SINGAPORE. 399 



the legitimate authority. Sir Stamford saw the force of this advice, 

 and determined at once to treat for the occupation of the island of 

 Singapore with Hassain Mahomed. As a preliminary to this, the 

 recognition of Mahomed Shah as sultan, by two great officers of the 

 empire, was necessary. The Bandahara of Pahang, and the Tumun- 

 gong of Johore, were selected for this purpose, and when this prelimi- 

 nary had been arranged, Hussain Shah was invited over from Rhio, 

 installed, and recognised. The commissioners at once treated with 

 him as the lawful sovereign of Johore, for the cession and immediate 

 settlement of Singapore. This was one of the wise arrangements en- 

 tered into by that intelligent officer, who so long and so satisfactorily 

 ruled over Java. The treaty, from the hurry in which it was drawn 

 up, was found to have circumscribed the limits of the ceded district 

 to but a small portion of the south coast of the island, and the juris- 

 diction to extend only as far as a cannon-shot into the interior imme- 

 diately around the factory. This limit continued until 1824, when a 

 cession of the entire island was obtained, and a treaty of alliance and 

 friendship was concluded between the Company and the Sultan. The 

 jurisdiction was also for ever ceded to the Company of the seas and 

 islands within ten geographical miles of the coast of Singapore. In 

 consideration of these concessions, the Company gave the Sultan 

 thirty-three thousand dollars, with an annuity of fifteen thousand, 

 and to the Tumungong twenty-six thousand dollars, and an annuity 

 of eight thousand. The annuities were to be paid monthly; and it 

 was farther agreed, that if the Sultan or the Tumungong desired to 

 remove at any time from the island of Singapore to other parts of 

 their dominions, they should be entitled to the further sum of ten and 

 fifteen thousand dollars, for all their right and title to any immovable 

 property they might possess. 



This treaty secured free commercial intercourse for both parties, 

 with perfect neutrality in all respects, and freedom from offensive 

 and defensive alliances. Under this tenure, Singapore is now held. 



Singapore, being the only free port in this part of the world, soon 

 attracted to it all the surrounding nations, not only on account of 

 the absence of duties, or of any regulations impeding trade, but as 

 offering a mart where they could with ease dispose of their goods, 

 and obtain supplies. Many of the most opulent merchants of the 

 East have settled here, and the Chinese in particular have found it 

 to afford a suitable field for the exercise of their trades. 



The jurisdiction of Singapore, or the " Straits Government," as it 

 is here called, embraces Malacca and Prince of Wales Island. The 



