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KELANTAN
This State is situated in the extreme north-eastern end of the Peninsula between latitudes 4-38° and 6'15° North and between longitudes 101′26° and 102:40° East, with a coast-line of 60 miles on the China Sea. It embraces an area estimated at 5,870 square miles. It is a mountainous country, with rich alluvial plains, and drained by the Kelantan River and its tributaries.
According to the census of 1921 the population is 309,293, as compared with 286,751 in 1911.
Kota Bharu, six miles up the Kelantan River, is the capital, and the chief port is Tumpat at the mouth. The Sultan and the British Adviser reside at Kota Bharu.
The chief exports are padi and rice, copra and rubber, cattle and dried fish. The climate is healthier than in other parts of the Peninsula, there being a dis- tinct cold season about January. The temperature seldom exceeds 90° and sometimes falls to 62°, while the average rainfall is about 120 inches a year.
Mr. J. Scott Mason, the British Adviser, took over the supervision of affairs from Mr. W. A. Graham, the Siamese Commissioner, on July 15th, 1909.
In 1909, the revenue amounted to $370,959 and the expenditure to $377,062. In 1924, the revenue had risen to $1,422,113 and the expenditure to $1,442,032. The public debt at the transference of the suzerainty was $150,000, upon which Siam charged 9 per cent. This debt was taken over by the F.M.S., interest being reduced to 4 per cent. The debit balance of the State at the end of 1924 was $3,679,297. The value of the imports in 1924 was $3,570,688 against $3,070,562 in 1923, and of exports $5,407,674 against $5,667,729 in 1923. The principal imports were:-ironware, cotton piece-goods, sarongs, silk piecc-goods, cycles and accessories, coal, woodenware, machinery, cement, earthenware, matches, kerosene, opium, tobacco, salt and woollen goods. The tonnage
of steamers using Kelantan ports amounted to 113,034 in 1924 against 108,024 in 1923. There is regular steamship communication with Bangkok and Singapore. The first all- weather road was completed in 1916; it runs 26 miles from the capital to Pasir Puteh. The trunk road from Kota Bharu to Kuala Krai can be used for the greater part of the year. There is daily connection by rail between Tumpat and Kuala Krai, 60 miles up river. The line to the Siamese border is open for traffic, and a daily service each way between Tumpat and the Kedah boundary is maintained, making communication with Penang an easy matter. Kota Bharu is in direct telegraphic communication with Bangkok and Penang and possesses a telephone service. It is also connected by telephone with Tumpat, the port of Kelantan, and Pasir Puteh. There is a telegraph line connecting Kota Bharu with Kuala Krai.
About 414,862 acres were under cultivation in 1924. They comprised 205,875 acres devoted to padi, 58,714 to coconuts, and 112,431 to rubber. The export of rubber in 1924 was 3,387 tons, as compared with 3,365 tons in 1923. The export of copra was 125,586 piculs, compared with 107,077 piculs in 1923.
DIRECTORY
GOVERNMENT
Ruler-His Highness the SULTAN ISMAIL BIN ALMERHUM SULTAN MOHAMED IV, K.C.M.G. British Adviser to the Government of Kelantan-A. F. Worthington
Assistant British Adviser to the Government of Kelantan--C. C. Brown
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