Sketch of the Land round Singapore Harbor, Feb 7 1819

One of the main exhibits in the 'Land of Gold and Spice' map exhibition at the National Library (on till 19th July) is undoubtedly, this group of pencil sketches. 


Name: Sketch of the land round Singapore Harbor Feb 7  1819
Year: 1819
Artist: Anonymous
Location: National Archives, 344/1307. Kew, U.K.

Image source: [1]

This sketch, according to a recent article [1], was 'rediscovered' only recently. It sits in the collection of the National Archives (U.K.), Kew, and was originally from the British Admiralty. Its importance is  apparent when you read the caption at the bottom: Sketch of the land round Singapore Harbor Feb 7  1819. This is just one day after Sir Stamford Raffles, representing the British East India Company (EIC), signed a treaty with the Temenggong Abdul Rahman and the newly installed Sultan Hussein to allow the British EIC to set up a trading post in Singapore. This date, Feb. 6 1819 is what most Singaporeans will know as the date of the founding of modern Singapore. This sketch may therefore be one of the earliest views of Singapore [2].

Although the sketch is unsigned, it is likely that the artist is Lt John Michael Houghton of the Bombay Marine [1]. The Bombay Marine survey ships had been requisitioned by Raffles for his mission to establish a trading post at the southern end of the Straits of Malacca. Part of Houghton's job would be to make such survey sketches for future navigational and military use. 

The series of of five panels can be linked up to depict a sweeping view from a point out at sea, off the south coast of Singapore island.  

The top panel starts from the left with A. S by W Flagstaff. A flagstaff atop the hill on present day Kusu island. Next we have B. St John's Id. This would be what we commonly know as Lazarus Island or Pulau Sakijang Pelepah. On some older maritime charts, this island is also known as East St. John's Island. C. Sisters Island. D. Pulau Tekukor. E. Sentosa Island. The highpoint at the right end of the panel is Mt. Serapong. 

The second panel continues with Sentosa and F. Tanjong Pagar on the main Singapore island. This is followed by the former coastline of Teluk Ayer Basin. The high ground in the background, G. is most likely Pearl's Hill (incidentally, this hill's namesake James Pearl, was the skipper of Indiana, the ship that brought Sir Stamford Raffles to Singapore. Pearl should therefore be somewhere in the vicinity. In 1822, Pearl acquired the land on and around this hill. Hence the name Pearl's Hill). 

The third panel is the most interesting. H. N 73"30W Village of Singapore shows the settlement at the mouth of Singapore River, centred on the Temenggong's house sited at present day Empress Place (Asian Civilization Museum). The settlement seems quite big, definitely not simply a tiny fishing village. I. Watering place. Outlet of Stamford Canal, near the south corner of the present day Civilian War Memorial Park. One of the attractions for Raffles and co. to set up shop in Singapore was the availability of fresh water from this stream. J. Ryat Village N38W. Rakyat village, or the People's village. The newly installed Sultan Hussein made this place his seat of power, which became Kampong Glam. 

The fourth panel begins with K. Sandy Pt. N30W which is Tanjung Rhu. The rest of the panel takes in the east coast of Singapore island.  

The last panel features the rest of the east coast of Singapore with L. Red Cliffs, also known as Tanah Merah. This was already a major navigational landmark then. The view terminates with M. N64E Johore hill. This is Bukit Pengerang, Johor which was also a major navigation landmark.  

The writings below the right end of the fourth panel, H.O. Dec. 30 1864  I 32/5 is probably from later archival recording at the Hydographic Office (H.O.).   

The bearings attached to some of the locations in the sketch allow us to approximately pin-point where the artist's vantage point was. 

From Google map. The red lines trace the bearings provided in the sketch. The grey circle denotes the approximate location of the survey ship, on which the artist drew the Sketch of the land round Singapore Harbor Feb 7  1819.  

As can be seen, there may be some errors in the bearings, but nonetheless, we can conclude that the position was about one kilometre off the Marina Barrage. 


References
[1] M. Langdon and C.G. Kwa, "Notes on ‘Sketch of the Land round Singapore Harbour, 7 February 1819’". JMBRAS 83, 1 (2010), 1-7.

[2] One contender for the earliest view of Singapore is Singapore from the Rocky Point, 1819. Will talk about this sketch in the future, after I have gathered some more information.