coas,~-Popufatiotri 127 



been unusually numerous. This would give nearly 

 one in the hum In .-<!. 



There are three large villages consisting, on an ave- 

 rage, .of 300 houses each, and also uuiuerous smaller 

 ones averaging from 20 to 50 houses each* 



But the ridges of light dry soil which stretch along 

 the country present, in some places ftp three or 

 four miles in length, continuous ullage.*, composed of 

 houses with a garden surrounding each. 



The average number of persons to a house is very 

 nearly 5 J. 



There are 21 bazars, 28 mosques of a slight con- 

 struction as yet, 59 native schools in which from 500 

 to 600 hoys are taught to read the Arabic character 

 and get the korau by rote. 



It is probable that this foolish system of instruction, 

 ahhou.i>h it is useful as mere discipline, will, in time, 

 give way to a better. 



There are in the Province, 321 large, and 830 small 



boats. 



The births have not I>een given, as there is some 

 doubt whether all have been fairly reported. In fact, 

 it will perhaps l)e some time before correct inferences 

 as to increase of population can be drawn from native 

 returns, most especially as to the average duration of 

 human life, which is a main element in such compu- 

 tations. 



The remaining population of Keddah may be 

 20,000, although probably it is considerably less. But 

 agriculture and jiopulation are fast retrograding there, 

 under the rule of a people for whom the Malays en- 

 tertain feelings of contempt and hatred. 



And here it may be asked how has it come to pass 

 that this Peninsula has not been fully peopled ? for if 

 the British possessions be excluded, it is believed that 

 the remaining portion, including the Siamese provinces, 



