The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-28 00:00:00

CHINESE RIOTS AT SINGAPORE.

The Singapore Straits Times of May 15, gives in a
special supplement the particulars of dreadful riots
which prevailed in that town from the sth to the
12th ult. It appears that the Chinese community of
the town and .district are divided into members of
different provinces, or rival Hueys, which have now
come to include-every description of inhabitant—Euro-
bea-ns 'excepted—the members of each Huey being
ound by a solemn ol.th to aid each other with money,
Ac., and, if necessary, to sacrifice their lives. These
rival factions engage frequently in desperate conflicts,
and a mass of miscreants avail themselves of the general
consternation and local disturbance to plunder the shops
of the weak or defenceless. In the present casna dis-
pute commenced between some Chinese about a few
catties of rice, and in the course of a few hours bands
of Chinese, armed with bludgeons and knives, were
fighting in the streets of the town, at least four or five
thousand men being engaged in the riot. The work of
plunder soon commenced, and the military were called
out, the police being fagged out and powerless. The,
next day the riot was resumed, and the European in-
habitants were sworn in as special constables, the troops
remaining quartered in the town. On Sunday it be-
came clear that stringent measures must be resorted to,
and the police fired on the rioters, one of whom was
shot dead. From that day to the end of the week the
most desperate rioting prevailed, and the town was not
quiet until Sunday, the 14th.
It is next to impossible (says the Straits Times) to esti-
mate the number of persons killed and wounded during
the disturbances. At least 100 Chinese have been shot
dead or hacked to pieces : probably double that rumber
have been assassinated. On one morning there were four
bodies in the dead-house, next day pine more, until at
length the number so increased that orders were given
to inter the bodies wherever found. The Chinese rioters
used 'their best exertions to carry off their killed and
wounded. The hospital is crowded with inmates,
wounded. Neither age nor sex have been excepted from
the serial murders perpetrated chiefly in the broad noon
of day. At the rear of Government hill the body of a
Chinese was found on the road side, literally hacked to
pieces. More than 500 persons are in custody, charged
with participation in one or more of the scenes we
have described, and we believe there is an intention to
proceed at once with a judicial inquiry, so as to dis-
pose of the prisoners, and relieve the gaols, now over-
crowded.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
BOMBAY, MAY 23.—Money still continues very scarce,
but there has been no increase on the rates of discount,
and, now that the monsoon is close at hand, the market
will probably become much easier. Few transactions
have occurred in the goods market since the departure
of the last mail, owing both to the close approach of the
monsoon as well as the extreme tightness of money in the
bazaar ; no goods have been forwarded during the past
fortnight up country. Owing to the few arrivals since
the departure of the last mail, freights have advanced to
4/, 7s. 6d, to 41, 15s. to Liverpool: and to London 51,

Exchange has slightly declined since last mail, and may
be quoted at 2s. 11d. to 2s. 11d. for first. class credits;
for document bills, 2s. 11d. six months' sight. -
CALCUTTA, May 15.—Money is abunctant, large
amounts of company's bills coming to this treasury for
Bombay account, and the amount of Government notes
paid off being large. The Bank of Bengal has lowered
discounts 1 per cent. Exchange for this mail began at
last quotations, but the supply of, bills being short, rates
fell to 2.0 i. Under late advices from home of antici-
cipated stringency in the London money market, more
than ordinary caution is exercised in the selection of
paper purchased for remittance,- whilst three months'
sight bills have been taken from the banks 2.08, and are
now at 2.01. Our piece goods market is in a generally
healthy state, transactions being based upon legitimate
demand for up-country marts. They have had a plenti-
ful supply of rain during the last fortnight in most of the
indigo districts. •

SHANGHAI, April 22.—The markets for all descrip.
tions of goods are depressed. In teas considerable ac-
tivity has taken place, arrivals being quickly taken up.
Exchange has again advanced, and is quoted 6s. 9d.
per dollar sterling for six months' bills, and company's
rupees 320.

Freights still rule high, 71. to 9/., being quoted to
G 1 eat Britain for teas and silk respectively.
No further disturbauce has taken place.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.
HONG KONG, May 6.—Arrivals from G'reat Britain.
None.

Departures to Great Britain—From Whampoa, Apri
21, the Catherina, for London ; April 29, the Maggie,
fur Hartlepool. From Worsung, April 20, the Grange,
for London.