1842.] VOYAGE HOME. 457 



mainder are natives of the East Indies with a few Europe- 

 ans. Every variety cf costume is witnessed in the streets, 

 and the manners and customs of the inhabitants differ as 

 widely as their dress. Chinese and Malay artisans pursue 

 their occupations in the streets of Sing . and the salt 



river or inlet on which the town is situated, is crowded with 

 junks and sampans, all freighted with their living cargoes. 

 The principal language spoken among business men is the 

 Malay, though a majority of the shopkeepers, and the most 

 valuable part of the laboring population, are Chinese. 



It is chiefly, perhaps only, as the entrepot for the com- 

 merce of the adjacent countries, that Singapore possesses so 

 much importance. It is diminutive in area ; produces but 

 few articles of any moment ; manufactures nothing except 

 pearl sago, agricultural implements and arms, in small quan- 

 tities, and consumes but little, — yet it is situated directly on 

 the track of communication between the commercial towns 

 of eastern and western Asia, and its annual imports and ex- 

 ports each amount to not far from seven millions of dollars. 



(o.) "While at Singapore, an examination was made into 

 the condition of the Flying Fish, when it was found that she 

 was totally unfit to make the voyage home, whereupon orders 

 were reluctant', : en by the commander of the Squadron 

 to advertise her for sale at public auction. This was accord- 

 ingly done, though much to the regret, of those who had ac- 

 companied her through so many scenes, and shared with her 

 so many perils. 



The crew of the tender having been transferred to the other 

 vessels, and the necessary stores obtained for the passage 

 home, the little fleet, now consisting of only the Vincennes 

 and Porpoise originally belonging to the Squadron, and the 

 brig Oregon, sailed from Singapore on the 26th day of Feb- 

 ruary. Passing through the Straits of Rhio, Banca, and 

 Sunda, they entered the Indian Ocean on the 6th day of 

 March. Gladly the heads of the vessels were now turned to 

 the west, and all r»n board, from the highest to the lowest, 

 hailed with joy the freshening breezes that bore them rapidly 



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