OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF THE DINDINGS. 47 



Perak River. They are uninhabited, except during the season 

 when the turtles lay their eggs, when the person to whom the 

 right of collecting the eggs is farmed places a few Malays 

 there to see that no poaching takes place, and to collect the 

 eggs. There is excellent water on one of the islands, and in 

 dry weather the Malays from the mainland are very glad to 

 avail themselves of this supply in spite of the distance they 

 have to go for it. I have been told by Malays that there is 

 a cave on one of the islands where edible birds' nests are to 

 be found, but I could never find any one who could show me 

 the entrance. One man said that when the pirates left the 

 neighbourhood they closed up the entrance to the cave with a 

 big stone. If the cave ever existed outside the imagination 

 of the natives, it is probable that this statement is true. 



