T church and college of San José.

On entering the gate a high flight of granite

steps leads up to the church; and, turning off to the right, on gaining the ascent,
takes the visitor to the door, which leads him into those portions of the building
devoted to the college residences of the professors, &c.; in a long room were some
small but well-executed paintings of Portuguese famed in days of yore. Among others
the poet Camoens, and Alvares, the discoverer of the Brazils, could be recognized.
The college was founded for a certain[125] number of Chinese students, who were to
study the Latin and Portuguese languages, so as to prepare them to proceed as
missionaries into the interior provinces. They were sent to the provinces of Quang,
ton, Quang, shee, and Fookien; this class was paid by the Macao Portuguese
government; they were limited to ten, and the expense, defrayed by government, was
twelve rupees a month to the padres, for which they were to provide the scholars
with food, raiment, and lodging. Portuguese students are now admitted upon the
foundation, the expenses being paid by the parents, which amount to eight dollars a
month, the scholars having board and lodging, but providing themselves with
clothing. The number of these is not limited; they are instructed in Latin,
Portuguese, Chinese, writing, and other branches of education: the establishment of
the church, &c. is supported by the government.

The gardens attached to the establishment are kept in a very neat order, but
present little attraction in flowers, either for butterflies or botanists. Among a
number of vegetables under cultivation in one of the gardens was the Pe, tsai, (Pe,
white; tsai, vegetable,) or kind of cabbage, used in large quantities, and held in
high estimation by the Chinese.

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The gardens attached to this institution were planted upon terraces; in them a
species of Althæa with blue flowers, as well as another species bearing very large
and splendid yellow blossoms; several large and apparently old trees of the Ficus
religiosa, and lofty Plumeria; that beautiful species of Dracæna with dark red
foliage and stem; Crotons, with variegated foliage, imparting beauty to the
gardens, were all particularly worthy of notice.

The church had nothing attractive in its internal decorations, being fitted up in
the usual tawdry style of Roman Catholic churches, without elegance or taste.

On the 13th of November I sailed from Macao for Singapore, with fine weather, and
the wind from north-east to east-north-east. On the 19th, Cape Varella was seen at
noon, bearing north-west about thirty miles distant, and with continued breezes
from the north-east and north-north-east: saw Pulo Sapata at noon of the 20th, the
bearing being west half-south, about eighteen miles distant. On the 22nd, after
squally weather, a hawk was for several mornings seen about the ship, occasioning
the fowls to make a great noise at his presence; we were then in latitude 6° 34′
north, and longitude 106° 28′ east. On the 24th at noon, Pulo Aor was in sight,
bearing south-west[127] half-west; Pulo Pisang, west by south; Pulo Tinian, west
half-north by compass. All these islands were elevated, and densely wooded.

On the 26th we passed Pedro Blanco, a reef of rocks some distance above the water,
and situated in about the centre of the straits; a large number of birds,
apparently terns, were about them. I had much doubt in my mind, whether the white
appearance of the upper surface of these rocks was the effect of the dung of birds,
but rather conjectured, in the absence of ocular proof, that it was of a calcareous
nature. Observing a group of rocks not far distant from the settlement of
Singapore, exhibiting the same white appearance on the surface above water as the
Pedro Blanco, I determined to visit them for the purpose of examining their
structure; on the evening of the day on which I observed it, I went out in a boat
with some friends, but a very heavy swell prevented the attainment of my object at
this time. The Malays in the boat, when they heard what I wished to ascertain,
declared it to be produced by the first-mentioned cause; but on the following
morning I succeeded in getting upon it, when my previously formed opinion was
confirmed,[128] by finding the upper surface calcareous, at some parts more or less
discoloured. The formation of the rock was secondary, being of a red sandstone, and
in many specimens, which I broke off, I observed a very minute line of sandstone,
running through the calcareous substance; although other parts of this rock were
also calcareous, yet they had not a white appearance, from being covered and
discoloured by marine conferva and minute crustaceous animals, to such an extent as
to entirely lose their white appearance unless broken; and the marine animals being
constantly in the other rocks washed by the sea, which the high and white rock was
not, caused a still further increase of marine weeds, &c. upon them. I collected
some excellent specimens, showing the two different strata very distinctly.

About ten P.M. of the 26th, we anchored in Singapore roads; and upon the following
day I landed and took up my residence, during my stay at the settlement, with my
friend Mr. Boustead.

The island of Singapore,[48] at the part on which[129] the settlement has been
formed, has a very picturesque and beautiful appearance, when seen from the ships
at anchor in the roads; and does not prove less attractive to the stranger on
landing: the government hill, with its neat bungalow and flag-staff, forms a
prominent feature in the view; and the undulating character of the land, with the
thickly-timbered country in the distance, imparts a pleasing variety. Who can
regard this settlement, so very recently established, yet now become a place of
importance by the enterprise of British merchants, (almost unaided by any
assistance from government,) without feeling how just the conclusion[130] is, that
commerce can elevate the most barren and unproductive spot to a place of high
importance? Look at the magnificent private mansions, warehouses, and the extent of
commerce, showing the present and increasing wealth of this rising settlement. The
town is erected upon the banks of a salt-water creek, more commonly named the
Singapore river: one side contains the warehouses, offices, stores, &c. of the
merchants and shopkeepers, as well as the native streets, bazaars, &c. Opposite to
it is an extensive plain, adorned by several elegant mansions; and beyond the
Kampong Glam,[49] and Malay town, with the residence of the sultan of Johore and
his followers: from him the island was purchased by the British government, for
which he still receives the annual pension which had been stipulated at the time.
Close to the creek, which has received the more dignified appellation of the
“Singapore river,” wharfs extend from and opposite to the offices and warehouses of
the merchants. The two most extensive and splendid buildings are those recently
erected by Messrs. Armstrong and Gemmil. The Commercial Square contains some[131]
very good buildings, used as offices, shops, and residences; the most conspicuous
of which, for elegance, is the building used as offices and warehouses by the firm
of Rawson, Holdsworth, and Co. The river, at the lower part of the settlement,
always presents an animated scene, from the arrival and departure of native boats,
with fruit, vegetables, and live stock, as well as from the number of neat sampans
plying for hire, or attending upon the commanders of vessels, who employ them, in
this sultry climate, in preference to exposing their crews to a tropical sun: many
native boats lie waiting or delivering cargoes of the various productions of the
fertile islands in the vicinity. At night, the flickering and brilliant lights from
the numerous boats upon the river, make an animated appearance.

Rains are frequent at Singapore throughout the year, but more especially during the
months of November, December, and January. The principal buildings are constructed
of bricks, and roofed with red tiles; but many of the Chinese dwellings and shops
are constructed of wood. The roads in the town, and also in the vicinity of the
settlement, are excellent, being of a mixture of sand with a clay iron ore, which
make very durable roads. The markets at Singapore are well supplied with all kinds
of provision,[132] vegetables, and fruit; and considering how little the island in
itself produces, and that the supplies are brought from Malacca and the
neighbouring islands, are sold at a very cheap rate. The population of the
settlement of Singapore consists of nearly twenty thousand, exclusive of the troops
and convicts, (the troops being about five hundred, and the convicts eight hundred
in number,) the majority of which is formed by the Chinese.
Comparative Statement of the Census taken on the 1st January, 1833.
1832. 1833. Increase. Decrease.
Mal. Fem. Mal. Fem. Mal. Fem. Mal. Fem.
Europeans 83 22 91 28 8 6 — —
Indo-Britons 67 27 56 40 — 13 11 —
Native Christians 274 146 167 133 — — 107 13
Armenians 20 6 27 8 7 2 — —
Jews 5 — 2 — — — 3 —
Arabs 61 3 96 — 35 — — 3
Malays 3748 3467 3763 3368 15 — — 99
Chinese 7149 613 7650 867 501 254 — —
Natives of the Coast of Coromandel 1374 40 1762 57 388 17 — —
Natives of Hindostan 408 121 389 116 — — 19 5
Javanese 391 253 361 234 — — 30 19
Bugis, Balinese &c. &c. 735 692 794 932 59 240 — —
Caffries 7 1 23 14 16 13 — —
Parsees 2 — — — — — 2 —
Total 14324 5391 15181 5797 1029 545 172 139
Females 5391 — 5797 — 545 — 139 —
Total Inhabitants 19715 — 20978 — 1574 — 311 —
Deduct decrease 311
Increase in 1833 1263

Singapore Chronicle, Feb. 7, 1833.

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