Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org
Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org
Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org
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132 <strong>Journal</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> F.M.S. Museums. [Vol. VII,<br />
were scarce and Gesneraceae, for which we came specially<br />
to look, were not conspicuous or interesting and were almost<br />
entirely out <strong>of</strong> flower.<br />
Pulau Terutau. Pulau Terutau lies north <strong>of</strong> Langkawi,<br />
from which it is separated by a channel about five miles<br />
in breadth. I have little to add to <strong>the</strong> brief account <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
island given by Air. Kloss and myself in <strong>the</strong> Ibis for 1910,<br />
pp. 666 et seq.<br />
During our stay on <strong>the</strong> present visit, which lasted from<br />
17—29th December we circumnavigated <strong>the</strong> island and<br />
landed at several spots on <strong>the</strong> western shore which is very<br />
bold and exposed though <strong>the</strong>re are three large shallow bays<br />
with fine beaches. The island is even more sparsely inhabited<br />
than it was in 1907 and 1908, but a good deal <strong>of</strong> timber cutting<br />
takes place at intervals. The collections <strong>of</strong> birds were nei<strong>the</strong>r<br />
large nor <strong>of</strong> any great importance but we obtained a number<br />
<strong>of</strong> mammals which were special desiderata <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Museum,<br />
including <strong>the</strong> rare Petaurista terutaws, hi<strong>the</strong>rto known only from<br />
<strong>the</strong> type, and a new species <strong>of</strong> Arctogalidia.<br />
Koh Libong or Pulau Telibux. Situated between<br />
Lat. 12'<br />
7 and 7<br />
18'. N. and Long 99 31' and 99 27', this<br />
island is roughly an equilateral triangle in shape with sides<br />
<strong>of</strong> about six miles. One face is high and rocky with a sandy<br />
shore, <strong>the</strong> maximum height being put in <strong>the</strong> charts at about<br />
1,450 feet, though this estimate is probably excessive. The<br />
high land, which is on <strong>the</strong> western face, is comparatively<br />
narrow and <strong>the</strong> rest <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> island is low and flat, <strong>the</strong>re<br />
being a good deal <strong>of</strong> mangrove in places while fur<strong>the</strong>r inland<br />
<strong>the</strong>re are sandy flats and grassy plains overgrown with gelam<br />
(Melaleuca), several species <strong>of</strong> tall grass (though lalang is quite<br />
absent) and a variety <strong>of</strong> prickly shrubs. The high land<br />
is covered with jungle though in places where this has been<br />
cleared for hill rice and <strong>the</strong> like, <strong>the</strong> landscape has assumed<br />
a park-like aspect, very pleasing to <strong>the</strong> eye after <strong>the</strong> monotony<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> jungle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn islands, though by no means<br />
so pleasant to traverse. The jungle is open and <strong>the</strong> undergrowth<br />
consists largely <strong>of</strong> a species <strong>of</strong> palm, with fan shaped<br />
leaves, growing to about fifteen feet in height. Epiphytes<br />
generally were scarce and orchids, in contrast to <strong>the</strong> islets<br />
<strong>of</strong>f Terutau and Langkawi, are by no means numerous. In<br />
fact <strong>the</strong> botany generally was <strong>of</strong> no great interest-, doubtless<br />
due to <strong>the</strong> fact that <strong>the</strong>re had been but little rain for some time<br />
prior to our visit and few plants were consequently in flower,<br />
<strong>the</strong> most attractive being a small Begonia with rose-pink<br />
flowers which grew on damp rocks on <strong>the</strong> shore, barely<br />
above tide marks.<br />
The flat portion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> island being unsuitable for collecting<br />
upon and water being <strong>the</strong>re scarce and indifferent in<br />
quality, we anchored in a small bight <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> N.W. corner<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> island where <strong>the</strong>re was a small stream <strong>of</strong> excellent<br />
water and a fine, sandy beach backed by good jungle. We