THE 
JOURNAL 
OF 
THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO 
AND 
EASTERN ASIA. 
VIEW OF THE STATE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE BRI¬ 
TISH POSSESSIONS IN THE STRAITS OF MALACCA. 
By J. Balestier, Esq., 
Corr. Mom. of the Am. Institute , Member of the Academy of 
lihicms, £)C. Sfc. Sfe. 
Before entering- on the following rapid survey of agriculture in 
the British possessions in the Straits of Malacca it may be well to 
sav a few words regarding the physical and political conditions of the 
country. 
The t; Straits Government”, embraces the island ofPinang (Prince 
of Wales Island) and its adjacent Province Wellesley, on the Ma¬ 
layan Peninsula; the Island of Singapore; and Malacca situated like 
V 
Province Wellesley on the mainland. The three Settlements lie on 
the easterly side of the Straits of Malacca, occupying as many uncon¬ 
nected spots from lat, l q IT to 5° 25* North and 100° 25 and 
104“ East Long. 
Each of the three Settlements has a presiding Magistrate, under 
the name of Resident Councillor, and over them presides a Governor 
appointed, as the Resident Councillors are also, by the Governor Ge- 
ncral in Council of India. The Straits Government is subordinate 
to the Government of Bengal. 
The aboriginal population consist of Jakoons, a people quite in a 
state of nature who are the tenants of almost impenetrable forests, 
vol. ii. no. in. March 1818. 
