286 
FIVE DAYS IN NANING. 
time immemorial, and of which the nucleus had been some 
prayers in Arabic. To this various additions in Malay on 
different subjects, and with a curious diversity and defective¬ 
ness of handwriting, had been made from time to time The 
clerical art which would thus appear to have visited the 
family in its rudest shape in former years was now wholly 
lost, for neither its present head nor any of its members could 
read or write. The book was nevertheless, or perhaps so 
much the more, highly respected and prized, and its owner 
was horror-struck at my proposition to purchase it. 
On returning I examined the S. E. slope of Marachet where 
it sinks into the narrow flat that divides it from the granitic 
tract of Sabang. An abundance of small black blocks are 
scattered over it. Of these a considerable proportion have a 
scoreous appearance, but many are of the true lateritic form. I 
concluded that the junction of the granite and laterite was 
here also in the flat, but as I was leaving I noticed a broad 
greyish block on the margin of the paddy which proved to be 
granite. I could trace the granite by the soil along the margin, 
hut although 1 searched till it was nearly dusk, I could not 
find any line of demarcation between the granite and laterite, 
or any rocks in which both forms were present- The grani¬ 
tic block was from 20 to 30 paces from the lowest laterite 
blocks. The position and composition of B. Marachet strong¬ 
ly confirm the hypothesis that the plutonic action which pro¬ 
duced the granite produced also the laterite and other iron- 
masked rocks.* 
One of the most striking features of the Naning villages is 
the mode cf placing the graves. Instead of being scattered 
about they are placed alongside of each other so as to form a 
long mound, one grave in breadth, and lengthening by each 
new burial. When the ground does not allow of the line be¬ 
ing further prolonged, another is commenced. The most com¬ 
mon tombstones are rough granite slabs, as at Tabo. Flow¬ 
ering shrubs are planted beside them. Several of these grave 
rows are seen near the first cottages of Sabang as we enter it 
from Ganong. 
During this walk I met a great number of Malays. Their 
general physical character was similar to that of the Malays 
of the Malacca territory, but with this difference that the face 
was rounder, the nose more flat, the nostrils more perceptible, 
* I have since found granite and laterite in actual contact on the east coast 
of Battam, an island opposite Singapore, Many other observations have for 
some time satisfied me that the hypothesis mentioned in the text is correct. 
Readers who are interested in such enquiries may refer to this Journal Vole. I. 
and IE 
