Q-Well, who does go now?
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A. My subordinates.
Q.
And how many of them do
you send up on that job?
A. Three or four.
Q. Do you send them at fixed times of the year?
A.-No.
Q-Whenever you want coolies, you send for them, do you?
A. Yes.
Q. And you get them therefore direct from the country? they come to Hongkong?
A.-No, I get them direct from the country.
Q. Have you any difficulty in getting them?
You don't wait till
A.-1 get some of the elders together, and guarantee that when they (the coolies) come to Hongkong I will not allow them to gamble or to go to bad houses.
Q-Is that the only difficulty in the way? Having satisfied the elders on these points, have you any difficulty in getting the men?
A. Besides that, I deduct half of his wages to send home to his relatives or his parents.
Q. When you have guaranteed that they shall neither gamble nor whore and that they shall remit half of their wages home, have you any more difficulties in the way ?
A.--No other difficulties.
Q-Having given that guarantee, the elders are satisfied and the men are allowed
to go?
A. Yes.
Q. Do you provide the coolies you get with lodging?
A Yes. I rent houses for them and I pay the rent.
Q.-Is that for Jardine's coolies as well as for the Godown coulies?
A.-The Godown coolies are supplied with quarters.
Q.-But Jardine's coolies have to be provided with quarters outside, is that so?
A. Yes.
Q-Who feeds these coolics ?
A. They mess together, and, at the end of the month, the expense is equally divided.
Q.-Who
Who pays the expenses ?
A.-I, as being the head, pay them.
Q. How much do the Godown coolies pay you a month for their rent and food?
A. Formerly $8, now $10.
Q.-For food and rent each man pays you ten dollars?
A. No, ten dollars is wages from the manager.
Q.-I am asking you how much the coolies pay you for house and food.
A. Sometimes $5, sometimes a little more.