Great Nicobar, Camorta with Nancowry, and Car Nicobar. There is a fine land-locked harbour between the islands of Camorta and Nancowry, known as Nancowry Harbour. The Nicobarese inhabitants, numbering 6,310 (3,336 males and 2,974 females) in 1901, are a variety of the Malay race and speak a form of the general Malay language. This people have a long history and are known to have eagerly pursued the cocoanut trade for at least 1,500 years. They speak the trade languages fairly, English and Hindustani being understood in most villages. They were formerly pirates and wreckers, but have been quite peaceable since the occupation of Nancowry Harbour in 1872. The cocoanut production is estimated at 15 million nuts per annum, of which some 5 million are sold by barter and exported in small native craft and Chinese junks in the form of copra. The climate is tropical and unhealthy for Europeans. Government agents, natives of India, are maintained on Car Nicobar and in Nancowry Harbour. The islands are attached to the Chief Commissionership of the Andamans and Nicobars.

Annual Administration Reports by the Chief Commissioner. -Selections from the Records of the Government of India (Home Department) Nos. XXV. and LXXVII. Kloss (C. B.), In the Andamans and Nicobars. London, 1903.

LACCADIVE ISLANDS.

A group of 14 islands (9 inhabited), about 200 miles off the west or Malabar coast of the Madras Presidency. The northern portion is attached to the collectorate of South Kánara, the remainder to the administrative district of Malabar. Population (1901), 10,274 (4,971 male and 5,303 female), all Muhammadans, except 9 Hindus and 2 Buddhists. The language is either Malayalam or Mahl. The staple product is the fibre known as coir.

Keeling Islands.

See STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

Kuria Muria Island. See ADEN.

LABUAN.

Governor.-Edward Peregrine Gueritz.

Crown colony, placed, in 1890, under the government of the British North Borneo Company.

An island about 6 miles from the north-west coast of Borneo, in the Malayan Archipelago. Area, 30 square miles. Population (1901), 8,411 estimated, mostly Malays from Borneo, with some Chinese traders; and about 30 Europeans. Capital, Victoria, 1,500 inhabitants.

1 Dollar of variable value; in 1903 21d.

2 Exclusive of those in native vessels in 1899; imports and exports include bullion

and specie.

Sago, gutta-percha, india-rubber, wax, &c., are imported from Borneo and other islands and exported to Singapore. Coal is also exported. The island has little trade directly with Great Britain. In 1903 the imports into the United Kingdom therefrom amounted to 1097., and the exports from the United Kingdom thereto, to 6,8581.

Chief sources of revenue: Retail licences, also customs on spirits, wines, tobacco, &c. There is no public debt. Cables have been laid down between Hong Kong and Singapore, and one connecting the mainland. There is a telegraph line to Sandakan.

Reference: Colonial Report. Annual. London. (See also BRITISH BORNEO.)

THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

Constitution and Government.

THE Straits Settlements, a Crown colony, which comprises Singapore, Penang (including Province Wellesley and the Dindings), and Malacca, were transferred from the control of the Indian Government to that of the Secretary of State for the Colonies on April 1, 1867, by an Order in Council issued under the authority of an Act of the Imperial Parliament, 29 and 30 Vict. c. 115. The Cocos Islands were placed under the Straits Settlements by letters patent dated February 1, 1886, and Christmas Island by letters patent dated January 8, 1889. Christmas Island was annexed to the Settlement of Singa. pore in 1900, and the Cocos Islands in 1903.

The administration of the colony is in the hands of a Governor, aided by an Executive Council, composed of the general officer commanding the troops, the Colonial Secretary, the Resident Councillors of Penang and Malacca, the Attorney-General, the Treasurer, the Auditor-General, and the Colonial Engineer. There is also a Legislative Council, presided over by the Governor, and composed of nine official and seven unofficial members, five nominated by the Crown and two nominated by the Chambers of Commerce of Singapore and Penang, but confirmed by the crown.

Governor.-Sir John Anderson, K. C. M. G.

The governor is also High Commissioner for the Federated Malay States of Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, and Pahang, and High Commissioner and Consul General for Borneo.

Consul-General for China.-Fung Yee.

There are municipal bodies in each settlement, the members of which are partly elected by the ratepayers, and partly appointed by the Governor.

Area and Population.

Singapore is an island about twenty-seven miles long by fourteen wide, with an area of 206 square miles, situated at the southern extremity of the Malay Peninsula, from which it is separated by a narrow strait about three-quarters of a mile in width. There are a number of small islands adjacent to it, which form part of the settlement. The seat of government is the town of Singapore, at the south-eastern point of the island. Penang is an island of 107 square miles, situated off the west coast of the Malayan Peninsula, and at the northern extremity or entrance of the Straits of Malacca. On the opposite shore of the mainland, from which the island is separated by a strait from two to ten miles broad, is Province Wellesley,

a strip of territory forming part of the Settlement of Penang, averaging eight miles in width, and extending forty-five miles along the coast, including ten miles of territory to the south of the Krian, the whole containing an area of 270 square miles. The chief town of Penang is George Town. Off the coast of Perak is the small island of Pangkor, which, together with a small strip of the opposite mainland, has been acquired as British territory, the whole being known as the Dindings. Malacca is situated on the western coast of the peninsula between Singapore and Penang-about 110 miles from the former and 240 from the latter-and consists of a strip of territory about forty-two miles in length, and from eight to twenty-four and a half miles in breadth. In 1903 the Cocos or Keeling Islands were formally annexed to the Colony.

The following figures give the numbers in the several Settlements, inclusive of the military, at the census, 1901, and the general results of the census of 1891. Under Penang are included Province Wellesley and the Dindings :

In 1901 there were in the Settlements 215,058 Malays, 281,933 Chinese,

and 57,150 natives of India.

The births and deaths in 1903 were as follows:-

In 1903, 220,321 Chinese immigrants landed in the colony, as against 207,156 in 1902. The total number of Indian immigrants in 1903 was 22,053, against 18,675 in 1902, and 18,421 in 1892. Of the total 572 were under indenture. The number returned to India in 1903 was 16,868 adults, and 964 minors.

Instruction.

Instruction, which is not yet compulsory throughout the colony, is partly supported by the Government in the case of grant-in-aid schools, and wholly supported by the Government in the case of Government English and Government Vernacular Schools. There is an Ordinance in force in Malacca for the compulsory attendance of boys living within a certain radius of a school, where free instruction is given in their own language. This Ordinance was extended to Province Wellesley in 1904.

The numbers of schools and pupils were as follows in 1903 :

There is a training college for Malay teachers in Malacca.

Justice and Crime.

The law in force is contained in local ordinances and in such English and Indian Acts and Orders in Council as are applicable to the colony. The Indian Penal Code, with slight alterations, has been adopted, and there is a Civil Procedure Code based on the English Judicature Acts. There is a Supreme Court which holds assizes at Singapore and Penang every two months, and quarterly at Malacca, and which holds civil sittings monthly at Singapore and Penang, and once or twice a quarter at Malacca.

There are, besides, police and marine magistrates' courts. The total convictions before the Superior Courts in 1903 was 449; before the other courts 47,009. The police force numbered 2,004 of all ranks in 1903, of whom 86 were Europeans. The number of criminal prisoners admitted to the gaols in 1903 was 5,995.

Finance.

The public revenue and expenditure of the colony for 1892 and each of the last five years were as follows:

The estimated revenue for 1904 was 11,928,742 dollars. The leading items of revenue in 1903 were-stamps, 504,517 dollars; licences, 4,856,162 dollars; land revenue, 361,628 dollars; port and harbour dues, 262,922 dollars; postage, 455,502 dollars; and of expenditure-salaries, 2,488,697 dollars; public works, 1,462,718 dollars; education, 178,987 dollars; police, 481,130 dollars; marine department, 165,870 dollars; transport, 19,262 dollars ; military expenditure, 1,502,616 dollars.

The revenue in 1903 was derived as follows:-Singapore, 4,983,718 dollars; Penang, 2,451,646 dollars; Malacca, 523,132 dollars.

The total assets of the colony, January 1, 1904, amounted to 20,284,877 dollars, and liabilities 18,533,040 dollars.

Defence, Production, and Industry.

The new harbour of Singapore, comprising the coal stores, wharves, and docks, is defended by several forts armed with armour-piercing and medium guns, and by a system of submarine mines. The initial cost of the forts amounted to nearly 100,000l., and was defrayed out of the revenues of the colony, the Imperial Government supplying the guns and ammunition only. The garrison comprises 2 companies of Royal Garrison Artillery, 1 of Asiatic Artillery, half a company of Royal Engineers, and a company of Malay submarine miners. There are 1 battalion of the Manchester Regiment and 1 battalion of Madras Infantry in garrison.

The volunteer forces of the colony have lately been largely increased. They consist of a battery of artillery, a company of engineers, 1 Maxim section, 2 companies of infantry, and a bearer company, with a cadet company in Singapore, the total strength being 506 officers and men. The artillery, engineers, and Maxim section are composed of Europeans, the remaining 2 companies and the cadet company being Eurasians and Straits-born Chinese. Penang has 2 companies of rifle volunteers (109 strong), and Malacca 1 company (62 strong), and a cadet company of the same arms.

Articles produced in the Straits territory are pepper in Province Wellesley; tapioca and rice in Malacca and Province Wellesley; sugar in Province Wellesley.

Commerce.

The Straits ports are free from duties on imports and exports, and their trade, centred at Singapore, is to a large extent a transit trade. Import duties are levied only on wine (50 cents and 1 dollar per gallon), malt liquors (18 cents per gallon), and spirits (1 dollar per gallon). The chief exports comprise tin, sugar, pepper, nutmegs, mace, sago, tapioca, rice, buffalo hides and horns, rattans, gutta percha, india-rubber, gambier, gum, copra, coffee, dyestuffs, tobacco, &c.

The following table shows the value of imports and exports (exclusive of inter-Settlement trade, but inclusive of treasure) for 1892 and the last five years :

Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars Dollars 1892 22,296,191 39,427,601 79,884, 160 141,427,952 25,084,603 18,307,410 91,245,694 134,637,707 1899 29,389,082 93,768,612 160 781,758 283,939,452 47,015,148 31,368,794 160,670,785 239,054,727 1900 32,890,847 99,063,660 182,135,353 314,089,860 60,402,056 33,778,914 168,436,375 262,617,345 1901 32,521,854 92,965,297 184,893,943 310,381,094 54, 227,488 36,026,966 176,298,816 266,553, 270| 1902 33,957,147 113,561,350 203,965,017 351,483,514 62,297,698 35,241,265 203,934,864 301,473,827 1903 40,148,761 124,434,805 225,576,979 390,160,545 67,102,661 50,663,787 207,080,693 324,847,141

These exports do not include coal supplied to ships' bunkers, ships' stores, telegraph cables, &c., materials for building and repairing vessels, nor opium sent to Johore for consumption there.

The tables of the values of the imports into, and exports from, the three Settlements during two years (inclusive of inter-colonial trade and treasure) give the following results :