Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-12-29
Correspondence ofthe Express
A WESTER AMONG THE EASTERNS

SINGAPORE, June Is, 1910.
have remained basking in this climate, the
finest probably in the world-since last ad-
dressed you. The Island of Singapore, as
you doubtless know, is situated at the extreme
end Of the Straits of Malacca-nearly under
the Equator 1t became, by purchase, Brit
ish settlement in 1919, and with Malacca
and Penang, is part and parcel of the vast
Empire, governed by folks in Leadenhall Lane;
the Honorable the East India Company -
Singapore, and the two other aforenamed SET
Elements from what is called, in other parts,
the Straits OF Government, and is under the
immediate government of Bengal. Each set
Element has its own Re sident, or Chief Magis-
trate, and over them a Governor. At each
station there is a corps of Madras Sepoys, with
European, officers. The Courts are presided
by the Resident, for small offences, and for
graver cases by the Governor and Recorder
the latter is a law character, and is appointed
by the crown.
Penang or according to its legal appellation,
Prince Of Wales Island, lays at The other, or
Western end Of the straits, and is fine lofty
and Picturesque little Island. 1t was a com
pany's possession long before Singapore, and
had good deal oftrade ill the time ofthe Eng
lish coming here, when, owing TO the superior
commercial position of the new settlement at
seas, 1t was transferred to it. But Penang
still retains the trade to the coast of Sumatra,
and Borneo and the coast adjacent. The Is
land Is, IN good part, covered by very exten
sive nutmeg plantations, which already yield
large revenues 20 the crown.
Malacca, so celebrated in the annals Of the
East as a great mart OF commerce, when I'M
der the dominion of the Portuguese and the
Dutch is seated on the Malayan peninsula,
nearly midway between Penang and Singa-
pore, and has diminished them to a mere mil
| ltary post. 1t has scarcely any thing that may
be called trade--nor any plantations save those
necessary to supply the relics of the old Por-
! tuguese and Dutch families, who still cling to
the ruins of their ancestors with fondness. -
And yet there are extremity rich tin and gold
districts in the immediate vicinity of the set
Element, which if worked with European skill,
would give large profits. Bot, except here
and there some rude works are set up by ig-
norant, but enterprising Chinese OF Malays,
nothing is done towards exploring the hidden
treasures
] now return from this rapid excursion down
the straits TO this Island, which is none the
largest, being about twenty seven miles long
by about fourteen wide. Its appearance from
ric eva - i0.., g.. 49, i.i-i---. l-l 9~@- nat
exceed four hundred feet in height. Until
v.
tnuous jungle ,foresO which is beginning 10
give way before growing population, consist
ing principally of Chinese, who squat on the
public lands and plant pepper and gambler
1.-THE illusion of the leaves of which make a
specie of terra japonica.) A countryman OF
ours has been at great pains to point out TO the
English Inhabitants the agricultural capabli-
ties Of the soil, and il is only now, that he has
| shown the result Of his own enterprise that
| they are brought to believe the island capable
/ OF growing the usual staples oftropical climes.
! Suimegs,sugar and coffee are the chief objects
Of attention with Europeans.
! The population the Island, am told, may
| be SET down at 10000 Chinese, 5000 natives
Of India, 5000 Malays and $50 Europeans.
| This does not include 1000 convicls, employ
| ed on public works, or the garrison Of 600 Sc
| poys. As a port OF arrivals and departures,
| il Is one Of the busiest know Of, for the sig
I nal master on The government hill has no SIN
ecute OF IT, Seldom a day passes without
many vessels coming in from the Eas, or West;
Z by far the mos, pau Of them only call in for
/ wood, wa'er, or Information, being bound 10
other places Bu, sill each one leaves lit
tie dust behind, which on The aggregate must
I Weld large annual sums in the hands Of those
connected with shipping. As 10 the large
dealers they complain Of too large fraternity
[ for the business Of the place.
| could hardly close this short notice Of Sin
gapore without saying something Of our coun-
iryman Tie Missionaries, who have gained
golden opinions Of all here for their Christian
virtues. They are universally cited as eIem-
plsry m their calling They have on bill