32 A Visit to Singapore. 



The Malays, who form a large portion of the inhabitants of 

 Penang and the other parts of the Straits Settlements, are 

 splendid divers, and it is said they can copper a vessel while 

 she is floating, taking the sheet of copper down in their hands 

 and the nails in their mouths. They are generally small, well- 

 formed men, very active, and of gentle, quiet manners ; but 

 when roused they are exceedingly passionate. 



After staying for a day or two at Penang I set out for 

 Singapore, and the morning of the 5th February found me 

 steaming down the Straits of Malacca, the shores of the golden 

 Chersonese being dimly visible in the east. The straits are very 

 shallow, and rather dangerous for the navigator. On board the 

 steamer were a number of chitties who came on board at 

 Penang, and who were bound to Singapore. Chittie is the 

 name given to the Hindoo bankers, or money-lenders, like 

 the Irish gombeen men. A chit is an I O U, or promise to 

 pay, and much used in the East, as no one thinks of carrying 

 money in his pockets, on account of its weight. From their 

 appearance one would judge these chitties to be more likely to 

 be beggars than money-lenders, as their clothing is a piece of 

 calico about four yards long, and which once was white, 

 probably costing eighteenpence when new. They spent the 

 day principally in playing cards. The game I knew not, 

 but, if report spoke truly of their business, I would sug- 

 gest, " beggar my neighbour." On board there was a large 

 consignment of tin ingots, of about 5olbs. each, coming from 

 the mines at Perak, on the mainland, and going to England via 

 Penang and Singapore. These mines are very profitable now 

 that the price of tin has gone up. On going on deck on 

 the morning of the bth February, I found we were just 

 entering the new or western harbour of Singapore. It was 

 most lovely. Sea and land " were glowing fresh and fair with 

 the breath of morn and the soft sea air." One knew not which 

 was the more beautiful — sea or land. The brilliant green 

 wooding of the little islets came right down to the water's edge, 

 for in this calm tropic the wind scarcely ever blows with 



