\ 



THEMONGOLIANRACE. 47 



tion of the population numbers about 'one-tenth;' but a woman was 

 very rarely seen, partly in consequence of the practice of seclusion, 

 which pertains to the principal classes of visiters. 



The Chinese were present in many thousands, and composed one- 

 half of the entire population. Among them all, I was assured, there 

 were only " two real Chinese women ; though there were persons who 

 could go back seven generations before reaching the Malay mother." 

 The prevalence of the depressed nose, was perhaps in some measure 

 attributable to this partial Malay descent. There was, however, 

 great uniformity in the complexion; as I repeatedly remarked, when 

 crowds were standing with their shaven heads exposed to the full 

 power of the mid-day sun. They were all of the lowest class. Me- 

 chanical employments were comparatively rare ; and there were no 

 Chinese residents of equal standing with those established at Manila, 

 or those, according to report, at Batavia. 



Here, however, the Chinese were under less restraint than at Manila; 

 perfect freedom of opinion being tolerated at Singapore, and each 

 nation allowed to follow its own customs, so far as these did not con- 

 flict with civil order. Our arrival, too, was at an auspicious moment, 

 at the commencement of the Chinese holidays ; and we enjoyed per- 

 haps as fair an opportunity of viewing the people, as we should have 

 had at Canton, durinjj the then existing war with the Eng^lish ; for it 

 should be observed, that the Chinese commerce with Singapore re- 

 mained uninterrupted. 



In the evening, the streets in the Chinese quarter, presented a novel 

 and astonishing spectacle. The shops were all thrown open, and the 

 whole population seemed assembled for one purpose, that of gambling. 

 The stakes in general were trifling ; but the variety of games was 

 inexhaustible; and while looking on, some of reputed European in- 

 vention, appeared to be traceable to a Chinese source. Again, the 

 occurrence of numerous games of chance in aboriginal America, 

 seemed to intimate in that quarter something more than an accidental 

 coincidence. 



Stages were erected by the side of the street, and theatrical repre- 

 sentations were going on at all times ; the rich tinsel of the evening, 

 suffering however materially by the daylight. A numerous and atten- 

 tive audience were always listening, and at times appeared a good 

 deal affected, maintaining their ground notwithstanding the intermi- 

 nable length of the pieces. The movements of the actors were some- 

 times graceful ; but there was everywhere a mixture of the grotesque, 



