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by a large number of Chiefs and Headmen, and great crowds of people had assembled to witness his arrival. The balei stands within a large enclosure about 300 yards from the river, and here the Rajah welcomed the Governor with great warmth, and introduced him to the Rajah of Patani, his son-in-law. This balei is a very large building, capable of holding many hundred people, and a very large assemblage attended the meeting. It was remarked, however, that the people kept to a much more respectful distance than in the other States. The Rajah of Kalanta expressed his great gratification at seeing the Governor so soon after his arrival in the Straits Settlements, and said that his Excellency was the third Governor whom he had seen, and that he appreciated the visit much more than if he had heard of a new Governor for some time previously; also, that, now he had been assured of the friendship of the English, his subjects would trade with Singapore much more readily than hitherto. He himself has not been a great traveller, and seems never to have gone beyond his own river, nor did he express any inclination to do so. In this he differs much from the Bandahara of Pahang and Sultan of Tringanu, both of whom, especially the latter, expressed a great wish to renew their visits to Sin- gapore. It appears, from the statements of the Rajah and his advisers, that there are three small independent States called Sab, Ligeh, and Jambu, lying between his State, of Kalantan and that of Patani under the direct government of Singora; and, moreovers that between Patani and Quedah there is also another State. We believe that this in the first mention of this geographical information. As regards the State of Kalantan itself, it seems that, although under the direct government of Lingor, which is itself tributary to Siam, the Siamese do not interfere with the laws or administration of the country, but that they simply take triennally the "Golden rose," as a mark of their authority. After some further conversation and a mutual exchange of presents, the Governor took his leave; and the "Pluto" set out the same evening for Singaporee where she arrived, after experiencing a strong head wind from Kalantan, at 1 a.m. on the 22nd instant.

We congratulate his Excellency on the success of this visit, and are of opinion that great advantages may accrue therefrom both commercially and politically.

THE GOVERNOR'S VISIT TO THE EAST COAST.-The full account which we were enabled to publish on Thursday of the Governor's recent visit to the natives States on the East Coast of the Peninsula gives a most gratifying picture not only of the friendly disposition of Chiefs and people, but of a general prosperity and contentment prevalent which is in strong contrast to the stories of desolation which the British residents have had to tell of the States on the West Coast. His Excellency appears to have received everywhere a warm and cordial welcome from all the Rajahs. The Bandahars of Pahang, although very ill, sent a message to express his anxiety to see the Governor, and throughout a lengthened interview his bearing was most frank and friendly. The Sultan of Tringaou, an old man of seventy or eighty, was exceedingly glad that his Excellency had come to see him, and received him most warmly with every proof of hospitality and welcome. This is somewhat different from the reception accorded to Governor Cavenagh and his right-band adviser the late Colonel Macpherson. The Cho Koon of Sungora, which is a Siamese State, was glad not to have missed his Excellency on his first visit. The Rajah of Patani was absent on a visit to his father. in-law, the Rajah of Kalantan, but his capital was visited, and found a most interesting place, almost exclusively Malay. The Kajah of Kalantan, a pleasant old man and a bit of a wit, welcomed his Excellency with great warmth, introduced his son-in-law of Patani, and expressed his gratification at seeing his Excellency so soon after his assumption of office. Altogether, the trip seems to have been as successful, in every way as it deserved to be from the good intentions which originated it and the judgment with which it was carried out. A Governor of the Straits Seitlements bas power enough to follow his own pleasure in most things, but as Superintendent of Trade it is at least a moral duty incumbent upon him to cultivate the most friendly relations with all the native States of the Peninsula, and nothing is more calculated to effect this object than personal acquaintance and intercourse on the part of the Governor with the Rajahs, who are all-powerful with their subjects, and are obeyed with an implicit unquestioning obedience and respect such as perbaps only a Malay Rajab can command in this world. We trust therefore that the acquaintance now established by Sir William Jervois will not be allowed to die out, but will be judiciously fanned into more intimacy by future friendly visits from time to time, and also by the Rajahs being invited and encouraged to come to Singapore, as well as being hospitably entertained when they do come. So, only, can confidence be established, liberal" and enlarged views instilled

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into the conservative native mind, trade flourish, resources become developed, and the prosperity of the native States as well as of these Settlements be increased and ensured.

From the visit there has already been derived one benefit in the shape of a good deal of new and interesting information regarding the geography, population, resources, and politics of the five States visited. It is really astonishing how little is known at this time of day of the geography of the Peninsula; especially when we remember that there was an English factory in Patani 250 years ago. The natives themselves, even, seem to have the vaguest ideas about the boundaries of the different States, and none at all as to the western boundaries; and the fact appears to be that the interior of the Peninsula is still an unknown land, wherein Baron Maclay may make some noteworthy discoveries. On the map Tringanu is made to march with Perak, but the Rajah of Kalantan stated that Tringanu does not extend far inland, and that Pahang stretches north in the interior behind to his State. Again, the Rajah of Kalantan stated that between his State and Patani there are three smaller States, Sah, Ligeh, and Jambu, under the rule of Sungorah. There is also a small State between Patani and Quedah. These are new geographical discoveries of importance, which will doubtless be noted in the Surveyor-General's Office for the forthcoming map of the Peninsula, which is such a desideratum.

As regards population, Kalantan would appear to take the first rank with 100,000, Tringanu coming next with 70,000. Of course these figures can be taken only as approximate, but they show a large increase on the estimates of Crawfurd, Newbold, and Thomson, who put down Kalantan as having a population of 50,000 and Tringanu 37,500. In 1870 the population of Patani was estimated at 90,000, but it is said to have dwindled down in 1832 to 54,000. Crawfurd estimated the population of Pahang at 20,000 and Thomson at 14,000 only. The population of both States must be now much larger. Sungora is under the direct Government of Siam, with a Siamese official, styled the Cho Koon, at the head of affairs. Patani, Kalantan, and Tringanu are nominally also under the Siamese Government, but are practically independent. The Siamese interfere in no way with the rule of these three Rajabs, or in the internal affairs of either State, but, every three years, the Rajahs recognise Siam's suzerainty by the tribute of the "Bunga Mas" or "Golden Rose," which is of the value of about 4,000 dollars. Tringanu and Patani pay their "Bunga Mas" to Sungora, and Kalantan to Ligor, a Siamese State to the north of Sungora.

That all these States are rich in resources of every description there can be no doubt from the fact that the population, which may be pronounced the laziest in the world, all" nature's gentlemen," are able to live with the smallest amount of work, and even export gold, tin, gutta, &c., procured in the rudest and most wasteful manner. It only requires safety to life and property to be once assured, and capital will at once flow in with Chinese labour, roads will be made, the jungle cleared and planted, the gold, silver, and galena mines will be worked, and a general era of prosperity and enterprise take the place of one of sleepy stagnation and idleness. The Governor of the Straits Settlements can do much to bring that ers about speedily.

No, 8.

ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE.

Admiralty, September 18, 1875.

SIR,

WITH reference to your letter of the 3rd instant,* in regard to the request of the Governor of the Straits Settlements that, in the event of the preparation of the revised chart of the Straits of Malacca, the officers entrusted with the survey should be desired to determine the exact position of the most prominent mountains of the Peninsula, I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to request you will inform the Secretary of State for the Colonies that a survey of the coast of the Malay Peninsula is not in contemplation.

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2. The present charts of the Malacca Straits are the result of an elaborate marine survey made by officers of the late Indian Navy, in which, although there is an absence of topographical detail, the seamen's wants are fully provided for.

I am, &c.

(Signed) VERNON LUSHINGTON.

• No. 6.

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