Directory_and_Chronicle_1913 — Page 1482

NON-FEDERATED MALAY STATES

By a Treaty between Great Britain and Siam, signed at Bangkok on March 10th, 1909, the Siamese Government transferred to the British Government all rights of suzerainty, protection, administration and control which they possessed over the States. of Kelantan, Trengganu, Kedah and Perlis; and at various dates in the same year the Siamese officials were replaced by British officials in the four States named above. The British representatives in Kelantan, Kedah and Perlis are designated Advisers and the representative to Trengganu as Agent. In Kelantan, Kedah and Perlis, the advice of the British representative is accepted, and, following upon the lines of the administra- tion that has proved so successful in the Federated Malay States, considerable

progress has been made in the past three years in setting up a proper system of administration and bringing about reform in the financial arrangements of the States.

In Trengganu, there has been no interference, but as the Sultan has had the opportunity of visiting the Straits Settlements and the Federated Malay States, and has seen for himself the advantages that accrue to well-regulated administration, it is highly probable that the relations of the British authorities with his State may become such as to bring about similar reforms in Government departments in the immediate future. Under the Treaty Agreement, the Federated Malay States undertook to lend a sum of £4,000,000 to the Railway Department of the Kingdom of Siam, and with this money a railway is being constructed through the Siamese Peninsular States to link up with the F.M.S, system on the Kelantan frontier. The F.M.S. Railway has been extended through Pahang and work will be begun soon in Kelantan. Great benefits are expected from this extension of the F.M.S. railway system through the Eastern States.

In 1910, the Sultan of Johore accepted the services of a British officer, who is known as the General Adviser, and he has been instrumental, with the help of other officers lent by the F.M.S. and Straits Civil Services, in effecting many important reforms in Johore, which promises to become one of the most prosperous States in the Peninsula.

With the construction of proper roads and the extension of the railway and telegraph through these Native States, and the establishment of an adequate postal service, all the States are expected to make rapid progress.

KELANTAN

This State is situated in the extreme north-eastern end of the Peninsula, between latitudes 4:45 and 6'25° North and between longitudes 101-30′ and 102′40° East, with a coast-line of 60 miles on the China Sea. It embraces an area of from 5,000 to 5,500 square miles. It is a mountainous country, with rich alluvial plains, and is drained by the Kelantan River and its tributaries.

Kota Bahru, at the mouth of the Kelantan river, is the capital, but the chief port is Tumpat, on the other side of the delta. The Sultan and the British Resident reside at Kota Bahru, and at the Government School established here nearly 30 children are enrolled, including four members of the royal house.

Chiefly agricultural, Kelantan is believed to e rich in minerals, and much prospect- ing may be expected to be done in the next few years. The chief exports are padi and rice, copra and rubber, cattle and dried fish. The climate is comparable with other parts of the Peninsula. The temperature seldom exceeds 90' and rarely falls below 69°, while the average rainfall is about 120 inches a year.

Mr. J. Scott Mason, the British Adviser, took over the supervision of affairs from Mr. W. A. Graham, the Siamese Commissioner, on July 15, 1909; and the most important happening since then was the determination in 1912 of the agreement between the Sul-

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