THE TREASURES OF PAHANG.

Otago Witness, Issue 2010, 1 September 1892, Page 26

THE TREASURES OF PAHANG.

Take the atlas and turn to that portion of Asia known as the Malay Peninsula. Situated on the east coast, near the south, is the State known as Pahang, which has a population of some 40,000 souls. Tho capital bears the same name as the State. Opposite on the west coast are the States of Perak, Selangor, and Sungei L gong, which are under Britishjprotection, and their administration has been directed by British Residents for the past few years. In March last, a cable message was received from Singapore stating that a rebellion had broken out in Pahang^ Since then occasional brief messages have been received which seem to show that the rebellion is spreading, and public opinion in Singapore censures the Governor for refusing to employ the military and navy in suppressing the revolt, the cause of which has not been mentioned. Recently it has been notified that the Sultan has been deposed,and British control established. How many people know that the native States of the Malay Peninsula supply one-third of the whole tin supply of the world, and that practically only two of them are being worked by the most primitive system of Chinese mining to produce even that third of the supply ? How many outside the charmed circle know that Pahang is a land full of gold, which can be shovelled into boxes in certain valleys by merely digging the surface soil ? Who, besides one or two scientists and three or four officials, are aware that in Pahang are the best anthenticated sources of King Solomon's mines— the land of Ophir? The marvels of Pahang are yet to burst upon the world. They are held back at present by jealous British guardianship and interests. Truth is and ever will be stranger than fiction. In this romantic region lies material ready to hand which would put to confusion the fictionß of Rider Haggard. Some few years ago the savage piracies and bloody manglings and murders prevailing in the Straits of Malacca caused the British Government in the interests of humanity— aud its own— to take active measures in the matter of tho Perak and Selangor Malays. The Rajahs were communicated with and warned to suppress all piracies forthwith. The spirit was willing but the Rajah was weak, and the piracies continued as before. Britain then took charge herself, and appointed Mr Birch,- of the- Straits Civil Service, as Resident and counsellor to the Sultan of Perak, with Swettenham as assistant. Birch was murdered, and the escape of young Swettenham down the Perak river, running the gauntlet of savage Malays, makes material for a blood-curdling tale. Then ensued the Perak war of 1875. After a short and extraordinary campaign the Sultan was captured in the jungles and exiled to the Seychelles, England's island gaol for deposed monarchs. The Perak war was won solely by war rockets. The military forces were a farce, and the Perak war would have continued to this day had it not been for the timely arrival of the bluejackets up the Pevak river, whe, unable to get the Malays to "come out and

fight," discharged war rockets into the jungle for want of better amusement; The effect was unique. The terrific war rockets, glancing from tree to tree, around corners, and in all unexpected directions, emitting scorching streams of .firo, were more than sufficient to subdue the superstitious native spirit. The Malays feared uo man while the jungles stood uhfelled, but surrendered to the •• fire devils." Then camo a period whon the piratical throne of Peralc went a-begging. No official would accept the post, which meant certain death away in the jungles, far from civilisation and white humanity. At this crisis Rajah Brooke, of Sarawak fame, recommended the employment of a European orchid hunter in his domains in Borneo. Some years ago the market garden firm of Hugh Low and Co., in the suburbs of London, sent out the son of the senior member to collect orchids in Borneo. The young orchid hunter became an intrepid "jungle wallah," rapidly acquired a thorough knowledge of the Malay language and people, and made a name and reputation for personal courage and daring which spread wide among a savage, warlike race. This was the obscure young gardener whose white hairs to-day are hondured in the circles of England's administrators. Sir Hugh 1 Low, K.C.M.G, deserves his pension and titles, tfefa years ago Perak was a wild and pathless jungle. Tofday first-class carriage roads traverse the State aflu join together this and that handsorite town with its fine streets and houses, courthouses, gaols, barracks, official residences, and other buildings. The revenue of the State has risen from some LIOOO per annum into the millions. Railways run from point to point, and transpeninsula lines are now under survey and construction. So far the revenue is derived from a 10 to 12 per cent, tax on the tin exported, with some addition from the "farms" for sale of opium and conduct of regulated gambling houses. The tin is all surface mined by Chinese coolies, the entire peninsula being one huge bed of tin, overlaid with some 15ft to 40ft of gravel wash from the main chain of mountains.

So Perak and Selangor fell under British protection. The Sultans are subsidised with some various Rajahs and native officials and drawing comfortable incomes, live at their ease, trusting everything to the British officials. In justice to these latter, let it be said that law and order, prosperity, and plenty have followed their rule. Then came rumour and wild tales of Pahang, tales supported by the one or two who had penetrated the wilds and seen with their Own eyes the marvels of tho land. They were tales of gold. In 1885 two Government officials were despatched to inspect and make reports of the marvellous gold mines which were attributed to the servants of King Solomon, since for centuries the art of shaft and level, drift and drive were unknown to the simple surface miners of tho peninsula. The explorations of Cameron and his alleged fairy tales now received official seal and confirmation. Pahang was to be acquired and gathered into the protected States. France and Germany had to bo hoodwinked, the former country especially keeping a jealous guard on any further British encroachment on the rich peninsula. The Sultan of Pahang was fierce and unconciliatory. The Mahometan Nadjis, ever foo to infidel dogs and Christians, controlled the native chiefs and held them under terror of religion. In vain did the dignified Sir Frederick Weld, the bluff Sir Hugh Low, and the quiet, crafty Swettenham seek to wile the native chief with high official visit and honeyed blandishment. The Nadjie' influence prevailed, and England's emissaries were snubbed and forced to beat an undignified retreat, leaving behind them young Clifford, a nephew of Sir Frederick, to watch the course of events and exercise his able knowledge of tho people and their language, to seize any chance or opening for persuasion and diplomatic seizure of the land. It was all in vain. The Sultan laughed at all proposals to admit tho British rule, and" months rolled by without sign of opportunity or excuse. Pahang pursued its privato, lawless life. The Sultan slew whom he pleased, and native Rajahs seized the goldladen Chinese seeking the coast after his gold hunt in the valleys, taking the bulk of hia rich possessions, "krissing" him if he expostulated. Then came Sir Cecil Smith to govern Singapore and the Straits. ' The Sultan now met his match.

It was a warm day in 1887 when the Sultan, seeking the river bank and bathing house, perceived a handsome yellow girl bathing in the stream. It was with the calm assurance, of native autocracy that he ordered that she be brought to his harem. It wa3 with astonished fury he heard his satellites inform him that she was the wife of a humble Chinese trader, who would not part with her for gold or gain of any kind. " Let some one ' kris ' the yellow dog and send me quick his widow," growled the savage Sultan in his rage. Immediately his brother next in rank, seeking royal favour, ran into the village and pronlptly stabbed to death the wretched Chinaman and brought away his wife, And the Sultan smiled. It was good to be a Sulcan absolute in power. A few days later a British gunboat once more lay off the river's mouth, and a bland official smilingly asked the great dispenser of justice to immediately prove his kindly sentiment to Britain by hanging on the spot before the public gaze the murderer of a British Bubject. The paralysed Sultan could but gasp amazement. A Chinese had been killed by a high official — a daily occurrence not worth consideration—but British subjects were safe. Whoso should slay a British subject should be punished to the death. Blandly and slowly the mysteries of naturalised subjects were explained to the Sultan, and he learned, with British guns to punctuate the point, that yellow John, the inconvenient husband, was a Briton — a Briton naturalised in Singapore many years before.' He 6tood checkmated. Two courses only were open to him — one to hang his brother, the murderer, there and then before the palace gates, or else to sign a document calling upon the British Government to take his State under protection, as in the case of Perak and Selangor. A few days, were allowed him for reflection. The Nadjis counselled war, and for a. time things looked perilous ; but at this moment the civilised Maharajah of Johore, widely travelled and learned in tho ways of the world, interposed his influence, and a sulky acquiescence was given to British entry and occupation. It was a case of Hobson's choice. Immediately after the British flag was hoisted enterprise poured in. Six prominent and wealthy Australians . arrived one day in Selangor, and after hopeless endeavours to secure native guides and coolies, manfully shouldered their "swags," and with one hardy guide set out for Pabang themselves, marching single file day by day through the dense and swampy jungles ; leeches swarming in myriads, devouring them from head to heel ; mosquitoes feeding day and night ; tigers and the fierce black panther howling round their palm leaf camp at night; snakes, centipedes and scorpions making every footstep dangerous. But the glitter of gold overcame all terrors and hardships, aud the doughty pioneers reached their El Dorado, the marvellous valley of Raub. There they dug the gold from underneath their very feet. The valley of Raub was

purchased by them for the sum 1 o! LIOO,OOO cash, and the contract was signed by a Rajah, who knew nothing of the birthright he was selling for a mess of pottage. The hardy colonials obtained and filled some 12 packing cases with the soil, and, shipping them upon a bamboo raft, themselves went down the mighty Pahang' river to its mouth, and took a trading scow to Singapore". There. the dirt assayed 12oz to the ton, and the Pahang companies commenced to float until a warning from the British Government, announcing official' refusal to sanction or recognise any concessions made by ignorant native chiefs, put a damper on rushing adventurers seeking to buy up huge goldfiolds at microscopic rates from the un.tutored savage chiefs.

To obtain a dray load of gold in Pahang would take but a few hours' shovelling. To bring that load to market would cost some 50 drayloads, and so things balance. The British authorities have, surveyed and constructed a good portion of a railroad to Fabangj which will be completed in three to four years. Mean* time, within the State itself, roads have to be made, military police courts and barracks spread throughout the land, and the people gradually and surely made to understand that murder means death, robbery imprisonment and flogging, and that law and order will bo steadily enforced where lawlessness and crime have flourished unchecked amid the lust for gold.

Afc present inimical chiefs are being quietly superseded by others who are long-sighted enough to Understand that the lion has come to stay and disptite possession with the panther, and so, wise in their generation, aid and support the British administration. Village riots and local rebellions against the new and unwonted restraint upon the personal villainy of the subject are sure to break out from time to time. _ Last year tho disturbances were sufficiently serious to call for the sending of the Selangor military police into Pahang to suppress the rioters. Order was restored for the time, but now again more serious riots have broken out and call for more vigour. It is surprising how little the world knows of itself. Few men who spend thousands of dollars for a chance sight of big game in Africa and India are awaro, that with a four weeks' comfortable steamer journey to Singapore they will bo enabled to comfortably and luxuriously visit the native States of Perak and Selangor, and, in the latter State especially, for the expenditure of sdol or lOdol obtain elephant, tiger, deer, and pig shooting almost from tho verandahs of tho magistrates' bungalows in the different districts. The " sladang," the great ox deer of the peninsula, which averages 18 to 20 hands high at the withers, can be tailed up for the-mero exertion of 10 to 15 miles' walking through the jungles with a Malay guide as indicator of signs and hunters' lore ! The wonders and , marvels of the Malay Peninsula have yet to meet with treatment from tho hands of some person who can combine with the skilful pen of tho writer the energy and qualifications of the explorer and traveller.. Opportunity awaits the man who dares to penetrate tho wild iuterior and give graphic pictures of the weird sights and scenes of the savage jungles of Malaysia. — San FrancißCO Chronicle.

Statutory Charitable Aid Aduiiustration. TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY TIMES.

Sib,— l heartily agree with your leading article in yesterday's Daily Times. It, however, contains one immaterial error — namely, that the resolution by the Clutha County Council was proposed by me. It was, in fact, proposed by Cr Christie and seconded by Cr Simmers.

In addition to the technical objections you refer to, we object that the majority of those who administer the law have ignored the provisions of the statutes, and allowed themselves to be governed by sentiment at the cost of both the ratepayers and consolidated fund. I may be quite wrong, but when I find my objections at tho board table met at one meeting by an inapplicable provision of the amended act, and at last meeting by refusal on the part of the chairman to allow discussion of the item, to meet which, he said, they had borrowed money from a ba?ik, and by attempts on the part of Duuedin gentlemen present to prevent me from doing what I believed to be my duty to my ratepayers, I think it probable that there is something in my contention that money has been expended and allocated contrary to the provisions of the statute. At the present time a destitute person, being in the country and unable or unwilling to crave private charity, might die of hunger, because, notwithstanding "all they receive from the country, the Benevolent Trustees have made absolutely no provision to meet such cases. What we principally object to is the now proved facts that, while we have to pay towards charitable aid, we have practically no potential voice in the management and expenditure of our moneyi being out-voted by the city people with, whom we have been arbitrarily associated. . ' What we country contributors now demand is severance from Dunedin, with full power to our local bodies to combine, as they may see fit, for the relief of the destitute within their several bounds ; and that the Industrial School be wholly maintained out of the consolidated fund, as is every other gaol !— I am, &c, Pomahaka, August 31. F. W. Mackenzie.

At Lawrence yesterday, William Wilson, Francis Buchanan, and Wm. Milne, rabbiters, of the Blue Mountains, were charged, on the information of Sergeant Conn, with feloniously killing, Stealing, and carrying away one red cow, the" property of John Tyson, sawmiller. The defence was that tho cow was shot under tho impression that it was wild, tho accused alleging that they had authority from the manager of Brooksdale station to shoot wild cattle. They offered to pay the value of the cow. Mr Clendon, R.M., in dismissing the information, said he was inclined to think the animal might have been shot in mistake as alleged. He ordered the accused to pay the value of the cow.

The criminal sittings of the Supreme Court were concluded on Wednesday. George M'Girr was sentenced to one month's imprisonment with hard labour, and William Charles, for obtaining money under false pretences to three years.

Mr Napier Bell, C.E., recommends the construction of a sea wall with an opening 30 chains wide in the middle, at the Otago Heads, at a cost of L 58.588. He recommends the immediate dredging of the present new channel to a depth of 22ft to a width of 125 ft or 150 ft, if possible waiting for a year to observe the effects. If it is then evident that a yearly definite amount of silting takes place groins should be built as advised. Mr Bell says Sir John Coode's opinion that the effect of the constuction of a mole would be to straighten the inner channel has not been realised, but that on tho contrary -the construction of the mole has driven the inner channel closer to the eastern shore. It is generally agreed that the channel must be straightened, bat Mr, Bell disagrees

with the opinions of Sir John Coode and Mff O'Connor as to the extent to which such should be carried and, so far from advising that' Sir John Coode's line of channel should be aimed at, is inclined to think if it were attained the effects would be detrimental to tranqnility of the Lower Harbour, and might induce changes quite unlooked for. If Sir John Coode's projected channel was established the waves would . roll uninterruptedly into the Lower Harbour, disturbing navigation, and possibly the range would be felt by the shipping at Port Chalmers. As the new channel is considered satisfactory to ocean going steamers he recommends only such alterations of this line of channel as wiU admit of satisfactory navigation and tho preserving of existing conditions.

Tho Melbourne papers to hand state that only one man was built into tho flue iv an Austrian ironworks and roasted to death ; not several, as wired to this colony. The manager of the Roxburgh Amalgamated Company reports having washed up both runs of boxes on Monday and Tuesday, the yield being Ofloz 18dwt 16gr from No. 1, representing 24 dayff elevating, and 390z 19d\vfc Ggr from No. 2, being the result of eight days' work ;— total, 1360z 18dwt gr of gold.

Received : Stone's ABC Guido for September.

Extraordinary Incident a Tknnis Court. — A correspondent, writes to Land and Water :— " A singular incident occurred during a game of lawn tennis played recently on the ground of the Rugby and District Club. A player was in the act of serving when a thrush flew across the court, and, coming in contact with the ball, it fell dead."