PENANG
1277
than that of any part of the Peninsula, and, for the area involved, is particularly rich. Palms, bamboos, banana and other fruit-trees, and nutmegs clothe the hillsides, while ferns are also plentiful. The high land permits of the cultivation of many flowers and other plants which will not thrive in the flat level lands of Singapore or Malacca.
As evinced by its name, the chief product of Penang is the betel-nut, which, with copra and all kinds of fruit and nutmegs, is the only indigenous article of trade. Nut- megs were at one time a most important branch of industry, but the blight, which simultaneously affected the whole Peninsula, destroyed it. Their cultivation has, how- ever, now been resumed, and Penang nutmegs stand high in the market. There is no agriculture properly so called. Pepper was at one period of its early history produced to the extent of three and a half million pounds annually; but the competition of other places, notably of Netherlands-India, proved fatal, and it is now only cultivated in small patches, and is not classed as an article of export trade. Tapioca, Coconuts, Gutta, Rubber and Citronella are also among the products cultivated.
The total value of the foreign imports and exports for 1915 and 1914 are given below:-
Imports Exports.
Total
1915 $106,231,215
94,840,742
.$201,071,957
1914 $106,739,526
99,155,816
$205,895,342
The Singapore-Penang railway has its terminus at Prai, which is connected with the town by a ferry service.
The town possesses few attractions, and the public buildings are mediocre, with the exception of the Government Offices, a fine new block erected in 1889 near the jetty. St. George's Church is an unpretending edifice of 80 years' standing, centrally situated. There are also a Roman Catholic Church and several mission chapels. The Botanical Gardens and Waterfall are well worthy of a visit, and another place of interest at some distance from the town is the Chinese Temple at Ayer Itam. census of 1911 gave the total population of Penang and Province Wellesley as 270,537, as compared with 248,207 in 1901. The estimated mean population of the Settlement in 1915 was 278,003 (Penang Island 141,569, Province Wellesley 128,978, and Dindings 7,466).
The
DIRECTORY
(For Government Depts. see under G.)
ABDOOLCADER, H. H., Advocate and Solicitor-135, Penang Street; Tel. Ad: Abdoolcader; Codes: A. B. C, 5th edition, Butterworth's Legal and Broomhall's; Teleph. 630
H. H. Abdoolcader, barrister at-law (Lincoln's Inn, London); Advocate and Solicitor, S.S. and of the Courts of the Federated Malay States Shaik Hussain, conveyancing clerk
ABRAHAM & Co., A., Wholesale Mer- chants, Importers of Watches, Clock and Watch Materials, Watch Chains, Boots and Shoes, etc.-23, Market Street; Tel. Ad: Abraham; A.B.C. Code 5th edition
ADAMS & ALLAN, Advocates and Solicitors, Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States-Tel. Ad: Adallan
Great
ADAMSON, GILFILLAN & Co., LTD. (Incor-
porated in
Britain) Bank Buildings
―
SirW.Adamson,C.M.G.,chairman(L'don.)
R. W. A. Gilfillan,
clirector do.
dlo.
R. T. Peake, director (London) M. E. Plumpton, do. A. J. Campbell Hart, mgr. do. F. L. Tomlin, mgr. (Singapore) H. A. Low, manager
D. L. Adanison
C. Cunradi, signs per pro. P. Carmichael
W. A. Fell
H. W. Moxon
W. M. McLachlan
Agencies
L. E. Slowe
T. H. Stone
N. P. Walshe
Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co. Straits Steamship Co., Ltd.
Russian Volunteer Fleet
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.