e t h e r i t would be a d v i s a b l e t o a p p o i n t
a B r i t i s h o f f i c e r t o r e s i d e i n a ny o f t h e S t a t e s .
Such a n a p p o i n t m e n t c o u l d , cf c o u r s e , o n l y be made
w i t h t h e f u l l c o n s e n t o f t h e n a t i v e G o v e r n m e n t, and
t h e e x p e n s e s c o n n e c t e d w i t h i t would h a v e t o be d e
f r a y e d b y t h e Government o f t h e S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s .
The t o n e o f t h e d e s p a t c h was e x t r e m e l y c a u t i o u s , and i t
d i d no more t h a n a s k t h e G o v e r n o r t o r e p o r t on t h e s t e p s he
proposed t o t a k e . I t was a d d r e s s e d t o a new G o v e r n o r , S i r
85
Andrew C l a r k e , who t o o k up h i s d u t i e s i n t h e S t r a i t s on t h e
85
L t , - G e n e r a l S i r Andrew C l a r k e , RE. , GCMG. , CB. , C I E . ,
was b o r n i n 1824 and e d u c a t e d a t t h e R o y a l M i l i t a r y Aca
demy, W oolwich. He e n t e r e d t h e R o y a l E n g i n e e r s i n 1 8 4 4 ,
and was a p p o i n t e d ADC t o t h e G o v e r n o r o f T a s m a n ia i n 1 8 4 6 .
He s e r v e d t h e r e and i n New Z e a l a n d u n t i l 1 8 5 5 , when he was
appointed Surveyor-G eneral of V i c t o r i a . He was e l e c t e d t o
t h e f i r s t V i c t o r i a n l e g i s l a t i v e Assembly u n d e r t h e c o n s t i
t u t i o n o f 1 8 5 5 , and became M i n i s t e r f o r P u b l i c L a n d s . He
r e t u r n e d t o E n g la n d i n 1858 and became Commanding E n g i n e e r ,
E a s t e r n and M i d l a n d d i s t r i c t s , t i l l 1 8 6 3 , when he became
D i r e c t o r o f W ork s, A d m i r a l t y . He was G o v e r n o r o f t h e
S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s b e t w e e n November 1873 and May 1 8 7 5 . He
76
4 November. I t d o e s n o t a p p e a r t o have b e e n s u p p l e m e n t e d
b y a n y c o n f i d e n t i a l i n s t r u c t i o n s , w r i t t e n o r v e r b a l , em-
86
p o w e r i n g h im t o a c t on h i s own i n i t i a t i v e , but t h a t is
e x a c t l y what he d i d . H is f i r s t r e p o r t on h i s p r o c e e d i n g s
i n f o r m e d t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e t h a t he had s e t t l e d t h e P e r a k
s u c c e s s i o n , h ad g o t t h e S u l t a n and c h i e f s t o a c c e p t a
R e s i d e n t , and h a d p o s t e d an o f f i c e r as A s s i s t a n t R e s i d e n t
87
i n P e r a k , t o t a k e up h i s d u t i e s i n L a r u t . B e f o r e he l e f t
the S t r a i t s i n May 1875 he h a d e s t a b l i s h e d R e s i d e n t s i n
S e l a n g o r and S u n g e i Ujong as w e l l .
85 ( c o n t i n u e d )
s e r v e d a s Member f o r P u b l i c Works on t h e C o u n c i l o f t h e
G o v e rn o r-G -e n e ra l o f I n d i a , 1 8 7 5 - 8 1 ; Commandant o f t h e S c h o o l
o f M i l i t a r y E n g i n e e r i n g , C hatham , 1 8 8 1 - 2 ; and I n s p e c t o r -
G-eneral o f F o r t i f i c a t i o n s and D i r e c t o r o f W orks, 1882
t i l l h is r e tir e m e n t in 1886.
He had a r e p u t a t i o n t h r o u g h o u t h i s l i f e f o r t a k i n g v i
g o r o u s and i n d e p e n d e n t a c t i o n f i r s t , and r e p o r t i n g a f t e r
w a r d s . His a c t i o n i n t h e S t r a i t s was i n s p i r e d n o t o n l y
b y a n a t u r a l d e c i s i v e n e s s b u t b y a s t r o n g p a t r i o t i c and
p e rso n al am bition. ’ I f e e l I h a v e done a good s t r o k e ’ ,
he w r o t e a f t e r t h e e v e n t ; ' a l l t h e p e o p l e h e r e s a y n o t h i n g
h a s b e e n done so c o m p l e t e and e q u a l t o i t s i n c e R a f f l e s '
tim e.' ( C l a r k e t o C h i l d e r s , u n d a t e d , V e t c h , L i f e of
C l a r k e , 154.)
8 ^
He w r o t e t o Anson a f t e r t h e P e r a k s e t t l e m e n t , ' I f t h e
S. o f S. d o e s n o t r e c a l l me f o r what I h ave done a t t h e
D i n d i n g s I s h a l l be l u c k y . I f . . . t h e Chinese s t i c k q u i e t l y
t o t h e i r m i n i n g f o r t h e n e x t y e a r o r two and he d o e s b a c k
me, I s h a l l be l u c k i e r s t i l l . ' ( C l a r k e t o Anson, 1 F e b
r u a r y 1 8 7 4 , Anson C o r r e s p o n d e n c e , R a f f l e s L i b r a r y A r c h i v e s ,
S in g a p o r e .)
87
C l a r k e t o K i m b e r l e y , 14 and 15 o f 26 J a n u a r y 187 4 .
^ I ! r> i a V t
77
The C o l o n i a l O f f i c e h ad s t i p u l a t e d t h a t t h e R e s i d e n t s
were t o be i n t r o d u c e d w i t h t h e c o n s e n t o f t h e n a t i v e r u l e r s ,
and I n t h e e v e n t , t h i s was n o t d i f f i c u l t t o s e c u r e . In
P e r a k , R aja A bdullah pro v id ed th e ’k e y t o t h e d o o r ' b y
w r i t i n g t o t h e G-overnor s o o n a f t e r h i s a r r i v a l , o f f e r i n g in
e f f e c t to re c e iv e a R esident i n e x c h a n g e f o r r e c o g n i t i o n as
88
S ultan. B e f o r e he r e c e i v e d t h i s l e t t e r , C l a r k e had a l
read y arranged a c e a s e - f i r e i n L a r u t , and had summoned t h e
C h i n e s e f a c t i o n s and a number o f t h e P e r a k c h i e f s t o meet
him a t P a n g k o r I s l a n d , where t h e q u e s t i o n of t h e P e r a k
89
s u c c e s s i o n was t o be s e t t l e d . The f i n a l s e t t l e m e n t was
em b o d ied i n t h e P a n g k o r E n g a g e m e n t , e x e c u t e d b y t h e c h i e f s
b e f o r e t h e G o v e r n o r on 20 J a n u a r y 1 8 7 4 . I t d e a l t w i t h two
i m p o r t a n t q u e s t i o n s , t h e s u c c e s s i o n and t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f
a R esident. A b d u l l a h was r e c o g n i s e d a s S u l t a n ; t h e M e n t r i
was c o n f i r m e d i n h i s t i t l e to L arut; Ism a il ( r e f e r r e d to in
t y p i c a l o f f i c i a l p h r a s e o l o g y as ’ A c t i n g S u l t a n ’ ) was t o be
p e n s i o n e d o f f i n a s m a l l t e r r i t o r y o f h i s own. The E n g a g e
m ent went on t o p r o v i d e : ' T h a t t h e S u l t a n r e c e i v e and p r o v i d e
88
S u l t a n A b d u l l a h t o G-overnor, 30 December 1 8 7 3 , C . l l l l ,
e n c l o s u r e 12 i n n o . 3 9 .
89
The c h i e f Malays p r e s e n t ( t h e Malay s i g n a t o r i e s t o
P a n g k o r ) were R a j a A b d u l l a h ; t h e B e n d a h a r a , t h e Temenggong
a nd t h e M e n t r i , o f t h e c h i e f s o f t h e f i r s t r a n k ; t h e
L a k s a m a n a , t h e S h a h b a n d a r and t h e D a t o ' S a g o r , o f t h e
c h i e f s o f t h e se c o n d r a n k ; t h e R a j a M ah k o ta o f t h e t h i r d .
78
a s u i t a b l e r e s i d e n c e f o r a B r i t i s h o f f i c e r who s h a l l be
91 (continued)
chiefs; when they were assembled, they were asked indivi
dually whether they would support Abdullah, and Individually
agreed. The three surviving office-holders of the first
rank - the Bendahara, the Temenggong and the Mentri - had
all endorsed Ismail's succession in 1871, and now endorsed
Abdullah's; but the Mentri acted under duress, and there
is no record that the other two ever went near Abdullah
from the Pangkor meeting till his final departure from
Perak in 1876. Sultan Ismail was not present, nor was
Raja Yusuf, the other claimant to the throne; and of the
six surviving chiefs of the second rank, only three were
present, and none of the others ever endorsed the Engage
ment .
92
We have no note of the telegram, and it appears in sub
sequent correspondence that Clarke never replied to it.
The reference to a telegram of 1 June comes from Carnarvon
to Clarke, 4 September 1874, C.llll, no.68, in which
permission to appoint Residents was confirmed. The 'con
ditional authority' meant probably that the Residents were
to be provisional.
93
Clarke to Anson, 16 February 1874, Anson Correspondence,
Raffles Library Archives, Singapore.
80
o c c a s i o n o f a p i r a c y a t t h e mouth o f t h e J u g r a r i v e r ( n e a r
t h e r o y a l t o w n s h i p ) and f o r c e d him t o a p p o i n t a c o u r t t o
t r y the c u l p r i t s . In August, a p i r a c y a t th e ju n ctio n of
t h e L a n g a t and L ab u r i v e r s ( a g a i n i n t h e S u l t a n ' s d i s t r i c t
t h o u g h he had no p a r t i n e i t h e r o u t r a g e ) gave C l a r k e t h e
e x c u s e t o se n d a j u n i o r o f f i c e r , l a t e r s t y l e d A s s i s t a n t
R e s i d e n t , t o l i v e w i t h t h e S u l t a n ; and i n J a n u a r y 1 8 7 5 ,
i n t e r v e n t i o n i n S e l a n g o r was c o m p l e t e d by t h e a p p o i n t m e n t
of a R esident.
I n S u n g e i Ujong t h e D a t o ' K l a n a p r o v e d h i m s e l f a w i l
l i n g i n s t r u m e n t o f B r i t i s h p o l i c y ; he h ad t h e a d v a n t a g e
of s e n i o r i t y over h i s r i v a l , th e D ato' Bandar, and t h e
l a t t e r was i d e n t i f i e d w i t h t h e S e l a n g o r e n e m ie s o f
Z i a ' u ' d - d i n ; C lark e t h e r e f o r e decided t o su p p o rt th e Klana
By an a g r e e m e n t o f 21 A p r i l 1 8 7 4 , t h e S t r a i t s G o v e r n
ment r e c o g n i s e d him as t h e l e g i t i m a t e a u t h o r i t y i n S u n g e i
U jo n g , and r e l e a s e d t o him a q u a n t i t y o f arms and ammuni
t i o n w h i c h he was t o u s e t o keep t h e r i v e r o p e n , and f r e e
94
of i lle g a l t o l l - s t a t i o n s . Since t h i s arran g em en t to o k
no a c c o u n t o f t h e r i g h t s o f t h e D a t o ' B a n d a r , i t aroused
h i s r e s e n t m e n t ; and on 24 S e p t e m b e r , t h e D a t o ' K l a n a
94
Bond e n t e r e d b y D a t u K l a n a Abdulrahm an and D a t u Muda
L i n g i e , 21 A p r i l 1 8 7 4 , Maxw ell and G i b s o n , o p . c i t . , 38.
81
as A s s i s t a n t R e sid e n t.
Part II
The I d e a o f a R e s i d e n t
The whole i n t e r v e n t i o n p o l i c y c e n t r e d on t h e a p p o i n t
ment o f a B r i t i s h o f f i c e r t o t h e n a t i v e s t a t e s , y e t no one
seemed t o h a v e any c l e a r i d e a o f what t h i s a p p o i n t m e n t
would I n v o l v e , o r what r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t h e R e s i d e n t was
to discharge. A B r i t i s h o f f ic e r a c c re d ite d to a n a tiv e
c o u r t m i g h t be t h e i n s t r u m e n t o f a ny one o f a number o f
p o l i c i e s : he m i g h t d i s c h a r g e c o n s u l a r f u n c t i o n s , w i t h
e x tra -te rrito rial j u r i s d i c t i o n o v e r B r i t i s h s u b j e c t s and
c e r t a i n f o r e i g n e r s ; he m i g h t , a s i n t h e I n d i a n n a t i v e
sta te s, c o n t r o l e x t e r n a l r e l a t i o n s and d e f e n c e and e x e r c i s e
an i n f o r m a l i n f l u e n c e o v e r i n t e r n a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . Cer
t a i n l y n o t h i n g so s p e c i f i c as a f o r m a l c o n t r o l o f l e g i s
l a t i v e , e x e c u t i v e and j u d i c i a l p r o c e s s e s was c o n t e m p l a t e d
by t h e I m p e r i a l G-overnment; and t h e c o l o n i a l g o v e r n m e n t ,
m indful of th e long o p p o s itio n to i n te r v e n t i o n , took care
n o t t o p h r a s e i t s p o l i c y d e s p a t c h e s i n t e r m s w h ic h s u g g e s t e d
a r a d ic a l extension o f r e s p o n s i b i li t y . The p l a n t o e s
t a b l i s h R e s i d e n t s i n t h e Malay s t a t e s was n e c e s s a r i l y
82
83
cation between the native states and the outer world, and
1
Clarke to Kimberley, 43 of 24 February 1874.
2
Anson to Kimberley, 144 of 3 June 1871.
84
3
Speech by W.R. Scott in Proceedings of the Legislative
Council, 15 September 1874, C.llll, enclosure in no.72.
4
Proceedings of McNair and Dunlop, 15 January 1874, C.llll,
enclosure in no.39; Swettenham, Footprints in Malaya, 72.
See also.memoranda (undated) by members of the Executive
Council on the despatch from Kimberley to Clarke of
20 September 1873, C.llll, enclosures 1-5 in no.54»
85
5
G-. C a m p b e l l , A c t i n g L t . - G o v e r n o r of P e n a n g , c i t e d
W ilkinson, H is to r y o f th e P e n i n s u l a r M alay s. 119.
86
be e x p r e s s e d i n t h e words o f a p e r m a n e n t o f f i c i a l o f t h e
C o lo n ia l O f f ic e , seek in g to e x p la in the ju rid ic a l p o sitio n
to th e law o f f i c e r s of t h e Crown. ’ ( T e l l them ) t h a t a b o u t
10 y e a r s ago t h e N a t i v e R u l e r s o f t h r e e o f t h e S t a t e s r e
q u e s t e d t h a t E n g l i s h R e s i d e n t s s h o u l d be p l a c e d w i t h them
t o a d v i s e them on t h e ways o f good g o v e r n m e n t ; t h a t a f t e r
some u n f o r t u n a t e d i s t u r b a n c e s t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f i n a l
l y s a n c t i o n e d th e R e s i d e n t s as permanent i n s t i t u t i o n s ,
s t r i c t l y l a y i n g down t h a t b ey o n d t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e c o l l e c
t i o n o f Revenue t h e R e s i d e n t s were o n l y t o in terfere in
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n b y means o f a d v i c e t e n d e r e d t o t h e N a t i v e
6
R u lers.’ I t n e e d h a r d l y be s t r e s s e d t h a t t h i s representation
T>
M in u te b y de R o b e ck , 12 J a n u a r y 1 8 8 5 , CO 2 7 5 / 1 3 0 / 2 1 5 3 7 .
W ith o c c a s i o n a l l a p s e s , t h e o f f i c i a l s a d h e r e d t o t h i s
i n t e r p r e t a t i o n in t h e i r form al correspondence. I n 1883
t h e S. o f S. d i s c l a i m e d a n y ’ d e s i r e t o I n t e r f e r e i n t h e
minor d e t a i l s o f th e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f th e N a tiv e S t a t e s
b y t h e i r R a j a h s ’ ( D e r b y t o W eld, 116 o f 10 May 1 8 8 3 ) ; t h e
G-overnor, i n p r e s e n t i n g t h e A n n u al R e p o r t s f o r 1 8 9 2 , spoke
o f Malay r u l e r s as ’de f a c t o a s w e l l a s de j u r e t h e r u l e r s
o f t h e i r S t a t e s ' ( S m i t h t o R i p o n , 246 o f 2 August 1 8 9 3 ) .
87
there is enough i n t h e p u b l is h e d a c c o u n ts o f n a t i v e s t a t e s ’
r u l e , w r i t t e n b y G o v e r n o r s and R e s i d e n t s , t o c a s t d o u b t s on
th e v a l i d i t y o f t h i s s te r e o ty p e , w ithout rec o u rse to o th e r
m aterial. It i s , however, l e g i t i m a t e to argue t h a t w hat
e v e r may have b e e n t h e l a t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n R e s i d e n t
an d Malay r u l e r , t h e o rig in al i n t e n t i o n o f C l a r k e and h i s
c o l l e a g u e s was t h a t t h e R e s i d e n t s s h o u l d e x e r c i s e a s a l u
S w etten h am c l a i m e d i n h i s a u t o b i o g r a p h y t h a t t h e s y s t e m
7
The exception was the Auditor-General, C.J. Irving,
whose views had no influence.
90
8
i s e v e r t o b e f o u n d amongs t t h e m s e l v e s ’ . The o f f i c i a l s
did not w rite i n t e r m s o f a d j u s t i n g t h e M alays t o modern
c o n d i t i o n s a t a pace a p p r o p r i a t e t o t h e i r s o c i e t y , f o r
ch an g e h ad a l r e a d y o v e r t a k e n t h e M a lay s and was t o be a c
c e l e r a t e d ; t h e e x t e r n a l p r e s s u r e s w h ic h had a l r e a d y c a u s e d
t h e b r e a k d o w n o f t h e Malay s y s t e m o f g o v e rn m e n t were t o be
increased. I n t e r v e n t i o n was s e e n t o be n e c e s s a r y b e c a u s e
Malay a u t h o r i t y h a d p r o v e d i n c a p a b l e o f d e a l i n g w i t h C h i n e s e
i m m i g r a t i o n and m i n i n g a c t i v i t y ; and i t was t h i s e n t e r p r i s e
8
C l a r k e t o K i m b e r l e y , 43 o f 24 F e b r u a r y 1 8 7 4 ; Memoranda
b y B r a d d e l l and B i r c h , C . l l l l , e n c l o s u r e s 4 and 5 i n n o . 54.
91
of Residents.
9
Swettenham, The Real Malav» 22.
10
Clarke to Kimberley, 43 of 24 February 1874.
92
and his great men 'to settle under the sheltering protection
for an officer from the G-reat Governor, who can give good
11
Abdullah to Clarke, 30 December 1873, C.llll, enclosure
12 in no.39.
12
Dato' Klana to Lt.-Governor of Malacca, 24 September
1874, C.1320, enclosure in no.8.
93
o f t h e c h i e f s who a s k e d f o r th em ; it i s c l e a r from t h e i r
c o m m u n i c a t i o n s t h a t S u l t a n A b d u l l a h and t h e D a t o ' K l a n a
were m e r e l y s e e k i n g B r i t i s h s u p p o r t f o r t h e i r d i s p u t e d
authority* S u l t a n I s m a i l , and t h e M e n t r i i n P e r a k , and
t h e D a t o ’ B a n d a r i n S u n g e i Ujong were j u s t a s c l e a r l y op
posed to B r i t i s h i n t e r f e r e n c e .
The S u l t a n o f S e l a n g o r had
14
no i n t e r e s t s in reform s or R e s id e n ts , and i n t e r v e n t i o n
13
S u l t a n Abdul Samad t o C l a r k e , 1 O c t o b e r 1 8 7 4 , Maxwell
and G i b s o n , T r e a t i e s and E n g ag e m e n ts a f f e c t i n g t h e Malay
S t a t e s and B o r n e o , 3 5 - S .
14
I t i s s o m e ti m e s a s s e r t e d t h a t t h e S u l t a n o f S e l a n g o r
asked f o r a R e s i d e n t . The e v i d e n c e s u g g e s t s t h e c o n t r a r y .
The P r o c l a m a t i o n i s s u e d b y C l a r k e ' s command on 25 J a n u a r y
1875 c e r t a i n l y s a y s t h a t E n g l i s h o f f i c e r s h ad b e e n s e n t
to th e S u ltan ' a t h is r e q u e s t ' b u t t h i s is n ot co rro b o
r a t e d b y an y c o m m u n i c a t i o n from t h e S u l t a n h i m s e l f . On
th e c o n tr a r y , th e S u l t a n 's l e t t e r to Clarke o f i O ctober
makes i t c l e a r t h a t t h e p r o p o s a l t o send him an o f f i c e r
and c o l l e c t h i s r e v e n u e s o r i g i n a t e d w i t h t h e G o v e r n o r .
The k i n d o f p r e s s u r e t h a t was b r o u g h t t o b e a r on t h e
S u l t a n b y B i r c h i n 1871 and b y C l a r k e i n F e b r u a r y 1874
( s e e B i r c h t o An so n , 26 J u l y 1 8 7 1 , C . 4 6 6 , e n c l o s u r e i n
n o . 6; C l a r k e t o C h i l d e r s , 11 F e b r u a r y 1 8 7 4 , c i t e d V e t c h ,
94
t h e r e d e p e n d e d on t h e s u p p o r t o f Tengku Z i a ’u ' d - d i n , a
Kedah p r i n c e and a f o r e i g n e r , and on s u c h h ad t e r m s w i t h
t h e r o y a l f a m i l y o f S e l a n g o r ( i n c l u d i n g h i s own w i f e ) t h a t
14 I c o n t i n u e d )
L i f e o f C l a r k e , 1 5 7 - 9 ) s u g g e s t s t h a t h o w e v er p r e c a r i o u s
th e S u l t a n ’ s p o s i t i o n , he did n o t n e c e s s a r i l y t h i n k th e
i n t e r v e n t i o n o f t h e B r i t i s h would improve i t . I t i s some
t i m e s a r g u e d t h a t t h e S u l t a n ’had a l w a y s b e e n i n f a v o u r
o f l e t t i n g o t h e r s b e a r t h e b u r d e n o f a d m i n i s t r a t i o n so
l o n g as h i s r e v e n u e s were f o r t h c o m i n g ' , b u t i t d o e s n o t
f o l l o w t h a t b e c a u s e a M alay r u l e r was f o r c e d t o d e l e g a t e
t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f c e r t a i n d i s t r i c t s , he was p l e a s e d
t o s u r r e n d e r h i s pow ers i n h i s own. In f a c t , the S u lta n
k e p t t h e r e v e n u e c o l l e c t i o n s o f L a n g a t i n h i s own h a n d s
a s l o n g as he c o u l d . The S u l t a n d i d n o t o p p o se t h e
R e s i d e n t , b u t t h e r e i s n o t h i n g t o p r o v e t h a t he welcomed
h i s a d v e n t . On t h e c o n t r a r y , a R e s i d e n t i s l i k e l y t o h a v e
b e e n unwelcome b e c a u s e he would be bound t o a d v a n c e t h e
d i g n i t y o f T engku Z i a ' u ’ d - d i n a t t h e S u l t a n ’ s e x p e n s e .
P r o c l a m a t i o n o f 25 J a n u a r y 1875 by t h e G-overnor o f
t h e S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s ; Maxwell and G i b s o n , T r e a t i e s
and E n g a g e m e n t s , 37; S u l t a n o f S e l a n g o r t o G o v e r n o r ,
1 Oc to ber 1874, op. c i t . , p p . 3 5 - 6 .
95
h i s a u t h o r i t y , and h i s a b i l i t y t o c a r r y o u t ’ a d v i c e * . In
h i s o f f i c i a l c o rresp o n d en ce, Clarke ju s tif ie d h is support
o f A b d u l l a h b y r e p r e s e n t i n g him as t h e r i g h t f u l r u l e r , ex
c l u d e d f r o m t h e t h r o n e by a c o n s p i r a c y , and now r e s t o r e d
by t h e c h o i c e o f a l l t h e c h i e f s e x c e p t t h e M e n t r i . The
c h i e f s a l s o gave t h e i r ’f u l l e s t concurrence' to the a p p o in t
ment o f a R e s i d e n t . In h i s p r i v a t e co rre sp o n d e n ce , however,
C l a r k e showed h i m s e l f p e r f e c t l y aware o f t h e n a t u r e o f
A b d u l l a h ’ s e l e v a t i o n , and t h e r e a l s e n t i m e n t s o f t h e P e r a k
c h i e f s tow ards B r i t i s h i n t e r v e n t i o n .
I b e l i e v e I was r i g h t i n p u t t i n g up A b d u l l a h . Had
I t a k e n t h e o t h e r man, I c o u l d n o t have s e c u r e d
t h e l o w e r p a r t o f t h e r i v e r s , my f i r s t o b j e c t , as
A b d u l l a h and h i s p a r t y a r e s t r o n g t h e r e , w h i l e
I s m a i l and h i s f o l l o w e r s a r e h i g h up t h e r i v e r
where we h ave no t r a d e and n e e d n o t go f o r y e a r s . . . . 5
His r a t i o n a l i s a t i o n o f h i s c h o i c e , w r i t t e n two y e a r s a f t e r
t h e e v e n t , n e ed n o t be a c c e p t e d i n w h o l e ; i t m i g h t have
b e e n e v e n more u s e f u l f o r h i s p u r p o s e s i f t h e S u l t a n ’ s
j u r i s d i c t i o n had n o t e x t e n d e d o v e r t h e l o w e r r i v e r . But
th e passage s u f f i c i e n t l y d i s c r e d i t s C l a r k e 's form al r e p r e
s e n t a t i o n of A b d u llah ’s e l e c t i o n , as a f r e e e l e c t i o n b y t h e
c h i e f s in r e c o g n i t i o n of h i s h e r e d i t a r y r i g h t . The w i l l i n g
n ess of th e c h i e f s th em selv es to a cc ep t B r i t i s h i n t e r f e r e n c e
15
C l a r k e t o C h i l d e r s , 10 December 1 8 7 5 , c i t e d V e t c h , L i f e
o f C l a r k e , 1 87; s e e a l s o 1 5 4 .
96
who a c h i e v e d a s t a n d a r d o f p u b l i c o r d e r r i v a l l i n g t h a t of
t h e n e i g h b o u r i n g s e t t l e m e n t o f M a l a c c a , was R a j a J u m a ’ a t
o f S e l a n g o r , who r u l e d t h e t i n d i s t r i c t o f L u k u t u n t i l h i s
d e a th in 1864. But t h e most o b v i o u s exam ple o f t h e way
i n which p l i a n t and a b l e r u l e r s m i g h t p r o f i t fro m a d v i c e
16
was p r o v i d e d b y t h e Temenggongs o f J o h o r e . They had b e e n
p r o t e ^ e s o f t h e B r i t i s h Government fro m t h e c e s s i o n o f
t o s u r v e y a n a v a l s t a t i o n a t t h e mouth o f t h e Endau r i v e r .
T h ere was no B r i t i s h p o l i t i c a l a g e n t i n J o h o r e , b u t s u c h
c o n t a c t was h a r d l y n e c e s s a r y ; t i l l 1862 t h e o f f i c i a l r e s i
d en ce of t h e J o h o r e r u l e r was i n S i n g a p o r e , and a f t e r t h a t
d a t e he k e p t a l a r g e p r i v a t e e s t a b l i s h m e n t t h e r e . He was
i n d i r e c t and c o n s t a n t c o n t a c t w i t h t h e G o v e r n o r ; B r a d d e l l ,
t h e A t t o r n e y - G e n e r a l , was h i s l e g a l a d v i s e r . The a s p e c t o f
J o h o r e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t h a t a p p e a r e d most i m p r e s s i v e t o t h e
S t r a i t s o f f i c i a l s , was t h e e n c o u r a g e m e n t o f C h i n e s e
T6 ( c o n t i n u e d )
t h e Temenggong Abdulrah m an and S u l t a n H u s a i n ( a p r e t e n d e r
whom R a f f l e s r e c o g n i s e d f o r t h e p u r p o s e ) a s s e n t e d t o t h e
le a se of Singapore. I n 1 8 5 5 , b y an a r r a n g e m e n t s p o n s o r e d
b y t h e G o v e r n o r , t h e de j u r e S u l t a n c e d e d h i s s o v e r e i g n t y
o v e r J o h o r e t o Temenggong I b r a h i m , and i n 1868 h i s so n
A bubakar was r e c o g n i s e d a s M a h a r a j a by t h e t h e n G o v e r n o r ,
S i r Henry O r d .
98
i m m i g r a t i o n and t h e c o n s e q u e n t econ om ic p r o g r e s s o f t h e
sta te . Newboid g u e s s e d t h a t t h e p o p u l a t i o n i n t h e 1830s
was a b o u t 2 5 , 0 0 0 ; t h e Temenggong e n c o u r a g e d t h e i m m i g r a t i o n
o f C h i n e s e p e p p e r and g a m b i e r p l a n t e r s , and i n t h e e a r l y
17
1870s t h e C h i n e s e p o p u l a t i o n a l o n e was e s t i m a t e d a t 6 0 , 0 0 0 .
I n t h e 1 8 3 0 s , t h e S i n g a p o r e opium f o r m e r o f f e r e d $300 a
month f o r t h e J o h o r e f a r m s ; i n 1857 t h e f arm s were w o r t h
$5000 a m o n th . I n 1855 J o h o r e B a h r u was a f i s h i n g v i l l a g e ;
t h i r t y years l a t e r , a c c o r d i n g t o W i n s t e d t , t h e Duke o f
s a w - m i l l r e p o r t e d t o be t h e l a r g e s t i n A s i a ' .
C l a r k e and h i s a d v i s e r s d i d n o t f a i l t o p o i n t t o t h e
M a h a r a j a o f J o h o r e a s an e xam ple o f an e n l i g h t e n e d Malay
r u l e r whose c o n s t a n t a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h E u r o p e a n a d v i s e r s had
l e d t o t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f an o r d e r l y g o v e r n m e n t w h ic h e n
j o y e d t h e c o n f i d e n c e o f t h e C h i n e s e and E u r o p e a n s . But i t
was a c k n o w le d g e d t h a t t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s of J o h o r e were
sp ecial. The J o h o r e r u l i n g h o u s e h a d b e e n p l a c e d i n i n t i m a t e
a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h t h e G-overnment a t S i n g a p o r e f o r h a l f a
17
C l a r k e t o K i m b e r l e y , 43 o f 24 F e b r u a r y 1 8 9 4 . The r e s t
o f t h e p a s s a g e i s t a k e n f ro m W i n s t e d t , ' H i s t o r y o f J o h o r e ’ ,
JMBRAS, v o l . 1 0 , p t . 3 , p p . 8 9 - 1 1 7 .
99
h i s h o s p i t a l i t y was an i m p o r t a n t e l e m e n t i n t h e E u r o p e a n
so cial l if e of Singapore. The m o st E u r o p e a n i s e d o f t h e
18
M alay R a j a s were c lu m sy i m i t a t o r s by c o m p a r i s o n .
I n t h e w e s t e r n n a t i v e s t a t e s t h e r e were c h i e f s -
n o t a b l y t h e M e n t r i and T engk u Z i a ’u ’ d - d i n - who, l i k e t h e
M a h a r a j a o f J o h o r e , were e x p e r i e n c e d i n d e a l i n g w i t h l a r g e
18
See E m i l y I n n e s , The C h e r s o n e s e w i t h t h e G i l d i n g O f f , i ,
1 7 5 , f o r an a c c o u n t o f a n u n f o r t u n a t e d i n n e r - p a r t y ' G o v e r n
ment House s t y l e ' g i v e n b y Tengku Z i a ' u ’d - d i n .
19
Many o f t h e c h i e f s whose i n t e r e s t s b r o u g h t th e m i n t o
j u d i c i a l o r e co n o m ic r e l a t i o n s w i t h E u r o p e a n s o r C h i n e s e ,
employed S t r a i t s l a w y e r s . The M e n t r i ' s l a w y e r was
R.C . Woods o f P e n a n g ; T engk u Z i a ' u ' d - d i n ' s was J.G-. D a v i d s o n
of Singapore.
20
I n J u l y 1873 t h e M e n t r i employed T . C . S . S p e e d y , f o r m e r l y
A s s i s t a n t S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f P o l i c e , P e n a n g , t o r e c r u i t and
command I n d i a n s e p o y s f o r h i s s e r v i c e , and i n S e p t e m b e r
Sp eedy r e t u r n e d w i t h 110 men. T engku Z i a ' u ' d - d i n had a
s m a l l f o r c e of m e r c e n a r i e s , f l u c t u a t i n g i n number b e t w e e n
4-0 and 200 i n t h e y e a r s 1871-4-, g u a r d i n g t h e e n t r a n c e t o
t h e K l a n g r i v e r and commanded b y a f o r m e r m id s h ip m a n i n
t h e F r e n c h Navy.
100
farm the mining rights of Larut to the Hai San headman for
a fixed monthly rent, leaving him to allocate the mining
land and make what profit he could. Tengku Zia'u'd-din
collected his own revenues at the mouth of the Klang river,
in the form of duties on tin in cash and kind, but receipts
and payments were made without system and only occasionally
22
recorded.
The Malay rulers clearly could not control either Larut
or Selangor; finances were i nefficiently managed and
heavily burdened by debt. Still, it is conceivable that
with the support of the Resident and with European police
21
Skinner, ’Precis of Perak Affairs', 10 January 1874-,
C.llll, enclosure 1 in no.52; Irving, ’Memorandum relative
to the Affairs of Perak', 24 July 1872, C.llll, enclosure
2 in no.52.
22
Report of Asst. Resident, Salangore, 18 December 1874,
C.llll, enclosure in no.75; Commander Bloomfield to Vice-
Admiral Kellett, 20 September 1871, C.466. For Mentri's
financial administration, see below, p.115, n.39.
101
i n s t r u c t o r s , t h e p r o b l e m o f p u b l i c o r d e r m i g h t have b e e n
s o l v e d , and t h e r e v e n u e c o l l e c t i o n s y s t e m a t i s e d , w i t h o u t
the assum ption of d i r e c t c o n t r o l . I r v i n g p o i n t e d out ways
i n w h ic h Tengku Z i a ' u ' d - d i n m ig h t be h e l p e d ; b y t h e o r g a
n i s a t i o n o f h i s f i n a n c e s ( c o n c e r n i n g w h ic h h e h ad a l r e a d y
c o n s u l t e d B r i t i s h o f f i c i a l s ) by a s m a ll l o a n , assistance
w i t h h i s scheme o f a r o a d t o t h e P a h a n g t i n and g o l d m i n e s ,
by i n s p e c t i o n and a d v i c e on h i s f o r t i f i c a t i o n s . Here was
a progressive c h ie f w ith 'id e a s i n h i s mind on t h e s u b j e c t
23
Memorandum b y I r v i n g on K i m b e r l e y t o C l a r k e , 20 S e p
t e m b e r 1 8 7 3 , C . l l l l , e n c l o s u r e 2 i n n o . 54.
102
B u t t h o u g h C l a r k e and h i s o f f i c i a l s s p o k e e x c l u s i v e l y
o f ’ a d v i s i n g ’ and p o i n t e d t o t h e e xam ple o f J o h o r e , J o h o r e
d i d n o t p r o v i d e C l a r k e w i t h t h e model he w a n t e d . C larke
24
d is a p p r o v e d o f th e M a h a r a j a ’s h a n d l i n g of h i s r e v e n u e s ,
j u s t a s a p r e v i o u s governor h a d d i s a p p r o v e d o f h i s h a p h a z a r d
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f j u s t i c e , and he l o o k e d t o t h e o r g a n i s a
t i o n o f g o v e r n m e n t on d i f f e r e n t p r i n c i p l e s ,
I c a n n o t , however, c o n c e a l from m y se lf th e f a c t t h a t
even t h e r e i t is q u i te p o s s i b l e t h a t , f o r the g r e a t
f u t u r e we h a v e h a r d l y y e t r e c e i v e d s u f f i c i e n t
g u a ra n te e s to secure th e continuance of t h a t p ro s
p e r i t y . . . w e c a n n o t a c c e p t as a f a c t t h a t enough h a s
b e e n d o n e , and t h a t t h e r e may n o t be more f o r you
or our s u c c e s s o rs to do, to secure t h a t f u tu r e in
th o s e e lem en ts of p r o s p e r i t y .
I r v i n g ’ s b l u e p r i n t f o r a g e n u i n e a d v i s o r y s y s t e m met w i t h
a c h i l l y r e c e p tio n ; h is a n a ly s is of th e S e c re ta ry of
S t a t e ’ s i n t e n t i o n s went w i t h o u t comment, b u t h i s s u g g e s t i o n
o f an i t i n e r a n t R e s i d e n t was r e j e c t e d o u t r i g h t b y C l a r k e ,
B i r c h and B r a d d e l l as l i k e l y t o c o n f i r m a l l t h e e v i l s w h ich
had a l r e a d y a r i s e n o u t o f i n t e r m i t t e n t in terferen ce.
B ra d d e ll em phasised the d e f i c i e n c i e s i n n a t i v e g o v e rn m e n t
w h ic h must i n c r e a s e t h e R e s i d e n t ’ s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s and
24
C l a r k e t o K i m b e r l e y , 43 o f 24 F e b r u a r y 1 8 7 4 .
25
Speech by C l a r k e , P r o c e e d in g s of th e L e g i s l a t i v e C o u n c il,
15 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 7 4 , C . l l l l , e n c l o s u r e i n n o . 7 2 .
103
2o
Memorandum by Braddell on Kimberley to Clarke, 20 Sep
tember 1873, C.llll, enclosure 4 In no.54.
27
Braddell to Derby, 27 April 1883, enclosure in Derby
to V/eld, 10 May 1883. Thomas Braddell first came to the
Straits Settlements in 1844, to manage a sugar estate in
Penang. In 1849 he entered government service as Deputy
Superintendent of Police, Penang. He qualified for the
Bar while on leave in England, was called to the Bar in
104
Of t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s to R e s id e n ts , t h e r e s u rv iv e only
a l e t t e r t o D a v i d s o n , t h e f i r s t R e s i d e n t o f S e l a n g o r , and
27 ( c o n t i n u e d )
1 8 5 9 , and i n 1865 went i n t o p r i v a t e p r a c t i c e i n S i n g a p o r e .
I n 1867 he became A t t o r n e y - G - e n e r a l , and r e m a i n e d i n t h a t
o f f i c e u n t i l 1882 when he went on l e a v e b e f o r e r e t i r e m e n t .
When C l a r k e a r r i v e d i n t h e S t r a i t s t h e r e was no d e p a r t m e n t
d e a l i n g w i t h n a t i v e s t a t e s ’ a f f a i r s , and B r a d d e l l t o o k
o v e r t h e d u t y o f c o l l a t i n g t h e m a t e r i a l and r e d u c i n g i t
t o r e p o r t s p u b l i s h e d i n C .111 1 and C . 1 3 2 0 . He was C l a r k e ' s
c l o s e s t a d v i s e r , and b e t w e e n O c t o b e r 1874 and A p r i l 1875
(when he went on l e a v e t o r e c r u i t h i s h e a l t h ) he was
C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y and S e c r e t a r y f o r N a t i v e S t a t e s .
28
C l a r k e t o B i r c h , n . d . , c i t e d V e t c h , L i f e o f C l a r k e , 182.
29
C la rk e to C h i l d e r s , O ctober 1875; i b i d . , 183.
105
30
frag m en ts of i n s t r u c t i o n s to B ir c h ; but these in d icate
s u f f i c i e n t l y t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s which t h e R e s i d e n t s were
re q u ire d to f u l f i l . T h e i r m ost i m p o r t a n t d u t i e s r e l a t e d
to revenue c o l l e c t i o n . B i r c h was t o 'a llo w the e x i s t i n g
s y s t e m t o go on when n o t o f s u c h an i r r e g u l a r c h a r a c t e r as
30
C . S . t o R e s i d e n t o f S a l a n g o r e , 20 J a n u a r y 1 8 7 5 , S e l / S e c .
3 / 1 8 7 5 ; C l a r k e t o B i r c h , 26 O c t o b e r 1 8 7 4 , c i t e d J e r v o i s
t o C a r n a r v o n , 62 o f 10 F e b r u a r y 1 8 7 6 .
31
C . S . t o B i r c h , 12 F e b r u a r y 1 8 7 5 , EP0 A p p e n d ix XIY;
s i m i l a r i n s t r u c t i o n s were s e n t t o S e l a n g o r i n C . S . t o A s s t .
R e s i d e n t o f S a l a n g o r e , 12 F e b r u a r y 1 8 7 5 , S e l / S e c . 7 4 2 / 1 8 7 5 .
106
K l ang’.
32
Clarke to Abdullah, 22 April 1875, enclosing Proclama
tion of 9 April 1875, EPO Appendices XVII and XVIII. The
instructions to Residents were not forwarded to the
Colonial Office, but the letter to Abdullah referred to
here, with its blunt assertion of authority, was sent
home with a despatch of 26 April 1875.
107
f i r s t R e s i d e n t o f P e r a k co n v ey w a r n i n g s a g a i n s t c l u m s i n e s s
and h a s t e ; t h e R e s i d e n t was t o l d t o be g e n t l e w i t h I s m a i l ,
t h e S u l t a n whose a u t h o r i t y was s e t a s i d e b y P a n g k o r , and
n o t t o p r e s s h im t o g i v e up a n y t h i n g ; he was t o l d t o l e a v e
d eb t s l a v e r y alo n e f o r th e tim e b e in g ; ’Have p a t i e n c e w i t h
them. De bt s l a v e r y i s a b a d t h i n g , b u t u n t i l we a r e p r e
p a r e d t o c o m p e n s a te i n f u l l and t o show a b e t t e r s y s te m
to secure c r e d i t , l e t i t fo r the p re se n t a lo n e ’ . I t was
o r d i n a r y common s e n s e t o e n j o i n c a r e and p a t i e n c e i n i n s t i
F i r s t Steps
The f i r s t a p p o i n t m e n t o f a R e s i d e n t was made a t P a n g k o r ,
when C a p t a i n T . C . S . Sp eedy was a p p o i n t e d A c t i n g A s s i s t a n t
33
C la rk e t o B i r c h , u n d a te d ; V e tc h , L i f e o f C l a r k e . 182.
108
34
He fell ill soon after he was posted and was succeeded
in April 1875 by Commander P.J. Murray, R.N.
35
Three of the Residents had been in the service of the
Straits Settlements G-overnment; all except Captain Tatham
had had recent connections with the western Malay states,
though in only one case - Davidson’s - did these connec
tions date from before 1872.
Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy had had an adventurous
career as a British Agent in Abyssinia and had served in
the Indian Army before joining the Straits Settlements
service as Deputy Commissioner of Police in 1871. In July
1873 he resigned his post with the consent of the Governor,
to enter the Mentri's service as Commander of his troops;
and with soldiers recruited in India, he joined the
fighting in Larut towards the end of 1873» on behalf of
109
35 ( c o n t i n u e d )
t h e M e n t r i and t h e H a i San f a c t i o n . I t was d e c i d e d a t
P a n g k o r t o a p p o i n t him p r o v i s i o n a l l y t o L a r u t as A s s i s t a n t
R e s i d e n t , and he t o o k up h i s d u t i e s a t o n c e . He was a
s o l d i e r and a d v e n t u r e r , n o t a r o u t i n e a d m i n i s t r a t o r , and
a s t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f P e r a k s e t t l e d down i n t o a s y s t e m ,
r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n Sp eed y and h i s s u p e r i o r s became v e r y
strain ed . I n 1 8 7 6 , i n a n e f f o r t t o g e t him o u t o f t h e
s e r v i c e , h i s s a l a r y was h a l v e d and i n 1877 he was moved
t o t h e v e r y much l e s s i m p o r t a n t d i s t r i c t o f Lower P e r a k .
He r e s i g n e d t h e same y e a r .
P r a n k A t h e l s t d n e Sw etten h am was o n l y a r e c e n t l y p a s s e d
c a d e t when h e was p o s t e d t o L a n g a t . He had j o i n e d t h e
S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s C i v i l S e r v i c e i n 1870; i n 1872 he went
t o K l a n g and K u a l a Lumpur as D a v i d s o n ' s g u e s t , and was
e n t e r t a i n e d b y Tengku Z i a ' u ' d - d i n and Yap Ah L o y . In the
same y e a r , he p a s s e d h i s f i n a l e x a m i n a t i o n i n M a l a y , and
a c c o m p a n ie d t h e G o v e r n o r , O r d , a s i n t e r p r e t e r on v i s i t s
t o t h e e a s t c o a s t , J o h o r e and K e d ah . I n J a n u a r y 1874 he
was s e n t t o L a r u t t o summon t h e C h i n e s e headmen t o t h e
P a n g k o r m e e t i n g , and i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r i t , he was s e n t
b a c k t h e r e a s one o f t h e c o m m i s s i o n e r s t o e n f o r c e t h e
agreem ent w ith th e C h in e se . I n A p r i l he a c c o m p a n ie d B i r c h
a s Malay i n t e r p r e t e r on a m i s s i o n t o P e r a k , and i n Ju ne he
w e n t b a c k on a n o t h e r , and p a r t l y s u c c e s s f u l , m i s s i o n t o
p e r s u a d e S u l t a n I s m a i l and R a j a Y u s u f t o meet t h e G o v e r n o r
t o d i s c u s s th e Pangkor s e t t l e m e n t . I n A u g u st he was p o s t e d
t o t h e S u l t a n o f S e l a n g o r , o s t e n s i b l y t o p r o t e c t him, i n
f a c t t o s e e t h a t h i s c o u r t d i d n o t become t h e f o c u s o f
i n t r i g u e a g a i n s t T engk u Z i a ' u ’d - d i n .
James G u t h r i e D a v i d s o n was a S i n g a p o r e l a w y e r who had
b e e n f o r many y e a r s Tengku Z i a ' u ' d - d i n ' s l e g a l a d v i s e r and
f in a n c ia l backer. I n March 1 8 7 3 , a f t e r t h e T e n g k u ' s
e n e m ie s h a d b e e n e x p e l l e d f r o m K u a l a Lumpur w i t h t h e h e l p
o f P a h a n g t r o o p s , he g r a n t e d a c o n c e s s i o n t o D a v i d s o n and
a p a r t n e r t o mine t i n o v e r a l a r g e a r e a i n S e l a n g o r .
D avidson s o l d h is s h a r e to th e S e lan g o r T in Mining C o .,
f l o a t e d t o work t h e c o n c e s s i o n . T h e r e were o b v i o u s o b j e c
t i o n s t o h i s a p p o i n t m e n t t o a s t a t e where he h a d c o m m e r c i a l
i n t e r e s t s , o b j e c t i o n s w h ic h were n o t removed by t h e t r a n s f e r
o f h i s i n t e r e s t s t o a f i r m i n which h i s u n c l e was a p a r t n e r ;
b u t h i s t a c t and e x p e r i e n c e w i t h M a l a y s , h i s knowledge o f
S e l a n g o r , and t h e c l o s e r e l a t i o n s w h i c h he h ad a lw a y s had
110
D avidson’s f i n a n c i a l i n t e r e s t i n S e l a n g o r , he d i d n o t p r e s s
1875 d i s o r g a n i s e d t h e whole a r r a n g e m e n t .
I n S u n g e i Ujong t h e Malay r u l e r , t h e D a t o ' K l a n a ,
l i v e d n e a r t h e m i n e s ; a s i n g l e o f f i c e r was s u f f i c i e n t t o
m a i n t a i n c o m m u n i c a t i o n w i t h him and c o n t r o l t h e m i n i n g
p o p u l a t i o n , an d he e s t a b l i s h e d h i s h e a d q u a r t e r s a t S e rem b a n ,
n e a r t h e m i n e s a nd a b o u t t h r e e m i l e s n o r t h o f R a s a h , t h e
t i n p o r t on t h e l i n g g i r i v e r . I n P e r a k and S e l a n g o r , where
t h e c o u r t s o f t h e r u l e r s were s e t a p a r t f r o m t h e c e n t r e s
o f econom ic a c t i v i t y , o f f i c e r s were p o s t e d s e p a r a t e l y t o
t h e S u l t a n ’ s t o w n s h i p and t o t h e t i n f i e l d s or p o r t s . The
R e s i d e n t of S e l a n g o r s e t up h i s h e a d q u a r t e r s a t K l a n g , t h e
p o r t f o r t h e K u a l a Lumpur t i n and t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s o f
Tengku Z i a ’ u ' d - d i n , w h i l e t h e A s s i s t a n t R e s i d e n t went t o
the S u ltan at L an g at. In Perak the R esident e s ta b lis h e d
35 ( c o n t i n u e d )
w i t h t h e T engku were o u t s t a n d i n g quäL i f i c a t i o n s , e s p e c i a l l y
when t h e G o v e r n o r s c a r c e l y knew where t o l o o k f o r s u i t a b l e
o fficers.
James W h e e le r Woodford B i r c h - s e e b e l o w , p . 1 3 1 , n . 56.
W a l t e r Tatham was an o f f i c e r o f t h e Royal A r t i l l e r y ,
and s e n i o r a u x i l i a r y o f f i c e r o f t h e t r o o p s s e n t t o t h e
r e l i e f o f P i c k e r i n g i n S u n g e i Ujong i n December 1 8 7 6 . He
knew Malay and had o f t e n a c t e d f o r o f f i c e r s i n t h e c i v i l
p o lice. He u n d e r t o o k an e n q u i r y i n t o t h e c o n d i t i o n o f
I n d i a n l a b o u r e r s i n P r o v i n c e W e l l e s l e y i n 1 8 7 3 . He went
on s i c k l e a v e i n A p r i l 1875 and was r e p l a c e d p e r m a n e n t l y
by Murray.
Ill
h i m s e l f a t B a n d a r B a h r u , n e a r t h e S u l t a n ’ s ’ p l a c e ’ on t h e
l o w e r P e r a k , and t h e A s s i s t a n t R e s i d e n t f i x e d h i s h e a d
q u a r t e r s i n T a i p i n g , t h e c h i e f town i n L a r u t . The r e s p o n
sib ilitie s of o f f i c e r s p o s t e d t o t h e m i n i n g a r e a s were
m a i n l y a d m i n i s t r a t i v e ; t h o s e p o s t e d w i t h t h e S u l t a n s had
in the f i r s t i n s t a n c e t h e t a s k o f c o n c i l i a t i n g t h e Malays
and g e t t i n g them t o a c c e p t t h e new d i s p e n s a t i o n ; t h e y had
t o t r a v e l and r e p o r t on unmapped c o u n t r y and l i t t l e known
people. ’We s p e n t o u r t i m e g e t t i n g a b o u t t h e c o u n t r y , as
b e s t we c o u l d , r o u g h l y mapping i t o u t , s e e k i n g out t h e b e s t
p o in ts fo r v illa g e po lice s t a t i o n s , c u s t o m s h o u s e s and
landing sta g e s , and we d i d what we c o u l d t o m e e t , and make
36
f r i e n d s w ith , th e i n f l u e n t i a l people o f the c o u n t r y . ’
I n a l l t h e t e r r i t o r i e s , t h e most u r g e n t t a s k s o f t h e
B r i t i s h o f f i c e r s were b a s i c a l l y t h e same; t o r e s t o r e o r d e r
a f t e r r e c e n t f i g h t i n g , t o d i s a r m t h e M alays and C h i n e s e
and d e s t r o y t h e i r f o r t i f i c a t i o n s ; to r e s t o r e confidence
and e n c o u r a g e t h e r e t u r n o f M a l a y s and C h i n e s e t o t h e i r
f i e l d s and m i n e s ; t o make a p r o v i s i o n a l s e t t l e m e n t o f
m i n i n g b o u n d a r i e s and g e t t h e m i n e s g o i n g ; and t o t a k e w h a t
e v e r a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a c t i o n was n e c e s s a r y t o e n c o u r a g e t i n
p r o d u c t i o n , w h e t h e r b y improvement o f l i n e s o f c o m m u n i c a ti o n
36
S w etten h a m , The R e a l M a l a y , 20.
112
by r e g u l a r i s i n g c o n d itio n s o f t e n u r e , o r by e a s i n g t h e
f i s c a l b u r d e n on t h e industry.
I n L a r u t and S u n g e i U j o n g , t h e R e s i d e n t s were p o s t e d
im m ediately a f t e r p a c i f i c a t i o n , i n o r d e r t o u p h o l d an im
p r o v e d s e t t l e m e n t , and r e s t o r e t h e m in e s t o w o r k i n g o r d e r .
I n L a r u t t h e work o f d i s a r m i n g t h e C h i n e s e was e n t r u s t e d
t o c o m m i s s i o n e r s who had b e e n a p p o i n t e d by t h e G o v e rn o r a t
37
P a n g k o r , and who a c c o m p a n ie d Speedy on h i s r e t u r n t h e r e ;
t h e y were a l s o t o s e t t l e d i s p u t e d c l a i m s t o t h e m in es
b e t w e e n t h e G h i H in and H a i San f a c t i o n s , and s e c u r e t h e
o f b o t h p a r t i e s , and s e c u r e d t h e r e t u r n o f t h e c a p t i v e s ,
s e a r c h i n g f o r th em i n L a r u t , i n K u r a u and i n t h e P e r a k
riv e r v alley . They a l s o i n q u i r e d i n t o t h e o w n e r s h i p o f
t h e m in e s and c a l l e d f o r d o c u m e n ts o f t i t l e ; t h e y fo u n d
o n ly f o u r p a p e r s in M alay, p e r m i t t i n g th e h o l d e r s t o c l e a r
j u n g l e , b u t g i v i n g no r i g h t t o m i n e . Of t h e 150 c l a i m a n t s ,
n o t one c h o u l d show a w r i t t e n t i t l e t o m i n i n g l a n d , and no
c l e a r i n g p e r m i t made any r e f e r e n c e t o b o u n d a r i e s ; and s i n c e
each p a r t y l a i d c la im to n e a r l y a l l the m ines, a judicious
c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f c l a i m s was o u t o f t h e q u e s t i o n . The
37
See r e p o r t o f L a r u t C o m m i s s i o n e r s , 21 F e b r u a r y 1 8 7 4 ,
Sw etten h a m P a p e r s , n o . 7 2 .
113
line across the tin fields and allocating the area north
before he would return the G-hi Hin women and children al
the year, the district had again mushroomed into life and
38
prosperity. In February there were only 4000 left of a
debris, and the tin export was only 213 piculs (about 12
2848 piculs, and Speedy hoped for more than double this
and stocking the bazaars with wines and beer and tinned
with 4000 were established in the Hai San and G-hi Hin
38
Report of the Asst. Resident, Perak, for 1874, C.1320,
enclosure In no.20; A. Skinner, Report on a Visit to the
Malay States, 22 March 1875, C.1320, enclosure in no.30.
115
e x i s t i n g r o a d s b e t w e e n t h e l a n d i n g p l a c e and th e m i n e s ,
and p l a n s were made t o c o n n e c t L a r u t b y r o a d w i t h P r o v i n c e
W e l l e s l e y , and w i t h Upper P e r a k t h r o u g h t h e G-apis p a s s t o
K u a l a K a n g s a r on t h e P e r a k r i v e r .
To b e g i n w i t h , t h e L a r u t g o v e r n m e n t was s u b s i d i s e d
b y t h e P e n a n g t r e a s u r y , b u t b y t h e end o f t h e y e a r , Speedy
had a s m a l l s u r p l u s o f r e v e n u e , a f t e r m a k in g a g r a n t t o
t h e newly e s t a b l i s h e d R e s i d e n c y o f P e r a k and a f t e r p a y i n g
about e ig h t p e r cent of the revenues to th e M en tri. The
t i n i n d u s t r y had b e e n e x o r b i t a n t l y t a x e d i n t h e p a s t ; t h e
39
The M e n t r i ' s c o l l e c t i n g p r o c e d u r e i s o b s c u r e . In a
s t a t e m e n t made a t P e n a n g on 26 August 1873 ( C . l l l l , e n c l o
s u r e 6 i n n o . 5 2 ) , he d e c l a r e d t h a t he f a r m e d t h e t i n m in e s
t o a Hai San l e a d e r , Law Ah Sam, f o r g r a d u a t e d p a y m e n ts
w h i c h r e a c h e d t h e f i x e d sum o f $ 1 5 , 0 0 0 a m o n th , t h e f a r m e r
m a k in g what p r o f i t h e c o u l d . At t h e t i m e o f t h e s t a t e m e n t ,
h o w e v e r , t h e M e n t r i was g e t t i n g o n l y $1000 a m o n th . The
R eport o f t h e L a r u t Commissioners s u g g e s t s t h a t i n Feb ru ary
1874 he was c o l l e c t i n g t h e r e v e n u e s on h i s own a c c o u n t .
116
Larut.
chief Hai San fighting men were deported, and with more
tried as f a r a s p o s s i b l e t o f o l l o w t h e I n d i a n P e n a l Code,
and c o n d u c t p r o c e e d i n g s as i n t h e S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s '
c o u r t s , w i t h w a r r a n t s and s u b p o e n a s i s s u e d i n t h e name o f
the S u lta n .
I n S u n g e i Ujong t h e D a t o ' K l a n a ' s a u t h o r i t y was d i s
p u t e d and h i s v i l l a g e t h r e a t e n e d by t h e D a t o ' B a n d a r ; t h e r e
was a l s o a f e a r t h a t t h e D a t o ' B a n d ar m i g h t p r o v i d e s h e l t e r
f o r d i s a f f e c t e d and i n t r i g u i n g R a j a s fro m S e l a n g o r . To
s e c u r e t h e B r i t i s h p o s i t i o n i n S e l a n g o r a s w e l l as S u n g e i
Ujong i t was n e c e s s a r y t h a t t h e D a t o ' K l a n a ' s a u t h o r i t y be
e s t a b l i s h e d , p a r t i c u l a r l y as c o n t r o l o f t h e m in e s was a t
40
stake. W.A. P i c k e r i n g , a Singapore M a g i s t r a t e w ith a
40
W i l l i a m A l e x a n d e r P i c k e r i n g , CMG- ( 1 8 8 4 ) was t h e k e y
f i g u r e i n t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s w i t h t h e C h i n e s e which a c c o m p a n ie d
i n t e r v e n t i o n i n L a r u t and S u n g e i U j o n g . He b e g a n h i s
c a r e e r a t s e a , on a t e a c l i p p e r t r a d i n g t o C h i n a ; he t h e n
118
ruler had made arrangements with the British over his head,
tumacy, and Pickering went with him to see that he did not
Klana was resting on the track far behind with the only gun.
40 (continued)
joined the Chinese Maritime Customs, and learnt Chinese.
In 1871 he was appointed Chinese interpreter to the Straits
Settlements (Government. In January 1874 he was entrusted
with the task of persuading the Hai San and Chi Hin factions
in Larut to submit to the arbitration of the Governor, and
after Pangkor, went back to Larut as one of the Commissioners
to enforce the agreement with the Chinese. In 1877 he
became the first Protector of the Chinese in Singapore.
He retired in 1889.
119
41
See W.A. Pickering, Journal of a Visit to Sungei Ujong
(October-November 1874), Swettenham Pap e r s , no.72; Report
of Captain S. Dunlop, 29 December 1874, C.1320, enclosure
18 in no.8.
b a n i s h m e n t , and s i g n an u n d e r t a k i n g t o f o r g e t t h e i r o l d
q u a r r e l s and r e t u r n t o t h e m i n e s .
The r e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f t h e m in e s and t h e r e g u l a t i o n
and d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e t i n i n d u s t r y were t a k e n i n h an d a t
once. The im m e d ia te c o n s i d e r a t i o n was t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f
th e r e v e n u e , th e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a se c u re m ining t e n u r e ,
42
B e c a u s e o f l a c k o f c a p i t a l , h o w e v e r , t h e S u n g e i Ujong
w o r k i n g s were s m a l l , and t h e m i n e r s d i d n o t t a k e a d v a n t a g e
o f t h e l e a s e , p r e f e r r i n g t o ta k e out s h o r t - t e r m m ining
licen ces. See S u n g e i Ujong Annual R e p o r t f o r 1 8 8 5 .
121
r e s e r v i n g c o n t r o l o v e r w a t e r - s u p p l y t o t h e governm ent. In
Decem ber, Tatham w r o t e t o s a y t h a t t h e C h i n e s e had gone
w ith r i c e , s a l t - f i s h , t o b a c c o and s a l t ; t h e d u t y on r i c e
had b e e n h a l v e d and he p r o p o s e d t o a b o l i s h i t a t t h e end
o f t h e y e a r , and he a s k e d a l s o f o r i n s t r u c t i o n s as t o
a b o l i s h i n g t h e d u t i e s on s a l t , s a l t - f i s h , t o b a c c o and o t h e r
n ecessaries. R a s a h , t h e p o r t f o r t h e t i n , was b e i n g r e
b u ilt, and a r o a d marked f r o m t h e t o w n s h i p t o t h e l a n d i n g
place; a t e m p o r a r y p o l i c e s t a t i o n had a l r e a d y b e e n b u i l t
th ere. Tatham r e p o r t e d t h a t t h r o u g h a l l t h e s e c h a n g e s ,
t h e K l a n a was 'm o st a n x i o u s t o do e v e r y t h i n g i n h i s power
t o a s s i s t m e ' , and t o o k t h e g r e a t e s t i n t e r e s t i n e v e r y -
43
t h i n g g o i n g on.
I n S e l a n g o r t h e r e was no u r g e n t n e ed f o r c o n t r o l .
T eng ku Z i a ' u ' d - d i n was m a s t e r o f K l a n g , and was a s s i s t e d
b y D a v i d s o n f o r p a r t o f 1 874; B i r c h , v i s i t i n g S e l a n g o r i n
A p r i l f o u n d D a v i d s o n and Z i a ' u ' d - d i n a t K l a n g , b u s y w i t h
44
th e problem s of governm ent. Z ia 'u 'd -d in ' s asso ciate,
43
T atham t o C . S . , 18 December 1 8 7 4 , C . 1 3 2 0 , e n c l o s u r e 23
in n o .8.
44
B i r c h , J o u r n a l o f a V i s i t t o P e r a k and S e l a n g o r i n
March and A p r i l 1 8 7 4 , Sw etten h a m P a p e r s , n o . 7 2 .
122
kept the township and the tin fields orderly and peaceful.
energy, verve and curiosity, who liked the Malays and en
old cynic who had for some time been content to watch from
K l a n g and a n o t h e r a t D a m a n s a r a , t h e l a n d i n g p l a c e a b o u t
e i g h t e e n m i l e s u p r i v e r ; a c u s t o m h o u s e where t i n was l a n d e d ,
45
R ep o rt o f A s s t . R e s i d e n t , S a l a n g o r e , 8 A p r il 1875,
C . 1 3 2 0 , e n c l o s u r e i n n o . 28.
124
S e l a n g o r , h e l p i n g t h e Tengku and i s s u i n g a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
46
i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m K l a n g , when he was a p p o i n t e d .
D a v i d s o n ’ s i n s t r u c t i o n s r e q u i r e d him t o e s t a b l i s h him
s e l f a t K la n g i n t h e f i r s t i n s t a n c e , where he was t o
o r g a n i s e a R e s i d e n t ' s g u a r d and P o l i c e f o r c e , a p p l y i n g t o
46
His a p p o i n t m e n t d a t e s f r o m 20 J a n u a r y 1 8 7 5 . On 19 J a n
u a r y he w r o t e f r o m K l a n g t o f o r b i d t h e i l l e g a l e x a c t i o n s
o f one R a i a Legong on t h e t r a d e b e t w e e n K la n g and K u a l a
Lumpur. ( R e s i d e n t t o S h a i k h Mohammed T a i b , 19 J a n u a r y
1875, S e l / S e c . 2 /1 /1 8 7 5 .)
47
C . S . t o R e s i d e n t o f S a l a n g o r e , 20 J a n u a r y 1 8 7 5 ,
S el/S eo. 3Ä 875.
125
n o t i c e s r e c a l l i n g th e f u g i t i v e s from th e r e c e n t w a rs . But
h i s r e a l work was i n K l a n g and K u a l a S e l a n g o r . In Kuala
S e l a n g o r he l e f t a E u r o p e a n , Denholm, as C o l l e c t o r and
M a g i s t r a t e , w ith a p o l i c e f o r c e of tw e n ty , t o check the
activ ities o f t h e P a h a n g men. K l a n g h e t o o k u n d e r h i s own
48
R e s i d e n t t o Yap Ah L oy, 21 A u g u s t 1 8 7 5 , S e l / S e c . 1 0 1 / 1 8 7 5 .
49
D a v i d s o n was r e p l a c e d b y C a p t . B l o o m f i e l d D o u g l a s , a
R esident n o tab ly la c k in g in e n te r p r is e . He e s t a b l i s h e d
a m a g i s t r a t e i n K u a l a Lumpur o n l y i n 1 8 7 9 ; d e s p i t e p r o d d i n g
f r o m S i n g a p o r e he d i d n o t move h i s R e s i d e n c y t h e r e t i l l
1 8 8 0 . Though P o l i c e s t a t i o n s were e s t a b l i s h e d i n U lu
L a n g a t i n 1876 and U lu S e l a n g o r b y J u n e 1 8 7 8 , d i s t r i c t
o f f i c e r s we re n o t s e n t t h e r e t i l l 1 8 8 3 , t h e y e a r a f t e r
S w etten h a m became R e s i d e n t .
126
was l e f t t o c o l l e c t h i s own r e v e n u e s f o r a n o t h e r y e a r ,
d esp ite i n s t r u c t i o n s from S i n g a p o r e t h a t t h e method o f
r e v e n u e c o l l e c t i o n t h e r e was t o be a s s i m i l a t e d t o t h e r e s t
of Selangor. The R e s i d e n t d e l a y e d , p e r h a p s f o r d i p l o m a t i c
r e a s o n s , perhaps f o r la c k o f s t a f f , and i n an y c a s e L a n g a t
50
J e r v o i s t o C a r n a r v o n , 155 o f 5 A p r i l 1 876.
127
51
Clarke to Birch, 16 November 1874, cited Vetch, Life
of Clarke, 176; Jervois to Carnarvon, confidential of
18 October 1876.
52
Affairs In Perak at the end of 1875 completely disor
ganised the establishment in Selangor. The Asst. Resident,
Swettenham, was on special duty in Perak for the last half
of 1875 and the first half of 1876 and did not return to
Selangor; Davidson, the Resident, was appointed Queen's
Commissioner in Perak in October 1875, and though he did
not formally take up his post till April 1876, he was
present at the March trial of B i rch’s murderers at Bandar
Bahru. Swettenham was replaced as Asst. Resident in No
vember 1875 by Captain Bloomfield Douglas, R.N.R., late
Second Police Magistrate in Singapore. Captain Douglas
acted for Davidson during his absences from Selangor and
on 1 June 1876 formally replaced him as Resident of
Selangor. (Sel/Sec.186/1876, Resident to C.S., 25 June
1876.) The post at Langat then became a collectorate
filled by a Collector and Magistrate, James Innes.
128
T e n g k u ' s i n f l u e n c e p e r s i s t e d f o r a t i m e ; he was c o n s u l t e d
a b o u t c h a n g e s i n t h e m etho d o f c o l l e c t i n g r e v e n u e , and h i s
s a n c t i o n f o r m a l l y r e q u i r e d f o r p u b l i c works; d u r in g the
R e s i d e n t ’ s a b s e n c e from S e l a n g o r i n 1 8 7 6 , Syed Z i n , t h e
T e n g k u ’ s Arab d e p u t y , s i g n e d an e x e c u t i o n w a r r a n t on t h e
53
R e s id e n t's b e h a lf. B u t t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e Tengku d e
p e n d e d on t h e s p e c i a l r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n h i m s e l f and
D a v i d s o n , and on t h e f l e x i b i l i t y which t h i s l e n t t o t h e i r
o f f ic ia l asso ciatio n . When D a v i d s o n was r e p l a c e d b y a
R e s i d e n t who d i d n o t know S e l a n g o r , Tengku Z i a ' u ' d - d i n ' s
a u th o rity ra p id ly d eclin ed , and i n 1 878 he r e t u r n e d t o
K ed ah .
The d i s t i n c t i o n b e t w e e n p o l i c y and t a c t i c s i s a lw a y s
d i f f i c u l t t o d e t e r m i n e , and t h e c l e a r e s t and most l o g i c a l l y
c o n s i s t e n t p o l i c y must be m o d i f i e d b y t h e s o c i a l im pacts
in h e re n t in the c o lo n ia l s i t u a t i o n . S till i t is possible
t o see th e d i f f e r e n c e s in the t r e a t m e n t of n a t i v e a u t h o r
itie s i n t h e y e a r s i m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r i n t e r v e n t i o n , as
v ariatio n s in th e a p p l i c a t i o n o f a p o l i c y of a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
c o n t r o l - as t h e i n e v i t a b l e c o n s e q u e n c e o f t r a n s i t i o n -
53
R e s i d e n t t o C o l l e c t o r , L a n g a t , 15 Ju n e 1 8 7 6 , S e l / S e c ,
7 3 8 / 1 8 7 6 ; C . S . t o R e s i d e n t , 29 Au g u st 1 8 7 6 , S e l / S e c .
1 79/1876; Z i a ' u ’d - d i n to R e s i d e n t , 2 Septem ber 1876,
S e l / S e c . 1 8 5 / 1 8 7 6 ; Syed Z in t o S u p t . o f P o l i c e , 16 Au g u st
1876, S e l / S e c . 166/1876.
129
and came down the Perak river to the sea, stopping on the
54
Jervois to Carnarvon, 62 of 10 February 1876.
130
P a n g k o r , b u t f r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s were e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h
A b d u l l a h , who was a n x i o u s f o r a R e s i d e n t t o s u p p o r t him
ag ain st Ism ail. I n O c t o b e r , B i r c h was s e n t t o Se lama ( a
m i n i n g a r e a i n n o r t h P e r a k which was c l a i m e d b y B r i t a i n
u n d e r C l a u s e 13 o f t h e P a n g k o r E n g ag e m e n t) t o p u t down
i l l e g a l t a x a t i o n o f t h e t i n e x p o r t , and on t h e c o m p l e t i o n
o f t h i s t a s k he we nt t o Lower P e r a k as R e s i d e n t w i t h S u l t a n
A bdullah. He a r r i v e d a t t h e e n t r a n c e t o t h e P e r a k r i v e r
on 4 November; t h e S u l t a n was l i v i n g i n b o a t s a t P a s i r
P a n j a n g , a b o u t 45 m i l e s u p - r i v e r , and B i r c h e s t a b l i s h e d
h i s h e a d q u a r t e r s n e a r him, a t Bandar Bahru.
I n t h e h i s t o r y o f c o l o n i a l r u l e t h e r e c a n h a r d l y be
a more d i s a s t r o u s e p i s o d e t h a n B i r c h ' s t e n u r e o f o f f i c e i n
P e r a k , o r a more c o m p l e t e m i s u n d e r s t a n d i n g b e t w e e n E u r o p e a n
an d n a t i v e a u t h o r i t y . Like h i s c o l l e a g u e s , B ir c h e a g e r l y
welcomed t h e e x t e n s i o n o f B r i t i s h influence in the P e n in su la ,
and he b a d l y w an ted t o i n a u g u r a t e t h e new p o l i c y i n P e r a k .
He w r o t e t o C l a r k e : ' I believe I can r e a l l y be o f u s e . My
whole l i f e has b e e n s p e n t i n o p e n i n g up new c o u n t r y and
i n i m p r o v i n g and e n r i c h i n g a c o u n t r y , and i n t e a c h i n g t h e
55
n a t i v e c h i e f s good g o v e r n m e n t . ' But n o t h i n g i n h i s
55
B irch to C larke, n . d . , c ite d V etch, L ife o f C l a r k e , 174.
131
56
James Wheeler Wnodfnrd Birch first went to Ceylon in
1846, to the Department of the Commissioner of Roads.
From 1853-6 he served as Commissioner of Requests and
Police Magistrate, and later as Assistant G-overnment
Agent in various districts of Ceylon, before becoming
Government Agent for the Eastern Province in 1867. In
1870 he was transferred to the Straits Settlements as
Colonial Secretary. He became Resident of Perak in
1874 and was murdered at Pasir Salak on 2 November 1875.
132
57
consideration* . He knew no M a l a y , and h i s e x p e r i e n c e o f
t h e n a t i v e s t a t e s b e f o r e 1874 was c o n f i n e d t o a m i s s i o n t o
S e l a n g o r i n 1 8 7 1 , when h i s p e r e m p t o r y b e h a v i o u r t o t h e
S u l t a n p r o v o k e d t h e c r i t i c i s m b o t h o f t h e G o v e r n o r an d t h e
C olonial O ffic e .
B irc h ’s c h arac ter, a s much a s h i s name, e x p o s e d him
t o l o c a l j o k e s a b o u t c l a s s r o o m d i s c i p l i n e and new b r o o m s.
W i n s t e d t h a s g i v e n an u n e q u a l l e d d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e
’e a r n e s t r a t i o n a l i s t fo rm -m aster' and t h e S u l t a n :
F o r a l m o s t a y e a r t h e y f a c e d e a c h o t h e r , t h o s e two
p r o t a g o n i s t s a t th e e s tu a r y of the P e rak R iv er.
One was a n E n g l i s h g e n t l e m a n w i t h a l l t h e v i r t u e s
and d e f e c t s o f h i s c l a s s , p e r i o d and u n b r i n g i n g ,
b r a v e , h o n o u r a b l e , k i n d , a l o v e r o f t h r i f t and
o r d e r , a s t r o n g , c o n f id e n t a d m i n i s t r a t o r . . .though
he h ad s e r v e d f o r y e a r s i n C e y l o n , ( h e ) n e v e r
c l e a r l y saw t h e A s i a t i c r u l e r a g a i n s t h i s h i s t o r i c
b a c k g r o u n d o f H i n d u i s m , hare m s and m o n o p o l i e s , b u t
o n l y as a n anomaly a g a i n s t t h e v e r y m o d ern b a c k g r o u n d
o f an E n g l i s h p u b l i c s c h o o l . . . . Years in t h e t r o p i c s
had t i n g e d h i s n o r d i c e n e r g y w i t h n e r v o u s i r r i t a b i
lity . Not f a r fro m t h e end o f h i s o f f i c i a l c a r e e r
he was a man In a h u r r y t o c a r r y V i c t o r i a n l i g h t
t o P e r a k w h i l e he s t i l l h ad t i m e , f o r e v e n l o n g
e x p e r i e n c e had f a i l e d t o b r i n g home t o h i s u n im a
g i n a t i v e mind t h a t h u r r y i s f u t i l e i n t h e t r a i n i n g
of c h ild lik e c h i e f t a i n s . . . . He was s e n t t o P e r a k
t o e d u c a t e i t s c h i e f s i n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n on l i n e s
e n t i r e l y new t o th e m , b u t he knew no M alay and
could n ot t a l k t o h i s p u p i l s . H is p l i a n t i n t e r
p r e t e r f r o m t h e C o l o n y had no f i n e p u b l i c - s c h o o l
' s c o r n o f c o n s e q u e n c e ' b u t i n t e r p r e t e d as f a r as
57
B i r c h t o C l a r k e , 14 December 1 8 7 4 , c i t e d W i n s t e d t ,
' H i s t o r y o f P e r a k ' , JMBRAS, v o l . x i i , 1 , p . 1 0 4 .
133
p o s s i b l e t o a v o i d r e b u k e and g i v e s a t i s f a c t i o n t o
a l l p a r t i e s : ’ t h e s e a r e n o t t h e K o r a n ’ , he r e m a r k e d
when p o s t i n g t h e n o t i c e s t h a t c a u s e d B i r c h ’ s m u r d e r ;
’ t h e y can be d i s r e g a r d e d a s so o n a s t h e R e s i d e n t
leaves ’ .
The o t h e r p r o t a g o n i s t was a young M a lay r a j a w i t h
t h e c h a r m i n g m anners o f h i s c l a s s and t h e v i c e s
p r o p e r t o t h e s p o i l t d a r l i n g of a r o y a l h a r e m . . . .
D uty was a c o n c e p t e n t i r e l y f o r e i g n t o h im . Work
o f a k i n d was a t i r e s o m e n e c e s s i t y , f o r w i t h o u t
i n t e l l i g e n t e f f o r t i t was i m p o s s i b l e t o b o r r o w
en o u g h money f o r h i s h a r e m , h i s g a m b l i n g and h i s
co ck fig h tin g . U n p l e a s a n t b u s i n e s s . . .m ust w a i t t i l l
to m o r r o w and to m o r r o w and to m o rro w ; an e l e m e n t a r y
i n s t i n c t o f s e l f - p r e s e r v a t i o n t h a t E u r o p e a n a d m in
i s t r a t o r s and C h i n e s e c r e d i t o r s seemed s t r a n g e l y
and i n c o n v e n i e n t l y t o l a c k . . . . These were t h e
p r o t a g o n i s t s i n t h a t l o n g d u e l when Mr. B i r c h l a n d e d
a t B a t a k R a b i t on 5 November 1874 and c o n f r o n t e d
'A b d u ’l l a h a s P e r a k ’ s f i r s t R e s i d e n t , e a g e r t o p o u r
new wine i n t o o l d b o t t l e s . - 50
B i r c h would p r o b a b l y h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d d i f f i c u l t y i n
d e a l i n g w i t h any s i t u a t i o n dem an d in g t a c t and p a t i e n c e ;
b u t he was f a c e d w i t h e x t r a o r d i n a r y p r o b l e m s . The P a n g k o r
Engage ment was a p i e c e o f e m e r g e n c y d i p l o m a c y which s e c u r e d
an i m m e d ia te s e t t l e m e n t and a b a s i s f o r in terv en tio n ; but -
fu ll o f a m b i g u i t i e s and c o n t r a d i c t i o n s a s i t was - i t c o u l d
h a r d l y p r o v id e a s t a b l e s e t t l e m e n t f o r t h e problems of
Perak. I t concealed th e in ten d ed r o l e o f the R e sid e n t in
e q u i v o c a l p h r a s i n g , which p r o v i d e d f o r c o n t r o l and c a l l e d
it advice. I t t o o k a s e c u l a r v i e w o f t h e sc o p e o f M alay
58
W instedt, ’ H i s t o r y o f P e r a k ’ , JMBRAS, v o l . 1 2 , p t . l ,
p .102.
134
r e l i g i o n and c u s t o m , r e g a r d i n g t h e s e as s e p a r a t e from
59
B i r c h ’ s d i a r y , November 1 8 7 4 , q u o t e d W i n s t e d t , ' H i s t o r y
o f P e r a k ' , JMBRAS, v o l . 1 2 , p t . l , p . 1 0 3 . Fo r o t h e r r e
f e r e n c e s t o t h e rb a b y down a t B a t a r a b i t ' , s e e e x t r a c t s
fro m B i r c h ' s d i a r y , N o v e m b e r - J u l y , C . 1 5 0 5 , e n c l o s u r e 3
in n o . 49.
135
him, were even more hostile than Ismail and Abdullah, and
SÖ
Evidence of Raja Yahya and Haji Mat Dawood, E P O , Ab
ridgment of Evidence, 'O', p «7 .
61
Ismail to Jervois, 13 September 1875, EPO, Appendix
XIII.
136
62
them in their obstruction to Birch. The only ally the
British found in Perak was Raja Yusuf, who had been passed
over twice for the succession, who was hated by the chiefs
and kept in ignorance of events; and even Yusuf, who had
told Birch that he had much better take the country than
keep Abdullah as Sultan, was reluctant to put his signature
to such a suggestion.
The first object of the Pangkor Engagement - the
62
The chiefs disliked the cession of territory at Pangkor
far more than Abdullah, who was only worrying about es
tablishing his own position; but at their instance he
sent an agent to Penang to try and get the Dindings cession
rescinded. (EPO, Precis of Evidence, p.2.) Por the
opposition of the chiefs at Blanja in September 1875, to
Jervois’ proposals for the cession of Perak, see EPO,
Abridgment of Evidence, ’H ’. pp Sz-t.
63
Por an account of the Perak revenue system c.1874, see
above, pt.I, pp.23-5.
137
B r a d d e l l h ad v i s i t e d A b d u l l a h i n P e r a k i n A p r i l and warned
him n o t t o f a r m t h e P e r a k t a x e s w i t h o u t c o n s u l t i n g t h e
G o v e r n o r ; b u t a s so o n a s he l e f t , Abdullah le a s e d the c o l
l e c t i o n of th e P erak r i v e r revenues to the firm of h is
S i n g a p o r e C h i n e s e b a c k e r , Tan Kim C h i n g , f o r t e n y e a r s a t
64
£(26,000 a y e a r .
B i r c h came t o P e r a k w i t h i n s t r u c t i o n s t o r a t i o n a l i s e
t h e r e v e n u e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and a b o l i s h a l l t h e 'd o u b le i n
land t a x e s '. He c h a r a c t e r i s e d t h e c o l l e c t i o n s b y c h i e f s
as 'b la c k m a il' and ' s q u e e z e ' - a p e r v e r s e d e p a r t u r e from
V ic to r ia n revenue p r i n c i p l e s . Two d a y s a f t e r he a r r i v e d
he e x p l a i n e d t o t h e c h i e f s h i s p l a n t o 'h av e th e revenue
a l l c o l l e c t e d a t p r o p e r and s t a t e d p l a c e s and b y a f i x e d
m e t h o d , and i n t h e name o f S u l t a n A b d u l l a h o n l y ' . He r e
i t e r a t e d th e s e p ro p o sa ls a t f r e q u e n t i n t e r v a l s d u rin g the
n e x t few m o n th s t o t h e c h i e f s , S u l t a n A b d u l l a h and S u l t a n
I s m a i l , and p o i n t e d h i s a r g u m e n t b y b u r n i n g a t o l l - h o u s e
64
Tan Kim C h i n g , a S i n g a p o r e C h i n e s e a n d C h i Hin l e a d e r ,
had s p o n s o r e d A b d u l l a h ' s v i s i t t o S i n g a p o r e i n O c t o b e r
1 8 7 3 , and t r i e d ( u n s u c c e s s f u l l y ) t o b r i n g him t o t h e
n o t i c e o f t h e G o v e r n o r , S i r H a r r y Ord. When C l a r k e r e
p l a c e d O r d , Kim C h i n g and h i s E u r o p e a n a s s o c i a t e , W.H.Head,
ren e w e d t h e i r a t t e m p t s t o s e c u r e t h e G o v e r n o r ' s i n t e r e s t
on b e h a l f o f t h e i r n o m i n e e . A b d u l l a h ' s l e t t e r o f 30 De
cember 1 8 7 3 , i n v i t i n g t h e B r i t i s h Government t o send a
R e s i d e n t t o P e r a k , was p r o b a b l y w r i t t e n a t t h e i r p r o m p t i n g .
(S e e EPO, P r e c i s o f E v i d e n c e , p . 2 . )
138
Birch and Baja Dris judges, and Birch and the Shahbandar to
66
manage the revenues and appoint and dismiss all headmen.
65
Birch diary, 8 June, cited Winstedt, 'History of Perak*,
JMBBAS, vol.12, pt.l, p.109; Abdullah to Bendahara, 10 July
JLÖ o , EPO, Appendix XXXI.
66
Eaja Dris was Abdullah's cousin and became an important
ally of the British - see p.147, n.78.
139
n
Birch diary for 25 July, E P O , Abridgment of Evidence,
'C .
68
Carnarvon to Jervois, 13 5 of 1 June 1876.
69
Birch was chronically short of money. The Perak river
revenues had been farmed to Tan Kim Ching and until August
1875 at least, were collected by his agents and the Shah-
bandar, though the collections were made at Birch's customs
station at Kota Stia, under the supervision of his clerks.
(Evidence of d'Orville, customs officer at Kota Stia, EPO,
Abridgment of Evidence, 'E'.) L a r u t , the richest part of
Perak, was separately administered, and though it made a
140
t h e n moved i n t o t e m p o r a r y q u a r t e r s a t B a n d a r B a h r u , 45 m i l e s
up t h e P e r a k r i v e r , n e a r S u l t a n A b d u l l a h ’ s e q u a l l y m a k e s h i f t
q u a rte r s a t P a s i r Panjang. O u t s i d e B a n d a r B a h r u t h e r e was
a Customs House a t K o t a S t i a w i t h a E u r o p e a n c u s t o m s o f
f i c e r an d 14 p o l i c e ; t h e r e was b e s i d e s , on t h e P e r a k r i v e r ,
one p o l i c e s t a t i o n b u i l t a t D u r i a n S e b a t a n g ( d o w n r i v e r ) and
t h r e e more i n p r o c e s s o f b u i l d i n g b y A p r i l 1 8 7 5 . In s h o r t ,
B ritish i n f l u e n c e on 180 m i l e s o f r i v e r was r e p r e s e n t e d b y
F 9 ~ T c o n tin u e d )
c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e Government o f P e r a k , t h i s i n 1874 was
o n l y $ 1 6 , 4 4 6 , and i n 1875 $ 2 9 , 6 4 0 . I n 1876 t h e e s t i m a t e
f o r n a t i v e a l l o w a n c e s a l o n e ( m o s t l y on t h e P e r a k r i v e r )
was $ 4 8 , 0 0 0 p . a . ( J e r v o i s t o C a r n a r v o n , 73 o f 6 March
1 8 7 7 ) . B i r c h was s u p p l i e d w i t h f u n d s b y t h e P e n a n g
t r e a s u r y ( B i r c h t o An so n . 1 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 7 5 , Anson c o r r e s
p o n d e n c e , R a f f l e s Museum).
141
fact, payment was often refused, and not only the man, but
70
Minutes on Slavery in the Malay states by Douglas, 28
May 1878; Low, 28 May 1878; Birch, 28 July 1875; Davidson,
23 August 1875; Swettenham, 30 June 1875; C.3285, en
closures in no. 2. Also W.E. Maxwell, Minute on Slavery
among the Malays, 27 May 1882, C.3429, enclosure 1 in
no .4.
71
Evidence of Edward Bacon, EPO, Abridgment of Evidence,
-C-, f,. lb.
143
1 8 7 5 , w a i t i n g t h e d a y when he was g i v e n a u t h o r i t y t o g o v e r n
Perak. On t h a t d a y (2 O c t o b e r 187 5 ) t h e n o t i c e s were p r o
d u c ed f o r A b d u l l a h ' s s e a l ,
and a l l e x c e p t one were t o come
72
i n t o e f f e c t from t h e moment o f p u b l i c a t i o n . The e x c e p
t i o n was a n o t i c e In tro d u cin g a household ta x ' i n the
n a t u r e o f t h e a n c i e n t k l a m i n a s i l ' , which was n o t c u s t o m a r y
on t h e P e r a k r i v e r , and which was n o t t o come i n t o e f f e c t
f o r two m o n t h s . (Hugh Low, R e s i d e n t o f P e r a k fro m 1 8 7 7 -
8 9 , b r o u g h t up t h e q u e s t i o n o f t h i s t a x a t S t a t e C o u n c i l
m e e t i n g s e v e r y y e a r f o r s i x y e a r s , and t h e n d i d n o t b r i n g
it in to o p e ra tio n , because of i t s u n p o p u l a r i t y . )
The n o t i c e s c o v e r t h e q u e s t i o n w i t h a c o m p l e t e n e s s
and d e t a i l a p p r o p r i a t e t o a h i g h l y o r g a n i s e d a d m i n i s t r a
t i o n , b u t o u t o f p l a c e i n a n a t i v e s t a t e w i t h h a r d l y any
European e s ta b lis h m e n t. The n o t i c e a g a i n s t s m u g g l i n g , f o r
e x a m p l e , r e s t r i c t e d b o a t s fro m l a n d i n g anywhere e x c e p t a t
72
EPO, A p p e n d i c e s L V I I - L X I I I .
144
Crisis
Penang, about the 'head over heels way' in which Birch was
75
doing things.
73
Lt.-G-eneral Sir William Francis Drummond Jervois , R .E . ,
G-CMG-, CB, P R S , was born in 1821 and educated at the Royal
Military Academy, Woolwich. He was commissioned in the
Royal Engineers in 1839. He was Assistant (later Deputy)
Inspector-G-eneral of Eortif icat ions , 1856-75, and during
this period reported on defence works in Canada, the
West Indies, India and Burma. He was Governor, Straits
Settlements, from May 1875-Eebruary 1877, and after
advising on the defence of the Australian colonies, 1877,
he became Governor of South Australia, 1877, and of Hew
Zealand from 1882 till his retirement in 1889.
74
Clarke to Abdullah, 22 April 1875 and 13 May 1875, EPO,
Appendices XVII and XXI. When the second letter was
written, Clarke was no longer Governor.
75
Clarke to Anson, 25 March 1875, cited Anson, 324.
Clarke did not leave Singapore till May 21st. He had
therefore an opportunity of observing, critically and
perhaps with some jealousy, the 'head over heels' way in
which Jervois plunged into native affairs.
146
76
be annexed and without waiting for the reply he put his
Yusuf and the major chiefs. His earlier intention had been
76
Jervois to Carnarvon (Private and Confidential), 10 July
1875. Carnarvon Papers, PRO 30/6-40, cited C.D. Cowan,
’Swettenham’s Perak Journals’, JMBRASt vol.24, pt.4, p.27.
On 16 October he received a reply rejecting his proposal
of annexation (ibid., p.28), but by that time he had carried
out his reorganisation in Perak. Among the Swettenham
papers in the National Museum in Kuala Lumpur there is a
memorandum no.83 initialled by Swettenham and dated July
1875, recommending annexation. It appears to be written
in the form of answers to questions, and recounts the
hostility of the chiefs, the recalcitrance of Abdullah, the
need for rapid development in order to pay the Mentri's
debt, and the need for a change of policy if any economic
and social advance was to be made. The rather obvious
points are repeated in Jervois' explanatory despatch to
Carnarvon of 16 October. The memorandum is probably one of
a number which Jervois called for from his advisers a few
weeks after arriving in the Straits, and it is a curiosity
in that it shows Swettenham's early ideas on the subject of
Native States policy.
77
C. 15O 5 , enclosure 9 in no.49.
147
78
and signed; Abdullah, given fifteen days in which to sign
78
Raja Y u s u f , the son-in-law of Sultan Abdullah Mohammed
Shah (reigned 1851-7) had been in the direct line of suc
cession but his harsh, autocratic and quarrelsome nature
made him so unpopular that he was passed over in 1857 and
again in 1865; he was not present at Pangkor, and none of
the Straits officials realised the strength of his claim
till Swettenham met him at Senggang on the 21 April 1874
(see Cowan, 'Swettenham’s Perak Journals’, JMBRAS, vol.24,
pt.4, pp.53-7). He then suggested to Swettenham that if he,
the rightful claimant, could not succeed, ’far the best way
would be for the English G-ovt. to take over the whole of
Perak for their own, and give the chiefs a certain amount
per mensem each’. As the tensions in Perak increased, so
did the understanding between Yusuf and the Resident. He
undertook to persuade Ismail to sign Jervois’ paper, and
after much hesitation, signed himself on 19 September. In
the military interregnum which followed B i r c h ’s death, he
gave the British active help; his information assisted the
capture of Pasir Salak, he joined in the pursuit of Ismail
in Upper Perak, and he became involved in the fighting
against his old enemies, the Kota lama people. On 30 March
1877, he was proclaimed the Chief Native Authority in Perak,
and in 1886 was made Sultan. He died in 1887.
Raja Iris (abbv. for Idris) was Y u s u f ’s son-in-law, and
was a descendant of Sultan Abdul Malik Mansur Shah (see
diagram, pt.l, p.52, n.53). He was Abdullah’s cousin and
had been his constant companion for 1874 and most of 1875.
He had been one of a delegation sent to Clarke in May
1875 to complain of B i r c h ’s interpretation of the Engage
ment, and was present at meetings at Durian Sebatang in
July and Pasir Panjang in August, at which Birch’s murder
was said to have been plotted. But he was able and pliable,
and Birch nominated him co-judge in July. He detached
himself from Abdullah’s party and came out with his father-
in-law in support of the Resident, signing Jervois’ docu
ment on 19 September. He succeeded Yusuf as Sultan in
1887, and reigned till his death in 1916.
148
J e r v o i s ’ p r o p o s a l s ; none o f t h e o t h e r c h i e f s would s i g n . At
t h e end o f A b d u l l a h ’ s p e r i o d o f g r a c e , J e r v o i s m o d i f i e d h i s
o rig in a l proposals; in ste a d of d e c la r in g Perak B r i t i s h t e r
rito ry , he was p r e p a r e d t o l e t i t rem ain u n d e r th e nom inal
ru le of the S u lta n ,
i f he would s u r r e n d e r t h e g o v e r n m e n t a l -
79
together to B ritis h o ffic e rs . By t h i s t i m e A b d u l l a h had
a lre a d y subm itted. In a l e t t e r to J e r v o i s o f 2 O ctober
1 8 7 5 , he g ave ’ o u r f r i e n d ’ s R e s i d e n t i n P e r a k and t o t h o s e
o f f i c e r s whom o u r f r i e n d may s e n d t o a s s i s t him f u l l powers
t o f i x and c o l l e c t a l l t a x e s ’ and f u l l powers a l s o ’t o
a p p o i n t and remove a l l o f f i c e r s i n t h e d i s t r i c t s and v j ll a g e s
o f P e r a k and a l s o t o a d m i n i s t e r j u s t i c e e i t h e r p e r s o n a l l y
o r by d e p u t y t h r o u g h o u t P e r a k ’ . Two P r o c l a m a t i o n s o f
2 O c t o b e r a m p l i f i e d t h i s by p r o h i b i t i n g any b u t o f f i c e r s
a p p o i n t e d b y t h e G-overnor fro m a d m i n i s t e r i n g j u s t i c e in
Perak. C a s e s b e a r i n g on Mohammedan r e l i g i o n ’ s u c h as
m a r r i a g e and so f o r t h ' , m i g h t be d e a l t w i t h by M a lay s ap
p o in te d by B r i t i s h o f f i c e r s , a f t e r c o n s u l t a t i o n w ith the
80
S u l t a n and t h e W a r is P e r a k .
79
I s m a i l t o J e r v o i s , 13 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 7 5 , EPO, A p p e n d ix
X L I I I ; J e r v o i s t o A b d u l l a h , 27 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 7 5 , EPO, Appendix
XL IX.
80
A b d u l l a h t o J e r v o i s , 1 O c t o b e r 1 8 7 5 , EPO, A p p e n d ix L I I ;
P r o c l a m a t i o n s ' I ' and ’ J ’ , 2 O c t o b e r 1 8 7 5 , EPO, A p p e n d i c e s
LIV and LV. I t would be o f i n t e r e s t t o compare t h e s e
p r o c l a m a t i o n s w i t h t h o s e o f 25 J u l y , i n which A b d u l l a h a p
p o i n t e d B i r c h and R a j a D r i s j u d g e s , and B i r c h and t h e
149
80 (continued)
Shahbandar to administer the revenue, but we have been un
able to trace copies of the earlier documents, though there
are plenty of references to them. The obvious difference
is that by the proclamations of October the British officers
were to act alone, and were given executive authority.
81
Instructions to Queen's Commissioners, 23 October 1875,
C.1505, enclosure 10 in no.78.
150
82
factions in the State. The Malay Council was to deal,
82
Jervois to Carnarvon, 291 of 16 October 1875.
83
Cla r k e ’s intention was that the Men t r i ’s debt (which in
cluded loans from Chinese for the Larut Wars, and the cost
of intervention to the Straits G-overnment) should be bonded
and scrip issued, payable as the revenues of Perak per
mitted, and that the dividends should be paid by the Perak
G-overnment.
151
letter from Birch dated the 13th, saying that ’nothing can
exceed the general good feeling’, though the only feeling
communicated to Birch at this time was the general desire
to get rid of him. Before Jervois’ despatch reached the
Colonial Office they had heard by telegram that Birch had
84
been murdered. The gap between reality and official
fiction can seldom have been so dramatically displayed.
84
Birch was killed on 2 November, while posting procla
mations at Pasir Salak, on the Perak river a few miles
above Bandar Bahru. Jervois’ despatch of 16 October
reached the Colonial Office on 22 November, three weeks
after his telegram informing them of the murder.
153
J e r v o i s had t r i e d t o r e c o v e r h i s c r e d i t by s e n d i n g
f o r l a r g e r e i n f o r c e m e n t s , b u t u n f o r t u n a t e l y t h e s e had
t h a t t h e y p r o v i d e d a d e m o n s t r a t i o n of c r u s h i n g s t r e n g t h .
T h e i r o p e r a t i o n s , and a c o n c u r r e n t e n q u i r y i n t o t h e o r i g i n s
86
of B i r c h ’s m urder, a l s o c l e a r e d P e r a k o f b o t h S u l t a n s and
n e a r l y e v e r y c h i e f o f t h e f i r s t and s e c o n d r a n k . The
M a h a r a j a L e l a and t h e D a t o ' S a g o r were h a n g e d f o r t h e i r p a r t
in th e murder a f t e r a P e ra k t r i a l i n December 1876; t h e
85
S i r P e t e r B e n so n M a x w e ll , Our M alay C o n q u e s t s . 6 1 - 2 .
The p a m p h l e t c o n t a i n s some c r i t i c a l n o t e s on t h e e v i d e n c e
o f t h e Commission o f E n q u i r y i n t o t h e P e r a k O u t r a g e s ,
w h ic h p r o v i d e a u s e f u l b a l a n c e t o o t h e r w r i t i n g s on t h e
sub j e c t .
86
The C o m m is sio n , a p p o i n t e d i n March 1 8 7 6 , c o n s i s t e d o f
t h e S e n i o r P u i s n e J u d g e , Mr P h i l i p p o , t h e Hon. C.B. P l u n k e t ,
a c t i n g M a g i s t r a t e a t M a l a c c a , and Mr W.F.B. P a u l , a f o r m e r
Gold C o a s t o f f i c e r who was a p p o i n t e d t o P e r a k i n 1876 a s
A s s i s t a n t Commissioner un d er D avidson. (J e rv o is to Car
n a r v o n , 129 o f 21 March 1 8 7 6 . ) T h e i r f i n d i n g s were
p u b l i s h e d In 1876 u n d e r t h e t i t l e ' E n q u i r y i n t o t h e Com
p l i c i t y o f C h i e f s i n t h e P e r a k O u t r a g e s ’ , and p r o v i d e t h e
m o st v a l u a b l e s o u r c e t h a t h a s y e t come t o l i g h t f o r t h e
ev en ts of B i r c h 's Residency.
154
87
E n t r i e s i n B i r c h ’ s d i a r y f o r 16 S e p t e m b e r and 19 O c t o b e r
1875 show t h a t he was aware o f t h e g e n e r a l i l l f e e l i n g and
t h e d a n g e r o f an o u t b r e a k (EPO, A b rid g m en t o f E v i d e n c e ,
'G-’ ) . Sw etten h a m w r o t e i n h i s d i a r y f o r 16 S e p t e m b e r t h a t
’ v e r y l i t t l e would l e a d t o a q u a r r e l now’ ( ’ S w e t t e n h a m ’ s
P e r a k J o u r n a l s ’ , e d . Cowan, JMBRAS, x x i v , 4 , p . 9 5 ) . On
27 S e p t e m b e r , J e r v o i s w r o t e t o Anson t o make d i s c r e e t
i n q u i r i e s as t o w h e t h e r arms were b e i n g e x p o r t e d from
P e n a n g (A nson C o r r e s p o n d e n c e , R a f f l e s L i b r a r y A r c h i v e s ) .
155
c h a r g e d o r q u e s t i o n e d , and n e v e r p r o v i d e d w i t h d e t a i l s of
88
t h e e v i d e n c e a g a i n s t them . That B ir c h died as the r e s u l t
o f s u c h a c o n s p i r a c y i s n o t b o r n e o u t b y t h e manner o f h i s
d e a t h , which s u g g e s t s a sudden a c t o f p a s s i o n under c o n s i d
erable provocation. The m u r d e r r e m a i n e d an i s o l a t e d a c t o f
v i o l e n c e ; B i r c h ’ s c o m p a n io n , who was s h o o t i n g s n i p e on t h e
88
The E x e c u t i v e C o u n c i l c o n s i d e r e d A b d u l l a h ' s c a s e on t h e
b a s i s o f a l e t t e r f r o m J e r v o i s t o A b d u l l a h , 16 S e p t e m b e r ,
s p e c i f y i n g t h e c h a r g e s a g a i n s t h i m , and t h e S u l t a n ' s r e p l y ,
dated 6 O ctober. ( M i n u t e s o f t h e E x e c u t i v e C o u n c i l , 4 De
cem ber 1 8 7 6 . ) A b d u l l a h had p r e v i o u s l y c o m p l a i n e d t h a t
J e r v o i s ' l e t t e r d i d n o t f u r n i s h him w i t h t h e names o f h i s
a c c u s e r s , o r w i t h t h e e v i d e n c e a g a i n s t him ( M i n u t e s o f t h e
E x e c u t i v e C o u n c i l , 21 O c t o b e r 1 8 7 6 ) .
(■* LIBRARY h i
156
89
Carnarvon hinted in a telegram of 25 November 1875
(C.1505, no.55) that it might be necessary to withdraw the
Residents unless the natives were willing to receive them
on the footing originally sanctioned; and suggested that
the Resident might with advantage be stationed on the coast.
Jervois strenuously objected to this as prejudicial to
Britain’s position in the Par East (Jervois to Carnarvon,
tel. of 14 December 1875, C.1505, no.73). Carnarvon did
not press the point, and it is a question whether he meant
it seriously.
90 ,
Jervois to Carnarvon, tel. of 18 November 1875» C.1505,
no.54; despatch 335 of 2 December 1875.
157
S u l t a n ; b u t two d a y s l a t e r he c a b l e d p r o p o s i n g p a r t i a l a n
n e x a t i o n o f a l l t h a t p a r t o f P e r a k bo u n d ed on t h e n o r t h b y
t h e K r i a n and on t h e e a s t b y t h e P e r a k r i v e r . He h ad r e
c e i v e d i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t t h e S u l t a n and h i s a d v i s e r s were
i m p l i c a t e d i n B i r c h ' s m u r d e r , and t h o u g h t h e e v i d e n c e was
s c a n ty enough, i t p r o v i d e d an o p p o r t u n i t y t o d i s p o s e o f
A b d u l l a h and c a r r y o u t t h e a n n e x a t i o n p o l i c y w h ic h he had
91
f i r s t contem plated.
C a r n a r v o n ' s r e s p o n s e t o t h i s p r e s s u r e was t o r e f u s e
to hear of annexation. He i n s t r u c t e d r e p e a t e d l y b y t e l e
gram and d e s p a t c h t h a t t h e t r o o p s must n o t be u s e d f o r an y
l a r g e p o l i t i c a l o b j e c t , b u t o n l y t o r e s t o r e o r d e r an d
92
i n f l i c t punishment f o r o u tr a g e . In th e f i r s t in s ta n c e ,
h i s a n x i e t y was p r o b a b l y t o s t o p J e r v o i s from m ak in g any
f u r t h e r a d v a n c e on h i s own i n i t i a t i v e , b u t when f u t u r e
p o l i c y came t o be c o n s i d e r e d a t g r e a t e r l e i s u r e , t h e d e c i
s i o n a g a i n s t a n n e x a t i o n was c o n f i r m e d . In th e p a s t ,
C a r n a r v o n had shown h i m s e l f o p p o s e d t o a n n e x a t i o n as
91
The i n f o r m a t i o n w h i c h h e f o r w a r d e d t o C a r n a r v o n c o n s i s t e d
o f r e p o r t s p i c k e d up fro m a B u g i s t r a d e r ( C . S . K y n n e r s l e y ,
R e p o r t o f 18 November 1 8 7 5 , C . 1 5 0 5 , e n c l o s u r e 63 i n n o . 93)
and s t a t e m e n t s fro m A b d u l l a h ' s f o r m e r s l a v e g i r l s (Hewick
t o L t.-G -o v . o f P e n a n g , 14 November 1 8 7 5 , C . 1 5 0 5 , e n c l o s u r e
in n o . 9 3 ).
92
C a r n a r v o n t o J e r v o i s , t e l . o f 14 and 25 November 1 8 7 5 ,
C . 1 5 0 5 , n o s . 42 and 55; d e s p a t c h o f 10 December 1 8 7 5 ,
C . 1 5 0 5 , n o . 70.
158
reason why it should take place for some time to come and
94
I would do nothing to precipitate it*. O r d , who was in
93
Carnarvon to Jervois, Private of 13 September 1875,
cited Hardinge, Life of Carnarvon, II, 137.
94
Minute by Meade, 21 March 1876, in CO 273/83/2930.
159
t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e , was c o n s i s t e n t l y o p p o s e d t o a n n e x a t i o n ,
m a i n l y ’ on t h e s c o r e o f t h e e x p e n s e i t must be f o r some
c o n s i d e r a b l e t i m e and t h e t r o u b l e i t w i l l g i v e owing t o
th e p a u c i t y o f com petent o f f i c e r s to u n d e rta k e the work’ .
He f a v o u r e d a l i m i t e d i n t e r v e n t i o n , w ith the B r i t i s h r e
p r e s e n t a t i v e a c t i n g v i r t u a l l y as a c o n s u l a r a g e n t , p r o v i d i n g
s e c u r i t y f o r t h e C h i n e s e and o t h e r f o r e i g n e r s , and i n t e r
f e r i n g n o t a t a l l w i t h t h e g o v e rn m e n t o f t h e s t a t e . He
r e c o g n i s e d t h a t t h i s would be a r e t r e a t ; i t was i n f a c t a
r e t r e a t n o t o n l y f r o m J e r v o i s ’ p o s i t i o n b u t fro m t h a t t a k e n
95
up a t P a n g k o r .
A n n e x a t i o n was d i s c r e d i t e d b y i t s a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h
J e r v o i s , a s t r o n g G o v e r n o r who d e f e n d e d h i s p o l i c y i n a b l e
and i n s u b o r d i n a t e d e s p a t c h e s ; i f e v e r a G o v e r n o r n e ed e d t o
be p u t i n h i s p l a c e i t was h e . Carnarvon r e a l i s e d t h a t
J e r v o i s was t r y i n g t o r u s h him i n t o i n s u f f i c i e n t l y c o n s i d e r e d
p o lic ies, and r e a c t e d a c c o r d i n g l y . J e r v o is defended h i s
d e p a r t u r e fro m P a n g k o r i n a l o n g d e s p a t c h i n w h ich he im
p l i e d t h a t he h a d done no more t h a n e s t a b l i s h f o r m a l l y a
c o n t r o l o f which t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e was a w a r e , and which
i t had t a c i t l y approved. C a r n a r v o n w r o t e a d e t a i l e d and
angry m inute, co n clu d in g , ’ Such a c o u r s e ( a n n e x a t i o n ) may
95
Memorandum b y O r d , 3 J a n u a r y 1 8 7 6 , CO 2 7 3 / 8 9 / 8 7 4 4 .
160
96
Carnarvon, minute of 22 March 1876, on Jervois to
Carnarvon, 62 of 10 February 1876, CO 273/83/2930.
97 7 '
Minute by Meade, 21 January 1876, 273/81/576; minute by
Cox, 20 February 1876, on CO 273/83/11693; Ord to Anson,
28 December 1875, la Anson Correspondence, Raffles Library
Archives.
161
C a r n a r v o n was u n w i l l i n g t o a p p r o a c h t h e T r e a s u r y f o r f u n d s .
The War O f f i c e , t h e I n d i a O f f i c e and t h e A d m i r a l t y a l l
t e l l them. A p o l i c y which m i g h t r e q u i r e t h e i n d e f i n i t e
r e t e n t i o n o f l a r g e f o r c e s i n t h e S t r a i t s was c l e a r l y u n d e
sirab le. It i s t r u e t h a t t h e d e s p a t c h e s and t e l e g r a m s o f
December and J a n u a r y t o l d o f o c c u p a t i o n o f t h e P e r a k v a l l e y
w ith l i t t l e resistance; i n d e e d t h e G o v e r n o r was much e x e r
advance; i t m i g h t be an e n c o u r a g e m e n t t o l e t w e l l a l o n e ,
and c o n s o l i d a t e p o s i t i o n s a l r e a d y g a i n e d , in stea d of ad
v a n c i n g c l a i m s t o f o r m a l a u t h o r i t y and t h u s i r r i t a t i n g t h e
M alays. T h i s i s how C a r n a r v o n saw t h e s i t u a t i o n . He l a i d
down i n h i s p o l i c y d e s p a t c h o f 1 J u n e 1 8 7 6 ,
98
J e r v o i s t o C a r n a r v o n , 6 A p r i l 1 8 7 6 , C . 1 5 1 2 , n o . 60;
J e r v o i s t o C a r n a r v o n , 24 J a n u a r y 1 8 7 6 , C . 1 5 0 5 , n o . I l l ;
W.O. t o C . O . , 30 November 1 8 7 5 , C . 1 5 0 5 , n o . 59; A d m i r a l t y
t o C . O . , 21 March 1 8 7 6 , C . 1 5 1 2 , n o . 1 9 . C a r n a r v o n i n t e n d e d
t o ask th e T r e a s u r y t o pay a p a r t o f th e ex p en se s o f t h e
P e r a k War; b u t b e f o r e he c o u l d do s o , t h e T r e a s u r y r e t u r n e d
a s t a t e m e n t which h ad b e e n s e n t t o them ’ t h r o u g h i n a d
v e r t e n c e ' , w i t h t h e ominous r e m a r k t h a t My L o r d s c o u l d n o t
a d m i t t h a t any o f t h e e x p e n d i t u r e on a c c o u n t o f t h e P e r a k
E x p e d i t i o n was t o be c h a r g e d t o I m p e r i a l Bun ds.
162
99
Carnarvon to Jervois, 135 of 1 June 1876.
100
Jervois to Carnarvon, Confidential of 1 September 1876.
163
101
Jervois to Carnarvon, 335 of 2 December 1875; Jervois
to Carnarvon, telegram of 1 January 1876, CO 537/45.
102
Carnarvon to Jervois, 135 of 1 June 1876.
Part III
1
Jervois to Carnarvon, 62 of 10 February 1876; Carnarvon
to Jervois, 135 of 1 June 1876. The question arises whether
Jervois himself regarded his policy as a great innovation,
or, as he now tried to pretend, a slight modification of
form. It is difficult to give a direct answer. He was
certainly aware that he was placing the British officers
in Perak on a new footing, and he certainly knew that he
was departing radically from instructions, but the policy
represented by Pangkor was sufficiently fluid to enable
him to believe that the step he took was in harmony with
the spirit of the Engagement. We consider that Jervois'
reforms were in keeping with Clarke's Perak policy, as
expressed In his communications with Birch and Abdullah,
and that Clarke himself would have been driven to take
similar action had he remained in the Straits.
164
165
r u l e , n o t a d v i c e , and had b e e n i n t e r p r e t e d i n t h a t s e n s e
i n L a r u t , b u t t h a t t h e d i v i s i o n o f p a r t i e s i n P e r a k , and
th e h o s t i l i t y of A bdullah, n u l l i f i e d th e in te n tio n s of the
E n g ag e m e n t and made i t n e c e s s a r y t o f o r m u l a t e them i n
p l a i n e r term s. He c i t e d t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s i s s u e d b y C l a r k e
t o B i r c h and D a v i d s o n , r e q u i r i n g them t o t a k e c h a r g e o f
t h e r e v e n u e s and p u t down i l l e g a l e x a c t i o n s ; he r e f e r r e d
t o t h e r e p o r t s o f t h e R e s i d e n t s f o r 1 8 7 5 , w h i c h made i t
c l e a r t h a t t h e R e s i d e n t s were r u l i n g , n o t a d v i s i n g , and
w h ic h had b e e n r e c e i v e d by t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e w i t h ' a p
p a re n t a c q u ie s c e n c e '. He i m p l i e d t h a t t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e
h a d known a l l a l o n g what was g o i n g on and b y i t s s i l e n c e
h ad i n d i c a t e d c o n s e n t .
The S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e r e a c t e d t o t h i s d e s p a t c h w i t h
a n i n d i g n a t i o n w h ic h may have b e e n e n h a n c e d b y t h e f a c t
t h a t J e r v o i s ’ a n a l y s i s was s u b s t a n t i a l l y c o r r e c t . He
p o i n t e d o u t t h a t t h e p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e P a n g k o r Eng ag ement
h a d t o be c o n s i d e r e d i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e 'a s s u m e d r e a d i n e s s
2
of the S u ltan to accept a d v ic e ', and t h a t t h e d e s p a t c h e s
2
As Meade p u t i t i n a m i n u t e o f 21 March 1 8 7 6 : 'The T r e a t y
o f P a n g k o r was b a s e d on t h e a s s u m p t i o n t h a t t h e R e s i d e n t s
were e a g e r l y demanded & t h a t t h e i r a d v i c e would be r e a d i l y
s o u g h t and a c t e d u p o n . I f t h e r e f o r e i n p r o c e s s o f t im e
t h e y s h o u l d become v i r t u a l r u l e r s o f t h e c o u n t r y , i t i s
p l a i n f r o m t h e who le c o r r e s p o n d e n c e t h a t S i r A(nd rew)
C ( la r k e ) & the S e c r e ta r y o f S ta te expected t h a t r e s u l t
166
2 (continued)
would follow from the influence they were represented as
certain of acquiring, as the Sultan & Rajahs were said to
be only waiting to have the proper road pointed out to
them, to adopt it.' (CO 273/83/2930, on Jervois to
Carnarvon, 62 of 10 February 1876.)
167
3
Carnarvon to Clarke, 6 March 1874, C.llll, no.43;
Carnarvon to Jervois, 8 April 1875, C.1320, no.17;
Carnarvon to Jervois, 4 June 1875, C.1320, no.34, and
15 July 1875, C.1320, no.35.
4
Carnarvon to Jervois, 15 July 1875, C.1320, no.35.
168
1875 a c o p y o f a l e t t e r o f r e b u k e t o A b d u l l a h , u p b r a i d i n g
’our f r i e n d ' f o r b r e a k i n g t h e E n g a g e m e n t , t e l l i n g him t h a t
no one b u t t h e R e s i d e n t was t o c o l l e c t t a x e s i n P e r a k ,
5
C larke to S u lta n Abdullah, undated, enclosed in C larke
t o C a r n a r v o n , 26 A p r i l 1 8 7 5 , C . 1 3 2 0 , n o . 26.
6
C a r n a r v o n t o C l a r k e , 25 May 1 8 7 5 , C . 1 3 2 0 , n o . 24.
169
7
The 'friend at the India Office' advised, for example,
that work on the roads should be initiated by proclamation
by the Native Ruler. This would clear the Resident of all
responsibility 'as to those arbitrary measures which are
sure to be resorted to in making the road, such as com
pulsory labour and cheating the labourers of their hire,
and the appropriation of land necessary for the roadway'.
Memorandum (unsigned), 28 June 1875, enclosed Carnarvon
to Jervois, 27 July 1875, C.1320, no.37.
8
Minute by Herbert (Under-Secretary of State), 20 December
1875, on Jervois to Carnarvon, 327 of 16 November 1875,
CO 273/81/13784. He had minuted on the Residents' reports
to the effect that the Governor ought to be very careful
not to allow the 'advice which may properly be given by
Residents to assume the shape of a direction as to their
policy' (Minute of 27 June 1875 on CO 273/80/6372).
170
c l e a r t h a t t h e E n g l i s h R e s i d e n t s were a l r e a d y f a r from
b eing diplo m atic o f f i c e r s , and t h a t t h e y h ad a l r e a d y a s
sumed a l l t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e i r D u tc h c o u n t e r
p a r t s , w ithout th e a s s is ta n c e o f an o r g a n i s e d n a t i v e
e x e c u t i v e s u c h a s had b e e n b u i l t up i n J a v a .
W h atev e r t h e i r p a s t i l l u s i o n s , h o w e v e r , t h e C o l o n i a l
O f f i c e now r e a l i s e d t h e t r u e s t a t e of a f f a i r s in the
P e n i n s u l a and t h a t t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s
assumed b y t h e R e s i d e n t s o r t h r o w n upon them b y t h e e v e n t s
o f 1 8 7 5 - 6 c o u l d n o t be d i s c a r d e d . I t i s n o t a b l e t h a t Meade
and H e r b e r t , t h o u g h c r i t i c a l o f J e r v o i s ' ju stificato ry
d e s p a t c h , d i d n o t condemn i t o u t r i g h t . Meade ack n o w le d g ed
t h a t e f f e c t i v e g o v e rn m e n t d i d n o t e x i s t i n P e r a k and t h a t
t h e R e s id e n t had to f i l l t h e gap. He m i n u t e d :
I s h o u l d t u r n o u t A b d u l l a h ( r e q u i r i n g him t o r e s i d e
on a p e n s i o n o u t s i d e P e r a k ) and p u t i n R a j a Y usuf
o r some o t h e r c h i e f t o be s e l e c t e d by t h e G o v e r n o r ,
and I s h o u l d g o v e r n t h e c o u n t r y i n h i s name a s s i s t e d .
b y a m ix ed M alay C o u n c i l . We m ig h t t h u s a t some
f u t u r e d a t e f i n d t h a t we have t r a i n e d up a man t o
whom t h e Government c o u l d a l t o g e t h e r be e n t r u s t e d . . . . 9
The d e s p a t c h i n s t r u c t i n g t h e G o v e r n o r a s t o f u t u r e
r e l a t i o n s w i t h t h e n a t i v e s t a t e s made no c o n c e s s i o n s o f
p rin cip le. In paragraph 8, i t continued to r e f e r to the
’ advice g iv en by the R e sid e n t to th e C h ie f n a ti v e a u t h o r i t y ’
9
M in u te b y Meade, 21 March 1 8 7 6 , on J e r v o i s t o C a r n a r v o n ,
62 o f 10 F e b r u a r y 1 8 7 6 , CO 2 7 3 / 8 3 / 2 9 3 0 .
171
10
Carnarvon to Jervois, 135 of 1 June 1876, In December,
Carnarvon minuted on a despatch from Jervois on the orga
nisation of the Perak Police: ’...the creation of this
force for the regulation of customs and internal affairs
is virtually a step - and a long one - towards the govern
ment of the country. I cannot perhaps refuse - The country
cannot be abandoned & it must be governed.... But even in
accepting what I cannot avoid, I think it well to note the
true state of the case’. (Minute by Carnarvon, 4 December
1876, on Jervois to Carnarvon, 369 of 18 October 1876,
CO 273/85/13901.)
172
The G o v e r n o r ’ s c i r c u l a r had c a l l e d f o r t h a s p i r i t e d
p r o t e s t f r o m t h e R e s i d e n t o f P e r a k , Hugh Low. He a s k e d
what n a t i v e r u l e r he was s u p p o s e d t o a d v i s e . He had p u t
t h e q u e s t i o n t o Meade b e f o r e l e a v i n g f o r P e r a k :
Low went on t o s a y t h a t h i s g r e a t e s t d i f f i c u l t y i n a t t e m p t
i n g t o s e t t l e t h e c o u n t r y had b e e n R a j a Y u s u f ; t h a t u n l e s s
he c o u l d c o n t r o l t h e R a j a , h i s p o s i t i o n would be u n t e n a b l e ,
and t h a t he was q u i t e p r e p a r e d t o t a k e t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
f o r t h e c o u r s e he was p u r s u i n g . R obinson wrote r e a s s u r i n g l y
t h a t t h e r e was n o t h i n g i n Low’ s d e a l i n g s w i t h t h e R a j a Muda
w h ic h was i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h t h e p o s i t i o n t h e R e s i d e n t s h o u l d
occupy. ’The a d v i c e w h ic h t h e R e s i d e n t g i v e s i s a u t h o r i
tativ e a d v i c e and may n o t be l i g h t l y r e j e c t e d . . . . A ll th e
same t h e f i c t i o n ( i f s u c h you p r e f e r t o c a l l i t ) th a t the
R e s i d e n t s a r e m e r e l y a d v i s e r s m u st be k e p t u p , an d h e r e i s
j u s t where t h e a d r o i t n e s s and a b i l i t y o f t h e O f f i c e r a r e
15
so i m p o r t a n t . . . . ’ Low w r o t e a s a t i s f i e d and g r a t e f u l
14
Low t o R o b i n s o n , 28 May 1 8 7 8 , CO 8 0 9 / 1 8 , c i t e d Cowan,
The O r i g i n s o f B r i t i s h C o n t r o l i n M a l a y a . 1 8 6 7 - 1 8 7 8 . 317,
n .37.
15
R o b i n s o n t o Low, 9 J u n e 1 8 7 8 , G o v e r n o r ’ s L e t t e r Book I
in R a ffle s L ib ra ry A rchives, Singapore.
174
-
16
Low to Robinson, 21 June 1878, enclosed in Robinson to
Hicks-Beach, 188 of 1 July 1878, CO 273/94/10142.
17
Robinson to C.O., 29 April 1879, CO 101/7139.
175
He a s k e d t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e t o i n s t r u c t t h e G o v e r n o r c o n
f i d e n t i a l l y t h a t a n n e x a t i o n was i n e v i t a b l e , o r a t l e a s t
t h a t w i t h d r a w a l was n o t c o n t e m p l a t e d . But t h e o f f i c i a l s
d e c id e d t h a t c o n f i d e n t i a l i n s t r u c t i o n s t o th e Governor t h a t
a n n e x a t i o n m u st come would be ’ a v e r y d a n g e r o u s k n o w l e d g e ' ,
and d e c i d e d t h a t s i n c e t h i n g s seemed t o be g o i n g w e l l i n
th e n a t i v e s t a t e s th ey should ' l e t w ell a l o n e '. R o b in so n 's
l e t t e r t h e r e f o r e went u n a n s w e r e d .
The t r a n s a c t i o n s b e tw e e n t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e , t h e
G o v e r n o r and t h e R e s i d e n t s up t o 1880 had e s t a b l i s h e d t h e
R e s i d e n t s f o r m a l l y as a d v i s e r s ; b u t t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y were
a d m i n i s t e r i n g t h e s t a t e s was now g e n e r a l l y a d m i t t e d . It
h a d b e e n a c k n o w l e d g e d by a R e s i d e n t and a G o v e r n o r i n
p r i v a t e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e , and b y an a u t h o r i t a t i v e s t a t e m e n t
o f a Governor in a p r i v a t e l e t t e r t o th e C o l o n ia l O f f i c e ;
and i n l a t e r y e a r s t h e p o s i t i o n was t o be a c k n o w l e d g e d a l s o
in o f f i c i a l correspondence.
B e tw e e n 1877 and 1 8 8 3 , t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s o f t h e
n a t i v e s t a t e s were f i r m l y e s t a b l i s h e d u n d e r t h e R e s i d e n t s .
T h r o u g h o u t t h e 1 8 8 0 s and 18 9 0 s t h e r e was a g r e a t e x p a n s i o n
o f p o p u l a t i o n , o f e co n o m ic e n t e r p r i s e and r e v e n u e s , and a
c o rre sp o n d in g expansion of the p u b lic s e r v i c e ; departm ents
g rew and a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d i v i s i o n s were c r e a t e d ; b u t t h e
b a s i c p a t t e r n was c l e a r by 1 8 8 0 . By t h e n t h e R e s i d e n c i e s
176
w ere e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e p l a c e s w here t h e y re m a in e d f o r t h e
g r e a t e r p a r t o f th e p e r io d . The P e r a k R e s i d e n c y had b e e n
moved i n 1876 fro m B a n d a r B a h ru i n Lower P e r a k t o K u a l a
K a n g s a r i n t h e n o r t h , a t t h e p o i n t where t h e r o a d fro m
L a r u t met t h e P e r a k r i v e r . I t was i n t h e h e a r t o f M alay
P e r a k , and s i n c e t h e p o p u l a t i o n o f t h e s t a t e was s t i l l
l a r g e l y M a la y , and s i n c e t h e r e c e n t c r i s i s c o n c e rn e d t h e
M a la y s , t h e R e s i d e n t ’ s c h i e f t a s k s l a y w i t h th em , and a
M alay c e n t r e was t h e l o g i c a l p l a c e f o r h i s h e a d q u a r t e r s .
At t h e same t i m e , K u a la K a n g s a r was o n l y t w e n t y - f i v e m i l e s
from L a r u t and c o n n e c te d w i t h i t b y c a r t r o a d and t e l e g r a p h
b u i l t d u r i n g t h e P e r a k o c c u p a t i o n ; so t h a t t h e R e s i d e n t
18
was a b l e t o k e ep i n c l o s e t o u c h w i t h t h e m i n e s . The
A s s i s t a n t R e s i d e n t was s t a t i o n e d i n T a i p i n g , and had im
m e d ia te c h a r g e o f L a r u t ; he a l s o s u p e r v i s e d t h e S t a t e d e
p a r t m e n t s , whose h e a d q u a r t e r s were i n T a i p i n g . In th e
d i s t r i c t s , r e v e n u e was c o l l e c t e d and j u s t i c e a d m in iste re d
b y o f f i c e r s e n t i t l e d C o l l e c t o r and M a g i s t r a t e . T h ere w ere
18
By t h e end o f t h e p e r i o d t h e R e s i d e n t had moved h i s
h e a d q u a r t e r s t o T a i p i n g . Low a p p e a r s t o have h a d an e s
t a b l i s h m e n t i n T a i p i n g and t o h a v e s p e n t much o f h i s tim e
th e re . I n h i s r e p o r t f o r 1886 he r e f e r r e d t o K u a la K a n g s a r
a s t h e h e a d q u a r t e r s o f t h e R e s i d e n t , who l i v e d t h e r e f o r
h a l f th e y e a r. H is r e p o r t f o r 1887 and S w e tte n h a m ’ s r e
p o r t f o r 1889 and s u b s e q u e n t y e a r s a r e w r i t t e n fro m t h e
' B r i t i s h R e s i d e n c y , T a i p i n g ’ , b u t t h e K u a la K a n g s a r R e s i
d e n c y was o b v i o u s l y s t i l l i n u s e . The P e r a k Handbook and
C i v i l S e r v i c e L i s t f o r 1892 g i v e s T a i p i n g a s t h e s e a t o f
th e R e s id e n t.
177
d iv isio n s fo r Perak.
I n S e l a n g o r t h e R e s i d e n c y was moved i n 1880 t o K u a l a
Lumpur, t h e c e n t r e o f t h e m in e s and t h e C h i n e s e p o p u l a t i o n .
A C o l l e c t o r and M a g i s t r a t e was e s t a b l i s h e d in each of th e
c o a s t t o w n s h i p s o f K u a l a S e l a n g o r , K la n g and K u a l a L a n g a t .
K l a n g ' s i m p o r t a n c e was c o m m e r c i a l ; i t was t h e p o r t f o r
K u a l a Lumpur. L a n g a t ' s was d i p l o m a t i c ; i t was t h e s e a t of
t h e S u l t a n , and t h e C o l l e c t o r , i n a d d i t i o n t o h i s admin
i s t r a t i v e d u t i e s , a c t e d as t h e R e s i d e n t ' s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e
at court. Only two o t h e r d i s t r i c t s were e s t a b l i s h e d i n
t h e r e s t o f t h e p e r i o d , U lu S e l a n g o r and U lu L a n g a t , m i n i n g
c e n t r e s t o t h e n o r t h and s o u t h o f K u a l a Lumpur. In Sungei
U j o n g , as i n S e l a n g o r , t h e R e s i d e n t l i v e d n e a r t h e m i n e s ;
t h e R e s i d e n c y was p e r m a n e n t l y e s t a b l i s h e d i n S e r e m b a n . In
t h i s sm all s t a t e , sm a ller than a Perak c o l l e c t o r a t e , th e re
were no d i s t r i c t d i v i s i o n s u n t i l a C o l l e c t o r and M a g i s t r a t e
was e s t a b l i s h e d a t P o r t D i c k s o n i n 1 891.
178
The R e s i d e n t s had u n d e r t h e i r d i r e c t i o n t h e p r i m a r y
a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d e p a r t m e n t s - p o l i c e , t r e a s u r y , p u b l i c works
and s u r v e y s , l a n d r e v e n u e and m i n e s . By 1880 t h e s e e x i s t e d
in a l l the s t a t e s i n v a r y i n g d e g r e e s o f d e v e l o p m e n t , and
t h e r e were a l s o t h e b e g i n n i n g s o f h e a l t h and e d u c a t i o n d e
partm ents, i n t h e p e r s o n s o f t h e S t a t e a p o t h e c a r y and t h e
Malay t e a c h e r i n c h a r g e o f t h e o n e - c l a s s d i s t r i c t s c h o o l .
The o r g a n i s a t i o n o f t h e p o l i c e a b s o r b e d m o st a t t e n t i o n . In
1876 t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e i n s t r u c t e d J e r v o i s t o o r g a n i s e a
p o l i c e f o r c e i n P e r a k which would be c a p a b l e o f m a i n t a i n -
19
ing o rd e r a f t e r the d e p a r tu r e o f th e t r o o p s , and b y t h e
m i d d l e o f 1 8 7 8 , t h e f o r c e was e s t a b l i s h e d on p e r m a n e n t
p rin cip les. I t was o r g a n i s e d f r o m t h e f i r s t a s a p a r a
m i l i t a r y f o r c e ; t h e l a r g e s t e l e m e n t was a c o n t i n g e n t o f
S i k h s , armed and t r a i n e d a s s o l d i e r s and c a r r y i n g o u t t h e
d u t i e s n o r m a l l y p e r f o r m e d by t r o o p s . They were c o n c e n t r a t e d
a t the d i s t r i c t h e a d q u a rte rs; they did s e n tr y duty at
R e s i d e n c i e s , T r e a s u r i e s , c u sto m h o u s e s and o t h e r p u b l i c
o ffices. The l a r g e s t d e t a c h m e n t s were i n t h e m i n i n g to w n
s h i p s , and h e r e t h e i r d u t y was n o t so much t o p r e v e n t
c r i m e , f o r w h ic h t h e y were i m p e r f e c t l y t r a i n e d , a s t o s t o p
Chinese r i o t s . The M a lay s were d i s t r i b u t e d in sm all
19
C a r n a r v o n t o J e r v o i s , 135 o f 1 Ju n e 1 8 7 6 .
179
Lumpur was e f f e c t i v e l y u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e C a p i t a n
C h i n a , k e e p i n g t h e p e a c e was l e s s o f a p r o b l e m , and t h e
p o l i c e f o r c e was e n t i r e l y Malay f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s ; t h e
C o n c i l i a t i o n o f t h e Malays
The p r o b l e m o f c o n c i l i a t i n g t h e Malays and b r i n g i n g
th e m i n t o t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s t i l l r e m a i n e d t o be s o l v e d .
I t had a lw ay s b e e n f o r m a l p o l i c y t o g o v e r n t h r o u g h M a l a y s ,
and t h e e x p e d i e n c y o f u s i n g Malay a g e n c i e s and c o n c i l i a t i n g
Malay i n t e r e s t s had b e e n a c k n o w le d g e d i n some d e g r e e e v e n
b y B i r c h and J e r v o i s . B i r c h , f o r e x a m p l e , p r o p o s e d t o em
p l o y Malay headmen t o e n f o r c e h i s numerous r e g u l a t i o n s , and
c a l l e d a t t e n t i o n t o t h e c o n f u s i o n w h ic h e x i s t e d c o n c e r n i n g
20
t h e i r a p p o i n t m e n t s and a u t h o r i t y ; and J e r v o i s ’ 1875 r e
fo rm s had p r o v i d e d f o r t h e f o r m a t i o n o f a S t a t e C o u n c i l on
20
Report of th e A cting R e s id e n t, P e ra k , 2 A p r il 1875,
C . 1 3 2 0 , e n c l o s u r e 1 i n n o . 26.
180
The idea may have been in many minds, but its most
21
E.g., Raja Yusuf was told that his allowance would be
reviewed as soon as the debt slavery question was settled,
and in recommending an increase, the G-overnor wrote, ’The
policy of allowing the Rulers of the Protected Native
States to benefit by the results of a stable and orderly
G-overnment is one which will have a good moral effect’.
(Smith to Derby, 188 of 15 May 1884.)
181
To p r e s e r v e t h e a c c e p t e d c u sto m s and t r a d i t i o n s o f
t h e c o u n t r y , t o e n l i s t t h e s y m p a t h i e s and i n t e r e s t s
22
S w e tte n h a m , ’ Some a r g u m e n t s i n f a v o u r o f g o v e r n i n g P e r a k
t h r o u g h i t s ^ e a d m e n ’ , 8 O c t o b e r 1 8 7 6 , e n c l o s e d i n Weld t o
D e r b y , 208 o f 28 May 1 8 8 3 , 00 2 7 3 / 1 2 0 .
182
23
Jervois to Carnarvon, 297 of 19 August 1876.
183
on a s f a r as p o s s i b l e t h r o u g h n a t i v e headmen, r e p e a t i n g
a l m o s t v e r b a t i m t h e a r g u m e n t s i n S w e t t e n h a m ' s memorandum
24
on t h e s u b j e c t .
These p o i n t s were embodied i n i n s t r u c t i o n s t o Hugh
25
Low, a p p o i n t e d R e s i d e n t o f P e r a k i n F e b r u a r y 1 8 7 7 . Hugh
Low was t h e f o r e m o s t o f a s m a l l g r o u p o f r e m a r k a b l e men
who g o v e r n e d t h e N a t i v e S t a t e s in th e next tw enty y e a rs
and gave s u b s t a n c e t o t h e s e p o l i c i e s . The s t a t e s p r o v i d e d
t r a t o r , t h e man who c h o s e t h e c o l o n i a l s e r v i c e n o t o n l y
b e c a u s e i t p r o v i d e d o p p o r t u n i t i e s o f h o n o u r a b l e a d v an c em en t
24
J e r v o i s t o C a r n a r v o n , 369 o f 18 O c t o b e r 1 8 7 6 .
25
We h a v e no copy o f t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s , b u t i t i s c l e a r
from t h e J o u r n a l t h a t Low was g i v e n a l i s t o f p o s s i b l e S t a t e
C o u n c i l l o r s and a s k e d t o r e p o r t ( S a d k a , ' J o u r n a l o f S i r
Hugh Low, P e r a k 1 8 7 7 ' , JMBRAS, x x v i i , 4 ( 1 9 5 4 ) 8 0 - 1 . The
s o u r c e w i l l be r e f e r r e d t o i n f u t u r e a s 'L o w ' s J o u r n a l ’ ) ,
and he was i n s t r u c t e d t o p r o c e e d w i t h t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f
p e n g h u l u s (Low t o C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y , 8 J u l y 1 8 7 8 , CO
273/95/11438).
26
Low, s e e b i o g r a p h i c a l n o t e , L o w 's J o u r n a l , 7.
S i r F r a n k A t h e i s t a n e S w e t t e n h a m , CMG- ( 1 8 8 6 ) , KCMG- ( 1 8 9 7 ) ,
G-CMG- ( 1 9 0 9 ) , was b o r n i n B e l p e r , D e r b y s h i r e , i n 1 8 5 1 . He
was a p p o i n t e d a c a d e t i n t h e S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s S e r v i c e
In J u l y 1 8 7 0 . He p a s s e d h i s f i n a l e x a m i n a t i o n i n M alay
i n J u l y 1872 ; was a p p o i n t e d A s s i s t a n t C o l l e c t o r o f l a n d
184
26 ( c o n t i n u e d )
r e v e n u e f o r P e n a n g and P r o v i n c e W e l l e s l e y i n A u g u s t ; C o l
l e c t o r o f l a n d r e v e n u e , J u l y 1 8 7 3 ; M a g i s t r a t e and Commis-
w i o n e r o f t h e C o u r t o f Requests, P e n a n g , i n May 1 8 7 4 . In
Augu st 1874 he was s e n t t o r e s i d e w i t h t h e S u l t a n o f
S e l a n g o r and was a p p o i n t e d A s s i s t a n t R e s i d e n t , S e l a n g o r ,
i n December. He was employed on s e v e r a l m i s s i o n s t o t h e
N a t i v e S t a t e s i n 1874 ( s e e P a r t I I , p . 1 0 9 , n . 3 5 ) . In
S e p t e m b e r 1875 he a c c o m p a n ie d J e r v o i s on h i s t o u r o f P e r a k ,
and s t a y e d on t o h e l p B i r c h p e r s u a d e t h e c h i e f s t o a c c e p t
t h e new p o l i c y . He was i n P e r a k p o s t i n g p r o c l a m a t i o n s i n
an u p - r i v e r v i l l a g e when B i r c h was m u r d e r e d , and t h e same
m o n th , was a p p o i n t e d D ep u ty C o m m i s s i o n e r w i t h t h e s o u t h e r n
column o f t h e P e r a k E x p e d i t i o n a r y F o r c e . He became A s s i s
t a n t C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y f o r N a t i v e S t a t e s , March 1 8 7 6 ;
A s s i s t a n t C o l o n ia l S e c r e t a r y , J u l y 1881; R e s i d e n t , S e la n
g o r , S e p t e m b e r 1 8 8 2 ; a c t i n g B r i t i s h R e s i d e n t , P e r a k , March
1884 t o J a n u a r y 1 8 8 6 ; R e s i d e n t , P e r a k , 1 8 8 9 ; R e s i d e n t -
G-eneral o f t h e F e d e r a t e d Malay S t a t e s , 1 8 9 6 ; G o v e r n o r ,
S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s , 1 9 0 1 . He r e t i r e d i n 1904 and d i e d
in 1946.
S i r W i l l i a m Edward M a x w e l l . CMG ( 1 8 8 4 ) , KCMG ( 1 8 9 6 ) ,
was t h e s o n o f S i r P e t e r B e n so n M a x w e ll, V i c t o r i a n j u r i s t
and L i b e r a l p o l e m i c a l w r i t e r , and C h i e f J u s t i c e o f t h e
S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s f r o m 1867 t o 1 8 7 1 . He was employed
a s a c l e r k i n t h e Supreme C o u r t f r o m 1865 t o 1 8 6 9 , and
q u a l i f i e d as an a d v o c a t e o f t h e l o c a l B ar i n 1867 ( h e was
c a l l e d t o t h e E n g l i s h B ar i n 1 8 8 1 ) . He h e l d v a r i o u s
p o s t s as P o l i c e M a g i s t r a t e and C o m m i s s i o n e r o f t h e C o u r t
o f R e q u e s t s i n S i n g a p o r e , M a l a c c a and P r o v i n c e W e l l e s l e y ,
and was w o r k i n g as a s e t t l e m e n t o f f i c e r on t h e P e r a k -
P r o v i n c e W e l l e s l e y b o r d e r when B i r c h was m u r d e r e d . In
November 1875 he became D e p u ty C o m m i s s i o n e r w i t h t h e L a r u t
f i e l d f o r c e o p e r a t i n g i n N o r t h e r n P e r a k , and i n August
1876 he became A c t i n g A s s i s t a n t R e s i d e n t , P e r a k . When
Low a r r i v e d he was A c t i n g R e s i d e n t , and a f t e r a b r i e f
t e r m as A c t i n g S e n i o r M a g i s t r a t e , S i n g a p o r e , he r e t u r n e d
t o P e r a k as A s s i s t a n t R e s i d e n t i n 1 8 7 8 . He r e m a i n e d i n
t h i s appointm ent t i l l 1882, a c t i n g as R e s id e n t d u r in g
L o w 's a b s e n c e s . I n S e p t e m b e r 1882 he became C o m m i s s i o n e r
o f L a n d s , S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s , and was e n t r u s t e d w i t h t h e
t a s k o f r e f o r m i n g t h e l a n d l a w o f t h e C o l o n y . He a c t e d
185
26 (continued)
as Resident Councillor, Penang, 1887-9, and in June 1889
he became Resident of Selangor. In March 1892 he became
Colonial Secretary (acting as G-overnor from September
1893 to January 1894) and in March 1895 he left the
Straits to become G-overnor of the Gold Coast. He died
in 1897. (See below, part IV, p.228, n.16.)
Sir Hugh Charles Clifford. CMC (1900), KCMC (1909),
GCMC (1921), CBE (1925), Joined the Perak service in 1883
and served in Perak and Selangor for four years before
being sent to Pahang by the Governor to negotiate a treaty
with the Sultan. He accomplished his mission and remained
as a British Agent till the introduction of a British Re
sident in 1888. He continued to serve in Pahang as Super
intendent of Ulu Pahang and Acting Resident till 1896,
when he was appointed British Resident. He remained in
that post till 1903, except for a term of 15 months as
Governor of British North Borneo. In 1903 he became
Colonial Secretary of Trinidad; in 1907, Colonial Secre
tary of Ceylon; in 1912, Governor of the Gold Coast; in
1919, Governor of Nigeria; in 1925, Governor of Ceylon;
in 1927, Governor of the Straits Settlements. He retired
in 1929 and died in 1941.
186
N a tiv e S t a t e s , e x c e p t f o r t h r e e c o n c lu d in g y e a rs as Gover
n o r o f the S t r a i t s S e ttle m e n ts . M a x w e l l ' s c a r e e r was s p e n t
m o s t l y i n t h e C o l o n y , b u t h i s i n t e l l e c t u a l b i a s and t h e
were i n t h e P e n i n s u l a l o n g e nough t o p r e s e r v e c o n s i s t e n c y
i n g o v e r n m e n t ; and t h e y m a i n t a i n e d w i t h g r e a t f i d e l i t y t h e
p r i n c i p l e o f M alay p a r t n e r s h i p , e v e n t h o u g h t h e y h a v e a l s o
p r e s e r v e d an i d e a l i s e d p i c t u r e o f t h a t p a r t n e r s h i p i n w h i c h
the g ro sse r r e a l i t i e s o f B r i t i s h c o n t r o l h a v e b e e n r o m an
t i c i s e d alm ost out o f e x i s t e n c e .
27
See u n d e r 'M a x w e l l ' in l i s t of so u rc es.
187
28
Isabella Bird, travelling in Sungei Ujong in 1879,
described Murray as ’professing a misanthropy he is very
far from feeling, for he is quite unsuspicious and dis
posed to think the best of everyone; hasty when vexed,
but thoroughly kindhearted; very blunt, very undignified,
never happy (he says) out of the wilds; thoroughly well-
disposed to the Chinese and Malays but very impatient
of their courtesies, thoroughly well meaning, thoroughly
a gentleman, but about the last person I should have ex
pected to see in a position which is said to require much
tact if not finesse’. (Bird, The G-olden Chersonese, 186.)
29
In 1880, on the death of the Dato’ Klana, he was only
stopped by the Acting G-overnor from interfering to effect
the succession of the Klana’s son, contrary to the custom
ary order of succession. (Anson to Hicks-Beach, 70 of
3 March 1880, CO 273/102/4756.) He refused to establish
a State Council in Sungei Ujong, despite Weld’s pressure
(Weld to Murray, 29 October 1880; 20 February 1881; March
16, 1881: G-overnors ’ Letter Book I, Raffles Library
Archives).
30
Captain Bloomfield Douglas, RNR (the title of Captain
appears to have been assumed) served at one time in the
Royal Navy. He commanded Sir James Brooke's schooner
’Royalist' and surveyed the north-west coast of Borneo in
her; served in the Merchant Navy in the early 1850s; be
came Harbour Master and Naval Officer, South Australia,
in 1854, and Collector of Customs in 1858. Between 1870
and 1873 he was G-overnment Resident of the Northern Ter
ritory of South Australia, where his administration was
criticised for incompetence, bad public relations and
financial irregularity. In 1873 he went to Singapore to
188
B i r d , who h a s l e f t an i n v a l u a b l e a c c o u n t o f t h e n a t i v e
s t a t e s and t h e i r R e s i d e n t s i n 1 8 7 9 , s a i d t h a t t h e S e l a n g o r
R e s i d e n c y ' h a d t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f an armed p o s t a m i d s t a
32
h o s tile population' . She made p o i n t e d c o m p a r i s o n s b e
t w e e n D o u g l a s and Low:
30 ( c o n t i n u e d )
r e c r u i t C h i n e s e t o work i n A u s t r a l i a , and i n 1874 he became
a p o l i c e m a g i s t r a t e i n S i n g a p o r e , and a p p a r e n t l y a r e s p e c t e d
and s u c c e s s f u l o n e . I n November 1875 he r e p l a c e d S w e t t e n -
ham a s A s s i s t a n t R e s i d e n t , S e l a n g o r , and i n June 1876 he
became R e s i d e n t . H i s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n was t h e s u b j e c t o f
s e v e r a l a d v e rs e r e p o r t s ( e . g . , Sw ettenham 's S p e c ia l Audit
R e p o r t on t h e S e l a n g o r A c c o u n t s , 27 March 1 8 8 0 , C . 3 0 9 5 ,
e n c l o s u r e i n n o . 2; McCallum, R e p o r t on t h e S e l a n g o r P u b l i c
Works and S u r v e y D e p a r t m e n t , 22 A p r i l 1 8 8 2 , CO 2 7 3 / 1 1 4 /
1 0 0 2 5 ) . The d i s c o v e r y t h a t he h ad p e r m i t t e d d e d u c t i o n s
t o be made fro m t h e S u l t a n ' s s a l a r y , a g a i n s t i n s t r u c t i o n s ,
l e d t o h i s r e s i g n a t i o n i n August 1 8 8 2 , and he was s u c
ceeded by Swettenham.
31
R e s i d e n t t o C . S . , 7 November 1 8 8 1 , CO 2 7 3 / 1 1 5 / 1 7 1 4 6 .
32
B i r d , o p . c i t . , 218. She d e s c r i b e d how, one s o m n o l e n t
and m o s q u i t o - r i d d e n n i g h t , t h e p e a c e was s h a t t e r e d b y a
p o l i c e d r i l l ; t h e b u g l e s o u n d e d , t h e drum b e a t , and i n
189
Nor i s i t d i f f i c u l t t o p e r c e i v e w h e t h e r t h e r e l a
t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e E n g l i s h o f f i c i a l and t h e n a t i v e s
a r e h e a r t y and c o r d i a l o r s u l l e n and d i s t r u s t f u l ,
o r w h e t h e r t h e R e s i d e n t makes u s e o f h i s p o s i t i o n
f o r p u r p o s e s o f s e l f - a g g r a n d i s e m e n t , and s t r u t s
t e m p e s t u o u s l y and s w a g g e r i n g l y b e f o r e t h e M a l a y s ,
o r w h e t h e r he d e v o t e s h i s t i m e and e n e r g i e s t o
t h e p r o m o t i o n o f p r o s p e r i t y , good o r d e r , and
p r o g r e s s , i n a f i r m and f r i e n d l y s p i r i t . 32
I t was Hugh Low who d i d m o st t o e s t a b l i s h t h e p r i n
c i p l e o f M alay a s s o c i a t i o n i n g o v e r n m e n t a s a p o w e r f u l
trad itio n . Low was a l r e a d y f i f t y - t h r e e when he came t o
o f f th e n o r th -w e s t c o a st o f Borneo. By a l l o r d i n a r y s t a n
d a r d s , h i s o f f i c i a l c a r e e r was a f a i l u r e . I t had b e e n
c r i p p l e d b y p e r s o n a l a n i m o s i t i e s w h ic h f r u s t r a t e d h i s work
i n L ab u a n and h i s a d v a n c e m e n t i n t h e s e r v i c e , and i n 1 8 7 2 ,
a f t e r tw en ty -fo u r y e a r s ’ s e r v ic e , i n w h ic h he had a c t e d
a s G-overnor f o r l o n g p e r i o d s , he was s t i l l only a p o lic e
m agistrate.
F o r t u n a t e l y , Low had r i c h i n t e r e s t s and r e s o u r c e s o u t
s id e Labuan. He had f i r s t come t o B o r n e o a s a y o u t h o f
n i n e t e e n , t o s t u d y t r o p i c a l f l o r a and c o l l e c t p l a n t s , and
32 ( c o n t i n u e d )
l e s s th a n f iv e m inutes every approach to the R esidency
was h e l d b y men w i t h f i x e d b a y o n e t s ( p . 2 4 - 0 ) . The R e s i d e n t s
o f P e r a k and S u n g e i U j o n g , b y c o n t r a s t , went a b o u t unarmed
and u n g u a r d e d .
33
B i r d , o p . c i t . , 324.
190
r e s p o n s i b l e work o f a d m i n i s t e r i n g a new p r o t e c t o r a t e .
D u r i n g h i s L ab u a n s e r v i c e he h a d h e l d n e a r l y e v e r y o f f i c e ,
and he had a c o m p l e t e knowledge o f a d m i n i s t r a t i v e method
and p r o c e d u r e , a s e n s e o f o r d e r , and a r e s p e c t f o r r o u t i n e .
34
S t . J o h n , L i f e i n t h e F o r e s t s o f t h e B ar E a s t , i ,
Intro d u ctio n , v i i i .
LIBRARY
a n a t i v e s t a t e , when t h e a d m i n i s t r a t o r m u st n e e d s be h i s
own e t h n o l o g i s t , s c i e n t i s t and i n t e r p r e t e r .
I s a b e l l a B i r d , who v i s i t e d K u a l a K a n g s a r i n 1 8 7 9 , h a s
w r i t t e n o f Low’ s manner o f l i f e , p e r f e c tly attuned to h is
environm ent. H i s b u n g a l o w , t h o u g h s m a l l and p l a i n l y d e
s i g n e d i n c o n v e n t i o n a l M alayan s t y l e , was b e a u t i f u l l y
s i t u a t e d on a h i l l s i d e overlooking th e Perak r i v e r . He
in the ro o f:
This i s a c u rio u s l i f e . Mr Low s i t s a t one end
of th e verandah a t h i s b u s in e s s t a b l e w ith E b lis
lo o k in g l i k e h is f a m i l i a r s p i r i t b e s id e him. I
s i t a t a t a b l e a t t h e o t h e r e n d , and d u r i n g t h e
l o n g w o r k i n g h o u r s we n e v e r e x c h a n g e one word.
Mahmoud s o m e tim es e x e c u t e s w o n d e r f u l c a p e r s , t h e
s t r a n g e , w i l d , h alf-h u m an f a c e of th e siamang
p e e r s down fro m t h e r o o f w i t h a h a l f - t r u s t f u l ,
h a l f - s u s p i c i o u s e x p r e s s i o n . . . t i f f i n and d i n n e r
are s i l e n t l y served in th e verandah r e c e s s a t
l o n g i n t e r v a l s ; t h e s e n t r i e s a t t h e d o o r a r e so
s i l e n t l y ch an g ed t h a t one f a n c i e s t h a t t h e
m o t i o n l e s s b l u e t u r b a n s and s c a r l e t c o a t s c o n t a i n
a lw ay s t h e same men; i n t h e f o r e g r o u n d t h e r i v e r
f l o w s s i l e n t l y , and t h e s o f t a i r s which a l t e r n a t e
a r e t o o f e e b l e t o s t i r t h e o v e r - s h a d o w i n g palm
fro n d s or r u s t l e the a t t a p of the r o o f . I t is
hot, s ile n t, tro p ic a l. The sound o f Mr. L o w 's
b u s y p e n a l o n e b r e a k s t h e s t i l l n e s s d u r i n g much
of the d a y . ...3 5
35
B i r d , The Golde n C h e r s o n e s e , 3 2 2 .
193
held that:
36
Baring-G-ould and Bampfylde, A History of Sarawak under
its Two White R ajahs, 87.
194
37
Bird, op. cit., 323-4.
38
Low voiced his suspicion that Maxwell's being with him
inhibited his free intercourse with Perak Malays. 'He
is a splendid fellow.. .but he is a little rough and hasty
195
c o - o p e r a t i o n n o r e v e n t h e a p p e a r a n c e o f i t c o u l d be a c h i e v e d .
Low’ s r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h M alay s was r e m a r k a b l e b y any s t a n
d a r d s , and h i s c h i e f c o n t r i b u t i o n , p e r h a p s , was t o s e t i t
up a s t h e s t a n d a r d f o r t h e n a t i v e s t a t e s . Penghulus v i s i t e d
him f r o m a l l o v e r t h e s t a t e , r e p o r t i n g d i s t r e s s i n t h e i r
v illag es, com plaining about the b ehaviour of the t r o o p s ,
a s k i n g t h a t f u g i t i v e s be h e l p e d t o r e t u r n . Dependents of
e x e c u t e d and e x i l e d c h i e f s came t o a s k f o r h e l p , t h e i r
womenfolk came t o b a r g a i n w i t h h im o v e r t h e i r a l l o w a n c e s .
He r e a s s u r e d t h e m , d e a l t w i t h t h e i r d i f f i c u l t i e s , l e n t
38 ( c o n t i n u e d )
i n h i s ways w i t h t h e n a t i v e s , e s p e c i a l l y t h e i n f e r i o r
c l a s s e s and t h e p a r t he t o o k i n t h e war i s I e x p e c t
a g a i n s t him w i t h t h e P e r a k M a lay s f o r t h e p r e s e n t ’ (Low’ s
J o u r n a l, 63).
196
39
L o w ’s Journal, 39.
40
lb id . , 101.
41
Ibid., 98. See p.85 for an instance of a proclamation
which Yusuf amended under pressure from Low.
197
S h a i k Ma T a ib i s d e a d a g a i n s t e m p l o y i n g t h e R a j a s
a n d I know a l l t h e p e o p l e a r e a l t o g e t h e r a g a i n s t
any n a t i v e h a v i n g m a g i s t e r i a l o r g o v e r n i n g ( p o w e r s ) .
I t ( i s ) under the circum stances very d i f f i c u l t to
e s ta b lis h a n a tiv e g overnm ent.... I t o l d Shaik
Ma T a i b I i n t e n d e d R ( a j a ) D r i s t o l i v e a t Syong
which he h i g h l y a p p l a u d e d an d recommended t h a t a l l
t h e R a j a h s s h o u l d b e as much as p o s s i b l e c o l l e c t e d
t h e r e , w h ic h h ad a l s o s u g g e s t e d i t s e l f t o me, as
t h e y w i l l be u n d e r o b s e r v a t i o n and l e s s a b l e t o be
m i s c h i e v o u s t h a n when s c a t t e r e d a b o u t t h e p r o v i n c e s . 42
F o r t u n a t e l y Low d i d n o t h ave t o p e r s u a d e t h e r a j a s t o
s e t t l e under h i s s u p e rv is io n ; t h e y were o n l y t o o a n x i o u s
t o do i t f o r t h e m s e l v e s . R a j a Y u s u f was no f o o l ; he
r e a l i s e d h i s d e p e n d e n c e on Low, and a few weeks a f t e r Low’ s
K u a l a K a n g s a r - o s t e n s i b l y so t h a t t h e y m i g h t b e n e f i t b y
Low’ s a d v i c e , b u t a c t u a l l y so t h a t t h e y m ig h t d e r i v e ’ an
appearance of p e r m a n e n c e ’ from t h e a s s o c i a t i o n .
The e s s e n c e o f L o w 's a c h i e v e m e n t i s t h a t w h i l e k e e p i n g
r a j as and c h i e f s o u t o f e x e c u t i v e p o s i t i o n s , he gave them
a v i c a r i o u s s e n s e o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y and p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n
t h e work o f t h e s t a t e b y i n v o l v i n g them i n d a i l y c o n s u l t a
t i o n s on s t a t e b u s i n e s s . He t h e r e b y s e c u r e d more t h a n t h e
appearance of p a r t n e r s h i p . He r e c o r d s In h i s j o u r n a l t h e
42
I b i d . , 101. S h a i k h Mat T a ib was a S u m a t r a n ulem a
( r e l i g i o u s d o c t o r ) c o n n ec te d by m a r r ia g e w ith S u l t a n
A b d u l l a h ' s f a m i l y , and an enemy o f Y u s u f . Low made him
a member o f t h e S t a t e C o u n c i l and S t a t e K a t h i .
198
43
Ibid., 48.
44
Candidates for Selangor pensions who were refused by
the Resident (Douglas) sometimes obtained satisfaction
from the Governor; e.g., Raja Laut, who was given a pension
against the Resident’s wishes (C.S. to Resident, 18 April
1878, Sel/Sec. 105/1878). Low once asked the Governor to
199
T h e r e were two c a t e g o r i e s o f p a y m e n t s : p e n s i o n s , p a i d t o
The g r e a t m a j o r i t y o f t h e S e l a n g o r r a j as and a l l t h e
P e r a k headmen o f t h e t h i r d r a n k came on t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t
45
a s p e n g h u l u s o f m u k im s, in accordance w ith the accep ted
p o l i c y o f e m p l o y i n g headmen t o k e e p o r d e r i n t h e v i l l a g e s ,
i n s t e a d o f r e l y i n g on a l a r g e and e x p e n s i v e p o l i c e f o r c e .
Low f u l l y e n d o r s e d t h i s p o l i c y . The p o l i c e a n d t r o o p s whom
he f o u n d i n P e r a k were n o t o n l y a d r a i n on t h e r e v e n u e s ,
44 ( c o n t i n u e d )
a p p r o v e an i n c r e a s e i n t h e p e n s i o n o f t h e P a n g l i m a K i n t a ,
so t h a t H is E x c e l l e n c y m ig h t a p p e a r as t h e s o u r c e o f a l l
b e n e f i t s (Low t o R o b i n s o n , 21 J u n e 1 8 7 8 , e n c l o s e d i n
R o b i n s o n t o H i c k s - B e a c h , 1 8 8 o f 1 J u l y 1 8 7 8 , CO 2 7 3 / 9 4 /
10142).
45
A l o c a l government d i v i s i o n c o n s i s t i n g o f a c h i e f
v i l l a g e o r t o w n s h i p and a s m a l l number o f s u b s i d i a r y v i l l a g e s
and h a m l e t s . T h e r e we re f o r t y - t h r e e p e n g h u l u s o f mukims
on t h e P e r a k E s t a b l i s h m e n t l i s t o f 1879 and t h e y had
t h i r t e e n a s s i s t a n t p e n g h u l u s h e l p i n g i n t h e i r m ukim s. I n
S e l a n g o r , t w e n t y - t h r e e p e n g h u l u s o f mukims were a p p o i n t e d
a t t h e C o u n c il m ee tin g o f 2 September 1883.
200
b u t a p o s i t i v e menace t o p u b l i c o r d e r . A week a f t e r h i s
a r r i v a l he r e c e i v e d a l e t t e r fro m S h a i k h Mat T a ib com
p l a i n i n g about the b e h av io u r of the p o lic e a t B la n ja ,
s a y i n g t h a t t h e d e t a c h m e n t t h e r e was u n n e c e s s a r i l y s t r o n g ,
and r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e p e o p l e a s ’ w i s h i n g o n l y t o be q u i e t ,
46
if le t alo n e’ . The p o l i c e , m o s t l y S i k h s and f o r e i g n
S t a t e m e e t i n g i n F e b r u a r y 1 8 7 8 , p e n g h u l u s o f v i l l a g e s on
t h e u p p e r and m i d d l e P e r a k were f o r m a l l y a p p o i n t e d . By
1879» p e n g h u l u s h a d b e e n a p p o i n t e d t o n e a r l v a l l t h e P e r a k
47
m ukim s. S w etten h a m had b e e n i n c l i n e d t o u s e t h e p e n g h u l u
a p p o i n t m e n t s t o b o l s t e r up t h e i n f l u e n c e of R a j a Y u s u f ; he
s u g g e s t e d , f o r e x a m p le , t h a t t h e p e n g h u l u s h i p s o f K u a l a
K a n g s a r and K o t a Lama, where Y u s u f h a d most e n e m i e s , s h o u l d
be g i v e n t o h i s s o n , and he p r o p o s e d t o r e p l a c e t h e p e n g
h u l u o f B i d o r , Orang Kaya Mat A r s h a d , whose f a t h e r was
IS
L o w 's J o u r n a l , 4 2 .
47
P e r a k E s t a b l i s h m e n t L i s t 1 8 7 9 , P e r a k A f f a i r s and D e s
p a t c h e s , 1 8 7 4 - 9 , T a i p i n g Museum L i b r a r y .
.201
48
under sentence of exile for conspiring to murder Birch.
Low had no intention of filling the districts with placemen
of Raja Yusuf or Raja Dris or the Temenggong; he wished
to appoint those whose leadership would be acceptable to
the people. He was therefore ready to forget old scores
the Orang Kaya Mat Arshad to Bid or, and he left Kota Lama,
48
Swettenham, ’Some arguments in favour of governing Perak
through its Headmen’, 8 October 1876, enclosure in Weld
to Derby, 208 of 28 May 1883, CO 273/120.
49
Resident of Selangor to C.S., 12 June 1882, enclosure
in Weld to Derby, 208 of 28 May 1883, 00 273/120.
202
f o r n o m i n a t i o n s o f s u i t a b l e c a n d i d a t e s f o r t h e mukims i n
th eir d istric ts; and a t a S t a t e C o u n c i l m e e t i n g o f 2 S e p
t e m b e r 1 8 8 3 , t w e n t y - t h r e e p e n g h u l u s were f o r m a l l y a p p o i n t e d ,
t h o u g h m ost o f t h e a p p o i n t m e n t s were c o n f i r m a t i o n s o f
penghulus a lr e a d y in o f f i c e or a p p r o v e d by t h e R e s i d e n t .
One o f t h e m ain c o n s i d e r a t i o n s i n t h e s e l e c t i o n o f
p e n g h u l u s a p p e a r s t o have b e e n t h e n e e d t o p r o v i d e f o r t h e
l a r g e number o f S e l a n g o r r a j as who would o t h e r w i s e have
b e e n a b u r d e n on t h e i r f a m i l i e s and e v e n t u a l l y on t h e c i v i l
list of th e s t a t e . The Malay o f f i c e - h o l d e r s and p e n s i o n e r s
50
The S e l a n g o r r e v e n u e i n 1881 was $ 2 3 5 , 2 2 7 . The e x p e n d
i t u r e on M alay p a y m e n ts was $6Q392. The c o s t o f c i v i l and
p o l i c e e s t a b l i s h m e n t s was $ 6 0 , 8 4 2 . (Annual Report f o r
1881.)
203
were c i t e d as r e a s o n s f o r f a v o u r i n g a p a r t i c u l a r c a n d i d a t e ;
u n r e a s o n a b l y , by t h e number o f f a m i l i e s he h e l p e d t o s e t t l e
and t h e amount o f l a n d he h e l p e d t o b r i n g u n d e r c u l t i v a t i o n .
Most o f t h e p e n g h u l u s were p a i d s a l a r i e s r a n g i n g fro m
were made t o s t i m u l a t e p e n g h u l u s t o d e v e l o p t h e i r d i s t r i c t s
c o m m e r c i a l l y b y g i v i n g them a p e r c e n t a g e o f t h e r o y a l t y
on p r o d u c e e x p o r t e d f r o m t h e i r d i s t r i c t s . The p e n g h u l u s
on t h e P e r a k r i v e r were g i v e n a p e r c e n t a g e o f t h e d u t y on
t i n e x p o r t e d f r o m t h e i r mukims, e v e n t h o u g h t h e y t o o k no
part in i t s c o l l e c t i o n ; b u t th e g r e a t development o f th e
K inta d i s t r i c t ( b y C h i n e s e ) i n t h e 1880s m ea n t t h a t some
o f them were d r a w i n g l a r g e c o m m i s s i o n s w h ic h t h e y h a d done
little t o e a r n , and t h e c o m m i s s i o n was a b o l i s h e d i n t h e
c a s e o f a l l a p p o i n t m e n t s made a f t e r 1 8 9 2 . In Selangor,
Sw etten h a m p r o p o s e d t o p a y p e n g h u l u s a c o m m i s s i o n on a l l
r e v e n u e r a i s e d as a r e s u l t o f t h e i r c o l o n i s i n g e f f o r t s -
i.e ., on p r o d u c e e x p o r t e d by s e t t l e r s t h e y i n t r o d u c e d i n t o
th eir d istric ts. B u t s e t t l e r s came p r i m a r i l y t o grow r i c e ,
n o t e x p o r t c r o p s , and t h e p e n g h u l u c o m m i s s i o n a p p e a r s t o
h a v e b e e n a d e ad l e t t e r ; t h e C o l l e c t o r a t 131u S e l a n g o r
204
d isclo sed th a t i n t h e f i v e y e a r s he h ad s e r v e d i n t h e S t a t e ,
51
i t had n e v e r , t o h i s k n o w l e d g e , b e e n c o l l e c t e d .
The b u l k o f t h e S t a t e r e v e n u e s came f r o m cu sto m s
d u t i e s c o l l e c t e d a t th e p o r t s or farmed ou t t o C h in e s e .
The p e n g h u l u c o l l e c t i o n s , c o n s i s t i n g m ainly o f p e t t y f i n e s ,
p r o d u c e f o r s a l e , were i n s i g n i f i c a n t . Roads an d o t h e r
p u b l i c works we re b u i l t and m a i n t a i n e d b y p r i v a t e c o n t r a c
t o r s o r b y t h e P u b l i c Works D e p a r t m e n t e m p l o y i n g p a i d
l a b o u r ; t h e p e n g h u l u ' s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y was c o n f i n e d t o t h e
u p k e ep o f t h e mukim p a t h s . He was s u p p o s e d t o e n f o r c e a
number o f f i s c a l and q u a r a n t i n e and f o r e s t r y r e g u l a t i o n s ,
and t o p e r s u a d e t h e p e o p l e o f t h e v i l l a g e t o b r i n g t h e i r
c h i l d r e n f o r v a c c i n a t i o n and s e n d them t o M a lay s c h o o l .
The a t t e m p t t o t u r n t h e p e n g h u l u i n t o a p r o p a g a n d i s t f o r
w e s t e r n i d e a s o f e d u c a t i o n and h e a l t h c a r e , and i n t o t h e
a g e n t o f an i n c r e a s i n g l y demanding b u r e a u c r a c y , a p p e a r on
t h e whole t o h a v e f a i l e d , i f one may ju d g e b y t h e com
p l a i n t s of the d i s t r i c t o f f i c e r s .
The i m p o r t a n t f u n c t i o n s o f t h e p e n g h u l u were t o r e p o r t
on h i s mukim and t o u s e h i s i n f l u e n c e t o k e e p t h e p e a c e .
The P e r a k p e n g h u l u s had j u r i s d i c t i o n i n c r i m i n a l s u i t s up
51
C o l l e c t o r and M a g i s t r a t e , U lu S e l a n g o r , t o R e s i d e n t ,
15 March 1 8 8 8 , S e l / S e c . 8 3 6 / 1 8 8 8 .
205
t o a ^5 f i n e and i n c i v i l s u i t s up t o t h e v a l u e o f $25;
t h e S e l a n g o r p e n g h u l u s had a c r i m i n a l j u r i s d i c t i o n o f $5
52
and a c i v i l j u r i s d i c t i o n o f $ 1 0 . T h i s c o v e r e d m o st o f
the l i t i g a t i o n i n t h e v i l l a g e s ; more s e r i o u s c a s e s were
r e p o r t e d t o th e European d i s t r i c t o f f i c e r s , w ith such i n
f o r m a t i o n as t h e p e n g h u l u was a b l e t o p r o v i d e . The p e n g -
hulus re lie v e d the d i s t r i c t o f f ic e r s of a g re a t deal of
p e t t y j u r i s d i c t i o n , and k e p t t h e p e a c e i n mukims w i t h l a r g e
M a lay p o p u l a t i o n s among whom a E u r o p e a n o f f i c e r o r a p o l i c e
53
c o n s t a b l e was v e r y se ld o m s e e n .
I t was t h e p e n g h u l u ' s d u t y t o k e e p t h e d i s t r i c t o f
ficer In fo rm e d o f a f f a i r s i n h i s mukim, t o r e p o r t s e r i o u s
c r i m e , b r e a c h e s o f t h e r e v e n u e r e g u l a t i o n s , and o u t b r e a k s
of d isease. H is m o n t h l y r e p o r t was a r e c o r d o f b i r t h s and
52
The j u r i s d i c t i o n of P e r a k p e n g h u l u s was d e f i n e d I n t h e
P e r a k C o u n c i l M i n u t e s o f 4 March 1 8 7 9 , and i n t h e P e r a k
O r d e r i n C o u n c i l 11 o f 1 8 9 0 , d e f i n i n g t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n
and pow ers o f c i v i l and c r i m i n a l c o u r t s (PGG, 17 O c t o b e r
1890). The j u r i s d i c t i o n o f S e l a n g o r p e n g h u l u s was d e f i n e d
i n a memorandum on l o c a l d i s t r i c t a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , R e s i d e n t ,
S e l a n g o r , t o t h e C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y , 12 J u n e 1 8 8 2 , CO 2 7 3 /
1 2 0 , and i n t h e S e l a n g o r C o u r t s R e g u l a t i o n 11 o f 1 8 9 3 ,
SG-G-, 11 August 1 8 9 3 . T h e r e i s a c o p y o f a S e l a n g o r p e n g -
h u l u commission, d a te d 1 J a n u a ry 1891, S e l / S e c . 2556/1891,
g i v i n g t h e d u t i e s and j u r i s d i c t i o n o f p e n g h u l u s .
53
P e r a k Annual R e p o r t f o r 1 8 8 9 . The l a t e S i r W.G. M a x w e ll ,
o n e - t i m e C h i e f S e c r e t a r y o f t h e F e d e r a t e d Malay S t a t e s ,
who s e r v e d as a m a g i s t r a t e i n P e r a k i n t h e 1 8 9 0 s , i n f o r m e d
t h e w r i t e r i n c o r r e s p o n d e n c e t h a t few Malay c a s e s e v e r
came b e f o r e t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t s .
206
d e a t h s , a r r i v a l s and d e p a r t u r e s , c a s e s o f p e t t y t h e f t and
54
a s s a u l t s e t t l e d i n t h e mukim, cases taken to the d i s t r i c t
court, im p ro m p tu i n q u e s t s , q u a r r e l s , and r e p o r t s o f f l o o d
and f i r e i n h i s own or n e i g h b o u r i n g mukim s. As a s o u r c e
o f I n f o r m a t i o n t h e p e n g h u l u h ad no e q u a l .
Though a p p o i n t e d and p a i d b y t h e g o v e r n m e n t , t h e
p e n g h u l u was f a r fro m b e i n g m e r e l y a p e t t y l o c a l f u n c t i o n a r y .
He was r o o t e d i n h i s v i l l a g e , connected by k in t i e s w ith
s u b s t a n c e and p o s i t i o n , w i t h o u t r e m o v i n g him f r o m h i s c o n
tex t i n t h e v i l l a g e economy. This i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w ith
t h e v i l l a g e , co mbined w i t h h i s t r a d i t i o n a l s t a t u s and e x
p e r i e n c e a s t h e a g e n t o f t h e d i s t r i c t c h i e f , made h im an
in d isp en sab le a s s i s t a n t to the d i s t r i c t o f f i c e r . Under
t h e i r p e n g h u l u s , t h e Malay v i l l a g e s c o n t i n u e d t h e i r own way,
t h e r h y t h m o f t h e i r e x i s t e n c e u n d i s t u r b e d b y t h e new r e g i m e .
54
I n t h e r e p o r t o f P a n g l i m a G-arang, p e n g h u l u o f Ulu S e l a n
g o r , f o r December 1 8 8 1 , t h e r e a r e two r e f e r e n c e s t o c a s e s
s e t t l e d b y him w i t h t h e h e l p o f C h i n e s e t o w k a y s ( p o p u l a r
u s a g e f o r a C h i n e s e headman o r m a n a g e r ) . The f i r s t c o n
c e r n e d a d i s p u t e b e t w e e n two M alays o v e r some t i n , t h e
s e c o n d was a d e b t c a s e , a l s o b e t w e e n two M a l a y s . U lu
S e l a n g o r had a m ix ed p o p u l a t i o n of M alay and C h i n e s e m i n e r s
and M a lay a g r i c u l t u r i s t s , and i t seems n a t u r a l t o f i n d
C h i n e s e t o w k a y s f o r m i n g p a r t o f an i n f o r m a l p e n g h u l u c o u r t ;
b u t t h a t t h e y s h o u l d h e l p i n t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f Malay c a s e s
seems r e m a r k a b l e . R eference in S e l /S e c . 576/1881.
207
I t was g e n e r a l p o l i c y t o g i v e members o f t h e c h i e f
fam ilies in the s t a t e a p p o i n t m e n t s co m m en su rate w i t h t h e i r
d i g n i t y , b u t t h i s was n o t e a s y . The a d m i n i s t r a t i v e f u n c
t i o n s o f t h e M alay d i s t r i c t c h i e f s - r e v e n u e c o l l e c t i o n ,
d i s t r i c t a d m i n i s t r a t i o n h a d removed t h e c h i e f s f r o m t h e
M a n s u r , s o n o f E x - S u l t a n A b d u l l a h , who became a c a d e t i n
the P erak s e rv ic e i n 1883 and was a p p o i n t e d t o m a g i s t r a c i e s
in d i f f e r e n t p a r t s o f the s t a t e . But t h e s u r v i v o r s o f t h e
p r e - B r i t i s h p e r i o d c o u l d n o t be a s s i m i l a t e d i n t h i s way.
55
They were c l a s s i f i e d as ’J u d g e s ' and ’ N a t i v e M a g i s t r a t e s ' ,
s i n c e t h e y had t o be c l a s s i f i e d somehow, and t h e y s a t in
t h e d i s t r i c t and R e s i d e n c y c o u r t s w i t h E u r o p e a n o f f i c e r s ;
b u t w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f R a j a Dr i s , who h e l d a Malay C o u r t
55
I n t h e P e r a k A l l o w a n c e l i s t o f 1 8 7 9 , R a j a D r i s and t h e
Temenggong were c l a s s i f i e d as J u d g e s o f t h e Supreme C o u r t ;
i n t h e S e l a n g o r E s t i m a t e s f o r 1883 ( a n d i n o t h e r l i s t s )
t h e s o n s o f t h e S u l t a n , R a j a s Musa an d K a h a r , and t h e
b r o t h e r - i n - l a w o f t h e S u l t a n , R a j a L a u t , were c l a s s i f i e d
as N a t i v e M a g i s t r a t e s ( S e l / S e c . 215 / 1 8 8 3 ).
208
a t K u a l a K a n g s a r , t h e y do n o t a p p e a r t o h a v e had a n y i n d e
pendent j u r i s d i c t i o n a t a h ig h e r l e v e l th a n the penghulu
court. T h e i r f u n c t i o n , u n d e f i n e d and u n c l a s s i f i e d , was
t o a s s i s t t h e R e s i d e n t and t h e d i s t r i c t o fficers i n Malay
a f f a i r s , t o k e e p them i n f o r m e d a b o u t c o n d i t i o n s and o p i n i o n
i n t h e m u k im s, t o r e p r e s e n t g r i e v a n c e s and t o h e l p make
new m e a s u r e s known and a c c e p t e d .
The c h i e f s s a t w i t h t h e R u l e r , t h e R e s i d e n t and t h e
C h i n e s e C a p i t a n s on a S t a t e C o u n c i l which had b e e n d e s i g n e d
a t an e a r l y s t a g e o f B r i t i s h r u l e t o a s s i s t t h e R e s i d e n t
56
i n t h e b u s i n e s s o f governm ent. The C o u n c i l was t h e
l e g i s l a t i v e body o f t h e S t a t e ; i t was t h e f i n a l c o u r t o f
a p p e a l and r e v i e w e d a l l c a p i t a l s e n t e n c e s ; and i t a l s o
decided m a tte rs r e l a t i n g to c u rre n t a d m in is tra tio n . The
C o u n c i l was d o m i n a t e d b y t h e R e s i d e n t . He n o m i n a t e d i t s
m em bers, d rew up i t s a g e n d a , g u i d e d i t s d e l i b e r a t i o n s and
influenced i t s d e c is io n s . I n d e p e n d e n c e m ig h t be e x p r e s s e d
d u r i n g t h e d i s c u s s i o n , members m i g h t p u t f o r w a r d c r i t i c a l
o p i n i o n s , b u t i t was v e r y r a r e i n d e e d f o r C o u n c i l members
to p e r s i s t in o p p o sitio n to the R esid en t. But w i t h t h e
e x c e p t i o n o f D o u g l a s , t h e R e s i d e n t s were i n t e l l i g e n t a d
m i n i s t r a t o r s anxious to secu re a b a s i s of consent f o r t h e i r
"56
See Appendix I I I f o r a d i s c u s s i o n o f t h e S t a t e C o u n c i l s
i n P e r a k and S e l a n g o r .
209
r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e g e n e r a l o p p o s i t i o n t o them i n C o u n c i l .
The M alay and C h i n e s e members made r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s and p u t
f o r w a r d s u g g e s t i o n s t h a t were s o m e tim e s I n c o r p o r a t e d i n t h e
fin a l decision. Y e t t h e s e q u a l i f i c a t i o n s do n o t a l t e r t h e
f a c t t h a t t h e C o u n c i l was e s s e n t i a l l y t h e a d v i s o r y body
of the R e sid e n t.
The c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e R e s i d e n t and
t h e R u l e r d e v e l o p e d v e r y so o n i n t o t h e k i n d o f r e l a t i o n s
a t w e n t i e t h c e n t u r y B r i t i s h Prim e M i n i s t e r m ig h t h a v e w i t h
h is sovereign. The R u l e r c o n t i n u e d t o a c t a s t h e c e r e m o n
57
I n 1877 t h e S t a t e s e a l o f t h e S u l t a n o f S e l a n g o r a p p e a r s
t o h a v e b e e n i n t h e k e e p i n g o f t h e C o l l e c t o r and M a g i s t r a t e
of la n g a t. ’ I f e e l a d a i l y s a t i s f a c t i o n ’ , he w r o t e , ’ i n
h a v i n g t h e S u l t a n ' s chop ( s e a l ) u n d e r l o c k and k e y ’ ( I n n e s
to R e sid e n t, 8 A pril 1877, S e l/S e c . 121/1877). I n 1880
t h e C o l l e c t o r r e f e r r e d t o t h e e x i s t e n c e o f two k e y s t o
t h e S u l t a n ’ s s e a l - b o x , one k e p t b y t h e S u l t a n and one by
h i m s e l f ( i n n e s t o R e s i d e n t , 29 J u n e 1 8 8 0 , S e l / S e c . 1 7 2 / 1 8 8 0 ) .
210
58
p r e s e n t e d t o him f o r f o r m a l r a t i f i c a t i o n . A p a r t fro m h i s
v a l i d a t i n g f u n c t i o n , h i s s h a r e i n g o v e rn m e n t was c o n f i n e d
t o g i v i n g t h e R e s i d e n t a d v i c e and i n f o r m a t i o n and h e l p i n g
him t o m e a s u r e f e e l i n g i n t h e s t a t e . The p r o v i s i o n s o f
t h e P a n g k o r E ngagem ent were r e v e r s e d ; in s te a d of the
R e s i d e n t a d v i s i n g t h e S u l t a n , i t was now t h e S u l t a n who
advised th e R e sid e n t.
Emergence o f a D o c t r i n e
D espite th e inadequate c o n s t i t u t i o n a l b a s i s fo r t h e i r
a u t h o r i t y , t h e R e s i d e n t s by 1880 had become t h e e f f e c t i v e
ru lers in the s t a t e s ; in th e y ears t h a t fo llo w ed , t h e i r
a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h M alays d e v e l o p e d s m o o t h l y on e s t a b l i s h e d
p r i n c i p l e s , and t h e s u c c e s s o f t h e P e r a k and S e l a n g o r a d
m i n i s t r a t i o n s was r e f l e c t e d In p h e n o m e n al i n c r e a s e s In
r e v e n u e s and p o p u l a t i o n s . I n c o n s e q u e n c e t h e r e was a change
58
A k u a s a ( c o m m i s s i o n , a u t h o r i t y , power) f o r t h e Imam
o f U l u S e l a n g o r was d raw n up b y t h e R e s i d e n t ’ s s e c r e t a r y
and s e n t t o t h e S u l t a n t h r o u g h t h e L a n g a t C o l l e c t o r and
M a g i s t r a t e t o be s e a l e d ( S e l / S e c . 4 5 / 1 8 8 0 ) . A kuasa f o r
t h e Imam o f K la n g was s i m i l a r l y f o r w a r d e d ( S e l / S e c . 1 0 0 /
1880"]*^ T h ere i s a r e f e r e n c e t o a k u a s a f o r t h e Cap i t an
C h i n a , f o r w a r d e d t o t h e R e s i d e n t i n June 1 8 8 5 ; i t was
p r o b a b l y t h e l e t t e r f o r m a l l y a p p o i n t i n g Yap Ah Shak Ca p i t an
C h i n a and member o f C o u n c i l , i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h a d e c i s i o n
o f t h e S t a t e C o u n c i l on 23 May 1885 ( S e l / S e c . 1 0 5 1 / 1 8 8 5 ) .
T h e s e i n s t a n c e s a r e a l l fro m S e l a n g o r , b u t i t i s f a i r t o
assum e t h a t t h e p r i n c i p l e was t h e same i n t h e o t h e r s t a t e s .
The s t r i c t r e i n w h ic h t h e R e s i d e n t o f P e r a k h e l d o v e r t h e
R e g e n t i s i l l u s t r a t e d b y a number o f e n t r i e s i n L o w 's
J o u r n a l (p p .4 8 , 85, 9 7 - 8 ) .
211
59
Sir Frederick Aloysius Weld. CMG (1875), KCMG (1880),
GCMG (1885), was born in 1823 into an old West of England
Catholic family. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1844 and
began sheep farming in the Wairarapa district in the North
Island. In 1854 he was elected member for Wairau in the
first New Zealand General Assembly. In 1860-1 he served
as Minister for Native Affairs, and in 1864-5 as Premier.
In 1867 he left New Zealand. He was Governor of Western
Australia, 1869 to 1874; Governor of Tasmania, 1875-9;
Governor of the Straits Settlements from 1880 till his
retirement in 1887. He died in 1891.
212
c o l o n i s i n g m is s io n in term s o f h e r t r a d i t i o n a l p o l i t i c a l
g e n i u s on t h e one h a n d , and h e r c a p a c i t y f o r l e a d i n g b a c k
ward p e o p l e s on t h e o t h e r . Weld would h a v e h e l d t h e s e
a t t i t u d e s w h a t e v e r h i s e x p e r i e n c e , b u t t h e y were c o n f i r m e d
by the circu m stan ces o f h is l i f e . He s p e n t h i s m i d d l e
y e a r s as a p a s t o r a l i s t i n New Z e a l a n d , e n t e r e d p o l i t i c s as
a member o f t h e f i r s t New Z e a l a n d r e p r e s e n t a t i v e a s s e m b l y
( h a v i n g e a r l i e r r e f u s e d a n o m i n a t e d s e a t on t h e n o n - r e p r e
s e n ta tiv e C ouncil), and he had a b r i e f e x p e r i e n c e o f o f f i c e
a s M i n i s t e r f o r N a t i v e A f f a i r s and P r e m i e r . I n New Z e a l a n d
he was f a c e d w i t h t h e p e r s o n a l and n a t i o n a l n e c e s s i t y o f
r e a c h i n g an a cc o m m o d atio n w i t h t h e M a o r i , p r i m a r i l y o v e r
t o w k a y s d i d n o t f i s h o r s h o o t , b u t t h e y p u t on m a g n i f i c e n t
t h e a t r i c a l e n t e r t a i n m e n t s , and d i n n e r s w i t h t h r e e k i n d s
o f cham pagne.) He e n j o y e d n o t o n l y t h e f r e e d o m and b e a u t y
o f t h e n a t i v e s t a t e s , and t h e f l a t t e r i n g d e f e r e n c e o f
63
M a lay s and C h i n e s e , b u t t h e e x e r c i s e o f an a u t h o r i t y and
62
I n 1881 Weld p a i d f o u r v i s i t s t o t h e n a t i v e s t a t e s and
t h e s e t t l e m e n t s n o r t h o f S i n g a p o r e , and s t a y e d away f i v e
m onths. I n 1883 he p a i d f i v e s u c h v i s i t s and s t a y e d away
n e a r l y s i x m onths. His r e c e p t i o n by th e S u l t a n o f S e la n g o r
on one v i s i t i n 1881 i s w o r t h r e c o u n t i n g . The C o l l e c t o r
a t L a n g a t ( i n n e s ) t o l d t h e S u l t a n he must wear h i s u n i f o r m ,
’ t r o u s e r s w i t h g o l d b r a i d down t h e l e g s and h i s b a j u w i t h
g o l d b r a i d w h i c h Queen V i c t o r i a had s e n t h i m ’ , and a l s o
h i s sw o r d . B u t t h e h o u s e h o l d was t h r o w n i n t o a p a n i c ,
a p p a r e n t l y , b y t h e im m inen t a r r i v a l o f t h e G o v e r n o r . Long
a f t e r e l e v e n o ’ c l o c k , I n n e s went i n t o t h e S u l t a n ' s k i t c h e n
t o f i n d a M a l a y cook h o l d i n g a d e c a p i t a t e d fo w l on h i g h
and w a t c h i n g t h e d r o p s o f b l o o d t r i c k l e f r o m i t w h i l e he
said a prayer. The t i f f i n was v e r y b a d l y co oked and was
s e r v e d i n t h e wrong r e c e p t i o n h a l l i n f u l l v ie w o f t h e
M a lay p o p u l a t i o n o f J u g r a ; and t h e S u l t a n f o r g o t t o wear
h i s uniform . I n n e s e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e S u l t a n was a ' v e r y
c o n s e r v a t i v e M alay o f t h e o l d r e g i m e ' , and E u r o p e a n
p u n c t u a l i t y and c i v i l i s a t i o n h a v e b e e n b r o u g h t t o b e a r on
him t o o l a t e i n l i f e t o change him m a t e r i a l l y ' . (C o llecto r,
L a n g a t , t o R e s i d e n t , 8 November 1 8 8 1 , S e l / S e c . 4 5 9 / 1 8 8 1 . )
63
W e l d ' s s u s c e p t i b i l i t y t o f l a t t e r y was a m a z i n g . He
d e s c r i b e s an i n t e r v i e w w i t h t h e M a h a r a j a o f J o h o r e , s o o n
a f t e r h i s a r r i v a l in t h e Colony. ’ One o f h i s r e m a r k s s t r u c k
me. He s a i d : " I f I saw a t h i n g as c l e a r l y as t h e s u n i n
t h e h e a v e n s , and y o u saw d i f f e r e n t l y , I would y i e l d (my
o p i n i o n ) t o y o u . You a r e my F a t h e r and 1 w i s h a lw a y s t o
t a k e a d v i c e fro m y o u . " V e r y O r i e n t a l , b u t I t h i n k he meant
i t . ’ ( D i a r y e n t r y f o r 26 O c t o b e r 1 8 8 0 , c i t e d L o v a t , o p .
c i t . , 318.)
215
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y b e y o n d a n y t h i n g h e e n j o y e d as G o v e r n o r o f
a Grown C o l o n y . He made t h e f i n a l d e c i s i o n as t o t h e d i s
p o s a l o f r e v e n u e s w h i c h i n 1887 n e a r l y e q u a l l e d t h o s e o f
64
the Colony, and he d i d t h i s w i t h o u t r e f e r e n c e t o S t a t e
C o u n c i l s , C o lo n y C o u n c i l s o r t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e . The
l a s t t h i n g he i n t e n d e d was t o p e r m i t t h i s n e a r l y a b s o l u t e
a u t h o r i t y t o be i m p a i r e d b y t h e c r e a t i o n o f f o r m a l t i e s
b e t w e e n t h e N a t i v e S t a t e s on t h e one hand and t h e C o l o n i a l
o r I m p e r i a l Government on t h e o t h e r . Whatever a s t r o n g
G o v e r n o r c o u l d do d u r i n g n e a r l y e i g h t y e a r s o f o f f i c e t o
p re se rv e the p r i n c i p l e of the independence of the s t a t e s ,
Weld d i d .
W e ld ’ s i d e a s on t h e fo rm o f g o v e rn m e n t m o st s u i t a b l e
t o t h e N a t i v e S t a t e s were p u t f o r w a r d i n a d e s p a t c h t o t h e
65
S e c r e t a r y of S ta te in O ctober 1880. He e x p r e s s e d v i e w s
w h ic h were e n d o r s e d by a l l t h e R e s i d e n t s i n l a t e r p r o n o u n c e -
66
m e n t s on t h e s u b j e c t . W h ile R o b i n s o n i n 1879 had i n d i c a t e d
64
The r e v e n u e o f t h e S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s f o r 1887 was
$ 3 , 8 4 7 , 8 5 3 , and f o r t h e N a t i v e S t a t e s , $ 3 , 1 2 2 , 8 7 6 . (See
D i c k s o n t o K n u t s f o r d , 10 J u l y 1 8 9 0 , C . 6 2 2 2 , n o . l , f o r
f i g u r e s and f o r a v a l u a b l e r e v i e w o f t h e n a t i v e s t a t e s
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s .)
65
Weld t o K i m b e r l e y , C o n f i d e n t i a l o f 21 O c t o b e r 1 8 8 0 .
66
See f o r e x a m p l e , P r o c e e d i n g s o f t h e R o y a l C o l o n i a l I n s t i
t u t e . xv ( 1 8 8 3 - 4 ) and x x v i i ( 1 8 9 5 - 6 ) f o r p a p e r s r e a d b y
Weld and S w etten h am and s u b s e q u e n t d i s c u s s i o n .
216
o n l y two p o s s i b i l i t i e s - a n n e x a t i o n o r w i t h d r a w a l - Weld
i n d i c a t e d t h r e e - a n n e x a t i o n , w i t h d r a w a l and a c o n t i n u a t i o n
of th e p r e s e n t system . The s u g g e s t i o n o f w i t h d r a w a l was
m e r e l y a l i t e r a r y f l o u r i s h , n o t m e a n t t o be t a k e n s e r i o u s l y .
Weld d e c l a r e d t h a t i t wou ld r e s u l t i n a n a r c h y and m i s -
g o v e rn m e n t wo rse t h a n b e f o r e , since B r i t i s h in terv en tio n
C o l o n y , do es n o t a d m i t o f ’ .
217
F i n a l l y , Weld ho p e d t h e R e s i d e n t i a l s y s t e m would
ru lers of th e n a ti v e s t a t e s s t i l l i n d e p e n d e n t ; b u t he
t h o u g h t i t much more l i k e l y t h a t t h e c o n t r a s t b e t w e e n
s ta n d a rd s of a d m in is tr a tio n in the s t a t e s w ith R esid en ts
o f p o l i c y , w h ic h he p u t f o r w a r d w i t h an i n s i n u a t i n g mode
r a t i o n w h ic h d e c e i v e d no o n e , was:
To g r a d u a l l y and g e n t l y i n c r e a s e o u r i n f l u e n c e as
o c c a s i o n o f f e r s , o v e r t h e P e n i n s u l a s o u t h o f S ia m ,
n o t n e c e s s a r i l y w i t h an y v i e w o f an im m e d ia te e x
t e n s i o n o f t h e R e s i d e n t i a l s y s t e m , and i n r e s p e c t
to the p r o te c te d S ta te s t o determ ine never to r e l a x
o u r h o l d , b u t n o t t o annex w h i l s t i t i s p o s s i b l e t o
go on u n d e r t h e p r e s e n t s y s t e m . I n t h e mean t i m e
t o work by and t h r o u g h t h e n a t i v e g o v e r n m e n t s b y
advice d i s c r e e t l y , but firm ly a d m in iste re d .
T h e r e was r e a l l y no a l t e r n a t i v e t o W e l d ' s ’t h i r d p o s
s i b i l i t y ’ and i t was e x p r e s s e d i n s u c h g e n e r a l and d i p l o
m a t i c t e r m s t h a t t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e was a b l e t o e n d o r s e
i t w ith o u t com m itting h im s e lf to a n y th in g . The r e p l y i n g
d e s p a t c h was c o n f i n e d t o a g u a r d e d a p p r o v a l o f a ’more
in tim a te f r i e n d s h i p ’ w ith th e independent s t a t e s , coupled
w i t h a warning n o t t o i n s t i t u t e changes w ith o u t i n s t r u c -
67
t i o n s from home. But - a s K i m b e r l e y r e c o g n i s e d i n a
67
K i m b e r l e y t o Weld, C o n f i d e n t i a l o f 11 F e b r u a r y 1 8 8 1 .
218
m i n u t e on W e l d ’ s d e s p a t c h - t h e e x t e n s i o n o f B r i t i s h c o n t r o l
countries i n t o a c o n f e d e r a t i o n o f s t a t e s t o be known as
t h e N e g r i S e m b i l a n ( b u t w i t h o u t a c k n o w l e d g i n g any change
219
in t h e i r r e l a ti o n s h i p s ) and a s k e d f o r t h e a s s i s t a n c e o f a
B r i t i s h R e s id e n t in th e government o f the f e d e r a t i o n . In
1 8 9 5 , S u n g e i Ujong and J e l e b u e n t e r e d t h i s c u r i o u s f e d e r a
t i o n , whose members c o n t i n u e d t o i n s i s t on t h e i r f o r m a l
i n d e p e n d e n c e o f one a n o t h e r , and whose o n l y l i n k was t h e
B r i t i s h R e s i d e n t , now p l a c e d f o r m a l l y i n t h e p o s i t i o n o f
a d v i s e r t o a l l t h e s t a t e s of th e N e g ri Sem bilan. I n 1898
t h e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l p o s i t i o n was r e g u l a r i s e d b y t h e acknow
l e d g m e n t b y a l l t h e s t a t e s o f t h e s u z e r a i n t y o f t h e Yang
d i P ertu an B esar. The N e g r i S e m b i l a n was now f o r m a l l y
r e c o n s t i t u t e d u n d e r t h e a e g i s o f t h e B r i t i s h G o v e rn m e n t.
Part IV
1
The question of jurisdiction arose in connection with pro-
posals for the extradition of fugitive offenders. One
official argued that the Colonial Office had acquired juris
diction in the States by usage and sufferance, since the
courts had been constituted, in practice, by officers ulti
mately responsible to the Governor; but Wingfield, the
Assistant Under-Secretary of State in charge of legal
business, disagreed. He minuted, ’The queen might have
jurisdiction in the Native States, but as long as the juris
diction is exercised by the courts of the Native Rulers,
though they are no doubt mere puppets in the hand of the
Governor, I do not think that the Fugitive Offenders Act
can be applied to the States by Order in Council’. The
minute is somewhat ambiguous, but the despatch based on it
220
221
e x e r c i s e o f a u t h o r i t y b y t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e , and t h e
d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f i t s l i m i t s , were m a t t e r s o f d i f f i c u l t y
and d e b a t e f o r t h e w h o le p e r i o d b e t w e e n i n t e r v e n t i o n and
F ed eratio n , In the f i r s t fo u r or fiv e years a f t e r i n t e r
v e n t i o n , t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e h a d t r i e d t o c h e c k t h e assum p
t i o n of a d m i n i s t r a t iv e c o n tr o l over th e s e s t a t e s ; i t had
p r o h i b i t e d a n n e x a t i o n , h a d warned R e s i d e n t s a g a i n s t e x
t e n s i o n s o f r e s p o n s i b i l i t y , a n d had a p p r o v e d o f p o l i c y
s t a t e m e n t s r e m i n d i n g them t h a t t h e y were a d v i s e r s and n o t
ru lers. At t h e same t i m e , i t became c l e a r a t an e a r l y
s t a g e t h a t t h e R e s i d e n t s were i n f a c t r u l i n g ; t h a t a l a r g e
3
Sir Charles Prestwood Lucas, KCMG (1907), KCB (1912), was
appointed to the Colonial Office in 1877. He became a
First Class clerk in 1892, Assistant Under-Secretary of
State in 1897, and Head of the Dominions Department, 1907-11,
when he retired. At this time he was in charge of the
correspondence with the Eastern Colonies, and from about
1882, he drafted the despatches concerning the Malay States.
He was a strong supporter of expansion and development in
the Peninsula, and was Swettenham’s friend and mouthpiece.
In later years he wrote prolifically on Imperial matters.
223
4
Minute by Lucas, 14 November 1892, Smith to Ripon, Con
fidential of 30 September 1892, CO 273/183/21290.
5
Sir Cecil Clementi Smith. GCMG (1892), KCMG (1886), entered
the Hong Kong government service in 1862. He acted as
Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong, at various times between
1867 and 1878. In July 1878 he was appointed to the Straits
Settlements civil service as Colonial Secretary, and acted
as Governor in Weld's absence from March 1884 to November
1885. In November 1885 he became Lieut.-Governor and
224
t o i n t e r f e r e n c e on t h e s u b j e c t o f t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n and
c o n t r o l o f p r o s t i t u t e s ; he a s s e r t e d t h a t t h e C o l o n i a l
O f f i c e d i r e c t i v e would ha v e t o be f o r c e d on t h e S t a t e
l e g a l i s e d p u b l i c g a m b lin g b r o u g h t a p r o t e s t n o t o n l y from
always doing his best to get the Sultan more money, and the
9
Edward Fairfield. CMC (1885), was appointed to the Colo-
nial Office in 1866. In February 1892 he became Assistant
Under-Secretary. He took the side of Maxwell and Dickson
(see below, pp.qr to) in cases of administrative irregularity
which came before the Colonial Office. He pressed for
closer control over the Residents, and so came into per
sistent conflict with Lucas.
10
Minute by Fairfield, 16 November 1894, CO 273/198/19731;
minute by Fairfield, 29 November 1894, CO 273/198/20626.
Spenlow and Jorkins, characters in 'David Copperfield' by
Charles Dickens, are a firm of proctors to whom Copperfield
is articled. Jorkins is a gentle retiring man who seldom
appears, but Spenlow makes his supposedly intractable
character the ground for refusing any inconvenient request.
The officials were sceptical of the claims to independence
made on behalf of the Rulers and the State Councils. In
1885 Weld asked for a rise in pay, to which the Native
States should contribute, but only if ’these sums were
willingly voted without pressure by the State Councils.
Meade, the Permanent Under-Secretary, minuted that the vote
would 'of course however be a farce’. (25 October 1885, on
Weld to CO, private of 24 July 1885, CO 273/138/13017/1885.)
226
11
Weld to Derby, Confidential of 24- August 1882; Weld to
Derby, 107 of 17 March 1883, forwarding memorandum from
Swettenham.
12
Minute by Johnson, 21 October 1893. CO 273/189/17484-.
13
Minute by Meade, 24 March 1895, on CO 273/202/4722.
227
t h e P a n g k o r Engagement plac ed , t h e u l t i m a t e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y
14
The C o l o n i a l O f f i c e f i r s t a s k e d f o r c o p i e s o f l e g i s l a t i o n
p a s s e d in th e S t a t e s i n Ripon t o M i t c h e l l , C o n f i d e n t i a l of
1 November 1 8 9 4 .
15
picture of unofficial opinion. The Colonial Office
received the State Gazettes, but these were not issued
15
The Malay Mail was started in Kuala Lumpur in 1896.
The Selangor Journal, begun in 1892 (ceased publication
in 1897) was a fortnightly review devoted to the publica
tion of descriptive material and reminiscence. The
writer has not been able to secure access to this
journal, since a microfilm copy ordered has never arrived
16
See above, Part III, p.tz-i+, n . ^ , for biographies of
Maxwell and Swettenham.
The rivalry between Swettenham and Maxwell was intense
They had both spent the greater part of their official
careers in the Straits Settlements and were the ablest
young men in the Service. They both knew Malay well,
and both wrote prolifically on Malay subjects, though
Swettenham's work is descriptive and Maxwell's scholarly.
They both made their reputations in the Native States,
229
17
D ickson, were r e f l e c t e d i n the c o n f l i c t s betw een t h e i r
ing d i s c i p l i n e (and e v e r y t h in g e l s e ) t o th e d i s c r e t i o n of
the R e sid en t.
The S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e u se d h i s a u t h o r i t y t o m a i n t a i n
s ta n d a r d s of i n t e g r i t y in the p u b l ic s e r v i c e , to keep a
16 ( c o n t i n u e d )
and p r o b a b l y added t o t h e i r p r o f e s s i o n a l j e a l o u s y , t h e
p r o p r i e t a r y je a lo u s y of th e ’e x p e r t ’ in n a tiv e a f f a i r s .
T h e i r c a r e e r s were c l o s e l y m a t c h e d ; t h e y we re b o t h D e p u t y
Commissioners w ith th e t r o o p s in P e ra k in 1875, b o th
p r o m o te d i n 1 8 8 2 , i n t h e same m o n t h , and were a warded
t h e CMG- w i t h i n a y e a r o f e a c h o t h e r . B u t S w e t t e n h a m ’ s
c a r e e r was e n t i r e l y a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e S t a t e s , w h i l e
M a x w e l l ’ s was b r o k e n up b y C o l o n y a p p o i n t m e n t s . When
Low r e t i r e d , t h e c h o i c e p o s t i n t h e N a t i v e S t a t e s , t h e
R e s i d e n c y o f P e r a k , f e l l t o S w e t t e n h a m , and Maxwell h ad
t o b e c o n t e n t w i t h t h e R e s i d e n c y o f S e l a n g o r . B ut as
C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y f ro m 1 8 9 2 - 5 , he was i n a p o s i t i o n
t o o v e r s e e t h e a f f a i r s o f t h e n a t i v e s t a t e s , and a number
o f m a t t e r s on w h ic h he and Sw ettenham d i s a g r e e d , came
b e fo re the c o n s id e ra tio n of the C o lo n ia l O ffic e .
17
S i r J o h n F r e d e r i c k D i c k s o n , KCMG, was a p p o i n t e d C o l o -
n i a l S e c r e t a r y o f t h e S t r a i t s S e ttle m e n ts in 1885, a f t e r
an o f f i c i a l c a r e e r i n C e y l o n . He a c t e d a s G o v e r n o r i n
1 8 9 0 , and d i e d i n o f f i c e i n 1 8 9 2 . He was an a b l e and
t h o r o u g h a d m i n i s t r a t o r , b u t he d i d n o t g e t on w i t h t h e
G o v e r n o r ( S m i t h ) o r w i t h S w e tte n h a m .
230
c h e c k on t h e e x p e n d i t u r e o f p u b l i c f u n d s , p a r t i c u l a r l y
e x p e n d i t u r e on r a i l w a y s ; t o rem edy i n j u s t i c e s and t o
b r i n g t h e s o c i a l l e g i s l a t i o n o f t h e n a t i v e s t a t e s as f a r
as p o s s i b l e i n t o h arm ony w i t h l a t e - V i c t o r i a n m o r a l i t y .
His i n t e r f e r e n c e was m o s t l y i n t h e f o r m o f c o r r e c t i v e s
to a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a c t i o n ta k e n or co n tem p lated by th e
R e s i d e n t ; he d i d n o t in terfere in th e f o r m u la tio n of
p o licy.
The a p p o i n t m e n t s and s a l a r i e s o f t h e R e s i d e n t s and t h e
18
The o n l y R e s i d e n t whose a p p o i n t m e n t p r o b a b l y o r i g i n a t e d
w i t h t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e was Low. He was a p p o i n t e d i n
F e b r u a r y 1 8 7 7 ; i n May 1 8 7 6 , Meade m i n u t e d on a d e s p a t c h
fro m J e r v o i s t h a t he m i g h t be o f f e r e d one o f t h e N a t i v e
S tates p o sts. ( M i n u t e b y Meade, 24 May 1 8 7 6 , CO 2 7 3 / 8 3 /
6160, )
231
19
Minute by de Robeck, 7 February 1884, CO 273/123/1800;
Derby to Weld, 41 of 18 February 1884.
20
CO to Governor of Cyprus, 14 October 1885, enclosed Derby
to Weld, 33 of 5 February 1885. Perak Officers in 1885
were subject to dismissal at three months' notice. Low to
Colonial Office, 11 October 1885, in CO 273/138/17785.
232
t h e C o l o n y had t h e r i g h t t o an i n q u i r y by t h e E x e c u t i v e
C ouncil b e fo re d i s m i s s a l , th e d is m is s a l of o f f i c e r s in the
N a t i v e S t a t e s was s u b j e c t o n l y t o t h e d i s c r e t i o n o f t h e
R e s i d e n t and G-overnor. A r b i t r a r y d i s m i s s a l was n o t o n l y
c o n tra ry t o the p e rso n a l i n t e r e s t s of th e o f f i c e r s , i t was
a g a in s t the i n t e r e s t s of th e p u b lic s e r v i c e . I t was a
f e r i n g v i e w o f t h e L e g i s l a t i v e C o u n c i l . 24 The C o l o n i a l
O ffice did not p re s s the p o i n t , but i t forced th e adoption
o f a c l a u s e i n t h e S t r a i t s P e n s i o n R e g u l a t i o n s , which made
t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e C o lo n y and t h e N a t i v e S t a t e s i n e f f e c t ,
25
i f n o t i n name, c o n t i n u o u s f o r p e n s i o n p u r p o s e s .
A f t e r W e l d ' s d e p a r t u r e , t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e made a n
o t h e r a t t e m p t t o g e t t h e C o lo n y t o g u a r a n t e e t h e s a l a r i e s
26
and p e n s i o n s o f o f f i c e r s i n t h e N a t i v e S t a t e s . I t accepted
23
D e r b y t o Weld, 34 o f 5 F e b r u a r y 1886.
24
Weld t o D e r b y , 99 o f 20 March 188 6 .
25
I . e . , t h e i r p e n s i o n s were t o be a p p o r t i o n e d among t h e
r e s p e c t i v e governm ents i n p r o p o r t i o n t o th e g r o s s s a l a r y
drawn th r o u g h o u t t h e i r s e r v i c e . S t r a i t s S e ttle m e n ts Pension
R e g u l a t i o n s , 1 8 8 7 , c l a u s e 10 ( 3 ) , S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s
L e g i s l a t i v e C o u n c i l P ^ e r 23 o f 1 8 8 7 . O f f i c e r s t r a n s f e r r e d
f r o m one C o lo n y t o a n o t h e r r e c e i v e d 1 / 7 2 0 o f t h e i r a n n u a l
s a l a r y a t t h e d a t e o f l e a v i n g t h e C o lo n y f o r e a c h month o f
se rv ice (clause 1 0 .l ) .
26
K n u t s f o r d t o S m i t h , 128 o f 4 May 1 8 8 8 .
234
n y ; and t h e y r a i s e d t h e f a m i l i a r s c a r e t h a t s u c h a p r o p o s a l
would s u b j e c t t h e whole a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f t h e N a t i v e S t a t e s
t o t h e c r i t i c i s m and c o n t r o l o f t h e L e g i s l a t i v e C o u n c i l .
When t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e i n s i s t e d t h a t t h e R e s i d e n t s were
n o t s e r v a n t s o f t h e N a t i v e R u l e r s , b u t were ' a d v i s e r s s e
l e c t e d b y t h e B r i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t ' , and employed b y t h e
27
B r i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t, the l o c a l o f f i c i a l s countered s tr o n g ly
w i t h t h e a rg u m e n t t h a t 'B ritis h ' i n t h i s c o n t e x t meant t h e
28
I m p e r i a l and n o t t h e C o l o n i a l G o v e r n m e n t. The C o l o n i a l
O ffice d e c lin e d the r e s p o n s i b i l i t y to t a c t l e s s l y p ressed
upon i t , and i t was e s t a b l i s h e d t h a t t h e R e s i d e n t s , a s w e l l
a s t h e s u b o r d i n a t e o f f i c e r s , must l o o k t o t h e N a t i v e S t a t e
29
f o r t h e payment o f t h e i r p e n s i o n s ; in o th e r words, th e y
were i n f a c t i f n o t i n name t h e s e r v a n t s o f t h e S t a t e s .
27
K n u t s f o r d t o S m i t h , 68 o f 27 F e b r u a r y 1 8 9 0 .
28
Memorandum o f E x e c u t i v e C o u n c i l ( u n d a t e d ) f o r w a r d e d
D i c k s o n t o K n u t s f o r d , 241 o f 3 J u n e 1 8 9 0 , i n CO 2 7 3 / 1 6 6 /
12671.
29
K n u t s f o r d t o S m i t h , 44 o f 24 F e b r u a r y 1 8 9 2 .
* LIBRARY r-
235
o u t o f t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y and h a d t h r o w n them b a c k on t h e
N a tiv e S t a t e s ’ Governments, The s t a t u s o f t h e s u b o r d i n a t e
o f f i c e r s was c l e a r ; t h e y were b e y o n d q u e s t i o n s e r v a n t s o f
the N ative S ta te s . The s t a t u s o f t h e R e s i d e n t s t y p i f i e d ,
i n i t s a m b i g u i t y and o b s c u r i t y , t h e whole r e l a t i o n s h i p b e
t w e e n t h e B r i t i s h Gov ernment on t h e one hand and t h e N a t i v e
a p p o i n t m e n t s and s a l a r i e s .
236
P o r t h e R e s i d e n t s , l e g a l d e f i n i t i o n s were p r o b a b l y o f
little I m p o r t a n c e , b u t t h e s u b o r d i n a t e o f f i c e r s were
b u rd en e d by a se n se o f i n s e c u r i t y . I n 1888 t h e E u r o p e a n
c i v i l s e r v a n t s o f Herak m em o ria lised th e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
on t h e s u b j e c t o f t h e i r s t a t u s ; th e y regarded them selves
as ’ t h e s e r v a n t s o f Her M a j e s t y , and n o t o f t h e N a t i v e
R u l e r o f t h e S t a t e 1; and t h e y b e g g e d t o be t r a n s f e r r e d t o
th e s e r v i c e of t h e Colony, or t h a t th e C i v i l S e rv ic e of the
30
S t a t e s b e r e c o g n i s e d a s a b r a n c h o f Her M a j e s t y ’ s S e r v i c e .
The p r o p o s a l was c o n t r a r y t o t h e r e c e n t d e c i s i o n on t h e
s u b j e c t and was r e j e c t e d ; b u t t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e m a i n t a i n e d
an i n t e r e s t i n t h e s u b o r d i n a t e o f f i c e r s and e n t e r t a i n e d
30
M e m o ria l o f E u r o p e a n C i v i l S e r v a n t s o f P e r a k t o S e c r e t a r y
o f S t a t e , u n d a t e d , e n c l o s e d i n S m i t h , 413 o f 15 S e p t e m b e r
1888.
31
R ip o n t o M i t c h e l l , C o n f i d e n t i a l o f 11 J u l y 1 8 9 4 .
237
i n 1 8 9 4 , t o c u t o f f t h e p e n s i o n s o f S a n i t a r y B o a rd O f f i c e r s
in S elan g o r. As t h i s i n v o l v e d a b r e a c h o f f a i t h , t h e Re
sident p ro tested ; and when t h e G o v e r n o r r e j e c t e d h i s p r o t e s t ,
and t h a t o f t h e S a n i t a r y B o a r d , t h e o f f i c e r s in qu estio n
32
L i e u t . C o l o n e l S i r C h a r l e s B u l l e n Henry M i t c h e l l , KCMG
( 1 8 8 3 ) , was G o v e r n o r fro m O c t o b e r 1893 t o December 1 8 9 9 .
He was r e s p o n s i b l e f o r c a r r y i n g o u t t h e F e d e r a t i o n o f t h e
f o u r P r o t e c t e d S t a t e s i n 1 8 9 6 , and became t h e i r f i r s t
H ig h C o m m i s s i o n e r . He was c h a r a c t e r i s e d b y L u c a s a s a
’ s a f e and c a p a b l e ’ a d m i n i s t r a t o r . The a b s e n c e o f p r o p e r
f o r m s o f a p p o i n t m e n t f o r N a t i v e S t a t e s o f f i c e r s , and t h e i r
i n s e c u r i t y o f t e n u r e , d i s t u r b e d h i m , and i n 1894 he
a d d r e s s e d t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e on t h e s e p r o b l e m s .
33
M em oria l b y S a n i t a r y B o a r d , K u a l a Lumpur, t o S e c r e t a r y
o f S t a t e , 31 O c t o b e r 1 8 9 5 , CO 2 7 3 / 2 0 7 / 2 2 0 8 1 ; C h a m b e r l a i n
t o M i t c h e l l , 411 o f 19 December 1 8 9 5 .
238
i n the Colony, b u t th e d i s c i p l i n a r y e f f e c t of th e s e r e g u l a
t i o n s was d i l u t e d b y d i s t a n c e ; and i n p i o n e e r i n g g o v e r n
m e n t s , d i s c i p l i n e was e a s i e r , and i d i o s y n c r a s i e s In
s e c r e t a r y , m i n u t e d on a r e p o r t o f m a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i n
Selangor: ' I would r e q u i r e and n o t s u g g e s t t h e n e c e s s a r y
m ea su re s.... The f i c t i o n t h a t we do n o t d i r e c t l y c o n t r o l
the o f f i c e r s in th ese S ta te s is a very t r a n s p a r e n t one,
and w i l l n o t s h i e l d u s when t h e m is g o v e r n m e n t o f t h e
c o u n t r y b eco m es a p u b l i c s c a n d a l ’ . K im berley ag reed : ’We
a r e c e r t a i n l y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e E n g l i s h o f f i c e r s employed
34
i n t h e s e S t a t e s and m u st e x e r c i s e a c o n t r o l o v e r t h e m ’ .
In 1882, a l e t t e r from a form er o f f i c e r i n th e S elan g o r
Government b r o u g h t t h e c o n d u c t o f t h e R e s i d e n t , D o u g l a s ,
t o t h e a t t e n t i o n o f t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e . N eglecting
i n s t r u c t i o n s from S i n g a p o r e , he had p e r m i t t e d h i s s u b o r d i
n a t e s t o make d e d u c t i o n s fro m t h e a l l o w a n c e o f t h e o l d
S u l t a n , f o r goods o f E u r o p e a n m a n u f a c t u r e w h ich he d i d n o t
34
M in u te by H e r b e r t , 12 J u l y 1 882; m i n u t e b y K i m b e r l e y ,
14 J u l y 1 8 8 2 , on CO 2 7 3 / 1 1 4 / 1 0 0 2 5 .
239
on t h e L and D e p a r tm e n t o f S e l a n g o r w hich t o l d a s t o r y o f
g r o s s m ism a n ag e m en t, and j o b b e r y i n w h ic h t h e R e s i d e n t and
t h e head o f t h e d e p a r t m e n t w ere i n v o l v e d . (The l a t t e r ,
a c t i n g a s a u c t i o n e e r i n a s a l e o f tow n l o t s , kno ck ed them
36
down t o t h e R e s i d e n t , who h a p p e n e d t o be h i s f a t h e r - i n - l a w . )
The S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e issu ed a g e n e ra l p r o h ib itio n of
I n n e s t o K i m b e r l e y , 2 May 1 8 8 2 , CO 2 7 3 / 1 1 8 /8 0 0 0 ; K im b e r le y
t o W eld, C o n f i d e n t i a l o f 16 May 1882; Weld t o K im b e r le y ,
C o n f i d e n t i a l o f 24 A ug u st 1882 and e n c l o s u r e s . The a r t i c l e s
p r o v i d e d i n c l u d e d a g o ld w a tc h and c h a i n , a c o m p le te s e t
o f wine g l a s s w a r e , a pony and c a r r i a g e , a g u n , p i c t u r e s
o f t h e R o y a l F a m ily (w h ic h t h e C o l l e c t o r a t L a n g a t t h o u g h t
w ould make t h e I s t a n a l o o k handsom e) and a p i a n o . The
R e s i d e n t a rg u e d i n d e f e n c e , ' I t i s a b s u r d t o s a y t h e
S u l t a n d i d n o t w i s h f o r t a b l e e q u i p a g e , f u r n i t u r e , w in e s
and t h o s e t h i n g s n a t i v e s o f t h e h i g h e r c l a s s e s now p r o v i d e
f o r th e e n te r ta in m e n t o f E uropean v i s i t o r s ; has th e S u lta n
t o r e m a in i n t h e same b a r b a r o u s s t a t e I fo u n d him i n i n
1 8 7 5 ? ’ ( R e s i d e n t t o C . S . , 23 A ugust 1 8 8 2 , CO 2 7 3 / 1 1 5 /
1 7 1 4 6 .) A c c o r d in g t o I n n e s , h o w e v e r, t h e S u l t a n had
d e c l a r e d ' t h a t he had n e v e r f i r e d an E n g l i s h gun i n h i s
l i f e , n o r w ish e d t o f i r e o n e ; t h a t he p r e f e r r e d w a l k in g t o
d r i v i n g , and e a t i n g w i t h h i s f i n g e r s , a c c o r d i n g t o M alay
c u s to m , t o t h e u s e o f f o r k s ; t h a t wine was f o r b i d d e n b y
t h e K oran and t h a t he d i d n o t know how t o p l a y t h e p i a n o ’ .
36
R e p o r t b y McCallum on t h e Land D e p a r tm e n t o f S e l a n g o r ,
2 A p r i l 1 8 8 2 , CO 2 7 3 / 1 1 4 /1 0 0 2 5 .
240
S t a t e s f ro m o c c u p y i n g f o r p r o f i t more t h a n 20 a c r e s o f l a n d ,
37
o r a n y l a n d more t h a n 6 m i l e s f r o m h i s r e s i d e n c e . The
by t h e i r d i f f e r e n t r e a c t i o n s t h e c o n f l i c t i n th e N a tiv e
S t a t e s b e t w e e n t h e s t a n d a r d s o f t h e p u b l i c s e r v i c e on t h e
one h a n d , and p r i v a t e e m p i r e - b u i l d i n g on t h e o t h e r . (The
i n t e r e s t of th e c o n t r a s t i s enhanced by t h e f a c t t h a t a l l
37
D e r b y t o Weld, 179 o f 25 J u l y 1 8 8 2 ; D erby t o Weld, c i r
c u l a r o f 2 F e b ru a ry 1885.
38
S w etten h a m t o Weld, 6 J a n u a r y 1883» i n CO 2 7 3 / 1 6 9 / 8 1 7 .
241
t o buy l a n d or i n v e s t in e n t e r p r i s e In th e s t a t e , p ro v id ed
th a t these i n t e r e s t s d i d n o t i n t e r f e r e w i t h work o r g e t
the o f f i c e r into d e b t. The r e a l p o i n t , t h a t i t was u n d e
39
Weld t o S w e t t e n h a m , 15 March 1 8 8 3 , CO 2 7 3 / 1 6 9 / 8 1 7 . A
l i t t l e l a t e r , S w etten h a m a p p a r e n t l y w r o t e t o Weld p r i v a t e l y
a s k in g f o r ad v ice i n r e l a t i o n t o th e p u rch a se o f la n d by
him self. Weld s u g g e s t e d t h a t i n o r d e r t o a v e r t g o s s i p
w h ic h m ig h t ’l o w e r t h e s e r v i c e ’ , S w etten h am s h o u l d g e t
h i s w i f e t o buy t h e l a n d i n q u e s t i o n ’. (Weld t o S w e tte n h a m ,
28 May 1 8 8 3 , CO 2 7 3 / 1 6 9 / 8 1 7 . ) W e ld ’ s u n b e l i e v a b l e n a i v e t e
and a n t i p a t h y t o r e g u l a t i o n s so m e tim e s 1 ed him i n t o u n
fortunate decisions.
242
t h e C o lo n y o r N a t i v e S t a t e s , o r a n y member o f h i s f a m i l y ,
fro m a c q u i r i n g p r o p e r t y o t h e r t h a n a h o u s e and g a r d e n f o r
40
h i s own o c c u p a t i o n . Low a g a i n a p p ro v e d t h i s w i t h o u t
reserv e. S w e tte n h a m , who was c l e a r l y b e g i n n i n g t o s u f f e r
fro m f o l i e de g r a n d e u r , w r o te an i m p e r t i n e n t m in u te s u g g e s t
i n g t h a t i f an o f f i c e r ’ whose s e r v i c e s w ere g r e a t , whose
a b i l i t y was u n d o u b t e d , and whose h o n e s t y was u n i m p e a c h a b l e ’ ,
r e f u s e d t o g iv e up h i s h o l d i n g s , t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
41
m ig h t f i n d i t h a r d t o d i s m i s s him . S w e tte n h a m 's m in u te
was n o t c a l c u l a t e d t o charm t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e and t h e
42
e t h i c s o f t h e m a t t e r were c l e a r ; t h e G o v e rn o r was u p h e l d .
I n 1892 and 1893» t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e was made aw are
of se rio u s ir r e g u la r itie s in th e a d m in is tr a tio n o f j u s t i c e .
I n 1 8 9 1 , t h e R e s i d e n t o f P a h a n g had c o n v i c t e d a man o f
m u r d e r and s e n t e n c e d him t o d e a t h on t h e b a s i s o f u n c o r
r o b o r a t e d e v i d e n c e fro m a n a c c o m p l i c e who had t e s t i f i e d in
t h e hope o f im p r o v in g h i s own p o s i t i o n . The R e s i d e n t had
r e p o r t e d t h e c a s e t o t h e G o v e r n o r ; t h e G o v e r n o r had a s k e d
t h e A t t o r n e y - G e n e r a l f o r h i s o p i n i o n , and t h e A t t o r n e y -
G e n e r a l had a d v i s e d t h a t i f t h e p r i s o n e r had b e e n t r i e d in
40 ,
S m ith t o K n u t s f o r d , 536 o f 5 Decem ber 1 8 8 8 , CO 273A5£/5L5.
41
M in u te by S w e tte n h a m , u n d a t e d , e n c l o s e d S m ith t o
K n u t s f o r d , 536 o f 5 Decem ber 1 8 8 8 , CO 2 7 3 / 1 5 6 /5 1 5 .
42
K n u t s f o r d t o S m ith , 65 o f 28 F e b r u a r y 1 8 8 9 .
243
The b r o t h e r o f t h e p r i s o n e r had t h e n p e t i t i o n e d t h e S e c
r e t a r y o f S ta te f o r a f r e e p ardon, or a r e t r i a l b e fo re the
Supreme C o u r t i n S i n g a p o r e . The S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e c a l l e d
43
G u r d i t S i n g h t o S. o f S . , 17 Au g u st 1 8 9 2 , CO 2 7 3 / 1 8 5 /
1 8 5 3 0 ; S m i t h t o R i p o n , 487 o f 22 December 1892 and e n c l o
s u r e s ; CO 2 7 3 / 1 8 4 / 1 0 6 0 ; R i p o n t o S m i t h , 42 o f 20 F e b r u a r y
1893.
244
m o d i f i c a t i o n of s e n te n c e by i n s t r u c t i o n s t o th e R e s id e n t,
The a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f j u s t i c e was o b j e c t i o n a b l e t o S t r a i t s
c o m m e r c i a l i n t e r e s t s on a number o f c o u n t s ; the c o u r ts
were composed o f e x e c u t i v e o f f i c e r s and n o t p r o f e s s i o n a l
ju rists, th e y d id n o t admit p l e a d e r s , and t h e r e was no a p
p e a l t o any j u d i c i a l a u t h o r i t y independent of th e S ta te or
Colony e x e c u t i v e . In 1891, the Singapore branch o f th e
S t r a i t s A s s o c i a t i o n and t h e S i n g a p o r e Chamber o f Commerce
p e t i t i o n e d t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e t h a t B r i t i s h s u b j e c t s be
a l l o w e d t o a p p e a l t o t h e Supreme C o u r t . The S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e , a d v i s e d b y S w e t t e n h a m , p r o p o s e d a s o l u t i o n w h ic h
p a r t i a l l y s a t i s f i e d t h e r e q u e s t o f t h e p e t i t i o n e r s ; he
proposed t h a t a p p ea ls should l i e t o a Ju d g e of t h e C o l o n y
Supreme C o u r t , t r a v e l l i n g on c i r c u i t , and h o l d i n g a commis
s i o n f r o m t h e S u l t a n i n C o u n c i l w h i l e i n t h e S t a t e . L aw yers
were t o be e x c l u d e d , and a p p e a l s were t o be c o n f i n e d t o
44
c a se s o f commercial law .
The Pa h a n g m u r d e r c a s e c a u s e d t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e
to i n s t r u c t t h a t u n t i l more c o m p e t e n t c o u r t s were e s t a b
l i s h e d , B r i t i s h s u b je c ts charged w ith o ffen c es punishable
b y d e a t h o r a l o n g t e r m o f i m p r i s o n m e n t s h o u l d be t r i e d
45
e i t h e r i n S i n g a p o r e o r b y C o l o n y j u d g e s on c i r c u i t . In
44
Ripon t o S m i t h , C o n f i d e n t i a l o f 18 J a n u a r y 1 8 9 2 .
45
R ip o n t o S m i t h , C o n f i d e n t i a l o f 20 F e b r u a r y 1 8 9 3 .
245
1894 t h e c o n f i d e n c e o f t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e i n t h e a d m i n i s
t r a t i o n of ju s tic e i n t h e S t a t e s was f u r t h e r u n d e r m i n e d b y
the d isc lo s u re of se rio u s i r r e g u l a r i t i e s in P erak, brought
t o t h e n o t i c e o f t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e b y an o f f i c e r
l a t e l y in the P e rak s e r v i c e . I n Ju n e 1894 t h e o f f i c i a l s
were e x c h a n g i n g c r i t i c a l m i n u t e s on t h i s c a s e , and a t t h e
same t i m e t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e c o m p l a i n e d i n a d e s p a t c h
t h a t h i s p r o p o s a l s f o r new a p p e a l p r o c e d u r e s i n c i v i l c a s e s ,
46
made two y e a r s b e f o r e , h a d gone u n a n s w e r e d . In Septem ber,
t h e d r a f t t o be p r e p a r e d b y t h e A t t o r n e y - G e n e r a l o f t h e
C o l o n y and s u b m i t t e d f o r t h e a p p r o v a l o f t h e S e c r e t a r y o f
48
S tate. The a r r a n g e m e n t s , i n t h e e v e n t , became merged i n
u n d e r t h e F e d e r a t i o n Scheme o f 1 8 9 5 - 6 .
The C o l o n i a l O f f i c e e s t a b l i s h e d a t a n e a r l y d a t e its
r i g h t t o be c o n s u l t e d b e f o r e t h e S t a t e u n d e r t o o k m a j o r
p u b l i c works. The q u e s t i o n a r o s e in co n n ectio n w ith th e
c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e S e l a n g o r r a i l w a y , a l i n e o f 22 m i l e s
c o n n e c t i n g K u a l a Lumpin’ w i t h i t s p o r t a t K l a n g , i n v o l v i n g
a t o t a l e x p e n d i t u r e more t h a n d o u b l e t h e S e l a n g o r r e v e n u e
f o r 1 8 8 2 , and r e q u i r i n g t o be f i n a n c e d b y a C o lo n y l o a n .
48
R i p o n t o M i t c h e l l , C o n f i d e n t i a l o f 1 November 1 8 9 4 . The
S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e had w r i t t e n i n S e p te m b e r t o a s k t h a t t h e
q u e s tio n of a d m ittin g law yers to the N ative S ta te s C ourts
be r e c o n s i d e r e d ( R i p o n t o M i t c h e l l , C o n f i d e n t i a l o f 3 Se p
tem ber 1894). He now i n s i s t e d , a g a i n s t t h e a d v i c e o f t h e
G o v e r n o r , t h a t t h e m a t t e r be l e f t t o t h e d i s c r e t i o n o f
t h e J u d i c i a l Commissioner (Ripon t o M i t c h e l l , C o n f i d e n t i a l
o f 5 November 1 8 9 4 ) . The J u d i c i a l C o m m is sio n e r b e g a n
a d m i t t i n g law y ers t o t h i s Court i n 1896.
247
49
Derby to Weld, 100 of 12 March 1883. Weld was furious
at the action of the Colonial Office in cancelling this
appointment; he put up the usual extravagant objections,
complaining of interference with the Sultan's government
and virtual annexation, but the officials were unimpressed.
One of them took the lecture to mean 'that Mr Swettenham
is aggrieved and that Sir P. Weld sympathises with him...',
but maintained that the Colonial Office was responsible
for 'mitigating on some points the personal rule and
direct influence of the Resident & the Governor'. (Minute
by de Robeck, 9 August 1883, on CO 273/121/13415.)
50
Weld to Knutsford, 443 of 17 October 1887. The agreement,
between Resident, Sungei Ujong and Messrs Hill and Rathborne,
12 October 1887^enclosed in Smith to Knutsford, 58 of
4 February 1888.
248
coast; the immediate need was for quick and cheap transport,
and Swettenham at first thought that a light, narrow-gauge
railway would be most suitable for the Klang-Kuala Lumpur
line. The influence of the Colonial Office contributed to
the decision to adopt a metre gauge and a heavy steel rail
51
Crown Agents to Colonial Office, 11 May 1888, enclosed
in Knutsford to Smith, Confidential of 12 August 1888.
249
o f a p r o p o s e d r a i l w a y t o o p e n up t h e m i n i n g d i s t r i c t s o f
meet i t s o r d i n a r y e x p e n s e s w i t h o u t l o a n s , and s i n c e t h e
C o l o n y i t s e l f r e f u s e d t o make t h e l i n e , t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e
was n o t e n t h u s i a s t i c . I t went so f a r a s t o s a n c t i o n t h e
su rv ey of th e r o u t e , but i t r e f u s e d to s a n c t i o n th e only
term s a c c e p t a b l e t o th e Colony L e g i s l a t u r e - c o n s t r u c t i o n
b y a p r i v a t e company w i t h t h e C o lo n y g u a r a n t e e i n g t h e
52
i n t e r e s t - and t h e p r o j e c t f e l l t h r o u g h .
The C o l o n i a l O f f i c e s i g n i f i e d its i n te r e s t in the
N a t i v e S t a t e s a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s b y a r i t u a l a ck n o w led g em en t
o f t h e i r Annual R e p o r t s . B e f o r e 1 8 8 8 , t h e s e were acknow
ledged in th r e e or fo u r l i n e s e x p re s s in g a c o n v en tio n a l
i n t e r e s t ; b u t in t h a t y e a r , Lucas began th e p r a c t i c e of
d r a f t i n g l o n g m i n u t e s ( o n w h i c h t h e d e s p a t c h e s were b a s e d )
b r i n g i n g t o th e n o t i c e o f t h e S e c r e t a r y of S t a t e , th e p r o
g r e s s made b y t h e R e s i d e n t s . T h es e d e s p a t c h e s , he t h o u g h t ,
52
K n u t s f o r d t o D i c k s o n , 120 o f 11 A p r i l 1 8 90; K n u t s f o r d t o
S m i t h , 102 o f 2 A p r i l 1 8 9 1 ; K n u t s f o r d t o S m i t h , 138 o f
23 A p r i l 1 8 9 2 .
250
I n h i s R e p o r t f o r S e l a n g o r f o r 1 8 8 8 , f o r e x a m p l e , Sw etten h am
h a d r e f e r r e d t o t h e n e e d f o r an I n s p e c t o r o f S c h o o l s f o r
t h e S t a t e , and i n h i s R e p o r t f o r P e r a k f o r 1889 he h a d made
t h e same p o i n t i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h e d u c a t i o n t h e r e . The
M in u te b y Meade, 4 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 9 5 , CO 2 7 3 / 2 0 4 / 1 2 3 7 0 .
56
The R e s i d e n t s d e v o t e d a few p a r a g r a p h s o f t h e i r Annual
R eports t o d i r e c t r e p l i e s to th e S e c re ta r y o f S t a t e ' s
d e s p a t c h on t h e r e p o r t s o f t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r . P e r a k b e g a n
t h i s p r a c t i c e i n 1 8 9 1 , and t h e o t h e r s t a t e s i n 1 8 9 3 . The
R e p o r t s f o r any one y e a r were drawn up i n t h e n e x t h a l f -
y e a r , and f o r w a r d e d b y t h e G o v e r n o r t o t h e S e c r e t a r y o f
S t a t e b e t w e e n Ju n e a n d A u g u s t . The S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e ' s
r e p l y was u s u a l l y w r i t t e n a b o u t S e p t e m b e r o r O c t o b e r and
r e c e i v e d a month l a t e r , t o o l a t e t o i n i t i a t e a c t i o n f o r
th a t year.
252
the r e p l i e s of th e S e c re ta ry of S ta te . The S e l a n g o r R e p o r t
f o r 1891 r e f e r r e d t o a r r a n g e m e n t s made t o i s o l a t e t h e l e p e r s
in a S t a t e asylum; th e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e e x p re s s e d a p r e
fe r e n c e f o r i s o l a t i o n in t h e S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s asylum
a t P u l a n T e r e j a k , b u t t h e S e l a n g o r Government k e p t t o i t s
arrangem ents. I n t h e s e m a t t e r s and many o t h e r s , t h e a c t i o n
t a k e n a r o s e n a t u r a l l y o u t o f prog ram mes a l r e a d y i n i t i a t e d
o r r e q u i r e m e n t s a l r e a d y n o t e d , a nd i t is u n lik e ly t h a t the
p a ce o f r e f o r m was much a f f e c t e d b y t h e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s
57
of the C olonial O ffice .
57
There a r e a few c a s e s i n w h i c h a c t i o n was p r o b a b l y t a k e n
a t th e recommendation o f th e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e ; t h e i n s t i
t u t i o n of s a n i t a r y b o a r d s i n P e r a k , on t h e S e l a n g o r m o d e l ,
i s one o f t h e m .
253
i s t s be i n t r o d u c e d t h e r e . B u t t h e y w ere t o o p r e o c c u p i e d
w i t h s e c u r i n g C h in e s e and I n d i a n l a b o u r f o r t h e m in e s and
e s t a t e s t o sp e n d much tim e on e s t a b l i s h i n g them a s an
im m ig ra n t p e a s a n t r y , and t h e y n e v e r had a n y t h i n g t o r e p o r t
59
on t h i s h e a d beyond m in o r e x p e r i m e n t s and a c h i e v e m e n t s .
The C o l o n i a l O f f i c e was n o t d i r e c t l y in f o r m e d , a s a
r u l e , about S ta te l e g i s l a t i o n , b u t i t o c c a s io n a lly g a th e re d
i n f o r m a t i o n fro m m i s c e l l a n e o u s s o u r c e s , w h ic h c a u s e d i t t o
in te rv e n e in o rd er to a s s im ila te s o c ia l p r a c tic e s in th e
S t a t e s as f a r as p o s s ib le t o m e tr o p o lita n s ta n d a r d s o f
m o ra lity . I n 1 8 7 5 , f o r e x a m p le , i t p i c k e d up fro m S p e e d y ’ s
L a r u t r e p o r t , a r e f e r e n c e t o t h e e x i s t e n c e o f s l a v e r y and
d e b t bon d ag e i n P e r a k , and s u b s e q u e n t l y i n q u i r y showed t h a t
th e i n s t i t u t i o n was s p r e a d t h r o u g h o u t t h e P e n i n s u l a . The
58
K n u t s f o r d t o D i c k s o n , 277 o f 16 S e p tem b er 1 8 9 0 .
59
T hese r e m a r k s r e f e r t o s e t t l e m e n t by C h in e s e and I n d i a n s .
T h e re was e x t e n s i v e s e t t l e m e n t by im m ig ra n t M a la y s , some
o f whom w ere a s s i s t e d by G-overnment l o a n s , b u t t h i s move
m ent a p p e a r s t o have owed more t o M alay i n i t i a t i v e t h a n t o
G-overnment p l a n n i n g .
254
S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e d i r e c t e d t h a t t h e p r a c t i c e be a b a t e d
’w i t h a s l i t t l e d e l a y as i s c o n s i s t e n t w ith th e n e c e s s a r y
c a u t i o n w h i c h i s t o be o b s e r v e d i n t h e new r e l a t i o n s which
60
e x i s t in P e r a k '. I n 1878 t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e c a l l e d
61
f o r in fo rm a tio n about th e p r a c t i c e in a l l the S t a t e s .
A c t i o n h ad a l r e a d y b e e n t a k e n i n S e l a n g o r and S u n g e i Ujong
w h e r e b y t h e v a l u e o f s l a v e l a b o u r was s e t a g a i n s t t h e o r i g i n a l
d e b t and p u r c h a s e p r i c e and t h e d e b t t h e r e b y l i q u i d a t e d ;
b u t i n P e r a k t h e p r o b l e m was r e n d e r e d more d i f f i c u l t by
t h e s i z e o f t h e Malay p o p u l a t i o n - and t h e r e f o r e o f r e s i s
t a n c e t o c h a n g e - and b y t h e n e e d t o p r o c e e d s l o w l y w i t h
reform s a f t e r the re c e n t d is tu rb a n c e s . The C o l o n i a l O f f i c e
a c c e p t e d t h e n e e d f o r c a u t i o n ; b u t i n 1882 i t r en e w e d i t s
62
pressure. By t h a t t i m e , h o w e v e r , Low h a d o f h i s own
a c c o r d d e c i d e d t h a t t h e t i m e had come f o r a c t i o n , and had
a s k e d t h e P e r a k S t a t e C o u n c i l l o r s t o come t o t h e n e x t
63
m eeting prepared to d is c u s s s o l u t i o n s . The a r r a n g e m e n t
d e c i d e d a t t h e S t a t e C o u n c i l m e e t i n g i n O c t o b e r , w h e reb y
s l a v e r y and d e b t b o n d a g e were t o c e a s e i n P e r a k on
60
C a r n a r v o n t o J e r v o i s , C o n f i d e n t i a l o f 25 May 1 8 7 5 .
61
H ic k s Beach t o R o b i n s o n , 31 August 1 8 7 8 .
62
K i m b e r l e y t o W eld, 4 March 1 8 8 2 .
63
PCM,15 March 1 8 8 2 .
255
b y two o r t h r e e y e a r s .
A g a i n , i n 1 8 8 9 , an o f f i c i a l n o t i c e d a r e f e r e n c e i n a
d e b a te in th e Colony L e g i s l a t i v e C o u n c il t o th e e x i s t e n c e
s i d e r e d t h e p e n a l t y t o o s e v e r e , and l e a r n t on i n q u i r y t h a t
t h e P e r a k p e n a l t y was a d e ad l e t t e r ; t h e G o v e r n o r had g i v e n
I n s tr u c tio n s through the R esidents t h a t i t s h o u l d n o t be
S4
K n u t s f o r d t o S m i t h , 130 o f 10 May 1 8 8 9 .
256
b u t t h e y c o n t i n u e d t o be l e v i e d i n P e r a k , and i n 1891 t h e
S e c r e ta r y of S ta te noted a re fe re n c e in th e P e ra k Govern
ment G a z e t t e o f 8 May, t o t h e e x p e n d i t u r e o f r e v e n u e f r o m
th is s o u r c e on v a r i o u s good w o r k s , i n c l u d i n g an o l d p e o p l e ’ s
home i n T a i p i n g . The S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e l e a r n t f u r t h e r
t h a t t h e G o v e r n o r h ad b e e n a b o u t t o a l l o w a P e r a k O r d e r i n
C o u n c i l f o r t h e c o m p u l s o r y e x a m i n a t i o n and t r e a t m e n t o f
v e n e r e a l d i s e a s e ; and a s s u c h l e g i s l a t i o n h a d b e e n r e p e a l e d
i n I n d i a and t h e C o l o n i e s a t t h e i n s i s t e n c e o f P a r l i a m e n t ,
th e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e f e l t unable t o p erm it th e Governor
65
K n u ts f o r d t o Sm ith, 7 of 7 J a n u a r y 1892. The m i n u t e s
showed how t h e i n s t r u c t i o n s were t o b e r e l a y e d . ’T e l l
t h e G o v e r n o r t o i n s t r u c t t h e R e s i d e n t t o recommend t h e
S t a t e C o u n c i l . . . ’ ( M i n u t e b y J o h n s o n , 15 December 1 8 9 1 ,
on 2 7 3 / 1 7 6 / 2 3 0 4 9 ) .
66
PCM 21 J u n e 1 8 9 2 , PGG 1 0 A u g u s t 1 8 9 2 .
257
The S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e a l s o o b j e c t e d t o t h e c o n
t i n u a n c e o f l i c e n s e d p u b l i c gambling in t h e N a tiv e S t a t e s
a f t e r i t had b e e n made i l l e g a l i n t h e S t r a i t s and Hongkong.
The l e a s e o f t h e g a m b l i n g monopoly b r o u g h t i n a l a r g e
r e v e n u e , and t h e e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e S t r a i t s had shown t h a t
g a m b l i n g among t h e C h i n e s e d i d n o t c e a s e upon b e i n g made
i l l e g a l , b u t s i m p l y f l o u r i s h e d u n d e r g r o u n d , and c o n t r i b u t e d
t o t h e I n c r e a s e o f c r i m e , o f p r o t e c t i o n r a c k e t s and p o l i c e
corruption; and Sw etten h a m p o i n t e d o u t i n a d e v a s t a t i n g
67
R ip o n t o S m i t h , 4 November 1 8 9 2 ; S m ith t o R i p o n , 492 of
18 December 1 8 9 2 .
The i n c i d e n t t h r o w s a v a l u a b l e l i g h t on t h e G o v e r n o r ’ s
c o n t r o l of s t a t e l e g i s l a t i o n . The O r d e r In C o u n c i l p r o
v i d i n g f o r t h e c o m p u l s o r y e x a m i n a t i o n o f p r o s t i t u t e s was
passed a p p a r e n tly a t th e P erak C ouncil m eeting o f 7 J u ly
1891 ( r e f e r e n c e i n PCM o f 21 June 1 8 9 2 , PGG 10 August 1 8 9 2 ) .
I n S e p t e m b e r 1891 i t was a w a i t i n g t h e G o v e r n o r ’ s c o n s i d e r
a t i o n b e f o r e b e i n g b r o u g h t i n t o o p e r a t i o n ; b e f o r e he c o u l d
a l l o w i t he r e c e i v e d a d e s p a t c h fro m t h e S e c r e t a r y o f
S ta te o b je c tin g t o the l e v y o f fe e s f o r the r e g i s t r a t i o n
o f p r o s t i t u t e s and p r e s u m i n g t h a t no s y s t e m o f c o m p u l s o r y
e x a m i n a t i o n or t r e a t m e n t o f v e n e r e a l d i s e a s e was i n f o r c e
i n t h e N a t i v e S t a t e s ( K n u t s f o r d t o S m i t h , 12 August 1 8 9 1 ,
H. o f C. 1 4 6 , n o . l ) . The G o v e r n o r w i t h h e l d a p p r o v a l o f
th e Order in C o u n c il, p e n d in g f u r t h e r i n s t r u c t i o n s (Sm ith
t o K h u t s f o r d , 406 o f 29 O c t o b e r 1 8 9 1 ) , and on r e c e i v i n g
t h e m , he r e f u s e d a p p r o v a l a l t o g e t h e r , t h e O r d e r was n e v e r
g a z e t t e d , and t h e r e i s no r e f e r e n c e t o i t i n t h e a c c o u n t
o f t h e C o u n c i l m e e t i n g a t which i t was p a s s e d (PCM 7 J u l y
1 8 9 1 , i n PGG 30 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 9 1 ) . The l e v y o f f e e s f o r
b r o t h e l r e g i s t r a t i o n was a b o l i s h e d b y O r d e r i n C o u n c i l , 5
o f 1 8 9 2 , p a s s e d a t a m e e t i n g o f 19 December 1892 (PGG
11 J a n u a r y 1 8 9 3 ) .
258
m inute t h a t th e a b o l i t i o n of l i c e n s e d gambling in P e ra k
would r e s u l t i n a ’g i g a n t i c c o n s p i r a c y t o b r e a k t h e l a w '
>r\
and^the com plete d e m o r a li s a t io n of th e p o l i c e . The Gov
e r n o r and f o u r o f t h e f i v e R e s i d e n t s recommended t h e c o n
t i n u a n c e o f t h e g a m b l i n g f a r m ; and e v e n t h e S u l t a n o f
68
Perak sen t in a stro n g l e t t e r of p r o t e s t . But as t h e
G o v e r n o r r e a l i s e d , t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e had t o s a t i s f y
P a r l i a m e n t on t h e m a t t e r ; in a n t i c i p a t i o n of i n s t r u c t i o n s
t h e C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y p u t up a scheme f o r t h e g r a d u a l
a b o l i t i o n o f t h e f a r m , and t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e d i r e c t e d
69
t h a t t h i s p l a n be c a r r i e d o u t .
The R e s i d e n t s were a b l e , f o r c e f u l and I n d e p e n d e n t men,
a s t h e y n e e d e d t o be i n o r d e r t o d i s c h a r g e t h e i r r e s p o n s i
b ilitie s, and t h e y were s u p p o r t e d b y G o v e r n o r s o f s i m i l a r
a b i l i t y and i n d e p e n d e n c e . I t i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t Re
s i d e n t s and G o v e r n o r s were j e a l o u s o f t h e i r a u t h o r i t y and
re s e n te d the in te rfe re n c e of departm ental o f f i c i a l s in
L o n d o n , o r t h a t many o f th em s h o u l d c o n s i d e r t h e r i g i d
Ü8
M i t c h e l l t o R i p o n , C o n f i d e n t i a l o f 8 F e b r u a r y 1895 and
e n c l o s u r e s ; S u l t a n o f P e r a k t o G o v e r n o r , 20 J u l y 1 8 9 4 , i n
CO 2 7 3 / 1 9 5 / 1 5 1 8 3 . The S u l t a n was p r o b a b l y e n c o u r a g e d b y
S w etten h am t o e x p r e s s h i s d i s p l e a s u r e ; b u t i t seems t o
h av e b e e n g e n u i n e . M i t c h e l l w r o t e p r i v a t e l y t o s a y t h a t
t h e S u l t a n was ' s o much i n c e n s e d ' t h a t he d i d n o t go t o
s e e him when he ( M i t c h e l l ) was l a s t i n P e r a k . (M itchell
t o CO, p r i v a t e , 20 F e b r u a r y 1 8 9 5 , i n CO 2 7 3 / 2 0 2 / 4 7 2 2 . )
69
Ripon t o M i t c h e l l , C o n f i d e n t i a l o f 4 A p r i l 1895.
LIBRARY r-
259
and a l l e g i a n c e s w h i c h c u t a c r o s s t h e i r d i s a g r e e m e n t s i n
p articu lar situ atio n s; t h e y a l l w i s h e d t o advance t h e e c o
nomic d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e P e n i n s u l a , t o e s t a b l i s h o r d e r l y
and s o l v e n t a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s , and t o m a i n t a i n minimum s t a n d
a r d s o f p u b l i c i n s t r u c t i o n and h e a l t h c a r e , t h o u g h t h e
minimum s t a n d a r d was a p t t o be n a r r o w l y d e f i n e d . R esidents
and G o v e r n o r s were a l i k e c o n s c i o u s t h a t i s o l a t i o n c a r r i e d
w ith i t the danger of d e m o ra lis a tio n in th e p u b lic s e r v ic e ;
t h e y t r i e d t o m a i n t a i n s t a n d a r d s , by i n s t i t u t i n g a d m i n i s
t r a t i v e p r o c e d u r e s and c o n t r o l s which were t a k e n fro m t h e
g e n e r a l o r d e r s o f th e Colony. The C o l o n i a l O f f i c e in ter
v e n e d , n o t so much t o i n t r o d u c e r u l e s and p r o c e d u r e s , as t o
l i m i t t h e p e r s o n a l d i s c r e t i o n which t h e l o c a l o f f i c i a l s p e r
m itte d them selves in the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of t h e i r r e g u l a t i o n s .
• • • • • • •
By t h e end o f t h e p e r i o d t h e s i t u a t i o n was r e a c h e d
where a c o l o n i a l g o v e r n m e n t , r u l i n g i t s own p o p u l a t i o n s
t h r o u g h c o l o n i a l d e p a r t m e n t s and r e c o g n i s i n g no n a t i v e
a u t h o r i t y a s a n e x e c u t i v e i n s t r u m e n t , had b r o u g h t i n t o
260
r e m a r k a b l e was t h e p e r p e t u a t i o n o f t h e i l l u s i o n t h a t a
t e r r i t o r y whose p o p u l a t i o n s , in d u s trie s , adm inistrations
c o u n t r y i n w h ic h t h e y w o rk e d ; t h r o w n on t h e company o f
Malay a r i s t o c r a t s b y t h e s c a r c i t y o f t h e i r own k i n d , t h e y
f o u n d th em h o s p i t a b l e c o u n t r y g e n t l e m e n who combined
c o u r t e s y and r e s e r v e i n t h e r i g h t p r o p o r t i o n s and who l o v e d
f r i e n d s among th e m .
The M alay S t a t e s p r o v i d e a p a r t i c u l a r l y c l e a r - c u t
exam ple o f t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n o f g o v e rn m e n t t o d e a l w i t h a
divided s o c ie ty . The i n t r u s i o n o f t h e w o r l d economy was
a c c o m p a n ie d b y t h e g r o w t h o f a l a r g e and h i g h l y d e v e l o p e d
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n , d i r e c t e d and s t a f f e d b y n o n - M a l a y s , p a i d
f o r b y n o n - M a l a y t a x a t i o n and l a r g e l y s e r v i n g n o n - M a la y
c o m m e r c i a l i n t e r e s t s , w h i l e d i s t r i c t a d m i n i s t r a t i o n and
l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t were l e f t t o Malay l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s and
a g r o w i n g c a d r e o f Malay d i s t r i c t o f f i c e r s . The B r i t i s h
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n p r o v i d e d t h e l i n k b e t w e e n t h e s e two i n t e r e s t s
and u n d e r t o o k t o h o l d t h e b a l a n c e b e t w e e n t h e m . To t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t o r s o f the n in e t e e n t h c en tu ry the im m edia te
p r o b l e m was e c o n o m i c , how t o f i l l empty l a n d s , d e v e l o p a
m i n i n g and c o m m e r c i a l a g r i c u l t u r e and e s t a b l i s h a m odern
system of com m unications. I t was o n l y i n t h e t w e n t i e t h
c e n t u r y t h a t t h e d a n g e r t o t h e M a lay s o f u n r e s t r i c t e d
263
70
P ro c e e d in g s o f th e P e d e ra l C o u n c il, 16 November 1927,
c i t e d Emerson, M alaysia* 1 7 4 -5 .
264
to a l l th o s e b o m i n Malaya a f t e r in d ep en d en ce d ay , i r
r e s p e c tiv e o f t h e i r r a c i a l o r i g i n , and i n p r a c t i c e to
la r g e numbers of non-M alays who were a lre a d y i n th e c o u n try
b e fo re independence* Non-Malays a r e i n p o s it io n s c a r r y in g
g r e a t p o l i t i c a l and a d m in is tr a tiv e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y . In
e s s e n t i a l s , how ever, Malay p o l i t i c a l predom inance i s
m a in ta in e d . The tim e c la u s e i n th e c i t i z e n s h i p r e g u la tio n s
p r e s e rv e s th e e l e c t o r a l b a la n c e i n f a v o u r o f Malays f o r
a g e n e ra tio n to come; th e c o n s t i t u t i o n p ro v id e s f o r th e
a d o p tio n of Malay as th e n a t io n a l la n g u a g e , and f o r th e
i n d e f i n i t e o p e r a tio n o f s p e c ia l Malay p r i v i l e g e s ( f o r
exam ple, a Malay q u o ta o f governm ent p o s t s ) ; th e head s o f
S ta te a r e th e Malay r u l e r s . The p o l i c i e s and methods
ad o p ted to d e a l w ith th e d u a l problem s o f a c o lo n ia l s o c ie ty
c o n tin u e to f in d e x p re s s io n i n th e p o l i t i c a l l i f e o f modem
M alaya.
265
APPENDIX I
THE RAJAS
1. The Sultan
2. The Raja Muda (heir presumptive).
3* The Waris Negeri (male members of the royal house in
the line of succession. An elastic category).
a t t h e m outh o f t h e P e r a k R i v e r , a n d was e n t i t l e d
to a sh are o f c o ll e c t io n s . He a l s o h a d a c u sto m s
s t a t i o n on t h e B a ta n g P a d a n g . H i s v i l l a g e was D u r ia n
S a -b a ta n g , a t th e c o n flu e n c e o f th e P erak and t h e
B id o r.
3♦ T he S ' a d i k a R a ja ( P r a n g Kaya-K aya S r i A d ik a Ra.1a
S h a h b a n d a r Muda) .
T e r r i t o r i a l c h i e f o f U p p e r P e r a k , fro m K u a la Temong
t o t h e Siam b o u n d a r y . H i s r e v e n u e s came fro m t a x e s
on t i n a n d g u t t a e x p o r t e d fro m h i s d i s t r i c t , a n d from
a r i c e l e v y on e a c h h o u s e h o l d .
T e r r i t o r i a l c h i e f o f K i n t a , a n d w ard en o f P e r a k ' s
e a ste rn fr o n tie r . He r e c e i v e d a t e n t h o f a l l t h e t i n
produced in h is d i s t r i c t .
APPENDIX I I
Yap Ah Loy
Yap Ah Loy was a r e m a r k a b le C h in e s e l e a d e r whose b i o
g r a p h y , w r i t t e n fro m C h in e s e a n d E n g lis h s o u r c e s , i s t h e
o n ly s tu d y i n E n g l i s h o f C h in e s e l e a d e r s h i p i n th e n i n e t e e n t h
c e n t u r y M alay S t a te s * ^ He was a H akka, b o rn i n 1837 i n t h e
P e i Chew p r e f e c t u r e o f K w angtung p r o v in c e . He s a i l e d fro m
Macao f o r M a la c c a i n 1 8 5 4 , a n d a f t e r w o rk in g a s a shop
a s s i s t a n t , a m in e cook a n d a d e a l e r i n p i g s a ro u n d th e m in e s
o f L u k u t a n d S u n g e i U jo n g , h e becam e a p r i n c i p a l f i g h t i n g
man u n d e r t h e C a p it a n C h in a o f S u n g e i U jo n g ; when h i s c h i e f
was k i l l e d i n o n e o f t h e S u n g e i U jong f a c t i o n f i g h t s , Ah
Loy becam e C a p i t a n C h in a , a t t h e a g e o f t w e n t y - s i x . At each
s t a g e he was h e l p e d w ith l o a n s , s h e l t e r o r em ploym ent b y
cla n sm en o f t h e Yap su rn am e. I n 1862 one o f t h e Hakka c h i e f s
o f S u n g e i U jo n g , w ith whom Ah Loy had b e e n c l o s e l y a s s o c i a t e d ,
moved to K u a la Lumpur a n d becam e C a p ita n o f t h e C h in e s e t h e r e ;
Ah Loy f o llo w e d h im , m anaged h i s m in e s, a n d i n 1868 s u c c e e d e d
him a s C a p ita n C h in a . Prom 1868 t i l l h i s d e a t h i n 1885 he
I
M id d le b ro o k , ’ Yap Ah L o y * , JMBRAS, x x i v , 2 , fro m w hich
t h i s summary i s m o s tly t a k e n .
270
an asylum for the sick, and kept 4000 men employed in his
p
mines and other enterprises, Swettenham* s eulogy of Ah
temperate. The *asylum for the sick* (which in any case con
mines and clearing rivers for the tin traffic after the end
2
Asst.C.S. for Native States, Audit Report on Selangor,
27 March 1880, C.3095, enclosure 1 in no,2.
3
State Apothecary to Resident, 27 July 1880, Sel/Sec.201/
1880.
4
Resident to C.S., 21 May 1883, Sel/Sec.315/1883.
272
3
M i d d l e b r o o k , op. c i t . , p . 1 2 1 ; R e s i d e n t t o C . S . , 17 May
1883, S e l / S e c . 6 6 1 /1 8 8 3 . The a c t u a l e x p e n d i t u r e on r o a d s ,
s t r e e t s a n d b r i d g e s b y t h e S t a t e i n 1883 t o t a l l e d # 1 3 4 ,7 8 5
( S e l a n g o r A n n u a l R e p o r t f o r 1 8 8 3 ) , b u t Ah Loy may w e l l h a v e
s p e n t m ore money on r o a d s t h a n Swettenham* s p r e d e c e s s o r a s
R e s i d e n t (who s p e n t a t o t a l o f # 1 8 ,9 9 3 i n 1 8 8 2 ) , and l a i d
i t o u t to b e t t e r p u rp o se .
6
S u p e r i n t e n d e n t o f P o l i c e t o R e s i d e n t , 2 S e p te m b e r 188 0 ,
S e l / S e c . 2 7 2 /1 8 8 0 .
273
7 ----------
In 1880 Ah Loy leased the Kuala Lumpur gambling, pawnshop
and spirit farms for #450 a month. In 1881 he was forced
by Malacca competition to raise his bid to #1000 a month
(Koh Hoon Boh to Resident, 7 December 1881 and minute by
Resident, 9 December 1881, Sel/Sec. 528/1881). In 1883 he
was paying #51,612 a year for these farms (Resident to
Governor, 17 May 1883, Sel/Sec. 661/1883)•
8
C. 3. to Resident, 18 November 1879, Sel/Sec. Misc. 1879*
9
Resident to C. 3. , 3 November 1882, Sel/Sec.669/1882.
274
TÖ
Resident to C.8. , 12 May 1880, Sel/8ec.4/1880. Ah Loy*s
successor received only #100 a month.
11
Resident to Governor, 17 May 1883, Sel/Sec.661/1883.
(The Taiping market was let in 1882 for #5196.)
275
o f a C h i n e s e m i n i n g l e a d e r , r u l i n g n o t o n l y h i s own community
b u t v i r t u a l l y r u l i n g t h e S t a t e ev en a f t e r B r i t i s h i n t e r v e n t i o n ;
d i s p o s e d o f h i s e n e m ie s f o r h i m , a n d b e c a u s e t h e B r i t i s h
276
APPENDIX III
a n d B r i t a i n * s d u t y t o p r o t e c t them from e x t e r n a l a g g r e s s i o n
was e s t a b l i s h e d , B r i t i s h p a r a m o u n t c y was a l s o a f f i r m e d , b y
t h e c l a u s e s i n v a r i o u s t r e a t i e s whereby B r i t a i n r e c o g n i s e d
and f o r a l l p r a c t i c a l p u r p o s e s l e g i t i m i s e d c la im a n ts to
r o y a l and c h i e f l y t i t l e s .
By 1874 , P e r a k a n d S e l a n g o r w e r e a l r e a d y i n some d e g r e e
p ro tected s ta te s ; i n 1876 a n d 1877 t h e p e t t y s t a t e s o f t h e
N e g r i S e m b i l a n a c c e p t e d B r i t i s h a r b i t r a t i o n ; a n d i n 1887
t h e N e g r i S e m b i l a n a n d P a h a n g came u n d e r B r i t i s h p r o t e c t i o n .
A f t e r 1874 t h e p o l i c y o f i n t e r v e n t i o n b r o u g h t t h e i r i n
t e r n a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s one b y one u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e
S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s G overnm ent. I n each s t a t e , a R e s i d e n t
was e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h t h e r i g h t t o s u p e r v i s e t h e r e v e n u e s
and r e g u la te th e g e n e ra l a d m in is tra tio n o f the c o u n try .
The f o r m a l a u t h o r i t y f o r t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e R e s i d e n t
v a r i e d in each s t a t e . I n P e r a k a n d t h e N e g r i S e m b i l a n he
was p r o v i d e d f o r b y T r e a t y ; i n S e l a n g o r a n d S u n g e i U j o n g
h e was i n t r o d u c e d b y e x e c u t i v e a c t , confirm ed, in S e lan g o r,
b y a l e t t e r o f a c c e p t a n c e fro m t h e S u l t a n , a n d j u s t i f i e d ,
i n S u n g e i U j o n g , b y a p r e v i o u s i n v i t a t i o n from t h e
t e r r i t o r i a l ch ief. I n P a h a n g , t h e R e s i d e n t was i n t r o d u c e d
i n r e s p o n s e t o a l e t t e r fro m t h e S u l t a n i n v i t i n g a B r i t i s h
o fficer.
The i n s t r u m e n t s r e f e r r e d t o t h e p o w e r s a n d f u n c t i o n s o f
the R esident o f f i c e r , w ithout a ttem p tin g exact d e f i n i ti o n s
279
I
Sultan of Selangor to Governor, 1 October 1874, Maxwell
and Gibson, Treaties and Engagements affecting the Malay
States and Borneo, 35-6; Proclamation by the Sultan, 21
February 1876, C.1320, enclosure in no.38.
280
2
See Maxwell and Gibson, op. cit., for the text of these
treaties.
281
3
Speech by Sir Frederick Weld, reported in Proceedings
of the Royal Colonial Institute, xv (1883-4), 2Ö1. Weld
was Governor from 18Ö0-Ö9.
4
Swettenham, The Real Malay. 22.
5
observed”. The administrations of the native states
were organised and directed by the Residents, under the
control of the Governor, and subject to the general
authority of the Secretary of State; the Resident and his
staffs collected and administered the revenue, organised
5
Speech by Sir William Robinson, reported in Proceedings
of the Royal Colonial Institute, xxiii (1891-2), 40.
283
f i n a n c e s came u n d e r d i s c u s s i o n i n t h e C o l o n y L e g i s l a t i v e
C o u n c i l were t h o s e c u r r e n t l y a s s i s t e d b y Co lo n y l o a n s .
The r u l e o f t h e R e s i d e n t s was p e r s o n a l r u l e c h e c k e d b y
t h e r e s t r a i n t s a n d p r e c e d e n t s o f t h e i r own c o l o n i a l s e r v i c e
t r a i n i n g , b y t h e a u t h o r i t y o f th e G o v e rn o r, and - r a r e l y -
by t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e .
The R e s i d e n t s h a d a d u a l p r o b l e m o f g o v e r n m e n t i n
t h a t th e y had t o d e a l n o t o n ly w ith th e Malays b u t a l s o
w i t h t h e v i r t u a l l y a u to n o m o u s community o f C h i n e s e . T heir
r u l e was f i r s t i n t r o d u c e d i n t o p r e d o m i n a n t l y C h i n e s e
s e t t l e m e n t s ; t h e i r f i r s t c o n c e r n was t h e c o n t r o l o f t h e
C h i n e s e p o p u l a t i o n and t h e r e g u l a t i o n o f t h e t i n - m i n i n g
i n d u s t r y on w h i c h t h e r e v e n u e s o f t h e s t a t e s d e p e n d e d .
Swettenh am w r o t e i n r e t r o s p e c t t h a t , ’’w h i l e t h e i r f i r s t
o b j e c t was t o b e n e f i t t h e M a l a y s a n d make t h e i r l i v e s
e a s i e r and h a p p i e r , th e y r e c o g n i s e d t h a t t h e y must look to
t h e C h i n e s e a s t h e w o r k e r s a n d r e v e n u e p r o d u c e r s ’’ . ^ B e f o r e
B r i t i s h i n t e r v e n t i o n , M alay a n d C h i n e s e l e a d e r s i n t h e
s t a t e s h a d c o m b i n e d i n e c o n o m ic a n d m i l i t a r y a l l i a n c e s
a g a in s t t h e i r c o m p a trio ts in opposing f a c t i o n s . But
t h o u g h t h i s a s s o c i a t i o n a n d community o f i n t e r e s t h a d ex
i s t e d a t c e r t a i n l e v e l s , and though B r i t i s h i n t e r v e n t i o n
b ro u g h t M alays and C hinese u n d e r a s i n g l e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e
6
S w e tte n h a m , F o o t p r i n t s i n M a l a y a . 72.
2Ö5
7
Jervois to Carnarvon, 291 of 16 October 1875*
8
For notes on Rajas Yusuf and Dris see p,. h*-7*
286
9
Jervois to Carnarvon, 62 of 10 February 1876.
10
Carnarvon to Jervois, 135 of 1 June 1876* In 1876 the
title of Commissioner was dropped and the old title of
Resident restored.
11
Jervois to Carnarvon, 62 of 10 February 1876.
12
Jervois to Carnarvon, 88 of 22 March 1877; Anson to
Carnarvon, 201 of 23 June 1877»
287
13
See Appendix I for a list of Perak title-holders with
their genealogies and traditional functions.
14
Waris - lit. heirs. Waris Negeri (Perak); a term
applied to the male descendants of Sultans.
288
T5
Minute by Round, 30 July 1877, CO 273/90/9213.
289
Low crossed off the Panglima Kinta, who had not been to
see him for the three months after his arrival, and whose
16
In 1877, of the four chiefs of the first rank, the
Bendahara was dead; the Mentri was in exile; the office of
the Orang Kaya Besar was vacant. Of the eight chiefs of
the second rank, the Maharaja Lela and the Dato1 Sagor
had been hanged for their part in the murder of Birch; the
S'adika Raja died in 1876, a fugitive from the British
army of occupation; the Laksamana and the Shahbandar were
in exile. The offices of the Panglima Bukit Gantang and
the Imam Paduka Tuan were vacant.
A successor to the Laksamana (a cousin) was appointed
in 1891; a successor to the S'adika Raja (his son) in the
same year; a successor to the Mentri (his son) in 1896.
The new Laksamana was already on the Council as Raja
Mahkota when he was raised to the title; on his death in
1894 a successor was appointed both to the title and to
the Council. The new S'adika Raja was appointed to the
Council in 1894, and the new Mentri \y \
17
Anson to Carnarvon, 201 of 23 June 1877.
Low had replaced the Panglima Kinta with a Sumatran com
moner, Che Karim b. Ibrahim, who had been sent to open up
Selama in North Perak as the agent of the Mentri and had
achieved a degree of independence during the disturbances
of 1875-6. Low thought perhaps that Che Karim's
commercial initiative would be useful on the Council, but
290
(continued)
Che Karim kept away from Council meetings, possibly
because of the difference in rank between himself and the
other Malay members, and in 1880 his name was dropped from
the lists.
18
See note 16
291
19
The five Malay members added between 1877 and 1894
(the first two of whom died soon after appointment) were
the Panglima Besar (1879) the holder of the chief
military title; Shaikh Mohammed Taib (1879) a Sumatran
ulema (doctor of religion) who was connected by marriage
with Sultan Abdullah* s family, but who held no title; the
Raja Mahkota (1880), a chief of the third rank, appointed
Laksamana in 1891; the Panglima Kinta (1886) a chief of
the second rank; and Dato1 Muda Abdul Wahab (1886) the heir
to the Panglima Kinta title. (In the Perak Annual Report
for 1884, the Panglima Kinta is referred to as a member of
the State Council, but his name does not appear as a State
Councillor in the Perak Directory before 1886. He was
certainly not a member before 1883*)
292
son of the Sultan, and the heir to the throne. The five
20
They were, in order of appointment, Raja Hassan (1880),
son of Raja Abdullah of Klang and the Sultan* s nephew by
marriage; Raja Laut (1881), son of a former Sultan and
the brother-in-law of the reigning Sultan; Raja Suleiman
(1886) son of Raja Muda Musa (d. 1884) and himself made
Raja Muda in 1888; Raja Bot (1888) son of Raja Juma’at of
Lukut and nephew of the Sultan. The fifth member was the
Sultan himself. The first two Residents had been attached
to the Sultan* s son-in-law, Tengku Kudin, (a Kedah prince)
who was the chief supporter of British intervention in
Selangor, and the Tengku presided over the first Councils.
In 1877 the Tengku left Selangor and the Sultan began to
attend Council meetings informally. In 1883, after the
arrival of Swettenham as Resident, the Sultan is recorded
as presiding over Council meetings, and thereafter pre
sided over them whenever they were held in Langat.
21
Swettenham recognised the importance of official
position and titles of honour to the Malays. (The Real
Malay, 37-8.)
294
22
by the Chinese community. In Perak, the two Chinese
22
The word "community" is here used in a general sense,
to embrace those of Chinese nationality. In fact they
were organised in clan and regional associations and in
secret societies. The chief societies in the Malay
States, the Hai San and Ghi Hin, were traditionally in
conflict.
23
Capitan China was the title traditionally bestowed by
Malay governments on the headmen of a resident Chinese
community. The Capitan China was recognised by the
community and the host government as the intermediary
between them.
24
SCM 23 May 1885
296
25
s e c r e t s o c i e t y headmen, h u t a s s e c r e t s o c i e t i e s were
i l l e g a l i n P e ra k and S e lan g o r, t h e y were known,
i n n o c u o u s l y , a s headmen o f r e g i o n a l s u b d i v i s i o n s o f t h e
C h i n e s e c o m m u n ity , g r o u p e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e i r p l a c e o f
o r i g i n i n China.
Who t h e s e men r e p r e s e n t e d , how t h e y came t o p o w e r ,
w h a t c h a l l e n g e s t h e r e were t o t h e i r l e a d e r s h i p w i t h i n
t h e i r conm unities, one d o e s n o t know; t h e i n t e r n a l
o r g a n i s a t i o n o f th e Chinese in th e n i n e t e e n t h c en tu ry
s t i l l aw aits in v e s tig a tio n . A v a lu a b le short biography
o f Yap Ah Loy t e l l s w h at m i g h t b e e x p e c t e d a b o u t l e a d e r
s h i p i n a f r o n t i e r m i n i n g s o c i e t y ; t h o s e who came t o
p o w e r we re e n t e r p r i s i n g , r u t h l e s s , a n d w i t h s u f f i c i e n t
p o l i t i c a l j u d g e m e n t t o make u s e f u l a s s o c i a t i o n s . "The
l e a d e r s o f t h e s e C h i n e s e i m m i g r a n t s w e r e th ro w n up b y t h e
t e s t o f p e r s o n a l c o u r a g e a n d f o r c e o f c h a r a c t e r c o m b in ed
w i t h econ om ic s u c c e s s . . . t h i s ’ e l i t e 1 provided the
e c o n o m ic a n d m i l i t a r y l e a d e r s h i p , ex ercisin g a u th o rity
25
I n a r e p o r t d raw n up on t h e s e c r e t s o c i e t i e s i n t h e
N a tiv e S t a t e s , by th e A ctin g P r o t e c t o r o f Chinese,
S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s , one "Chh iu Yo k ", a "Macao” C h i n e s e
( C a n t o n e s e ) i s g i v e n a s a headman o f t h e " G i - H i n k o n g s i
i n K l a n g " , and "Yap Shak" a s a headman o f t h e Hai San
kongsi th ere. F. P o w e l l t o C . S . , 26 May 1884, CSO
P e r a k C o r r e s p o n d e n c e 3 5 7 4 /1 8 8 4 , c i t e d M.L. Wynne, T r i a d
a n d T a b u t ( S i n g a p o r e u n p u b l i s h e d 1 9 4 1 ) , 409-13*
297
26
partly through the clan or society system*" The
headmen were leaders of a mining community; they were
the chief advancers, the employers of labour and the tax
farmers; and on the Council they represented an industry
as well as a social group, and were valued accordingly*
2Z
S.M. Middlebrook and J. M. Gullick, 1Yap Ah Loy’,
JMBRAS, xxiv, 2, p.8.
27
Till 1885 the names of candidates were also submitted
to the Secretary of State, but in that year he notified
the Governor that his sanction was not required, though
appointments should continue to be submitted to him.
(Stanley to Smith, 37 of 23 July 1885.)
298
pö
and the British Resident. Shaikh Mohammed Taib,
appointed in 1879, had earned their particular dislike,
and Raja Yusuf tried unsuccessfully to block his appoint-
29
raent as State Kathi the same year. Under pressure from
Low, Yusuf eventually "nominated” Mohammed Taib as State
Kathi, and his nominations of the Councillors were
probably reached in the same way. The appointments to
the Selangor Council were much more likely to have been in
keeping with the Sultan* s own inclinations, as they were
nearly all appointments of his relatives, but in one case,
and perhaps in others, the Sultan merely confirmed the
Resident*s candidate.^0
28
Sadka, *Journal of Sir Hugh Low*, Perak 1877, JMBRAS,
xxvii, 4, pp.80-1.
29
PCM 4 March 1879 and 4 May 1879* Shaikh Mat Taib was
Low* s candidate for the position of Chief Kathi, and was
appointed despite Yusuf’s objections. The discussion
illustrates Low’s handling of the Regent, the Regent’s
dependence on Low, and the freedom with which a strong and
adroit Resident might encroach on matters which the
Pangkor Engagement excluded from his competence.
30
MI inform my friend that my friend’s letter written on
the 8th September 1888 has reached me in safety ...
Previous to the present letter I now write, I had already
confirmed the proposal of my friend to make Raja Bot a
member of Council, which I did with a true and sincere
heart, as I do not see a more qualified person than Raja
Bot whom my friend has made a member of Council. I sun
very much pleased with this arrangement and beg to thank
my friend for the same." (Translation of a letter from
299
(continued)
the Sultan of Selangor to F. A. Swettenham, 13 September
1888, filed in Sel/Sec. 2649/1888.
31
C.2410 of 1879, Robinson to Hicks-Beach, 13 June 1878
and enclosures.
•I
300
52
A rough count in Perak in 1879, made through penghulus
and mine headmen, placed the Malay population at 567632~
and the Chinese at 20,373 (Perak Annual Report for 1881).
According to the 1891 census, the Perak population was
212,997, of which 100,617 were Malays and 94,360 Chinese.
The Selangor census for 1891 placed the population at
81,592, of which 23*750 were Malays and 50,844 Chinese.
301
33
Brau de St. Pol Lias, Perak et les Prang Sakeys. 176«
302
to h is s o l i c i t u d e a n d management*
I n S e l a n g o r t h e R e s i d e n c y h ad f i r s t b e e n e s t a b l i s h e d
a t Klang, t h e o u t l e t o f t h e K u a l a Lumpur m i n e s ; b u t i n
1880 i t was moved t o K u a l a Lumpur, t h e c e n t r e o f t h e m i n e s
and th e C hinese p o p u l a t i o n . The S u l t a n r e m a i n e d a t
L angat; so t h a t t h e C o u n c i l m et on d i f f e r e n t o c c a s i o n s a t
K l a n g , L a n g a t a n d K u a la Lumpur. Up t o 1887 t h e m a j o r i t y
o f C o u n c i l m e e t i n g s w ere h e l d a t L a n g a t , i n t h e S u l t a n * s
p a l a c e ; a f t e r t h a t , a t K u a l a Lumpur, w h i c h t h e S u l t a n
hardly ever v is ite d . S i n c e t h e m a j o r i t y o f M alay members
l i v e d a t L a n g a t o r K l a n g , M a lay a t t e n d a n c e was f u l l e s t
when t h e C o u n c i l met i n e i t h e r o f t h e s e p l a c e s ; when i t
s h i f t e d t o K u a l a Lumpur, t h e M alay a t t e n d a n c e u s u a l l y f e l l
t o low l e v e l s . At a t h i r d o f t h e m e e t i n g s h e l d i n K u a l a
Lumpur, o n l y one Malay was p r e s e n t , u s u a l l y R a j a L a u t , t h e
Malay m a g i s t r a t e t h e r e .
I t was a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t a l a r g e p a r t o f t h e C o u n c i l
b u s in e s s d id n o t i n t e r e s t the Chinese p o p u la tio n , and a
s e p a r a t e C hinese C ouncil a t L a ru t ( f o r the P erak Chinese)
was on ce s u g g e s t e d . The i d e a was n o t p u r s u e d , a n d
R o b i n s o n t o H i c k s - B e a c h , 268 o f 10 S e p t e m b e r 1878.
Yap Ah Loy*s l e t t e r a c k n o w l e d g i n g h i s a p p o i n t m e n t t o t h e
C o u n c i l was f a r f r o m e n t h u s i a s t i c , a n d p a s s e d q u i c k l y t o
m o re i m p o r t a n t m a t t e r s . He w r o t e t o t h e R e s i d e n t , *We
i n f o r m o u r f r i e n d t h a t t h e l e t t e r o f S u l t a n A bdul Samat
w h i c h was s e n t t o u s came t o h a n d , t h e c o n t e n t s o f which
we u n d e r s t a n d . W it h r e f e r e n c e t o o u r d e b t t o G u t h r i e a nd
303
(continued)
Company..**. (Translation of a letter from Capitan China
to Resident, 29 March 1877, Sel/Sec. 115/1877.)
35
Headman or chief, usually applied to the headman of a
village or local government division.
36
PCM 4 February 1878*
304
tariff s t r u c t u r e , M alay p e n s i o n s a n d a p p o i n t m e n t s , t h e
j u r i s d i c t i o n a n d d i s c i p l i n e o f headmen a n d a l l o t h e r
m a t t e r s p e r t a i n i n g to l o c a l governm ent, th e appointm ent
of K ath is a n d t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f M u slim p e r s o n a l l a w ,
w e re a l l d e a l t w i t h h y r e s o l u t i o n s i n C o u n c i l .
The c o m p e te n c e o f t h e C o u n c i l was l i m i t e d h y t h e
f i n a l a u t h o r i t y o f th e Governor and th e S e c r e t a r y of
S tate. Two m a t t e r s o f i m p o r t a n c e w ere o u t s i d e i t s r a n g e
alto g eth er; t h e a n n u a l E s t i m a t e s we re p r e p a r e d h y t h e
R e s i d e n t f o r r a t i f i c a t i o n h y t h e G o v e r n o r , an d i n P e r a k
w ere n o t s u b m i t t e d t o t h e C o u n c i l a t a l l ; in Selangor
t h e y were s u b m itte d o c c a s i o n a l l y ( a f t e r s a n c t i o n hy th e
G o v e r n o r ) a n d were p a s s e d u n a n i m o u s l y . I t i s c l e a r from
t h i s t h a t t h e i r s u b m i s s i o n was i n t e n d e d t o p r o v i d e t h e
C o u n c il w ith i n f o r m a ti o n and n o t w ith an o p p o r t u n it y f o r
d e b a t e o r amendment. The n o n - M a la y e s t a b l i s h m e n t was
a l s o o u t s i d e th e C ouncil* s competence, though p e n sio n s
and g r a t u i t i e s f o r non-M alay, non-European s u b o r d in a te s
w ere s o m e ti m e s d i s c u s s e d .
The G o v e r n o r , s o m e ti m e s a c t i n g on h i s own i n i t i a t i v e ,
so m e tim es u n d e r i n s t r u c t i o n f r o m t h e S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e ,
h a d t h e p o w e r t o d i s a l l o w o r compel l e g i s l a t i o n and
R eligious m a g istra te s
306
e x e c u tiv e a c t io n . The f r e q u e n c y o f c o n t r o l v a r i e d
g r e a t l y , from one R e s i d e n t t o a n o t h e r ; b e tw e e n 1877 a n d
1 8 8 2 , when S e l a n g o r h a d a f o o l i s h R e s i d e n t and P e r a k a
w i s e o n e , t h e S e l a n g o r C o u n c il m i n u t e s a r e f u l l o f
i n s t a n c e s o f e v e r y s o r t o f i n s t r u c t i o n from t h e
G o v e r n o r , o r d e r i n g t h e a b o l i t i o n o f d u t i e s on c e r t a i n
•59
im p o r ts and e x p o r ts , o rd e rin g th e a d o p tio n o f r u l e s
f o r th e le a s e o f S t a t e f a r m s , o r d e r i n g th e g r a n t o f
p e n s io n s to i n d i v i d u a l M a la y s,^ 1 d is a llo w in g f u s s y
U2
re g u la tio n s. U s u a lly he conveyed h i s i n s t r u c t i o n s
t h r o u g h t h e R e s i d e n t , b u t on one o c c a s i o n he i n t e r f e r e d
d ire c tly ; i n 1 8 7 9 , w h i l e on a v i s i t t o S e l a n g o r , h e
c a l l e d a m ee tin g o f C h in ese l e a d e r s and o rd e re d th e
a b o l i t i o n f o r t h w i t h o f t h e i m p o r t d u t y on r i c e . (T he
m e a s u r e h a d b e e n l o n g recom m ended, a n d l o n g d e l a y e d b y
th e R e sid e n t i n d e fe r e n c e to th e o p p o s itio n o f C h in ese
e n tre p re n e u rs.
59
SCM 25 O c t o b e r 1 8 7 9 ; 21 A p r i l 1880.
40
SCM 4 Decem ber 1 879.
41
SCM 22 A p r i l 1 8 7 8 .
42
SCM 20 J a n u a r y 1 8 8 2 .
43
Yap Ah Loy o p p o s e d t h e a b o l i t i o n o f t h e r i c e d u t y
b e c a u s e h e f e a r e d a c o m p e n s a to r y r i s e i n t h e opium d u t y .
307
(continued)
He argued that a rise in the opium duty would result in
hardship for the coolies. The sale of opium formed an
important element in the relations between mine-owner and
coolie, and he and others may have feared a fall in con
sumption.
44
E.g., the special regulations for leasing waste lands
Robinson to Hicks-Beach, 2o2 of 11 July 1878); the
Selangor Land Regulations of 1880 (SCM 25 November 1880)
the Selangor Land Code of 1891 (enclosed Smith to Knutsford,
138 of 28 March 1891). The Selangor Council Minutes for
13 December 1892 and 9 January 1893 refer to several Reg
ulations which were given a first reading in Council at
the December meeting, submitted to the Governor for his
sanction and passed at the January meeting.
43
E.g., the Municipal Regulations passed by the Selangor
Council on 22 April 1882, approval for which the Governor
308
(continued)
withheld till he could next visit Kuala Lumpur; the Reg
ulations for Coolie Discharge Certificates, passed by the
Selangor Counci'lAat Swettenhara* s instance and submitted
for the Governor’s approval; and the Perak Contagious
Diseases Order in Council of 1891. This was passed on 7
July and was submitted to the Governor for sanction before
coming into operation; before he could sanction it he
received a despatch from the S. of S.in the light of which
the Order clearly appeared to be objectionable, and as a
result of the correspondence which followed the Order was
disallowed and never gazetted. The Order appears to have
been submitted as a matter of routine. (Smith to Knutsford,
406 of 29 October 1891; PCM 21 June 1892, in PGG 10 August
1892.)
46
E. g. , an absurd Regulation for the licensing of wash
ermen was passed by the Selangor Council at Douglas*
instance on 20 January 1882 and as usual received the
assent of the Sultan; it was disallowed by the Governor as
contrary to public policy and rescinded at the next meet
ing.
309
57
Resident of Selangor to C.S. , 27 December 1879, Sei/
Sec. 390/1879.
310
58
Sadka, op. cit., pp. 37, 88-9, 92.
49
Swettenham called for penghulu nominations from his
Collectors in a minute of 4 November 1882 (Sel/Sec. 597/
1882). A number of their nominations, approved by
Swettenham, were among those confirmed at the Council meet
ing held on 2 September 1883 to deal with the appointments
and jurisdiction of penghulus.
50
PCM 4 March, 4 May and 20 October 1879; 26 October
1882. SCM 14 June 1884 and 7 April 1891. It could be ar
gued of course that while Article VI of the Pangkor
311
w e r e e x c l u d e d f r o m t h e R e s i d e n t * s c o m p e te n c e ; i n p r a c t i c e
i t was d i f f i c u l t f o r a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o s t o p
s h o r t o f t h e s e m a t t e r s when i t embraced e v e r y t h i n g e l s e
o f i m p o r t a n c e t o t h e community.
The i n d e p e n d e n c e o f t h e M alay members was l i m i t e d ,
i n t h e c ase o f th e S u l t a n , by th e o b l i g a t i o n to a c c e p t a d -
51
vice, and i n th e case o f t h e o t h e r s , by t h e i r dependence
on o f f i c i a l a p p o i n t m e n t s a n d a l l o w a n c e s . A l l t h e W aris
n e g e ri and t i t l e h o l d e r s i n P e rak r e c e iv e d allo w a n ce s i n
r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e i r r a n k ; o t h e r M a lay s w i t h good con
n e c t i o n s w e re a p p o i n t e d t o b e p e n g h u l u s o f l o c a l g o v e r n
ment d i v i s i o n s . I n S e l a n g o r e v e r y r a j a on t h e S t a t e
C o u n c i l e x c e p t t h e R a j a Muda h a d a p e n g h u l u a p p o i n t m e n t .
I n t h e i r d e a l i n g s w ith th e R e s i d e n t th e M alays s u f f e r e d
a l l the l i m i t a t i o n s of o f f i c i a l s t a t u s , w ithout the
a u t h o r i t y a n d f o r c e w h ic h p r o f e s s i o n a l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s
{ continued)
Engagement d i d n o t b i n d t h e S u l t a n t o a c c e p t a d v i c e on t h e
a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f Muslim l a w , i t l e f t t h e R e s i d e n t f r e e
to o ffer i t . The R e s i d e n t s w e r e c o n c e r n e d p r i m a r i l y w i t h
t h e c r e a t i o n o f a S t a t e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f k a t h i s an d w i t h
the d e f in itio n of t h e i r ju r is d ic t io n .
51
A t y p i c a l i l l u s t r a t i o n o f t h e way t h i s c o m p u l s i o n
w o r k e d , e m e r g e d a t t h e S e l a n g o r C o u n c i l m e e t i n g o f 16
F e b r u a r y 1885, i n a d i s c u s s i o n o f th e bou n d ary w ith Sungei
U jo n g . The b o u n d a r y h ad r e c e n t l y b e e n m o d i f i e d b y t h e
G o v e r n o r , a n d t h e S u l t a n , w h i l e a c q u i e s c i n g i n t h e a w ard,
a s k e d t h a t h i s d i s a g r e e m e n t w i t h i t be o f f i c i a l l y r e
corded.
312
(continued)
The anomalous position of native members is indicated in
a decision by Maxwell, Resident of Selangor 1889-92
against publication of the Council Minutes in the Selangor
Government Gazette. ’It seems to me that as the functions
of the Council are executive as well as Legislative, there
must frequently be matters which it is not advisable to
make public - and I fear that by publishing the opinions
expressed by particular members of Council at our delib
erations, I might possibly make it difficult to get a
genuine expression of opinion under special circumstances.
I can conceive that sometimes a native member might be
willing to support a particular policy but would rather
that his countrymen did not know what his advice has been.
Another might be encouraged to earn popularity by oppos
ition.* (Maxwell to C.S., 10 March 1890, Sel/Sec. 160/
1890.)
313
52
PCM 4 May 1879. Fifteen months later, when a new
Governor sanctioned a 999-year lease, the Perak Council
reverted to its original decision, though this time Raja
Yusuf was opposed to the motion.
53
PCM 22 May 1882 and 9 October 1882.
54
PCM 4 May 1878 and 28 June 1878.
314
55
The Resident wrote to the Collector and Magistrate at
Langat, *Ask the Tunku Mudah (to propose) and Raja
Hassan to second the adoption of a resolution to carry
H.E.the Governor’s commands into effect, then ask the
Sultan to give his assent and report to me, sending me
rough copies of the minutes in Council. As Collector and
Magistrate you will understand that the new rule comes
into force at Jugra on 1st May*. (Resident to Collector
and Magistrate Langat, 25 April 1832, Sel/Sec. 174/1882.)
315
55
St Pol Lias, op. cit., p.176.
316
57
3CM 29 April 1886, 13 June 1888.
58
PCM 22 December 1890, in PGG 23 January 1891.
317
59
For example the discussion in the Selangor State
Council, 4 December 1882, on the proposed railway from
Klang to Kuala Lumpur, when Malay members criticised a
scheme for private construction of the railway; also the
proposals for regulating the retail sale of chandu
(prepared opium) put forward by the Sultan and the Malay
members on 27 December 1879*
60
At the instance of Raja Muda Suleiman, the remission
of duty on coffee exports was extended to all agri
cultural produce (except pepper and gambier, which were
governed by special regulations) and at the instance of
Syed Zin, two clauses of the Indian Immigration Act of
1884 were altered in favour of employers. (SCM 12
September 1885, 27 October 1884 and 18 October 1884.)
318
6l
SCM 13 June 1891
320
m a r r i a g e "by a b d u c t i o n o f a g i r l u n d e r s i x t e e n b e
t r e a t e d a s an o f f e n c e u n d e r t h e P e n a l Code? These a r e
t y p i c a l e x a m p le s o f t h e p r o b l e m s w h i c h M a lay members p u t
fo rw a rd , d is c u s s e d w ith anim ation and help ed to so lv e ;
some o f t h e s e q u e s t i o n s w ere b r o u g h t f o r w a r d b y members
a t t h e i n s t a n c e o f v i l l a g e r s who w e re d i r e c t l y a f f e c t e d
b y th em .
The C h i n e s e members c o n f i n e d t h e i r d i s c u s s i o n a l m o s t
e n t i r e l y t o th e m ining i n d u s t r y . They may h a v e made
r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s e l s e w h e r e on b e h a l f o f t h e community a s
a w h o l e ; i t was r a r e l y t h a t t h e y made them i n C o u n c i l .
Yap Ah Loy was a b l e t o s t o p t h e l e v y o f a d o o r - t a x on t h e
C h i n e s e p o p u l a t i o n o f K u a l a Lumpur, on t h e g r o u n d t h a t
t h e y h a d l a i d o u t a n d b u i l t t h e town w i t h o u t h e l p fro m
a n y o n e ; b u t m o s t o f h i s t i m e on C o u n c i l was s p e n t i n
p r e s s i n g th e co n cern s o f t h e m ining a d v a n c e r s , and i n
p articu lar, h i s p e r s o n a l c la im s to th e S t a t e farms and to
l a n d i n a n d a b o u t K u a l a Lumpur. In Perak th e C apitans
s u c c e s s f u l l y o p p o s e d ( i n 1877) the im p o s itio n o f a head
t a x on t h e C h i n e s e c o m m unity ; o n l y t o a c c e p t i t i n a n o t h e r
form two y e a r 8 l a t e r , when r e g i s t r a t i o n o f e v e r y C h i n e s e
m a le o v e r 1 6 , w i t h p a y m e n t o f a r e g i s t r a t i o n f e e o f # 1 ,
was f i r s t i n t r o d u c e d . R e g i s t r a t i o n was i n t r o d u c e d t o
one d i s t r i c t a f t e r a n o t h e r t i l l i n December 1881 i t em
b r a c e d t h e w h o l e C h i n e s e a d u l t m ale p o p u l a t i o n * Low
( v LI BRARY r-l
ERSVVV
321
acknowledged in h i s o f f i c i a l j o u r n a l t h a t r e g i s t r a t i o n
62
was e x t r e m e l y u n p o p u l a r , h u t t h e r e i s no h i n t i n t h e
m i n u t e s o f o p p o s i t i o n o r even d i s c u s s i o n ; i n d e e d i t was
l e f t to th e M a g is tr a te o f the Krian d i s t r i c t to p r o t e s t
a g a i n s t r e g i s t r a t i o n a n d c o m p l a i n t h a t C h i n e s e were
le a v i n g h i s d i s t r i c t b e c a u se o f i t .
6^5
The i n t e r v e n t i o n o f t h e C h i n e s e m a g n a t e s was
d ir e c te d to securing f o r the in d u stry , f a v o u r a b l e con
d i t i o n s o f t e n u r e , minimum t a x a t i o n , p r o t e c t i o n o f a d
v a n c e r s , and c o n tr o l o f la b o u r ; and i t s h o u l d b e remem
b e r e d t h a t t h e m i n i n g c o o l i e s o v e r whom t h e y s o u g h t t h i s
c o n t r o l c o n s t i t u t e d t h e g r e a t b u l k o f t h e i r own community.
Many o f t h e i r demands i n t h e s e m a t t e r s were i n a c c o r d a n c e
w i t h g o v e r n m e n t p o l i c y , a nd t h e r e was l i t t l e occasion f o r
d i s a g r e e m e n t ; i n d e e d i n f i s c a l m a t t e r s t h e r e was l i t t l e
scope f o r i t , s i n c e t h e t a r i f f s t r u c t u r e was t i e d i n
p r i n c i p l e to th e p r i c e o f t i n and th e c o s t o f p u b l i c
works. Sometim es C h i n e s e members o b j e c t e d t o a j u s t i f i a b l e
£2
Low, J o u r n a l f o r 29 S e p t e m b e r 1 8 7 9 , e n c l o s e d i n Anson
t o H i c k s - B e a c h , C o n f i d e n t i a l o f 18 O c t o b e r 1879, CO 2 7 3 /
100/ 18062.
63
P era k C o u n c il M in u te s, 23 March 1 8 8 0 . Low so le m n ly
rem arked th a t th e C h in e se were v e r y w i l l i n g to pay f o r
r e g i s t r a t i o n , and w ere *g la d to h ave a governm ent w hich
to o k so much c a r e o f them*I
322
SIT
In April 1878, Low took off the &2 royalty on tin
because of the low tin price; at the Council meeting of
20 February 1880, the Chinese councillors agreed to its
reimposition to pay for the Taiping - Port Weld railway.
The royalty was not imposed, because of the outbreak of
fires in Taiping; but in December 1880 the Council was
asked to suggest ways of raising revenue to repay the State
Debts, and the Chinese Councillors agreed to the reim
position of the royalty, since Government had shown itself
considerate of their needs. (PCM 30 December 1880.)
made a profit out of preparing chandu for sale to their
oT “
Low to C.S., 6 October 1879, enclosed in Anson to Hicks-
Beach, 357 of 18 October 1879, CO 273/100/18051.
66
SCM 19 February 1884, 13 June 1891.
324
members o f C o u n c i l w e re a n x i o u s t o p r o m o te t h e p r o s p e r i t y
o f l o c a l m a g n a t e s b y l e a s i n g them t h e S t a t e f a r m s .
I n i t s m e m b e r s h ip a n d f u n c t i o n s t h e S t a t e C o u n c i l
r e p r e s e n t e d an a t t e m p t t o s o l v e t h e m u l t i p l e p r o b l e m s o f
the c o lo n ia l s i tu a tio n . I t s o u g h t t o combine o l d a n d
new s o u r c e s o f p o w e r , to in v e s t each w ith th e p r e s t i g e
of the other; i t s o u g h t t o combine t r a d i t i o n a l an d m odern
e x p e r i e n c e a n d m e t h o d s a n d t u r n M alay i n i t i a t i v e i n
g o v e r n m e n t i n t o new c h a n n e l s . It sought to p ro v id e a
f o r u m wh e re a l l t h e i m p o r t a n t g r o u p s i n t h e S t a t e m i g h t
be r e p r e s e n te d and m ight d e l i b e r a t e to g e th e r . The f i r s t
a im was c e r t a i n l y r e a l i s e d . The C o u n c i l g a v e t o t h e
a c t i o n s of the e x e c u tiv e a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a u t h o r i t y ,
b a s e d f o r m a l l y on C h i n e s e a n d Malay c o n s e n t . I t provided
a m eans o f c o n c i l i a t i n g Malay l e a d e r s h i p a n d m o u l d i n g i t
325
NOTE ON SOURCES
A t a b l e o f c o n t e n t s o f t h e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e b e t w e e n t h e Co
l o n i a l O f f i c e and t h e G o v e r n o r ( t h e CO 273 s e r i e s ) was a l s o
s e c u r e d , and a s e l e c t i o n o f s u p p l e m e n t a r y c o r r e s p o n d e n c e
b e t w e e n d e p a r t m e n t s and i n d i v i d u a l s and t h e C o l o n i a l O f f i c e
was o r d e r e d . It i s h o p e d t h a t a f a i r p r o p o r t i o n o f im
p o r t a n t c o r r e s p o n d e n c e was t h e r e b y s e c u r e d , b u t much u s e
f u l m a t e r i a l m ust h a v e b e e n o v e r l o o k e d .
The w r i t e r h a d d e c i d e d t o c o n c e n t r a t e on P e r a k and
S e l a n g o r and s o u g h t m a t e r i a l o n l y i n t h o s e s t a t e s . The
P e r a k S e c r e t a r i a t p a p e r s and C o u n c i l M i n u t e s f o r t h e p e r i o d
could n o t be t r a c e d , b u t t h e S e lan g o r S e c r e t a r i a t p a p e rs
were i n t a c t from t h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e R e s i d e n t i a l s y s t e m
i n 1875 t i l l m od ern t i m e s . The m a t e r i a l c o n s i s t s o f c o r
r e s p o n d e n c e and p a p e r s fro m t h e C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r y o f t h e
S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s and fro m o u t s t a t i o n s , d e p a r t m e n t s , and
in d iv id u a ls to the R esid en t. ( A f t e r 1890 t h e c o r r e s p o n d e n c e
was c h a n n e l l e d t h r o u g h t h e S e c r e t a r y t o G o v e r n m e n t . ) The
c h i e f d i f f i c u l t y was t o r e n d e r t h e p a p e r s a c c e s s i b l e t o
reference. The r e c o r d s fro m 1875 t o c . 1940 l a y i n c h r o n o
l o g i c a l d i s o r d e r i n a d e p o s i t o f a b o u t 600 c u b i c f e e t i n
a sto re-ro o m of th e Selangor S e c r e t a r i a t . The w r i t e r e x
t r a c t e d f r o m t h i s a b o u t 250 b u n d l e s o f f i l e s , each con
t a i n i n g up t o 100 p a p e r s , f o r t h e p e r i o d 1875 t o 1 8 9 1 .
T h i s c o n s t i t u t e d a b o u t one q u a r t e r o f t h e f i l e s f o r t h e
330
G a z e t t e s , f i r s t p u b l i s h e d i n P e r a k i n 1888 and S e l a n g o r i n
1 8 9 0 , a l s o p r o v i d e an i m p o r t a n t s o u r c e f o r t h e s t u d y o f
the s ta te ad m in istratio n s.
The C o l o n i a l S e c r e t a r i a t r e c o r d s f o r t h e p e r i o d up t o
1940 h ave n o t y e t come t o l i g h t , and t h e m a i n s o u r c e f o r
t h e r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e G o v e r n o r and t h e R e s i d e n t s i s
th e re fo re m issin g . The a r g u m e n t on t h i s s u b j e c t h a s had
t o be doc umented from o t h e r e v i d e n c e .
In th e l i s t of s o u r c e s , th e provenance o f u n p u b lis h e d
records is given in a note a f t e r each so u rc e . Most o f t h e
o f f i c i a l p r i n t e d r e c o r d s were c o n s u l t e d in R a f f l e s L ib r a r y
i n S i n g a p o r e , and t h e p r o v e n a n c e o f t h i s m a t e r i a l i s g i v e n
o n ly in th e case of r e c o r d s c o n s u lte d e ls e w h e re .
331
LIST OP SOURCES
A. PRIMARY SOURCES
3. P r i n t e d O f f i c i a l Records
P a r lia m e n ta r y P ap ers (Great B r i t a i n )
Command P a p e r 466 o f 1 8 7 2 ; ’P a p e r s r e l a t i n g t o
Salangore’ .
C . l l l l o f 1874, ’C o r r e s p o n d e n c e r e l a t i n g t o t h e
A f f a ir s of c e r t a i n N ative S ta te s
i n t h e Malay P e n i n s u l a ’ .
C .1 3 2 0 o f 1 8 7 5 , ’F u r t h e r C o r r e s p o n d e n c e r e l a t i n g
to th e A f f a ir s of c e r t a i n N ative
S t a t e s i n t h e Malay P e n i n s u l a ’ .
C .1 5 0 3 o f 1 8 7 6 , ’F u rth e r Correspondence r e l a t i n g
to the A f f a ir s of c e r t a i n N ative
S t a t e s i n t h e Malay P e n i n s u l a ’ .
C.1505 o f 1876, ’F u r t h e r C orrespondence r e l a t i n g
to the A f f a ir s of c e r t a i n N ative
S t a t e s i n t h e Malay P e n i n s u l a ' .
C .1 5 1 2 o f 1 8 7 6 , 'F u r th e r Correspondence r e l a t i n g
to the A f f a ir s of c e r t a i n N ative
S t a t e s i n t h e Malay P e n i n s u l a ’ .
C . 2410 o f 1 8 7 9 , ’ I n s t r u c t i o n s t o t h e B r i t i s h Re
s i d e n t and O t h e r P a p e r s r e l a t i n g
t o t h e P r o t e c t e d M alay S t a t e s ’ .
C . 3095 o f 1 8 8 1 , ’P a p e r s r e l a t i n g t o t h e P r o t e c t e d
Malay S t a t e s ’ ( w i t h Annual Re
p o r ts f o r 1879).
C .3 2 8 5 o f 1 8 8 2 , 'C orrespondence r e s p e c t i n g
S l a v e r y i n t h e P r o t e c t e d M a lay
S ta te s '.
C .3 4 2 8 o f 1 8 8 2 , 'C orrespondence r e s p e c t i n g
S l a v e r y i n t h e P r o t e c t e d Malay
S t a t e s ' ( w i t h Annual R e p o r t s
f o r 1881).
C.3 4 2 9 o f 1 8 8 2 , ’F u r t h e r C o r r e s p o n d e n c e r e s p e c t
ing S la v ery in th e P r o te c te d
Malay S t a t e s ’
C .4 1 9 2 o f 1 8 8 4 , 'C orrespondence r e s p e c t i n g th e
P r o t e c t e d Malay S t a t e s ' (A n n u a l
R e p o r t s f o r 1882 and 1 8 8 3 ) .
C .4 9 5 8 o f 1 8 8 7 , ’F u r t h e r C o r r e s p o n d e n c e r e s p e c t
i n g t h e P r o t e c t e d Malay S t a t e s '
( A n n u a l R e p o r t s f o r 1884 and 1 8 8 5 )
C .5566 o f 1 8 8 8 , 'F u r th e r Correspondence r e s p e c t
i n g t h e P r o t e c t e d M alay S t a t e s ’
(Annual R e p o r t s f o r 1886 a nd
1887).
C .58 84 o f 1 8 8 9 , 'F u r th e r Correspondence r e s p e c t
i n g t h e P r o t e c t e d M a lay S t a t e s ’
(A n n u a l R e p o r t s f o r 1 8 8 8 ) .
334
C.6 2 2 2 o f 1 8 9 0 - 1 , ’P a p e r s r e l a t i n g t o t h e P r o t e c t e d
M alay S t a t e s ’ (A n n u a l R e p o r t s f o r
1889).
House o f Commons 378 o f 1 8 9 0 - 1 , ' E x t r a c t s o f C o r
resp o n d en ce w ith r e f e r e n c e to
th e case o f th e E x -S u lta n
A b d u llah o f P e r a k ' .
C .6 5 7 6 o f 1 8 9 2 , 'F u r th e r p a p ers r e l a t i n g t o th e
P r o t e c t e d M alay S t a t e s ’ (A n n u a l
R e p o rts f o r 1 8 9 0 ).
C .6 8 5 8 o f 1 8 9 3 , ' F u r t h e r p a p e r s r e l a t i n g t o th e
P r o t e c t e d M alay S t a t e s ' (A n n u a l
R e p o rts f o r 1 8 9 1 ).
C .7 2 2 7 o f 1 8 9 3 , 'R e p o r t s on t h e P r o t e c t e d M alay
S t a t e s f o r 1 8 9 2 '.
C .7 4 5 6 o f 1 8 9 4 , 'R e p o r t s on t h e P r o t e c t e d M alay
S ta te s fo r 1893’ .
C .7877 o f 1 8 9 5 , 'R e p o r t s on t h e P r o t e c t e d M alay
S ta te s fo r 1894’ .
C .8 2 5 7 o f 1 8 9 6 , 'R e p o r t s on t h e P r o t e c t e d M alay
S ta te s f o r 1895*.
P e r a k D e s p a t c h e s 1 8 7 4 -1 8 7 9 ( w i t h l i s t s o f p e n g h u l u
a p p o i n t m e n t s and S t a t e A l l o w a n c e s , 1879)
(T a ip in g L ib r a r y , T a ip in g , P e rak )
P ro c ee d in g s o f th e S t r a i t s S e ttle m e n ts L e g is la tiv e
C o u n c i l , 1 8 7 4 -1 8 9 5
P e ra k C o u n c il M in u te s
1. 1 8 7 7 -1 8 7 9 (se e under H a rriso n )
2 . 1 8 8 0 -1 8 8 2 ( s e e u n d e r W il k i n s o n )
3 . 1 8 8 8 -1 8 9 5 ( i n P e r a k G-overnment G a z e t t e s )
S t r a i t s S e t t l e m e n t s G-overnment G a z e t t e , 1 8 7 5 -1 8 9 5
P e r a k G-overnment G a z e t t e , 1 8 8 8 -1 8 9 5
”T T a i p i n g L i b r a r y , T a i p i n g , P e r a k )
S e l a n g o r G-overnment G a z e t t e , 1 8 9 0 -1 8 9 5
(CO 4 6 9 / 1 - 5 , PRO)
S t a t e A nnual R e p o r t s ( s e e u n d e r P a r l i a m e n t a r y
P ap ers)
R e p o r t s o f S i n g a p o r e Chamber o f Commerce, 1 8 8 7 -1 8 9 1
335
Reports of Penang Chamber of Commerce, 1887-1891
Enquiry as to the Complicityj of Chiefs in the
Perak 0utrages, Singapore 16375“
Proceedings of the Commission appointed to enquire into
matters relating to the use of Opium in the Straits
Settlements and the Federated Malay States, vol.I
(.Command Paper 4521 of 1909)
Straits Settlements Civil Service List, 1884
Federated Malay States Civil Service List, 1904
Perak Handbook and Civil Service List, 1892
(Colonial Office Library, London)
Census of the Straits Settlements, 1891
Straits Calendar and Directory« 1874
D o y le , P , T in M in in g i n L a r u t . London 1879
H ale , A. ’Min e s and M in e r s i n K i n t a ,
P e r a k ’ , JSBRAS, x v i ( 1 8 8 4 ) ,
303-20.
H a l l , W.T. R e p o r t on T in M in in g i n P e r a k
and Burma. Rangoon 1 8 8 9 .
H o r n a d a y , W.T. 'A N a t u r a l i s t ' s v i s i t t o S e la n g o r'
JSBRAS, i i i ( 1 8 7 9 ) . 1 2 4 - 5 .
H u g h e s, T.W.H. P r e l i m i n a r y S k e t c h o f t h e M in in g
I n d u s t r y o f P e r a k and Burma.
R angoon, 1 8 8 9 .
I n n e s , E m ily The C h e r s o n e s e w i t h t h e g i l d i n g
o f f . 2 v o l s , London 1 8 8 5 .
L e e c h , H.W.C. 'A b o u t K i n t a ’ , JSBRAS, iv ( 1 8 7 9 ) ,
21-33.
— ’About S lim and B e r n a m ', JSBRAS,
iv (1 8 7 9 ), 3 4 -4 5 .
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