354 



bier, pepper, cloves, Sec ; and the superior free* 

 dom from adulteration iu the ft/rmer arLicle would 

 have been the means of annihilating the Rhio 

 trade in gam bier, had not the land rcvemie 

 system of the Straits been equally itn politic with 

 the export and import duties of the Dutch Colo- 

 nial admioiatration. I shall revert to this when 

 touching on the system prevalent in Malacca, as 

 the same rep^ulations obtain very nearly in each. 



A new pas^j^age. which l»a.s received the name 

 of ** New Harbor," has been lately discovered to 

 the westward of Singapore, through which ves- 

 sels can pass, and thus avoid the circuitous route, 

 by St. Jolm's, when going to, or coming from, 

 the Straits. The soundings are good, but the 

 channel narrow, and not to be attempted but in 

 daylight. A road has been made to the right, or 

 iidand, pointof the harbor from Singapore, which 

 presents a tolerably picturesque view, and has ad- 

 ded to the even now ciicumbcribed drives of the 

 inhabitants. For a considerable distance fiam 

 the shore, the beds of white coral, as you proceed 

 to New Harbor, are visible beneath your boats 

 keel, and a sampang load of ail the varieties can 

 be easily procured for a rupee. The Sulthaun of 

 Singapore has latterly erected a very neat house 

 at this spot, built and furnished after the Engli.vh 

 fash ion. The Inhabitants of New Harbor are ge* 

 nerally employed in either fishings, or making €<id- 



The Government 1 as latterly turned its attenti- 

 on to widening and deepening a canal to the east- 

 ward of the river, which, by opening a facility for 

 inland water carriage, may tend to encourage agri- 



