tiriboa). Only the summits of the higher grounds are barren, but on their elopes and in the depressions between them the soil frequently has a considerable degree of fertility. Tropical fruits succeed very well, such as the mangusteen, pine-apple, cocoa-nut, orange, and mango. The tropical vegetables, as the egg-plant, different kinds of pulse, the yam, the batata, different varieties of cucumber, and some others, grow very well, but the climate is too hot for most European vegetables. Large quantities of rice are imported from Sumatra and Java, and fruits from Malacca.
The animals of Europe have been introduced, but most of them are few in number, as pasture-grounds are scarce. The Chinese however keep a great number of hogs. Of the large quadrupeds of the conti nent tigers only ere met with on the island. The loss of human life caused by the attacks of tigers is considerable. There are several kinds of monkeys, bats, and squirrels; also the ictides, the porcupine, the sloth, the pangolin, the wild hog, and two species of deer—the M orchids pypaceut, which is smaller than an English hare, and the Indian roe (Corers Munjac). Birds are numerous, especially different kinds of pa/seems, climbers, and waders. Tortoises are common. The coral-reefs and shoals in the vicinity of Singapore furnish that delicate fern-like sea-weed called ' aggar-aggar ' (Filers saccAarines) in abun dance, and it forms an article of considerable export to China, where it is used in making thin glues and varnishes. It is made into a very fine jelly by Europeans and the native Portuguese.
In 1819, when the British took possession of the islands, the popu lation amounted to about 150 individuals, mostly fishermen and pirates, who lived in a few miserable huts: about 30 of these were Chinese, the remainder Malays. In 1824, when the first census was taken, the population was 10,03; in 1852 it was estimated at 59,043, including Europeans, Indo-Britons, Native Portuguese, Christians, Armenians, Arabs, Chuliahs, and Kling" from the coast of Coroman del ; natives of Hindustan, Bugle, and Balinese ; Malaya, Chinese, Javanese, Kaffirs, Siamese, Jews, Parseee, and Bayaneee. The European* are few. The Chinese are more than 80.000 in number, and the Malaya about 12,000. The military force, which consists of a detachment of the Madras native regimeut, with a small company of artillery, numbers about 500. The Europeans and Chinese constitute the wealthier classes. The Europeans are for the most part merchants, shopkeepers, and agents for mercantile houses in Europe. Moat of the
artisans, labourers, agriculturists, and shopkeepers are Chinese. The Malays are chiefly occupied in fishing, collecting sea-weed, and cutting timber, and many of them are employed is boatmen and sailors. The Bugle are almost invariably engaged in commerce, and the natives of India as petty shopkeepers, boatmen, and servant& The Chulithe and Kling. are daily labourers, artless's., and petty traden. The Kaffir' are the descendants of slaves, who have been brought by the Arias from the Arabian and Abyssinian coasts. The most useful are the Chinese settlers.
The town of Singapore stands on the southern shores of the island, In I' 17' 22' N. 1st., 103' 51' 45" E. long., on a level and low plain of inoonsiderable width, fronting the harbour. It extends about two miles along the shore, bet only I000 yards inland, where it is inclosed by hills from 100 to 150 feet high. The commercial portion of the town ample. the western extremity, and is separated from the other parte by a ealt-oreek, called the Singapore River, which is navigable for email craft. A good wooden bridge connects it with the eastern part, which coat/due the dwellings of the Europeans, the public offices, and the military cantonment& Contiguous to this portion of the town is the government-house, which is built on a hill. The moat eastern part is ocroupied by the sultan of Jahore, the Malays, and Bugle. The whole of the warehouses, and all the dwelling-houses in the principal street. in their vicinity, are built of brick and lime, and roofed with red tile& The more distant dwelling-houses are built of wood, but roofed with tiles. The town contains a Missionary and an Armenian church, a mum-bouts jail, cnstom-house, baths, concert rooms, several native 'cheats and the Singapore Institution founded by Sir Stamford Raffles for the cultivation of the languages of China, Siam, and the Malay Archipelago. The institution comprises English, Malay, and Tamul schools, with upwards of 70 pupils. Ships lie in the roads of Singapore at the distance of from one to two miles from the town, according to their draught. With the assistance of lighters, cargoes are discharged and taken in with scarcely any interruption throughout the year. The lighters convey the goods to the river of Singapore, where they discharge them at a con vent quay, and at the door of the principal warehouse..