506 Note on the States of the Malay Peninsula. [Aug. 



Population. — The population of P6rak is roughly calculated at 

 35,000 Malays, professing the Mahomedan religion, not including the 

 aboriginal tribes ; a few Chinese, Arab and Chuliah (Malabar ?) settlers. 



History and Government. — Pe'rak was formerly tributary to the 

 Malayan sovereigns of Malacca, and afterwards to those of the king- 

 dom of Achin. Since the decline of the latter, however, it has become 

 in some measure independent ; although Siam has, at various periods, 

 asserted her claims to sovereignty, and demanded tribute. In conse- 

 quence of the spirited resistance of the late chief, Taj-uddin, to these 

 arrogant and groundless assumptions, Perak was overrun in 1818 

 by the troops of the Raja of Qtiedah, who had invaded it by order of 

 the king of Siam. In 1822 the Siamese were expelled, and the right- 

 ful chief restored, by the powerful assistance of the late warlike chief 

 of Sulangore, Raja Ibrahim. 



The government is despotic. Perak has been ruled during the last 

 three centuries by a race of cbiefs, under the title of Sultan, who were 

 connected with the ruling dynasties in Johore and Achin. Under the 

 Sultan are five officers of state, forming a deliberative council, viz : — 

 the Bandahdra, Tumungong, Raja Mdda, Mantri, and O'rang Kay a 

 Bestir. Besides these there are six Panghdlus over the six Bongsas 

 (Vansas) or classes, into which the people are divided. 



The succession to the throne is generally hereditary. Sultan Man- 

 su'r Sha'h II, who died in 1818, was succeeded by his son Taj-ud- 

 din, who died about four years ago. His nephew, the present chief, 

 Raja Cho'la'n, succeeded. 



Political and Commercial relations with the British Government. — In 

 1818 a treaty of commercial alliance was concluded by the British 

 Commissioner, Mr. Cracroft, on the part of the Company, with the 

 then Raja of Perak, Sultan Mansu'r Shah, chiefly with the view of 

 preventing the monopoly of the tin trade by the Dutch, who were, at 

 that time, about to resume possession of Malacca. This treaty provided 

 against the monopoly, and secured to British merchants the privilege of 

 being allowed to trade on equally favorable terms with Perak as any 

 other nation. 



By Major Burney's treaty with Siam in 1826, it was agreed that 

 the Raja of Pirak should govern his country according to his own 

 will ; should he desire to send the gold and silver flowers to Siam, as 

 heretofore, the English would not prevent him. That if Chow Phyd, of 

 Ligore, desire to send down to Perak, with friendly intentions, forty or 

 fifty men, whether Siamese, Chinese or other Asiatic subjects of 

 Siam, or if the Raja of Perak desire to send any of his ministers or 

 officers to seek Chow Phyd of Ligore, the English should not forbid 



