Various powers threatened to take over the island, including the Burmese who were driven back from a siege of Thalang in 1785 by defenders led by two women. Large numbers of Chinese arrived in the 19th century, leading to the exhaustion of the tin deposits. Rubber, first introduced to the island in 1903, became the main source of income and the town of Phuket with its distinctive Malaccan style architecture was built. Tourism only began to evolve in the 70s, but the industry now occupies much of the island's current estimated population of 200,000. P huket Island is 44 kms in length as the crow flies.
Side roads lead to the eastern coast of the island.
Phromthep Cape and the Western Coast S tarting in Phuket City, the most scenic drive on the island goes south on H4021 to Chalong and Phromthep Cape before following the west coast north. M ore Thai style restaurants can be found by the casuarina trees that line the road along Rawai beach, where boats may be hired for visits to nearby coral islands. H otels and resorts line the beach from roads along Kata and Karon beaches, but it is at Patong where seafood restaurants, tailors, travel agents, souvenir and dive shops compete on the grandest scale. Bars and discos promise wild nightlife. H 4233 along the coast north from Patong leads to more tranquil beaches.