Directory_and_Chronicle_1925 — Page 1455

NEGRI SEMBILAN

This is a group of seven States-Johol, Tampin, Sri Menanti, Jempol, Rembau, Sungei Ujong and Jelebu, the two latter having been confederated with the original group of five in 1895. They occupy together some 2,550 square miles of the interior of the peninsula, bounded on the north and east by Pahang, on the west by Malacca, and on the south by Johore. The five States originally known as the Negri Sembilan were brought under British protection by Sir Frederick Weld in 1883, and by an agreement with the respective chiefs, signed on the 13th July, 1889, they were con- federated as one Residency. They are governed by the native chiefs or penghulus, assisted by the British Resident and Magistrates under him.

Under the later scheme of confederation, brought into force in 1895, by which Sungei Ujong and Jelebu were brought in, there are five districts, viz., Seremban, the Coast Jelebu, Kuala Pilah, and Tampin. Seremban is the head office, where the Resident and heads of departments reside. Heads of departments are for the whole State, and thus a double staff is saved, as had two States remained alone it would have been necessary, as the Negri Sembilan developed, to make further appointments of European officers. The political affinity of the States is undoubted, and the same tribal and. customary laws exist in both, together with the system of the election of the chiefs. The population of the Negri Sembilan at the 1921 census was 178,762, of whom 77,648- were Malays, 65,171 Chinese, and 33,658 Indians.

Sungei Ujong and Jelebu have together an area of about 1,200 square miles, and a range of hills in the north attain a height of about 3,800 feet, the slopes of which have been pronounced by Ceylon planters as most suitable for the cultivation of coffee, cocoa, and other tropical products. On the lower ground, nearer the coast, tapioca is suc- cessfully cultivated, but during recent years tapioca, coffee and coconut cultiva- tion have been abandoned very largely in favour of rubber. Tin mining is carried on to a considerable extent. The river Linggi is the only important stream in the State, and was formerly navigable for upwards of 40 miles from its mouth. The principal town of Sungei Ujong is Sereinban. The port of Sungei Ujong was opened on the 1st September, 1884, at Pengkalan Kompas on the Linggi river, at a distance of about seven miles from the mouth of the river, and a well laid-out town has sprung up. Port. Dickson (district and port) lies south-west of Seremban, and promises to become of some importance. The harbour has from 11 to 15 fathoms of water and is well sheltered. A railway connecting it with Seremban was opened in July, 1891, and has greatly facilitated trade. The State is now traversed by the F.M.S. railway system, and the road system is a subject of favourable comment by all who visit the country.

The revenue of the State in 1923 was $6,658,064 against $5,219,944 in 1922, and the- expenditure $5,596,840 against $5,349,840 in 1922. The balance of assets to the credit of the State amounts to $3,800,373. Imports in 1923 were valued at $7,341,893 against $5,861,099 in 1922, and exports at $23,770,542 against $15,575,355 in 1922. These figures, however, are no true index of the total trade of the State, as much of the merchandise produced and consumed in the State passes through Selangor.

Rubber leads in agricultural produce with a planted area of 279,784 acres. The export of rubber was 20,548 tons in 1923, against 25,714 in 1922, and of gambier 3,901 piculs against 4,205. The total acreage of mining land was 10,237.

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