In December 1876, the Maharaja Leia, the
Datoh Sagor, Pandak Indut, and four others were
arraigned before the Raja Muda Jusuf and Raja
Alang Husein, and charged with murdering Mr.
Birch and the others at Pasir Salak on the 2nd
November 1875.
They were prosecuted by Colonel Dunlop, R.A.,
and myself, on behalf of the Government, and
defended by an able and experienced member of
the Singapore Bar. After a trial which lasted
eight days, tHey were severally found guilty and
condemned to death, but the extreme penalty was
exacted only in the cases of the three first named.
Sultan Abdullah, and other Chiefs whose com-
plicity in the assassination was established by the
fullest evidence, were banished from the State, and
a like sentence was passed upon the ex-Sultan
Ismail and some of his adherents.
In Mr. Birch the British Government lost one of
its most courageous, able, and zealous ofBcers, but,
by the action which his death made necessary, the
State of Perak gained in twelve months what ten
years of " advice " could hardly have accomplished.
That was not all, for the events of those twelve
246



JAMES WHEELER WOODFORD BIRCH

months, when they came to be fully known, threw
a light on the inner life of the Malay and his
peculiar characteristics, that was in the nature of a
revelation. It is all too soon to forget the lesson
or disregard its teachings.
247



XK

A PERSONAL INCIDENT

Haud multum abfuit quin inteili-
ceretur

HOKACE

From Captain Speedy, Queen's Commissioner,

Larut, to H.E. Sir William Jervois,

Governor of the Straits.
TExtract :1 Larut, November gth, 1875.
