242 
THE ORANG BINUA OF JOHORE. 
Introductory. —A paper by Dr. Bland on the rocks of Siclili 
Point, on the east coast of Johore, had long invested that locality with 
a peculiar interest in my eyes, for the fossil tree and burnt corals 
which he describes, seemed to indicate its possession of proofs, for 
which I had sought in vain in many other places, by which the epoch 
of what I have termed the ironmasking of the unreduced aqueous 
rocks of the Peninsula might be determined. In December 1846 I 
endeavoured to reach it by crossing from Kota Tingi on the Johore 
river, but the constant rain which attended my examination of the 
banks of the river, and the ignorance of the Malays who accompani¬ 
ed me of the precise route, prevented my succeeding. The recent 
discoveries of coal deposits in the northern division of the Peninsula 
gave a new importance to the traces of ligneous fossils in other parts, 
and rendered it desirable that every accessible locality where rocks 
are exposed should be examined as opportunities occurred. It was 
not until the beginning of last month (September) that I was enabled 
to visit Sidfli. I had been invited by the honourable the Governor to 
examine the coal deposits along the coast to the north of Pinang to 
which the Steamer Hooghly was to be despatched in October. It 
happened, however, that the only few weeks of leisure which I could 
secure for a geological excursion oceurcd in September, aud on ex¬ 
pressing my desire to devote them to an exploration of the east coast 
and islands of Johore,—with a view to ascertain whether they contain¬ 
ed any indication s of the presence of coal,—if any of the gunboats 
should have occasion to proceed to the eastward during that time. 
Colonel Butterworth placed one of them at my disposal. Whatever in¬ 
formation therefore lias been the fruit of the voyage is due to his de¬ 
sire that our great and discreditable ignorance of the geography, con¬ 
dition, and resources of a large part of the Peninsula, in which our 
possessions in the Straits give us a strong interest, should be re¬ 
moved. To make the most of the opportunity, 1 endeavoured 
to procure Malays to take a boat up the Johore river, in order 
that, in returning, I might cross to it from the coast, and visit 
the tribe of Jakuns who were said to live on its upper branches. 
Failing in this, I abandoned the intention of returning by land, but 
still cherished the hope that I sho uld meet with the aborigines in some 
of the rivers on the eastern coast. 1 therefore proceeded round 
Point Romania and along that coast to Kwalla Si'dflf, examining its 
geological features as we advanced. Four days were given to the 
