Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 1334

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FEDERATED MALAY STATES-PERAK

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education has no great attraction for Malay parents, or Malay children, who might contribute by far the largest number of scholars. The Government offers every reasonable encouragement, and there is even a law in force in Selangor, the Negri Sem- bilan and in Perak for compelling the attendance of children who live within reasonable, distance of a school, while scholars are allowed to travel free of charge on the railways. The population of the Federated Malay States was ascertained at the census of 1911 to be. 1,036,999 (725,062 males, 311,937 females). Of these, 3,284 were Europeans, 2,649 Eura- sians, 420,840 Malays, 433,244 Chinese, and 172,465 Indians, In 1918, there were 45,093 Indian immigrants against 65,000 in 1917. The excess of Chinese immigrants over emigrants was only 391, whereas in 1916 there was an excess of Chinese emigrants over immigrants of 14,982. The population showed an increase of 358,404 persons in the inter- censal period from 1901 to 1911; and was estimated at 1,279,859 in 1918.

The imports into the States in 1918 were valued at $74,750,746 (£8,720,920), while exports amounted to $223,066,282 (£26,024,399). The total of imports and exports com- bined (including bullion) was $319,010,717 (£37,217,917), against a total of $346,861,682 (£40,467,196) in 1917. The decrease in the value of exports is largely accounted for by the fall in the price of rubber.

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PERAK

Perak, the premier State of the Federated Malay States, is on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula, and lies between Kedah on the north and Selangor on the South. The coast-line is about 90 miles in extent; the greatest length of the State, in a north and south direction, is 150 miles, and the breadth, in an east and west direction, 90 miles. It is estimated to contain 7,875 square miles; that is to say, it is about the size of Yorkshire and Lancashire together. The soil is suitable for the cultivation of rubber, rice, coconuts, coffee robusta, spices of all kinds, and grasses from which essential oils are extracted.

The State is well watered by numerous streams and rivers, of which the river Perak is the most important. This river runs nearly south until it turns sharply to the westward and falls into the Straits of Malacca. It is navigable for about 40 miles from its mouth by steamers of 300 to 400 tons burden, and for another 100 miles by cargo boats. The upper part of the river is rocky and abounds in rapids, and conse- quently, except for small boats and rafts, is unnavigable. The Kinta, the Batang Padang and the Plus are the three large tributaries of the Perak river, and all are navigable by cargo boats. These rivers rise in the main mountain range and flow west and south until they discharge themselves into the Perak river.

The climate of Perak is good, the temperature in the low country averaging from 60° Fahr. in the night to 90° Fahr. in the heat of the day. The average mean is about 70° Fahr. in the night and 87° Fahr. in the day. The nights are uniformly cool. At 3,000 feet the average is 63° Fahr. at night to 73° in the day. The rainfall varies consid- erably, Taiping, the capital, registering more than 170 (average for 10 years 171.95) but the average elsewhere is about 100 inches. There is no true rainy season, but the wettest months are October, November and December, and the driest are June, July and August.

The State has been under British Protection since 1874 and has since that date been administered under the advice of the British Resident. The State Council, a deliberative, legislative and advisory body, consists of the Sultan and several Malay Chiefs, the British Resident, the Secretary to Resident, and two Chinese inembers.

The seat of Government is at Taiping in the Larut district, three hours from Penang by railway. The residence of His Highness the Sultan is at Bukit Chandan near the town of Kuala Kangsar, reached by rail from Taiping in about an hour. His Highness Sir Abdul Jalil ibni Almerhum Rahmatullah who had the honour of K.C.M.G. conferred upon him by King George in 1917, died in October, 1918, and was succeeded by his brother Raja Alang Iskandar ibin Almerhum Rahmatullah under the title of Sultan Iskandar Shah. The High Commissioner of the Federated Malay States has also a residence at Kuala Kangsar, which town, situated as it is on the Perak river, here some 200 yards wide, lies in the midst of beautiful scenery and is the centre