14 
Geology. 
Meteorology. 
o 
Forests. 
61. The rocks composing the Malacca hills are the same 
as those throughout the Peninsula generally, and are chiefly 
plufconic, together with quartz-ferrugineous rock, sandstone 
rock, &e. At the lower elevations shale enters largely into 
their composition. 
62. The surface soil is more sandy than that of Singapore, 
specially in the more elevated portions, hence the preference 
given to it by tapioca cultivators. The greater extent of the 
surface being alluvial is more or less swampy, and on such hinds 
pacU i s the general crop. Below the surface tin-ore abounds 
and is being worked in some places. Hot springs exist near 
the centre of the Settlement, which show that the volcanic 
action that formed the Peninsula is not yet extinct. 
63. The temperature of the air, the direction and preva- 
lence of the monsoons, &o., arc for all ordinary purposes the 
same as in Singapore. The atmosphere is, however, believed to 
be less humid. Prom observations taken in Malacca during 
1881,. it appears that the total annual rainfall for that year 
amounted to 103.23 inches. The highest temperature was 
88°.4 P. and the lowest 71°.02. 
64. The quantity of Government forest land remaining 
may be put in round numbers at say 40,000 acres. Prom 
what I have observed in the existing forests there is reason 
to believe that, with the exception of a very limited number 
• of species, the primaeval forests of Malacca were similar to 
those of Singapore. The species found peculiar to Malacca 
are the following, but they, too, may prove indigenous to 
Singapore on a closer inspection— 
Local name. Systematic name. Remarks. 
Kayu Gaharu . . . Gonystylos Miquelianus j 
Aquiilaria ovata ... > Yield the gani resin 
Aquillaria agallocha ...) of commerce. 
Kayu Manis ... Cinnamomum Javanicum 
JDehasia media 
Medinella venosa ... 1 Used for walking 
Rotan Scemambu Calamus 
Salak ... ... C. edulis 
Myristica Sp. 
. J sticks. 
.. Fruit edible. 
. . Bears very large fruit. 
65. Gaharu is known generally in commerce as Guru de Ma- 
lacca, and the “ Rotan Socmambu” us Malacca cane. It is more 
than probable that Malacca has, for a long period, supplied these 
in greater quantity than any of the other Settlements, or 
indeed than any other part of the East, and it still exports them 
to some small extent, hut cane is now only found in 
anything like quantity in the jungles at Nyalas near the 
boundary, and is on the verge of extinction in the Settle- 
ment, while of old gaharu trees only one is said to remain 
within the boundary line. 
66. The chief features in Malacca are its Forest reserves, 
which are six in number and of the undermentioned approxi- 
mate areas, viz . : — ■ 
Jus Reserve ... 
Pay a Gem ok . . . 
Maiaka Pindah 
Kcsang 
Sungei Siput 
Sungei Udang 
25,000 
2,000 
2,500 
2,000 
4.000 
2.000 
37,500 
There is also a large amount of unreserved Crown Forest, 
