338 Varie " ^OTZtSS SINGAPORE. American consul at Singapore. 



CHAITER XXXVIII. 

 SINGAPORE. 



taiiif.tt or «niri"ixa tn tub ho a us— view nr the tows— tMEHtrts rossin.— r.vTKAxrK or the rttkr— 

 lax disc— variety or costumes, races, reugioks, axd laxopages— roues and militaxt force— ticebi 



— HOT A. NT USD CULTIVATED * LASTS — SOI t AXU SUGAR— MODE OF CONVEYANCE — CM IXESE INHABITANTS— THEIR 

 GAMBLING— THEIR AFFEABAXCE AKD DRESS— THEIR FESTIVAL OF THE NEW TEAR— THEIR THEATRICALS— 

 COXVtCTS — M ARRET — CltH XENCY —TRADES — It A LA YS — ABMEX1 ANS— PARSERS — AX ARS — C A PrRKS — M IXTCHF. OF 

 RACES — SHIF Or THE KIXO Or COCHIX-UIIX A— CHINESE JUNES— TRADE OF *I»OAPOER — OMUM SHOPS— 

 PoPULATlOX OP SINGAPORE— CLIMATE OF SING APORE— » A LK OF F LYlNO-FlStt— DKP A RTl'RX FROM SINGAPORE. 



Wt: fount! at Singapore a collection of shipping, 

 of various sizes, from the tiny cockboat to the 

 stately ixiid well-formed 1 tubal nun, from the vast 

 hulk-like junk to the light and skipping sampan*. 

 Not only were a great part of the vessels of a 

 novel description, but their national Hugs were 

 equally strange. Many of the hitter were n<»w 

 seen by ua for the first time, nnJ were displayed 

 in various ways ; some Hew at each masthead, 

 others floated from horizontal yards, while the more 

 civilized nations were distinguished hy ensigns 

 pendent from the peak. 



The variety in the style nf paint and ornament 

 was equally great. The Chinese junks exhibited 

 their arched sides painted in curved streaks of red, 

 yellow, and while ; the Siamese ships, half Euro- 

 pean in structure and model, showed huge carved 

 sterns ; and these wore contrasted with the long, 

 low, and dark hulls of the prahus and the npium- 

 Hmugglor. The two latter classes perhaps excited 

 the greatest attention, in consequence of the war 

 they are continually carrying on against the property 

 and lives, as well as the morals and laws, of the 

 natives of the surrounding countries. 



It is difficult to c-umul>' the average number of 

 vessels that ore to bo seen in the roads of Singa- 

 pore; for on some days they appear crowded, while 

 on others they arc comparatively empty. While 

 many vessels Are continually arriving ami depart- 

 ing, the Chinese junks alone appear aa fixtures; 

 more than fifty of them were counted, with sails 

 unbent, yards housed, and rudders unhung, in 

 which state they resemble floating shops, wherein 

 are offered for sale assortments of every article 

 produced or manufactured in the Celestial Empire ; 

 samples of which, by way of sign, arc to be seen 

 hanging about them in all directions. These junks 

 make no more than one voyage a year, performing 

 their passage in cither direction during the favour- 

 ing monsoon. 



Unlike other ports, the water presents at. tir-t so 

 many objects to attract the attention, that the hind 

 and "town remain unnoticed until the curiosity in 

 relation to those which are afloat is satisfied. Uu 

 turning to view the town, its situation appears to 

 be low, as well as that of the island on which it is 

 built. The highest point of the latter is not more 

 than five hundred feet above the level of the sea, 

 and oven this elevation is distant, so that there is 



* The sampan U alight and easy-pulling boat, used at 

 Singapore to carry oissengcrs to and from Ihe shipping in 

 the roads. 



limbing to render the 6ceiiory picturesque, nor has 

 it much of the character that is styled Oriental. 

 The disLiuit jungle, however, relieved by the white 

 portious of buildings in the European style, fur- 

 nishes a landscape pleasing to the eye. These 

 buildings seem to be upon the very beach, while a 

 hill in the rear is crowned by the dwelling of the 

 governor, near which is the flag-staff. The inter- 

 vening space is filled with buildings, whose style 

 holds an intermediate place between that of Eu- 

 rope and that of the Chinese and Malays, neither 

 of which predominates so much aa to give its dis- 

 tinctive character to the scene. 



The stranger, after anchoring in the roads, is not 

 long before he discovers the point at which the 

 river discharges itself; for one continued stream of 

 bunts, sampans, and prnhiip, is seen tending to a 

 point in the beach, where the entrance is partly 

 concealed from view; neither can he be long igno- 

 rant how large a concourse of various races is here 

 assembled. Our ship was crowded from an early 

 hour with tailors, shoemakers, washerwomen, and 

 venders of curiosities. The latter brought shells, 

 birds of paradise, monkeys, parrots, corals, and 

 mots. Without board there were innumerable 

 bumhoats, bringing for sale fresh bread, eggs, milk, 

 chickens, and ducks, both alive and cooked, fish, 

 fruit, and vegetables. All sued piteously for per- 

 mission to come alongside, and made a prodigious 

 clatter. The features, dress, and language of the 

 venders were as various as the articles they had to 

 sell; and they agreed only in the common cha- 

 racter of a dark skin. The specimen thus pre- 

 sented of the population of Singapore prepared us 

 for the eight of the motley group we were to 

 meet on shore. 



At Singapore I had the pleasure of renewing my 

 acquaintance with Mr, Balcstier, our worthy consul. 

 To him, his lady, and his son, we are under many 

 obligations for their kind treatment and attention. 

 Air. Uulestier is so well known among men of 

 science in the United States, it would be heedless 

 for me to say that from him 1 derived much in- 

 teresting information relative to the place, its com- 

 merce, &c, f»r which 1 here offer my acknow- 

 ledgments. He was exteusively engaged in the 

 cultivation of sugar, on a plantation of one thou- 

 sand acres, within two miles of Singapore, nearly 

 half of which was under cultivation. This extent 

 of ground he has by his exertions reclaimed 

 from the jungle, and it bids fair to repay the 

 lalwiur and expense he has incurred in clearing 

 and bringing it into cultivation. He is the first 



