42
About a mile above Whampoa we called at "Boston Jack's" ... [He] is familiarly known to the European population as a kind of interpreter and furnisher of provisions for vessels, and a commissioner to provide servants, coolies, and to make purchases of various Chinese articles. He was formerly a pilot, and is still connected with that business, furnishing pilots, &c.; and is ready to do any kind of business between the foreigners and Chinese. He is said to be worth a hundred thousand dollars; treated us to beer, and gave us some to take on the way. He had much to say of his son who lives in New York, and was very polite, inviting us to call again, &c.53
Boatmen and washerwomen
Then there were the other indispensables to the work of Chinese linguists and compradors, and foreign merchants, captains and crews, alike.
First were the boatmen, each one anxious and begging to obtain the employment of waiting upon the ship during her stay here. Then came the washer-women, some twenty or thirty, of all ages, each one clamorous for the privilege of washing the clothes for the men. All this constituted a bustling scene.34
There were also the boat-women traders who took their wares out to the ships in the anchorage, some of whom - it is hardly surprising to learn - spoke a form of 'pidgin' English that became fluent through practice.35
Intermingled throughout were the minor functionaries of government, equally ready to oil wheels or to obstruct, according to perceived advantage, for the sake of personal profit.
Morse provides us with the following succinct statement of the situation at Whampoa in pre-treaty port days:
She [the ship] was usually in this anchorage for three months, and, while there, continued to give a steady stream of profit to the interpreter [the linguist] and comprador, to the bumboatmen and other small fry, and to the minor officials from daily and monthly fees, and gratuities to facilitate her working and expedite her departure.56
42
About a mile above Whampoa we called at "Boston Jack's" ... [He] is familiarly known to the European population as a kind of interpreter and furnisher of provisions for vessels, and a commissioner to provide servants, coolies, and to make purchases of various Chinese articles. He was formerly a pilot, and is still connected with that business, furnishing pilots, &; and is ready to do any kind of business between the foreigners and Chinese. He is said to be worth a hundred thousand dollars; treated us to beer, and gave us some to take on the
way. He had much to say of his son who lives in New York, and was very polite, inviting us to call again, &',53
Boatmen and washerwomen
Then there were the other indispensables to the work of Chinese linguists and compradors, and foreign merchants, captains and crews, alike.
First were the boatmen, 'each one anxious and begging to obtain the employment of waiting upon the ship during her stay here. Then came the washer-women, some twenty or thirty, of all ages, each one clamorous for the privilege of washing the clothes for the men. All this constituted a bustling scene'.34
There were also the boat-women traders who took their wares out to the ships in the anchorage, some of whom - it is hardly surprising to learn - spoke a form of 'pidgin' English that became fluent through practice.$5
Intermingled throughout were the minor functionaries of government, equally ready to oil wheels or to obstruct, according to perceived advantage, for the sake of personal profit.
Morse provides us with the following succinct statement of the situation at Whampoa in pre-treaty port days:
She [the ship] was usually in this anchorage for three months, and, while there, continued to give a steady stream of profit to the interpreter [the linguist] and comprador, to the bumboatmen and other small fry, and to the minor officials from daily and monthly fees, and gratuities to facilitate her working and expedite her departure 56
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