PERAK
Perak, the premier State of the Federated Malay States, is on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula, and lies between Kedah on the north and Selangor on the south. The coast-line is about 90 miles in extent; the greatest length of the State, in a north and south direction, is 150 miles, and the breadth, in an east and west direction, 90 miles. It is estimated to contain 7,875 square miles; that is to say, it is about the size of Yorkshire and Lancashire together. The soil is suitable for the cultivation of rubber, rice, coconuts, coffee robusta, spices of all kinds, sugar, and grasses from which essential oils are extracted.
The State is well watered by numerous streams and rivers, of which the river Perak is the most important. This river runs nearly south until it turns sharply to the westward and falls into the Straits of Malacca. It is navigable for about 40 miles from its mouth by steamers of 300 to 400 tons burden, and for another 100 miles by cargo boats. The upper part of the river is rocky and abounds in rapids, and conse- quently, except for small boats and rafts, is unnavigable. The Kinta, the Batang Padang and the Plus are the three large tributaries of the Perak river. These rivers. rise in the main mountain range and flow west and south until they discharge them- -selves into the Perak river.
The climate of Perak is good, the temperature in the low country averaging from 60° Fahr. in the night to 90° Fahr. in the heat of the day. The average mean is about 70° Fahr. in the night and 87° Fahr. in the day. The nights are uniformly cool. At 3,000 feet the average is 63° Fahr. at night to 73° in the day. The rainfall varies consi- derably, Taiping, the capital, registering more than 170 (average for 10 years 171.95), but the average elsewhere is about 100 inches. There is no true rainy season, but the wettest months are October, November and December, and the driest are June, July and August.
The State has been under British Protection since 1874 and from that date has been administered under the advice of the British Resident. The State Council, a deliberative, legislative and advisory body, consists of the Sultan and several Malay Chiefs, the British Resident, the Secretary to Resident, and two Chinese members.
The seat of Government is at Taiping in the Larut district, three hours from Penang by railway. The residence of His Highness the Sultan is at Bukit Chandan near the town of Kuala Kangsar, reached by rail from Taiping in about an hour. The High Commissioner of the Federated Malay States has also a residence at Kuala Kangsar, which town, situated as it is on the Perak river, here some 200 yards wide, lies in the midst of beautiful scenery and is the centre of the Malay life of Perak. It is here that meetings of the Federal Council are sometimes held. The British Resident has re- sidences at Taiping and Ipoh.
The most important district in Perak is Kinta, of which the principal town is Ipoh- reached by rail from Penang in five and a half hours. The tin deposits in the Kinta valley and neighbourhood are of great value, and recent developments in rubber plant- ing have brought a new agricultural industry into the district. Mining is here con- ducted on the most scientific principles, and many mines are equipped with the latest machinery.
In the district of Krian, on the Province Wellesley (Penang) border, the Govern- ment has constructed an extensive and costly irrigation scheme and large areas are under rice and rubber. A somewhat similar district is Lower Perak, in which is situated Teluk Anson, the principal port of the State. This port is connected by a branch railway with the main line of the Federated Malay States Railway, and there is frequent communication by steamers between Penang and Singapore.
The Larut district was formerly famous for its tin deposits, and faction fights for the possession of the tin mines before 1874 were the immediate cause of the British intervention in and eventual protection of Perak. The Larut mines had of late years somewhat sunk in importance, but are now the centre of the bucket-dredging industry.