MALAYAN PENINSULA. 131 



population of Chinese and Malays. From Perak, northward to Penang, 

 the coast is level, with a few detached hills, not characterized by any 

 peculiar feature, which might contrast them with those we have been 

 describing. Penang, it is well known, exhibits an almost exclusive 

 granite formation. The granite is, for the most part, grey, and decom- 

 posable, generally flaking off by exposure. It protrudes at the summit 

 of the hills, and may be found lining their base. Mica occurs occasion- 

 ally in pretty large masses, and white quartz, regularly crystallized, is 

 found sparingly. On the shores of several of the small islands lying off 

 it on the south-east, conglomerate, tinged with oxyd of iron, is found as 

 well as the usual granite. 



That part of the great peninsular range in the latitude of Penang, is 

 much broken ; but many of the hills are of considerable height. The 

 loftiest one, visible from Penang, may perhaps be stated at four thousand 

 feet. They are almost all rich in ores of tin ; and were European scien- 

 tific men to be permitted to explore them, we might expect to derive 

 interesting results from their labors. A table land of considerable eleva- 

 tion and covered with grass, is reported to be about north-east of 

 Penang, in the centre of the great range. The jealousy shewn by 

 the Siamese, has hitherto prevented me from visiting it. Marble is reported 

 to be found in this direction; but no specimens have been obtained. The 

 Malayan inhabitants are all friendly to the British. 



That portion of the Keclda Coast, facing Penang, has evidently, in 

 many parts, been rescued from the sea. The period when this happened 

 is not traditionally known, although it is conjectured that it is not very 

 remote : mounds of sea-shells are found about two miles inland. There 

 are detached hills on this part of the coast, which contain tin. 



The 



