16 SINGAPORE. [1843. 



Banca (drift-wood, Nipa Palms, and water-prahus abun- 

 dant), passed Gaspar Island on the 1 5th, and entered the 

 Straits of Singapore on the 19th. Keeping on the 

 northern danger line in four to six fathoms, we groped 

 our way at night towards Singapore, but several times 

 found ourselves grazing the fishing stakes ! To a lighter 

 vessel than the ' Samarang' this might have proved dan- 

 gerous, and, I think, considering the navigation of this 

 Channel is considerably risked by these obstructions, the 

 authorities of Singapore should prevent their being placed 

 in any greater depth than three fathoms ; they might 

 then be made available as danger marks by day. On 

 the 14th, we dropped anchor in Singapore Road, and 

 having refitted and rated our chronometers, sailed for 

 Borneo ; on our passage through the straits we met and 

 communicated with H.M.S. 'Wanderer', Capt, Seymour. 



On the eve of our departure from Falmouth, I received 

 instructions to call at the River Sarawak, communicate 

 with Mr. Brooke, and obtain the necessary information 

 relative to that place ; then move on to Borneo Proper 

 and report upon the coal measures in that neighbourhood, 

 and, if possible, obtain a sufficient quantity to test its 

 value in one of Her Majesty's Steamers. 



In order to appreciate the value of our connection with 

 Singapore, it must be understood that the chief British 

 traffic with Northern Borneo has been maintained through 

 the medium of small Malay (or at times Bugis) Prahus, 

 who collect the produce of that and the neighbouring 

 islands in their voyages from Macassar, and (not unfre- 

 quently demanding it as tribute or Black-Mail) repair 

 to this port to exchange their cargo for British goods, 



