chap, in.] THE TOWN AND ITS INHABITANTS. 41 



was increased by the meeting of fishermen from Siam, 

 Pegu, and Bengal, who came and built a city, and esta- 

 blished a peculiar language, drawn from the most elegant 

 modes of speaking of other nations, so that in fact the 

 language of the Malays is at present the most refined, 

 exact, and celebrated of all the East. The name of 

 Malacca was given to this town, which, by the conve- 

 nience of its situation, in a short time grew to such 

 wealth, that it does not yield to the most powerful towns 

 and regions round about. The natives, both men and 

 women, are very courteous, and are reckoned the most 

 skilful in the world in compliments, and study much to 

 compose and repeat verses and love-songs. Their language 

 is in vogue through the Indies, as the French is here." 



At present, a vessel over a hundred tons hardly ever 

 enters its port, and the trade is entirely confined to a few 

 petty products of the forests, and to the fruit, which the 

 trees planted by the old Portuguese now produce for the 

 enjoyment of the inhabitants of Singapore. Although 

 rather subject to fevers, it is not at present considered 

 very unhealthy. 



The population of Malacca consists of several races. 

 The ubiquitous Chinese are perhaps the most numerous, 

 keeping up their manners, customs, and language ; the 

 indigenous Malays are next in point of numbers, and 

 their language is the Lingua-franca of the place. Next 



