PERAK, pA-riik'. One of the Federated Malay States (q.v.), situated on the western coast of the Malay Peninsula, bounded by the British Province of Wellesley and the native State of Kedah on the north, the independent States of Petani and Kelantan and the protected State of Pahang on the east, the protected State of Selangor on the south, and the Strait of Alalacca on the west (Slap: Burma. Siam, etc.. D 6). Its area is estimated at about 10,000 square miles. The region is traversed from northeast to southwest by two parallel mountain ranges inclosing the valley of the Perak River. The mountains are highly mineralized; they do not exceed 7500 feet in their highest peaks. There are a number of rivers outside of the Perak and its tributaries, but they are mostly unimportant for navigation. The climate is characterized by intense humidity and is unhealthful for Euro peans. The chief mineral is tin, which is mined chiefly in the districts of Kinta and Larut. The output of tin increased in value from $12,339,909 in 1896 to 526,032.000 in 1900, the increase being due exclusively to the rise in the price of the metal. Besides tin Perak has also deposits of gold. silver, iron, lead, copper, arsenic, zinc. man ganese, bismuth, etc. According to the census of 1901 mining employed about 75.000 persons. of whom about 76.000 were Chinese. At?Ticulture plays only a secondary part and a large portion of the region is still covered with forests. The agricultural population numbered nearly 76.000, including over 65,000 Malays. The principal agricultural products are rice, sugar, and cofl'ce. Perak has greatly increased in commercial HY1 portance since the establishment of a British pro tectorate. In 1900 the total commerce of Perak
(including interstate commerce) amounted to $4:3,931.811, of which $29,190,663 represented ex ports, principally tin, sugar, and coffee. Perak had, in 1000, 114 miles of State railways, connect ing the port of Telnk Anson with the mining dis trict of Kinta and Kuala Kangsar, the residence of the Sultan. The revenue of the State is de rived principally from the export duty on tin. For the year 1900 the revenue and expenditures amounted to $7,636,126 and $6,144,774 respec tively. Perak has increased in population for 1591-1901 from 214,254 to 329,665, or by nearly 54 per cent. The population in 1901 was com posed of 150,23.5 Chinese, 142,165 Malays. 34,760 Tamils and other natives of India, 672 Euro peans and Americans. 591 Eurasians, and 1235 belonging to other races. The number of abo rigines is given as 7952. Taiping is the adminis trative capital. The first European settlement in Perak was established in 1650 by the Dutch, who were expelled by the British in 1795. In ISIS Perak fell under the rule of the Siamese. hut it regained its independence with the assistance of the British in 1524. and was governed by its own sultans until 1574, when internal dissen sions brought about British interference and the appointment of a British resident. who was soon murdered. British authority was reestablished by means of a punitive expedition and no further manifestation of resistance to British protection has occurred since then. Consult the authorities referred to under _MALAY PENINSULA.