Notes on a trip to Gunong Benom 
in Pahang. 
By W. D. BARNES. 
Gunong Benom is the name usually given to the “ massif” 
which liesin Ulu Pahang in the centre of the triangle the 
western side of which is formed by the Pahang Trunk Road 
running from Tranum through Tras and Raub to Kuala Lipis, 
the Eastern by the Jelai and Pahang rivers running from 
Kwala Lipis to Kwala Semantan, and the southern by the 
Tranum-Bentong road and the Bentong and Semantan rivers 
which latter river joins the Pahang at Kwala Semantan. The 
name Benom is used by the Malays on the Pahang river but 
seems unknown at Raub. The mountain is a very conspicuous 
object from the Raub Rest House. Its height has been fixed 
trigonometrically by observations from the Perak and Selangor 
borders at about 6800 feet. 
In July 1900 an experienced mandore Che Musa was sent 
from Perak by Mr. Young, the present head of the F. M. 5. 
Trigonometrical Survey to erect trigonometrical beacons at this 
and other points in Pahang. Difficulties having arisen I, in the 
middle of August undertook the work on Benom. Che Musa 
was then in Raub having reached what he took to be the top of 
the mountain and done some clearing there. He had returned 
for supplies but was unable to get any men to go back with 
him. With the assistance of Mr. Mason the Asst. District 
Officer at Raub I managed to collect 17 men ona promise of 
wages at 70 cents a day and food. The food I had the least 
hesitation in promising as I knew by experience that a Malay 
who goes into the jungle on board-wages invariably runs out 
of stores and has to return for more at the precise moment 
when work: is most pressing and disagreeable. With these 
men Che Musa went back. On the 29th of Augusthe met me 
again at Raub and reported that he had built a camp two days 
R. A. Soc., No. 39, 1903. 
