The ceremonies after death are not less curious: washing and shrouding of the corpse always takes place, and it is clad in the best clothing of the deceased. On the third, seventh, fourteenth, fortieth, and hundredth days, oblations of spices, aloe-wood, and flowers, are offered.

The Mussulmans of India, in digging graves, never exceed the depth of the navel for a man, while those for a female are always breast-deep. Near the bottom is dug a side niche, into which the body is put. The niche is then closed with boards placed on their edges, after which the grave is filled with earth. The first portion put in is thrown on loose branches, that are laid over the grave in order to sift it and allow it to fall more lightly. Their graves are marked with two small wooden pillars, with the earth heaped up between them; the largest of these denotes the position of the head. On the Malayan peninsula they have various feasts and festivals, that partake more of the customs of the Arabs than of the islands of India. On these occasions sacrifices of buffaloes take place, a practice which is thought to be peculiar to this part of the East. The buffalo selected for this purpose must be without blemish or disease. The animal about to be sacrificed is taken to the mosque, where it is thrown down, its fore and hind legs tied, and the head secured; water is poured over it, and the offering made. The priest, after saying prayers, cuts the throat; the carcass is then flayed and divided into two equal parts. One-half is given to the inhabitants, and is generally cooked and eaten on the spot; the other is divided among the higher orders. The leg-bones are never suffered to be broken, even after death; neither is the spine, nor are the horns of animals sacrificed suffered to be used for common purposes, such as handles of knives, &c.

Among the animals that are found in the Malayan peninsula, are the elephant, rhinoceros, a variety of tigers, leopards, bears, monkeys, alligators, guanas, and sometimes the tapir: there are one or two species of deer, which are exceedingly small in size, and of delicate proportions. Of birds, there are a vast variety, including the arguspheasant, horn-bill, peacock, large vampire-bat, humming-bird, and snipe. Snakes abound, many of which are venomous.

The neighbouring seas afford a great variety of shells and corals; among the latter I may mention the cup of Neptune (Alcyonium), which grows to a very large size, and is not found elsewhere. Our collections, by the industry of the naturalists and officers, were much increased here.

The small island of Singapore is destined in all probability to govern at some future period the whole of this country, and will, in course of time, be one of the points from which they are destined to receive the arts and civilization of Europe. It strikes me, therefore,

as incumbent on those who rule over this rising colony, to see that the general administration may have a tendency to promote civilization. I regret to say that I could perceive but little indication of any other principle than that of gain.

During my stay at Singapore, the subject of steam navigation was much talked of, and many projects appeared to be forming by which the settlement might reap the advantages of that communication, when established between India and China.

Some idea of the facilities that this method of transportation has already furnished will appear from the fact that I received letters on my arrival there, via England, only seventy-two days after their date in the United States. This places the East in such close proximity to Europe, that instead of looking for yearly or monthly accounts, as was formerly the case, they are now on the watch for daily news.

This has already, as may be supposed, altered the current of trade, instead of specie, drafts being sent out by the ships with orders for shipment of goods from China. The transactions pass through banks, or are performed by purchase of government and individual bills. Many believe that in a very few years the whole commerce of these seas will be carried on by steam, which would afford peculiar facilities for communicating with the ports of the Chinese Empire, by the control it gives the commercial world in counteracting the monsoons, which have hitherto regulated the routes of commerce. All that is needed is capital to set it in motion.

As vessels of war, the steamers have been particularly useful in the British operations against China. The shallow and unknown coast of that country, and its almost impenetrable rivers, could have been rendered accessible by no other means.

Singapore, as a port of supplies, offers many inducements, although there are the same objections to it that apply more or less to all the ports of the East. One of these is caused by the ravages of the white ants. A portion of our flour was rendered entirely unserviceable, for these insects had literally perforated the barrels in all directions; and in rolling them over, the staves appeared like fine sieves, through which the flour passed in every direction. This, however, was only the case with that which had been stored in a dry upper loft. The larger portion of this article, which had fortunately been left on the ground-floor or basement of the storehouses, had escaped this injury. The latter place was both cooler and damper than the former, and these were the only apparent reasons why the barrels had escaped uninjured.

The climate of Singapore, notwithstanding its geographical and local position, is considered as very salubrious: it is admitted by all

that the neighbouring coasts and islands are quite the reverse. Although the island is near the Malay shore, yet the site of the town being on its southern point, is within the influence of the prevailing winds, which it is generally supposed carry off the miasma as fast as it is formed; yet every thing seems favourable about the settlement to produce disease: it lies low, with large tracks of marsh and jungle in its neighbourhood. The heat, however, is very much modified by the sea-breezes, and varies only from 79° to 84°; the mean annual temperature has been found to be a little above 80°; in this computation, however, I understand the night hours had been entirely omitted: had the observations included those also, they would undoubtedly have lowered the mean considerably. It was remarked that it rains for an hour or two almost every afternoon, and in consequence of these daily showers, vegetation has a rapid or rather rank growth. To these frequent showers is ascribed by some the healthfulness of the place, preventing malaria by maintaining a constant growth in the vegetable kingdom, and thus tending to absorb the noxious and deleterious gases.

sun.

The diseases most common in the East, such as dysentery, diarrhoea, and fevers, are seldom experienced here; but, at the same time, it is necessary to take every precaution, and avoid the heat of the vertical The crews of the squadron were remarkably healthy, and only a few of them experienced any ill effects from the heat. One man on board the Vincennes, was attacked with a brain fever, of which he died a few days after leaving the place. This case was attributed to great imprudence on his part, in defiance of all warnings not to expose himself.

On my arrival at Singapore, various reports were made to me of defects existing in the tender Flying-Fish. It was to be expected, after the arduous service she had performed; yet, having brought her safely thus far, I felt a natural desire to carry her home with us; and in this all the officers seemed to partake. But the idea of risking the lives of her officers and crew, after the disaster that had already befallen her sister craft, was not to be endured; and I saw that it was necessary to have a thorough examination of her before I ventured her in the homeward voyage. I therefore ordered a survey by the most experienced persons in the squadron, who, although they could not point out any conspicuous defects, were satisfied that from long and hard service she had become weakened in her frame, and that she would not only need much time, but a large expense, to place her in a fit condition to make the voyage home. I must say that even after I had received the report I still felt a strong inclination to persist

in bringing her back to the United States; but my final decision was against it. The consul was therefore desired to advertise her for sale, and in the mean time all her stores and armament were removed.

She was, agreeably to the notice, sold at public sale for three thousand seven hundred dollars. To part with this vessel was unpleasant on many accounts; for she had been daily, for nearly four years, my first and last thought. The attachment I had felt for her was great; the efficient aid she had occasionally afforded in the performance of my duties, caused me to value her highly; and as a vessel of her class, she was almost faultless.

By the 25th of February, we had completed filling our water, which is here conveniently supplied by tank-boats; and having obtained for the passage home all the stores we needed, except bread, we made every preparation for sailing.

In consequence of the short supply of the latter article, I determined to touch with the Vincennes at the Cape of Good Hope; while the two brigs were ordered to stop at Rio Janeiro, for the same purpose, as well as to obtain some further observations, and additional specimens of natural history.

In the evening, we took leave of our worthy consul and his lady, who had afforded us every facility for procuring information as well as amusement, to render our stay agreeable, and to whom I now tender my own thanks, as well as those of the other officers of the Expedition.

At five o'clock on the morning of the 26th, I took advantage of the land-breeze, and made signal to the Porpoise and Oregon to get under way.

CHAPTER XI.

CONTENTS.

DEPARTURE FROM SINGAPORE-STRAITS OF RHIO STRAITS OF BANCA-STRAITS OF SUNDA-INDIAN OCEAN-CURRENTS AND METEOROLOGICAL PHENOMENA OFF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE-ARRIVAL IN TABLE BAY-CAPE TOWN-GOVERNMENT OF THE COLONY-TAXES-BANKING-WINE TRADE-CATTLE-IMPORT TRADE-HOTTENTOTS-CAFFRE TRIBES-VISIT TO CONSTANTIA-ASTRONOMY AND MAGNETIC OBSERVATIONS -ASCENT OF TABLE MOUNTAIN-GREEN POINT-LIGHTHOUSE-EXCHANGE-GARDEN OF THE BARON VON LUDWIG-CLIMATE OF THE CAPE-PHENOMENA OF REFRACTION -TENURES OF LAND-DEPARTURE FROM TABLE BAY-VOYAGE TO ST. HELENA — JAMESTOWN - - VISIT TO THE TOMB OF NAPOLEON AND LONGWOOD MAGNETIC OBSERVATORY-PLANTATION-HOUSE-DEPARTURE FROM ST. HELENA-PASSAGE TO THE UNITED STATES-ARRIVAL AT NEW YORK-CONCLUSION.

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