585 



art of padi planting was almost forgotten. My people made large 

 gain at Lukut, and also opened up Sungei Klang and Kuala Lum- 

 pur, tin mining being-conducted at a profit in 1279 (A. H.). These 

 were the two places in Selangor where tin mining existed in 1281 

 (A. H.). My grand-parents died at Lukut, leaving my father there. 



Ulu Selangor, also, and Bandar Kanching were opened up by 

 my respected father. It followed of course that the raiats of 

 Selangor forgot altogether about planting padi, preferring to en- 

 gage in buying and selling. 



In 1283 (A. H.) Raja Mahdi quarrelled with Raja Abdullah, and 

 disturbances broke out in Klang, Langat and Lukut. For nine 

 months civil warfare continued ; then Raja Muhammad prevailed, 

 and for three years ruled over Klang. In 1286 (A. H.) Raja Ismail, 

 son of Kaja Abdullah, returned, and was joined by Tungku Dhia- 

 ud-in, and for about four years there were further disturbances. 

 The inhabitants of the country fled and were scattered in different 

 directions, going to Padang Muar, Malacca, Perak and Penang. 



In 1290 (A. H.) a Resident representing the English Government 

 was first established in the State of Selangor. The disturbances 

 ceased forthwith, and, from that time to this peace and quietness 

 have reigned supreme in the land. 



All the inhabitants of -the country welcomed the rule of the 

 English Government and settled down to a period of the greatest 

 peace and prosperity until 13 15 (A. H.) when Sultan Abdulsamad 

 died at the age of 93. The Raja Muda Suleiman was invited to 

 succeed him, and ascended the throne on the 25th Ramathan, 131 5 

 (A. H.) aged 32, taking the name of Sultan Suleiman Aladdin Shah. 

 This is now the iifth year of Your Highness' reign, and during that 

 time the country has exceedingly prospered. But now it is time 

 that Your Highness should give deep and earnest consideration to 

 the question of the rice supply. 



As I have mentioned above, three places of export have been 

 entirely lost to us, and there remain only two. It is easy to see 

 that the time may come when they are unable to export the pre- 

 sent quantity, and produce sufficient only to be self supporting, 

 unlike Selangor, which in that case would fall into the depths of 

 misfortune and be unable to endure' the calamity. 



I beg leave to suggest, therefore, that Your Highness should ar- 

 range a conference with the Resident-General and the Resident, 

 Selangor, who are representatives of the English Government, which 

 has helped and perfected the conditions of the country, in connec- 

 tion with the Malays of every class who dwell in Selangor. I think 

 that a new law should be passed laying down the method of work- 

 ing and planting padi, and enforcing planting by the imposition of 

 rigorous punishments (gaol or fine) on the disobedient and lazy. 

 This might remedy a bad state of affairs, for I crav\r permission to 

 remind you that Malays are so constituted that unless such a law 

 is rigorously enforced nothing whatever will come of it. You have 

 only to look back to the days of Sultan Muhammad, in 1 273 (A.H.) 

 when the law of the ruler was strict, and sawahs flourished in 

 Selangor. After his death there was no one who instructed the 



