359 GAMING & GAMBLING. 



as a race who were " more addicted to gaining and 

 "other modes of chutting* than any other people uu 

 " the earth." It may, iu continuation, be added that 

 in respect at least to the fin** chjuve, ikey amply sus- 

 tain the smie character at the present day. Marco 

 Polo was himself a govn nor of a Chinese province* 

 and had gaming been a religious ceremony, he doubt- 

 less Mould have qualified the above remark. 



1 am not aware that it now is, or ever was so in any 

 part of China Chinese of any reputation for veraci- 

 ty will hardly venture, even to suit their own pur- 

 poses, to affirm that such is not the ease. It must be 

 assumed as a fact until shewn in be otherwise. But 

 Chinese emigrants to the Straits have, where they 

 could, iutmthieed gaming amongst the amuse- 

 ments of their festival*, especially those of the new 

 y .iv. The gaming^farms in the Straits were abo- 

 lished in 1810, consequent on a Presentment of its 

 immorality aud evil tendency, by the Cirand Jury 

 of Penang. 



Notwithstanding this measure, the community was 

 divided in opinion as to the advantages expect- 

 ed from it, and several of the members even of the 

 Crand Jury, settlers of influence, and intelligence, af- 

 terwards acknowledged iu 1818» that they had passed 

 too hasty a judgment.* 



• Mr, Camegy (the elder) aays: «*1 have teen willi great rpgren^e evil 

 M done (by gaming) by corrupting the police, which will never recover us 

 I cflicieucy until the farm be re-established, It » really impossible tapror 

 f« vent the Chinese gambling; so all that cap be done u to Ngutnte them, and 

 *' keep them with proper bounds. n 



Mr. P« Camegy observes, ** I was one of the OrandJury winch prosente 1, 

 "yet axperieuce las blqco convinced me, that we judsod very, wroneou*- 

 " \y, and that our remedy, in place of curing the d»5ease made U. mmjh 

 "more inveterate. It is an incureable disease in tire Chinese character, 

 « gaminir hns increased and criminals cannot be so easily detected as 

 <* fortneily."' 



And H. Scott, although he '-disapproved of the. gumiog torn, a, it 



