1838.] 



Sketch of the Mcdai/an Peninsula, 



73 



mer-headed shark, {Zygccna vulgaris), which may be seen almost daily 

 in the fish bazars, the ChcBtodon Rostratum, that kills its prey by the ac- 

 curate and forcible propulsion of a drop of water from its tubular mouth ; 

 two other varieties, and the Chelmon, The Jkan Lat/er is a fish about 

 eight or ten feet long, that erects its dorsal fin like a sail above the 

 water ; whole shoals may be seen passing up and down the Straits, 

 like a small fleet of sailing boats. Excellent fish for the table abound, 

 among which are the black and white pomfret, the Indian sole, and 

 seer fish. 



Of the Exuvios of Testacea, or shell-fish, there is not so great a 

 variety thrown on the coasts of the peninsula as one would expect. 

 Among the Cephalopodous molluscs is the Sepia tuberculata or 

 cuttle-fish. Several of the Nautili, Murices, TurbinellcB, and many 

 others. Among the bivalves are various Pectens, Spondi/ 1 i and Mallei', 

 the Monoculos Cijclops which is eaten by the natives ; oysters, cockles, 

 and muscles. 



Crabs are found both of the land and sea kinds, also great quantities 

 of shrimps, of which and a small kind of fish, the Caviar of the East 

 the odoriferous Blachang is composed. 



There are a vast number of insects chiefly of the orders Coleoptev' % 

 Lepidoptera and Orthoptera. The depths of the forest resound with 

 the whirrings and wheellings of families of the Grylli, Cicada}, and 

 Scarabwi ; and by night its dark recesses are often illuminated by the 

 liquid brilliance of the glittering firefly. 



Vegetable Kingdom. 

 This comprises an immense variety of trees and plants, many of 

 which are still unknown and present great scope to the botanist. 

 French naturalists have occasionally penetrated the forests, but for 

 most of what is known of the botany oftlie peninsula, we are indebted 

 to the labours of Wallich, Jack and Ward, to whose publications I 

 must refer the reader, contenting myself with mentioning a few of the 

 most general interest. The trees most in use for purposes of house and 

 shipbuilding are the Chingei, the Dammer Lant, the red and white 

 A/eran/Jz for planks, Bintangor (Calophyllum inophyllum,) used for 

 the masts and spars of vessels ; the Murbowe, Metrosideros Amboinensis, 

 a large fine tree of hardish wood ; the Kranji used for posts and masts, 

 the Rungas, Anacardium encardium, for furniture, the Medang Ketanaa- 

 han and other Medang trees. The Kayu Kamuning is a beautifully 

 veined hard wood, taking a high polish, and used principally for the 

 handles of Malay knives and daggers. Ebony, Sapan, Lakkar and 



