PERAK
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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 more than 170 (average for 10 years 171.95) but the average elsewhere is about 100 inches. There is no true rainy season, but the wettest months are October, November and December, and the driest are June, July and August.
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, and two 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 near the town of Kuala Kangsar, reached by rail from Taiping in about an hour. His Highness Sir Idris Mersid-el-Aäzam Shah G.C.M.G., died in 1916, and was succeeded by his son, Raja Abdul Jalil ibni Almerhun- Idris Mersid-el-Aazam Shah, who had the honour of K.C.M.G., conferred upon him by King George in 1917. The High Commissioner of the Federated Malay States has also a residence at Kuala Kangsar, which town, situated as it is on the Perak river, here some 200 yards wide, lies in the midst of beautiful scenery and is the centre of the Malay life of Perak, and it is here that meetings of the Federal Council are some- times held. The British Resident has residences at Taiping and Ipoh.
The most important district in Perak is Kinta, of which the principal town is Ipoh- reached by rail from Penang in five and a half hours. The tin deposits in the Kinta valley and neighbourhood are of great value, and recent developments in rubber plant- ing have brought a new agricultural industry into the district. Mining is here con- ducted on the most scientific principles, and many mines are equipped with the latest machinery.
Other districts in Perak are Krian on the Province Wellesley (Penang) border. Here the Government has completed an extensive and costly irrigation scheme and large areas are under rice and rubber. A somewhat similar district is Lower Perak, in which is situated Teluk Anson, the principal port of the State. This port is connected by a branch railway with the main line of the Federated Malay States Railway and there is frequent communication by steamers between Penang and Singapore.
The Larut district was formerly famous for its tin deposits, and faction fights for the possession of the tin mines before 1874 were the immediate cause of the British intervention in and eventual protection of Perak. The Larut mines had of late years somewhat sunk in importance, but are now the centre of the bucket-dredging industry. Matang, a sub-district of Larut, contains many large rubber estates and a con- siderable fishing industry exists on its coast.
The large districts of Batang Padang and Upper Perak are as yet less developed than the rest of the State. The railway runs through the Batang Padang district six miles from the headquarter town of Tapah, for which the station, Tapah Road, is some seven hours from Penang. A metalled cart road has been completed to Grik, the headquarters of the Upper Perak district.
The population of Perak in 1911 was 494,057 as compared with 329,665 in 1901. It included in 1911, 217,206 Chinese, 199,034 Malays and other natives of the Archipelago, 73,539 natives of India, 1,396 Europeans and 845 Eurasians. In 1916, the mean popula- tion was estimated at 563,027. The Chinese form the labour force of the tin mines. and the Tamil natives of India the labour force of the plantations, but it is noticeable that some Tamils are now employed in the mines. The Malays engage in native cultivation and various other pursuits.
The Federated Malay States Railway runs through the whole length of Perak from Parit Buntar on the Penang (Province Wellesley) border to Tanjong Malim on the Selangor border. Branch railways run from Taiping to Port Weld and from Tapah ›