138 MY VISIT TO KLIAN INTAN. 



considerable exertions seem to have been made by the Govern- 

 ment of Penang to facilitate intercourse with Patani, mid to 

 encourage (lie export of tin with the view to benefiting (lie 

 trade of their settlement. Among the objects of Mr. Craw- 

 ford's mission to Sio in in 1822 was on effort " to open free 

 intercourse with ttie tin mines of Patani, whence large supplies 

 were offered to Colonel Hoiinermau (Core/nor of Penang), 

 and where there is no doubt almost any quantity may be 

 derived through the Murbow, Muda and Vine rivers/' 

 (Anderson's "Considerations." p. 97). 



The monthly produce of the mines seems to have been, 

 prior to 1824, about 50 bharas (a bhara = 400 lbs.) from Kroh 

 and 200 from lntan. 



At the period of my visit the mines at lntan numbered 

 about 40 persons, all being under the control of Panglima Cha- 

 wang, who tells me that if the terms were easier he would 

 have no difficulty in getting 1,000 men to work there. 



There can be little doubt that, under proper management, 

 and a Government which ivoiild (jive some security for life 

 and proper! i/ . these mines might be rendered very prod active 

 and remunerative. Whether the Patani Malays will ever see 

 the wisdom of encouraging Chinese miners by the offer of 

 better terms, it is impossible to say: the Perdk claim, which 

 has been dormant since the war between that State and Kedah 

 in ISIS, may perhaps some day receive consideration, and its 

 recognition would probably be tlie best security for the future 

 prosperity of the lntan tin industry. 



The passages printed in italics are taken from the "Jour- 

 nal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society," June 

 1882 : they were written by the late Sir William E. Maxwell, 

 K.C.M.G., after he made his journey on foot to the Patani 

 frontier in 1876. 



It is of especial interest now that, by the Treaty of March, 

 1909, between England and Siam, a British Protectorate has 

 been established over Kedah, Kelantan, Trengganu and that 

 portion of Patani called Eeman (or Rahman) which has been 

 so long in dispute. 



Jour. Straits Branch 



