472 SINGAPORE. [1831. 



afterward, the settlement was confirmed to the British government, by 

 a convention with the King of the Netherlands, and a treaty with the 

 Malay princes of Johore, to whom it belonged. The original inhab- 

 itants are principally Chinese, Malays, Sumatrans, Bugis, Javanese, 

 and the natives of Coromandel, Malabar, Bengal, Sic. The Europeans 

 are not yet numerous, probably not more than three thousand. When 

 the first census of the whole mixed population was taken, in January, 

 1824, it did not amount to eleven thousand; but in 1830, six years 

 afterward, it had increased to nearly seventeen thousand ; of whom 

 about one-third were females. It now probably amounts to seventy 

 thousand. 



For the short period it has been in existence, Singapore is, without 

 an exception, the most thriving colony which the British have in the 

 East Indies ; being admirably situated for all the purposes of trade ; 

 and is, in fact, a centre depot for the commerce of the Chinese and 

 Javanese seas. The most valuable productions are brought to this 

 place, from the Philippines, from Borneo, Sooloo, Java, Sumbawa, 

 Flores, Celebes, Gillolo, Ceram, Arroe, the west part of Papua, and 

 nearly all the small islands in the vicinity of those already mentioned. 



Among the valuable articles brought to this market are tortoise- 

 shells, pearls, and pearl-shell, ambergris, gold-dust, edible birds' nests, 

 birds of paradise, minerals, biche-de-mer, shells, pepper, coffee, sugar, 

 hemp, indigo, many valuable gums and drugs, precious woods, &c. ; 

 all of which are readily purchased by the British merchants who have 

 establishments at this place. A lucrative trade is also carried on be- 

 tween Singapore and Cochin China, Camboja, Siam, Malaya, and 

 Sumatra. Within the last ten years, this place has increased and 

 flourished beyond all calculation. An Indian village of forty or fifty 

 bamboo huts has given place to a splendid well-built little city. 



The harbour of Singapore is commodious, safe, and easy of ac- 

 cess ; and no navigator who has the latest edition of Captain Hors- 

 burgh's East India Directory can make any mistake in entering it. 

 This is a book of inestimable value to every ship-master who intends 

 to visit any port in the East Indies ; and no one should be without it. 

 Its accuracy may be depended upon. The harbour and town of Sin- 

 gapore are defended by a strong fort, well garrisoned, and standing in a 

 beautiful situation. 



The surface of this island is beautifully diversified with valleys, plains, 

 and irregular hills. Its southern part is the most elevated, on one emi- 

 nence of which is a signal-house, for the announcement of vessels that are 

 coming through any of the neighbouring straits. It is well timbered, 

 and the trees are generally of a very large size. On the south side, 

 in the vicinity of the town, is a level, fertile, well cultivated plain, from 

 fifteen to twenty miles in length, and from three to four miles in breadth. 

 This whole area is laid out in gardens and plantations ; intersected in 

 all directions with excellent carriage-roads, the sides of which are 

 bordered with shrubs of various kinds, and trees of perpetual verdure. 

 Here the English merchants have their country seats, to which they 

 retire after business hours, to enjoy the pure air and the truly para- 



