A TRIP TO GUNONG BLUMTTT. W& 



along the river is very pretty, the jungle being diversified 



by the blossom-like white leaves of the shrub called by the 

 Malays "balik kadap " (hindside before.) Another constantly 

 recurring feature is the "rasau" a palm-like sort of tree 

 which lines the banks and bobs and bows its pine-like crown 

 before the rushing current ; like other beautiful things its 

 only use is'to be looked at. The rotan frattanj also often lends 

 a charm to the scene with its great f eathery fronds climbing 

 high up the trees. Saw some flying-foxes (keluang) flying 

 high, we had seen a few yesterday evening. From K. Pan - 

 ti there is a jungle path passing through two or three plan- 

 tations to the mountain of the same name, the top of which 

 may be reached in six or seven hours ; there is a shanty on 

 the south face of the summit, whence at the end of a long 

 stretch of jungle besprinkled with plantations may be de- 

 scried the mouth of the Johor River with the neighbouring 

 islands and be t yond them the Island of Singapore ; west- 

 ward, beyond a similar expanse of jungle rises the Pulei 

 range blue in the distance. To this view that presented 

 from the north and north-west offers a startling contrast, 

 the moment you get through the jungle and find yourself 

 on the edge of the mountain the whole view is one sea of 

 mountains from one to three thousand feet high; G. Sem- 

 bclayang or Asahan, G. Mmtahak, G. Lcsonsj - , Gunong Bulan 

 S. Ghendia Piilau, 8. Timbun tulang, Bukit (orPenMi) Pan- 

 jang, G. Pcnyabong, and Bliimut were among the names 

 given, but the native is not very reliable on these points, 

 and these names therefore require verification. To the north- 

 east the sea can be descried with P. Tinggi and further 

 north P. Babi, and in clear weather P. Tioman would probably 

 be visible. Due north between S. Timbun tulang and P. Tinggi 

 lies a comparatively level space up to the foot of the north 

 side of Panti. Panti is a very peculiar hill in appearance, 

 with iis long straight back and abrupt western end it sug- 

 gests the keel of a capsized boat, like the Tangkubaii Prahu in 

 Java. It is said that an anchor and rope is to be found some- 

 where on the summit, where it is also asserted mangrove 

 grow, but it is hardly necessary to say that I could find no 

 traces of either the one or the other. The soil on the top is 

 black and peaty-looking, here and there a/re moist hollows with 

 a good deal of moss : I was surprised to find the " rasau " up 

 here and other vegetation usually characteristic of a low and 

 damp level ; it must, I suppose, be attributed to the low 

 temperature and moist soil. Under this black soil is a white 

 sand, which is succeeded by a white semi-indurated sand- 



