ransportation.

Extracts from the letters of the Governor of the Straits Settlements to
the Resident Councillor, Singapore:--

29th August, 1850. The management of the convict body at
Singapore reflects great credit on Captain Man, whose energy
and zeal in the execution of his duties have always been very
conspicuous; and I notice with extreme satisfaction the
eulogium passed on that officer in the concluding paragraphs of
your communication.

The observations of the Superintendent of Convicts and Roads at
this station, as well as at Penang, on the aforesaid rules and
regulations, coupled with your notice of the same, have
afforded me unqualified gratification, seeing that they were
drawn up by me so far back as 1845 in the face of much
opposition to the entire abolition of free men as petty
officers, in which, however, as in all matters connected with
the welfare of this station, I acknowledge your cordial support
and assistance.

APPENDIX VII

The head of the Madras Medical Department Dr. Edward Balfour, visited
this jail in August, 1863, and thus recorded his opinion:--

The point that most struck me in the management of this jail
were the diversified occupations and evident industry of its
inmates, and their complete employment. The mass were actively
working, and the few were superintending those engaged in
labour. I have not before seen the various labouring industries
of artizans so largely introduced in any jail, nor have I seen
such diligence in their labour. Blacksmiths' and tinsmiths'
work, carpentry and sawmills, carving and coopering,
stonemasons, manufacture of coir and woollen yarn for blankets,
weaving door-mats, and printing too, all in active operation
inside the jail, with wood-cutting, brick and tile works, and
vegetable gardens without. Daily task work, and its allotment
and registration as to quantities performed in the jail, may be
operating to produce the application to the work before them
which the prisoners were everywhere giving. The hospital and
its arrangements were very perfect. The well-kept floor, the
clean cots, and the very small number of about twenty inmates
out of a strength of 2,000, may be taken as indicative of the
care in all other sanitary arrangements. Both the sickness and
mortality seems very small. I have been much grat