A pleasant evening drive, or promenade, is obtained upon the winding road leading to the Government-hill, which passes close by what was formerly, and even still retains the name of, the Botanic or Experimental Garden. Many of the hedges on this road are formed by an elegant small leaved bamboo, with its pendent branches drooping in graceful tufts, the tree itself not attaining the elevation usual with other more useful but less ornamental species: this bamboo forms a very beautiful, as well as compact fence. On attaining the gentle and gradual rise of the hill, the view that expands itself is both extensive and grand; embracing a wide portion of this splendid island, and causing feelings of regret in the mind of the spectator, that so much fertile land should be permitted to lie waste. Turning our eyes in another direction from the gloomy mass of forest scenery and undulating land, extending to the horizon, a more animated and pleasing scene is spread before us. Neat white houses and elegant mansions are seen on the open plain, or peeping above the dense vegetation when constructed upon a gentle rising hill. As far as the eye can reach over the tranquil waters, small wooded islands stud the ocean, and more distant, land indistinctly appears. The river, or creek, is animated by numerous native boats of all classes, passing and repassing, engaged in various occupations, or lying tranquilly at rest, like the sea-bird upon the waters, after its toil is over.
In the roadstead the commercial prosperity of the settlement is indicated by the large number of ships of all classes, that there repose at anchor upon the bosom of the green waters, conveying merchandize to supply the wants of nations far distant. Flags of various European and eastern nations float in the breeze. The peculiar Cochin Chinese, Siamese, and Chinese junks, as well as the Bugis, and other prows, clustered together, animate the waters by their presence, showing to what a state of commercial prosperity this juvenile settlement has already attained. Long may it remain, still increasing, nor have its bright hopes crushed by party spirit or misgovernment, and may it one day cause the tide of civilization to flow over the immense extent of wilderness, inhabited by savage tribes, known to us only as the Malayan peninsula: such a day will doubtless appear—civilization, commerce, and religion, hand in hand, will be diffused amongst these uncultivated people, for nothing is invincible to perseverance and industry.
Excellent roads are forming in the vicinity of the settlement, and there is one commenced to extend directly across the island. The road-gangs are composed of convicts from India, and the plans are under the able superintendence of Mr. Coleman, the colonial architect.
CHAPTER VIII.
Description of an Ungka ape—His habits—Anecdotes of him—His death—Dissection.
Objects of natural history are frequently brought in a great variety by the proas from the different islands of the Eastern Archipelago. Prepared birds of paradise, and living Loris, pink cockatoos, and occasionally the magnificent, Crowned or Dampier’s pigeons, as well as Rhinoceros birds, may be often purchased. An orang-utan was lately brought from Borneo to Singapore, by a commander of a vessel, who sold it for seventy-five dollars.
During a visit to Singapore, in 1830, I procured, through the kindness of E. Boustead, Esq., a male specimen of the Ungka ape, (Hylobates syndactyla.) The animal had been recently brought by a Malay lad, in a proa, from the Menangkabau country, in the interior of Sumatra. The Malays at Singapore always called the creature Ungka; but I observe, in the Linnean Transactions, it is called by Sir Stamford Raffles, Siamang, and the Ungka is therein described as a different animal; the same as that under the name of Onko, in the splendid work on the Mammalia, (vols. v. and vi.) by F. Cuvier. The natives, however, at Singapore denied this being the Siamang, at the same time stating that the Siamang resembled it in form, but differed in having the eyebrows and hair around the face of a white colour.
The Hylobates syndactyla is described and figured also in Dr. Horsfield’s Zoology of Java, but the engraving does not give a correct idea of the animal, nor have I as yet seen one that does. Three beautiful drawings were taken for me, from the specimen I possessed, after its death, in different positions; and having preserved the skeleton in the skin, its general appearance was more natural than stuffed specimens usually are; they were executed by the able pencil of Charles Landseer, Esq.
On board the ship Sophia, during the passage to England, ample opportunities were afforded me to study this singularly interesting little animal. Its measurement was as follows:—From the os calcis to the vertex of the head, two feet four inches; span of the arms, four feet; length of the arm, from the axilla to the termination of the fore-finger, one foot ten and a half inches; length of the leg, from the groin to the os calcis, eleven inches; length from the xiphoid or ensiform cartilage to the crest of the pubis, seven and a half inches.