264 THE HOT SPRINGS OF ULU JELAI. 



they approximate those of Ojigoku in the Hakone district of 

 Japan. 



I feel here tempted to say a word in regard to this little- 

 known district of Ulu Jelai. Doubtless for services rendered, 

 the whole of this district has been assigned, or rather alienated 

 by the Pahang Government to the Patoh Maharaja Puba of Jelai, 

 otherwise and better known as the Toh Raja Jelai, who alone 

 has the right to exploit it. With the exception of a dozen Ma- 

 lays, dependents of Toh Raja, who live at a place called Kwala 

 Betok, the furthest Malay outpost up the Jelai, this district is 

 inhabited exclusively by ?akais. These Sakais plant bill paddy 

 for the Toh Raja and tapioca root for themselves, and do in 

 consequence much unnecessary destruction to valuable timber 

 forests. The ten or a dozeu Malays at Kwala Betok have esta- 

 blished a kind of an octroi or tithes station, where they exact 

 from the Sakai their pound of flesh for the privilege of cul- 

 tivating Toh Raja's land, though, to do the Sakais justice, they 

 try by all kinds of subterfuge to evade the payment of these 

 dues— a case of " diamond cut diamond." These Malays will tell 

 you that the Sakais are cunning, unreliable and great cheats ; 

 while the Sakais, on the other hand, will tell you that the Malays 

 are hard task-masters, are cruel and merciless — a case again of 

 the "'pot calling the kettle black." Taken all in all, this district 

 is fairly rich in economic and mineral products. Rattans are 

 plentiful, and so is Kayu Gaharu (Aquilaria Malaccensis) in a les- 

 ser degree, while Gutta of almost every description abounds, 

 Gutta Rambong (Ficus Elastica) growing wild in places. Of 

 minerals, gold is known to exist ; indeed, I have only just located 

 two lodes, which I have my reasons to hope may eventually pay to 

 work. On the. Betok, a stream which takes its rise in Ulu Lipis. 

 and which drains into the Jelai at the aforesaid Kwala Betok, 

 having an equal volume of water with the latter stream, tin ore is 

 extremely plentiful and easy to work ; so much so, that there is 

 reason to believe that before long a very thriving mining centre 

 will spring up in this corner of the Jelai. The Jelai River, in 

 its upper reaches, abounds in gorges and rapids, formidable 

 obstructions to navigation, thus nullifying its utility as a highway. 

 To those who are venturesome, a descent in bamboo rafts affords 

 exciting experiences. 



