296 By Stream and Sea. 



course such an oversight at the Colonial Office (if the 

 petition has not already been granted) is an accident. 

 Anyhow, Lamb and his courageous wife were mainly 

 instrumental in checking what might have been a most 

 dangerous outbreak of murderous criminals. 



The Botanical Gardens are situated at Tanglin, about 

 three miles from Singapore, and the drive over a perfect road, 

 with beautiful tropical scenery on either side, and here and 

 there glimpses of jungle, is a treat no passing stranger should 

 miss. The footprints of a tiger had been marked on the 

 outskirts of the gardens on the morning of our visit, but 

 such game is very rare now in the island. 



The gardens owned by the Hon. Mr. Whampoa, the 

 wealthy Chinese merchant recently invested with the order 

 of St. Michael and St. George, should also be seen, both 

 because of the rare plants and trees cultivated there and 

 the quaint Chinese devices into which many of the shrubs 

 had been clipped. The pretty orange-coloured flower, 

 which so profusely covers the hedges everywhere, in perfume 

 and formation somewhat resembling our heliotrope, is a 

 common jungle flower. 



Near the town, on your return from the gardens, look 

 out for the Bengali washermen in the middle of the stream 

 provided for them ; you will then understand why your linen 

 comes home so sadly perforated with unmendable holes. 

 The small plantation of sugar-canes fringing the highway 

 so prettily is evidence of the sweet tooth of the country ; 

 every other native you meet in the evening is munching his 

 section of cane, for which he has paid some decimal portion 

 of a farthing. As you drive to your quarters at night, the 

 birds being silent and the lizards at rest, the insects are loud 

 in concert in the hedges, gardens, and jungle ; and the music 

 may be heard high above the shrill rattle of the gharry. It 



