HUNTING IN THE INTERIOE OF SELANGOEE. 329 



On reaching Kwala he took me off four miles south to see a 

 number of tin mines. The road was good all the way, and lay 

 thi-ough open uplands of dai'k alluvial soil. We passed several fine 

 fields of sugar-cane, two of tobacco, and my guide pointed out sev- 

 eral coffee bushes hanging full of berries. There were houses and 

 huts of both Malays and Chinese scattered along the road, and the 

 two could always be distinguished at a glance. Those of the Chi- 

 nese were always iu good repair, and surrounded by flourishing and 

 beautifully-kept vegetable gardens of one to two acres in extent. 

 The houses of the Malays were always in bad repair, and their gar- 

 dens, when they had any, were neglected and weedy. Evex*y China- 

 man we met or saw was carrying something, or else at work in his 

 garden. Eveiy Malay was either sti'oUing along empty-handed, or 

 else loafing in the door of his hut. If Selangore were my territory I 

 would give it to the Chinese. Before returning, however, we were 

 astonished beyond measure at seeing two Malays actually at woi'k 

 in a garden, and we stopped and gazed at them in incredulous 

 amazement. 



The first tin mine is about four miles from Kwala, situated in 

 the middle of a "flat," near the foot of a range of hills. 



The tin is found in the form of dark-colored sand or fine gravel 

 about fifteen feet below the surface, and is reached by simply re- 

 moving all the over-ljiug strata of soil, clay, and gravel. The tin 

 lay in a bed, hke a vein of coal, about two feet in thickness. The 

 water which runs into the excavation is pumped out by an overshot 

 water-wheel and an endless chain, a very ingenious contrivance 

 which I cannot take time to describe. In the smelting-shed near 

 by the tin is simply melted out and run into ingots of a size and 

 shape convenient to handle. 



On reaching Kwala again we foiind the " Captain Cheena " at 

 home, and he sat us down to a superb dinner, consisting of soup, 

 fish, roast capon, roast duck, green peas, potatoes, cucumbers, pork 

 chops, curry and rice, a monster tart, mangosteens, durians, ba- 

 nanas and champagne. The captain does not speak English, so I 

 lost the benefit of a conversation with him. 



The next day we returned to Klang, and after a day's rest I be- 

 gan to get ready to " move on." 



We were again entertained at dinner by Captain and IMrs. 

 Douglas at the Residency, and spent a most enjoyable evening. 

 Although the country is perfectly tranquil, the Malays are a trifle 

 uncertain and the Chinese also, as the murder of Europeans not 



