PERAK
Perak, the premier State of the Federated Malay States, is on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula, and lies between Kedah 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 6,580 square miles; that is to say, it is about the size of Wales and Monmouth joined together. The soil is suitable for the cultivation of rubber, rice, cocoa-nuts, Liberian coffee, spices of all kinds, and grasses from which essential oils are extracted.
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 100 miles by cargo boats. The upper part of the river is rocky and abounds in rapids, and conse- quently, except for small boats and rafts, is impracticable. The Kinta, the 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 discharge themselves into the Perak river,
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 Falır. in the day. The nights are uniformly cool. At 3,000 feet the average is 63° Fahr, at night to 73' in the day. The rainfall varies consi- derably, Taiping, the capital, registering as much as 154 inches, but the average else- where is about 90 inches. There is no true rainy season, but the wettest months are October, November and December, and the driest are March, June and July.
The State has been under British Protection since 1874 and has since that date been administered under the advice of the British Resident. The State Council, a deliberative, legislative and advisory body, consists of the Sultan and several Malay Chiefs, the British Resident, the Secretary to Resilent, an English unofficial member, and four Chinese members.
The seat of Government is at Taiping in the Larut district, three hours from Penang by railway. The Malay States Guides, a body of Indian troops maintained and equipped by the Rulers of the Federated Malay States, are quartered at Taiping. The residence of His Highness the Sultan is at Bukit Chandan in the town of Kuala Kangsar, reached by rail from Taiping in about an hour. The High Commissioner of the Federated Malay States has also a residence at Kuala Kangsar, which town, situated as it is on the Perak river, here some 200 yards across, lies in the midst of beautiful scenery and is the centre of the Malay life of Perak. The British Resident has residences at Taiping and Ipoh.
The most important district in Perak is Kinta, of which the principal town is Ipoh, reached by rail from Penang in five and a half hours. The tin deposits in the Kinta valley and neighbourhood are of great value, and recent developments in rubber plant- ing indicate that agricultural industry as well as mining will shortly characterise this district. Mining is here conducted on the most scientific principles and many mines are equipped with the latest machinery.
Other districts in Perak are Krian on the Province Wellesley (Penang) border. Here the Government has completed an extensive and costly irrigation scheme and large areas are under rice, sugar and rubber. A somewhat similar district is Lower Perak in which is situated Teluk Anson, the principal port of the State. This port is connected by a branch railway with the main line of the Federated Malay States Railway and there is frequent communication by steamers between Penang and Singapore.
The Larut district was formerly famous for its tin deposits, and faction fights for the possession of the tin mines before 1874 were the immediate cause of the British intervention in and eventual protection of Perak. The Larut mines have of late years, however, somewhat sunk in importance.
Matang, a sub-district of Larut, contains several large rubber estates and a con- siderable fishing industry exists on its coast.
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