The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-07-28
Told by a Young Chinese Boy at
Quarantine.
TWO SISTERS SOLD AS SLAVES
And the Family Home Mortsased TO Raise
Money 10 Pay for q Worth.
less Permit.

Some horrible stories come out in
the examination of immigrants at the
quarantine station. Here is one
youched for by gentleman whose avo-
cation makes him familiar with such
things.
On one of the recent steamers re-
turning from China was an intelli-
gent-looking Chinese boy. who present
ed a return permit in the usual form.
He was examined to see IL his answers
to questions tailed with the facts set
forth in the permit. He answered all
questions readily, but accidentally let
slip the fact that his Iather was in
Honolulu. Now on the permit II was
plainly stated that the boys father was
residing in Hongkong. This discov-
cry was at once noticed by the exam
lining officer and more questions put
TO him to his great confusion. Final
ly he broke down, burst into tears and
said he would tell the whole truth. lie
said that his father lived in Honolulu
and he himself was born here. He had
been sent to China at an early age and
had remained there with his mother
and two sisters until his father sent
for him to Honolulu. This was short
ly after the news reached Hongkong
that the Islands had been annexed to
the United States and that no Chinese
would be allowed to land here. The
| mother was at her wits end to find
ways and means of sending the boy to
| his father in Hawaii. where he was 10
make his fortune in a few years. She
| finally heard of a return permit that
was for sale. the description and photo
graph on which would about suit heI
| son. The price asked by the agent
| who had it for sale was $3.50 In gold
To obtain this sum, an immense one
for poor Chinese family, the mother
mortgaged her little home and every
thing she had and actually sold hel
two daughters into slavery.
| There was no question in the mind!
of the officials but that the boy wa!
telling the truth and that IL he wa!
punished it would be for no fault o
his own. Besides. the examination
clearly showed that having been bori
| here he was entitled to land anyhow
1t was arranged that he should be ar
rested for attempting to land on {
forged permit; that he should plead
guilty and that sentence should b.
suspended until investigation could b'
made at the Hongkong end.
This programme was carried out
and a late steamer brought complete
verification of his story. 1t is onl!
since then that the facts have beef
made public. 1t is not likely that thu
boy will ever be called on to serve GU
any sentence, but it is some satisfac
ton to know that steps are being Ia
ken in Hongkong to make the agen
disgorge the $3.50 he obtained from TIT
lads mother and to redeem the TIVE
girls from their life of slavery
1t is by such means as these tina
girls are purchased and shipped t.
these Islands at the first opportunity
where they are sold to the brothel
keeper who will pay the highest price
In one of the Yokohama papers re
ceived on the last mail Is an accoun
OF the arrest OF five young Japanes'
women who managed to obtain pass
ports by employing the names Of 9th
er women, and attempted to embarl
on one of the steamers for Hawaii
They were arrested by the Water Pc
lice of Yokohama. The women whC
lent their names for use on the pass
ports and the emigrant company un
der whose auspices they were to b.
shipped to Honolulu are to be prose
cuted by the japanese government
And yet, in spite of the most watchfu
care on the part of the authorities thii
| n afa rinuS huSinaSu still f,ouriSheg