Ch. XV.] WHAMPOA'S GAEDEN. 251 



diverted great numbers of the Bugis prahus from the Sin- 

 gapore market, to which those which still repair thither 

 bring gold-dust, tortoise-shells, ambergris, pearls, birds' - 

 nests, turtles' eggs, sharks' fins, trepang, mother-of-pearl 

 shells, and other curiosities of Eastern commerce. 



The bungalows or residences of the European population 

 are generally set in the midst of gardens or small plantations 

 — pleasant habitations, surrounded with Betels and Bananas. 

 They have, for the most part, an imposing look, for people 

 in the East can not, or will not, live in small houses ; and 

 the open verandahs which nearly always run round the 

 outside, make them look larger than they reaUy are. For 

 the most part such residences are exclusively occupied by 

 Europeans, neither Malays nor Klings live in such ex- 

 pensive style ; but certain wealthy Chiuese exceptionally, 

 make a great show, and entertain in a style of costliness 

 and refinement not surpassed by the most opulent English. 

 Of these Mr. Whiampoa, who contracts with the Govern- 

 ment for the supply of stores and provisions to Her Majesty's 

 ships, is facile princeps. He is well known for his choice 

 and elegant entertainments, and his mansion is surrounded 

 with extensive gardens laid out in true Chinese style. They 

 have a light and graceful aspect, being devoid of any heavy 

 masses of shrubbery as in English gardens. Rows of Betels 

 and feathery Casuarinas spring up here and there, and the 

 paths run like mazes among the beds, which contain many 

 choice flowers. Here and there on the terraces we come 

 upon quaint devices of trees trained over a framework to 

 represent a bird, a fish, or a quadruped. -Pleasant ponds 

 enliven the scene, containing water-hlies and Nelumbiums ; 

 and one of them, especially large, is devoted to the Victoria 

 regia, the queen of water plants, where it thrives well, 



