The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-05-23
THROUGH THE MALACCA.

But hOiC, explain ye who can.
THROUGH THE MALACCA.
Visions of RangoOn-PenanG, the Beauti-
full Isle-sights of siDgapore-A Cosmo-
politan City-Scenes from Malayan Life.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
SINGAPORE, Malaya.-In the far-away
Burmah, a thousand miles or more from |
Singapore, where the Irrawady river |
pours its waters into the sea, the aviga-
tor in cruising along the East Indian
shores is likely to be charmed with the
vision of one of the most famous and |
picturesque cities in this remote world, |
Situated several leagues from the mouth |
of one of the branches of the great river, |
IN the midst of tropical vegetation beau
tiful and luxurian', RangOon wore its |
prettiest look when our good ship drop |
ped anchor in the harbor before the city. |
At some points of observation the entire |
city is lost from sight in the dense foil
age of its surroundings, and one almost
fancies that he is entering forest.
The streets of the town are excellent,
and many of the buildings are substan'
tial. The residences or one storied bunga-
lows are scattered far and wide, and are
built upon posts six or eight feet from
the ground, the lower part being open,
in order to escape the extreme moisture
that is due to the constant rain falls that
prevail five or six months in the year.
The natives resemble the Chinese in
appearance and dress. They all wear
their hair long, and are devoted to the
prevalent custom Of smoking immense
cigt RS, Some of the women are very
handsome, but in their grotesque cos
TUNES and with rolls of tobacco in their
mouths they appear old enough. The
cigars which the women and little girls
use are said to contain very small
quantity of the narcotic weed, but are
filled principally with fragrant leaves
and are wrapped in green covering. In
an apartment of the great pagoda was
some :. hat surprised to find a congrega-
ton OF native worshipers, to whom a
priest was preaching, all of whom, men,
women and children, were seated about
him on the floor smoking as vigorously
as any group of young Americans, the
priest himself having cigar within easy
reach from which he would take putfs
at intervals to assist him in his thought
and argument.
Just beyond the gates of the city,
standing upon a hill and overlooking
the town, is the colossal pagoda, which
has made Rangoon famous the world
over. An immense structure of solid
masonary, three hundred feet high and
about three thousand feet in circumfer-
ence, taperng to point at the summit,
and surmounted by an umbrela-shaped
Af al oh vii
stones, which is hung with little bells
that tiukle in the winds, this pagoda is
designed to inspire feeling of awe. 1t
IS said to contain golden image OF
Buddha and some of the hairs from his
head. All around the base are figures
of the Buddhist diYinities, to which the
people bring daily offerings and before
which they worship. In the enclosure
about the temple are suspended huge
bells, which the wOrshiDpers, when about
to make offering or engage in prayer,
strike with deer horn to attract the at
tention of the gods. Candles and tap.
ers are struck about the images, lighted
and left to burn out. Flowers are strewn
about profusely, aud the prayers of the
faithful, written on strips of gilt paper,
are fastened to any spot within their
reach where the deities may read them
at their leisure. On feast days, when
vast throngs of people gather about,
with the tinkiDg of bell, the rustling of
paper, and the burning of tapers, in an
atmosphere fragrant with flowers, the
scene is at once brilliant, picturesque
and grotesque. The great pagoda Is
reached by long and covered stairway,
that is infested with venders of prayers,
candles, toys and edibles, at the entrance
of which are groups of beggars, lepers
and all kinds of wretched humanity,
asking aims. Bordering the approaches
are numerous rest-houses, with bare
wall and floors, where weary pilgrims
may stop and rest for time. Taken all
in all, the vision of Raugoon, in its
scenes and sights, i5 brilliantly fantas-
tic and weirdly picturesque.
Midway down the coast, at the en-
trance of the strait of Malacca, which at
this point is two hundred miles in width,
is the little island of Penang. lying just
on the mainland, that rises out of the
sea like an apparition. IL is said to be
the most lovely spot in all the world.
A belt of palmI trees runs along the
shores, and wooded mountain ridges
stretch away in the distance. The hill
slopes are covered with bright vegeta-
ton, and dotted with villas, gardens
and plantations. The island is six miles
broad and fourteen miles long, with
Georgetown on the northern side as its
capital, 1t belongs to the Straits Settle
ments, and is under British authority
The whole population numbers a hun
dred thousand, comprising Chinese, Hin
ldoos, Malays and a few Europeans
Some of the Chinese residences are per-
fectly magnificent in outward appear
ance, but offer few comforts according
TO the occidental ideas of home life.
The houses of the English residents are
fine, and designed to contribute to the
comforts of life in the tropics.
While in Penang we enjoyed many
delightful drives about the city and
contry, riding in barouche-like gharry
behind a poor old horse, over good
roads and in view of many charming
bits of scenery, visiting very pretty
waterfall among the hills, and seeing
the natives at work in the field and in the
mines. Upon invitation Of the Ameri
can consular agent to visit his bunga
low on the mountain, we left our ship
early one morning, and were conveyed
in carriages through some beautiful
streets, and along the shore OF the har-
Dor, to the foot Of the mountain. Here
saddle horses were in waiting to carry
us to the top. The ride of several miles
was exhilarating to the last degree.
Immense trees shaded the way, allow
ing glimpes of the city and bay which
seemed to change with every outlook.
From the summit was revealed superb
panorama of the island, the straits, the
hills of Queda, and the coast of Malaccs.
On our arrival at the bungalow an eleg-
ant breakfast awaited us, and gener-
Gus hospitality was eXtenGej. The day
was given up to pleasure, smoking good
cigars, sitting on the piszzI with agree
able companions, enjoying the noun
tain air. admitting the scenery before us,
and stroling in the field in quest Of
terms. After tiffin, or dinner, which
was sumptuously served, we returned
to the city in the cool evening, accom-
panied by our host, and rounded out the
festivities of the day with banquet on
shipbOard in honor of our nations re-
pr a,ntative in this remote port,
Through the Malacoa, between the
cOnverglng shores OF Sumatra and Ma
laya,a sail of one hundred and fifty lea
CUES brings our good ship to the stirring
city of Singapore. At the extremity Of
the narrow peninsula, on an Island Of
small area. this is one Of the most in
portant trade center's in the east. Two
harbors are open to vessels, the one op-
posite the town being little more than
roadstead, where ships load and dis
1t A.. L