Medical Topography of Malacca. 51 



its inhabitants, a surprisingly clean street. Outskirting the town is 

 the Malay population ; their houses being raised on piles, and each 

 surrounded by a small piece of garden, or small sugar or paddy 

 plantation, poultry, &c. 



The Chinese are the principal mechanics and tradesmen of the 

 place, and mostly industrious ; excepting the very lower orders, who 

 are a vagabondish, opium-smoking, arrack-drinking, gambling set, 

 and who, together with those of them who profess beggary as a 

 calling, usually form the admissions into the Pauper Hospital. 



The Klings, Chuliahs or Malabars, and natives of the Coromandel 

 Coast, are the cow-keepers and dairy-men of the place ; the Malays 

 the boatmen, coolies, and cultivators. 



The aspect of the country for some miles round, is pleasing, un- 

 dulating, and agricultural ; presenting tracts of nourishing paddy 

 fields. These, during the rainy season, are of course flats of water, 

 and during the dry season so much barren-looking dried soil. 



A prominent feature in the aspect of the country immediately 

 surrounding Malacca, and one connected with its economy, is the 

 Chinese burying-ground, consisting of five hills ; and which, with 

 their white horse-shoe form, singular looking tombs, present a rather 

 picturesque appearance. The two principal hills are contiguous 

 to each other, and around their base runs in a circular direction of 

 four miles in extent, a very good carriage road, the usual drive of the 

 inhabitants. Two good wells of excellent drinking water are like- 

 wise situated at their base, a quarter of a mile from the town 

 bridge : and from which the inhabitants are amply supplied. 



Malacca may be said to be extremely well supplied with water : 

 for besides these two public wells, other large public wells are 

 situated in prominent and convenient places ; such as one facing the 

 Pauper Hospital, and another to the south of St. Paul's hill, immedi- 

 ately to the east of the battery. 



To the north-west, two miles from the town, another hill termed 

 " Pringit," the residence of the Resident Councillor, is very salubri- 

 ous and healthfully situated, leading to which is a good road, and the 

 country on either side under excellent cultivation, either as Chinese 

 gardens, sugar plantations, or paddy fields ; the soil in these situa- 

 tions being sand, clay, and vegetable mould. The rising grounds, 



