4 



tie larger. Nibong Oncosperma ti gill aria, and Nipah, Nipafruticans, 

 are also to be seen in the swamps. The names of some of the 

 mangrove trees in Selangor differ to the Perak names, viz. : — 

 Perak, Bakau Korap, Selangor, Bakau Itam. 



Do. do. Minyak do. do. Puteh. 



Do. do. Buros do. do. Belukap. 



The commonest tree is Bakau Korap (R. miicronata) which is 

 easily recognised by its stiff leaves, which are broader, and shorter 

 than those of the others, Bakau Akit appears to grow straighter and 

 quicker, Berembong, Bakuta and Kadaku seeds are eaten by Ma- 

 1 lys. They also make a vegetable out of langgadei and buros seeds. 

 An interesting experiment is being made at Port Weld, Perak, an 

 experimental plantation on a very small scale has been made with 

 the object of determining the rate of growth of the different kinds 

 of mangrove, measurements of seedlings will be taken every six 

 months. The following specimens have been planted, Bakau Korap, 

 Bakau Minyak, Bakau Akik, Langgadei, Tengah, Buros and Tumu. 

 Measurements of some of the seedlings, which have been planted 

 four months, have been taken, the average growth of Bakau Akik 

 seedlings, are one inch and Tumu one and a-half inch per mensem. 

 The seeds when planted were measured, height, girth and age 

 being taken. No disease has been seen in the mangrove forests, 

 but dead trees are common which presumably have been struck by 

 lightning or died by old age. There are thousands of mosquitoes, 

 even in the day time, in the swamps. Chinese do not appear to 

 mind them. The most effective way of keeping them off one is to 

 have an old kerosine oil tin filled with bark and " make smoke." 

 The mangrove tree is slow growing as far as known; it takes a tree 

 about 20 years to attain a q" diameter. 



Method and cost of Extraction. — The trees are felled and cut up 

 into billets or short lengths in situ and then taken out to the main 

 streams by means of small canals or ditches which are dug in the 

 mangrove swamps. Small boats are used for this purpose. In the 

 remote portions the work of removal only goes on at high tide, in 

 places to which no creeks penetrate, on some of the mangrove 

 islands, it will be necessary to construct small tramways. The 

 work is chiefly carried on by Chinese coolies and a few Malays, 

 the former live in large " Kongsis " to which all provisions and 

 water for drinking and cooking has to be brought by boat for long 

 distances. A Chinese cooly will cut about 4,000, ten kati billets 

 per mensem, for which his Towkay pays him 811 per thousand bil- 

 lets. A large Chinese sampan will hold about 1,000, ten kati billets' 

 and a small sampan 600 billets of the same size. For transporting 

 firewood from Trong Island to Port Weld, about 13 miles, sampan 

 men are paid at the rate of §3.80 cents per 1000, ten kati billets. 

 As many as eight or twelve trips can be made per mensem. 



Animal life in the Mangrove Swamps. — Shellfish abound, birds, 

 king-fishers, pigeon, plover, and storks are plentiful, there is also 

 a small harmless green snake to be met with. Monkevs, wild pig 



