Passed the night on the top of a tree to watch for tiger and deer. Fell asleep and saw nothing! No mosquitoes, though! Tried the jungle on opposite side of the river, convicts beating; drew it blank. Started for Penang. All night in pinnace. [Sidenote: Feb. 26.] Weighed. [Sidenote: Singapore, Mar. 3.] Sunset, anchored in Singapore Roads. [Illustration: _Map of Malacca Straits and Singapore._] Sir Stamford Raffles landed here on January 29, 1819. Near the present esplanade he hoisted the Union Jack next day, and concluded a preliminary arrangement with the Sultan of Johore and the Tumongong of Singapore; and on February 5, 1819, a definite treaty was signed by Raffles and the two chiefs named, by which, in return for an annual payment of 5000 dollars to the former, and 3000 dollars to the latter, those princes ceded the settlement of Singapore to the English, and pledged themselves to grant “no treaty” or settlement to any other power, European or American. [Sidenote: Mar. 5.] On board to muster. Read prayers. _Vixen_ arrived, not two months from England. [Sidenote: Mar. 6.] I had now been some days making myself acquainted with the persons chiefly concerned in this most interesting colony. The greatest admitted drawback was the want of protection to trade from piracy. I felt there was a grand field open, if I could only feel sure that I should be allowed to remain long enough. There was a large community of interested merchants, as well as Government officials, but we were not without powerful natives in our midst, whose kindly feeling for piracy was well known. Dined with the military detachment. Hospitable, kind, and good fellows. Saw a splendid comet with a very long tail, looking too near to be pleasant. [Sidenote: Mar. 7.] A most atrocious case of piracy committed within sight of the anchorage by two Malay boats on a Cochin China junk. Preparing boats for a cruise. Splendid comet again; Chinamen frightened. [Sidenote: Mar. 8.] Got under way. Left my steward, Ashford, to take care of sick. Joined gunroom mess. Comet again visible until nine; tail very luminous, extending 30 degrees. [Sidenote: Mar. 11.] 1 P.M.--Came to off Pulo Sabu. Took possession of fifteen piratical boats, but was unable to catch any of the crew on account of the density of the jungle. 8 P.M.--boats returned. [Sidenote: Mar. 13.] Landed an armed party to assist boats’ crews in finding remainder of the pirates, the two captured having bolted into the jungle at Pulo Tinghi. No find, though. Weighed in the evening and stood to the southward under easy sail. [Sidenote: Mar. 14.]