PENANG
1107
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 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. The census of 1911 gave the total population of Penang and Province Wellesley as 270,537 as compared with 249,207 in 1901. The estimated mean population of the Settlement in 1916 was 278,003 (Penang Island 141,569, Province Wellesley 128,978 and Dindings *7,466).
DIRECTORY
(For Government Depts. see under G.)
ABDOOLCADER, H. H., Advocate and Solicitor-135, Penang Street; Teleph.630; Tel. Ad: Abdoolcader; Codes: A.B.C. 5th edition, Butterworth's Legal and Broomhall's
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
ADAMSON, GILFILLAN & Co., LTD. (Incor-
porated in Great Britain)
Britain) Bank Buildings
R. T. Peake, director (London) M. E. Plumpton, do.
do.
R. W. A. fillan, director (London) A. J. Campbell Hart, mgr. do. F. L. Tomlin, mgr. (Singapore)
H. A. Low, manager
W. A. Fell, signs per pro.
D. L. Adamson
W. M. McLachlan
Agencies
Peninsular & Oriental S. N. Co.
Straits Steamship Co., Ltd. Russian Volunteer Fleet
American Asiatic Steamship Co. Compania Transatlantica Line of Stra. Chargeurs Reunis
Asiatic Steam Navigation Co. Pacific Mail S. S. Co.
New Zealand Insurance Co., Ltd.
(Fire and Marine)
China Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. The Scottish Union and Nat. Ins. Co. The Excess Insurance Co., Ltd. The Marine Insurance Co., Ltd.
ALLAN, J. G., Engineer and Marine Sur- veyor, Machinery Agent, Valuer and Auctioneer, Agent and Surveyor to Bureau Veritas, and General Contractor
-3A, Union St.; Tel. Ad: Alngry
ANTHONY & Co., A. A., Merchants, Com- mission Agents, Shipping Agents, Ex- change and Share
Share Brokers, Estate Agents and Auctioneers-9, Beach Street; Tel.
Ad: Anthony; Codes: Bentley's and A. B. C. 5th edition A. Stephen Anthony, partner
J. G. Brown,
do.
W. B. A. Morrison
B. H. Festing
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