Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1325

 ARRA AND POPULATION

1273

in 1891. By the Anslo-French Convention of April, 1904, the agreement of 1896 was confirmed, ami its provisions more clearly defined, the terri- tories to the west of the Menam and the Gnlf of Siam being recognised as in the British sphere, and those to the east in the French. In 1904, the Luang Prabang territory to the west of the Mekong was acknowledged by Siam to belong to France, and the provinces of Maluprey and Barsak (west of the Mekong) were also transferred to French rule, so that an area of about 7,800 square miles passed from Siamese possession. On March 23, 1907, a new boundary in this region was accepted by Siam whereby the provinces of Battambong, Siamese, Pratabongi Siem Rap, and Sisophon were ceded to France, while the strip of coast to the south with the port of Krat returned to Siam. At the same time a rectification of the boundary was made in the Luang Prabang region, w iereby a tract of the Laos country was restored to Siam. It was agreed also that four ports on the Mekong are to be held by France on perpetual lease. By these arrangements the territory of Cambodia is increased by about 7,000 sqnare miles. The treaty also provides for the future jurisdiction of the Siamese courts over all French Asiatic subjects and proteges in Siam, under certain conditions.

A treaty for a modification of British extra-territorial rights in Siam and for the cession of the Siamese tributary States of Kelantan, Trengannu and Kedah to Great Britain was signed at Bangkok on March 10, 1909. The three states have an area of about 15,000 square miles, and a population estimated at over 600,000, of whom about 300,000 are in Kelantan.

The area of Siam is now about 195,000 square miles, about 45,000 being in the Malay Peninsula. The first detailed census in Siam was taken in 1905, but included only 12 of the provinces or Monthons. The first census of the whole country was taken in 1909. For 1915-16 the population of the country was given as follows : —

Monthon.

Population (1915-16).

Monthon.

Population (1915-16).

L Krung Tep (Bangkok)

•_'. Krung Kao

3 Chantaburi

4. Surat (Chumporn) ..

korn Chaisi

6. Nakorn Rachasima ...

7. Nakorn Sawan

5. Nakorn Sitamarat

041,5261

650,355

143,91')

176,791

306.

550,196 «

315. S16

.343 294.-

.291

11. Pit«anulok

12. Barab

13. Petchabun

14. Puket

15. Rajaburi

IK Roi Et

17. Ubon Rajatani

IS. Udorn

274,625 .105 79,719 233,052 414,654 645,665 901,341 756,4.84

10. Prachinburi

Total

8,819,686

1 Figures for 1910.

The estimated, population for 1918-19 is 8,924,000. In 1911-12 the total ven as 8.266,408 (4,122,168 males and 4,144,240 females).

Of the total population the 'Thai' number well over 7,000.000.

In 1913-14 the immigrants numbered 70,162 (64,422 males and 5,740 females), and the emigrants 62,088 (55,803 men and 6,285 women).

The town of Bangkok includes 630,000 inhabitants, of whom it is calculated that 200,000 are Chinese. The population of the island of Puket is put at 179,600.

In recent years the results of Western civilisation have to a considerable extent been introduced. Much excellent work has been done by a General Adviser of American nationality (now styled Adviser in Foreign Affaiis) and with the assistance of a British Judicial Adviser a French Legislative