Read Online SQ 04 - The English Concubine by Dawn Farnham - Free Book Online Page B

Butterworth and Governor Blundell tried to impose port duties, sir, to raise funds for the lighthouses and other port improvements, but the town will not have it. The Chinese and European merchants come together like glue in hysterical protest at any nibbling of what they conceive of as their rights, and throw Raffles and free trade at us like cannonballs. Calcutta sees only losses and refuses to raise its share on what it considers to be an intransigent and untaxed mercantile population. In effect we are dependent on the opium farm.’
    ‘You have had little contact with the Chinese, sir, I understand. But they are a peaceful and industrious people, Governor,’ McNair added.
    Cavenagh looked at Robert.
    ‘Are they, Commissioner?’
    ‘On the whole. Their secret societies are called “hoeys” or “kongsi”. They can occasionally cause the most terrible trouble but for the last years there has been a reasonable level of peace. In the absence of a large enough police force and a proper judiciary we must adopt a laissez-faire attitude.’
    ‘These “hoeys”. Tell me about them. Are they like the dacoits in India?’
    ‘Not at all, Governor. They are more like our freemasons, except they have a propensity to violence and their so-called brothers are foot soldiers and can be called upon to do the bidding of their leaders. Occasionally there are territory wars when dialect groups clash. Such violence is never, however, aimed at the colonial government to whom the Chinese leaders are remarkably loyal.’
    Cavenagh seemed to consider this.
    ‘However, Governor, they are powerful. Three years ago a misunderstanding occurred between the government and the Chinese population regarding the new Indian Police Act. The Governor found it absolutely impossible to translate into the Chinese hieroglyphics the technicalities of an English document of law and exaggerated rumours circulated like wildfire about the magnitude of fines, the number and gravity of punishable offences and the arbitrary powers of the police.’
    ‘Translators. Do we have any now?’
    Robert felt a moment of exasperation. The governor’s mind did hop about so.
    ‘One, Governor, and it is not sufficient. Currently we must send documents to Hong Kong for translation.’
    Cavenagh frowned.
    ‘As I was saying, sir. The level of discontent was such that the leader of the secret society called a strike. Believe me, Governor, if I tell you that within one hour of the issuance of that order the town of Singapore was hermetically sealed to trade. There was not a door or window open or a man at work at his business in the town. The Klings and others ceased work too for fear of this power, issued they knew not from where, but the effect of which was so obvious. For three days the town and port were utterly deserted. It came to an end only when the government managed to reassure the leading merchants.’
    ‘Good God. Who leads them?’
    ‘Sir, it is a very secret organisation. In general, the wealthiest merchant is their leader but I cannot say that with any absolute certainty. But my example goes to show how closely they control the labouring masses. Without the hoeys we should not be able to police our colonies at all, nor conduct any business. The Chinese are everything, sir, they are skilled in every trade and manufacture, grow the food and commercial crops and labour on the farms and in the town.’
    McNair, who had spent several years in Penang, nodded his agreement.
    ‘They are the best and most peaceable colonists in the world. I concur, sir. Their towkays, the wealthy merchants, are our go-betweens, in particular several of those you met at your reception. Whampoa, Seah and Zhen speak excellent English.’
    Cavenagh gave this some thought.
    ‘Sir,’ Robert said into the silence, ‘may I make a request for a return to the gambling farm licenses? It is an enormous source of revenue which the town denies itself.’
    ‘Well, well, explain.’
    ‘Abolished