350 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [Malay Peninsula. 



When the Dutch resumed their Eastern possessions in 1814, they 

 seemed bent upon reviving and extending their ancient exclusive commercial 

 system with Malacca, which was transferred to them at the Peace. They 

 claimed a sovereignty over Rhio, and the whole of the ancient Empire 

 of Johore, which included Lingen and Pahang. To obviate their views, 

 and to establish a free entrepot for trade. Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles 

 was authorized in 1818, by the Supreme Government in India, to fix upon 

 a spot not under Dutch power, adapted for a settlement. He selected 

 Singapore, and concluded an arrangement with the Toomoongong, or 

 Chief, by which the island was ceded to the Company for a certain stipend. 

 Some remonstrance was made on the part of the Dutch, but without any 

 ground, as the Chief held the lands of Singapore, and of most of the Islands 

 about the Straits, as his own independent inheritance. 



By the subsequent treaty between the British and Netherlands 

 Governments, Singapore was formally ceded to His Majesty ; and by the 

 Act 5, Geo. IV. is transferred to the East India Company. 



Its rapid rise is truly astonishing. In the first two months, it was 

 visited by 273 vessels. Its admirable position in regard to India, China, 

 Java, Borneo, Sumatra, and the Eastern Archipelago — its physical ad- 

 vantages in a rich and fertile soil — its liar hour unrivalled in these seas, as 

 to capacity and security— and its freedom from imports, lessen our wonder 

 at the progress it has made. When the British flag was lirst hoisted, the 

 island scarcely contained 200 souls, mostly fishermen ; it is now a colony 

 of more than 10,000 industrious inhabitants, collected from all quarters, 

 (the largest portion Malays and Chinese), living in harmony under British 

 Government; and plantations of pepper, gambia, spices, and coffee are 

 fast rising. Singapore is declared a free port, and die trade open to vessels 

 of every nation, free of duty. 



At the anchorage in the harbour ships are sheltered from E. N. E. 

 round to N and W., as far as S. by W., by the S. point of Johore, Singapore, 

 and many smaller islands, extending to St. John's, and thence round to 

 the N. point of Batang, bearing E. S. E., by the numerous islands forming 

 the S. side of the Singajx:>re Strait ; the bottom to within a lew yards of 

 the shore is soft mud, and holds well. 



As the directions for Singapore Harbour are not found in Capt. 

 Horsburgh's Work, it may be useful to subjoin those of Capt. Ross, of 

 the Bombay Marine, who surveyed it in 1819. 



" Ships that are coming from the E., have nothing to apprehend in 

 rounding the small peaked island which is on the E. side of St. John's, as 



