Directory_and_Chronicle_1895 — Page 811

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. The coast line is about 90 miles in extent, the greatest length of the state, in a north and south direction, is 120 miles, and the breadth, in an east and west direction, 90 miles. It is estimated to contain 7,959 square miles or 5,087,597 acres; that is to say, it is about the size of Wales and Monmouth joined together. It has been estimated that there are on the mountain ranges of the state 1,451,770 acres above 1,000 feet elevation available for cinchona, coffee, tea, &c., and that between 1,000 feet and the plains there are 588,422 acres suited to lower cultivations, such as Liberian coffee, tea, cacao, cardamoms, &c.

The state is well watered by numerous streams and rivers, of which the river Perak is the most important. This river runs nearly south until it turns sharply to the westward and falls into the Straits of Malacca. It is navigable for about 40 miles from its mouth by steamers of 300 to 400 tons burden, and for another 125 miles by cargo boats. The upper part of the river is rocky and abounds in rapids, and consequently, except for small boats and rafts, is impracticable. The Kinta, Batang Padang, and the Plus are the three large tributaries of the Perak river, and all are navigable by cargo boats. These rivers rise in the main mountain range and flow west and south until they fall into the parent stream.

The climate of Perak is good, the temperature in the low country averaging from 60° Fahr. in the night to 90° Fahr. in the heat of the day. The average mean is about 70° Fahr. in the night and 87° Fahr. in the day. The nights are uniformly cool. At 3,000 feet the average is 63° Fahr. at night to 73° Fahr. in the day. The rainfall varies considerably, Thaipeng, the capital, registering occasionally as much as 200 inches, but the average elsewhere is about 90 inches. There is no true rainy season, but the wettest months are September, October, November, and December, and the driest are February, March, June, and July.

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 over 1,000 men, mainly Sikhs and Pathans, is maintained.

The seat of government and the British Residency is at Taiping in the Province of Larut, which is also the chief town and centre of the Mining industry. Kwala Kangsa, is situated on the right bank of the Perak river, about due east of the port of Teluk Kertang, from which a good road leads to it, crossing the western range of mountains at Bukit Berapit; the distance is 23 miles. There is also here a rising village; and as extensive tin deposits are known to exist in the neighbourhood, and are worked by 2,000 Chinese at Lalak, it is probable that the very central position of Kwala Kangsa will cause it soon to become a place of some commercial importance. The residence of H.II. the Sultan is at Syong, on the opposite bank of the river, which is about 200 yards in width, with groves of cocoanuts and fruit-trees indicating the villages of the Malay population. The surrounding scenery is very beautiful.

The most important provinces of Perak are Larut and Kinta, which have tin deposits of great richness. Larut is most advantageously situated in respect of commercial intercourse with the British port of Penang, which is about 60 miles off. British officers (Magistrates and Collectors) and detachments of Police are stationed in other important districts. Selama, seventy miles up the Krian river, is a flourishing mining settlement. A large number of important public buildings have been cons- tructed in the various district headquarters, but the principal buildings are erected at Thaipeng, the capital of the state. Of these the following may be mentioned:-The prison (where permanent wards on the separate system are now completed), hospitals with accommodation for 1,000 patients, barracks for the Perak Sikhs, markets, police stations, court house, treasury, post and other Government offices. A permanent library and museum has been built. Waterworks supply the town of Thaipeng, the gaol, hospitals, and other buildings with excellent water in aniple quantity.

Communication with other ports is kept up daily by small steamers between Penang and Larut, and every few days to all ports north of Bernam river. A steamer runs to Teluk Anson from Penang every four days. There is also frequent communication by steamers running between Penang and Singapore.