In the 13th century, thinking that he saw lions as he approached, Sang Nila Utama gave to the island the name Singapura, which in Malay means ‘City of Lions.’ Rather obscure until the 18th century, this small island was rediscovered in 1819 by Sir Stamford Raffles, who was searching in the Strait of Malacca for a new harbor in which to establsih a British colony, the purpose being to counter the Dutch trade colonies of the region. This rediscovery was the first step toward founding a modern commercial center in Asia. Governed under the British Royal colony after the 18th century, the Republic of Singapore was attached to the Malaysian Federation from 1963 to 1965, but declared independence on August 9, 1965. The population of this young republic is 4.6 million, 76% of whom are Chinese, 14% Malay, 8% Indian and 2% from other ethnic groups. With a per capita income of $25,200, Singapore is a smoothly running trade zone which today ranks as one of the richest countries in the world.