38 AN ACCOUNT OF A BOTANICAL EXPEDITION 



with vegetation, chiefly climbers, that we did not attempt 

 it, and redescended the hill. Near the top we found great 

 quantities of cockle-shells in some of the caverns. It is 

 difficult to see how these got here, as it is a long way from 

 the sea. The view from the top is very fine and extensive, 

 a long stretch of rice field and pasture, with large and curiously 

 shaped blocks of limestone dotted about all over it, and a 

 long ridge of limestone hills running from the river at Tebing 

 Tinggi out of sight to the north. It is easy to realize what 

 was undoubtedly the case at no very distant era that the 

 whole of this flat land was under the sea and the strange 

 shaped limestone blocks were islands tenanted by myriads 

 of sea birds. 



The descent was more troublesome and risky than the 

 ascent, and in some cases we had to lower ourselves over 

 small precipices with the aid of woody climbers, and I found 

 myself very tired and dry ere I got to the meadows at the 

 foot. On the way up and down the hill we found many plants 

 of interest and beauty, Calanthe rubcns both white and pink 

 grew in clefts in the rock, with Eulophia Keithii, Cissus 

 discolor with its ornamental green, white and purple leaves 

 climbed over the rocks everywhere, as it does all over this 

 region, but no flowering specimens were seen anywhere. A 

 blue flowered Balsam {Impatiem Scortechinii) was not un- 

 common but we only secured a single plant in flower. 

 We, however, got more of it at Tebing Tinggi. 



, Ferns were represented by strictly xerophytic species. 

 Doryopteris ludcns, Asplenium caudatum and Adiantum can- 

 datum all of which were abundant. Rhinoceros hornbills and 

 the smaller vulture were the chief birds observed. We were 

 all very thirsty by the time we got down and were glad to get 

 to a Malay house and have a rest, and get a good drink of cool 

 water. Limestone rock climbing seems to me the thirstiest 

 kind of work there is. Possibly the air is dryer in such spots. 



March 1. We started for Ginting Kabok, where we were 

 told that there was some forest remaining on the flat. Mat 

 and I took a gharry to the seventh mile on the Setul road. 



Jour. Straits Branch 



