Page:Notes of a journey across the Isthmus of Krà.pdf/34

 appear appropriate at the present time, for since that far-sighted nobleman, Sir Stamford Raffles, built the first bungalow on Government Hill in 1823, the Free Port of Singapore has rapidly grown to the highest commercial importance with the neighbouring countries, both far and near, and is now the most active trade emporium on the ocean highway between Europe and China, with every prospect of increasing its greatness as the trade of Borneo and the adjacent islands becomes developed.

Here is the nucleus for the produce of the Eastern Archipelago, and vessels of every size and nation which pass through the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, by dozens daily, load and unload vast quantities of merchandise, which could not be obtained at Krà; consequently it would be against the interest of merchant vessels to take the Krà route.

The navigation of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, which in former times was considered somewhat dangerous for sailing vessels, is now no longer so. Since the Horsburgh lighthouse was built in 1850, and other marks have been erected in various prominent situations through both Straits, the navigation has been perfectly safe.

From the foregoing remarks it will be apparent, that in my opinion the Isthmus of Krà as a means of transit from one sea to the other would be utterly useless, either by canal or railway, even if it were practicable to construct either; as no time would be saved, and the heavy expenses on the route would be a dead loss.

The calculations of Captains Fraser and Forlong as to the saving of time to be effected by the railway which they recommend, are inapplicable to the present day, when the speed of mail and other ocean-going steamers has been no much increased. Their statements on this head are open to other objections, which it is needless to specify, as they will readily occur to every practical seaman, and indeed to all who give the subject their earnest study.

My views on the whole subject were frankly stated to the Commandant of the Expedition, immediately on our arrival at Penang, in a letter, of which—with the exception of one or two paragraphs relating to extraneous matters—the following is a copy:—