SAGO MANUFACTORY. 213 



about fifteen or sixteen Chinese employed, and 

 they said six or seven pecals could be manu- 

 factured in one day. The pearl, or refined sago, 

 is exported in large quantities to Europe, our 

 Indian empire, the Cape, &c, in wooden boxes, 

 each containing rather more than a pecul ; ten 

 boxes containing nearty fifteen peculs. It is sold 

 at two and a half to three dollars the pecul, 

 which includes the expense of boxes. A piggery 

 is attached to this sago estaljlishment, the inha- 

 bitants of which must fare very well upon the 

 refuse of the sago washings. 



One evening, accompanied by several gentle- 

 men resident in the settlement, I went to pay a 

 visit to the rajah of Johore. ~ During a former 

 visit to this settlement, in 1830, I had an inter- 

 view with this exalted personage, of whom at 

 that time I penned the following description : — 

 " Being near the village of Kampong Glam, I ob- 

 served a poor-looking bungalow, surrounded by 

 high walls, exhibiting efiects of age and climate. 

 Over the large gateway which opened into the 

 inclosure surrounding this dwelling were watch- 

 towers. On inquiry, I found this was the resi- 

 dence of the rajah of Johore, who formerly in- 

 cluded Singapore in his dominions. The island 

 was purchased of him by the British government, 

 who now allow him an annual pension. He is 



