New-York daily tribune., 1859-01-14
Nefu91ork DAILY Gribrnre
an AMERICAN WOMAN At SINGAPORE.
OF The N. Y. Tribune.

SfNGAPOhE, OcI. 70, lCOC.
have been constant reader Of THE TRIB-
UEE for the last four years; holding poiltl-
cally, socially and morally, very much your opin-
ions, as i understand them. have been many
voyages with my husband and Of course have heard
and seen much of this world of ours; but having a
great dislike to writing, have never been in the
habit Of putting my ideas on paper, and Do so
now, only because / made VOW that if ever
made another voyage, l would do the best / could,
and send you letter.
have been on shore at this place ten weeks,
and have been trying to learn whatever j could OF
it, and it's inhabitants; but being woman, and
speaking no language but English, / found myself
hampered much; l heard and saw something how
ever, and will try to give you the result.
After careful scrutiny, and listening to what
was said pro and con, with my own Judgment to
assist and arrange what / heard, j came to the
conclusion that Singapore is very desirable place
of residence. The cOlOred people seem (bey0nd
dspute) to enjoy more freedom here tnan peo-
ple Of the same class III any other place IN the
world their position being little inferior to that
of the whites in the United States. There are
about 75 900 Chinese, 90 900 Maays. ,OOO Kings
or Madras men and Arabs, Bengaese, Parsees,
with about 200 white inhabitants, including one
merchant from Yankee land ship chandler.
The Kings and Hindoos have several temples,
and mOnopoze the carts and carriages have
never met with any vehicle driven by any other
native. They are cute and energetic, striving TO
better their condition. like enterprisng Yankees
While the captains scod about their excessive
charges /. thanks to the teachings of THE TRIB-
UNE, exut in their liberty. They never take redress
into their own hands; but If the captains beat
them, which some, accustomed TO Southern ports
are apt to do. they Immediately take them to the
Police Court. where thanks to English law, their
word is as good as the captains. How often have
heard the captains grumbling that they could not
have the satisfaction of killing these fellows.
The Kings are very saving, and lay up money
fast-investing it in something that Will pay; and
SO they go on like any thrifty American, until they
soon get rich, when some 60 home for good, and
many more for visit only.
They do all the washing and ironing, and
are employed as bOatmen TO carry of cargoes
and unload ships; also TO furnish them with
fresh provisions. There are many wealthy CHI
nese here rs well as Arabs and Kings, who
own many native vessels and some European ships
that they have bought. This place was selected by
Sir Stamford Rafiles, 43 years since tmnk, wnen
the English gave up Java, as place, likely, from
its central situation, to become great commercial
port. IL seems TO have grown with the rapldity OF
our western cities. i am now sitting In front OF
the harbor aud have made an attempt to count the
large vessels but cannot. They are spread out
before me- forest of masts. One day, on board
ship, i counted nearly 100 ships of 500 tuns and
upward, and there are about as many now IN port.
j heard my husband say there are about as many
native craft good substantial vessels, built of ard
wood; and have seen many building, IN the course
Of my drives about the place.
All the steamers come heres one from Calcutta,
one from Batavia, one from Siam, while the " great
Overland mail " is brought on, once fortnight,
direct from the Red Sea, Via Alden, Point de Gale
and Penang.
/ have frequently read London newspaper
thirty. three days after il was printed and have
often read THE TRIBUNE before II was SIX weeks
old.
The only American merchant here takes The
SRMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE. 1t seemed as though l
was having good talk with you, while reading III
but alas | could not ask questions, and often the
papers were wanting that gave me the clue to mat
tiers of interest go there was hole IN the ballad
The Chinese there are tailOrs, both for women and
men, and shoemakers also. All the furniture is
made by them; servants in the houses, builders of
houses and boats blAcksmiths (so many ships re-
QuiTe much iron work., builders OF carriages,
basket makers, mat weavers, and shopkeepers are
all Chinese. think that | have never seen any
but Chinese in a shop of any kind here except one
large variety store kept by a Mr.. Little, and a
all the rect of them, and they in all the streets
are kept by the Chinese. The licensed opium
shops are about as numerous as New-York liquor
saloons.
There are many Cinnamon going about with
their portable kitchens, containing hot soup and
rice. Tis fine place TO study the Chinese, as
they do everything in the open air; their houses
are all open 10 the street you pass by; they
wear much less clothes than the other natives,
being almost invariably naked except an apology
for pair of breeches.
The Chinese have intermsrried with the Malay
women, and think that the result is BY no means
an improvement upon either race; they look to me
(and i have heard Others say the same) more
stupid than either, unmixed. 1t may be that an
always comparing them with the Kings who are 8
small, well formed people, with features bearing
more Of a resemblance TO the Caucasian race thsr
any other people who are not white that evel
saw. Some of the children thought really besutl
ful. Being firm believer in phrenology mot ex
sctly as Fowler has it, but after fashion OF my
own, TOOK great pains to ascertain Il their char
acter conforIned 10 their superior physsognomy
and found that it corresponded exactly.
The Governor has been here many years. Hs
has jurisdiction ever the settlements OF the Strait
cfPeDang and Malscca and Singapore, with sal
My Of $500 rupees per month. The Resident
Councillors salary is 1900 month; the CLei In