Monday 23 November 2020

Rekod & Sejarah : Memorandum Sultan Quedah kepada East India Company – 1829

 Oleh : Izmal Karim : FB Kebangkitan Bani Jawi (Nusantara)

Deskripsi :

Terjemahan Memorandum dari Warkah Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Kedah kepada East India Company di Fort William (Madras) 16th March 1829 dari Tulisan Jawi Lama kepada Roman Inggeris.

Fort William 30th April 1830.

Memoranda from the King of Quedah.

the 16th March 1829.

The Kingdom of Quedah descended from my ancestors to me with the dignity and title of King, in respect of which the Kings of Quedah have been in the custom of presenting the Boongah Mass or Gold Tree as a mark of respect to the King of Siam, but the Kingdom of Quedah was in no wise a tributary state to the King of Siam, with whom ray ancestors many times went to war. On my taking refuge on this Island, I understood I was to receive the protection of the King of England, and that my children were to receive the same protection. When 1 was on the throne I sent my son and ray minister to Siam, to the King of Siam, at which meeting the King of Siam told my son that he wished to send an army to attack the country of Perak. My son and the Bandara (Minister) consulted together and were aware that if the Siamese were to send an army to Perak they must pass through Quedah, and that would occasion great surprise and disquiet among the subjects of Quedah, and might cause a war to take place between the countries of Siam and Quedah. On this the Bandara ( Minister) engaged with the King of Siam respecting the country of Perak that he would collect an army and go and attack them, and that there was no occasion for His Majesty to trouble himself on the subject. The King of Siam was much pleased, and I paid all the expenses of the war on taking Perak. There afterwards came the message of Rajah Lagore (King of Ligore) as King for rice and paddy for the supply of the army which was going against Cochin China; I prepared all the rice and paddy accordingly, and after this came a letter saying that the Rajah Ligore had sent peons to receive the rice and paddy. When the peonsarrived they were allowed to come into the rivet.

They sent for the Bandara Laksamana and the Tumangong (my ministers then in charge) and demanded the rice and paddy. The Bandara answered the rice and paddy were ready. While talking together they suddenly seized the Bandara Laksamana and the Tumangong -and murdered them, and many more of my establishment were murdered by them. At that time I was at Marahbooh River, so that no immediate news could come to me. The Siamese came into Marahbooh River and fired, and .plundered the country, and murdered all the inhabitants. When my family heard of this outrage, they became so alarmed that I was obliged to- take them on elephants and brought them to Prye in Province Wellesley, my wish being to put them all under the charge and care of my brother Rajah Solyman at Prye, and then to return and attack the Siamese. About this time a messenger from Governor Phillips by Mr. Cracraft, Major Combs and Mr. John Anderson came to Prye requesting me to meet the Governor and stated that Governor Phillips sent them to conduct me and my family over to Poolo Penang, the Governor wishing to o assist me agreeably to the engagement of the Company with my father, through Mr. Light, who came into Quedah by desire of the Company and who by Treaty were engaged, that if any enemy should come from sea against Quedah, the Company would themselves fight those enemies, and if the enemy came from the land the Company should assist with money, expenses, arms, guns, powder and shots, and further if the slaves of Quedah people should run away to Poolo Penang, the Government should allow them to be taken back, and further to pay yearly the slim often thousand dollars as rent -or income and many more points were made in the Engagement which will be found in the books of the Secretary’s Office of the Government This gave me great assurance that the Company would not, fail to assist me, and I accordingly brought my family over to Poolo Penang.

Immediately on my arrival at Poolo Penang, Governor Phillips gave me all the respects due to my rank, and requested of me to remain in Poolo Penang, stating that he would send letters to the Governor General and Council in Bengal to grant me assistance to retake the country of Quedah from the Siamese, and reinstate me, agreeably to the Engagement of the Company with my father. In the year 1238 on the 19th of the month Mohorum, Governor Phillips sent a letter requesting me to wait until the return of Mr. Crawfurd from Siam. Governor Phillips gave me for my expenses five hundred dollars per month, avowing, should I still wish to go away from Poolo Penang he would not stop me, and that I was five. And further in the year 1238 on the 25th day of the month Rajah, Governor Phillips sent another letter, informing me that he had received an answer from the Governor General and Council of Bengal in regard to my wish to go from Poolo Penang to endeavour to get my county back. That the Governor in no wise wished to debar me from carrying my intention info effect, and that the Governor General had given Ins promise, that every assistance should be given for my ease and comfort as long as 1 should remain in Poolo Penang, and further that the Governor General had a strong wish to assist me and use his influence with the Siam Power to get back my country. In the year 1238 on the 3rd day of the month Loolhahedah Governor Phillips wrote to me another letter respecting my income, during the time of my residence in Poolo Penang, and that I should get 500 dollars monthly. That in the year 1825 on the 1st day of October, Governor Phillips sent another letter respecting me and my family stating that it was his wish to reinstate me and family in our former dignity and respectability as heretofore, and recommending me to wait until a fair opportunity should offer.

That in the year 1242 on the 19th day of the month Jaffer, Governor Fullerton’s letter to me states the Engagements of the Siam Government with Mr. Burney, which has been communicated to me, ex pressing a wish for me to quit Poolo Penang, at which place I sought refuge. I have well considered these points, and I do not wish to change my place of residence or to avoid the protection of the Hon’ble. The East India Company, or to throw a doubt upon British good faith, or the Laws of Hospitality. After that letter two or three other letters 1 have received from the present Governor desiring me to go to Malacca, and accompanied by threats, with which I could not comply consistently with good feeling, and recollecting that I came to Poolo Penang on the solicitation of Governor Phillips, who professed his wish to ratify the Company’s and my father’s Engagement. It is now the endeavour to send me off to a distance from my late kingdom, so that I may forego all opportunity of reinstatement in my kingdom, so as to accommodate treaties with my enemies to which I have not been consenting. I do not wish to go to Malacca and as I came to Poolo Penang with the invitation of Governor Phillips, who promised to let me return to my country Quedah, and as it was on the faith that the Company would not evade their promise, or throw aside their sacred engagement, on this offer that I consented to remain on this Island. In the year 1238 on the 1st day of the month Rajab, on Thursday, Governor Fullerton, by letter, orders me to remove to Malacca, or Siak, or Dellie and threatens that if I do not submit to and follow his commands that what he terms ray allowance would be stopped, and no more respect would be shown to me, that I must consider myself the same as the inhabitants in general, and 1 am forbidden to write to or send any letter to him, the Governor, and I am degraded with the uncourteous threats of being referred to the common police, an act I am confident which would net be sanctioned by the Hon’ble. Company towards a Monarch, though under affliction?

Not contented with such insult solely, this Governor causes the Gong to beat through the island prohibiting any person from selling any vessel, balls, gun powder and arms to me and any of my people, I have still to state, that in order to add to my distressing fate, bordering almost upon want, the rent or payment due to me as heir to my father, and by which Prince of Wales Island and Province Wellesley are held of the Crown of Quedah, has been purposely kept in arrear during the last fifteen months, an injustice, unless redressed, which will drive me to the highest authorities with my complaints, which are too numerous to be detailed in this paper. It is therefore to the Governor General of India that I call for redress of my grievances, namely, that not withstanding my misfortunes I may be treated with that respect which is due to me as the King of a country, the Government of which 1 have been unjustly deprived of. That the solemn Engagement entered into on the part of the Hon’ble. Company on my taking refuge in Prince of Wales Island be in nil things performed. That the rents or, payments by which the said Island and Province Wellesley are held, be immediately paid up, and regularity in future be observed respecting such payments.

That my residence in Prince of Wales Island may be rendered more respectable, and that so long as I do remain in the Island, a Guard be assigned as formerly, and that I may be at liberty to return to my own kingdom when I may think fit, nevertheless upon such terms as may be reciprocally suitable to the interest of both parties.

Fallen and reduced as I am at present, I shall look forward to a better understanding between myself and the Hon’ble. Company when the fair statement of my case shall be known, together with a detail of the wrongs and insults I have endured and I challenge the production of nil or proof that during my residence in this Island, I have deported myself otherwise than with submissive conduct, even under oppression. I beg to annex to this paper a translation of the notice I received from the Police Magistrate on the 28th February last, on which I need make no observation at present.

This letter is as a mark of faith and clearness and presents that love which comes from me the Police Magistrate and is to reach my friend Yang Di Pertuan Quedah who is honored and celebrated. The occasion is that Mr .Anderson has received a letter from Quedah stating that Tuanko Long Pootee, and Tuanko Din were causing disturbances with the Siamese. Mr. Anderson having duly considered that if were not authorised by my friend they never would have done so! This is to acquaint my friend, if it should be found to be true and that my friend has given such encouragement, or my friend is really concerned in this business, and it should so appear to me, on that very moment my friend will get the punishment of being put under arrest and a guard of sepoys. Of this take notice, written on the 23d February 1829.

( Signed ) J. Pattullo.

Supt. of Police.

From the King of Queda.

Rujukan :
The Burney papers. Vol III. Bangkok : Vajira-nana National Library, 1910-1914. Muka surat 115-121.

Copy and paste: 23/22/2020 @ 7 Rabiulakhir 1442H : 10.34 am

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