SINGAPORE, 



■ITS GREAT COMMERCE. 



125 



CHAPTER V. 



SINGAPORE. ITS GREAT COMMERCE. POPULATION. RAPID INCREASE. HOSPITALITY OF A WEALTHY CHINESE MERCHANT. 



IMPORTANCE OF SINGAPORE TO ENGLAND. COAL DEPOT AT SINGAPORE. PHYSICAL ASPECT OF THE COUNTRY. 



AGRICOLTBRAL PRODUCTS. ANIMALS. FEROCITY OF THE TIGER WATER BUFFALO. PASSAGE FROM SINGAPORE TO HONG 



KONG. CURRENTS, ROCKS, TIDES. CHINESE FISHING BOATS. ARRIVAL AT HONG KONG. FINDING THERE SLOOPS-OF-WAR 



SARATOGA AND PLYMOUTH AND STORE SHIP SUPPLY. SUSQUEHANNA GONE TO SHANGHAE. DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE 



COMMODORE. CONDITION AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG. RUN TO MACAO, THENCE TO WHAMPOA ON CANTON RIVER. 



NAVIGATION OF THE RIVER. FIRST IMPRESSIONS MADE BY THE CITY. DISAPPOINTED EXPECTATIONS. HOSPITALITY OF 



AMERICAN CONSUL AT CANTON. THE HONGS OR FACTORIES. STREETS IN CANTON. PROPER NAME OF THE CITY. BOCCA 



TIGRIS. CHINESE FORTS. PIRATES ON THE RIVER. ATTEMPT TO ROB ONE OF THE OFFICERS. CANTON MARKET PLACE. 



TRADE OF CANTON WITH EUROPE AND AMERICA. 



HE port of Singapore is a great re!3ort for shijis of all 

 nations. Vessels from China, Siam, Malaya, Sumatra, 

 and the various commercial countries of Europe and 

 America, are to be seen anchored together at the same 

 time. The products of these different parts of the world 

 t are all to he found in Singapore, brought thither for 

 5 reciprocal exchange. The policy which has made Singa- 

 pore a free port has been fully justified by the prosperous 

 result. Its commerce, being entirely unshackled, flour- 

 ishes even beyond the most sanguine anticipations of 

 those enlightened and enterprising men who but a few years ago established Singapore as a 

 free port. 



Notwithstanding the restricted productions of the place, which could do no more than supply 

 business for the scant trade of a few vessels, Singapore has been, by the liberal policy pursued, 

 elevated to the imposing position of a great commercial mart. Its trade embraces China, 

 India and the archipelagos of the oriental seas, Australia, Europe, and America. Nearly the 

 whole world of commerce seeks, in a greater or less degree, its ever crowded harbor. 



The commerce with China is very considerable, and is carried on by means of Chinese 

 vessels. The junks come down from the China seas with the northeast monsoon, and remain 

 in port, retailing their cargoes of teas, silks, and other products, until the southwest monsoon 

 is fairly set in, when they return to prepare for another voyage, and thus keep up a succession 

 of periodical trading visits. They bring large numbers of enterprising Chinese emigrants, 

 together with abundant supplies of dollars, teas, silks, chinaware, tobacco, cassia, nankeen.s. 



