R E F A C E , 
The want of a Book on the Geography of this part of 
the world, written in a way suitable for this Colony's 
Schools, has been frequently urged upon the Straits Govern- 
ment , and has led to the compilation of the present Work. 
Its scope is confined to Malay Eastern Asia and Australia — 
to those countries, in short, with which the Colony is principal- 
ly concerned. It aims at affording such information about 
Malaya in particular, and Eastern Asia in general, as an 
English School-book, treating of Europe, would afford con- 
cerning Great Britain and the countries of Europe, respec- 
tively. 
It is necessary to include some outline of the Geography 
of India, China and Australia ; but I't will be understood that 
a minute account is only given of the countries in Malaya and 
the more immediate neighbourhood of the Colony. The 
other Eastern countries — fndia^ China, the Indo-Chinese Conti- 
nent and Australia — have in turn been dealt with, in a rela- 
tively briefer and more general way. It has been sought to 
give, equally in both divisions, the latest and most authentic 
information. 
The book is first of all a School-book, published in a form, 
and at a price, suited to those for whose use it is designed. 
But no attempt has been made to wxite down to the appre- 
hension of children ; or to break up the subject unnecessarily 
