# Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society/Volume 3/Caves at Sungei Batu in Selangor

​CAVES AT SUNGEI BATU IN SELANGOR.
By D. D. DALY.
(Read at a Meeting of the Society, held on 7th April, 1879.)
A most interesting and important discovery of caves in the Native State of Sĕlângor (near Kwala Lumpor) was made a few days ago by Mr. Syers, Superintendent of Police in that State. Whilst on a hunting excursion in search of elephants and other game, in company with an American naturalist, and wearily plodding their way through a dense tropical jungle, Mr. Syers was suddenly assailed by an unusual perfume, and on asking the Sakeis (wild men) who accompanied him and who were tracking an elephant, he was told that it arose from a large deposit of bat's manure in some caves hard by. Mr. Syers entered these caves, and a party having been made up to explore them, the following account by one of the ex- plorers may not be uninteresting:—
"The party consisted of Capt. B. Douglas, II. B. M.'s Resident of Sĕlângor, Lieut. R. Lindsell of II. M.'s 28th Regt., Mr. Syers, Supt. of Police, the writer, some Orang Sakei, and some police.
"Leaving Klang at 8 a. m. in the steam-tender "Abdul Samat" and following up the Klang river a distance of 17 miles, the rising township of Damansara was reached at 10 a. m., thence a good road for 13 miles on ponies, and four miles through jungle, brought the party to the great tin-mining centre at Kwala Lumpor.
"From Kwala Lumpor to the caves, along a jungle track, all over very good soil, chocolate-coloured loam, and passing through groves of numerous fruit trees, a ride of about nine miles in a northerly direction brought us to the foot of a lime stone hill, about 400 feet high, with steep perpendicular sides. The white clefts of the hill glistened in the sunlight and at once indicated limestone formation. Durian trees grow at the base of this hill and threw their lofty branches, laden with fruit at this season. Half way up the hill, and through the rich-soiled flat ​at the base runs a bubbling crystal streamlet over many-coloured quartz and blue and limestone pebbles, such as would gladden the heart of a trout-fisher to take a cast over.
After reaching the hill we climbed about 50 feet over rocky boulders and stood opposite a large gateway, hollowed ont of the limestone hill, a great cavern, looking black and ominous as we faced it, and the scent of the hat's manure was strong. This is called the "Gua Lambong" (or swinging or hanging cave), No. 1. Here tha Sakeis and others commenced their notes of warning as to the deep holes in this cave, and the party entered with cautious steps. The writer tried hard to take up a modest retiring position in the rear, like Mark Twain when there were rumours of Arabs at the Pyramids of Egypt, but he found that other members were also anxious to show their humility in staying behind, some stopped to tuck up their trowsers on account of the bat's manure, another walked very suddenly on one side and stopped and closely ex- amined the nature of the limestone formation, and the worst case of timidity was of one who foremost at the start, suddenly wheeled round to the rear saying he wanted to light a cigar. However, having lighted torches the gallant representative of H. M.'s 28th Regiment. took the lead and boldly advanced. After a few yards walking on the soft elastic layer of the bat's manure, we had to throw away the damar torches, as the rosin from the damar that dropped on the manure set fire to it, and in their place long split bamboos were used for torches, which answered admirably.
The appearance of this cave was very grand. On a main bearing of N. N. W we walked for about a quarter of a mile over rocks and then gently over dry deposits of bat's manure, which were from 3 to 6 feet deep. The roof and sides of the caves, which were 50 to 70 feet high and some 60 feet wide, were beautifully arched, presenting the appearance of a great Gothic dome, with curved arches and giant buttresses. Verily there was a stillness and sublimity in this work of nature that even surpassed the awe of the holy place raised by human art.
Hanging from the conchoidal arches of this vaulted dome were thousands of bats, whose flitting fluttering noises resem- bled the surging of the sea ou ou iron-bound coast. Arriving at the end of the cave we came upon an opening in the lime- stone crust above, which shed a soft light over the scene, a subdued tinge over the green-crusted walls at the top and a ​softer halo on the bright crystals of the stalactites. Care- fully taking away specimens of the stalactites and stalagmites we wended our way back to the entrance, and only reached it as the torches were nearly finished.
There is a sort of alcove hollowed outside this entrance to the right hand by nature out of the rocks. A model cook- house with its stoves, fire places and all that would be neces- sary for the most fastidious Eastern cook.
It seemed a pity to leave such a delightfully cool atmos- phere for the heated exhalations without, but another attrac- tion awaited us and a cry of "Durians" recalled us to the most solid comforts of this life. Quantities of durians grew on the trees at the base of this hill—a sure sign of good soil in the Malay Peninsula—and after having a good meal of this delicious fruit, after a quarter of an hour's walk in a northerly direction, we were led by Mr. Syers and the Sakei to No. 2 Cave kei to 1 called "Gua Bĕlah" (or the divided cave.) This cave was much lower in height than the last, but contained very fantastical limestone formations. The bearing was N. N. E. through these caverns, for about 100 yards, but there were branches which might be explored if sufficient time allowed. Outside these two caves were very original drawings made by the Sakei with charcoal on the limestone walls, reminding us of our first efforts at making sketches of the human form.
No. 3 Cave, "Gua Lada" (Pepper cave) called from the numerous chili trees growing near the entrance, is reached after another half a mile in a northerly direction.
This and No. 2 Caves are both cutered from the base of the hill, no climbing required like "Gaa Lambong" (No. 1). This is planned in one vault running s. S. E., 90 yards long, with two side corridors at right angles on either side, and the crystalline deposits are more perfect than in No. 1 Cave. Here the limestone columns have joined the stalactites, and the stalagmites are more perfect. In some places, there are great pulpits overhung with canopies, whose brilliant crystalline fringes sparkle again in the garish glare of the torches, inducing the visitor again to think of this as a great church of nature. Here, fantastically carved out of the rock, may be seen imitation umbrellas and couches and baths part- ly filled with bright waters that have dropped through the limestone ceiling.
​It is strange that fossils could not be found anywhere. Nothing but thousands of tons of bat's dung-itself a great for- tune in guano.
From the absence of fossils or shells it would appear that the sea never reached any part of this hill.
There are seven different entrances to this hill, and a few. wild cattle, the "Seladang," roaming about here; but there are large herds of cattle at "Batang Kali," near Ulu Selangor. Wild elephants are plentiful, and Durians, Pelasan, Rambutan, Rambei, Mangostin and other large fruit trees grow plentifully in the rich soil surrounding this limestone hill, in the midst of the most luxurious jungle vegetation.