128 EXPEDITION TO JAPAN. 



takes his seat in the church pew. Most of the different nations have their places of worship ; 

 there are Chinese temples and Mahommedan mosques, as well as Christian churches. A curious 

 confusion of religions seems to have resulted from the intermingling of sects, as may he inferred 

 from what was seen hy the Commodore on a visit to a Chinese temple. In one of the recesses 

 of the place the devil was represented in human form, but of exceedingly hideous physiognomy, 

 Avhile in front of him was placed an image of the virgin and child. This was certainly a 

 very strange assortment of company, and naturally set the Commodore to conjecturing as to 

 what could possibly have brought together such very opposite characters ; whether the intention 

 was to represent the mother and child as at the mercy of the devil, or the reverse, was not very 

 clear, although, from the decidedly uncomfortable expression of his satanic majesty's face, it 

 might be inferred that he was less at his ease than any of the company, and quite out of his 

 element. It was, however, concluded that the bringing of Christian personages into a Chinese 

 temple was in some way connected with the early introduction of the Eomish religion by the 

 Portuguese missionaries. 



The stay of the Mississippi at Singapore was so short that there was but little opportunity to see 

 much of the European society. Visits and salutes were exchanged with the acting governor and 

 with the commander of the niilitary forces ; these, together with some official business transacted 

 with the United States consul, were the extent of the Commodore's intercourse with the 

 European residents. With, however, a Chinese merchant, who seemed to be imbued with the 

 true spirit of hospitality, many of the officers of the ship formed an agreeable acquaintance^ and 

 were hospitably entertained at his house. This gentleman's name is Whamj^oa, a man of 

 courteous bearing and great intelligence, and who had made considerable progress in the English 

 language, which he sjioke with some fluency. His country residence was the most beautiful on 

 the island. The house was large, commodious, and tastefully furnished, and its rooms were 

 filled with objects of curiosity and vertu. Surrounding the dwelling were extensive pleasure 

 grounds and plantations, on which the various productions of the island, the useful as well as 

 ornamental, were cultivated to great perfection. There were collections of animals and rare 

 birds, among which were the cassowary and crowned pigeon from New Guinea, and a singular 

 breed of perfectly white pea-fowl. The residence of the hospitable Whampoa, where the 

 Commodore dined and spent the night, was surrounded by all that could delight the eye, or add 

 to the enjoyment of life. Among other luxurious appanages of the establishment, there was a 

 beautiful white Arabian horse, kept by Whampoa for his own especial use under the saddle, 

 and the Commodore was very much struck by its symmetry of form, purity of color, and 

 excellence of temper, for it was as docile as a lamb. 



In a military and geographical point of view, Singapore is of vast importance to England. 

 By means of it, and with an effective naval force, this entrance to the China seas may be 

 commanded. Its position is vastly advantageous in a commercial point of view, from which it 

 has become an entrepot for the neighboring kingdoms of Sumatra, Borneo, Siam, Cambodia, 

 and Cochin China. 



To Sir Stamford Baffles, who proved himself a master spirit in every enterprise he undertook, 

 the British government and the East India Company are indebted for this valuable acquisition, 

 and there was, it must be confessed, some show of equity in his mode of proceeding. Baffles 

 actually purchased from the Bajah of Jahore and Singapore the right of sovereignty over the 

 island and its dependencies for a stipulated sum and an annual pensimi, and it is believed that 



