The China Sea directory - Sabrizain.org

2 MALACCA STRAIT. [chap. i.
few miles of the coast. This chain diminishes in height as it approaches
the equator—many of the peaks north of Queda (lat. 6° N.) rise to an
elevation of 6,000 feet, while few in the southern part of the peiiinsula-
rise above 3,000 feet. Between the mountains and the coast the surface
is undulating, covered with dense primeval forest, or interspersed with
grassy plains, which are more numerous and extensive in the north.
Many rivers empty_ themselves upon the Malay coast, and in their
progress form marshes -and lakes, some of which are of considerable size.
The banks of the rivers are generally low and swampy, and covered with
mangrove and other thickets. Several of the rivers are broad and mode-
rately deep, but all are barred by banks, which, as a general rule, prevent
a vessel drawing more than 8 or 9 feet entering. In the northern part
numerous islets stud the coast.
British Settlements.—Part of the Malay coast is occupied by
British settlements, namely. Province Wellesley, a strip of coast about
8 miles broad and 35 miles long, adjacent to Pulo Penang (also a British
settlement) : Pulo Paugkor or Binding island and the adjacent coast
commencing at Pulo Katta, this strip is 22 miles long in a northerly direc-
tion, and 8 miles broad—and the settlement of Malacca, about 40 miles in
length and 25 miles in breadth, included on the sea coast between the
rivers Lingey and Moar. In addition, the native states of Perak, Selangor,
and Sungi Ujong, which occupy the whole coast line between Province
Wellesley and Mail'acca, are under British protection. The ports are all
free. For statistics, see pages 119-121.
.WINDS and WEATHER, -p Although Malacca strait is
within the limits of the north-east and south-west monsoons of the Indian
ocean, yet on account of the high land on either side of the strait the
winds are variable ; but land and sea breezes are regular on both coasts.
In the olfing, the monsoons are only regular when they are at their height
in the adjacent seas ; even then, however, the wind is moderate in the
strait and only lasts during a part of the day. The monsoons become
more regular near Singapore.*
South -west Monsoon. — Near Achi head the south-west
monsoon commences in the latter part of April or early part of May, and
ceases in October ; but in November westerly winds frequently prevail.
The south-west monsoon seldom blows far into the strait. In the middle
of the strait during this season, variable winds, chiefly those from S.E, and
S.W., prevail with long calms. On the Sumatra side light winds and
calms prevail, and heavy squalls from the land are experienced during the
* ' See the Admiralty Wind and Current charts for the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian
oceans, corrected to 1879.
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