brought from the old country, and freight, if not
commission, has to be added to the cost. The very
nature of the currency used adds to other expenses.
Many things purchasable at home for a shilling, here cost
a dollar, at the least a rupee or two shillings, and the
result of all this is that with an annual income of five
hundred pounds in England, one must think twice ere a
jump is made at what appears a tempting bait, namely,
“ a thousand a year ” in the East.
The progress and importance of Singapore, commercially
and politically, have never ceased to increase since
1819, when the British flag was first raised on the island
by Sir Stamford Raffles.
CHAPTER III.
VISIT TO JAHOEE— GUN0 NG- PULOI.
On the way—Gambling—Biver-travel—In the Forest—Vegetation—A
Eesting-place—Tropical Fruits—Breed of Dogs—On the summit—
Wild Animals—Wild Men—Sale of Women.
T h i s mountain lies about twenty-five miles north-west
of the native town of Jahore, and is a trifle over 2,000
feet in height. To reach it from Singapore, one must
take post-horses or the coach which runs daily to Krangi,
a police-station on the margin of the ¡8 Old Strait,” and
thence little steam ferry-boats carry one on to Jahore,
from which place the mountain is reached partly in boats
via the Scudai river, and partly on foot through the forest.
I had agreed to visit the Puloi mountain in company
with the government botanist, and leaving Singapore
early, we reached Jahore about 3 p .m . , after several little
stoppages on the way. The ride from Singapore to
Krangi was a very pleasant one to me, fresh as I was
from the “ old country.” The roads are remarkably
smooth, and of a bright red colour, their margins fringed
with orchards of tropical fruits or rows of betel-nut palms.
Here and there are patches of sugar-cane, tapioca, or
indigo, little plots of great-leaved bananas, while at intervals
one catches passing glimpses of neat white bungalows
nestling amid tall cocoa-nut groves. Arriving at
Krangi, hot and dusty, we rested some time in a clean