Escape From Gold Mountain Read online

  .

  .

  .

  .

  Escape from Gold Mountain

  A Gold Mountain Book

  ~o0o~

  By Zina Abbott

  Copyright © 2019 Robyn Echols writing as Zina Abbott

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

  .

  .

  .

  .

  Dedication

  ~o0o~

  This book is dedicated to the Cantonese Chinese women of the nineteenth century who made their homes—some willingly, some not willingly—in the United States. Many were forced into slavery and died young. However, some survived. They all faced persecution at the hands of the white Americans who sought to keep them out and deny them citizenship. These pioneers and their children have overcome much. Today, they are a strength to the United States of America.

  .

  .

  .

  .

  Acknowledgements

  ~o0o~

  I am greatly indebted to author Alexa Kang who read this manuscript as a sensitivity beta reader. She has Cantonese Chinese ancestors, has spent time in Shanghai where her latest World War Two-era romance novel series is set, and she is fluent in the Cantonese dialect. Her assistance in providing the correct Cantonese words and phrases I used, and a greater understanding of the Cantonese culture, family structure, and beliefs were invaluable. I also thank my other beta readers: Janet Hendricks, Marcia Montoya, and Kristine Ball.

  I express gratitude for the many written sources from which I gleaned details about life in the Mono County region in the mid-1880s. In addition to online resources, books include Lundy by Alan H. Patera, The Story of Early Mono County by Ella M. Cain, Mono Diggings by Frank S. Wedertz; Bodie 1859-1900 by Frank S. Wedertz, The Story of Bodie by Ella M. Cain, and The Ghost Town of Bodie, a California State Park by Sierra Media, Inc. Using online digital newspaper collections and microfilm, I also spent hours perusing the available issues of the Bridgeport Chronicle-Union, the newspaper of the Mono County seat of Bridgeport, California, the Daily Alta California of San Francisco, and the Sacramento Daily Union of Sacramento, California.

  For this book, my biggest challenge was becoming familiar with the Chinese experience in California, as well as acquiring a better understanding of the Chinese culture, attitudes, and beliefs as a whole. In addition to many great online sources, I express gratitude for the following books and authors: Unbound Feet by Judy Yung, The Chinese in America: A Narrative History by Iris Chang, Unsubmissive Women by Benson Tong, Hatchet Men: The Story of the Tong Wars in San Francisco’s Chinatown by Richard Dillon, Bury My Bones in America by Lani Ah Tye Farkas, At America’s Gates by Erika Lee, and Driven Out by Jean Pfaelzer. I also gained insight into the Chinese culture and perceptions from two fictional books: Daughter of Joy by Jo Ann Levy and The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan.

  I wish to thank Evelyne Labelle of Carpe Librum Book Design for the beautiful cover for

  Escape from Gold Mountain.

  .

  .

  .

  .

  Disclaimer

  ~o0o~

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Although this novel is set in actual historical locations, any use of actual names, characters, places, and incidents are used fictionally, and they are a product of the author’s imagination. Descriptions of locales and public names as detailed in the author’s notes at the end were sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental and unintended.

  Some of the character dialogue in this story reflects the prejudices of the Euro-Americans (Westerners) of the time period directed against the Chinese and other non-white, non-Western groups of people, as well as those of the Chinese towards Euro-Americans. They are written to help the reader understand the challenges faced by certain people living in the United States at the time. These references do not represent the attitude of the author.

  .

  .

  .

  .

  Forward

  ~o0o~

  T he Cantonese Chinese dialect is different from the Mandarin dialect with which most English-speakers are familiar. However, the vast majority of Chinese immigrants who arrived in North America in the 1800s were from the provinces of Canton (now known as Guangzhou).

  Please be aware that where I have included a Chinese word or two as part of the dialog of my Chinese characters, you probably will not find it on Google translate or other online translation sources. Those translation tools usually translate to the Mandarin dialect. The Romanized Cantonese Chinese words and their English translations were generously provided to me by author Alexa Kang who helped me with cultural and language issues. In her words:

  “…I can see it presenting some technical issues because Mandarin pinyin in Romanized version is so accepted generally now as the official Chinese writing. Reading the Mandarin pinyin Romanized is so much easier on the eye. The Cantonese Romanized versions I gave you in my comments are the Jyutping version which is the most widely used. But I think it's just unusual these days to see Cantonese dialect Romanized anywhere.”

  Ms. Kang also pointed out that the Chinese would never use the word “tong” by itself. The precise definition of tong is “hall” or “meeting place.” They would not use the word “tong” at the end of the name to designate the nature of the organization. Instead, they would use the actual name of the society/club with the understanding it was a tong. Also, “Tong” is a common Chinese surname. Since most non-Chinese are not that familiar with these Chinese societies, but many are aware of the word “tong,” in this book I have often included the word “tong” at the end of the society names for clarification.

  .

  .

  .

  .

  Part I

  ~o0o~

  Abduction

  Some of the character dialogue in this story reflects the prejudices of the Euro-Americans (Westerners) of the time period directed against the Chinese and other non-white, non-Western groups of people, as well as those of the Chinese towards Euro-Americans. They are written to help the reader understand the challenges faced by certain people living in the United States at the time. These references do not represent the attitude of the author.

  .

  .

  .

  .

  Prologue

  ~o0o~

  Canton, China ~ March, 1880

  L ing Loi entered her mother’s room and bowed in respect. Holding a bowl of tea with both hands, she sank to her knees and carefully placed the hot beverage on a short table next to the older woman. Her eyes followed the final stitches her mother used to fasten an extra layer of heavy black cotton cloth to the inside back lining of a new garment. “Honored Mother, what is it you are sewing?’

  Loi watched as her mother’s eyes, full of sorrow, lifted to gaze at her. “I hear the weather is colder in Gum Saan, (Gold Mountain or California), than it is here. This is a jacket to keep you warm. You will not have a dowry, but at least when you join your husband, you will bring with you adequate clothing.”

  Loi dropped her gaze and studied the mat-covered floor. “It is true, then, Heng still plans to send me across the ocean to a husband in America? He cannot find someone local for me?”

  Ling Heng, twelve years her senior, her brother by her father’s first wife, had always resented her mother, Chan Shui, their father’s concubine. Loi knew he recognized that Loi’s mother was the wife of their father’s hea
rt. Their father openly displayed devotion towards Shui, Loi, her brother who died at five years of age of illness, and her full sister, Mei. However, he all but ignored his first wife who, by custom, had been chosen for him by their families. This had rankled her half-brother for years.

  Shui carefully placed the jacket across her lap and lifted the cup to her lips. She blew across the surface to cool the tea before she took her first sip. “He does not wish to. Even though you would disappear into your husband’s household and he would never need to see you again, he wishes to be rid of us all, as does his mother. Why provide a large dowry for you when a husband in Dai Fow (San Francisco’s Chinatown), will pay a good bride price to have you and not expect a dowry?”

  “He sells me? But, surely I will be a wife, not a mui tsai (household servant).”

  “A wife. Heng negotiates now to sell Mei to be a mui tsai.”

  Loi felt her throat choke with sorrow as her heart sank within her. What a bad luck fate for her darling little sister. She understood how things worked with household servants. To hide her dismay from her mother, Loi leaned forward and pressed her forehead into the mat.

  Through the ages, impoverished Chinese families sold their children, usually daughters, into slavery. By doing so, they earned the means to pay taxes or buy food so the rest of the family could survive. The taxes and demands by officials of the ruling Mandarin Qing dynasty, the failed Taiping Rebellion against the Mandarin rulers, and the usual natural disasters that befell the Pearl River region of Canton, had caused many hard times for the Cantonese in recent decades.

  Only in dire circumstances did families sell sons. Sons inherited, whereas daughters would eventually leave and join her husband’s household. Often the youngest daughter was sold to be a mui tsai to a wealthier man’s wife to do her bidding. Most contracts usually stipulated that once the mui tsai reached eighteen years of age, the family who bought her would arrange a marriage for her and release her from their service. Daughters sold into this situation were taught to accept their fate and find satisfaction in the knowledge their change in status benefitted the rest of her family. If the girl was lucky, her owner would be kind. In spite of being a slave, the girl might even be called by the endearment “little sister.” Many owners treated their mui tsais with consideration, aware that often their age and skill levels limited their abilities to serve until they grew older and learned.

  However, not all mui tsais ended up in households where they were treated well. All were subject to her owners’ whims and demands. The husband or older sons were well within their rights to make sexual demands on a female slave in the household.

  When her late father brought Shui, home to be his concubine, or second wife, his first wife knew she had no say in the matter. Without words, she had always found ways to express her displeasure about sharing her husband with a younger, more beautiful woman—especially when he made no effort to hide his preference for Shui. As was her right as the first wife and primary female in the household, second only to her mother-in-law, whom custom required she serve, she treated Shui like a servant. When Loi’s father insisted that Shui have her own room and courtyard, his first wife, once again, said nothing. That did not prevent all in the household from knowing her displeasure. Loi’s father appeased his first wife by buying her a six-year-old mui tsai.

  The young slave Loi’s father bought for his first wife was not one of the lucky ones. Her lot required she endure frequent criticisms and beatings. Loi was not aware of her father making use of the girl sexually, but she knew that Heng did in the last few years the girl stayed with the family. The girl turned eighteen after the death of Loi’s father. Fortunately for her, Heng honored his father’s contract and found the young woman a husband.

  Loi straightened and sat back on her heels. Still grieving over the probable fate of her sweet younger sister, she swallowed and looked off to the side. “My honored father would not have allowed Mei to be sold as a mui tsai.”

  Loi watched her mother's gaze drop as she studied her hands for several seconds. Her words, when they came, were almost inaudible. “No, he would not.” She once again looked up and addressed Loi with a voice of forced determination. “It is not what you or I want, but we must all submit to our fate.”

  Loi had never found it easy to be submissive and accept her fate without question. Even now, she wished to know what to expect. The longer her mother watched her, the more apprehensive she grew. Loi searched her mother’s face for answers or assurances. “What do you not say?”

  “I know no details, my beloved daughter. Although your brother mostly ignored us while your father was still alive, Heng has given up all pretenses about us being welcome now that the household is his. He grows more belligerent over time. If my son had lived, it would have been better for us. He would have spoken to Heng for us. No matter our work for this family, Heng sees you, your sister, and me as three useless female mouths to feed.”

  “But, we all work hard.”

  “It matters not to him. He never forgave me for persuading your father to take you and Mei to the Christian mission.”

  Loi sighed in defeat. She knew her mother’s words were true. She thought back to the days at the mission where the three of them had learned about the Holy Bible and its teachings. The girls also learned about Chinese history and basic mathematics. In addition, they were taught English.

  Shortly after, her father had become intrigued with the Christian missionaries from England, a land on the other side of the world, far away from China. The missionaries had come to teach any who would listen about the new Western religion. He soon joined Loi’s and Mei’s mother to hear about Jesus, a god who came to earth as a man even though he was a god and the son of the heavenly father god.

  The teachings had been confusing to Loi, so different from the Chinese beliefs and superstitions she had first been taught. However, she liked learning about Jesus. Like the Chinese, the Christians also believed women should obey their husbands, but they also taught that men were to love their wives. The idea of having a husband commanded by God to love her as she knew her father loved her mother appealed to Loi.

  Although he knew he could not confront his father about it, Heng had been hostile about the situation from the start. More than once he caught Loi alone and berated her for learning about the Jesus god who was a barbarian devil. He stressed to her his belief that it was not proper for females to become educated.

  Then her father unexpectedly died. Her brother, an adult, assumed his role as head of the family. He took advantage of his ability to avenge the perceived disrespect towards his mother and the abandonment of the accepted Buddhist religion by Shui and her children.

  Shui’s words interrupted Loi’s musings. “You know how when your father died, Heng ordered us to forget all we learned at the Christian mission. We are to never speak of the Jesus god, but only worship Buddha. We do as he says, but he still has not forgotten.”

  Loi knew she must keep her voice low so it could not be overheard by someone outside the room. However, she could not resist expressing her opinion. “I have no respect for Heng; I cannot honor him.”

  “You must honor him. He is the head of our family now. The good of the family is more important than one person.” Shui sighed in resignation. “I only wish for him to not rid his household of you and Mei until he can arrange good marriages locally for you both. I hope your husband in Gold Mountain will bring you luck and much happiness.”

  “I fear for you, Mother.”

  “We all must learn to swallow bitterness, Daughter. I will endure. He will not turn me out, only because he would lose face with our neighbors.”

  Loi studied the top of her mother’s head as Shui dropped her gaze and bent forward. Loi suspected her mother lied to prevent her from worrying. Loi’s lower lip quivered until she pressed her lips together tightly to force it to stop moving. She choked on her words when they finally came. “I fear if I go, I will never return—never see you again. Ho
w will I honor father’s bones while halfway around world? When it is time, how will I honor yours?”

  “Loi, you know you must not honor me. It is your father and his first wife you must honor. It will be your husband’s parents you must honor.”

  Loi felt a streak of rebellion shoot through her. She bit back the words she wished to spew in response to her mother’s reminder. She never wished to pay homage to her father’s first wife, the woman who had gone out of her way to make her own mother’s life miserable and, by extension, hers and her siblings. Her father, yes, but not his first wife. It was her mother she loved. Perhaps not having to live with her father’s first wife, or having to continue to honor her after she died, was a benefit of leaving Canton.

  A new worry prompted her next question. “Honored Mother, what does it mean to call a man a snakehead?”

  Shui’s forehead wrinkled with puzzlement. “Where did you hear that? I know of no kind of man called a snakehead.”

  “I overheard Heng speak to our neighbor about me going to Gold Mountain. He said he sends me with a man he called a snakehead. This man will take me to the ship.”

  “Daughter, were you eavesdropping? You have had proper family teaching and know secretly listening to others is disrespectful. I am disappointed in you.”

  Loi dropped her head in shame as a pale flush of embarrassment suffused her face. Because she felt no respect for her brother, she felt no remorse over eavesdropping on his conversation, especially when it concerned her. However, she felt bad that she had disappointed her mother. “He spoke loudly and our walls are thin. I left right away, but not before I heard him call the man from the ship a snakehead.”