These signs are combined or doubled to represent higher values.
There are many other systems of keeping accounts.
Similarly there were many devices adopted to avoid being detected with Chap-ji-ki cards on the person. In some cases, written symbols, strings of beads, in other cases common Chi-ki cards, numerals, a certain number of coppers and dollars, and fancy hieroglyphics would be used. These dodges were adopted to avoid the risk of being arrested in possession of Chap-ji-ki cards. I have drawn up a chart of the various symbols used most commonly in place of the actual Chap-ji-ki. The stake (money or notes) was always put up together with this symbol (whatever form it took) used in place of the Chap-ji-ki cards and carried by the collector to the lottery.
Nothing is ever stated clearly on the writing paper they carry with them. Sometimes the card selected and the money staked on it is represented by some hieroglyphics agreed on between the collectors and their clients written on a small piece of Chinese white paper, sometimes buttons, sometimes beads are used–sometimes the number of spots in a particular kind of handkerchief affected by Straits ladies are made up into a signal code. Very rarely now, if ever, are the Chap-ji-ki cards themselves used. Occasionally twelve particular cards are selected from the straits China-born Malay cards, called Chi-ki cards, and these particular twelve cards are then used to represent the twelve Chap-ji-ki carda.
When the collectors have got in all their stakes, they all assemble at a certain place, at a certain time. This place is always fixed beforehand by the manager; and each collector finds her own way there by herself by a different way. Half an hour after, or so, the manager appears, and the whole party lock the front door for safety; then they either go upstairs or into a back room on the ground floor and open the lottery.
The lottery is managed in the following way. Each collector (who has already brought her money, i.e., the stakes of all her clients) with her and her memorandum (whatever symbolical from it may take) as to which card is staked on, comes forward to a table at which the manager sits and places her hong or packet (i.e., the money staked and the memorandum as to which it is staked on) on the table, when everything has been put on the
