62
Appendix D.
Serious Crime in the New Territories.
Gang
Year.
Robberies,
Highway Robberies.
Boat and Junk
Robberies.
1899
25
12
5
1900
20
7
5
1901
23
4
8
1902
li
3
1903
18
5
6
1904
19
3
6
1905
16
4
7
1906
9
1
5
1907
3
1
2
1908
11
1909
13
1910
25
1911
19
ED LO LON
3
2
5
4
14
2
13
Appendix E.
Money Societies.
In a country of small village communities like the New Territory, with no large indus- tries and no capitalists, it is not surprising that the people should have endeavoured to devise schemes for raising money among themselves. The means adopted is so original and dis- tinctive that it deserves to be given in detail. Supposing that A wishes to raise $100, he goes among his friends and endeavours to form a "Wui", or (money) association. He will perhaps find 19 other men willing to subscribe $5.00 each making a Wui of 20 men, with a capital of $100. A himself being the "head
A himself being the "head" or Wui Tau. They meet together and put in their subscriptions, and at the intervals arranged they meet for subsequent drawings, the whole pool going on each occasion to the man who bids most, i.e., is ready to take the least contribution from the members for the use of the money, he will be, of course, the man most in need of the money at the time. Thus if B bids 50 cents at the 2nd drawing he gets $5.00 back from A but only $4.50 from each of the others-total $86.00. On the 3rd drawing perhaps 2 or 3 are very much pressed for money and are willing to bid up to $1.00. Then C will get $10.00 from A and B and only $68.00 for the rest, making $78.00
Thus
A is Wui Tau and takes $100.00 at first drawing.
B bids 50 cents and takes $5.00 from A and $4.50 each from the rest, making
$86.00.
C bids $1.00 and takes $10.00 from A and B and $4.00 each from the rest, making
$78.00.
and so on until all the members have bad their turns.
But such a complicated transaction is only too apt to break down owing to the insol- vency of one or more of the members, and to provide a sad tangle for the Magistrate to unravel,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.