1871, BC: Kwong Lee and Co. vs. Yong Lee

Another intercultural language that was common in British Columbia before Chinook Jargon was Chinese Pidgin English (CPE).

I say “another“, because the major intercultural language of BC in pre-Chinuk Wawa times was Métis/Canadian French.

Of the two, however, it was CPE that probably influenced the shape of Northern-Dialect Chinook Jargon the most.

You can see in today’s clipping one feature that got carried over from CPE to the Jargon, the “be”-verb (copula) stop.

Here I’ll highlight everything that appears to be genuine quoted Chinese Pidgin English in bold italics.

See how much you feel you understand:

KWONG LEE & CO. vs. YONG LEE — Suit for
$40, being four months’ rent of a house in
Barkerville. The Chinese clerk of plaintiffs
produced a bill of sale of the house from
Chong Hee made in 1868. Defendant had
occupied the house ever since and paid no
rent. Plaintiffs now wanted either possession
of house or $10 per month rent; they only
asked for four months back rent instead of
16.

Defendant testified — About 16 months ago
Mr Chuck Fang, boss of Kwong Lee Co., lend
me $120 to buy house; I pay $18; he go
away China; say he come back about two
years; tell me no pay money to any one else ;
think he now in San Francisco: think he come
here in four or five months; house no belong
to Kwong Lee but to Mr Chuck Fang himself;
he my very good friend; he say I can pay in
two years.

Kwong Lee’s Clerk — You see boss go away,
you see; he go China; Kwong Lee shut up,
you see; all money on books go book-keeper,
you see; spose he no pay $40, you see, he
give house, you see.

Yong Lee — This man he no stop Kwong
Lee; he tell stories; he want keep gambling-
house; before he no say nothing; want
house, can’t get it.

The case was adjourned till Monday for
further evidence.

           MONDAY, April 17.

Chong Hee, who sold the house, deposed
that the money was paid him by a clerk of
Kwong Lee’s and defendant together; bill of
sale was made to Kwong Lee.

Defendant produced a Chinese book and
made a long statement about the money he
had spent in improving the house.

The Judge ordered defendant to pay the
money into Court till Chuck Fang could be
heard from, otherwise to vacate the house to
Kwong Lee, who had the hill of sale.

Defendant, bursting into tears, said he had
no money.

— from the Barkerville (BC) Cariboo Sentinel of April 22, 1871, page 3, column 2

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