OF THU ISLANDS NEAR SINGAPORE. 
593 
two yards deepens from 3 feet to 2 fathoms and then to 7 5 between 
the 2 and the 7 fathoms living- coral is to be seen in all its luxuri¬ 
ance and beauty, but never exposed at low water. Having- finished 
our observations on Pulo Bookum, we pulled over to Pulo Silting-, 
a small island about 1 mile distant. It is high in the centre and 
composed of iron clay stone, surrounding it are mangrove trees; no 
fresh water swamps are found on the island. Houses are built on 
the slope of the hill, facing the north, and can only be affected by 
the winds during the N.E. monsoon, which blow over a coral reef 
of some extent, not covered with sand, and although there is some 
detritus, from the island, from the iron clay stone, yet it does not 
seem to destroy the Polyps of the corals like to what sand does. On 
this account the reef facing this locality, though not so extensive as 
around Pulo Bookum, yet contains comparatively more living corals. 
During the N.E. monsoon the people were unhealthy, 3 out of the 
few inhabitants were labouring under remittent fever, one of whom 
died, as I learned on a subsequent visit. During the S.W. monsoon, 
which blows over the island before reaching the houses, the inhabi¬ 
tants are healthy. To this island (vide chart) I am desirous of di¬ 
recting the attention of the reader. It is about % a mile long and |- 
of a mile broad, elevated in the centre to the height of 20 to 30 feet 
above the level of the sea. It has been cleared of jungle and is with¬ 
out a fresh water swamp. Cocoanut and other fruit trees grow on 
it. Surrounding the island is a narrow belt of mangrove trees whose 
roots are daily washed with the sea; the soil of the island is entirely 
Iron-stone-clay, the iron being in the state of of peroxide. The 
inhabitants occupy 7 houses and are about 30 in number. The bouses 
are well built and superior to those of many other islands on account 
of the greater industry of the inhabitants in boat building. These 
houses are built on the slope of the hill facing the sea to the north, 
behind them is a little high land with rows of fruit trees. Their 
unhealthy monsoon is the N.E. during which the winds blow over a 
patch of living coral, and coral in a state of decomposition and not 
covered with sand. That this is an unhealthy monsoon, is evident 
from the fact of 3 being ill of remittent fever (dimam kapifelu), 
and that of such a severe type as to carry off one ; when I saw the 
sick I had no hopes of two, so bad were they, yet I recommended 
their friends to call upon me and get proper medicines, which they 
never did. In June 1848, I visited this same island and found all 
healthy ; before reaching the houses the wind in this monsoon blows 
