606 GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES IN MALAYSIA AND ASIA, 



that of Brahma, Buddha, or Jain. The best investigations on the 

 subject are shut from the knowledge of mankind by being enshrined 

 in the mysteries of the Dutch language. 



This completes my notes on the geography of Java, made 

 during lengthened visits, traversing the island from east to west ; 

 and, secondly, returning overland from Batavia to Samarang, and 

 thence to Brambanan for a detailed examination of the ruins 

 which I had hurriedly passed Vjy on a former occasion. I also 

 made two journeys through the Sundanese country, taking in all 

 the important towns and objects of interest. I had letters of 

 recommendation to the Governor, but except calling on His 

 Excellency and on one or two of the Residents, all my journeys 

 and investigations were conducted at my own expense. The best 

 season for visiting Java is just before the break-up of the south- 

 west monsoon in August and September. 



BANK A AND BINTANG. 



After my first visit to Java in 1883, my intention was to explore 

 some portions of the Malay Peninsula. Leaving Batavia I 

 proceed"d across the Straits of Sunda to the Sti-aits of Banka, 

 spending a short time at Muntok, the principal town on the 

 island of Banka. This island lies just north of the equator at the 

 south-eastern end of the island of Sumatra, from which it is only 

 separated by a narrow strait. The extent is 120 by 60, with an 

 area of 3568 geographical miles. A low mountain chain, whose 

 highest point is Mount Maras (2000 feet above the sea) runs 

 through the whole island. The rock-formation is granite, giving 

 rise to a barren soil ; but yet the country is covered with 

 a dense forest and jungle, mingled with swamps and small 

 streams only navigable for native craft. The island is very rich 

 in alluvial deposits of tin, iron, and native gold. On the edge of 

 the coast I noticed here and there lying upon the granite outliers 

 a palaeozoic formation with schists, slates, flagstones, quartzites, 

 and a little limestone, all much metamorphosed and very rich in 

 iron. The decomposition of this rock gives rise to highly ferru- 



