CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 309

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305

there are only about 150.

The general age for marriage see.18 ost being married at 10 or before.

to be between 17 and 19, Very few were recorded as born in Pritish Territory, or in the provinces of China outside Kwongtung. No effort was made to classify the birthplaces since in the large majority of cases this is really unknown, and Canton is entered instead that being the place whence the sellers of the girls came. In very few cases was the surname the same as that of the Master or istress, showing they did not come from the sale clan. In any cases no surnane was given at all, which was probably correct, the surnames being quite unknown, though later on they would doubtless be known under the surnee of the family to whom they belonged. ion sai and South West Kwongtung, which used to supply a large number of "itsai", did not figure largely aaon; the birthplaces, but the sources of supply are apt to vary according to the state of prosperity and order in the various districts. No "auitaai" as such were recorded in the families of the Portuguese and Indian population, but so.e

young Chinese girls were found described as servants or adopted daughters, whose real status probably approximated to that of the 'uitsei' in a Chinese family. informed that formerly mitaai' were common in ost Portuguese fauilies of standing.

I al

Very few young girls

are employed as hired domestic servants, the "Chu Lin (in) lui" or girl hired by the year, who has been suggested as a substitute for the uitsai', loes not appear to be popular, but there are on the other hand a large number of boys between the ages of 12 and 14 employed in domestic work in Chinese households. 122 young girls were des- cribed as "Yuk Hui" a ter. which in most cases denotes the

sa.e status.

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