48 4PI>-RB^S BY MR. KEUYT ON 



Straits, who has become a Raja of one of the Native tribes. Now 

 I should like to hear from the honourable gentleman, especially 

 with regard to the opium-farm, if the influence of the Chinese is 

 about the same in his opinion over the Natives as it is in Java. 

 Further, I should like tc ask if the other farms are in the hands 

 of the Chinese, and if the Government has ever experienced any- 

 trouble from the presence of the Chinese in the Straits in such 

 large numbers. If T am not mistaken it has been more than once 

 necessary to take active measures against the secret societies? The 

 Chinese have, I believe, in the Straits their own chiefs to a certain 

 extent, but I gather from what Mr. Kruyt has told us that they 

 have the same position as regards the Courts of Justice as Euro- 

 peans. I should very much like to be further enlightened upon 

 this matter. It is, Mr. President, certainly somewhat indiscreet 

 on my part to put all these questions, but the Chinese seem to be 

 so much better received on the Peninsula and so much more favour- 

 ably judged than in other places they have gone to, that it would 

 be most interesting to learn something more on the subject. 



Mr. Krutt. — The Chinese in the Straits are perfectly free ex- 

 cept the Chinese secret societies, which are under strict surveil- 

 lance. Those who do anything contrary to the regulations in this 

 matter are dealt with very severely, and the leaders are often 

 banished to China. The farms are all in the hands of the Chinese. 

 The native Malay population is small compared to the Chinese. 

 The Chinese are not under their own chiefs, but are under the same 

 laws as the rest of the population. The Chinese have a high sense 

 of their own worth. I have often observed that people from our 

 Colonies, for instance, naval officers and officials, were annoyed 

 that the Chinese did not shew them a sufficient politeness, for ins- 

 tance, that they did not make way for them. I have always found 

 the Chinese most polite, but it depends upon how one treats them. 

 They possess, and one should not forget this, a feeling of equality. 



The authorities in British India and in the Straits would not 

 like to see the opium revenues decrease, as these form the most 

 important source of revenue and if they fell off the whole financial 

 system would fall into confusion. In Penang, there is a Chinese 

 bank. The only European who is there is one of the junior clerks. 

 The bank is in prosperous circumstances, due, most likely, to the 

 activity of the directors. The Chinese are from early morning till 

 late in the evening on the spot, while Europeans open late and 

 clo^e early. If you come to their place after closing-time; you hear 



