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“
[225]
every man who comes from Hong Kong, and lands in this port?”
“We have the moral obligation to restore his bones to China; so we tax him five dollars on his landing — to be safe.
Unless we give him our certificate, the Pacific Mail Company will not let him come on shore.
That contract is made by the Five Companies with the Mail Company.
When a passenger has paid his fee, he is at liberty to leave his ship-but not till he can show that he has paid this fee, in either gold or bonds.”
“ You keep an eye on him afterwards, much as you keep an eye on your bond-servant?
”
“The same.
We keep an eye on every one.
Who else would care about his bones?”
“You have your own police and magistrates?”
“ We have our spies and head-men everywhere.
In San Francisco we have many spies.
It is thought a good thing to be a spy; a bad thing to be a ghost.
A spy serves the Chinese, a ghost serves the Melicans.
By means of these spies and headmen we hear of what is going on in every house.
We know every man's name, and where he is, and what he is about.
It is our duty to fish out ”
1875.
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