BRUNEI
1501
the
Petty wars, head-hunting raids, and the jealousy of the numerous chiefs, coupled with the existence of slavery, rendered agriculture impossible in the past. Since the appointment of a resident British official, the commor people have shown eagerness to take up land, and plant coconuts. The rivers are fringed with the nipah palm; forests of the interior abound in rattans; there are large areas of the sago palm, which is industriously worked by the natives and sold to Chinese traders for export to the Singapore market. The wild rubber tree, Jelutong (duera costulata), is common, and is worked for export. Land suitable for cultivation of Para Rubber (hevea brasiliensis) is alienated by the Government at an extremely low rental, and several European Companies have taken out grants, and are actively proceeding with planting operations. At Brunei Town, the Island Trading Syndicate has its cutch factory, employing several hundreds of hands. The value of 48,559 cwts. of cutch exported in 1914 was $205,483 against 48,578 cwts., valued at $207,729, in 1913. Coal is worked at Buang Tawar and at Raja Brooke's Brooketon Collieries. For the first time in their existence, the Brooketon mines had a successful year. Here 30,793 tons of coal were raised, of which 24,815 tons were sold or supplied to vessels, the value at 15s. per ton being £18,612 ($159,620). Buang Tawar sold 563 tons valued at £392.
In 1914, payable oil was found for the first time in the State of Belait, at a depth of 1,820 ft. At first the flow was 25 tons daily, but a week's pumping test reduced this to an average of 6 tons.
Native industries-other than sago working-are few. Brunei silver-work enjoys a certain vogue, and would be appreciated if it could expeditiously be put on the market. The women also weave silk cloths and sarongs.
The natives are expert fishermen and the coast waters abound in excellent fish, which-with rice-form the staple diet of the people. The principal imports are piece goods, tobacco, kerosene, and sugar. The main exports are cutch, sago, and jungle produce of various kinds. Para rubber was exported for the first time in 1914--about 7,000 lbs. Some Chinese have begun to plant pepper, a product for which Brunei was famous 150 years ago.
Roads are being made throughout the State to secure that rapid expansion which the richness of the country deserves. British steamers (the Straits Steamship Company) run between Singapore via Labuan, between Labuan and Brunei, and there are frequent launch and schooner sailings.
The revenue for 1914 amounted to $126,649 against $165,082 in 1913, and the expenditure was $163,352.
DIRECTORY
Sultan-HIS HIGHNESS MOHAMED JAMALULALAM, C.M.G.
Ministers of State-H. H. PANGERAN BANDAHARA, H. H. PANGERAN PEMANCHA
BRITISH RESIDENT'S OFFICE British Resident E. B. Maundrell
•Clerk-Suh Dang
MEDICAL DEepartment
LAND DEPARTMENT
Collector of Land Revenues-W. H. Lee-
Warner
Demarcator-Awang bin Haji Hanafi
Do.
Do.
-Abutaman bin Endra Muda -Awang Suleiman C.D.Pating
Dresser-Leong Ah Ng
TREASURY, CUSTOMS AND GOVERNMENT MONOPOLIES
Treasurer and Superintendent of Cus-
toms E. G. Goldfinch
Acting Clerk-Wan Hean Tong
POSTAL DEPARTMENT
Postal Clerk-Leong Ah Ng
COURTS
Judge E. B. Maundrell
CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT
Customs Clerk-Liew Thian Tai
PUBLIC WORKS
Executive Engineer-Ed. Roberts, M.I.M.E.
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