331
19.
Extract from letters from Mr. Pickering, Protector of Chinese, Singapore 24th March, 1886.
X
I began to register the Triad Societies in 1873 and at that time nothing was known of them by the Government, except that they were a continual source of danger to the public peace, and that they hampered the Police in dealing with criminals. Since then, however, by means of a system of registration and carrying surveillance under Ordinance 19 of 1869, these societies have become very amenable to authority; and though, of course, amongst such a number of lawless Chinese there must always be disputes, head men have not seldom given assistance to the Government, and I am of opinion that until all the officials have a knowledge of Chinese, it will be impossible and impolitic to suppress them.