CHINESE JEKYLL

Hokitika Guardian, 19 October 1929, Page 2

CHINESE JEKYLL

'• ■ strange habits. REVEALED. QUEER TYPES IN SYDNEY. ’ SYDNEY, October 3. . . Sydney has '.from time to time been introduced to some queer types among its Chinese residents. The Chinese, in Sydney include-some of. the richest and some of the poorest people. The . rich Chinese, mostly merchants,' live on a most lavish scale but they always seem' to retain Oriental chairacteristijcs: and. customs, and this to a- large extent makes them outcasts as far as the European population is concerned. The Chinese keep to themselves, and for the most part are an unoffending "people. . ' , ‘ 1 '■' ( ) \ Not long ago Sydney was .startled to learn that a Chinese who had lived for years in abject poverty, left iponey to the extent of more than, £3OOO 'that was buried in the yard at the rear of his dilapidated .home. Nobody knew of his wealth, hilt' detectives became suspicious when they discovered a few ■'odd notes in one of the rooms,’ Further f enquiries revealed evidence that he was engaged in a rather extensive opium trade, and they knew, ’of course, that this must have brought him in great wealth. And so its* was that a more extensive search was instituted, with the result already stated. ; V All the Eastern fondness forSnystery and of intrigue, all the Eastern inscrutability, all the Eastern superstitution, all the Eastern love, were wrapped in the life of another elderly Chinese whij died in Sydney the other day. The strangest trait in his character was hiß ' penchaht, almost incredible to Ocbidehy, tals, for living a multiple personality. He had a number of banking accounts Each was in a, different bank. Each was under a different name. When lie went to one bank he was the. suave polished Chinese retired tea merchant. At another he was an, illiterate . Chinese gardener. At yet another he was a Chinese dealer in preserved ginger, and , he spoke fair English. And in another he was—well, he might have been anything, tut he walked with a pronounced limp; he was an inveterate cripple. V’h.v did he act so? No one-—no Occidental at any rate—can tell. He. wasnot averse to a little dealing, , when opportunity offered, in opium—and not infrequently opportunity did offer. He . y:as superstitious. He often went, to . the. races at Randwick—and whenever, he went lie wore two diamond rings each of which was worth £BO. He wore them for luck. He never wore then at any other time. He died in an> obscure mean house. He died as he had lived, placid and inscrutable, and worth some thousands of pounds.