"In the first place, because their towns and villages are
more accessible to us, and they know more of our power than those
dwelling in the hill country; and, secondly, because they depend
largely upon the revenue that they derive from taxing all goods
passing up and down, and which they not unreasonably think they
might lose if we were to become paramount. No doubt there is much
that Hassan said of Sehi that is true and is applicable to other
chiefs who have placed themselves under our protection--namely,
that they have so injured trade by their exactions as to incur the
hostility of their neighbors. Of course, I am not speaking of such
men as the Rajahs of Johore and Perac, who are enlightened men,
and have seen the benefits to be derived from intercourse with us.
Their people are agriculturists, and they are really on a par with
the protected states in India.
"There is a great future before the country; gold is found in many
of the rivers, tin is probably more abundant than in any other
part of the world, and the exports are now very large; there are
immense quantities of valuable timber, such as teak, sandalwood,
and ebony. The climate is, except on the low land near the rivers,
very healthy; nutmegs, cloves, and other spices can be grown there,
and indigo, chocolate, pepper, opium, the sugarcane, coffee, and
cotton, are all successfully cultivated.
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