1835.] one of the Malacca States. 543 



Dr. Ward analysed a portion of the water from the springs at 

 Ayerpannas, and found, that on slow evaporation in a sand-bath, 1000 

 grains of the water left a residuum of eight grains of saline matter, 

 principally muriate of soda, with a slightly bitter taste, indicating the 

 presence of sulphate of magnesia. 



The surface of the peninsula is covered generally by alluvial 

 deposites, rich in ore of tin, and not unfrequently mixed with gold ; 

 over this lies a layer of vegetable mould, in which stones or pebbles 

 are seldom found. 



In the interior, the land is mountainous, but undulating towards 

 its coasts, shaded by primaeval forests, and stored with treasures to the 

 botanist and naturalist ; it is almost devoid of plains. The strips of 

 low ground lying in the hollows of the undulations are almost inva- 

 riably swampy, and are converted into Saicahs, or wet rice-grounds, 

 by the natives. 



At various places along its western coast are low cliffs, if they 

 may so be termed, of a reddish steatite. 



The banks of the most considerable rivers are generally low, 

 swampy, and covered with mangrove, Nipah, Nibong, and other trees 

 of the same nature. 



The bottom is for the most part of mud, except at short distances 

 from the estuaries, where sand banks and coral reefs are often met 

 with. 



The tin of the peninsula, and the eastern islands, (particularly those 

 of Junk Ceylon, Lingga, and Banca, which may be styled the eastern 

 Cassiterides,) is diffused over a great geographical extent. 



Mr. Crawfurd observes, that "tin, wherever found, has a limited 

 geographical distribution ; but where it does exist, it is always in 

 great abundance. The tin of the Indian Islands has, however, a much 

 wider range of distribution than that of any other country, being 

 found in considerable quantity from the 98° to the 107* of east longi- 

 tude, and from the 8° north to 3° south latitude." 



It has, however, been since stated by Mr. Anderson, that tin has 

 been found in considerable quantities much farther north, viz. in the 

 interior of Tavoy, in latitude 12° 40' north ; the mines are situated at 

 a place called Sakana, about four days' journey from the city of Tavoy. 



It has been affirmed, that tin exists so high as 14° north, in Siam. 



The peninsula of the present day, although auriferous, appears not 

 to deserve its appellation of " The Golden Chersonesus," so much as 

 its neighbour, the Island of Sumatra, to which, by the way, there is a 

 tradition, mentioned by the early Portuguese historians, that it was 

 formerly united. Sumatra, by some, has been supposed to be the 

 4 a 2 



