1835.] Account of Sungie Ujong, fyc. 537 



cau now be inferred only, from the loose dark nature of the soil, and 

 a few small fragments of glass and copper, scattered here and there, so 

 common a circumstance in most of the ancient towns on the Arabian 

 coast. 



A walk of about 12 miles brought us on to Nakhul Mayuk, a 

 very small date grove, at the foot of the lofty range of mountains a 

 little to the eastward of Wady Shulkhowi. Here we began to 

 ascend, and having attained an elevation of about 1500 feet, we came 

 to a spacious cave, in a part of which we found the adjoining charac- 

 ters, written exactly in the same manner with red paint as those at 

 Hammam. Immediately underneath is said to have been a well, more 

 probably a small reservoir for water, from its position and the dryness 

 of the soil. It is now filled up with loose stones and rubbish. The 

 surrounding country, with the exception of one or two very small date 

 groves, pressing out from some obscure corner of a valley, is one 

 unvaried scene of barrenness and desolation. We were told, however, 

 that after a fall of rain, the scanty herbage which springs up was 

 a sufficient inducement for the Bedouins to bring their flocks up to 

 the hills, and during which time, they inhabited this and any other 

 caves which they found convenient. 



Having slept here for the night, under the protection of a few 

 Bedouins of the Menahil tribe, we started early the following morning, 

 to return by the same dreary path which conducted us on our pilgri- 

 mage. 



II. — Account of Sungie Ujong, one of the States in the interior of Ma- 

 lacca. By Ensign T. J. Nbwbold, 23rd Regt. Madras Light Infantry. 

 [Read at the Meeting of the 5th August.] 

 [The following information, touching the population, customs, amount of pro- 

 duce, boundaries, &c. of the states described, has been principally and necessarily 

 derived from the natives themselves. It is therefore offered with diffidence ; but, at 

 the same time, it is to observe here, that fully alive to the disadvantages of such 

 sources, no labor has been spared by me to check and render by collation and 

 patient investigation, such information now submitted, as correct and near the 

 truth as possible.] 



The states in the interior, formerly under general sway of the 

 princes deputed from Menangkabowe, are under the immediate 

 government of their respective Panghulus and Stikus. As each state 

 has its peculiar features, it would seem advisable to give them a separate 

 notice. By Malays, the precedence is ascribed to Siingie Ujong; 

 the Panghuhi of which territory is addressed, by his brethren, by the 



