1 4 VISIT TO EUKET, ETC. 



are badly attended. The Siamese keep pigs. The Chinese 

 marry Siamese girls. No burial grounds are to be seen, the 

 Siamese being cremated at the Wats. There is a Chinese burial 

 ground at Tap Tiang. There are Siamese Schools about the 

 country — education being free. One with 80 boys is about a 

 mile beyond the Rest hous^ and I meant to visit it but had not 

 time. It is held at the Wat and boys from the villages beyond 

 walking distance are lodged at the Wat. The Kam-nan makes 

 boys go to School. There are also Chinese private Schools. 

 The upkeep of the Government Schools, cost of books, etc., is 

 defrayed from the Market rent at Tap Tiang. 



The village administration is cheap and appears to be well 

 adapted to the needs of the country. It is the Siamese system 

 either based on, or like that of Burma. There is no forced la- 

 bour. In Trang are 5 Amprirs, .1 for Kantan, 1 for Pelian at 

 Yong Setar, 1 for Bong Rat at Tap Tiang, 1 for Khaw Kow 

 (white hill) North of Patalong and 1 forlSi Kow near G-hirbee. 

 The Ampiir holds a Court for the trial or settlement of small 

 cases — cases of importance being sent before the Judge at 

 Kantan. An Ampiir gets 100 Ticals a month and allowances and 

 he probably adds to his income. The only police in the country 

 are at Kantan where they are chiefly ornamental, 12 at Tap 

 Tiang (Chinese town) and a few at Yong Setar, where there 

 are Chinese pepper planters. The Siamese and Malays are very 

 law abiding and give no truble. Under the Ampiir is the Kam- 

 nan or village headman. Of these there are about 30 in Trang. 

 In one or to places where the Chinese predominate a Chinaman 

 is Kam-nan. Under the Kam nan is the Phoo-yai-ban or head of 

 10 houses. The people of 10 houses or any collection of houses 

 up to 20 elect the Phoo-yai-ban and Phoo-yai-bans elect the 

 Kam-nan, one of their number. The Phoo-yai-ban receives a 

 badge of Office in the shape of 5 silver buttons which he wears on 

 his coat and the Kam-nan has 5 gilt buttons. At intervals along 

 the road are boards on which is notified the name of the village 

 and the position of the Phoo-yai-ban' s house. The village headmen 

 look after the roads and bridges and road side trees, the road be- 

 ing kept up by the people except where it passes padi fields. The 

 coolies who sweep the road and keep it clean are paid. The 

 trees are planted twenty-four feet apart. The only land reve- 



Jour. Straits Branch 



