HUA-HOEY LOTTERY. 245 
In the Straits, these lotteries are not fairly worked, and the 
animal least favoured by the public is often the winner. 
Stakers receive thirty times their stake, less a small commis- 
sion paid to the agent, from whom they receive their winnings, 
aud this leaves a good margin of profit for the bank. A mana- 
ger, for the sake of gain, or out of spite, has been known to 
stake by deputy a large amount with one of his agents on the 
animal which he means to declare as the winner. The agent 
is “broke”’ and those who have staked on the winning animal are 
defrauded of their gains. This is only one of the many ways 
of swindhng practised in regard to these lotteries in the Straits. 
It must not be supposed that itis only the Chinese who gam- 
ble at Hua-Hoey. ‘The wealthy Baba, born in the Sineiise the 
respectable trader, their wives and danehters, the petty shop- 
keeper and the coolie who works by the day, Klings and Ma- 
lays, women and children, all alike are unable to resist the 
temptation to gamble. The Manila ee is only drawn once 
a month. Manila is a long way off, and the chance of winning 
a prize is very remote, still it has its fascinations for the prac- 
tical Englishman and even the cautious Scotchman has been 
known to invest his money in this speculation year after year. 
The Hua-Hoey lottery is drawn twice every day in different 
parts of the town and the excitement is ever fresh. An out- 
lay of 10 cents, which is within the means of any coolie, may 
bring in $3. 
Women are largely employed in the Hua-Hoey business, 
while their husbands are at the shop or sailing (as they 
appear) to be very often). ‘They spend their idle time in 
collecting stakes and staking themselves. They have diamonds 
and gold: ornaments in profusion, and while any of these remain, 
they can gamble to their heart’s content.* Those lower in the 
social scale, unblessed with diamonds or ready money, beg, bor- 
row or steal in order that they may gamble. 
Dreams play a great part in Hua-Hoey and the confirmed 
Hua-Hoey player ets to think of nothing else but the chance 
of his winning on the morrow. According to his dreams, he 
stakes. 
* A few days ago the wife of a trader in Penang having lost at Hua- 
Hoey ever $1, 000 during his absence tried to cominit suicide.—(1° ebuary, 1886.) 
