402 SINGAPORE. 



did not exist in it, although there were great numbers of them in the 

 peninsula opposite ; and it is said that they have only made their 

 appearance here within the last six or seven years. Indeed, one of 

 the reasons assigned for its selection, was the absence of this fero- 

 cious animal, and of the wild elephant. It is to be presumed, there- 

 fore, that the tigers come in search of food, by swimming over the 

 narrow straits. Some fifty persons have been killed by them within 

 the last two years, within two miles of the centre of the town, and 

 two hundred in all are reported as having become victims to these 

 beasts. Criminals and thieves were formerly in the habit of escaping 

 to the woods or jungle, but of late years this has not been attempted 

 bv them. 



The government, in consequence of the attacks of tigers becoming 

 so frequent, and of the jungle being so much infested by them, offered 

 a premium of one hundred dollars for every tiger's head that should 

 be brought in. This induced large parties to hunt them ; but, since 

 the government have reduced the reward to fifty dollars, this daring 

 business has not been followed ; not, however, from any scarcity of 

 the animals, for they now frequently seize men working in the imme- 

 diate vicinity, but because the sum is too small to be an equivalent for 

 the risk and trouble. From a stuffed specimen we saw at Singapore, 

 it would appear that these animals do not differ from those of Bengal. 



While walking with Mr. Balestier around his plantation, he pointed 

 out to us the spot where two of his men had been killed by tigers, 

 and he said it was no uncommon thing, when he first began his 

 plantation, to see the tracks of tigers about his house in the morning. 

 Since the jungle has been cut away to a greater distance, this occur- 

 rence is not so frequent. Tigers have been known to attack persons 

 in the daytime, but they seldom frequent the highroad. It is consi- 

 dered too dangerous for an individual to venture near the jungle. 



Some accounts speak of vestiges of the primitive inhabitants of 

 Singapore, consisting of mounds, temples, &c, but I could not get 

 at any well-authenticated account of them. Some, indeed, suppose 

 that the island of Singapore may contain many remains of a former 

 race, but there seems to be little or no foundation at present for such 

 an opinion. 



Although it was impossible from the number of tigers for our gen- 

 tlemen to frequent the woods to any great extent, yet many very 

 interesting plants were procured here. Through the kindness of Mr. 

 Balestier, Captain Scott, (the captain of the port,) and others, Mr. 



