154 GEOLOGY OF PULO PINANG, 



Water, generally speaking of good quality, is to be had in almost 

 every part of the island by digging a few feet below the surface. In 

 some places it is slightly brackish ; in others it is tainted by passing 

 over the decayed roots or leaves or branches of trees ; and sometimes it 

 is mixed with the clayey particles of the soil over which it runs. 

 There is no large river in the island ; the several rills from the 

 mountains collect into two or three rivulets, which traverse the valley in 

 different directions. Their beds are sandy ; the water pure as crystal, and 

 of excellent quality, unimpregnated with any deleterious ingredient. I am 

 not aware of the existence of any mineral water in the island. 



Stream tin has been found near Amee's mills, at the east foot of the 

 great hill, and at Batu Feringhee on the north side of the island, M'ashed 

 down from the containing veins which have not yet been discovered. 

 Indeed the immense mass of vegetation, which so closely covers the island, 

 that scarcely an exposed portion of rock can be found, renders it extremely 

 difficult to trace them. At both of the above mentioned places, the tin 

 was collected for some time, but the works were given up as the quantity 

 was not sufficient to cover their expence. 



Round the island are extensive mud banks, which, on the north and 

 east sides especially, are left uncovered at low water. On the north- 

 east side of the tongue of land, forming the valley, from Pulo Ticoose 

 point to Fort Cornwallis, extensive changes have taken place within the 

 last twenty years. Between the outworks of the Fort and the beach there 

 was formerly a space of about one hundred yards occupied by a row of 

 cocoanuts, and a walk along the beach. Now the sea washes the very 

 walls, which are in part destroyed by its encroachments. The houses on 

 the beach also for some distance, are endangered by the same circum^ 

 stance; the banks have been rapidly diminishing, and the strongest 



