Mr. Caldwell bare said that he had known witness many years and had every confidence in him. There was no regular account between them. Whenever the witness came to the house to report anything, he was paid a dollar or two.
The coroner said that Mr. Caldwell having mentioned yesterday (Friday) that he saw the worst points in the coolie system, and would mend them, he was quite satisfied.
Examination continued—Some three men had returned to the barracoons from the Hospital. Touching the deceased, he said that when he came to Hospital, he complained of a pain in his side, but being a Chinchew man, he could understand nothing further. The deceased was put in a room, but did not have a Doctor. The man who brought him to the Hospital used to come with medicine until the ship sailed, and then no more was brought by that man. After that, another man came and looked at him, and on being asked, said that the first man (bearer) had gone away in the ship. He (witness) then supplied deceased with congee and tea. If it happened that any morning deceased's friend did not come, he supplied him with tea and congee when he (deceased) required it. Deceased's friend used to come and look at him two or three times a day. The second man came twice, but he had not come up to Court to-day.
A man was here brought in, but witness said he was not the second man who had been to see deceased.
Further examined. It was four or five days since he had seen the second man, and since that time, the deceased had been dependent on the people in the "Yee-tsze" for everything. He had not given deceased any medicine or sent for a doctor, but a person from the emigration house came frequently to see deceased.
(The witness being an old man and seeming nervous was desired by the coroner to sit down, which he did with a long sigh, saying “Oh, what a deal of business there is.")
The coroner desired the old fellow to be told, the reason why there was a deal of business was on account of Englishmen setting more value on life than Chinese.
The witness was pressed very much to tell why, if the deceased was under his care for the last four or five days, that he was allowed to become so filthy.
Witness said that the deceased could not drink tea, so it was not considered worth while to take any trouble with him. He got his living by looking after the temple, and selling Joss-paper, sticking plaster, &c. He also depended on charity. It was his duty to clean the temple, boil tea, &c.
The Coroner said the system seemed to be that if a man could drink tea, he got it; if not, no more trouble was taken with him.
Witness, in answer to the Coroner, said the reason why the place was cleaned the other day was because the Registrar-General came there and "held his nose" (much laughter).
The Coroner remarked: "that then was the test of the cleanliness of the Hospital: when the Registrar-General came there and held his nose, the 'Yee-tsze' was cleaned out." (Laughter.) Witness then added, "No persons are sent to the Hospital, but those of whose recovery there is no hope."
The Coroner said that was what he expected, exactly.
The witness said it was the friends' duty to attend their sick relations, and if they did not come, he sent for them. The coffins; a man named Su-a-sing supplied them, but that was only an act of charity and exercised when the many coffins given by kind people are exhausted. He could not say how many persons were buried from the "Yee-tsze" during last month, on account of the friends coming and taking the bodies away, which they can do without telling him anything about it. He did not know how many admissions there were last month.
By the Coroner—Taking one year with another, have there been more or less patients this last twelve months than the preceding?
Witness replied, "How could he recollect what took place in a year if he could not recollect what took place in a month?" (Laughter). However, after some time, he said that there were "more lately."
In answer to Mr. Lister, he said that he had before had as many as nine men in Hospital, but sometimes there were none for twenty days in the place. He had seen the Inspector of nuisances come and look about; sometimes he came once a month and sometimes twice in a month, but he had never seen the Inspector go into the rooms.
Page 164
Daily Press of 26th April, 1867.
2
Mr. Caldwell bare sid that he had known witness many years and had every confidence in him. There was no regular account between them Whenever the witness came to the house to report anything he was paid a dollar
or two.
The coroner said that Mr. Caldwell having mentioned yesterday (Friday) that be saw the worst points in the coolie system, and would mend, them he was quite satisfied.
Examination continued-Some three men had returned to the barracoons from the Hospital. Touching the deceased he said that when he came to Hospital be complained of a pain in his side, but being a Chinchew man be could un- derstand nothing further. The deceased was put in a room, but did not have a Doator. The man
who brought him to the Hos- pital used to come with medicine until the ship sailed, and then no more was brought by that man. After that another man came and looked at him, and on being asked suid that the first man (bearer) bad gone away in the ship. He (witness) then spuplied deceased with cunjes and tea. It it happened that any morning de- ceased's friend did not come. he supplied bitn with tea and oungee when he (deceased) re- quired it. Deceased's friend used to come and look at him two or three times a day. The se- cond man came twice, but he had not come up to Court to-day.
A man was here brought in, but witness said he was not the second man who had been to see deceased.
Further examined. It was four or five days since he had seen the second man, and since that time the deceased had been dependent on the people in the "Yee-tsze" for every He had not given deceased any medicine or sent for a doctor, but a person from the emigration house came frequently to see deceased.
attention.
(The witness being an old man and seeming nervous was desired by the coroner to sit down which he did with a long sigh saying “Oh what a deal of business there is."
The coroner desired the old fellow to be! told, the reason why there was a deal of business was on account of Englishmen setting more value on life than Chinese.
The witness was pressed very much to tell why, if the deceased was under his care for the last four or five days that he was allowed to be. come so filthy.
Witness said that the deceased could not drink tea, eo it was not considered worth while to take any trouble with him. He got his living by looking after the temple, and selling Joss- paper, sticking plaster, &c. He also depended ou charity. It was his duty to clean the temple boil tea, &c.
The Coroner said the system seemed to be that if a man could drink tea, he got it, if not, no more trouble was taken with him.
Witness in answer to the Coroner said the reason why the place was cleaned the other day was because the Registrar-General" came there and held his nose" (much laughter.)
The Coroner remarked: "that then was the test of the cleanliness of the Hospital: when the Registrar-General came there and held his nose, the "Yee-tsze" was cleaned out. (Laughter., Witness then added "no persons are a nt to the Hospital, but those of whose recovery there is no hope"
The Coroner said that was what he expected, i ex retly.
Tho witness said it was the friends' duty to attend their sick relations, and if they did He did not supply not come be sent for them, the coffins; a man named Su-a-sing supplied them, but that was only an act of charity aud exercised when the many coffins given by kind people are exhausted. He could not say how many persons were buried from the "Yee- tsze during last month, on account of the friends coming and taking the bodies away. which they can do without telling him anything abont it. He did not know how many admis sions there were last month.
By the Coroner-Taking one year with another, have there been more or less patients this last twelve months than the proceeding?
Witness replied "how could be recollect what took place in a year it he could not recollect what took place in a month." (Laughter). How- ever, after some time, he said that there were "more lately."
In answer to Mr. Lister, he said that he nine men in had before bad as many as Hospital, but sometimes there were none for twenty days in the place. He had seen the Inspector of nuisances como and look about; sometimes he came once a month and some. times twice in a month, but be had never seen the Laspector go into theroms.
164
Daily Theft of 26th April, 2047.
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