an
nails, but twisted and distorted quills, giving him the appearance
of having gigantic claws. "Velly big Chinaman," whispered my cheerful
friend; "first-chop man--high classee--no can washee--no can eat--no
dlinke, no catchee him own glub allee same nothee man--China boy must
catchee glub for him, allee time! Oh, him first-chop man--you bettee!"

I had heard of this singular custom of indicating caste before, and
was amazed and disgusted, but I was not prepared for what followed. My
companion, evidently thinking he had impressed me, grew more reckless
as showman, and saying to me, "Now me showee you one funny thing--heap
makee you laugh," led me hurriedly across a little courtyard swarming
with chickens and rabbits, when he stopped before another inclosure.
Suddenly brushing past an astonished Chinaman who seemed to be standing
guard, he thrust me into the inclosure in front of a most extraordinary
object. It was a Chinaman, wearing a huge, square, wooden frame fastened
around his neck like a collar, and fitting so tightly and rigidly that
the flesh rose in puffy weals around his cheeks. He was chained to a
post, although it was as impossible for him to have escaped with his
wooden cage through the narrow doorway as it was for him to lie down
and rest in it. Yet I am bound to say that his eyes and face expressed
nothing but apathy, and there was no appeal to the sympathy of the
stranger. My companion said hurriedly,--

"Velly bad man; stealee heap from Chinamen," and then, apparently
alarmed at his own indiscreet intrusion, hustled me away as quickly as
possible amid a shrill cackling of protestation from a few of his own
countrymen who had joined the one who was keeping guard. In another
moment we were in the street again--scarce a step from the Plaza, in the
full light of Western civilization--not a stone's throw from the courts
of justice.

My companion took to his heels and left me standing there bewildered
and indignant. I could not rest until I had told my story, but without
betraying my companion, to an elder acquaintance, who laid the
facts before the police authorities. I had expected to be closely
cross-examined--to be doubted--to be disbelieved. To my surprise, I was
told that the police had already cognizance of similar cases of illegal
and barbarous punishments, but that the victims themselves refused to
testify against their countrymen--and it was impossible to convict or
even to identify them. "A whi