5
167
rious paza
ngementa
-
steamer, train and junk the island itself is only some
20 miles from the Chinese border and 90 from Canton and the Colony's native population of (say) some 400,000 is for the most part a constantly moving one. It is no more possible to recognise and keep a check on the mui tsai moving to and fro than it is to recognise and keep a check on all robbers and bad characters from the
interior.
The Colony has, with the active assistance of resident Chinese, developed its own system of detecting and dealing with abuses as far as possible; this will be referred to below. It appears that something more le asked for: but the only suggestion made is for some form of registration, A very slight local knowledge would show that the practical difficulties in the way of registering all mui tsai in the Colony are so great as to render the suggestion of small value at the best: the regulations would have to contain Sections appointing
Inspectors, (who, if not turopeans, would have at least
to be under the closest European supervision), wi th
large povera of entry to private houses, penalties for
breach would be necessary; and with it all we should
only at best irritate without making any real advance.
Cases of abuse could be just as easily covered; mui
and timidity taai are young and simple, with all the stupidity of the
most rustic inexperience, and the truth is rarely to be
got from them or through them; and witnesses on their side are very rarely to be found, while the kidnapper or procuress has little difficulty in finding support for any story that may fit the case; relationship itself can be claimed, with little chance of the claim being disproved. All the evil disposed would be no worse off
than
ba required ver the cases
vellers ng through
lony.