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Topographical Description of Singapore.
The island of Singapore presents very few Islandi. marked elevations. Its surface cousists for the most part of small rounded hills averaging about 100 feet in height, the valleys between which are only a few feet above the sea level. Bukit Timah, the highest point, has an elevation of about 530 feet.
The town of Singapore is situated on a flat Town. alluvial plain, which stretches along the shore of an open bay on the south-eastern part of the island. This bay, which is about 34 miles in width, from Tanjong Karong on the cast to Tau- jong Paggar on the west, receives the waters of two sumll streams, the Singapore river and the Kallang river. the latter of which unites at its mouth with two smaller rivers, the Rochore and the Gaylang, whilst the former runs through the rentre of the town and divides it into two distinct portions.--(Plan II). That portion on the south- ern side is the chief commercial quarter, and is provided with ample quays and wharves for the lauding and shipment of merchandize. quay, about 600 yards in length, stretches from the mouth along the right bank of the river, which, for a distance of over a quarter of a mile. here assumes the form of an elliptical basin about 150 yards in maximum width. This basin, which cannot be seen from the bay, on account of a projecting spit of land on the "southern side of the entrance to the river, is generally covered by hundreds of native small craft engaged in transhipping goods between vessels in the road- stead and the warehouses which cover a large area, in this quarter of the town.
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On the left bank of the Singapore river are situated the Public Buildings, whilst to the east- ward, as far as the Kallang river, stretches a na- tive town, called Campong Glam, which is the oldest portion of Singapore. From Tanjong Rhoo, a narrow spit on the south side of the entrance to the Kallang river, the coast to Tau- jong Katong, (a distance of about 4,000 yards) und for some miles beyond, is flat, and the com- try behind presents no particular elevation.
Along the western shore of the bay, to the Mount Palmer. southward of the town, and from thence to Tan- jong Paggar, are several bills; the principal of which, Mount Palmer, is about 110 feet above the sen.
A sandy spit lies to the south of Tan- jong Paggar, for a distance of about 600 yards, and from its southern extremity to Tanjong Kn- tong runs the 3 fathom line.(Plan ÏI). In- mediately outside this line, and at a distance of
about a mile from the shore, are the Singapore Singapore Roads. Roads, in which vessels of the heaviest burden can lie in perfect safely, in a depth of water varying from 7 to 12 fathoms. Parallel to the Roads, and at a distance of about 2 miles from the town, is a shoal, some 3,000 yards in length and 450 in breadth.
Peurls Hill.
To the westward of the town are several hills, for the most part occupied by houses of the European portion of the population. The most prominent of these on the northern side of the Fort Cauning Hi Singapore river is the site of Fort Canning,
which is 150 feet above the son, and about half mile distant from the shore. Pearls Hill, on the southern side of the river, and about the same height as Fort Canning Hill, is occupied Military Establish by the Military Store Establishment. The Sepoy Lines, formerly the quarters of a Native Regiment, and now partly appropriated as a General Hospital, are on the southern side of Pearls Hill. About three miles from the town to the westward are the Tanglin Barracks, con- taining accommodation for one European Regi-
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Monat Faber.
Bakun Mati.
New Harbour.
Tanjong Pagar
Works,
Paio Brani.
ment.
At the southern extremity of Singapore Island is a range of hills called Mount Faber, raming N.W. and S.E., and about a mile in length. The most easterly point of this range is about 2,500 yards from Mount Palmer, and the highest point of Mount Faber is 357 feet above the sen. Be- tween this and Port Caming, the country is low and undulating, and is well comunaided from these two points.
Off the southern extremity of the island of Singapore hes Blakan Mati, a triangular shaped island, 24 miles in length and mile in average breadth, and the south-eastern and south-western sides of which are in prolongation of the adja- cent shores of the main island. The highest point on Blakan Mati is Mount. Serapong, near the eastern end of the island, and about 300 feet above the sen level. Between Blakan Mati and Singapore island, runs a channel, of a mini- mum depth of 6 fathoms, known as the New Harbour, along the northern shore of which are a succession of wharves, docks, coaling de- pôts, and fitting establishments. From Mount Serapong, a fiue command is obtained over the Roadstead, the harbour and establishments there- in, as well as upon the approaches thereto. The eastern entrance to the New Harbour between Blakan Mati and Tanjong Paggar is about a mile in width, the breadth of the chan- nel being about 600 yards. Immediately inside the entrance are the Tanjong Paggur Works, consisting of a wharf, capable of berthing a dozen vessels at a time, out of the action of the tide, and having sufficient water alongside for the heaviest ships; a dock, 450 feet in length, and 65 in breadth at the entrance; a large machine shop, having the appliances necessary for effect- ing the heaviest repairs to steamers and iron vessels extensive coal sheds, capable of con- taining 30,000 tons; and commiodions ware- houses.
Near the eastern entrance also, between Mount Serapong and Mount Faber, lies Pulo Braui, a irregular shaped island, the highest point of which is about 170 feet in height. On the
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