124 
SKETCH OP THE PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 
the spectator. Two ranges are distinguishable. The northern large 
er and gradually sinking into a low wall like ridge, terminated by an 
isolated Mil. The southern more peaked and terminating abruptly 
% 
in the plain. This range appears to be the last of the great middle 
chains or groups of the Peninsula. The termination is probably near 
the latitude of Parcelar Point, or perhaps a little to the south. The 
ranges on the eastern side of the Peninsula, according to Horshurgli, 
are observed from the China sea to terminate near the parallel of 
Pulo Varela, which is further north, so that the line on which the 
southern faces of all the principal ranges rest is probably conforma¬ 
ble or perpendicular to the direction of the chain.' 1 '' From this lati¬ 
tude to Singapore there are some bulky ranges of no great length, 
such as the Rumbou mountains, and great isolated masses, such as 
Mt. Ophir to the south east of Malacca, Mt. Formosa, and, near the 
extremity of the Peninsula, G. Pulai on the west and, on the east, 
G. Pantei and the Lulumat group, all there visible from Singapore. 
From Lumat Point to Tanjong Burn (the southern extremity 
of the mainland) a distance of 100 miles, the coast pursues a direct 
and regular course, contrasting so greatly in this respect with the 
northern portion of the coast and with the opposite coast of Suma¬ 
tra in particular, that we naturally look for some general cause to ac¬ 
count for a circumstance so remarkable, and we think it will be found 
that the uniformity of the Peninsular coast, and the broken insular 
character of the shores of Sumatra, are both occasioned by the con¬ 
traction of the Strait, and the consequent increased force of its tides ; 
on the one side gradually abrading old alluvion, partially protected 
by a series of rocky points, and, on the other, preventing the regular 
accumulation of new deposits, keeping open channels, and causing 
mud to rise in the form of banks and insular flats. Sumatra is here 
traversed by four large rivers, the Raccan, Si'ak, Kampar and In- 
dragfrr, which flow through a country perfectly alluvial and flat, and 
of great breadth. The whole of this country is evidently the crc- 
* We observed, however, that on the cast coast, although the country 
between the Sidili and Ind&u (traversed by the Simrong) was only hilly, 
the northern branch of the Induu and its feeders rose amongst mountains, 
which were i a groups stretching continuously to the northward. 
