THE NEGRI SEMBILAN
This is a group of seven states--Johol, Tambin, Sri Menanti, Jempol, Rembau- Sungei Ujong, and Jelebu, the two latter having been confederated with the origina group of five in 1895. They occupy together some 3,000 square miles of the interior of the peninsula, bounded on the north and east by Pahang, on the west by Malacca, and on the south by Johore. The five states originally known as the Negri Sembilan were brought under British protection by Sir Frederick Weld in 1883 and by ar agreement with the respective chiefs, signed on the 13th July, 1889, they were con federated as one Residency. They are governed by the native chiefs or penghulus, assisted by the British Resident and Magistrates under him.
Under the later scheme of confederation, brought into force in 1895, by which Sungei Ujong and Jelebu were brought in, there are five districts, viz., Seremban, the Coast Jelebu, Kuala Pilah, and Tampin. Seremban is the head office, where the Residen: and heads of departments reside. Heads of departments are for the whole stat and thus a double staff is saved, as had two states remained alone it would have been necessary, as the Negri Sembilan developed, to make further appointments of Europea officers. The political affinity of the States is undoubted, and the same tribal am customary laws exist in both, together with the system of the election of the chiefs.
Sungei Ujong and Jelebu have together an area of about 1,200 square miles, and a range of hills in the north attam a height of about 3,800 feet, the slopes of which have been pronounced by Ceylon planters as most suitable for the cultivation of coffee, cONA &c. On the lower ground, nearer the const, tapioca is successfully cultivated. Ti mining is carried on to a considerable extent. The river Linggi is the only consider- able stream in the state, and was formerly navigable for upwards of 40 miles from its mouth. The principal town of Sungei Ujong is Seramban. The port of Sungei Ujong was opened on the 1st September, 1884, at Pengkalan Kompas on the Linggi river, at a distance of about seven miles from the mouth of the river, and a well laid-out tow: has sprung up. Port Dickson (district and port) lies south-west of Seremban, azy promises to become of some importance. The harbour has from eleven to fiftee fathoms of water and is well sheltered. A railway connecting it with Seremban was opened in July, 1891. The line has greatly facilitated trade. There is a fire class road from Pengkalan Kompas to the Residency at Seremban, and thenc on to Pantai, a distance altogether of about 31 miles, Pantai being 8 miles fr the seat of Government and leading to the coffee estates on Bukit Berembun which are in a flourishing state. To these, a distance of 13 miles, a cart rs has been constructed. À cart road from Seremban to Setul, 9 miles distant, a? extending to Bernang, 6 miles further on the Selangor border, has been made, a has opened up an extensive and rich tin mining district, which is being rapidly taken up by the Chinese, who are the real wealth producers of the country, as elsewhere in the native states. Communication with Malacca is kept up br subsidized steam-launches, and a cart road from the state to Lubok China i Malacca (five miles) was completed in 1885. The trade for 1899 was $2,610,500 imperts and $6,232,000 exports.
DIRECTORY
MEMBERS OF THE STATE COUNCIL
~
President--His Highness Tunku Mulumad,, Member--The Dato Penghulu of Joh
C.M.G.,bin Al Merhem Tunku Antah, Yang di aper Tuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Member The British Resident
Do.
(Dato Beginda Tan Amas) ---Tunku Muda Chik of
Menanti
Do. -The Dato Klana Petra of Sungei
Ujong
Do.
-The Ruler of Tampin (Turki
Dewa)
-The Dato Bandar of Sungei
Ujong
Do.
Do.
Do.
The Dato Penghulu of Jelebu
Do. -The Dato Penghulu of Rembau
Do.
Digitized by
-The Dato Muda of Linggi
--Captain Lee Chin Sam
Tan Yong