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JOHORE
This State occupies the southern portion of the Malayan Peninsula, and has an area of about 9,000 square miles. The State is ruled by a Sultan, who is independent, but under the protection of the British Government so far as external policy is concerned. The present Sultan, Ibrahim, was born in 1873, and succeeded his father, the late Sultan Abubakar, in 1895, being crowned on the 2nd of November of that year. The country has made great progress in material prosperity, and its orderly condition has attracted a good deal of European capital, invested in planting enterprises.
The capital is the town of Johore Bhâru, or new Johore, as distinguished from Johore Lâma, or old Johore, the former seat of the Sultans of Johore, which was situated a few miles up the wide estuary of the Johore river. The new town is a flourishing little place on the nearest point of the mainland to Singapore island, and lying about 14 miles to the north-east of Singapore city, in 1' 26 N. It contains some 20,000 inhabitants, mostly Chinese. Amongst the Government buildings are the Istana, court and police stations, barracks, gaol, hospital, market, railway station A steam saw-mill, owned by Chinese, does a good business. A plentiful supply of water, by means of pipes from a stream in the hills about 12 miles distant, has been provided since March, 1890. Good roads are being made, and, to meet the requirements of the Padang district, a light railway was coinpleted during 1890 as far as Parit Jawa, a distance of eight miles.
and a mosque.
The population of the State is remarkable for containing a larger number of Chinese than of Malays. The exact figures have not been ascertained, but probably come to 200,000, viz., Malays, 35,000, Chinese 150,000, and Javanese 15,000. More than half are found within 15 miles of the Singapore Straits. The Chinese are chiefly found as cultivators of gambier and pepper, and are spread over about the range of country in the extreme southern end of the peninsula, nearest to Singapore.
European pioneers have, in the last few years, made some experiments in planting, on a large scale, sago, tobacco, coffee, tea, and cocoa. Those have been grown in five different districts-Batu Pahat, Pulau Kokob, Panti, Johore Bhâru, and Pengerang ; but it is uncertain how many of them can be considered established industries.
At the present time the principal exports of Johore are the carefully cultivated gambier, pepper, and sago, and the natural products of timber, rattans and damar, for almost all such produce Singapore is the port of shipment.
Rubber Estates are now dotted over a large area of the country,
The only mineral in which the country is really rich is iron. It is nowhere worked, but is found almost everywhere. Deposits of tin are known in several places and gold in one or two spots. A little tin is worked at Seluang, but no considerable mining is actually carried on, unless the islands of the Carimons be included. Though now politically separated from Johore, these islands are geologically part of it, and were formerly a dependency of the kingdom.
Coaches and steal-launches run daily to Singapore, whence letters and passengers find easy access to all other ports. A telegraph line has been erected between Johore Bhâru and Singapore, and a railway has been constructed across the latter island.
DIRECTORY
Sovereign Ruler-His Highness IBRAHIM, Sultan of the State and Territory of Johore, K.C.M.G., Sovereign of the Most Esteemed Darjah Krabat (Family Order) and the Most Honourable Darjah Mahakota Johore (Order of the Crown of Johore) First Class Osmanieh Order
Private Secretary-H. Md. Said
COUNCIL OF STATE
The Dato Mentri Besar, D.K., S.P.M.J., C M.G,, president The Dato Mohamed B. Mahbob, S.P.M.J., vice-president
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