Cock Fighting and the Foochows

Gambling has always been a frown upon vice for the Foochows. In the days of the Foochow pioneers, Wong Nai Siong and later, Rev James Hoover, those caught for any form of gambling had to return to China for good. Hence gambling was curbed. Then there were other vices like opium smoking, prostitution and betting which took into the back lanes but not easily detected.

Cock fighting then started for many reasons, but basically it was a good method of gambling.

What has been even more profitable is the rearing of prized fighting cocks.

Some of my uncles were good cock fighters and even prized themselves as good selectors of the winning cocks. Every now and then they would be hauled into the police station when caught by the police. They were only too happy to pay the fines.

The prized pets also live in good houses and in the day time they are given shades in A shaped chalets like the one in the photo. Water must be provided for drinking. Today people make all sorts of A shaped chalets for their pets from all sorts of materials. Two windows can be hinged together to make a nice Shed.

Those who rear fighting cocks learn how to give vitamins, hormone injections to the chickens. Their wonderful pets also receive the best of chicken feed which is not cheap at all.

So don't ever think that chicken feed is something cheap.