THE CHINESE IN SINGAPORE
No. II.[1]
GENERAL SKETCH OF THE NUMBERS, TRIBES, AND AVOCATIONS OF THE CHINESE IN SINGAPORE.[2]
By Siah U Chin.
In all Singapore, including the interior and the Town, there are, men and women, old and young, upwards of 40,000 Chinese.
There are 1st. Chinese from Hokein Province; these come from the departments of Chiang Chiu, Chuan Chiu and Eng Chun.
2nd. Malacca born Chinese.
3rd. Chinese from the department of Tio Chiu, which is under the jurisdiction of Canton Province.
4th. Chinese from Canton; these men are here commonly called Macao Chinese.
5th. The Khé Chinese, these are men who come from the two Provinces of Hokkien and Canton.
6th. Chinese from Hai-nam, which is also subject to the jurisdiction of Canton.
This is speaking of them collectively and in a general manner. There are also some few Chinese from other tribes, but of these it is difficult to form an estimate. Each individual tribe speaks the dialect of that tribe, and although there may be a slight difference in the dialect spoken by Chinese who belong to one and the same tribe in consequence of the remoteness of their respective districts, yet that difference, as it consists only in a few inflexions, cannot be properly called a different dialect. It is not however possible to enumerate all the different dialects spoken by the Chinese. I have not made it a matter of deep inquiry, touching the few residing in this settlement who belong to other tribes.
- ↑ See vol. I. p. 35.—"Annual Remittances by Chinese Immigrants in Singapore to their Families in China."
- ↑ This paper is composed of answers written by Siah U Chin to queries by Dr. Oxley, to whom we are indebted for it. The original Chinese bas been literally translated. The estimate of the numbers of each tribe engaged in different occupations we have procured from Siáh U Chin. Ed.
