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 1921, 134,684 inhabitants, as compared with 118,708 in 1911.
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 by Messrs. Knaggs and Gower show that the State 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 elsewhere 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 Gambang in the Kuantan district.
The revenue for 1920 amounted to $2,956,200 and the expenditure to $4,369,822. The administrative expenditure has, up to the present, exceeded the income, and the State on January 1st, 1921, owed $11,308,689 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 prospecting for minerals. All the principal towns are now connected by telegrapli, and the new Trunk Railway, which is to make another connection between the F.M.S. system and the Siamese Railways, is in an advanced stage, having reached Nerang Tunggal, 17 miles north of 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.
The quantity of copra exported in 1920 was 3,164 piculs, as against 4,495 piculs in 1919. The exports of rubber were valued at $4,237,115, as against $4,364,720 in 1919. The export of tin and tin-ore, viz., 72,466.89 piculs, showed a decrease in quantity of 250.79 piculs but an increase in value of $1,631,160 on that for the year 1919. The output of gold at Raub was 11,476 ounces, as against 15,301 ounces in 1919.
The total value of trade for the year 1920 was $18,994,364, as against $17,536,859 in 1919, an increase of $1,457,505.
DIRECTORY
GOVERNMENT
SULTAN ALMOKTASAM BILLAH AL SULTAN ABDULLAH, K.C.M.G., IBNI
ALMERHOM SULTAN AHMAD MA'A1HAM SHAH
British Resident-Hon. Major C. W. C. Parr, 0.B.E.
Malay Secretary to His Highness-Che' Abu Bakar bin Imam Prang
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