A penniless American traveller lands a gig as the ragtime pianist of a waterfront saloon and begins a journey filled with drunken sailors, bar fights and late-night chop-suey suppers.

A tuan discovers his cook has included tiger meat in his curry. Sampan boys race down the Singapore River. A gang robs dhobies and make off with shirts and petticoats.

A gun on Fort Canning signals morning call. A long walk on country roads is followed by lolling about the bungalow verandah. At 9 o’clock, breakfast is served. And so begins the day in the life of the colonial gentleman.

From the very beginning, Singapore’s promise of adventure and romance lured visitors to her shores. Travellers came from everywhere and found in Singapore so much to amaze and amuse, so much to write home about. The tales selected for this collection take the reader back to the early days of Singapore when pirates roamed the seas and tigers ate Chinamen for breakfast. It was an era of rickshaws and gharries, of pepper and gambier plantations, of secret societies and opium dens. Through the eyes of more than 60 visitors are seen glimpses of a place, a time and a way of life that is very different from today’s. First published in 1985, this classic volume is bound to entertain and inform a whole new generation of readers

The easy and indulgent life of established colonials shown in full swing.

Mems collecting water-lilies, bargaining for tropical birds, feasting on turtle steaks, visiting a coffee plantation and nearly fainting at the first encounter with durian.