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CHAPTER III.

THE CHINAMAN AT HOME AND ABROAD (Continued). Chinese Guilds—Hongkong—Native Boats—Shopkeepers—Artists—Music Halls.

Gambling is a phase of Oriental vice to which the Chinese are peculiarly addicted, and was at one time farmed by the Government, but the ordinance was eventually suppressed. The licensing system, during its short career, contributed about 14,000 dollars a month to the Treasury, and judging from local statistics, naturally aided in the suppression of crime. It was, besides, supposed to maintain a higher moral tone among the native police, who, when secret gambling-houses flourish, are seduced continually by bribes into dereliction of duty and corruption. One of the difficulties in carrying out the plan was the conscientious scruple, which, apparently, even affected the promoters of the measure, as to the application of a constantly accumulating fund derived from a source so polluted. It was even suggested to drop it silently into the sea and have done with it. All I would say is, if the policy of sheltering this particular vice, in order to effect a diminution of crime in the Colony, was sound, the proceeds of the gambling-farm might have been wOj.thily employed in rendering the police-force