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Singapore (British dependency in Asia)

a British dependency in Asia, the most i important of the Straits Settlements; consisting of the islands of Asia, the most important of the Straits 217 square miles), separated from the S. extremity of the Malay Peninsula by a strait only half a mile wide at its narrowest, and of a great number of very small islands along its shores. The surface is undulating, the highest point reaching 520 feet only. The climate is hot and moist, but the soil is not particularly SINGAPORE fertile; nevertheless the island is perpet nuts, aloes, and every kind of fruit, espegood crops of coffee, pineapples, cocoanuts, aloes, and every kind of fruit, espenutmegs used formerly to be the staple crops; but all three are cultivated to a much smaller extent than formerly. This island was purchased in 1824 from the Sultan of Johore for $62,500, and a life rent of $25,000. Pop. of island (1919)