SINGAPORE ( from Skt. Sinhapura, Lion City). The capital of the British Straits Settlements and the most important commercial emporium of Southeastern Asia, situated on the island of Singapore, in latitude 1° 17' N., and longitude 103° 50' 47" E. (Map: French-ludo China, D 7). The town is well built, not merely in its European residence portion, but also in the native quarters. Its harbor is commodious and easy of access. Fkif six miles along its water front the city is lined with quays, wharves, docks, and shipyards. In the rear of the city still stands Fort Canning, the fort erected on a hill just out side the original settlement, but it is now sup plemented by modern batteries, which command the harbor. The Governor's palace is a large im pressive structure, situated in the midst of a beautiful park at the top of one of the three hills on the outskirts of the city. The most charming spot of the city is the turfed and shaded espla nade, fronting on the outer harbor. In its midst is erected a monument to Sir Stamford Raffles. the founder of the city. The botanical garden ranks as one of the best in the world. The city hall, the Gothic Cathedral of Saint Andrews. the Roman Catholic Cathedral, and the Raffles Nusemn and Library are all notable buildings. The greater portion of the trade is in the hands of the Chinese, who constitute about three fourths of the population.
Its geographical position at the eastern en trance to Malacca Strait, about midway between Hong Kong and Calcutta, the proximity to the islands of the Malay Archipelago, and above all the policy of absolute free trade have made Singapore the centre of a trans-shipping trade that is surpassed in the East only by that of the Chinese ports. The list of imports and exports
comprises cotton, copra, rice, tin, textiles, to bacco, spices. petroleum, sugar, coffee. pepper, opium, gambler, coal, fish, rattans. skins, silks. and gutta-percha. The manufactures are not extensive, but comprise the preparation of white pepper, tapioca, sago, and gambler, and the manufacture of vehicles, tools, and furniture, and there are shipbuilding establishments, pine apple canneries, and biscuit factories. The total imports for 1901 amounted to S254.128.315 in Mexican silver, and the exports to $213.108.826. The resident population of the municipality of Singapore, in 18111, was 155.683: in 1900. 193, 089. Of the latter number 141,805 were Chinese, 20,230 Malays. 15,646 natives of India, 2748 Europeans and Americans, and 3982 Eurasians.
Singapore has its own municipal organization under supervision of the colonial Government. The founding of the city in 1819 was due to the desire of Sir Stamford Raffles, then an employee of the East India Company, to establish an out post to counteract the growth of Dutch influence in this quarter of the globe. Despite intense opposition on the part of the Dutch and only half-hearted support from the home Government. he succeeded in gaining the island for England, and the continuously rapid growth of the city of Singapore has fully demonstrated the wisdom of his purpose. After the formal cession of the island to Great Britain in 1824 it was the capital of the consolidated governments of Penang, Singapore. and Malacca, which in 1867 became a Crown colony as the Straits Settlements.