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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :---

FPELLICO. 882

سلسلنا

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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In China, the clan feuds and tribal quarrels are chiefly confined to the rural districts, and are almost always the result of weak and corrupt officials. Whenever a just and strict Mandarin has charge of a district, and governs according to the laws, the people obey him willingly, and peace and contentment prevail.

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31. Above 2,000 years ago, Confucius laid it down as a maxim that “with a virtuous prince it is as easy to govern an Empire as to raise the band." The Chinese understand by a virtuous prince, a Government just and firm, which will not allow the liberty of its subjects to degenerate into licentiousness,

In our Colonies this wise principle has been too much neglected, and the conse- quence is, that although we have flourishing sea-ports, and thousands of traders are enriched, great numbers of our Chinese population deteriorate in character, and are more lawless under the rule of the greatest and most civilised nation than if they had never left their own semi-barbarous country.

32. The system of government understood by the Chinese, and which has been handed down amongst them for more than 1,000 years, is based on responsibility.

In Chinese cities and towns every street is under the charge of a Ti-po or constable, who is responsible to the district magistrate for the good order of the inhabitants and keeps a list of their names.

group of streets forms a ward and the constables are a council, which appoints watchmen, and takes measures for the general peace and security of the ward. In case of disturbance or crime, the district magistrate sends for the constables, and if they cannot give a satisfactory explanation, or produce the offender, they and the ward are liable to punishment.

By these precautions the large cities of China are comparatively free from crimes of violence, and every respectable person has an interest in assisting the authorities.

33. The Dutch and Spaniards, in their colonies inhabited by Chinese, have applied this system in a modified way, and it has been found to work well.

I bave often heard Chinese from Java, or the other Dutch possessions, say that in those places the disgraceful scenes, so frequent in Singapore and Penang, could never

occur.

34. The Dutch and Spanish, being comparatively weak nations, certainly place many restrictions on the liberty of the natives which we do not need or desire; our only wish is the order and welfare of all classes of subjects.

35. With a proper organization of street constables, wardmasters, and captains, the position of each being recognised by Government, and distinguished by badges of office, as in China, Manilla, and the Dutch possessions, then the better class of shopkeepers, the merchants, and the wealthy Chinese gentlemen, would all feel an interest in assisting the authorities, both police and municipal, to carry out the laws and regulations.

The Chinese community would then understand the beneficial nature of our sanitary and other rules, and, instead of systematically defying or evading them, would render a cheerful compliance.

Through their captains, the people could ventilate any just or fansted grievance, instead of, as at present, raising a disturbance and shutting up the shops when any change is made of which they cannot comprehend the need.

36. Were a system like this in force, secret societies could be forbidden as unlawful, and their meeting houses might be turned into schools and hospitals, or, at least, they might be sold, and the members be allowed to divide the proceeds.

(It has been suggested to me, by two of the most influential Chinese in Singapore, the Hon. H. A. K. Whampoa and Mr. Tao-kith-cheng, that the quickest way of putting down Hoeys would be to make any person known to belong to one incapable of giving evidence in our courts.)

37. The good effects of the abolition of secret societies would be felt as a blessing, not only in our Colonies, but in the Native States and the Islands of the Archipelago ; the labours of the police would be lightened by one half, and the only losers would be a few unscrupulous Chinese of bad character, and a certain class of lawyers:

In the Native States where we have residents, secret societies should be forbidden, and a system of captains and registration carried out at ones; this is easy to put in force now, while the numbers of Chinese are comparatively small.

In Larut and Sungel Ujong, captains were appointed in 1874, and in the former district registration was commenced, but from the complaints of want of coolies for the Land Transport Service of the troops in those States these good rules would seem to have fallen into abeyance: with captains appointed and registration bept up it would be easy to get as many coolies as could be needed to carry the baggage for any expedition.

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38. The objection may be raised that the system I have attempted to describe, and which Sir A. Clarke, after much consideration and consultation with Chinese of the highest respectability, wished to adopt, is incompatible with the liberal spirit of our laws.

If this be the case, it is the strongest reason against our annexation of any of the Native States, where disturbances amongst the Chinese are generally accompanied by wholesale massacre.

With good Residents at each court, well supported by our power, under the seal of a Sultan or Rajah, laws can be drawn up and enforced which will exclude dangerous societies and unscrupulous lawyers, preserve the tranquility of the several kingdoms, and ensure to the populations of each the blessings of peace, and a just rule suited to their wants and capacities.

39. In conclusion, I would make a few remarks on the need of good and trustworthy Chinese interpreters and translators for the Straits Settlements, where, at the present time, I believe there are not above six Europeans who can speak fluently any Chinese dialect, or four who understand the written language.

40. The far greater part of our Chinese population understand no other tongue than their own, and come under our rule with an inordinate idea of their immense superiority to Europeans.

I will give an example of their conceit:-I once boarded a vessel just in from China, crowded with immigrants (about 500 half naked coolies). On seeing me come on board, a fine stalwart fellow, with nothing belonging to him but a pair of short trousers and a sleeping mat, said, "Ah! there goes a red-haired barbarian." I immediately addressed him in Chinese and passed on; he said to his companion, “why, he must "be human, for he can speak our language."

41. The English are preferred to the Spanish, Dutch, or French, for the leniency and liberality of their government, but the Chinese are bound to us by no other tie than that of self interest.

They learn our language just as far as will be of use to them in trade and money making, but, with very few exceptions, they make no approach towards appreciating our superior civilization. We are barbarians, and they are the only refined and intellectual nation.

That this should be the state of opinion in the Chinese Empire is not to be wondered at, but in the Straits Settlements it ought not to be so.

42. The Dutch have a properly constituted “Chinese Bureau," the affairs of which are managed by gentlemen who have studied the native language and character in China; whatever the principles of the Dutch Government may be, they secure the respect and obedience of the Chinese; much more than this it is hopalem to expect.

43. On my first arrival in Singapore, I found that in our own Government proclamations we were styled in Chinese "Red-haired barbarians,” and teriga were used which, if men in an official notice issued by the Mandarins of any port in China, would call forth a remonstrance from our Consul.

In the Courts, the judge; magistrates, barristers, and jury were all, by our own paid interpreters, spoken of as "barbarians” or “devils," and the police were distinguished by the flattering title "big dogs."

The Court interpreters were most careless and sorrupt, many of them belonging to secret societies, and caring little for the truth.

These abuses have been somewhat reformed during the last four years, Procla- mations are now issued in a style more consonant with the dignity of a great nation, aud the more important ordinances and regulations have been translated into Chinese and circulated, this, I think will be allowed, has had a beneficial result as to ordinary crime. 44. In the matter of interpreters there is yet much to be desired; their characters and capabilities are far from high, indeed, Chinese who can speak and write their own language well, together with Malay or English, are scarce, and their services are in demand for mercantile houses, or for the Chinese "Maritime Customs,” where they get better remuneration than our Governmpat offers.

45. Even with the very best Chinese as interpreters it is of the utmost importance to have a respectable European in Court to watch their interpretation. Chinese, Portugess, or Eurasians are'all wanting in moral and physical' courage, and their consciences are often far from tender,

46. With a competent staff of our own countrymen as interpreters (men of respec- table birth and education) we should ensure that purity in the business of our courts of law than which nothing is more necessary, if we wish to gain the confidence and good feeling of a suspicious Oriental population.

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