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A--I have never thought about the matter.
Q-Now that it is mentioned, how does it strike you as a possible mode of punish-
ment?
A-Of course, I know that Chinese prefer to have their queue, but I think it would be rather a barbarous form of punishment to cut their queues off and send them out of Gaol without a tail.
Q-More barbarous than flogging?
A-I think so. A man can hide his flogging, but he cannot hide his cut queue.
Q-Do you not think it would be a huge deterrent ?
A-I cannot say.
Q-You will not venture an opinion?
A-I cannot say; I have not thought about it.
Q-Would you advise the cutting off the queues of short-sentence prisoners ?
A-No, I should say not.
Q-The reason I believe you give is that they would be subjected to so much shame if they went out?
A-Yes, I think so.
Q-Do you not think if you cut off the queue it would have a very strong effect?
A-On short-sentenced prisoners ?
Q-On both.
A-I do not think it would.
Q-Not if they were sent out of Gaol without queues ?
A—No, because the circumstances in this Colony are rather peculiar: a number of new men coming in every day; and you will find, I think, that most of the short- sentenced prisoners come to the Colony and are ignorant of the laws and therefore they would be ignorant of the custom.
Q-When you were Superintendent did the Europeans and Indians understand Chinese sufficiently to communicate with the prisoners ?
A--As far as I recollect there were always one or two about the yard or corridor who could talk to a certain extent.
Q-Do you think they could talk sufficiently to understand a bonâ fide complaint? A--I think they knew enough to understand if a prisoner wanted to see the Super- intendent.
Q-Or the doctor?
A-Or the doctor.
One or two cases have occurred where a man has complained to me that he was not allowed to see the doctor when he wanted to; but such a case is probably one in a thousand.
Q-In your experience has there been any difficulty in procuring the attendance of any one of the Justice?
A-No.
Q-How did you procure their attendance?
A-Send word round.