Reminiscences of Western Travels 西海紀遊草 (Xi hai ji you cao): An Early Chinese Traveler to America & Relevant American Press Reports, 1847-1850

The Chinese Junk

THE CHINESE JUNK.--The Albany Evening Journal publishes as its leader of Wednesday an interesting story about the junk. It seems that somebody who can talk about the lingo of the Chinamen has been on board and has learned from them that they have been badly used  In the first place they say that they were inveigled on board under pretence of a coasting voyage and that after being some weeks at sea, suspecting foul play, they refused to work and the junk drifted for two days. But the proprietor and a few English sailors arming themselves and taking advantage of a favorable moment, forced the Chinese to work. Subsequently they determined to starve themselves to death, and were nearly three days without food. The gentleman in question, according to the Journal, interested some merchants in the matter who compelled the proprietor to pay the Chinamen full wages and to make arrangements for sending the men home, although he resisted the proposition when first made to him.

We are not informed as to the truth of this story, but it seems to us bear marks of a lively imagination. If it originated with the Chinamen it is enough to say that they are unequaled liars. Moreover we understood from Captain Kellett, some time before this gentleman is alleged to have visited the junk, that the Chinamen were receiving regular wages as sailors and that his intention was to send them out by some ship going from New York to China. The only complaint we then heard on board was from Mr. HESING who, in the confidence of friendly conversation lamented the violence he had been compelled to do his domestic affections by leaving his three wives. He did not, however, charge this upon Capt. Kellett, but upon the unfortunate paucity of accommodations in the junk for so extensive a family.

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