Alexander Hamilton was a Scottish sea captain. His account of his travels in the late 17th and early 18th centuries are contained in these two volumes. Of particular note is his claim in Vol II, pg 98 that the Sultan of Johor (Abdul Jalil IV) offered to give the island of Singapore to him. He declined the gift as being "of no use to a private Person" and commented that it was more suitable for a "Company to settle a Colony on". He proceeds to give a favourable assessment of Singapore's geographic location and soil, which was "black and fat", abounding in timber, large beans and sugar cane.
