I
FEDERATED MALAY STATES--PERAK
1379
Planting enterprise in the Federated Malay States for many years had not proved very successful, but the introduction of rubber cultivation has completely transformed the agricultural prospects of the country. The total area now in possession is 830,678 acres, of which 433,324 acres were under cultivation for rubber at the end of 1913. About 23,465 tons of rubber were exported from these States in 1913, valued at $56,663,959 (£6,610,795) against 15,505 tons in 1912 valued at £7,364,506. Sugar has practically gone out of cultivation. Over 157,000 acres of land are under coconuts, for which the soil and climate of these States are peculiarly well suited; and the cultivation of rice is only a question of irrigation and labour. In 1913, 156,033 piculs of copra, valued at $1,808,913, were exported, against 129,531 piculs, valued at $1,303,169, in 1912. The irrigation scheme in Perak is making but slow progress, but the success of every form of agriculture and of all the efforts of the Government to develop the country by means of railways, irrigation, and other great public works, depend upon an adequate supply of labour.
As regards Indian labour, the Governments of the Colony and the Federated Malay States, supported by the planters, by a new system of recruiting and by offering higher wages and other advantages, have succeeded in securing an adequate supply of Indian labour. An agricultural department to foster agricultural interests, encourage the cultivation of new products, to conduct experiments and be a general source of information for planters, has been created, and is doing useful work.
It is estimated that there are in the Federated Malay States about 70,000 children of a school-going age, but only about 25,000 of these attend any recognised school, while many live in places far removed from any school-house; it is a fact that education has no great attraction for Malay parents, or Malay children, who might contribute by far the largest number of scholars. The Government offers every reasonable encouragement, and there is even a law in force in Selangor and the Negri Sembilan for compelling the attendance of children who live within reasonable distance of a school, while scholars are allowed to travel free of charge on the railways. The population of the Federated Malay States was ascertained at the census of 1911 to be 1,036,999 (725,062 males, 311,937 females). Of these 3,284 were Europeans, 2,649 Eura- sians, 420,840 Malays, 433,244 Chinese, and 172,465 Indian. In 1913, there were 118,583 Indian immigrants against 106,928 in 1912. The excess of Chinese immigrants over emigrants in 1913 was 44,559 against 41,786 in 1912. The population showed an in- crease of 358,404 persons in the intercensal period from 1901 to 1911.
The imports into the States in 1913 were valued at $84,153,576 (£10,081,068), while exports amounted to $148,669,498 (£17,344,775). The total of imports and exports com- bined was $235,078,655 (£27,425,843), against a total of $231,069,875 (£26,961,302) in 1912,
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.