Directory_and_Chronicle_1885 — Page 683

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PERAK.

Perak is on the west coast of the Malayan peninsula, and lies between Kedah on the north and Selangor on the south. It extends along the coast for about 90 miles, and includes, inland, the greater part of the watershed of the Perak river and its tributaries, and of the Krian and Beruam rivers. The seat of government, and the residence of H.M.'s Resident, is Kwala Kangsa, on th. Perak river. The chief town and centre of the ring dustry is Thaipeng, in the province of Larut, which is connected with Kwala ♫ ya carriage road and line of telegraph (distance about 23 miles).

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The state is under British protection and the government is carried on under the Raja Muda as Regent, aided and advised by the Resident, and a Council consisting of the Resident and Assistant Resident, and several native chiefs. A Military Police Force of 500 men, mainly Sikhs and Pathans, is maintained. The most important province of Perak is Larut, which has tin deposits of great richness within a few miles of the sea-coast. It is thus most advantageously situated in respect of commercial intercourse with the British port of Penang, which is about 50 miles off. Larut ie under the charge of the Assistant Resident, and its chief town, Thaipeng, is the heid-quarters of the Military Police, and of the chief departments of the State. British Officers (Magistrates and Collectors) and detachments of Police are also stationed in other important districts. The Dindings, including the island of Pangkor and the district of Dinding on the mainland, which is British territory, come under the administration of the Resident of Perak. In the interior of Perak, except in mining districts, the population is almost entirely Malay, the exceptions being a few Chinese shopkeepers, and the Government establishments, police, &c. At Larut, and at the chief mining settlements in the interior, Kinta, Batang. Padang, &c., the Chinese form a large part of the population, and may be roughly estimated at 40,000, while the Malays number about 50,000. The country is rapidly increasing in im- portance, and for its further development the Railway is being introduced.

The only duties levied on exports are a royalty of $10 per bhara (400 lbs.) on tin, and a royalty of one-tenth on timber, ataps, and other jungle produce:-The value of the trade in 1883 was as follows:--Impur $4,895,940; exports, $5,625,365. Tin is the principal export, and its value has incased yearly; most of it is produced in Larut. The revenue was $1,474,380, and the expenditure $1,550,610. There is daily communication by trading steamers betw. n Penang and Larut.

DIRECTORY.

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Government.

COUNCIL OF STATE.

Rajah Muda Yusuf, Regent H.b.. Resident

The Assistant Resident

Rajah Idris

Datu Tumunggong Sheik Mohamed Tahib

Rajah Mabkota

Chang Ah Kwee Tan Ah Yam

THE RESIDENCY.

Sir Hugh Low, K.C.M.G., H.B.M.'s Re

sident

secretary

Hugh Charles Clifford, cadet Thomas Keyt, chief clerk

F. Light, second clerk

G. E. Cropley, third clerk L. 8. Jayesuria, fourth clerk C. Ephraums, fifth

do.

Chinese clerk and interpreter Abdullah, native writer

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