THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE. 
551 
1846 .] 
tive formation, and nearly destitute of large trees, but very thickly covered with 
brush wood, which is cut by the inhabitants, and disposed of in the city, or sold to 
ships, which only touch here for refreshments, wood, or water, in consequence of 
the king reserving the exclusive right of trade to himself, and it is only by permis- 
sion of the mandarins, that their subjects can dispose or purchase the smallest 
article from foreigners. 
Several streams of water flow from the mountains into tne bay, of an excellent 
quality, and fruits, such as are found in tropical countries, can be. had in abundance 
and at a reasonable price, together with pigs, poultry, and bullocks. Tney prepare 
a iarge quantity of dried fish, on which principally the poorer inhabitants appear to 
subsist, and may perhaps be the cause of the prevalence of cutaneous diseases. 
The condition of the lower classes indeed appears to be more object and servile 
than I had yet observed. Their clothing was of the coarsest material of grass cloth, 
and not removed until lost in rags ; and frequently their only mantle consisted ot 
dried leaves stitched together, which was thrown over the shoulders descending to 
the knees, with a small strip of grass cloth about their hips, serving as a fig-leaf. 
The children of this class were entirely naked. 
Their food consisted of salt fish and rice, with a sauce made of shrimp and small 
fish of a reddish color, and used in a putrescent state. Banana leaves serve them 
for plates, while their rice is eaten from small bowls with chop-sticks. 
Although the plebeians appeared to be in such an aqject state of wretchedness, 
1 he more favored classes a. dear to have comprehended the advantages to be de- 
rived from the improvements of civilized nations, more than their neighbors the 
Chinese, for they no longer use the matchlock in their army, but have purchased 
muskets from the French and English, and their cannon are mounted on carriages 
after the European mode, and their forts are also built after the European method, 
which knowledge they have obtained from French missionaries, who have resided 
among them for many years, and have converted thousands of the natives to the 
Christian faith, but appear of late years to have become obnoxious to some of the 
mandarins, and have been persecuted and imprisoned, and some have been under 
sentence of death for some time, but the king’s signature could never be obtained 
for their execution, from his pusillanimity and fear of bringing the vengeance of 
the French government upon his nation. 
Mr. Ballister, the American consul at Singapore is nis acting agent, and has ed- 
ucated two Cochin Chinese subjects. Having heard from one of these subjects, when 
on a visit to Singapore, that three French missionaries were confined in prison and 
under sentence of death, he sent the king word, by this means, that if they were 
executed they would certainly bring the vengeance of the French power upon them. 
The execution was delayed, and in the mean while he gave information to the 
French commodore in Manilla, despatched a brig to Turon, and carried them from 
the country. After the most positive denial of having the missionaries in their 
custody, it was only after the third day, when the brig had been placed in a posi- 
tion to fire upon the city, that they were liberated. 
Their character for duplicity is well known to those who are acquainted with 
them, and should always be kept in view when treating with them. 
The similar circumstances which detained the Constitution in this place for 
some days in the meritorious attempt to release bishop Lefevre, who was then un- 
der sentence of death and asked for aid, and although it did not prove successful 
at the time, yet no doubt may have been the means of preserving his life until the 
arrival of the French ship; and however much I regret the circumstance which 
prevented me from exploring the neighboring country, yet, the reflection that it 
probably was the means of saving a worthy man from a cruel death, is certainly a 
more pleasing recollection than the partial examination of this place, daring the 
limited time which would otherwise have been afforded, had this event not occurred 
with this jealous and peculiar people. 
From the little opportunity I had on shore at this place, I found many plants 
here common to Singapore and Borneo, but the vegetation was not of that luxuriant 
character, owing perhaps to the sterility of the soil immediately contiguous to um 
bay, but from the appearance of several cultivated vallies at a distance, the soil 
there was very fertile. There is said to be a very fine quality of rice cultivated in 
this country, which only grows on dry ground, and I had made arrangements with 
