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Nor was

to the overseers who had charge of the men. Colonel Farquhar idle, being on horseback every morning, seeing that the land was sectionized far and near, which he sold by auction, or else gave away; for all was under forest, the object being to get it cleared. Now Colonel Farquhar suggested that I should take a bit for myself at Campong Glam, as he thought it would be the mercantile quarter; so I took me to place a house thereon with plank walls, but I remained there under constant fear, as I was surrounded by forest.

But to return to the subject. It was three or four months before the hill was removed and levelled, and the hollows filled up. Yet there remained some stones as big as elephants, and some were even bigger; these proved of great use, for they were split up by the Chinese, and used in building their houses, thus causing no expense, as they were glad to get them. And at that time people found a flat and smooth stone at the Point, about a fathom square. This was covered with cut letters, but which no one could read, as it had been decayed by the action of water for many hundreds or thousands of years. And people of the various races assembled to see it, the Hindoos saying it was Hindoo, but they could not make it out; the Chinese said it was Chinese. And I went with Messrs. Raffles and Thomsen to see it, and I took the letters to be Arabian; but they were not decipherable, as the stone had been so long exposed to the tides. Many clever men went to read the inscription, some bringing paste with them to press into the hollows, and then raising the mould; others brought black ink, smearing the stone to make the letters clearer;-all expended their abilities in trying to make out the language and characters, but could not do so. So the stone remained there, under the action of the tide, when Mr. Raffles, in consultation

with me, arrived at the conclusion that the letters were Hindoo, for that race was the earliest to come to these countries under the wind (i.e. eastward), first to Java, Bali, and Siam. All these are descendants of the Hindoos, yet none could find out the tenor of the inscription.

Then after they had filled up all the soft places, swamps, mud, and gutters, they surveyed it and sold it by auction; and if any one would know the site of the hill from whence the earth was taken, it was at the point of Singapore where now the garden is (in Commercial Square), and in which all kinds of flowers are planted. And I have heard that it was the intention of the inhabitants to erect on this site a statue of Mr. Raffles, in memory of his great deeds; but why this should not have been done I know not the reason thereof. The site is just opposite the premises of Mr. Spottiswoode (Spottiswoode & Connelly)."

Abdulla here relates an incident at the origin of the settlement that I have often thought of, viz., why Sir Stamford should have chosen for his relatives Section No. 1 on the Singapore side, and Colonel Farquhar Section No. 1 on the Campong Glam side. It will appear they had different views as to the future extension of the town. Besides this, Colonel Farquhar chose suburban property, on which he planted many valuable fruit-trees of various kinds; but, like many public-spirited men, he had to part with it on leaving. All these properties must now be very valuable.

Mr. Thomsen, the German missionary here mentioned, and so much commented on by Abdulla, seems to have come to Singapore at a very early date. Before I arrived in 1838 he had left, but I went over the remnants

of his mission labours, which here took the shape of a model farm, in which Malay boys were supposed to be taught industrious habits. The site was fixed at Tullo Blanga, on the most barren soil imaginable, in which cloves had been planted; but when I saw the place only one or two trees were living, and the whole of the property was in a great state of neglect. There was plain evidence that the good missionary's efforts had been unsuccessful, for after spending about 15,000 dollars, the place was sold to a Chinaman for 300 dollars only. It is hard to fight against nature. Is Colenso right in saying we must humour it if we are to succeed?

The stone mentioned by Abdulla was broken to pieces in a most vandalic manner by the local engineer, whereas by a little care it might have been saved. I have often scanned the remnants of the inscription with great curiosity, but could make out none of the letters. It was a very rare piece of antiquity, and I understand that Prinsep was of opinion that the characters were obsolete Hindoo.

A bust by Chantrey is all that Singapore possesses as a memorial of Sir Stamford Raffles. It is, I need not say, an excellent one.

The narrative continues to say that Sir Stamford advised Abdulla to buy sections, which advice he stupidly did not follow.

XII.

AN AMOK.

"I Now proceed to the subject of Colonel Farquhar having been stabbed. The origin of the fact was thus:-There was a Syed, a native of Pahang, named Syed Essen, who traded between that place and Singapore, and he had goods on credit from Pangeran Shirrij Omer, a native of Palembang. Now he was in debt to Syed Mahomed Junid 400 dollars, and to the Pangeran about 1000. And when he came to Singapore the Pangeran asked him for the money, at which he was annoyed.

So a summons was issued, and the claim tried before Colonel Farquhar, who inquired into the matter, when it was decided that the debt amounted to 1400 dollars. So Colonel Farquhar told Syed Essen that he had decided that his debt was as above, and asked him what he had to say in the matter. To this Syed Essen replied, that he had no money at the time, but that he would pay it next year. To this Colonel Farquhar replied, that it did not rest with him, but with the Pangeran, and that if he would put it off it could be done. Then the Pangeran said, 'I cannot do so, as I have to settle accounts with Syed Mahomed Junid.' Then said Colonel Farquhar to Syed Essen, 'If you can give security I can let you go; if not, I must imprison you.' To this Syed Essen replied, 'Where can I get security, as I am a stranger?' On this

the Pangeran said, 'If he don't find security, then I would ask that he be imprisoned, for I know he has money, only he will not pay me.' So the Pangeran went away.

The magistrate, Mr. Barnard, then carried Syed Essen to prison. This was about two o'clock in the day, and it was not thought of to examine him for weapons-for he had a kris hid under his coat. At about five in the evening, he solicited Mr. Barnard to allow him to see the Pangeran, to try if he could not prevail on him to give him credit. This was granted, a peon who was a Hindoo, following him in charge.

It was about evening when they entered the fence of the Pangeran, his determination being to kill him. The Hindoo remained at the outer door, Syed Essen alone entering; and when the Pangeran saw him coming, with an altered face he ran into the inner rooms, locking the door after him and getting out of the back door on the sea-shore, when he made for the house of Colonel Farquhar, telling him of the Syed's rushing at him with a drawn kris. The day was now spent.

So Syed Essen waited a little, to see if the Pangeran would come out again; but seeing he did not, he came out himself, and approaching the peon, he was told to be quick, as night was drawing on. On hearing this he stabbed the peon, who at once fell dead near the outer gate. Syed Essen then returned into the house of the Pangeran, seeking him again to kill him; but the Pangeran at this time was in Colonel Farquhar's house, afraid to return.

This was about seven in the evening. And I just at that time was on my way to teach Mr. John Morgan the Malay language, and as I was in the middle of the road I met Colonel Farquhar with his son, Andrew Farquhar, and son-in-law, Captain Davis, accompanied by four sepoys armed with guns; also one carrying a

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