1352
BRUNEL
The land may be said to slope gradually from a backbone of mountains-of which Mount Mulu, in Sarawak territory, is the largest-towards the sea. It contains no noticeable peaks such as Kinabulu in British North Borneo., The bars at its river mouths and the rapids which occur within 30 miles and less of the sea prevent any but limited navigation. Launches drawing 5 or 6 feet can enter the Belait and Tutong rivers except in the monsoon season. Steamers drawing 12 feet can at all times reach Brunei Town, situated some 12 miles from the river mouth at Muara. The climate is damp and warm. The annual rainfall exceeds 100 inches. No marked changes of temperature occur, in which respect the country resembles the Malay Peninsula. The nights are cool.
Roads are being made throughout the State to secure that rapid expansion which the richness of the country deserves.
A wireless telegraphic_installation of the most modern type was opened in 1921, with a central station at Brunei and subsidiary stations at Labuan and in each of the districts. It will place every part of Brunei in telegraphic communication with Singapore and Europe.
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Petty wars, head-hunting raids, and the jealousy of the numerous chiefs, coupled with the existence of slavery, rendered agriculture impossible in the past. Since the appointment of a resident British official, the common people have shown eagerness to take up land and plant coconuts. The rivers are fringed with the nipah palm; the forests of the interior abound in rattans; there are large areas of the sago palm, which is worked by the natives and sold to Chinese traders for export to the Singapore market. The wild rubber tree, Jelutong (dyera costulata), is common, and is worked for export. There are 5 European companies operating rubber estates. At Brunei Town, the Island Trading Company, Ltd., has its cutch factory, employing several hundreds of hands. The value of cutch exported in 1925 was $234,000, compared with $176,490 in 1924.
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In 1914, payable oil was found for the first time in the District of Belait, at a depth of 1,820 ft. At first the flow was 25 tons daily, but a week's pumping test reduced this to an average of six tons. The British Malayan Petroleum Co., Ltd., has now obtained a lease of this area and is conducting extensive operations. The prospects are very promising.
Native industries are few. Brunei silver-work and brass-ware enjoys a certain vogue, and would be appreciated if it could be expeditiously put on the market. The women also weave silk cloths and sarongs.
The natives are expert fishermen and the coast waters abound in excellent fish, which with rice--form the staple diet of the people. The principal imports are piece goods, tobacco, rice, kerosene and sugar. The main exports are cutch, rubber, sago and jungle produce. Para rubber was exported for the first time in 1914-about 7,000 lbs. The value of rubber exports in 1925 was $1,318,218. Some Chinese have begun to plant pepper, a product for which Brunei was famous 150 years ago.
The public revenue in 1925 amounted to $315,261, as against $257,475 in 1924, and expenditure to $245,286, as against $247,614 in 1924.
DIRECTORY
Sultan-His Highness AHMAD TAJUDIN AKHAZUL KHAIRI WAD-DIN Ministers of State-PENGIRAN BENDAHARA AND PENGIRAN PEMANCHA
BRITISH RESIDENT'S OFFICE
British Resident-O. E. Venables Chief Clerk-Ibrahim bin Md. Jahfar
MEDICAL Department
Dresser--Leong Ah Ng
TREASURY DEPARTMENT Treasury Clerk-Liew Thian Tai
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POSTS AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT Wireless Engineer-L. R. Watts
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