THE SIAMESE MALAY STATES. 51 



man as to the decision of the Kedah Government with regard to 

 a grant of land at Kulim. TlTAN Bulat, Collector of Land 

 Revenue, produced the plans and the documents and after a full 

 explanation of the case I came to the conclusion that the Kedah 

 authorities were justified in their action. A certificate had been 

 granted to a Malay man in Penang who claimed to have been 

 born in Province Wellesley, alleging that his father moved to 

 Kedah when he was 6 years old. Good evidence being produc- 

 ed that he was born in Kedah territory I cancelled the certi- 

 ficate. A large number of British subjects were registered. 

 The consular business being concluded we drove back to Anak 

 bukit. At 4.0 we went by invitation to tea at the Raja 

 Muda'S and found a garden party assembled, all the leading 

 officials having been invited. Having partaken of coffee, ices, 

 etc., in the garden we adjourned to the billiard room. Returning 

 to Anak bukit for dinner we left at 10.0, going onboard the 

 Seabird. The Raja Muda and others saw us off and we drop- 

 ped down stream slowly, anchoring about midnight inside the bar. 

 I have visited Kedah at intervals since 1873 when I spent some 

 weeks there learning Malay and I have always met with the 

 utmost hospitality and kindness on the part of the reigning fami- 

 ly and officials. 



Friday, l.jt/t December. — Having crossed the bar at high 

 tide about 4.0 A.M. we had a calm voyage with a light cool 

 breeze from the shore. We passed numerous limestone islets 

 and rocks of quaint shapes. At times it came on to blow fresh 

 from the'N. E. and the spray from the white waves broke over 

 our bows. Passing Cone Island near which the S. S. Perse, re- 

 cently struck an uncharted rock and went down, " Cut Islands " 

 and the twin rocks called in the chart " Darby and Joan" we 

 made for the entrance of the Trang River which for half an hour 

 was hidden from us by a heavy rain squall which came on from 

 the N. E. The Trang River is like the majority of those along 

 this coast, broad and fringed with mangroves, with many chan- 

 nels. Having taken a pilot from Penang we were successful in 

 reaching our destination without grounding on the mud banks. 

 The seat of Government is by no means imposing. There is no 

 town. At the landing place we were met by Mr. KHAW Jit 

 KEAT — the Governor's nephew — two pony-traps being sent 



