’283 
THE CHINESE IN SINGAPORE 
NO. II.* 
GENERAL SKETCH OF THE NUMBERS, TRIBES, AND AVOCA¬ 
TIONS OF THE CHINESE IN SINGAPORE, t 
By Siah U Chin. 
In all Singapore, including the interior and the Town, there are, 
men and women, old and yonng, upwards of 40,000 Chinese. 
There are 1 st. Chinese from Hokein Province ; these come from 
the departments of Chiang Chiu, Chuan Chiu and Eng Chun. 
2nd. Malacca born Chinese. 
3rd. Chinese from the department of Tio Chiu, which is un¬ 
der the jurisdiction of Canton Province, 
4th. Chinese from Canton : these men are here commonly call- 
ed Macao Chinese. 
5th. The Kh£ Chinese, these are men who come from the two 
Provinces of Hokkien and Canton. 
6th. Chinese from Hai-nam, which is also subject to the juris* 
diction of Canton. 
This is speaking of them collectively and in a general manner. 
There are also some few Chinese from other tribes, hut of these it 
is difficult to form an estimate. Each individual tribe speaks the di¬ 
alect of that tribe, and although there may be a slight difference in 
the dialect spoken by Chinese who belong to one and the same tribe 
in consequence of the remoteness of their respective districts, yet that 
difference, as it consists only in a few inflexions, cannot be pioperly 
called a different dialect. It is not however possible to enumerate 
all the different dialects spoken by the Chinese. I have not made it 
a matter of deep inquiry, touching the few residing in this settle¬ 
ment who belong to other tribes. 
* See vol. I. p. 35.—“ Annual Remittances by Chinese Immigrants in 
Singapore to their Families in China. 5 * 
■f This paper is composed of answers written by Siah U Chin to queries 
by Dr. Oxley, to whom we are indebted for it. The original Chinese has 
been literally translated. The estimate of the numbers of each tribe en¬ 
gaged in different occupations we have proem ed from Siah U Chin Ep. 
