&c. 21 



We shall leave these undiscussed, so that we can confine 

 ourselves exclusively to the English portion. 



The mountain ranges that run through the whole 

 length of the Peninsula are continuations of the mountain 

 land of Further India, chiefly of granite formation, not 

 subject to volcanic influences, and varying in height from 4 

 to 12 thousand feet. The highest peaks are in Kedah, Perak 

 and Tringganu. These mountain ranges are bordered on 

 both sides by alluvial plains from 10 to 30 English miles 

 broad, broader as a rule on the West than on the East 

 Coast. The hills are covered with rich forests, in which 

 the wild tribes that live from the chase lead a wandering 

 life ; the plains, with their fertile soil and rich tropical culti- 

 vation, are inhabited by the more stationary population. 

 The vsdld tribes (Negritos), which are but scanty in num- 

 bers, are called Sahais North of the Perak River, and 

 South of that Semangs ; older Malay hill-dwellers are 

 distinguished as Orang Benua. The stationary population 

 consists in the North to the 8th degree North latitude of 

 pure Siamese, between the 7th and 8th degree of latitude 

 they are called Samsams, a mixture of Siamese and Malays, 

 and South of that the population is Malay. In addition, 

 there are to be found settlements of aliens, chiefly Chinese, 

 Klings and Arabs. 



Numerous but necessarily small streams, flow from the 

 mountains to both coasts. The Perak and Pahang Rivers 

 are the most considerable and the most navigable. They 

 have more value for drainage and irrigation purposes than 

 for purposes of communication, and provide the plains with 

 a plentiful supply of water. The mouths of the rivers are, 

 on both coasts, nearly everywhere shallow, and blocked by 

 sand and mud banks. Those on the East coast are, during 

 the whole of the East monsoon, closed to navigation, 

 but on the West coast are generally well protected, and 

 only now and then rendered less secure by heavy short 

 squalls known as " Sumatras." Towards the North, on 

 both coasts, there are numerous coral reefs and islands. 



The soil is rich in minerals, especially tin, gold, silver, 



