TO LOWER SIAM. 33 



A very fine mangifera was in flower near the quarry but 

 but too lofty for us to secure specimens. The Malays called it 

 "Topah" and said the fruit was small but eatable. After lunch 

 we explored the base of the hill along the other side and 

 obtained specimens of the handsome vine Vitis indica which 

 occurs all over the limestone hills of this region, but is absent 

 from the Malay Peninsula further South. The glorious scarlet 

 Erythrinas were in fine flower and we were able to secure 

 specimens. Having quite filled the two collecting books, we 

 started to return, and walked for two miles across the blazing 

 hot paddy fields to a village, Simpang Ampat, where the boat 

 was waiting. Here we got some "lemonade" at four cents 

 a bottle. This drink was plain aerated water and sugar to 

 judge by its taste; however it was sufficiently refreshing and 

 safer drinking than any water would have been. We returned 

 in the boat and by ricksha to the residency in the afternoon. 



Next day, 25th, we drove eight miles in a gharry to 

 Kepala Batas at the head of the Alor Sta rice field valley, in 

 order to investigate the flora of a sandstone hill near there 

 known as Bukit Pinang. The weather was intensely hot. , We 

 left the gharry at the police station (having previously tele- 

 phoned for the luncheon which had been left behind) and 

 walked along the sandy road that led to the quarry at Bukit Pin- 

 ang. On the way I found a tree of Heterophragma adenoplnjUa 

 a tree only recorded previously from Burmah, and as it was in 

 a village compound concluded it must have been planted, though 

 it is not particularly ornamental or useful. Later, however 

 we found it undoubtedly wild in Perlis, and doubtless it was 

 wild in Kedah too. The hill Bukit Pinang was very dry, but 

 wooded with shrubs and trees of no great size. Very abundant 

 was a shrub with tubular white flowers deliciously scented. 

 Prismatomeris albidiflora Thw. It is common in dry spots 

 too at Setul. A Dillenia almost leafless with very large } ellow 

 flowers was very showy. The top of the hill was thickly covered 

 with Carex indica, growing as dense as lalang. I have nevei 

 seen any Carex as abundant in one spot in this part of the 

 world. In the dry bed of a stream we found old tracks and 



R. A. Soc, No.- 59..I9II. 



