122 SKETCH OF THE PHYSICAL GEOGRArillS 
but incessantly marching, continually enlarging the limits and rais¬ 
ing the level of the land, and as they approach, the edge Of the bank 
retreats to seaward. Already its line is almost continuous with the 
west or seaward shore of Penang. Thus by the progressive advance 
of the banks and shoaling of the flats on the north and south of the 
Island will the current through the channel be slowly impeded and 
abated, and the western shore of the Island eventually become, in .ill 
probability, the coast of the mainland* 
The uninterrupted and rapid advance of the mud flat on the coast 
of Perak has been mentioned. This has been going on from time 
immemorial, and a great champagne country* Covered with dense 
jungle, the effect of this process, is at present seen stretching far 
back, unbroken by any hills or rising ground, to tile foot of the moun¬ 
tains of the interior. This tract is projected into the Straits at its 
southern extremity by a group of hillocks which are continued in the 
sea by the Bindings. Between ? and 8 miles to the south the sum¬ 
mits of another less elevated group rise above the sea level in the 
form of the Sambilang Islands. 
Opposite this group, the river Perak, one of the largest of the 
Peninsula, disembogues, bringing down large quantities of sedi¬ 
ment from the Continent, which, owing to the current of the river 
flowing into the sea in a north westerly direction, appears to be 
chiefly deposited to the south. The Perak appears to have a con* 
slderable descent, as, during the rains, the water is fresh and the 
current strong within a mile of the sea; The country drained by it 
is large, and its feeders are very numerous. From its mouth, where 
vessels with a draught of 1 2 feet can cross the bar, to the source of 
its higher feeders in the mountains, where it meets the eastern coun¬ 
try of Patani, is said to he nine days pulling and poleing through a 
course of about 150 miles. The breadth in the alluvial tracts, or 
while it remains navigable by vessels drawing 15 feet, is irregular, 
but reaches a mile in some places. Judging from its size and the ve¬ 
locity of its current it is probably the largest river on the west coast. 
we have alluded. It is in fact in the same meridian with the w estern coast 
of Penang. 
