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Early settlers faced severe housing shortages, with many families cramped into shophouses along areas like Chinatown. Multiple families would share a single room, with poor ventilation and minimal sanitation facilities. These conditions often led to the spread of diseases.

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Many immigrants worked as coolies in the ports, construction sites, and plantations. They endured long hours, harsh physical labour, and minimal wages. The coolie trade was often exploitative, with many falling into debt bondage.

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Samsui women, recognizable by their red headdress, worked as construction laborers. Others worked as amahs (domestic helpers), street vendors, or in cottage industries like making matchboxes and processing sago.

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From The Biscuit Tin Epsiode 6_Samsui Woman

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Visit these heritage sites to understand early settler life: Thian Hock Keng Temple (oldest Chinese temple), Sultan Mosque (religious center for Malays), Sri Mariamman Temple (oldest Hindu temple). These places were crucial for maintaining cultural identity.

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A Mini Virtual Tour to these heritage sites in Singapore

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A Mini Virtual Tour to these heritage sites in Singapore

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With limited access to modern healthcare, many settlers relied on traditional medicine. Chinese settlers visited sinsehs (traditional Chinese medicine practitioners), while Malays sought bomohs (traditional healers) for various ailments.

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The early settlers battled numerous diseases including cholera, smallpox, and malaria. Poor sanitation, lack of clean water, and overcrowded living conditions contributed to frequent epidemics. The government gradually implemented public health measures to combat these issues.

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https://www.harokostudio.com/wp-content/uploads/project/chinatown-heritage-centre/chc.html

Take a 360° virtual tour of the recreated living quarters at Chinatown Heritage Centre. Experience firsthand how our early settlers lived in cramped and unhygienic spaces, with authentic furnishings and personal belongings from the era.

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Photography & Interactive by Haroko Studio PTE. LTD.

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Early settlers spoke different dialects and languages, making communication challenging. Over time, a unique form of communication evolved - Bazaar Malay became the lingua franca, while Singlish began developing as a creole.

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1330 - Singapore's Early Settlements & Trade