to the best means at their command
to thwart or circumvent our laws. A witnessed marriage in China
gives an American-born Chinaman the right to land his wife in this
country, so many an innocent village girl crosses the ocean secure
in the belief that she is the honored wife of a respectable
husband. She is landed as such, and, alas! often finds out
when too late that she is merely the chattel of an evil and
unscrupulous Highbinder society, whose paid agent is the man to
whom she is bound. Soon after the Korea's arrival in port, on the
voyage in which we are interested, I visited the ship to interview
the Chinese women on board, and there for the first time met our
little dark-eyed friend, Kum Ping. She had been carefully coached
on the way as to the visits she might receive from foreign
missionaries, and the replies to all our questions showed a
guarded suspicion that seemed quite hopeless. Our cheerful
interpreter talked on, nevertheless, and finally won a quiet smile
and the offer of some roast duck (a great delicacy among Chinese).
All warnings about the dangers and wickedness of Chinatown
apparently fell on deaf ears. "I am a married woman, my husband
can take care of me. I do not need your protection!" was the
rather indignant response. So we presented some bright flowers as
a token of good will and friendship, and with them slipped into
the small, soft hand a talisman that might help her out of future
trouble. Just a slip of paper, but the magic of the name and
number written there many an escaped slave girl can bear witness
to. Some weeks passed by after our visit to Kum Ping on the
steamer. She had landed, and, like hundreds of others, had simply
disappeared from view in that place of many mysteries, old
Chinatown. One night perhaps a month later, I was called to the
reception room to see a strange visitor (Chinese) who refused to
divulge either name or business to any one else. On meeting this
messenger I noticed his great excitement and nervousness. Only
after the door was tightly shut did he tell his errand. We
listened with interest to his story of a young girl sold to a very
cruel master, who beat her daily and never allowed her to leave
the place in which she was closely guarded. Unless relief came
soon she must end her life. Would the Mission try to save this