SINDIA SINGAPORE 65 About the beginning of the present century the company's agent was violently expelled, and a large amount of property in his custo- dy confiscated. Subsequently several treaties were made ; and in 1838, to facilitate the op- erations of its army in the contemplated Af- ghan war, the company extorted concessions from the ameers by which Sinde was made virtually one of its dependencies. The disas- ters of the British in Afghanistan having en- couraged the ameers to commit hostile acts, a military force was sent thither under Sir Charles Napier, who, after concluding a treaty with the ameers of Lower Sinde, found himself compelled to take the field ; the result was the brilliant victory of Meeanee (Feb. 17, 1843), the rapid conquest of the country, and the establishment of British authority. (See NA- ?IEB, Sir CHAELES JAMES.) The rajah of [hyerpoor was allowed to retain his posses- sions, on account of his fidelity to the English. Sinde was constituted commissionership in L843. SINDIA, Family of. 36 GWALIOR. SINGAPORE. I. A province of the British colony of the Straits sttlements, consisting )f the island of Sin- ipore, and about 50 lets S. and E. of it the strait of Singa- >re, lying between 1 8' and 1 32' K, Ion. 103 30' and 104 10' E. ; pop. in 1871, 97,111. The isl- id of Singapore lies the S. extremity of Malay peninsula, >m which it is sepa- ited by a strait about m. long and ^ to 2 i. wide ; it is about 25 m. long from E. to T ., and 12 m. wide; area, 224 sq. m. On the 3t are swampy tracts covered with man- rove trees, but inland are many small hills, rom 100 to 500 ft. high. Iron ore abounds. ^ Cuch of the soil is sterile, but in the lowlands it is richer. There are a few rivulets. Nutmegs, cloves, ginger, pepper, garnbir, tapioca, and sugar cane are raised. The thermometer ranges from 71 to 89, and the climate is healthful. Showers are frequent, and in 1871 the total rainfall was 120*4 inches. Tigers cross the strait to the island, and are said to carry off, on the average, a Chinaman every day. Of the inhabitants of Singapore in 1871, 74,351 were males and 22,763 females; 54,098 Chinese, 19,250 Malays, 9,297 Klings, 1,329 Europeans, 2,164 Eurasians, and the remainder natives of other parts of the East Indies. Malay is the prevailing language. II. A city, capital of the Straits Settlements, on the S. side of the island of Singapore, in lat. 1 16' 13" N., Ion. 103 53' 15" E.; pop. about 90,000. It is on a low plain fronting the harbor, with hills in the rear, and is intersected by a salt- water creek called the Singapore river. On the W. side is the Chinese quarter, which contains also the great mercantile warehouses and counting houses. On the E. side are the official buildings, churches, hotels, and many of the European residences ; and still further E. is the Malay quarter. Behind the Chinese quarter^ on Pearl hill, is a fortress which com- mands it, and on another elevation, back of the European quarter, is the government house, a fine building of cut stone. Many neigh- boring hills are occupied by country houses. Near the shore are ample parade grounds and drives. The botanical garden has a splendid collection of tropical plants. Among the pub- lic buildings are the Singapore institution for the study of the languages of the East, which Singapore. contains a museum, library, and reading room ; a prison, in which are generally confined about 2,000 criminals, mostly Hindoos, who are em- ployed en government works ; Protestant and Roman Catholic churches, a splendid Chinese temple, and a Mohammedan mosque. There are two mission schools, attended chiefly by Chinese, Malays, and Eurasians. The Chinese have also private schools. The port of Singa- pore, which is divided into two by a tongue of land, is capacious, and the water is deep enough for the largest vessels. The harbors are pro- vided with every facility for an extensive com- merce, and for fitting out and repairing ships. Singapore is a free port. Vessels pay three cents a ton light dues on entering and leaving. In consequence of its geographical position, it is the entrepot of the commerce of S. Asia and the Indian archipelago, and is resorted to by vessls of all nations. The entrances in 1872 were 1,665, tonnage 918,652; 729 were
