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:

Singapore

Penang

Malacca

Totals

:--

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 Govern ment 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 20,284,877 dollars, and liabilities 18,533,040 dollars.

to

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 (11⁄2 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 :

The following table shows the value of the most important imports and exports of the Straits Settlements in 1903, exclusive of inter-settlement trade :

Among the leading imports are cotton goods, opium, rice, tea, coffee, tobacco, hardware, copper, copra, gambier, pepper, gum, rattans, sago, cigars, tin, coal, tapioca; most of these, however, being largely re-exported.

The values are determined by the market prices at the time, and declarations are made both as to quantity and value by importers and exporters. Imports are credited to the country of the first port of shipment, and exports to the country where the final port of destination is, as far as can be ascertained; thus, e.g., Switzerland is never inserted in the returns. The information is supplied by traders on declaration forms. There may be said to be three classes of trade-passing, transit, actual; passing trade being goods in vessels merely passing through Singapore for China, &c.; transit trade, goods changing bottom at Singapore, or landed and stored awaiting re-shipment. These two classes of trade are not included in the import and export statistics. Actual trade may be defined as goods brought for sale into Singapore and purchased there, either for consumption or for sale to other places whither they are said to be exported. The trade is a transit trade in the sense only that what is imported is exported without undergoing any process of manufacture. Exchange fluctuations affect the value of the statistical results. In times of low exchange the dollar value of goods having their origin in gold countries is enhanced, and the same probably holds good, to a less extent, in the case of produce exported.

The following table shows, according to the Board of Trade Returns, the value of the trade between the Straits Settlements and Great Britain for five years. The imports, however, include produce from Borneo, Sarawak, and other eastern places, transhipped at Singapore which is thus entered as the place of export :

£

£

£

£

Imports into U. K. £

from the Straits. 5,867,847 7,025,999 6,112,304 6,052,730 5,893,407 Exports of British

produce to the Straits

2,612,381 3,150,139

3,203,511 2,744,555 3,125,945

The principal imports into the United Kingdom are (1903) tin, 3,541,2967.; spices, 328,0271.; cutch and gambier, 222, 4887.; gutta percha, 378,080l. ; caoutchouc, 109,3971.; raw hides, 127,8077.; leather, 29,5671.; sago and sago flour, 217,3517. ; preserved fruit, 166, 6521.; the principal exports from the United Kingdom, cottons, 1,311,0537.; iron, 417,7437.; machinery, 145,6147.

Shipping and Navigation.

The total number of vessels entered at the ports of the colony during 1903, exclusive of native craft, was 9,519, with a tonnage of 9,213,846 tons. The number of native craft was 17,335, with a tonnage of 815,385 tons. The number of vessels cleared at the ports of the colony was 9,580, with a tonnage of 9,190,537 tons, and the total number of native craft was 16,968, with a tonnage of 804,980 tons.

Communications.

A railway to connect the town of Singapore with Kranji on the Johore Straits was opened for traffic on January 2, 1903, communication between Kranji and Johore being maintained by steam ferries. The Perak State

Railway has been extended from Parit Buntar in Krian, to Kwala Prai in Province Wellesley, from whence communication with Penang is kept up by means of steam ferries; 23 miles of this line are already open for traffic. All the railways have a gauge of one metre. In Penang there are over 4 miles of tramway open. The motive power is steam, but the introduction of electric traction is contemplated. A system of electric tramways is now in course of construction in Singapore.

In 1902, 7,046,697 letters and articles of all kinds were received at the Post Office, and 5,970,662 despatched.

Money, Weights, and Measures.

There are three banks with establishments in the colony. The amount of deposits in the Government Savings Bank on December 31, 1903, was 583,843 dollars.

An

By an Order of the Queen in Council dated February 2, 1895, the silver Mexican dollar, weighing 417 74 grains (or 27 070 grammes), 9027 fine, is the standard coin. The British dollar, the Hong Kong dollar, each weighing 416 grains (or 26 957 grammes), 900 fine, are also legal tender, the least currency weight being in each case 411 grains (or 26 633 grammes). Order of the King in Council, dated June 25, 1903, authorises the coinage of a Straits Settlements dollar of the same weight and fineness as the British dollar. The Straits Settlements dollar will eventually be the standard coin of the colony. Subsidiary silver coins are 50, 20, 10, and 5 cent pieces, which are legal tender for sums not exceeding two dollars; copper coins are cents, half-cents, and quarter-cents, legal tender for any sum not exceeding one dollar. On December 31, 1903, Government currency notes to the value of 16,293,490 dollars were in circulation in the colony and Federated Malay

States.

The measures of length in use in the Settlements is the English yard, with its divisions and multiples, and land is measured by the English acre. The native terms are, however, still in use. Commercial weights are :1 Kati = 16 Tahil= 1 lb. avoirdupois.

= 133 lbs.

40 Picul 5,333