On the first of February a large war-prahu, bearing the yellow flag of royalty, entered the bay. The heavily ornamented craft was about seventy feet long and fifteen feet wide, and carried two long brass cannon on her bow. Although it had taken much persuasion and cajoling, Tengku Long had agreed to come to Singapore to meet with Raffles.
The temenggong, who had been advised of his approach, went out to meet him, and directed the war-prahu towards the Indiana, where Raffles and his entourage waited to greet him.
Raffles welcomed the royal party on board, and seated them on chairs arranged on deck. Ronnie, who had been invited to the ceremony, thought that Tengku Long was perhaps the ugliest man he had ever seen. He had skinny legs that threatened to collapse under the weight of his immense body. He had a sallow complexion, and a very wide mouth, which almost filled his face when he smiled. He sweated profusely, and his hand was wet and clammy when Ronnie shook it. He spoke in a hoarse and rasping voice, which sounded as if he was always trying to catch his breath.
But Raffles seemed unfazed by his appearance, and was all charm. He explained to Tengku Long that they sought his permission, as Sultan of Johor, to establish a factory at Singapore. Tengku Long smiled graciously in return, and fixed Raffles with his beady brown eyes.
‘Highness, we will acknowledge you as the rightful heir to the Johor-Riau-Lingga Sultanate, in the name of the Governor-General of India and the Honorable East India Company,’ Raffles continued, ‘if you will sign a treaty granting us permission to build a factory on Singapore island. We offer you the protection of the British flag, and an annual allowance of five thousand Spanish dollars.’
Like the temenggong, Tengku Long recognized the opportunities for great wealth that such a factory offered. And like the temenggong, he understood very clearly the deal he was being offered. After making a show of considering the matter very carefully, and warning Raffles that the Dutch would protest the agreement, he consented to sign the treaty in a few days’ time, after he had consulted with the temenggong, with whom he was planning to stay. Once he had committed to signing the treaty, Tengku Long expressed great enthusiasm for the idea of a factory, and his gratitude for the Company’s support as rightful heir to the sultanate. In fact he was so grateful, he assured Raffles, that he offered to massacre all the Dutch on the Riau islands. Raffles thanked him, but said that was quite unnecessary. He led Tengku Long back to his war-prahu, and ordered that a royal salute be fired in the sultan’s honour.
Ronnie was no politician, but he could see the sense of acknowledging Tengku Long as sultan. By recognizing his rightful claim and accepting the Singapore concession in his name, Raffles and Farquhar could reasonably maintain that they were serving the interests of the Sultan of Johor as well as those of the East India Company. Yet he also knew that they had exceeded their authority in doing so. Raffles had told him that Hastings had explicitly warned against interference in the politics of the Johor-Riau-Lingga succession, to avoid antagonizing the Dutch authorities. Well, they were well and truly in it now. They could only hope that Lord Hastings would support them once he recognized the great benefit that Singapore would bring to the Eastern trade. Otherwise they would all be hung out to dry.
Whatever doubts Ronnie might have had, Raffles was supremely confident that they had done the right thing. That evening he stood with Ronnie and James Pearl and watched the sun set over the mouth of the river from the deck of the Indiana. ‘One could hardly conceive a more commanding and promising station,’ Raffles said. ‘Here we have planted the British flag among the ruins of the ancient capital of Singapura, the City of the Lion! Here we will advance the interests of the East India Company and raise the Malay people to their former glory. Not to mention the interests of our merchant friends like yourselves,’ Raffles added, clapping the two men on the shoulder.
‘I’m grateful to have played my small part in it, Sir Stamford,’ Pearl replied, ‘and with your permission I plan to establish my own base in Singapore. I hope to make my fortune trading in the archipelago, and to build myself a fine house here someday.’
‘That’s the spirit!’ Raffles replied. ‘And of course you have my permission, although you will need to talk to Major Farquhar about the allocation of land once we have signed the treaty.’
‘And how about your good self, Captain Simpson?’ Raffles said, turning to Ronnie. ‘Do you intend to stay? Our new settlement could do with some canny Scots.’
Ronnie paused as he looked out over the gold-flecked waters, but not because he was wrestling with his decision. He was merely admiring the brilliant sunset.
‘I surely do, Sir Stamford,’ he eventually replied. ‘I canna think of a better place for my father and me to establish ourselves. I just hope you and Major Farquhar can keep the Dutchman away, for we’ve had our fill o’ fighting.’
‘You can count of us,’ Raffles assured him, although Raffles knew he could not. Everything would depend upon Colonel Bannerman, the Marquis of Hastings, and the Court of Directors.