150 - GEOLOGY OF PULO PINANG, 



they may be divided into three principal chains, commencing at the north, 

 gradually approaching towards the south, where they form one narrow 

 barrier between the two sides of the island, branching off at last, along 

 its southern extremity, at right angles, east and west. The middle chain, 

 including the western liill and Mount Elvira, is that of greatest elevation, 

 beins: about two thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea. 

 They are all loftiest towards the north, decreasing gradually as they 

 advance southward. Between the terminations of the chains towards the 

 north are deep bays and sloping v allies, filled with alhivial deposit. The 

 greatest diameter of each hill is from north to south. The general 

 outline is rather blunt and ridged, presenting no very bold peaks or 

 points. Some of the lower hills are obtusely conical. Besides the prin- 

 cipal group above described, there runs a small chain parallel to the east 

 coast of the island, behind the Nutmeg Plantations at Glugor, of an 

 elevation varying from six hundred to eight hundred feet, uniting with the 

 great range near its southern extremity. There are also some isolated 

 hills along the coast, the principal of which are Mount Erskine, Mount 

 Olivia, and Mount Albina. 



. The valleys are not deep ; few of them have very abrupt, and none, 

 precipitous sides. The whole group, or rather series of chains, is so 

 closely covered with forest, that not a bare spot is visible, except where 

 the industry of man has been exerted. The height is not sufficiently 

 great to produce much effect upon the nature of the vegetation ; but 

 small as it comparatively is, towards the summits, the palms and ferns 

 increase in number, and the forest in general becomes more stunted, 

 though even on the highest point are to be seen some magnificent timber 

 trees. An arborescent fern of great beauty, rising to the height of from 

 fifteen to twenty feet, is met with only on the great hill at a considerable 

 elevation. 



