uniformly traced to opium, the instigating cause of all; and the laborers of the interior who consume their days in fatiguing toil, and constant exposure to destruction from the numerous tigers, do thus brave death only that they may obtain the means of indulging themselves in the luxury of opium smoking. Incalculably great is the bane of opium. It urges the robber to death. It hurries the labourer to destruction by the jaws of tigers. Grievous to the last degree is this fact. Philanthropists of the age does not this rend your hearts, and affect your eyes? Does it not lead you to lament their stupidity, and to contrive means by which you may rescue them?
The number of men that arrive in the Junks annually amounts to about 10,000.[1] Some of these, after remaining in Singapore a few days or months proceed to Rhio, Penang, Padang, Acheen, Java, Minto, Pahang, Malacca and other parts in the Archipelago.
In the gambier and pepper plantations there are generally 9 or 10 men employed, 12 and 13 men are considered a full complement. I have never heard of any plantation having as many as 20 men upon it.
- ↑ The Editor of the Singapore Free Press has obliged us with the following table shewing the number of Chinese Passengers who arrived in Singapore by the undermentioned Junks from China, from the 28th December 1847 up to the end of April 1848.
By 17 Junks from Macao, 3,396 men. By„ 6 Junks„ from„ Chong lim, 1,446 men„ By„ 10 Junks„ from„ Canton, 1,426 men„ By„ 3 Junks„ from„ Kong moon, 637 men„ By„ 7 Junks„ from„ Amoy, 631 men„ By„ 2 Junks„ from„ Swathow, 580 men„ By„ 2 Junks„ from„ Hye Kow, 95 men„ By„ 2 Junks„ from„ Chawan, 65 men„ By„ 1 Junks„ from„ Chan Chew, 60 men„ By„ 1 Junks„ from„ Jeepoon, 48 men„ By„ 2 Junks„ from„ Shanghai, 43 men„ By„ 1 Junks„ from„ Hokeean, 32 men„ By„ 1 Junks„ from„ Tew Chew, 250 men„ By 55 Junks 8,709 men„ By 23 Junks„ from Hy lam, 320 men„ By„ 30 Junks„ from„ Anam, 116 men„ By„ 108 Junks, 9,145 men„ By 11 Square rigged Vessels, 1,330 men„ Grand Total, 10,475 men. —Ed.
