SKETCH 01-' THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 
116 
far more than any others, anti are still gaining 1 . Others again, such 
as considerable tracts along the east coast, appear to have been al¬ 
ways losing. In others there are evidences of alternate periods of 
advance and retreat.. 
Rivers and Alluvial Formations. —We have hitherto delayed 
noticing the rivers of the Peninsula, because it appeared advisable, 
in order to avoid repetition, to describe them in connection with the 
* alluvial plains through which they flow, and which they have so 
largely helped to form. We now propose to follow them round the 
coast, observing the extent and nature of their plains, and pausing, 
where we have some some personal knowledge of the localities, to 
describe the mode in which these plains appear to have been produced. 
The Peninsula is an exceedingly well watered region. The cli¬ 
mate, as we have seen, is humid, and the whole length of the coun¬ 
try intersected by values and ravines. Hence streams abound eve¬ 
rywhere. It is probable, from the structure of the country, that 
the upper branches of most of the larger rivers flow generally S. E. 
and N. W. between the short mountain ranges, and that it is only on 
reaching the borders of the ancient coast line, or inner edge of the 
alluvial plains, that they take an easterly and westerly direction. 
This we know to be the case with some of them. The same fact 
may be observed with reference to the smaller streams of the hill sys¬ 
tems. 
Most of the rivers and streams are properly creeks for some dis¬ 
tance from their mouths. After proceeding for some time up the 
winding reaches of a deep and broad creek, we frequently find that it 
terminates suddenly, and receives only a scanty rivulet of fresh water. 
The number of these creeks is very great. 
The principal rivers that discharge their waters along the west 
coast are the Kedah, Perak, Salangor, LIngi, Muar and Batu Pahat 
(Rio Formosa). Besides these, there are hundreds of intervening 
streams. 
We have no accurate information respecting the courses and bulk 
of any of the rivers. 
Tiie Kedah rises in the mountains that form the watershed be- 
