The Straits Settlements.

These Settlements (so called from their situation in the Straits of Malacca), comprising Singapore, Penang, Province Wellesley, and Malacca, have an area of about 1440 square miles, with a population of about 350,000.

The Government consists of a Governor, assisted by an Executive Council and a Legislative Council.

The present Governor is Sir Frederick A. Weld, K.C.M.G.

Singapore, the seat of government, is an island about 25 miles long by 14 wide, situated at the southern extremity of the Malayan peninsula, from which it is separated by a narrow strait, about ¾-mile in width. The town, situated in latitude 1° 16' N., and longitude 103° 5 E., has about 120,000 inhabitants.

Penang, or Prince of Wales' Island, is about 15 miles long and 9 broad, situated off the west coast of the Malayan peninsula, in latitude 5° 18' N., longitude 100° 4' E., and contains a population of about 75,000.

Province Wellesley, on the mainland, opposite Penang, is a strip of coast about 45 miles long, and averaging 8 in width, and has a population of about 75,000.

Malacca is situated on the western coast of the peninsula, between Singapore and Penang, and is about 42 miles in length, and from 8 to 24½ in breadth. The population is about 80,000, of whom 58,000 are Malays. The Chinese colonists, some 13,500 in number, have done much for the material prosperity of the colony, and include some of the most intelligent and wealthy of the merchants.

Singapore possesses very great facilities for docking and coaling vessels of all classes. There are four large wharves, with storing sheds, workshops, wet and dry docks, and immense supplies of coal.

The exports comprise gutta-percha, gambier^*, pepper, india-rubber, horns, hides, canes, sugar, rice, sago, tapioca, spices, dye-stuffs, tea, coffee, tobacco, gums, tin, woods, preserved fruits.

The imports for the most part consist of Manchester goods.

of whom 30 per cent, are Chinese.

British Residents were first appointed to these States in 1874, and their resources have since that date been greatly developed.

The principal export of the Native States is tin; but experiments in the cultivation of coffee, tea, and cinchona, have so far succeeded, that a great agricultural future is anticipated for these countries. The highest ranges reach to 8000 and 9000 feet above the sea-level, and the whole country is intersected by navigable rivers.

The Straits Settlements form the natural emporia for the products of the Malay Peninsula, as also the mart which supplies the necessities of the numerous important countries surrounding it, such as Java, Sumatra, Siam, Borneo, Cochin China, and many others of less importance.