Directory_and_Chronicle_1917 — Page 1484

JELEBU ESTATE

THE NEGRI SEMBILAN-PAHANG

Farleigh Robertson, manager Mrs. Farleigh Robertson

JELEBU CLub

Hon. Sec. Farleigh Robertson

JELEBU READING ROOM

1363

President-G. H. Nash

Hon. Secretary-Fainal

Committee-W. F. Lemonby, A. Man- sur, G. T. Edward, Towkay E. Cheng Chuan

PAHANG

The State of Pahang lies between Trengganu and Johore, and extends along the eastern side of the peninsula from 2 deg. 40 min. to 4 deg. 35 min. N., its coast line being about 130 miles in length. The area of the State is estimated at 14,300 square miles, and its principal river, which drains a large extent of country, is known by the same name. The river Pahang is, however, owing to its shallowness, navigable for small craft only. The country is sparsely populated, there being, according to the census of 1911, 118,708 inhabitants, of whom 87,106 were Malays and 24,287 Chinese. The population was estimated at 126,000 at the end of 1915.

The capital of the State is Kuala Lipis, situated at the mouth of the Lipis river, where is also the seat of Government. The State is under British protection, and in August, 1888, the Sultan, acting under the advice of the Sultan of Johore, applied for a British Resident to assist in the administration of the country, which request was acceded to in October of that year.

The predominant rock is slate, but granite, sandstone, limestone, quartz, and schist abound, while traces of volcanic action at some remote age are shown by the presence of basalt, trachyte, etc. As regards its mineralogy the State has always possessed a high reputation for its product of gold and tin. Though during recent periods these have been but little sought, the wonderful old gold workings discovered Messrs. Knaggs and Gower show that, wild, desolate and abandoned as the greater portion of the State now appears to be, it must, at some very remote time, have been well known and populated. Gold is worked on a large scale at Raub by the Raub Australian Mining Company and on a small scale at Penjom by Chinese and Malays. The Pahang Consolidated Company, Ltd., have large tin mines at Sungei Lembing in the Kuantan district, and there is much tin mining in the Bentong-Raub and at Gambong in the Kuantan district.

The administrative expenditure has in the past exceeded the income, and the State in 1915 owed $11,162,966 to other States of the Federation. The country promises soon to emerge from its backward condition. This backwardness was due chiefly to the lack of proper means of communication. The indebtedness incurred by the State is represented by public improvements that are going to prove of a remunerative character in years to come. Excellent roads have been constructed, opening up land for planting and aiding the prospecting for minerals, all the principal towns are now connected by telegraph or telephone, and the New Trunk Railway which is to connect the F.M.S. system with the Siamese Railways is already in an advanced stage, having reached Kuala Lipis from the southern junction at Gemas. When this line is completed it will be possible to travel by rail from Singapore to Bangkok through Kelantan.

For mining was 63,981 The output

The quantity of copra exported during 19:5 was 234,150 piculs. The exports of rubber were valued at $1,181,721 in 1915 against $649,745 in 1914. purposes, 39,990 acres were alienated. The export of tin and tin-ore piculs, valued at $5,019,396 against 61,909 piculs and $4,538,235 in 1914. of gold at Raub was 16,019 ounces in 1915 against 13,273 ounces in 1914.

Imports were valued at $3,186,822 against $3,816,323 in 1914 and exports at $7,210,073 against $6,021,594, in 1914.