Perak

Perak, a Malay state on the west side of the peninsula of Malacca, under the protection of Britain since 1874. Estimated area, 7950 sq. m. The interior ranges up to 8000 feet. The soil is fertile, and for the most part covered with luxuriant vegetation. Elephants, leopards, huge snakes, and deer swarm in the forests of the interior. The soil produces rice, sugar, tobacco, coffee, tea, vanilla, and spices. But the principal production of the state is tin; the mines, worked chiefly by Chinamen, yielded 2060 tons in 1876 and 23,866 tons in 1895. Lead also exists in great quantity. Pop., mostly Malays and Chinese, increased from 55,880 in 1879 to 214,254 in 1891. The capital is Kwala Kansar. Taiping and Kinta are the principal mining towns. There are 70 miles of railway. The British have made many miles of good roads since they began to govern the country. The murder of J. W. Birch, the first British resident, in 1875 necessitated a punitive military expedition in 1876. The state is now in a highly prosperous condition, exporting to the annual value of 15,000,000, and importing to 10,000,000. See books by M'Nair (1877) and Swettenham (1894).