CO129-011 - Sir John Davis - 1845 [1-4] — Page 73

The

Colony

was at that time, in

ce and

respect to its Chinese population, in a state of disorder which has happily been ameliorated, and partly

· partly in consequence, of this Ordinance: Right and day Robberies were of constant occurrence, about a week before my arrival 12,000 rupees belonging to the Commissariat soore carried off, near Chekohoo, and the soldives by which it was guarded. were murdered, as then reported to Your Lordship =

Amore rigilant and active

Police has since corrected the above soil,

and many

many pobbers

were either shot,

or

captured. Still something was required, Asides an European or Hindoostance police, for the native population, something akin to the unpaid constables of the parishes in England, and this found aheady existing among

the

Chinese

Chinese institutions.

72

}

The Ordinance in question adheres to these as nearly as possible, and the Enactment is of c

' course much more congenial to the 20,000 Chinese, who inhabit this island, than the unnecessary importation into their villages of foreign regulations. The appointment of these lithingmen and hundreders, for such in fact they are gives to the individuals to

appointed a degree of weight and. authority among their Countrymen, and : my personal explorations of the island, I have met with 6 great respect and attention from them, returning the.

im

same with presents to themselves their children.

the

or

Another advantage attending

Enactment under notice, is its -

Economy, as like the old parish -

Constables

!