400 SINGAPORE. 



self of the charges he is liable to incur, and of the advantages it has 

 in that respect over the other ports in the Eastern seas. What renders 

 the traffic at Singapore still more convenient is, 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 different 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 Singapore 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 tran- 

 shipment 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 furnishes 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 

 ports, has driven them to seek that of Singapore, though more distant. 



