Hard Labour
CHEW HEE CHUAN'S
ACCOUNT
A coolie’s job depended on what they were tasked to do by their tow kay, a Hokkien term used to describe their bosses. These ranged from transporting heavy loads to doing construction work. A surge of rickshaw pullers, popularised during the late 19th century, took over the transportation mode of gharry (house-drawn carriages) as a cheaper and more efficient way of travel. However, this was soon taken over by motorised vehicles in the mid 20th century, when most coolies became skilled labourers.
Chinese coolie
carrying gunnysack
A common sight in the early-mid 20th century, Chinese coolies would often carry gunny sacks behind their backs, performing hard physical labour under the hot sun.
National Museum of Singapore. Photograph of a Chinese Coolie. Early-mid 20th century.
Image size: L11 x W7.4 cm. Photograph and Negative.
Item from the collection of the National Museum of Singapore.
Labour
As shown in the postcard, Chinese coolies are often tasked to do rigorous labour and this was a common scene in the 19th century.
National Museum of Singapore. Postcard of a Chinese Coolie. 19th century.
Image size: L9 x W14 cm. Postcard.
Item from the collection of the National Museum of Singapore.
Rickshaw Puller
Many coolies took up rickshaw pulling when it was popularised in that era as it was required islandwide.
National Museum of Singapore. A rickshaw puller and his passenger. 1900. Image size: L9.7 x W13.1 cm. Photograph and Negatives.
Item from the collection of the National Museum of Singapore.
Coolie carrying bamboo
This postcard captures the essence of hardship in a coolie’s life. The amount of bamboo carried at once tends to be back-breaking, leading to high chance of injuries.
National Museum of Singapore. Chinese coolie carrying bamboo. Late 19th to 20th century. Image size: L9.1 x W14.2 cm. Postcard.
Item from the collection of the National Museum of Singapore.
Coolies at Boat Quay
Depicting a scene at Boat Quay, a place that is now full of life, it did not used to be that way and coolies were part of the progress over time.
National Museum of Singapore. Coolies at work at Boat Quay. Late 19th century. Image size: L9.1 x W14 cm. Postcard.
Item from the collection of the National Museum of Singapore.
Coolie belt
Coolies often wore shorts while working and some of them needed makeshift belts. This is believed to be handmade by a coolie himself.
National Museum of Singapore. Coolie Chain Belt. 1900s.
Object size: D3.8 x W151.0 cm. Silver.
Item from the collection of the National Museum of Singapore.