138 CHARACTER OF THE SOIL. 



The European burial-ground is situated in 

 rather a conspicuous spot, on a part of the de- 

 clivity of the Government-hill ; one part is 

 planted with bamboos, which have a tasteful ap- 

 pearance, and the gloomy nature of the spot 

 would be diminished if the fence of these trees 

 was continued the whole way round the cemetery. 



On riding or driving in the vicinity of the 

 settlement, the character of the country and soil 

 appears well calculated for the cultivation of 

 coffee, sugar,* cotton, pepper, and other tropical 

 productions, as well as of the vine. But most 

 of the land is permitted to continue in a state 

 of primitive jungle, industry and cultivation 

 having been checked by the enormous quit-rents 

 imposed upon the purchasers, or tenants of land, 

 by the government. Until this ill-judged and 

 ill-advised measure is changed, the cultivation 

 of this beautiful island, now for the most part 

 covered by a continued forest, cannot advance. 



At this season but few flowers decorated the 

 jungles, or sides of the roads; the one most com- 

 monly seen was the Melastoma, or Singapore 

 rose, it principally animated the country by its 



* The sugar-cane is cultivated to a very limited extent, 

 and the canes I inspected were of very fine size and quality ; 

 they are only used, however, for edible purposes, no sugar 

 being as yet manufactured from them. 



