394 SINGAPORE. 



It is difficult to estimate the average number of vessels that are to 

 be seen in the roads of Singapore ; for on some days they appear 

 crowded, while on others they are comparatively empty. While 

 many vessels are continually arriving and departing, the Chinese 

 junks alone appear as fixtures; more than fifty of them were counted, 

 with sails unbent, yards housed, and rudders unhung, in which state 

 they resemble floating shops, wherein are offered for sale assortments 

 of every article produced or manufactured in the Celestial Empire; 

 samples of which, by way of sign, are to be seen hanging about them 

 in all directions. These junks make no more than one voyage a 

 year, performing their passage in either direction during the favour- 

 ing monsoon. 



Unlike other ports, the water presents at first so many objects to 

 attract the attention, that the land and town remain unnoticed until 

 the curiosity in relation to those which are afloat is satisfied. On turn- 

 ing to view the town, its situation appears to be low, as well as that of 

 the island on which it is built. The highest point of the latter is not 

 more than five hundred feet above the level of the sea, and even this 

 elevation is distant, so that there is nothing to render the scenery pic- 

 turesque, nor has it much of the character that is styled Oriental. The 

 distant jungle, however, relieved by the white portions of buildings 

 in the European style, furnishes a landscape pleasing to the eye. 

 These buildings seem to be upon the' very beach, while a hill in the 

 rear is crowned by the dwelling of the governor, near which is the 

 flag-staff. The intervening space is filled with buildings, whose 

 style holds an intermediate place between that of Europe, and that 

 of the Chinese and Malays, neither of which predominates so much 

 as to give its distinctive character to the scene. 



The stranger, after anchoring in the roads, is not long before he 

 discovers the point at which the river discharges itself; for one 

 continued stream of boats, sampans, and prahus, is seen tending to 

 a point in the beach, where the entrance is partly concealed from 

 view ; neither can he be long ignorant how large a concourse of 

 various races is here assembled. Our ship was crowded from an 

 early hour, with tailors, shoemakers, washerwomen, and venders of 

 curiosities. The latter brought shells, birds of paradise, monkeys, 

 parrots, corals, and mats. Without board there were innumerable 

 bumboats, bringing for sale fresh bread, eggs, milk, chickens and 

 ducks, both alive and cooked, fish, fruit, and vegetables. All sued 

 piteously for permission to come alongside, and made a prodigious 



