Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-07-29


lg~lkdl ture with a wealth of minerals,
lgs.N41Al with a fertile soil and with a
beneficent equatorial climate.
The Federated Malay states is the name
of the government which controls the
greater part of the peninsula, govern
ment in which the Malays are largely
independent as to internal affairs but
in which Great Britain has the con-
trolling voice. Malay sultans and chiefs
maintain their state and retain much
of their power, but the British resident
Is in control The sultans and chiefs
are much pleased, because England
saves them the trouble of fighting rival
claimants for their toy thrones.
Asia is the largest, the oldest and the
most thickly populated of the con-
! tinents, but in no part of 1t may be
| found greater prosperity or more indus
! trial activity than in the Federated
! Malay States. The tin of the world Is
mined and shipped from here. Rubber
| plantations yield enormous DIVIDENDS
and the acreage is being extended at
rate which recalls the settlement OF
Oklahoma. Railroads are being pushed
through UNEMPLOYED wllds, highways are
being constructed after the enduring
method of England, prospectors and
pioneers push deeper and deeper into
the interior. and the stock exchange at
| Singapore thrills and throbs with spec
ulative gambling all based on the fu-
| ture of the "F. M. S." as the federated
government is invariably called in ia
miliar conversation.
But perhaps the chief claim of the
"F. NJ. S." to general interest lies in the
| fact that ii Is so young. The newest OF
| countries in the oldest of continents
| the modern history of the Malay states
extends over a period of only thirty
five years. In 1874 the government Of
] IaA NA In tor
| fere, in the interest of tranquility,
! in internecine wars which were dis
tracing the people of the Independent
states Of the peninsula. British agents
/ were sent to reside at the Malay capt.
| tails and offer peaceful advice. One of
these agents was killed one day while
bathing in the river. OF course Eng
land avenged his death in the usual
manner, and since that time British
rule has been dominant In the four
states Of Perak. Pahang, Selangor and
/ Negri Sembilan, and the English In
| fuence extended through the three Sia-
mese Malay states just to the north.
The various quarrels concerning the
succession to the several thrones haV-
ing been settled, the chiefs being won
over to the English side, and the people
following their native rulers with alb
solute loyalty, 1t became necessary to
reduce the British overseership to or.
der. The federation was suggested,
agreed to by the chiefs after some dis
| cusson, and on July 1, 1896, the FEEDER
ated Malay States came into existence.
The native rule continues in each of the
four states, except that each is under
the control of the British resident, and
all are subject TO the high commission
err, who Is the governor of the Straits
Settlements Within the present year a
treaty between England and Siam gives
| Great Britain the control Of the three
Siamese states of Kedah. Kelantan and
Trengganu, and they will increase the
dominion of the F. M. s.
Thirty-flve years ago. when the Brit
ish agent was murdered and modern
Malay history was begun, there was no
such thing as regular industry in the
peninsula. The tin mines were worked
| In archaic fashion by Chinese miners,
who were forced to maintain armed
garrisons to protect themselves from
marauding Malays, and the product was
| insignificant. Pepper and other spices
were grown along the seashore, chlefly
by Tamil and Chinese immigrants.
The Malay is a lordly gentleman or
! leisure Tie lives in a land where a
months easy labor will provide food
| for a year, and In climate where to
find ones self in the lamentable condl-
ton of Miss Flora McFlimsey of Madi-
| son Square Is nelther uhpledsall hoi
unfashionable. Furthermore, until the
British came no man under the rank
of rajah dared accumulate any wealth,
because It would be found out, and that
would invite the rajah to murder him
and take his substance. Being by ma
ture more than half amphibian, the
Malay always took to water. Piracy
suited his nature, and for a matter OF
a thousand wears it was practically his
on1v profession. 1t lies within the
memory of many men now living that
sailing through the Straits of Malacca
was dangerous to any but armed ships.
Indeed, the days of the Malay pirates
are not yet ended. for in the spring OF
this very year pirate ship attacked
a Chinese junk within slght OF the low
ars Of Singapore, captured 1t, killed sew
| On Chinese sailors. and made away with