754 THE HISTORY AND PRESENT CONDITION OF MALACCA, 
Idle and dissipated Malays, the intercourse between the two coun¬ 
tries is entirely precluded. Pahang is well known to be rich in both 
tin and gold, and formerly most of the latter found its way overland 
to Malacca. At present, no doubt it is carried chiefly to Singapore, 
hut during some portion of the year, the communication with Sin¬ 
gapore is impeded by the monsoon, whereas overland to Malacca 
the communication would be open at all seasons, and not only with 
Pahang, but with other states on the Gulph of Siam. This how¬ 
ever is a vision of prosperity for Malacca not likely to become a 
reality without the intervention of causes that cannot now be cal¬ 
culated upon. 
