54 VERNACULAR PRESS EN" THE STRAITS. 



19. A reference at some length is next made to the Moar dis- 

 turbances and to the action of an honourable gentleman in respect 

 of them. The writer points out the contrast between this gentle- 

 man's activity on behalf of Tunku Alam, and the Tunku's sluggish- 

 ness in respect of his own right: rebuking him in the tone of a 

 philosopher, and hinting that he should make himself more ac- 

 quainted with the outside world and its doings. 



20. Next comes the correspondence column, which contains a 

 letter from a correspondent in Malacca narrating the running 

 amuck (MengdmoJc) of a Malay on beard the Japan, and the conse- 

 quent wounding of sixteen persons. The majority of letters ad- 

 dressed to the Editor are written with the intention of giving pieces 

 of local news not likely to be otherwise communicated, of exposing 

 some disreputable character, of relating some wonderful adventure 

 or phenomenon, and of eliciting information upon various subjects 

 often abstrusely grammatical. 



21. The principal notices from the Government Gazette are 

 then copied, as also are extracts from other papers referring to events 

 in neighbouring countries : the first of these is taken from the Rangoon 

 Times; it relates the discovery of sapphire mines in Siam, and dis- 

 cusses the probability of the Marquis of Lome being made Viceroy 

 of India. 



22. From the Straits Times some passages are quoted respect- 

 ing the arrival of the French Flagships in Singapore, and the courtesy 

 of the Admiral in allowing the Band to play on the Esplanade. 



23. Three columns are given up to a series of paragraphs 

 giving news from Java and the adjoining Malay States, and it is 

 worthy of notice that so large a number of places contribute news 

 from this part of Malaya. Such names are found as Semarang, 

 Serubaya, Bogor, Periaman, Menado, Bantan, Cherbun, Ambiin, 

 Karawang, and Pfilau Banda. 



24. Then come extracts from the London and China Express. 

 About England there are paragraphs with Court and Parliamentary 

 news, and a passing reference is made to the disturbances in 

 Ireland. 



