420 



SINGAPORE. 



their more direct missionary employments, as it afforded no prospect 

 of success, and turned their attention to the more immediately useful 

 object of teaching the children. They are known in Singapore as 

 the "American padres." The Raffles School is kept in a palace- 

 looking building, but as houses are of small value, the rent is propor- 

 tionably low. 



Mr. Dickinson made the voyage in the brig Himmaleh to many of 

 the islands in the China seas, and possessed much information in rela- 

 tion to those he had visited, and their inhabitants. It appeared to be 

 his impression that there was no opportunity afforded for missionary 

 labours in any of the ports under the authority of the Dutch. There 

 is a mission established at or near Batavia, and this is the only place 

 they will permit one to exist, in order that it may be immediately 

 under the eye of the government. Mr. Dickinson is of opinion that 

 an establishment is much needed on the island of Celebes, and that it 

 would be productive of decided good. It seems scarcely possible to 

 believe that any European nation should have held possession of these 

 islands so long, and not have introduced a single valuable custom 

 among those who are under their rule. The natives in fact are now 

 as much at liberty to pursue their infamous acts of piracy on each 

 other and Europeans as ever, and to capture and carry into slavery 

 such as they deem fit. These slaves even find their way to Singa- 

 pore, where they are not even aware that they are free by the laws of 

 the land, in defiance of which they are held in slavery. These are of 

 the race of Papuans or Negritos, a portrait of one of whom has been 

 given in the chapter on Manilla. 



From Mr. North we obtained a number of rare Malay and Bugis 

 manuscripts, forming a collection which is said to be the largest now 

 in being, that of Sir Stamford Raffles having been lost. Some of 

 them are beautifully written. 



One of the most amusing incidents that occurred during our stay 

 at Singapore, was a visit to a ship of the king of Cochin-China, 

 which we made by express invitation. The whole trade of Cochin- 

 China is a monopoly in the hands of the king, who owns the ships, 

 which likewise compose part of his navy. They are built after the 

 European model of some half a century back. The vessel that fur- 

 nished it belonged to France, and was wrecked on their coast many 

 years ago, after which missionaries and artisans were sent out by 

 Louis XVI., who taught them many of the arts of Europe. The 



