CHINESE GAMBLERS IN MAURITIUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1155, 17 January 1874, Page 10

CHINESE GAMBLERS IN MAURITIUS.

Sometimes after losing his ready cash, a Chinaman will stake his whole stock and trade— and lose. I remember an instance of this reckless gambling mania. A shop close to my house was owned by a very respectable Chinaman, a quiet fellow, who had his place well stocked with groceries, wines, <fee. , and owned one assistant, a boy of about twenty, as quiet and steady aa his master. For a few days his shop waß shut, much to the inconvenience of his neighbours ; and on inquiry, I found it was the annual festival, and both master and man had attended it. At length Mr Lung Fo re-opened, but, to every one's astonishment, he was busy sweeping out his shop, and weighing out charcoal and lard to the customers, while the youngster sat leisurely smoking and making up the day-books. It appeared they had been gambling from the time they left home. Lung Fo had lost to his servant all his money, his whole stock and house ; and then having nothing more, he wagered himself, and if he lost he was to be servant to the other — and he did lose. But there was no appearance of triumph on the boy's face ; master aud servant reversed their places with the most perfect sang froid. — " SubTropical Rambles," by Nicholas Pike.