THE STRAITS SETTLEMENTS, &C. 49 



very soon "Come to-morrow, the office is open at 10 o'clock." 

 The Chinese look on Penang and Singapore as Chinese places, the 

 administration of which is left to the English. 



Mr. G-. A. DE LATiTGE. — Do the Chinese live in different quarters ? 



Mr. Keuyt. — No. 



Mr. Elotjt tan Sotjteewonde. — Are otherj farms besides the 

 opium farm in the hands of the Chinese? 



Mr. Ketjtt. — There are in the Straits somewhat the same farms 

 as we have — gambling, pawn-houses, spirits, etc. All these are in 

 the hands of the Chinese. 



Mr. T. H. DEE KiisTDEEEN. — I should like to hear from the honour- 

 able gentleman something as to the legal position of the Chinese, 

 not only in Penang and Singapore, but in the whole of the Straits 

 Settlements where they form a considerable portion of the popula- 

 tion. Are they under the English law as regards civil matters as 

 well as regards criminal law? How are they situated particularly 

 as regards their personal rights? For instance, by what restric- 

 tions and rules are their marriages governed? How do they stand 

 as regards their laws of inheritance ? Are their own customs and 

 institutions, as they are in China, followed, or are the Eno-lish 

 laws adhered to? 



Mr. Keuyt. — The civil and criminal law is the same for all; all 

 come before the same Judge. The place is full of lawyers. The 

 Chinese are, by nature, fond of litigation. For a trifle, for a fowl 

 that is not worth a guilder, they will run to a lawyer and pay 

 $50 to fight the matter out. As regards marriages, etc., Chinese 

 customs are adhered to, but there is an institution there that is 

 unknown in Java, viz., the Chinese Protectorate. The Protector 

 of Chinese, is as it were, the head of the Chinese. Assisted by 

 a good staff, he looks after everything that concerns the Chinese, 

 for instance, in matters connected with the rights of inheritance 

 in which Chinese customs are followed as far as they do not con- 

 flict with the usages of civilised nations. This is a good institu- 

 tion. 



Mr. DEE KiNDEEEN. — There are then no special Judges for Na- 

 tives and Chinese? 



Mr. Keuyt. — No. 



Mr. DEE KiNDEEEN. — How is justice administered in the States 

 where a liesident is at the head of affairs? 



Mr. Keuyt. — The State Court is there with a Chief Magistrate 

 and in smaller places there are District Courts with Magistrates 



