1164
MALACCA
Malacca offers numerous attractions to the ornithologist and entomologist, but it is less rich in mammals than many other tropical districts. Nine species of quadrumana, the tiger, black leopard, wild cat, several species of viverrida (such as the musang and binturong), the elephant, one-horned rhinoceros, tapir, six species of deer, and two of the wild ox comprise a nearly complete list and, no doubt, at one time could be found, but no rhinoceros or elephant has been seen for many years, and wild oxen have not been heard of for over 30 years. Fair sport can be obtained by those fond of shooting, from tiger to snipe. It is noteworthy that the existence of the tapir was unknown until 1816, although European intercourse dates back to some three centuries before. Tigers in the early days of Portuguese occupation were so plentiful that the want of inhabitants was seriously attributed to this cause. As with the birds and insects, so with the reptiles. The snakes, lizards, and crocodiles are, as a rule, those of the peninsula generally, the birds alone presenting a rather larger variety than those of other districts. Nor does the vegetation present any exclusive features, being that of the surrounding States. The coast line is poor in shells, and the absence of limestone accounts for the few species of land shells found within the district.
Beyond its interest to the sportsman or naturalist, Malacca possesses no attrac- tions except to those who like to visit scenes famous in the annals of discovery for the bloody fights they have witnessed between the natives and the European nations who contended for their possession. Its population in 1925 was estimated at 177,010. There are
some 460 European residents in the Settlement, of whom at least three- quarters are planters.
The trade is largely with Singapore and the Federated Malay States, but rubber is shipped fortnightly by Japanese mail steamers to Europe. The cultivation of tapioca was formerly the principal industry, but rubber is now extensively planted, several large companies having taken over a number of small estates. The cultiva- tion of tapioca and gambier is declining rapidly in favour of coconuts and rubber, there being 183,050 acres under rubber and 48,133 acres growing coconuts, pineapple and other fruits. The total values of the foreign imports and exports for 1924 and 1925 are given below:-
Imports... Exports...
Total ...
...
...
...
1924
$ 22,813,580 29,403,837
...
$ 52,217,417
1925 $45,122,297
75,547,556
...$120,669,853
DIRECTORY
GOVERNMENT OFFICES
CHINESE PROTECTORATE
Assist. Protector of Chinese-W. E.
Rigby
Clerk and Interpr.-Lam Kain Choon
CORONER'S DEPARTMENT
Coroners-Chief Medical Officer, Chief Police Officer, District
(Alor Gajah), Officer
Officer (Jasin), The
and District Judge
DISTRICT COURT (CIVIL)
District Magistrate,
District Judge-N. D. Mudie
Assist. do.
-W. C. Taylor
Chief Clerk-Lee Teck Chang
DISTRICT OFFICE-Alor Gajah
District Officer-C. W. Dawson Chief Clerk-Yeo Seng Watt Second Clerk-V. A. Sta Maria Land Bailiff-Ali H. Puteh
DISTRICT OFFICE-Jasin
District Officer-C. R. Howitt Chief Clerk-Bong Poh Siew Second Clerk-E. de Rozario Land Bailiff-Tan Seng Ann
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Inspr. of Schools-M. R. Holgate, M.A.. Malay Assistant Inspector-Ch.
Ahmad bin Abdulrahman
Chief Clerk-F. J. Pillay
High School
Headmaster-C. G. Coleman
European Masters-E. H. Wilson, M.A. (Cantab.) and A. C. Cooney, B.A. (Dublin)
Bandar Hilir English School
Headmistress-Mrs. G. Beatty (actg.) Tranguerah English School
Headmaster-G. R. M. Millar, B.A.
(Cantab.) (acting)
European Mistress-Mrs. Mary Davies