Malay States British

Johore.

The richest and most highly organized of the Un federated States of British Malaya, situate at the southern end of the peninsula, stretching from 2° 40' S. to Cape Rumenia, the most southerly point on the mainland of Asia, and including all small islands adjacent to the coast which lie to the south of parallel 40' S. It is bounded north and north-west, respectively by the Federated state of Pahang, Negri Sembilan and the terri tory of Malacca, south by the strait which divides Singapore island from the mainland, east by the China sea, and west by the Straits of Malacca. The district of Muar was placed under Johore by the British as a temporary measure in 1877, and is now an integral part of it. The coast-line measures about 25o m. The greatest length from N.W. to S.E. is 165 m., the greatest breadth from E. to W. Ioo m. The area is estimated at 7,500 sq.m. The principal rivers are the Muar, the most important waterway in the south of the peninsula; the Johore, up which the old capital of the state was situated; the Endau, which marks the boundary with Pahang; and the Batu Pahat and Sedeli, of comparative unimportance. Johore is less mountainous than any other state in the peninsula. The highest peak (4,187 ft.) is Gunong Ledang, called Mt. Ophir by Europeans. The capital is johore Baharu (pop. about 15,000) situated at the nearest point on the mainland to the island of Singapore. The palace built by the late Sultan Abubakar is a feature of the town. The capital of the province of Muar is Bandar Maharani, named after the wife of the late sultan before he had assumed his final title. Other towns are Batu Pahat, Sega mat, Kota Tuiggi, Mersing and Jemaluang. The climate is healthy and equable for a country so near to the equator; it is cooler than that of Singapore. The shade temperature varies from 98.5° F to 65° F. The rainfall averages 97 in. per annum. There are 300 miles of road in the state. The 1932 estimate of population was 489,749, of whom 238,961 were Malays, just over 200,000 Chi nese, and just under 45,000 Indians and Tamils.

The revenue for 1926 was $18,781,565 and the expenditure $18,099,232. The total trade was : exports $139,261,451 and im ports $35,782,758. Of the exports rubber represented $119,580, 069. Copra, pineapples, tapioca, betel-nuts and a diminishing amount of tin are also exported. Over 2,000 acres are planted with African oil palm. Tobacco, spirits, petroleum and matches are among the largest imports. There are 5 English and 84 Malay schools.

Mohammedan empire of Johore was founded by the sultan of Malacca after his expulsion from his kingdom by the Portuguese in 1511. Like Achin, Johore took an active part in the protracted war between the Portuguese and the Dutch for the possession of Malacca. In 1699 the last of the Malacca royal line was murdered at Kota Tuiggi and the throne passed to the line of the great Malacca chiefs, the Bendaharas. Later we find Johore ruled by an officer of the Bugis rulers of Riouw, bearing the title of Temenggong, and owing feudal allegiance to his master in common with the Bendahara of Pahang. In 1812, the Dutch had driven the Bugis out of Rian and recognized as sultan of Johore a descendant of the Bendahara chiefs of old Malacca. His

son, Sultan Husain, ceded the island of Singapore to the East India Company in 1819. In 1855 the then sultan, Ali, was deposed, and his principal chief, the Temenggong, was given the supreme rule by the British. His son Temenggong Abubakar proved to be a man of exceptional intelligence. He made numerous visits to Europe, took considerable interest in the government and develop ment of his country, and was given by Queen Victoria the title of Maharaja in 1879. In 1885 he entered into a new agreement with the British Government, and was allowed to assume the title of sultan of the State and Territory of Johore. He was succeeded in 1895 by his son Sultan Ibrahim. In 1914 an agreement was con cluded whereby a general adviser was appointed with powers similar to those exercised by British residents in the Federated Malay States.

Kelantan.

This state on the east coast, bounded north and north-east by the China sea, east by Trengganu, south by Pahang and west by Perak and Range, lies between 4° 48' and 6° 20' N. and IOI ° 33' and 102° 45' E. The greatest length from north to south is 115 m. and the greatest breadth from east to west 6o m. The area is 5,87o sq.m. The northern part of the state is flat and fertile, but the southern district which comprises more than half the total area, is hilly and broken.

Next to the Pahang, the Kelantan river is the largest on the east coast. It is 120 miles long and is navigable for shallow-draft launches and big country boats for about 8o miles, and for vessels of 8 ft. draft for about six miles. Its principal tributaries are the Galas, Pergau and Lebir. The Golok and Semarak rivers water the west and east parts of the state, falling into the sea a few miles on either side of the mouth of the Kelantan river. The climate of Kelantan is mild and singularly healthy in the open cultivated regions. The population in 1932 was 364,923 of which were aboriginal tribes (Sakais and Negritos), 16,505 Chi nese, 7,855 Siamese and the rest Malays. The Chinese are in creasing and natives of different parts of India are resorting to the state for purposes of trade. Kota Baharu (pop. 14,699) is the only town in the state. It lies on the right bank of the river, about six miles from the sea. Since 1904 it has been laid out with metalled roads and many public and private buildings have been erected. The town is the commercial as well as the administrative centre of the state. Tumpat on the coast (pop. 2,406), is the place next in importance after Kota Baharu. A network of creeks renders communication easy in the northern districts, the river and its tributaries afford means of access to all parts of the south ; 153 miles of road have been made. Kelantan is connected by tele graph with Bangkok and Singapore, and maintains regular postal communication with those places. Rice cultivation is the principal industry. Rubber, coconuts and betel-nuts rank next. Much live stock is raised. About 422,872 acres of land are under culti vation. At present there is no mining. Gold, tin and galena have been found in several localities. The Kelantanese are expert fish ermen, some 10,000 finding employment in fishing and fish-drying.