CHAPTEE XV. 



SINGAPOEE. 



Variety of life in Singapore — The Malaya — Their Villages — The Klings — 

 Kling Women — Their Occupation — Religious Ceremonies— Mosque — 

 The Chinese — The Bugis — Residences — Native Streets — Tigers, not 

 numerous— Fire-Mies— Botanic Gardens — Sensitive Plants-rKling Bird- 

 Catohers — Climate of Singapore — Productions of the Sea Shore — Sharks. 



There are few places which present such variety of scene, 

 and ever-changing novelty of Eastern life as Singapore. 

 Situated almost on the equator, a great central emporium of 

 trade, and a meeting place between India and Europe on 

 the one hand, and China and the far distant regions of the 

 Malay Archipelago on the other, its geographical position 

 renders it one of the most interesting places in the world to 

 the observant student of nature. Here we may see tropical 

 vegetation in all its beauty and perfection ; and here, too, 

 we may meet representatives of various races from the east 

 and from the west, attracted by the same commercial 

 magnet, — ^Europeans and Asiatics all alike bringing with 

 them their manners and customs, their religions, their 

 costumes, unchanged — a picturesque combination such as 

 scarcely any other place can afford. 



The Malays are the real indigenous sons of the soil, and 

 contribute not a little to the general effect. They are not a 

 handsome race. Their mahogany-coloured faces and high 

 cheek-bones are usually accompanied by a remarkably 



