PULAU LANGKAWI. 31 
there are said to be paddy-fields), Pulau Kasin (a distant islet 
to the North is called Pulau Kweh), and Tanjong Gamarau. 
Here there is a bay where there are said to be hot springs; 
the island in the bay is called Pulau Bélibis. 
Passing Tanjong Gamarau, with Gunong Raya in the dis- 
tance bearing nearly due South, and an island called Pulau 
Tanjong Dundang right ahead, we came to an anchor nearly 
opposite our destination—Goa Cherita. The coast scenery 
about here is very fine, an endless series of fantastic peaks 
furnishing perpetual variety. 
Goa Cherita is traditionally reputed to be the cave in which, 
according to the early history of Kedah, the shipwrecked 
Prince of Rim was hidden and tended by his future wife—the 
daughter of the Emperor of China. The story may be read in 
thechronicles of Kedah, called Marong Mahawangsa,an inferior 
English translation of which (by Colonel LOW) is to be found 
in the Fournal of the Indian Archipelago, Vol. Ill. The 
legend is briefly as follows :— 
The island of Langkapuri, after the war between RAMA and 
RAWANA, celebrated in the Ramayana, was little frequented, and 
in later ages became the home of the bird Garuda (pronounced 
by Malays Gerda)—the eagle of Vishnu. Gerdalearnt that a 
marriage was projected between the son of the Emperor of 
Rum and the daughter of the Emperor of China, and, in order 
to prevent the aggrandisement of the former empire, thought 
it desirable to prevent the match. So he presented himself 
before God’s prophet SULEIMAN, who then ruled the world and 
all created things, not only mankind, but all spirits (777, perz, 
dewa and mambang), and all animals on the face of the earth. 
He represented the necessity of preventing the young couple 
from meeting, but King SOLOMON declared that no power on 
earth could prevent it. On this, Gerda announced that he 
could and would prevent it, and vowed that, if unsuccessful, he 
would for ever abandon the haunts of men. The prophet 
bade him do his worst and come back and relate the story of 
his success when it should have been accomplished. 
Gerda then successfully swooped down upon the garden of 
the Emperor of China, and carried off in his talons the princess 
and two female attendants, whom he set down in safety on 
