Page 248 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES

depended on the existence of mutual confidence and
friendship between Sultan and Resident. That was,
unfortunately, wanting, and, as after many months
of patient effort on the part of Mr. Birch the desired
result seemed further away than ever, the governor
of the neighbouring colony (then Major-General Sir
determined to visit Perak and see
W. Jervois, R.E.)
what chance there was of establishing administra-
tive authority, collecting revenue, and otherwise
carrying out the provisions of the Pangkor Treaty.
As the result of that visit and of interviews
between the Governor and the Chiefs, a proposition
was made to Sultan Abdullah that the government
of the State should be carried on in his name by
British officers. He hesitated for some days, but,
that the Muda and others had at once
finding Raja
and gladly accepted the suggestion, he determined
to do the same, fearing, no doubt, that otherwise he
might be left out of the administration altogether.
It was the Malay fasting-month, the bulan pudsa,
when these last events occurred. It is not an
time for with
auspicious conducting negotiations
Malays, they do not even attempt to work for that
month, they sleep for most of the day and sit up
most of the night, eating and talking, discussing
affairs and hatching plots. This, at least, is the case
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