The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-22
CHIyA'S DgYILISH TRAFFIC.
Young Girls Bought and Sold for thu
VIleSt Purposes.

West Purposes.
s.. LOui, Poas.DtpateA
"The particular branch Of the slave
traffic that tlourishes in Hong Kong, ant
which gives the authorities there the
greatest amount of trouble" said trav'
eler, sis the importation Of kidnapped
girls from the neighboring territory, es'
pecially from Tonquin."
"Did you see any slaves elsewhere
than in Hong KongH"
Every many in Canton, and also in
the different cities Of Tonquin. The
French upon their arrival in Tonquin,
found this traffic in full blast, and took
very severe measures TO abolish 1t. i
once saw nine men beheaded In one
morning, and though not particularly
bloodthirsty or OF cruel disposition, !
remember being aperfectly unconcerned
spectator OF this terrible scene. The
crime OF which these men, all well-to-do
Chinese merchants OF Haiphog, had been
convicted deprived them OF all human
sympathy and their lives were well sac
riticed in purging the country OF such q
frightful traffic. They had been found
guilty of kidnapping young girls and
selling them into life Of shame in Hong
Kong, Canton, Macao and adjacent cities.
'EThe manner OF efecting the seizures
was by enticing the children aboard OF
the junks along the river front under
the pretext OF purchasing the candies
and fruits which the little one peddled
Al ahnurA Nhn trnaanlg
the poor frightened children were gagged
and bound and hidden below until so far
away from land that their cries could
net be heard on shore. 1t seemed to me
that no punishment that human hands
could infict would be adequate for the
punishment OF these inhuman wretches.
Three OF them dieda comparatively easy
death, as their heads were stricken of
with single blow each, hut the other
six must have suffered greatly, for they
were hacked from the middle OF the back
to the top Of the head, and yet could
not bring myself to feel any sympathy
for them.
"Thls kidnapping would seem to be
absolutely unnecessary in 0 country
where girls can be purchased from their
parents ut so small . cost as is possible
in Tonquin. There, to my personal
knowledge-for l took great pains to in
vestigate this feature OF Oriental life
very carefully-S2O was considered high
price for girls from twelve to eighteen
years OF age. Capt. George, Greek,
whom knew in Tonquin as the COM
mander OF . body Of Chinese troops in
the French service, and afterwards as a
pilot on the Red river, told me that he
had q Tonquin woman employee as a
cook, who, after being with him week
or ten days, went down the river to bring
up her family. When, however, she
reached her home she was both surprised
and indignant to find that her husband
had the day before her arrival sold their
eldest daughter, girl Of thirteen, TO the
master OF q Chinese junk for eight Next
can dollars. "Why," said she, chat
girl ought to have brought fifteen dollars
at least"
81 know that there are slaves for sale
in Hong Kong, for l have seen them. l
was powerless TO interfere, as the victims
cannot in any way be induced to testify
against those who hold them in bondage,
and both claim and seem to be happy. L
have often talked with the young slaves
both in Hong Kong and Canton, and
they have told me that they have been
sold by their parents to this or that
woman, whom they call their pocket
mother in contradistinction to their
real mother. The usual term for which
thew are sold is ten years, after which
they are their own mistresses, though 1t
is doubtful II their condition is much
improved by that fact.
"One dealer in slaves whom l knew
in Hong Kong was woman named
Cum-Yeow, who had herself been a
beauty in her young days and was still
comefy at thirty-fye. Not only was
she unusually intelligent, but quite a
linyuist, speaking English and French
fluently. Her numerous speculations
in human flesh and investments in fan
tan banks, which she conducted in
Kowloon, across the bay, on Chinese
territory, because forbidden in Hong
Kong, had secured for her considera.
BILE amount of money, as the result OF
the exercise OF keen business sense
united with not too tender conscience.
Her house, q fiat in one OF the hill.
side streets, was beautifully furnished
in Chinese fashion, and herself and
household handsomely clothed in fine
silk and furs from Mongolia and ST.
IBERIA. At this house saw several little
girls, ranging in ages from eight to
twelve years. When l asked II they
were her children, she said: mo, all
belong slayee."
"a asked the price Of the Oldest and
she told me $1,000, at the same time IN
forming me that the girl had already
been taught many accomplishments
among them she mentioned singing, and
despite nv assurances that / was not in
the least fond of music, and did not care
TO have q display Of the childs talents
she gave me specimen that pierced my
ears like knife. She could also cool
opium for smoking in pipe, and, won
deriul to relate, was equally skilliul VIII
either hand. Here was prize, indeed
az understood from Cum Yeow thai
such girls were not for the European
market, but for wealthy and aesthetic
Cinnamon in Canton, Foo-Chow anC
other big cities, going even TO Pekir
and beyond, where Canton and Macao
girls are held in high esteem. Cum
Yeow told me that she bought thest
children in Macao when they were yer!
Young and brought them up tenderl!
until they arrived at salable age"
The RattIssnaks's Bite.