The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-05 00:00:00

THE MALAY SLAVE-TRADE.

EXETER, DORCHESTER, and WEY-
MOUTH JUNCTION COAST RAILWAY.
A special general meeting of the subscribers to this
Company.was held yesterday, at their offices,_62, Moor-
gate-street, for the purpose of receiving a report from
the committee, and determining on the most advisable
course to be pursued; R. Riddel, Esq., in the chair.
The SECRETARY having read the notice convening the
meeting,
The CHAIR3II4LN said he thought the best course to be
pursued was for the Secretary to read the report in the
first instance.
The SECRETARY then read the report, from which it
appeared that the committee wished to ascertain if the
shareholders desired to submit the undertaking at once
to Parliament, or to postpone it to a future period. The
object of the line was to fill up the gap on the line of
coast railway between Dover and the Land's End, pro-
vided for by the other companies. From the traffic
tables it appeared that the undertaking would yield a
remunerative return, especially between Exeter and
Eznaouth. The line was greatly increased in value by
the intention of Government to construct a harbour be-
tween Portland and Weyineuth. Another scheme, similar
to theirs—the Bridport and Exetcr Railway—shares
in that Company were not allotted. Your conaniittee
made application to the South Western and Great
Western Railways far union with them, but had failed
in effecting that object. The shares allotted were 42,076,
on 15,532 only of which deposit had been paid, and in con-
sequence of the sufficient number of shares not being
taken up on the whole line, they determined to limit
their line to the gap already mentioned, but from the
Great Western they would receive opposition. It there
fore remained for them to decide on what course was to
be adopted.
Mr. COWEN said, that before that report was adopted
he wished to ask a few questions. The first was, whether
all the gentlemen composing the provisional committee
wrote for shares, and had they paid their deposits ?
The CHAIRMAN said he had directed a paper to be pre-
pared containing the names of the whole of the provi-
sional committee, the number of shares they had applied
for, the number allotted to them, and the number on
which deposits had been paid. A great number bad not
taken up their shares. The number of those who had
taken up their shares was 16 out of about 60 er 70.
The SECRETARY then read the names of the parties in
question, and said that several of the directors had
applied for 100 shares, but had taken up none. Others
who had rot applied for shares had been allotted some,
end some had paid 30/.
The CHAIRMAN said he had sent circulars to the ma-
naging committee to take up their 23 shares, or pay
30/.

The SECRETARY continued with the list, and among
thoee who had taken no shares where the names of Mr.
Bulkely Hughes, M. P., and Sir J. Key.—(A laugh.)
It also appeared that the chairmen had taken 25 shares,
and that his brother Mr. R. Riddell, had writt n for
1,000, but taken none.
The CHAIRMAN said, as the latter gentleman was out
of town, he thought he ought to state that he had ap-
plied merely as a shareholder, and he (the Chairman)
had no doubt that he would take up his shares as other
parties had clone.
The SECRETARY then read a list of the names of the
provisional committee, several of whom had applied for
200 shares each, and the greater number of whom did
not pay on their shares. Among the remainder was a
M,jer Fitzgerald, who had applied for one share, was
allotted one share, and had paid on one share.
The CHAIRMAN, in reply to some questions, said
that only thirteen of the managing committee had been
elected, which took place at a meeting where he had
presided. He was sorry that ho could not give them a
correct balance-sheet at present, but Mr. Morrison,
who had taken a great interest in the concerns of the
Company, would give them a rough statement of the
affairs of the Company.
Mr. MORRISON then read a statement, from which
it appeared, that the total number of shares paid on
was 15,582 ; 2,610 had been re-purchased, leaving
12,971 shares at present:in possession of the shareholders.
The proceeds were 27,290/. The cash paid to engi-
neers, 4,2271. ; to solicitors, 1,9221. Is. Bd., which with
office and other charges, and with the balances that re-
mained due, would make a total in the expenditure of
11,800/. The amount in hard was 15,0001. which
would give about 245. a share. The amount necessary to
go to Parliament was about 75,0004
A SHAREHOLDER said as there was only 27,000/. paid,
why did they incur the expenses they bad done ?
The CHAIRMAN said that if the managing and provi-
sional committees had taken up their shares, as it was
expected they would hare done, they would have had
quite sufficient funds to proceed with.
A SHAREHOLDER said he considered that if they had
had a committee before they proceeded in their reck-
less expenditure, it would have been better. If the
money belonged to the committee, instead of to the
shareholders, it would have been very different.
The CHAIRMAN said, in reply to a question, that he
had intimate i to some of the committee that shares
were reserved for them. Upwards of 2,000 shares were
bought at a premium, the rest at a discount.
Mr. LEWIS proposed that the report then read be
adopted, and that a committee of four shareholders and
four of the Managing Committee be appointed to inves-
tigate the affairs of the Company.
A SHAREHOLDER seconded the resolution.
A SHAREHOLDER said, ha wished to know how the
Chairman could reconcile the proceedings at a meeting
of the Company at Weymouth? Mr. Crew, the chair-
man, said that this line was moat favourable. He did
think it was his, the Chairman's duty, to have called.
the shareholders together before they proceeded in their
expense. He would therefore move an amendment.
The CHAIRMAN said that they had reserved the
right to themselves to go on with the twenty miles
only, fur which they expected to have sufficient capital
to gn to Parliament. They only wanted 7,0001. to go
on with the undertaking.
A SHAREHOLDER—It required great consideration
before they complied with the resolution. From the
statement, it appeared that they had lost about
1,800/. by the conduct of the shareholders. He would,
therefore, propose that the meeting should adjourn, and
that a committee of the sharholders should be appointed
to investigate in the meantime the state of the accounts,
which should be reported to the shareholders at the ad-
journed meeting.
A desultory conversation ensued.
A resolution was proposed and seconded, that a sum
of 21s. per share should be immediately returned to the
shareholders, that a committee of nine of the share-
holders be appointed to investigate the accounts, and re-
port the same to a meeting of the shareholders ; that
five of them should constitute a quorum.
The resolution was carried unanimously, and the com-
mittee appointed.
A vote of thanks was thee passed to the Chairman,
after which the meeting separated.

RAILWAY COMMITTEES

Sub-Committee No. I

This Committee met shortly after twelve o'clock, and pro-
ceeded with their labours. The Committee consisted of
Mr. Strutt (chairman), Mr. Forbes, Mr. Wrightson, and Mr.
Brotherton.

The Committee took the cases of the East Lincolnshire and
Sheffield and Rotherham first, and after hearing the
'
evidence in their favour, declared that the standing orders
had been complied with in both instances. The Stain-es
and Richmond Bill next came before them. The
Bill was opposed by landholders, but the opposition
proved futile, and the Committee ruled that the stand-
ing orders had been fully complied with. In
the case of the South-Western (Romser and Redbridge
branch) Railway, which stood next on the list, the com-
mittee decided that the standing orders in one or two minor
instances had not been complied with, and they, therefore,
intend to report accordingly to the General Committee on
public petitions.
The Committee adjourned shortly after four o'clock till to-
morrow.

Sub-Committee No. 2.
TMs Committee commenced its sittings at twelve o'clock
yesterday in room No. 6 ; Sir John Yarde Buller, chairman.
The Committee were occupied in ccnsidering the following

The Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock, and Avr Railway
and branches, Nos. 1,2, 3, and 4. In the ewe of Bills No. 1
and 4, it was decided that the standing orders had not been
complied with in some trilling instances. Bills 2 and
3 were declared to have complied with the standing orders.
The Committee then proceeded with the Ayrshire and Gal-
loway Railway Bill.
Several allegations were raised against the Bill, a few of
which were sustained, but the inquiry had not, concluded
when we went to press.
The CRAIRMIN informed the parties in waiting that they
would not take any other Bill till the following day.

Sub-Committee No. 3.

The members of this Committe were, Mr. Aglionby
(Chairman), Captain Jones, Mr. Aldam, Mr. Stanstield, and
Sr. Thornely.
The Committee passed the Wakefield, Pontefract and
Goole (Netherby, Askew, and. Oakenshaw branches)
Railway; the North Kent Railway; and the
North Kent City (Extension) Railways; the London
and South-Western (Chertsey and 'Egham Branch)
Railway ; the London and South Western
(London Brike Extension) Railway ; the London
and South Western (Hampton Court Branch) Rail-
way ; the London and South-Western (the Fareliam
and Alton Branch) Railway ; the South Stafford-
shire (llarecastl? and Sandback Branch) Railway ; the
• Ersom and Dorking Railway; and the Leeds and Bradford
(Alteration of Levels in Bintgley) Railway.
The Committee adjourned at lice o'clock.

IscENDrAnv FIRES IN NonFoLK.—lneendinry fires in
this county seem on the increase. At the late quarterly
meeting of the county magistrates for the mann
the count); business, Colonel Oakes, the chief constable ert of
oft the
county, reported that during the quarter there had been
fifteen incendiary fires in the county, and since then there
have been several others. On Wednesday evening, just before
person set on fire a large whcatstack, the pro-
sunset, some
duce of fourteen acrv, standing in a field belonging to Mr.
Diana, of Coltishall,"about eight miles from Norwich. This
was all consumed, there not being either a fire-engine or
water anywhere near. It stood by itself, and there was no
danger of its extending. Two separate attempts have also
been made, one on Friday night and the other on Sunday
night, to set fire to the premises, hay-house, &c., of Mr.
Bennett, of Newmarket-rold, Norwich. 111 each case some
loose straw was set cn flre, but the flames fortunately prJ-
coeued no further.
SUPPOSED
SUICIDE AT WE•ITMINSTEE-BRIDGE.--On
Tuesday an inquest was held before Mr. Bedford, at the
Chequers, Toth'lll-street, Westminster on the body of Eliza-
beth Taylor,sicid at Nressagted" minater-bridge
27, who was supposed to have committed
since come from
I. the
w. . The deceased had not long
are highly country,..llc
_nave it is believed her friends
living in St. Ann-street,
Thursday
eel,
igrestmuifislt)Len for some lime past
gular habits.
other'women, and when she .1,,i t and was of very irre-
drown herself at WeaLn. she went out esearliddrinking with two
wards heard of her, butlaster-bridge. 'No ~,r would go and
Jones was rowing by theebBrgeh al mg% were after-
body, which he immediate bride mints
-en he (116 c named
churchyard, where it
70.4
oinec.olyeyed to St. T.:tract the
~ Fotuid dromed." by her friend, Margaret's
erdict--.

(From the Singapore Free Press).
In addition to the forty-two slaves lately brought from
Pahang by the gun-boat, the steamer Diana (on her re-
turn from Pahang on the 10th instant), brought eight
more, consisting of six Bugis women and one child, and
a Javanese man, thus making fifty in all rescued from
slavery by the authorities here within the last month.
The accounts given by some of these persons show the
manlier in which the trade is carried on ; and it may not
be altogether uninteresting to our readers to mention a few
of the particulars given by the captives. One women, a
native of Tabunnan, in the island of Bally, a widow, had
a daughter who was one of the concubines of the Ra,;all
of Tabunnan, and against whom the Rajah conceived sus-
picion of infidelity, on which both the mother and
daughter were sold as slaves to a woman about five
months ago. They were then taken. to Baddong, where
they were put on board the vessel of a Bugis Nekhoda,
named Wah Cassim, by whom they were conveyed, to-
gether with a number of others, to Paharg. The
mother was brought away by the steamer, but the
daughter still remains at Pahang. This woman states
that a great number of persons are annually sold as
slaves by the R,jalis in Bally and their n0b1e,.,, the prin-
cipal purchasers being Burris traders.
Another widow stated that she lived in the district of
Crambetan in Bally, but her husband dying about a
year ago, and being .necessitated to borrow about tan
dollars to defray the expenses of his burial and copse-
que nt religions ceremonies, she and her child, of about
two years of ago, became bond servants to the lender,
from whom they were, after some time, redegeigmtoheinadneßsbsyawgtrtihs:e,
Rajah,inby lwhom
h andmoana n.
twereehye subsequentlycn,heChinaman
ne
uannvdes septdod by
et
doo
,ltilihsearnHn
Cassim's boat.

A native of Yanyah, in Bally, and his wife, having
gone a few months ago to Baldong to trade, they were
seized by one of the principal men there, and put on
board Wah Cassim's boat, feting sold for thirteen dollars,
and were conveyed to Pahang.
An inhabitant of Menges, in Bally, and his wife, having
accompaniud their chief to Tabunnan, were both kid-
napped by a gang of persons, who sold them to the
Banda of Sarranesan for eleven dollars. They were by
the latter sent ieWah Cassim's boat to Pahang for sale.
The man states that this boat conveyed forty:eight men
and nineteen women to Pahang on this occnslon.
Similar stories are told by others, from which it ap-
pears that a most active system of kidnapping and slave
dealing prevails in the island of Bally. Indeed, so firm
appears the conviction of these unfortunate peopie that
if they returned to Bally they would again fall into a
state of slavery, that they arc almost unanimous in
expressing their disinclination to return to Bally, pre-
ferring to remain in Singapore, where they flud many of
their c Juntrymen ssttled.
The Rajahs in Bally have a very great number of
slaves. The sources from which they are derived are
various. The most usual Appear to be these :-Ist,
Women who have been divorced by their husbands be-
come the property of the Rajah. 2nd, Widows and
daughters of men dying without male issue go, with all
the property of the dcc aced, to the Rajah. 3rd. All
culprits and malefactors_ bee )mo slaves to the Rajah ;
and convictions, therefore, often proceed on the most
unsatisfactory evidence. 4th, Pris.mers taken in war.
and poor unprotected persons, who are seized and treated
as slaves.
The ways in which these slaves, so obtained, are em-
ployed, are various: some are engaged in worlzing for
the Rajah, and some he rends out to trade on c milition of
their bringing him a certain share of their profits;
others are let out to hire, and of these persons msny of
the crews of the vessels which trade from Bally to
Singapore and others places consist. The women, if
young and handsome, become the concubines of the
Rajah; if they do not take the royal fancy, he sends them
to trade in the bazaar, rect iving a portion of their gains;
or he sends them out as dancing-gin's and prostitutes,
participating in their earnings. The largest source of
gain must, however, arise from the sale of slaves. They
aro bought from the rajahs by the Chinese and
Bugis, the latter, as far as can be learnt,
being now the principal dealers, and convoyed to
the Malay states, where they are sold, the Arabs re-
siding in these places being the largest owners of slaves.
Formerly Europeans did not scruple to derive large sup-
plies of slaves from Bally, though this is now happily at an
end. We find from a paper published in 1830, that the
Netherlands Government formerly had an agent esta-
blished at Boddong to buy up slaves, who were sent up
to Java to be employed as soldiers. It. is thersin stated
that about 100 men had been obtained for that purpose
during the two preceding yeara,.who had cost the
Government, for price, agency, and transport, about
20;000 dollars. French vessels are also stated to have
resurted to Bally for the purpose of buying skives.
Women were preferred by them ; 150 rupees were given
for a young and handsome women ; 80 for the middle-
aged • the old being rejected altogether. Boys were
also bought, but grown up men were not in general
taken beinse• considered too intractable.
Slavery is, as far as we have the means of knowing, le-
gal in all Malayan states, which derive their supply of
slaves from Bally ; and being also legal according to the
laws of Bally, there seems to exist considerable diffi-
culty in the way of effecting its total suppression in
the Archipelago. The recent efforts of the Singapore
authorities, which must meet with the approbation of
every one desirous of seeing the traffic in human beings
blotted from the face of the globe, were only so far suc-
cessful through the co-operation of the Rajah of Pahang,
moved thereto by the intervention of his royal relative
the Tommungong. But even while delivering up these
captives to us, the Rajah was undoubtedly committing a
wrong upon those of his own subjects whom he dispos-
sessed of their slaves, and accerdinely we have heard
rumours of very great excitement having prevailed in
Pahang on the subject, especially on the part of the
Arabs, who, as we have before remarked, are very ex-
tensive slave-holders.
It seems, therefore, very desirable that the Rajah of
Pahang, and other native princes on the Peninsula and
elsewhere, should be induced to abolish slavery in their
dominions, and then a convention being made between
them and the British, a speedy stop would be put to all
slave importation into their territories. The places
where a large demand at present exists for slaves being
shut against them, the Bugis traders and other slave-
, dealers would find the trade no I inger profitable, and it
, would gradually dwindle away. The Dutch Govern-
ment could, no doubt, effect much for the amelioration
of the slaves in Bally, were it willing to exert its in-
fluence, and from tho character of the new Governor-
General of Netherlands India, we should suppose he
would be prompt to aid in the promotion of such a humane
object.
Tho Nockodah Wah Cassim, by whom most of the
recently rescued slaves were conveyed from Belly to Pa-
hang, was sent to Singapore by the Raja of Pahang. but
ho hes been set at liberty by the authorities here. The
only Act which is applicable to his case is the sth
Geo. IV. cap. 113, rec. 9 ; but to bring him within its
reach, he would have required to have resided in some
of her Mejesty's dominions under the territory of the
East India Government. He, moreover, produced a
document, by which it appeared that he was in the em-
ployment of the Rajah of Bally; so that, altogether, it
would be difficult to, bring him within the reach of
the law.
One of the persons brought from Pahang a Javanese
from the neighbourhood of Semarang, states that as he
and nine companions were out fishing at a considerable
distance from the harbour about nine years age, they
were seized by Gallang pi, ates, by whom they were
taken to Gellang, where the individual in question re-
sided for three years. He was then taken to Endow, and
sold to a person named Tuanko Mooda, with whom he
lived for about three years at Endow, and then accompa-
nied him to Pahang. Ho further states, that after being
captured he remained in the piratical boat for nearly a
month, and that about ten days after that event, and while
hovering off Semarang, a European child was brought on
board, with four Javanese who had been taken by the
pirates. This boy he asserts to be Joseph Pahang, the
European boy who was some time ago brought from
Pahang, and is at present in the Institution school. Ile
says that the boy, whom the Javanese accompanying
him called John, was taken to Gallang, but afterwards
removed from thence, and that on his going to Pahang.
he found the boy with Tuanko Sy-ed. Joseph, on being
shown this man, said he did not believe a word of his
story, that he never heard anything of it at Pahang, and
that he was very slightly acquainted with him ; on the
contrary, he has always understood that he was brought
by a Bugis of Punnen Rattle to Pahang, of whom he has
a faint recollection, and who, he has been informed,
sometimes comes to Singapore, so that he entertains
' hopes of meeting with him and learning something of
his early history before he fell into this man's hands. .
This boy, we believe, since he has been here, has im-
proved much. He bas gained good health, and intellec-
tually he displays great acuteness and intelligence. Ile
is versed in the Malay, Arabic, and Cochin China lan-
Dages.

THE LAST OF THE BUCHANITES.
m
(From the Dufries
d Courier.)
advanced age of 82,
In our last we recorded the eath of Mr. Andrew
Innes, at the a proprietor, on a
small scale, of houses and land at Crocketfurd, and the
last of a sect of religionists, never, we believe, very
numerous, but who, from their singular doctrines and pri-
mitive mode of life (sharing, as they did, most things in
common), excited at once wonderment, and attracted
very censii,lerable notice over Galloway and elsewhere,
during their day and generation. The founder of this
sect, a native of Banffshire, previous to her marriage,
bore the name of Elspeth Simpson, but afterwards be-
came much better known as Mrs. Buchan. About the
year 1784 she commenced her public career, first at
Glasgow, and shortly after at Irvine, where, among
others, he converted a R lief clergyman of the name of
Whyte. From Ayrshire the party emigrated 'to
Dumfriesshire, and settled fur some time at
Cloceburn, where many strange stories are still
told of the pseudo-prophetess and her followers.
Auchengibbert, in the pariah of Urr and stewartry
of Kirkcudbright, formed the next rendezvous,
until, fur some cause or other, they made another move-
ment, and became the first feuars in the village of Crocket-
ford. A prominent article in the creed of Mrs. 8,,
which she carefully inculcated, turned on a pivot not a
little flattering—namely,
that all true believers, when
ripe enough in
faith, in common with herself, would be
translated without experiencing the pangs of dissolution.
Accordingly, it is stated on no slight authority, that on
scaffolding Sea
ff°
i the whole family at that period,
was erected at Auchengibbert,
roomy enough tohold
with the greatest promptitude,
assembled .
one occasion
who on a signal , in the deliverance
f participating .
in the expectation o
t n evil ld.
from the snares
and temptations of
ay be supposaed, failed,wor and
m
But the experiment, as
tment, that the ranks of
much disappointment,
Still
occasioned so
thinned. a few followers
the deluded were sadly
remained, and among others the indomitable An-
drew Innes. In 1796 Mrs. Buchan became seriously
she admonisbed
k =wells tud finding her end approaching 2