Directory_and_Chronicle_1892 — Page 827

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

PERAK

Perak is on the west coast of the Malayan peninsula, and lies between Kedah, o Queda, on the north and Selangor on the south. It extends along the coast for about 9 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 Sultan, 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 700 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 Straits Government. 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., but tribes of Sakeis and Semangs, the supposed aborigines of the country, inhabit the distant hills. 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 according to the census of 1891 numbered 94,000, the Malays 96,000, Europeans 366, Eurasians 289, Tamils 13,000, and Aborigines 5,700. The total population of the state was 214,254. The country is rapidly increasing in importance, and on the 1st June, 1885, a railway, 8 miles in length, connecting Thaipeng with Port Weld, was formally opened to traffic.

This line has since been extended to the mining town of Kaumunting, and a further extension to Blanda Mabok is in progress, which will be open to traffic in 1892. An important line is being constructed from Teluk Anson, the port of Lower Perak, to Kinta, opening up some rich tin districts. There are about 402 miles of telegraph and telephone wires in use.

The country is well suited for Coffee and there are two plantations owned by Europeans doing well besides smaller ones owned by natives. Chinese Tea of good quality is grown on the higher mountain ranges and Pepper flourishes at lower levels. The Government are encouraging planting, and with the facilities of transit offered by the new railways and roads it is expected that planting will become a very important industry in the State. The chief drawback at present is the cost of imported labour.

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 1889 was $17,860,718 against $19,708,017 in 1888. Tin is the principal export. The revenue in 1890 was $2,504,116, and the expenditure $2,447,929. There is daily communication by trading steamers between Penang and Larut and also between Penang and Teluk Anson.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1892 — Page 827

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