Occupations
![Picture](/uploads/5/9/6/9/59699673/407219586.jpg)
Source 1
Provenance: Group photograph of Chinese merchants and compradors taken during the 1880s
Adapted from: Http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/d3bacf81-1161-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad
Inference 1:
Source 1 tells me that some Chinese were merchants. They opened shops or do businesses to earn an income for their living expenses. This can be inferred from the Chinese merchants in the photograph. They are dressed in such formal, expensive-looking clothes and were able to afford photography, which was very expensive during that time. This suggests that they are wealthy merchants. In conclusion, some Chinese men also worked as merchants.
Inference 2:
A second inference could be made. The source also tells me that Chinese businessmen networked as part of their socio-economic activities. Networking is an important activity to build their businesses. This can be inferred from the five Chinese merchants that have gathered together for a photograph, showing that they have a wide network and connection with other businessmen. In conclusion, Chinese businessmen networked as part of their socio-economic activity.
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Source 2
There were also food sellers in the streets. They sold mee goreng, rojak, Indian breakfast… Chinese people would sell Chinese food, I don’t know their names. Malays were selling laksa, a famous food. When the hawkers were selling their wares they would call out ‘rojak’, ‘mee goreng’, ‘puttu mayam’. It was very common, very common. North Indians brought rotis in the basket in the evening only, about 3 or 4p.m.And sometimes they brought cows and sold milk in the street.
Provenance: An account by Kannusamy s/o Parkirisamy, describing the street hawker food sold just outside Telok Ayer Market, taken during the 1900s
Adapted from: CPDD (2014), Singapore : The making of a Nation-State, 1300 – 1975, MOE, Singapore
Inference:
Source 2 tells me that some Chinese worked as street hawkers. They sold Chinese food along the streets so as to earn enough money for a living. This can be inferred from the source which says “ Chinese people would sell Chinese food”. Therefore, we can conclude that some Chinese worked as street hawkers to earn money for themselves in Colonial Singapore before WWII.
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Source 3
Provenance: Group photograph of Chinese merchants and compradors taken during the 1880s
Adapted from: Http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/d3bacf81-1161-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad
Inference 1:
Source 1 tells me that some Chinese were merchants. They opened shops or do businesses to earn an income for their living expenses. This can be inferred from the Chinese merchants in the photograph. They are dressed in such formal, expensive-looking clothes and were able to afford photography, which was very expensive during that time. This suggests that they are wealthy merchants. In conclusion, some Chinese men also worked as merchants.
Inference 2:
A second inference could be made. The source also tells me that Chinese businessmen networked as part of their socio-economic activities. Networking is an important activity to build their businesses. This can be inferred from the five Chinese merchants that have gathered together for a photograph, showing that they have a wide network and connection with other businessmen. In conclusion, Chinese businessmen networked as part of their socio-economic activity.
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Source 2
There were also food sellers in the streets. They sold mee goreng, rojak, Indian breakfast… Chinese people would sell Chinese food, I don’t know their names. Malays were selling laksa, a famous food. When the hawkers were selling their wares they would call out ‘rojak’, ‘mee goreng’, ‘puttu mayam’. It was very common, very common. North Indians brought rotis in the basket in the evening only, about 3 or 4p.m.And sometimes they brought cows and sold milk in the street.
Provenance: An account by Kannusamy s/o Parkirisamy, describing the street hawker food sold just outside Telok Ayer Market, taken during the 1900s
Adapted from: CPDD (2014), Singapore : The making of a Nation-State, 1300 – 1975, MOE, Singapore
Inference:
Source 2 tells me that some Chinese worked as street hawkers. They sold Chinese food along the streets so as to earn enough money for a living. This can be inferred from the source which says “ Chinese people would sell Chinese food”. Therefore, we can conclude that some Chinese worked as street hawkers to earn money for themselves in Colonial Singapore before WWII.
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Source 3
Provenance: A drawing of Chinese coolies unloading goods in Singapore, drawn during the year 1873
Adapted From: http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/photographs/record-details/adef9af2-1161-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad
Inference:
Source 3 tells me that some Chinese worked as coolies. They worked as coolies, helping to unload goods from boats docking at Singapore’s port, to earn a laborious living. As a coolie, life is very physically exhausting and difficult. This can be inferred from the picture as many Chinese men can be seen carrying heavy and bulky loads of goods from the ships docking at the harbour. This can also be seen from their tired faces. Therefore, we can conclude that some Chinese worked as coolies to earn a living in Colonial Singapore before WWII.
Done By:
Samantha Vun (29) 1D
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Source 4
Chinese coolies formed the majority of Singapore's labour force. They were mainly male immigrants who came to Singapore in the latter half of the 19th century. they worked as unskilled labourers. some were employed in construction work, clearing land for plantations, loading and unloading goods at the ports, and as rickshaw pullers.
Provenance: A description of the various jobs of the Chinese before world war 2.
Adapted from: CPDD (2014), Singapore : the making of a nation-state, 1300-1975, MOE, Singapore
Inference:
Source 4 tells me that the Chinese did not have much expertise. They jobs they took up required only physical strengths, without need for much education, skills and knowledge. This can be seen from the source which says that "they worked as unskilled labourers". In conclusion, many of the Chinese migrants did not have any particular special skillset.
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Source 5
Interviewer: Do you know why he wanted to come to Singapore? Was it because in China wasn't good or any other reasons?
NG Seng Mun: No. The person who employed my father was related to our family, in our clan.
Interviewer: But before your father came, what was he doing for a living in China?
NG Seng Mun: Oh, he was a teacher in China, so life was very hard during the early thirties.
Provenance: An account by Mr Ng Seng Mun about job prospects in Colonial Singapore before World War ii.
Adapted from: http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/viewer?uuid=938fa745-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad-OHC000852_001
Inference:
Source 5 tells me that some of the Chinese migrants came to Singapore instead of China as they had relations here and that they would be able to find better jobs as compared to their homeland. They were assured that their jobs would provide them with a relatively comfortable life as compared to China. This can be seen from the source which says that "the person who employed... father... was related to our family, in our clan" and "He was a teacher in China. So life was very hard in the early thirties". In conclusion, some of the Chinese migrants came to Singapore instead of other countries as they had relations here and would be able to find better jobs as compared to their homeland.
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Source 6
Interviewer: Why did your elder brother tell you not to go to Siam and that you should go to Singapore?
Ng Yong Khern: He felt that the customs, facilities and conditions of the Chinese in Siam then were not as good as those in Singapore.
Provenance: An account by Mr Ng Yong Khern about job prospects in Colonial Singapore before World War ii.
Adapted from: http://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/?uuid=105bc878-115e-11e3-83d5-0050568939ad-OHC001009_003%20%28ENG%29
Inference:
Source 6 tells me that some of the Chinese migrants came to Singapore for jobs instead of other countries because of advice from people they knew. They were told that the treatment towards Chinese migrants was not as good as that in Singapore. This can be seen from the source which says that "he felt that the customs, facilities and conditions of the Chinese in Siam then were not as good as those in Singapore". In conclusion, some of the Chinese migrants came to Singapore due to advice from people whom they knew.
Done by:
Claire Khoo (07) 1D