We landed on Pulo Panjong, among some neat Malay houses, near a sandy beach. The thatched houses, towering cocoa-palms, plantain trees, with rude plantations of sugar-canes, yams, &c., reminded me of many of the islands forming the Polynesian Archipelago; and the appearance of the half-naked Malays did not tend in any degree to dissipate the reality of the comparison, but rather tended to confirm it. A kind of millet, called Sukue, (_Pennisetum italicum_, Brown,) was also cultivated in small patches by the Malays, and several magnificent trees of the _Bombax pentandrium_, or silk cotton-tree, rose in towering beauty, mingled with the cocoa-palm above, the dwellings. Only a very small portion of this island was cleared, the remainder forming an almost impenetrable jungle, a refuge only for monkeys and wild hogs. We found it very difficult to penetrate the luxuriant and entangled branches of the pine-apple plant, as we walked from one part of the island to another to join the boat, at a very short distance. Having rejoined our boat, we passed through the beautifully picturesque strait, commonly named the New Harbour, one side of which is formed by Pulo Panjong, or Long Island. The land about this harbour possesses many sites eminently calculated for beautiful European residences, and plantations, where one could gaze with delight, in peaceful retirement, upon the tranquil scenes of nature, enjoying the refreshing sea breezes, and be, at the same time, only a short distance from the bustle of a commercial town. This place would not be advisable as a resort for shipping, the present roadstead being by far preferable, as a ship would be delayed entering this harbour or strait, by waiting for a fair wind, and her departure also retarded by a similar cause. We entering on one side, and taking our departure from the other, passed entirely through, having an excellent view of the picturesque scenery of this lovely and pleasing spot. We did not, from the extended length of our excursion, return to Singapore until about noon. There is a plant very abundant about some parts of Singapore, the _Cassia alata_, which may be seen in profusion by the road-side, often glowing with golden flowers; it is called G’ling gang, or Pako, g’ling, glang, (Pako signifying a tree,) by the Malays, who state that they use it in several diseases of the skin by rubbing the leaves of the plant upon the diseased surface. Mr. Oxley (civil-surgeon at this settlement,) informs me that he has used it with excellent effect in that troublesome herpetic disease called “ring-worm;” and his method of application is by bruising the leaves, mixing them with salt and lime-juice, and then using them as an external application.[78]