1897: Fictitious but accurate BC CPE, i.e. w/lotsa CJ

Many thanks to reader Alex Code for spotting this interesting old article…

Be warned, it’s as racist as they came in 1890’s British Columbia. It’s also surely a political attack on Joseph Hunter MPP (equivalent to today’s MLA, yeah?), probably for his having dammed Quesnel Lake in 1896, enabling miners — many of whom were Chinese — to prospect successfully in the bed of the South Fork River. 

The real victim (image credit: Land without Limits)

It’s a document of West Coast-style CPE (Chinese Pidgin English), specifically of BC’s variety, mixing in Chinook Jargon words to a significant degree. We often find these two pidgin languages getting blended, in frontier-era BC. 

Here’s the whole article; I’ll highlight the CPE and discuss it a little further, after you read it.

JOHN TO JOSEPH.

A few days ago we had the pleasure of offering our sincere congratulations te Mr. Joseph Hunter, M.P.P., upon a great honor which has been done to him by the peculiar people whom ne admires so much. We refer to the interesting requisition in which the Chnese residents of the Cariboo electoral district, desirous of marking the high esteem and affectionate regard they entertain for the gentleman who has adopted them as the only people fit to live in this province, and to show him the gratitude they feel for all he has done, is doing and intends to do to further Chinese interests in British Columbia, ask Mr. Hunter to allow himself to be nominated as a candidate at the next general election to represent the district, and especially the Chinese, in the local house. Mr. Hunter has of his own free will done this in so fatherly and tenderly solicitous a manner, both in and out of the house, that this requisition is nothing more than his noble philo-Chinese work merits. As might naturally have been expected, our remarks respecting the requisition aroused intense public interest and curiosity, and to gratify the very general desire which has been expressed to know more of a matter which is unique in the history of the province, we take pleasure in laying before our readers a copy of the identical requisition with the names of all the distinguished Mongolian capitalists and swine-herds who crowded to the counter to paint on their cognomens in Chinese characters, which we regret being unable to reproduce in their original beauty. The requisition, strange to say, is not in Chinese, but in the vulgar English tongue. A veracious corespondent informs us that the original document was drawn up in the pidgin English of the Chinese ports and began in this fashion: “You heap belly good man Tyhee Joseph Hunter, alla’ China boy heap muchee kowtow you: you alla samee China boy: big good; you come top-side alla time; for long time China boy savey you watchee hiyou stlong for catchum China boy interest in Blitish Clumya. China boy heap muchee piecee savey flend an’ singee alla time: “What a fliend we alla timee have in Joseph!” etc., etc. The requisition now put into Mr. Hunter’s hands by his Chinese admirers, supporters and skookum tillicums, who are determined to see him at the top of the tree and bearing upon his finely-balanced head the mandarin’s hat, is as follows:

 REQUISITION

To Joseph Hunter, Esq., Quesnelle Forks, B. C:

Dear Sir: We, the undersigned residents in the Cariboo Eleetoral District, having full confidence in your ability, being acquainted with your political record and knowing your interests, respectfully request that you will allow yourself to be nominated as a candidate at the ensuing general election to represent this district in the provincial legislature. In the event of your acceding to this requisition, we promise you our influence to secure your election, Yours respectfully,

Kwong Lee Wing Kee, Tsang Quan, Ye Tim, Wy Chung, Kong Hing, Shee Young, Hock Kan, Pa Hing, Ping Chee, Chen Toy, Yen Shee, Shem Quan, Fung Chung. Shee Wai, Woy Tan, Wan Pong, Tan Gun, How Chuen, He Soy, To Hee, Yen To, Yen Quai, Yen King, Yen King, Kong Lum, Kam Lun, Mow Chee, Hip Ping, Yuk Chue, Lm Wan. Cum Jen, Tong New, all of Barkerville; Gim Fook Yuen, Wong Tip Quai, Sun Hung Hing, Wing Kee, all of 150 Mile Honse; Wo Sang, Ah Moon, Jai Yuen, Sing Ken, Fook Sang Lung, Mar Way. Wong Tung, Ah Wong, Ah Moy, all of Soda Creek.