We rejoined our sampan at the Singapore creek, and arrived at the town early in the evening.
Early one morning I visited a plantation of a Chinese, (in company with Mr. Lorrain and the Rev. Mr. Darrah,) situated in the vicinity of the settlement, for the purpose of witnessing the preparation of the fibres from the leaves of the Ananas, or wild pine apple, which fibres, after being prepared by a very simple process, are exported to China, and used in the manufacture of linens, &c. The Chinese, who prepared the leaves before us, said, he got one rupee and a half the catty for the fibre; it was in texture, when manufactured, very similar to the New Zealand flax, of a fine quality, and there is also some similarity in the manner in which it is wrought. The leaves recently gathered (and the longest and oldest are those which appear to be selected for the purpose) are laid upon a board, and the epidermis is removed by a broad knife, not unlike in form to a shoemaker’s paring knife; upon its removal from the upper surface of the leaf, the long and beautiful fibres were seen lying upon the lower and denser epidermis, running in a longitudinal direction; the fasciculi of fibres were then readily detached either by the hand or by being raised with the broad knife.
Some quantity of this material is annually exported to China, and at Manilla a very delicate and beautiful fabric is made from the fibres of this plant. The aloes likewise yield a fine fibre applicable for various manufactures.[72] I am surprised that the New Zealand flax, the fibres from the foliage of the pine-apple plant, and others, are not used in our manufacturing kingdom, where, there is no doubt, they would form a valuable addition to our raw materials for use in various novel manufactures, either by themselves or in conjunction with other materials. The first appearance of the pine-apple fibre would not cause one to suppose it to be so remarkably fine as it really is; but, by taking one coarse fibre, it is found to be capable of being subdivided into threads of such delicacy as to be barely perceptible, and yet sufficiently strong for any purposes.[73] This plantation abounded in pepper plantations, as well as a great number of various kinds of fruit trees.
Singapore is the principal, if not the only place in the East, where the refining or manufacturing of the pearl sago is carried on; the process is said to be a recent one, and the invention of the Chinese. According to Crawford, it was first practised in Malacca about twenty years ago, and was only introduced into Singapore in 1824. I availed myself of the establishment of many of the manufactories of this article, in and about the settlement, to visit one,[74] in which I found a number of Chinese, all of whom were busily occupied in different stages of the operation. The sago, or sagu, is imported in large quantities into Singapore from Sumatra in native boats, who bring it at all seasons of the year; and a few days since eighteen proas of different sizes arrived in the creek, laden with this article alone in its raw state. The tree from which the raw material is produced is named Rumbiya by the Malays, and has been too often described to render an account necessary here.[75]
The raw sago is imported in cone-shaped packages, each probably weighing about twenty pounds; the mass is of rather soft consistence, and of a dirty white colour, occasioned by being mingled with several impurities, and the whole is enveloped in the leaves of the Pandanus tree.[76] It first undergoes several different washings in large wooden tubs, being also strained, after washing, through cloth-strainers. When the raw material has undergone sufficient ablutions, the masses which remain at the bottoms of the vessels are collected, broken into pieces, and placed upon platforms in the sun to dry; being broken into still smaller pieces as the drying proceeds.
As soon as the pieces are sufficiently, although still not always thoroughly, dry, they are pounded and sifted upon long benches, through sieves made of the midrib of the leaves of the cocoa-nut palm, and placed at certain distances in a longitudinal direction, so as to cause the pulverised or rather broken masses of sago to pass through it only of the required size. Having been passed through the sieve, a certain quantity at each time is taken, placed into a large cloth, tied to cross sticks, in the form of a bag, hanging by a cord from the roof of the building; a Chinese is then employed in shaking the bag backwards and forwards, by aid of one of the longest crossed sticks to which it is attached, occasionally shaking up the sago powder; this is continued constantly for about the space of ten minutes, when it is turned out granulated. It is then placed in small wooden hand tubs, looking beautifully and delicately white, but still so soft as to break instantly, with the slightest pressure, under the fingers, and carried to several Chinese, whose occupation is to make it undergo the drying process in large iron pans over a fire. They are constantly stirring it about when in the iron pan with a wooden instrument; it is then resifted at another bench and rebaked, after which it is considered prepared. It is then of a fine pure white colour, and being spread thinly over a long and large bin, in the course of time it becomes both harder and of a darker colour.
At this establishment there appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen Chinese employed, and they said six or seven peculs could be manufactured in one day. The pearl, or refined sago, is exported in large quantities to Europe, our Indian empire, the Cape, &c. in wooden boxes, each containing rather more than a pecul; ten boxes containing nearly fifteen peculs. It is sold at two and a half to three dollars the pecul, which includes the expense of boxes. A piggery is attached to this sago establishment, the inhabitants of which must fare very well upon the refuse of the sago washings.
One evening, accompanied by several gentlemen resident in the settlement, I went to pay a visit to the rajah of Johore. During a former visit to this settlement, in 1830, I had an interview with this exalted personage, of whom at that time I penned the following description:—“Being near the village of Kampong Glam, I observed a poor-looking bungalow, surrounded by high walls, exhibiting effects of age and climate. Over the large gateway which opened into the inclosure surrounding this dwelling were watch-towers. On inquiry, I found this was the residence of the rajah of Johore, who formerly included Singapore in his dominions. The island was purchased of him by the British government, who now allow him an annual pension. He is considered to have been formerly a leader of pirates; and when we saw a brig he was building, it naturally occurred to our minds whether he was about to resort to his old practices. We proposed visiting this personage; and, on arriving at the gateway, were met by a peon, who, after delivering our message to the rajah, requested us to wait a few minutes, until his Highness was ready. We did not wait long, for the rajah soon appeared, and took his seat, in lieu of a throne, upon the highest step of those which led to his dwelling. His appearance was remarkable: he appeared a man of about forty years of age—teeth perfect, but quite black, from the custom of chewing the betel constantly. His head was large; and his shaven cranium afforded an interesting phrenological treat. He was deformed; not more than five feet in height, of large body, and short, thick, and deformed legs, scarcely able to support the ponderous trunk. His neck was thick and short, and his head habitually stooped; his face bloated, with the lower lip projecting, and large eyes protruding, one of them having a cataractal appearance. He was dressed in a short pair of cotton drawers, a sarong of cotton cloth came across the shoulders in the form of a scarf, and tarnished, embroidered slippers, and handkerchief around the head, (having the upper part exposed,) after the Malay fashion, completed the attire of this singular creature.
“As much grace and dignity was displayed in our reception as such a figure could show, and chairs were placed by the attendants for our accommodation. He waddled a short distance, and, notwithstanding the exertion was so extraordinary as to cause large drops of perspiration to roll down his face, conferred a great honour upon us by personally accompanying us to see a tank he had just formed for fish, and with a flight of steps, for the convenience of bathing. After viewing this, he returned to his former station, when he reseated himself, with a dignity of look and manner surpassing all description; and we took our departure, after a brief common-place conversation.