The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1868-07-30
Personal.

We were pleased to see in Kenosha
again, Prof Isaac Stone and wife, who have
just returned from Singapore, Southeastern
India. Mr., Stone received the appointments
of consul to Singapore some four and half
years ago, and soon after left here for that
distant point He is now back on leave OF
absence. Mr.. Stone has favored us with some
facts in relation to Singapore, which viii
doubtless be interesting to our readers.
Singapore is situated on an Island of that
name, nearly under the equator, being only
degree and II minutes north latitude. The
temperature varies but little during the year,
generally ranging from 50 to 81. The highest
degree Indicated by the thermometer during
the residence of Mr.. Stone in Singapore, was
s9-this was reached but once ; and but once
the thermometer fell to IA The rain falls on
an average days in every ~ this rainfall is
usually only during the night, and generally
OF short duration, frequently not exceeding
dye minutes. These frequent and short falls
of rain gives perpetual freshness to yerdure
unparalleled in almost any other part of the
world There is a balmy and delicious soft
ness In the air at night, which Mr. Stone de-
scribes as eXquisitely delightful, and almost
Intoxicating to the senses. The moon shines
with such peerless light as to enable one to
read without the least difficulty. Mr.. Stone
found the climate rather depressing and
weakening to his strength. With his wife il
was quite the reverse she grew feshy
strong and yigororous under the influence OF
the climate.
All the tropical fruits are produced those
most common are pine-apples, bananas,
magosteins, bread fruit, oranges, lemons, &c.
There is not day in the year but that some
kinds of fruit are in blossom, some half ma.
tured and others fully ripe.
The general health of Singapore is regarde ed
good the climate is as conducive to longeyi.
ty as the average in the United States. There
ara no epidemics, and newcomers are not
subject to the aeclimating sickness. The
domestic animals are chiefly such as are found
In this country. OF meats, the markets sup
ply an abundance of beef (Which is usually
tough and inferior), mutton of the very best
quality, chickens, ducks and fish. OF wild
animals, Mr.. Stone says the accounts given
In former years of large numbers of tigers In
the Jungies, is measurably true. These fierce
beasts still infest the thickets in the sparsely
settled parts Of the island, and are as raven.
GUS for human flesh as ever. They. of course.
are never seen wild in the vicinity of the CITY,
Monkeys are common, and seen every day.
Ofreptiles, the boa construct or from 25 to 90
feet in length, is sometimes found, but only
In the less-lnhabited parts; the poisonous
cobra Is also found. A person, however, re.
siding in the city or vicinity, might not meet
with one of these reptiles in lifetime.
The population of the city of Sinca nore /.
now about 100, 300, having greatly increased
during the past ten years. Ofthis nprbar
$4,000 are Chinese, 1000 Malays, and the bal
ance Europeans. The commercial LANGUAGE
of the city is Malay; all business must b,
transacted in this language. The Chinese ar,
proverhial for their industry; the MaIavs ar,
indolent. The English society is good, beins
made up largely Of wealthy India merchants
and British ex-officials. All the luxuries o
the tropics as we'll as of other climes. are en-
joyed by this class of European residents
There are five English schools maintained
and churches of the Episcopal, Presbyterian
Methodist and Baptist denominations.
Singapore is the great entrepot Of the Eas
India and China trade. Vessels of all nation
stop at this point more than at any other i
that region. It's exports consist chiefly of tn
tropical productions of the neighboring is
lands.
The usual route from the United States t
Singapore, is to Liverpool, thence to London
Paris, Marseilles, Alexandria, and Cairo
Egypt, Suez, thence down the Red Sea t
Adm, Ceylon and Singapore. The entire di:
lance is now performed by steam, and can b
accomplished in As days, provided stead
treysling can be endured that distance, whic
is not ordinarily the case.