arth, perfectly dry, and in each box was a ladle
made of half a cocoanut shell attached to a handle. Two convicts of the
sixth, or feeble class, were placed in charge of this latrine, whose
duty it was to see that the red earth was sprinkled by those using the
troughs. When the troughs were full they were emptied into a
conservancy cart with a hermetically closed screw top, and when this was
full it was conveyed by bullocks to plantations in the country.

We think we are quite warranted in saying that this was the first jail,
if not the first establishment anywhere, in which this dry earth system
of conservancy was used. For centuries, no doubt, in India the
well-known habit of the cat had been followed by many of the native
castes, but it was not until vast numbers of these convicts from India
were aggregated in association that the application of the system to
their dwellings was initiated, and we think that the clever invention of
the "earth closet" for certain localities may have suggested itself to
its inventor when a resident at Singapore.

It may be as well to give here the testimony of Dr. Mouat, the
Inspector-General of Jails, Bengal, on the efficiency of the conservancy
of this old jail, and in no spirit of self-satisfaction we quote his own
words "verbatim," which are as follows:--

"Singapore, _1st June, 1865_.--I have sincere pleasure in
recording the unmixed satisfaction which I have experienced
from a careful examination of the jail, and system of prison
management in use at Singapore.

The scrupulous cleanliness, perfect plan of conservancy,
excellent order, well-regulated system of labour and
punishments, and the high standard of health attained are not
surpassed in any other well-regulated institution of the same
kind that I am acquainted with in Europe or in Asia. My
personal knowledge of prisons and of all details of prison
management is sufficiently extended to entitle me to speak with
authority on this subject.

In many important points of internal economy and discipline,
Singapore can fairly lay claim to being _Primus in Indis_ in
the adoption and practical working of principles that are now
generally accepted as sound and correct. My own feeling on the
subject is that Colonels Man and Macpherson and Captain McNair,
to whom the chief credit appears to be due, are entitled to
rank in the first class of prison officers