History of Penang, part two

From the Straits Echo of 18 August 1903, I shall continue with the second instalment of the newspaper's History of Penang. Click here for Part One of this story.

HISTORY OF PENANG.
(Specially written for the Straits Echo.)

CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAYS ISSUE. (Note: This referred to the Straits Echo of 17 August 1903)

On May 2nd 1786 Capt. Light received his letter of instructions for establishing a Settlement of Penang and immediately set sail for Malayan waters. The following information is gathered from Capt. Light's own diary.—

On June 29th 1786, Capt. Light anchored in the Quedah Roads near Alor Star, and landed the following morning under a salute from the fort and three volleys from the marines. He was received by the Rajah's “merchant,” (Financial Minister), an official who managed his commercial affairs. Information was sent to the Rajah of the Captain’s arrival with letters and presents from the Governor-General in Council. Light found that war was raging between Siam and Burma, that Quedah was threatened and that the Rajah had sent for marines to his residence to intimidate the Siamese. Capt. Light landed formally on the 1st July, with the letter and presents, amidst a salute from the ships, forts and marines. He was received by a guard of honor composed of Malays with colours (banners) and trumpets and conducted to the Laxamana's (admiral's,) house where the Rajah's representative, a Said, received the letter and presents, when apologies were made for the absence of the great men, who were at the seat of war. The Rajah's “merchant” considered the present too small and the Captain added 100 muskets which, in their present, situation, was of more consequence than the rest. On the 3rd July agreeably with a message from the Rajah, Capt. Light, with a sergeant of Artillery, a dozen marines, drum and fife, went up stream and arrived next morning. He was received, without any state, by the Rajah, who was much troubled at a passage in the Governor-General's letter, which he did not understand, for it seemed to threaten him with pains and penalties if he did not comply with the Governor-General’s request. Light pointed out that there must be some mistake in the translation of the document and the Rajah then appeared satisfied with regard to the difficult passage, and after reading the translation again to his visitor he obliged him to sign it. The treaty of cession was then only signed subject to the approval of the Board of Directors in Loudon. On the 10th of July Captain Light took leave of the Rajah of Quedah with the duly signed treaty and reached the Quala in the morning and spent the next three days embarking the people and provisions. On the 14th at 5p.m. the[y] sailed on the Eliza in company with the Prince Henry and Speedwell, and anchored off Pulo Tikus (an island) on the 15th, and with a flood tide and light breeze the little fleet ran into Penang harbour and anchored in 13 fathoms of water within nmusket shot of shore.

On July 17th Lieutenant Gray of the Speedwell landed with marines on Point Penaggar, a low sandy point which is stated to lie where the Esplanade now is: but con­sidering that up to a few years ago this was is under water after heavy rain, it is more probable the land near the Fort Point, between the end of Light St., and the iron wharf, opposite the Government buildings, was the landing place. The Europeans landed next day when the Marines and Lascars were employed in clearing the woods and pitching tents. From the 20th July till the beginning of August the island Settlement presented a busy aspect -- attap houses, with ataps from Quedah, were erected and wells were dug. The water in the wells was of a reddish hue owing to the Penaggar roots. The emigrants from Kedah were allowed to erect a small Bazaar near the Cantonment, and Nakodah Katchi, with a guard of marines, was put in charge to prevent impositions on either side. The artillery and stores were landed on August 11th, when the site of the new town was laid out, The spot occupied by the pioneers was about 200 yards broad and bounded on the N.E. and S.E. by the open sea. A good stretch of fine sand ran along the beach to Bagan Jermal, where a stream of excellent water ran into the sea. To the South of the clearing ran another fine beach as far as about Bukit Dunbar, and was interrupted by numerous creeks. That portion of the town which is bounded by Light, Pitt and  Market Streets was now laid out, and what was then the beach is now known as Beach Street. Different parts of the town were assigned to the various nationalities, and the Chulias, natives of India, still occupy the same locality as they did in the good old days.

THE HOISTING OF THE COLOURS.

On the 12th August H.M.S. Valentine arrived in the harbour and Capt. Light con­sidered it a good opportunity for taking formal possession of the Island. At noon Capt. Light, with several captains of His Majesty’s ships in the harbour, and gentlemen passengers of the ships with 100 newly-raised Marines—who knew nothing about their duties—15 Artillery men and 30 Lascars assembled under the Flag Staff. The act of possession having been read in presence of the assembled gentlemen, Marines, the Military and people, Capt. Light and the officers of His Majesty's ships hoisted the Union Jack, the artillery and ships firing a royal salute and the Marines three volleys. The new acquisition was named “Prince of Wales Island" in honour of the Prince of Wales (afterwards George IV), as it was formally occupied on the eve of his birthday, while the little township was called “George Town” after his father, George III. After the ceremony the company assembled adjourned to celebrate the great event. Penang was long thought to lie uninhabited, but when Capt. Light landed he found 58 men, women and children near the foot of the hills at Datu Kramat, and on the founding of the Settlement (George Town) they asked permission, which was granted, to come in and build houses in the little township. A French padre came over from Quedah bringing his flock and settled along the coast at Pulo Tikus, as they do to this day. The tide of emigration now flowed freely from Quedah to Penang and soon after the settlement was founded we find the “Chu­lias," natives of India, and British subjects  and long resident under the Rajah of Quedah, leaving that place and settling in Pinang. The word “Chulia” is now obsolete and has given place to the more modern “Kling.” Malays and their prows came in great numbers, the majority for trade, but not a few came on mischief and plunder bent. By October of the year of founding, we find that there was a’ stock of cattle and poultry on the Island, all imported from Quedah, which thrived exceedingly well and as time went on multiplied and increased, proving sufficient for the needs of the settlers. The ships in harbour, at the time, found their wants fully supplied by provisions imported from Quedah. The inhabitants increased very fast and were it not for the Dutch at Malacca, who kept a strict watch over and checked the Chinese emigrating to Prince of Wales’ Island, more would have left that place, but nevertheless they came in considerable numbers. A fort of nibongs was erected near the point for the defence of the Island during the absence of the warships. In spite of the contempt and derision with which the Dutch treated the new settlement it continued to increase to the great joy of Capt. Light.

For some reason, which is not known, interested parties in Bengal did their utmost to injure the new settlement, but little harm was done: for in 1788, two years after the acquisition of the Island, we find that 400 acres were put under cultivation, while the next year the population of the settlement figured at 10,000, all self-supporting. Trade increased so much that the total exports were valued at 600,000 Sp. dollars, while the value of imports was about the same. The following year (1790) Che Kay, a Chinaman, introduced the pepper vine in the island from Acheen under the patronage of the Superintendent, who advanced him money for that purpose. 

Capt. Light in the same year pointed out that his duties as Superintendent and his position as merchant were opposed to each other, while a salary of Rupees 1,000 was too small an income to admit of his giving up his partnership with his friend James Scott, a merchant. [The firm of Light and Scott, afterwards Brown & Co., was established in 1795 and came to grief about 100 years later.] His position as Superintendent and principal merchant gave him ample opportunity of enriching himself, but such was the character of the man that he did not attempt to do so. 

Prince of Wales’ Island increased in prosperity at such a rate that what Capt. Light dreaded most came to pass. The Rajah of Quedah became extremely jealous of its prosperity, and on the plea that tin revenues were considerably diminished, demanded an addition of $4000 to his annual stipend to compensate him for the loss. Capt. Light had no power to grant it and therefore refused: so the Rajah made preparations for seizing the Island for which purpose he assembled a large force, of about 10,000 men, and a fleet of 20 war prows manned by “lanoons" (pirates) at Prye, where a stockade was erected. Everything was ready for an attack on the island and the Malay Prince was waiting for a certain propitious day for the attack, when Capt. Light, with four hundred well-armed men, captured the fort at Prye (on the 12th April) and completely routed the fleet of pirate prows. A few days later (April 16th), the Rajah sued for peace and a new treaty, afterwards confirmed by the Supreme Government, was concluded. The new treaty provided for the exclusion of all other Europeans not trading or settling in Quedah, the mutual exchange of slaves, debtors and murderers, and the importation of foodstuffs and last, but not least, an annual grant of $10,000 to the Rajah.

(To be continued).