1g16.] Rosinson: Vertebrates of Pulau Panjang. 61 
obtaining for us the necessary permits from the local Dutch 
authorities. We are also indebted to the Resident of Rhiow, 
who instructed his local officers to afford us all the assistance 
in their power. 
GEOGRAPHICAE. 
Pulau Panjang or Mapor, as it is more generally known 
by its inhabitants is an island of roughly triangular shape 
with a greatest length and breadth of about three and a 
half to four miles, situated in Lat. 104°.50’ E. and Long. 
I°N. about 10 miles from the east coast of Bintang, the 
straits separating it from that island carrying about twelve 
fathoms, though a bank with only 6 to 8 fathoms running 
from the S.E. of Mapor very nearly joins it to the larger 
island. 
Except on the north and N.E. corner it is surrounded by 
a fringing reef of coral of varying breadth, with many 
outlying “mushrooms,” and must therefore be approached 
with the greatest caution by those not in possession of local’ 
knowledge. A bay on the N.E. corner however, afforded good 
anchorage in about six fathoms mud and 1s free from dangers, 
though the swell that frequently sets in from the East even 
in the S.-W. monsoon makes it inconvenient for small vessels. 
The surface of the island is undulating and even rugged 
on the eastern side, the maximum elevation being about 
340 feet. On this side there is still a good deal of old jungle 
though much of the better timber has been felled by Chinese 
for exportation to Singapore. In the remaining parts of 
the island most of the available land has in times past been 
cleared for the planting of gambier and on those plantations 
being abandoned has relapsed into thickets of Straits Rho- 
dodendron and resam (Melasto:ma and Gletchenia) very difficult 
to penetrate. In parts, however, the original forest, which 
consisted largely of a valuable timber tree (fembusu) (Fagraca 
fragrans) is taking hold again, the tree mentioned springing 
up again readily from stools. 
On the western shore there are, in places, considerable 
flat areas, largely overgrown with lalang, and it is here, where 
they are sheltered from the violence of the N.E. monsoon, 
that the villages of the native inhabitants are found. These 
people are Orang Laut or Jakun, who under different tribal 
names are widely spread through the southern portion of 
the Malayan Peninsula and throughout the Rhio-Lingga 
Archipelago and portions of the adjacent low lying parts of 
Sumatra. They are of Proto-Malayan stock, at one time 
spoke a somewhat peculiar dialect and have only, in compa- 
ratively recent times, become converts to Islam, though they 
are now loathe to confess that they are other than Malays 
proper. In Mapor, where there are probably not more than 
a hundred individuals at the outside, they earn a precarious 
livelihood by fishing during the S.W. monsoon and by 
