a. B. Neictoa — Geologi/ of the Malay Feninsii/a. 13:j 



this implement celt, both of which were found in a clisnsed mine at 

 Tras, Pahang, having probably been utilized for mining purposes 

 in connection with the production of tin, which largely abounds in 

 this region. 



They are similar in shape, being long, narrow, and of rectangular 

 section, with an inclination to a convex upper surface caused by 

 a gentle declivity at each end ; widening vei'y gradually to the 

 cutting end, which thins off into a moderately sharp, chisel-shaped 

 edge. The opposite and rather narrower extremity is more or less 

 of a wedge pattern, and somewhat tapering thereby, suggestive of 

 the implement having been fixed to a wooden handle to carry out 

 the functions of a ' pick ' or similar instrument, an idea further 

 strengthened by the fact that near the same end are some coarse 

 scoring marks which run in various directions, resembling furrows, 

 most probably produced by the process of shafting with a strong 

 vegetable fibre. Similar scored lines are observable on some 

 Malay implements in the British Museum Collection at Bloomsbury. 



The rock composing these implements outwardly resembles 

 a material of igneous origin, but Mr. G. T. Prior, M.A., of the 

 Mineral Department, British Museum, assures the writer that such 

 is not the case. It is more probably a mudstone or an indurated 

 slate, which under the microscope is seen to exhibit a fragmentary 

 structure with occasional crystals of felspar. Nor can any organisms 

 be traced in it such as the minuter forms of life, Eadiolarians or 

 Foraminifera. It is a rock of extreme hardness, very closely 

 grained, and of a densely dull, black colour where fractured, and 

 having a clear metallic ring when struck. 



Externally, the implements are partially coated with a thin layer 

 of light colour, which is easily powdered away by scraping, and 

 which has possibly been produced by entombment in an alluvial 

 deposit ; in other places smooth, polished surfaces are seen, evidently 

 the result of former handling and usage. 



According to Sir John Evans, F.R.S., similar chisel-like implements, 

 but of various rock structures, occur very rarely in Britain and 

 Ireland, more commonly in Denmark and North America, and 

 sometimes in Siam and the Malay Peninsula. (Vide " The Ancient 

 Stone Implements, Weapons, and Ornaments of Great Britain," 

 2nd ed., 1897, p. 121.) 



Beyond the occurrence of these implements nothing further 

 appears to be known of the Neolithic period as affecting the Malay 

 Peninsula. The cave explorations undertaken by Mr. H. N. Ridley 

 yielded no other relics connected with man's history at that time, for 

 we read in his report : '' It was to be hoped that remains throwing 

 light on the Stone-age men of the Malay Peninsula might have been 

 found in the caves, but as yet nothing has been found anywhere in 

 the Peninsula except the axes themselves" (" Caves in the ^lalay 

 Peninsula": Rep. Brit. Assoc. Bristol, 1898, pp. 571-582, 1899). 

 Although the literature on this subject is apparently very restricted, 

 the writer would gladly welcome any additional references known 

 to students of Ethnography. 



