Directory_and_Chronicle_1901 — Page 958

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SINGAPORE

population, it is the cheapest animal food in the market, one of the largest, weighing several hundredweight, selling for $2 or $3. Of snakes, forty-four species have been found to exist, of which fourteen are more or less venomous. The well-known cobra (Naju_tripudians) possesses the peculiar property of ejecting venom from its mouth. The Malays say there is no cure for its bite. Those killed have measured from 43 to 5 feet in length. The reptile, being slow and sluggish, is easily overtaken and killed. When attacked, it erects the body and dilates the skin on either side of the head, uttering a noise like that of an irritated cat. If attacked, it throws, to the distance of from 6 to 8 feet, a venomous fluid of a most poisonous quality, even should it only enter the eye or touch the mucous membrane or any open sore. The hamadryad (Ophiophagus elaps) exists, but is fortunately not common. The bungarus is the only other venomous snake of large size; but pythons of considerable length-up to 22 feet are frequently captured. Fish and crustaceans are in great plenty, and some 200 species will be found named in the published lists. About half-a-dozen of these are excellent for the table, fully equal to the best fish of our own coasts. Among the best is the white pomfret of Europeans, the bawalputeh of the Malays, of richer flavour than our soles, though less luscious than the turbot, and the ikan merah, resembling the sam-lai of China.

Singapore offers but few points of salient interest to visitors, the Botanical Gardens at Tanglin, the Waterworks in Thonison Road, and the Raffles Library and Museum being its only show places. A railway across the island has long been proposed, and was sanctioned by a vote of the Legislative Council in 1899. This line of fourteen miles may be the first section of a great Malay Peninsula and India Railway, passing through and opening up the countries of Johore, Malacca, the Native Malay States, some Siamese territory and Burma, on to Calcutta. The distance from Singapore to Calcutta is just over 2,000 miles.

DIRECTORY

COLONIAL GOVERNMENT

Acting Governor, Vice-Admiral, and Commander-in-Chief-SIR J. A. SWETTENHAM,

K.C.M.G.

Aide-de-Camp-Captain F. D. Barry Private Secretary-G. A. J. Bosanquet

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

His Excellency the Governor, president General Officer Commanding the Troops Hon. Colonial Secretary

Hon. Resident Councillor of Penang Hon. Resident Councillor of Malacca

LEGISLATIVE

His Excellency the Governor, president General Officer Commanding the Troops Hon. Colonial Secretary

Hon. Resident Councillor of Penang Hon. Resident Councillor of Malacca Hon. Attorney-General Hon. Colonial Treasurer Hon. Auditor General Hon. Colonial Engineer

Hon. Attorney-General Hon. Colonial Treasurer Hon. Auditor General Hon. Colonial Engineer

COUNCIL

Hon. J. M. B. Vermont Hon. J Burkinshaw Hon. Lin Boon Keng, M.B. Hon. J. M. Allinson

Hon. W. J. Napier

Hon. J. Bromhead Matthews Hon. T. E. Earle

Clerk of Councils--A.W.S.O'Sullivan(acting) Shorthand Reporter-W. C. Suter

For Government Departments see under G

ABDULKADER HUSAINALLY (VASI), Mer- chant and Commission Agent, 17, Mal- acca Street; Head Offices, Bombay and Surat; Branches, Bangkok, Cambodia, Aden, Hodeida, and Ahmadabad

H. A. Kader, manager

ABDULTYEB ESMAILJEE, Merchant and

Commission Agent, 23, Raffles Place

Abdultyeb Esmailjee (Surat) Abdulkyoom N. Khanwalla, manager

Tyebbhoy Esoofally

REMINGTON TYPEWRITER, 327 Broadway, New York, U. S. A.