86 A TRIP TO GUNONG BLUMUT. 



Singapore, we had assigned to us as quarters the house 

 formerly occupied by Che Musa close to the river, which 

 was now in a somewhat dilapidated condition but still occu- 

 pied, the inmates insisted upon turning out and giving up to 

 us the inside room of which, it must be confessed, we were 

 glad, for the outer room was very offensive and after a 

 tolerable dinner prepared by our China boys we had a good 

 night's rest without curtains. It rained all day persistently, 

 but it was starlight when we went to bed. We were told that 

 the river was running so high that many of the " Kangkas," 

 (Chinese Gambier or Pepper stations) were submerged up to 

 the roof. 



The next morning, the 22nd, though we were anxious to 

 take advantage of the flood tide, the usual Malay delays 

 prevailed and we conld not get off in the jalor (dug out) with 

 which Che Masim provided us till after 9 a. m. 



From the rising ground by the river side just above Pan- 

 chur there is a very pretty view, giving Pulei just opposite 

 in the far West, and to the right the bend of the river with 

 Panti and Mentahak in the distance. Panchur itself is said 

 to owe its name to an ivory conduit made hj a former Raja 

 to bring water to a pond in which he and his household 

 might disport themselves. Large stones perforated with holes 

 are also to be found on the banks of the river which are 

 said to be memorials left by the Achinese of a conquering 

 visit paid to Johor in the early part of the 17th century ; 

 they are supposed to be parts of anchors, and are called 

 " batu an ting- anting." 



At 11 a. m. we reached Sungei Bukit Berangan, (Arsenic 

 Hill River) which we entered in search of Che Jalil the 

 Penghulu of the place, to procure fresh men to take us on to 

 Kota Tinggi, the current with the ebb being too strong for 

 the same crew to take us so far. We had left Panchur at 

 9.5 a. in. with a course 1ST. by W. after which Gunong Panti 

 came into view. At 9.20 the course changed to 1ST. W. b}^ 

 W. till 10.40, when we reached Gon<igong, on which the 

 course became W. IS. W. " Gonggong" is a common sea- 

 shell and the name of this place is owing probably to the 

 abundance of these shells there ; here formerly tin used to 

 to be worked; and gold was also found in 1847. At pre- 

 sent there is a pretty numerous settlement of Chinese Pepper 

 and Gambier-planters, 



