PAHANG
The State of Pahang lies between Trengganu and Johore, and extends along the eastern side of the peninsula from 2 deg. 40 min. to 4 deg. 35 min. N., its coast line being about 130 miles in length. The area of the State is estimated at 10,000 square miles, and its principal river, which drains a large extent of country, is known by the same name. The river Pahang is, however, owing to its shallowness, navigable for small craft only. The country is sparsely populated, there being, according to the census of 1911, 118,708 inhabitants, of whom 87,106 were Malays and 24,287 Chinese,
The capital of the State is Pekan, a town situated a few miles from the mouth of the river Pahang, where is also the sent of Government. The State is under British protection, and in August, 1888, the Sultan, acting under the advice of the Sultan of Johore, applied for a British Resident to assist in the administration of the country, which request was acceded to in October of that year.
The predominant rock is slate, but granite, sandstone, limestone, quartz, and schist abound, while traces of volcanic action at some remote age are shown by the presence of basalt, trachyte, etc. As regards its minerology, the State has always possessed a high reputation for its product of gold and tin. Though during recent periods these have been but little sought, the wonderful old gold workings discovered by Messrs. Knaggs and Gower show that, wild, desolate and abandoned as the greater portion of the State now appears to be, it must, at some very remote time, have been well known and populated. "At the present day," says Mr. Skinner, “the principal gold mines are in the valley of the Pahang, at Lipis, Jelei, Semantan, and Luet; gold is also found as far south as the Bera. There is also a mine of galena on the Kuantan at Sungei Lembing; and tin is found throughout the country, both in the neighbourhood of the gold mines above mentioned, and in places like the river Triang and the river Bentong, where gold is not worked." The Palang Corporation has opened tin mines at Sungei Lembing and Jeram Batang, another mine at Kabang having also been commenced. These mines are situated at the Kuantan district. The gold-bearing districts, Punjom and Raub, have, however, attracted far more attention from European capitalists. The principal gold-workings of the peninsula lie almost entirely along a not very wide line drawn from Mounts Ophir and Segama (the southern limit of the auriferous chain), through the very heart of the peninsula to the Kalian Mas or gold-diggings of Patani and Selepin in the north. The best tin workings of Pahang le near the Selangor hills on the river Bentong and near the gold workings at Jelei and Talom. Pahang tin is said to be the only tin on the east coast which can rival that of Perak and Selangor in whiteness and pliancy,
The administrative expenditure exceeds the income and the Stare is heavily in debt with a loan account standing at 89,201,749, the money being lent by other States in the Federation. The country promises soon to emerge from its backward condition. This backwardness was due chiefly to the lack of proper means of com- munication. The indebtness incurred by the State is represented by public improve- ments that are going to prove of a remunerative character in years to come. Excellent roads have been constructed opening up land for planting and aiding the prospecting for minerals, all the principal towns are now connected by telegraph or telephone, and the New Trunk Railway which is to connect the F.M.S. system with the Siamese Rail- ways is already on an advanced stage. When this line is completed it will be possible to travel by rail from Singapore or Penang to Bangkok.
The acreage alienated for agricultural purposes is now 117,945, but the acreage planted at the end of 1911 was only as follows,-Coconuts 16,715, rice 8,201, rubber (31 estates) 7,715, tapioca 500, coffee 97. For mining purposes, 44,439 acres were alienated. The export of tin and tin-ore was 43,954 piculs against 40,674 in 1910. For the first time wolfram (largely used in the manufacture of filament electric lamps) appears as an export to the extent of 35 piculs. The output of gold at Raub was 7,677 ounces in 1911 against 15,868 in 1910,
Imports were valued at $2,277,768 against $2,140,973 in 1910, and exports at #4,890,639 against $1,048,025 in 1910.
Digitized by Oogie