50 A TRIP TO GUNONG BINTANG. 
The stream already mentioned as running north is evidently the Ulu 
Sungei Kopong, which Mr. Daly partially explored. About 12 miles 
north-by-east of North Bintang is a very curious-shaped limestone hill, 
standing up in the centre of the valley of the Sungei Kopong and 
surrounded by padi-fields ; it has, roughly, the appearance shown in the 
sketch, and is a very remarkable feature in the landscape. I am sorry 
I could not find a means of fixing its position somewhat accurately, as 
it is an excellent landmark for explorers in this part of the Peninsula to 
tie on to. The whole valley of the Kopong, as far as it could be traced, 
appears to be studded with large padi bendangs and to have a fairly 
large population. The accepted geography of this region requires 
much revision. All our previous records show the Perak boundary 
running along a mountain chain in a line almost due north of Gunong 
Bintang. It is not so; that line of country is occupied by the valley of 
the Kopong, whose eastern watershed runs in a north-by-east to NNE 
direction, and does not contain any point which can be over 3,000 feet 
high. This line of country is also the watershed of the Rhu, which 
again is shown in our present map too much to the westward, and, as 
there represented, requires to be moved over several miles to the 
eastward to bring it into its proper position. 
Gunong Kendrong and Gunong Kernei are also shown too much to 
the north and west, and are about ten miles out of position. Mr. Daly 
showed these two remarkable hills to be 2,653 and 2,128 feet respec- 
tively. But observations taken by me from Bintang, and by Mr. Morris 
from Gunong Basak, make them to be about 4,063 and 3,176 feet. The 
eastern side of the valley of the Rhui contains many limestone hills and 
long spurs, with moderate slopes tothe Sw. Many indications of large 
ladang cultivations could be distinctly seen, and the country presented a 
very favourable appearance. A high range of mountains divides the 
valley of the Rhui from the Perak, and on the side of the latter it is 
probably very precipitous. The mouths of the Tumungoh and Sengoh 
could te distinctly seen, and from bearings taken, appear to be placed 
too far south on our present charts, the former being about five miles 
and the latter two miles further north than shown. The mountains on 
the north-eastern boundary of Perak, I think, appear too much to the 
westward on our present map also. If this be the case there are several 
points on our eastern frontier which must be between 7,000 and 8,000 
feet in height. At ro a.m. I left for Bintang, and arrived at my camp 
there at 2 p.m. The country between Bintang and North Bintang is a 
long saddle, with only one considerable depression of about 500 feet. It 
is composed solely of decomposed granite, and in some places there are 
quite small forests of pines, which grow to considerable dimensions. A 
very curious feature is the existence of several large holes in the 
depressions between the tops of the ridges, which are truncated cones. 
These holes are of considerable diameter, 50 feet or so, and funnel- 
shaped ; the water from the contiguous ridges drains into them and 
disappears. Although I saw them in very heavy rain, with streams 
discharging several thousands of gallons of water into them, it appeared 
to filter away almost as rapidly as it came in. On my return journey, 
when it had been dry for 24 hours, I examined one cursorily (owing to 
the thick growth of ferns, etc.), but did not find any exit for the water, so 
