BRITISH CONNECTION WITH MALAYA. 2797 
Penang. 
Penang is an island about 15 miles long and 9 broad, containing 
an area of 107 square miles, situated off the West coast of the 
Malay Peninsula in 5° N. latitude, and at the northern end of the 
Straits of Malacca. On the opposite shore of the mainland, from 
which the island is separated by a sea channel from 2 to 10 miles 
broad, is Province Wellesley, a strip of territory containing 270 
square miles, forming part of the Settlement. It averages 8 miles 
in width, and extends 45 miles along the coast, and includes, since 
the Pangkor Treaty (1874), about 25 square miles of newly 
acquired territory to the south of the Krian. The local Govern- 
ment is administered by a Resident Councillor. 
The chief town is George Town, in 5° 24’ North lat. and 100° 
21’ East long. 
Penang, or Prince of Wales’ Island as it was officially called, 
was ceded to Captain Lieut, acting for the East India Company, 
by the Raja of Kédah in 1785, the sum of 10,000 dollars being 
annually paid to the Raja of Kédah as long as the British occupy 
the island. The Settlement was founded on the 17th July, 1786. 
In 1800, in consequence of the prevalence of piracy on the shores 
of the mainland opposite Penang, a strip of the coast of the main- 
land, now called Province Wellesley, was purchased for 2,000 dollars 
from the same Raja. It extended from the Muda River to the 
Krian River, a distance of 35 miles. Since the Pangkor Treaty of 
1874 it has been enlarged, as stated above; and since that Treaty, also, 
the Settlement has comprised the outlying dependency of Pangkor 
and the Dindings, under a Superintendent, which gives an addition 
of territory almost equalling the Province in extent. Province Wel- 
lesley is in a high state of cultivation, when compared with the 
neighbouring territories. The chief articles cultivated are sugar, 
tapioca, paddy, and cocoa-nuts. In 1805 Penang was made a 
separate Presidency under the Hast India Company, of equal rank 
with Madras and Bombay. In 1826 Singapore and Malacca were 
incorporated with it under one Government, Penang still remaining 
the seat of Government. In 1837 the seat of Government was 
