Sessional_Paper_1893 — Page 888

[LXXV ]

(A)

Statement of Cheung Lau Shi.

CHEUNG LAU SHI states:-I live in the Sham Kei Paper Box Shop in Má Tsó Pó in Canton. My daughter was induced under false pretences to marry an old man. As I fear that it will be the cause of injury to her in the future, I beg that a satisfactory decision may be given. My husband keeps a paper box shop in Canton, and has always acted rightly. At the end of the 6th moon of last year (in August, 1890), my husband was very ill, and as we were in extreme poverty, we were obliged to pledge our daughter A LUK for 50 taels to a marriage broker in Pó Wán San Street. The conditions were that we should pay interest at the rate of 3 fan per tael per month, and give 1 tael and 2 mace per month for food. At that time we were in urgent want of money to provide medicine and pay the doctor's fees, and though the interest was heavy, we were obliged to act as we did. In the 7th and 8th moon of this year (August and September, 1891), the broker A Ku kept pressing me continually for payment of the whole sum, principal and interest, but we could not manage it. In the first decade of the 9th moon (October, 1891), she asked me to go to her house. There I saw a woman sitting who called herself Mrs. CHEUNG No. 4. She said that her husband TSAU KUNG-WAN was over 50 years of age and was Chief Clerk in the Custom House of Hankow. He wished to take a concubine and she was asked to choose a girl to be his fifth concubine. He would pay $290 as a betrothal present. I considered that the place was very far away and I hesitated to come to a decision, but as A Kú kept pressing me continually for payment of the money, I was compelled to consent to the betrothal of my daughter to be TSAU KUNG-WAN's concubine. After deducting the 50 taels borrowed from A KÚ, the interest on the loan, the cost of my daughter's food, cosmetics, the broker's regular commission and the sum extracted from me in addition, there did not remain as much as 100 dollars of the betrothal money, and this I used to prepare the bridal necessaries for my daughter. On the 1st of this moon (1st December, 1891), Mrs. CHEUNG NO. 4 took my daughter with her on board the Shanghai steamer, On reaching Hongkong, the steamer had to be laid up owing to damages received in a storm. Subsequently the English Official despatched a Constable on board to search for kidnappers and we were summoned for investigation and then sent to the Pó Léung Kuk. As my At first I did daughter is betrothed, she ought to keep to her engagement, but she now refuses to do so. not expect that she would not like to marry TSAU KUNG-WAN. I now, to my surprise, hear that TSAU KUNG-WAN is a man of over 60 years of age and not a little over 50 as was said, and that in the 6th moɔn of the present year (July, 1891), on Mrs. CHEUNG No. 4 returning from Shanghai, she brought back to Canton a woman whom Mr. TsAU refused to take as his concubine. I am afraid from this that future misfortune may be brought on my daughter. I beg you, gentlemen, to do justice to her and rescue her, or to give her back to me to be betrothed again, so that the betrothal money which I may receive, may be returned to Mrs. CHEUNG, who I hope will not refuse to accept it. In this way my daughter will not be compelled to marry against her will,

CHEUNG LAU SHI,

10th December, 1891.

her mark.

Signed by CHEUNG KWOK-TSEUNG

on her behalf.

Statement of the loan borrowed from the marriage broker Wong, to secure repayment of which my daughter was pledged to her in the 6th moon of the 16th year of Kwong Sui (July and August, 1890).

Amount of loan,

Interest of above at the rate of 3 fan per tael per mouth, for 17 months, ....

To food for daughter whilst in lender's house at 1 tael and 2 mace per month, for 17 months,. Re-paid to Mr. KONG,..

Broker's fee,......

Hush money,

Expenses for Cosmetics,

Bridal Outfit,

Betrothal money $290--

taels 50. 0. 0

25. 5. 0

"

20. 4. 0

15. 0. 0

"}

20. 1. 6

器

7. 2. 0

+

10. 0. 0

"

25. 9. 2

29

174. 1. 8 taels 208. 8. 0

34. 6. 2

Balance,..

Paid by CHEUNG SHAM to Mr. KONG as interest (rate 3 fan per tacl), and for sundry cxpenses more than 20 teels.

Balance in hand after the marriage of my daughter a little over 3 taels.