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7. So far, very little has been done in the way of padi planting here. At Ulu 
Bernam a large water-course was constructed and a dam commenced across the 
Bernam river, but the work was never finished. In Slim a small advance was made 
to the Pengbulu to introduce water to some lands above the level of the valley; the 
work is completed and the land will be cultivated this year for the first time. In 
Sungkei an advance was made to two men, but not much has yet been done. The 
Penghulu of Chenderiang, Raja Idris, received a loan from Government some years 
ago, and has irrigated a considerable area of land, but finds that there is great 
difficulty in persuading his people to plant it, as they say it is better to mine for tin 
and buy rice than to grow it. 
I have, &c., 
CECIL WRAY, 
Collector and M agistrate, Ratang Padang. 
IX. [Copy.] 
To the Secretary to Government, 
Taiping. 
Taiping, ist April , 1892. 
Sir, — With reference to Circular Governor of the 1 8th December, 1891, on 
the subject of the rice supply of the Native States, I have the honour to inform you 
that the Malays in the Kuala Kangsar district seldom or never plant more padi than 
is sufficient for their own consumption, and very frequently, when the crops are damaged 
by rats or otherwise, they have not sufficient for that. I do not think, however, that 
anything would induce them (Kuala Kangsar Malays) to plant more : they are too well 
off, and there are so many other ways in which they can earn sufficient for their liveli- 
hood with less labour than the cultivation of padi entails. 
2. The only place in the district where padi is grown for sale is Jenalik, one 
of the valleys through which the new road from Kuala Dal to Kota Tampan passes. 
The people there are of Petani extraction, and are thrifty and more systematic in 
their method of planting than the Perak Malays, and if something were done to* induce 
more of them to settle in the district it would tend greatly to promote the cultivation 
of padi. The Toh Sedika Raja, who now has charge of the northern portion of the 
district, has considerable influence with the Petani people, and he assures me that he 
would be able to bring in a large number of families if the Government would lend 
them a little pecuniary assistance at the commencement. So far as my experience 
goes, I have found that the advancing of money to Malay settlers does more harm than 
good, for they generally ffio no work so long as it lasts, and when it is all spent try to 
get out of the place to avoid repayment; but with a responsible Native Officer, such as 
the Sedika Raja, to see that the money is properly spent, I think that the Government 
might make, advances to Petahi settlers without any risk, and with great advantage 
to the district. 
3. With regard to the land available for the cultivation of bendangs, a good 
deal of it has already been taken up, but only a portion of this is cultivated. It is 
difficult to suggest any remedy in such cases, unless it were that the owners should be 
compelled to make arrangements for the cultivation of the whole of the bendang 
land in their possession, or, as I believe was once suggested, made to inform the Pen- 
ghulu at the commencement of each season of the area they intend to cultivate, and 
that the latter should give the balance of their land, if any, to any one that wished to 
cultivate it, for that season. It is very doubtful, though, if the latter arrangement would 
answer, and it would be sure to lead to a good deal of ill-feeling amongst the people. 
4. Beyond that already alienated there is a large area of land which, with a 
small expenditure for the construction of bunds and aqueducts, might be irrigated and 
turned into excellent bendang land. In some places they have already been made and 
allowed to get out of repair, and in others they have been partly constructed and then 
abandoned owing to difficulties encountered in the way of rocks and the inability of 
the people to take proper levels. These, I think, should be repaired and completed ; 
but a qualified officer might first be sent to take levels and make an estimate of the 
cost and of the area of land that would thus be rendered available for padi planting. 
When the irrigation works were completed the land could be sold, and the price 
realised would probably more than compensate the Government for the expense they 
had been put to. 
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