Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstra13141884roya).pdf/276

 of those in the ranges which divide it from Sungei Ûjong, Sri Měnanti and Johol.

The "sâwah" or padi-fields are extensive, but a good deal is now out of cultivation, owing to the fatal cattle disease which has raged during the last three years, and has carried off almost all the buffaloes. I saw very few indeed.

A large proportion of the "sâwah" have, however, been planted out with padi this season, the fields having been prepared by means of a large wooden "changkul" or hoc, which is much used by the Rĕmbauans.

The "sâwah" divisions ("jalor" or "pêtak") strike me as being a good deal smaller than those in our territory, probably owing to the fact that they are cultivated by hand, and the "batas" or dividing ridges appear much better kept.

The soil of the "sâwah" is of a lighter colour than is common in Malacca and there is more tendency to sand and quartz grit in it.

The yield appears to be high, averaging eighty to ninety, and in some places runs as high as a hundred-fold. At Gâdong I noticed the "sâwah" soil was a very white clay with an admixture of grit, and was told it was particularly good and produced a hundred-fold, In this, as in other Malay countries, a certain amount of "ladang," or high-land cultivation, of padi takes place, more particularly when circumstances are unfavourable for the "sâwah" or wet cultivation.

There is no tin worked in Rĕmbau, though it was acknowledged that it existed, but was not worked for fear of the water flowing from the workings poisoning the "sâwah" and preventing the cultivation of padi. At Ûlu Pĕdas tin has been worked, but I heard it had been given up owing to rival claims.

Granite is the prevailing rock, but quartz occasionally appears cropping up to a limited extent, and loose fragments are found in the streams. The soil on the mountains of Tampin and Dato' is good, of light brown, occasionally clayey. The variety of ferns on Gûnong Dato' was considerable. The Tampin soil is said to be richer than any in Malacca, except that in the Mâchap district