BIROS OF THE ANAMBA ISLANDS. 3 



islands of the main, or northern, group — Siantan, Mata, Mobur, 

 etc. — are virtually connected by them. The islands have many 

 coastal indentations, and the numerous resulting bays and channels 

 afford good anchorages. The soil of at least the larger islands is 

 fairly fertile and supports nearly everywhere a good forest growth, 1 

 except where cleared for cultivation or the planting of coconut trees. 

 These clearings are numerous along the coast of some of the larger 

 islands, while from a few of the smaller islands the forest has entirely 

 disappeared in this way. 



Wild mammals are not numerous, and consist chiefly of various 

 species of rats, squirrels, monkeys, tree shrews (Tupaia), and bats. 



The climate of these islands, owing to frequent heavy rains and 

 fresh breezes, is much cooler than that of Siam. 



The population of the Anamba Islands is probably not over .3,000 

 or 4,000, made up mostly of Mala3^s, with a few Chinese traders. 

 The principal village is Terempa, on a little bay on the northwestern 

 coast of Pulo Siantan. It is inhabited chiefly by Chinese, who have 

 here many shops. 



The island of Jimaja, or Pulo 2 Jimaja, the largest of the group, 

 is about 14 miles in length north and south, about 9 miles wide, 

 and has an area of approximately 47 square miles. The surface is 

 uneven, and there are many peaks over 700 feet high, the greatest 

 elevation being 1,530 feet. The coast line is very irregular, and 

 there are consequently numerous bays. In places along the coast 

 there are swampy areas of limited extent grown up to mangroves. 

 There are a number of streams on the island, also a few low water- 

 falls and pools, the latter merely rocky basins in the stream beds. 



Pulo Siantan, in the eastern part of the Anamba Archipelago, is 

 the second largest island, with an area of about 31 square miles. 

 It is rough and hilly, and rises at one point to an altitude of 1,855 

 feet. There are some small streams on this island, and on the north- 

 eastern coast a waterfall about 400 feet high. This island is heavily 

 forested, and has also patches of mangroves in places along its coast. 3 



Pulo Telaga, or Peaked Island, is a conspicuous object in the sea 

 between the northern and western groups, and is surrounded by a 

 number of smaller islands. It is a narrow wooded ridge, about 5 

 miles long, extending north and south, and has near its northern end 

 a picturesque peak 1,740 feet in height. 



Pulo Mata and Pulo Mobur, which he a short distance north of 

 Pulo Siantan, are among the larger islands, and do not differ in 

 characteristics from those already described. 



Pulo Kelong, northeast of Pulo Mata, is a narrow island some 

 5 miles in length and a mile or less in width east and west, with its 

 ridge rising to a height of 600 or 700 feet. 



1 Seo pi. 2, upper figure. - " Pulo" is The Malay word for island. '■' See pi. 2, lower figure. 



