92 A TRIP TO GUNOKO BLUMtfT. 



wliom nothing is so unpleasant as taking action in any matter, 

 and had it not been for the Maharaja's letter, we should no 

 doubt have found him immoveable, but with Che Kasim's aid 

 we succeeded in petting off at 3.80 p. m. in a couple of 

 "jalor,'' Che Kasim's being a very fine one, but we were 

 undermanned, and after an unsuccessful attempt to get 

 another paddler from a Malay house a little way up the river, 

 we had to struggle on as we were. The first place passed on 

 leaving Kota Tinggi is Sun gel Tembioh a little higher on 

 the opposite (right) bank, while a little higher on the Kota 

 side is the Sungei Pemandi already mentioned. Close above 

 this on the same side is Pulau Pahang where the Pahangites 

 took up their quarters on visiting Johor, and which became 

 a sort of settlement. Half a mile or so further up, still on 

 the same side is Sungei Kcmang, and crossing to the other 

 side about quarter mile further up we reach Pengkalan 

 Petei; here we arrived about 5 p. m. and having decided on 

 nighting here, we went to see the towkay of the i 'kangka ,> 

 who, being hospitably disposed, told us we were welcome to 

 take up our quarters at his house, and we lost no time in 

 availing ourselves of his offer. This " kangka " is situated 

 at a, bend of the river on a plateau some 60 feet or so above 

 it, and from the upper story a fine view of Panti may be had, 

 part of Mentahak can be seen, but the rest is hidden by 

 the roof of a bangsal (i, e, cooly shed.) Some 8 or 9 years 

 ago a Mr. GeechPheld land here. He was also the 

 first to work tin at Scluang. The jungle about here 

 is very pretty and from what we see of it, offers 

 satisfactory occupation for the plant-collector. The towkay 

 shewed some interest in the question of coffee-planting and 

 made a good many inquiries about it, seemed rather to f ear 

 the advent of the European planter. Incessant gambling 

 going on here all night too. 



Saturday 2bth. — Two men from the place where we had ex- 

 pected to find them yesterday joined our boats this morning 

 and we started at 7 a. m. Passing Sungei Bedil* on our right 

 about -J mile up, and J mile further on the left Sungei Penaga 

 (from the hard wood of that name) at 9.30 a. m., we reached 

 K. Panti. Here we stopped for breakfast and put off again at 

 10 a. m. taking with us a Chinaman bound for Seluang who 

 was to work his passage, and he plied his paddle with an 

 energy which put to shame most of our crew. The scenery 



* Said to owe its name to a booming sound which its emits under certain 

 circumstances. 



