It will be evident from this that the times were troublous, and that the organisation of a police force was of the first importance. This body for some time was of a rather nondescript character; a roving commission was given to a captain in the P. & 0. Company to bring up likely men, but for some reason or other the Council had considerable difficulty in getting thin to work smoothly, and cases of men wishing to resign, suspensions, and recriminations were rather frequent, Obviously, too, the men themselves had temptations to discontent, for the work in such an unsettled place was not likely to be pleasant, and it wus frequently extremely dangerous. Not only was the whole country in a state of disorder on account of the Rebellion, but the prevalence of anarchy brought in its train a number of foreign adventurers, who were not particular as to their mode of livelihood. The districts of Hongkew and Louza were veritable Als.- tins," infested by Chinese and foreign rowdies associated in the conduct of infamous gambling dens which induced a most disorderly state of affairs. In 1864 it was officially stated that ~'there are above. 140 low foreigners (non-Asiatics) living in the various grog-shops, of whom 106 have no employment whatever, and more than 50 of this latter number have done wathing towards earning a livelihood for many months. Living in Chinese houses and boats," the report continues, are about 45 white men, averaging a period of residence in China of from 1 to 10 years. About 10 of these eke out & precarious existence as watchmen at gambling houses, whilst the remainder have no fixed place of abode, but move from point to point, and occasion ally proceed by boat to the interior of the country, for short periods.... In addition there are from 75 to 100 of all nations, living with the Chinese in native houses, most of whom whilst performing no manner of work by day, mix freely with the worst characters amongst the Chinese and commit petty larcenies im or about the Settlement by night. To the pressure of so large proportion of the scum of all nations, destitute as they cannot fail to be of any money earned in a respectable manner, must be attributed the prevalence of crime."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.