It is a well-known fact that of all the Chinese people the Cantonese have been the empire builders of the China beyond the seas. The Chinese to-day in foreign lands—in Amer-Malaya, in the South Seas —are the descendants of those adventurers of the seventies and eighties who left the province of Kuangtung for the eldorado across the oceans where gold was to be picked up merely for hard labour.
The urge and spirit of those pioncers still lives to-day in the Canton-exe, if we are to judge from incidents which were related in the Provisional Court on August 8, when a Cantonese, describing himself as a caterer, appeared charge of defrauding four of fellow-countrymen of $3,800.
'Woosthe caterer, knew his marks, for he approached the merchant complainants and told them that, as an immigration official, he could' cure them entry into'the United States by arranging for the necessary passports at Shanghai and that the cost of such a service would [amount to $1,000 each. 'Three of the complainants' handed over the sum. shed but the fourth could only afford the sum of $800, which Jamount Woo accepted.
The complainants were informed by Woo that it would probably take month to secure the necessary documents, and that everything would be all right; if he could not carry out his agreement he would refund the money. Woo said would hand them their passports when they came to Shanghai en route at the end of the month.
The next chapter in the adventures of the four merchants occurred at Shanghai when they Visited the address given by the bogus immigration offal to find that he was not known there. Realizing that they had been daped by their compatriot, council of war way held and it was decided that the only course Of action left was to combine and form themselves. into an. amateur detective squad. Knowing their rman, and with the added knowledge that he would be enjoying himeelf fon. the fruits of his labours, and their own credulity, they set out on their hunt. Success crowned their efforts for, a couple of days ago, he was seen in North Szechuen Road and arrested. to make fur-of $5,000, shop security.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.