404 SINGAPORE. 



the streets, as at Manilla ; but quantities of the nuts are seen for sale 

 in the market. From the leaves also a powerful astringent is obtained 

 by boiling. 



The gamboge tree is also cultivated here, but more extensively on 

 the shores of the straits than at Singapore, and is a very considerable 

 article of trade. 



The ride outside of the town to the hills is pleasant, passing 

 through plantations loaded with fruit, and the air at an early hour of 

 the morning is filled with a spicy fragrance. The vivid green of the 

 woods and grass is also remarkable, and continues throughout the 

 whole year, for scarcely a day passes but a refreshing shower falls. 

 The roads are thus kept free from dust, and at all times in good order. 

 The usual mode of conveyance is in a palanquin, which is capable of 

 containing two persons. The cooley, or Hindoo who attends his 

 horse, usually runs by the side of the palanquin, and seldom tires. 

 The charge for one of these conveyances is a dollar, whether for a 

 whole or a part of a day, and a douceur is paid to the cooley according 

 to the time he has been employed. The palanquin is a very conve- 

 nient vehicle, and its use is absolutely necessary during the heat of 

 the day to shield the stranger from the burning rays of the sun. 

 These cooleys will run all day through it without any inconvenience. 

 They are principally from the neighbourhood of Madras, and are 

 generally about the middle size, thin and muscular. 



I have mentioned that on our arrival, the whole of this motley 

 population seemed engaged in a festival. With the Chinese it was 

 that of the New Year, and with the Hindoo Mussulman the feast 

 called " Marama," or the search for and finding of the grandchildren 

 of Mohamed. The Chinese, on such occasions, give themselves up 

 entirely to gambling; and the first day and night I was on shore, 

 this part of the town might be considered as a vast gambling-shop. 

 During this holiday they are allowed to gamble as much as they 

 please, but what restriction is put upon the open indulgence of 

 gaming at other times, I did not learn, but from appearances I should 

 suppose it was not very severe. 



The extent to which gaming was carried by the Chinese, could 

 not fail to astonish any one who had not been brought up to it. It 

 was extraordinary to see all engaged in such an exciting vice ; and to 

 watch the different individuals was amusing. Gaming was going on 

 in every shop, and frequently in each particular corner, under the 

 colonnades, in the bazaars, and at the corner of almost every street a 



