The Singapore Necklace: A Secret Love Across Two Cultures

By Jaim Kaan

THE SINGAPORE NECKLACE

Storyline


The narrative took place in 1914 Singapore in a span of ten months.
A part of the British Straits Settlements finding itself well into the age of the industrial revolution, due to the opening of the Suez Canal and thanks to the islands unique location, Singapore grew rapidly into an important thriving trading post. The city has put itselftogether into a shipshape and organized place of commerce but also a proper place of living the infrastructure kept abreast of the business development; roads were built, electricity network replaced gas lights, water was pounded and piped to industries and residences - but also telephone, telegraph and postalservices were part daily life.
The love story evolved not only in a place where western quality of living
were injected catering for colonial life clubs, a horse race-course, sports grounds, and department stores sprung up besides markets, cinemas, parks, schools and churches
but the account occurred in an era when Victorian morality of restraint, rigid social codes of conduct and class system has been instilled. Residential areas were separated based on race, non-europeans were barred from certain places and were discouraged
from travelling first class.
A love between a European and one from another culture wasnt quite
tolerated then, certainly so were that bond between two men.
In a historic era, just two years after the sinking of the Titanic,in the period
the 1st World War unleashed in Europe and the year that the famous Singapore Sling
was conceived, two young men living in Singapore - a British and a Chinese
- discovered feelings for one another that they couldnt comprehend themselves. As their curiosity prevailed the mutual fondness blossomed in the midst of a tropical setting letting trams,rickshaws, cars, trains and boats transport them on their fine journeys and
experiences.
The sombre ending of the union was all to blame on the nasty World War spreading its negativity to the colonies. But in a twist of fate and after a long wait in limbo, the two lovers were united, free at last.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 10, 2012
• ISBN: 9781468587760

Jaim Kaan

Jaim Kaan has both Asian and European roots, not only in lineage but also in domicile, upbringing and education. He has a master’s degree in Architecture from Europe and names painting as one of his better talents. Through the years he has developed his interest in many different geographies, cultures and their forms of expression, languages and history. He recognizes the common threads that bind the four European languages he speaks and also can point at the influences these have on the colloquial of the Malay/Indonesian archipelago – inherited from the colonial past -besides the import of Sanskrit and Arabic words centuries before. He penned the historical fiction The Singapore Necklace by blending elements of real history, culture and actual situations and things as of the year 1914, even original names of places were kept true to the period. Currently based in Singapore he can at times be found in Java, Bali, Indochina, Africa or in Europe.

Book preview

Contents

Singapore

March 2012

April 1914

At The Dentist

May 1914

The Dinner

June 1914

The Cinema

Botanic Gardens

July-August 1914

August 1914

Thomson Reservoir

September 1914

Theteutonia Club

The Raffles Hotel

Ghost Month

Chinatown

The Germans

October 1914

The Necklace

The Electric Tram

The Christmas Invite

December 1914

Thursday 3 Dec 1914

The Train Ride To Sungei Ujong

Sungei Ujong

The Quarries

Christmas Eve

Friday 25 December 1914

The Fireflies

Jeram Kedah Waterfall

31St December 1914

Friday 1 January 1915

Back To Singapore

January 1915

Off To England

Turmoil

14 Fbruary 1915

15 February 1915

Voyage To England

March 2012

Portsdown Road

The Fall

Glossary

Acknowledgements

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To

Dewi Elizabeth

&

Dhira Sior

SINGAPORE

MARCH 2012

The open staring eyes didn’t blink as raindrops fell on its lids. The naked body of the young man lay face down at the foot of the large and imposing concrete tank-his head slightly turned to the side.

The drizzle’s drops fell continuously on the pale back of the body, and the water was still washing off the last traces of blood from the open wound on the head and hair. Around the neck of the young man was a necklace, curious design with black and red beads interspersed with silver beads. A light yellow plastic cover has now been placed over the body after the necessary forensic pictures and evidence gathering have been done. A police crime scene tape has been spanned around the area to cordon off the place. A few onlookers, who managed to climb up the slippery hill to the water tank, gathered under umbrellas seeking cover from the light drizzle that fell non-stop since the previous night. Soon the paramedics arrived, parking the ambulance at the roadside close to the red fire hydrant, from there they jumped across the open roadside drain, carrying with them all possible medical equipment and a stretcher.

They managed to find their way amongst the low growth and tall grass to the spot where the little crowd was assembled. The huge drum shaped water tank stood there on top of a sizable and steep mound encircled and surrounded by five three storey blocks of apartments.

One policeman jumped up to try to reach the rusty steel service ladder wanting to climb up to the roof of the structure. It took him three times to leap to grab hold of the first rung, at the roof he looked for any traces left by the victim, maybe evidence of foul play. After thorough search the officers could gather very little data, they then started to interview some of the bystanders.

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Water Tank

The paramedics commenced to place the naked corpse into a body-bag and zipped it close and after lifting the bag on the stretcher the five men carried it, with much effort, down the wet and slippery slope.

Among the onlookers was a Caucasian man who confirmed he was the downstairs neighbour of the deceased, he pointed in what block the apartment was. Other bystanders could verify this also and informed that the young man moved into the second floor apartment more than four months ago.

Intending to search the unit two policemen in raincoats then followed the Caucasian neighbour to the apartment block-while walking the officers took notes the registration number of the Volks Wagen Golf that the neighbor confirmed to belong to the dead young man.

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Block 3 Westbourne Road

Upon finding that the front door was closed, they then just went around the block and discovered that the rear door at the kitchen stood wide open.

Inside they saw nothing suspicious except for a plate with chicken curry on the night table in the bedroom and an empty glass container on the bed with its lid at the side. The officers managed to uncover the identity of the young man and the name and address of his next of kin.

APRIL 1914

AT THE DENTIST

The weather that Monday afternoon was unusually hot, the street at Battery Road looked nearly empty and quiet. Rows of rickshaws and gharries stood waiting silently in the bright sunlight like black shadows standing guard in front of the rows of pillars of the three or four storey commercial buildings. Now and then a few people were seen walking under the cover of the five foot walkways crossing hurriedly seeking the next cover and soon they disappeared. In the dentist’s waiting room at the opposite row of commercial buildings across the street Guy, a lieutenant from the British Infantry Battalion sat in one of the ten or so wicker chairs that were arranged along the walls, waiting for his turn. The open windows and the ceiling fan seemed ineffective in relieving the heat in the high ceilinged hall. He opened the upper buttons of his uniform but to no avail. The pain at his wisdom tooth returned with higher frequency and became quite unbearable so he took leave to the dentist, Dr. Naughton, one of the prominent dental surgeons that his peers at the Garrison recomended.

There were only two people at that hour in the dentist’s waiting room. In front of Guy a young Chinese man in his late teens or early twenties sat slightly slumped in one of the wicker chairs.

His hair well groomed and dressed very neatly in a white linen suit and a white collarless shirt. His beige gabardine socks could be seen above his light brown Oxford shoes, his leather belt was in perfect match with the colour of his shoes.

The young man was in obvious pain as he was holding his jaw trying to rest on his hand and he kept his eyes closed most of the time.

The young man was called in before Guy and some twenty minutes later came out from the consultation room assisted by the Eurasian lady assistant in white uniform to slide down in the first chair next to the door. He apparently needed some more time to recover from the effects of the sedation. Guy’s wisdom tooth had to be extracted which he expected as predicted by the nurse who confirmed this afternoon’s appointment some days before on the telephone. Dr. Naughton saw a cavity and explained that he would inject the sedative, Novocain, in the gum around the affected molar in order to avoid feeling the pain during the process. The procedure took less than half an hour and the dentist suggested that Guy could stay in the dentist’s chair for a while to rest while the nurse was clearing and tidying up the dentist’s room. Dr. Naughton himself had to leave for an appointment elsewhere on the island and he thought to let his last patient of the day just relax and gain strength in the chair. When Guy left the dentist’s room and came back in the waiting room he saw the Chinese youth still in his chair lying backwards with his head leaning on the back of his chair, his eyes closed. He became a bit alarmed to see the youth still in the chair and appearing quite weak. Excuse me, are you alright? Is there something wrong? The young man tried to open his eyes and looked at Guy and in a weak voice said I’ll be fine....just a bit dizzy...thank you. and tried to give a polite smile.

Guy sat down in the next chair separated by a small table, on which was a little bundle of butter paper wrapping. He put nonchalantly his little bundle of butter paper wrapping containing his extracted tooth next to the one on the table. It was the habit, in particular with the Asian patients in Singapore, to receive back their extracted teeth from the dentist-a practice soon adopted by all the dentists, Europeans as well as Japanese, on the island. Guy looked at the young man with concern and was a bit worried to leave him alone in the deserted waiting room. He stood up and knocked at the consultation room door but there was no reply, he tried to open the handle but it was already locked.

I’m sorry sir, I think the sedative proved too overwhelming for you and you need some longer rest but I don’t think it’sgood for you to stay alone here you may need help to getback where you come from .

Thank you....but I’ll be fine soon....it’s just the dizziness the young Chinese man replied politely and he tried to stand up but was unsteady and almost fell, Guy who was semi kneeling beside him grabbed hold of him in a reflex and supported him by his arm and guided the young man back in the chair. How did you come here, do you have your own transport? Our driver dropped me here...then drove the car to the garage....In Orchard Road

You can’t be alone in this condition....but not to worry....I’ll assist you and escort you home

Oh no please don’t bother, sir...Thank you, I’ll just need a bit more rest

Young man, I can’t leave you here and I insist....and please trust me, I’ll get you home

The young man, still weak, leaned back silently in his chair, but after a while he nodded All right sir, thank you . Guy quickly acted, in the spur of the moment he picked up the two little butter-paper wrappings from the table and insertedthem in the breast pocket of the youth’s jacket under the lapel.

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One Horse Gharry Carriages

He helped the dazed young man out of his chair while putting his shoulder under his arm for support they walked out of the door onto the covered walkway.

Standing in that position he summoned a gharry that soon came in front of the dentist’s practice.

It took some effort to get the weakened Chinese man inside and when he was seated too Guy asked him Where do you stay?

Passir Panjang. the youth said softly.

In the gharry the young man tried to keep himself seated upright by pushing himself up by his arms on the seat, the sealed road surface was not always smooth causing the man’s head moving from side to side. Guy who noticed this moved closer to him and put his arm on the back of the seat and guided him to lean back and rest his head on Guy’s upper arm. Guy saw that he was a bit reluctant, out of timidity, and Guyunderstood that this kind of physical closeness wasuncommon-especially beyond the prevailing cultural barriers

-but in that instance it was the only option.

Shan, the twenty year old Chinese young man, was the oldestand only son of the wealthy Leong family.

His father was one of the leading business men in thecommunity, dealing in tin mining and plantations. Shan, asexpected in his community, slightly pampered but yet notspoilt, was quite used to be transported around whenever oneof the two of the family cars was available.

Owning a car was an evidence of success in Singapore andowning two out of the total of around 700 cars on the islanddid establish one’s special stature in the community.

The successful Chinese, Arab, Armenian and Indianbusinessmen were fairly adjusted and integrated into thebusiness community that was dominated by and streamlinedaccording to the culture of the West.

Shan, born into the life of a wealthy family was used to meet and converse with Europeans-his father even employed two British engineers at the family’s mines-but resting his head on the shoulder of a British man was something that never ever crossed his mind.

He sensed however that the British officer was truly genuine in his extending of help, he felt better at ease and after a short time he let go of his last bit of control of his neck’s muscles and rested the weight of his head on Guy’s upper arm. Succumbing to the situation Shan noticed a certain scent, not unpleasant, that came from the British officer. Guy who noticed the change of weight on his arm said: I’m sorry, my name is Guy Lawson and I’m an officer at the Infantry Battalion at the Tanglin Garrison

I’m Shan...Leong Shan....Leong is the surname, please call me Shan

Nice to meet you Shawn, you’ll be absolutely fine in a jiffy, the dentist gave you a bit too much of that Novocain, probably

Shan smiled and nodded gently in agreement to Guy’s assumption. He was amazed at the real concern of the British officer and his sincere will to help bring him all the way home. It was somewhat contrary to the general perception of the distance and sometimes aloofness ascribed to the European attitude towards other cultures.

Guy was also aware of the moment and in his mind analyzing that in the two years that he was stationed and living in the East it was the first time he came to help an Oriental and at that even at this close anda tad personal. It occurred to him that this young man he was helping seemed to be as civilized as anyone he knew, with good manners and not at all submissive as other orientals he has approached so far but unassuming and yet worthy of notice. Upon Shan’s directions Guy, upon seeing the large beautiful flamboyant tree on the right side of the road, ordered the gharry-driver to turn in to the compound on the left on Passir Panjang Road.

They entered the grounds of a large mansion, and as far as Guy could have noticed the only large residence along this road.

The bungalow, seemingly a rather new building, stood on the seaside of the main road in a vast clearing among hundreds of coconut trees and a few groups of casuarina trees, its long elevation stretched from one end to the other. The well maintained front garden was pleasantly laid out with transplanted matured trees, many sustained in position shored up by robust bamboo stems, and tropical shrubs that bordered the fringes of the green grass fields and that also lined the semicircular driveway.

On the far left, almost behind the house, was a roofed open shelter erected to give cover to the family cars. The gharry drove onto the driveway and stopped under the porte-cochere at the main entry where a wide body of steps led to the verandah on the main level about four feet above the ground.

The house was built on masonry posts, as was usual on the island, creating an open airy crawl space aimed to cool the base of the building.

Separate stairs on both sides of the main entrance, away from the porte-cochere led also to the other areas of the long front verandah that was covered by a generous overhang of the main roof.

Guy had seen these large bungalows from a distance but never came this close to one, inside he felt keen to find out. Upon seeing Shan in the gharry a Chinese man, either the gardener or houseboy who was busy in the garden, quickly ran up the verandah from where he excitedly yelled some commands to the people in the house. He then ran back to the gharry, now Guy noticed that he limped, to help hold up Shan from the gharry and carry him up to the house under his shoulder.

Two maids came running out and were ordered by the Chinese houseboy to clear the path for both him and Shan to go into the main hall. There they lowered Shan onto a large sofa and tucked some of the many velvet covered pillows under and beside him to ensure that he lay comfortably. A maid came back with a glass of water for him.

Guy had slowly followed from behind and looked in amazement at the commotion in the house stemming from the care and attention displayed before him. Shan explained what has happened-also that Guy escorted him home all the way from the dentist’s at Battery Road and the man and the maids looked up in unison with eyes wide open staring in disbelief at Guy.

A petite and elegant Chinese lady, presumably Shan’s mother, dressed in a light blue hued and long silk Cheong-Sam, well coiffed hair and pearl clasp earrings walking in embroidered slippers, came in and immediately attended to her son with great concern. But soon she smiled and walked towards Guy and offered her hand.

With a remote tinge of local sound in her voice she spoke perfect English.

Thank you so much for your help, sir. I’m Shan’s mother. I hope it wasn’t too much trouble and taking too much of your time. We didn’t expect that it would turn out this way, I’m sure it wouldn’t have bothered you if we provided proper transport for him.

An older lady who had appeared and was there with Shan all the while came standing behind Shan’s mother and smiling and nodding in gratitude at Guy. She was dressed in a flower patterned kebaya the front part neatly closed by three large gold brooches, her batik sarong was in darker tints but in harmony with the colours of the kebaya. Her less than full grey hair tied in a knot as if crowning the top of her head. Terima kaseh....thank you....thank you.. she said softly with short bowing gestures.

Can I offer you a drink? It’s a hot day..you must be thirsty. Can you stay for a while? I’m sorry I just assume you are off duty.

Thank you ma’am, I’d like to, water will do fine. Mrs. Leong led Guy through the house to the rear verandah and while offering him a seat asked from what regiment he was an officer from.

I’m sorry, my name is Guy Lawson and I’m a Lieutenant at the British Infantry at the Tanglin Garrison. Shan was helped onto the veranda by the houseboy and lowered into a seat not far from Guy.

The view from the verandah was just beautiful and impressive, between the coconut trees the calm blue seawater could be seen in the distance with thin white lines from the gentle rolling waves and further beyond the few white sails from the fishermen’s boats in the far distance.

The rear garden was as neat and elegant as the one at the front-a stone tiled path ran in the centre in the grass lawn all the way to the gate posts that flanked the opening to the sandy beach in the distance. The central path was flanked on both sides by rows of very large glazed earthenware pots. The pots contained all sorts of healthily growing broad leaved tropical plants that swayed in the gentle breeze. To the left and right at the far ends of the grounds, lining its low walled borders, were straight rows of matured emperor palm trees each of them supported by a tripod of three large and long bamboo poles securely bound together with thick ropes.

The larger portion of this rear garden was green grass in which groups of either leafy trees stood or patches of beds planted with roses of various colours. Several birds flew around in the garden and in the high palm trees some squirrels moved nervously up and down the trunks. You have a very nice garden Mrs. Leong. Thank you Guy, thanks to our gardener who takes good care of it.

I can see that you like roses, my mother keeps roses too in our little front garden in Eltham.

A maid appeared carrying a tray with a pitcher of lime juice, a crystal bucket with crushed ice and some glasses. She put the tray on the centre table and filled the glasses one by one with ice and then with the lime juice while Mrs. Leong stood up and brought a glass to Guy and put it on the small table next to him. It occurred to Guy that the drinking ware was so ornate; the coasters were porcelain with an upstanding edge of carved silver.

Grandmother came onto the verandah holding a white laced handkerchief and a tiny bottle of eucalyptus oil, after dabbing a bit of the oil on the cloth she insisted that Shan should apply it and demonstrated to him how to hold the cloth to his jaw. She probably was not aware that the problem with Shan was the Novocain inside his system.

Shan reluctantly obliged and slightly embarrassed in front of Guy only shortly held the handkerchief against his nose. Do you feel a bit better Shawn? I’m sure resting here and the fresh sea air will rid you faster of the nasty anesthetic. You live in a very nice house if I may say so Shawn...you very lucky chap.

Shan, not used to handle praise almost timidly said, Thanks Guy, but I’m sure the place where you live must be nice too. Well if you mean my house back in England then I’d say maybe yes but not where I stay at the barracks at Tanglin. Guy laughed and made Shan smile.

You must miss your family in England, Guy...how long are you already here in Singapore? Mrs. Leong asked.

I’m almost two years in Singapore now and I miss them indeed, in fact the missing already started when boarding the ship.

I left my parent’s house in South London almost three years ago, first for military training at Lydd in Kent and soon after that I was sent to Singapore.

Again this is a very nice house and the surroundings are splendid-I must confess that in these past two years I’ve never.... and it’s for the very first time I’ve been in a home of a Chinese family and I’d say I’m most impressed. Shan looked amused and turned his sight to his mother who smiled at Guy, faintly nodding.

Being used a few earlier similar expressions like his she figured it would be too much to explain that they themselves make a distinction between Chinese and peranakan Chinese-it might be too complicated to fully grasp the essence and being a European who knows he might not be bothered. Soon after he emptied his glass and not wanting to overstay his welcome Guy stood up and indicated to leave. He wished Shan to get well soon. Mrs. Leong and grandmother thanked Guy again and again for his goodwill and well intended actions.

The gharry, apparently the same one, stood ready waiting to transport Guy back to Tanglin , apparently instructed so by the attentive houseboy who was standing next to the one-horse drawn vehicle. Guy was then told that the fare had just been paid for.

PASSIR PANJANG

The events on the afternoon of the tooth extraction at the dentist’s and the related visit by Guy to the house left a lingering impression on all the members of the household at Passir Panjang. It was the fact that an Englishman took the trouble to accompany Shan all the way to his home but also that he was so genuine and polite-without any trace of self gratification.

His agreeable aura and his not at all bad appearance also left some impact especially to Shan, the young man at the centre of the incident.

After Guy left, the dizzy bout in his head much diminished, Shan gained back his sense of balance and went to take a bath. He went into his bed to lie down and just allow the remainder of the sedative in his system to assist him to fall asleep. From behind his klamboo through the wide opened window of his room he could see the glittering sunlit tips of the waves through the trees. The sequence of that afternoon’s events re-entered his mind, the agony at the waiting room, the concerned and likeable gentleman, his agreeable attitude towards his mother, his pleasant remarks about liking the house.

He dozed off only to be woken up around six o’clock by the soft knocking on his bedroom door. It was Grandma. Mandi....Mandi....ayoh makan.

Guy directed the gharry all the way in past the security guards at Camp Road to have him dropped off at his dwelling unit. The barracks were situated on a vast 210 acres piece of land starting from the boundary at Tanglin Road in the east, all the way along Orchard Road on its northern boundary opposite the Botanic Gardens, to the west at Farrer Road. The land was formerly a nutmeg plantation and was bought by the British from the owner William Willan.

In the evening Guy lay in his bed and soon the goings-on and his encounter with the Leong family appeared in his mind. It occurred to him that the family happened to be just as cultivated as the Europeans, was it possible that their wealth could have influenced their lifestyle and elevated them culturally? This family has adopted European ways, they conversed in English and what he also didn’t expect was noticing a crucifix hung over the verandah’s doorway. The family structure and the care they showed for one another, something he never took interest in before, opened his mind that there must be basic principles and nurturing traits to every family in any culture. The Leong family appeared to be just as regular as any family, Chinese was just an appendage.

Shawn is a very young chap, maybe a secondary school student? Yet at times he looked matured but it seemed unlikely that he has started a career already. And if he had a working position it would surely be at his father’s business.

On Saturday at noontime Guy was off duty. He decided not to join the usual cricket match on the fields at the barracks. For the past two days he had this wish to revisit the house at Passir Panjang to enquire about the young man Shawn following the incident of his reaction to the sedation. He realized that there was more to the actual intention, he harboured a certain curiosity yet not sure what it was really about, the house? The family? Shawn?

Moreover, wouldn’t the family be caught ill at ease by his showing up?

But finally he decided for himself that dropping by to ask how the young man was faring should be reason enough. He took his Raleigh and cycled down towards Alexandra Road. To his peers at the garrison he pretended to bring a message to the Alexandra Barracks which stood not far from the beginning of Passir Panjang Road. He never told anyone about the entire dentist story.

That Saturday afternoon Shan was at home going through papers and all sorts of documents regarding the tin mining business belonging to his father.

The tin mine located on the mainland of Malaya has been established there seven years ago as branch of an older existing successful mining business further north up the peninsula at Tambun close to Ipoh in the Sultanate of Perak. This mining enterprise was in the hands of an uncle, his father’s first cousin. The family fortunes was being invested further and the business expanded by exploring other mining fields and by diversifying into various kinds of plantations. The extended Leong family possessed some older gambier and also rubber plantations. The demand for gambier, mainly used in tanning of leather, was in decline-the need in the world for rubber was increasing rapidly due to the speed of the emergence of motorcars and bicycles.

The mining company Shan’s father was managing director of lay further south from Tambun in the Sultanate of Negeri Sembilan.

The area, Rassah, situated at a medium sized river called Linggi by