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Peninsula and that it was the cradle of Anglo-Chinese study attest its former importance. Its area is embraced by boundaries some 42 miles in length, with a breadth of from 8 to 25 miles. It is governed by a resident Councillor in subordina. tion to Singapore.
Its one point of interest is its location as a natural history centre, the majority of its casual visitors being attracted thither for sport or science. Beyond this it possesses no points of interest 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 its possession. Its population in 1871 amounted to 77,756 individuals, of whom 47 were Europeans, 57,000 Malays, and 13,500 Chinese, the remainder being natives of India, &c.
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Penang, or Prince of Wales' Island (the latter name having only been officially abandoned within the last few years) is an island situated on the West coast of the Malay Peninsula in 5 deg. North latitude and with a strip of land on the opposite cont known as Province Wellesley, from which it is separated by a strait varying from 2 to 10 miles in width, constitutes the second in importance of the three governments known as the "Straits Settlements." The island contains an area of about 107 square miles, being 15 miles long and 9 broad at its widest portions, while Province Wellesley extends for a distance of 45 miles along the coast, and has an average width of 8 miles. The chief town of Penang is George Town, but the name of the island (which signifies "Betel nut island") has become so identified with the town that the specific designation has almost dropped out of use.
Penang was ceded to the now famous Captain Light for the East India Company in the year 1785 for an annual payment of $10,000 to the Rajah of Quetta, a step which was followed 13 years later by the cession of Province Wellesley. In the year 1806, Penang was elevated to the rank of a presidency, its rising fortunes even then bidding fair to eclipse those of Malacca, while Singapore was as yet unknown as a settlement. In 1825 Singapore and Malacca were incorporated with Penang, and the three were designated by the title they still retain. But as the fortunes of Singapore brightened, those of Penang declined, until the former quite overshadowed her older sister, and in 1832 the principal seat of Government was transferred to Singapore.
The settlement of Penang is nominally governed by a Lieut.-Governor (future occupants of the post are to be termed Resident Councillors), but is in effect an appanage of Singapore, a resident merchant representing it in the Singapore Le islative Council. An important department of its trade lies in the business transacted with the Dutch settlements in Sumatra, and much excitement was caused during the Acheen war, by what its merchants deemed the undue restrictions placed on their trade by the Dutch authorities. Penang will always remain of certain importance, although it is not likely to again assume the position in the commercial world it formerly held. It is much looked to as an emigration centre for the labour required by the Dutch plauters at Acheen and elsewhere. It is a convenient coaling and man-of-war station, and is of yet greater necessity as the virtual seat of government as regards Province Wellesley, which, when the Peninsula is placed under British protection, as it must, sooner or later, be, will be an important centre of British influence. George Town is built on a plain, at the back of which rises the hill which, as Penangites declare, renders life on the island endurable. The shops, chiefly kept by Babas or native.
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Page 477 Page 477
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