424 SINGAPORE. 



that almost every thing is sold by weight, probably because so large a 

 proportion of the population is from China, in which country this 

 method is habitual. In employing it, however, the articles from dif- 

 ferent countries are sold by the weight of the country whence they 

 come. For instance, gold-dust being for the most part brought by 

 the Malays, is sold by their weight, called a " bunghal," which is 

 about equal to two ounces; rice, &c, the produce of Bengal, is sold 

 by the bag, containing one hundred and sixty pounds, which is termed 

 a " maund." The foreign business is generally in the hands of a few 

 English houses, but the greater part of the mercantile class at Singa- 

 pore are engaged as agents, or do a commission business, for various 

 houses in Europe, Calcutta, &c. There is a branch of the India 

 Bank at Singapore, which, however, is limited in its discounts and 

 business ; and there are besides a large number of insurance offices, in 

 which policies may be effected on almost any risk. The capital of 

 these companies is for the most part owned in Calcutta. 



Although Singapore has fewer real advantages for trade than many 

 of the ports around, yet it has now acquired the superiority, and holds 

 intercourse with the surrounding countries. 



Its trade with China has of late much increased, in consequence of 

 the difficulties between that country and England, during which it 

 was the only port where the junks were allowed to trade free of 

 molestation. It in consequence became for the time a place of 

 transhipment for teas and other Chinese articles to English vessels. 

 For this reason, Singapore may have appeared to us a more active 

 place of business than it would have done had the trade with China 

 been no more than ordinary. No large commerce can well exist 

 between China and Singapore alone, for the supplies the latter fur- 

 nishes to that empire, are confined to birds'-nests, biche de mar, 

 tortoise-shell, &c. 



Borneo probably furnishes the most valuable products that are 

 brought to Singapore, and there are more than one hundred prahus 

 engaged in the trade. These are for the most part navigated by 

 Bugis from the island of Celebes, who may be termed the carriers of 

 this archipelago. This people frequent all the ports on the south and 

 southwest side of that great island, and are frequently employed by 

 the rajahs or chiefs to conduct their trade with the other ports. The 

 restrictions they are under in visiting the Dutch possessions, and the 

 restrictive policy of the latter, which admits them to but one or two 



