tmi'TESfe IN SlNGAlPOfcE. 28? 
Sometimes when the relations of Chinese labourers arrive from Chi¬ 
na, if they have no home to go to in Town they immediately pro¬ 
ceed to their relations in the jungle, and take up their abode with 
them for a short time ; then there may be a collection of as many as 
20, but these temporary sojourners I do not include in my estimate,. 
The plantations that have most men employed on them are those of 
persons who possess large capitals, and who are engaged in the cul¬ 
tivation of nutmegs, also the sugar plantations of the Americans. 
It is very difficult to ascertain the proportion of healthy and sick 
persons in the interior % it is however supposed that the majority are 
healthy* 
In the town it is difficult to find out how many die \ it is still 
more difficult to ascertain the number of those who die in the inte¬ 
rior, as the localities of the different groups are separated by dis¬ 
tance and divided by rivers. Not knowing, were I to state any 
thing on the subject it would be tantamount to falsehood. However 
as the head of the Police has issued orders that the different tribes 
of Chinese shall give information at the Police office of the diseases 
of their countrymen who die, in order that the same may be regis¬ 
tered in the Records; you will be able hereafter to obtain the desir¬ 
ed information by applying to that offiae. 
Those who plant vegetables and siri do not venture to work at 
midday, for if they do so they get afflicted with dropsy. The effluvia 
of decomposed substances in the marsh Payo lands inhaled by the 
people causes this. Although this disease may be avoided still it is of 
frequent occurrence. Those who plant gambler, in consequence of 
their having constantly to split wood, get their legs and feet hurt 
with splinters, the broken skin being disregarded, large ulcers are 
formed. 
The Chinese in the jungle having daily to work very hard, are 
much oppressed by the heat in hot weather and affected with colds 
in cold weather. Would it not be considered a great virtue in those 
benevolent people who may pity their sufferings to provide them 
with medicines ? 
They have three meals daily, which consist of rice. fish, and 
