THE CHINESE IN SINGAPORE, 
285 
The labouring class of people that emigrate to this Settlement 
are mostly very poor. Originally they come with the intention of re¬ 
turning to their native land after a sojourn of 3 or 4 years, but out 
of 10 only 1 or 2 individuals are able to return after that time, and 
when they do retire they do not take with them much wealth ; still 
as the remembrance of home is not obliterated from their minds 
they are willing to return even with a small fortune. There are 
some who return to China after 5 or 6 years, and others after 7> 8. 
and 10 years. The periods of return are various’; there are a great 
number who remain here upwards of 10 and 20 years, and yet, 
unable to return, ultimately die and repose their ashes in this 
Settlement. Alas! for those who originally intended to return to their 
native country after 3 years, and yet after the lapse of more than 19 
years have not been able to fulfil their wish; but what is the reason 
of it ? It is because they become addicted to the prevailing vice of 
Opium smoking. After a continued residence here they learn the 
habit, which afterwards becomes fixed. Many of the Chinese la¬ 
bourers after having earned a little money, waste it upon opium 
or expend it in gambling. After a series of years they save noth¬ 
ing, and every day it becomes more and more difficult for them 
to return to their country. With empty purses and empty hands 
they may manage pretty well without gambling, but to go without opi¬ 
um would be to them certain death. When these opium smokers are 
reduced to straits from want of money they resort to schemes of plun¬ 
der and robbery. They do not fear being immured in prison, nor do 
they dread being transported to Bombay, It is not however that 
they do not actually dread the one nor fear the other, but the hope 
of impunity emboldens them ; they think that if they become rob¬ 
bers, it is not so very sure they will be apprehended, or if they are 
apprehended and brought before the Magistrate, they hope by clever 
subterfuges to escape punishment. Should they however not escape 
punishment but be confined in prison, or transported to Bombay and 
there die, that would be a death which they would far prefer to the 
wretched death from deprivation of opium. It is on this account 
that robberies have multiplied to such an extent, and they may be 
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