RAFFLES BAY. 401 



healthiness of the climate ; — 2ndly, the hostility of 

 the natives; — and 3rdly, the non-visitation of the" 

 Malays." 



These he clearly proved, as we have subsequently 

 done, to be without much foundation; but we ourselves 

 do not so much deplore the leaving of Raffles Bay, 

 perhaps an ill-chosen site, but rather that the settle- 

 ment was not removed instead of being given up. 

 When the anxieties and difficulties which univer- 

 sally accompany the formation of a new settlement 

 are reflected on, the regret we have already expressed 

 will be more easily understood. When Port Es- 

 sington was located, all these had to be suffered 

 over again ; whereas had the station at Raffles Bjy, 

 been transferred thither at once, it would have 

 been now at a very high pitch of perfection. Besides, 

 however small the spot on which the English flag 

 waves constantly, it will always prove a check on 

 the marauding propensities of the neighbouring 

 islanders, and thus add materially to the general 

 welfare and civilization of such portions of the 

 globe as fall within the influence of the respected 

 locality.* 



* In further proof of the prospects of success, which were 

 open to the new settlement under its able Commandant, we give 

 the following extract from Dr. Wilson's journal, when at Coe- 

 pang, in company with Captain Barker, after their final depar- 

 ture from Raffles Bay. "We were informed by the master of 

 the Mercus, that many Chinese were about to emigrate from 

 Java to Raffles Bay, having recently learned that they would be 



VOL. I. ^ D 



