KELANTAN
This State is situated in the extreme north-eastern end of the Peninsula, between latitudes 4'45° and 6:25° North and between longitudes 101 30° and 102:40° East, with a coast-line of 60 miles on the China Sea. It embraces an area of from 5,000 to 5,500 square miles. It is a mountainous country, with rich alluvial plains, and is drained by the Kelantan River and its tributaries.
Kota Bahru, at the mouth of the Kelantan river, is the capital, but the chief port is Tumpat on the other side of the delta. The Sultan and the British Resident reside at Kota Bahru.
Chiefly agricultural, Kelantan is believed to be rich in minerals, and much prospect- ing may be expected to be done in the next few years. The chief exports are padí and rice, copra and rubber, cattle and dried fish. The climate is comparable with other parts of the Peninsula. The temperature seldom exceeds 90° and rarely falls below 69°, while the average rainfall is about 120 inches a year.
Mr. J. Scott Mason, the British Adviser, took over the supervision of affairs from Mr. W. A. Graham, the Siamese Commissioner, on July 15, 1909; and the most important happening since then was the determination in 1912 of the agreement between the Sul- tan and the Duff Development Company, and the resumption by the Government of the sovereign powers conceded to the company over nearly two-thirds of the State. A new working agreement was entered into under which the Government of Kelantan undertook to pay to the company a sum of £300,000 sterling and to grant to them the following rights: (a) The sole right to select blocks of land for agricultural purposes, amounting in the aggregate to not more than 50,000 acres; (b) the sole prospecting rights for minerals over the area of the concession; and (c) the sole prospecting right over an area of approximately 78 square miles in the Sokor district, and the right to take up mining leases and certain other rights.
Over thirty miles of the railway which is to connect the F.M.S. and Siamese systems is completed in Kelantan, southwards from Tumpat, and work on the extension southwards to the Pahang border is in progress, opening up the State for planting and mining.
According to the census of 1911 the population is 286,751. There was a police force of 366 men in 1915.
In 1909, the revenue amounted to $370,959 and the expenditure to $377,062. In 1915, the revenue had risen to $692,556 and the expenditure to $753,586. The public debt at the transference of the suzerainty was $150,000, upon which Siam charged 6 per cent. This debt was taken over by the F.M.S., interest being reduced to 4 per cent. The debit balance of the State at the end of 1915 was $3,416,426; but it must be borne in mind that this large increase is chiefly represented by permanent public works which tend to the development of the country and are thus, more or less, of a remunerative character. The value of the imports in 1915 was $1,587,871 against $2,721,898 in 1914, and of exports $1,907,678 against $1,891,162 in 1914. The principal imports were: cotton piece goods, sarongs, cycles and accessories, coal, woodenware, matches, kerosene, opium, tobacco, salt and woollen goods. The tonnage of steamers using Kelantan ports amounted to 70,208 in 1915 agains 106,286 in 1914. There is regular steamship communication with Bangkok and Singapore. Roads extend only a few miles from the capital; communication inland is by the rivers. The Truuk Road from Kota Bharu to Kuala Krai lacks a few bridges to make it usable in dry weather. Pasir Puteh is now connected by road with Kota Bharu, and the road only needs a few more miles of metalling to make it practicable in all weathers. There is now bi-weekly connection by rail and steamer between Tumpat and Kuala Lebir, 60 miles up river. Kota Bharu is in direct telegraphic_communication with Bangkok aud Penang and possesses a telephone service. A telegraph line connecting Kota Bharu with Kuala Krai has been completed. It is also connected by telephone with Tumpat, the port of Kelantan, Bhehil and Bangnara.
About 167,024 acres were under cultivation in 1915. This comprised 93,400 acres devoted to padi, 32,012 to coconuts, and 17,692 to rubber. The export of rubber in 1915