353* 
EXAMINATION OF THE COAST OF THE MALAY PENIN¬ 
SULA FROM PULO MUTIARA TO PULO PANJANG 
IN SEARCH OF COAL DEPOSITS, IN 
NOVEMBER 1847.* 
By Captain Congalton, 
Commander of the H. E. I. C. Steamer “ Hooghly ” 
On the 29th of October, Colonel Low having embarked, I steam¬ 
ed from Pinang harbour to the northward, passing within the Lankawf 
Group of Islands, and at 3 f. m. on the 30th came to an anchor in 2 
fathoms’ water on the east side of Pulo Mutiara, in Lat. 7° 21’ N., for 
the purpose of sounding across a spit of sand that runs out from the 
main land, and forms a low point on the east side of the island. On 
the 31st. we examined Pulo Mutiara with the boats at low water, but 
nothing that indicated coal was to be seen. On the afternoon of the 1st 
November, finding there was just water enough for the Hooghly to 
cross the spit of sand, I steamed to the northward for seven miles, until 
we deepened our water to 4 fathoms, close to very high limestone rocks. 
We anchored here for the night. Early on the morning of the 2d. 
I manned two boats, Colonel Low proceeding in one, and myself 
in the other: and pulled in different directions*for the main land, 
when several miles of coast were examined, The water along the 
coast here is very shallow, with a clear sandy bottom. The land for 
some distance in, is sandy and the jungle is not very thick, the trees 
* On this occasion Captain Congalton was accompanied by Colonel Low, 
who has briefly communicated the general results to the Honble the Gover¬ 
nor, and whose more detailed description of the geology of the coast we 
shall expect with great interest. The examination of the numerous rock 
specimens collected will be a work ol some time. The present paper is 
extracted from Captain Congalton’s report to the Honble the Governor, to 
whom we arc indebted for the usg»of it. As neither Captain Congalton’s 
report nor Colonel Low’s letter <m»vey the information which is requisite to 
form a correct judgement of the probability of coal exist ng in considerable 
deposits, fsee our remarks on this point, ante p. 167) it is necessary to add, 
in the absence of all details respecting the composition, thickness, strike 
and dip of the associated strata, that Colonel Low takes a much more favor¬ 
able view of the recent examination than Captain Congalton. He considers 
that two years would be required for a thorough exploration of the coast, of 
which only three or four points bave been examined, and he thinks it is ve¬ 
ry probable that the whole of it, from the latitude of Purlis to thatofPhung6, 
is either one coal field, or a succession of coal deposits.—E d. 
