Triads, Coolies and Pimps: Chinatown in Former Times
Oct 1, 2015 · Whether they were travelling as free coolies or under the credit ticket system, the coolies had to endure a harrowing voyage by sea to Singapore. They were piled into small vessels and herded like cattle across the often stormy South China Sea in cramped and unsanitary conditions.
Chinese coolies - National Library Board
Chinese coolies were driven by poverty in China to seek a better life in Singapore. There were three peak periods of Chinese coolie emigration to Singapore: 1823 to 1891, after Singapore became a free port; 1910 to 1911, before World War I; and 1926 to 1927, after the war.
Destination - Nanyang - Roots
Coolies who arrived in Singapore in the 1800s were impoverished, unskilled Chinese male immigrants who had come to Singapore to seek their fortunes, but ended up as contracted labourers who worked in industries such as construction, agriculture, shipping, mining and rickshaw-pulling.
People at Work - National Library Board
Many impoverished Chinese migrants came to Singapore in the 19th century to work as coolies – indentured labourers who were employed in construction, agriculture, shipping, mining and other sectors. They formed the backbone of early Singapore’s labour force. Mostly engaged in unskilled, hard labour, coolies worked under harsh circumstances.
37 Pagoda Street - Roots
In the 19th and early 20th century, many Chinese immigrants, particularly from the southern region of China, came to Singapore in search of better prospects but were instead made to work as labourers – known as coolies.
‘So tiring I could fall asleep standing’: Ex-coolie recalls tough times ...
Oct 12, 2023, 08:05 PM. SINGAPORE – Mr Ong Wee Serm remembers the years toiling as a coolie, or manual labourer, who moved goods to and from ships off the coast of Singapore. The 77-year-old,...
History of Coolies in Singapore - YouTube
Jane's Singapore Tours guide Shanti invites you into her home to learn about the importance of coolies in building the country. She shares a sculpture by renowned artist Lim Leong Seng....
An album of rare photos: From Chinese coolies to Singaporeans
Jun 26, 2020 · Historical photo collector Hsu Chung-mao recently obtained an album with rare photographs of such a ship bringing coolies from Xiamen in Fujian, China, to Singapore in the early 20th century. They are an authentic visual record of Chinese coolies in Singapore a century ago and a powerful throwback to that period.
History of Chinatown - Part of Singapore's Heritage & Culture
This self-contained kampong (community settlement) became home to many Chinese immigrants, and a transit point for coolies (unskilled labourers) going to Malaya. The original kampong was divided into zones for each Chinese community of the same provincial origin and dialect group.
Coolies and Samsui women - roots.gov.sg
Coolies and Samsui women had one thing in common; both groups engaged in hard labour. Coolies were primarily impoverished Chinese immigrants who came to Singapore in the second half of the 19th century, seeking employment as construction and plantation workers, miners or even rickshaw pullers.