the golden chersonese and the way thither-第59章
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sole southern boundary is the State of Selangor。 On the north it has
the British colony of Province Wellesley； and the native States of
Kedah and Patani； tributary to Siam。 Its eastern boundary is only an
approximate one； Kelantan joining it in the midst of a vast tract of
unexplored country inhabited solely by the Sakei and Semang aborigines。
The State is about eighty miles wide at its widest part； and thirty at
its narrowest； and is estimated to contain between four and five
thousand square miles。 The great artery of the country is the Perak
river； a most serpentine stream。 Ships drawing thirteen feet of water
can ascend it as far as Durian Sabatang； fifty miles from its mouth；
and boats can navigate it for one hundred and thirty miles farther。
This river； even one hundred and fifty miles from its mouth at Kwala
Kangsa； is two hundred yards wide； and might easily be ascended by
〃stern…wheel〃 boats drawing a foot of water； such as those which ply on
the upper Mississippi。 Next in size to the Perak is the Kinta； which
falls into the Perak； besides which there are the Bernam and Batang
Padang rivers； both navigable for vessels of light draught。 Along the
shores of these streams most of the Malay kampongs are built。
The interior of Perak is almost altogether covered with magnificent
forests； out of which rise isolated limestone hills； and mountain
ranges from five thousand to eight thousand feet in height。 The scenery
is beautiful。 The neighborhood of the mangrove swamps of the coast is
low and swampy； but as the ground rises； the earth which has been
washed down from the hills becomes fertile； and farther inland the
plains are so broken up by natural sand ridges which lighten the soil；
that it is very suitable for rice culture。
Tin is the most abundant of the mineral products of Perak； and； as in
the other States； the supply is apparently inexhaustible。 So far it is
obtained in 〃stream works〃 only。 The export of this metal has risen
from 144；000 pounds in 1876 to 436；000 pounds in 1881。 Tin…mining
continues to attract a steady stream of Chinese immigration； and the
Resident believes that the number of Chinamen has increased from twenty
thousand in 1879 to forty thousand in 1881。 Wealth is reckoned in slabs
of tin； and lately for an act of piracy a Rajah was fined so many slabs
of tin； instead of so many hogsheads of oil； as he would have been on
the West African coast。
Gold is found in tolerable quantities； even by the Malay easy…going
manner of searching for it； and diamonds and garnets are tolerably
abundant。 Gold can be washed with little difficulty from most of the
river beds； and from various alluvial deposits。 The metal thus found is
pure； but 〃rough and shotty。〃 The nearer the mountains the larger the
find。 It is of a rich； red color。 Iron ore is abundant； but though coal
has been found； it is not of any commercial value。 The methods of
mining both for tin and gold are of the most elementary kind； and it is
probable that Perak has still vast metallic treasures to yield up to
scientific exploration and Anglo…Saxon energy。
Rice is the staple food of the inhabitants。 Dry rice on the hillsides
was the kind which was formerly exclusively cultivated； but from some
Indians who came from Sumatra to Perak the Malays have learned the mode
of growing the wet variety； and it is now largely practiced。 Partly in
consequence of a great lack of agricultural energy； and partly from the
immense quantity of rice required by the non…producing Chinese miners；
Perak imported in 1881 rice to the value of 70；000 pounds。
There is scarcely a tropical product which this magnificent region does
not or may not produce； gutta…percha； india…rubber； sago； tapioca；
palm…oil and fibre； yams； sweet potatoes； cloves； nutmegs； coffee；
tobacco； pepper； gambier； with splendid fruits in perfectionthe
banana； bread…fruit； anona； cocoa…nut； mangosteen； durion； jak…fruit；
cashew…nut； guava； bullock's heart； pomegranate； shaddock；
custard…apple； papaya； pine…apple； with countless others。 The
indigenous fruits alone are so innumerable； that a description of the
most valuable of them would fill a chapter。
Our homely vegetables do not flourish； but watermelons； cucumbers；
gourds； capsicums； chilies； cocoa…nut cabbage； edible arums； and； where
the Chinese have settled； coarse lettuces； radishes； and pulse； grow
abundantly； with various other not altogether to be despised vegetables
with Malay names。
The timber is magnificent； and under the unworthy name of 〃jungle
produce〃 a large trade is done in it。 Perak is the land of palms； and
produces the invaluable cocoa…palm； most parts of which have their
commercial value； the areca palm which produces the betel…nut； the
gomuti palm from whose strong black fibres they make ropes； cordage；
and strands for capturing the alligator； the jaggary…palm； from which
sugar is made； as well as a fermented beverage； the nibong palm； which
grows round the Malay kampong； and is used for their gridiron floors
and for the posts of their houses； the dwarf…palms which serve no other
purpose than to gladden the eyes by their beauty； and the nipah palm
which fringes the rivers； and； under the name of attap； forms the
thatch of both native and foreign houses。
Road…making has not made great strides in Perak； but railroads are
being planned； and a good road extends from the port of Larut to the
great Chinese mining town of Taipeng； and thence to the British
residency at Kwala Kangsa； a distance of over thirty…three miles； the
electric telegraph accompanying the road。 Others are in course of
construction； and there are numerous elephant and jungle tracks through
the western parts of the State。
Still； the rivers form the natural highways。 Perak has two portsTeluk
Anson on the Perak river； thirty…four miles from its mouth； and Teluk
Kertang； a few miles up the Larut river； and eight miles from the great
tin mines of Taipeng。 The import and export trade is carried on mainly
with Pinang； and at this time one of several small steamers leaves
Larut for that port daily。 A steamer calls at Teluk Anson once a
fortnight on her voyage from and to Singapore and Pinang； and another
calls at the same port every fourth day； as well as at the Dindings and
the Bernam river。
Trade is rapidly advancing。 The exports of the State； which were valued
at 147；993 pounds in 1876； amounted to 513；317 pounds in 1881； and the
imports which amounted to 166；275 pounds in 1876； had reached 488；706
pounds in 1881； the whole import and export trade of that year
amounting to 1；002；023 pounds。 The free population of Perak is now
estimated at
Malays 56；000
Chinese 40；000
Other Asiatics 850
Europeans 90
Aborigines 1；000
97；940
To which may be added a slave and bond debtor population of nearly four
thousand souls。
The revenue of Perak has risen from 42；683 pounds in 1876 to 138；572
pounds in 1881； and the expenditure； keeping pace with it； has risen
from 45；277 pounds in 1876 to 130；587 pounds in 1881。 The chief sources
of the Perak revenue are customs duties； opium and other farms and
licenses； and land revenue； and the chief items of expenditure are for
civil and police establishments； roads and bridges； and allowances and
pensions to chiefs。 It is worthy of remark that the military
establishmentfor so the magnificent Sikh armed police force may be
calledcosts more than the civil establishment。 It may also be
remarked that the revenue of Perak； thanks to the financial sagacity
and wise discrimination of the Resident； is collected with little
difficulty； and without inflicting any real vexations or hardships on
the taxpayers。
Public works； such as the construction of good cart roads and bridges；
the making of canals； the clearing rivers from impediments to
navigation； the enlargement of experimental gardens； the introduction
and breeding of sheep； cattle； and improved breeds of poultry；
surveying wild land； and rebuilding and draining mining towns； are
being carried on energetically。 It has been found； after long and
carefully…conducte
