Armitage Brothers, Columbo, Ceylon. Samples of Raw Products of Island of Ceylon.

From "Colonial Office List, 1876."

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.

Singapore is an island about 25 miles long by 14 wide, situated at the southern extremity of the Malayan peninsula, from which it is separated by a narrow strait about of a mile in width. There are a number of small islands adjacent to it which form part of the settlement.

The seat of Government is the town of Singapore, at the southern point of the island, in lat. 1° 16′ N., and long. 103° 53' E.

Penang is an island about 20 miles long and 9 broad, containing an area of 107 square miles, situated off the west coast of the Malayan peninsula in 5° N. lat., and at the northern extremity or entrance to the Straits of Malacca. On the opposite shore of the mainland, from which the island is separated by a strait from 2 to 10 miles broad, is Province Wellesley, a strip of territory forming part of the settlement, averaging 8 miles in width, and extending 45 miles along the coast, including 10 miles of newly acquired territory to the south of the Krean (vide infra).

The chief town is George Town, in 5° 24′ N. lat. and 100° 21′ E. long.

Malacca is situated on the western coast of the peninsula between Singapore and Penang, about 120 miles from the former and 240 from the latter, and consists of a strip of territory about 42 miles in length, and from 8 to 24 miles in breadth. The principal town called Malacca, is 2° 10′ N. lat., and 102° 14′ E. long.

Malacca is one of the oldest European settlements in the East, having been taken possession of by the Portuguese under Albuquerque in 1511, and held by them till 1641, when the Dutch, after frequent attempts, were successful in driving out the Portuguese. The settlement remained under the Government of the Dutch till 1795, when it was taken possession of by the English, and held by them till 1818, at which date it was restored to the Dutch, and finally fell into our hands in pursuance of the treaty with Holland, the 17th March 1824, in exchange for the East India Company's settlement at Bencoolen, on the west coast

of Sumatra. By that treaty it was arranged that the Dutch should not again meddle with affairs or have any settlement on the Malayan peninsula, the British Government agreeing at the same time to leave Sumatra to the Dutch.

Behn Meyer & Co., Singapore, East Indies. Samples of Raw Products of Straits Settlements.

JAMAICA.

An island situated in the Caribbean Sea, and to the southward of the eastern extremity of the Island of Cuba, within N. lat. 17° 40′ and 18° 30', and W. long. 76° 10′ and 78° 30'. It is the largest of the British West Indies, being 140 miles in length, and 50 in extreme breadth, and containing about 4,200 square miles. Jamaica was discovered by Columbus on the 3rd May, 1494. He called it St. Jago. It remained in the possession of the Spaniards for 161 years, when it was attacked by a force sent by Cromwell, under Admirals Penn and Venables, against Hispaniola. It capitulated, after a trifling resistance, on the 3rd May 1655 After the capture of the island, until the Restoration of Charles II., Jamaica remained under military jurisdiction. In 1660 the first establishment of a regular civil government was made by Charles II., who appointed G. D'Oyley Governor-in-Chief, with an Elective Council. In 1670 peace was made with Spain, and the title of England to Jamaica was recognized by the Treaty of Madrid. In 1807 the Slave Trade was abolished, at which time there were 323,827 slaves in Jamaica. During the last eight years of the trade 86,821 slaves were imported. On the abolition of slavery in 1833 Jamaica received 6,161,9271. of the 20,000,000l. granted by the Imperial Government as compensation to the slave-owners; being rather more than 197. a head on a slave population of 309,338.

Climate.

There is great variety of climate; the medium heat at Kingston is about 80°, and the minimum 70° Fahrenheit throughout the year. At an elevation of from 4,000 to 5,000 feet, the average mean range is 60° to 70°, the minimum in winter being 44°. On the Blue Mountain Peak ice of some thickness has been found in March. Owing to the lofty mountains which run down the middle of the whole island, it is possible, in a few hours, to get to a climate resembling that of Europe. From Kingston, the capital, a change of 30° in temperature can be attained by a ride of three hours. In the St. Andrew's mountains the variation is never more than 10° between night and day, and the same between summer and winter, the hottest days in summer being never above 80°, and the coldest nights in winter never below 60°. Jamaica is singularly free from hurricanes or earthquakes. The rainy seasons are in May and October, and last for about three weeks, with intervals of fine weather. The May seasons are irregular, but the October seasons seldom fail. The rainfall varies throughout the island from about 50 inches to 150 inches during the year.

GOLD COAST COLONY, WEST AFRICA.

The Gold Coast Colony, which comprises the British Settlements on the Gold Coast, and at Lagos, was constituted by a Charter under the Great Seal, bearing date the 24th day of July 1874.

THE GOLD COAST PROPER.

The Gold Coast is the name generally given to a portion of Upper Guinea, between 5° and 4° 20′ E. long., stretching along the Gulf of Guinea from the River Assini on the west to the River Volta on the east,

between which points are the settlements of Axim, Dixcove, Secondee, Elmina, Cape Coast Castle, Anamaboe, Accra, and Addah. In 1672 a Company was formed, called the Royal African Company, which built forts at Dixcove, Secondee, Commendah, Anamaboe, Winnebah, and Accra, besides strengthening Cape Coast Castle, which was already in existence. This company was succeeded in 1750 by the African Company of Merchants, constituted by Act of Parliament, with liberty to trade and to form establishments on the West Coast of Africa, between 20° N. and 20° S. lat. This company was dissolved in 1821 by Act of Parliament, and the forts transferred to the Crown, by whom they were placed under the Government of Sierra Leone.

NATURAL PRODUCTIONS, ARTS, MANUFACTURES, &c.