KELANTAN
This State is situated in the extreme north-eastern end of the Peninsula between latitudes 4:38° and 6:15° North and between longitudes 101.26° and 102.40° East, with a coast-line of 60 miles on the China Sea. It embraces an area estimisated at 5,870 square miles. It is a mountainous country, with rich alluvial plains, and drained by the Kelantan River and its tributaries.
According to the census of 1921 the population is 309,293, as compared with 286,751 in 1911.
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 padí and rice, copra and rubber, cattle and dried fish. The climate is healthier than in other parts of the Peninsula, there being a distinct cold season about January. temperature seldom exceeds 90° and sometimes falls to 62°, while the average rainfall is about 120 inches a year.
The
Mr. J. Scott Mason, the British Adviser, took over the supervision of affairs from Mr. W. A. Graham, the Siamese Commissioner, on July 15th, 1909.
In 1909, the revenue amounted to $370,959 and the expenditure to $377,062. In 1922, the revenue had risen to $1,310,020 and the expenditure to $1,539,318. The public debt at the transference of the suzerainty was $150,000, upon which Siam charged 9 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 1922 was $3,567,896. The value of the imports in 1922 was $2,983,248 against $4,108,595 in 1921, and of exports $3,577,038 against $2,848,171 in 1921. The principal imports were:-ironware, cotton piece-goods, sarongs,. silk piece-goods, cycles and accessories, coal, woodenware, machinery, cement, earthen- ware, matches, kerosene, opium, tobacco, salt and woollen goods. The tonnage of steamers using Kelantan ports amounted to 93,788 in 1922 against 88,140 in 1921. 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 can now be used for the greater part of the year. There is daily connection by rail between Tumpat and Kuala Krai, 60 miles up river. The line to the Siamese border is open for traffic, and a daily service each way between Tumpat and the Kedah boundary is maintained, making communication with Penang an easy matter. 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. There is a telegraph line connecting Kota Bharu with Kuala Krai.
About 385,582 acres were under cultivation in 1922. They comprised 179,200 acres devoted to padi, 59,405 to coconuts, and 112,208 to rubber. The export of rubber in 1922. was 2,502 tons, as compared with 1,889 tons in 1921. The export of copra was 118,297 piculs, compared with 90,275 piculs in 1921. The export of tin ore in 1922 amounted to 41.46 piculs, against 71.35 piculs in 1921.