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control over the destinies of their daughter who goes out to work as a mul teai unless (and the custom is not common among girls) sne is formally and fully adopted.
In her employer's house the girl is set to ordinary domestic duties: she may have to do no more than attend on one of the daughters of the mouse,or she may have a full share of the housework; but even Bo the work will generally be less irduous than in her parent's home, and will at least earn board lodging and clothing, and the chances of kindly treat- ment will be no less than in a nome where she is only a very troublesome superfluity. As she grows up the custom is clear that the employer is supposed to assist in finding a suitable husband: when married the girl joins her husband's family in the usual custom with no stigma of slavery upon her.
The responsibility of the employers is by no means a dead letter, tho' the view taken of it ranges from including proper attention to a mui tsai 's education to just her fair treatment as a domestic servant; and neighbours are always ready to take more careful notice of the treatment of a mui teai than of an own child. The custom gives obvious openings for abuse, and it is not surprising that advantage 18 taken of them: but the efforts to suppress malpractices and the prominence given to cases that are brought to light can very easily strain, perspective by obscuring the wide background where the system is only beneficial
The statement is often seen that the mui tɛai
custom is forbidden by law in China. The status of the
real
the
FALKLANDS