malaya

…from tomorrow, anyway. Yes…tomorrow – 20th January – will mark 144 years since the Treaty of Pangkor was signed.

picture from: Twentieth Century Impressions of British Malaya

Unfortunately we do not have a photo of the Treaty signing. This photograph was taken on Pangkor Island, 9 months after the treaty was signed, in September 1875 when Sir William Jervois visited Perak. At that time Perak was already in the hands of J W W Birch, the First British Resident. This photo is therefore 143 years old.

In the photograph surrounding the seated Sir William Jervois, who was a military engineer and Governor General of the Crown Colonies of the Straits Settlements, are (from left to right): Dr A F Anderson, Captain W Innes, Major J F A McNair, Lt H E McCallum, W Knaggs (in a suit), J W W Birch (standing on the Governor’s left), Captain Speedy (on the steps and bearded), Frank Swettenham (nonchalantly leaning against the handrail).