The anarchy prevailing in almost all the Native States of the Malay Peninsula, and especially in Pêrak, had been, for some years prior to 1874, a source of disquiet to the Straits Settlements, and a hindrance to the growth of local trade. In the beginning of that year steps were taken by Sir Andrew Clarke to remedy this state of things by settling the affairs of Larut and Pêrak in the Pangkor Treaty (20th January, 1874), and, later on in that year, by station- ing British Residents in Perak and Selangor, and in the small State of Sungei Ujong, to advise their rulers respecting the collection of revenue and general administration. With a view also to enable the British authorities to keep order in that part of the Peninsula, a strip of land south of Province Wellesley, beyond the Krian river, about 10 miles broad, was acquired as British territory; and also a small portion of territory on the mainland, opposite the island of Pangkor, which had previously been coded to us, to sup- press piracy and without any idea of occupation, in a Treaty with Pêrak (1825).
Towards the end of 1875, Sir William Jervois being then Governor, Mr. Birch, the first British Resident at Pêrak, was murdered. (2nd November 1875) and a force sent to apprehend the murderers was resisted; and, about the same time, the Residency in Sungei Ujong was menaced by bodies of Malays from some of the States near Malacca. Troops were obtained from India and China, a naval brigade was landed, aud Pêrak was fully occupied (January, 1876). During the previous month a military and naval force had already driven the enemy from a strong stockaded position in the hills between Sri Menanti and Sungei Ujong, and dispersed the malcontents in that neighbourhood. During these operations, Selangor remained quiet.
Those concerned in the murder of Mr. Birch were captured and punished, the Sultan and some of the Chiefs being banished. Peace and order have since been maintained in all the Western States, and, so far as is known, throughout the Peninsula. On the cessation of hostilities (which had throughout been on a very small scale) it was finally laid down in Lord Carnarvon's despatch of 1st June, 1876, that the Protected States, without being either directly annexed or governed by "Commissioners," might con-
