154 ' R. A. F. PENROSE 



sula in 1901 was almost 47,000 tons, which is over half the tin 

 of the world, while the production of the peninsula and the 

 islands of Banka and Billiton together amounted to over three- 

 quarters of the production of the world. 



The tin lands on the peninsula are either bought or leased, 

 and the government of the Federated Malay States imposes an 

 export tax on tin ore of about 12 per cent, of its value. As tin 

 is the main product of the peninsula, the tax affords a large 

 income, which is the principal support of the government. The 

 money derived from this source has been wisely expended, gen- 

 erally under British advice, in internal improvements. Excellent 

 wagon roads have been built throughout the different states, and 

 railways have been constructed in a number of localities. As 

 yet the latter have not been connected throughout the peninsula, 

 as they are being extended only so fast as funds are obtained 

 to build them. It is expected, however, that before long the 

 isolated lines of railway will be extended, so that there will be 

 continuous connection from the extreme southern end of the 

 peninsula at the town of Johor to the Siamese boundary on the 



north. 



R. A. F. Penrose, Jr. 

 Philadelphia, 



February 3, 1 903. 



