The
lubras, however, refused to be taken off my visitor's list and Cheon
insisting on them waiting on the missus while she was attending to the
housework, no one gained or lost by the transfer.
Cheon had a scheme all his own for dealing with the servant question: the
Maluka should buy a little Chinese maiden to wait on the missus. Cheon
knew of one in Darwin, going cheap, for ten pounds, his--COUSIN's child.
"A real bargain!" he assured the Maluka, finding him lacking in
enthusiasm; "docile, sweet, and attentive," and yes, Cheon was sure of
that "devoted to the missus," and also a splendid pecuniary investment
(Cheon always had an eye on the dollars). Being only ten years of age,
for six years she could serve the missus, and would then bring at least
eighty pounds in the Chinese matrimonial market in Darwin--Chinese wives
being scarce there. If she grew up moon-faced, and thus "good-looking,"
there seemed no end to the wealth she would bring us.
It took time to convince Cheon of the abolition of slavery throughout the
Empire, and even when convinced, he was for buying the treasure and
saying nothing about it to the Governor.
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