The Governor gave a ball and supper to commemorate Her Majesty’s birthday. [Sidenote: May 24.] Brooke, Read, Napier, and some others dined with old M‘Quhae, on board the _Dædelus_, before the ball. M‘Quhae got a little by the head, ships and forts having saluted at noon. Took possession of Navy House, a nice building, once poor Whitehead’s. [Sidenote: May 25.] _Dædelus_ sailed, and I assumed command of the Straits Station. Society much enlarged: impossible to get through the necessary calls in one day. Band on shore in the evenings for the amusement of our friends. Peyton and I dined with Tom Church, our Resident Councillor. [Sidenote: May 30.] In pulling about in my gig among the numerous prettily wooded islands on the westward entrance to the Singapore river, was astonished to find deep water close to the shore, with a safe passage through for ships larger than the _Mæander_. Now that steam is likely to come into use, this ready-made harbour as a depot for coal would be invaluable. I had the position surveyed, and sent it, with my report, to the Board of Admiralty; as it was, the forge was landed, boats repaired, and artificers employed under commodious sheds, all under the eyes of the officers on board. [Illustration: _New Harbour, Singapore._] New Harbour has another advantage over Singapore Roads. In the latter a ship’s bottom becomes more foul than in any known anchorage in these seas; perhaps from the near proximity to the bottom. This is not the case in New Harbour, through which there is always a tide running, while a current of air passing between the islands keeps it comparatively cool. [Sidenote: June 9.] Despatched _Phlegethon_ with the pioneers of the new settlement at Labuan, also to relieve the _Auckland_. [Sidenote: June 19.] _Mariner_, 16, arrived from the Cape, having made a long voyage going the old track, Commander Mathieson taking up his quarters with me. [Sidenote: June 21.] Officers of 21st dined “Mæanders,” inviting the Napiers to meet them. [Sidenote: Singapore, June 23.] A tiger brought in by some Malays was given me by the Governor. Clarke kindly skinned the beast. The flesh is in great demand by natives, who fancy that eating it makes them strong and brave. The Malays stated, when they found the monster in a hole which had been dug on purpose, they threw quicklime in his eyes, and the unfortunate beast, while suffering intense pain, drowned himself in some water at the bottom of the pit, though not more than a foot in depth. The annual loss of human life from tigers, chiefly among the Chinese settlers, is fearful--averaging one per diem. Great exertions are still being made for the destruction of them, which is effected by pitfalls--cages baited with dog, goat, monkey, or other restless animal, also by sundry cunning contrivances, but the strait between Johore and Singapore is but a short swim.