Chinese names of streets
A brief note by M. A. Knight providing annotations and corrections to Mr. Firmstone’s list of Chinese street names for Singapore and Malacca, originally published in Journal No. 42.
Summary
The note addresses several entries in Firmstone’s list with personal recollections and clarifications. Knight identifies Tan Seng Po (Armenian Street) as a brother-in-law of Mr. Seah Liang Leah, recalls the bamboo groves that gave Selegie Road its Chinese name “Tek-kha” (foot of the bamboos), and notes that the section of Orchard Road between Tank Road and Grange Road was formerly known as “Tanglin Kechil” (Little Tanglin) (p. 287). He also clarifies that Jardine’s Wharf and the Borneo Company’s Wharf were separate but adjoining structures at Keppel Harbour (p. 287).
For Malacca, Knight explains that the Chinese name for the Riverside, “foot of the Dutch trees,” referred to avenues of angsana trees lining Fort Road, the ascent to the Stadt House, and the road to Tanjong Kling, which had all decayed some twenty-five years prior (p. 288).