Directory_and_Chronicle_1896 — Page 819

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

THE NEGRI SEMBILAN

393

Under the later scheme of confederation, brought into force in 1895, by which Sungei Ujong and Jelebu were brought in, there are five districts, viz., Seremban, the Coast, Jelebu, Kuala Pilah, and Tampin. Seremban is the head office, where the Resident and heads of departments reside. Heads of departments are for the whole state and thus a double staff is saved, as had two states remained alone it would have been necessary, as the Negri Sembilan developed, to make further appointments of European officers. The political affinity of the States is undoubted, and the same tribal and customary laws exist in both, together with the system of the election of the Chiefs. The combined revenue for 1894 was about $535,000 and the expenditure $508,760.

Sungei Ujong and Jelebu have together an area of about 1,200 square miles, and a range of hills in the north attain a height of about 3,800 feet, the slopes of which have been pronounced by Ceylon planters as most suitable for the cultivation of coffee, cocoa, &c. On the lower ground, nearer the coast, tapioca is successfully cultivated. Tin mining is carried on to a considerable extent. The river Linggi is the only consider- able stream in the state, and was formerly navigable for upwards of 40 miles from its mouth. The principal town of Sungei Ujong is Seramban. The port of Sungei Ujong was opened on the 1st September, 1884, at Pengkalan Kompas on the Linggi river, "at a distance of about seven miles from the mouth of the river. Streets have been marked out and houses of considerable size are rapidly being erected. Port Dickson (district and port) lies south-west of Seremban, and promises to become of some importance. The harbour has from eleven to fifteen fathoms of water and is well sheltered. A railway connecting it with Seremban was opened in July, 1881. The line has greatly facilitated trade. There is a first-class road from Pengkalan Kompas to the Residency at Seremban, and thence on to Pantai, a distance altogether of about 31 miles, Pantai being 8 miles from the seat of Government and leading to the coffee estates on Bukit Berembun, which are in a flourishing state. To these, a distance of 13 miles, a cart road has been constructed. A cart road from Seremban to Setul, 9 miles distant, and extending to Bernang, 6 miles further on the Selangor border, has been made, and has opened up an extensive and rich tin mining district, which is being rapidly taken up by the Chinese, who are the real wealth producers of the country, as elsewhere in the native states. Communication with Malacca is kept up by subsidized steam-launches, and a cart road from the state to Lubok China in Malacca (five miles) was completed in 1885.

The British Resident is the virtual ruler of the state. The revenue for 1894 was $397,130 and the expenditure $364,082. The population, according to the census taken in April, 1891, was:-Sungei Ujong, 17,167; Jelebu, 5,435. The Chinese form more than a third of the population and their numbers are steadily increasing.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1896 — Page 819

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