| Show THE STRAITS the straits settlements Is the collective name given to the british posses alone on the malay peninsula which projects into the chinese sea from the western part of slam with ith the strait of Mala Malacca aia on the other side bide the most important gateway between india and china chi these settlements consist of the idaa island singapore where the government seat is the town and province of malacca the territory and islands of the Din bindings dings the imd IM d of and province of wellesley Well esrey with their de cies the islands transferred formerly belonging to ceylon were transferred to the straits settlements in 1886 the governor is appointed for six years and is assisted by an executive and legislative council and since 1874 british residents res identa exercise supervision over the native courts the population consists of about half a million souls europeans malaya chinese and natives of india singapore is the most important of the settlement ig it consists of an island 27 miles long and 14 broad it is separated from tle the peninsula bya strait less than half a mile wide at the narrowest point the only town in the settlement Is the city clacy of singapore the capital of the straits settlements it Is a picturesque tur esque prosperous town with a large european population it Is probable that as events in the philippine islands islan ds develop the na names es here mentioned will become more familiar familiar to the american public it is a severe reflection on the span lob leh government of the philippines to contrast the conditions on these islands with those of the 9 traits astraus settlements gettle ments under a more humane and rational rule the inhabitants of the philippines should be as much capable of civi civilise lika tion as the natives of the malay peninsula and surrounding islands and yet what a contrast contrast |
