Geographical Journal (Journal of the Royal Geographical Society): Volume VIII, No. 5 [‎22r] (46/154)

JOUKNEY ROUND SIAM—DISCUSSION.
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Before the papers were read,the President said: We are honoured this evening
by the presence of the Prince of Siam, son of his Majesty the King of Siam. The
papers to he read are on kindred subjects. The first by Mr. Clifford,* on some of
the Malay States on the eastern side of the peninsula—about which we are almost
in complete ignorance, I think, until we shall have heard his paper; and the
other will be an account of a very interesting journey round Siam, by Mr. Black,
of her Majesty’s consular service in Siam. I will now ask Mr. Clifford to read his
paper.
After the reading of the papers, the following discussion took place :—
Sir Hugh Low : I am afraid 1 can add very little to what Mr. Clifford said in
his admirable paper. I don’t know that part of the country well, having only
visited parts of it. Mr. Clifford has travelled through it, and, I suppose, knows it
better than any other person who has ever been in it. He came to the country,
where I was at the time, about twelve years ago, when quite a young man, and at
once showed his great powers of endurance by going into the jungle in all kinds
of weather; and he has told us how he forced himself to live upon the native food,
which I don’t think any other person could have done, and carried out the ex
pedition he undertook with so little difficulty. He is about to go back to these
countries, and, although Pahang has not been under the care of British officers
long, I have not the least doubt that, when he has been there for a short time,
we shall have great improvements by federation with the most prosperous states
on the western side of the Peninsula; and federation will enable Pahang to be
developed, a policy which has been successful—as all our policy has been lately—
so successful that scarcely anything can be compared with it in recent history.
It is not for us to talk about the commercial advantages of the place, but the
jungles, and the country through which Mr. Clifford travelled, really contain
some of the most glorious scenery, the richest botanical products, and the most
beautiful zoological productions in the world. Mr. Black mentioned the peacocks.
These are far more handsome than those we have in England; it is a most
glorious bird. I don’t think I can say anything which would add to our know
ledge, but I am sure that this Society will wish Mr. Clifford every possible success
in this most important post to which he has been appointed, as Resident at
Pahang—that country which is said to contain minerals in abundant quantities,
which are already profitably produced, though scarcely prospected at all by
Europeans. They are crudely worked by the Chinese and Siamese, but could be
produced in greater abundance than in any other part of the world; and I have
not the least doubt that many other rich productions will soon be developed
now that this federation is under the protection of officers who are going to take
charge of it.
The President : We also, I believe, have to welcome here this evening the
presence of Mr. Swettenham, who has been kind enough to bring some interesting
curiosities from the Malay Peninsula, and I trust he will address you on some part
of the subject Mr. Clifford has brought before us.
Mr. F. A. Swettenham : There are one or two things I should like to say,
not so much with reference to Mr. Clifford’s paper, because he has said all there is
to be said. His journey was very remarkable, and I am specially glad to be here
this evening, because I think I may claim some credit for having suggested to this
Society that they should ask Mr. Clifford to read this paper. I should like to say,
with reference to the geographical portion of the question, that Mr. Clifford has
been able to fill up a blank space on the map. Twenty years ago the map showed
* Mr. Clifford’s paper will be published in a subsequent number.