On the summit of the island, the old signal post, formed from the trunk of a tree, remained, but the signal station had been removed to a more elevated and convenient site upon the hill, called Blackan Mattee. The view from the summit of this elevated island, was both extensive and beautiful; the small islands near us were either covered by a wilderness of wood, or else the jungle was cleared away. The pine-apple plants, which grew in natural profusion, formed extensive plantations, and many of the poorer class of Malays obtained a decent livelihood by taking them in sampan loads, when ripe, for sale to Singapore. The distant verdant islands also added to the beauty of the landscape, and small boats, gliding with a gentle zephyr over the glassy surface of the water, or a thatched habitation, nearly buried in a dense tropical vegetation, gave an additional charm to the scene.
Having collected a few fine ripe pines, we resumed our little voyage to Pulo Panjong, or Long Island, on which the elevated mount, called Blackan Mattee is situated; we refreshed ourselves with some pines, but our Malays, I observed, did not eat the pines until they had dipped them previously in salt-water, by which they considered the fruit was rendered more wholesome. I did not relish following their example, nor did I feel any ill-effects, from what many have called my imprudence. The pines we gathered contained a quantity of small brown flat seeds.
We landed on Pulo Panjong, among some neat Malay houses, near a sandy beach. The thatched houses, towering cocoa-palms, plantain trees, with rude plantations of sugar-canes, yams, &c., reminded me of many of the islands forming the Polynesian Archipelago; and the appearance of the half-naked Malays did not tend in any degree to dissipate the reality of the comparison, but rather tended to confirm it. A kind of millet, called Sukue, (Pennisetum italicum, Brown,) was also cultivated in small patches by the Malays, and several magnificent trees of the Bombax pentandrium, or silk cotton-tree, rose in towering beauty, mingled with the cocoa-palm above, the dwellings. Only a very small portion of this island was cleared, the remainder forming an almost impenetrable jungle, a refuge only for monkeys and wild hogs. We found it very difficult to penetrate the luxuriant and entangled branches of the pine-apple plant, as we walked from one part of the island to another to join the boat, at a very short distance.
Having rejoined our boat, we passed through the beautifully picturesque strait, commonly named the New Harbour, one side of which is formed by Pulo Panjong, or Long Island. The land about this harbour possesses many sites eminently calculated for beautiful European residences, and plantations, where one could gaze with delight, in peaceful retirement, upon the tranquil scenes of nature, enjoying the refreshing sea breezes, and be, at the same time, only a short distance from the bustle of a commercial town. This place would not be advisable as a resort for shipping, the present roadstead being by far preferable, as a ship would be delayed entering this harbour or strait, by waiting for a fair wind, and her departure also retarded by a similar cause. We entering on one side, and taking our departure from the other, passed entirely through, having an excellent view of the picturesque scenery of this lovely and pleasing spot. We did not, from the extended length of our excursion, return to Singapore until about noon.
There is a plant very abundant about some parts of Singapore, the Cassia alata, which may be seen in profusion by the road-side, often glowing with golden flowers; it is called G’ling gang, or Pako, g’ling, glang, (Pako signifying a tree,) by the Malays, who state that they use it in several diseases of the skin by rubbing the leaves of the plant upon the diseased surface. Mr. Oxley (civil-surgeon at this settlement,) informs me that he has used it with excellent effect in that troublesome herpetic disease called “ring-worm;” and his method of application is by bruising the leaves, mixing them with salt and lime-juice, and then using them as an external application.[78]
A kind of white sea-weed, called Agar, agar, is found on the reefs about Singapore, but the best is procured from Malacca, where it is obtained in great abundance about the “Water islands,” in the vicinity of that settlement; and after being collected it is picked and washed. It is also brought to Singapore from Billiton, Bouton, &c.; the weed from the former place sells at three dollars and a-half the pecul, and from the latter at three dollars the pecul. This article is exported in large quantities to China, where it is used for various purposes—as stiffening linen, size for paper, &c. At Malacca and Singapore the finer kind makes a beautiful transparent jelly, which is of course perfectly tasteless, unless mixed with rose-water, sugar, and lime-juice, which render it an excellent preserve, as well as an ornament for the dinner-table. There is some trouble in refining it, as it requires frequent boilings before it attains the requisite transparency.
At Singapore I observed some filaments from a plant, which was described as growing abundantly at Malacca. These filaments display much irritability on the application of warmth, and will twist and turn about for a long period afterwards. They are named Naga-pusing by the Malays, which signifies “to turn or twist round.” Each filament is covered with a very minute pubescence. They appear to be the awns probably of a species of Anthistiria. They are used by the natives, in form of decoction, as an external remedy in eruptive diseases.
On the 24th of November, (Sunday,) three shocks of an earthquake were experienced at the island of Singapore; the first shock lasted three minutes, and occasioned the lamps to swing, chairs to rock, &c., commencing at twenty minutes after eight, P.M. A slight shock was again experienced at three A.M.; and another very slight shock at five A.M. of the following morning.
An earthquake, it seems, was felt in India, at Ghazeepore, an account of which I copy from the Bengal Hurkaru, of November 6th, 1833, extracted from the Calcutta Courier:—