Directory_and_Chronicle_1888 — Page 734

PERAK.

Perak is on the west coast of the Malayan peninsula, and lies between Kedah or Queda, 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 Bernam rivers. The seat of government, and the residence of H.M .'s Resident, is Kwala Kangsa, on the Perak river. The chief town and centre of the mining industry is Thaipeng, in the province of Larut.

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 is under the charge of the Assistant Resident, and its chief town, Thaipeng, is the head-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 47,000, while the Malays number about 53,000. The country is rapidly increasing in im- portance, and on the 1st June, 1885, a railway, 8 miles in length, connecting Thai- peng with Port Weld, was formally opened to traffic. There are about 250 miles of telegraph and telephone wires in use.

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 1886 was $14,260,595 against $12,381,071 in 1885. Tin is the principal export, and its value has increased yearly until 1884, when there was a fall in price; most of it is produced in Larut. The revenue in 1887 was $1,686,774, and the expenditure $1,683,056. There is daily communication by trading steamers between Penang and Larut.

Government.

COUNCIL OF State.

H.H. Sultan Idris, C.M.G. H.B.M. Resident

The Assistant Resident

Datu Tumunggong

Rajah Mahkota

Chang Ah Kwee, Capitan China Chin Ah Yam, Capitan China Dato Panglinia, Kinta Toh Muda Wahab

Khoo Boo Ann, Capitan China

DIRECTORY.

THE RESIDENCY.

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

sident

G. E. Cropley, clerk

Secretariat.

W. G. E. Hervey, secretary to Resident

and Magistrate

F. T. Thorold, asst. secretary and clerk of

Council

R. R. Rozells, chief clerk

J. C. Neubronner, second clerk J. A. Legge, Jr., fourth clerk L. M. da Silva, fourth writer Wan Mat Salleh, Malay writer