MALACCA
1277
Malacca offers numerous attractions to the ornithologist and entomologist, but it is less rich in mammals than many other tropical districts. Nine species of quadrumana, the tiger, black leopard, wild cat, several species of viverrida (such as the musang and binturong), the elephant, one-horned rhinoceros, tapir, six species of deer, and two of the wild ox comprise a nearly complete list and, no doubt, at one time could be found, but no rhinoceros or elephant has been seen for many years, and wild oxen have not been heard of for over 30 years. Fair sport can be obtained by those fond of shooting, from tiger to snipe. It is noteworthy that the existence of the tapir was unknown until 1816, although European intercourse dates back to some three centuries before. Tigers in the early days of Portuguese occupation were so plentiful that the want of inhabitants was seriously attributed to this cause. As with the birds and insects, so with the reptiles. The snakes, lizards, and crocodiles are, as a rule, those of the peninsula generally, the birds alone presenting a rather larger variety than those of other districts. Nor does the vegetation present any exclusive features, being that of the surrounding States. The coast line is poor in shells, and the absence of limestone accounts for the few species of land shells found within the district.
Beyond its interest to the sportsman or naturalist, Malacca possesses no attrac- tions except to those who like to visit scenes famous in the annals of discovery for the bloody fights they have witnessed between the natives and tlie European nations who contended for their possession. Its population in 1927 was estimated at 188,828. There are
some 460 European residents in the Settlement, of whom at least three- quarters are planters.
The trade is largely with Singapore and the Federated Malay States, but rubber is shipped fortnightly by Japanese mail steamers to Europe. The cultivation of tapioca was formerly the principal industry, but rubber is now extensively planted, several large companies having taken over a number of small estates. The cultiva- tion of tapioca and gambier is declining rapidly in favour of coconuts and rubber, there being 200,000 acres under rubber and 48,133 acres growing coconuts, pineapple and other fruits. The total values of the foreign imports and exports for 1926 and 1927 are given below:-
Imports... Exports...
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Total ...
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1927 $37,627,255 48,583,035
$86,210,290
1928 $29,217,000
32,968,000
$62,185,000
CHINESE PROTECTORATE
DIRECTORY
GOVERNMENT OFFICES
Assist. Protector of Chin.-W. E. Rigby Clerk and Interpr.-Lam Kam Choon
CORONER'S DEPARTMENT
Coroners-Harbour
Master, Chief
Police Officer, District Officer (Alor Gajah), District Officer (Jasin), The Magistrate, the District Judge and Lieut. J. H. Owen, D.S.O., D.S.C., R.N.R., and J. F. F. Greggy
DISTRICT COURT (CIVIL)
District Judge-G. C. Dodd Assist. do. -J. F. F. Greggy Chief Clerk-A. Thomazios
DISTRICT OFFICES
Alor Gajah
District Officer-J. Calder
Cadet A. C. Boyd
Deputy Collector of Land Revenue-
D. L. Alcantara
Chief Clerk-Yeo Seng Watt Second Clerk-V. A. Sta Maria Land Bailiff—Ali H. Puteh
Jasin
District Officer-C. R. Howitt Deputy Collector of Land Revenue-
F. M. Beins
Second Clerk-E. de Rozario Land Bailiff-Tan Seng Ann
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
Inspector of Schools-M. R. Holgate,
M.A.
Malay Assist. Inspr.-Raja Noordin Chief Clerk-F. J. Pillay
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