SELANGOR.
The protected native state of Selangor, containing a total area of about 3,000 square miles, lies on the western coast of the Malay Peninsula, and is bounded by the protected native states of Perak on the north, and Sungie Ujong on the south, extending inland to the mountains in the centre of the peninsula, which divide it from Pahang and Jelebu.
The Government consists of the Sultan, advised by the British Resident, who is directly responsible to the Governor of the Straits Settlements, and assisted by the State Council. The State is divided into the following six Collectorates:-1. Kwala Lumpor, the central district where the Residency and principal Government Offices are situated, and which also contains the richest tin mines that have yet been developed. 2. Klang, the principal port, situated about 14 miles from the mouth of the Klang River. 3.—Kwala Langat, an agricultural district, in which the Sultan resides. 4.Kwala Selangor, containing the most important fisheries in the State. 5.-Ulu Langat, an inland mining_district on the borders of Sungie Ujong. 6.- Ulu Selangor, a district adjoining Perak, containing much valuable mining land, as yet comparatively undeveloped.
Each Collectorate is under the charge of an European Collector and Magistrate, from whom the Native Penghulus (in charge of the districts into which each Collec- torate is subdivided) receive their instructions. The law and procedure & ministered in the Courts are practically the same as those in the Colony of the Straits Settle- ments, and the powers of a Collector and Magistrate are almost identical with those of a Magistrate and Commissioner of the Court of Requests n the Colony. The decisione of the Magistrates are subject to revision by the Resident, and again by the Sultan in Council. The Police Force consists of a superintendent, two European inspectors, and 305 native non-commissioned officers and men, chiefly Malay.
According to a census taken during the year 1884 the total population of the State amounted to 46,568 persons, and in 1887 was estimated at 97,106, of whom 73,155 are Chinese, 21,584 Malays, 1,261 Indians, 950 Sarkeis (aboriginal tribes), and 156 Europeans.
The principal industry of the State, and from which it derives the largest portion of its revenue, is alluvial tin mining, on which a duty is charged of $12 per bhara (three piculs). The export in 1887 amounted to 131,392 piculs.
In addition to its mineral resources, the State, however, possesses large tracts of land well adapted for agricultural purposes, and the recent removal of restrictions on the free importation of Indian coolies into the Protected Native States renders it possible for European planters to obtain cheap labour and to open estates on a large scale. Small plantations of Coffee, Cooca, and Pepper have already been successfully commenced, and Rice, Sugar, and other products of the Peninsula under native cultivation, are doing well in various parts of the State, and to encourage pioneer planters, large grants of land have recently been made, on special terms, for the planting of Sago, Pepper, and Gambier.
The following table shows the total annual revenue and expenditure of the State since the year 1880:-
Revenue
Expenditure.......
1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884.
1884. 1885. 1886. 1887.
1888.
$
$
$ $ 213,614 235.227 300,423 150,664 494,483,566,411 689,401 1,153,8961,072,890
$
$
$
$
202,806'234,383 259,081|448,703 514,948,826,526,683,876 885,931 1,053,000
The principal exports are Tin, Hides, Garmwood, Tapioca, Canes, Rattans, and Gutta Percha. The principal imports are Opium, Salt, Salt-fish, Rice, Oil, Tobacco, and Tea, At the commencement of the year 1885, all duties were abolished, with the exception of those on Tin and Opium.
There is frequent and regular communication, by means of coasting steamers, between the Straits Settlements and Selangor, and from Kwala Lumpor a system of cart and bridle roads extends to the boundaries of Perak, Sungie Ujong, and Pahang.