a “beat”, generally around a public market
where he preys on Chinese housewives who
invariably leave their purses in the shopping
basket. It’s an easy matter for the appren-
tice to steal purses in these crowded noisy
areas. Later on, his training period over,
the auh-tsang-ts becomes a full-fledged mo
de zuh and confines himself to travelling
on street cars, buses and trackless trolleys
where he reaps quite a daily harvest. In
picking some luckless person’s pocket _ it
makes no difference whether the victim
carries his wallet in a hip or inside pocket.
Like Occidental “dips” the Chinese oper-
ator follows the same routine of jostling
or pushing against his victim in the crowded
vehicle, lifting the wallet or purse and leav-
ing at the next stop.

Chinese farmers in the winter time wear
several long gowns including a padded one
on the outside, a heavy apron which is
bound tightly to the body, and he in-
variably has a money belt next to his skin.
I have known of cases where a farmer has
come to the station to report his money belt

slashed with a razor, the contents stolen,-

|
PRESCRIPTIONS |

Alert Bay Drug Store

KATHLEEN M. LANGE
THE REXALL STORE

ALERT BAY

British Columbia

and the outer garments were intact. The
victim was unaware that the theft had
occurred until he needed money from his
belt. Most pick-pockets, although operating
as individuals, belong to a gang and the
sien sang gets his cut from his pupils.

SKINNING THE PIG

As you know China has a tremendous
population and the mere problem of getting
enough food to stay alive is, for millions
of Chinese, a terrific day-to-day problem.

And it’s for this reason that the Chinese
criminal has so often to display great in-
genuity in staging a crime that brings a very
slight return.

An example of this is poh-ts-leu or “skin-
ning the pig”. :

Here the operator, on the pretext of giv-
ing them candy, entices young children
into a deserted alleyway, and then strips
them of their meagre clothing. The thief
pawns the clothing at the nearest pawnshop.

Mr. GULLIBLE GOES TO PAWNSHOP

Another type of racket we often en-
countered was worked by two thieves who
would take up a stand outside a pawnshop.
One of them has an expensive looking ring
in his hand and in a loud voice is trying to
impress his companion with its value. Pretty
soon the argument gets hot. Now there is
nothing dearer to the Chinese heart than
a street scene or a quarrel and in very few
seconds the two men are surrounded by a
gaping crowd. The man with the ring then
picks out some gullible looking man or

woman in the crowd who is carrying

parcel and loudly requests him (or her)
take the ring into the pawnshop and hay
it valued. He wants an independent valug
tion to prove he is on the level. But wai
e’s got to have protection himself so hey
just hold the parcel while Mr. Gullible oe
into the pawnshop. Nine times out of tp
the “sucker” falls for the trick and leaye
his parcel with the owner of the jewelry
The pawnshop clerk tells him that the ring
is worthless, and when he comes out th
birds have flown—with his parcel. Some
times the package contains cloth, shoes
even food. Whatever he lost is usually
worth more than the ring.

Another tricky type of theft is per
petrated by the Chinese who is able to speak
sufficient English to enable him to convery
with Occidentals. !

Fruit FoR NOTHING!

Decking himself out in a hause boy}
uniform he sallies forth and waylaying some
fruit vendor who has a few dozen oranges
or some other fruit, informs his victim that
his toong ka (master) wants to buy a big
quantity of fruit and for a small amount
of “squeeze” he can assure a big sale. The
hawker is naturally pleased at the prospect
of disposing of all his fruit quickly and
follows the “boy” to his master’s shop or
house. Naturally the hawker is unable to
understand the English conversation which
goes on, which has probably nothing to do
with fruit. After a few minutes the “boy”
tells the hawker that his master is going to

Well Heated

Dine and Dance

BAY HOTEL

Good Comfortable Rooms

} Running Hot and Cold Water
GOOD CAFE IN CONNECTION

Alert Bay, British Columbia

“The Store Where Quality Rules”

— LITTLETON’S MARKET

W. A. LITTLETON, Proprietor

GROCERIES — VEGETABLES
PROVISIONS
e

ALERT BAY, B.C.

Groceries Dry Goods

Fresh Meats

ALERT BAY

PETERSON & EDWARD

GENERAL MERCHANTS

Boots and Shoes

“VALVOLINE” AGENCY
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BRITISH COLUMBIA

Page Ninety-two

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‘