Night had fallen by the time Charles climbed onto his horse to return to Tingrai.

Just a few hours before this, after a long and arduous voyage, the ship that carried Ho Han and Ho Yen arrived at the Calcutta port.

Seven

A phaeton pulled by horses was leaving Bow Bazaar in Calcutta and going towards the shipyard. Seated on the buggy was a thin, middle-aged Chinese man. On his lap he held a medium-sized wooden box. His name was Lum Kwa. He lived in the area and was an expert in Chinese medicine. He was on his way to the Hooghly harbour, where the ship carrying Chinese coolies had just docked. He had been entrusted with the responsibility of looking after these men.

A trader named Yi Kan had brought over these labourers. The Assam Company counted on him and a few other men to bring Chinese labourers from Penang and Singapore.

Lum Kwa, who had been appointed manager and interpreter by the Assam Tea Company, would take the Chinese to Upper Assam.

At the entrance to the Armenian dock, an aged Chinese man stopped him.

‘I came to see you. Where are you going? Have you eaten your meal?’

Lum Kwa smiled gently in reply and said, ‘A lot of Chinese coolies have come in today, to work in the tea gardens. I have come to receive them.’

‘Yes, I know. How long will you have to stay here?’

‘I don’t really know,’ Lum Kwa replied. ‘As long as these coolies keep arriving. They don’t understand any language other than their own.’

‘Where will they be put up? We will come to see them.’

‘There is a coolie depot at the docks. But perhaps they will be kept in Howrah. You will have to cross over if you want to visit.’

‘Why do they have to be sent there? There are depots here, too.’

‘Last time they were here the Chinese picked a quarrel. But tell me, how is your leather factory doing?’

‘Things are fine. But we will have to employ more men. A leather factory needs a lot of workers. And to make shoes we need even more. Besides, I have started manufacturing other things too. So, I’m planning to bring my brothers. I might bring other men from my village as well.’

‘With a ship plying between Calcutta and Kwangtung, things have become so much easier, haven’t they?’

‘Yes, that’s right. So many people migrating to these parts. It’s a hard life in China these days.’

‘But if you go to China, make sure you come back married. How long can you live alone? Our brothers here are all married and have families.’

‘Yes, I suppose I’ll have to marry in China. I don’t want to marry any girl here. Neither do they know our traditions nor do they speak the language well. I actually came here to meet you. The police have taken away Ming Chiu and Kai Fung.’

‘What for?’

‘Yesterday, they were bursting crackers for New Year. The carriage horses got frightened and bolted. There was chaos in the street. When the police found out, they arrested the two. The crackers were still strewn in front of the shop when the police arrived. Ming Chiu pleaded that the shop was not his. That he didn’t know anything about the crackers. Kai Fung showed the licence that he’d been given by the police. But the licence was for dancing and singing, not for fireworks, he was told. Is there anything you can do? They have sent me to request you for help.’