KELANTAN
1303
Kota Bharu, six miles up the Kelantan River, is the capital, and the chief port is Tumpat at the mouth. The Sultan and the British Adviser reside at Kota Bharu.
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 padi and rice, copra and rubber, cattle and dried fish. The climate is healthier than other parts of the Peninsula, there being a distinct cold season about January. The temperature seldom exceeds 90° and sometimes falls to 62°, 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 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 certain 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 Siam border is in progress, opening up the State for planting and mining.
According to the census of 1911 the population was 286,751.
In
In 1909, the revenue amounted to $370,959 and the expenditure to $377,062. 1919, the revenue had risen to $1,141,444 and the expenditure to $1,065,012. 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 1919 was $2,688,948. The value of the imports in 1919 was $3,876,679 against $2,591,408 in 1918, and of exports $5,467,424 against $3,615,079 in 1918. The principal imports were:-ironware, 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 88,616 in 1919 against 73,577 in 1918. There is regular steamship communication with Bangkok and Singapore. The first all-weather road was completed in 1916; it runs 26 miles from the capital to Pasir Puteh. The Trunk Road from Kota Bharu to Kuala Krai lacks a few bridges to make it usable in dry weather. There is now weekly connection by rail and steamer between Tumpat and Kuala Lebir, 60 miles up river. The line Pasir Mas to Rantau Panjang on the Siamese border has been opened for traffic, the service being twice daily. Kota Bharu is in direct telegraphic communication with Bangkok and Penang and possesses a telephone service. It is also connected by telephone with Tumpat, the port of Kelantan, and Pasir Puteh. A telegraph line connecting Kota Bharu with Kuala Krai has been completed.
About 343,338 acres were under cultivation in 1919. They comprised 152,739 acres devoted to padi, 60,087 to coconuts, and 85,346 to rubber. The export of rubber in 1919 was 2,077 tons, as compared with 1,744 tons in 1918. The export of copra was 84,244 piculs, compared with 73,794 piculs in 1918. Among other exports in 1919 were 3,953 head of cattle, 1,431 sheep and goats, and 10,410 dozen head of poultry. The export of tin ore in 1919 amounted to 26 piculs, against 51 piculs in 1918.
DIRECTORY
GOVERNMENT
Ruler-His Highness the SULTAN MAHOMED, K.C.M.G., IV, BIN ALMERHUM SULTAN
MOHAMED
British Adviser to the Government of Kelantan-H. W. Thomson (on leave), A. F.
Worthington (acting)
Assistant British Adviser to the Government of Kelantan--J. W W. Hughes