CHINESE IMMIGRATION COMMITTEE.

H.—No. 5

9

occasions we had nearly half of our crew to Liverpool and b.ack composed of Chinamen. I have a very low estimate of their morality ; indeed I am in doubt as to whether they are possessed of any at all. As that opinion was formed some seventeen or eighteen years ago, it is possible they may have changed somewhat for the better since then. While at Shanghai, in 1848, I was constantly on shore at work, often six weeks at a time, assisting to paint the first church built in China; aud I was in constant contact with the Chinamen also engaged on the work. I was a boy then. We discovered several cases of theft; and we were of the opinion that they would appropriate anything they could lay their hands on. I was first engaged in the trade at sixteen years of age, and left it when I war, twenty-two, when I held the position of chief officer, and during that time I had a good opportunity of judging of their national characteristics. In their social state in China, I considered them very orderly. Crimes such as theft, and some of another kind, are more frequent than in European communities. I understood then that a law existed prohibiting the emigration of women. I have known cases where Englishmen have married Chinese women, and that they were not allowed to take them away with them when they were leaving the country. When we have taken Chinese away as sailors, we were obliged to enter into a compact to bring them back again ; and they were brought back either in the same ship, or in some other at the expense of the agents. I know that a few Chinese emigrated before the discovery of gold ; and, before I left the trade, very many of them were sent to the West Indies, but not to any extent before I went to China. I have seen Chinese employed in many parts of the world, and have seen their women employed as nurses in the East Indies, but only in isolated cases. I have not been at San Francisco. From what I have seen of the few Chinamen I have observed in foreign parts, they seemed to bo well-behaved and bore excellent characters, both from their employers and others. I am scarcely in a position to speak positively of their adaptability for the various descriptions of manual labour ; but as sailors they were good, after being taught. At first they had little inclination for work, and were not of much use ; but before we got back from Liverpool, we made tolerable sailors of them. We never dared to trust them by leaving anything about. On the whole, I did not consider them so adaptable for sailors, or so quick at learning the calling, as Europeans. As regards other branches of industry, I look on them as exceedingly imitative, and as ingenious as Europeans ; and while likety to succeed and become as useful as our own people in many of the lighter occupations requiring ingenuity, I think they lack the stamina of our agricultural labourers at home, and consequently would not be so well adapted for farming. As domestic servants, such as waiters and cooks, I have found them generally tidy, handy, and civil, and heard them highly spoken of in that capacity. On board ship, however, I have always found them to be great thieves. As regards their idea of me.um and tuum, and the sacredness of the sexes, I think I can assert they are very depraved. I am not quite certain that amongst themselves the practice of decoying young girls for immoral purposes prevails to a great extent. I have not been on the gold fields of this Colony. I think that the introduction of a large element of Chinese into this Colony would have a very prejudicial effect upon our population. 43. Mr. Fitzherbert] Do you think the intercourse of traders and others with the Chinese for months or longer periods has a deteriorating effect upon their character? —Not particularly; our men did not care about associating with them. Our sailors associated with their women on shore. 44. The Chairman] The cost of living in China is very much less than in this Colony ; and Chinamen, either abroad or at home, are contented with much poorer fare than our own labouring classes. I believe that Chinamen invariably, if possible, return to China to spend their savings. I may mention that I was at the Chineha Islands several months, where the work is chiefly done by Chinese ; and there I saw them very anxious to get away as soon as they had saved a few dollars. There is certainly nothing on the Islands to induce them to remain ; and I know of several cases where they hurled themselves down the guano-shoots rather than stay on the Island any longer. I know of no other country in which the Chinese are employed in any numbers. They are so much addicted to gambling that when they have a few dollars they gamble with each other until one or another wins the lot; but generally they have so little to lose that it makes very little difference to them, as they must go to work next day in any case. Still they are always ready to gamble what they have, little or much. They gamble chiefly with cards and dice. 45. I think the Legislature should not encourage any great number, as the effect would most likely be injurious ; but I would not like to express any opinion as to where you should fix the limit. 46. Mr. Thomson] When Chinese and Europeans were on board ship together, I found they did not get on well, though they had no actual rows, but that was because the Chinese were not strong enough ; besides, they occupied separate parts of the ship. One Englishman can always intimidate a number of Chinamen. I think that if Chinamen had a numerical preponderance on diggings or other places where they were brought into contact with Europeans they would be very likely to try to overpower them in the event of any disputes about claims or otherwise. I have witnessed scenes that lead me to that opinion. 47. Mr. White] There certainly is a preponderance of Chinamen in Hongkong, Whampoa, and Shanghai ; but they dwell in separate quarters from the Europeans. 48. Mr. Thomson.] I am hardly justified in saying what would be the conduct of Chinamen who were numerically superior on diggings, as 1 have not been on the diggings ; but I know if they think there is half a chance of winning a dollar they are always ready to fight for it, regardless of the justice of the case. James Hector, Esq., M.D., F.R.S., in attendance, and examined. 49. The Chairman] In your opinion would there be any danger to the Colony, from a sanitary point of view, from the importation of Chinese ? Or would they be likely to introduce any infectious diseases ?—I have not much knowledge on that point, beyond what I have seen. I have been over the Californian diggings, on which the Chinese are employed in great numbers, and I have also visited the Chinese quarters in San Francisco ; but as I only stayed in the country a few weeks, I had very little opportunity of judging on the point you desire information upon. They are not a people 3