FEDERATED MALAY STATES, a group of native states of the Malay Peninsula, comprising Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Pahang, under British protection. The total area of the federated states is 27;506 square miles, of which Perak has 7,800, Selangor 3,156, Negri Sembilan 2,250 and Pahang 14,000 square miles. Generally speaking the country is fertile and has an abundant water supply. There are several mountain peaks, some of which have an elevation of 7,000 feet. The staple cultivations are coconuts, rubber, rice, sugar, pepper, tapioca, gambier and ripah palms. The chief industrial enterprises are rubber-curing and the mining of tin. In Perak the Krian ir rigation'works irrigate 70,000 acres of rice-fields and supply drinking water to the entire district. The canal is 21 miles long, with branches ag gregating 16% miles and 188% miles of minor channels. The total area of rubber plantations (over 100 acres) is 499,500 acres and 182000 acres are under coconuts. The forests produce excellent timber, besides guttapercha, oils, resins and canes. About 600,000 tons of timber are taken annually from the forests, exclusive of about 120,000 tons for firewood, mining, etc. In 1916, 62,765 tons of rubber were exported; the annual exports of tin aggregate about 50,000 tons. Gold is produced also: 14,272 ounces in 1914 and 18,641 ounces in 1915. Many other minerals are found, including lead, iron, copper, bismuth, mercury, arsenic, manganese, plum bago, coal, silver and zinc. The miners number about 164,000, of whom 157,000 are Chinese.
Commerce.— The trade, exclusive of bullion and specie, was as follows in a recent year: ex ports, $94,405,565, imports $35,009,295. In that year the chief items of import were: rice, $8, 730,400; opium, $1,037,595; tobacco and cigars, 19 1,721,205; cotton piece goods, $1,180,055; sugar, 34,205; condensed milk, $733,835; live stock, 1,176,690; spirits, $620,235; petroleum, $1, 428,610; iron ware, $861,595; machinery, $786, 190. The chief exports included rubber (44, 524 tons) $54,486,825; copra, $1,072,465; rice, $525,130; tapioca, $130,995; coffee, $125,550; and tin and iron ore, $35,824,840. The exports to
the United Kingdom aggregated $16,680,050, to other British possessions, $77,311,300, to other countries, $759,050.
In 1915 the shipping entered, exclusive of native craft, was 4,296 vessels of 1,714,837 tons; shipping cleared 4,290 vessels of 1,714,554 tons. Native craft entered and cleared aggregated 13,795 vessels, 311,763 tons.
Communications, Posts, Telegraphs, etc.— The four states have 2,251 miles of metaled cart roads and 1,923 miles of bridle roads and paths. The government has made, purchased, leased or is making, the railway systems of the whole peninsula south of the boundary of Siam, including the railway on Singapore Island. The system, when completed, will comprise a trunk line throughout the peninsula, diverging at Gemas in Johore into West Coast and East Coast lines, and linking up with the Southern Siamese rail way system on the Perlis-Siam and Kelantan Siam boundaries respectively. The total mileage open for traffic is at present about 1,000 miles.
There are 90 post offices and 38 sub-stations. In 1915, 17,371,312 postal packets were received and delivered. There are 2,226 miles of tele graph and telephone line under the post office department. The post and telegraph receipts, including stamp sales, excepting sales for fiscal purposes, amount annually to about $42,000, and the expenditure to $500,000. On 1 Jan. 1916 the savings banks had on deposit $375,550 credited to 7,558 depositors. The currency consists of Straits Settlements dollars with subsidiary silver and copper coins. The value of the dollar is fixed at $0.59, or 60 dollars=f7$35. Cur rency notes and bank notes are also in circula tion, and the British sovereign is legal tender for any amount. Weights and measures are as in the Strait Settlements.
Revenue.— The 1915 revenues amounted to $23,785,405, derived from licenses, customs dues, railways, land revenue, fees of court or office, interest, municipal fees, etc. The disbursements amounted to $24,989,200, on railways, public works, miscellaneous services and per sonal emoluments.