64 corn . — Popu fatten . 



The population of Pcnang ami Province W f elleslejr 

 combined, excluding troops and their followers — but 

 including convicts — amounts* to 84,500 souk, or 

 very l.eai ly so.* The annual consumption of rice, 

 by this number, will be presently estimated. 



The average number of persons composing a fa- 

 mily is assumed to be five, which, from actual obser- 

 vation, is pretty near the truth. The daily average 

 consumption by each family is rated at 3j chnpahs 

 of rice. If there be any error here, it « ill, it is believ- 

 ed, be found to be of excess ; since the population 

 does not subsist on a mere grain diet, but is abundant- 

 ly supplied with fish, plantains, Indian corn, pulses, 

 and sweet potatoes, poultry and butcher's meat. 



The common Malays are not over-nice in their 

 choice of flesh and fish. They prefer the flesh of the 

 buffalo to that of the ok, and that of the young 

 ground shark is in request at all times. 



Religion aud prejudice deny to every Malay the 

 use of pork, which is here excellent, as the pigs are 

 fed with great care in sties by the Chinese on rice 

 and the kaladie plant — the latter bein<r brought to 

 Penan*; from Province Wellesley by Malays and 

 pold at 4 piee the burden. A thorough stickler for 

 the creed of the prophet would loathe the idea of 

 earn inir pi^-s' provender to market. The Malays 

 admit that their ow n Prophet, Mahomed, was an 

 epicure in pork, w Inch w as his favorite dish. Once 

 00 a time, say they, i\ In homed gave a feast to the 

 then in authority, and the pork which formed one of 

 1 1 ic ch i ef d isl ics was very soon d iscussed . Not fe< rting 



•TliU Dissolution, luiv iu£ been written at intervals, tho population 

 will be found in the sequel to have increased beyond the above 

 amount, 



