320 
grove are less than thirty in number; but, they are capable 
of a number of different combinations, depending upon condi- 
tions of soil and exposure. 
The principal divisions of the Malayan region may be briefly 
considered for the occurrence within them of these swamps. 
The Malay Peninsula. 
The west coast of the peninsula contains some extensive 
areas of swamp which are very well developed. There are a 
number of low islands bordering this coast and some of these 
islands are swampcovered. The extensive low lands and the 
calm sea which they border will account for the extent of the 
Swamps on this side. 
On the east coast of the peninsula there is said to be com- 
paratively little mangrove. This is doubtless due to the grea- 
ter amounth of exposure of that coast. 
Sumatra. 
The east coast has extensive areas of mangrove. Mounikr 
(Das Pflanzen- und Tierleben in den niederlandischen Malayen- 
landern, p. 137%, quoted by Goxsen, 1. ¢., p. 11) says, ,Dieser 
ganze, sich durch zehn Grade geographische Breite hinziehende 
Kustenstrich, ist mit diesen Waldern bedeckt, deren unmittel- 
baren Zusammenhang allein die vielen, an dieser Kiiste sich 
in das Meer ergiessenden Fliisse unterbrechen. Hierdurch aber 
erscheint dieser ganze, weitausgedehnte Kustenstrich von der 
See aus betrachtet als eine einférmige und unmalerische, unbe- 
grenzte griine Ebene, allenthalben ohne die geringste Spur des 
Bewohntseins von Menschen.” The mangrove also extends back 
for many miles along the large rivers. On the west coast the 
extent of the mangroves is very much less. 
Java. 
The mangrove is by no means so extensive on Java as on 
