THE OLD KEDAH-PATANI TRADE ROUTE. 391 
palms there are no human habitations, and the country remains 
untouched except where it has been cleared at various times in 
patches for the cultivation of hill padi or maize. 
The hills now begin to close in on either hand and form a 
rough wedge into the heart of which the traveller proceeds. ‘Two 
miles after leaving the village of Durian Burong the path debouches 
into a little glade in the hills dotted with fruit trees which have 
run wild and having all the appearance of a deserted village. 
This is indeed the case and the only name by which it survives 
in local memory is Kampong To Naidam Mok after an old 
Siamese of that name who last held the position of Naidam oz 
official in charge of cattle quarantine and dues at that spot. 
The track here branches into two that on the right leading 
through the Siamese district of Tiba to Patani whilst that on the 
left entering the jungle follows the rough course of what may still 
be termed the main stream for some two miles further to its source 
at Batu Kéhkir (Boundary Stone 31) where there is an imper- 
ceptible gravelly watershed leading into the Siamese district of 
Chénak whence there is an easy descent to the village of Ban Pekop 
some two miles distant from the frontier and inhabited by Malays. 
The path on the right winds round the shoulder of a hill for 
a mile and then enters the little village of Pérduan Sungkai situ- 
ated near the banks of the Sungei Timun another small rivulet 
which comes down from the frontier and joins the stream from 
Batu Kéhkir a short distance below. 
This little village of less than then ten houses is the last out- 
post of Kedah territory in this region and is inhabited solely by 
Siamese who do not speak Malay and live by a httle general culti- 
vation of maize and hill rice though they also possess a series of 
diminutive rice fields. 
The way now hes through the heart of the forest covered hills 
and follows the winding course of a boulder strewn stream the 
Sungai Génting Pahat which mounts gradually. 
In places the path actually follows the bed of the stream but 
generally a way has been found along the shoulders of the impend- 
ing hills which hem it in when not too steep and consequently 
owing to the easy gradient and the absence of any stiff climbs the 
walking is comparatively simple. 
At the end of two miles the stream continues its course along 
the hillside to the right whilst the path takes a sharp turn to the 
left and enters a narrow defile or cutting on the very crest of the 
hill through which can be seen the bright sky on the further side. 
it merges into the slopes of the hill on either hand. 
mR. A. Soc., No. 86 1922. 
