The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1870-09-15

10 Hong Kong, for debt. the husband
and father OF which was iu. California
There were FIVE children, two girls
and three boys They stood beside
the road. dressed in their holiday at
tire Of black. The silence they OBJ.
served whenever any person passed.
aud their dawpcast looks, created Gu
riosity. All Hung, our waiter, was
called up and asked tho cause OF the
little parade. Why said he, 'the
girl, and perhaps the whole family,
are for sale.' We stopped our chairs,
and stepped out to have talk with
them, using Ah Huog as an interper-
ter.
The mother was wrinklcd and gray,
aud huog her head, o. il she was afraid
TO look US 10 the face. But the chill
dren, with the exception Of tho old
est girl. looked cheerful, and were
much pleased with their holiday at
tire. The oldest girl was sixteen, aod
tho Oldest boy was fifteen. So said
the gruf old broker who had tho
party in charge and who seemed anx-
ions to dispose Of his wares. The
broker told US that the husband and
father was in California, and bad neg.
lectsd to pay his noto given for his
passage, and that his family was now
offered for salo to pay his debt. He
hoped to be able to pay the debt with
the sale Of the two eldest girls, but IS
vet he had received no offers. He said
that the family became security volun-
tarily.
In reply to our questions, no said
that when q customer bought a child
or person, tho person was made st once
tho owner Of the same, body and soul.
No Chinaman would dispute the pur-
chassr's right to do whatsoever he
pleased with the human being he had
paid for. Tho boys would mako good
he said, and in tho course Of
q few years be worth fortune to the
owner. The girls would make good
or nurses, rs they are called
10 America. lfe would show us their
physycal beauty would make them
,inq and play tricks If We thought Of
buying. How much would We give 7
The oldest girl be would sell for $500
he next one for $500, and the li,tle
liz year old for $50. The boys he could
rot sci! until the girls we're disposed Of.
We thought the price too high. The
market va, gluttod with saleable girls,
md he must not think Of gcttiug over
300 for the Oldest and handsomest,
While for the little ones ho must not
,xpcct over SlQ.
lie soeered at that, and said that
always talked in that way
when they wanted to buy. While we
we're talking party Of blue robed Chi.
,ese aristocrats came up and began to
inspect the family. They opened the
mouth Of the Oldest girl, raped on her
white teeth to see il they were sound,
pulled open her dress. thumped her
lbs, laughed at her little feet, told her
o show the whites Of her eyes, ordered
,er to sing. and to show them the
rinkets which the fond mother had
given her as . parting gift. All tho
while the salesman kept up q constant
abber, 10 which We took no interest.
Time pressing wo passed on, leaving
he parties disputisg about the price
md discussing the probabilities Of their
away. ~ |
We returned tho same day to as.
certain the result Of the sale. Only |
be mothor and her boys were leh.-l
The debt was only $500 and $50 oft
till remained unpaid. F
l have often been told BY the resi-
len;s Of China that the parents would
Q soon sell their children ms a COW or
pig And I had begun to think
hat such was the csss upon passing
he group tho first time. But the
Gene had changed. The girls were
'one, and now boy must 10 also
he mother sat in the dirt, with her
rms around the youngest, wailing in
most pitsous manner, and, as Alb
lung said, cursing the men that sold
'er husband . ticket to America for
800 which cost them but $40. Tho
roksr sat listlsssly by, smoking bis
ipe and twirling his cane. looking rs
! il va. tho smallest matter Of busis
ess with him.
The boys were crying, and seemed
cry much afraid of rs, now it was
srtain one Of them must 70. But ws
asssd on and left them 10 their mis-.
~. Wc never knew whsther the boy
'as sold to childles man to bs treated
. y son, to q Portuguese to BE- carried
the West Iudies under . nominal
ootrsct. or to native landowner 10
Q bic slavs. But that one OF them
'as sold into servitude for the sum of
SO there can BE- no doubt The girls
'sre doubtless purchased for the vilest
urposss, unless they, had the rare luck
, fell into the hands Of some native 10
earch OF . legitimate wife. am told
hat the price OF girls has gone up
'itb'p few months, owing, perhaps,
the fact that . less number OF emf.
rants have forfeited their bond 10
'alifornia thap::was the case six moDths
30. ! was shown four bright. plump,
bay girls yesterday, who we're pur.
hsssd less than . year ago (ths whole
~ for $50. Nov they sell rssdily
y $500 saeh.-Hong Kong Cor. Of
'e BosioH Traveller.