Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrai9101882roya).pdf/327



Penang is an island about 15 miles long and 9 broad, containing an area of 107 square miles, situated off the West coast of the Malay Peninsula in 5° N. latitude, and at the northern end of the Straits of Malacca. On the opposite shore of the mainland, from which the island is separated by a sea channel from 2 to 10 miles broad, is Province Wellesley, a strip of territory containing 270 square miles, forming part of the Settlement. It averages 8 miles in width, and extends 45 miles along the coast, and includes, simce the Pangkor Treaty (1874), about 25 square miles of newly acquired territory to the south of the Krian. The local Government is administered by a Resident Councillor.

The chief town is George Town, in 5° 24' North lat, and 100° 21' East long.

Penang, or Prince of Wales' Island as it was officially called, was ceded to Captain, acting for the East India Company, by the Raja of Kedah in 1785, the sum of 10,000 dollars being annually paid to the Raja of Kedah as long as the British occupy the island. The Settlement was founded on the 17th July, 1786. In 1800, in consequence of the prevalence of piracy on the shores of the mainland opposite Penang, a strip of the coast of the mainland, now called Province Wellesley, was purchased for 2,000 dollars from the same Raja. It extended from the Muda River to the Krian River, a distance of 35 miles. Since the Pangkor Treaty of 1874 it has been enlarged, as stated above; and since that Treaty, also, the Settlement has comprised the outlying dependency of Pangkor and the Dindings, under a Superintendent, which gives an addition of territory almost equalling the Province in extent. Province Wellesley is in a high state of cultivation, when compared with the neighbouring territories. The chief articles cultivated are sugar, tapioca, paddy, and cocoa-nuts. In 1805 Penang was made a separate Presidency under the East India Company, of equal rank with Madras and Bombay. In 1826 Singapore and Malacca were incorporated with it under one Government, Penang still remaining the seat of Government. In 1837 the seat of Government was