Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1882-04-27
CHINESE CHATTELS.
The Infamous Trade Driven in Mon
goIian Women---The Cruel
ties Practiced.


Public attention during the past
week has been directed to the case OF
the Chinese women who arrived In
this city from Hong Kong on the
British ship AMER Head, and whom
the federal officers pohibited from land
ing on account of their questionable
character. This prohibition caused
considerable waiting and venting of
imprecations upon the Fanqui manda-
rims from the old hays whose business
it is to minister to the depraved
pleasures of the resident Chinese.
Though the business of importing
women from Canton and Hong Kong
for immoral purposes has been carried
on for nearly a score OF years, 1t is
only recently that any official action
has been tax IN to prevent it, and the
task SO has proved by no means
easy or successful.
The dens in which these unfortu-
mates are kept in almost a state of
captivity are situated in two or three
Of the connecting alley ways in tie
blocks bounded by Washington and
Jackson streets. During the day the
only signs of life are a few children
playing in the filthy cutters, or an old
woman or two discussing events with
some of their countrymen who are
connected with the houses as employees
or proprietors. At night the scene
changes; coal oil lamps shed an i'll
smelling, sickly light through the tiny
windows, which are invariably pro-
tectei by wire screens or iron bars.
Each door is furnished with a sliding
wicket foot square, from which
coign of vantage prOtrudes the face of
a gaudily painted damsel, whose rouged
cheeks, blackened eye brows, stiffly
creased hair and vermilion lips pre-
sent curious contrast to the dingy
boarding of the houses, and the howell
like aspect of her surroundings. When
the coast is clear of Caucasians the
"cruiser on watch" as the women
whose turn at the wicket it is are
termed, displays her charms, with
shocking immodesty for the benefit of
passing Mongolian Don Juans'
Let, however, the festive hoodlum or
chance visitor to Chinatown come in
sight and the wickets are closed, and
the Caucasian pedestrian is hailed from
behind the wire screens with the vilest
epithetS known to the Chinese or Eng
lish tongues. The intruder out of sight,
the virago disappears and the seductive
and bewitching damsel reappesrs. The
ordinance making it penal offense to
visit any of the Chinese houses of i'll
fame has the effect of diminishing the
number Of white visitors, hence the
lack Of desire on the part of women
to conciliate them. Two or three houses,
however, exist that are almost exclu-
sively patronized by low order of
Caucasians.
In an interview held yesterday by a
Chronicle reporter with an old Chinese
harridan, considerable curious informa-
ton was obtained through the medium
of an interpreter. The terrible trade
in human flesh has been carried on i'm
China for centuries, despite the many
proclamations that have been issued
by occasional virtuous mandarins on
their access to power in some of the
minor districts. Parents whose famil-
les increase beyond their power Of SUD
port, sell their daughters by means of
a regular contract made between them
selves and private buyers or established
agents. During the TAPPING rebellion
in 1850, the number OF uncared for
girls, made homeless by the loss OF par
ents, who fell into their hands, reached
a high figure in the thousands. The
ruthless procuress obtained many of
the unfortunates while they were in
fants for no consideration whatever,
and others of maturer years in the de-
populated districts were procurable for
a nominal sum from the impoverished
parents. The younger girls who were
taken from their native districts to
Canton, after the slaughter of their
parents by the imperialist troops, lost
all knowledge Of their native dialect
and birthplace in the baby farms on
which they were brought up.
The most attractive, and especially
those who display any ability for play.
ing the native pepa or for singing
were placed in aristocratic houses OF
on board the flower boats which line
the Pearl river at Canton. The sacri
legious eye of the politely termed cred
haired foreign devip is seldom allowed
to rest upon these hours, that delight
being reserved for the long pursed ce
lestia rakes not averse to paying heav
lily for the privilege. Among the for
eigners residing in China the custom
OF keeping Chinese mistresses is com
mon. These favored females hoard
every penny given them until they ar,
able to purchase a girl OF tender year:
ostensibly for servant. Remember
ing the cruel treatment they received
from their own purchasers, they inflic
double punishment on the girls who
unfortunately fall into their possession
Whipping with q bamboo rod ant
pinching their tender portions of tn,
body are favorite modes of punishment
with the slave owners, although an
occasional pagan OF more Il. an ordinary
ingenuity will invent torture for !
child beside which these are mild
Such puRishments are not uncommon
IN this city: but the victims bear theil
scourgtng with such fortitude tia