Malay Peninsula

MALAY PENINSULA (called by Malays Tanah Malayu, i.e., Malay Land), projects into the China sea, and forms the most southerly portion of the continent of Asia. Geographically, it begins at the isthmus of Kra, o° N., at which point it is only between 6o and 7o m. wide, and the distance from sea to sea is further diminished by a large irregular salt-water inlet. Politically and anthropologically, this upper portion must be regarded as a continuation of Siam rather than as a section of Malaya. From the isthmus of Kra the peninsula extends south with a general inclination towards the east, the most southerly point being Tan jong Bulus in I° 161' N. A line drawn diagonally down the centre from the isthmus of Kra to Cape Rumenia (E. of Singapore) gives the length at about 75o miles. The breadth at the widest point, from Tanjong Penunjut in Trengganu to Tanjong Hantu in the Dindings, is about 200 miles. The area under British influence is about 52,500 sq. miles. The peninsula is bounded on the north by Siam, on the south by the island and strait of Singapore, on the east by the China sea, and on the west by the Strait of Malacca.

Physical Characteristics.

A range of granite mountains forms a backbone which divides the peninsula into two unequal portions, the larger of which lies to the east and the smaller to the west. Smaller ranges run parallel to the main chain in many places, and there are numerous isolated spurs. A characteristic feature is limestone bluffs that stand up in the plains both on the eastern and the western slopes. The descent from the sum mits of the range into the plain is somewhat less abrupt on the west than it is on the east, and between the foot of the moun tains and the Strait of Malacca the largest alluvial deposits of tin are situated. On the eastern side of the range, after a steep descent, the granite formation gives place to a broad quartzite outcrop, to the east of which there is evidence of tin-bearing granite intrusions. The highest known peak in the main range is Gunong Kerbau (7,16o ft.). The highest mountain is Gunong Tahan (7,186 ft.), which forms part of a quartzite range on the eastern side, between Pahang and Kelantan. The west coast is covered to a depth of some miles with mangrove swamps, with only a few isolated stretches of sandy beach. On the east coast the force of the north-east monsoon, which beats upon the shores of the China sea from November to February, has kept the land for the most part free from mangroves, and the sands, broken here and there by rocky headlands thickly wooded, and fringed by casuarina trees, stretch for miles. On both coasts islands are numerous. The peninsula may be described as one vast forest, intersected by countless streams and rivers which form the most lavish water-system in the world; 72% of Malaya is still forest. Only a fraction of these forests has been visited by human beings, the Malays and even some of the aboriginal tribes having their homes on the banks of the rivers, and never, until the first modern road-system was started, leaving the banks of a stream except for a short time when passing from one river-system to another.

The principal rivers on the west are the Perak, the Bernam and the Muar. The first is far finer than its fellows, and is navigable for steamers for about 4o m. from its mouth, and for native craft for over 25o miles. It is shallow and not of much impor tance as a waterway. The Bernam runs through swampy country for the greater part of its course, and steam-launches can pene trate over ioo m. from its mouth; it is therefore probably the deepest river. The Muar waters a fertile valley, and is navigable for native boats for over 15o miles. On the east coast the prin cipal streams are the Patani, Talukin, Kelantan, Besut, Treng ganu, Dungun, Kemaman, Kuantan, Pahang, Rompin, Endau and Sedili, all guarded by difficult bars at their mouths, and dangerous during the north-east monsoon. The deepest rivers are the Kuantan and Rompin ; the largest are the Kelantan and the Pahang, both of which are navigable for native boats for over 25o miles. The Trengganu river is obstructed by impass able rapids about 3o m. from its mouth. The rivers on the east coast are still practically the only highways, the Malays travelling by boat in preference to walking, but they serve their purpose indifferently, and beauty is their chief claim to distinction. Mag nificent limestone caves are found on both slopes of the peninsula, those at Batu in Selangor being the finest on the west coast, while those of Chadu and Kota Glanggi in Pahang are the most exten sive on the east. So far as is known, the Malay peninsula consists of an axial zone of crystalline rocks, flanked on each side by an incomplete band of sedimentary deposits. Granite is the most widely spread of the crystalline rocks; but dykes of various kinds occur, and gneiss, schist and marble are met. These rocks form the greater part of the central range, and they are often— especially the granite—decomposed and rotten to a considerable depth The sedimentary deposits include slate, limestone and sandstone. Coal is mined at Rawang in Selangor. The limestone has yielded Proetus, Chonetes and other fossils, and is believed to be of Carboniferous age. rn the sandstone Myophoria and other Triassic fossils have been found, and it appears to belong to the Rhaetic or Upper Trias. The minerals produced are tin, gold, iron, galena and others, in insignificant quantities Tin occurs in the form of cassiterite, and is found always close to granite. In limestone it occurs in pipes and veins Particularly in clays over the limestone very rich deposits are found The most important lode-mines in the peninsula are at Skingai Lembing near Kuantan : they are among the world's greatest deep tin•-mines. The Malay states produce 30% of the world's output of tin. Gold is worked in Pahang, and has been exploited from time im memorial by the natives of that State and of Kelantan. Small quantities have been found in Perak.