SINGAPORE. 405 



variety of games were playing. Of several of these I had no know- 

 ledge ; some were performed with cards, and others with dice. The 

 stake seemed generally to be in small copper coin, called pice, about 

 five hundred to the dollar, each of which is valued at three cowries ; 

 but although this was the usual betting coin, the stake was sometimes 

 silver, and at times to a considerable amount. Those who have not 

 seen the Chinese play, have never witnessed the spirit of gam- 

 bling at its height ; their whole soul is staked with their money, 

 however small it may be in amount, and they appeared to me to go 

 as earnestly to work as if it had been for the safety of their lives 

 and fortunes. 



Almost every one has formed to himself an idea of a Chinese, but 

 to be well known he requires to be seen on his own soil, or where he 

 is in intercourse with his countrymen. The different individuals of 

 this race seemed to us to have a strong resemblance to each other, 

 and although this may in part be owing to similarity of dress, it is 

 also due to their bodily conformation. The flat chest, in particular, 

 is peculiar, at least to the labouring class. All of them seem active 

 and attentive to their business, of whatever kind it may be, and as 

 far as outward expression and action go, as harmless as lambs. It 

 is somewhat remarkable, that the very sign which was put upon 

 them by their Tartar conquerors to mark them as a subdued race, 

 should now have become their national boast ; for nothing seems to 

 claim a Chinaman's attention so much as his long queue, and the 

 longer and blacker it is the more it appears to claim his admiration. 

 We frequently saw it touching the very heels, and tied at the end 

 neatly with a bit of riband. On great occasions this hangs down to 

 its full length; but at other times, being somewhat in the way, it is 

 wound up on the back of the head. I have heard it asserted, that the 

 Chinese never become bald or gray ; but this opinion seemed to be 

 erroneous, from what I saw in this small community. 



The Chinese is at all times to be found industriously employed, 

 except when gambling ; and were it not for this latter propensity, and 

 his desire of cheating foreigners, has probably as few vices as exist in 

 any other race. Wherever he is found, peace and quietness seem to 

 dwell ; he moves, and has been moving for ages in the same path, 

 and prefers all his own ways to those of the rest of the world. We 

 saw the Chinese in some pleasing lights, and were much struck, on 

 these festival occasions, by their attention towards their children, 



VOL. v. 102 



