Directory_and_Chronicle_1899 — Page 954

Directories & Chronicles 香港指南 All

496

PERAK

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. The aggregate length of open lines at the end of 1897 was 883 mile the section from Chemor to Sungei Siput, on the Kinta Valley line a distance of eight miles, having been open for trathe in July. The length of survey carried out during the year, in connection with railway exten- sions, amounted to 80 miles. The total mileage under construction, including 23 miles in Province Wellesley, amounted to 132 miles. 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 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 $11 per bhara (400 lbs.) on tin, and a royalty of one-tenth on timber, atans, and other jungle produce. The total value of the imports and exports amounted in 1897 to $24,518,379, being an increase of $1,514,777 over that of the previous year. Tin is the principal export. The revenue in 1897 was 83,837,558 as against $3,970,871 in 1896, and the expenditure $4,178,238 as against $3,989,376 in 1898. The chief items of expenditure were as follows:- Rail- ways (including construction, $1,090,209), $1,412,646; Public Works. $915,528 ; Establish- ments, $775,053.

Directory_and_Chronicle_1899 — Page 954

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