THE SIAMESE MALAY STATES. 53 



latest innovation is the introduction of the Burma village system 

 of headmen under which police and paid officials are dispensed 

 with up country. Ten houses elect a headman. A group of ten 

 villages has a representative headman. All occurrences such as 

 births, deaths, fires, disturbances, crimes, etc., are reported and 

 no one can move from one village to another without the fact 

 being reported and some one found responsible for him. 

 Mr. Khaw Sim BEE says that since the introduction of this 

 system crime has practicalh r disappeared. The Siamese he 

 says as a rule are well behaved but when they are bad they are 

 desperately bad. The Treasury accounts are kept in the Eng- 

 lish fashion. The law is framed on European models and every- 

 thing is up to date. The Opium Farm is run on the same lines 

 as in Penang, the retail prices being the same. Living is 

 apparently very chpap and prices are very much lower than in 

 the Colony. Fowls are 25 cents, buffaloes S30 to $35. A 

 certain amount of timber is exported besides tin and pepper. 

 Giam (used for boat building and other purposes) is exported 

 to Penang and Calcutta. Peacocks and teal are plentiful within 

 easy reach of the Governor's place, also green pigeon, and 

 pergam. The revenue is paid as in the other Western States 

 through the Siamese Consul -General in Penang, 60% going to 

 Bangkok. This is a considerable drain on the resources of the 

 States and may help to explain why so many useful public 

 works, which are projected, are not carried out. 



There are few British subjects in the place and their inter- 

 ests may safely be entrusted to Mr. Khaw Sim Bee who is 

 himself a British subject. 



The Governors of Tongkah and Ghirbi, who were leaving 

 for Bangkok to take part in cremation ceremonies, dined 

 with Mr. KHAW Sim Bee that night as well as two other offi- 

 cials. The Governor of Ghirbi speaks English. I explained to 

 him that I had intended to visit Ghirbi on my return journey but 

 would postpone my visit as he would be absent. Ghibri pro- 

 duces an inferior quality of coal or rather lignite of no commer- 

 cial value though it is used with other fuel by small steamers. 



Mr. KHiTV Sim Bee entertained us most hospitably and 

 we slept at his house that night. 



