The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-05
Ghinos sbroad.
LETTERS FROM THE ORIENT.
BY HON. n. ,. GRAVES.

BY HON. N. =. GRAVES.
Singapore: Notifications and Landscape /:
The Chisase and Malays Oriental
Washing: Tigers.
We assembled a high bill overlooking
the city, the bay, and the green isles Of
the Archipelago. II Is picturesque
sight, paying well for the walk. The hill
is fertilization, with ramparts aud guns.
The British flag was flying, showing who
commands these narrow passages to the
vast seas beyond. This channel is mar
row, and when those black throats speak,
the ships that crowd these waters obey.
There are signals on these hills that can
be seen for many miles around. The
sights from this famous hill are interesting
The sparkling sea Is as smooth as river.
AT the left lies the low but highly cul-
tivated land that forms the south part Of
Asia. The beautiful Straits Of Malacca
are at the right. In the foreground the
slope Of the hill is as green as the sea,
with herd Of small cattle grazing, and a
little farther away we saw some quaint old
houses with matched roofs, and here and
there new houses painted white, and some
villas covered with red tile. This is a
unique sight, for the native and foreign
houses are near each other, and all are
half hidden by the luxurious growth Of
palms and other tropical trees and vines
that overhang them. These quaint, old
and rusty houses, the bright green around +,
with great profusion of shrubs and vines,
make charming landscape. Upon every
side there are glimpses Of water and ship.
ping, and groves Of palm, teak and tama.
rind. The road winds around between
the hills, lined with little cottages, with
gardens filed with fruits and flowers.
The city lies along the bay and river, and
the church spire towers above the trees.
The little houses Of the natives are dingy
aud dirty and close on the street, but at q
distance the deformities are lost, and they
all look pleasant The houses Of the Chi.
nese are only shanties. The Chinese are
crowding the Malays and stepping In theil
places, patiently at work turning theil
hand toanything that offers. The Chinese
do all the work in the banks and insurance
Offices; they are the sailors, cooks and stew
ards on most Of the ships. They arc moi
popular here, and are hated by the othel
laborers, but they are quiet and inoffen.
sive, and are fast filling up all the places
in this part Of the world.
Tue Malays are generally naked ant
appear to be an indolent but inofFeusiyt
race. They are fond Of water and hav,
little boats that are mere shells Of wood
being logs followed out. They use shor
paddle, but their hands seem to do as well
They are not black like our negroes, moi
copper-colored like our Indians, but a darl
bronze color. They can live in the waite
as well as duck. They always come t,
dive for pennies and small silver pieces
The money is thrown into the water, an,
they dive and most always get il before
reaches the bottom. Throw ten cents. an,
half dozen Of these little black divers q
for it, aud very seldom fail to reappea
with the coin 10 their mouth, ready fc
another dive.
The coral and she'll dealers are here i
great numbers. The corals as well as III
shells are beautiful, aud for sale YER
cheap. Five dollars will buy a small boat
load, but what can you do with it? Iii
on the wrong side Of the world. The ma
tlves put two or three prices on their wares
If they ask ten dollars and you offer two
you generally purchase it. A Malay aske,
ten dollars for monkey, and a travelle
offered one dollar for it; the monkey mar
said, "You take him, and 10 momen
the traveller had the monkey by the string
We were riding along by stream, anc
halted to watch some washermen washing
in the edge of the creek. It seemed L
be washing day, for two men came with
great baskets Of clothes for the wash
They wet the clothes and then spread then
on the grass, aud ooyer them with q kind
of clay found here, called by the native.
tarna. The hot tropical sun soon dried
the moisture, but the wetting process was
kept up until the tarna had done Its work
aud then these washermen-called here
ahobls-wont into the stream and beat
each garment on the rocks, rubbing and
wringing, until the tarna was all removed
when the clothes were as white as snow
This is Oriental washing. 1t is true i
makes the buttons Ay, but it makes thu
fabrics white. This tarna is peculiar t
the East, having extraordinary qualities
removing all stains from linen when right
ly applied. The Buddhist priests have
saying "that although tarna removes al
stains from linen, there are stains Of sir
of so deep dye that tarna cannot remove.
There is far more water than land il
this part of the world, and all tho town,
teen with dense population, and whal
seems so strange Is that not half Of the
land is cultivated at all, and the balanc,
is only badly cultivated. There are hun
dreds Of islands in these vast seas. ano
many Of them very fertile, but only few
Of them are inhabited, while most Of then
are covered with cabinet timber Of The
most valuable kind, and with juneles Of
bushes and grass, the lurking places oI
tigers and other beasts Of prey; almost
everything out Of the city Is called Jun.
gle. There are jungles Of grass, bushe.
aud trees. The island Of Singapore i.
being cleared Of forest trees, leaving onl,
groves Of palm and fruit trees.
Every one has read Of the rayages q
tigers on this island, but can hardly realiz.
the extent Of the depredations Of these f..
rocious beasts when they become man-eat
ing. There are great number Of small
islands separated from this by only narrow
straits, often not over fourth Of a mile
broad Most Of these islands are volcanic
with rocky hills with thousands Of caves
making secure hiding-places for wild ami.
mails. The tiger is at home in the water
being a splendid swimmer. He crosses
the narrow strait, creeps along the fences
and turks 10 the bushes or grass waiting
for his victims We were riding on he
great macadamized road to the Botanical
Gardenk, not two miles from the city. when
our driver pointed out to us the iieId where
Chinaman was taken BY a tiger only
few days before. He was hosinc il she
field five or six rods from fence along
which there were some bushes. Several
other pers0nslWcre oplY a few rods awav.