566 Sketch of the State of Muar, Malay Peninsula. [Sept. 



mouth to Gressik we found to be N.E. — its course tortuous, the banks 

 for the most part low, muddy, and covered, with the exception of the 

 vicinity of villages and a few Ladang clearings, with dense jungle. 

 Among the trees near the river's margin we observed the mangrove, 

 the Nipah palm, (the Nypa fruticans of Thunberg,) the Nibong, (the 

 Areca Tigillaria of Dr. Jack,) the Api-Api, (Pyrrhanthus Littoreus,) 

 the Peddda, the Neridi, and the Biita-Buta. 



The water of the river was more turbid than that of the Lingie, 

 which might be owing to the freshes from the hills. The paucity of 

 cultivation, thinness of population, and the almost total absence of 

 trading boats and even fishing canoes on the river, could not fail to 

 strike the most careless observer. By this river there is a communi- 

 cation, almost all the way by water, with the eastern coast of the 

 peninsula, frequently adopted by the Pahang traders. The navigation 

 was formerly under the control of a Bugis chief named Unku' Kla'na, 

 who settled at the mouth of the river ; and, after him, under his son 

 Raja Issa : but on the return of the latter to Rhio in 1826, it reverted 

 to the Tumungong. 



In former days the mouth of the river was a noted place of rendez- 

 vous for the fleets of the Siamese, and in later times of the Malay 

 princes, in their attacks on Malacca during the Portuguese and Dutch 

 administrations. The last instance occurred in 1784, when Raja 

 Hadji, the Muda of Rhio, anchored there with a fleet of 170 prows 

 on his way to invade Malacca ; an enterprize in which he lost his 

 life. 



Gold Mines of Bukit Rdya. — Gold dust is found a short distance 

 from the left bank of the river at Bukit Rdya, a low hill covered with 

 forest, which was pointed out to us by the guides. There were, we 

 were told, formerly gold mines on and at the foot of this hill worked 

 by Malays, who were compelled to quit them through the exactions 

 of the petty chiefs. The Tumtingong had brought down with him in his 

 own boat to Gressik, two Chinese miners, with the view of ascertaining 

 whether any mining speculations there would be likely to turn out 

 profitably or otherwise. I have not heard the result. Tin is also 

 found near Bukit Rdya. 



From Gressik we saw a range of hills at a great distance running 

 down the peninsula in a south-easterly direction, one of the highest 

 of which is called Siang-battu, the Cave of the Rock. From this 

 mountain, the natives affirm, flow the rivers of Battu Pahat, (the Rio 

 Formoso of the Portuguese,) Pontian, Unddwe, Roompin, Bennoon, and 

 Johdre ; the last of which streams empties itself into the sea at the 

 extremity of the peninsula : on its left bank stood the capital of the 



