THE LIGHTS OF CHANGKAT ASAH. 11 7 



the hill, and after an examination of the paths leading 

 to the place we climbed into our seats. It was about 

 five o'clock, and the sun was dipping to the western 

 forest. The cultivation and clearing that formed 

 Tanjong Malim lay all open at our feet. On every 

 side it was shut in by forest : to the east it ran up 

 to the great densely-timbered mountains that form 

 the main range of the peninsula ; to the south it con- 

 tinued miles upon miles towards Selangor; to the 

 north the same featureless expanse of heavy-leafed 

 trees extended to Perak ; and to the west it swept 

 away past the hill on which we were to the low-lying 

 hills of the Wild Dogs, and beyond them to the wide 

 pathless swamps of Simpang Kadangsa. In the midst 

 of this sombre dark-green sea of eternal forest, like a 

 jewel fixed in some plain setting, lay the beautiful 

 clearing of Tanjong Malim. Several bends and 

 stretches of the Bernam river lay clear and cool in 

 an atmosphere permeated by the setting sun, and in 

 the far background gradations of light and shadow 

 showed its valley and its source in the distant moun- 

 tains. The village seemed to be almost at our feet. 

 Every house stood distinct, and we could clearly hear 

 the " moo-ah " of the buffaloes, and the barking of the 

 dogs. Beyond the small row of shops was the police- 

 station, beyond it my quarters, and a path from the 

 village led past my house to the mines farther up the 

 valley. As the sun sank over the mountains a little 

 breeze sprang up and alleviated the heavy heat of the 

 day-time, and then, as the Malays say, " the day turned 

 to become night." As evening approaches a little 

 breeze, wandering imprisoned among the tree-trunks, 



