Perlis.—This small state, consisting of the left bank drainage area of the Perlis river, lies between Setul and Kedah, which bound it on the north and west and on the east respectively. It touches the sea only round the mouth of the river.
The population in 1932 was 48,97o, of whom 40,128 were Malays. The chief town, Perlis, is situated about 12 m. up the river. A good deal of tin is worked, and rice, fish, eggs and poultry, rubber, cattle, copra, guano, betel-nuts and hides are exported. In the early part of the 19th century Perlis was a district of Kedah, but during a period of disturbance in the latter state it established itself as a separate chiefdom. In 1897 Siam restored the nominal authority of Kedah, but tile measure was not pro ductive of good. In 1905 the Siamese government advanced a loan of $200,000 to Perlis, and appointed an English adviser to assist in the general administration. This money was refunded to Siam and the adviser relieved by a British officer when the state became British in July 1909. In 1926 the revenue was $594,098 and the expenditure $565,071 including repayment of $50,000 to the Malay Federated States. The debt to that government is now only $200,000.
local military forces in the Malay Peninsula include those in the Straits Settlements (see GREAT BRITAIN: Defence, "Present-day Army"), in the Federated and in the Un federated Malay States. The Federated States contain volunteer forces with an establishment of 103 officers and 3,469 other ranks (Europeans, Indians, Malays and Chinese). They attend a recruit course of 4o parades, with 18 parades annually and rifle practice. They are under the general direction of the general officer com manding, Malaya. In the Unfederated States there is a regular regiment in Johore, the Johore volunteer infantry, the Johore volunteer rifles (Europeans), and British, European and Asiatic volunteers in the State of Kelantan. The Johore Regiment, com manded by the Sultan, is about 500 strong.
(G. G. A.)