Directory_and_Chronicle_1882 — Page 531

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

SINGAPORE.

The town of Siugapore, situated on the southern shore of an island of the same name in lat. 1 deg. 16 min. N. and long. 103 deg. 35 min. E., is the seat of govern- ment of the colony known as the Straits Settlements, consisting of Singapore, Malacca, Penang, Province Wellesley, the Dindings, and a small strip of land opposite Pulo Dinding.

The Island of Singapore is about 27 miles long by 14 wide, and is separated by a narrow strait about one to two miles wide from the territory of Johore, which occupies the southern extremity of the Malay Peninsula. Originally taken possession of in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles, it was, until 1823, subordinate to our then settle- ment in Sumatra. In that year it became an appanage of the Indian Government, in which condition it remained until 1867, when it was placed under the Colonial Office in conjunction with the other Settlements above mentioned.

The town proper extends for about four miles along the south-eastern shore of the Island, spreading inland for a distance varying from half to three-quarters of a mile, though the majority of the residences of the upper class Europeans lie, as a rule, much further back, within a circle with a radius of three-and-a half miles from the Cathedral. This portion of the settlement is almost entirely level, the highest hill in the island, indeed, about six miles from the south coast only rising to a height of 500 feet. The country roads are well kept, and, thanks to the luxuriance of tropical vegetation, abouna in sbade. The town streets, on the other hand, though wide and well metalled, are, as regards architectural matters, drains, and gutters, no great credit to the Municipality which has then. iu charge. Filth and obstructions of all sorts dis- tinguish the nat ve portion of the town, while as compared with nearly every other Eastern city in European hands, the buildings of the business quarters are singularly shabby and mediocre. The Government Offices and City Hall, however, are fine uildings, while the settlement possesses a new and handsome Club, which compares favourably with any in the East.

The population of Sngapore by the census taken in April, 1881 is 139,208, of whom 86,766 were Chinese and 22,114 Malays. The Klings, with a very few Parsees, Arabs, &c., forming perhaps a sixtieth part of the whole population--are as rule peaceful an I unambitious, and give but little trouble. The European com- munity consists in the main of English and Germans, and numbers, with 783 military, a total of 2,768. A large half-caste or Eurasian population, numbering 2,094, occupies the place elsewhere taken by the Asio-Portuguese.

The principal business quarter of Singapore is the Raffles Square with its adja- cent quays and streets. The foreign stores are few in number, but are fairly well supplied with necessaries, few of the luxuries, however, which are so prominent in Hongkong or Shanghai establishments finding place. A general want of enterprise, owing probably to the climate, is indeed a distinctive feature of Singapore life.

Singapore possesses a handsome though small Protestant Cathedral (its name having been recently added to the title of the see of Labuan), a neat Presbyterian Ch: pel, and several Catholic churches of roomy proportions. The principal schools are those of the Raffles Institute and the Christian Brothers, a Convent also provid- ing for th education of girls of the Roman Catholic persuasion. There is a country Club with a well built bungalow situated some three miles out of town, at which