of gold were exported from Pahang. In Perak, besides gold and tin, many minerals are found, including lead, iron, copper, bismuth, mercury, arsenic, manganese, plumbago, silver, and zinc. In the Protected States import duties are levied only on opium, spirituous liquors, vermouth, and Asiatic tobacco. The trade of the States (including inter-State trade) was as follows in 1903 : There are in the 4 States 2,475 miles of cart road. The total length of railways open at the end of 1903 was, in Perak, 190 miles; in Sělángor, 108 miles; in Negri Sembilan, 19 miles (Government) and 24 miles (private company); total, 341 miles, besides 23 miles in Province Wellesley, which is part of the F. M.S. Government Railway. The lines connect the principal mining centres with the sea and river ports. About 64 miles of line is under construction. All the lines have a gauge of 1 metre., In the 4 States are 1,691 miles of telegraph and telephone wire under the Post Office department, the postal receipts in 1903 being to the amount of 278,715 dollars. The current money consists of Straits Settlements dollars with subsidiary silver and copper coins. Currency notes and bank notes also circulate. The The State of Johore (area 9,000 square miles, estimated population 200,000), at the southern extremity of the Malay Peninsula, is, in its foreign relations, controlled by Great Britain, in virtue of a treaty of 1885. Sultan is H. H. Ibrahim, under whom the country is administered by district headmen. The revenue is chiefly from import and export duties. Imports are opium, spirits, tobacco, rice, hardware, Manchester goods, &c. Exports are gambier, pepper, sago, tea, coffee, gutta percha, &c. The population is chiefly Malay and Chinese. Chief Town, Johore Bahru, 15 miles N. of Singapore. Cocos or Keeling Islands, group of about 20 small coral islands, about 700 miles S. W. of Sumatra, and 1,200 miles S. W. of Singapore. The islands were formally annexed to England in 1857, placed under the Governor of the Straits Settlements by Letters Patent in 1886, and formally annexed to the Colony in 1903. An official from Singapore annually pays a visit of inspection. Population (1904), 640, of whom two were European, 571 Cocos islanders, and 67 Bantamese. There are facilities for education but, in 1903, the school was attended by only 4 boys, though the population between 5 and 15 years of age comprised 78 boys and 95 girls. Coco-nut trees flourish on the islands, about 7,000,000 nuts being gathered annually. The yearly export of copra is about 780 tons. The pests of the islands are rats and beetles which destroy the trees. Occasionally there are severe cyclones. The Eastern Extension Telegraph Company has a permanent staff in the islands. There is no coin current among the natives but only sheep-skin notes worth five-sixths of a Dutch guilder (20d.) amounting in 1902 to 702 Cocos guilders. Christmas Island is 200 miles S. W. of Java, and 700 miles E. of Keeling Islands. It is 9 miles long and about the same wide. It was added to the colony by Letters Patent in January 1889, and was formally annexed to the settlement of Singapore in 1900. The island has considerable importance owing to the working of the enormous phosphate deposits, lump and granular, which it contains. In December, 1902, the resident population numbered about 900. All the inhabitants, with the exception of the District Officer and his staff, are employed, directly or indirectly, by the Phosphate Company. In 1900, 35,487 tons of phosphate were shipped, in 1901, 42,125 tons, in 1902, 61,178 tons, and in 1903, 70,096 tons. Books of Reference concerning the Straits Settlements. Colonial Office List. Annual. London. Statistical Abstract for the Colonial and other Possessions of the United Kingdom Annual. London. London. Blue Book for the Straits Settlements. Annual. Singapore. London. Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom with Foreign Countries and British Possessions. London. Federated Malay States. General information for intending settlers. Issued by the Emigrants' Information Office, Westminster. Perak Handbook and Civil List. Singapore, 1897. Précis of Information concerning the Straits Settlements and Malay Peninsula. Prepared in the Intelligence Division, War Office. 8. London, 1892. Papers relating to the Cocos-Keeling and Christmas Islands. London. Andrews (C. W.). A Monograph on Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). London, 1900. Belfield (H. C.), Handbook of the Federated Malay States. 2nd. ed. London, 1904. Bird (Isabella L.), The Golden Chersonese. London, 1883. Boulger (D. C.) Life of Sir Stamford Raffles. London, 1899. Buckley (C. B.), An Anecdotal History of Old Times in Singapore. Singapore, 1903. Clifford (H.), In Court and Kampong: Native Life in Malaya. London, 1903.-In a Corner of Asia. London, 1899.-Studies in Brown Humanity. London, 1898.-Further India. London, 1904. Dennys (N. B.), A Descriptive Dictionary of British Malaya. 8. London, 1894. Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Singapore. Keane (A. H.), An Eastern Geography. 2nd ed. London, 1892. Lucas (C. P.), Historical Geography of the British Colonies. Vol. I. Oxford, 1894. Perak Museum Notes. Vols. I. and II. Toping, 1898. Play and Politics, Recollections of Malaya. By an Old Resident. London, 1901. Skeat (W. W.), Malay Magic. [Folklore and Religion.] London, 1900.-Tribes of the Malay Peninsula. 2 vols. London, 1904. Swettenham (F. A.), Malay Sketches. London, 1895. The Real Malay. London, 1899. Wallace (A. R.), Malay Archipelago. London, 1869. WEIHAIWEI Weihaiwei, in the Chinese province of Shantung, with the adjacent waters was by a Convention with the Chinese Government, dated July 1, 1898, leased to Great Britain for so long a period as Russia shall remain in possession of Port Arthur. The territory leased comprises, besides the port and bay, the island of Liu Kung, all the islands in the bay, and a belt of land 10 English miles wide along the entire coast-line of the bay. The boundary has been demarcated and regulations settled for the management of frontier affairs. The area of about 285 square miles contains about 150,000 inhabitants, including 4,000 on the island of Liu Kung. The native city of Weihaiwei is a walled town with about 2,000 inhabitants. Within the limits of the territory Great Britain has sole jurisdiction, except that within the walled city Chinese officials may exercise such jurisdiction as is not inconsistent with the defence of the territory. In addition, within a zone extending east from the meridian 121° 40' east of Greenwich, and comprising an area of 1,500 square miles, Great Britain has the right to erect fortifications or take any measures necessary for the defence of the territory, and to acquire sites necessary for water supply, communications and hospitals. There Chinese administration is not to be interfered with, but only Chinese or British troops shall be allowed. Chinese war vessels retain the right to use the waters, and within the territory such lands as may be required by Great Britain for public purposes shall be bought at a fair price. Under an Order in Council of July 24, 1901, the territory is administered by a Commissioner. Legislation is by Ordinances. The seat of government is at Port Edward on the mainland. There is a High Court for both civil and criminal cases, subject to appeal to the Supreme Court at Hong Kong, and provision is made for courts of district magistrates. In the numerous villages the headmen administer justice in accordance with Chinese laws and customs. An Anglo-Chinese school has been established at Port Edward, and English is taught in a school in Liu Kung. There is also a private school in which the sons of Europeans are taught. There are many Chinese schools within the territory. For Revenue is derived from (1) a land tax; (2) junk registration, wharfage dues, wine and opium monopolies; (3) fines and miscellaneous sources. 1904-05, the revenue was estimated at 59,000 dollars and the expenditure at 190,000 dollars; surplus from 1903-04, 70,000 dollars. The grant in aid for 1901-2 amounted to 11,250l.; for 1902-03, to 12,0007.; for 1903-04, to 9,000l.; for 1904-05 to 6,0007. The station has not been fortified, but is used as a flying naval base and as a dépôt, exercising ground and sanatorium for the China squadron, which assembles at Weihaiwei during the summer. The Admiralty has commenced to build a naval hospital on the island of Liu Kung. The The leased territory, consisting of rocky hill ranges with fertile valleys, is most picturesque; it is thickly populated, but the inhabitants are in general well-to-do. Cereals and vegetables are grown, and oak-fed silk is produced. The inhabitants who are not farmers are mostly fishermen. Some rope and line making, boat building, and stone-cutting are carried on. territory contains gold and a mining company has been working steadily for more than a year. It is said to contain also silver, tin, lead, and iron. The trade is carried on by junks and steamers. The imports are kerosene, flour, cottons, sugar, timber, beverages, provisions, coal. The chief exports are sassen, ground nuts, beans and salt fish. With respect to Customs duties Weihaiwei is treated as a foreign port. Good roads have been made round the coasts and into the interior of the Territory. The value of land is rising, which is a sign of the increasing prosperity of the place. The port levies no duties. There is a regular weekly mail service to and from Shanghai. Many Europeans visit the place in summer on account of the excellence of the climate, which is unsurpassed in the Far East. Commissioner.-J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C. M.G. Secretary to Government.-R. F. Johnston. REFERENCES.-Annual Report on Weihaiwei. Bruce-Mitford (C. E.), The Territory of Weihaiwei. Shanghai, 1902. AFRICA. ASCENSION ISLAND. There is an excel ASCENSION is a small island of volcanic origin, of 35 square miles, in the South Atlantic, 700 miles N. W. of St. Helena. It is entirely under the control and jurisdiction of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, and is used as a coaling, victualling, and store depôt for His Majesty's ships on the S. Atlantic station. It has recently been strongly fortified and the discipline of a man-of-war is maintained in the island. lent sanitarium up Green Mountain (2,820 ft.) for crews of ships visiting the island, whose health is impaired from service on the coast. There are 16 acres under cultivation, producing vegetables and fruit for the garrison. The population, which consists entirely of officers, seamen and marines, with their wives and families, and about 166 Kroomen, numbers in all about 450. Garrison station, Georgetown, on northeast coast. Extensive alterations are in progress to facilitate coaling. Twenty-five additional marines and 80 Kroomen will join the island as soon as accommodation has been built for them. The island is the resort of the sea turtle, which come in thousands to lay their eggs in the sand annually between January 1 and April 15. In 1903 over 200 were taken, and in 1904 only 40, from 392 to 777 lbs. in weight; they are stored in ponds, and eventually killed and distributed among the people, a few being sent to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Rabbits, wild goats, partridges and pheasants are more or less numerous on the island, which is, besides, the breeding ground of myriads of sea-birds. Exports from the United Kingdom to the island in 1903, 8,000%. canteen stores. The island is included in the Postal Union, and is connected with England and with the Cape of Good Hope by telegraph. Captain in Charge, Captain R. K. MacAlpine, R.N. REFERENCE. Gill (Mrs. D.), Six Months in Ascension. 8. London, 1878. BASUTOLAND. Basutoland forms an irregular parallelogram on the north-east of the Cape Colony. The Orange Free State, Natal, and the Cape Colony form its boundaries. Its area is estimated at 10,293 square miles. The territory, which is well watered and has a fine climate, is stated to be the best grainproducing country in South Africa, and the abundant grass enables the Basutos to rear large herds of cattle. The country is really one continuous elevated plateau, though broken and rugged. Basutoland was annexed to the Cape in August 1871; but it was placed directly under the authority of the Crown from March 18, 1884. The territory is now governed by a Resident Commissioner under the direction of the High Commissioner for South Africa, the latter possessing the legislative authority, which is exercised by proclamation. For fiscal and other purposes the country is divided into seven districts, namely: Maseru, Leribe, Mohale's Hoek, Berea, Mafeteng, Quthing, and Qacha's Nek. Each of the dis tricts is subdivided into wards, mostly presided over by hereditary chiefs allied to the Moshesh family. According to the census taken in 1891 the population consisted of 578 Europeans and 218,324 natives. The census of 1904 gave a total of 347,731 natives and 895 whites. As European settlement is prohibited, the white population will remain more or less limited to the few engaged in trade, government, and missionary work. Maseru, the capital and largest town, has a population of (approximately) 1,100 natives and 200 whites. The productions are wool, wheat, mealies, and Kaffir corn. There are indications of iron and copper, and coal has been found and is used in some parts. Stock, &c. (1904): 210,000 cattle, 64,000 horses, 14,500 ploughs, 1,320 waggons. There are 217 schools (mostly missionary), with 13,660 pupils; grant in aid, 6,3127. There are four small Government schools and some industrial schools. The police force numbers 18 white officers and 254 men (natives). Total convictions (1903-04), 272. Prisoners in gaol, on June 30, 1904, 113. The imports consist chiefly of blankets, ploughs, clothing, iron and tin ware, and groceries. The imports during the year 1903 dutiable and free amounted to 298,1407., while exports, consisting of stock, grain, wool, &c., amounted to 127,000%. The commercial intercourse is almost exclusively with the Cape Colony and Orange River Colony, and on July 1, 1891, Basutoland was admitted into the South African Customs Union. The currency is exclusively British. The revenue arises from the Post Office, native hut tax (at the rate of 20 shillings per annum), the sale of licences, and customs rebate from neighbouring territories. 1898-99 1899-1900 1900-1901 1901-1902 1902-1903 1903-04 £ £ £ £ £ £ Revenue. 46,847 69,769 74,891 104,284 101,400 106,794 Expenditure. 46,417 59,492 55,486 64,809 76.300 72,393 There is no public debt. There are no navigable waterways, the rivers being low in winter and generally flooded in summer. The roads in the country are now in fair condition for any kind of transport. The line of postal communication is through the Cape Colony and Orange River Colony. There are telegraph offices at the various magistracies in connection with the systems of the Cape Colony and Orange River Colony. Resident Commissioner.-H. C. Sloley. Government Secretary.-Lewis Wroughton. Despatches (1869-70), Correspondence, Further Correspondence, and other Papers respecting Basutoland (1880-1887.) London. Barkly (Mrs.), Among Boers and Basutos. 4th ed. 8. London, 1900. Vol. xxi. 1903. Johnston (Sir Harry), The Colonisation of Africa. Cambridge, 1899. Noble (J.), Illustrated Official Handbook of the Cape and South Africa. 8. London, 1893. |