Narrative of the Circumnavigation of the Globe by the Austrian Frigate Novara, Volume II (Commodore B. Von Wullerstorf-Urbair,) Undertaken by Order of the Imperial Government in the Years 1857, 1858, & 1859, Under the Immediate Auspices of His I. and R. Highness the Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, Commander-In-Chief of the Austrian Navy.

CHAPTER XI.

Chapter 2152 wordsPublic domain

SINGAPORE.

Position of the Island.--Its previous history.--Sir Stamford Raffles' propositions to make it a port of the British Government free to all sea-faring nations.--The Island becomes part of the Crown property of England.--Extraordinary development under the auspices of a Free Trade policy.--Our stay shortened in consequence of the severity of the cholera.-- Description of the city.--Tigers.--Gambir.--The Betel plantations.--Inhabitants.--Chinese and European labour.-- Climate.--Diamond merchants.--Preparation of Pearl Sago.--Opium farms.--Opium manufacture.--Opium-smokers.--Intellectual activity.--Journalism.--Logan's "Journal of the Indian Archipelago."--School for Malay children.--Judicial procedure.-- Visit to the penal settlement for coloured criminals.--A Chinese provision-merchant at business and at home.--Fatal accident on board.--Departure from Singapore.--Difficulty in passing through Gaspar Straits.--Sporadic outbreak of cholera on board.--Death of one of the ship's boys.--First burial at sea.--Sea-snakes.-- Arrival in the Roads of Batavia. 137