finger to save him； his master excusing himself on the plea that it is
necessary to frighten others from running away also。
These Rajah…creditors would tell you smilingly that they knew by
Mohammedan law the creditors can take and sell all their debtor's
property for an overdue debt； and that then the debtor is free； but
they never act on that principle。
Many men and women； however； rarely incur debts； knowing well what lies
before them in case of non…payment。
Malays； by their laws； are allowed to buy and sell slaves； and if；
having for years lost sight of a slave； the owner finds him or her； he
takes the slave with his wife and family； if he has one； as his lawful
property。
There is one other phase of debtor…bondage； and that a common one；
where the father or mother places one or more of their own children as
security with the creditor for a debt； thus in reality selling their
own flesh and blood into often a life…long bondage。 If these children
die on the creditor's hands； the parents supply their places by others；
or the Rajah； should he wish it； can at any time after the debt is due；
take the whole family into his house。
Only the other day a man here； for a debt of 40； placed his daughter
in a Rajah's hands and ran away。 Probably he will never return；
meanwhile the girl must obey her master in all things like the veriest
slave。 Such a state of things as this is only brought about by the
custom which allows it。
Another common practice in the States； more especially in Perak； is to
capture； as you might wild beasts； the unoffending Jakun women； and
make them and their children slaves through generations。
In April I was in Ulu Selangor； and the headmen there complained that a
chief from Slim had a fortnight before caught 14 Jakuns and one Malay
in Ulu Selangor； had chained them and driven off to Slim。 Arrived
there； the Malay was liberated and he returned。
Letters were written to Slim and Perak； but though we ascertained the
party had reached Slim； they did not remain there； and they have not
yet been discovered。
I have already stated that the Rajah looks to the number of his
following as the gauge of his power； and other Rajahs will respect and
fear him accordingly。 Thus he tries to get men into his service in this
way； and is rather inclined to refuse payment should the debtor be so
fortunate as to raise the requisite amount of his debt。
Almost the only chance the debtor has of raising this amount is by
successful gambling。 Of course it hardly ever happens that he is
successful； but； like all gamblers； he always thinks he will be； and
thus gambling becomes a mania with him； which he will gratify at all
costs； caring little by what means he gets money for play so long as he
does obtain it。
These are the general facts relating to the position of the
slave…debtor； and these things which I have described； seemingly so
difficult of belief； are done almost daily； looked upon by those who do
them as a right divine； by the victims as a fate from which there is no
reprieve。
To compel his followers to obey him implicitly； the Rajah treats them
with a severity which sometimes makes death the punishment of the
slightest offence to him。 These followers he thus holds to do whatever
he bids them； even to the commission of the gravest crimes。
They again； having to provide themselves with food and clothes； and yet
having to work for him； are led to prey on the defenceless population；
from whom； in the name of their Rajah…master； they extort whatever
there is to get； and on whom they sometimes visit those cruelties which
they have themselves already experienced。
This system of debtor bondage influences； then； the whole population；
not slightly but deeply； in ways it is hardly possible to credit except
when seen in a constant intercourse with all classes of Malay society。
The question at issue seems to be； how to deprive the Rajah of this
great poweran unscrupulous instrument in unscrupulous handshow to
free the debtors from their bondage； the women from lives of forced
prostitution； the unoffending population from the robberies and
murderous freaks of Rajahs and their bondsmen。*
＇*Some of these remarks apply specially to Selangor； in which State
slavery is now abolished。 I。 L。 B。＇
In Perak it is different； the debtor…bondage is one of the chief
customsone of the 〃pillars of the State〃an abuse jealously guarded
by the Perak Rajahs and Chiefs； and especially by those who make the
worst uses of it。
I have often discussed this question of debt…slavery with the Malays
themselves； but they say they see no way under the rule of their Rajahs
to put down this curse of their country； with all the evils that follow
in its train。 I have； etc。
（Signed） Frank A。 Swettenham； （Now Asst。 Colonial Secretary
at Singapore。）
The Honorable the Secretary for Native States； Singapore；
Straits Settlements。
APPENDIX C
No。 I
From H。B。M。's Resident； Perak； to Colonial Secretary； Straits
Settlements Residency； Kwala Kansa； December 14； 1878。
SirIn reference to your letter of the 28th June last； directing； by
command of His Excellency the Governor； my particular attention to the
plan adopted in Selangor for the extinction of the claims against
slave…debtors； by a valuation of their services to their creditors
according to a fixed scale； and directing me to consider to His
Excellency with a view to its being afterward submitted for the
consideration of the Council of State：
1。 I have the honor to state in reply that a copy of that letter and
its inclosure was supplied to the Assistant Resident of Perak； and its
contents communicated to the other magistrates； with instructions on
all occasions in which such cases should be brought before them； to
endeavor； with the consent of the creditors； to come to a settlement on
such a basis。
2。 The Toh Puan Halimah； daughter of the exiled Laxamana of Perak； and
chief wife of the banished Mentri of the State； had invested most of
her private money in advances of this description； which； up to the
time of British interference； was the favorite form of security； and
she is now the largest claimant in the country for the repayment of her
money。 Another； Wan Teh Sapiah； has also claims of a like nature on
several families； and both these ladies willingly undertook to accept
of liquidation by such an arrangement。
3。 In the former case it has； I am sorry to say； fallen through； from
the impossibility of inducing the debtors to work regularly； and from
very many of them； who are living in entire freedom in different parts
of the country； declining to come into the arrangement； though
acknowledging their debts。
4。 In many other cases the creditors from the first put forward the
certainty of the failure of such a system from the above…mentioned
cause； others have objected that they had no regular employment in
which to place their debtors； others； that they are utterly ruined by
the events of recent years； and that they would accede to the proposal
if fairly carried out on the other part； provided the Government would
advance money as the native Rajahs did to enable them to open mines or
gardens in which they could employ their debtors； nearly all have
declared themselves willing； and even anxious； to accept a just amount
in payment of their debts； several suggesting that the State might
conveniently undertake to do this； employing the labor in public works
until the debtor should be free。
5。 I cannot undertake to say what may have been the practice in former
times； as to the treatment； in Perak； of this class of persons； but no
case of cruelty or any great hardship has been brought to my notice
since I came into the country。 By far the larger number of the
slave…debtors live with their families apart and often at great
distances from their masters； enjoying all the fruits of their labor；
rendering occasional assistance to them when called upon to do so；
which； in the majority of cases； is of rare occurrence。
6。 The circumstances of Perak would probably be found to differ from
those of Selangor； which I understand has a much smaller population；
was governed by an enlightened ruler under the advice of British
Residents； who succeeded in introducing the present regulation
immediately after the conquest of the district。
7。 To introduce such a measure into Perak at the present time would； in
my opinion； have a very disturbing effect； and although I do not think
that it would lead to any extensive or organized armed resistance； I am
sure that it would so shake the confidence which has arisen between the
European officers and principal people that years would be required to
restore it。
8。 I confess that I am not able to devote all my sympathy to the weaker
class in this question。 I concur with the principal natives that the
introduction of a measure which formed no part of the original contract
would practically amount to a confiscation of their property； the value
of the labor of this class of persons being scarcely more than nominal；
and I adhere to the opinion that the just and politic course is； as has
been done； to prohibit any extension or ren