Page 108 - Malay sketches
P. 108
XI
IN THE NOON OF NIGHT
Her soul upheld
By some deep-working charm
KIRKE WHITE
ON the western coast of the Peninsula, more
especially that part of it which forms one side
of the Straits of Malacca, the shore-line is generally
one long stretch of mud, covered with mangrove
trees to the verge of high-water mark and rather
further, for when the tide is up there are thousands
of acres of mangrove whose roots and several inches
of the stems are submerged. Beyond this forest the
receding tide leaves great wastes of evil-smelling
mire, soft and clinging, in which the searcher for
shell-fish sinks almost to his waist.
small and find their way to
Many rivers, great,
the sea through this wide flat. At high water they
look imposing enough, but when the tide is out a
narrow and shallow channel is left winding about
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