PENANG, the town and island which, after Singapore, form the most important part of the British crown colony of Straits Set tlements. The island is situated in 5° 24' N. and 100° 21' E., and distant about 2/ m. from the west coast of the Malay peninsula. It is about 151 m. long by '01 m. wide at its broadest point. Its area is 108 square miles. The town, which is built on a prom ontory nearest to the mainland, is largely occupied by Chinese and Tamils, though the Malays are also well represented. Behind the town, Penang hill rises to a height of 2,428 f t., and upon it are built several government and private bungalows and a hotel. There is a fine hill-railway. The town possesses European clubs, a racecourse, and golf links. Coconuts are grown along the sea shore, and rice is cultivated at Balek Pulau and in the interior. Penang has an excellent harbour, but has suffered from its prox imity to Singapore.
Since 1867 Penang has been under the administrative control of a resident councillor who is responsible to the governor of the Straits. He is aided by officers of the Malayan Civil Service. Un official members of the legislative council of the colony, which holds its sittings in Singapore, are appointed, with the sanction of the secretary of state for the colonies, to represent Penang. Their
term of office is for three years. The official name of the island is Prince of Wales island and that of the town is Georgetown.
The population of the whole settlement of Penang at the census of 1921 was 304,335; population of municipality, I 23 ,o69 in 1921.
The number of ships which entered and left the port of Penang during 1926 was 6,217 with an aggregate tonnage of 11,408,303. Of these 4,497 were British with an aggregate tonnage of There are no port dues.
Penang was founded on July 17, 1786, having been ceded to the East India Company by the sultan of Kedah in 1785 by an agree ment with Captain Light. It was then almost uninhabited, and was made a penal settlement. In 1805 Penang was made a separate presidency, and when in 1826 Singapore and Malacca were incorporated with it, Penang continued to be the seat of government. In 1837 Singapore was made the capital of the Settlements. In 1867 the Straits Settlements were created a Crown colony, in which Penang and Malacca were included.