542 Account of Sungie Ujong [Oct. 



origin, and their evulsion probably is of no very distant date." It 

 may be added, that bouldered pieces of primitive trap are found on 

 the shores of Singapore, though none has hitherto been seen in sitti. 



The range of mountains on the peninsula, as it approaches the 

 equator, diminishes in height. The highest of the Rumbowe and 

 Johor ranges, (with the exception of Mount Ophir,) not exceeding, 

 probably, 3000 feet ; while many of those to the north of Kedah are 

 said to be upwards of 6000. 



Mount Ophir, a detached mountain, between 30 and 40 miles to 

 the eastward of Malacca, I calculated roughly (by means of the 

 thermometer and boiling water) to be 5693 feet above the level of 

 the sea ; its summit is granite. Gold dust and crystals of quartz are 

 found in considerable quantities around its base*. 



From information hitherto collected, and inquiries made among 

 the natives, it would not appear that any volcanoes exist in the interior ; 

 though the circumstance of numerous hot-springs, scattered over 

 the face of the country, and other indications, sufficiently testify the 

 presence of subterraneous fires. Severe shocks of earthquakes have 

 been felt from time to time, but whether caused by violent eruptions 

 from any of the volcanoes on the opposite coast of Sumatra, or by 

 under-ground explosions there, or in the peninsula itself, is uncertain. 



There are hot-springs in the vicinity of Malacca ; at Ayerpannas, 

 and also near Sabang, and at Lundi in the Naning territory. I have 

 visited the two former places, and found the temperature of the water 

 at noon of the springs at Ayerpannas, to be 120° Fahrenheit, and 

 at 6 a. m., 1131?. 



The temperature of the hot-springs at Sabang was found at 6 a. m. 

 to be 1 10° Fahrenheit. The variation in the former instance is 

 accounted for by the different temperatures of atmosphere at the time 

 of taking the heat. The heat of the springs in both cases, I found 

 to exceed that of the atmosphere by an average of 35° Fahrenheit 

 in several comparative trials. 



At the wells near Sabang, when the bulb of the thermometer was 

 pushed into the soft vegetable mould at the bottom of the spring, the 

 mercury rose to 1 30». 



The springs at both places are situated in swampy flats, environed 

 by small hills. They average from 1 to 2j feet in depth, and are 

 discernible from a distance by the steam and odour that escapes. 

 The water is of a pale bluish green tinge ; from the bottom bubbles 

 of air (probably sulphuretted hydrogen) ever and anon find their 

 way to the surface, where they burst. 



* See J. A. S. vol. ii. page 497V 



