1846.] DIVISION OF THE TOWN. 183 



pensity, possibly to propose it, for his own enjoyment in 

 the first instance, and the interest of the house-keeper, 

 in the second. A seaman once in the power of one 

 of these wretches, is seldom permitted to recover his 

 senses until he is thoroughly fleeced ; when, probably, 

 his term of leave far expired," he becomes an absentee, 

 and is then, from fear of punishment, seduced to desert ; 

 even if returned to the ship by the police, his tale is not 

 listened to, and he becomes a marked man. This was not 

 the case in the ' Samarang ', but it has grieved me sorely 

 to have occasion to root out some of my men, whose 

 conduct, generally, on board, deserved my approbation, 

 from some of these dens, and to be compelled to charge 

 against their pay the sums due for their apprehension.* 



The town of Singapore may be considered as separated 

 into three distinct divisions. The western, Chinese; 

 central, English ; and eastern, Malay (or Kling, Chinese, 

 and Malay). The western, is separated by the stream, 

 and although it contains the counting-houses and stores 

 of the English merchants, still their private habitations 

 are mostly in the central division. The Chinese princi- 

 pally occupy, and reside in, the western division, and 

 here may be procured any article desired, either from 

 Europe, India, or China. Any article of which a pattern 

 can be produced, will be imitated by the Chinese. 

 Nothing is considered by them beyond their capacity, they 

 will make the effort, and in general succeed in a mar- 

 vellous manner. Care, however, must be taken, to point 

 out any defects, or they will most assuredly be copied. 



* Apprehension must be paid for, and the pay of the seamen 

 stopped, II. straggling, and 31. desertion. 



