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 estimated 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.
The chief exports are padi and rice, copra and rubber, cattle and dried fish. The climate is healthier than in other parts of the Peninsula, there being a dis- tinct 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 15th, 1909.
In 1909, the revenue amounted to $370,959 and the expenditure to $377,062. In 1923, the revenue had risen to $1,396,855 and the expenditure to $1,271,887. 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 1923 was $3,441,345. The value of the imports in 1923 was $3,070,562 against $2,983,248 in 1922, and of exports $5,667,729 against $3,577,038 in 1922. The principal imports were:-ironware, cotton piece-goods, sarongs, silk piece-goods, cycles and accessories, coal, woodenware, machinery, cement, earthenware, matches, kerosene, opium, tobacco, salt and woollen goods. The tonnage of steamers using Kelantan ports amounted to 108,024 in 1923 against 93,788 in 1922. 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 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 388,502 acres were under cultivation in 1923. They comprised 180,865 acres devoted to padi, 59,845 to coconuts, and 113,008 to rubber. The export of rubber in 1923 was 3,365 tons, as compared with 2,502 tons in 1922. The export of copra was 107,077 piculs, compared with 118,297 piculs in 1922. The export of tin ore in 1923 amounted to 13.17 piculs, against 41.46 piculs in 1922.
C
DIRECTORY
GOVERNMENT
Ruler-His Highness the SULTAN ISMAIL BIN ALMERHUM SULTAN MOHAMED IV, K.C.M.G. British Adviser to the Government of Kelantan-A. F. Worthington (on duty in
England), H. C. Eckhardt (acting)
Assistant British Adviser to the Government of Kelantan--C. C. Brown