9 
Early in the year, however, the Beting Luas and the Sungei Segari houses were 
dosed, the coolies from the former were removed to Nior Sebatang, a district some 
miles to the North of Beting Luas, and a new Kongsi established. The Segari Kongsi 
was not replaced. 
A few months later the Batu Undan Kongsi was also closed and a new one open- 
ed by the same owner at Kota Siam. 
There were thus four Kongsis working in the district at the end of the year, of 
which three dealt mainly in meranti and one — the UIu Sempit house — exclusively in 
hard woods. I he average monthly number of coolies employed in these houses during 
the year, exclusive of buffalo drivers, gra^s-cutters, cooks, clerks, barbers, etc. was 104, 
woodcutters numbering 38 and sawyers 66. In addition to the above a sawyard has 
also been working all the year at Pengkalan Bharu on the Bruas River, owned by 
Chin A Chong and employing on an average about fourteen sawyers each month.® 
The wood treated at this yard is all cut in Perak territory (UIu Bruas) and floated 
down the river in rafts for convenience of transport, the Bruas not being navigable 
for junks above Pengkalan Bharu. 
9. Eleven Firewood Kongsis were at work in the district at the beginning of 
the year, of which two subsequently closed and two more, belonging to the Firewood 
Farmer at Tanjong Burong, ceased work at the expiry of the farm lease on December 
31st. A new house was, however opened at once by the ex farmer on the opposite 
bank of the river, and there are thus eight licensed Kongsis in present working. 
Seven hundred and forty-five passes to cut firewood were issued during the 12 months. 
The average aggregate number of coolies employed monthly by the Kongsis 
(exclusive of the men employed by the Tanjong Burong Farmer) was 62. 
One Charcoal-burning Kongsi was open throughout the year at Tebing Rebah 
employing 13 men. The owner is LlM A Tang. 
10. The total number of passes issued for cutting smaller jungle produce, e.g. 
mengkuang, bertams, nibong, rotan, etc., and for collecting damar, was 1652. 
11. The scale of fees, duties etc., levied in connection with the various forest 
industries in the Bindings during 1899 were as follows : — - 
Monthly passes — 
Woodcutters 
Sawyers 
Charcoal burners 
Firewood cutters 
Jungle produce passes for all produc 
nibongs 
o 
N ibong passes 
Kongsi owners license 
... $3 per man. 
$3 >> 
... $1 „ 
... $2 ,, 
e except 
50 cents. 
... $i 
$1 per 6 months. 
a royalty of 15% ad valorem on all kinds of hard wood and of lo% on meranti cut in 
the territory was also levied. In 1900 the monthly passes for charcoal burners and 
firewood cutters will carry a uniform fee of $3 instead of $1 and $2 respectively as 
hitherto, and the Kongsi-ownePs license will be raised from $1 to §6 for the half 
year. 
12. 'J he gross revenue derived from timber royalty during the 12 months 
under review was $12,440.48 made up as follows: — 
Passes to cut and saw large timber ... ... $4,266.00 
Passes to Firewood cutters ... ... ... 2,450.00 
Passes to Charcoal burners ... ... ... 145 00 
Passes to Collect jungle produce ... ... 1,216,00 
Kongsi owner’s licenses ... ... ... 24.00 
fvovci.ti e s ••• T 339-48 
$12,440.48 
13. Thirty-four prosecutions were instituted for illicit cutting or removal of 
timber or produce from unreserved Crown Lands, in 26 of which convictions were 
obtained. The remaining 8 cases were discharged. 
The amount of the fines imposed was $345.50 of which $266.52 was realized, 
The absurdly small number of arrests effected for this offence is due, as has 
been already pointed out, to the inadequate strength of the Forest Staff, The guards 
are fully occupied with the care of the Reserves alone, and it is satisfactory to learn 
that their number will shortly be increased and that separate staffs will in future be 
f 
