In 1864, the Resident of Rhio, Java, Mr. E. Netscher, was appointed by the Dutch Government to study and report upon the convict system in force in Singapore, and both the Siam and Japan Governments sent special missions for the like purpose, the mission from Japan being accompanied by Mr. Hall, of the British Consulate. Many others, also, recorded their opinions in its favour, and some among them were authorities upon prison systems pursued in some parts of both Europe and America. The local government, we should add, in their direction of this convict establishment, fully recognised that the distinctive feature in the native mind was to look to one rather than to many masters, to one European executive officer rather than to a collective body of magistrates, and, therefore, beyond that general supervision which the Government must ever assume over its Departments, it committed the whole of the management, discipline, and control of this large body of convicts entirely to their Superintendent, under the approved rules and regulations for his guidance, and for the administration of the whole establishment. J. F. A. McNAIR, R.A., C.M.G. W. D. BAYLISS. SCOTIA, PRESTON PARK, BRIGHTON, SUSSEX. Contents Chapter I EARLY RECORDS OF BENCOOLEN AND OBSERVATIONS ABOUT CONVICTS 1 Chapter II A SLIGHT SKETCH OF PENANG AND THE TREATMENT OF THE CONVICTS THERE 14 Chapter III OLD MALACCA, AND THE FIRST INTRODUCTION OF CONVICTS THERE 25 Chapter IV A RUNNING HISTORY OF SINGAPORE: ITS JAIL SYSTEM AND ADMINISTRATION 31 Chapter V SINGAPORE (CONTINUED) 47 Chapter VI SINGAPORE (CONTINUED) 59 Chapter VII SINGAPORE (CONTINUED) 75 Chapter VIII DIVISION INTO CLASSES, TRADERS, FOOD AND CLOTHING 84 Chapter IX PUBLIC WORKS AND INDUSTRIES 96 Chapter X STORIES ABOUT INDIAN CONVICTS AND EUROPEAN LOCAL PRISONERS 113 Chapter XI ABOLITION OF THE CONVICT DEPARTMENT AND DISPOSAL OF THE CONVICTS 143 Chapter XII DISEASES AND MALINGERING 147 Chapter XIII CONCLUSION 156 APPENDICES 169 List of Illustrations and Plates GENERAL MONTHLY MUSTER OF THE CONVICTS, SINGAPORE JAIL _Frontispiece_ TO FACE PAGE DUFFADAR ARJOON v Plate I OLD MAP SHOWING PENAL SETTLEMENTS 1 Plate II FORT CORNWALLIS, PENANG 14 Plate III BOUNDARIES OF MALACCA, PORTUGUESE PERIOD 25 Plate IV