Extraordinary Ravages of Tigers. 143 



eminences varying in height from GO to 170 feet, crowned 

 with the elegant villas of the European merchants or govern- 

 ment officials, or the residences of wealthy Chinese or Malays. 

 The loftiest point is Bukit Tm-iah or Tin Hill, lying about 

 the centre of the island, and 519 feet in height. Although 

 accessible in a few hours from the city, it is very rarely made 

 the scene of any excursions, in consequence of the forests 

 which encu'cle it having for long been frequented by great 

 numbers of tigers. These animals, eager for prey, cross 

 from the mainland by swimming the narrow strait, hardly 

 more than half a nautical mile in width, which separates it 

 from the island. Dr. Logan, the excellent editor of the Sin- 

 gapore Free Press, assured us that till within the last six or 

 seven years, 360 natives had annually been carried off by 

 the tigers ! Even at present, over 100 persons a year are 

 killed in the forest by the tigers that prowl there. Shortly 

 before our arrival, in the month of March, four persons had 

 perislied by these voracious animals. For an explanation of 

 such horrible occurrences, we must consider the heedlessness 

 of the natives, and the peculiar conditions affecting the mode 

 of agriculture followed on the island. The soil of Singapore 

 is not sufficiently fertile to make the cultivation of land a 

 customary occupation. Even for rice-growing it is found to 

 be unsuitable, so that the greater part of that chief staple of 

 subsistence has to be imported from the neighbouring islands. 

 So far as the island has been cleared, viz. to a distance of 

 about five miles round the city, attempts have been made to 



