Directory_and_Chronicle_1922 — Page 1475

TRENGGANU

With a territory of about 6,000 square miles, an extensive sea-board and a popula tion of about 170,000 souls, Trengganu is the least developed of all the Native States. The capital is Kuala Trengganu, where the British Agent was the only European resident when the census was taken in 1911. Mr. J. L. Humphreys, the British Adviser, in his report for 1919, stated: "The amendment of Treaty, bringing with it a closer form of British control, made the past year an eventful one in the history of Trengganu. At the time of writing it is possible to say that the change to the new régime has been made smoothly and successfully. Progress during the year was hindered by a prolonged and dangerous food-shortage and by the want of trained officers (the British Adviser is still the only European officer in the State, there are no English-speaking subordinates, and all correspondence is conducted in Jawi). there was a steady expansion of revenue, and signs were observable of more enlight- ened ideals among the ruling class. The work of reform in this backward State will be heavy and difficult; but untouched natural wealth and an industrious population make its future prosperity a matter beyond doubt." Under the new Agreement trained European officers are now in charge of certain departments, and evidence of the good work of the new régime is shown in the revenue returns, which have risen from $183,723 in 1915 to $970,541 in 1920.

But

By an Agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Government of Trengganu, dated May 24, 1919, His Highness Sultan Muhammad bin Zainalabidin. agreed to receive a British Adviser in place of an Agent, whose advice must be asked and acted upon in all matters affecting the general adininistration of the country. This brings the State into line with the other Protected Malay States, and should help to bring about a new era of prosperity. All that is needed to render Trengganu more accessible is railway connection with the F.M.S. East Coast Railway system. There were only 20 Europeans in the State at the end of 1918.

Trengganu lies between latitudes 4° 30 min. and 5° 45 min. North and longitude 102° 15 min. and 103° 30 min. East. As there are no roads or railways or telegraphs and the rivers are not navigable beyond a certain point from the sea owing to rapids, it may be judged that there is not much communication with the interior, so that the population is restricted to the sea-board and villages along the navigable portions of the rivers. They are an ingenious and, for Malays, industrious people, and excel as boatbuilders and fishermen. They also engage in silk and cottonweaving, and iron, brass and nickel manufactures. In 1920, 96,354 piculs of dried fish (value at $1,499,965), 18,430 piculs of copra, 5,115 piculs of black pepper, and 8,117 piculs of tin ore, valued at $813,683, were exported. A bright future is predicted for Trengganu as a mining country, tin,. wolfram and gold having been found. In 1920, only 2,567 piculs of wolfram, valued. at $102,582, were exported, as compared with 9,408 piculs valued at $611,670 in 1919, the world's demand for this mineral having fallen off.

The principal imports in 1920 were: Rice, cotton piece-goods, opium, sugar, sarongs, tobacco, condensed milk, machinery, and kerosene; and exports: Tin ore, wolfram ore, fish, copra, black pepper, and rubber. Revenue is raised by means of "farms" and duties on all kinds of exports. The State Treasurer returned the revenue at $970,541 in 1920- and the expenditure at $757,645, the corresponding statistics for 1919 being revenue, $762,455; expenditure, $756,977. The total value of exports from Trengganu to Singapore in 1920 was $3,544,905 against $3,816,670 in 1919, and of imports from Singapore $1,571,789 in 1920 against $1,911,014 in 1919.

Regular steamship communication is maintained with Singapore. and temperature conditions are similar to those in the other Malay States.

The rainfall