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Q--Can you answer that question?
A-I cannot say it was blood poisoning. A man after being flogged got a gluteal abscess and then an abcess on the neck. He was a strong man.
Q-My question is this. Have you often come across cases of blood poisoning?
A-No.
Q-How many cases have you come across, generally speaking?
A-All the cases of gluteal abscesses have recovered.
Q-In your opinion are stone carrying and shot drill too hard forms of hard labour for the Chinese?
A-Yes, and for anyone.
Q-Do you know on whose recommendation the present pattern of rattan was approved by the Governor?
A-I believe it was the Colonial Surgeon, but I am not sure.
Q-Has the pattern or the weight of the rattan been altered since you have been in the Government Service?
A--No.
Q--I suppose you see these men at hard labour very often?
A--I do.
Q-Is the kind of hard labour done by Chinamen more or less than a coolie would do in the street?
A--More.
Hon. Commander HASTINGS-More continuous, I suppose?
THE CHAIRMAN-How does the Gaol diet for a Chinaman compare on an average
with the daily fare of an average Chinaman outside the Gaol?
A--I have been asking a good many Chinese and they say it is poor.
Q--What is your opinion?
A--It is poor.
Q---I am asking you whether it is poorer than the fare of Chinamen outside.
A--Poorer.
Q-Suppose you take the case of a chair coolie. Would his diet outside the Gaol be better than the diet of the same man if he got into Gaol?
A--Yes.
Q--Does penal diet lower the working power of a Chinaman much?
A-In a certain degree it does.
Q-Much?
A-I cannot say, but it does lower it.
Q-Is a Chinaman ever put on hard labour when under penal diet?
A-No.
Q-You can judge by examination whether a prisoner has been an opium smoker or not?
A-If he is an inveterate smoker, yes.
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