At one time, Singapore River was the very lifeblood of the colony, the trade artery, the center of commercial activity, the heart of entrepot trade, the vessel of importance, the capillaries of life and the place which was frequented by the secret societies, the "swaylos" (Cantonese for coolies who worked on a boat) and the "coolies" who worked for the philanthropist Tan Tock Seng at Ellenborough Market and the "towkay" (Hokkien for business owner) Tan Kim Seng who was busy filling his godown with the riches of the East.