COPY of PAPERS connected with the ATTACK upon TRINGANU, in (No. 133.-Foreign Department, Political.) To the Right Honourable Sir Charles Wood, Bart., M.P. and G. C. B., Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India. Sir, Fort William, 8 December 1862. WE beg to transmit herewith, for the information of Her Majesty's Government, copy of a correspondence, as per accompanying Abstract of Contents, regarding certain disturbances created in the Malayan Peninsula by Inchi Wan Ahmet, the younger brother of the present Bandaharah of Pahang, and the proceedings of the Court of Siam in the matter. 2. We have not thought it necessary to forward copies of the earlier correspondence, which is very voluminous, and has extended over a period of five years; but the following paragraphs will convey a concise narrative of the proceedings of Inchi Wan Ahmet and the action taken respecting him up to the date of the commencement of the correspondence regarding Siam : 3. The late Bandaharah of Pahang died in October 1858, and was succeeded by his eldest son. Subsequently a younger son, named Inchi Wan Ahmet, came to Singapore and complained to the Governor of the Straits Settlements that his elder brother had deprived him of a portion of the Pahang Territory, said to have been bequeathed to him by his father, the late Bandaharah. Inchi Wan Ahmet soon afterwards returned to Pahang, and succeeded in driving his elder brother from the country, and taking possession of it, but eventually was ejected himself by the elder brother, who thereupon re-established his own power in Pahang. Inchi Wan Ahmet, again an exile, then appears to have taken up his residence at Paka under the Chief of Tringanu. About the middle of April 1861, Wan Ahmet left Tringanu, and after committing several acts of plunder at Quantan and carrying off some prisoners, fortified himself in stockades at Endow, the country which he claimed under his father's will. These outrages were first brought to the notice of the Governor of the Straits Settlements by the Tumongong of Johore, who stated that he had an alliance with the Bandaharah of Pahang, and requested permission to attack Wan Ahmet, unless the Governor himself meant to expel him. Colonel Cavenagh thereupon wrote to the Tumongong, pointing out that it was contrary to the 8th Article of the Treaty of 1824, so long as he resided in Singapore, to enter into any alliance or maintain any correspondence with foreign powers without the knowledge and consent of the British Government, and he further prohibited the Tumongong from interfering so long as his own territories were inviolate. Colonel Cavenagh also wrote to Wan Ahmet, warning him that, if he attacked Pahang, he would be expelled by force, and that, if he had any grievance, he should submit it for the arbitration of the British Government. Wan Ahmet strenuously denied having committed any aggressions, and declared that he had done nothing more than locate himself upon the territory which he claimed as his right, and he appealed to the fact of his having brought all the females of his family with him as a proof of his pacific intentions. 4. Wan Ahmet at the same time continued to remain in the stockades, and Colonel Cavenagh concluded that Wan Ahmet might possibly have been, to some extent, supported by the chiefs of the western side of the Peninsula. 5. The Bandaharah of Pahang was also informed that no permission would be given to any foreign power to interfere with the Bandaharah's country, but that Wan Ahmet's claim should be referred by both parties to the arbitration of the British Government. Colonel Cavenagh expressed his intention of visiting Pahang to impress on the Bandaharah the necessity of adjusting Wan Ahmet's claims, and, if the Bandaharah agreed, he purposed to proceed to Endow to call on Wan Ahmet to quit the stockade and to take up his residence at Tringanu or Singapore. 6. We approved of what Colonel Cavenagh had done, and the course which he proposed to follow. Accordingly, on the 25th May, Colonel Cavenagh proceeded in the "Hooghly," and had an interview with the Bandaharah of Pahang. The Bandaharah signed an agreement binding himself to abide by the decision of the Governor in his dispute with Wan Ahmet, and to allow the latter such a sum for maintenance as, after due consideration of his claims, Colonel Cavenagh might deem just and proper. From thence Colonel Cavenagh proceeded to Endow to communicate with Wan Ahmet. He found the stockades abandoned and that Wan Ahmet had returned to his former residence at Kamaman. A copy of the Bandaharah's agreement was sent to Wan Ahmet, and he was informed that, if he should again return to Pahang with hostile intent, orders would be issued for his immediate expulsion. 7. Wan Ahmet, it would appear, on his proceeding northward to Kamaman, erected stockades there, and several fights occurred between himself and the people of Pahang. He declined to accept the maintenance offered him by the Bandaharah of Pahang through the Governor, maintaining his right to Endow and Quantan, and expressing his intention, dead or alive, to seize Pahang. The Bandaharah of Pahang complained of the new aggressions in Quantan, and reported that Wan Ahmet was assisted by the ex-King of Linga; he therefore sought an interview with the Governor to ask for assistance, and to arrange measures to bring the quarrel to a close. As Wan Ahmet had retired to the extreme corner of Pahang, where he could not do much injury to the country or to trade, the Bandaharah was refused aid, but a steamer was promised to be sent to inquire into the state of affairs. 8. From later reports it appeared that Wan Ahmet, unable to resist the attack of the Bandaharah's followers, had been forced to retire from Quantan to seek refuge in the territories of the Sultan of Tringanu. Nothing more was heard of him till the correspondence now specially reported arose. 9. On the 19th July 1861 the governor of the Straits Settlements reported rumours of the intentions of the King of Siam to depose the Sultan of Tringanu, and to place in his stead his son-in-law, the ex-Sultan of Linga. Colonel Cavenagh addressed a letter to the consul at Bangkok to ascertain the truth of this, and despatched the steamer "Hooghly" to Tringanu, ostensibly for the purpose of warning the Sultan against allowing Wan Ahmet to re-organize his force, but in reality with a view to watch the proceedings of the small Siamese fleet of steamers which were on their way to Singapore. 10. In his letter, dated 7th August following, Colonel Cavenagh reported the arrival at Tringanu of three steamers, having on board the Siamese prime minister, the first King's son, and others who did not land on finding the "Hooghly" there before them, but proceeded on to Singapore. At the same time, Colonel Cavenagh submitted a copy of a reply from Sir Robert Schomburgk to his letter, stating that he had received the assurances of the Siamese foreign minister that the King of Siam was on the very best terms with the Rajah of Tringanu; and that he was of opinion that the representation made by the British consul would prevent any undue interference of the Siamese with the affairs of Tringanu. 11. From a letter, dated 24th July last, from the Governor of the Straits Settlements, we learnt that the ex-Sultan of Linga had been granted a free passage to Tringanu, and that the King of Siam had excused the step on the ground that it had no political meaning whatever; the object of the ex-Sultan's visit to Tringanu being to see his mother, who resided there. 12. Colonel Cavenagh considered that the King of Siam, in having given the ex-Sultan a passage to Tringanu in defiance of our previous remonstrances, and without the offer of an explanation, had been guilty of an act of discourtesy ; and he considered that the presence of the ex-Sultan at Tringanu had endangered the preservation of the peace of the Malayan Peninsula. 13. A subsequent 13. A subsequent letter apprised us of the degree of uneasiness which the presence of the ex-Sultan at Tringanu had been productive of, and the form which this uneasiness had assumed was an apprehension on the part of the Bandaharah of the neighbouring state of Pahang that Inchi Wan Ahmet, who was said to have accompanied the ex-Sultan of Linga with a force of eight prahus, was organizing with the ex-Sultan a confederacy, by the help of which each was to seize what he coveted in Tringanu and Pahang respectively. 14. We expressed our regret at the receipt of this intelligence, and informed Colonel Cavenagh that, by the despatch to Tringanu of the ex-Sultan of Linga and of Inchi Wan Ahmet, the King of Siam had incurred a grave responsibility, and we could not but view with displeasure a course not only wanting in courtesy to the British Government, but threatening to disturb the peace and good order which it had been the object of the British Government to maintain throughout the Malayan Peninsula. We further approved of Colonel Cavenagh's intention, in case of any attempt of raising a disturbance, to take measures for the expulsion of Inchi Wan Ahmet from the country. 15. On the 4th instant we received a letter from the Governor of the Straits Settlements, submitting a correspondence with his Majesty's consul at Bangkok, from which it appeared that, although the Siamese government denied that the ex-Sultan of Linga was sent to Tringanu with any ill intentions, yet they promised to order his removal if the consul demanded it in writing. Colonel Cavenagh, in a letter to Sir R. Schomburgk, recapitulated the facts of the case, clearly showing the complicity of the ex-Sultan in Inchi Wan Ahmet's attack on Pahang, and added that, if the present disturbances continued, he would deem it his duty to adopt such measures as would seem most expedient for the protection of British interests and the maintenance of the general peace of the peninsula. 16. A subsequent letter received from the Governor gives cover to one from Dated 13 Oct. 1862. the ex-Sultan of Linga, in which he plainly lays claim to the sovereignty of Johore and Pahang, and Colonel Cavenagh's reply, warning both him and the Sultan of Tringanu of the consequence of disturbing the peace of the peninsula. 16. We have approved of Colonel Cavenagh's proceedings, and have informed him that the correspondence will be reported for the orders of Her Majesty's Government. Colonel Orfeur Cavenagh, Governor of Prince of Wales Island, Singapore, and Malacca, to the Secretary to Government of India, Foreign Department,-(No. 121, dated 19 July 1861). Sir, I HAVE the honour to enclose, for submission to his Excellency the Governor General in Council, copies of the letters, noted in the margin,* on the subject of an alleged intention on the part of the Kings of Siam to depose the Sultan of Tringanu, in favour of his son-in-law, the ex-Sultan of Linga. 2. The exact position, with respect to the authorities at Bangkok, of the rulers of Tringanu and Kalantan is not very clearly defined by the treaty of the 20th of June 1826, but I believe there can be no doubt that they do acknowledge *Letter from the Sultan of Tringanu, dated 27 June 1861. Letter to the Resident at Rhio, dated 18 July 1861, No. 405. Letter to Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Bangkok, dated 18 July 1861, No. 406. ledge themselves, to a certain extent, as tributaries; the Sultan having informed me, on his visit to Singapore in March last, that every two-and-a-half years he despatched an embassy to Bangkok with the articles of tribute noted in the margin,* though he at the same time asserted that, as in the case of the quinquennial embassy from Khatmandoo to Pekin, return presents of equivalent value, consisting of rice, sugar, &c. were always received. 3. By Article X. of the above-quoted treaty it is evident that neither Tringanu nor Kalantan has ever been considered as Siamese provinces, whilst from Article XII. it is equally evident that the Siamese Kings are precluded from adopting any measure with regard to those States that might lead to any interruption of our commerce. That the measure stated to be now in contemplation would have that effect is, I conceive, beyond a doubt, for the ex-Sultan of Linga is an intriguing, restless character, banished by the Dutch from their territories, owing to his being concerned in some conspiracy, who would, almost immediately upon his assumption of power, endeavour to extend his influence over the neighbouring native States (indeed, there is already reason to suppose that he has been the author of the disturbances in Pahang, by instigating Inchi Wan Ahmed to take possession of Endow and Quantan), and thus create a feeling prejudicial to our interests. Moreover, it is not to be imagined that the Sultan would yield his post without a struggle, and the whole country would in all probability be soon involved in a civil war, to the utter prostration of our trade, which is now of considerable value, and, provided peace and quietness can be maintained, is likely to increase. 4. For general reasons of policy it is also apparently advisable that we should, as far as practicable, prevent any interference on the part of any foreign State having alliances with European powers in the affairs of countries so intimately connected with the British possessions in the Archipelago as Tringanu and Kalantan; and as I therefore consider it my duty to obtain for the supreme Government full information relative to the intentions of the Siamese Government, I have thought it right to despatch the steamer" Hooghly" to Tringanu, ostensibly for the purpose of warning the Sultan against allowing Inchi Wan Ahmed to re-organize his force within his territories, but in reality with the view of watching the proceedings of the small Siamese fleet of steamers now on its way to Singapore. 5. On the receipt of a reply from Her Majesty's consul at Bangkok, a transcript will, of course, be transmitted for the consideration of his Excellency in Council. Enclosures. Sultan Omer, of Tringanu, to the Honourable Colonel Orfeur Cavenagh, Governor of the Straits Settlements,-(dated 27 June 1861). After compliments, WE send these few lines to our friend as a token of sincere friendship between us and our friend. During our absence our son, the Sultan of Linga, desired "Daying Mahomed" to go from Pahang to Singapore, and from thence to visit the Rajan of Siam; and on the 10th of Dulhadjee 1277, on the 18th June 1861, one schooner came with a mau sent by the Rajah of Siam, together with "Daying Mahomed"; they wish to take away our son, because the Rajah of Siam wishes to see him. On the 20th of the same month (28th June) our son departed to Siam. We wished to prevent him from going, as perhaps the Rajah will be angry with us, because we are now under his government, and if we sanction his going we much fear perhaps we shall be blamed by our friend. We feel great difficulty in considering this matter, so we let him do what he thought best himself, and we did not interfere in this matter. We beg to inform our friend that we will not any more interfere in the business of other countries; only we wish to live in comfort ourselves, because our friend knows all our circumstances in all matters. Nothing more, but only our best respects to our friend and wishes of prosperity. 1 Gold flower; 1 silver flower; 104 cloths stamped with the elephant pattern; 4 cloths of a description made at Tringanu; 10 catties of camphor; 500 shells; 400 kajangs or mats; 400 pieces of wood of fine grain. |