ch. ii.] Climate. 29 



are few, if any, old titled families to balance the commer- 

 cial interest. One may see some bonny English faces in 

 the carriages which are here driven around the Esplanade 

 just as along the " Lady's Mile " at home ; or one even- 

 ing a week are gathered around the band-stand at the 

 gardens. The climate, however, is not well suited to the 

 development of the rosy cheeks we see at home; the 

 peach-like bloom too soon gives place to the soft purity 

 of the lily, and it often becomes necessary for the wife 

 and children to return to a cooler climate, in order to 

 regain somewhat of the health and strength of which a 

 lovely but debilitating climate has robbed them for a 

 time. Here, as in India, this is a serious drawback to 

 many residents. Here, too, there are no hill stations 

 sufficiently near, or, as yet, adapted to serve as Sanato- 

 riums. Now that Jahore is being opened up, however, it 

 is to be hoped that a few bungalows may be erected on 

 Gunong Puloi, on the summit of which the air is compa- 

 ratively cool and bracing, much more so than on Penang 

 Hill, and it may be readily reached from Singapore in 

 two days. The cost of living here, even in proportion to 

 the large salaries received, is far in excess of that at 

 home, and the mode of life itself is different. Here, one 

 must have a large house, and if there is a family, five or 

 six servants at least are needed. The wages paid to these 

 appear small when compared with the cost of English 

 servants, but at least three times as many are required. 

 The master must have his "boy," the mistress her 

 "ayah, then the cook, water-carrier, grooms, gardener, 

 must be provided, to say nothing of nursery attendance. 

 Native provisions are tolerably cheap, but many things 

 essential must be imported from home at an advanced 

 rate. Furniture is dear, and pianos, and many other 

 necessities, to say nothing of luxuries, must also be 



