PERAK
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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.H. the Sultan is at Bukit Chandon, on the opposite bank of the river, which is about 200 yards in width. A magnificent palace has been built for him by Government and fitted with English furniture. The surrounding scenery is very beautiful, groves of cocoanuts and fruit-trees indicating the villages of the Malay population.
The most important provinces of Perak are Larut and Kinta, which have tin deposits of great richness. Larnt 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. A large number of important public buildings have been con- structed in the varions district headquarters, but the principal buildings are erected at Thaipeng, the capital of the state. Of these the following may be mentioned: -The prison (with permanent wards on the separate system), hospitals with accommodation for 1,000 patients, barracks for the Malay States Guides, markets, police stations, court house, treasury, post and other Government offices. A permanent library and museum has been built. Waterworks supply the town of Taipeng, the gaol, hospitals, and other buildings with excellent water in ample 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 daily. There is also frequent communication by steamers running between Penang and Singapore.
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, etc., 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, etc., the Chinese form a large part of the population, and according to the census of 1891 numbered 94,000, the Malays numbering 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. On the 1st June, 1885, a railway, 8 miles in length, connecting Thaipeng with Port Weld, was formally opened to traffic. The line was extended to Kamunting in May, 1890, and to Ulu Sapetang in June, 1892. The Kinta valley railway, starting from Teluk Anson, runs through Batang Padang to Batu Gajah and Ipoh, and thence to Chemor. The first portion between Teluk Anson and Batang Padang was opened by Sir Cecil Smith in May. 1893, and the last portion, between Tanjong Rambutan and Chemor, was opened in November, 1896. Further surveys and extensions are in progress, and it is intended to connect the Selangor Government Railway at Kwala Kubu with the Perak system at Tapah. There are about 500 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 Governinent 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 811 per bhara (400 lbs.) on tin, and a royalty of one-tenth on timber, ataps, and other jungle produce. The value of the
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