SINGAPORE. 
3S5 
sented the rider. These mimic portions of the quadruped were made 
of paper, and illuminated. The effect w 7 as that of a miniature regiment 
of cavalry. Others were represented as if on the backs of fish, that 
seemed to swim along in the crow 7 d. Some of the children were not 
more than two years of age, and the oldest not more than five or six. 
They were all fantastically dressed, and some among them in European 
costume, which had a grotesque effect among the more appropriate 
dresses of the East. They were led about, preceded by music, such as 
it w r as, of gongs and cymbals; and all passed by on a dog-trot. 
Towards the close of the evening, some of the children had attendants 
on each side, who carried the poor little fatigued creatures along, many 
of whom were nearly, if not quite asleep. Whenever this procession 
halted, the Chinese would load them w r ith cakes and dulces, and 
showed a kindness and attention truly pleasing. The most extraordi¬ 
nary exhibition of the evening was an immense illuminated sea-serpent, 
which we all thought fully equalled, in size and movement, the famous 
New England one, and agreed in other respects tolerably well with its 
description, for he had at intervals large bumps of the shape of a small 
cask. These were in fact lanterns, supported by poles, and connected 
together by white cotton or gauze, which was here and there coloured. 
The head of the monster was of large dimensions, with a wide-extended 
mouth, showing its fiery tongue and rows of sharp teeth. The move¬ 
ments of the serpent were well managed, and its gyrations, twistings, 
and windings over the people’s heads, ga\ 7 e it a formidable look. It 
appeared as if in search of an illuminated globe, representing the old 
year, as the serpent is supposed to typify the new one. It was, from 
time to time, permitted almost to seize the globe, which was then 
hurried away, upon which the ponderous jaws would come together 
with a crash, and then thp serpent would hurry onward again in hot 
pursuit. I was told that it swallowed the globe at the expiration of the 
year, but I did not speak to any one who saw the finale. The figure 
of this serpent was from eighty to one hundred feet in length, and two 
feet in diameter. 
During this closing scene of the festival, all the Chinese houses were 
open, and the josh-houses and idols illuminated with wax candles, and 
decked with flowers and tinsel. 
Theatrical exhibitions were at the same time going forward in many 
places; open sheds are erected for this purpose, where the exhibition 
was entirely gratuitous. The actors, I was told, are paid by a general 
subscription, which also provides for the other expenses of the spectacle. 
These sheds are closed on three sides, but open on that which faces the 
street. The stage is raised about six feet above the street; the whole 
2 H 49 
VOL. v. 
