Raffles Collection IX

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Chas. Winter, C. Methven & William Jack [See Lady Raffles’ Memoir, p. 406; and Boulger’s Life, p. 286. The Rev. C. Winter was Raffles’ chaplain; Dr. Jack, ‘another member of our family, my invaluable and highly respected friend’; Captain Methven was on Raffles’ staff.] to Sir Stamford Raffles, Lieutenant-Governor. Bencoolen, 2nd October 1819. This is a report of a committee appointed to enquire ‘into the present condition of society among the native population of Bencoolen and its immediate subordinates on the West Coast,’ &c. [Copy.] This report deals with: ˗˗Decrease of population; Poverty and indolence; State of Society; Laws and customs; Marriage; Slave debtors and slavery; Influence of Europeans; Pepper monopoly; Alterations since 1801; Decline of trade; Free gardens; Reduction of the out stations; Decrease of pepper produce; Assassination of Mr. Parr; Spice cultivation; Recent change of system; &c. 2, pp. 136˗144: (Sir) T. S. Raffles to the Secretary to Government, Fort William. Fort Marlborough, 2d June 1820. The financial results, which may be contemplated from ‘the arrangements which have been adopted for the future management of the Honourable Company’s Districts on this Coast.’ [Copy.] The Civil Establishment is unnecessarily large; the Military Establishment will admit of more immediate reduction; the provision of grain, &c., for the inhabitants objectionable; the manufacture of salt by natural evaporation; the abolition of custom and transit duties; the discontinuance of the gambling farm and of the Company's retail shop; &c. 3, pp. 148˗164: (Sir) T. S. Raffles to the Honble George Dowdeswell, Vice-President, Fort William. Fort Marlborough,12th August 1818. On his journey from Padang to Menankabu. See Lady Raffles’ Memoir, p. 340 sqq. [Copy.] 4, pp. 168˗169: The Resident of Nattal ... to Tooanko Moodo of Lumpanjang.... 23d February 1821. ‘... the Resident has received reports of its being the intention of Tooanko Moodo to assemble all his Force and to send them to the attack of the Countries of Tulloo Senurool. ...’ [Copy] 5, pp. 169˗171: Translation of a Letter received this 24th May from the Padry Chiefs of Allum Panjang….’The Mallinis & Padries assembled ... if it is really true, and the desire of the Company that their Government should extend along the seashore, we will with the Assistance of God, undertake that of the Interior. Let the Company restrict the people from Cock-fighting, gambling, stealing & depradating, committing murder and defrauding. When these Vices cease, so will we desist from waging war ....’ 6, pp. 171˗172 : Extract letter from Mr Prince dated Nattal, 18 June 1821. He gives the substance of a letter from ‘Tooanko Moodo,’ who says that if the Company wish to trade they must reside at ? Texaggara and pay him 80 dollars a year, &c. 7, pp. 174˗177: Translation of a letter received on the 18th June 1821 from Tooanko Moodo of Lumpanjang. ...Same subject. 8, pp. 178˗179: John Prince to Sir T. Stamford Raffles. Nattal, 20th June 1821. [? Holograph.] Encloses No. 5, above. 9, pp. 180˗200: Malay account of the Mallims or Padries. A summary of this interesting account is given on pages 429 and 430 of Lady Raffles’ Memoir. 10, pp. 204˗207: Orders of the Honble the Lieut. Governor, Fort Marlbro’, 31st January 1824. Two Copies. The Revd. Mr. Burton of the Baptist Mission is authorised to travel in the interior, and a deputation allowance is granted to him. 11, pp. 208˗226: List of English words with the corresponding Malayan terms as spoken in Menangkabu. 12, pp. 228˗231: R. Burton to (Sir T. S. Raffles). Sibolga, March 24th 1824. He speaks of Sir Stamford’s ‘sad misfortune’ [Perhaps the burning of the Fame on 2nd February 1824.]; his wife’s illness has prevented his travelling; has sent to Mr. Prince a native account of the great lake in Toba; &c. [Holograph.] 13, pp. 232˗265: Mr Burton’s Account of the Language, Literature & Laws of the Battas. This consists of (a) A vocabulary of 16 pages; (b) Notes on the language (6 pp.); (c) Batak Pantoons (songs), with transliterations and translations (4 pp.); (d) Laws and usages (6 pp.). See also No. 14 below. 14, pp. 268˗380: Report of a Journey into the Batak Country by Messrs. Burton & Ward. 1824. pp. 268˗299 contain the journal of their travels. They left Sibolga on 30th April 1824 and returned to that place on the 13th May. They went only as far as Silinduny, whence they could see the Toba lake. This they did not visit on account of Mr. Burton's illness. A summary of this journey is given by Mr. Ward in Lady Raffles’ Memoir, pp. 436˗437. pp. 299˗380 contain ‘a few observations on the Country, the character, the institutions and the language of the Bataks.’ The topics treated are: The country, The origin of the Bataks, Population, Personal appearance, Dress, Food, Character and disposition, Religion, Priesthood, Sacrifices, Oaths, Language, Pantuns (songs), Laws and usages, Debt. Slavery, Marriage, Burial, Agriculture, Implements of husbandry, Tenure of land, Manufactures, Government, &c. pp. 372˗380 give a shorter version of the observations on Laws and usages. (This portion is a duplicate of that given on pp. 260˗265.) There is evidence that the greater part of the journal and observations was printed (possibly in the Malayan Miscellanies [No; but ‘A short account of the Battas,’ Malayan Miscellanies, I, iv, is different.]). 15 (a), pp. 385˗386: Treaty with the Rajahs of ? Larago (Nias). (b), pp. 389˗395: Agreements with the Rajahs of Tello Dalam et Roheeli (Nias). 14th December 1820. (c), pp. 396˗399: Form of Commission to the Nias Rajahs. (d), pp. 400˗434: (Messrs Prince & Jack) to the Honorable Sir Stamford Raffles.... Pulo Neas, 31st December 1820. This is a report on Pulo Nias accompanying the above agreements. The topics are: Question of sovereignty; Terms of agreements; selection of a Station; Population; Cultivation; Commerce; Character and Customs; Slavery; Paganism; Prospective circumstances; Advantages to our settlements on Sumatra; Concluding suggestions, &c. See also 238, 9, and Boulger’s Life, pp. 266 and 279. [Copy.] (e), pp. 437˗438: Return of Population in the Island of Pulo Nias. 1820. (f), pp. 440˗452: (Sir T. S. Raffles) to the Secretary to Govt (Bengal). 25 January 1821. Encloses copy of the above report (d) and its enclosures 1˗9. (g), p. 454: General Regulations for the Ports on the South Coast of Neas .... (h), p. 456: General Regulations for the Ports on the East Coast of Neeas.... (i), p. 458: List of Honorable Company’s Establishment on the Island of Neas. (j), pp. 460-462: General Regulations. (For Nias; on slavery, &c.)"--Provided by the British Library., Mss Eur E108)