Directory_and_Chronicle_1920 — Page 1397

PERLIS

This is the smallest of the Malay States, the area being about 316 square miles. It is situated to the north of Kedah, and its conditions are practically identical with those of Kedah. Mr. Meadows Frost, the first British Adviser, followed the policy which marks British control in the Federated Malay States, and the active co-operation of the Raja and his Council has led to a great improvement in the internal administration since the assumption of British suzerainty in 1909. The Federated Malay States have recently completed the extension of their railway system through Perlis to link up with the Siamese railway system. Rail communication with Bangkok has been maintained

since the 1st. July, 1918.

The population at the census of 1911 comprised 32,746 persons, of whom 29,497 were Malays, 1,627 Chinese, 1,388 Siamese, and only 5 Europeans (3 British). The revenue which in the first year of British Protection was $102,522 has increased steadily year by year. In 1917 $264,976 and in 1918 $306,924 and the expenditure in these two years was- $193,776 and $269,027 respectively. With the transference of suzerainty a debt of $495,394 was taken over by the F.M.S. The debt still stands at this sum.

The

There is very little to be said of the trade of Perlis. In Kangar there is one street of shops, whose proprietors besides selling sundry goods also export padi-the staple product of the country-as well as ducks and fowls for the Penang market. chief imports are cottons for native clothing, kerosene, tobacco and sundry odds and ends used by the Malay country people. In 1910 the State Council abolished the general duty of 3 per cent. on imported goods and now the only goods taxed on import are spirits, beer, wine, tobacco and kerosene. The general duty of 5 per cent. on exports has been abolished and replaced by duties on tin-ore, rubber, jungle produce and other specific products. In 1918, 154 tons of tin-ore were exported.

Many of the lime-stque hills of Perlis contain caves rich in guano deposits. The chief native cultivation is padi. Rubber is represented by a few native planta-- tions which exported 38,189 pounds in 1917, and 25,342 pounds in 1918.

DIRECTORY

MEMBERS OF State COUNCIL

H. H. Raja Syed Alwi, president

H. C. Eckhardt, acting adviser Syed Hamzah

Datoh Wan Teh Haji Mohamed Nor

GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

Adviser-H. C. Eckhardt (acting) Commissioner of Lands-Ché-Mahmud

Judges-Ché-Mahmud, Haji

Syed Husin

Haji Mohamed,

Mohamed

Commissioner of Customs

Arshad

Treasurer-Wan Alımad