148 Voyage of the Novara. 



settled in their colonies, these secret societies assume a far 

 more dangerous character, and murders on purely political 

 grounds are far from infrequent. 



The natives proper of Singapore are Malays, and their 

 language is that most in use for general intercourse and 

 trade. But as o^^en-air labourers they are far inferior to the 

 Chinese, who are much more enduring, more contented, and 

 more sociable. In tliis connection the following comparative 

 statement, prepared a few years since by W. J. Thompson, Esq., 

 government engineer in Singapore, of the relative values of 

 English and Chinese labom*, will be found of much interest. 

 To build a wall in England containing 306 cubic feet would, 

 according to Mr. Thompson's estimate, employ one brick- 

 layer and one ordinary labourer 4tVo days, the former receiv- 

 ing 55. 6 J. per day, the latter 85. 6J., the total expense amount- 

 ing to 3O5. In Singapore a similar piece of work, executed 

 by Chinese labourers, would require Stto days, and the daily 

 wage would amount to 2^. 9M. for the bricklayer and \s. 7id. 

 for his assistant, the total expense amounting to 37^. Qtd. 

 Thus, English laboiu' shows an economy over Chinese in the 

 proportion of 52 to 100 in time, and of 4 to 5 in actual ex- 

 pense. The following is also interesting by way of confirma- 

 tion. It had been resolved to fill up a swamp in Singapore, the 

 material for which was at hand at either extremity. The 

 swamp was 1200 feet long, 1 foot deep, and 21 feet wide. 

 The contract was allotted to the Chinese, and completed in 

 326 working days, at 13 cents or \\\d. a day. An English, 



