SINGAPORE. 

 Sandstone and argillaceous sandstone * form f!i€r 

 chief geological features of this Island. Generally 

 speaking the island is formed of a succession of low 

 ridges, with narrow swampy vallics between lliem — ■ 

 the ridges or low hills occupying the largest apace, 

 Bukit Ttmah, which is considered the highest hilE 

 ou the Island, is not elevated apparently beyond 

 350 feet. The level portion, which has been as yet 

 rendered accessible, consists chiefly of the tract ex- 

 tending from the Government Hill, m an easterly di- 

 rection, as far as the little Red Ohf. It is bounded 

 on the land skle by Captain Flint's hill, and by 

 Colonel Farcmhar's on the N. E. side, and it extend* 

 a good way inland, A great part of the plaiB 

 bears traces of having once been covered by the 

 sea. Narrow parallel ridgrs of laud appear, va- 

 rying in breadth from 50 to 400 feet and having 

 alluvial flats between, fit for the cultivation of rice, 

 sugar-cane, &x\ The stiff ctay underneath is em- 

 ployed for the manufacture of bricks and tile*. But 

 it would seem that the soft or clay of Malacca is* 

 better suited than that of Singapore, or Penans, or Pro- 

 vince Wellcsley, for this manufacture. In the two latter 

 places, the clay is dug out so close to hrgh-water 

 mark that saline particles probably injure the quality 

 of the bricks. 



A sandstone is by rro means a desiralrie foundation 

 for a soil in a tropical region. 



The argillaceous sandstone of this Island is more or 

 fess im^HFegrwited wkh iron. This yields, on decom- 

 position, yellow, red, ami Wlfite earths. The two first 

 are probably fertile— the last is barely permeable to 

 the roots of plants. The hilly ground is covered by 



•The account of the nature of tlx toil here given, ii extracted from a Paj** 

 drawn up *>me yea n ago, by C opt. Lake, for Coverameu* 



