Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 250

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Mr. Marshall.--They eat all the refuse though.

Mr. Fung Wa Chün.—Have you got anything to do with coolies?

A.--No.

Q.-You don't know how many coolies pass through the Colony from the country districts?

A.-I have only heard. I have nothing to do with coolies leaving China and passing through here.

Q-With so many coolies leaving the people would be able to keep cheaper pigs? A. --After the young men go away, I fancy the poultry and pigs are kept by the old women.

Mr. Marshall. I don't think the number of coolies leaving China has increased. The Chairman. My own opinion is that the number has very considerably dimin- ished lately.

Mr. Marshall. There used to be many more going to the Straits.

Mr. Maitland.--And to the States.

Mr. Brewin.-There has been a rush during the last few months on account of the demand for labour and the desire to get out of China during the present trouble.

Mr. Marshall. But that has absolutely ceased now during the past two months, Mr. Fung Wa Chün.-With so many people going away from China there would be less people looking after the feeding of the cattle and so on.

The Chairman.-But I think, as Mr. Brewin showed, though all the young, strong, healthly men should go away and leave their families and homes behind them, the chickens and pork would not be affected?

Mr. Fung Wa Chiin.-I do from my knowledge of the people.

The Chairman.-Have you been up the West River to any great extent ?

A.-No.

Q. You don't know where the supplies of cattle come from?

A.-I know them by name. I have not been to them. The cattle come from a great distance.

Q.-Do you know why we are not able to get them from nearer places?

A.-I don't know. I should have thought we ought to have been able to get enough from what is called the Hoifung district, which is comparatively close. up the coast.

Mr. Maitland. They have difficulty in getting cattle there in certain seasons of the year-in the S.W. Monsoon.

Mr. Brewin. That is quite probable. Of course they might come overland.

The Chairman.-What proportion of our cattle coming here come overland? A.—I don't know, but I always understood that a number of cattle came down the North River. Some come from the Yangtsze Valley.

This closed the evidence of Mr. Brewin, and he was thanked for his attendance.