Volume 2 (Annexes 1-23)

INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
CASE CONCERNING SOVEREIGNTY OVER
PEDRA BRANCA I PULAU BATU PUTEH,
MIDDLE ROCKS AND SOUTH LEDGE
(MALAYSIA/ SINGAPORE)
COUNTER-MEMORIAL OF
SINGAPORE
VOLUME 2
( Annexes 1 to 23 )
25 JANUARY 2005
INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE
CASE CONCERNING SOVEREIGNTY OVER
PEDRA BRANCA I PULAU BATU PUTEH,
MIDDLE ROCKS AND SOUTH LEDGE
(MALAYSIA/ SINGAPORE)
COUNTER-MEMORIAL OF
SINGAPORE
VOLUME 2
( Annexes 1 to 23 )
25 JANUARY 2005
LIST OF ANNEXES
(VOLUME 2)
Annexes
Number Description Page No.
Annex 1 Extracts from Francois Valentyn, Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indien, 1
Vervattende en Naauwkeurige en Uitvoerige Verhandelinge
van N ederlands Mogentheyd in de Gewesten, Vol. 7 Part 5
(1726, reprinted 2004)
Annex2 Letter from Crawfurd J. (Resident of Singapore) to Swinton G. 5
(Secretary to the Government in India) dated 10 Jan 1824
Annex3 Letter from Crawfurd J. (Resident of Singapore) to Swinton G. 27
(Secretary to the Government in India) dated 3 Aug 1824
Annex4 Letter from Crawfurd J. (Resident of Singapore) to Swinton G. 47
(Secretary to Government in India) dated 1 Oct 1824
Annex5 Letter from Sultan Abdul Rahman to Sultan Hussein dated 53
25 June 1825
Annex6 Letter from the Under-King Raja Jaffar to Sultan Hussein dated 61
25 June 1825
Annex 7 "A List of Places within the Jurisdiction of Johor with the 69
probable number of inhabitants at each" attached to the Report
by Presgrave E. (Registrar of Imports and Exports) to
Murchison K. (Resident Councillor of Singapore) dated
5 Dec 1828
Annex 8 Extracts from Begbie P.J., The Malayan Peninsula (1834, 1967 75
Reprint)
Annex9 Letter from Butterworth W.J. (Governor of Prince of Wales 81
Island, Singapore and Malacca) to Belcher E. (Captain of
H.M.S. Samarang) dated 2 Oct 1844
Annex 10 Letter from Butterworth W.J. (Governor of Prince of Wales 85
Island, Singapore and Malacca) to Faber C.E. (Superintending
Engineer) dated 3 Oct 1844
Annex 11 Letter from Congalton S. (Captain of the Hooghly) and 91
Thomson J.T. (Government Surveyor) to Butterworth W.J.
(Governor of Prince of Wales Island, Singapore and Malacca)
dated 25 Aug 1846
Annexes
Number Description Page No.
Annex 21 Correspondence Concerning Claim of the Sultan of Johore to 219
the Natuna, Anambas and Tambelan Islands:
(i) File note by Herbert R. (Undersecretary, Colonial
Office) of meeting with Inchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary
to the Sultan of Johore) dated 23 Mar 1886
(ii) Letter from the British Colonial Office to British
Foreign Office dated 25 Mar 1886
(iii) Letter from the British Colonial Office to Inchi Abdul
Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore) dated 20
Apr 1886;
(iv) Memorandum from Inchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to
the Sultan of Johore) to the British Colonial Office
dated 5 May 1886;
(v) Letter from the British Colonial Office to Inchi Abdul
Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore) dated 26
May 1886.
Annex22 British Colonial Office Internal Minutes dated 28 Apr 1886 and 253
29 Apr 1886
Annex23 Sections III, N & V of the Constitution of the State of Johore, 257
14 Apr 1895
Annex 1
Extracts from Francois Valentyn, Oud en Nieuw Oost-Indien,
Vervattende en N aauwkeurige en Uitvoerige Verhandelinge van
Nederlands Mogentheyd in de Gewesten, Vol. 7 Part 5 (1726,
reprinted 2004)
TRANSLATION
Valentyn F ., Oud en Nieuw Oost-lndien, Vervattende en
Naauwkeurige en Uitvoerige van Nederlands Mogentheyd in de
Gewesten, Volume 7, Part 5 (1726, reprinted 2004)
Dutch Original
Buiten Djohor had deze Vorst
nag een stad wat meer Landwaard
in, Batoesauwer of
Batoesabar genaamd, daar hy
zich, alzoo zy redelyk sterk
was, meest onthield, en ender
den zelven stonden van ouds
oak the dorpen Calca, Seribas,
en Melanoege op 't eiland
Borneo, zynde van den Koning
van Borneo afgevallen, en
benoorden Sambas gelegen.
English Translation
Apart from Johar, this Prince
also has a city which is further
inland, called Batusauwer or
Batusabar, to where he
retreated, because it was quite
fortified. And under the same
stood since old times also the
towns of Galea, Seribas, and
Melanoege on the island of
Borneo, which had fallen away
from the King of Borneo, and
are located to the north of
Sambas.
I 1

CHOR OMAN DEL,
PEGU, ARRAKAN, BENGALE, MOCHA~
Van 't Nederlandfch C'.Dmeroir in P E R S I E N ; en eenige fraajc
Zaaken van P E R S E P O L I 8 overbJyfzelen.
Een nctte B E s c H R Y v 1 N G van
M A L A K K A,
'c Nederlands Comptoir op 't Eiland S U M A T R A,
Mitsgaders een wydtuftige LA NDB ES CH RY VIN G van 't Ey1and
C E Y L O N,
En ecn net Verhaal van des zelfs Kcizcren, en Zaakcn, van ouds bier voorgevalleni
Als ook van 't Neder1ands Comptoir op de Kuft van
MALABAR, en van onzen Handel in JAPAN,
Eo eindelyk een Befchryving van
KAAP DER GOEDE HOOPE,
En 11t Eyland M A U R I T I U S,
Met de Zaaken tot alle de voomoemde Ryken en Landen behoorende.
Met veele Prent'l:erl,ee/Jinge11 , m Lnstlumm 'opgeheltlert.
D O O R.
FRANCOIS VALENTYN, :i
Onlangs Bedimur des Goddel,hn ll'oorti.r m A M D o I N A , B A N D A , e11J$.
VYFDE DEEi. ..
~ .SDollDJlECBT,~ iJOANNES VAN BRAAM, . .,
e'l.c\.tUTE.&l>AMu by~GER.AR.D ON DER DE L!NDEN,~Bockverkoopct-s.
Kl>CCXXVL
MET P&lVlLEGIE.
I 3
4
"r Van M A L A K K A. 35'9 y hebben uyt de aloude befchry~ zyn vloot hier omrcnt, en voor Mahkka
,·ing van de Maialde zaakcn gezicn, hot' quam , lag hy 'er nog, gelyk die den
<lie Koningen, ontrent 1 p 1. doOf' de l<'iscaal Maanen Apius ook hcrw:iards
Portugeezen uyt Malakka vcrdreven zyn• gezonden heeft, om zyn gedrag, alzoo
de, zich d:iar na, daar nu Djohor legt, 'er over hem geklaagd wierd, oa te vol'begeven,
aldaar die ftad gebou wd , en fchen.
weer een nieuw Ryk opgericht, gelyk Ook zien wy, <lat die Zee-Voogd in
liunne Vorftea zedert ook. geen andrc dir zelve jaar den 17. May een verbond
naam, dran die der Koningen van Ojohor, met dezen V ortl;, die zig Jang de Pergevoerd
hcbben. toehan noemen liet , opgerechc , en •c
Gelyk zy nu doodvyanden der Por- zelve den .z.,. September nog naderuvt•
tugceezen "\(raren, alzoo zyn 1.y te cer gcbreid heefr, gelyk men dat fol. i 3.
onz.e vricndcn geworden. en 14. in de Heer MaceEefs reys zien
Ecn van de eedle N ederl:mders, die kan.
Jiier quam , is de Zee-Voogd Jacob A0 • 1606. is bier Abraham ,•:111 den
Heemskerk geweefr, die: 160:.. of daar Brock, zyndedoordcHeerMatclicfhier
ontrent, eenen Jacob Buyfen hier als toen gelaten, ons opper-hoofd gewedt,
hoofd gelaten hecft, om onz.e zaaken, en die 'er I 6op. nag lag, hoewel het t 608.
Comptoir, waar te nemen. zus ofz.oo il:ond, otdievanDjohorzou-
Dez.e wierd van den Koning, en van den zich, en dushem mede, aan depordes
zelfs broeder t Radja Bongfo, zccr tugeczen hebben moeren overgeven, om
bemind, en men mag zeggen , dat •er wclke rcden de Heer Mateliefook 't ichip
onder alle de Koningen van lndicn Gouda al herwaards gezonden had, om
geen geweeft is, die ons zoo oprecht in oos Comptoir te lichten.
alien deelcn behandeld, en zoo vccl ge- Hy wierd door den opper-Koopman
negenheid beweicn hceft. Jaques Obelaar bier vervangen , die den
De waaren, om welke wy hier oos onder-Koopman, Abraham Willemlfoon
Comptoirhadden,warenalmeelldezelve, de Ryk, en denDiamant-kenner Hector
die in en omtrent Malakka video, waar Roos nog by zich had, en ik zie ook dat
tegeo wy dan weer onze waareo, hier in 't jaar r <Sop. <le Zee-Voogd Pieter
getrokken, verruy Iden., of anders de zelve W illemfroon Verhoeven den f. J anu.ary
met gereed g.ld betaal~n. bier verfcheen, en dat ntefl ook Adriaan
Deze mentcben wierden zeer van de Ilfevier alt opper-hoofd go1egen beeft •
Portugeezen geplaagd en vervolgd , zondec dar my blykt wasmcer, of hoc
gelyk ook Don Andrea Furtado de lang hy hier gc:weeft is.
Mendota 1604. deze ftad belegerd , Ontrent dezen tr.d ftond de Koning
en zeer naeuw bezet heeft; ook is de der Sambas op 't Elland Borneo, gelyk
ftad Djohor 1607. door de Portugeezen mede'tEilandLinga(dichtomrentDjohor
verbrand, en naderhand herbouwd. gelegen, en dat de:z.cn Vorft 1606. vero-
W y hebben hut nu en dan tegen verde) mir:sgaders 't Eiland Bintam, daar
de zc:lve ook na vcrmogen geholpen, ontrent , af mede onder dez.en Jang de
en de Portu0 eezen wel een.s wakker Pertoeban.
bier ontrcnt t1op gegcven, gelyk dir De Vodl:, die in Matelief:. tyd 1606.
1603.door on7en Zec:.Voogd Wybrand leefd.e, wasAlawoddienSjah de Ill. gevan
W arwy k gefcllicd ia., die 'er ook rn1amd,een vadtig Pzins, die :deb mer geen
16or, nevens den Zee-Voogd Corn:lis Ryksuaken bemoeide, en alles maar op
Sebaf.tiaantfoon met de fchepen AmHer• '2:ynt: Edelfltl.·. , en op zynen b·. rocdcr, Radja
dam en Dordrecht geweclt is. Bongfo, ofRadja Sabranggem1amd, itaan
Behalven de Portugeez.en leefdcn I liet, zynde gewoon Jang re Oapen, dan
zy met die van Atsjien en Patani ook in · te eeren , 1.ich te walfchen , en zich
vyandfchap. Buiten Djohor had dczc dan drooken tc drink.en.
Vorft nog een ftad wat mecr Land-waard Zyn vadcr, cco groot Krygsman ge•
in, BatocfauwerofBatoefabargenaamd,. 1 weell zynde, liet4zoonen11a, vanw.elk.e
daar by 2.ich, alzoo zy redelyk lterk was, 1 de ecn of de oudfi.e deze J:mg de
meeft onthield,e.n onderdenzelve. nilon-1 Pertoehan was.DeT. weede(diehyoyeen
den van ouds ook de dorpen Calca, Se- andre vrouw had) was de Konink van
ribas, en Mclanoeg!! op 't eiland Borneo, 1 S_jaak of Siaca, een Leen, dat mede onder
zynde v:10 den Konmg van Uornco afge• I de kroon van Djohor ftaat, welke Vorit
vallen, en benoorden Sambas gelegen. i met een dochter ·nm de Koningin van Pa-
Oas vorigopper-hoofd Buylen fchynd; rani getrouwd, en meeft altyd in ddlad
bier tot omrcnt uiOf. gdegen re hcbbcn, l Sjaak was. Zyn derde zoon is Radja Saen
door den opper-Koopman Corn<fa] brang, dat is, de Koning aan de overFra.
ncx vernngen te zyn. l ?.fde, omdat by tegeo over Batoefabar,
Wannccr 1406.dc Heer Matclief met I a.an dcovcnydcdcrricvicr I a:n Vcftiog,
IDet
Annex 2
Letter from Crawfurd J. (Resident of Singapore) to Swinton G.
(Secretary to the Government in India) dated 10 Jan 1824

To
Geo: Swinton, Esqre
SecY. to the Govt.
Pol1• Dept_
Sir,
Fort William
I have had the honor to transmit by this opportunity to the Persian
Secretary a joint letter from the Native Chiefs with whom we are connected at
this place, & a separate one from the Toomongoong with translations of both.
2. On the subject of these communications, it becomes necessary that I
should offer some explanation. The first matter contained is the joint letter, that
which refers to the fact of the British flag having been hoisted at Johor is
probably not known to the Govt., unless by rumour. The circumstances attending
this transaction are shortly as follow. In the Month of February 1823 the Native
Chiefs connected with us expressed to the local authority their apprehension,
that their rivals at Rhio intended to occupy Johor, and they solicited permission
to hoist the British flag there to secure them against this risk. Their request was
acceded to, & a flag supplied to them which their own followers erected.
3. In the month of August I received Confidential to strike the British flag at
Johor in the possible event of its having been erected. On the receipt of these
instructions the necessary directions were communicated to the Native Chiefs for
striking the flag, & I entertained at the time no doubt but they had been strictly
complied with having been assured that they were.
4. In the month of November however the apprehended occupation of
Johor on the part of the rival Chiefs at Rhio, assisted by the Dutch authorities at
that Settlement, was actually made. Messengers were dispatched(?) from Johor
to communicate this information to me, & I now not only learnt that the flag had
not been struck, but that even a demand was set up for a right to our assistance
in driving away the People of Rhio. It was in vain that I gave the most
peremptory orders to strike the British flag, & that I explained that no clause of
any Treaty bound the British Govt. to maintain the Authority of the Sultan &
5
6
Toomongoong in any place beyond the Limits of the Island of Singapore. - My
directions were disregarded until I found myself compelled to make a threat of
sending a force to remove the flag when they were at length complied with.
5. The object of the present address of the Native Chiefs to the Right
Hon'ble the Govr. Gen1• appears to be to complain of our withdrawing our
protection by striking the flag at Johar, & to claim the fulfilment of some
supposed treaty or provision which binds us to assert & maintain their authority
by force of arms. It is scarcely necessary for me to state that no such
engagement exists, but that on the contrary the second article of the Treaty
made in FebY. 1819 expressly provided that we are not bound to interfere in the
internal political concerns of their Govt. nor to aid them by force of arms in
asserting their authority, while every other engagement with them is altogether
silent on this Subject.
6. I have been at much pains in explaining this to the Native Chiefs, but my
efforts have not been attended with all the success I could have desired, for the
subject is repugnant to their wishes, & to certain ambitious views in which they
have been led to entertain. It will therefore be extremely desirable and
satisfactory that the principles of the Political Connexion which subsists between
them & our Govt. should be made known to them for their guidance from the
highest authority.
7. The second matter of the joint letter of the Native Chiefs, Refers to the
question of Slavery. The claim here made is, that the Malayan law which admits
the existence of Slavery should not be altered or infringed. I presume to consider
this as a demand utterly inadmissable. Singapore however anomalous its
situation in some respects, exists only through British protection, & is therefore
virtually a British Possession for the time. Slavery therefore in any form in which
it is expressly contrary to law cannot be tolerated.
8. The only Individuals who can be considered as Slaves in this Island
according to our laws are such persons as were in a State of Slavery before the
place was made over to the British Govt. and the British flag hoisted. This would
include several of the Slaves of the Toommongong, as this Chief with many of
his followers were actually on the island when we received possession of it. It
would however perhaps exclude all the followers of the Sultan as he was not
present at the period in question, & did not come over with his retainers until
some time thereafter.
9. The difficulty is greatly enhanced by the impossibility of determining who
is, & who is not a Slave. The Chiefs insist that every person belonging to them is
a Slave, and in no respect Master of his own property or actions, and they by no
means confine this monstrous pretension to their mere relations at Singapore,
but make the same Claim over every Native of the numerous Islands & States of
our immediate vicinity nominally or otherwise dependent upon them who come to
sojourn or reside at this Settlement. The Toommongoong at least declares at the
same time that he has no Slaves in the Sense in which we understand the term,
that is persons who can be bought or sold for money. It is true indeed that these
Chiefs are not in the practice of selling their people for money, but it is equally
certain that their retainers cannot rid themselves of their allegiance, or rather of
the condition of Villanage in which they exist without the payment of a fine - and
this too only as a matter of especial favour.
10. From the circumstances of this Settlement - the nature of our relations
with the Native Chiefs - and the serious, although unavoidable inconvenience of
their living amongst us or in our immediate vicinity, the question of Slavery is
frequently agitated, & unless settled and defined from the highest authority, is
likely to become the Subject of considerable vexation and embarrassment.
11. The temptations to the followers of the Native Chiefs to quit them are very
great. The high reward of labour, & the comfort of the free laboring classes which
they see before them are all sufficient inducements to the Men. The female
portion have additional ones, arising from the disproportion of the Sexes which
exists among the different classes of the Inhabitants. Amongst the followers of
the Sultan & Toommongoong the proportion of Women to Men two to one.
Amongst the free Settlers of every other description this proportion is even more
than inversed - the Men being more than double the Number of the Women; and
in the case of the Chinese the disproportion is so great that there are at least
Eight men to every Woman.
7
8
12. The least degree of ill treatment and a Considerable Share of it has come
to our knowledge is sufficient under the Circumstances I have stated to induce
the followers of the Native Chiefs to quit them. Whenever such an event takes
place, their persons are demanded, remonstrances follow and some
dissatisfaction has been expressed in many cases where no claim of servitude
could be made, & where it would have been a flagrant injustice to have
remanded the parties.
13. The easy remedy for the inconveniences complained of, appears to me to
be that, the Resident should open a Register for the admission of the Names of
all persons who are bona-fide slaves of the Native chiefs, or who being of Mature
age acknowledge themselves to be so in the presence of impartial Witnesses. In
the same register might be inscribed the names of all the followers of the Native
Chiefs who are their debtors, a class that given the poverty & improvidence of
this race of people is very numerous. The amount of the debt should be inserted,
& the Parties not be at liberty to quit the Service of the Chiefs until they have
either discharged the full amount of the debt, or served such a reasonable length
of time as might justly be considered equivalent to its liquidation.
14. I have often proposed this plan to the Native Chiefs, & although they
apparently acquiesced at first, they have not failed in the end to evade it. no
doubt viewing it with jealousy as an irksome restraint upon their authority.
15. Should the Right Hon'ble the Govr. Gen1• be pleased to approve of the
suggestion now offered of forming a Registry, it might be carried into effect
without any difficulty, by an expression of his approbation in the reply to the letter
of the Native Chiefs.
16. The Breach of engagement apparently referred to, in the concluding part
of the letter of the Native Chiefs, has reference chiefly to the Subject of Slavery. I
am not aware of the existence of any Treaty or Engagement by which the Right
of perpetuating Slavery while they are under the protection of the British flag is
guaranteed to them, & I rest most fully satisfied that the concession of such a
Right, or of any other which implied a violation of the laws of the Realm could not
have been in the contemplation of any British Authority. By the convention
concluded in June 1823, the only concession made to the Institutions of the
Malays regards the Ceremonies of Religion, Marriage, & the Rules of
inheritance, & even these are only to be respected where they shall not be
contrary to reason, humanity &88•
17. The subject of the separate letter of the Toommongoong refers to a
general & indefinite engagement to assist him in removing & establishing himself
at his present residence. A similar engagement for the construction of a Mosque
was entered into with the Sultan, and a specific verbal promise of 3000 Dollars
made to him by Sir T. Raffles in my presence during an interview which took
place for this & other purposes. At this interview, however, the Toommongoong
although invited did not personally attend owing to a temporary indisposition. His
confidential advisers however attended for him, but made no claim whatever in
any presence, & it was not until a month after the departure of Sir T. Raffles that
this Chief urged a claim of similar amount to that of the Sultan. He has already
received on account of himself or his followers either for removal or the
Construction of a new dwelling 3000 Dollars, yet I have most respectfully to
recommend that his present demand, although not extremely reasonable be also
complied with, that even a possible suspicion of ill faith may not attach to the
Govt. for any thing which may be supposed to have taken place even through
misapprehension.
18. The demand Made by the same Chief. for a residence in the Town of
Singapore has placed me in the same awkward situation as his pecuniary one.
The matter was never hinted to me either verbally or in writing from the source of
my instructions on other points, & it was with a good deal of surprize that I first
heard the demand. The Residence of the Toommongoong & his numerous &
disorderly followers was a nuisance of the first magnitude. Three Thousand
Dollars had actually been paid for his removal - three Thousand more were
demanded for the same object, & yet he wished to preserve a temporary
Residence on the very same spot & to occupy all the ground which he had ever
occupied. This would have seen to have perpetuated the very nuisance for
abating which so large an expence had been incurred. The matter would
9
10
probably have been even aggravated, when the followers of the Toommongoong
were living in his enclosure removed from the Controul of their Chief.
19. The inconveniences which arise from the present unsettled nature of our
arrangements with the Native Chiefs, lead me to suggest for the Consideration of
the Right Hon'ble the Govr. Gen1• the expediency of entering into new
engagements with them, in which the relations in which they are henceforth to
stand with the European Govt. may be laid down with precision, & a termination
put to the hopes which they have been led to entertain of aggrandizing
themselves abroad at our expense of embarrassing our local administration.
20. I beg for a moment to bring to the recollection of the Right Hon'ble The
Govr. Gen1• the situation of this island, and of the other Countries in its
neighbourhood constituting the nominal principality of Johor when we formed our
Settlement in the year 1819. This principality extends on the Continent from
Malacca to the extremity of the Peninsula on both Coasts. It had several
Settlements on the island of Sumatra, and embraced all the islands in the Mouth
of the Straits of Malacca with all those in the China Seas as far as the Natunas in
the latitude of 4 ° North & Longitude 109° East. These Countries are all sterile
being inhabited here & there on the Coast only, & Commonly by a race of Pirates
or Fishermen whose condition in society, ignorant of agriculture & without
attachment to the soil, rises every little beyond the savage state Neither is there
any good evidence of there ever having existed a better or more improved order
of society.
21. The condition of the island of Singapore itself may be addressed as an
example of the whole. There was not an area of its surface cultivated, and not a
dozen cleared of forest. The Inhabitants amounting to a few hundreds commonly
lived only on their boats, and finally the place has, & not groundlessly, the
reputation of being one of the principal Piratical Stations in these Seas.
22. The father of the present Sultan being a person of some strength of mind
addicted himself to commercial pursuits and enjoyed more consideration than his
Predecessors and consequently had a more extensive influence. He had no
acknowledged Successor however in his Government. The Individuals
recognized both by ourselves and the Dutch were illegitimate Children, and
being both of them destitute of energy made no attempt to assume his authority.
23. The principal officers of the Govt. of Johore from early times were the
Pindahara or Treasurer, & Toommongoong or first Minister of Justice. These
offices appear to have been a long time hereditary in the families of the present
occupants, who were indeed virtually independant Chiefs, the first of them
residing at, & exercising Sovereignty at Pahang, & the other, the individual with
whom the British Govt. is more connected doing the same thing at Singapore.
24. The present Sultan when he connected himself with us was not only
destitute of all authority, but living in a state of complete indigence. It is
unnecessary therefore to dwell upon the comfort & respectability which this Chief
has derived since he placed himself under our protection. The condition of the
Toommongoong has not been ameliorated to the same extent, but I am not
aware of any honest emolument which he has forfeited by his Change of
Circumstances & it may be added, although he is perhaps not entirely convinced
of the beneficial nature of the change, that he has been rescued from a course of
life of not the most reputable description. He is at all events unquestionably at
present living in a greater __ of affluence, security, & comfort, than it were
possible for him to have enjoyed without our protection.
25. I have no hesitation in submitting it to the Right Hon'ble the Govr. Gen1• as
my firm opinion, that persons born & educated with such habits and prejudices
as belong to men in the Sate of Society which I have just described ought in no
respect is to be associated with us in the Government of a Settlement, ninetenths
of the Inhabitants of which it may be fairly, __ would have an utter
repugnance, and, perhaps even contempt for their Govt. and Institutions. It
appears to me that any participation whatever in the administration of the place
would be the certain source of trouble & embarrassment, nor am I able to
conceive even any contingent advantages which can be expected to result from
so unpromising a connexion!
26. The principal stipulation of any future engagement with the Native Chiefs
ought, as it appears to me, to be the unequivocal cession of the Island of
11
12
Singapore in full Sovereignty and property for which the equivalent will be the
payment of a Sum of Ready Money, and a pension for life. The payment in
Ready Money need not be large, & in it may be included the pecuniary demands
at present made by the Native Chiefs. The pension should not exceed their
present amount which is 2000 Spanish Dollars to both Chiefs included.
27. It should be another Stipulation that the British Govt. should not afford
personal protection to the Chiefs except when they resided at Singapore, leaving
them however the unrestrained right without forfeiture of their pensions of
residing at whatever other part of their Territory they may think proper with the
Single Condition of their not entering into any political arrangements tending to
involve the British Govt. or engaging in any enterprizes tending to disturb the
public tranquillity.
28. The minor arrangements for defining the situation & duties of the Native
Chiefs when Residing in the island, were the point of Sovereignty once
established, would evidently be matter of no difficulty. They would then be
viewed as independent Princes occasionally residing amongst us as visitors, &
as such entitled to be treated with such marks of respect and such forms of
Courtesy as would gratify their feelings without proving injurious to the Govt. of
the Settlement.
29. However desirable such an arrangement might be, I am bound to State to
the Govt. that I anticipate considerable difficulty in carrying it into effect. There
will not be wanting persons who will throw obstacles in the way of the
Negotiation among the Retainers and parasites with whom they are surrounded.
It is further necessary to mention that Chiefs themselves have been
unaccountably led to entertain unfounded hopes of aggrandizement & support
through our means; they are at the same time not without some desire to
participate in our authority, although the Singular indolence & incapacity both of
themselves and of their followers render them utterly unfit for any useful
employment.
30. On the formation of this Settlement an opinion seems to have been
prevalent that the support of the Native Chiefs was indispensable to its success
although considering their character their indigence and their general destitution
of useful influence it is not easy to trace it to any substantial foundation. The first
Treaty with them conceded to them one half of the Duties on Native Vessels.
The Commanders of these Vessels were then ordered to wait upon them when
presents were expected, and this continued until it was greatly abused. An
exclusive Right to all the timber on the island held valuable for exportion seems
affords to have been yield to them, & a proposition is on record for levying a fine
on all the Chinese returning to their Native Country for their exclusive benefit.
These facts are evidences of the opinion to which I have alluded.
31. It does not appear to me that the influence of the Native Chiefs has in any
respect been necessary or even beneficial in the formation, maintenance or
progress of this Settlement, the prosperity of which has rested solely and
exclusively on the Character & Resources of the British Govt.
32. If I may presume to offer an opinion, the easy & obvious course to have
pursued in first forming our Establishment would have been to have given at
once a valuable pecuniary consideration for the complete Sovereignty of the
Island a Stipulation which would have left us in every respect free &
unincumbered, & Conveyed a title of such validity as could not afterwards have
been cancelled by any act of the Native Chiefs wherever residing or under
whatever influence acting. In this early stage the sum which would have sufficed
for such an object would certainly not have equalled one half of what has already
been disbursed to the Native Chiefs, & which has not fallen short of 60,000
Dollars. It will perhaps be considered that the sooner we revert to this principle
the less exceptionable will be our title & the more easy & unfettered our future
relations with the Native Chiefs.
33. Should the Right Hon'ble the Govr. Gen1• be pleased to authorize me to
negotiate for an engagement with the Sultan & Toomongoong of Johore on the
principles which I have now the honor to suggest or on any other less
exceptionable which the wisdom of Govt. may be pleased to point out it will be
my endeavour to smooth every obstacle which may be opposed to its successful
termination.
13
14
Singapore I have &88
'
10th January 1824 /Signed/ J. Crawfurd, Resident.
15
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Annex3
Letter from Crawfurd J. (Resident of Singapore) to Swinton G.
(Secretary to the Government in India) dated 3 Aug 1824
30
conduct. That of the Tumungung in particular, the most influential and intelligent
individual of the two, has been highly respectable and steady throughout the
whole of the present negociation, and I owe it a great measure to his support,
such success as I may venture to anticipate as the result of my own efforts.
The 8th, 9th and 10th Articles make provision for the political relations
which are henceforth to subsist between the native Princes and ourselves. While
they reside within our Territories, and are our pensionaries, the stipulation that
they shall hold no correspondence with any foreign nation without our special
consent, seems equally fair and indispensable. To this article indeed, they were
far from offering any objection, for their evident desire throughout was to engage
themselves in a close alliance with us, and to render us if possible, a party
offensive, as well as defensive to their quarrels. This was a point to be cautiously
guarded against, and I have endeavored to make the necessary provision for
such a purpose in the 9th and 10th Articles which secure to the Native Princes,
without putting us to political inconvenience, a personal asylum in case of need
and effectually protect us at the same time from the necessity of interfering in
their unprofitable quarrels among themselves or their neighbours, as well as
from the more serious evil of being committed with European powers through
their imprudence.
The 11th Article provides for the suppression of robbery and piracy. In this
matter it is not much, that the native Princes in connexion with us have in their
power; but it is always something, at least that they should be bound down to the
good conduct of their own immediate dependents, amongst whom there are to
be found some depredators of considerable notoriety, and a majority always
more disposed to plunder than to labour when an opportunity offers.
The 12th Article provides against the pernicious practice on the part of the
Native Princes of establishing petty monopolies towards which a strong
propensity always exists. A free intercourse with our immediate vicinity, the
whole of which is under their sway, is indispensable to a cheap supply of crude
and raw produce, and the necessity of this to the prosperity of the Settlement
seemed especially to call for the present stipulation - independent of its justice
and propriety on general principles.
In explanation of the 13th Article, I may observe that possessing the
Sovereignty and property of the island, the followers and retainers of the Native
Princes will of necessity be as completely amenable to such laws, as may be
established by the Sovereign power as any other class of the inhabitants. This
right however will require to be exercised with delicacy and discretion.
Something similar to the jurisdiction which is conceded to Ambassadors over
their families in the international policy of European states may in general be
allowed to the Native Princes by courtesy, without at the same time permitting
their residences to become a sanctuary for criminals of any order or description.
The only concession made upon a subject upon which the native Princes
were extremely urgent and importune, the desertion of their retainers is
contained in the same article of the Treaty. This class of persons comprehended
in this provision are strictly subjects of the native Princes, and aliens with respect
to us, so that I am in hopes that this stipulation in regard to it, is of a strictly legal
character.
I have had the honor in a former Despatch of bringing to the notice of the
Supreme Govt, the question of Slavery as connected with the native Princes. I
have not permitted the present Treaty to be polluted even by the mention of the
subject. I must do the Chiefs the Justice indeed to say that they did not urge it.
Under these favorable circumstances when the present convention is ratified,
slavery may be said to be banished from the island, where its illegality - whether
our sovereignty, the condition of our Asiatic colonists, or of the British Settlers be
considered, will be complete as on the soil of Great Britain itself. I have the more
satisfaction in making this report, since the practice of introducing slaves had at
one time become too common, and called for frequent punishment. I have now
respectfully to solicit the permission of Government to publish a formal
denunciation against the practice in question, with an explanation of the state of
the law as regards the question of Slavery in general.
31
32
The 14th and the last article annuls all former Treaties and conventions,
and I have only thought it prudent, chiefly in reference to our connexion with
European powers, to make an exception for such Rights of occupation as were
conferred upon us by the engagements in question.
I have throughout the whole negociation which is now been brought to a
conclusion carefully warned the native Princes and the individuals who are in
their confidence, that no stipulation of the present Treaty could be binding until
the whole was duly ratified by the Right Hon'ble the Governor General. The
whole therefore is completely open to alteration and amendment, either in
substance or expression without any compromise of the character of the Agent
employed in carrying it into effect. I humbly trust however from the pains which
have been taken, both with the English Copy, and its Malayan version, that no
serious revision will be necessary, and that the important objects contemplated
by the Right Hon'ble the Governor General in Council in opening the negociation
will be found expressed in the convention with adequate precision and
comprehensiveness.
Singapore
3rd August 1824
I have the honor to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servt.
J. Crawfurd
Resident
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45

Annex4
Letter from Crawfurd J. (Resident of Singapore) to Swinton G.
(Secretary to Government in India)
dated 1 Oct 1824

Letter from Resident of Singapore -
The Honble John Crawfurd
(who negotiated and made the Treaty
for the cession of Singapore to the
East India Company)
to
George Swinton Esqre Secretary to the
Government, Fort William, Calcutta
dated 1 §! October 1824
{Extract)
An authentic copy of the Treaty concluded in London in
the month of March last with the Government of the
Netherlands having been received at this place through
the medium of the Dutch Official Newspaper, I beg
respectfully to lay before the Rt. Honble. the Governor
General in Council such observations as are suggested
by it - principally in its bearings on the local
arrangements recently made with the native Chiefs at
this place.
X X X X
By the 1 ih Article of that Treaty, His Britannic Majesty
engages that no British establishment shall be made on
the Carimon Isles, or the Islands of Battan, Bintang,
Lingin, or on any of the other Islands South of the Straits
47
48
Tin mines were
discovered and
being worked.
of Singapore, or any Treaty concluded, by British
authority, with the Chiefs of those Islands. The cession
made to us by the native princes of the main island of
Singapore and the islets adjacent to it to the extent of ten
geographical miles from its coast, is in no respect
impugned by the condition in question as by the most
liberal interpretation, the whole cession is strictly North of
the Southern limits of the Straits of Singapore.
X X X X
It does not upon the whole appear to me that the
occupation of Rhio could be beneficial to the British
Government, yet its retention on the part of the
Netherlands Government, and our exclusion from
entering into political relations with the Chiefs of all the
Islands lying South to the Straits of Singapore and
between the peninsula and Sumatra may prove a matter
of some inconvenience to us, as it in fact virtually
amounts to a dismemberment of the principality of
Johore, and must thus be productive of some
embarrassment and confusion. This may be easily
illustrated by an example. -
The Carimon Islands and the Malayan Settlement of
Bulang are two of the principal possessions of the
Tumongong of Johore or Singapore, and his claim to
them is not only allowed by the rival Chiefs but more
satisfactorily ascertained by the voluntary and cheerful
allegiance yielded to him by the inhabitants. By the
present Treaty, however, he must either forego all claims
to these possessions, or removing to them, renounce his
connection with the British Government.
I 49 I
I so I
51

Annex 5
Letter from Sultan Abdul Rahman to Sultan Hussein
dated 25 June 1825

TRANSLATION
Letter from Sultan Abdul Rahman to Sultan Hussein dated 25
June 1825
[Note : Translated from Malay into Dutch in 1825 by Dutch official
Christiaan van Angelbeek, and translated from Dutch into English for
the Government of Singapore for the purpose of this CounterMemorial]
English Translation
Letter of the Sultan of the Islands Lingga, Bintan and all
obedient dependencies Abdul Rahman Shah, to the Sultan of
Singapore and all obedient dependencies.
After the introduction/preamble
Your Brother sends you this letter which, although not styled
according to your instructions, will have to serve in lieu of a personal
meeting and exchange of words between the two of us, and further to
give you notice of the conclusion of a treaty between His Majesty the
King of the Netherlands and His Majesty the King of Great Britain,
whereby the division of the lands of Johar, Pahang, Riau and Lingga
is stipulated. The part of the lands assigned to you, My Brother, I
donate to you with complete satisfaction, and sincere affection, for we
are brothers and the only children left behind by our father. I beseech
you, My Brother, that friendship and unanimity may reign between us,
that henceforth neither of us shall pay attention to the false reports of
those who hedge ill-will against us. If any such surface, I beseech
53
54
that you may not believe them, but that such reports be investigated
on their merits, and that rumours of such ill-willed persons be
rejected; in this I promise to support you from my side.
You are already familiar with the borders of our respective
empires. But in order to make the matter clear and transparent, Your
Brother wishes through this friendly letter to provide a detailed
description.
Your territory, thus, extends over Johor and Pahang on the
mainland or on the Malay Peninsula. The territory of Your Brother
extends out over the Islands of Lingga, Bintan, Galang, Bulan,
Karimon and all other islands. Whatsoever may be in the sea, this is
the territory of Your Brother, and whatever is situated on the mainland
is yours. On the basis of these premises I earnestly beseech you that
your notables, the Paduka Bendahara of Pahang and Temenggong
Abdul Rahman, will not in the slightest concern themselves with the
islands that belong to Your Brother. The above is in complete
agreement with the spirit and the content of the treaty concluded
between their Majesties, the Kings of the Netherlands and Great
Britain. For this reason, My Brother, heed the advice of Your Brother
as much as possible and do not act contrary thereto. For who can
answer for the consequences?
In evidence of its truth and authenticity, this copy of the letter of
His Majesty, the Sultan of Lingga, Abdul Rahman Shah to the Sultan
of Singapore, Hussein, is endorsed with the seal of Tunku Said
Mohamad Zein, which bears witness of its composition.
Written at Riouw on the island of Penjingat on the 21 st of the
month of Syawal, Thursday, at eight o'clock in the evening in the year
1240.
Translated by the Malay Translator of the Government
Mr. van Angelbeek
Copy conform to the original
Signed, the General Secretary
(Signature uncertain)
Transcript of Original Dutch Translation
Brief van den Sultan van de Eilanden Lingga, Bintang en alle
onderhoorigheden Abdul Rachman Shah, aan den Sultan van
Singapoera en alle onderhoorigheden.
Na de inleiding:
Uw broader zend U dezen brief welke niet na vereisch is ingerigt,
eeniglyk om te strekken in plaats van eene persoonlyke byeenkomst
en woordwisseling tusschen ons beide, en voorts om U kennis te
geven van het sluiten van een tractaat tusschen Zyne Majesteit den
Koning der Nederlanden en Zyne Majesteit den Koning van groot
Britanie, waarby de scheiding der landen van Djohor. Pahang. Riouw
en Lingga is bepaald; het daarby aan U mynen broader toegewezen
55
56
deel, schenk ik U, met volkomen genoegen en opregte
toegenegenheid want wy zyn broeders en de beide eenigste kinderen
door wylen onzen vader achtergelaten.
lk verzoek U mynen broader als nu dat tusschen ons beide
vriendschap en eensgezindheid moge heerschen en dat wy voortaan
geen van beide gehoor verleenen aan de valsche berigten van
kwaadgezinden. lndien dergelyke zich in den vervolge mogten
aanmelden, verzoek ik, dat dezelve door U niet worden geloofd, maar
dat gy zelve onderzocht wat van de zaak is, met verwerping van de
inblazingen van dergelyke slechtgezinden, waartoe ik my van myne
zyde verbind.
Wat de grenzen van onze respectieve ryken betreft, gy zyt
daarmede bekend, doch opdat die zaak duidelyk en klaarblykelyk zy,
wil Uw broader, dezelve, by dezen vriendschappelyken brief ten
overvloede beschryven, en opgeven.
Uw gebied dan, strekt zich uit over Djohor en Pahang op het
vaste land of het Maleische Schier Eiland, het gebied van Uw broader
strekt zich uit over de Eilanden van Lingga. Bintan. Galang. Boelang,
Karimon. en alle verdere eilanden, want hetgeen in zee ligt is het
gebied van Uw breeder, en hetgeen zich op het vaste land bevind,
het Uwe. Uit dien hoofde verzoek ik U ernstig dat Uwe Ryksgrooten,
de Padoeka Bandahara te Pahang ende Tomongong Abdul Rachman
zich in het minste niet moge afgeven met hetgeen de Eilanden van
Uwen broader betreft. Het bovenstaande is volmaakt overeenkomstig
aan den geest en den inhoud van het gesloten tractaat tusschen
hunne Majesteiten de Koningen van Nederland en Groot Britanie,
derhalve myn breeder weest zoo veel mogelyk den gegeven Raad
van Uwen Broeder indachtig en handelt daartegen niet strydig, want
wie kan voor de gevolgen daarvan instaan?
Dit afschrift des brief van Zyne Hoogheid den Sultan van
Lingga Abdul Rachman Sha aan den Sultan van Singapoera
Hoessien, is ten blyke der waarheid en echtheid voorzien van het
zegel van Tongkoe Said Mohamad Zein, welke getuigen is van het
schryven daarvan.
Geschreven te Riouw op het eiland Penjingat, op den 21.e van
de maand Sjawal, Donderdag des ochtends te acht uren, in het jaar
1240.
Vertaald door den Maleischen
Translateur van het Gouvernement
/wG/ van Angelbeek.
Voor Copie Conform,
De Algemeene Secretaris,
(Signature uncertain)
57
58
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60
Annex6
Letter from the Under-King Raja Jaffar to Sultan Hussein
dated 25 June 1825

TRANSLATION
Letter from the Under-King Raja Jaffar to Sultan Hussein dated
25 June 1825
[Note : Translated from Malay into Dutch in 1825 by Dutch official
Christiaan van Angelbeek, and translated from Dutch into English for
the Government of Singapore for the purpose of this CounterMemorial]
English Translation
Letter of the Under-King Raja Jaffar, the plenipotentiary of his
Majesty, Sultan Abdul Rahman Shah, to His Majesty, Sultan
Hussein seated on the throne of Singapore and all obedient
dependencies
After the introduction/preamble
Your Father sends this letter to you, My Son, in order to inform you
that he is regarded as the plenipotentiary and charge d'affaires of
Your Brother, His Majesty Sultan Abdul Rahman, by virtue of
prescription and custom. He has been instructed by him personally to
give notice to you, My Son, of the conclusion of a treaty between His
Majesty, the King of the Netherlands and His Majesty the King of
Great Britain, whereby the division of the lands of Johar, Pahang,
Riau and Lingga is stipulated. The part of the lands assigned to you,
My Son, we, Your Father and Your Brother, donate to you with
complete satisfaction, and sincere affection, for the two of you are
brothers and both the only remaining children of your father.
We, Your Father and Your Brother, beseech you My Son that
friendship and unanimity may reign between the two of you, and that
henceforth neither of you shall listen to the false reports of those who
61
62
hedge ill-will. If any such persons shall introduce themselves over the
course of time, we beseech that you may not believe them, but that
such reports be investigated on their merits, and that rumours of such
ill-willed persons be rejected.
What the borders of your empire and that of Your Brother are
concerned, let these, My Son, be known herewith. But in order to
make the matter clear and transparent, Your Father wishes through
this friendly letter to provide a detailed description.
Your territory, thus, extends over Johor and Pahang on the
mainland or on the Malay Peninsula. The territory of Your Brother
extends out over the Islands of Lingga, Bintan, Galang, Bulan,
Karimon and all other islands. For whatsoever may be in the sea,
belongs to Your Brother, and whatever is situated on the mainland, is
yours. For this reason, we, Your Father and Your Brother, earnestly
beseech you that your notables, the Paduka Bendahara of Pahang
and Temenggong Abdul Rahman, will not in the slightest concern
themselves with any of the islands that belong to Your Brother.
The above is in complete agreement with the spirit and the
content of the treaty concluded between their Majesties, the Kings of
Great Britain and the Netherlands. For this reason My Son, abide by
the given counsel as far as possible, and do not act contrary thereto.
For who can answer for the consequences thereof?
In evidence of its truth and authenticity, this copy of the letter of
His Highness, the Under-King Raja Jaffar to the Sultan of Singapore
Hussein, is endorsed with the seal of Tunku Said Mohamad Zein,
which bears witness to its composition.
Written at Riouw on the island of Penjingat on the 21 st of the
month of Syawal, Thursday, at eight o'clock in the evening in the year
1240
Translated by the Malay translator of the Government
Mr. van Angelbeek
Copy conform to the original
Signed, the General Secretary
(Signature uncertain)
Transcript of Orignal Dutch Translation
Brief van den onderkoning Radia Jafar, Generaalgevolmagtigde
van Zijne Hoogheid den Sultan Abdul Rachman Shah, aan Zijne
Hoogheid Sultan Hoessien, gezeten op den troon van Singapoera
en alle onderhoorigheden.
Na de inleiding.
Uw vader zend U mynen zoon dezen brief, om U kennis te geven dat
hy door Uwen broeder, Zyne Hoogheid Sultan Abdul Rachman, by
voortduring en volgens gewoonte, als deszelfs gevolmagtigde en
zaakgelastigde wordt beschouwd en van Hoogstdenzelven bevel heeft
ontvangen, om U myn zoon ter kennis te brengen, het sluiten van een
tractaat tusschen Zyne Majesteit den Koning der Nederlanden en
Zyne Majesteit den Koning van Groot Britanie, waarby de scheiding
der landen van Djohor, Pahang, Riouw en Lingga is bepaald, het
daarby aan U mynen zoon toegewezen deel, schenken wy, uw vader
en uw broeder, U met volkomen genoegen en opregte
63
64
toegenegenheid, want gylieden zyt broeders ende beide eenigste
kinderen door wylen Uwen vader achtergelaten.
Wy, uw vader en uw broeder bidden u myn zoon als nu dat
tusschen U beide vriendschap en eensgezindheid moge heerschen en
dat gy voortaan geen van beide gehoor zult verleenen aan de valsche
berigten van kwaad gezinden; indien dergelyke zich inden vervolge
mochten aanmelden verzoeken wy dat dezelve door u niet warden
geloofd, maar dat gy zelve onderzoekt wat van de zaak is, met
verwerping van de inblazingen van dergelyke slechtgezinden.
Wat de grenzen betreft van Uw ryk en dat van Uwen broeder, gy
myn zoon, zyt daarmede bekend, doch opdat die zaak duidelyk en
klaarblykelyk zy, wil Uw vader dezelve by dezen vriendschappelyken
brief ten overvloede beschryven en opgeven.
Uw gebied dan, strekt zich uit over Djohor en Pahang op het
vaste land of het maleische schiereiland, het gebied van uw broeder
strekt zich uit over de eilanden van Lingga, Bintam, Galang, Boelang,
Karimon, en alle verdere Eilanden, want hetgeen in zee ligt is het
gebied van uw broeder, en hetgeen zich op het vaste land bevind, het
Uwe. Uit dien hoofte, verzoeken wy, uw vader en uw broeder, U
ernstig, dat uwe Ryksgrooten, de Padoeka Bandahara te Pahang en
de Tomonggong Abdul Rachman zich in het minste niet mogen
afgeven met hetgeen de eilanden van Uwen broeder betreft.
Het bovenstaande is volmaakt overeenkomstig aan den geest
en den inhoud van het gesloten tractaat tusschen hunne Majesteiten
de Koningen van groot Bretanie en Nederland, derhalve myn zoon
weest zoo veel mogelyk den gegeven raad indachtig en handelt
daartegen niet strydig, want wie kan voor de gevolgen daarvan
instaan?
Dit afschrift des briefs van Zyne Hoogheid den onderkoning
Radja Jafar aan den Sultan van Singapoera Hoessien, is ten blyke der
waarheid en echtheid, voorzien van het zegel van Tongkoe Said
Mohamad Zein, welke getuigen is van het schryven daarvan.
Geschreven te Riouw op het eiland Penjingat op den 21.e van
de maand Sjawal, Donderdag des ochtends ten acht ure, in het jaar
1240.
Vertaald door den Maleischen
Translateur van't Gouvernement
/wG/ van Angelbeek.
Voor Copie Conform
De Algemeene Secretaris
(Signature uncertain)
65
66
67
68
Annex 7
"A List of Places within the Jurisdiction of Johor with the probable
number of inhabitants at each", attached to the Report by Pres grave
E. (Registrar of Imports and Exports) to Murchison K. (Resident
Councillor of Singapore) dated 5 Dec 1828

'iii
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A list of places within the Jurisdiction of Johor with the probable number of Inhabitants at each &ca exclusive of Pahano
Name of
Number of
Islands
Inhabitants
Production Annually expected Remarks &ca
and Places
Tambalan 1000 Oil about 100 Pi cul Jaggery 200 Picul Tripang 20 Tortoise Shell 15
Siantan 1000 " " 50" " 80 " 60 " " 3
Bunguran 2000 " " 200" " " " 100 " " 10
Sulie 500 " " 100" " 400 " 500 " " 4
Pulow Laut 400 " " 200" " 40 " 50 " " 2
Jarasam 400 II " 50 " " 50 II 50 II II 4
Junaja 80 II " II " II II II II II " II Paddy 800 Piculs
Pulow Aor 100 II " 30 " II 10 II II " "
PulowTinje 80 II " " II II II 20 II II
Truiman 40 II " II II II " 10 " "
Batupahat 400 400 Pie Ebony 1000 Bundles Rattans 5 Pie Garao Wood
Mamah 1000 600 " II II II II 8 " II
Padang 200 Fruits
◄
Andow 60 300 Pie: Ebony 7000 Bundles Rattan
Rampim 50 200 II II 8000 II II 3 Pies Garrao
Sedeli 100 300 " II 10000 II
II 4 " II f Rilleh 1000 4000 11 Paddy 30 " Beeswax
Kalma(?) (?) ... . .. . ..
~
en
C:
3
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5·
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C
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Maudah 300
Tapok 300
lgal 200
Ana Saika 200
~
Sahama 1000
Oamah 400
Buroh 100
Bulah 180
Temiang 600
Gulang 200
Mappah 500
Mansudah 300
Juruk 400
►
Murok 200
Luge 300
PulowTrang 250
Palampang 200
Salah Laut 100
...
Ungaram 200
Burah 160
Karimen 100
" Carried
15,400
Forward
0
9000 II
II 8 II II 400 11 II
600 II II 3 II II 600 11 II
1000 II
II 5 II II 300 II II
800 II II 8 II II 400 11 II
Piratical
Do
Do
Do
Do
Do 1000 Bahra Seaweed
Do
Do
Do
Do 800 Bahra Seaweed
Do 500 II II Destroyed by His M's S.
Harrier sd, S·~ R
Do 1200 II II
Do 600 II II
Do II II II
800 Pie Rattans
1000 Do
1000 Do 4 Pie Garraowood 100 Pie Dammar 1000 Kajang
;;a
,::r::r
Name of
Islands
and Places
Brought
forward
Yadi
Tring
Rampang
Laborn
Ayer
Badan
Sakalah
Panageng
Sukang
Salat Trang
Sungie Bulah
Kalang
Monlang
Rhion
Tambres
Number of
Inhabitants
15400
30 10,000 Pie Rattans
40 200 Do
50 II II
30
50
100
50
60
40
30
40
100
100
100
200
16420
Production Annually expected
4 Pie Garrao Wood 30 Pie Dammar 1000 Kajang
II II 40 Do II II
II II II II 100 Do
1200 Bahra Seaweed
Fishermen
No Produce
No Produce
No Produce
Small quantity of Dammar and Sea Weed
800 Kajangs
1000 II
1000 II 400 Bahra Seaweed
1000
2000
II
True Copies
Sd/ S.G. Bonham
Acting Govr
II 500
II 200
II 400
II
II
II
II
II
II
Sd/ Edwd Presgrave
Registrar of lmpo. & Exp15
Remarks &ca
0
72
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Annex 8
Extracts from Begbie P.J., The Malayan Peninsula
(1834, 1967 Reprint)

THE
MALAYAN
PENINSLTLA
BY
P. J. BEGBIE
WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY
DIPTENDRA M. BANERJEE
~
OXFORD
IN ASIA
Historical
Reprints
~
KUALA LUMPUR
OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS
NEW YORK LONDON MELBOURNE
1967
75
76
269
single resistance. or combine for mutual defence.
In either case, the certainty and number of the
prizes, which at present form the main stay of
piracy, would no longer hold out the same temptations
to the crin1e.
The following Table will exhibit in a condensed
form the different portions of this piratical
empire, and other matters of interest connected
with it.
Table of the Maritime Population of the Empire of Johore, exhibiting the different Islands, and Tribes by wliotn
they are inhabited.
Estimated Population.
Islands. Tribes. Name of the Chiefs. C: C: Cl) REMARKS. c ~a -"-C cii Cl) 0 .... ..
~ ~ -= 0 u ETimbelan.
Tlmbelan, S Dattoo Patt1engi Sera- I I 1,300 1,000 600 2,000
1.:.
l na Rajah. ~
Sera.1,a. Serasa. S Orang Kaya Passie, t t Orang Kaya Ibrahim. S 1,200 500 400 2,H0
Soobee. Soobee. Do. Do. 4Sil 160 200 790
Temaja. Temaja. 1-'anglimah Rajah. 450 soo 320 1,070 r~ { Dattoo Pangerang MO• ~
Siantan. hammed 'fayer aud po~
Siantan.
Orang Kaya Sctia l 2,500 1,sou 2,000 6,300
Palawang.
Boon goo ran. Boongooran. t~ Orang Kaya Dana 1 3,000 2,000 2,600 7,500 }E~ Rajah. j
Laut. Laut. Do. Do. 250 411 60 350
Tiooman, Tiooman. Panghooloo. 150 20 30 200 ~ ' Tinggy. Tinggy. Batteen. 150 35 40 225 jdt The <.,;arimons. Carimon, Do. 600 300 300 t,250
Laboo, Laboo. Do. 100 20 15 135 Th
Rooroo. Booroo. Do. 200 60 100 860 1th; Oongarang, Oongarang. Orang Kaya. 400 160 230 790 we
Rete. Rete. i Orang Kaya and Ban- ~ 2,000 1,20012,0001 5,200 Jbl, t dara. j ab1
tl'Cl ,y tne p
t-,.:,
""-l
0
G
B
Sinkeip. ISinkel. I{ D11t~oo Solwatan or }\\ 4,000 J s,oooJ 2,000 J9 ,soojl This island furnishes annually about 3,000 picnls
Lingga. of tin, a considerable portion of which, perhaps
one-third, con~ists of Banca ore, which is smug•
g)ed thither, and, after having been smelted, ii
Sekana. ISekana. I Do. Do. 2,000 5,500
conveyed to SingaJ>ore market.
1,600 2,000 Population entirely piratical. f Orang Kaya, and Pan-J Mappah. rappab. l gbooloo Hamba Ra- 2,000 1,600 2,600 6,000 Do. Do.
jab.
Sungei Papan. Sungie Papan. Batteen, 400 1501 2251 775
Barras. Giang. Do. 200 160 100 46011 Population employed in felling timber for building
srnnp,,ng.,, or for joists and beams for houses, &c.
Bombang. jLadi. I 1 These fell timber for carpenter's work, princi•
Do. 400 300 200 900 pally for building houses, store roon_,s, &c. The
Do. 400 400 300 1 100 f woonen p,epare and ,ell chnnam to, betel, and
Mantan. Mantan.
' both sexes manufacture kadj,in mats which they t-:>
Oongang. Oongang.
sell, as they alHo do rattans. ....:t
BO<• 900 1 Althon,h the,c. i,lan~ers1 .. pecially those of ......
Do. 300 300
Gonwn. Gouwn. Do. 600 300 160 960; Rooroo, are f:st11ent1ally p1rattcal, they yet devote
Booroo. Rooroo. Do. 400 200 70 6701 that portion of theh· time, in which they are pre-
Koondoor. Koondoor. Do. 250 160 40 450\ f vent~d from pntting to sea, to a~ricnltnre. Both
Seraka. Seraka. Do. }(10 60 20 1 801 men and women, plant, manofactnre, and sell,
' sago.
Snngei Goown. Kwala. Do. 100 40 60 200 Both se,ces employed in fisheries,
Galang. Galang. Do. 600 400 300 1,300 The male proportion of the inhabitants is entirely
piratical. The women are employed in fishing,
and pt'eparing Bichede Mer, and A.gar-agar, which
articles they dispose of priucipally to the Chinese
of Singapore, Rhio, and Lingga.
Timmiang. Timmiang. l Do. 500 400 200 r • HJO \ } The inhabitants of these hland, follow the same
Mooroo. Mooroo. Do. 300 200 60 660 occupations as tbose of Galang. The island of
Bolang. Pekaka. Do. 500 300 250 t,050 Soogie produces good ebony, and gahrao, which
Soogie. Soogie. Do. 600 500 600 1,600 the natives dispose of to the Chineae Junks, to
lalands. Tribes.
Llngga. Lingga.
Singapore. Singapore.
Johot·e. Johore.
Pahang. Pahang.
Blntang and tbf Bintang.
Residency of
Rhio.
Pinigad.
Palandoo.
Pinipd.
Palandoo.
Manda. Manda.
lgal. Igal.
Bintayan. Biotayan.
Goowooo. Goowoon.
Tumbooaoo.
Table of tTr.e M,u·itime Popttlation o.f the Empire of Johore. tc.
Estimated Population.
Name of the Chief a· c C:
~ REMARKS. . Ill ... . I "Cl - l:S :a • ~ ....
"-1 ~ 0 u E,-4
24.000 I whom these articles are annually conveyed to
Sulthaun of Johore. e,ooo 0,000
8in1apo1·e, Rhi!l, and Lingga.
10000 This island prodnces gambiP.r, and pepper
The Tamoongong of Do. 400 600
the last in the greatest quantities.
600 1,5001
Do. Do. 400 300 100 1,000, Johore, a, well a" Pahan,r, is on the main land,
120000
b11t included as a portion of the empil'e.
The Bandharra. 19000 20000 69001 Of these it is reckoned that 12,000 arP. capable
of bearing arms. Pahang produce" a great quantity
of gold-dust, ebony, Kayoo Koc,moo,,ie, tin,
&c.
Rajah Moodah of Rhlo. 16000 14000 12000 42000 Biotang is highly productive in gambier.
Do. Do, ofdo. 2,000 1,500 2,300 6,800
Orang Kaya. soo 200 160 6SO l These five place■ are adjacent to the island Batteen. 600 4!.fO 800 ]300
Do. 200 100 io s10 . ~or ~nmatn, and the frincipal authority ii ve1t•
Do. 100 80 801 2-10 I ed in Orang Kaya o Palanduo.
Do, 400 800 800 1,000 J -- - 600 2001 240 1,040 This tribe wanders over the Archipelago, hl'f•
~
ing no fixed residence, and being at enmity wltb
all otben. Their boats are from I to 8 Coyanp
barthen, and armed with a few swivels ancl --- -- ·-• [apean
Tetal. 11480 61196 OOOOOi I Nl71
~.....
~
~

Annex9
Letter from Butterworth W .J. ( Governor of Prince of Wales Island,
Singapore and Malacca) to Belcher E. (Captain ofH.M.S.
Samarang) dated 2 Oct 1844

No. 198
Conveying Govt15 To
thanks for the
information
Capt n Sir Edward Belcher C. B
accorded touching H. M. Ship "Samarang"
the site of the
Horsburgh Light Sir
House & soliciting
the opinion of
Capt" Belcher as
to the necessity of
a Light House at
Malacca.
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter under date the 1st Instant, in reply to my communication of
the 20th April last, soliciting the favor of your opinion as to the
most advantageous site for the erection of a Light House with a
view of carrying out the Philanthropic intention of the committee
to the subscribers for a testimonial to the memory of the late
celebrated Hydrographer James Horsburgh Esquire.
I beg to tender my best acknowledgment for your ready
compliance with my request and for the able information you
have afforded me, which I propose forthwith to have the honor of
Submitting to the Supreme Government in the fullest hope that I
shall be authorized to carry your views into effect.
The considerate manner in which you have meet my
solicitation touching the "Horsburgh Light House" has embolden
me to intrude still further on your acknowledged experience, I
trust that you will kindly pardon me for so doing, and again lend
me the weight of your opinion.
I have an application before me for extensive repairs to
the Light House at Malacca, which is in so dilapidated a state,
that I question if it would not prove more economical to construct
an entirely new Lanthorn than to patch up the present one, but I
am doubtful whether it would be expedient to put the state to
any expence on this account, now that Malacca is no longer a
Place of trade, unless the Light be deemed of importance to the
81
82
navigation of that particular part of the Straits, and it is on this
point that I desire again to solicit the favor of your opinion, prior
to moves the Supreme Gov1 on the Subject.
Singapore
2nd Oct 1844
I have &88
Signed/ W.J. Butterworth
Governor
83
84
Annex 10
Letter from Butterworth W .J. ( Governor of Prince of Wales Island,
Singapore and Malacca) to Faber C.E. (Superintending Engineer)
dated 3 Oct 1844

No. 200
Relative to the
erection of a Light
House on Point
Romania as a
testimonial to the
To
Capt" C. E. Faber
Superint 9 Engineer
Straits of Malacca
memory of the late Sir
Hydrographer
James Horsburgh
Esqre.
I have the honor to forward for your information the
accompanying Copy of a letter from Capt". Sir Edward
Belcher C. B. relative to the site for a Light House at the
entrance of the China Sea.
2. I should mention that some years since, Funds were
raised in China with a view of erecting a testimonial to the
memory of the late celebrated Hydrographer James
Horsburgh Esqre.
3. At a meeting of the subscribers a wish was expressed
that the contribution should be devoted to the Building of a
Light House bearing the name of Horsburgh on Pedro
Branco, at the entrance of China Sea, or on such other
locality as might be deemed preferable by the Government.
4. The question of erecting a Light House on Barn Island
was submitted to the Supreme Governm1 by the late
Governor of these Settlements, but the position involved the
necessity of a Military Guard, Special Superintendant and a
large Establishment for this purpose, and the measure was
accordingly abandoned.
85
86
5. The Funds amounting to 5513 ors are still
forthcoming, and I am desirous of again submitting the
question to the supreme government, backed by the
approved experience and confirmed judgment of so talented
an Officer as Capt" Sir Edward Belcher C. B. whose able
letter, will prepare you for the call I am about to make on
your acknowledged acquirements, for a report of the
probable expenses that would be incurred in carrying out Sir
Edward Belcher's views.
6. In the course of a few days I intend to visit Point
Romania in the steamer when I shall request the favor of
your attendance in furtherance of the Philantropic resolution
of the committee for the Horsburgh testimonial.
Singapore
3rd October 1844
I have &ca
Signed/ W. J. Butterworth
Governor
87
88
89

Annex 11
Letter from Congalton S. (Captain of the Hooghly) and Thomson
J.T. (Government Surveyor) to Butterworth W.J. (Governor of
Prince of Wales Island, Singapore and Malacca) dated 25 Aug 1846

B
From
Capt" S. Congalton
Comm9 H.E.I. C08 Steamer Hooghly
and
J. T. Thomson Esq re
Government Surveyor
To
The Hon'ble
Sir,
Colonel Butterworth C.B.
Governor of P.W.lsland,
Singapore and Malacca.
d/ the 25th August 1846
We have the honor of acknowledging the receipt of your letter
N°. 112 d/ 14th August 1846 with enclosures from the Admiralty &
East India House relative to the position of a Light House proposed
to be erected to the Memory of the late Mr Horsburg at the Eastern
entrance of the Straits of Singapore.
In reply we beg leave respectfully to state to your Honor that
we are decidedly of opinion that Pedra Branca is the only proper
position for a Light to be placed there for the safety of Shipping
whether entering or departing from the Straits of Singapore & in
advancing an opinion on the subject contrary to the recorded views
of so eminent a Surveyor as Capt" Sir Ed. Belcher it will be
necessary for us to state for the information of more distant
authorities that we do so after having completed a careful Survey of
the Straits & which Survey includes all the space to which the Light
would extend whether it may be placed on Peak Rock Romania or
on Pedra Branca, and the former of us has had the advantage of an
91
92
experience of Twenty five years of almost constant Cruizing in the
vicinity during all weathers in the Honble Company's Vessels both
Sailing and Steam.
It is during the prevalence of the North East Monsoon that
the want of a light is most felt by Ships passing through the Straits
for at that time they have a lee shore on the Malay Peninsula and
Island of Bintang with a Current from the Northward driving them on
to the dangers that are situated along their Coasts. Thus if night
should come on before a Ship has passed clear of all dangers
inwardly or outwardly being prevented from anchoring by the high
Sea running and driven out of her reckoning by the strong Currents,
her safety becomes very precarious when in the darkness no
known mark can be seen, and it has been under those
circumstances that most of the lamentable Shipwrecks have taken
place within these few years. In considering the question therefore
the guiding of Ships during the North East Monsoon, should be held
amongst other objects that of most paramount importance.
Pedra Branca as mentioned in the enclosure from the
Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty had been originally intended
to bear the Light House until Sir Edward Belcher reported in favor of
Peak Rock and while we fully concur with the Opinions set forth in
the enclosure from their Lordships we will at the same time give as
succinct a view as possible of the relative merits of each position so
that your Honor may judge of the correctness of our views yourself.
Pedra Branca is situated in the middle of the Straits and is the most
advanced position towards the China Sea. So that it is the first
object that Vessels make in Steering for the Straits of Singapore &
supposing the light to be placed on it to be seen in all directions
fifteen miles only, for a further distance could not be safely relied
upon, however brilliant the light during rainy or hazy weather it will
be noticed on reference to the Chart that the light would extend to
all the dangers in the way of Vessels whether on the Coast of
Bintang the Romania Shoal or adjoining the Coast of Johore and
that Vessels coming from the China Sea whether from the
Northward or Eastward, would only require to shape a direct course
to the light, and by passing to the Northward of it, where it is steep
too, and free of all dangers, and consequently can be safely
approached. A Stern bearing would carry Vessels into the Straits.
At Peak Rock on the contrary supposing its light to be of the same
magnitude and brilliancy it would not extend to the principal of the
dangers to be apprehended Vizt those on the North East point of
Bintang where Ships are so liable when working out of the Straits to
be driven by the Current which as formerly stated sets from the
Northward on that shore where the most advanced points is not
only low and difficult to be discerned, but has dangerous Reefs &
Sunken Rocks extending from it a mile & a half into the Sea. This
fact renders a Light for Peak Rock of no use to Ships going out or
coming in from the Eastward & Ships coming in from the Northward
would be equally embarrassed for owing to the numerous sunken
Shoals that lie off the Romania Islands they cannot be nearly
approached. Ships would consequently be forced continually to
alter their bearings of the light and not approach with one direct
course as in the case of Pedra Branca. Another objection against
Peak Rock which appears to us insuperable is, that in so narrow a
Channel, Ships in hazy weather would be apt to be run amongst the
Sunken Rocks which extend a mile into the Channel, by their
Commanders judging the Light to be more distant, while in clearer
weather, the opposite danger would be incurred on the Romania
Shoal by the Light being estimated to be too near.
The distance of Peak Rock from Singapore is 28 Miles and
of Pedra Branca 34, and with regard to victualling and
communicating with them, we think in this respect there would be
no difference as they are equally exposed to the force of the waves
93
94
in the North East Monsoon. Both Rocks are equally barren and
devoid of fresh water and are nearly of the same size & height /30
feet above high water/ so that before the commencement of the
Stormy Months of Deer, JanY and February a supply of Provisions
and water for the Keepers would require to be laid in, as the Rocks
are seldom then accessible but at other times as the Sea is always
smooth, a monthly supply would suffice.
Singapore
25th August 1846
We have &ca
/Sd/ S. Congalton
Comm9 H.E.I. C0 Steamer Hooghly
" J.T. Thomson
Government Surveyor
/True Copy/
/Sd/ W.J. Butterworth
Governor
95
96
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Annex 12
Three Manuscript Copies of Letter from Butterworth W.J. (Governor
of Prince of Wales Island, Singapore and Malacca) to Bushby G .A.
(Secretary to the Government of Bengal) dated 26 Aug 1846 (to
resolve transcription discrepancy between Annex SMI 6 and Annex
MM51) namely:
(i) Facsimile copy of letter signed by Governor Butterworth
(Source: National Archives of India)
(ii) Contemporaneous manuscript copy in Straits Settlements Records
RB/210-213 (Source: National Archives of Singapore)
(iii) Contemporaneous manuscript copy in Board of Control Records,
F/4/2166: Collection No. 104700
(Source: British Library, India Office Collections)
100
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101
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Annex 13
Logan J.R.,
Journal of a Voyage to the Eastern Coast and Islands of Johore,
2 Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia 616 (1848)

THB
JOURNAL
or Till
TBB INDIAN !BCHIPEL!GO
AND
EA S TERN AS I A.
EDIT.SD B"t
J, B. LOGAN, F. G. S.
Member of lhe Aalailc Socletr, Corresponding Member of &be Etbaologlcal
SocietJ of London, and or the Batulan Socie&J
of Ar&s and Sciences.
VOL. II.
SINGAPORE:
1848.
KRAUS REPRINT
A Division of
KRAUS-THOMSON ORGANIZATION UMI1ED
Nendeln/Liechtenstein
1970
I 111
112
616
JOUltNAL OF A VOYAGE TO THE EASTERN COAST
AND ISLANDS OF JOHORE.
Te E motives for undertaking this voyage, and the kindness of the
honorable the Governor in enabling me to do so by pladng one of
the gunboats at my disposal for a month, have been mentioned in the
introduction to my account of the Orang Binua of J ohore. * 'fhe
outline which was tl1ere given of the voyage, and the subsequent
journey across the Peni11sula, renders any further exp]anation unnecessary
now. The most interesting of my observations have been
embodied in tbnt paper, and in others on the basin of tbe river Sidili,
Pulo Tingi, Pulo Tioman, the river Indau, the geography and geology
of J obore &e., most of which will be inserted from time to time
in the Journal,t but as this portion of the Peninsula. is hardly at all
known, bas never been descril>ed, and may not be soon visited again,
the remainder of my notes, although of comparatively small value,
may be l1ere given in the form of a personal narrative, and much of
them nearly in the same rough state in which they were jotted down
during the ,~oyage and subsequent jou1'lley.
SINGA.PORB TO KW.ALJ .. .A. SIDU,I.
8th. September, 1847.-We left Singapore on the morning of the
6th. Sept. and were o:lf Tanjong Penyuso ( Point Romanfa,) the south
eastern extremity of the Peninsula, at 2 o'clock P. 11. The scenery
throughout the Strait is pleasing, although devoid of any striking fea ...
tures after we have got accustomed t.o its general character, and lost
sight of the town of Singapore and the islands to the westward of it.
As we leave the harbour, and proceed eastward towards Tan jong Ka.tong,
one of the finest combinations which the whole Strait presents
is given to view, At our side, on the left, is a low sandy beach,
over wbich rises a green sbrubby jungle. The line of the dista.nt
forest, marking the limit of the cultivated plain, is seen above
this, with here and tbere a small clump of cocoanut trees. In
front, the beach terminates in the thick mass of luxuriant cocoanuts
at the point of Ka.tong, oft' which the lines of fishing stakes appear
faintly against the hazy horizon. 1,his point hides all the coast to
the eastward, and the opening between it and the distant island of
• Ante, vol. i. p. 242.
t That is if room can be obtained ror them, w)lich seems very doubtful.
JOUH.NAL OP A VOYA.GB «C• 617
Bentan, is the only apparent entrance into the wide inlnnd sea which
lies to the right and behind us, surrounded on all sides by low hiils
in connected ranges or scattered islet groups. Looking back, the
sandy beach is continued till the sbrubby jungle disappears, and the
close packed huts and sheds of Tanjong Ru take its place. Advancing
from behind these, and stretching ac1·oss the foreground, ,ve see,
rising over the beach of the harbour, tbe neat mansions uf Kam pong
Glam half concealed by trees, the green and wooded Government
hill, and on its right the extremity of the Claymore range, a dark acclivity
bearing darker spice trees, while the depres11ion between them
is filled by the grey cloud like foliage of the more inland elevations.
To the left of Government hill, the mass of godowns on the western
bank of the river, and the smooth green undulations of Pearl's and
the adjacent bills!' are seen surmounted by the abrupt jungle covered
l1eigbts of the more distaut ,..l'eloh Blanga range. As the sun frees
itself from the haze of the horizon, and strikes this scene with its
level rays, the houses put oft" their dull morning garniture, and become
so many points of beaming white light, while from the dat·k
grey of the hills over them, Rome country seats, hitherto unseen, break
out. In the foreground, from the undulating and ripJlled sheet of
water,. rise the bulls and rigging of numerous ships and smaller vessels,
and the sail of a boat in motion occasionally sweeps slowly along,
sometimes bidden amongst them, and, as it emerges, concealing
in its turn the liouses before wliich it passes. To the south of the
town, tbe iron stained cliffg of the r'lnge terminating at 'l'anjong Batu
rise with a dull 1usty hue, reminding us, by the dark tinge of
the more ironmasked roe.ks, of the far different aspect which the
scene, now adorned by art and cultivated nature, must have born
Lefore there was any human eye to see it, when, amidst the heaving
of the region with the throes of the molten plutonic ocean belmv,
the massive strata were bent and broken like reed8, and thrust up
from their horizontal position beneath the bed of the sea, till they
stood in 1,er11endicular masses above its surface, while lurid ferruginous
exhalations ascended through the rents and fissures, and " the
smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace."
Beyond Tanjoug Batu, the hills of Polo Branf and Blakang Mad,
at a distance of about four miles, continue the circuit to the southward,
the sea rapidly widening as we follow the crowd of islands
tllat seems to occupy all the St1·nit to the southwest. A little opeu
sea, the coast of the crumbling Pulo Sikukor the single barren islet
113
114
618 JOURN.lL 01' .l VOY.lG& TO TBB BA.STERN CO.llT
of the group, a patch of open sea again, tlte range of Palo 8'kfj'-ng
covered with pineapples and fruit trees, then a broader strait broken
by several islets tbe farthest of which is about twelve miles distant,
while those on its southern side become almost continuous, the distant
blue peaks of Sug(, Glim Tui and Gunong Bulan appearing to
rise from amongst the low hills of the nearer islet.g, com11lete the
western borders of the r.ea and bring tl1e eye to Battam itiland, whose
long dark undulating band of jungle, here advancing iu bold pre,.
montOL·ies of indurated snndstone and granite* and there retiring
in deep bays, stretches from west to east, constituting the entire
southern boundary of this portion of the Strait, and blending at
its extremity with the more dim outline of the coast of B~otan.
Ita western half is more abmptly undulating- than the eastern,
attaining a considerable elevation in Bukit Sabimha, which gives its
name to the mde tribe that haunts the ndjacent forests.* The sea
across wbich we follow the shores of B,ttam, and which 1t1·etches
• Why is this deeply f ndented coast so different from that or Singapore
on the northern side of t.he Strait. which from Tanjong Ru nstward
presents a cone of ve1·1 slight undulat.ions f Why is the depression
that consLiLutes the wide basin on \\'hich the harbour or Siniapnre
lies, fiHed up with debris in its norahern estremitf, constitu&ing the
plain of SinJapore. and left open in the southern. Ballam Bay I
The promontory or Tren,:, which separates Bauam from Bulan Bay,
Is mostly ~andstone like the Red cmr ranges on the Singapore side,
but the granite on its eastern side has hardened it, and served lo
protect it from abrasion. The sandstone on the Sin1t■ pore coa!I&, on
the eontrarr, does not come in contact with the granite I.ill considerably
beJond the Large Red cliff's towards ihe Changy promont.orJ, and
it has conseqnentlJ acquired little cohesion. Indeed so little has it been
directly all'ected by \he plotonic action I.hat 'Vient on in its 'Vicinity. tha&
its strata remain nearly horizontal. This son sandstone has readily
yielded to the waves and currents, which have undermined ils sPaward
bills, ground Lhe falling masses into sand and sediment, and in I.his
state carried them to the "·estward, where H has deposited them in
the shape or long sand banks in the ancient. bay or Singapore. These
bands or sand, marking the sel or the currents, and the direct.ion or
lhe coa~t or this bay at. dill'erent epochs, may be traced on lhe plain
or Singapore. The same process still ,oes on, the Red Cliff's continue
to give way, and the newest bands or sand may be followed
alon~ the coast to Tan.jong Ru, which is caosina the north eastern pt1rt
or the harbour to be filled up. The n11ss or sand alone Lhat. has been
laid down by the sea to Lhe westward or lhe Red Clift' bills is llO great,
that. we mu!-t believe the strait between them and the opposite promontory
of Treng 'Was considerably narrower, •·hen the waves of the
basin Lo Lhe west rolled in over the greatf>r part or the space now
formin,; the districts ,,f fillglap, Pay:i. Lehar. KAiiin~, G6lln,;, and Rochor
(See Sketch of the Phf/ncal Geographfl and G1ologtJ of fA8 Mala11 P•nin1ula,
ante p. lSS, 134.) t See '' The Orang Sabimba," an&e, vol, i. p. 295.
AND ISLANDS OP JOHOUE. 619
to the eastward till lost in tlie fog \\'liich rt-sts over the Cbina Sen,
is a beautiful sheet of water, about nine miles in breadth and, unlike
the western portion of the Strait oppottite Singapore islaud,
its smooth surface, more resembliug that of a lake than an nrm of
the ocean, is not interrupted by a single ialaud. * The parallels of
stratification aad elevation, fo1· on the whole they are bere nearly
coincident, on which the '.reloh Blanga range, JJlakflng !\Ia.ti, the
Silijanga and the Sambos are disposed, separate these two strongly
marked divisions of the Strait; and it is worthy of note tbat the
portion of Singapo1·e island lying to the 11ortb west of the insular
part of the Strait partakes of the same character, being nothing
but a series of irregulaa· peninsulas separated by numerous creeks,
which penetrate close to the granitic elevation of Bukit Pandan and
Bukit Tfma.b.
Of the character presented by tl1e Strait as we proceeded to its
eastern entrance, I will only say here that it is throughout bordered
by land of very slight elevation, covered with continuous
dark forest, and having tile surface uneven ft·om the number of low
liills and hilly ranges. In this respect the mainland does not differ
from the islands. It has three hills w11ieh rise boldly above
the general level, Gunong Baut (749 feet bight) l\lal'bukit§ (661
feet) and Bukit Santill (645 feet). In the same way B11kit 'fimah
( 530 feet) and some less elevated hills protrude above the
Singapore level, and Gunong Bentan1 (1212 feet) and Bukit Klj6.
ng** (759 feet) above that of Pulo Beutan.tt Batt.am aud Bentan
a1-e in general somewhat more elevated than Singapo1·e, but the configuration
of all the land Ql1 both sides of the Strait follows one pll'n.
It is a congeries of hilly ranges separated by n&m>w vallies opening
into small &lluvial plains or marsh~s, which are penetrated by salt
watea· creeks. The coasts or the eastern division of the Strait nre
more abraded than those further ,vest. They are exposed to the
strong currents and heavy w-.ves of the China sea, and the diff'erence
of exposure is at once apparent on reaching Tanjong Piograng in tbe
• There are a rew small ones close ,o ,he shore of Datiam 11·hich ihe
eye does not disting11ish. t Little Johorc hill. * All these heights are from trigonometrical measorements by J. T,
Thomson, Esq.
§ Johore bill.
'Ir Bintang large hill. tt Biotang island.
fl Barbukit.
·" Bin tang small hill.
115
116
ff20 JOURNJ.I. OF A VOYAGE TO TRB K.ASTEllN CO.llT
remarkable increase in the size of the ,vater worn pebbles.* The oaast
of the mainland from Tanjong Pingrang to Tanjong Penyusoh is the
extremity of a hilly peninsula about 40 miles longt and 15 miles broad,
which stretches S.S.E. from the last mountain group ot the Peninsula,t
having the China sea on tbe one side and the generally broad but
often contracted valley of the Jobore river and estuary on the other.
The basin of the SidH{ river may be considered as marking its original
boundary to the north. This peninsula consists of low connected
ranges which often stretch parallel to each other for some length,
110til the outer ones subside below the level of the sea or marshes,
when small bays and i»lets are formed, into which the streams and
creeks of the little vaUies aod hollows flow. Some of the rivers or
creeks thus produced are of considerable size,§ and have a peculiarly
wild and sequestered cliaracter, being generally destitute of all human
inhabitants, save, at t.imes, a few Taml,us in their boa.ts in those
opening into the Chins sea, and a few of the Orang Sletaa- in those
that feed the Johore river. With the exce1,tioo of a straggling line
of narro,v a1.ad mostly neglected clearings, the Bugis town of J ohore
Lama, and a few small villages, on the bank of that river, the whole
peninsula is covered with a thick jungle.
At 2 o'clock we passed Pulo Penyuso, wliich is rocky, exposing a
brownish face shelving into the sea and intersected 11y divisional
planes,-having thus a close resemblance to the eastern face of Pu-
• I have described the rocks or this Point in a paper on tbe geology or
the nlley of Lhe Johore river, including the estuary and it~ islands. t The Johore valley however e1.tends much farther inland, but deviating
to the westward.
i That of Gunong Pan ti, consisting or Gonon• Gaong, G. P.ind, G. Pilipp6.,
B. KohA, and 8. Besis6. This chain is vis1ble ar. the easLward of
Singapore rrom Pulo Tukong, and as we proceed up I.he noble estuary of
the Johore river it is tteen rising over Us upper e1Lremity, sLretchlng athwart
the valley for about seven mile~, and thus concealing the higher and
more central rani:e or Blumut, PinyabonJ, Bulan &-e. A good view orit
maJ be obtained from the more elevated hills or Singapore. soeh as Bukit.
TimAb and mount Faber, when the state of the atmosphere allows ii 10 be
seen.
~ I went up the largest or these, Snnf,lie Libbam, for 4½ hours on the 22d
oflast. monlh (August) and round it Lo be, as far as I proceeded, a branch
orthe sea more lhan a rh·er. It receives se\eral streams principally rrom
the norlhward, such as ihe S. Liyu extendillg lo behind Johore LlmA. S.
Saminchu, and a large branch or creek, S. Papan. IL then proceeds E. and
N.E. The larger of Lhe streams thu ran into its upper part are the Chi mi.rang,
Chimagi. and Libbam, which lasL gives its name to the estuarf.
The sooth wesLern part of the peninsula must have presented a verJ irregular
outline before the mangrove forests were rormed. Considerable creeks
penetrate it on both sides or Ganong Bau.
AND ISLAND'S OF JOIIOlt:I. 621
lo t1bin. Tanjong Penyuso (Point Romania} is the S.E. point of a
bold rocky promont.ory, and the numerous rocky islets, reef11 and 1 ocks
off it, are probably vestiges of the greater extension to tbe south•
ward which it anciently possessed. 'fhe rock of which the promontory
and these remnants are composed appears to be entirely plutooic.
* I did not land to examine it, l\'lr. Thomson having previously
given me specimens which he h:id collected, and the uniformity of its
aspect and apparent identity in character with the some parbJ of Pu•
lo Obin, leaving little room fo1· doubt as t.o its mineral constituents.
Prom the N .E. point of the promont.ory, Tanjong Sippongt a long
flat sandy beach, called 'feloh Ayer Rambut, curves northward with
beautiful regularity to another rocky point, Tanjong Pungai. Fresh
water streams enter the sea at each extremity of this Telob. The
mouth of the northern one, Sungie Pungai, is said to be deep. Tanjong
Pungai has a remarkable appearance, from the beach at the foot
of the cliff being completely covered by large rounded blocks, con•
sisting ebiefty of hydrous peroxide of iron, and gleaming in the s11n
like so many gigantic balls of polished metal. I landed on the sandy
beach north of the point and remained some time examining these
curious rocks, but to save those readers of tile Journal who do not
take an interest in geology, the trouble of reading the notes of my
observations, I have placed them iu a separate paper.*
From T. Pungii to the northern extremity of the promontory,
T. Kioiwarf the ground is low and flat. The tides rise over the
sandy beach up to the roots of the trees and shrubs which grow lux•
uriantly in the flat, forming a band of rich and va1ious vegetation.
The buab buta grow in a continuous fringe in front. Old picturesque
piniga and pud~ trees abound; and here and there clumps of
the paku, a small and elegant palm, not more than three to four
feet high, fill the open spaces beneath the spreading branches of the
trees. 'J"he kampa and put.at are also common. It is wo1-th a SingaporeRn's
while to give a day to visit such a beach as this, for there
is nothing like it within the Straits. Accustomed there to a salt
water view hemmed in on all sides by islands, and wit b the beauty
possessing the confinement of a lake, the1·e is something indefinably
exbilirating in once more fronting real sea waves rolling in from tho
horizon. The scene boweve1· is not without its saddenialf aspect.
* It varies from granite to wacko. The latter may however be a meta ..
morpbosed sedimenl.arJ clay. ·r See po1t, Notices of Lbe Geology of the East Coast of .Jobore.
117
111a 1
622 .JOURNAi, OP A TOT.A.GB Tll TIIB EAs•ri:aN COAST
Within 28 miles of a vigorous and populous British settlement, and
at the entrance of a strait through which about 1500 vessels annually
pass, the eye may search all around for a single hut, in vain. Perfect
solitude rests both on the sea and jungle. Not a single 6sbennan's
sampan is to be seen afloat, not a single coooanut tree rising along the
beach. Last century, when Johore was still a place of some trade and
strength, this coast is said to have been inhabited, but the kingdom
has long been without the energy to resist piratical attacks on parts of
its shore much less exposed than this. If a hut were now made here,
every inmate would be carried off by pirates within a year, and sold
into slavery. Native vessels are frequently attacked, and although
the steamer and gun boats, which are from time to time sent from
Singapore to cruize here, have undoubtedly served as a considerable
protection to trade, the coast will not be safe until a permanent guard
is stationed in the neighbourhood. The locality is also notol'ious
for dangers of another kind, for scarcely a year passes without ship ..
wrecks taking place. It is only lat-ely that a careful survey of the
entrance into the Strait bas been made. Several new dangers have
been discovered and laid down by Captain Congalton and Mr. Thomson,
but it is to be feared that others remain undetected. 'rhe erection
of the long contemplated lighthouse can alone give security to
navigation, and prevent pirates from resorting to the vicinity.
'f,njong Kinawar is not elevated like 'fanjong Pungai. The hill
that originally stood here has been ground down by the sea to its
foundations. 'fbese cover a considerable space in front of the beach,
and some singular remains rise like high walls out of the low open
jungle that is scattered over the sandy ftat of the point. These
remnants of the skeleton of the hill prove, on closer examination, to
be as curious in their com1,osition as in their shape .. At 1ome places
they appear to be formed of reddish brown wood in a st.ate of decay,
and I believe that similar rocks along tllis coast have been mistaken
for fossil wood.*
We anchored for the night bet\veen Tanjong Kinawar and the
next prominent point to the north, 'ranjong Lompa.tan. Between
this point are L&buan l\loroh, Tanjong Batu Belobang, Teloh Padaug
Moloh, and Teloh llirtang.
9th. September.-1"his morning I landed on the sandy beach to
the soutb of 'I1anjong Lompa.tan. The jungle here is very luxu-
1·iant. Near the placs where I )anded there was an empty wood
• See Notices or the Geology or Lbis coast, po1t.
AND ISLANDS OP JOHOJlB. 623
cutters but beneath a spreading tree. Some fine logs of Bintangor, a
tree in much ~pute for masts, lay on the beach. At the point there
is a small sandy peninsula covered with vegetation which must be
insulated at high water. The l\ilalays say the name is derived from
this, the point having leaped (lompdt) into the sea. On these
beaches I collected a number of Hhells, but when I separ att:d from
the gunboat the mat work boxes containing them were mixed witli
others coutaining rocks, and the shells were consequently broken.
The large shell of a kind of crab was vel'y abundant. The Malays
say that the tiger preys upon it, but I had no means of judging whether
this is fact or fable.*
From T. Lompatan to T. Mantig1 t.he coast is a succession of
long sandy curves, broken occasionally by low rocks. At Ta.njong
Bala.11 or Bulo it is more elevated than elsewhere. Between this
Point and T. Mant[gi are Sungei 'fingar and its Teloh, Tanjong
Klisa, Telob Lundang Bakau and Teloh Lunda.ng Wy in which tbere
is a well called Ayer Cha. The name does not speak favorably for
the water. Between '.r. KHsa and '11. l\fantfgi many rocks project
from the beach. Tanjong Mantigi is a projecting promontory, witb
rocky extremities as usuaJ, and smaller rocks scattered along th: sandy
beach between the points. On rounding it the coast is seen to retire
in a southerly direction thus forming a sharp angle with the N.E.
face. Within, a second point advances, on the northern side of which
is the mouth of the Sidili Kichi. These points appear to be the
extremities of short parallel hill ranges. When we round the promontory
of MantJ'.gi the coast assumes a new character. Hitherto it
has been quite open and exposed and consequently free from mangroves.
Between Mantig1 and the next point to the north:t T. Tabal,
the coast retires, forming the small and shallow bay of SidHa, so called
from the two rivers of that name, (Sungei Sadfli Kicbi and S. S.£dfli
Hesa.1·,) which ente1· it at its nortl1er11 and southern angles. 11he
north and south sides of this bay are rocky ; the back is a long flat
:o Subsequently to this voyage I discovered, on the N.E. point or Ballam
and within the Singapore Strait on Pulo Sambo, numerous rragments or
pumice so much resembling some kinds or decayed coral until examined
closely, that I have no doubL 1 have frequenUy passed iL unnoticed on other
beaches. The l\Ialays, who call iL Batu timbtd (floating stone,) say that
it is found floating in the China Sea and scatlered over th~ beaches or the
eastern coast of Johore. I thought it might have been derived from the
great Tomboro eruption, but }I. Zollinger, wbo lately visited Sambawa,
inrormed me that the 'fomboro pumice is blackish, whereas this is whitish,
and that the currents could uot ha\'C brought it htre. It is probably therefore
of Philippine origin.
119
1120 1
&24 JOURNAL OF .l VOY.\GB &c.
sandy beach, from which lo\V rocks frequently protrude, and which
is the seaward face of an allttvial plain that extends far inland. ]n
the afternoon we entered tl1e bight. As we proceeded, rocks were
seen extending a long way out from T. rrabal. The water gradually
shoaled from 6 to 2 fathoms until we arrived within the line
of rocks, when, none of the Malays on board being sufficiently
acquainted with the locality, it was found necessary to anchor and
send the sampan ahead, to sound for the channel leading into the
1·iver. We had not been anchored long when the cable sudden-
1 y snapt, and we commenced rapidly drifting out. The men immediately
took to the oars and pulled towards the place where we
had been anchored, but the tide ran out witb such strength that
we continued to lose ground. Tbe Serang now returned in the sampan
in great corh,ternation, for it appeared the gun boat 011ly carried
one anchor. 1 proposed that we should send the samptn in to get
a pilot. The J aragan, although desirous of returning- at once to
Taujong Lompa.tan where be said he bad seen a piece of 'VOod that
seemed adapted for an anchor, at last consented, and the sampan was
dt.spatched into t.be river, while we hoisted sail Rnd stood out to
avoid the risk of being caught by a squall between the rocks and the
beach. We stood of and on, impatiently waiting the return of the
sampan, till it Lecame dark, when we were obliged to keep to the
Houtl:ward of 'f. Mantigi, and at a greater distance from the shore.
Hour after hour passed, and the whole night wore through watching
for the sampan in vain.
(To be continued)
Annex 14
Favre P.,
A Journey in Johore,
3 Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia 50 (1849)

THB
JOURNAL
O:P
THI INDl!N A.BCHIPBL!GO
.AND
EASTERN ASIA.
Edited by
:. B, LOQ.&lr P.G. a.
Kemt.er of the A.eiatlc Society, Corresponding Member of the Btlmo1ogica1 Soctet,
of London, and of the Bata'riau Society of Arts 811d Selfmcel.
VOL. III.
SINGAPORE:
1849.
KRAUS REPRINT
A Division of
KRAUS-THOMSON ORGANIZATION LIMI1ED
NendeJn/Liechtenstcin
1970
1121 1
122
50
A JOURNEY IN JOHOR.E.
By the Revd. P. FAVRE, Apostolic Missionary, Malacca.
Tu:m many difficulties I had met with in the several journies
I had already undertaken in the Malay countries, from
the petty chiefs who· are established in each village, convinced
me that it was almost impossible to succeed in such
journeys without having previously obtained a l'egular passport
from the rulers of the Malayan States. In September
1846, I therefore repaired to Singapore to obtain from His
Majesty the Sultan of Johore, and His Highness the Tnmmoogong
of Singapore the necessary permission to travel in
the Jobore ten-itory. As I was acquainted with the mother
of His Majesty the Sultan, I had taken the precaution of
obtaining from her a letter of recommendation to the Sultan ;
by these means I found the way of communicating with
His Majesty free f,·om obstacle. I was received by him witn
remarkable familiarity and kindness, and a few days after
the requested document, duly authenticated with the Sultan'~
seal, was delivered to me.
I likewise ask£d the same from His Highness the Tumungong
of Singapore. I was neither received by him St.>
familiarly nor so kindly; he gave me however the permiission
requested; but he gave it by word only, saying that the
document already given by the Sultan was sufficient, and
assuring me that the authority of the Sultan and his own
were unum et idem.•
I left Singapore on the fifth of September; I was accompanied
by an Indo-Po-rtuguese boy as serv~t, and by a
Chinese as cooly ; the boat which conveyed me was of a
small size, having two Malabar men as rowers, in case the
wind should fail, and one a& pilot.t My provisions consisted
of a few gantangs of rice, and a small quantity of dried
* So far i■ tlli■ from being the c•• tbat the Tamuogong eierciu, all the
nihorltJ and receive■ all the re,en••• of tho Sonreign. Had M. F•vre bee11
aware of tbi■ and gone direct to tbe Tamungoog for a letter, he would have
fared bettec ta Wt jourae,. The Milan look upo11 tile Saltaa af Lioga n
tile daltan of J obore, ■ad t.he British 1athoritie1 apparenUy acquiesce in thi1,
for a\thouah \he7 bate recoan.ized Tunk11 Alli aa the 1uec11aor of bi■ late t1tber
the Sultan of Jobore (by wbom aud 1be late T,muogonc Singapore••• ceded
to 111) no 1tep1 baH beea taken co make thi■ recognition morti Uaaa 11omiaal.lb.
t More mistake■• All the men 1bo11ld hue been Mal1y1, and f11rni1h1d bJ
tile Tamu.ngong, who tatn great plea11ue ia obligiag f!,ropea1111'110 de1ire ,a
yitil l ohore.-E».
A JOUBNBY IN J1.>HOBB. 51
fish; and a few changes of dress composed my wardrobe.
Experience had already taught me all the difficulties attending
such joumeys, and that a good and comfortable supply
of food and of clothing though very useful, would, under
auch circumstances, be more cumbersome than advantageous,
on account of the difficulty of transporting them. So I
took with me only what was absolutely necessary to support
my own existence and that of the two persons who accompanied
me for the space of one month, the supposed duration
of the joumey I was then undertaking.
My intention was to enter the Malayan Peninsula by the
river of J ohore, and, continuing the route by land through
the jungle, with which the Peninsula is almost entirely
covered, to direct my march in the direction of Mount
Ophir, and from thence to Malacca; tracing from Johore
to the latitude of Malacca, through the midst of the Peninsula,
a line which had not yet been followed by any European,
and perhaps by very few, if any, Malays. lt will be seen
hereafter, that several accidents prevented me from making
the journey as I first purposed. My design was to visit the
several wild tribes which were Haid to inhabit in great
numbers the most interior part of the Peninsula, and to
obtain respecting then1, the most full and exact information
which circumstances would allow n1e. I was also ordered
by his lor4ship Dr Boucho, to ascertain if there would be a
possibility of establishing a .Mission amongst them.
My small boat, which left Singapore on the fith of September
at five o'clock A. M., with a most favourable breeze,
was at 10 o'clock between Tan jong Chaogy, the most
eastern part of the Island of Singapor~, and Polo Tikong;
doubling the western point of this small Island 1 reached,
a few minutes after, a s111all Malay village near Gunc.ng
Bau. The name of the village is Tikong.• It Cllnsists
only of a few miserable Malay houses, and is governed
by a Pangbuln who was absent ; I stopped there only
a few moments and entered at once the Johore river. At
half past eleven o'clock I reached another village called
Pomatang where I landed. This second village is more
considerable than the first, and is the residence of a Rajah
then called Rajah Prang, t who was absent. I tried to
• The Yilla1e of Tikong i1 on the l1l111tl called Pa.lo Tikon1 Be,,r. Gu11on1
Baa. i1 on the mainland.-E».
t Tbia ,m .... l1 alto OD P. Tikon1 BHar. Raj, e,,a, ,. not. R£j& if tty
lhil term a king or ruler i1 meant. The Malay noblu and oflici1l1 are fnnd
of bi&h 11G11nding ti&le1 and cogaomea1 f•••• gtlar). Many bead■ ot Sak111,
1abordioa,o to pott1 r•nghu1u, are called Mah, R4j4 -ID.
123
1124 1
52 A JOURNEY IN JOHO.RE.
obtain some information about the village itself as well as
respecting the neighbouring places; but upon seeing n1e t~e
inmates of the place fled, and I could scarcely succeed 1n
reaching a few of them who appeared so much surprised and
astonished that I could not obtain from them any satisfactory
answer. I left the village about aa hour after my arrival
there; I sailed for Johore, where I arrived at four o'clock p.11.
JoLore, • formerly the chief city of the empire of that name
and residence of the Sultan. is situated about twenty miles
up the river. The town was founded in 1511 or 1512 A.D.
by Sultan ?tlahomad Shah JI of Malacca who, after his expulsion
from that plact' by the Portugut'se, fled to the river
of Johore. From that time the town of Johore bas been the
capital of the empire which took the name of the empire of
J ohore instead of that of Malacca. t
The inhabitants of Johore told me that their town was
fermerly a considerable one, that the Sultan who used to
reside there had a fortified castle., and that the city was
adorned by several handsome buildings erected cbiefty upo~
1ome elevated ground distant a few hundred steps from the
last houses of the present village going down the river. I
visited the place but I could Dot find any remains of them.t
The town of Johore has undergone the same fate as the
empire; it has fallen entirely. It consists of about twentyfive
or thirty Malay houses§ built on wooden poles, and co ..
vered with ataps and chucho leaves ; about the center of the
village I remarked a Mos~ue built with planks, but it appeared
to be in a miserable state, calling for repairs ; the
place is now of no importance.
I obore is the residence of a Panghula who is appointed
both by the Sultan of Johore and by ibe Tumungong of Singapore.
The present Panghulu, who is called Jawa, after )laving
examined the credentials I had from the Sultan, received
me very kindly. The men I had engaged at Singapore,
refusing to go further, returned back with their boat.
I passed the night in the house of a China man who kept a
1hop.
The next day, the Paoghulu procured me a small boat with
three men in order to go up the river to the small stream of
Kamang. At ten o'clock A.11. I left J'ohore. At abou,
twelve o'clock I was near Pulo K6yu Ana.k Besftr ; this i•
* The towa of 1ollore Um4.-ED.
t The 111t of 10Ternmeat wa■ for 10me llme la the Johon ~.■-•o..
: The nm1ia1 af an atenalYe rampa1t are 1till "Yl1lble.-Bu.
I Tbt houu, hst tile iDhabitutl, an DOI 1111•1 ba.l Bqll.-BD,
A J'OURNBY IN JOIIOBE. 53
an island of about four or five miles in length ; near this is
another smaller called Pulo Kayu Anak Kerhil. At about
six o'clock I arrived at the small river Kamang ; a few houses
are found tl:.ere, and a Panghulu resides at the mouth of the
river; the name of the Panghulu is s,pa. I passed the
night in his house, and the men who brought me there returned
to Johore with their boat.
The next morning it was a matter of no small trouble to
get the Panghu?u to procure mee and a boat to take me up
the river. As he knew that none would consent to accompany
me if not allowed by him, he asked such a high prk-e
for ea(•h man and for the b<'at, that I could not agree with
hhn. As he remained obstinate in bis first demand, I thought
it impossible to proceed further ; so I asked him at least for
a boat and men to ret um back to J oho re ; but this he roughly
re-fused. I then began to be a little anxious, finding myself
a prisoner in such a remote place, and in such hands. After
breakfast we ~ame again to a new discussion on the same
subj~ct, he then appeared a little more complying, and at lust
after a long parley, he consented to furnil:ih men to convey
n1e up the river for a moderate price. Thia man was no
worse than uy other Malay. It is generally admitted
amongst them, that every one may use all means of making
money whatever these means may be ; and if this man had
not perceived that I bad but very little money, I would never
have passed on till a good part of it bad found its way into
his pocket. However I think that he is to be considered as
an konut Malag.
I started from that place about ten o•clock; nothing else
remarkable occured OD that day ; onlr I was informed that
near the river of Kamang are the remains of an ancient fort ;
but I did not visit the place. About six o'clock I stopped to
rest ; I slept in the boat, and as there was no place tor a second
person, my men went to sleep in a house on the right
bank of the river.
On the 8th we could make but a few miles, the river
being then obstructed by a great quantity of fallen trees.
My men were often obliged with great trouble to cut the
trees and their branches when lying across the river ; or
to take up the boat to make it pass over the large pieces
of wood they could not cut : this was 1omewhat dangerous
on account of the depth of the river. At sunset I stopped
in a desert place; my men slept under a tree near the river
on the left bank ; and I passed the night in the boat.
On the 9th at about nine o'clock .A..K. I reached the junc-
3 Vol. 3
112s 1
I 12& I
A JOURNEY IN JOBOltB.
tion of the two river.s Sayong and Negaoyoung with that of
Johore; I was then informed that both were inhabited by
Jakllll.S ; but as manr days would be required to visit them
l cootinue4 to JO up the river. In the evening I reached a
place called M1nkao, where are the two last Malay houses
in a kampong on the left bank going up the river, and where
I likewise found the first families of Jakuns They amount
ig that place to the number of thirty ~ersons. On the
opposite side in another kam.pong named Kam pong Y nass
are also found five families of J akuns.
The incessant rain forced me to remain here two days.
Tb~ river is here no morae than twenty or twenty.five feet
in breadth, but is very deep. I ;remarked that the river of
Johore from i.ts sourei" to Meokao is called Sayong Besar
by the aborigines, while they give the name of Say~ng
Kechil to the Sayong river, which I have before mentioned.
During my stay in that place l was informed that the
grea.t Panghub1 Ba.tin, who rules over all the Jakuns who
piha.bit thia part .of the Jobore territory, was living about
tw,o hours from there; as the Malays who had brought n1e
up refused .to go further, I sent for him. The next morning
he arrived witJi six other Jakuns; he promised to give me
men t.p con.duct me by land to tbe extrem.ity of the Banut
river. I therefore started with him in a small boat., in order
to re oair to his house. When I left the M,days to entrust
myself amongst the J akuns, I felt quite easy ; I was much
satisfied to find mrself agaiμ amongst people whom I already
knew to be perfectly honest., and most inoffensive. I had
scarcely departed when a heavy rt,,jn began to fall, and it
~otiu~ed until t.he eyeni,1g ; we proc?eded howe.ver up the
n:ver for ~bout one hour. when tlie ra,n was so violent that
the Batin declared that it wa~ imJ>ossible to go further. We
stopped at a Jakun's house on the right side of the rj.ver,
which is in that place no more than eight or ten feet broad
but yet very deep. As the branches of the trees which cross
the river, had pr.evented us frQJD J<eepin1 a covering upon
tbe b'lat, we were all wet and in a very unpleasant state.
lV e lighted fires in several placPs to warm and dry ourselves.
Several of my men felt p. little sick all the evening. Two
hours after iqy arrival there, the Batfn had a severe fit of
fever~ the lndQ~Portu.guese boy had likewise an att:tck, but
slight. I was a little anxious about them ; but the good
•ppetite which ~very one of them shewed the DP.Xt n1oming
at breakfast cheered me Ul apin. 'fhat day I repaired to
\be house of the Panghulu Batin., which is in the interior of
A JOURNEY IN JOBORE. 55
the jungle., about one hour's walk from the bank ofthe river.
I stopped there two days, which I spent in visiting some
neighbouring kampongs of Jakuns, and :n collecting infor•
mation about the place. I was told that the source of the
Sayong Besar, that is, of the J ohore river, was not far from
there, near a hiU which was pointed out, but I could not
perceive it. According to this indication it should be quite
in the centre of the Peninsula, about the latitude of the
mouth of the Sidilli river. I wished much to go up the
river to its source; but the Jakuns told me that this was
impossible, on llccount of the great quantity of fallen trees
which entirely obstruct it.
The Batin, whom I have mentioned, is .an old man of about
eighty years of age; heis duly appointed by the SulLan of Johore
and by the Tamungong of Singapore to rule over two to three
hundred J akuns, living in a radius of .about one day1 s walk
from his house ; this dignity was conferred upon him, about
fifteen years ago, by two written documents, the first authenticated
with the seal of the Sultan, and the second with
that of the Tamungong. At the same time he received from
ea.eh of these two aut11orities a spear adorned with gold and
silver, as the insignia of his Batinship. On asking to see
the written documeuts, I was answered, sud.a maka4 apf.
they are burnt ; but as to the two 1pears, as they were mnch
more precious for the1e children of nature than a dead
letter of which they could not understand the slightest part,
they were also kept more carefully and daily usea.
Before I proceed further with the narrative of my journey,
I must eay a few words about the river of Johore. This
stream is probably the largest of the Peninsula. ,\ t its mouth
it is about three mileis wide; at an Island called Pulo Layang,
a few miles above the ancient town of J ohore, it is yet about
two miles broad ; after the two Islands, called Puto Kagu
Keckil and Pulo Kayu Bea•r are passed, it is from two to
three hundred yards wide, but after that., it tapidly narrows,
so that, a few miles further up, at tho junction of the small
river Kamang it is no more than thirty yards. It then diminishes
very little iu breadth till Men~ao, where I found it
twenty-five feet, and a few miles after only ten, It is to be
remarked that this river, as well as several other i-ivers of the
Peninsula which I have visited, do not become shallow in
proportion. as they become narrow ; as I found fifteen feet of
water at Menkao, where the river is no more than twentyfitr-
e feet broad. Thus Johore might be considered aa navigable
even for boats of considerable size until near its source,
127
112a 1
56 A JOURNEY IN J0RORE.
if it cou)d be cleared of the trees by ,ivbich it is obstructed.
I remarked that the jungle which covers both banks of the
river abounds in rattans, chiefly in the upper part ; there is
also much dammar and garru-wood. TheEe several commodities
are to a small extent collected by the Malays, but in
a much greater quantity by the Jakuna, who exchange them
with the Malay11 for rice, cloth, &c. They are brought by
the Malays to Johore, where several Chinese traders buy
them and bring them to tbe market of Singapore. The
banks of the Johore river are almost desert, a few Malay
houses are the only habitations met with, and these ordinarily
at a great distance from each other. '!"he traveller
proceeds some times half a day or an entire day without
n1eeting any of them. There is nothing like a village except
tbat of Johore. But in the ab~ence of human beings, a
great number of wild beasts are met with on both sideis of
the 1·iver. We perceived several tigers; a11d the n1any places
where we observed their prints oear the water, cannot
lea\·e any doubt as to the presence of this ferocious animal,
which must be found here in great numbers. This fact i#5
also confirmed by the Malays ; several of whom assured me,
that during the last six months preceeding my visit five Malays
had been devoured by tigers on the banks of the river,
and one in a boat on the water, for they assured me, that
one of the five Malays above mentioued had been taken out of
his boat by the animal while he was asleep during the night.
On the 14th I left the house of th~ Ba.tin in order to reach
the extremity of the Banut river. The Ba.tin had for a long
time tried to dissuad~ me from going further, assuring me,
that there were s~veral places wbere a gentleman could not
pass. I asked him if he had never passed there. As be
answered that he was accustomed to do so, "well/' said I,
" wherever another man can pass, I can pass also,'' and we
started. I was obliged to take five Jakuns to carry my
baggage, trifling as it was, because each man oould only
carry a very ~mall load, on account of the difficulty of tra ~
velling. Part of the forenoon we spent traversing a couutr)"'
covered with rank grass, which reached to the height of eight
or ten feet ; the ground was low and covered with water, in
which grew the above mentioned grass. We proceecled on
our journey, having for long time muddy water up to the
knee ; a little after it reached as high as the thighs., and
finally we found ourselves in :nud and water up to the waist.
'J hen I began to believe, that what the Batin bad told me was
true, but before turning back, I aaked my guide& if the
A JOURNEY IN JOHORE. r,7
depth of the quagmire would increase further, and as they
ani:;wered that we were just now in the deepest part, we
continued our way, and in about half an hour after we found
ourselves on dry ground. We entered a good foot path, but
did not enjoy it long, for scarcely half an hour bad elapsed,
when we were obliged to enter mud again. In the absence
of a foot path we followed a small muddy stream. We had
no mud or water higher than the knee, and could have walk ..
ed pretty fast if another impediment had not presented
iuelf. This was occasioned by the thorny rattan tree which
grows there abundantly. The leaves and branches which
every year fall from that tree, and in the course of time enter
the mud, must be a serious inconvenience to the traveller
who is obliged to journey barefoot. This, together with the
branches and the thorns of the trees by which the clothes
are hooked on every side, render such travelling very ditlicult.
We 1:,pent thus about three hours, a11d I t.uppose, we
did not walk more than a mile and half. About three o'clock
P .M. we ar1 ived at a kamponginhabit.ed by Jakuns, three houses
:five families and eighteen persons. These Jakuns have inha•
bited the place for many years ; they have a large cultivated
kampong well furnished with mangosteen, champadah a-nd
many other kinds of fruit t1 ees. 1 remarked likewise a number
of betel trees and sugar canes, and a large paddy field.
1'he Jakuns here are the most comfortably established I
have ever met with. I was kindly received by the inmates
of this solitary place; and my arrival was the occasion of a
feast. All the population of the kampong being gathered
together in the largest house, that in which I had already
taken my lodging., cakes of more than one kind were made,
and kladees were prepared with several sauces; a fowl was
killed and presented to me; all the evening was spent in
lively conversation and in singing, accompanied with drums.
I was told that the place is entirely solitary, the nearest
house being that of the Batin which I had left in the morning,
and that on all other sides there were no houses nearer
than those on the river of Banut, where I intended to go,
and which could be reached in three days by a tolerably good
foot•path through thick jungle. The next day the owners
of the place gave me a fowl, some kladees, and other vege •
tables ; and as one of them remarked that my Chinaman
complained much of the weight of his loads, be offered himself
to take a part of it as far as the Banut river ; I willingly
accepted this offer, and having given several articles in
retum for the hospitality I had received, I started.
1129 1
1130 1
58 A .JOURNEY IN JOHORE.
We had pretty good roads and weather, until about 2
o'clock P.M. when a heavy thunderstorm burst over us. The
J akuns told me that it was impossible to go further for that
day, and at once disappeared; I was anxious as to this, when
I perceived them coming back, each bearing a large bundle of
chucho leaves, by means of which a sort of shed was in a
few minutes erected. We kindled a tire, to dry our clothes ;
and the rain continuing until dark, we huddled ourselves
there together to pass the night, though a'-' uncomfortably
as possible. About nine o'clock we received the visit of a
ti~r, which did not harm us; he passed close beside me
and the Portuguese boy, and continued his way quietly ; we
heard his roar in the neighbourhood, but we did not see any
thing more of him. The next day, the Portuguese boy told
me that he had been so much frightened by the sight of the
tiger, that he could not sleep the whole night.
On the 15th we walked all the day, and nothin,t happened
worthy of remark ; We stopped in a desert place and slept as
on the preceding night.
On the 16th at about two o'clock P. x. we arrived at a
place named kampong Banut, where formerly there had been
a village inhabited by J akuns : their number had probably
been considerable, since a large piece of ground bad been
cleared and cultivated. My guides told me that the insalubrity
of the place had forced the inhabitants to abandon it
several years ago ; the jungle is already grown up, and a few
years more the place will be scarcely distinguishable from
the thickest forest. At sunset we arrived at the place where
the Jakuns of Banut live at present. The population of the
place amounts to eighty persons who are governed by a
chief termed Panghulu. The whole of them inhabit eon -
fortable houses, and they cultivate much rice ; this grain
with kladees, and a quantity of fi.sh they catch in the rivet'
Banut, compose almost the whole of their daily food. I was
received by the chief in the most kind and polite manner,
nod at his earnest request, I passed two nights in his house.
I intended to go from there to the extremity of the river of
Batu Pah,t (the Rio Formosa of the Portuguese) and I had
already agreed for a guide and coolies, when my Portuguese
boy and my Chinaman declared that theiy were unable to
continue the journey by land fheir feet were iu a dreadful
state; this was the effect of the bite of a kind of leech called
by the Malays Pucbat. As I have not yet seen this
inconvenience noticed in any writing I will mention it here.
These leeches are of a peculiar kind, small io size but very
A JOURllEY IN JOROBB.
numerous in the interior of the jungle. They are chiefty
met with in damp weather; persons who are not accustomed
to travel through the jungle sometiines suffer much from
their bite, which is the more dangerous as very often it is
not felt, thus giving them ample time to be cloyed before
they are perceived ; ordinarily the blood continues to trickle
long after they are removed ; and the wounds they cause are
difficult to cure: I have seen wounds caused by them which
after several weeks w~re yet quite fresh.
The state of my two men obliged me to take a new reso •
lution. I agreed with the J alum chief to convey me down
the river to near the sea, where there is a small Malay
village under a Panghulu. He provided me with his own
boat, two of his sons and a third man. The Malay Panghulu
I hoped would furnish me with men and a boat to convey
me to the river of Batu Pa.hat. I intended .by that way to
re-enter the interior of the Peninsula, and prosecute my firat
intended journey.
On the 18th I left the J akuns of Banut: Two days and a
half were spent in coming down the river. The boat being
unfit to sleep in, I passed the two nights on the bank, and as
on both sides of the river the ground is generally low and
covered with water to a considerable depth, we cut some
forked poles, and upon these placed sticks cross wise, by
which means we had a dry place to sleep upon. We experienced
no other inconveniencP. during the night, but that
caused by the rain from a thunderstorm which burst over us.
On the third day I arrived at the Malay villagp. The chief
being at his paddy field, in a kampong situated a few miles up
a small river called Pingan, I was obliged to repair to that
place. I reached the Pangbulu's habitation at about two
o'clock P.11. The litle of this chief is Panghulu Kissang,
from his having for many years ruled a small place in the
river of that name. He is an old man more than eighty years
of age; his eyes seem to announce fraud and deceitfulness,
hidden under a composed appearance. His children, to the
third and fourth generation, form a numerous family. From
information I received about this personage, a few days after
my arrival at Malacca, I am induced to believe that both
himself and the whole of his family have a bad character.
They are considered as pirates, and the eldest son of the old
father was hanged a few years ago at Pinang for having committed
piracy and murder. I was not aware of this when I
arrived at his houtJe, but I had soon occasion to know tltis
people.
I 131
1132 1
60 A JOUJ&NEY lN JOHORE.
The Panghulu was not at home when 1 arrived ; several
persons of his family told me that he had gone to catch fish
and was expected back in a few hours. '1 hey assured me
that there would be no difficulty in finding a boat and men
to take me wherever I intended to go. After such an assurance
I paid the J akuus for their trouble and sent them back to
their habitation; but scarcely were they departed when the
conduct of the Malays changed. There were no longer
means to find either boat or men ; and on the arriYal of the
Panghulu the difficulty increased. My Portuguese boy, having
observed the behaviour of the Malays, said to me, " Sir
you are in the hands of bad people ;'' Ere long the event
proved the correctness of his opinion. The Panghulu, on several
pretexts, ref ased either boat or men; and finally told me
plainly, that, as he had not invited me to come into the place,
it was not his business to take me away. I shewed the Sultan's
letter. He considered that, being under the Tumungong
only, be was by no means bound to obey the Sultan's order.
I tried to make an agreement with some other Malays;
but as they knew the intention of the Chief, they refused to
take me away on any terms. I asked likewise for a n1an to
take a letter to Singapore. This I was also refused though
I offered a good reward.
The Panghulu kept me one week in a small house in the
middle of a paddy field remote from any habitation; hoping
that I would be soon tired of such an uncomfortable gaol, and
offer a considerable ransom. As my provisions were expended,
I asked to buy a fresh supply ; I was furnished with
rice and sugar cane; but fowl and fish were absolutely refused.
On the fifth day of this petty captivity, a man was
sent to me by the Panghulu, who assured me that I was free
to go away, provided I previously paid a certain sum of
money : I answered him, " Go tell the Panghulu that he
shall never congratulate himself with having stolen any money
from me," upon which he remarked that I would possibly
be obliged to remain there a long time, but I told him,
"1 see no great inconvenience in that, since I am a single man,
having no family.,., He repeatedly asked me "whether I
w,s afraid of robbers?'' "Why/' was my reply,'' should I
fear robbers, since I have nothing precious for them to rob,,.,
But said he "They could kill you ;" and I told him, " Did
I fear to die 1 would not have come here; but if I were at
tacked, possibly two of my enemies would die before me,
look at this.,', showing him a double barrel gun which I
had to protect me aigainst the wild beasts, " it could be used
.A. .JOURNEY IN JOHOBE. 61
on such an occasion." Two days after, tbe same man cam.e
again, and having fruitlessly tried to make me agree to give
money, he told me, that I could start the next day ; but
that the men who accompanied me, would be ten in number,
and must be well paid. I could not imagine for what rea.
son so many men were required to accompany me ; I suspected
that, fearing I might make a complaint againt them
after my arrival at Ma1acca, they might possibly intend to
despatch me in the river or on the sea, where this could be
more easily executed than in the Kampong ; under this impression
I told him, that four or five men being quite enough,
I would not take one more. He went to see the Panghulu,
and coming back, told me, that the next day, the boat would
be ready.
On the evening of the same day, we remarked, that all the
men of the Kampong had repaired to the house of the Panghulu.
They spent the night there; when they made a
dreadful noise, the cause for which I did not know. For several
nights we had slept but very little, kerping a look out
in case of being attacked, and being assisted in our sedulous
watching by mosquitoes, which were there very numerous;
but on the last night the mysterious manner in which all the
population of the place had repaired to the house of the Pan ..
ghul u still more excited our attention. About midnight I
began to be sleepy, when my China-man awoke me saying
that many men had come and were under the house, where
they spoke for some time in a low voice., but the meaning of
their conversation could not be understood. My two men
appeared much frightened, thinking, as they told me, that this
people at such an hour could only come for some bad pur•
pose. But the conversation which had called our attention
having ceased, we remained quiet the rest of the night and
heard nothing more, except the noise which continued in the
house of the Panghulu.
The next day at ten o'clock A. u:. the boat being ready we
prepared to start. I was surprised to find the Panghulu and
his family apparently afraid, and making a long and- tedious
apology, for not having been able, as he said, to procure me
a boat sooner. I suppose he was under the apprehension, I
would take some revenge against him after my arrival at
Malacca.
The river has its source about the center of the Peninsula ..
A boat can come down from its source to the sea in three
days, and I suppose that :five days would be spent in going up.
Ii is very crooked from jts ~ource to the habitAtion. of the
1133 1
1134 1
62 A JOURNEY IN JOHORE.
Jaknns, but not deep. I crossed it in many places, having
water scarcely up to the thighs. But from the Kampong of
the Jakuns to the sea it is very deep; in 1nany places I could
not reach the bottom with a stick of three fathoms. The two
banks are so low that the true channel of the river cannot be
distinguished without some difficulty: the great quantity of
large trees which grow to the middle of the river make its
bed easily lost; a boat is obliged to go a1nong these trt~es in
the same way as a traveller in the jungle without a foot path :
a current always rapid, with these inconveniences, renders
the navigation dangerous. It would certainly be very imprn-dent
to undertake to navigate it without a guide well acquainted
with the place. The Jakuns who guided me, though
well accustomed to the locality, lost their way several
times. At about five miles distant from its mouth, the river•
is clear from trets, and presents a fine prospect. The banks
are now high, and a great part of the adjacent grounds have
been cultivated in former times, although they are now
almost entirely abandoned. A considerable number of alligators
which are met with in the mouth of the river, and
a few miles higher, astonish the traveller who for the first time
navigates it. 'J he river of Banut abounds with fish, and turtles
of very large size. My guides caught several large fishes,
and a turtle which weighed no less than sixty pounds.
About three miles from the mouth of the river, on the
left hand coming down to the sea, there is a small village call.
ed Banut, consisting of about twelve or fifteen houses scattered
over a space of nearly one mile. A Mahomedan priest
resides here; there is also a Mosque but in a miserable state.
About one mile from the sea, also on the left hand descending,
iii the junction with the small river Pingan; about
two miles up which is a kampong or small village called Pin•
gan, consisting of eight or nine houses ; this village is inha -
bited only a part of the year. The inhabitants of Banut
come there in order to plant rice, and aft~r the harvest they
return to their ordinary habitations The river Banut is
thus inhabited by two kinds of men ; the Malays, about forty
or fifty persJns in nnmber, inhabit the lower part; and
Jakuos, about eighty persons, are found iu the upper part.
The great interval which divides these two populations is
entirely deserted.
GENERAL R:a::UABKS ON THE INTERIOR 01' THE SOUTHERN
PART OF THE PENINSULA.
From the observations I made in this journey, and in
A JOURNEY IN JOHORB.
·several others I performed in the interior of the Peninsula, I
am induced to consider it in the following view.
That part of the Malayan Peninsula comprised between
a supposed right line taken from the mouth of the river
Cassang on the West coast, passing by mount Ophir and
terminating on the East coast about half way from the Sedillf
river to that of Pahang, and Point Romania, may be considered
as almost a vast desert; only a few Malays are found
in several places on the sea shore, and 111ore or Jess on the
banks of the rivers ; and a small number of J akuns inhabit
the interior. I suppose all the population of that immense
territory is not equal to a sixth or a seventh of the population
of the single island of Singapore. The principal
Malay villages are the following :-one on the West coast
at Padang near the mouth of the Muar river; a considerable
quantity of fruit was formerly exported from that place, but
a great part of the fruit trees having been destroyed by Elephants
a few years ago, the export is now of little consideration
; one on Batu Pahat, or Rio Formosa., from whence
ebony and rattans are exported; the village of Johore on tb.e
river of that nan1e ; and another I have not visited on the
Sedilli river on the East coast.
The principal habitations of the J akuns are found at th1
upper extremity of the rivers of J ohore, Banut, Batu Pahat
and Muar.
The interior of this part of the Peninsula is generally a
low ground, at some period of the year covered with water
in many places. A majestic and solemn forest, which
extends itself over almost the whole of this immense space,
bounds continually the view of the traveller, even when
placed upon the hills which are. sometimes, though seldom,
met with. The gloom caused by tile thick foliage of lofty
trees, and the dull silence of tl:e place, often joined with
the humming murmur of rocky rivulets, produce the most
melancholy imaginations, while the sight of some old trees
faUen down calls to the mind the end of every earthly thing,
and offers to the traveller an appropriate subject for philosophical
meditation. The birds which, by their melodious
language, might raise his miud to some gay and joyful reflections,
are there in small number. The most numerous inhabitants
of that land are the wild beasts. The panther falsely
called black tiger by the Malays is one of the most eommon.
The royal tiger appears likewise to be very 1mmerous.
Elephants are foμnd in herds, but in some place!! only. I
had been told that bears were not found in the Penimntla,
113s 1
1136 1
64 A JOURNEY IN JOHORE.
but I have been convinced of the contrary by my own senses .•
I am told rhinoceroses are to be met with in the thickest and
lowest part of the forest, but I have never 11een any of them.
1 have seen but few snakes, though the J akuns assure me
that they are very numerous ; and not uncommonly they
meet with a kind they call ular sawah, which appears to be
the boa, of which some are of the size of the body of a man,
and swallow a buffalo.fr
The vegetation of the interior of the Peninsula, is one of
the most luxuriant that can be seen : trees grow to the
greatest size that can be real!hed.
Amongst the fruit trees, the durian is ooe of the most
remarkable, it grows in the thickest part of the forest without
any culture: the wild mangosteen and ran1bootan are
likewise fowid in many places, and their fruit is but little
inferior to those cultivated in gardens.
The interior of the part of the Peninsula I now speak of
is certainly very productive. All low places appear to be fit
fo_r cultivating rice: and I have no do~bt that sugar cane
would succeed in many places, principally where is found
the kind of palm tree called nibong by the Malays. I have
seen in several instances sugar cane of an extraordinary lux•
uriancy, though after having been planted by J akuns it received
very little care.
It is probable that the country is rich in gold and tin :
at least the faet of its existence in several places induces
me to believe that it must be found in others. There are
tin mines on the banks of the Jobore river. Several new
ones were lately discovered in the piece of ground which
lies between the two rivers of M uar and Caasang ; and every
one is aware of the considerable quantity of gold which is
extracted every year from the mines of mount Ophir,
though worked without proper means, and by a few persons
only.
Many of the numerous rivers which open both 011 the
East and West Coast, would be navigable to the center of
the Peninsula if they were cleared from the fallen trees by
which they are obstructed, and the exportation of the
produce both of the cultivated ground and of the mines,
would be thus rendered very easy.
* The nake noUcecl in the J ounal ol lhe Indlaa Archipelaao, although 110
more than three in cbeain diameter at lh1 Wokui parl of &Jae body• 1wallowed.
a pig of mon llw& ar,, poudt wlisllt.
Annex 15
Thomson J.T.,
Description of the Eastern Coast of Johore and Pahang, and
Adjacent Islands,
5 Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia 83 (1851)

THE
JOURNAL
OP
THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO
AND
EASTERN ASIA.
Edited by
3. B. LOGO, P. G. 8.
Member 1>f the Asiatic Society, Comspondinff Member or the Ethnologlcal Soclet7
of London, and of the Batavian Society of Arte and ScleDce&
VOL. V.
SINGAPORE:
1851.
KRAUS REPRINT
A Division of
KRAUS-THOMSON ORGANIZATION LIMITED
Nendeht/Llechtenstein
1970
1137 1
113a 1
THE
JOURNAL
OF
THI INDIAN ARCHIPlt!GO
AND
EASTERN ASIA.
DESCRIPTlOM OP 1'HB BAST.EB.If COAST OF JOHOllB A.ND
PAB.A.NG, AND ADJ ACBNT ISLANDS.
By J. T. TBOXSOlf Esq. P. L &. 8.
Ta:a notes from which the followinf descriptions are derived
were taken by me during the time was employed in survey•
ing these Coasts and Islands. I set out from Singa~re on board
the H. C. Steamer Hooghly, commanded by the late Captain
C1>nKB,lton, on the 3th July 1849. We commenced operations on
the ,th, and the Hooghly remained until the 16th of the same
month, when the gun-boat Charlotte sent out by the Authorities
came to recall that -vessel to Singapore. During the period of the
B~hlf s stay, Captain Congahon and Mr Stewart, chief ofliceJ",
took each their share in the surveying duties, but on their departure
I was left in the Charlotte, a vessel of23 tons, carrying 2 brass
6 pounders and 27 men to complete what had been bef.?un.
During the time of the H~hly's presence we con.1ined ourselvea
to the coasts between Sidili and Kahan-and on her depai:ture I
It.retched across to Pulo Aur, a sketch of which I have already
giTen in the pages of this ioumal. Prom Pulo Aur I proceeded
&o Palo Tioman, thence to Pulo Berallah and after that continued
lltffeying the coast of the l\fa1ayan Peninsula and proximate
gro•pa of islands. At the end of July we were forced to rctur11
84 DESCRIPTION OP THE EASTERN COAST OF JOUOR.E
to Singapore for provisions and arrived there on the fi1-st of August.
During the month of August I was engaged in surveying the
.Tohore river and estuary, on the completion of which I set out
again on board the Charlotte for the :&..stern coast. I left Singap<!
re on the 12th of September and returned, on the completion
of the su"ey, on the 5th of October.
Geog__rapky. .T ohore ter1·itory occupies the southern extreme
of the Malayan Peninsula ; on its eastern coast it is bounded to the
northward by the terriwry of Pahang. The former state is
governed by the Tomungong of J obore, now residing in Singapore,
and the latter by the Bindahara residing at Pabang. The exact
boundary between the two states I could not accurately ascertain.
That there should be debateable land, whe1·e the country is totally
unproductive and uninhabited is a natural consequence. The last
river of im~ortance which undoubtedly acknowledges the sup1-emacy
of J ohore is Sidili Besar, but I was informed that Suugei
M:erising, a small creek and river opposite Polo Babi, also belon~cd
to J ohore, but this is doubtful. The last river in Pa hang of importance
that undoubtedly belongs to that territory is tho Indau.
A. country covered by dense forest occupies the interval between
Sidili Besar and Indau. It possesses 00 geographical miles of sea
board in which tl1ere are no settled innahitants and tlie fe,v
dammer collectors and rattan gatherera that fi·equent it.s jungle!1,
claim the protection 0£ either chief as they may find it convenient.
The group of islands that extends o:ff the coast to a
distance of 30 p:eograJ>hical miles, commencing at Tokong Eu
and ending at P11lo Beralah, undoubtedly b~longs to Pahang
as all the inhabitants acknowledge the Raja as their chief
and pay tribute annually. Tanjong Leman, a point of land near
to the most southerly of these Pahang Islands~ was the most
ienera11y received termination to the two tenitories amongst the
mhabitants, and it would appear the most natural one as the adjacent
islands north of this pomt belong, as said before, to Pahang.
If '11anjong Leman be admitted as the termination of the two
states, the eastern coast of Joh ore will extend from Lat. l O 22' N.
to Lat. 20 09' N., having a sea board of 40 geographical miles
stretching in a N. N. W. di1-ection. I did not visit the whole
coast of Pahang, my su"eys having been confined on its coast to
the space contained be1ween Tanjong Leman and Tanjong Batu
in Lit. 8° 10' N. a distance in a N. N. W. direction of 70 geogra_
pbical. miles. Tanjong Batu is about 10 miles to the south of
Pahang river.
There are a few Islands lying close in with the shore :--commencing
from the nortb their names are as follow11.-Dochong,
Kom})E:t, Lalang Leiar, Tonas, Kahan, Tudong Kahan, UjuJ,
Mau, Pocbong, Gaja Stenan, and BJana. Two chains of islands
lie oft' the coast which may be desc1ibed as the onte1· and inner.
The former chain lies 30 geographfoal miles ft-om the coast and the
139
140
AND J'IAHANO, AND .ADJ A.CENT ISLANDS, 8-'l
latter generally 8 to 10 miles; both tbPSe chains run nearly parallel
to the coast of the Malayan Peninsula and are of nearly equal
len~th, ~iz., 40 Geographical miles.
Oonftgut•atio" 4-c. QT ccast and island,. The coast maintains
nearly a straight line from 11anjonJt Penyusoh to Tanjo!lg Peniahong
near Pulo Kahan. Slightly indentf'd bayf.1, haYmg sandy,
beaches, alternatr, throughout this dis·ance, ,, th rocky points; from
thence n01·thwards a deep sandy bay stretches as far as Pahang.
The land between Penyusoh and Kahan is moderately elevatedbut
to the nm-th of the latter point the coast is low and apparently
swampy for sevP1-al miles inland. The water on the coast deepens
gradually, carryin~ generally at a distance of a mile from the shore
4 f11thoms, deepemng to 10 fathoms at a distance of 6 to 8 miles.
In the close proximity of the coast, as already mentioned, are
several nnall islands ; the pl'incipal of these is Pulo Kahan 11 miles
in length but of little breadth. This island with the main forms a
t1t1·ait, which is called in Horsburgh's Charts Blair's Harbour. The
best entrance to this harbour is between Tonas and Kahan ; in the
ent1"8.nce that leads to the wetttward of Pulo Leiar, the most northerly
Islet, is a dangerous rock only visible at low water. At Pulo
Kahan we found good wate1• but as it was in the dry season only a
vr•ry small supply; a good supply is to be had near P11lo Mao, on
the main. IO geograpical miles to the south of Pulo Kahan lies Pulo
Gaja, remarltable by its being perforated. Pulo Beralah lying in
3° 14' N. at a distance of 12 miles from the coast, is the most
northe1·ly that I visited ; it is much smaller than represented in
Horsbu1·gh's Charts being only about 60 feet in diameter and 40
feet hiJ,?;li, crowned by a few bushes. It overhangs to the no1·theast
and as it is composed of fragile materials it will not probably
aurvive another century's battering of the waves of thP. N.
E. monsoon. Vessels in coming from the north must pus Pulo
Bera.lab before ente1ing the channel that is formed by the Malay
coast and the inner chain of islands-; this I have denominated the
Sibu channel. It is almost clear of daug~rs:-the principal arP. the
Margaret Shoal situate in Lat. 20 00' N. and Long. 103fl 80' E.
distant from the coast about 4 miles, the Batu Boyah lying off
Pulo Dochong, and Malang Morau lying midway between the
main aad Pulo Tingi. The most northerly group of the inner
chain of islands is that of which Pulo Siribuat iorm.11 the principal.
Pulo Siribuat coru:ists of two islands joined at low water 6y a coral
reef, it is of safe approat~h all round and has generally 14 to lo
fathoms in its proximity. The t,vo islands measure S miles E. and
W. and 16 miles N. and _ 8. To the south of Siribuat are three
small Islets called P ulo Mirtang, and to the east is another csalled
Bantu, Siribuat is mostly bare of forest, there is fresh wat.er on the
eastern or larger islands. In mid channel between Pulo Siribuat
and Pulo Tioman are two groups of Islets and roaks called Tokong
Buroog and Tokong Bai-a. Tokong is applied by the Malay•
86 DESCRIPTION OF THE RASTE'RN COAST OF JOHOllE
of these parts to all small islets without trees or with only a few.
Ten miles S. S. W. of Siribuat is the Babi group, of which Pulo
Babi is the principal and also most southerly, it meB111res 21 miles
in length and 1 mile in breadth-Some of this grou~ are bare of
timber but others are well wooded. Next to Pulo Babi in a N.
N. W. direction are Babi Tingah and Babi Ujong and to the
north distant 4 to 7 miles are Pnlo Rawa, Batu Kalabang, Pu-lo
Goal, Polo Mensh-ip and Polo Gurong. To the east of Babi,
-distant Smiles, are two rocks called Malang Sakit Mata and Malang
Tikus. The term :Valang is given to small rooks that are not
covered at high water but onl_y show a little above it. Ten miles
to the S. W. of Babi is Pulo Tingi, a high island covered with
forest measuring E. and W. 4 miles and N. and 8. 2 miles. Good
water is to be found on it at its western side where there is good
anchorage; the stream is to be found 100 yards to the N. W. ofa
small patch of mangrove situated in a small bay. Pulo Tiugi bu
several small Islets in its close proximity towards its 8. and E.
side, their names are Pulo Penyumbaug, Ibul, Lantin, Sembang,
Apel, Mentigi and Nangeb. To the S. East of Pulo Tingi a long
ehain of islets stretches for a distance of 12 milee. Thae I also
include in the Tingi group. Commencing from the northwards are
Tokong Sangul, Pulo Lima remarkable for a perforated rock on
its S. E. aide, Tokong Rak.et, Tokong Belelei, (that is proboscis
Islet, it is also perforated and the overhanging rock posses,ses a
resemblance to that appendage,) Tokong Gantang, Toltong Chondong,
Tokong Chupa and last Tokong Yu, abready mentioned in
the account of Pulo Aur.
Most of these islets are barren and precipito11S, though of small
height. The soundings inside of the chain average 10 fathoms,
outside 18 to 20. The last and most southerly of the inner chain
ot islands is that of Sibu, distant from Pulo Tingi south o miles.
Palo Sibu is a long island covered with forest end on its S. W.
shore has a remarkable point of sand, here innumerable sea birds
roost at night.The length of Sibu N. W. is 3 miles and breadth
inconaiderabJe, at one place only a few yards. The other islands
of this group lie to the S. E. of the main one ; tbe1e are
Tokong Pappan, Sibu Tingah, Mallang Natcha, Sibu Kukus
and Sibu UJong. The group can be approached with safe~
on its N. E. siae, close too, b11t on its 8. W. it should be hela
at a mile dist.ant. Sibu has little water on it in dry weather. Of
the outer chain of islands, I have already described Pulo Aur.
Between Pulo Aur and Pulo Tioman lies Peman~I (Pisang of the
Charts) a high woody island, destitute of inhabitants, measuring
in length 21 miles and in breadth lj. Tioman is the largest and
most remarkable of either chain, though of less importance than
the populous Pulo Aur, it is bold and mountainous and covered
with tall forest and possesses few inhabitants, the soundings in its
proximity average 20 to 25 fathoms, it has no outlying sunken
I 141
1142 1
AND PAHANO, .AND ADJACENT J8L.AMD9. 87
dangerP, bnt may be approached close too on all sides. Its conficuration
in Horsburgh's Chart is incorrect, but tho written description
in the Directory is all that could be wishPd for as a guide to
the marinel'. There is good anchorag_tt_at Tllo Joara during the
S. W. monsoon and the bays on the S. W side a:fFord like slielter
during t1!e N.E. There are six smf!ll islands adjacent.!-to the ~outh
Pulo Gt!it, to the N.W. Pulo Chi'leh, La.bas, Sepo1 and Tole1, and
close to the west shore Pulo Pyah. The nearest point of Tioman
is 20 miles distant from the Malay Peninsula; it is 11 geographical
miles in lenl[tb, N. and S., and its greatest breadth E. and W. is 6
geographical. miles, it lies between 2° 43' and 2° M' N. Lat. and
104° 09' and 104° 15' E. of Greenwich. Good water is abundant
from any of the fine streams that fall into its numerous bays. On
the southern shore of Tioman are two remarkable ~ks or pinnacles
called by the English the Asses Ears and by the Malays the
Chula Naga (Dragons Horns) they rise out of a spur of one of the
southern mountains at about 1,500 feet above the level of the sea,
from this height on one side they spring perpendiculai·ly another
1,000 feet. They form a moet magnificent feature in the aspect
of the island and cannot be beheld but with wonder and awe even
by the most unsusoeptable.
The following is a list of the altitudes of the various eminences e.nd
mountains taken trigonometrically above the level of the sea :Feet.
Polo I..eiar. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 287
,, Tioman middle peak. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .. • • • • • .. • • 3,444
South Pealt ••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 3,168
North Peak .......... ~ ..•.•.•..••.•...•. 8,209
Asses Bar (north) .......... • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2~
(soutli) ....................... 2,294
Pulo Siribuat.. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • '748
- Gurong. • • • • • • • .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 819
- Pemangil north hill... • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • l,'.l!J17
- ---south do .............•.............. l,o()7
- .A.ur north do ............................. 1,621
- ----south. do. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .. 1,8()6
- Tingi. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2,°'6
Bukit A.rong... • . • . • . • . . . . . • . . • • • • • • • • • • • • • .. • • • • • . 007
Pu.lo Bibu.............. . . . . . • . . • . . . . • • . •• • • • . • • • • • M.43
Guno~ Panti (Johore)................... • .•.•••.. 1,737
Sambilaya.ng do .................................. 2,114
Blumut do. • • • • • • .. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 8,317
'Kinta'ha do •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 2,140
Gunong Rumpin (Pahang). • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 2,181
Distant do.. do. • . • . . • • . • • . • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • . . 2,li84
Dolphin mountain do. • • • . • • • • • • • • .. • • • • . • • • • • • . • • • • 2,721
Three ~ do. do. • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . 3,194
Two do. do. do. • • • • • • • • . . . • • . • . . • • • • • . . . . . • . 2,646
4 Vol,5
88 DESCRJPTION OF THE RASTEHN COAST OF JOUORE
Soutb distant ,lo. do. . . . . . . • . • • . • . . . . . . . • • . . . . • • • . 3,231
Ou1..,·entJ1. During the 8. W. monsoon to the sP-awa,·d of Polo
Siribuat and Tingi, the currents set to the northward. Ships bound
to the southward during this monsoon and fallin~ t.o leeward of
Tioman, Pemangil, or Aur, should without hesitation run for the
Malay coast, either by the north of Pulo Sil'ihuat or the passages
between Mertang and Guron~ or Babi and rringi, which are clear
of sunken 1·ocks excepting close to the Tingi sh~re. Hure the
11orthel'ly current will be avoid~d and regular tirlal currenr.s be
expcrieuced-the tide {teneJ"ally . ~etting to the southward during
the day end to the nol'thward during the night. Durin~ the
strength of the S. W. monsoon, ships in beating np agamst it
along the Malay coast, will also. be much assisted by the land
b1·eezes that generally come off durmg the morning and forenoons.
Rivers. On the coast between Tanjong Penyusoh and Pulo
Kahan there is only o:rte river of importa.11ce, the Sidili Besar.
The paucity of rivers is owing to the J ohore river, which runs
parallel to the C08$t at a distance of 15 to 20 miles, receiving the
drainage of the greater part of the S. E. part of the Malay Peninsula.
-The other streams are for the most part mere creeks. Com•
mencing from the south they lie in the following order; Poongie
Balau, Tingar, Kalisa, Sidili Kichi, Sidili Besar, Palin, Simoho,
J amaluang~ Merisong, Tangatu Arong, Tomedo, Siseh and Mau.
Between Kahan and- Pahang the rivers become much Iarser, as
they drain the W(ltel"s of a comparatively mountainous district.
Following_ the same order we have Triang, Indau, Dochong,
Pontean, Bumpin, :\Hrchong, Bubar and Kyn llati. Most of these
rivers possess inhabitants, while those to the south of Kahan have
none, excepting in the case of Sidili Besar. The entrance to this
river is nearly dry at low water, l>ut inside it contains o fathoms M
far as the village of Sempang, which is situated about 6 miles up
the river, this was as far as I proceeded up it. A. MalRy Raja
resides at Sempang. The river becomes fresh about 3 miles from
its mouth and is there 100 yards broad. The banks are slimy
and infested with al1igatore. A few cocoanut.s, fowls and rice may
be obtained here, but the inhabitant.s are miserably poor. The
Indau is about the same size as the Sidili Besar but perhaps the
body of fresh water is greater. I proceeded up it to the villas.e
of Kassing, 5 miles from the sea. The river has a bar at its
entrance with one fathom on it at L W. Spring tides, and it is
otherwise encumbered with shoals and sand banks, there is o
fathoms inside as far as I proceeded. The banks of the river are
more populous than those of Sidili, but I found the people jealous
and in some cases uncivil; they are generally better off' than those
of Sidili. Rice, cocoanuts and fowls, may be obtained in small
quantitieB.
Notes on the Geology. The following notes are necessarily
143
I 144 I
AND PAHANG, AND ADJACENT ISi.ANDi 89
imperfect and can only ·be offered as an approach to a general
description. I only examined such prominent stations as I
visitod in the prosecution of the geographieal survey-the geological
features Jiave therefore not met the minute attention that the
subject deserves-spaces of 4 to 6 miles often iot.erveue without
having had any examination, and many interesting features may
consequently have escaped attention.
. The Coast of the ~alayan Peninsula lying, i etween Tanjong
PenyUROh, where granite abounds-Lat. 1 ° 22 N ., and Tanjong
Batu in Lat. 3° l(Y, presents shales, sand stones and clays more or
less metamor))hosed or altered by plutonic action. The inner
chain of Islands are of the same formation, excepting in part of the
Tingi and Babi ga-oups where the granitic and trappean fonna.
tions protrude. The centre chain is entirely of plutonic originbeing
composed of granite and trap formations. In g!ving such
obse"atioru, as I noted down at the points where I landed, -i will
pursue the .following route for the sake or easy reference, though
the spots described "·ere not vitlited in the order that they are
given here.-Commencing at Pulo Bera.lab the most northerly
point examined, I will proceed soudawards along the coast as far
as Sidili Kichi, from thence to the inner chain of Islands and lutly
to the outer.
Pulo Beralah ( of which
the accompanying is a
sketch, whichmayprove
interesting at 80IDe fu.
ture time when the
Island, which is of
l'uJ.o:B~ E/yH Ja,2.,,,.0.. fragi!e composition and
is iast dilapidating
under the action of the waves, is levelled to the water's edge.)
Above the level of the sea is an incohe3ive conglomerate or
coarse sand-below that level the formation is more compact and
hard. It is stratified, the dip being 80° North and strike E. and
'\V. Nodules of iron stone abound, varying in size from 2 feet in
diameter to S and 4 inches. Thay appeared remark.ably distinct
from the bases of the formation, 10 as to lead me to conclude them
to be foreign boulders deposited on the strata during the proce•
of formation. Where they rest, the lamiom of the strata conform to
their contour as if pressed down and contorted by the weight thus:
90 DJ~SClllPTION OF THE JUSTBll:'f COAST OF JOHODB
The strata nre intersected at intervals of 4 to 8 feet by forruginou1
veins-these veins are divided by chinks thus:
These chinks appear to me to have acted during the period of
plutonic action as outlets to the gases or other subtle fluids
charged with a feffll~ous solution-which in their passage upwards
suffused either face of &he &J>e.rture, and when absorbed
chanlte(i into hard concret.e the s~ affected. At Pulo Da.chong
the formation is indurated clay and clay slate, much intersected by
quartz and iron ore veins. At Batu Bavah the formation is iron
stone, at P ulo Kompet near the mouth of the Indau the formation
is stratified.. Dip 90° strike N. and S. The rock is black and
extremely hard not unlike tnp, but more probably it is of aqneous
origin much alt.ered by platonic action.
At Pulo Leiar no stratification was discoverable. The base of
the formation is a ha.rd compact rock of various colours, white, blue
and drab, it is much reticulated by numerous veins of iron ore. At
Pulo Kahan the same formation ex~ts. At Pulo Mau, the base of
the rock takes the appearance of indurated clay much intersected
by iron and quarts veins. At TanJong ~ the formation is
analogous, but the rock is more ailic1ous. At Pulo Gaga the formation
graduates into soft sandstone, not much intersected by veins
of foreip matter. Near S~ Merising indurated clay 1-revails
intenected b1 ferruginous veins., and nodules of quartz abound.
At Tanjong Sikakap a considerable change takes place from the
formation tltat prevails to the northward. Here it is stratified,
dipping 80° N .. W. and striking N. E. and S. W. Conglomerates
alternate with compact rocks. The conglomerates are com~
of ~bbles ~all1 rounded, and are of the same materials as the
adjoining rocks, and vary in size from 4 inches to 1 of an inch. The
strata a.re much reticulat.ed by veins of harder substance, which
being less aft'ected by the action of the weather stand out in relie£
.Angular pebbles are also found in the conglomerates. In the
close proximi:[, strata of red sand stone and red indurated shale
are a)jo foun • At Tanjong Morau I found the same formation,
also at Tanjong Tinge.nib. At Tanjong Leman the atrata dip
perpendioularly and strike N. W. Conglomerates composed of
114s 1
1146 1
AND PAHANO, AND ADJACENT llL.lNDS.. 91
ronnd pebbles of small size, in strata VaJ"Ying in thickness from
1 0 feet to 6 inches, alternate with sand stone. One stratum frequently
runs into the other and both are intersected with ferruginous
veins longitudinally and transve1eely. At Tanjong Petei
a mica.ceous shale is found intersected and reticulated liy iron
ore veins, dip 90° strike S. E. This with talcoee shales is the
J>revailing formation between this point and Tanjong Pungei near
the S. E. extreme of the PeninsulL Five miles to the southward
of Tanjong Pitei, I landed on a rook and found strata of talcose
shale alternating with pure quartz, iron masked,-dip 90° strike
S. S. E. Three miles to the north of Sidili Besar the same formation
prevails, alteanating with black compact strata;-ll.t Sidili
Besar point the same;-at Sidili Kichi the formation is a black
and ropper coloured shale-dip 80° S. W. strike S. E. Near
this point is a curious semi-circular ctJntortion of the strata. I did
not land on the coast to the south of this point. Part of the ooast
between this point and Romania will be found described by the
Editor of this J oumal, VoL 2 page 616.
·On the most southerly group of the inner chain of Islands, viz.
the Sibu group, I landed at Sibu KukuR, and found com~
rocks and conglomerates. At Mallong N atchu, hard red clay
intersected witli iron and quartz veins, also conglomerates. On
the N. W. point of Sibn, the basis of the rock is hard, drab coloured
and compact, cont.ainin~ nodules of the same substance but
darker and of harder cons1Stence. On the east of Sibu irregular
siliceous strata are found intersected with ferruginous veins in
which the chink noticed at Pulo Beralah is very common.
At the Tingi ~up, I landed on the west side of Pulo ~
and found trap and porphyry to prevail. I sailed all round this
island close to its shores and the predominating rocks seemed to
to be trappean. At Pulo Mintigi black trap is found graduating
into porphyry. At Tokong Sangul altered aqueous rocka are ~n
found, having the appeal'ance of indurated clay, very hard and
· compact and closely reticulated by quartz veins ramifying into
the most minute b1·anches, so as to be almost microscopic. "Lyell
in his chapter on earthquakes and volcanoes, book 2 chapter 19
(Principles of Geology) seeks rather to refer the cause of the
intemal heat of volcanoes to chemical chan~es constantly going
on in the earth's cru&t, for the general effect of chemical comoina.tion
is the evolution of heat and electricity. The existence of
currents of electricity in the shell of the earth has been deduced
from. the phenomena of terrestrial magnetism, from the connection
between diurnal variations of the magnet and the apparent motion
of the sun, from the electro-magnetic properties of metalliferous
veins and from atmosphere electricity which is continua1ly
passing between the air and the earth. These he suggests
may produce a slow decomposing power like that of the voltaic
pile, and thus become a constant .source of chemical action and
9'J DESCRIPTION OF TBB BAITE:Rlr COAST OP I0H0RB &c.
consequently of volcanic heat. Whether or not these electric currents
be the cause of volcanic heat is foreign to the subject under
notice, but I could not but be forcibly strucx with the question how
far electric currents could aid in depositing the inn11me.rable and
minute veins of foreign matter that every where intersected the rock
of Tokong Sangul. Granting that the quartzose matte1· had at one
time been in a ftuid state, it appears to me that no hydrostatic
pressure could have injected it in such minute ~cles. The
veins present none or the chinks by which gasses charged with a
solution of it might have b~ evolved, as I found in some of the
fen-uginous veins; the Toltaic action of electricity with its powerful
ebenucal agency, by which the elements of bodies may be ~,ea-rated
and transferred to distant points, would seem to afford the
most probable means of solving the enigma.• At Tokong Eu
I found a black and gray compact rock which appeared to be
closely allied to greatly mttamorphosed aqueous rock and trapit
is difficult to pronounce in whicli class to plaee it.
In the Babi grot1ps, Pulo Babi, Babi Tingah and Babi Ujong
are composed of a gray ~nite. Pulo Gurong I found altered
aqueous rock not unlike the formation of Pulo Le1ar al::fi
mentioned. I also vi-,ited Mallang Tikus and found this
rock, which does not exceed 100 feet in length by 00 in breadth, to
present many interesting points for consideration. The prevailing
eolour of the rock was a reddish purple-shale, indurated clay,
porphyry and granite were found in close proximity and g1-aduating
one into the other • .At Goal the formation is sandstone ..
Of the Siribuat group I only visited Pulo Mirtang-its form~
tion is altered aqueous rock. I apprnached Pulo Siribuat close
enough to observe it to be of the same formation.
In the oute1· chain of Islands I have already mentioned that the
Aur group is composed of grarJte. Pulo Pemangil is of the ea.me
formation-I did not land on this Island but sailed close to it.
A.t Tioman 1 landed on several pal"ts of its eastern shore and found
black trap to prevail. On the western side, Mr J. R. Logan
informs me, that granite prevails. The ll1lets _ to the N. W. ol
Tioman are also granitic. I landed on Pulo Chibeh and approached
close enough to the other Islands to ascertain their formation.
• " In the southern part of the Peninsula, it will be fond that thP. Iron ha.•, fn
most caMI, been e.eq11lied from benea.tll, but in what precise eonclUon 01 ~ru lly ft
ii hardly pouibJe in any ease to ascertain. Becaase, wherever it is Tiaib,e, it 11u
kmg been at or near the surface of the earth and, In whatever 1tate of combination
it. first entered the rocks, we now only see :lt Lighty ozidised. t There 16 of.en clear
e~dence of Its having ascended into the111. in a state of ~t rarity or of mblimatfon,
for in such cues the alterations el't,cted, while evinring the presence of great
heat, are totallI different from those that are oceaeioned by the eruption of denee
JDolten rock.. Electrical current, have also left moat distinct tracee of their agenq
t The decomposition of Iron PYJ'itea, and the diftbalon of tbe b,m in solution,
prodW!e a lateaitic rock (Ante vof. I. p. 166.) A .llmila.r el'ect will follow from the
decomposition of any other mineral containing a aufflcient quantity of :iron. The
roeb containing such mineral• in abuuaaee will aln71 retain a Jata;tlc cbancter
1·rom the 9u.rf~t to a certain deptb.
147

Annex 16
Extracts from Travaux Preparatoires of Indian Act No. VI of 1852,
compnsmg:
(i) Minute from C.R.M. Jackson (Advocate-General of India) dated
23 Oct 1851
(ii) Draft Act dated 24 Oct 1851
(iii) Letter from Young A.R. (Under Secretary to the Government of India) to
the Under Secretary with the Governor General dated 24 Oct 1851
(iv) Letter from Halliday F.J. (Secretary to the Government of India) to
Butterworth W.J. (Governor of Prince of Wales Island, Singapore and
Malacca) dated 24 Oct 1851
(v) Letter from Elliot H.M. (Secretary to the Government of India with the
Governor General) to Halliday F.J. (Secretary to the Government of India,
Home Department) dated 12 Nov 1851
(vi) Extract of a Letter from Governor of Prince of Wales Island, Singapore
and Malacca to the Secretary to the Government of India dated 1 Nov 1851
(vii) Letter from Butterworth W.J. (Governor of Prince of Wales Island,
Singapore and Malacca) to Halliday F.J. (Secretary to the Government of
India) dated 17 Nov 1851

Minute by the Hon'ble C. R. M. Jackson
dated the 23m Octf. 1851.
I have struck out the 10th and 11 th Sections of the original
Draft Act prepared by the Straits Govt. It would be quite a novel
thing in legislation to enact that a penalty should attach to a ship for
all time and should be recoverable against the ship even in the
hands of an innocent purchaser. It is an attempt to make a penalty
even like a Covenant with the land, without considering that a ship is
a chattel and that her title deeds would give no notice to purchasers
of such an incumbrance. The stringent Slave acts have never yet
gone the length of declaring that a slaver should after it changed
hands and was employed in lawful traffic be still liable to
condemnation.
As the Indian Legislature has no power to legislate for the
high seas, I have thought it as well to insert the twelfth section,
without that section, it might be argued that the whole Straits was
the roadstead, and as a consequence that all ships passing through
it should pay the toll.
The 23rd Octr 1851 Sd/ C.R. M. Jackson
No. 5
[Transcribers Note: A printed copy of Draft Act dated 24 Oct 1851 is
attached with enclosed manuscript and therefore not transcribed here. For
ease of reference, the "twelfth section" referred to in Advocate-General
C.R.M. Jackson's foregoing minute is reproduced here :
"XII. Nothing in this Act contained shall be construed to levy
a toll upon or otherwise affect any Ship passing through the
Straits of Singapore and not entering the said harbour or
roadstead of Singapore aforesaid."
149
150
No. 7
Home Dept.:
Leg:
* SecY to Gov1
of Bengal of
26th Oct 1849
SecYD0
oo
of 19th March
1850
& Enclos:
Min. by the
Hon'ble Mr.
Jackson 0123m
Inst.
No.657
From A. R. Young Esqre
Und. Secy. to the Govt of India
To The Under Secretary with the Gov. Gen1•
DI the 24th Oct. 1851.
Sir,
With reference to the Despatch from the Hon'ble Court of
Directors in the Marine Deptt. No. 3 of 1849 d/ the 5th Septr, I am
directed to forward for submission to the most Noble the
Governor General, copies of the papers noted in the *margin,
together with the Draft of an "Act for defraying the cost of a Light
House on Pedra Branca".
The tonnage duty on shipping was authorized by the
Hon'ble Court to be levied as soon as light was exhibited on the
Island rock above named, and as it appears from the
accompanying Copy of a *communication from the Governor of
the Straits Settlements that the light in question would be
exhibited from the 15th lnstt., the President in Council has
deemed it expedient under the urgency of the case, to anticipate
the Govr. Gen1's assent and to authorize the publication at once
of the draft act in the form in which it was this day read in
Council.
Fort William I have the honor to be etc.
The 24th Oct. Sd/ A. R. Young
1851 Und.: Secy. to the Govt of India
No. 603
From F. J. Halliday Esqre
Secy. To the Govt. of India
To Col1 W. J. Butterworth
Sir,
Govr. of P. W. Island, Singapore
and Malacca
DI the 24th Oc{ 1851
With reference to your letter No. 22 of the 13th July 1850 to Home Dep:
the address of the Secretary to the Govt. of Bengal, I am directed to Leg:
forward the accompanying draft Act "for defraying the cost of a Light
House on Pedra Branca", and to request that you will favor the
Supreme Gov\ with such observations or suggestions on its
provisions as may appear to you necessary.
Fort William
The 24th Octr. 1851
I have the honor to be &ca
Sd/ F. J. Halliday
Secy. To the Govt. of India.
151
152
No. 405
From Sir H. M. Elliot K. C. B.
Secy: to the Govt. of India with the
Governor General
To F. J. Halliday Esqre.
Secy: to the Govt. of India
Home Deptt. Calcutta
DI Camp Jugadree the 1ih Novr. 1851
Sir,
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Under
Secretary Young's letter No. 657 dated 24th Ultimo, submitting
papers and a Draft Set for defraying the cost of a Light House on
Pedra Branca, by levying a tonnage duty on Shipping, and in reply
to convey to you the assent of the Most Noble the Governor General
to the publication of the Draft Act.
Camp Jugadree
The 12th Novr. 1851
I have the honor to be etc.
Sd/ H. M. Elliot
Secy: to the Govt. of India
with the Govr. Gen1•
No. 10 Extract of a letter from the Governor of Prince of Wales Island
Singapore and Malacca to the Secy. to the Gov1 of India Dated
the 1m Nov 1851. NQ 42
X
To the Gov1
of Bengal
8th I beg in conclusion to suggest that the Draft Act, submitted
with my letter under date the 13th July 1850, N° 22 x, for the levy
of Light dues, may have early publication, should it have received
the approbation of the Most Noble the Governor General in
Council, with a view of meeting the above expense, and that
which will be incurred for the establishment of the Light Ship, on
the 2½ fathom bank, in the Straits of Malacca, the only alteration
I have to propose is that the rate of Light dues should be raised
to three cents of a Dollar per ton, for all square rigged vessels,
on the principle laid down in the 2nd Clause of the aforesaid Draft
Act.
153
11s4 1
Sir,
From the Governor of Prince of Wales Island
Singapore and Malacca
To F. J. Halliday Esqre
Secy. to the Gov! of India,
Fort William
DI Singapore the 17!!1 Nov! 1851
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
under date the 24th Ultimo giving cover to a Draft Act for defraying
the cost of the Light House on Pedra Branca, and requesting me to
forward any observations or suggestions that I may have to offer
thereon.
The Draft Act has received my best attention, and appears to
me to compass the object desired, but I should mention, that it will
be necessary, as intimated in my letter of the 1m lnstt, N° 42, to raise
the tonnage Dues, from two and a half to three cents, per ton, for
the purpose of meeting the expense of the Floating Light on the 2½
Fathom Bank.
There is a trifling error which I may mention, although it is of
little moment, I allude to the word "Pedro" this ought to be "Pedra",
meaning a stone, in Portuguese, by which nation, I doubt not, the
rock was first discovered. I fear the mistake has originated with the
copyist in my office.
Singapore
The 17th Nov 1851
I have the honor to be & ce
SdW.J.Butterworth
Governor
N°. 13
Encl. N°
849
of 1851
155
156
FORT vVILLIAM,
HOME DEPART1\1ENT,
LEGISLATIVE,
TaE 24Tn OoTOBEli, 1851.
·'!'he following'Drtift of aproposed'Act was .read
,in Connc'il f01.' the first time on the 24th of October
1851.
AcT No~ - OF 1851.
. ' . .
,A.11?A.ct,for defra!lfng_the (){)St of fl 1,,ight B,:,usc on
Pedro !Jr11.ruia. . ,
Whereas it has been deemed expedient for tho
safety and guidance ,of Ships navigating. the
China Seas, ·to ·build, a. Light' :Rouse on the
Island .Rock· called: P<:1dro Brarica; .situated at the
Easternf entrnnce of ,tl1e Strait.,; of Singapore ;
And whereas certain sums of money were subscribed
·;by priva'.te -in'dividua.ls for that ·.purpose,
bu.t the same were · insufficient to def.ray the . ex ..
pense of building such Light House;· .And wher&-:a.
s the Ea.st India-Oompru1y agreed to build such
Light House, and ·-·to, adv.a.nee, certain. sums of
money to compleuLthe same, on. condition that
the ,said sums of ·money were· ·repaid: tl), them . by
the:: levy,: of , a. :toll on- Ships and , othei '.:squ,~re
rigged Vessels :en~ng the :harbour of . .Sing'appte;
Arid cwherea ,the. said :Light -Hottse ,ha:s · been'., built
by:tbe-,East._ India.Comptmy; .-.and :it Jis,μesira.Lle
that .the. expense'., :of -building.-/tlle;;:same,:. :a.1:di pf ,
maintaining· a.:Dight:i thereon,; .shot.tld ·• be-· deffayi.(d ·
out: of :the!tnonies ,;~~ng .: .ftom n~μch >tcf1l; ,',.(~cl
whereas it may 'lierea.fter be deemed exp~ctient>to:
· e~talilish
f
l
l
)
cstablis11 other Lig11ts, or beacons in the Straits 0f
ivlalucca or elsewl1ere near thereto;
It is enacte<l, as follows:
I. The Lig11t House on Ped.:-o Branca afore~
said shall be ca1led " The Horsburgh Light
House," nnd the said Light House, and the appurtenances
thereunto belonging or occupied for the
purposes thereof, and all the fixtures, npparatus
and furniture belonging thereto, shall become
the- property of, aml absolutely vest in the East
India {;om.pany and their successors.
II. From the ---day of ---1852
every Ship, or othei· square rigged Vessel, heing
of the burden of fifty tons and upwards, which
shall arrive a.t, or enter the harbour or roads tend of
Singapore from arty patt of tJ1e world, s1rnll pay
a ton .of two and a lialf cents. of a dollar per ton
for: e;ver,y ton of .her registered burden or tonnage.
Pr,Jti<;led, ahyays tbat no Ship or other sqnure ,,.,
rigged Vessel s11;ill pay such toll more than once•~
in every six calendar months.
.Ill. .All Ships of Wal" belonging to Her Bri~
:t:lnnie Majesty, or any Foreign Government 01
Stati,,ind all armed Ships belonging to the Eust
India Company, sbaU be exempt from the payment
ofsuch toll.
IV. The management and controul of the snid
"HorshurglrLight House,"and of foe keeper thereof/
and of every thing tefo.ting thereto, is l1erehy
vested in tl1e Governol' of the Straits Settlements.
V. The said Governor may appoint any person
he may think fit; to be a. Collector of the tolls
payable under this Act.
VI. Out of the funds raised hy such tolls, an
efficient Light shall be constantly ·kept up and ex~
hibitP.d during the night time in and from the said
LightiHonse, and the surplus monies arising frotn
stteh".tqlls,.-afterdeducting the expense of maintain ...
ihg ,s{tch 'Light·,as,aforesaid, shall ftom time to
t1m1,1>e pai(l#verto the said East Iridia Company,
'ia tlqtiida:t~-onof the•., monies they · have ad va~ced
to-iittt'cltt tb4 efGction 11.ncl completion -0f the said
l',ight lidusi:r and tl1e apparatus and furniture
thereof:
VII. 'l'he
157
158
VII. The toll. to be levied under this Act snall
become due ,.and .p~yable • itilmed:fo.tely on the ,arrival
of evety ship foible th:etet<> within the harbour
or roai!sten.l1of Sfogapore ;,and,imrn¢~ia.t~ly ~n the
arriv'alo£ any such Ship ,v.ithin ,:the said,:l1arbour
or roadstead, the Collector appointed :u11de1· this
Act shall de1namlror •canse?to be .demanded., from
·the Master or other person in .09mmand .of such
Ship, payment of the toll of two nnda.lfa:l(cen,ts.
of a Dollar per ton , for ev~ty .ton of the tegistered
burden or tonnage ofsuch/S~iJ:l, antlif ~ne,same
be not paia ,titliill: · two na,,s f#fter such,. demand
made as aforesaid, or·•if ·11.ti:a,nytune:after ···the·arrival.
of· ,sucli 8hip as a£Jre'said>. the said·. Collector
shall have ca1~s¢ ~ ·•&uspe~t;: o,r believe that ,such
Ship •will Iinrtiecliut~ly lea~.e; the. said harbour or
roadstead~ -withou.t payit1g/Sticl1 .. · toU, ·it•·'sh~U• •be
lawful for any ·Jtt~tiee 6-f lil~til?~:i.ce, ,ti:pQn :an.
affi'davit 7to•that. effect'.'.b¢~ijgfrn,ta,ue before. ·him
on ,oath by .. "Such Gotlietof ,(wn:foh on-th tlie :said
,fostice is hereby autht>rize.d•,fo tidn:dnister} to
issu:e. liis Wnrtant .i:nider•1~fu;Jrand, dfr.ected to 11.ny
Peace Officer of Sirigapore af6t~~aid, to 'enter Oll
board sttch-Sliip, and tti"seize mithea:rry away any
ohhe Gt:iods; -:Metchandize, ~ns~ ·Tackle, Apparel
or iFumiture ·of or 'bel&pgiijg>fo or on board
such Ship, and to keep tne s·ame. for the space of
three days thet1• 11ext,11n.!ess the .said-toll ,shall
be in the ;mea.n'time ,paid,; •and ·in ease :t1ie mrrount
of the to1l·•due 'by suchi:S1iip·,sball ·not1mfor:e the
expiration ofiSU.clvthre~: d':.tys1hav~ been paid, t11~n
the said Collector may cause 0tht,, said,G<>ods~ l\lerchandize,
('r.,.us~ Tackle, ~:pp~l't'l'l '~i'·.Furriiture so
seized.to be sold, and out 19f tli~ 'Pl'O~eetls .of lsttch
sale shall pay the a:monn:t:of thEr,said toll to w:hicl1
such Ship shall be Ha,.hle;together w:ith the 1·easonable
charges of the seitm-e, detention and•·· sale,
rend.ering to the Ma:ster:or ·Owner:or•.•other·person
11a.ving the command of such Ship, .the ,ov:erplus
(if any) on demand.
VUI. Tl1e-Offioer,of ,Go-vrernment wl1ose ,duty
it shrill :be to grant a P.<lrl ¢lear1mce for ~y ,Sh1p ·
clearing out of, or leaving tlle porit,c0£.Singa:po:fo
aforesaid, shall· refuse to ,grant sttch :J?ott d~a~ance
to any Ship unt.il thei,Q.~er,L~g~nt;':~a~te:r''. or
otber pers-011 in· eomnmn~'()t:~tteh &hip.~ha.U;f>T'lil'dttce
acerti•ficatefrom .the go1teoroT-aPreinted ~tl.er this
A,ct.ith!iit· .sut~h S,hip :hiis -~id ,,,(lle';~imlo.u:mt •!Of. toll
to which she is liabl~ ~ndcr thH,~t.; : · · .·
IX .... N~L,i•lthst~tJiling
159
160
-a'llipa tb~~out 'ief ili':c <
held t.o m~tt -~ " in~ndt
Brigantines, B.tirqu!!Bs,..· .S. - ~.>tn•. · . . ai~ar .
include tlle plural ·ilumber,
g the plural· number. only shall
lar number; and W'ONi in1•
ine gentler shall extend t.o
be something in tlte subject
t t.o aueh eonstrnetion.
Draft now read be published.
said Draft be re-considered at
o£ the Legislative Council of
~th da.y of January 1852.
fBED. JAB. HALLII>A.Y,
Secy. to Ile Gm,t. of India..
161
I 1&2 I
+-~~.#N?;,~~
46·~7~4~4~?
~~d~~~-~
~~~7;d~/~~
,,._, ~~~.a,.:a~~~~~ ~~/d'~~,4-~
;;;r:;;;-·..,.,., ~· ,dF~~~~ ~-
11s3 1
j
I 1&4 I
I 1ss I

Annex 17
Extracts from Crawfurd J., A Descriptive Dictionary of the Indian
Islands and Adjacent Countries (1856, 1971 reprint)
168
INTRODUCTION
JOHN CRAWFURD (1783-1868)1 was among that small group of British scholars and
officials who in the first half of the nineteenth century produced some of the earliest
reliable works on the region now known as South-East Asia. These writers brought
an analytical and inquiring intelligence to the areas with which they dealt, and plunged
enthusiastically into the study of local languages and cultures. They collected,
compiled, and recorded with an energy and catholic interest which seem exhausting
by modem standards. In very large measure they were the founders of modem
scholarly study of South-East Asia.
Crawfurd was born in Scotland in 1783, and followed his father into the study of
medicine. In 1803 he accepted a position in India with the East India Company
medical service. He was transferred in 1808 to Prince of Wales Island (Penang),
thus making his first acquaintance with South-East Asia, and there proceeded to
apply himself to the study of Malay language and culture. Three years later Lord
Minto, Governor-General of India, launched an expedition to wrest control of Java
from the Netherlands. Crawfurd joined the expedition and subsequently served
in the British administration of Java, under Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, until
the island was restored to Dutch control in 1816.
While in Java, Crawfurd undertook the study of Modem Javanese, a difficult
language which he mastered well, considering the limitations imposed by the absence
of any grammars or dictionaries. These he compiled for himself, thereby producing
some of the earliest scholarly tools for the study of Javanese, which have, however,
remained unpublished. He also braved the difficulties of Old Javanese, a classical
language which 150 years later still has no adequate dictionary. While doing all
this, he served in various administrative posts, particularly as Resident at the Central
Javanese court of Jogjakarta, in which position he cultivated personal relationships
with several Javanese aristocrats and literati, most notably with Prince Pakualam I.
He also carried out expeditions to Bali and the Celebes (Sulawesi), and in all these
activities studied and collected widely.
Crawford returned to England after the Dutch resumption of sovereignty in
Java, and wrote his famous three-volume History of the Indian Archipelago
(Edinburgh, 1820), a work which is still of great interest. Thereafter he again found
him.self in India, whence he was sent on missions to Thailand and Cochin-China
in 1821, and to Burma in 1827. The records of these embassies he published as
Journal of an Embassy from the Governor-General of India to the Courts of Siam
and Cochin-China (London, 1828; 2nd ed, 2 vols, London, 1830; Oxford in Asia
Historical Reprint, 1967) and Journal of an Embassy from the Governor-General
of India to the Court of Ava (London, 1829; 2nd ed, 2 vols, London, 1834). Between
these two missions, he served from 1823 to 1826 as Resident of Singapore, the thriving
colony established shortly before by his previous superior in Java, T .S. Raffles.
IFor further biographical and bibliographical materials on Crawford, see R.K. Douglas' biography
of him in the Dictwnary of National Biography, vol. XIII (ed. Leslie Stephen; London, 1888), pp. 60--61;
L.A Mills. British Malaya, 1824-67 (Kuala Lumpur, 1966), pp. 318-20; John Bastin, 'Malayan Portraits:
John Crawfurd', Malaya, vol III (December, 1954), pp. 697-8; F. de Haan, 'Personalia der Periode
van bet Engelsch Bestuur over Java, 1811-1816', Bijdragen Taal-, Landen Volkenkunde, vol. XCII (1935),
pp. 526-9.
VI INTRODUCTION
In 1828, after twenty years in South-East Asia, Crawfurd returned permanently
to England. For the next four decades he was an avid promoter of learned studies
on South-East Asia, as well as an untiring pamphleteer in support of the interests
of Straits Settlements merchants against the East India Company monopoly. In
addition to his several pamphlets and the two Journals, Crawfurd also published
A. Granrmtr and Dictionary of the Malay Language (2 vols; Londo~ 1852) during
this period, as well as the volume reprinted here, A Descriptive Dictionary of the
Inda,, Islands and Adjacent Countries (London, 1856). This was his last scholarly
wort. In 1868 Crawfurd died in London, nearly eighty-five years old.
The Descriptive Dictionary grew out of Crawfurd's earlier History of the Indian
.Archipelago. He at first considered a second edition of the History but decided
instead to rewrite his materials in the form of a dictionary· or encyclopedia The
n:sult was the first encyclopedia of what is now Indonesia. As in his earlier History,
Crawfurd again focused his attention particularly upon the Javanese and their
culture, which he perhaps knew best of all the cultures of the archipelago. But the
Descriptive Dictionary also includes a great deal of material on the Malay Peninsula,
the Philippine Archipelago, and mainland South~East Asia, particularly Thailand.
Thus it is a valuable work of reference for a very large part of the area.
It would appear that the bulk of the information in the Descriptive Dictionary
derived from Crawfurd's personal observations and notes of several decades before.
Indeed, much of it had already been published in his earlier volumes where, however,
the more discursive treatment made quick reference rather more difficult. Crawford
had disposed of his archipelago manuscript collections to the British Museum in
1842. keeping back only a few volumes until 1851 whe~ with his Grammar and
Dictionary of the Malay Language presumably in its final stages, he sent these last
volumes to join their fellows. Thus he apparently compiled much of the Descriptive
Dictionary directly from his own published works. But it is clear that l1e had also
maintained contact with numerous acquaintances in South•East Asia, and he
occasionally cited information as recent as 1850 for the materials in the Dictionary.
Like most men. Crawfurd was a child of his times. The views. assumptions, and
state of knowledge of the nineteenth century are clearly reflected in the Dictionary,
and account both for some of the volume's strengths and for some of its weaknesses.
On the positive side, Crawfurd shared the belief that knowledge was a unified thing,
that, for instance, history, zoology, and musicology were natural bed-fellows. This
ecumenical approach meant that nothing was beyond his field of vision, and the
entries on such items as Celebes, Java, Philippine Archipelago, Siam, and other
major geographical areas, are masterly summaries of the then available knowledge.
He inquired about and explained everything, from the gestation period of the Filipino
(p. 341) to the taste and odour of the durian fruit (p. 126). It is a commentary upon
this desire for completeness that Crawford should have included an entry on the
Camel in order to explain that the animal was unknown in South-East Asia. Yet
Crawfurd's knowledge was necessarily limited by his age as well. Some of his judgements
were quite inaccurate, as were, for example, his dating of Old Javanese temple
remains. his assertion that Buddhism had never been known in Java, and his belief
that the smoking of opium was a harmless occupation made still more innocuous
when the narcotic was reduced to morphine.
Crawfurd's personal moral judgements are expressed throughout the volume,
and this in some cases limited his objectivity. For instance, the Dutch pursuit of
a commercial monopoly in the archipelago was dismissed as a 'sordid, vulgar, and
worthless object of pursuit (p. 127).' Nor was his former superior T.S. Raffles spared
a discreet pejorative comment. Neither Crawfurd nor Raffles had ever been as
convinced of the other's intellectual merits as each was of his own, and with Raffles
now dead for thirty years, Crawfurd fired his parting shots. He described Raffles as
an 'intrepid innovator' who was not, however, 'an ·original thinker, but [who] readily
adopted the notions of others -not always with adequate discrimination' (pp.
169
170
INTRODUCTION Vll
363-4). Crawford's self-confidence in the righteousness of his own views is evident
on nearly every page, in asides dismissing the immoral or incorrect views and
institutions of others. The Javanese, he said, had 'no architecture that deserves the
name (p. 177)' and 'In higher branches of knowledge, the little that is known to the
Javanese is soon told (p. 178).' Their literature was characterized by 'inanity and
childishness (p. 182).' The Siamese were 'indolent, and above all, great beggars
(p. 385).' The most notable aspect of their character was 'a national vanity, which
is excessive (p. 385).' And 'In the common and necessary arts, the Siamese have
made but slender progress (p. 386).' Furthermore, 'The government of Siam is as
thorough a despotism as can well be conceived (p. 390). • He dismissed a Malay
chronicle from the state of Kedah as 'a dateless tissue of rank fable (p. 362).' These
constant value judgements strike the modem reader as tiresome, but they do have
the merit of providing a fascinating insight into the mind of their author.
At the same time, one is often struck by the sophistication of Crawfurd•s approach
to certain problems. In his entry uder Hindu, for example, he considered the
problem of the transmission of Sanskritic culture to South-East Asia, which is still
today, as it was in Crawford's time, 'a matter of very great curiosity'. Crawfurd
attempted to explain the process by employing the evidence of trading commodities
as they do or do not appear in such sources as the Periplus of the Erythrean Sea, and
the purity of the Sanskrit words which are found in South-East Asian vernaculars.
While much more is known on this subject today, the arguments still tend to take
approaches very similar to those that Crawfurd chose. On the other hand, his
ascription of the practice 9f •running amok' to 'disorders of the digestive organs'
(p. 12) is rather less than convincing in the twentieth century.
The Descriptive Dictionary is still of great value well over a century after its
publication. It is a mine of statistical and descriptive information, made available
in a readily accessible form which was unusual for its time. Although the part of
the world which it covers has changed greatly since Cra wfurd served there, the
volume is of interest not only as an illustration of how much has changed, but perhaps
also of how much still remains the same. For the historian the work is invaluable.
The reader must, however, be prepared in some cases to search for the information
he desires. Crawfurd's system of classification differed somewhat from what one
would expect in a modem encyclopedia, largely because of the vast amounts of
miscellaneous information which he often collected under general headings. His
index will be of some help here. Also, in several cases the orthography of words has
changed. Information on Kedah, for instance, will be found under Queda, and the
Dutch Governor-General J.P. Coen is to be found under Koen. These are, however,
small problems when set against the value and interest of the volume.
School of Oriental and African Studies
London
March 1971
PUBLISHER'S NOTE
M.C. RICKLEFS
Because of the small typesize of the first edition, printed in 1856, this reprint has been
photographically enlarged.
PREFACE.
IT was my first intention to publish a second edition of a work
which I gave to the public six-and-thirty years ago, but, on mature
consideration, I have come to the conclusion that a subject so multifarious
as a general description of the Indian and Philippine Archipelagos
would be most conveniently and compendiously treated by an alphabetic
arrangement. The result is the present work ; the fruit of seven years'
additional local experience of India, and of a study of the subject continued
with little interruption from the publication of the History of the
Indian Archipelago, in 1820. Some of the articles a.re meagre from want
of materials, and others, without doubt, imperfect and unsatisfactory
from defective know ledge or skill in the writer ; but, upon the whole, the
book will probably be found the most comprehensive and accessible which
has yet been published on the extensive region of which it treats, while it
will, at all events, lay the foundation for a more perfect superstructure by
those who may follow the Author in the same direction.
171
172
AMUK 12 ANONA
ialand. This village is distant from the chief town of Lomboc, called Mataram, three
miles inland, by a good road, having throughout an avenue of Indian fig-trees. The
wide bay of Ampll.nan is but an open roadstead, on the shore of which a. heavy surge
frequently rolls, cutting off' all communication with shipping. Within it, however,
and six.teen miles distant from the village, there is a land-locked harbour, called
Labuhan-pring (Bamboo anchorage), where shipping can take shelter, but which,
from the prevalence of malaria. on its shore, arising from want of ventilation, cannot
be used permanently.
AMUK. The muck of the writers of Queen Anne's time, who introduced the
word into our language. In Ma.lay it means a. furious and reckless onset, whether
of many in battle, or of an individual in private. The word and the practice
are not confined to the Malays, but e:r.tend to all the people and languages of
the Archipelago that have attained a certain amount of civilisation. Running
a-muck with private parties is often the result of a ~tless determination to e:r.act
revenge for some injury or insult; but it also results, not lees frequently, from a
monomania taking this particular form,, and originating in disorders of the digestive
organs.
AN AMBAS. The name given by European mariners to a numerous cluster of
islands in the China Sea. in about the 3° of north latitude, and 130 miles from the
eastern entrance of the Straits of Malacca. The name, which is unknown to the
natives, may possibly be a corruption of the Malay numeral anamblas-sixteen ; but
if this be so, the islands have not been correctly reckoned, for the natina estimate
their number at no fewer than 50. The largest of them are, Jamajah, towards the
western part of the group, said to be 30 miles in cit"Cumference, having an area. of 56
square geographical miles; and Siantan, towards its north-eastern, having two good
harbours. These islands are mountainoU11, sterile, but covered with forest. Their own
productions, or those of the sea and rocks which surround them, are sago-palms, agar•
agar, coco-nuts, tripang, and fish, particularly the shark, which is killed for its fins, an
article of trade for the Chinese market. These productions the natives convey in
their own vessels, and dispose of in Singapore. 'l'he inhabitants a.re Mala.ya of the
class called Orang-lant, or " Men of the Sea," and had at one time an evil reputation
for piracy; but since the establishment of Singapore they have become peaceful
tradera and fiahermen. Nominally, at least, the .Anambas islands are subject to the
kiDgs of J ehore.
.ANA!. 0The M:ala.y name !or the termes, or white-ant. This destructive insect
is found in every country of the Archipelago aDd Philippines, and being known by
the same name in all their languages, a suspicion may arise that they have been
diBBeminated by commerce and migration, especially when it is considered that the
timber of ships is a favourite object of their depredation.
AN.ill. See Cooirm.CHINA. •
.ANDMAN ISLANDS. These islands, situated in the midst of the Bay of Bengal,
are no part of the Malayan Archipelago, and have no kind of affinity with it, except
in being inhabited by a race of small squat negroes, bearing a likeness to those of the
:Malay peninsula. Their language, however, is not known to have any connection
with that of the latter, nor does it contain a single word of Ma.lay.
ANJIER. (Javanese, aiiar, new, or, to complete the sense, Desa afiar1 that is,
"new village, or town.") .A small town, with a fortress, on the coast of Java, where
the strait which divides it from Sumatra. is at the narrowest. The town is in the
country of the Sundas, and in the kingdom which was once Bantam. It is highly
convenient for shipping to refresh at, from its lying on the main thoroughfare of the
Archipelago. The anchorage, however, is a mere open road, much exposed during
the westerly monsoon j and therefore it is not a place of permanent trade, although
the t.own furniahes abundant refreshments with wood and water •
.ABONA. This is the name applied in the Philippines to the A.nona reticulata, or
Custard apple, and which the .Malays have abbreviated Nona. It is a plant of tropical
.America. The Anon& squamosa, or sweet-sop of the West Indies, is called by the
Jla1aya, Srikaya, from the name of a kind of cwtard, and is probably a. Dative plant.
Both species are easily raised, but little esteemed. In the Philippines, however,
tlaere aeems to be another species, called, in the languages of the country, .Ate
npreaented as a fruit of excellent ftavour.
ASS 25 BAilI
Wil.S th1.1 sevent_h in d~scent from him, which iu the usual motle of reckouiug would
not carry us farther back than 110 years. Many ages before this, according to the
tradition of the natives, a Javanese colony had settled in Asa.han, and 70 miles up
the river there are still to be seen the ruins of a fortress which goes by this name,
Kuta-jawa.
ASS. This quadruped is wholly unknown to the inhabitants of the Indian
islands, except by name. It goes in their writings under the name of Kalda, which
may be a corruption of the Persian Kha.r, or possibly of the Indian G!i.ddah, for it is
not traceable to any Arabic name.
AST IN A, and ASTIN AP URA, is the Sanscrit name of the country of the Pandus
in the poem of the Mahabarat, of which the Javanese have a paraphrase. These have
transferred the locality from Upper India to the province of Pakalongan in their own
island, as they have done to other places other scenes of this poem, and of the
Ramayana. 'l'he name of Astina is also familiar in the legendary writings of the Malays.
AUSTRALIA. The northern coast of this continent is alone known to the natives
of the Archipelago, and among these only to the Macassars of Celebes and the gipsy
Malays, who frequent it yearly for the fishery of the tripang or holothurion. This
they seem to have done so for ages, although seen there for the first time by Flinders
in the beginning of the present century. Of the time when this fishery first commenced
there is, of course, no record, but it is certain it could not have been before
the first arrival of the Chinese, since these are the only people that consume the
tripang, and still the only parties who furnish funds for carrying on the fishery .
.A. YERRH6°A. There are two species of this fruit tree cultivated in the
Archipelago; the blimbing-Msi, or iron blimbing, possibly from the rusty colour of
its coat, and the blimbing-manis or sweet blimbing. The first is theAv~rrhoa blimbi,
and the second, the Averrhoa. carambola of botanists. The fruit of both, growing
strangely from the trunk of the tree, is acid or sub-acid, and little esteemed.
A WAR (PULO); vulgarly Pulo Aor or Awar Island (Awar being the name of a
large species of bamboo). It is the most southerly of a chain of islets lying off the
eastern coast of the Malay peninsula, and distant from it 30 miles. Pulo Awar, a
mass of granite, is about 3 miles long and 1 ! broad. It has two peaked mountains,
one 1521 feet and the other 1852 feet high. The inhabitants, amounting to 1400, are
Malays; and, whatever their character in former times, have, since the establishment
of a commercial intercourse with Singapore, become peaceable traders and industrious
:fishermen. The only article cultivated by them is the coco-nut palm, which grows
luxuriantly even as high as 1000 feet above the level of the sea. The nuts and their
expressed oil are exported to Singapore to be exchanged for rice, clothing, and other
necessaries. The island is subject to the Raja of Pa.hang, himself nominally subject
to the Raja of Jehore. It is the landmark of shipping in taking a departure from
and making the Straits of Malacca. North latitude 2° 30', ea.at longitude 104 ° 35'.
A YAR, is the Malay word for water, and sometimes for a river, and consequently
for a district seated on a river. Adopted by the Javanese it becomes er, and it is
most probably the same word that we find corrupted in the language of Celebes into
we, and in Polynesia.n into wa.i. Of places having this word combined with another,
we have at least a score in our maps and chartE!, a.s Ayar-itam, black water or river;
.Ayar-dakat, near river ; Ayar-basar, great river; Pulo-ayar, water island; and Pulo-we,
which we write Pulo-way, having the same meaning.
B.
BA. A town of the island of Mindano, in the territory of the Sultan or independent
Mahommedan chief: It is said to be situated on the left bank of a certain
river, where it joins one which issues from the Lake of Ligassin, when the united
streams take a north-western diversion, disemboguing in the Bay of Bongo, lying on
the eastern side of the great bay of Llano, on the southern side of the island. The
town is in north latitude 5° 1' 40'', and east longitude 124" 34'.
BABI, the hog (Sus). In all likelihood originally a Malay word, but introduced
into all the advanced languages, even into some, as the Javanese and Sunda, which
have native terms besides. From Sumatra to the Moluccas it occurs frequently o,s
the name of small islands, imposed most probably by Malayan navigators, and from
some fancied resemblance in form to the animal.
173
174
BANCALIS 33 BANDA
than 10 per cent., but even at this rate, they yielded a revenue of near 10,000
dollars a-year.
Of the history of Banca, all that is worth narrating may be briefly told. An island
which was not known to contain tin, until the first years of the last century, which
was unfertile in soil, without natural facilities of irrigation, and which had no coveted
natural products, is not likely to have tempted the resort of strangers, and seems to
have been left almost entirely to its rude inhabitants. The Javanese, who, according
to their own chronicles, established themselves at Palembang, in Sumatra, about the
year of our time 1378, appear to have formed some establishments on the western
side of Banca, which may still be traced by their names derived either from the
Javanese or Sanscrit language, as Kuta-waringin, "the fort of the Indian fig-tree;"
Ba.ngka-kuta, the fort of Banca; and Selan, the mythological Indian name of Ceylon.
Two centuries, from the first appearance of Europeans in the Archipelago, had passed
away, before Banca had attracted any other notice from them than as an appendage
of Sumatra. A pure accident called attention to it. Some of the inhabitants in
burning the forest, in their rude culture of rice, found that some superficial tin ore
had been smelted in the process, and ore being sought for in the neighbourhood, it
was found in abundance. This happened in the year 1709, and in 1711 the discovery
was known at Batavia to the Dutch. The fact of the manner in which, and
the time when the discovery was made, are well ascertained. It is a signal proof of
the ignorance and incuriousness of the Malayan nations, that the Javanese, the most advanced
of them, should have been, after 330 years, as sovereigns of Palembang, masters
of Banca, without being aware that it had rich mines of an useful metal well known to
them. That the European nations should have been in the same state of ignorance
is to be accounted for, by their being wholly employed during that long time in no
worthier pursuit than the attempt to establish commercial monopolies in such paltry
commodities as cloves, nutmegs, and black-pepper. The tin of Banca was no sooner
discovered than the Sultan of Palembang established a. monopoly of it, and no sooner
was it known to the Dutch that he had done so, than they forced an engagement
on him, securing to themselves the right of pre-emption at a very mean price. This
state of things continued for a whole century, and until the conquest of the Dutch possessions
by the English in 1811, when the Sultan of Palembang, in the base hope of
gratifying the conquerors, put the whole of the Dutch at Palembang and Bo.nca to
death. The return for this office was an invasion of Palembang, the defeat of the
Sultan, his dethronement, and the acquisition of Banca, as a cession from his successor
in 1812. The UJland continued a British possession until 1816, when, along with the
rest of their possessions, it was restored to the Dutch. These in 1818 restored the old
Sultan, whose treachery brought on a war of two years, which ended in 1821 by the
conquest of Palembang, which, with Banca, have since continued in undisputed
possession of the N etherla.nd government.
:BANCALIS. One of four low islands, of considerable size, separated from each
other, and from the north-eastern coast of Sumatra, by narrow straits. These islands
lie off the mouths of the rivers of Siak and Kampar, between the first and second
degrees of north latitude. Bancalis, which belongs to the Malay state of Siak, is about
85 miles in length by 10 in breadth, mostly covered with forest and thinly inhabited.
13.ANDA. The Banda or Nutmeg Islands consist of a group of mere islets, said to
be five in number, like the Clove Islands, but really amounting to ten, although some
of them be uninhabited. Their names were probably given by the Malayan traders,
who had frequented them for ages : Banda, correctly Bandan, means in Javanese the
thing or things tied or united, or with the word Pulo, '' united islands." Pulo Nera
is the "island of palm-wine.'' Lontar, written by Europeans Lonthor, is the name of
the palm, the leaf of which is used for writing on, the word being half Sanscrit and
half Javanese. Pulo Ai, properly Pulo Wai, means "water-island;" Pulo Pisang,
"banana island;'' Pulo Run (Rung), '' chamber island ; " Pulo Suwanggi, "sorcery
island;" Gunung-api, "fire mountain or volcano." A name which, with the Dutch
pronunciation and orthography, cannot be traced to a Malayan language, is Rosingen.
It is written by De Barros, however, Rosolanguim, and if this, as is likely, be nearer
the true word, it may possibly be derived from the Javanese word roso, "1:1trength,"
and langga.ng, "firm, assured." And Pulo Kapal may either signify "ship island'' or
'' horse island," for the annexed word means the first in Telinga, borrowed by the
Malays, and the second in Javanese. The whole group lies between south latitudes
3° 50' and 4 ° 40', and the Dutch fortress of Belgica, on the island of N era, is in east
longitude 129° 54' 20" ." Lon tar, called. usually by Europeans the Great Banda, is the
j)
BATAM 43 BATANGAS
of Hinduism are unknown to the B,itaks. It is indeed obvious that no f'orm of the
religion of the civilised Hindus, which has existed since the days of Menu, could
ever have exii1ted among a people systematically cannibals. It is not a little remarkable
of the Bataks, that while all the other nations of Sumatra, possessed of a
knowledge of letters, have adopted the Mahommedan religion, they h&ve sturdily
rejected it for centuries, although surrounded by those who profess it.,
The two provinces subject to the Dutch are reckoned to embrace a.n area of about
6600 square miles, and to have a. population of 78,000, that is, between 11 and 12 inhabitants
to a mile. The rate is, however, very unequal in the two districts. The bleak
and desert PArtibi, with a computed area of 4800 square miles, has a population
reckoned only at 23,000, or barely 5 to the mile ; while the more fertile Mandeling,
with an area of 1800 miles, has one of 55,000, or 30 to the mile. Mr. Logan, in the
elaborate and judicious sketch which he has given of Sumatra in his valuable
journal, reckons the whole area occupied by the nation of the Bate.ks at 17,000 square
miles, and its population at 311,860, which, emall as it is, is probably the utmost
of it.
The strange civilisation of the Ba.ta.ks, one of lettered cannibalism, was most pro•
bably first developed in the table-land of the interior, called in the maps the Plateau
of Tobah, probably of Tuba, the name of a plant used for poisoning fish, a species
of dalbergia. On this plateau there is a lake some 20 miles in length, and 4000 feet
above the level of the sea, called Eik Daho, in which the Singkel, the largest river of
the western side of Sumatra, has its source, and on the borders of which the civilisation
of the Batak nation is not unlikely to have been first developed. That it spread from
one centre seems probable from the fact of one language, with dialectic variations only,
being spoken throughout by the whole Balak nation.
BATAM. One of the largest of the many islands at the eastern end of the
Straits of Malacca, and which seem almost to block up the channel between Sumatra
and the peninsula. It lies opposite to Singapore, and with the larger island of
Bintang, forms the southern side of the Straits -of Singapore, the common route to
and from the China and Java Sea. Batam is the Portuguese orthography of
Batang, a word meaning " trunk," or '# ma.in part." The island is computed to have
an area of 128 squa1·e geographical miles, and its geological formation is like that
of the neighbouring countries, plutonic and sedimentary. The land is poor and
little cultivated. The ruling inhabitants are Malaya, but it has also a rude tribe
unconverted to Mahommedanisrn, called Sa.bimba. It belongs to the prince of Jehor,
under the usual superiority of the Dutch.
BATAN, and BATA.NES. Batan is the name of the island of the Bashee group
which Dampier called Gratton; and Bata.nes, its Spanish plural, is the name given by
the Spaniards to the whole. This group lies between north latitude 19° 57' 30'', and
20° 28' 30"; and e&Bt longitude 122° 41' and 123° 1'. Bata.n, the chief island, is
about 3½ leagues in length, and has two ports or roads, one ol' them, the Bay of
lbaya, on the shore of which is the town of San Jos~, the chief place of the whole
group, as also of the Babuyanes Islands. The other larger islands are Ba.say, Saptan,
Bugos, and ltabayat; but besides these there are half-a-dozen more which are unin•
habited. The Batanes and Babuyanes Islands form together one Alcaldia, their UDited
population amounting to no more than 8000, and so poor that they are not called
on to pay the poll-tax. The chief branch of industry in the principal islands seems
to be the breeding of horses, of a race greatly esteemed in Manilla, but which it
has been found impossible to multiply in the more fertile island of Luzon, although
the experiment has been often tried. Hogs and goats are in great abundance. The
inhabitants of the Ba.shee Islands seem to belong to the Malayan race, but have a
peculiar language of their own. Dampier's description of their personal appearance
is so truthful and perfect, that although written more than a century and a half ago
it is worth quoting. "The natives of these island.,; are short, squat people; they
are generally round-visaged, with low foreheads and thick. eyebrows ; their eyes are
of a hazel colour and amall, yet bigger thnn the Chinese; short low not1es, and their
lips and mouths middle-p1·oportioned. Their teeth are white,; their hair is black,
and thick and lank, which they wear bui short ; it will just cover their ears, and
it is cut round very even. Their skins are of a very dark copper colour." This is
unquestionably the true Malay.
RATANGAS, sometimes called BALAYAN, and also the province of the Lake
Taal, one of the iwenty provinces of the island of Luon. Batangas has the open
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176
BILA 63 BINTANG
to be obtained from the stomach and intestines of monkeys. In Malay, they go under
the names of goliga, ma\ntika, and mittika.; the two last words being probably
corruptions of mAstik.a, "a gem,"
BILA. The name of a considerable river on the north-east.ern side of Sumatra,
forming the eastern limit of the country of the Batak. nation, and nearly the
only place on that coast where this people have direct communication with ihe sea.
The river consists of two branches, which unite shortly before the dii!emboguement,
in latitude 3° 28' north.
BILLITON; in Malay, BLITUNG. This island, of which the peak or highest
land is in south latitude 3° 13' and east longitude 108° 7', is computed to have an
area. of 1904 square geographical miles; and is, therefore, better than one-half the
size of Banca. Its geological formation is the same as that of this island; and by
all accounts it is equally productive in iron and tin ore. The first of these has been
long worked by the natives ; and the last, of late years, by a Dutch association.
Billiton is the extreme southern limit of the tin formation, and reckoning only from
Tavoy, on the coast of Tenasserim, it extends over 20° of latitude, and is, therefore,
incomparably the greatest in the world. The only inhabitants of Billiton, until
occupied by the Dutch, were the Malay fishermen, called Ora.ng-lant, or :Men of the
Sea; here, and at Banca, called Silta, a word the lite1-a.J. sense of which I have not
ascertained.
BIMA. The name of one of six principalities of the large island of Suma.bawa,
and forming its eastern end. To this state belong also some islands in the Straits of
Sapi, or those which divide Sumbawa from Floris ; the portion of the latter island
called :Mangarai; and the island of Gunung-api, conspicuous by its active volcano.
The territory is indented by a very deep inlet, known as the . Bay of Bima, at the
head of which is a small town with a Dutch fort. The entrance of this bay is in
south latitude 8° 26', and east longitude 118° 38'. The people of Bima speak a
peculiar tongue, one of the several languages of Sumbawa; and they write it in
the character of Celebes, although they bad once a native alphabet now obsolete. In
manners and character they bear the nearest resemblance to the more civilised
nations of Celebes, but they are less energetic. The total population has been computed
at 90,000. The products of Bima are sapan and sandal woods, bees"-wax, and
horses. The horses are considered, although small, to be the handsomest and best
bred of the Archipelago, and are largely exported to Java. The most esteemed of
th.em are those of the island of Gunung-api. See SUJIIBA w A.
BINONDO. A subUl'b of the city of :Manilla, on the right bank of the river
Pasig, and communicating with the walled town by a stone bridge 149 Spanish yards,
or 411 English feet in length, the most remarkable European structure ever erected
in the Philippine or Malayan Archipelagos. The number of houses in th.is suburb
in 1849 wa.s 4853, most of them native dwellings, of frail material& The population
in the same year was 2fl,211, of whom 4817 were subject to the capitation-tax, of
which the gross produce wae 48,170 reals of plate.
BINT.ANG, correctly BENTAN. The name-is said to be taken from the highest
hill of the island. Bintang is the largest of the crowd of islands lying between the
peninsula and Sumatra at the eastern extremity of the Straits of Malacca, and has
an area of 336 square geographical miles. Its geological formation is similar to that
of the peninsula and Singapore. A mountainous chain runs through it, the highest
summit of which is 1368 feet above the level of the sea. Bintang is drained by :6.ve
rivers, navigable only for small boats. On its western side there is a wide bay
studded with islands, on one of which, called Tanjung Pinang, literally" Areoa. promontory,''
divided from the main by a very narrow strait, stands the Netherland
settlement of Rbio, in north latitude 54:a 40', and east longitude 124° 26' 30''. Bintang,
in so far as the production of corn is concerned, is, like Singapore, unfertile.
But both soil and climate seem eminently well suited to the production of black
pepper, and the na.uclea ga.mbir, the inspiesated juice of which is the gambir of
commerce so largely used in the East as a masticatory, and of late in Europe for
dyeing and tanning. Bintang a.nd the neighbouring islands are the principal places
of the production of gambir.
Bintang and all the other islands south of the Straits of Singapore are nominally
subject to the Sultan of Jehor, but substantially ruled by the Dutch. The native
chief is the lineal descendant of the princes who ruled :6.rst in Singapore, and afterwards
in Malacca; and who, after being driven from the latter by the Portuguese in
BINTULU 54 BIRDS' -NESTS
rnn, establishing themselves at Jebor or at Binta.ng, continued to foster piracy and
up to the establishment of the free ports of Singapore and Rhio,-that is, for upwards
of three centuries.
BINTULU. The name of a river and district of the north-western coast of
Borneo, in north latitude 3° 13' 30", and east longitude 113° 3' 15''. The country on
the banks of the river is stated to abound in iron and antimonv ore, while it is
included in the coal :fields, which are said to extend from the river ·of Borneo in the
fifth, to the Rajang in the second degree of north latitude. The river of Bintulu is
of inconsiderable size, and, as usual, it has a bar on which at low water there is a
depth of no more than 4 cubits. and at high of not above from 7 to 8. The
exported produce consiats of native camphor, bees'-wax, wood-oil, damar, eagle
and laka wood; with bezoar or goliga, taken from the stomach of monkeys hunted
for the purpose. These products are obtained from the wild inhabitants of the interior,
who exchange them with the Ma.lays for corn and clothing. The a.ntimony and
coal mmes have not been worked.
BIRD OF PARADISE, the Buru.ng-dewata and Manuk-dewata of the Indian
islanders. Burung is ''a bird or fowl" in Malay; and manuk, a. word that has had a.
wider dissemination, the same thing in J a va.nese. Dew a ta is the Sanscrit for the gods of
the Hindus. The word, of course, signifies '' bird of the gods," of which the European
name is, no doubt, a. paraphrase. These appellations were given, not by the
people of the countries in which the birds of Paradise a.re indigenous, but by the
Malay and Javanese traders who conducted the commercial intercourse between the
eastern and western parts of the Archipelago before the arrival of Europeans. In
one of the many languages of New Guinea, the chief country of the birds of Paradise,
they, or more likely the best known species of the family, we are informed by
the naturalist Lesson, is called Mambefore.
Five different species of birds of Paradise have been described by naturalists, who,
instead of ascribing any divine attributes to them, place them in the rather obscene
family of crows. All these species are prepared for the market by the natives of the
producing countries, who are chiefly the negroes of New Guinea and the islands near
it. Birds of Paradise must have been found by the Portuguese on theil' conquest of
Malacca. iu 1511, brought to that emporium by the Malay and Javanese merchants
for the markets of China. At all events, they must have seen them on their
arrival in the Moluccas in the same year, or the beginning of the following. But the
earliest account we have of them is that given by Pigafetta, who was at the Moluccas
ten years after the Portuguese had reached them. His description, taken from the
publication of the original manuscript published in 1800, is as follows : "They gave us
also for the king of Spain, two most beautiful dead bird.a. These birds are about the
size of thrushes. They have a small head and a long bill ; legs fine as a writing quill,
a palm long. 'rhey have no wings, but in their stead, long feathers of va1ious colours
like great plumes. 'l'he tail resembles that, of the thrush. All the feathers, except
those of the wings, are of a dark colour (scuro). They never fly, except when the
wind blows. They told us that these birds came from the terrestdal paradise, aud
they called them bolondinata. (burung-diwata), that is, 'birds of God.'" It is probable,
from this account, that the birds of Paradise sent by the king of Tidor, one
of the five Moluccas, to Charles the Fifth, was not the great emerald bird with which
we at·e most familiar, but one of those which are natives of the Moluccas. At present,
the principal emporium for these birds to the East is the At'oe Islands ; and to the
west, Batavia and Singapore, being brought to the two last by the praus of the Bugis
of Celebes.
BIBDS'-NESTS. The esoulent nests of the Hirundo esoulenta, the Lawit of the
Javanese, a small dark-coloured swallow, with a greenish hue on the back, a bluish one
on the breast, and no white mark. The nest consists of a marine fucus elaborated
by the bird. In Malay the nest is called Sarang-burung, of whioh our own name is
a literal translation; and the Javanese name, expressed by one word, Susuh, is
equivalent to it. The swallow producing the eaculent nest is found o.11 over the
Malay a.nd Philippine Archipelagos, wherever there are caves to afford it shelter and
protection, and these, as usual, are most frequent in the limestone formation. But
Ja.va and Borneo seem to be their chief resort. The celebrated caves of Karangbolong
(hollow rocks) situated in the province of Eaglen in Java, and on the shore of
the Southern Sea, may be taken as an example. The entrance into these caves is at
the sea level, and at the foot of limestone rocks several hundred feet in height, in one
177
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CARIMATA 84 CATANDUANES
Cardamoms were well known to the ancients, and Pliny describes their price in the
market of Rome at 12 denarii the pound, equal to lls. 4d. the pound avoirdupois,
or about five times their present cost.
CARIMATA, in Malay, Kurimata, the name of an island on the south-western
coast of Bol'neo, about three leagues in length, and of which the north-west end is in
south latitude 1 ° 33', and east longitude 108° 49'. Its highest hill is 2000 feet above
the level of the sea, and visible at the distance of 15 or 16 leagues. Between it and
Borneo are several islets and rocks, the largest named Surutu, two others Pulo Dua or
"the two islets," and a group named Pu.lo Lima or "the five islets." Between Carimata
and the island of Billiton is the Carimata passage, a route for large shipping at certain
seasons of the year. Carimata is uninhabited, but occasionally visited by the itinerant
Malays, the Orang-laut or sea-gypsies, for the fishing of tripang and tortoise-shell, and
the collection of esculent swallows' nests. The whole group is estimated to have an
area of 128 square geographical miles.
CARIMON ISLANDS, in Malay, Pulo Krimun, the name of two islands called
by navigators the Great and Little Carimon; situated towards the eastern extremity
of the Straits of Malacca. The smaller island is about two miles in length, and high
land throughout, the highest part about 500 feet above the level of the sea. The
larger island is about 12 miles in length and 5 in breadth, and its most elevated part
rises to 2000 feet. Both a.re of granitic formation, and the smaller island, and probably
both, contain ores of tin. In a visit which I made to the Little Carimon in
1824, I procured the finest specimen of alluvial tin that I have ever seen, a round
mass of about 15 pounds weight, which had been very little rolled, for the surface was
covered with per! ect crysta.ls of the oxide. The smaller island is uninhabited, but the
larger has a population of about 400 Malay fishermen. Both form pa.rt of the State of
Jebor, and are within the limit of which paramount sovereignty belongs, by the
Convention of 1824, to the Dutch.
CARIMON J A.VA, or the Javanese Carimon, a name given to it by European
mariners to distinguish it from the last-named islands, is, in Javanese, Krimun. It is
the largest of a group of islets on the northern coast of Java, opposite to the Promontory
of Japara. The inhabitants are Javanese, simple, inoffensive, and poor.
South latitude 5° 50', and east longitude 110° 34'.
CASSOWARY. This bird erroneously supposed to be a native of the Sunda
Islands, is known to the inhabitants of these countries only as an imported stranger.
The Malay name is Suwari, from which, most probably, the European one is taken.
Most probably it will be found to be a native of Ceram and New Guinea only, and
like the cockatoos, crown pigeons, and birds of Paradise, of the last island, made
known to the inhabitants of the west through the Malay and Javanese, who have
immemorially carried on a. trade with the country of the Papuan&
CA.T. The domestic oat of the Malays has the same form, colour, and habits, as
the European, except in one respect, that the tail seldom exceeds three or four inches
in length, and always ends in a kind of crook, a peculiarity, however, not confined to
it, for the same characteristic belongs to the Burmese cat. The origin of the Malayan
domestic cat is equally obscure with that of the European. It is well known to all
the civilised inhabitants. Its most common name throughout the Asia.tic Islands,
with slight corruptions, is kuchillg, but sometimes it takes its name from its cry.
Thus meong is, along with kuching, a synonyme for it in Javanese; and in Bugis, the
ouly name for it meau. In Javanese, while there are several foreign . epithets for the
dog, the hog, the horse, and the elephant, there is not even one for the cat. So far,
then, as language indicates, the type of the domestic Malay cat will probably be
found to be indigenous.
CATANDUANES. An island on the eastern coast of the great island of Luzon,
and distant 2& leagues from that of the province of South Co.marines, lying between
north lat.itudea 13° 30' and 14° 7', and east longitudes 123° 57' and 124° 24'. Its
extreme length from north to south is 12½, and its extreme bre-adth, from eaat to
west, 7 ¼ leagues, its area being computed at 55 square leagues. The heat of the
climate is tempered by the sea breezes, and by the high mountains which it contains,
and two chains of which run through it from north to south. It is, however, subject
to storms, a.nd has no harbours to afford shelter from the north-east monsoon. It is
abundantly supplied with small rivers, from the sands of which the natives obtai11
gold dust. 'l'he soil is fertile and productive in rice, maiz, sesame, indigo, cotton,
cocos 115 COMPASS
once from it, a spontaneous supply, both of food and drink. Its presence on
the coast, probably contributed, with the easy supply of fish, to determine, from the
first, that maritime character which still belongs to so many of the tribes of the
Archipelago.
COCOS. The name of four small, coral-girt islets on the western coast of Sumatra,
off the south-western end of the large island Simalu, the Hog-island of the charts,
and lying in the third deg1·ee of north latitude. They are uninhabited, but covered
with coco-nut palms, and hence their name imposed, no doubt, by the Portuguese.
COFFEE (COFFEA ARABIC.A.). The Arabian name of this plant, kawah, is not
unknown to the inhabitants of the Archipelago, but the European one corrupted,
kopi, is more generally used. This really hardy plant, a. native of Africa of the
region between the 10th and 15th degrees of north latitude, thrives anywhere in a
suitable soil and locality within the tropics. It was only brought across the Red Sea
from Abyssinia and cultivated in the mountains of Arabia, as late as about the year
1450, less than half a century before the di1;covery of America and the passage to
In<lia by the Cape. Neither the Arabs, nor Portuguese, attempted to introduc~ the
coffee plant into the islands of the Archipelago. This was reserved for the Dutch,
who effected it in 1690, or some forty years after coffee had come to be used as a
beverage in Europe. The event was, in a good measure, accidental, for it could
hardly have been foreseen that a native plant of the dry climates of Abyssinia and
Arabia. would have flourished in the humid ones about the equator. The manner of
its introduction and dissemination to remote regions is curious and instructive. The
Dutch East India Company carried on some trade from Java with the ports of the
Arabian Gulf, and about the year 1690 the governor-general Van Hoorne caused some
ripe coffee seeds to be brought to him to Java. These were planted in a garden near
Batavia, where they grew and produced fruit. A single plant so grown was sent by
the govemor-genet-al to Holland, as a. present to Nicholas Witsen, the governor of the
East India Company. This, after the tedious voyage of the time, arrived safe,-was
planted in the botanic garden of Amsterdam, where it flourished, bore fruit, and the
fmit young plants. Some of these plants were sent to the colony of Surinam, the
planters of which began to cultivate coffee as an object of trade in 1718, twenty-eight
years after the introduction of the parent plants into Java. About the year 1728,
coffee plants were carried from Surinam to the English and French West India
Islands. From Java, the cultivation of coffee has been extended to Sumatra, Celebes,
Bali, and several of the Philippine Islands, and the Asiatic Islands produce, at present,
probably about one four.th part of all that is consumed. The hardihood of the coffee
plant is proved by the facility with which it is raised, even under the careless husbandry
of the natives, by which neither sugar nor indigo can be produced, except
under European or Chinese direction. All the coffee of Celebes and Bali, and much
of that of Sumatra, are the produce of native industry.
COMODO. The largest of the three islets, the other two being Gunung-api and
Galibanta, lying in the Straits of Sapi, or those which divide Sumbanca from
Floris. All that is known of it is that it is high, steep-of volcanic formation, and
that it is part of the Principality of Bima, in the !Bland of Sumbawa. Its area,
including other islands in the Straits of Sapi, is computed at 256 square geogr-a.phical
miles.
COMP .A.SS. The compass, for nautical purposes, is, at present, used by the principal
native traders of the Archipelago. The Bugis of Cele bes, for example, use small
rude compasses, made expressly for them by the Chinese of Batavia, at the very mode•
rate cost of from one shilling to eighteen-pence a-piece. The directive power of the
magnet is said to have been known to the Chinese for many ages,-by their own
account, no less than 2634 years before the birth of Christ. The mere acquaintance
with the directive quality of the magnet, and the practical application of this quality
to the purposes of navigation, are two very different things; and there is certainly
no evidence to show that the Chinese bad put the magnet to the last of these uses.
In Europe, the compass began to be Ule'ed for nautical purposes about the beginning
of the 14th century. Now, towards tbe close of the previous century, Marco Polo
had ma.de a long voyage in a fleet of Chinese junks, from China to the Persian Gulf,
and never mentions the compass ; which, as it must ha;ve been a novelty to him, he
would hardly have failed to have done, had the Chinese fleet been steered by it.
The voyage, in fact, was a coasting one. From a northern port of China to Ormus,
in the Persian Gulf, it lasted eighteen monthH; and, in its course, the :fleet touched
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180
LINGAYEN 218 LITERATURE
the bay of this name at the north-western side of the island, and in the Spanish
province of Ca.raga.. A Spanish settlement, consisting of about 120 houses, with a
church, has been formed on the lake at the issue of the Butuan from it, the object of
which was to prevent the descent of the Moorish robbers to the low country by the
river, as well as to check the incursions of the wild mountaineers of the neighbourhood,
called Manubo, who, however, have of late years begun to embrace Christianity.
LINGAYEN. The name of an extensive bay on the western side of the island of
Luzon, between the 16th and l 7th degrees of north latitude, and within the provinces
Pangasinan and Zambales. It is 34 geographical miles in extent from north to south,
and 37 from east to west, with a coast line of 99 miles. Within it are many small
islands.
LINGAYEN. The name of the chief town of the province of Pangasinan, in the
island of Luzon. It is situated on the southern shore of the gulf of the same name
above-mentioned. near one of the mouths of the river Aguo-grande, in north latitude
16° 1', and east longitude 115° 55', distant from Manilla 35 leagues. It contains 3459
houses, and in 1845 had a population of 20,972 souls, of whom 2856 paid tribute
which amounted to 28,560 reals of plate. Lingayen is one of the largest towns in the
Philippines, and is a place of considerable trade.
LINGIN,-in Malay, correctly, LINGGA. The name of one of the largest of the
multitude of isl.ands by which the eastern end of the Straits of Malacca is crowded.
It extends from the equator to 20 miles south of it, and is estimated to have an area.
of 286 square geographical miles. Its highest mountain rises to the height of 37.55
feet, and is consequently the roost elevated land of any of the islands within the
Straits of Malacca. Nearly the whole island is covered, like the others in its neighbourhood,
by a.n ever-verdant forest, the inhabitants consisting, on the coast, of a
few Malay fishermen and in the interior, of some wandering tribes of savages of the
same nation. Lin gin forms a pa.rt of the territories of the kings of Joh ore, and is
consequently under Dutch protection.
LION, in Malay and Javanese, SINGA, from the Sanscrit, just as our own name
is from the Latin. The lion is a mere myth to all the inhabitants of the Archipelago.
The word is chiefly found in composition in the names of places and the titles of
persons, as in the examples Singapura, "lion city," the name of the British emporium;
Singasar'i, "lion flower," the name of some ancient Hindu ruins in Java; and Singa·
nagara, "lion of the city," the name of one of the public executioners under the
native governments of Java..
LITERATURE. All the nations of the Malay and Philippine archipelagos
possessing a written character, have some writings which may be called a literature;
but as far as is known to Europeanst the Javanese, the Balinese, the Malay, and the
Bugis of Celebes, are the only people that have a considerable number of written
compositions. Those of the Javanese are cert.a.inly the most remarkable. They exist
in two different l~nguages, or perhaps rather dialects,-an ancient and recondite one,
and a modern or popular. The first is commonly known under the name of kawi,
a Sanscl'it word signifying " narrative." The second, its correlative, goes under the
name of ja.wi, a rhyming form of the word Ja.wa or ,Tavanese, which in contradistinction
to the recondite language, may be translated the vulgar tongue.
All Javanese literature rs in verse; that in the recondite language being in Sanscrit
metres, and that in the vulgar tongue in rhyming measures peculiar to Java. Prose
writing is unknown to the Javanese except in epistolary writing, grants of land, and
the like. Most Javanese works are narratives, and of the character of romances, tlie
names by which they a.re known, indeed, which are the native word konda, and the
Sanscrit charitra, signifying a tale or story. Their subjects are taken either from the
mythology of the Hindus, or from the ancient and almost mythic history of Java.
Of the :first description are para.phrases of the celebrated Hindu epics, the Mababarat
and Ramayana; the first containing the wars of the descendants of Barnt, and the
last the adventures of the demigod Rama. These two poems are to the Javanese and
Balinese, and even to the Malays and other nations of Sumatra, what the Iliad and
Odyssey were to the Greeks and Romans, th~ chie~ source of their ancient mythology.
Of the tales founded on local story, the mam subJects are the adventures of certain
princes called Panji. But besides mere romances founded on Hindu or ancient
native story, the Javanese possess narratives of their modern history, of somewhat
more authenticity. These are known by the two names of sajarah, and babad; the
first signifying annals or chronicles, and the last the cutting down and clearing
NATAL 291 NAVIGATION
ha.If a league in breadth, and its centre is north latitude 12° 23'. The Naranjos
forms part of the province of Albay in Luzon.
NATAL, correctly NATAR, meaning ground, surface or foundation, is the name
of a place on the western coast of Su1uat1a. The inhabitants are l\falnys of Menangkabo
wixed with Achinese, but those of the interior are of the Batak nation. The town
is on the sho1-e of an unsafe roadstead, not far from a small l'ivulet. It is an emporium
for the gold, camphor, and benzoin of the inland country, and for the iron, cotton
fabrics, and opium given in exchange for them. North of Natal, and distant about
30 miles from it, is the mountaiu Siduwa-duwa (double mount), 7000 feet high, and
enst of it, at the distance of 76 miles, the volcanic mountain of Seret-barapi (" fiery
:flounce"), estimated to be of the height of 5200. '!'he settlement of Natal formed by
the I~uglish in 1762, is now a Dutch possession. Latitude north, 32' 80'', and
longitude east 99° 5'.
NATUNA. This is the name given by navigators to three groups of islets in the
China Sea, and lying between .Borneo and the Malay peninsula, extending from north
latitude 2° 28' to 4° o6', and from east longitude 107° 57' to 108° 15'. The names
given to them in our maps are the Grand, the Northern, and the Southern Na.tuna,
which in the Malay language are respectively Bungoran, Sarai,an, and Pulo-lant. The
origin or meaning of the name N atuna is unknown, but was probably imposed by the
Portuguese. All these island1:1 consist of mountainous land, and the highest part of
the Grand Na.tuna, which is visible from a ship at 15 leagues distant, lllust be from
2500 to 3000 feet above the level of the sea. This island is the only one of the three
groups which is of conside1·able ex.tent. Its form is round, and 15 miles in breadth,
probably, therefore, containing an area of about 460 geographical square miles. The
South Na.tuna, or Sarasan of the Malays, has an area of no more than 64 geographical
miles. The larger of the Natuna Islands have the following wild quadrupeds, pigmy
deer, but none of the larger species, hogs, and buffaloes; and all the islands, monkeys,
squirrels, and the musnng (Viverra musauga). The larger islands have also a few
domestfo oxen and goats, with poultry, consisting of the common fowl and a few
ducks. All the islands are deeply forest-clad, their soil is sterile, and their cultivation
consisting only of a few patches of rice without irrigation, maiz, the coco and sago
palms. The larger islands only at·e inhabited, and by a population entirely Malay.
According to native information supplied to me in 1824, the Grand Natuna had then
a population of 600, the Northern group 300, and the Southern 400, making a tota.l of
13-00. The Natunas, in common with the Anambas, form part of the territory of
Jehor, owning allegiance to the prince who lives under British protection in Singa•
pore. The people of these islands exchange their fish, raw sago, and coco-nut oil at
the European settlements in the Straits of .Malacca for rice, clothing, and iron.
NAVIGATION. The name for this in Malay, layaran, or palayaran, taken from
laya.r, a. sail, is a literal translation of our own Anglo-Saxon word •· sailing." Most of
the inhabitants of the thousands of islands of the Archipelago are eminently maritime
in their habits, -a real seafaring people. The Malays are more especfo.lly so,
and this character is strongly impressed on their language. A few examples of
this may be given in illustration. The words mudik and ilir, two peculiar verbs, not
I believe found in any other language, respectively signify, to ascend and to descend a
river, or to go against, and with the stream or tide. The same words employed as
nouns signify the interior and the sea-board. Kuwala and muwara are terms which
signify the embouchure of a river, either at its disemboguement in the sea or at its
junction with another river, and such places .will be found often the residence of
the Malays, Anak-sungai means, literally, "child or offspring of the river ; " tUuk,
is a bight or cove, and mntau, the reach of a river; but these words also, from their
being the frequent localities of Malay settlements, signify a. district of country.
The very structure of the Malay houses has reference to the accustomed localities
of this people. They are all built on posts of 10 or 12 feet high, often halfsubmerged
at flood tides, whereas the habitations of the agricultural nations, such as
the Javlnese, have their foundations on the ground. S&brang is a preposition which
means across the water, and when turned into a verb, to cross the water, and into a
noun, the opposite side. The Malay compass is subdivided into sixteen points, each
of which bas a specific name, all but one, and this Sanscrit, being native terms. The
monsoons, or periodical winds, are distinguished by specific names by the Malays,
and by them only of all the nations of the Archipelago. For every part of a vessel
and her equipment, the Mal11.y language has a. specific name, and the names of the
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182
PED RA-BRANCA 331 PENANG
Sumatra, and De Barros enumerates it as such, in the orthography which it has ever
aince borne. It was the first spot in the Archipelago at which the Portuguese touched,
and they found it carrying on some foreign trade, being frequented by ships from
different parts of the continent of India. A.t present it is a place of no moment,
except for its export of the areca-nut and a little pepper, which is carried to the British
settlement of Peuang. The principal town bearing the same name, is situated on a
sma.11 river, a little east of a headland which is in north latitude 5° 29' and east
longitude 96°.
PEDRA-BR.A.NCA, or the "White Rock" of the Portuguese navigators, a wellknown
land-mark 32 miles distant from Singapo1·e, is thUB well described by Mr. Windsor
Earl. " Pedra-branca is a detached rock 24 feet in height above the level of the sea,
situated nearly in the centre of the eastern entrance of the Straits of Malacca, which
has been the leading mark for vessels entering or leaving the strait for ages past.
The main channel which lies immediately to the north of the rock, is four miles wide
in the narrowest pa.rt. A. light-house of dressed granite 75 feet in height has
recently been erected on the summit of the rock, which ~ probably the most perfect
of the kind that has ever been constructe.d to the eastwa1·d of the Cape of Good Hope.
The light which is regularly illuminated is on the revolving principle, attaining its
greatest brilliancy once in a minute as the concentrated rays strike the eye of the
spectator. It is visible from the deck of a ship at the distance of 15 miles, when it
disappears below the horizon, but it may be seen much further from the masthead,
as its brilliancy is so great that the horizon is the only limit to its range. The
reefs and dangers which beset the eastern entrance of the Straits of Malacca are
all within the influence of the light as visible from a ship's deck."
PEN ANG, Pulo-1Pinang, that is "Areca palm island" in Malay. This is the
island to which we gave the clumsy and unmeaning name of Prince of Wales
Island, but which is fortunately becoming obsolete. This British settlement is
situated towards the western end of the Straits of :Malacca., separated from the main
land of the Peninsula. by a channel, about two miles broad, forming a safe and
spacious harbour and distant from the nearest point of Sumatra about 150 miles.
The insular shore of the ha.1·bour, the site of the fort and town. lies in north latitude
6° 25' and east longitude 100° 21'. The island is about 15 miles long and from 1
to 8 broad, and is computed to contain an area of 139 geographical or 160 statut~
square miles, so that it is by 30 square miles leBfl than the Isle of Wight. Annexed
to it, however, is a. territory on the opposite main of the Peninsula which goes under
the name of Province Wellesley, and which has an area of 121 geographical or 140
statute square miles, so that the entire territory of the settlement amounts to 260
geographical 01· 300 statute square miles. With the exception of a plain of about
three miles in depth fronting the mainland, the island is a mass of granite with
narrow valleys. The highest peak is above 8000 feet above the level of the sea
(2922). The territory on the main is, generally, an alluvial flat, but a few feet above
the level of the sea.
The influence of the regular monsoons is more distinctly felt at Penang than in
the more easterly part of the Straits of Malacca owing to the wideness of the latter
to the west, and vicinity to the Bay of Bengal. During the north-easterly mon•
soon, from November to March inclusive, clear settled weather prevails, and in the
south-westerly from April and October the rains take place. But neither rain nor
drought are of long continuance. The average heat of the year at the level of the
sea is 80° and at the height of 2410 feet, the highest inhabited point 70°, the annual
range being about 20°. Wherever there is a free ventilation, the climate is equal
in salubrity to that of any other tropical one, but in a few close valleys wanting this
advantage the malaria is poisonous, and such localities, few in number, are not
habitable by Europeans. Much of the island is still covered with its primeval forest
of heavy timber trees, and even the cultivation, consisting as it does, for the most
part, of tall evergi-een plants, such as palm&, bamboos, bananas, fruit trees, the clove
and the nutmeg, has from its luxuriance much the aspect of a foreat. There are
plenty of brooks, a beautiful waterfall, an abundant supply of potable water, but no
stream that deserves the name of a river.
Penang was taken possession of as a British settlement on the 17th day of July,
1786. The British government of India had been long desirous of possessing a
commercial emporium, but above all a naval station at the eastern side of the Bay
of Bengal, and the chief instrument it employed in carrying this object into effect
was Francis Light, the master of a merchant vessel and a man of the aame
PISANG 365 POLO
Piracy, as already stated, has existed in the Malay and Philippine Archipelagos
ever since they were known to Europeans, and without doubt had existed for many
ages before. In the annals of the state of Malacca it is asserted, that the trade of
that place was greatly harassed by pirates of Oelebes, under the leadership of a
Macassar chief whose name was Kraing Samerluk, in the time of Sultan Mansur Shah,
whose reign commenced in 1374. The Spaniards, when they commenced the conquest
of the Philippines in 1565, found the inhabitants of Mindoro carrying on
piracy; and those of Minda.no and Sulu soon after commenced those incursions which
have continued to the present day, and often set the Spanish power a.t defiance. As
early as the year 1589, or only eighteen years after the foundation of Manilla, the
:first attempt to conquer the Sulu Archipelago, and to suppress the predatory habits
of its people was made, and m1tny others have followed, the last of them as late as
1851. In reference to the first of these, the historian Zuniga makes the following
remarks : "From that time to the present the Moors have not ceased to iufest our
colonies. It is incredible what a number of Indians have been made prisoners; what
villages have been destroyed; and what vessels they have captured.''
The Malayan nations are not the only people that have committed, or now commit
piracies in the waters of the Archipelagos. When disorder and civil war prevail in
China, as always happens during its 1·evolutious, it is sure to produce hordes of
pirates ; which, although they usually confine their depredations to the coasts of their
own country, occasionally extend them to the Philippines, and to the northern portion
of the Malayan Archipelago. Such piracies, as already stated, were rife during
· the revolution which placed the present Tartar dynasty on the throne ; and they are,
at present, rife pending that which threatens to overthrow it. The Chinese pirates,
from the superior size of their vessels, and the superior skill of those that navigate
them, are more formidable to native trading vessels than even the worst of the
Malayan buccaneers. The piracy of the Chinese, a civilised people, will necessarily
c~se with the tempo~y «?&uses which have given rise to it ; but !!i_El ~tl~ extermmation
of Malayan piracy is as hopeless as that of theft and burgliiry 1n the best
ordered states-8f-society. It may, however, be greatly abated, and made not worth
following as a profession, by a vigilant police exercised, not only over the plunderers,
but the receivers of the plunder, by the European nations having territorial posses,
sions in the two Archipelagos. The obvious means of pursuing the pirates are armed
steam vessels of very small draught, which can pursue them into the shoals to which
they reso1·t, and from whose speed there is no escape, The destruction of the
supposed haunts of the pirates by large and costly expeditions, seems by no means
an expedient plan for the suppression of piracy. In such expeditions the innocent
are puni.tihed with the guilty; and by the destruction of property which accompanies
them, both parties are deprived of the future means of honest livelihood, and hence
forced, as it were, to a continuance of their piratical ha.bits. The total failure of
all such expeditions on the part of the Spaniards, for a period of near three centuries,
ought to be a sufficient warning ag.-i.inst undertaking them.
PISANG, (PULO), literally "banana island," is the name of no fewer than six
different islands, or rathe1· uninhabited islets of the Malayan Archipelago, extending
from Sumatra to the Moluccas. The name, pisang, is one peculiarly belongin~ to the
Malay language, all the other tongues having their own separate names for this fruit;
so the.t the word, applied to the names of places, points to the extent of Malay
navigation. Except for navigation, the islands which bear this name are of no importance
whatever.
POETARE, correctly PUTAR, which, in Malay, signifies "t.o turn," or "revolve,"
is the name of an island lying between Floris and Timur, computed to have
an area·of 209 square geographical miles.
POLILLO. The name of a considerable island lying on the eastern coast of the
great island of Luzon. It is of a triangular form; in length about 25 miles, and in
breadth 20 in its widest part;. The chief town Hes on its south-western .side, bears
the same name, and lies in north latitude 14° 30'. The island is mountainous and
well watered, but seems indifferently cultivated, for its whole population is no more
than 1214.
POLO, MARCO. The celebrated Venetian traveller passed through the Malayan
Archipelago, in a voyage from Fokien in China to the Persian Gulf, performed by
a :fleet of fourteen Chinese junks, This happened about the yea.r 1291, or 218 years
before the first appearance of tbe Portuguese in the waters of the Archipelago. In
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SINKEP 404 SLAVERY
isles." The course 0£ the river is of considerable length, with abundant depth, and
the place which gives na.me to it is said to be sixty miles distant from its debouchement.
A.t its mouth, bowever, there is a bar, over which, even at spring tides, there
is no more than twelve feet water. The country through which it passes forms a
portion of the territory of Achin, although chiefly inhabited by the Batak nation, and
on the coast by Malays; The river of Singkel used to be a place of export for benzoin,
camphor and gold-dust.
SINKEP, is the most southerly of the larger islands constituting the Archipelago,
at the eastern end of the Straits of Malacca, and is not above twenty miles distant
f1-om the sliore of Sumatra. Its geological formation is the same as that of the
Malay Peninsula and Banca, from which last it is dist.ant about eighty miles. Its area
is reckoned to be 1.52 geographioa.l square miles. Mines, or washings of alluvial tin
are found and worked in Siukep, with this peculiarity, that in some situations the ore
exists within high-water mark, and is collected by the Malays by a kin!'.! of rude•
dredging. The inhabitants are Malay fishermen. Nominally, Siukep is part of the
territory of Jehore, and consequently subject to the Netherland government.
SIPORA is the name of one of the considerable islands which form a chain from
between the third &D.d fourth degrees of south to the third degree of north latitude,
along the western coast of Sumatra. It lies between the Pagi Islands and Sibiru, its
northern extremity being in south latitude 56', and its southern in 2° 25'. Its
extreme length is about 45 miles, and its extreme breadth about 15, and with its
adjaoent islets it is computed to have an area. of 1200 geographical miles. The inhabitants
are the same people, and speak the same language as those of the Pagi Islands,
namely, the nation ea.lied by the Malays Ma.ntawi. Sipora has been sometimes called
by European navigators '' Good Fortune Island," which does not very well accord
with its .Malay name, that seems to mean "Pretender, or Simulation Island."
SIW A., ·o:s. MAHADEWA, one of the three personages of the Hindu triad, the
destroying power, is not often called by either of these names, even among the
Javanese, but images of himself and of the personages and objects connected with his
worship are frequent in Java, and his sect appears to have been the most prevailing
form. of Hinduism throughout the Malay Archipelago, and, to some extent, to have
reached even as far as the Philippines. He is the Batara-guru of the Javanese and
:Malays, and the Ba.ta.la of the Philippine islanders. Batara is an obvious corruption or
the Sanscrit "A vata.ra," and guru is '' spiritual guide."
SLAMAT, on SALAMA.T (GUNUNG). The name of the mountain in Java
usually called by Europeans that of Tegal, from the district within which it is chiefly
situated. It is an active volcano, and its height above the level of the sea has been
calculated a.t about 11,500 feet.
SLAVERY. In Malay there are six different names for a slave, and there is even
one for the "slave of a slave." In Javanese, there are also several, but the most
frequent in Malay is Amba, and in Javanese kawula. These, as well as all the others,
are used as pronouns of the first person in addressing a superior. Slavery exists in
every state of society in the Malay Archipelago, and in every country of it, except
Java, where it is not found even in a predial form. This peculiarity has, no doubt,
arisen from an experience of the superior economy of free labour in a populous
country. To breed and maintain slaves was useless when the labour of freemen was
cheaper, and slavery thus came to be naturally extinguished. Slavery, however, still
exists in :Bali and Lomboc, equally populous with Java. But this extends only to
parties sold to strangers, and condemned as slaves, for some real or supposed offence,
and slavery, as an institution, cannot be said to exist even among the people of these
islands. In Malacca, when first discovered, all labour appears to have been performed
by slaves, a fact which not only implies a very rude state of society, but also a paucity
of population in relation to the land, or, in other words, comparative high-priced
labour. " The Malay nation," says De Barros, "as they live by trade and no other
pursuit, so are they the most luxurioua people of these parts, and the proudest in
their sentiments. A.11 with them is nobility, and this proceeds to such a length that
you will · not find a native Malay who will carry on his back his own or any other
man's property, however much you may offer him for doing so."-Decade 2, Book 6,
Chapter 1.
Slaves are of two classes in the Archipelago, bondsmen and bond-debtors,-the first
called, in Ma.lay, tA.busan, which signifies the object purchased or redeemed, aud the
TIMOAN 432 TIMUR
islands lying nearly midway between the eastern end of the Straits of Malacca and
Borneo, in north latitude 1 ° 1'. The largest of them seems to be a mass of granite
covered, for tbe most part, with a heavy forest. The whole group is computed to
have an area of 112 geographical square miles. The inhabitants are Malay :fishermen,
about 750 in number, occupying a village in a cove at the eastern side of the island.
The productions exported from it are co<,o-nuts, coco-nut oil, palm sugar, and salt
fish, for which they receive in exchange at Singapore, rice, clothing, and utensils. Pulo
Timbalan, in Malay, means literally, balance, equipoise, or requital island, but wby this
name, has not been explained. It forms with all the other islands between the Peninsula
and Borneo, at least nominally, part of the territory of the principality of Jehor.
TIMOA.N and TIMUN, correctly, in Malay, Tiyoman, a word, however, with the
origin of which I am unacquainted. This is the name of the largest of a chain of
islets, lying oft' the eastern coast of the :Malay peninsula, and towards its southern
extremity, belonging to the petty state of Pahang. It lies between north latitudes
2° 44' and 2° M , is about ten miles long, and from five to six broad, and, as far as
examined, consists of a mass of trap rock, bold and precipitous, presenting views not
only picturesque but grand. Such is the account given of it by a most intelligent
and judicious writer in the Journal of the Indian Archipelago, Mr. J. Thomson,
who visited it in 1849. Several of its peaks rise to the height, above the level
of the sea, of from 2394 to 3444 feet. '' On the southern shore of Tioman," says
Mt. Thomson, "are two remarkable peaks, or pinnacles, called by the English,
the Ass's Ears," and by the Malays, Chula-naga (chula, a horn, and naga, the fabulous
snake or dragon of the Hindus). They rise out of the spur of one of the southern
mountains, at a.bout 1500 feet above the level of the sea, and from this height, on
one side, they spring perpendicularly 1000 feet. They form a most magnificent
feature in the aspect of the island, and cannot be beheld without wonder aud awe,
even by the most unsusceptible." In another place he observes, "Tioman being
mountainoua and bold in its configuration, and abounding in lofty pinnacles, peab
and precipices, naturally inspires feelings of wonder not unmixed with awe, when
closely approached. These emotions may be occasionally heightened, if the observer,
when nearing it, experience, as was the case with us, a heavy squall, which covers the
towering m88Ses, wrapping the whole in gloom, exaggerating their apparent heights,
when these can occasionally be discovered through the lurid haze. It is, therefore,
not to be wondered at, that we ftnd this island to be the subject of mythic tradition.
The feelings which the scene inspires in the breasts of the simple races that inhabit
these parts have sought expression in figurative language, what it would be otherwise
difficult to explain, or which would, at least, have required a lengthened description.
Tioman has been pictured as a dragon, the most hideous and powerful monster of
tradition. Whether the myth had or had not its origin in a metaphor, the native now
literally appeals to the peaks and ridges, in which he seeks to discover a similitude to
the various parts of the monster, in order to give evidence to the tl-aditions which
spring from the prior idea."
Tioman produces nothing for exportation but swallows' esculent nests, ratans and
damar, all wild products of the rocks or forests. About 30 years ago, according to
information furnished to myself by some of its natives, the whole population of
this comparatively sterile island amounted only to 50 souls. Most of these were
seized and carried off as slaves by the corsairs of Minda.no, and the remainder
abandoned the place. .A.bout 1839 it was re-occupied, and during Mr. Thomson's
visit, ten yea.rs after, the population was reckoned to be 200, or about one-aeventh
part of that of the smaller but more fertile Pulo Aoa.r.
TIMUR. This is the Malay name of the eighth in number, reckoning from
Sumatra, or the more considerable of the cha.in of islands which geographers have
called the Sunda. It is, however, out of the direct line of these, extending to nee.r the
11th degree of south latitude,--differs from them in geological formation, and fo animal
and vegetable products, and, therefore, ought not to be classed with them. To the
west, the nearest large island to it is Floris, with many islets intervening, and to the
east the nearest extensive land to it is New Guinea, with which it is almost connected
by a cho.in of islets, although the distance be 440 miles. To the south, Australia is
not above one half that distance with nothing between but ocean. Timur is about
370 miles long, about 50 broad in its widest part, and is computed to contain an area
of 9808 geographical square miles, 110 that it is about one-fourth the size of Java, and
about double that of our island of Jamaica.
The geological formation of Timur, instead of being, like that of the islands from
185
186
TINGI 436 TOBACCO
restriction from any other cause. With pa.rtial exceptions, the Chinese are at present the
effectual miners and smelters, and the increase which has ta.ken place in the quantity
produced is remarkable. In the beginning of the present century the quantity yielded
· by Banca did not exceed 560 tons, and at present, increasing yearly, it is not less than
5540 tons. Yet the mines of Banca have now been worked for near a century and a-hal~
being stated to have been first discovered only in the first yea.I'S of the eighteenth
century. The tin mines of Malacca were not worked at all, until as late as 1793, and
not effectually by Chinese until 1840, but in 1848 they yielded, paying a seignorage
of a. tenth to the state, better than 250 tons. The production in the neighbouring Malay
states bad also greatly increased, so that the whole qua.ntity exported from Malacca
amounted in that year to above 960 tons. Mr. Logan estimates the whole quantity
produced in the Malay Peninsula at about 2350 tons, exclusive of the produce of the
Siamese territory; and when this is added to the produce of Banca, namely, 5540 tons,
we have an aggregate annual yield of 7890 tons, or, ma.king but a moderate allowance
for the produce of the Siamese mines, of which we have no estimate, probably not less
than double the amount of the tin of Cornwall Probably, not less than :five-sixths of
this amount have been brought into existence in the course of the present century.
The price has not fallen with this new supply to the market, and as in the case of the
gold of California and Australia, it may be asked how this has happened, and the
answer must be the same, that new sources of consumption have been found, increased
wealth a.nd population keeping the demand equal to the supply.
Barbosa mentions tin among the commodities taken by the Malay and Javanese
traders to the Moluccas and other eutem islands from Malacca; but in a detailed
list of the articles taken by the junks to China., and amounting to ten in number, tin
is not found. Neither does he name it in his Calicut Price Current of thirty articles,
although among them there be several, the peculiar products of the Malayan countries,
such as the clov-e, nutmeg, white pepper, agila-wood, and benzoin. De Barros
names the metal as one of those found m the market of Malacca, but calls it, erroneously,
a product of Sumatra. The tin referred to by these writers, was, no doubt,
the produce of rude Malayan industry, for in their time the Chinese had not yet settled
in any part of the Archipelago. It would, consequently, have been small in quantity,
and, as it is, at present at least, by twenty per cent. less valuable than that smelted
by the skilful Chinese. Malay tin must have reached Hindustan at an early period,
for it is otherwise difficult to understand from whence the Hindus, who have none of
their own, could have obtained their supply of a metal which is largely used by them
in the formation of alloys. In the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, tin is named as an
article to be found at the emporia of the western side of India, namely, Be.rugaza,
supposed to be Baroach, and Barake, believed to have been Nilcunda. From both
places it is said to have been exported, and from the first to have been brought from
Ozene, or Ougein. Dr. Vincent is of opinion that this tin was British, but it is far
more likely to have been Malayan, part of it, probably, brought overland from the
Coromandel coast. The most usual Sanscrit names for tin, vanga, and ranga, seem to
be Indian, and to have no relation to the Malayan word timah.
TING! (Pulo), literally, " High Island," is the name of the most southerly of
a group of islets, close to the eastern coast of the :Malay Peninsula, towards its
extreme end, and belonging to the State of Pahang. It is a mass of trap and porphyry,
rising to the height of 2046 feet above the level of the sea., and covered with forest.
Along with the islets near it, it contains a population of 800 Malay fishermen. North
latitude, 2° 17'.
TOBACCO (Nicotiana), in Malay and Javanese tambako, a slight corruption
of the Spanish and Portuguese, tabaeo. In the polite dialect of the Javanese, it
has the whimsical name of sa.ta, which signifies a "fowl/' or "cock." According to a
Javanese chronicle, tobacco was first introduced into Java in the year 1601, which
was ninety years after the conquest of Malacca by the Portuguese. It was, most
probably, introduced by this nation, for at the time alluded to, the Dutch had as yet
formed no establishment in the island, and, indeed, ha.d appeared there as tradel"B
only four years before. Of the time when it was first introduced in other parts of the
Malay and Philippine Archipelago there is no record. It was, most probably, earliest
introduced into Malacca., and could not have been introduced into the Philippines
sooner than 1565, the date of the first settlement of the Spaniards in these islands.
As in other parts of the world, the culture and use of tobacco became, throughout
both Archipelagos, rapid and. universal. For home use, it is grown almost everywhere,
but it is only in the moat fertile islands, a.s Ja.va, Bali, and Luzon, that it is
Annex 18
Dutch Ministry of Colonies, Internal Note Relating to the Borneo
Question with England dated 15 Oct 1858

TRANSLATION
Copy of note of Bureau G. concerning the Borneo Question
with England illustrated by the Department of Foreign Affairs
based on official documents concerning the negotiations for
the Treaty of 1824, dated 15 Oct 1858
(attached to Notes from the dossier with excerpts concerning
the negotiations with England from 1816 to 1824 deposited
with the Department of Foreign Affairs, ARA 2.10.01 #9191
Ministry of Colonies, 1850 - 1900)
(Relevant extracts)
Dutch Original
Aan die bedenking is blijkbaar
te gemoet gekomen bij het
definitive Artikel 12, zooals dit
in het traktaat is opgenomen,
door de aanwijzing van Straat
Singapoer als scheidslinie ...
English Translation
The definitive article 12
evidently reflects this concern,
as this is adopted into the
treaty, with reference to the
Straits of Singapore as the
dividing line ...
[Transcriber's note: The foregoing transcribed passages are
highlighted in grey in the attached manuscripts]
11s7 1
188
Annex 19
Letter from Cavenagh 0. (Governor of the Straits Settlements) to the
Secretary to the Government of India dated 1 7 July 1861, together
with the following attachments:
(i) Letter from MacPherson R. (Resident Councillor of Singapore) to Protheroe M.
(Officiating Secretary to the Governor of the Straits Settlements)
dated 2 May 186l{enclosing two police reports made by Chinese fishermen);
(ii) Letter from the Governor of the Straits Settlements to the Temenggong of Johor
dated 4 May 1861
(iii) Petition from 41 Chinese Fishermen, inhabitants of Singapore, to the Resident
Councillor of Singapore (undated)
(iv) Letter from the Governor of the Straits Settlements to the Temenggong of Johor
dated 15 May 1861
(v) Letter from the Temenggong of Johor to the Governor of the Straits Settlements
dated 17 May 1861
(vi) Letter from the Governor of the Straits Settlements to the Temenggong of Johor
dated 18 May 1861
(vii) Letter from the Temenggong of Johor to the Governor of the Straits Settlements
dated 4 June 1861
(viii) Letter from the Temenggong of Johor to the Governor of the Straits Settlements
dated 12 July 1861 (enclosing depositions taken from several Chinese and Malay
fishermen)
(ix) Letter from the Temenggong of Johor to the Governor of the Straits Settlements
dated 16 July 1861

··F1om Ccn,oN!ll, (hn:1rn llA n::unn. cJovcrnor of l'l'inuo of \Vw.cR' lain.ml, Singn.poro 1111tl l\lafar.cn,
to the S<'crctm·y to the Govc..;1111r.11t or Jnclin., ~•uroign Uopnrtmont,-(~o. US, dnto.:1 tho 17th
July 1861.)
Sm,
I 11Avn the honor to enclose for s11hmission 1.o 1.Iis l~xccllcrwy
1. r,oll.cr No. trn, 1lnlc1I 2ml Mny lRGJ, f1-om U,o tho Governor Uc11cm.l in Council,
llr.11i1lcnL Uo11111,illm~t:Tith r.ndnMlll"tlfl.) • co11ics of the corm.~1mmlcncc no(,e1l in
2. 1.oU.c:,r Nn. --·'• . d11tctl •1Lli Mny l!Jfll, lo 1h11 ) , 1 • • • •
lliglmr.1111 tl,u'J'111nn11gonrt, t lC )lllll"g'lll, Oil t 10 1:111h1cct of llljlll'ICB
:1. Petition from ()l,hi<!AI' ViMlll'rlllllll, t . 11 (''1 . i l t ,. s· -J. I,<!tlcr No. 20!1, ,lntocl lGU, M11y lROl, t.c, lli11 SU8 l\lllCl ))' J llllCflC l'eSH Oil .~ llli lll1:{a-
Iligr..h t1c"" U,o 'l'111111111,it•111~- ' JlOl'C from SllhJ' ccts or llis Hirrlmos!.i tho l,i,l.t.1•r tmm l1111 ll1gl11101111 tho 'I11111011gn11g, 1lnt01I 1 O
17th J.lny 1001. . Tumongong.
6. Letter to Jli!I lli;chnta11 tbo 'l'u1111>11gong, No. 2'7G, 2 rn1 f: t r tl f' t
dnf-C1l Um IKth J.lo.y ll'llil. ' • .L 10 U.C S O · IC lt8 cn.,c
7. l,eLh•r. from JliA lliglmc1111 t.110 'J'11m11111., ..n g, ,lnto,,l woultl :1.Jll>Car to be ns follows :-A 1,m ty 4-t.1, ,Imm lHl,1. . .
fl. I,nU.c.•r fmtn Jli11 llighn•!AB tlio '1'111111111gu11g, ,ln.tc,I of fishcnncn whilst cmployccl in their
121.h ,lnly !Hill. 1• 'I• 't) • t •1 f
0. J,1•U.1•r ,., lli11 Jli1rh111lAA I.ho 'l'umon)(nng, No. ~Ol, 01'( umry voca1110ll Wl llll en 11\l e., ()
dntc,i rni1i •1111Y 11111 1. the Islancl at Singapom, mul co11sc-
<p1cnUy ,vit,hin :British walcrs, were callc<l upon hy some 1\1 n.fo.ys tu pay n
sorL ol' hlack-11mil, aml npnn U1cit· rm1isti11g, one or !,heir ,mmher w1is scvmoly
womulc<l mul t.lmir lmal, plumlcrml; it is cp1itc pm,~ihlc tlrnL 1,ho Uhintm, may
ham ofl'cre<.l some 1n·ovocal.iou by making uso ol' nhusivc hmguagl', but c\'cn
that, wonhl riot have jusLiliccl ihc attu.ck that was ma<lc upon thom, whilsL
there is every reason to believe that the Malays were the aggressors in the
fit·st instnncc.
3. In the sccoml c•Lcm, although no bml~ly injury wns inflicted, a fishing
hoat was <lclninccl and only l'cleasml ·on'the payment of n fiuc.
4. l~rom the stn.tcmcn1; tml,(lc in the ·1,etif,ion which forms No. 3 of the
nnncxurcs, it would appear that, in adtliLion to being illegally COtn\>Clle<l to
submit to the ux.iwtions of the 'l'umongong's followers, our subJccf,s urc
rcc1uirml tu take out a pass aml pay n. fco to Ilis Highness for 11cr1uis."lion to
fish within t1,tc limits of our own juristlicLion; it js truo that the Johorc
~rerritorics arc alone speci rictl in tho vcrmit, but, o.s the fishermen rarely
proceed beyond 1.cn miles from Clmnglnc point, the extremity of Singu1)0rO
Island, Llmm can be liLtlc clonl,t Umt it is intcrufotl to·n1iply to their cmlinnry
fishing·p~ccs; tlml, in fact the 'fnmo11gong hn.'3 for some time pt1.i:it., ]>rolmhly
for years, . hccn rm~lizing a revenue from grant.ing permission to l\riLish
fishcr,ncn to fish in :B1·itish waters. As however this assumption of autho1·it.y
um,v in some measure ho aU.rilmLccl to supineness on tho part of our own
oJJicials, I have 11ot <lccmccl it, necessary to lay any great stress on this }>Oint
~n my communications with ] lis ~ I:iglmcss, but cont.cnt.e<l myself with r0<luirmg
· rc,lrnss for the wrong sustmnc<l hy onr people, he has equally abstamcd
from making any direct allusion to tho subject.
5. 'fhc 'fumongong, or rather liis European advisc~rs, ~rgc the cx11crlicncy
of my !lcclining to interfere in cases of com1,lni11t ogainst subjects of
,Johorc, until I lmvc been satisfied t.hut ihc complainnnl.s have been denied
justice at His Highness' han<ls; but, in tho first place, iu the cvcnt of the
cau~e of complaint, having origi1mlml upon_ U,c Sc~, within fon miles of
Singapore, the charge is cognizable 1,y the lh·ilish aml . not the tlohorc
189
190
( 2 )
authorilies; and, in the sccomt in Uw al>scncc of any pr\1pcrly constituted
Court or any known Code or .La.ws in the above Stale, l cannol, hut consider
that I should be guilty of a serious clercliction ol' lluty were l to 1·cstri~t
myself to Rimply rcl'crring Hrit.iHh s11hjeets to it.H mlcr' for redress withou.t
taking- mea.118 l,o e11suro their being accortlell a fait· hearing-, null nlso provi1ling
for ,,lieir vcr901ml safol.y, as I regret to sny I · can plncc but little
conlid1111cc in the j11sl.icc ol' the t1·catmcmt which they would otherwise ho
liahle to ex pcrim1cc.
l•'rom 1t. l'tfAOl'IO:itRoN, ]~SQ., HoRi<lllnt Ummcillor 11t Singn.poro, to l\f. P1tO'l'lllllWP:, ] 1~1111,, Oindnt.in~
ffocrl't1u·y to t.hc Governor or tl10 Htmit.R' SotLlcull'nt,- (No. lllJ, 1lnl,ccl Singnpc,rc, Llw :!ncl l\foy 1801.).
81 ll.,
IN my letter No. UU, of <late 201.11 uHimo, to yum· ucl<lrcR~, I felt
it my clnt.y to ln·ing t.o tho notice of His Honor tho Govurnot• 1.1n 'iwt ol' illegal
oppt·cssiun by the 'fumongong of Johorc towards ccl'tnin <loniiciled rcsitlcnt.s
of Sin~a.porc; tho <lnt,y now clcvolvcs 1ttHm mo of reporting wl.mt in my opinion
i<.; an :t.;,-umption ol' n,nt.hol'iiy ou the part of t.ho samo <Jhiof', i11a~111nch ns ho
req11it·1•s t.lmt nll fi'lhm·mcn from Singapm·o mnsl uhtain n. p:tss from him to
cnt.illo them to pursno t.hciL· vocation llpnn tho coast ol' ~Johcm~.
2. One ot' t.he pa'-SC~ Utns g-rnnt.ecl l hPmwith submit.
Nn'l'I•'· - c .. ~1. .. r l"I"" ~1. in origm• a, l n.tll l wit.h u. transl atw. n.
a. '.l.'his circmnRtn.nco wn.~ ht·o~~ht t.o my noUcn i.hin tiny in ·n com1nu11i·c::
tf,ion from the Acting OommisHiumir ol' J.>ulico ( cup,v nU.nched )s rt~pol't.i n~ an
at.tack nuulo hy the ,J ohm·o ~tu.lays n.t 'l'11o1~011g- l>un,imin, upon sm11c Uh inn.Rn
llslw1·11um, who, under the sccm·ity or tho 'l'umon~on~'s pn.s~, wm·o cmploytill
in t.lrnit· mmn,l oce11p:ttion in that neighhourhood, iu wluch attack ono man,
nn i11hahit:mt of Singnpot·e, was dang-m·u11i:1ly ,-.·omufotl; whilo it 11pp1•a.rs that
~111,sPcpwnt.ly i.ho smno Mnln.yR sei~wcl nml clotninml n. lmn.t hdo11i;i11g- lo other
li!-1l11~rmen. 'J'anjong l>nnjurin lies nbont ~ix miles tu tho rnshrnrcl ol'. Ohanghin
point:.
'1,. HiH Honor will nhRf'l'VC i.lrnt i.ho ~rnmo11go11g 1R ymsH iH lint ror· Uu•
Preclio11 ol' a. Ka~·lonμ- or fo;hin~~ f;f.akP, lmt. i;;impl,v for pPrmi!:;sion u t.o cnkh
n~h in the ~lohore 'l'enitory." 'l'hc cptrn~tion 1mh1rnlly nriscs t.o wlmt ext.cmt
sca-wal'(l clorn:3 the · ;r ohorn Uovcr11mPnt c1nim ,i111·iR<liotion, nll(l upon whnt.
nul.ho1·it.y is f;Hch claim ~romuled. .By t1·cn.t.y 1.lw wholo of' t.h1~ b1liuul!i within
ten mile~ 01' Singn.poro tu"<' Cl'lle1l to tho ·H11~lish Uovm·11mm1l., nrnl among those
lslrmds as well as along t.hc coast oJ.' Sjngn,vm·o tho inlmhit:mLs ol' ,lolmt·e, in
t~nmmon wil.h all, whether rcsiclcnts or non-rcsi<l.cnls under our Jlng, 1mvo !'ull
liberty tu lii:::h. ]~vcn granting th~n t.hat thi~ nssumpLion of ,iuri~tlict.ion un
the part ol' the 'l'umongm1g is <lcfcmiihlc, Uiel'U i;huultl nt least; ho n rcdprodt.y or goo,l omccs. As rcg:u·ds t.ho other mul lllOl'l) 1:1criuus fottLm·c \.Ii' Urn case
now mulct· l'nport, n:uncly, tho attack m:uln upon 1.ho Chim~so. li~hm·mcn hy
the ,lohorn nlalay!i aml tho 1rnl'ortum1.te result., it i~ 1lillic11lt with t.hc pr1\~e11t
onc-sidml inforni:\tion before us to come t.o any ~atisl"nclory com·lnsion. l>ossi-
Nrrm. --Tl,n Chi111•110 111111.o, t.l1At. I.ho hly Uto Uhinc:-10 m:ty lmvn hn<'ll t.ho llg'~l'CS!-Ol'~,
l'11111{h11l11 or t.ho vill":tc, •Jlf whi,·h lln•y hut cruu,illeriug l,ho tle~pot.iu naturo of t.ho
wcrn liR!ti111t, (~\1110 ull' lttlll ,torunmlml I\ G, t r· J 1 l . t . I' .
foe, n1,,I wl,cn n,fuRu,I ,:n111mo11ct•d 11ob:i11K ll\'Ul'lllllt'n. O ' O lOl'e, l\lll 1 $ power() COCl'Clllg
Um fi~h. nml wlu•u rr•Ri~r. .. ,I lho llnlnyM wit.nc..c;,,;cs, it is cxh·mnely llunht.l'ul ir t.hc trulu
,. . omulcd two of tho fi~hormnn. ca.n c~Pr 11 c arr1• v et l a t .
u. As a.n inst.:mcc ol' this clifllc,1lty I rnny mention one fact. for] liH l l.m11ir's
. int'm·u~nt ion. A Hhnrl, 1imo ngo• I ,, i~il-<'cl ~l'1111j1111~
• ~,,ti 11ll111u,. J• 'll tl \ f • (1 • • f' I' \' ' \,IW \\} , I W 1 C ,lilt-, ;Olllllll~~IOIWI' ti O IC~!, iHW
111' lho :-,mall-gun lmn.fa~ I incl jnst ar1·,vn'1 t'rom tlrn olcl St.r1t.it.R. nud t.110 .\ l:wiltlnr
( a )
st:trnlin~ in the hont arnl in tho presence of Uio hoafs Cl'O\\', rcportccl (.hut
np at (J,11n.ll:1, ,Johorn a Pun~h11l11 11ametl ,Jmnt ha.d complninCll ol' tho loss
ot' his hoat with oars mul snilR, antl that tho samo 111ul hccn stolen l1v niiw
cc'mvict.s. A:i I hncl a shol'I, timo previously int.imn.1.cd to 1 lis Higlmrn-1s
the •rn,11ongong the escape of t.hcso very couvjct"', nml begged his ttHsi1:1L1111cu
in capturing them, I fdt; clisappoiuiccl ihut ihiR J.>uJ1g-hulu of tho '11111nongong
F-lio11l1l not, have hecn war1wd of tho fact., in which cni.c ho might Jmvc
secured the rnnawnya who had reprcs<.mtc<l Lo him tltnt they luul coma to
,lohore to cut rattans for our Government, I conse<1ucntly wroto l.o tlw
'J\nnongong expressing rny disappointment.
n. 'J'ho Jfavildar who m:ulo thiR 1·cport in· t.ho ho111'i1,g of his urcw,
1mhsc11ncntly nccumpmiiml hy two uf them, ropco.tcd it ut tho Polico Olllco,
,~·here it was taken tlown in writing:
7. A few <lays ngo the 'J'umongoug sent thii:t Pu11ghulu 11 ~Jown."
t.o me, who maint.aino<l tlmt the statement of tho Hnrildnr was untme, nml
t.hat. he 1nul himsdl' neiLhcr seen the convicts 1101· lost nny 1,oat. On confronting
him with tho ·lJoat.'R m·mv (t.lw Havildu.r sinco nrnking tho f'm·1•going l'C'J>ort.
1rnvin!{ l,een. <lisclmrged n111l l1dn~ no whcro i.o ho fonrnl), Hwy (t.ho crow)
rc:,olut.1•ly denied t.lmt t.lrny lt:ul hmm up tho ;Johorn !'irnr nt :ill, ot· 1.1ml they
had lw:ml the J L1wihla.r nulko :.u1y rcpol't· to thnt cllcct-:iml this i.lwy
persiste<l in, t.lwngh threatened with <listnissal mul indeed finally <lischnrgc(L
Now this (h•nial nvon the part of the crew of hn,vjng hoartl tho rc11ort m:ule
m,rnt be a cErect falsehood, i11asmuch ns they were ult nearer to tho lfovihlrtr
:1.t the t.inw ho ma<lc it Umn 1 w:.t8; • :m<l as to tho ropol't itself I cnn Jmvc
no doubt uf its trnthl\1l11ess, for there could have been no ohjcct in framing
snch a fatlc unless it was :t fad, :md the ma,mct· ol' UIO lfavildm· mul t.lw
circumstantial detail even to the value or tho Sa.tnprin ~micl to h:i.vo been stolt•n
hy the convicts, of the sail aml of the oar~, left no rnom for douht.
. 8. ".Yhat then conl<l have in<lucc<l tho whole of tho crow of tho bont
to deny all Jmowled~e of tho cit·cmnstnucc, even uf having henrd tho ropnrt.
m:ulc, and to accept their 1lischargc without orw woru of rmnonstrnuco,
il' they hall not in somn rnan11cr been fauupcrccl with. 'l'his circumstance
leads me to antici11atc thut thcro mn.y bo much clilliculty in nsccrtn.iuiug
the. merits of tho case now l'eportcd so far ns the origin of the cfo1put.c
hetwecn the Sin~aporc Chineso nml ,Tuhoro llal::iys ii concerned,· lmt I respectfully
suhm it tho other <ptestion to tho considcl'Ution of' His Honor thn
Governor, namely, whether His Highness the 'l1mnongon1~ exorcises such
jurisdiction over t.he Sea. which divides Sjngaporo fr01n-Johuro a.a td entitle
him t.o prohibit our fishennen from exercising their vocation without a pass
under his Seal.
-----
,Tohore PnM.
1207.
'l'h is Jl""rrnu~1uon is · granted lJy His Highness the !l'umongong, Srce
·M aharnj:ih of .I ohorc, unto (i11cck 'l.1yo Hoo, u. Ohincsc fisher1iin11, to catch iish
in t.lin .I oho re! 'Jlnrrit.ory wiLIL molestation or hinclr:mcc from irny hotly;
he is not vermittctl to JJUt down his nets closer tlmn Hn.y fathoms from
191
192
( 4, )
any Kclong-, otherwise ho will Im 1mi:1.rnl wit.hunt lrn:~ila.l.:011. '!1lii:1 p:1:,.~ will
i:;tnml for ~ix mouths.
S1~cuNmrn. PU'rm, }
'l'!lf! 1:Jtlt Jlajab 1277,
Uorrt','lj)01lclinu lo 2ull,,
.hnutm'!/ m• tliercaboul.
(Sd.)
From ll. H. H. lto111rn·1·Rt1N', NHcl,, Actin!( (~11111111i1111ium1r ol' J'olinn, Hingnpnro, t.o t.1111 ltm1itln11t Co111wi1111r,
Si11gnl'oru,--- (No. Ii.I, tl1\l.ucl t.hu 2ntl M1Ly 1.801.)
Sut,
I nA.VE tho honor to lny l1cf01·0 yon o.n uxl.mct of t.ho Rod1ore
·Police Report fur tho morning of tho 2Uth ultimo mul tho 1st inst.ant.,
hy which you will Rec th11t tho Chinese· fiRlumnon of Onmpong Glam 1mvo
hccn 11.Ua.cketl hy tho l\luluys of .n. plu.co cnllecl Punjurin, in tho 'l101·ritory
of .r ohot;c, and that ono Chinn.man is now in tho llmipitul in· 0, dangerous
stnt.c. It :ip11onrs tlmt passes n,rc is~uc<l. l>y lncho Wan Ahoo ]faker, gL·u.nting
permission to fo1h n.t thnt plnce, nn<l I hn.vo tho honor to cnclO!m ono ot' thoso
1mssnH for yonr ins11cclion. 'fho Mnln.ys who havo mn,<lo thoso nLlac.lrn n·ro
known aml cttn ho poinlcu out, mul tho en.so is ouo tlcscrviug of' immcdinto
aU-Pntion.
('l1l'uo copy,)
(Sd.) lL. 1\lACl'lll'!JlKON,.
Re,filidm,t UmmcU/01·.
Absfractfrom tlw Rocl101•0 .J~e1mrt lJool.: of tlw 20tl, .April 180l.
A•r hnlf 1m,qt 8 A. M. this moming n. Chinnmn.n nnmc<l u Ko~y 'J\vn 'fuo,"
who resides in llouch lto:ul, Nu. 1.(;t;, en.mo to this Station mul reported to mo
Urn.I, n Ohituumm nn.mml J<:ooy Ah Chow, 11, Hshcrm1t11, h:ul lmcn i.t.nhhed
hy a Malaym:m (one or tho 1'11ngh1(lu's 1mum1) n.t 01· wmt· l'unJm·in, ;Johot·c,
mul l.lm{; Ito wnH thon ]ying in It ltoU!-lf) n{; Omnpong· Kall1wg. , I n.t. cmco
. Rrmt. n, 1>1111':ular mul l'(~ons, 1t1ul Juul·iho wou1Hlrnl mrm romovocl to my 8Luthm
mul fonn<l t.hnt ho hu.cl hocn stnhlietl in his holly from which hi~ ontmns
were }lrnt.rncling; ho wns unn.1,lo; f,o speak; I n.t onco hncl him romovcll
t.o tho :Polico ] [m1pitn.l; tho womiclml m:m nml six nllwr~ lel't Singnpm·o
or Campong Knlla.ng n.t 12 o'clock noon ycst01•cl:l,y in· n, 1h1hing lmn.t ns
nsual to go aml iish -nt run,iurin, whoro they nl'l'ivecl t\.hont 7 1•. M;
Aft.ct· · eating thoir rico they throw · over · tho net mul commcnce1l to
lish, it w:is then tihout 8 1•. M.; · thoy·_ luul lmulecl tho not uight cliffcmnt;
times, and Juul caught a 111.rgo cptnnUty of ilsh, mul woro nhout; to 1·otm·u to
Singapore whe11 n, M:nl:ty l,011,t co11tninlng four M:nln.ys pulled u.long, siclo; t.hoy
asked the fishermen if U1oy hrttl hronght nny tolmcco for to givo· 1.hom; tho
lhilmrmcn nnswcrcd t.hnt thoy lmd. nono; tho ]fo.ln.ys then Rnitl whnt husincss
have you to come hero to cn.tch fish, nncl rmitl this is my pln.uo nnd ihrnm fishos
are mine aml cmmncncc<l taking ihom; tho wo1mlfo1l mn11 1 '' Kony Ah Chow,"
trie,l tn pnwm,t tlwm, when ono ol~ tho· J\.fnlt1yR ·stnhlmcl him wit.h n spent· in
the hclly ; another iishcrirmn, nammt Kooy Kyo lIO', also rccoivc,l n slight ,,•omul
iu his ri~ht hancl from nnoU1cr 1'1:aln.y w110 nttcniptctl to stab him. 'l1he fishormcH
then hcca.mo frightcnotl nncl rna<lo no furthor 1·csiRtmi.co n.ml nllowccl the
~lalnys to tnku t.hoir 1iRhos; 11ftcr ,vhiuh Umy rnt.u1·ncd. to Si11gn.poro, whero
t.huy arrived at 7 A. 1\r, this mo1/ning (tho ~fohiys boarclcll t.ho Jishing hont
:thout 12 o'clock midnight; the Iishctmcn u.ro n.Mo to· i<ltmt.ify t.ltcRo i'om· l\fo.lnys
ii' Ull'y meet wit.h them u~a.in, n~ they lmvc frcqncnUy .hc:.!n nt Umt pluce t.o
1•;thih li:,,:h :rncl to fr:u\e,. urul h:wp in their 110:~Sl'Rsio;1 a permit to do i,;o fromI
nd11• \V:m Ahem ;ffal.::.•1·); the,- Wl'l"<'♦'llO\'Cl' rnolestccl nt t.hnt place hcl'oi·o. ·
( 0 )
.Abstract from tlie Roolio1•0 lle1,ort JJook 011, tlie lat May 1801.
LIM Au lt1m a Chinese fishermnn, en.mo to this St.n.tion n.t 8 A, M. thiR
mbrning and reported as follows :-I am a fishermuu nnd rcsiclo o.t Cnm1mng
Pokat. At 12 noon yesterday I left ltoclloro rivor in my lishi11g hont with six mon
and went to Punjurin to catch fish. I arrived thoro at 8 1•. M,; my not bud been
thrown out almut half n.n hour nnd wa.s beginning to pull it when I SU.\\' tm1
Mn.lays armed with Krisscs and Spc..'l.rs walking on tho l>ouoh-whon u.hron.Rt of
my boat they waded out in t.ho wn.tcr to whoro I w,1.~, n.nd ertitl tlwro wus u.
fight hero tho othm· day n11d 0110 man was stn.hhod,-how (luro you como here
to catch fish ; they then seized my boat mul net nml took ono of tho fishermen
a.way with them; the fisherman's nmne is 'rcoh.Ah 'row. I obtuiucd anotlmr
boat and returned to U.ochoro with ftvo men. '!'his fishorma.n has ncvor bucn
tbot·e to fish lrnforc and bas no permit.
('l'ruc Extrn.cts,)
(Sd.} It. 13. S. ltoDERTSON,
A.cti.119· Oommi8sioner of Police.
1',ro,n Cot,ONl!ll, ORFF.UR CAvr.ru.nn, Govenior of l'rinco or Wnl~1{ fRlmul, Singl\JIOro aml :M1ila1•1•11.,
to Ilia lliglu1e1111 the 'l111111ong~ng of Jobore,-(No, 2~7, _,11\tctl tho 4th )foy-1801.)
AF'rEn. CoMPI,JMEN1'R,
I JIA VE tho honor to intimate to my fricml tlmt it lms been
brought to my notioo thnt on two oooMimt!'il, Ohinoim fl"lhormon, rosiclcnf,M of
Singapore, h:tvo hccm nttn.ckcct 1,y certain or my frimul'11 snh_jccLs whilMt,
cp1ickly pnrsuin~ their avocations in the ncighhum·l1ood of Pu~1jm·in, n.hout.
six miles from Clmnghic; ou the first occasion two· fiRhcrmcn wcro wolmdcd,
and one of tbcm is now lying in Ilospitn.l in n d11.nbrct·ous stn.to; on tho sccorul,
altlu>ugh no personal i111jury nppca1·s to have been. suffct·ed, tho l>ont in which
tlm Chinese wcrc·us well n.s ono of: their compnnious muucd 'ran Ah '!1ow, wnK ·
i,:;eiz~d :mcl tnkcn a,vay, I llccm it right to po~nt out to my i'ricnd that the
Sea in which the ahovc offences were committed hcing within the limit
prescrihecl by A'rticle 11 of the 'frcn.t.y of the 2ml August 1824, tho fishermen
were within Ili•itish waters, nnd coneequently none of my friend's_ suhjr.ct.R
could ·in any ,vay have boon justified in interfering with them, or in . seizing
their property ; hence it is incumbent on my friend to take mcnsm·cs for securing
their immediate punishment, tho release of the missing mun, und t.he
restitution of tbe stolen boat, nnd I beg that· I ·may l,e fnvorccl wit.h n ful1
1·eport of the result thereof fo1· sulnriission to llis.- l~x.ccllency tho G ovcrnor
General of India.
'l'hu humble Memorial of forty-one Fialtermen (in Cl1ineRc chnracter), inl1n.bita11ts of Singapore, to tho
Ho~'nLE n. MlOPIIHSO?f, .EsQ; Uesiclcnt Councillor, SingBpo1·0.
IImr1nLY 811Ew1~·rn,
TnAT your Memorialists ii.re head fishermen, residents of Singapore
for the l!"st eleven yen rs, and have under them nearly three hundred
and fifty coolies who assist.
'l1liat your Memorinlists have )mt~ on the opposite s11ore ncnr to Soongie
Punjurin, where they arc allmvcct to fl~h by permission of Ilis Highness the
'J'umongong; thnt sevm·ul of your l\le}~10rinlists have written 1,crmit,s from llis
Highness the 'l'umongong, fo1· which o. foe of one d~llar cncl1 wus 1mid.
'l11w.t the 'l'umongong has his l'ungulu named : N ong Ilesnr plnced nt
Soongic J!unjurin, who levies taxes hy tuking ns many fishes as he choo~cs.
'l1lmt your Memorialists go a fishing out in the open Sea. ru.1d · call at this
Soongic Punjurin on their wu.y to Singapore.
193
194
( n )
'rlmt o.hnut ton ,l:1ys ngn Reven of your lfom01·in.1i1d:R w<1nt; n. ft:-1hing in
mm Snmpo.n ncn.r to thl' l,edro Jlrn.nco ],ight House, nml on t.\rnir wny hn.ek
n M:111:ty, well known to ho tho hun.,l or n, villngo nenr t,o t.lmt ovN· whit!h
Nong Umm.r is hcn.,lmn.n, en.mo olr with threo others n.nd fo1·dhly nt.f.empt.ncl
lo t.n.ko nH tho Ilshcs in tho· hont from your Momori:11ist.s, wlum ono ul' you
M:mnorin,lists nnmml Kony Ah Chow rt'l..'lislrnl; n.s oxpm1t,uln.Lion 1mmnrnl ui,ieles~
whon ho was st11hb0<l wif.h n. Spnn.r hy 0110 or lhn :Mnln.ys known hy tho mimo
ol' Mo1,ing, in t.llO holly, hy rm1Aon of which Koc~y Ah Chow Rtill
rmn:tins in Hospital.
'l'lmt another of your Mcmorinlist.s 1mmml Ko<,y Kyo llo wns n.lso wmmtlrnl
in tho hnn<l by ouc of tho Mo.lnys.
'l1Jmt moro or less all your lfomorinlists hn.vo nt vnrfous timcs,sufforc,l
1mvuro losaos frou1 tho luimle of llis Uig1mcss tho 'l,nmongong's J>coplo nncl put
t,o g~c~t hoclily fear without o.ny cnuso whntovcr ; in nmny instnnces nct.s n.tul
ot.her imp1cmcnts have been tnkon f1·om your 1vlomol'inlisis n.ml <lctu.inml hy tho
·Mn.lnya until n snm of money is 1,0.id.
'l1hat your Memorialists arc residents of Singapore, n.n English sctUomont.,
n.ntl humbly crn.vo the 1>rotection or tho Government ft·om tho ln.wlcss nml piratical
vrocccdings of tho subjects of Ilis Highness tho 'rumongong, rosilling in
tho southern 1u1rt of tho poninsu1u of Johorc.
'l1trn.t yout· Momorin.th1ts nnrl their Asshitn.nts fully occupy two Qnmpongci
in Singapot'c, giving work, omployimmt, nml subsi"tonco to ncnrly J\ thousnncl
Nouls, n.11<1 t,hcir fishing ground lm" nlwn.yR boon n littlo hc~yon<l 1>uto l'ikong nnd
this side of J>c(lro lJt·nnco; your ::M:omorialists finding thn lovir.s cxnctc,l from
thom hy tho Mn.lnys quito uubcn.rn.hlo, humbly approach yo111· Honor fo1· prntoctiun,
which they humbly Ruhmit is their right ns nn.turn.lizocl ]Jritish suhjccts.
Yout· l\fomorinlists thcrofot·o hmnhly 1,ru.y thnt y1m1· Honor will ho phJn.~0tl
t,n tn.ko such nccossn.ry stcp!I to pnt n. stop to tho 111.wlofl~ 1n·ocm,11i11gN of lfo1
11 ighnr.~s the 'rumongong's peopfo, so thn.t your hmnhll' )fomorinli!ds mn.y for
tho l'ntnrc he allowed to 1,rocccc.l with their ln.wful en.Hing pcn.c:~n.hly without
1mc1ily fear and apprehension. Aml your 1'-fomorinlist.s will urnr prny.
"'"Hn Oot,01'P.I, 0RFKUR 0AVIIIHRH, Onvcn,nr nr l'rlnco nr ,vntoit' blaml, Ringn)'Ort' ntl\l l\fol"C'l!II,
Lo Jli11 llil(lmct1~ tho 'l'uMolfooffo or Johoro,-(No. 200, tlntml tho ll'ith Mny lHOI.)
ArT11:11. CoMr1.nrnN·rs,
,vrrn reference to our fm·mcr eommunicfllion No. 227, dn.tml 4th
inRtant, to our f1·fond, on tho mnUcr of injuries sustninccl hy Ul'it.islt sul,,iects
from residents in our friond's 1rcrritq1·y, wo no\V enclose, for onr ft-imul'A infnrnuition,
copy of o. l,ctition from scvcrnl Chinese fishermen complaining of tho
serious molestation to which they. b11,·o been suh,joet.c<l whilst pursuing their
ordinary o.vocntion iu tho ncighhourhood of tho l>cdro llrnnco Light House.
\V c trust that our friend, in n.ddition to ]!Unislting those offcmlors hy whom tho
Petitioners wore att.'lckml aucl two of thmr part,y wonmlrnJ, will adopt suitt,hlo
measures for tho llrevcntion of such illegal nets in future.
~•rom Iha Htamc,:99 D.\tl'fll lnn.um,1, Sroo Mnhn.mjah 11nd 'l'ttrnongnng of Johoro, to tho lloN'111,1
OoLONPlT, Onnua CA.VRNA.Oll, Govomor of Prinoa of Wnloa' lal11~1l, Singn.poro l\ntl MBlllcc",(,
ln.lic{l the 17th :May 1801.)
.Ar·.tEII. CoMPLD[ENTS,
WR hn.d. tho honor to receive our fricml's letter of tho ,.tth
current, intimn.ting that it bad bectt. brought to our friend's notice thnt 011
two occasions Chinese fishermen, rcsidonts of Singn.pore, had been nttacketl by
certain of our subjects in tho neighl,ourhoo,l of I>unjurin, t.lint on the flt-st
oocnsion two fishermen were woun<lcd i nnd on tho second, ulLhongh no 1,orsonnl
( 7 )
injury npprnrecl to hn.vo he<m suffered, tho hout nnd ono or tho men nnmod 'run
Ah 'l'ow w1we Rdz<'d n.nd tnlrnn 11.wnv.
We cam:iccl immctlintc enquiry to ho mude, nrnl hnvo now to inform our
frh-rnl tha.t., hPforn reeci~t of om· friend's lot.tor, thrco men hrul hc,,n urrcstccl by
our ( JJ1ice1· ol' the l>h1t.nct nN lmving tukcn 1mrt in tho nffru.y in which t.lio
Chinamen wcro wounded nnd other J'om· wm·o then still nt. lnrgc .. '.l.'hrco 11101'0
lrnvc since hccn trikcn, :mtl wo hopo tho other onu ch1trgc<l (there luiving hcen
S('VPH iii. all) trrny soon he fonnd. Whl'novcr tho mntt.el' lini:i heen invo~d.igntcd,
we ~hall inform our friend of t.ho result; hut it, will ho ,liflleult., if not im.
possihl(', to ,mhst:mtfofo tho cnsc n.gn-inet them if tho Chinoso who wcro
attnckc?<l do not come forwn.t'd ns witnesses.
·with reference t.o the second eomplu.int., we Jrnvc nl!:m ,inst rocnivcd our
Loc-nl OHiccr's report which is to tho cJlcct, thn.t a numhcr of Ohineso fishermen
in five honts callccl Puknls were cngngccl in fisl1ing at the month of tho" Snngei
R.ingut.," when their sup1>lir.s of rice running short, they· npplic<l to a. Malay
nmn rrn~id ing there, nml as ho knew the hcndmnn of' ono or tho l'uknts ltc '7nvo
t.hcm six gai*mgs of rice, on the agreement that it wo.s to Jrn rcpai<l (ir1 km<l)
within a certain number of days. 'l111e Chinese were thus enabled to continue
their fishing, and tho time agreed on and more elnpscd without the rice l,eing
ret.urnccl. When the fishermen were nbout to leave for Singapore, tho Malay
man would not nllow the ono l'uknt belonging to liim,. who hnd horrmvc<l tho
rice, t:o depart until his claim wns satisfied, nnd tho Chino.mnn deputed ono of
hi!! own people to remain 1,y tho boat until ho shoulcl go to Singnporo nud
redeem her. 'l1hc man was not detained by the l\Inlu.y, Lut wns tl1rcded to
remain by his master. Shortly tborcnftor the rico was rot.urnccl or 1m.i(l for hy
the owner of the hoat., and tho boat wns released nn<l tnkon nwny by ltim. Snch
iij tho statement made by tho :iirifoy. Douhtloss tho compln.int of tho
Chinaman which was lairl before our friend wa.s different, but if tho Chinmnnn
fintls himself nggricvcd wo will do our utmost to right him in our Court which
is op('n to him. ,vn rr.que~t our frir.ml to consiclcr whether il wonl<l not uo tho llrcfcrn.hlo
r.onr,m when im<lh complnints n.s these arc brought boforo him tu t csiro tho
parties to lny them hcCore ourselves or our Officers, instciul of mnking our
friencl the medium through which they ca.mo to us, informing them nt tho su.mc
timo thnt if justice is refused to them, then our friend will intcrvcnr. on their
hclmlf. 1'his courRe wonl<l ~rcntly n.id us in tho ntlministrntion of justice in
our 'l'erritorics, both by lcntlmg to tho }lrompt o.pprcltonsion of offenders and by
enabling us, through tho examination of those wbo nro tho most mntcrinl
wit.uesscs, to nrrivo nt the truth nnd to clccido co,·rcctly •. It would also in all
prohnhilit.y save our freiml much of the trouble ho takes in such matters.
"\Vit.h regard to tho Inst part of Qur friend's letter regarding tho effect
oft.ho 11th Article of tho 'J'rcaty of 1821,, according to our information (which
we t.hink is likc]y to be correct), both the occurrences under notice took plaeo
in 1he 'qunlln' or estuary of Sungic ltingat and not nt I>unjurin. Wo do not
know the distance between Sungio lUngat and the ncnrcst point of Singapore
Island, lmt t11ink it must be more thnn ten miles, and the question under tho
·rrcaty will not therefore arise. But even if it ho within ten miles, we hope
our friend docs not consider that the 11th Article of the 'llreaty deprives us of
the waters within our 'l'erritories.
1''rom CoJ.ONEL Onnua CAv~N.lOJI, Governor or Prince of Wales' Island, Singapore and Malacca,
to His lliglmess the 1.'umongong or Johorc,-(No. 276, dat.cd tl1e 18th May 1801J
AFTER CoMPLIMEN·rs,
WE have received our friend's letter of tho 17th instant, nnd
arc glad to find thnt measures lmvc been adopted by our friend's Officers for
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( 8 )
bringing to justico tho persons by whom tho Ohinoso flshm·mnn n.lludml to in
our formnr communication wm·o n.ttnckml n.nd mnlt1·on.t0tl ; if ou1• friontl will
intimate to us tho du.to on which thoir trin.1 lmforo his Oourt is to tn,ko pl~c,
·in tho cvont of tho womulccl mn.u hoing sullloinntly rocovurml, ,vo -will instruct
tho H,csi<lcnt Couucillot· nt Singnporo to nmko tho roqui8ito nnm1gomonts
for ounhling him, togothor with his comrn.tlos, to. attmul nn<l imhstfmf.int."
thoit· guilt.
2. Wu 1mg to point out, to our fl'ioncl thnt it i.s our <luty 1.o n.tlopt And,
mo:t!'lnrei:i n..ci wo mny doom mo~f; mcpmliont for tmoudng i'ot· llrit.ish tmh,im,t.R
suit,ahln rc<lrm,~ in all cn,~m~ in which wo umy lmvo ronson to conshlm· thnt t.h<>y
have snlforrnl ir\jmd,icn; in the matter rocnntly hrought to not icu moreover, in
the event of tho oll'onco lmving hcou committed as ro11rosontod to us, on t.ho
Smt within ten gcogrn1,hic11l milus or Bingn,pom, it nctuo.lly occurrml within
the Jlritish 'l'crritorios, nri.ll as, urulor u.ny oirmmuttn.ncos, it COllRtitutotl nn
n.ct of pirney,.wo 1ltould hn.vo boon perfectly ,iustil\ccl untlcr tho ln,v of nnt.ionR,
in <lcspntchiug 1tn nrmml force to !mi1,c tho oJfontlors, nncl in tho ovont of their
being n1lprohmulc<l, bringing them ~o trial bcforo a British tribunal. : 1 a. Our friend mn.y rest assured that whilst wo shall, on nll oocn.sions,
Atrictly onforco tho 1·ight.i:i of t\to llritish Govornmont, n.~ proscrihml hy the
'l'ron.t,y of 18211, wo shall 01pmlly causo nuy rights which ho may enjoy under
the same co111pa,ct, to 110 cluly respected.
1·----
l~rom l~tA lltomu:s_B tho 1ruMONCIONO or .rol,oro, ,lo., to tho IloN'lll,B Oor.oro:i, 01tF0l'lUR CAVKNA.On,
t Ooven10r of tho Stniits' Sott\omont, &o.,-((latmt tho •.lith ,Juno 1801.)
.ii.'F1•Jm Coll(l'LDlEN'l'S,
IN com:pJianco with t6o 1st pn.rngra1Jh of our frfoncl's of tho 18th
ultimo, wo noiv bog to inf01·m our : frioncl tlmt . tho cbnrgt;s of stnhlJing, &c, 9
t.borcin rofcrrc<l to, nmy ho mu1uirc~l into in om· Court nt 'l'nn,ioug Putrr ut nny
timo· within iho next ihrco or four days, ir tho com1,lninnnts ntlcrul with Umir
witnesses.
. .
Jt'rom lltR Ihn1tMF.RII DAnrn lnau.um, Sroo .tAh11mj11h Rllll •rumnngnn" or ,lnl,nrr, lo tho ltoN'nut
C,n.mn:1, 01u•1n11t CA.YKMAUtt, Uovempr of t•rinco of Wl\l~11• l11la1ul 1 f-4in1,tnpnr11 nm\ Al&\h\1wn,-(
1ll\lml tho 12th July lHUL)
AF'l'Elt. UOMl'J,l:MEN'l'S,
R1~FEll.lttNO to t.ho lntt.m·s of om· frimul ,ln,t.ml the ,.~th, 15t.h,
nn<l 18th of .l\ln,y fast, mul ours or tlm 17t,h 1\fo.y nml 4th ,J mrn, wo h()g now lu
cnclrnm for our frioncl's information trnnsln.tions of tho minutus of ovitlonco
given in tlrn cm1uiry which took pl~cc ~n our Court n.t 'l'nnjong .l>utri hcrorn
oiir son, Inclm \,Vn,n Aboo lln,kor, rnto tho chnrgos rerurrocl to. _,vo bog to
t.lumk om· friend for sornling tho men to 1.L'u.ujong l•utl'i uudcr tho clmrgo ol' nn
.lforopo:m C:mstn.hlo of Polico who ~vu.s J>rosont <.lul'ing tho prncoc<lings.
2. No decision hita yet hcon g~von, as wo woulcl profor to hnvc tho boucflt
of our frion<l's ronmrks mul nc.lvico hoforo dotormiuing ._tho cnso rnthm· thnn
11.ftcrw11rlh, wht'n it might l.,o <liJllcqlt to tn.ko ttdvuutngo of tlwm.
a. Onr fricml will ohservo t-lu~t the stntc of facts sworn to 1.,y tho Chinese
and that given hy the :Mnlays nro very different, aml in tho oxpoctution that
our friend will think fit to favor u~: with tho v1tlunhlo suggestions nml ntlvico
that may occur to him, we think it right to mcnt.io~ thnt Iucho W;mAboo ]faker
has formed a very dccidcll opinion that tho Mnlay version· is. tho' true ono, and
thn.t the Chinese fishct·mcn, instftul ot' being complainants, :.should have
a111leared as the dcfoudnnts. Our pwn opinion coincides witl1-thnt ·of our son ;
and we think our friend is likely to ho of tho sn.mc · mind, for, n1mrt from the
a.ir of truthfulness which the stntoment of tho Mnlnys boors o.s compnrod with
( 9 )
t.hc testimony of the Chinese, our friend will not fail to observe that, if these
men swore to what was truo on the oce:asion of th~ trio.I, they must have hod
tile hardihood to· put our friend in motion in this matter by o. statement which
is grossly fnlse. (Seo tho 6th paragraph of tho Memorial vresontcd by t.hcsc
men, o. copy of which our friend sent to us with his letter of tho luth of M.n.y;)
4. Now thn.t tbis ca.Ro is fully before our fl'icnd for transmission to llis
l~xcellcncy tho Governor Gencrnl of India in Council, wo beg lonvo n.g1iin to
urge upon our friend's consi<leration tho cxpe<licncy of our friond refusing to
entertain complaints from J,crsons stuting that tbcy lmvo been wronged in
,l ohoro or by our subjects along its shores until after · redress shnll hn.vo been
sought from us or. in 'our Court. · If it bo refused, or if it slutll a1,1>crlr thnt
we lm.ve acted unjustly either to ~ritish subjects or to persons entitled to
Jlritish protection. then let our fl'iond call upon us for cxplanat.ions.
We snhmit, however, t.o our friend, nnd to llis ·Excclloncy the Gov01·no1·
Ge11.c1;t1.l- of Indio. in Cmincil, that the course adopted in the present instancu
hf our friend is not only injurious to us and to our position as tho Soverci~u
of .Johoro, but iR cnlculatcd to hinder tl10 administration of justice l>Y
e,-omplicating it. wit.I~ 11reliminary appeals ~o our frien<l.
o. 'rl1erc nrc other evil consequences likely to: follow from it to which
nlso wo woulcl request consideration. · 'rbti.t .the high ··,and in1lucnt.inl 1,osition
oT our friend us ~he representative of tho Queer. of ]lritnin is well known 1111<l
felt by all tho. Native ropulo.tions around, and.not least in our own 'rerritory of
J of1ore, nnd "~hen, as in tho present cnse, tho one party comes into Court 11.fter a
prc~i~ina.ry appeal to our friend, and wit!1 tho cou.ntonance n.nd p1·otcctio11 of
ou1: fr1oml's G_ovcrnm.cnt so markedly evinced, "1tncsscs u.nd otliors mo.y lm
infli\cnccd·by it inn, manner detrimental to tho cause or truth and right.
Again,. and perhaps tho worst effect' or o.11, WO euhmit that, (,'()ll8itloring tho
aggfossi vo charnctcr of the Chiuoso, tho course · n.tlopt.od by our fl'iontl tm1<ls
Rtrongly to embolden them in b1•e11,king tl11·ough i.1stn.hlishcd rcgn lntions n.R t.o
thc,distanccs at which .l'uknts must'(kccp from Ko.ylongs (fishing stakes) in
fislung, &c., in the masterful manimr shown in this iusto.uoo, 1111d o.s n nocossu.ry
e,-onset1 uencc to render affrays of· the, kind more frequ~nt and more serious.
6. .or course what we have snj,1 docs not refer to cnses of t>irncy, under
which class of· crime our fricncl, in bis letters of tho 18th 'Mo.y, seems to hn.vo
thought this mig,tt bo placed, lmt we o.ro sornowhnt sm·prisctl and n.larmccl t.o
l"nrn that in such cases, nccording to our frioml's rending of tlto laws of
nations, lm might send an armed force (into onr 'l'crritory, w~ J>resumc our
fricn<l to mean). to apprehend the ofFentlers. ,vo trust our friend will not net,
on th~s opinion' without dcmanclin:g tho offenders from ·us, and t.hcy will not he
withl1cld unlo.c:is wo ·can show re..'l.sons for it satisfactory to our frieml and His
J~xcclle,ncy the Governor General of India.
7. We hope to bear from our friend at his c·onvenience with his remn.rks
upon the evidence in _this case, for our assistance and guidance, and in disposing
of it; ancl shoulcl our friend view it as we ourselves do, wo would request to know
from our f riencl bow_ he would pro1mse to deal with those Chincso fishermen.
When the result"of the reference of this case to llis Excellency the Governor
General of India in Council is known to our ·friend, we trust our friellfl
will put. us in possession· or it.
At Sk11ndra Putri, on tl1e 29th day of the month Zoolkaidah, Hejorah 1277.
DEPOSITION OF KWElI KIEllAN.
"\VHEitEAs I, Kweh Kiehan, resident of Singo.pore in Ka.mpong Glum, hy
trade a fisherma.n for thirteen years. I was fishing o.t Punjurin, but not in the
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villngo of thn.t nnmc. 'fhcrc wuro seven of UR f111hing, "iz. I, Kwek Knhu:i.t,
Clrn.k Clmchn, 'l'n.n Asing. Kwok Achow, Kwok .Liunchoo, Kwek Kilit!.
I went. to fish on tho 18th tln.y or tho month Shn.wnl; whilo ,~ngnge1l
in fishing, nml us ·my not wn.s still in tho wntor, 11hout 11 o'clock nt
night, bofnro the moon o.rm10, there co.mo two mon in . n Kolok rowing, nncl
1.hrno mun wntling in tho wu.tm· up to tlrnir ]moos. At. f\rRt [ did not know
who tlwy wm·c, hut when i.hcy hcg:m to seize tho not Uwn I rccognir.ctl Urnm.
\Vhen Umy wero mm.r I lw,ml n voico Mnying :-" How dn.ro yon In f\sh
lmro wit.11ont lott.ing mo know; ir you wi1d1 to Hsh horo you mu11t hring
somct.l1ing for mc.u 'l'ho man tlrn.t spoke wn.s n.l>out six ynrds from mn. hut
l clid not rccognizo him. I n.nRworcd, "I thought or buying something,
but Imel forgoltm1 it." [ w11..c; then or<lm·od n.wn.y: tho not WM left ·thm·<,, but
my fish was in.ken; they wcl'c No. B mul No. 4 who took tho fish out
or mv Jmat. At t.hat timo Achew s1ii<l, 11 Do not in.ko Ro much, n. litt.lo
will ~lo." After they luul tu.ken _tho fish, hccnm10 K.owch Achow liucl 1miu.
so, they pie1·cc1l him; I coulll not ·rocog11izo tho person who had 11icrcocl him,
for I wa.s tlt<m sitting n.t t.ho stern. or tho boat; tho man t.hat was 11iercccl
wn~ nt the front of the, boat in tho wntnr. Whon Aehmv wns picrc,-c1l
we nll ,inm pt?cl into tho wnt.ur: nR soon ns they (tho l\fol:tys) g-ot on shore,
l got into tho bont ug:1.in n.n,l rowc•ll oJI'. At tho t.imo I jumpocl out or tho
lmat. I wns 1ibout 200 foot from 1.ho beach. Aft.er running :thout lrnlf
an hour, I then rcturnc,l tc• tho lwnt .. '·\Yhon I left tho hont it wn.s not
Hoating. 1 foun<l nouo of my things lost o~cepiing nll tho fish li:ul been
taken ;nrn.y. ·
In thu Cuurt or Johore, at Sk1u11lr" l'utri. on tho 2Dtlt clny or the month ur Zoolkl\i11Ah, Jltijl'rala
1277.
'fnE lhi1•os1·1·10N oF CnAN Cm.1c11A. ·
1Vmmu.As I, Clum Chuchn., rcsillont or Singn-1l01·0 in Kmnpong Gln.m,
fon years a flshcrma,n mul ha.vo been (hero) fishing eight yen.rs. · On tho
17th day or tho month of Slmwnl, u.t 7 o'clock iu t.ho mo1·ning, I went out.
from the rivc1 ltocho1·0 1.o fish nt l 1unjul'in. Ahont Rix: o'dock in the
evening, when I nrrivod thct·c, I sto11pcd to ont 1·ico. At'Lo1· lmving <·nlen
I cnmm~ncod fishing, six timoi tho not hntl hcen drn,vn up, f.hc moon 1.hen
was becoming ln·ightcr; u,bout tciu · o'clock there en.mo· fh·o l\fo.ln.ys p:ul<lling
a kolek 11c:1r my bo:it n,ml woru ta.king my fish, when Achcw flnitl, 11 Do not
tako much, tu.kc a little will lm enough." At th::i.t momont I wits n.hout
r.ighty foet fo.r from tho l>0nt. · Achcw \vas in tho wn.tcr m~ar the boat I Raw
thoso ]\,folnys, five of them came and took tho fish (out of tho hoat), nll of them
wcrl? in tho kolck; they suooJll'<l tho fish with my scoop, mul thrmv lhmn int.o
their kolck; but 1 <lo uot know how much fb1h they took, I nncl thn rni-t. worn in
the wat.cr at tho timo; thcro was not on.o mn.n in the boat. Ad1<)W wa~ nrtcrwn.
rd~ picrcc,l, nnd I then ran o.w11y. I knew Achow foul boon 1,icrcccl lmc:utso
I heard him cry out " I have been 1•icrcod ;" ns soon ns I hen.rel thnt I mn olf.
,vhcm ho wus 11icrcccl t.lmro worr. only two mrm ncnr the lmnt nt t.hn timo, vi::,
Kwek K:.tlmnt, tho man hold the. rudder, mul himself (Achcw). I ran n.hont
the cfo1t.nncc of 100 fn.thoms. About hnll' nn hour after I su.w iho l\Inlnys hn<l
rcachc<l tl10 shore, I then went bnck to pull tho bont nnd rowccl ofl'. I n.m
ncqunintcd with on)y 011e mnn belonging to No. u. I knew him n.hont n. month
ngo. During that night whcthc1" he cnmo or not I cnnnot sny. I could
not recognize one man t.hat night. I lifted Achcw up nml placed him in tho
hoat and then rowml off home. Opposite the pln.co I fishml thc1·0 wns not
one fishing stake. 'l'ho reason \Vhy I did not givo uolk•o to N ong llusar is
becamm I was u.rraicl, besides I am not u.cquaintctl with Nong Ucsa.r.
( 11 )
In the Court at. Skm11lra Putri, on the 20th dAy or the mouth Zoolkn.idnh, Hcjerl\h 1277.
Dm•osn·roN OF KowEK Aonmv. ,
WnmrnAs I, Kowck Achcw, reside in the river Knllnng. I hnve lin•d
eighteen yen.rs in Singapore, nml hn.vo boon n fishcrmrm nlmnt fon ·ynn.i·s.
I went to fish in tho Hay Ampn.t, on the 17th driy of tho month Shu,wnl ;
I left Singapore at 7 o'clock in the mornin!i. I reached tho J3ny Ampat u.hout
U o'clock in tho evening. 'l'boro were in ah seven of us, viz. Kwok ]Cichnn,
t.ho ·hcndm:m, Chnn Chuchn, Kwek Ke]mnt, Kwek JCilic, Lun, J\1foo, 11.ntl
Kwek Kong Choo. After hnving ontcm food I hcgn.n t.o fish; n.t 7 o'dook
t.he moon wn...ci dn.rkonocl (not soon). I hn.d let clown tho not eix t.imc~,
afterwards en.mu five l\Ialay~ to tn.ko fish, two or them wcro pnddling 11 kolck,
amt lhrc<' came from tho beach walking in tho water, together making Jivn
men. As soon as thuy woro by the side or t.ho hoat thoy took tho fish out ;
three wcro in the water, nml two in tho kolok. I· sui<l. 11 Do not tulrn too
much, a little will do ;" lmcauso I said so, ono or thom pierced mo i n.t thn,t
time I was in tlm w;tf.cr ; I wa.g piorcc,l witll n.. lanco 011 my belly. 'l'ho
man that pierced me was n.l~o in tho ,vatcr by thn same sitlo of. tllO boat
where I wns st.a.nding. '!'heir compn.nions wore by tho aide of tho bon.t. I cli<l
not recogni1.e the man thnt JJiet·cml mo because it WM <l:irk ; hut I suspect
the mnn that pir.rced me w:u1 tho mnn .No. u; I think ho is tho mnn.
'rhe <listanco of the mn.n from me was one. fathom. I fell on my bu.ck on
the beach near hy the side of tbe pukat; tho wntcr was up to tho knee in
depth. I was not conscious nt tho time, hut that mun I rccognizctl; tho
other I do not recognize.
At. Sk:i.mlr., l'utri, on tlio 20th cll\y or tho month Zuolkaidah1 ll11crah 1277.
]J IH'OSl'rION OF 'l'AN AsING. . '
,vmmEAS I, rru.n Aeing, have been 8, rosidont ~r Singn.por<?, at tho K.nlln.ng
river for upwarcls of twcnt.y-sovcn yen.rs, I been.men. flshormo.n eight yon.rs ngo.
Previous to that I lived iu tbe jungle, and WM a J>lnutcr. I usccl t.o snil ahout
also as far as Kla.nt.a.n. I went to Jish at Punjurin 'run Suo. lloy. On the 17th
day of tho month Slrn.wu.l, on tho lQtlt ,ln.y of th:J Chincso mouth, I CtLmo
out of Singapore at 7 o'clock in tho morning. I stopped awhile to on.trice.
There were altogether seven of us in ono pukat. 'l'ho hemlmnn was Kowok
Hua tho helmsman. Six men wero r.owing, viz. Kwek Knhuat, Chu.n Chuc1111,
Kwek Achcw, Kwek Kilio, nnd ono man hcsidcs with whom I nm not
acquaint,e<l, as I llavo only hccn ono .month ongn.god in fishing with thorn.
After having eaten I lot down tho not to fish. It was then about 7 o'clock.
'l'hcre wure three men in tho wuter, vi~. Achow, Knhuat; n.ncl ]Cilio, aml three
besides with me in tho. boat. As soon n.s tbo net was let clown into tho
wn.tcr; we n11, seven or us, went lnto tho wntcr. Aflor <lmwing tho not
n.hout six times, camo ·some Mn.lays who woro twonty feet distn.nt from U9.
In -the kolck thcro were two men nncl four men wn.ding in tho water. As
soon as they reached the pulmt, they commcncecl t.n.king tho fish ; nt thn.t
time we were all in the w:nter ; those who flrew the net were n.hout ten
fathoms from the pukat, n.11 seven of us were drawing the net. 'l'he wuter
was then up to our thigh. · 'l'he Mn.lays did not sny a word. 'l'ho helmsman
said, " If you arc going to· take (fish) take a little, sumciel).t to cn.t." One of
them replied, " I must take all tho fish ; you have come to fish here without
letting me know." 'l'hen my compa.nion, the helmsrnn.n said, "I hn.ve como
so far from Singapore, do not tako too much, n. little will do." Tho mnn
replied, "If you wish to fish here, you must buy something to1 give to me,"
I then requested them not to take too much; they. took notwithstanding;
at that moment four of my companions drew . near tho pukn.t. · 'rho man was
stiH taking more of the fish, . my companion would not allow him, ancl he
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began to pull. At tbo.t moment I '1Vns holding tho ropo or tho not, and a11w
myself tho man tu.king tho fish; my companion then took tho ilsh out of }ljs
hand: my companions who wcro pulling no.mod Kowck liun. o.nd Achow. 1'1;1
am not ac<tuo.intod with those Mo.lo.ya. As I wo.s looking lmhiml, I so.w,
Achow foll down on his back; whon I saw Achow wo all t,hon tonk him up o.nd
put him into the puka.t .. 'l'bo not was still in tho wn.t?r, bu~ nono. uf our
companions ran nwny. Wbcn I saw Achow had boon p1orco<l, nnmmho.t.oly I
drew in tho net and rowed off. 'l'ho Malays hu.d then returned to tho shore.
Furt.licr thn.n this I do not know.
In Court at Bknndra I>utri, on tho 20th day of tho montll Zoolkaidah, Ilojc>ral1 1277.
' .
D.EPOSITlON OF KowEK' lluAT,
WuEnEA.8 I, Kowck Hunt, hn.vo been a resident in Singn.porc, at Ku.mpong
JCn.llang, for six.or seven years. ]Nrst, I 01l0ned asbop for tllrco years u.nd than
became a fisherman four years. ·
On the 17th day of the month Sho.wo.l I wont to fish nt lJu.y Ampnt. I
came out of Singapore at 7 o'clock in tho morning a.ml roo.ohctl t.t Dn.y Ampn.t
in the evening at 0 o'clock.
'rhero woro seven of us, t,{z; Kowok IIua. the bco.dmn.n, myself, '110.n
Asing, K.owck Afoy, l'oot Uun. Uo, n.ml Kowok Aclrnw. AA soon 11.i:1 wo rcrwhctl
t.ho pln.eo I took some fooc.l. Ahout 7 o'clock I began to llsh, my not hll<l boon
let down n.bout six times. I wns 1mlling t.ho not with two 0U101·s, milking tht·oo;
four mon were ncnr tho pukn.t,, in n.ll thero woro sovon mon in tho wo.lor
pulling tho net. 'Xho pukn.t boo.t was also nour by. Afto1·wm·tls I hoar,l n mn.n
nen,r the 1mkat cry out " Don't t,n.ko so muclt Heh, n. fO\V' will do,'' huL I do not
know who it wo.s that took tho iislt; the voice I hoard wo.s n. l\1.1tlrtf m1m's voico.
I was JJUlling tho not o.hout 100 foot from tho }mkn.t whoro tho nmAo 11roccoclocl.
'11hcrc were four men, but caunot certify oo.c 1 of them. Afterwards I co.mo
towar,ls the }JUko.t 1100.t, and sn.w 'Achew was lying on his hnck. 'rho Mo.lays
hn.d dhmp11cn.rod. In gt"Ont lmsto I helped in putting Achow into tho puka.t hon.t.
After ,dmwing in tho not I 11n.dtllod off to Singapore. I ditl not run u.wny whuu
that man (.A.chew) wn.s prostrated (on tho ground). I cn.Ucd my compu.nious
to_ help in to.king him up, for Homo of them bad run u. disto.uco of U1irty fcot.
I myself did not run nwo.y. ·
At Skl\ndra ·Puki, on the.20th day of tbo month 1..oolkai1,11h, I-lf'jomh 1277.
1)£1.'osrrmx OF OuuA. BAU,
,v HEREA8 1, Chuo. So.b, lmve resided in Singapore o.t Ko.mpong Glam o.hout
fom·lcen ·years ; engaged in tho Uslting trade o.ll tlto.t time. I know notl1ing of
that atfrny, as I did not go along with them at that timo.
· At Bk1m,lm l>uiri, on t.llo 2Dtli day or the month 1.oolbiclab, Ilojcmh 1277.
DJWOSITlON OF St KLAT.
WnFHUMR I. Si Kln.t, roAi<ling n.t tl,e mouth of tho rivor Jto.yn.t for fnurtcon
years, employed in fishing with n. small flshin~ sl;n,ke,I know nothiug of this o.fl'ray,
except that Si Diman cu.me and complaincel to me that tho Chincso luul o.buso<l
him five timeA, and was not retorte<l by Si Diman. 'l1110 fishiug stakes holongod
to Si ]>imnn, those who wutchc~ tho stakes wore Si Dimt1.n nml Si Ninggnl.
At't.cr the Chinaman had abused. them, n.nd as they wont near, n. Chino.rnn.n
struck them with the baud.lo of o.n oa.r nnd hit Si Dimu.n on the right shoultlcr
and wounded him; Si Ditnnn then ran 00', hut Si Ninggal romuincd in the
kolck. Afterwards he en.me to me;and said, "tho fishing stu.kos ha.ve hC<m cut
( 13 )
to pieco..•1, the kolok towed n.wn.y, and Si Ninggn.l in.tho wnter!' 'l'ho uoxt <lny
I reported to N ong, nn<l sn,i<l cc my fish in~ Rbtk.os ho.vo l>oon out to pieces by the
Cliincse pukat, my kolek cm·riod off, nnd Si ])hmm is woumlo<l."
At Sknndrn l'utri, on tho 20th dny of tho month of Zoolkniunh, llojornh, 1277.
DEPOSI'l'ION OF DIMAN.
WuEREAS I; ])i1'mn, residing o.t ltnynt, for throe ycnrs hnvo hcon flshi11g wit.It
my own fishing stakes. It is truo I wns in nn nffrny with tho Chinc~o. JJefom
this, I was watching with Si Niuggal nt tho fishing shtkcR. 'l111c11 cnmo n
pukat boat with Cbineso to. fish ncnr tho fishing stakes. It i!! now nhout
forty <lays n.go. I nm not acquainted with thoso Ohinoso; thoro wot·o n.hout,
seven. of thorn. I tohl them "J)on't you be fishing ncnr the fishing st.ukos,
if you want to fish, go a Utt.lo furt.hcr."; I wns nt tho . timo in tho kolnk,
he answered, "You n.re not the King nt Son.'' I thon snid, " ]h·ion<l, don't
you Qe noisy," nftcr thnt he n.busc<l me, "Your mother's 1mcle11du111, muliebre."
I nlmse<l him also (in tho sn.mo words.) He then stmck mo with n.n oar
n.nd hit me on tho right slmu,dcr, I wnr<lctl off tho blow with my paddle;
then camo Si _Ninggal nnd }lOkcd llirn with tho piultllo; immmlin.tcly n.rtnr
that' tho Chinaman struck 1no ngn.in; n.s I coul1l not st:uul it, I. rn,n to t.hn
hen.ch : n few motriimts after Si Ninggal rn.u also, lmt my kulok wn~ 1t~rt
behind. Sh0t'lly after I went down ugain, and saw my kolck Juul bcon
towed again by tho Chinese, and my fishing stakes nll cut to pieces.
At Sknmlrn. Putl'i, on tho 20th tlRy of tho montli of 7,oolkAitlA11, 1l1~cr11h 1277.
D.EPosr1·10N OF Sr N ING GAL.
· WnERRAS I, Si Ninggn.l, residing nt tho mouth of tho river ltn.yn.t,
removccl. from l>uujurin u.bont. four mont;)u; ngo; 1uu 011gn.goll in flqhini;
with my own fishing Rl.akcs which aro n.hout fututccm foot in heigh!;. J\ ho1tt,
8 o'clock in tho night I Wn.R wutclti'ng my fh,hing Rfnlct'~. ~rltiR is now forl.y
days ngo. 'rhero en.mo somo Ohinoso tu Jlsh with their net nom· my flshing
sfoJrns, .about tho distnnco of two. fo.t.homs; I proventc<l thorn nml Rn.hi,
" Get up, you nro fishing too near my stakes; you wnnt to get iwofit, I n.m
also seeking profit, go a little further, woultl it not be better ? ' 'l'hoy then
abused me, some of tho Chinese wore in the boat and some in tho wntnr. I wns
in the kolck. I then said" Don't you n.buso me, I hn.vo n right to pmvcnt[ou,
I do not wish to givo trouble; why do you. ahusc mo"-tbcy thou abuse mo
again,.\ abused them also. Six men took.up tl1cir onrs, nncl 0110 mnn hnd 11.
pole in his ha.ml and struck Si Dimnn, wounding him on the right shoul<ler.
It was dark at the time, therefore I could not know, I was nlso st.ruck;
I could':· not stand it any longer. Si Dimn.n having rnn off, I then J>okccl
the man with my pndtllo; I cannot tell at whnt pnrt (of the body)
he was struck. They beat me ngn.in, and I foll into the wn.tcr; I then got up
and ran pfT. I called _some of my companions , to help me. As they woro
coming -the Chinese (in tho meantime) rowed off nnd took nlong with them
the kolek. 'J'he next morning I went clown to sec the fishing stn.kcs n.ncl
found them all cut to p~cccs. 'l'hcro ·were in ull seven Chiueso who fought
against me.
At Bkandra Putri, on the 29U1 day or the month of Zoolkaid11h, Hejorah 1277 .
. ' j
DEPOSITION OF KASllll.
WnEltEAS I, Kn.sim, living at. tho mouth of tho rivor ltnyo.t., for uhout.
f nu· months fishing with my emnll fishing stnkes. At the commoucement
201
202
( 11, )
of the nffi·r1.y, l wus sleeping; l hc:ml nfticrwnrc\.!I llimn.n nnd Si Nin~gnl
calling ont, " Help, lwlp", I w,•nt, dowu hut All.\\' no Chincso there .. 'l'lrn
1wxl mor11i11g ·niman nntl Si N inggal wt.ml; tu the stakes n.nd snw tho wholo
liatl hecm cut to pieces. 'J'hus nmch_l know.
At Hlouulrn. Putri, tm the 20th day of tho 111,onth of ZoolkRitlRh, Jl1tl1mth 1277.
])1,;l'OSJ'l'lON OF Kt'l'AR. .
\Vu1m1Ms I, Kitnh, living nt tho mout.h of river ltnyn.t, omployml
in fishi11g for thrno ycnrs with my own i\Hhing stukos which u.ro two fn.thonu1 in
hei1;ht.: l wus not in ttny wu.y coucurnml in this nffrn.y, hcingt.hcn m;lecp. I did
hear· Si l>inmn mul Si Niuggnl crying out for help, I wont tlown (to tho honch) uml
s:iw the Uhinc1m luul ro,,·cd off, and tnkcn with them tho kolck. 'l'ho ucxt :riaorniug
I obscrvctl tho Jishing shikcs _belonging t'> Si N inggal hn.cl l,con cut to piccos.
· At 8kautlm Putri, on tho 20th dny or tho 111011th of Zoolkai<lRh, llejcmh 1277.
D 11Posn10N oE Alum JC.
,vul!ltWAS t Ambck, livjng nt llo.yut, about fom· months engaged in
foihing nlong with my hrothcr Si .Singgn.l. Our JiRbing stakes · wcro 1:nnnU, I
wns not in nny wny conccrnccl in t.his n.ffrn.y, hoing then asleep, (I hetml)
l>iman mul Si Ninggal cryin~ ou1, "Help, help.'' Knsim wnkc1l mo smhlcnly
nnd sai1l, "'l1llCro is n sound of noise." l uwoko ntul went down to tho
hcaeh, ns T. rcnchc<l t.lHI plnco Si Ninggnl snicl, "'l'ho Chi11cNo l111vc cnrl'icd off
om· kolek." 'l'ho ncxL morning I went llowu with my broUwr n.ud sn.w tho
fishing i:it,akns nll cut to piccrn~. I know nothing fm·thor.
l•'hm1 Cot,Ol'IRJ. On nun 0A. VKN AOII Oovcrnoror Prinr.o ol \V11l011' I1411m1l, Singnporo 1\1\l\ }lfola.ccn, t.o Iii•
lliglml'RR tho 'l'mnongong of ,Johoro,-(No. 401, tl1\t0ll Siugnporo, tho lULh July 180L.)
.J\ rr1m CoMl'J,1 AIEN'l'S,
,v1~ lm.vo rcecivccl our friend's lottor or tho 12th inst,nnt nml
cnrefully vcrusc1l tho dupusitions thcn-owith tmusmittml.
Alt.hough tho «wi,lmwo nthlnce<l hcl'ot·o um· fricml is oppo~cil t.o tho stn.tomc•
nt, contn.in•!tl in tho l'dition of which n copy wu.s forwU,L·tlcd with our lottor
. datetl 1 uth 1\{ny, n J>otilion it mnst ho rcmomhoroc.l written in u. foreign iou~uc
~ml with the 1mrpo1·t of which tlt0 l'ctitioncrs mny uot linvo bcou well nccl'm,mtcd,
except ns regards tho nmn 1,cr of tl1oir ni:i~milnnls, it; is in s1.rict nocorclnnco
with tho report 1mulo to tho l'olico on tho .20th April, upon which roport our
first communication wus based nrnl of ,vhich wo cncloeo n. copy rm• our frimul'a
inform.~tion, unclm~ ihrnm circnmst.nnccs wo n.ro imlucCll to bcliovo thnt in this
i nslancc, t"1 though pcrlrnps tho Chiucso mny hn.vo Efivcn eomo provocntion by
tho mm of n.lmsivo lnngungo, in tho mniu tboir story 1s correct moro cspccinlly
ns it is clear, from tho ccrLificato nnnoxccl, thnt ono of their momhor wna sovoroly
wounded apparently l>y n blow fl'Om n Kris or othor 1mintotl instrumont, whilst
the Malay witnesses. assert tlmt tho only blow struck on their 1mrt was thnt
acknowlc<lgC<l to havo been given by Bi Ninrrgn.l with his 1mddlo, which could
hardly hnvo inflict.ell a wouml of tho nnturo c.lcscrihcd by tho ltrn~icloncy Assistnnt
· Surgoon. ,vo hnvo nlrcntly 1mintcd out to our fricncl thnt, ns by tho 'l.1rcn.ty
of tho 2nll August l82'J1, n.U acn.s, stro.its, nncl islets to tho extent of ton
g-cographical miles from tho coast of tho mo.in islnml of Singnporo, hn.vo been
cc<lcd to tho llrifolh Government, tho fishing of tho Seo. for thn.t distance and
within low-water mark is perfectly open to all Ilritish. 1mbjects, and consequently
nny :it.tnck mndo upon them within thcso limits cn.n only l,o considcrccl as
nn act of pit-acy, nn<l render 1.ho offcmlcrs lin,blo to npprchcnsion by n, British
force, ancl punishment by a llritish tribunul, of course should they seek refuge
( 16 )
within :my portion of our friend's territories under tho XI. Article of the
n.hovc 'frcat,Y. wo should consider it our duty to coll upon our friend for tho
neecssnry assistance to cnsuro their cnpturo; a cnll which we trust would bo
fully responded to.
KAY An (J1nJw was admitted on 20th April nt 10 A. 11. o.nd was discharged
·on lttb May. On admission 110 bad a punctured ~ound penetrating into the
ahclomcn, through which pnrt of tho covnring of tho intostinos prolrndo<l, tho
wouncl wns one inch and n hnlf iu hron.dtb, n.nd mo.y hn.vo boon iuflictml by
Kris or any 1mintcd instrument about that eizo.
SI NOA l'Olt};:, }
'l'he l(jt/i Jul!J 18Ul.
(Sd,) JAMES OoWPAlt.
('rruo Copies,)
(Sd.) M. Ptt0TllEROE, Lieutenant,
•
0.lfg. Secy. to the Govr. of the Strait8' Settleme,,t.
203

Annex20
Letter from Weld F. (Governor of the Straits Settlements) to
Meade R. (Assistant Undersecretary, Colonial Office)
dated 27 Aug 1885

Confidential
Chideock Manor
Aug 27, 85
My dear Mr. Meade
In reply to yours -
f. I do not object to the word "having function similar to those of a consular
officer'' omit ort1inary? but I think that the Indian Govt is not likely to allow Indian coolies
to go to Johar unless their officer has some supervision over them, but that you
could ascertain at the India office
If. The only danger that I wish, as you do, to provide against, is the excuse for
foreign intervention. I do think it sufficiently real to need providing against. There
is a good deal in some of the objections but as our ends are the same as those
desired by the Maharajah we ought to be able to find a solution. Have you
consulted Mr Bramston? Whether a clause could not be inserted in the
Maharajah's agreements to meet the case for instance making the British
Government arbiter in case of disputes arising but perhaps he would object to that
- The whole question is a difficult one even a British Company might sell out to a
Foreign one - I will consider this. I leave a space whilst I pass on to the next (VII)
Since writing the foregoing & the succeeding paragraphs I have thought over the
matter, I see no way out of the difficulty excepting by giving up the point, & by
something to the following effect. I do not like to give up the point if it can be
attained by any reasonable means, but we cannot shut out the Chinese etc, or
indeed the Javanese who are in a way the Maharajah's own countrymen. Indeed
he is of Bugis descent from [ ... ] [ ... ] But with the Tamg it at [ ... ] others [ ... ] before
us, so special a point of vantage as Johar must be carefully secured. Would any
thing of this kind do?
205
206
"and it, shall be a condition in all such concessions that they ipso facto
become null & void, should an appeal be made as against H. H. the Sultan of
the State of Johore his heirs & successors or the Govt of Johar to any
Foreign Government or should such concessions became an occasion of
interference in Johar or with its Government in any plea whatsoever by any
foreign government" In compensating if any to have arbitration by our Govt.?
VII I do not think "legitimate" will do. I have heard, I know not with truth, that
the Maharajah had a son by a divorced first wife a Princess of the Pahang family -
now if that child be living, he would probably the "legitimate" successor. accorcling to
our ideas - He has a daughter, a charming child, I believe by this present wife, but I
take it she would not succeed & his present wife is half Chinese &, I fancy, of no
high Malay blood. I should say that if the headman consented & the Maharajah
named his brother that would be a legitimate succession accordance with Malay
customs, & it would be the best thing probably to be done. If the Maharajah died
without such consent of headmen being first obtained we could always influence
the headmen and they would expect us to advise with them or wish it, & our
interests would require it for after all Johar is practically a part of Singapore. I
should put "he" "and his heirs and successors lawfully succeeding according to
Malay custom." This would at once exclude all foreigners, companies etc and
confine it primarily to his own family & certainly to Malay blood in the extremest
case. The gross injustice of the Muar case was not only in setting aside Tunku
Allum (a very fit man) but also in setting aside the whole Royal blood & family.
Under the clause as I propose if the Maharajah could on his return name his
successor with consent of the headmen. If however he designated him without
that consent formally expressed - he would have to trust to that consent having
given on the installation of his successor. I put in the word "His Highness" in the
penultimate line though it reads awkwardly because I don't want him to assume
the title of Royal Highness. The Perak & Selangor Sultans might claim it because
we have acknowledged by Treaty a "King" of Perak & also I think of Selangor &
they are of the highest "Sangre Azul" as the Spanish say. The word Highness
used a few lines before refers to these last. I leave you a letter just received from
CC Smith. Please read and return it as it is private.
Yours truly
(Signed) J. W. Weld.
Confidential
PS. I would only further remark that the Maharajah should not look on these
provisions as being likely to act vexatiously against him. They are to enable us to
come forward to protect him & to avoid loopholes by which any foreign powers
might enter & bully him.
If we took the hypocritical view we could not suffer to protect him without an
explanation that we should only do so if he behaved himself & did not attack other
people.
I would stay w the conclusion State & Territory of Johore. The word Sultan of the
State of Johore should be the official address. Sultan of Johore will be the
ordinary & colloquial term of address but if given officially it might be taken to be
the old title properly Tunku Allum's with its old rights over the little states &
suzerainty over Malacca & Pahang. This might be mentioned in a confidential
despatch but there is no need to bring it under the Maharajah's notice.
Excuse this scrap of paper.
J.A.W.
[Transcriber's Note: Attachments to this note are enclosed, but are not
transcribed.]
1 207 1
208

211
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No. 440 •
. -~~-{/~-;~ __ .. .,,:.::.,~
J/,f..:i,: .. -::~\;,
·.:~_ff;
; 1.-lEMOR.;4..i.'fDUM on c~rta~ points touching. th;e'.~?i.'.)_ .
( rem.t..100~ or Her M::i.Jcs~y s Government or_tl:>.e.•,i)')\
· St.nuts Settlements with the Government. .of.,:, .,,}'ii
\.__J_he lndcpondcDt State of Joborc. ~0 · -}<::;..,. ,~ ..
AltTlCLE I. . ~ ::.,)}:·it~~
The t,\"o GovernmoDts will. o.t. 11.ll times-.cot•:• . .',/i/:•~ff.
lliruly co-operate in' the settlement of'n. pe~ur ... ;}fff."
.popufation iD.r.th,5lllm~$~~ighbouring terri-: · i .;::t,r··'"
torie.ci, a.nd in the Jou1t"derence 0£ those territories: · :, <::"
:1.nd in tho mutual surrender of persons accused .Ot:·· ·,:·•?t
convicted "-Of ti.DY crime or otlence, under suoli::,:·>:,conditions
ns may bo arr:w,,.n-ed between the t,v6~.
G . ~· overnment&. \(;;. ..
.A.nTICLE II. :;"' ;;:;·.
• • I , • ·,-:~:<: ~:t:,_:.~y~
His Eftghness the M.'l.rui.r:1:JMlof Johore unde.r;'.,.': -'"::;'7::t~4
takes, i!" reqt1ested by the Government of thc:Stmita-~.'i · ·
Settlements, to· c.:o-oper:i.t.e in·muking...::i.mm~¥S:.i~~-<
for facilitating tr.ide :i.nd transit commu~ic:i.tioti,'. .. ::':-'.}:§ ("\
overbnd through the State of Johore ,nth the .', ! ;;'.:; 0 ·
Sta.te or Pah:i.ng. · ~ ·\i)\'f?,:;t.. μ
..\.nTICLE IIT. _-f:"J~ . -.(
Ir the Government, of the Strait.a Settl~ents : :-.· .~;·,~ l,tj
~hall n.t :Lil time desire ton. int a British Offic!r·. ?~;~·,,
as, ·~ent to 1ve w1thm t e tl.l.te ol o ore lilB · ···, :-,~~:? ..._
Highness the Maha.rajah will be prepa.rdd 'pro- · '.';::?/;t;tl Lt.J
vide, free of cost, a suiloLlo site within his terri- · \;.:, ::,fa§ f. o(tory,
w~oreon a residence m:iy be cri:cted fo~- . t=·:f~i. (
occu~tion by such officer.• • •, ;·:, ..... , •·,;:-:"'..,
AUTICLE IV. . . _' :r?~~~j
Any coina.,ne in the currency or the Straits r:-:J:;
Settlcmenhl, which ma.y be required for the us$·of':"'·:?:t~::r ii.
the Government of Jobore, shii.ll be supplied. to.it:.:?_f;-~;f~~itl
b th Go r S.._:ts s • I . . ·t• . .-.•N,.. ...... ,• .. ;,.,
,y e . v~ruent o the "!~ • e1o~ emel!~'°.: ~::: ⇒.;,;:.:.;,~ . m~ n~t··wgh?r t.hllll those :~t._ w~uch -~~w.~·,:<,.l;:)f/1\t!
coinage lS supplied to Go,•ernmeilt.s -di'. t!io. ~lit. j.r.t~ .......
Protected States, and under the de l1m1tat1ona·' ;·:";"':0f~ ,
~ to o.mount. B.ia Highness the .lfu!iaraja.h· '?Y. ·:::1('!1.)~ · O
....
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_ his part undertakes. ~1at th!3 a.ppl1co.tions. ~~ liliJ .-~: ?;•,;.;-; 1 1.,
Government fQt,subs1d.i:u-y comage shall be strictly .,;--:<;· V"" ..
limited by the legitimate requirements or th~::>'? ~-
inhD.bit.ants of the State or Joliore, ond tha.t thef:(Q" ()''
comago so issued shall be subject ·to. the'~~:1:,t;
limitations as~ legal teri'der. :is o.to iif.fo' , ...
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Annex 21
Correspondence Concerning Claim of the Sultan of Johore to the
Natuna, Anambas and Tambelan Islands:
(i) File note by Herbert R. (Undersecretary, Colonial Office) of meeting with
Inchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore)
dated 23 Mar 1886
(ii) Letter from the British Colonial Office to British Foreign Office
dated 25 Mar 1886
(iii) Letter from the British Colonial Office to Inchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary
to the Sultan of Johore) dated 20 Apr 1886
(iv) Memorandum from Inchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of
Johore) to the British Colonial Office dated 5 May 1886
(v) Letter from the British Colonial Office to Inchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary
to the Sultan of Johore) dated 26 May 1886
1 220 1
They pointed out that by Article 12 of the Treaty of 1824 Great Britain
had recognised the claim of Holland to certain Islands South of Singapore;
from which they infer that the Dutch then set up no claim to the Islands
mentioned in this letter; and they said that they were aware of no title to
these Islands established by Holland, whereas they alleged that the title of
Johore is good as stated by Mr. Crawfurd in the M.S. extract from his
Dictionary annexed.
I send their papers[ ... ] as above. and & the maps to F.O. in original, asking
whether F.O. is of opinion that Johore has, on this showing, a prima facie
claim to the Islands, and suggesting that, if so, (as it would seem important
to secure the Islands to a friendly State whose foreign relations are under
the conduct of this country, as their proximity to Singapore would render
their occupation by a Foreign power a possible source of Danger to the
British settlements,) it would desirable to ascertain whether the Netherlands
Govt has any well founded claims to any of the Islands in question.
G 24/3
RGWH
Mar23
G.O.M.
March 24
[Letter from the British Colonial Office to British Foreign Office dated 25 Mar
1886, from C.O. 273/142, Straits No. 4962, Folio Nos. 854 - 855]
The Under Sec. of State
F.0-
Sir,
(Signed)
D.S.
25 Mar. 86
I am directed by Earl Granville to transmit to you for the consion (sic)
of the Earl of Rosebery the enclosed letter from His Highness the Sultan of
the State and Territory of Johore on the subject of the Islands belonging to
that State.
2. The Secretary of the Sultan, with Mr. Rodyk, his lawyer, called at this
office last week & explained their reasons for thinking that the claim of
Johore to the islands referred to in this letter has not been invalidated by
any effective occupation of them, or any of them, by the Netherlands
government.
3. They mentioned that the Netherlands government had, they believed,
for some time a coaling station on the principal Natuna Island, but that this
station was some time ago abandoned, and they understand that the Dutch
have now no settlement there & they added that the inf-1 they obtained at
the adlty. bore this out.
4. They pointed out that by article 12 of the Treaty of 1824 Great Britain
had recognised the claim of Holland to certain Islands South of Singapore,
from which they infer that the Dutch then set up no claim to the Islands
mentioned in this letter; and they said that they are aware of no title to those
Islands established by Holland, whereas they alleged that the title of Johore
is good, as stated by Mr. Crawfurd in 1856 in the MS. extract from his
"Dictionary of the Indian Islands & Adjacent Countries" annexed.
1 221
1222 1
5. I am to enquire whether Lord Rosebery is of opinion that Johore has,
on this showing, a prima facie claim to the Islands, and if so to suggest that
(as it would seem important to secure the Islands to a friendly State, whose
foreign relations are under the control of this country, since their proximity
to Singapore would render their occupation by a foreign Power a possible
sources of danger to the British Settlements) it would appear desirable to
ascertain whether the Netherlands Gov1 has any well founded claims to any
of the Islands in question.
RGWH
[Letter from the British Colonial Office to lnchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to
the Sultan of Johore) dated 20 April 1886, from C.0. 273/142, Straits No.
6236, Folio Nos. 280 - 285]
lnchi Abdul Rahman
20 April 86
Sir,
I am directed by Earl Granville to request you to inform His Highness
the Sultan of the State and Territory of Johore that H.M. Govt_ have had
under consideration His Highness's letter of the 20th ult0 • on the subject of
certain Islands alleged to belong to Johore, but they regret to state that they
do not think that His Highness can establish his claim thereto.
2. It appears to be clear that Dutch right of sovereignty over the Islands
has been recognised. It is stated in Crawfurd's "Dict"Y. of the Indian Islands
& Adjacent Countries" (published in 1856) that the Islands in question form
part of the territory of Johore; but on the 3rd of May 1866 the Netherlands
Minister in London communicated to the Sec. of State for Foreign Affairs
officially, in accordance with the Treaty of 17 March 1824, various
conventions and "contracts" which had been entered into between the
Netherlands Indian Government and certain native rulers in the Eastern
Seas, and among them was a "contract" concluded between the Resident
of Riouw duly authorised by the Governor General of Netherlands India and
the Sultan of the Kingdom of Lingga, Riouw and Dependencies to which
was said to be "annexed" a "convention" dated 19 August 1864 and which
ran as follows -
"The Resident of Riouw and Dependencies having perceived on a
voyage of inspection made in the month of May 1862 that of the
Anambas, Natoena, Pirates, and Tambelan groups, which are
1 224 1
mentioned as forming part of the Kinadom of Lingga, Riouw and
Dependencies in the 5th , 6th ., ?1h, 8th., gTh_, 10th• and 11 th Divisions of
the List belonging to Art. II of the Contract made between the
Netherlands Indian Government and the said Kingdom on the 1st of
December 1857 all the Islands which belong to these are not named
in that list, and that some of those which do appear in the List are
erroneously named; therefore, on the 19th day of August 1864 the
aforesaid Resident thereto authorised by Art 5 of the Government
Decree of 15 October 1862 N°.37 and H.H. Rajah Mohamad Joesolf,
Viceroy of the Kingdom of Lingga, Riouw and Dependencies,
authorised by H.H. Soleiman Sadar uel Alam Sjah, Sultan of the said
Kingdom by letter of 9 December 1862 to represent therein the
Sultan and nobles of Lingga Riouw and Dependencies, for the
purpose of removing all doubts therefrom; subject to the approval
hereafter of H.E. the Governor General of Netherlands India, have
agreed upon the following single Article"
It was then stated that the lands and islands mentioned in the List
appended thereto formed the Territory of the Kingdom of Lingga, Riouw and
Dependencies belonging to Art. I I of the Contract of 1st December 1857.
3. In this list the following islands were specifically named, Anambas (96
islands in all) Great Natoena Islands (38) North Natoena (6) South Natoena
(11) Pirate Islands (13) and Tambelan (41).
4. This Convention of 19 August 1864 was approved and ratified by the
Governor General of Netherlands India on the 13th• October 1864.
5. When the correspondence was laid before Parliament in 1882
respecting the British North Borneo Company a list of Treaties, Conventions
etc. concluded between the Netherlands Government and the Native
Princes in the Eastern Sea, of which copies had from time to time been
officially communicated by the Dutch to the British Government, was
published with the papers and in that List appeared the Anambas,
Natoenas and Tambelan Islands, together with a map of the Territories
claimed by Holland in 1882, and the Natunas etc were coloured as
belonging to the Dutch.
6. Having regard to these facts, H.M. Gov1. fear that it would not now be
possible to maintain the claim of the Sultan of Johore to these islands, even
if it could be proved that at some former times they belonged to that State.
I am etc.
[Signed] RM
j 22s I
1 226 1
[Memorandum from lnchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore)
to the British Colonial Office dated 5 May 1886, from C.O. 273/142, Straits
No. 8704, Folio Nos. 347 - 350]
Memo:
The Natunas, the Anambas and the Tambilan Islands
1. The Sultan of Johore claims these groups of Islands as appanages of
the Principality of Johore - vide "Crawford's Dictionary of the Indian
Archipelago" for proof of the Rulers of Johore having exercised sovereignty
over them.
2. It is stated that a few years ago, the Dutch claimed these Islands as
belonging to them and that the English Government recognised their claim
to them.
The Dutch asserted their claim on the ground that these Islands were
portions of the Kingdom of Lingga & Rhio which is under the sovereignty
forming a part of the Netherlands India.
The Sultan denies this fact & would observe that the rulers of Lingga
& Rhio have never had any right to the possession of these Islands, so that
in handing them over to the Dutch they gave away what did not belong to
them.
The ruler of Lingga & Rhio at the time of the alleged handing over
was no doubt aware that if the Islands were once recognised as Dutch
possessions, they would directly come under his rule = Lingga, Rhio, etc
were formerly portions of the Kingdom of Johore.
3. By the English-Dutch Treaty of 1824, the Dutch are excluded from
exercising any right over or interfering with the Islands to the North of the
Straits of Singapore. The groups in question are situated to the north of
that line, with the exception of certain Islands of the Tambelan Group, on
one of which the Dutch have a coal depot and a fort.
This Island is below the line of the Straits of Singapore.
4. When the late Sir James Brook first went to take possession of
Sarawak (N. Borneo) it is said that the Dutch objected to the proceeding but
they were reminded of the Treaty of 1824 and they withdrew their
objections, the territory occupied by the English being above the line of the
Straits of Singapore.
5. It is a significant fact that the Dutch have never placed any officers on
any of the Islands above the line and they did away with a coaling station
they had at one time established on one of the Islands of the South Natuna
Group.
With the Dutch in the East it is a well known fact that they maintain an
official as Resident on any island belonging to them wherever the
inhabitants number a hundred; but they clearly have not done so in regard
to the Natunas, etc, although those Islands are largely inhabited and
importantly situated.
6. The inhabitants of these Islands have frequently petitioned the Sultan
to take more interest in them as portions of his dominions than has been
shown in late years, and, now His Highness being most anxious to do so
desires the recognition and support of the British Government before taking
any step in the matter, so as to avoid any clashing with the interests of the
Dutch in the Eastern Seas.
7. Reports say that fine harbours exist on some of the Islands, and His
Highness thinks he would be to a great extent serving the interests of the
British in endeavouring to bring these neglected islands now directly under
his rule.
A.R.
5.5.86
1 227 1
1 22a 1
[Letter from the British Colonial Office to lnchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to
the Sultan of Johore) dated 26 May 1886, from C.O. 273/142, Straits No. 8704,
Folio No. 351]
lnchi Abdul Rahman
26 May 1886
Sir,
With reference to your Memorandum of the 5th inst, & to prev.
corresp. regarding the claim of His Highness the Sultan of the State &
Territory of Johore to the Natuna, Anambas & Tambilan Islands, I am
directed by Earl Granville to request you to inform His Highness that after
further careful enquiry H.M. Govt. are clearly of opinion that as this Country
has fully acknowledged the claim of the Netherlands to the Islands in
question, H.M. Govt. cannot now take any step that would imply that that
claim is now questioned.
[Signed]
(i) File note by Herbert R. (Undersecretary, Colonial Office) dated 23 Mar 1886 of meeting with lnchi
Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore)
"' Individual •..
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1 229 1
1 230 1
(i) File note by Herbert R. (Undersecretary, Colonial Office) dated 23 Mar 1886 of meeting with lnchi
Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore)
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(i) File note by Herbert R. (Undersecretary, Colonial Office) dated 23 Mar 1886 of meeting with lnchi
Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore)
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1 231
1 232 1
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(iii) Letter from the British Colonial Office to lnchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore)
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(iii) Letter from the British Colonial Office to lnchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore)
dated 20 Apr 1886
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dated 20 Apr 1886
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dated 20 Apr 1886
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dated 20 Apr 1886
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(iii} Letter from the British Colonial Office to lnchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore}
dated 20 Apr 1886
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dated 20 Apr 1886
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(iii) Letter from the British Colonial Office to lnchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore)
dated 20 Apr 1886
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dated 20 Apr 1886
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dated 20 Apr 1886
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(iv) Memorandum from lnchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore) to the British Colonial
Office dated 5 May 1886
1 247 1
(Oivf)fi cMe edmatoerda n5d Mumay f r1o8m8 6l nchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore) to the British Colonial
(iv) Memorandum from lnchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore) to the British Colonial
Office dated 5 May 1886
1 249 I
1 2so 1
(iv) Memorandum from lnchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore) to the British Colonial
Office dated 5 May 1886
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(v) Letter from the British Colonial Office to lnchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore)
dated 26 May 1886
1 2s1
252
(v) Letter from the British Colonial Office to lnchi Abdul Rahman (Secretary to the Sultan of Johore)
dated 26 May 1886
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Annex 22
British Colonial Office Internal Minutes
dated 28 Apr 1886 and 29 Apr 1886

[from C.O. 273/142, Straits No. 6236, Folio No. 273]
Mr. Meade
I presume these maps should be returned to the Sultan with 3rd
pers. Note?
Jns. 28/4
Yes, to the lnchi
RM 28/4
[from Folio No. 272]
Maps ret.d to lnchi (in 3rd. pers. Note) 29 Apr
[Transcriber' Note : The foregoing transcribed passages are
highlighted in grey in the attached manuscripts.]
1 2s3 1
254
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j 2ss I

Annex 23
Sections III, IV & V of the
Constitution of the State of Johore, 14 Apr 1895

12s71
I
THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE STATE OF JOHORE.
A. H. 1312.
(14th .April, 1895.)
1 2sa 1
Descendants
of
Sultan
Abu Bakar.
Descendant
of
AJ.mm-bom.1
Ibrahim
and AbdulRabman.
( 5 )
III. The Sovereign (after the present Sovereign) must
be a descendant of the body and flesh and blood of His
Highness Sultan and Sovereign Ruler Abu-Bakar son of
Almarhom Ibrahim, and he who is so acknowledged must
be truly genuine and lawfully begotten; and the descendant
who shall be eligible to become the Sovereign must be a son,
grandson, great-grandson and so on of the male line first
one generation after another until the last, that is to say,
it shall not on any account be permitted and it shall beunlawful
to elect as Sovereign any person other than a
descendant of Sultan Abu-Bakar, so long as a descendant
as above of His said Highness exists; excepting in the case
of any such descendant of His Highness who may bo
considered and determined, afte:r full and complete enquiry
by the " Supporters of the State u as being ineligible to
be made Sovereign, owing to his having some great and.
serious defect derogatory to the quality of a Sovereign,.
such as, insanity, blindness, dumbness, or possessing some·
base qualities on account of which he would not oo permitted
by the Mohamedan Law to become a Sovereign Ruler.
IV. If at any time the lineal descendants of Hi$.
mghness Sultan Abu-Bakar should become totally extinct;
or if there should remain one but he should be unworthy
to be made Sovereign owing to the ·reasons defined in.
Section Ill., it shall be necessary to choose and appoint as.
Sovereign a Prince from among the lineal descendants of
Almarhom Temenggong Ibrahim; and again if there should
be none remaining or there should not be a.ny of the lineal
descendants of Almarhom Ibrahim considered eligible, it.
shall be necessary to choose and appoint as Sovereign any
person of the male sex from among the lineal descendants
of Almarhom Temenggong Abdul-Rahman, and in either·
of the above cases the person to be appointed Sovereign
shall truly be one of acknowledged genuine and lawful
blood.
Electing as
Sovereign
one not a
descendant
of Abu•
Bakar,
Ibrahim, or
of AbdulRahman.
Treason of
the lower
heirs.
( 6 )
·v. Supposing a time should arrive when there should
not remain a single representative left of the descendants
of the three Rulers mentioned in the last Section, or if
there should be one, but who does not possess the necessary
qualifications required by this Law and the Mohamedan
Law, then the matter of choosing, electing, and appointing
the Sovereign shall be left to the consideration, judgment
and decision of the Council of State together with the
Supporters of the Country; but it is provided that the
person to be taken, chosen, elected, and appointed by them
as Sovereign, shall be a man of mature age, sound mind,
a real Johor,e Malay, a subject of the State of Johorc,
professing the Mohamedan Religion, of freeborn and good
blood, and acknowledged to be legitimately and lawfully
begotten, and in addition able to read and write his own
language, and possessing a reputation, an understanding,.
a nature, temper, disposition, and deportment that are good
and praiseworthy. And should the person taken, chosen,.
elected, and appointed Sovereign be not of Royal blood, it
is understood that such a case shall be an exception to the
rule 'laid down in Section II., and. shall be held to be lawful.
VI. If the Heir-Apparent or Heir-Presumptive or
other Heirs or any person of the lines of descent mentioned
in the several foregoing sections shall do or shall attempt
to do any thing or prosecute a plan or scheme of a treasonable
nature against a person whose relative position
with respect to the throne of Johore is nearer than his own,.
with intent to effect the destruction of the Member or
Members of the Royal Family of such closer relationship
in order that he himself or any other person of his line
of descent, or any one of quite another blood may by means
or reason or cause of such treasonable act become the·
Sovereign Ruler, such as for instance the Heir-Apparent
conspiring against the reigning Sovereign, or the Second.
1 2s9 1