414 SINGAPORE. 



pore. Credulous people have strong inducements to undergo the 

 ordeal, for afterward, it is believed the deity will protect them from 

 all harm. It is said that the former is practised also in China. 



According to the Brahmin, the Gentoos at Singapore are of the 

 fourth caste, called Seedros. There are no Brahmins to the east of 

 Singapore, and neither they nor the other higher classes willingly 

 leave their native country, for they forfeit their caste by so doing. 

 This Brahmin was said to be worth upwards of two hundred thousand 

 dollars, but was living in a miserable tenement near the temple, which 

 latter appeared to us to resemble a Turkish mosque ; but it was not so 

 in the opinion of the Brahmin, who pointed out the difference in the 

 shape of the dome, which is more flattened, and has a small lantern 

 apex. Into it no one was admitted but the believers in the doctrine 

 of the Brahmins. 



There are several mosques for the different sects of the followers 

 of Mahomet, and the mixture of other observances among the creeds 

 of some of them is very great; for those who propagated the tenets 

 of Mahomet in the East, engrafted them upon many of the ancient 

 modes of worship. The Malay, who is a Sonnite, disdains to have 

 any thing to do with the Hindoo or Shiite Mahomedan ceremonies ; 

 and none but those who are hired to carry the temple, join in the 

 processions of the latter. 



I have mentioned that convicts were sent to Singapore. I was not 

 able to ascertain their exact number, but I believe it amounts to 

 some fifteen hundred. They are employed upon the public works ; 

 and a large prison in the suburbs of Singapore is provided for their 

 safe-keeping at night, or when not at work. Much complaint is 

 made in consequence of its being situated in low and marshy ground, 

 which subjects the inmates to frequent sickness. Prisons in this part 

 of the world do not seem to have claimed the attention they have re- 

 ceived in other countries, and I heard the whole internal arrangement 

 of their jail spoken of as deficient both in order and cleanliness. A 

 sufficient number of turnkeys and attendant officers is not kept, and 

 there is no classification of the prisoners. Many spoke of an intention 

 of erecting a new jail, on account of the necessity of removing the 

 prisoners from the present low swampy site. Although a surgeon is 

 appointed for attendance on the prisoners, yet he is of little use ; for 

 every one seems to be so reckless of life in the East, and so bent upon 

 securing a fortune as soon as possible without incurring death, that 

 whatever retards the one and puts in jeopardy the other, is looked 



