CHAPTER XVII. 



JOHORE AND THE STRAITS. 



Excursion to Tanjong Putri — Chinese Carnival — The Tumonggong — Sing-songs 

 — Chinese Thespians — Gambling Parties — The Game of "Poh" — Gambling 

 in Singapore and Hong Kong — Mountebank Dentistry — Opium Smoking 

 — Statistics of Consumption — Value of Imports — Chinese Opium — Con- 

 siderations—Saw Mills — Horsburgh Lighthouse— Coast of Johore — Habits 

 of the PilljCrab — Ubiquity of Ants. 



A FAVouEiTE excursion from Singapore is that to the 

 back of the island, where is a commodious bungalow, 

 situated on the border of the Straits, which are here not 

 more than half a mile wide ; and opposite which is the 

 town of Tanjong Putri, at the southernmost extremity of 

 Johore. When I visited this place, it was in an unwonted 

 state of excitement, from the fact that his Highness the 

 Maharajah of Johore was visiting his residence there for 

 the first time since his return from England, where he had 

 been received with very great distinction, having among 

 other honours been installed a Knight of the Star of 

 India. The town was like a fair, and the Chinese espe- 

 cially were busily employed in turning the occasion to 

 advantage. Gambling places and siag-songs were driving 

 a great trade, and the juggler and mountebank were in 

 their glory. 



The shores on both sides of these Straits, between the 

 Island of Singapore and the Malacca Peninsula, are densely 



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