184 PIRATE ARMS. [1846. 



The central portion of the town is entirely set apart for 

 public offices, church, official and private residences, and 

 hotels, reserving ample space between the sea and the 

 houses for parade, and carriage drives, which, in 1840, 

 was generally well attended, between the hours of five and 

 seven. On the east, are the shops of the Kliugs and 

 Malays. This part of Singapore has been very much 

 improved of late, and several excellent bridges now ren- 

 der the villages, on the opposite side of the stream, more 

 accessible, having rescued them, in a considerable degree, 

 from the filthy condition, which formerly prevailed there. 

 The eye is naturally attracted to the general fabrication 

 of arms in this region, and to those conversant in the exa- 

 mination of the Pirate boats of these seas, the question na- 

 turally suggests itself : Are these swords, parangs, knives, 

 muskets, bell-mouthed blunderbusses, &c., intended for 

 Pirates? There cannot be the slightest hesitation in 

 the reply : They are ; and the Pirate, " emissary prahu," 

 her Nakoda and crew, are gazing on you, dressed in 

 gaudy attire, and only await their chance of evading- the 

 gun boats, to rejoin their associates, with fresh supplies 

 of arms and ammunition. The question then arises : 

 How many gun, or guard, boats watch this illicit trade ? 

 I wish I could safely say one; I may say one occa- 

 sionally. A very simple ruse will call for her presence 

 westerly, or easterly, as the case may be, and these sup- 

 plies pass unheeded. So long as we continue to furnish 

 the means, so long may we expect Piracy to continue. 

 Cut off these supplies, these sinews, and it will receive 

 its heaviest blow. 



The utter want of defence against the smallest cruizer, 



