28 The Gardens of the Sun. [ch. n. 



stations. Fires are not at all uncommon, and then you 

 ai-e roused out of a sound sleep by a couple of shots from 

 the signal battery, which shake the whole place. As you 

 lean from your window enjoying just the last sweet whiff 

 ere turning in for the night you may, perchance, hear the 

 silence broken by snatches of song familiar to your ears — 

 the songsters being a party of rowdy sailors returning to 

 the ship after a " wet night " on shore. I am sadly afraid 

 that the low grog-shops monopolise much of " Jack's " 

 time and money when ashore, notwithstanding that there 

 is here an excellent " Sailor's Home," furnished with 

 many conveniences, and supplying the comforts of an 

 hotel at a cheap rate. Towards morning the chattering 

 of sparrows and the shouting of rival roosters are among 

 the most famihar of sounds which remind one of home. 



The society of Singapore will compare favourably with 

 that of any British Colony, and for genial hospitaUty its 

 residents cannot well be surpassed. As in India, new 

 comers are expected to call upon the residents first. In 

 my own case I brought letters of introduction to some of 

 the older inhabitants, and I must here acknowledge how 

 handsomely those cheques were honoured by them. One 

 scarcely knows how valuable genial hospitality really is 

 at home, but far away it is pleasant to find how 

 thoroughly English — British, one ought to say — is the 

 welcome extended to strangers. Government House is 

 the Court, of course, and it is needless to say, that all 

 courtesies essential are there extended to both residents 

 and others. Of course, in a community formed of many 

 nationalities, and of people whose trade and other in- 

 terests are liable to clash with those of their neighbom's, 

 there are sure to be little murmurings and bickerings, 

 together with petty jealousies of various kinds. This is 

 so, more or less, everywhere, but in the Colonies there 



