PERAK
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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 forin 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. On 28th June, 1899, the Bukit Mertajam section of the Perak-Penang railway was opened. This line is to extend over 317 miles of country and connect Penang with Port Dickson; one half of the line is now open. The terminus will be at Prai, which will be connectde with Penang by a ferry. It is understood that this extension of the Federated Malay States Railway will be further carried forward so as to connect Province Wellesley and the States with Burma on the north and Siam on the east. 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, ataps, and other jungle produce. The total value of the imports and exports amounted in 1898 to $27,461,374, in 1897to $24,518,379, and in 1898 to $23,003,602. Tin is the principal export. The revenue in 1898 was $4,575,812, in 1897 $3,837,558 and in 1896 $3,960,871, and the expenditure in 1898 $5,560,530, in 1897 $4,178,238, and in 1896 $3,989,376. Railways alone accounted for 82,555,000 of the expenditure in 1898, against $1,412,000 in 1897.
DIRECTORY
GOVERNMENT
His Highness SULTAN SIR IDRIS, K.C.M.G., Yang-de-per-tuan of the State of Perak
His Highness the Sultan
The British Resident
The Secretary to the Government The Raja di Hilir, Raja Abdue Jalil The Raja Muda Raja Musa
COUNCIL OF STATE
The Orang Kaya Temenggong, Hassan The Orang Kaya Mentri, Wan Muhammad
Isa
The Orang Kaya Kaya Sri Adika Raja, Wan
Muhammad Saleh
The Orang Kaya Kaya Panglima Kinta, Usuf
The Orang Kaya Kaya Laksamana, Inche
Husein
The Dato Muda, Abdul Wahab
The Dato Sri, Maharaja Lela-Abubakar Chin Chang Ah Kwi (Capitan China) Leong Fi
LARUT DISTRICT BRITISH RESIDENCY
Resident-W. H. Treacher (absent) Do. -J. P. Rodgers (acting)
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