AN UNEXPLORED CORNER OF PAHANG. 3 
made of Medang timber. This man was fortunate enough 
to kill a Dragon, of which according to him there was only a 
very limited supply even then. He skinned it, and nailed the 
skin as a sort of sheathing round his boat, which had the effect 
of vastly increasing its speed so that a trip to Pekan and back, 
which in these effete times takes about a month, used to be ac- 
complished in 24 hours. This lasted for some time, but one 
night, lying at anchor, the boat sank, and could never after- 
wards be found. It also seems that shortly after this, a close 
season was proclaimed for Dragons, and no more skins could 
be obtained, which was unfortunate, to say the least of it. 
About half an hour’s poling above Kuala Medang, the dis- 
memberment of the Jelai begins, the Anak Jelai as it is called 
going off to the left, taking a S. W. course. A little farther 
up, the main stream divides again, the Seran going to the 
right or N. E., and the Telom going straight on or about due 
North. The Telom is much the larger stream of the three, and 
under ordinary conditions should still retain the name of 
Jelai. According to my ancient Malay friend, however, when the 
prehistoric geographers were naming these rivers, some little 
discussion arose among them as to which of the three should re- 
tain the name of Jelai, and to settle the matter they decided to 
weigh a given quantity of water from each, and the water from 
the left hand branch proving the heaviest, it retained the name. 
The Seran, from where it branches off to the right, keeps a 
pretty general N. E. bearing for a day and a half’s poling, 
when Kuala Besi is reached, Then it divides again, the 
Seran keeping about its old course, while Sungei Besi bears 
slightly west of north, and its head waters get round very 
close to the head waters of the Telom. The Seran forms the 
highway to Kelantan and hundreds of Kelantan coolies pass up 
and down to work at the Silensing mines, there being a short 
day’s tramp after leaving navigable water to get over the 
Dinding Range. 
So far, I can only learn of three Europeans who have been 
over that route, aud none who prior to my trip had been up 
Sungei Besi. 
From the junction of the Telom and Seran up to Kuala 
