01 THE MALAY PEtflNSTTLA.. L81 



J udging that the settlement of the Perak succession was a matter 

 of almost equal urgency with the pacification of Larut, and would, 

 in the future, be of greater importance, whilst no lasting good 

 could come by arranging the one without the other, letters and 

 messengers were sent to summon Ismail, Abdullah, and the 

 principal Chiefs of Perak. 



Ismail did not attend. Being a long way in the interior of 

 Perak, and having hitherto had no dealings with Europeans, he 

 was probably, like all natives, suspicious of the reception he might 

 meet with. Abdullah, however, came, and he was accompanied 

 by most of the principal Perak Chiefs,* except Eaja Jusof, who 

 was then looked upon as Eaja Muda, and from whom no com- 

 plaints had ever been received that he had been unjustly deprived 

 of the supreme power. 



The main point, necessarily, had been to put a stop to those 

 disgraceful occurrences which were rapidly recalling to mind the 

 ill-fame borne by the Straits of Malacca for acts of piracy and 

 cruelty when European shipping first used them as a highway to 

 the East. But having secured this end for the moment, with 

 guarantees for the future good conduct of the Chinese, it was 

 necessary to consider by what means this present necessary result 

 might be continued. 



One solution likely to suggest itself was, no doubt, annex- 

 ation, but considering the reluctance with which the Home Govern- 

 ment had hitherto sanctioned even the slightest interference in 

 the Malay States, that course was little considered. The only 

 other alternative, which recommended itself as having a prospect 

 of success, was to give the Native Chiefs an opportunity of 

 governing their countries under the advice and assistance of British 

 Officers, and see whether, under these circumstances, they were 

 capable of being entrusted with such responsibility. Should they. 



* The Chiefs who actually attended were:— Abdullah, the Eaja 

 Bendahara TTsman (Prime Minister), the Mentri, the Datu Temenggong, the 

 Datu Laxamana, the Datu Hiabandar and the Data iSagor. 



