PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
ILTIC.O.
882
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
Exports.
Daty on tin.
Royalty on tin.
Duty extremely high.
Reduced duty.
Proposition for still
further reduction.
Reasons for above.
Tin revenue during 1874.
Other exports.
Imports,
Value of Import.
Custom duties.
Opium.
Opium farm.
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affirm that galena is abundant towards the north; but as, unfortunately, no practical mineralogist has yet examined these almost unknown localities, the truth of these reports cannot be guaranteed.
73. The exports of Larut at present consist only of tin, hides, and horns, and a little coffee.
74. Of these, tin is the only one which brings in a revenue of any importance. The tax now levied on tin is 19 dollars per bhara, viz., 3 piculs, equal to about 400 lbs. avoirdupois.
75. Of this sum 13 dollars is charged as a royalty, which is taken as revenue for Larut, and 6 dollars as an export duty which goes to Perak.
76. This tax is extremely high, being at the rate of 31 per cent, on the value of the article, and there is no doubt that it cramps and fetters the trade of Larut. The average value of a bhara of tin is 60 dollars, the royalty of 13 dollars is at the rate of 21 dollars per cent., and the export duty at that of 10
per cent.
77. A reduction of 25 per cent. will take place from the 15th instant, i.e., the duty on the bhara will then be 15 dollars, the rates being thus :--
Royalty.. Export duty
Total duty
1
Dollars.
6
6
18
78. I trust, however, that during, or even before, the ensuing year this will be still further reduced to 20 per cent., viz., to 12 dollars on the bhara by the export duty being lowered to 5 per cent.
79. I feel convinced that not only would such a decision give great satisfaction throughout the country, but that by it people would be far more readily induced to enter Larut for purposes of trade. This would seem to be the more advisable on account of the duty in the adjoining kingdom of Salangore, being less than 17 per cent., i.e., 9 dollars on the bhara,
80. The total revenue on tin obtained during the year under review amounted to 70,227 dollars on the gross quantity exported, viz., 11,088 piculs.
81. The revenue of the other articles of export was merely nominal, not having exceeded 447 dollars collected at the rate of 5 per cent.
82. The principal articles of import in Larut are opium, cattle, pigs, and poultry, provisions (chiefly rice, sugar, saltfish), and wines and spirits, besides clothing and treasure, the latter consisting of Mexican dollars, the chief medium of exchange in Larut.
83. The value of these articles was, from 1st August to 31st December, as follows:- (Vide Appendix D.)
Opium Rice
Pigs and poultry
Wine and spirits
Miscellaneous
Sugar
Treasure
:::::::
Total
Dollars.
67,251
74,289
26,675
5,494
2,469
112,679
115,442
404,298
84. The Custom duties on all articles except opium and rice, are at the rate of 5 per cent. ad valorem. (Appendix D.)
85. During the year 300 chests of opium were imported, and on these the duty levied realized the sum of 18,428 dol. 4 c., being, up to the end of July, at the rate of 120 dollars per chest, and then raised to 160 dollars, each chest contains 40 balls.
86. It has, however, been decided by the Resident of Perak that it is advisable to Oplum farm reated. ! rent the farm (as the sale of opium and spirits is called) according to the plan followed in Singapore, and the other British Settlements in the Malay Straits; and this has accordingly been done for the sum of 96,000 dollars per annum, to a company consisting of the two principal Chinese trading firms in Perak and Larut, and the opium farmer in Penang.
Trade.
Curreal coin.
87. The trade of Larut is principally in the hands of the Chinese, many of whom are naturalized British subjects from Penang.
They are as a rule honest in their dealings, but, from meeting with no competition, charge at very high rates for their goods. This evil will, however, naturally subside as other traders come into the country.
88. The Mexican as well as the Spanish dollar is current in Larut. Formerly there,
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were two species of copper coin in use, one stamped with the emblem of a fighting cock, 100 of which were equivalent to a dollar, and the Dutch cent., 150 of which were valued at
the same rate.
deed.
89. Seeing, however, the disadvantage which would ensue of using foreign coin in a Cos of Straits State under British protection, I immediately on taking office as Acting Resident of intro- Perak in January, 1874, commenced to circulate the copper coin used in the Straits Settlements, and gave orders that no other kind should be received in the Larut Treasury. The former coins soon fell into disuse, and now throughout this Province the British cent, half and quarter-cent, are used at the same value as in Penang.
90. The nominal value of the dollar is 100 c., but owing at present to a scarcity of Searity of copper copper coin, only 97 c. can be obtained in the Larut bazaars.
colm.
91. Previous to the country being placed under British protection, no financial Government, accounts whatever were kept, and the revenue was collected in a most irregular and imperfect manner, not unfrequently resulting in the oppression of the people.
92. The Headman or "Pungulu " of each village collected the various taxes levied Native collection of in his immediate neighbourhood, and the Mantri having sent officers to ascertain the ***. amount of paddy cultivated in each district, took a tithe of the whole for himself.
93. Each Pungulu was Magistrate of his own petty district, and had almost unlimited Pangulo, or Chief of power to levy fines or punish misdemeanour according to his own judgment. Justice and village. fair dealing were almost nominal virtues, and the definition of the law was of the vaguest description.
94. Finding, however, on my appointment as Acting Resident of Perak, that not Desire of the Mantri only the Chinese in Larut, but the Mantri also was extremely anxious to secure a better and the Caisse for regulated state of justice than had hitherto obtained under native rule, I established English law.
a Court for the trial of criminals and settlement of disputes, in the judication of which Establishment of a
I endeavour as nearly as possible to follow always the Indian Penal Code: and the Court of Justice. readiness with which the people, especially the Chinese, avail themselves of the power of appeal to a European decision, fully attests their appreciation of a system which they readily perceive to be superior to their own.
95. So much work is daily transacted in this Court, where not only the ordinary Great need of a course of justice above alluded to is carried on, but where warrants, and subpoenas are magistente. issued, that the appointment of a Magistrate is urgently needed, that office being at present filled by the Treasurer of Perak.
96. One terribly unjust and cruel custom, which from the earliest times has existed, Blave debtor. and I regret extremely to say still exists throughout Perak and Larut, may be given as an instance of the imperfection of Malay rule. It is that called "bar-utang" or slave debtor.
A Malay on being unable to pay a fine to which he may be sentenced becomes the slave of his creditor for years, perhaps even for life; for the special injustice consists in the fact that, even should he be subsequently in a position to pay for his ransom, the creditor is not bound to receive it; and should the money not be paid, although the debtor is willing and able to pay it, not only himself but his family and descendants become alaves for ever to the creditor and his descendants.
97. Another phase of this custom, more grossly wicked, if possible, than that above Creditor can enslave described, is that, should a man have borrowed money for a given time, and be at the debtor. expiration of the period unable to pay, he and his family in like manner become debtors for life.
98. One instance of this custom may suffice:
my
Illustration of this
A Malay policeman asked me on one occasion for the loan of 25 dollars. On inquiring tom. his reason for wishing to borrow this money, he told me that he desired with it to liberate his aunt, who was a slave debtor to a man in a certain village. As this occurred shortly after first coming to Larut, the term was new to me, and I inquired particularly into the case. The man related the circumstances as follows: Some six months previously, his aunt, he said, was passing by a village and met an acquaintance, with whom she stopped to converse. Taking a stone from the roadside she placed it on the pathway, and sat down to rest meanwhile. When she left the spot, she passed on her way and thought no more of the stone. About an hour afterwards a child from the village came running along the path, and accidentally tripping against the stone, fell and slightly cut its forehead. Inquiries were made as to how the stone arrived in the pathway, and on its being traced to the woman who had placed it there, she was arrested, and sentenced to pay 25 dollars. Being poor and totally unable to pay, she and her children became "bar- utang" to the father of the child who had been hurt.
I sent to the village to inquire correctly into the case, and found it exactly as the man had stated, and, moreover, I discovered that this was an instance in which the creditor
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