Known as 'ayahs' in Hindi, or 'amahs' in Chinese, these servants were employed by European residents as babysitters or domestic servants. Many European children formed lasting bonds of affection with their ayahs as they were practically raised by them in their formative years. The female Chinese population in Singapore in the early 19th century was negligible, and males outnumbered females by almost nine to one. Besides being employed as ayahs, some women worked as prostitutes.
