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THE "PIMPS' CLUB" AT SINGAPORE 109
occupation, mean and low, and not too
dangerous. They are not of the bold burglar
type, who would crack a "crib" or a skull;
they do rob, but they rob drunken men and
fallen women and children. Sometimes when
pressed they even rob a poor-box at a church
door and the ornaments from the altar. In
their own countries they are often known by
the police, who have their photographs and
their finger-prints, and they find it more convenient
not to be seen about if they do visit
their own land they do so
surreptitiously.
When they have made a place too hot for
them they generally adopt the profession of
white slave traders. They have already
served an apprenticeship in bad houses, and
they know most of the evil that is to be
known. They know that this particular slave
trade brings money to those who follow it.
They have themselves lived bad lives and
they know bad women, and henceforth allow
themselves to use all their power to decoy,
trap, and ruin the sort of girl who will be
likely to fetch most money in this terrible
business. Often they marry the girl-child,
because that is the easiest way to get a very
young and pretty girl to leave her home
secretly.
There is always some plausible tale which
explains why the lover is not able to face an
open marriage ; and the curious part of this
is a fact that is borne out by every one who
knows anything at all of this sad side of life
that these men get such a hold upon the