Directory_and_Chronicle_1923 — Page 1536

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BRUNEI

A wireless telegraphic_installation of the most modern type was opened in 1921, with a central station at Brunei and subsidiary stations at Labuan and in each of the districts. It will place every part of Brunei in telegraphic communication with Singapore and Europe.

Petty wars, head-hunting raids, and the jealousy of the numerous chiefs, coupled with the existence of slavery, rendered agriculture impossible in the past. Since the appointment of a resident British official, the common people have shown eagerness to take up land and plant coconuts. The rivers are fringed with the nipah palm; the forests of the interior abound in rattans; there are large areas of the sago palm, which is industriously worked by the natives and sold to Chinese traders for export to the Singapore market. The wild rubber tree, Jelutong (dyera costulata), is common, and is worked for export. Land suitable for cultivation of Para rubber (hevea brasiliensis) is alienated by the Government at an extremely low rental, and several European companies have taken out grants, and are actively proceeding with planting operations. At Brunei Town, the Island Trading Company, Ltd., has its cutch factory, employing several hundreds of hands. The value of cutch exported in 1921 $240.700, compared with $355,300 in 1920. Coal is worked at Raja Brooke's Brooketon Collieries. The gross output in 1921 amounted to 26,858 tons, of which 16,210 tons were exported. The average price at which coal was sold at Brooketon was $17 per

ton.

was

In 1914, payable oil was found for the first time in the State of Belait, at a deptl of 1,820 ft. At first the flow was 25 tons daily, but a week's pumping test reduced this to an average of six tons. A recent report by the geologists of the D'Arcy Exploration Syndicate is not of an encouraging nature.

Native industries other than sago working-are few. Brunei silver-work enjoys a certain vogue, and would be appreciated if it could be expeditiously put on the market. The women also weave silk cloths and sarongs.

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The natives are expert fishermen and the coast waters abound in excellent fish, which with rice--form the staple diet of the people. The principal imports are piece. goods, tobacco, rice, kerosene and sugar. The main exports are cutch, coal, rubber, sago and jungle produce. Para rubber was exported for the first time in 1914--about 7,000 lbs. The value of rubber exports in 1921 was $82,217. Some Chinese have begun to plant pepper, a product for which Brunei was famous 150 years ago.

The public revenue in 1921 amounted to $161,520, as against $201,250 in 1920; and expenditure to $197,469, as against $223,690 in 1920.

DIRECTORY

Sultan-HIS HIGHNESS SIR MOHAMED JAMALULALAM, K.C.M.G. Ministers of State--PENGIRAN BENDAHARA, PENGIRAN PEMANCHA

BRITISH RESIDENT'S OFFICE

British Resident-L. A. Allen

Correspondence Clerk-Ibrahim bin Md.

Jahfar

MEDICAL Department

Dresser--Leong Ah Ng

TREASURY DEPARTMENT Treasury Clerk-Liew Thian Tai

POSTS AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT Wireless Engineer-P. H. F. George Postal Clerk-Leong Ah Ng

COURTS

Judge-L. A. Allen

Magistrate-Pengiran Shahbandar Clerk-Leong Ah Ng

CUSTOMS AND GOVT. MONOPOLIES Customs Clerk-Chua Law Lee

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Assist. Engineer in Charge (Brunei and

Labuan)-Capt. H. M. S. Haughton

POLICE FORCE

(Brunei Police)

Chief Inspector in charge (Brunei and Labuan) residing at Brunei-G. McAfee