 The cause of the Semantan War was because of the suspicion and dissatisfaction of the Orang Besar Pahang and the Orang Kaya Semantan towards the British interference on their territories .The tension soon rose in December 1890 when a E.A Wise, a British officer, illegally set up a police station without negotiating at Lubuk Terua which was on the territory of Dato' Bahaman.When Hugh Clifford; manager of the British officers in Pahang found out the situation, he advice the Sultan to locate Dato' Bahaman in another area while the British officers investigate.