1402
FEDERATED MALAY STATES-PERAK
DIRECTORY
MEMBERS OF THE FEDERAL COUNCIL
H.E. the High Commissioner (Sir Arthur H. Young, K..M.G.), President H.E. the Sultan of Perak (Idris Mersid-el Aäzam Shah, G.C.M.G.)
H.H. the Sultan of Selangor (Suleiman Shah, K.C.M.G.)
H.H. the Yam Tuan of Negri Sembilan (Tungku Muhammad, C.M.4.)
The Regent of Pahang (Tungku Mahmud, c.M.G.)
The Chief Secretary to Government (Mr. Edward Lewis Brockman, C.M.44.) The Resident of Perak (Mr. Reginald George Watson, C.M.G.)
The Resident of Selangor (Mr. E. G. Broadrick)
The Resident of Negri Sembilan (Mr. A. H. Lemon)
The Resident of Pahang (Mr. Edward John Brewster)
Mr. Harry D. Griffiths
Mr. B. Skinner
Mr. W. F. Nutt
Towkay Eu Tong Sen
PERAK
Perak, the premier State of the Federated Malay States, is on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula, and lies between Kedah on the north, and Selangor on the South. The coast line is about 90 miles in extent; the greatest length of the State, in a north and south direction, is 120 miles, and the breadth, in an east and west direction, 90 miles. It is estimated to contain 6,580 square miles; that is to say, it is about the size of Wales and Monmouth joined together. The soil is suitable for the cultivation of rubber, rice, coconuts, Liberian coffee, spices of all kinds, and grasses from which essential oils are extracted.
The State is well watered by numerous streams and rivers, of which the river Perak is the most important. This river runs nearly south until it turns sharply to the westward and falls into the Straits of Malacca. It is navigable for about 40 miles from its mouth by steamers of 300 to 400 tons burden, and for another 100 miles by cargo boats. The upper part of the river is rocky and abounds in rapids, and conse- quently, except for small boats and rafts, is unnavigable. The Kinta, the Batang Padang and the Plus are the three large tributaries of the Perak river, and all are navigable by cargo boats. These rivers rise in the main mountain range and flow west and south until they discharge themselves into the Perak river.
The climate of Perak is good, the temperature in the low country averaging from 60' Fahr. in the night to 90° Fahr. in the heat of the day. The average mean is about 70° Fahr. in the night and 87° Fahr, in the day. The nights are uniformly cool. At 3,000 feet the average is 63 Fahr. at night to 73° in the day. The rainfall varies consid- erably, Taiping, the capital, registering as much as 154 inches, but the average else- where is about 90 inches. There is no true rainy season, but the wettest months are October, November and December, and the driest are March, June and July.
The State has been under British Protection since 1874 and has since that date been administered under the advice of the British Resident. The State Council, a deliberative, legislative and advisory body, consists of the Sultan and several Malay Chiefs, the British Resident, the Secretary to Resident, a British unofficial member, and four Chinese members.
The seat of Government is at Taiping in the Larut district, three hours from Penang by railway. The Malay States Guides, a body of Indian troops maintained and equipped by the Rulers of the Federated Malay States, are quartered at Taiping. The residence of His Highness the Sultan is at Bukit Chandan in the town of Kuala Kangsar, reached by rail from Taiping in about an hour. The High Commissioner of the Federate 1 Malay