Visitors From China.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1923, Page 4

Visitors From China.

OX BOARD TIT!'. At ARAM A. j Wiat.lXoTOX. .Inn “I. j “Hnluninh. bung you. hor sung yee I mah." “Xt w Zealand hor hor! 1 Those niid m iuy other expressions iti | Cantonese t i :tn.-ttu nio< 1 the saloon ot the Ainranin into a miniature Chinatown y. sterility afternoon, win n over fifteen Chinamen arrived to Ink' 1 up their residence in Xew Zealand. 'J here were three dainty Chinese ladies, four boys, am! eight stolid and immobile men. and with the chanting of the interpreter and the rapid replies oi the new arrivals, the Customs officer had indeed a task in in's dug them through. “.Sing Young." the Customs ollieer would call ; “Sing Yeung" would he j passed along the line of fifteen China- 1 men. and a. slight' nervous figure would f detach himself from the row, and ap- j proach tho table. “Do you understand tins: th - ( us-, ionus oilieer would ask. “Xe on no ,-ong?’’ tin* interpreter wouid ask the j •same tpu <tion in Cantonese. [ ‘ Hi. ue du gong." the figure would j answer. . ; "lie -ays he understands," the inter-; prefer would pass hark. ••Sign hero then.” and the ( an tom.sol would lake a. shaky pen, and scribble a wavy name. And so it went on. until the Customs r IMeer called a name and a dainty Ckinc-e gild walked to the table. "Do von understand?" the nllicei . asked. j "Oil, vi.--, I understand unite v>e,l. ' “AYhere were you horn?" "1 was horn in Alai ten. sir.’ 1 >’ ( uinc.se girl astonished a!! by her i \- , , limit [lug'rsh, ami her passing wouid hardly have hemi cipialled i.y a sixeli mandat'd Knglish girl, lor me spoke lluentlv and eorreeil.v. The hoys had no dillicult.y in passing. 1 alt hough the interpreter was kept i busy, and the intonations of the Canj t.• 11 s• - rose and fell through the saloon ]j |a. the- notes oi a duloitoiic. ! And thin, when it was all over, and I ||c follow passengers took leave oi one : another, there were many <iuamt salu(aliens and eond-hves. "Sing .smg. thi v would 'chant'. “Ilolnmnh." and v.itii funny huudles and weird contents, l lev w addled down lo the wharf, leav- ' log all siniling as ihev hade adieu.