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Enclosure
4.
Notes on the Deed of Presentation.
524
(a). The girl, Kwan Chiu, was actually born on the 12th October, 1911. The hour of the "Rat" is the third watch, which lasts
from 11 p.m. until 1 a.m.
By a later clause in this deed, the presentee is given the right of arranging for the girl's marriage.
In all Chinese marriages it is necessary that the horoscopes of
the two parties should be exchanged. It will then be known
whether there is any antagonism in the times of birth which might
make the marriage unpropitious. In order to cast a horoscope a paper called the "Eight Characters" has to be presented by each party. In order to draw up the "Eight Characters" the watch, day, moon and year of birth must be know, as eech of these four periods supply two of the required eight characters. This information is therefore given in the deed, as the presentee will
require to know these facts later on, when he gives the girl in
marriage.
(b). Middle woman is an awkward word, but I can think of no
better. All Chinese transactions of this sort, marriage, adoption etc. and done through an intermediary, and the intermed- iary is always a woman, The "middle wom-n" quererteer fil atatements of fact made in the deed which she witnesses and is liable if any false statement is made. Under Chinese Criminal Law, so far as my researches have extended, there is at some period or other a sort of general bambooing of all parties, in a case arising out of fraud in the transfer of a mui tsei, the "middle women" would receive the principle punishment.
(c). The words might be translated as "compensation for the pains of childbearing". Ginger and vinegar are traditional stimulants given to a woman after child-birth. "Has she opened ginger wine yet?", is e polite mode of inquiring if a Chinese woman has yet had a child.
(d). I wish to draw special attention to these words. In the first place, the deed contains a direct averment that the child
is