70 
A GLANCE AT RHIO. 
hat the Chinese of Rhio were more respectful and less surly to 
Europeans than those of Singapore,—but our observation did not 
confirm this as no difference could be noted, nor had they the 
same idle inquisitiveness of this class in Malacca as might have 
been expected in a small town. Gambling is allowed, and, we 
were informed, farmed out by the Government. The gambling 
shops were all adjoining and open to the street. They could not fail 
to excite our curiosity, seeing how vigorous the Singapore Police are 
in rooting out the evil in the British Settlement. The shops seem¬ 
ed generally to be but thinly attended, but there was sufficient to 
convince the observer of the ill effects which this propensity entails 
on the Chinese. The gamblers consisted of the debauched opium 
smokers and the leprous, whose wan countenances, lighted up now 
and then by intense anxiety as to the result of their venture, were 
only to be contrasted by the for lorn and reckless looks of others. 
This picture might be thought overdrawn perhaps, were it not men¬ 
tioned that all Chinese are strongly addicted to this vice, so much so 
indeed that it is their ruling passion, and persons of all classes attend 
the gambling table. The miserable appearance of those who are seen 
there would mark them as ruined and the dregs of the population, 
who, useless for other employment during the day, idled until night 
brings about its usual revels, and company. There has been much 
diversity of opinion regarding the propriety of the government deriving 
a revenue from this source, and, without expressing an opinion, it 
will suffice to note the arguments on both sides. First, say the op- 
posers, government by sanctioning gambling lend their support 
and countenance in maintaining the vice, thus ruining their subjects 
for revenual purposes,—keeping an open door for the ruin of the 
young and unvitiated,—and causing a general demoralization of the 
people. The advocates o( the farm, on the other hand, say, go¬ 
vernment by taxing gambling directly discountenances the vice, in 
the same way as it does by taxing opium smoking and spirit drink¬ 
ing, and instead of having a shut door where the addicted may pur¬ 
sue their vices beyond the pale of public opinion it would force 
them to attend the farmers tables openly, which those only who had 
no regard for character would do; a policy which particularly 
recommends itself in such places as Singapore and Rhio, with a 
migratory^hifting and mixed population, where, if any good is 
