20 ADDRESS BY MR. KRUYT ON 



And jet these regions should inspire us with especial in- 

 terest not only as belonging to our closest neighbours^ but 

 also because thej belong to a world-nation, to the first Colo- 

 nial power, and are governed in an entirely different way to 

 our possessions. 



The influence that for years has spread of its own accord 

 and in a natural way from there to our Colonies, ought not 

 to be under-estimated. To enquire into these influences, to 

 put to a certain extent on a safe footing the relations be- 

 tween both Colonies, is naturally the delicate task of the 

 Dutch Consular Officials in Singapore and Penang, who are, 

 as it were, our advance guards there. For some years I have 

 been honoured with this trust in Penang. 



For this reason, I wish this evening, at the solicitation of 

 your Committee, to draw your attention to this interesting 

 part of the English transmarine possessions, in the hope 

 that this lecture may contribute in some degree to increase 

 your interest in these regions, and may perhaps induce you 

 to make a closer investigation into the present condition of 

 things prevailing in the Straits Settlements and in the Ma- 

 lay Peninsula. 



I would ask your indulgence for any deficiencies and 

 shortcomings which may be found in this contribution, 

 which had to be compiled from scattered notes. 



The Malay Peninsula, formerly called the Malacca Pe- 

 ninsula, or simply Malacca, by which is understood the por- 

 tion of Further India to the South of the Isthmus of Krah, 

 is washed on the West by the Gulf of Bengal and the 

 Straits of Malacca, and on the East by the Chinese Sea 

 and the Gulf of Siam. It is 600 English miles long, near 

 Krah 40 miles broad, and further down averages 150 Eng- 

 lish miles in breadth, giving an area of about 75,000 English 

 square miles, of which 40,000 are under Siam, and 35,000 

 under England, with a population of about one-and-a-half 

 million souls. To Siam belong, on the West Coast, Kedah 

 with Perils and Situl, Junk Ceylon with Tongkah, Eenong 

 with Trang and Krah, and, on the East Coast, Tringganu, 

 Kelantan, Patani^ Singgora and Ligor. 



