32 SINGAPORE. [chap. ii. 



servants, as well as traders from Celebes, Bali, and many 

 other islands of the Archipelago. The harbour is crowded 

 with men-of-war and trading vessels of many European 

 nations, and hundreds of Malay praus and Chinese junks, 

 from vessels of several hundred tons burthen down to little 

 fishing boats and passenger sampans ; and the town com- 

 prises handsome public buildings and churches, Mahome- 

 tan moscpies, Hindoo temples, Chinese joss-houses, good 

 European houses, massive warehouses,- queer old Kling 

 and China bazaars, and long suburbs of Chinese and 

 Malay cottages. 



By far the most conspicuous of the various kinds of 

 people in Singapore, and those which most attract the 

 stranger's attention, are the Chinese, whose numbers and 

 incessant activity give the place very much the appearance 

 of a town in China. The Chinese merchant is generally 

 a fat round-faced man with an important and business-like 

 look. He wears the same style of clothing (loose white 

 smock, and blue or black trousers) as the meanest coolie, 

 but of finer materials, and is always clean and neat ; and 

 his long tail tipped with red silk hangs down to his heels. 

 He has a handsome warehouse or shop in town and a good 

 house in the country. He keeps a fine horse and gig, and 

 every evening may be seen taking a drive bareheaded to 

 enjoy the cool breeze. He is rich, he owns several retail 

 shops and trading schooners, he lends money at high 



