1838.] 



Sketch of the Malayan Peninsula, 



57 



cluiim of eight grains of saline matter, principally muriate of soda, with 

 a slightly bitter taste, indicating the presence of sulphate of magnesia. 



The superposition of the rocks of the Malayan Peninsula follows 

 that laid down by geologists. Granite occurs in uplifted mass- 

 es in contact both with the primary and secondary formations ; on 

 it is found clay slate in which no organic remains have hitherto been 

 discovered, resting in strata highly inclined; also laterite and sandstone. 

 The period at which the igneous rocks were upheaved, if, following 

 Elie de Beaumont, we may be permitted to form any estimate by paral- 

 lelism of elevation, is contemporaneous with that of rocks of the same 

 class forming the Ghats in peninsular India, and the principal ranges of 

 Arracan, Pegu, Ceylon and Sumatra. Over the clay slate and grau 

 wacke, lies blue limestone, in conformable, beds, as in some of the isles 

 in the vicinity of Pinang, and sandstone, as at Singapore. Overlying 

 the sandstone and sometimes resting immediately on granite, we find 

 that singular rock, the laterite, in which I have not hitherto been able 

 to discover any marks of stratification. Jasper and hornstone are 

 found in beds in the granite. Porphyry and sienitic granite interposed 

 in unstratified masses. The trap will be probably found in dykes 

 cutting the granite. The strike of the argillaceous schist as observed 

 at Saddle Island, follows the general direction of the peninsula, viz. 

 S. by E. Both the clay slate and limestone dip at an angle from 45^ 

 to 65 0 from the protruded or plutonian rocks, as shewn in Dr. Ward's 

 section of Pinang, Saddle and Kia Islands, indicating a prior origin 

 to the convulsion by which the granite was upheaved. The foregoing 

 will, I fear, prove a most unsatisfactory sketch to the geological reader ; 

 much remains to be done by careful observation and collection of facts, 

 both here and in our other Asiatic possessions, before attempting to 

 classify the formations of India with those of Europe. In the Malay- 

 Peninsula especially, great impediments exist to connected geological 

 survey, from the density of forest, and closeness of vegetation. T will 

 conclude by pointing out a few desiderata to the geological observer. 

 First, the careful examination of that singular mass of limestone, the 

 Elephant Rock, in the Quedah territory, with a view to the discovery of 

 fossil remains. It was visited by Dr. Ward, who found, resting on the 

 base of the limestone, a bed of reddi;«h yellow, cellular, calcarious 

 breccia, containing small angular portions of a deep red argil- 

 laceous substance, resembling that composing an island in the 

 neigiibourhood, Pulo Sonsong, with small bheils and pieces of coral. 



