ON THE PATANI. 125 



ber. The population of the town, consisting of Malays, Chinese and 

 Siamese, I should estimate roughly at from three to four thousand, 

 but up to the time of my departure ( September, 1881) no proper 

 census had been taken, and none of the authorities could give any 

 precise information on the subject. The Malay race preponderates. 

 The town has a Chinese and a Malay quarter ; the Chinese quar- 

 ter consists mainly of one tolerably good street running at a right 

 angle with the river ; a large covered gateway substantially built 

 of brick or stone and plaster opens from the river bank into this 

 street and many of the houses which are used as shops and resi- 

 dences combined are of the same material and well constructed. 



The Malay quarter lies a few rods further up and is more or less 

 straggling, although the frontage to the river is lined with houses 

 at moderate intervals and an almost continuous fence stretches as 

 far as the Raja's landing place about a mile further up. 



The Eaja's palace or residence is a rather handsome one-storied 

 building situated about a furlong from the river, it is built of brick 

 plastered, and the roof, which is tiled, is decorated in the Siamese 

 fashion, which much resembles that of the Chinese, if indeed it is 

 not altogether borrowed therefrom ; it has an extensive court and 

 very wide double verandahs at front and sides, the floor of the 

 inner one being raised a step above that of the outer ; both floors 

 are handsomely laid with large squares of polished tiles, and the 

 roof is supported by numerous massive pillars, which give to the 

 whole a rather imposing effect. Here the Raja holds court, re- 

 ceives visitors, and deals out judgment ; the dwelling rooms are 

 partitioned off by tall wooden screens extending from floor to roof 

 corresponding with the form of the building (quadrilateral) and 

 elaborately carved, coloured and gilt. The Raja is a young man of 

 very gentle manners, and advanced ideas, and administers the affairs 

 of his province with much ability. 



The active commercial and shipping business is controlled by 

 a Captain China, who combines in his person many offices ; he is 

 shipping master, collector of customs, collector of inland duties, 

 and Magistrate absolute in cases of disputes among the Chinese. 



There is another important officer in Patani, the Datoh of the 

 mines, Chew Beng by name ; he is also the opium farmer. He is a 



