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Named Prong a ling who was sentenced to three months imprisonment and had undergone only one month, is deported and branded, I fear and marked as a thief for the rest of his life to get off the final two months imprisonment. The petitions that the prisoners in such cases are called upon to sign, are printed forms in English which they cannot read. DW. Tomlin's letter of the 12th January 1877 stating that he had ascertained that there were 45 prisoners who could be advantageously branded and deported, was in reply to an enquiry of the Executive as to what number of prisoners could be deported for the purpose of relieving the overcrowded state of the Gaol.
I have the honor to be
Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant.
M. Meffernery Governor