64 THE SIAMESE MALAY STATES. 



harbour has silted up and a vessel of any size has to anchor a 

 long way out. I cannot say whether the new harbour will be 

 adopted and the town moved as is talked of. 



Puket, by the way, is the name ot the town, Tongkqh being 

 the name of the island or what is really a peninsula as the narrow 

 strait (Pa Prak) is only half a mile across and fordable by ele- 

 phants at low tide. 



The Strait is between Salang and Takuatong on the mainland 

 hence the Malay name for Tongkah Ujpn.g Salang corrupted to 

 Junk Ceylon. No one can visit these places without seeing how 

 dependent they are on Penang. Under a Government such as 

 that of the Federated Malay States they could soon be changed 

 into rich provinces and trade would expand in a wonderful man- 

 ner. AVith mineral wealth and a fertile soil the population would 

 increase and Chinese would be attracted to invest capital there. 

 Under the present regime in spite of many reforms in the selec- 

 tion of officers, the administration of justice, etc., it may be 

 doubted whether any substantial progress will be made toward 

 opening up the country, at all events unless the revenue is spent 

 on public works and improvements. Formerly when the mines 

 were more prosperous 60 Sikhs were employed under Captain 

 WEBEK but these have been dispensed with and the only British 

 subjects beyond a few Penang-born Chinese appear to be Klings 

 who trade in cattle with Penang. Capital punishment is not in- 

 flicted in these States — those convicted of capital offences being- 

 sent to Bangkok. 



From the islands in this archipelago which are scarcely in- 

 habited are procured edible birds' nests and guano. 



Captain RING of the Royal Siamese Navy showed us a col- 

 lection of small clay figures of Buddha said to have been found 

 by the collectors of guano buried in caves. Whether these are 

 ancient as supposed or modern I am unable to say. Mr. Khaw 

 Jtj Keat promised to send me some which I will forward to the 

 Curator of the Raffles Museum. 



The long wooded island of Pulau Lontar (said to be coveted 

 by the Germans) lying to the North Trang fringed on the west by 

 a sandy shore appears to be scarcely inhabited except by a few 

 fishermen. The Langkawi group of islands are sparsely inhabited 

 by Malays and there are said to be about 100 Chinese. A Chinese 



