‘You can attend to ancestor reverence in many ways. Simple thoughts about them are sufficient. But on special occasions we remember them in special ways.’ Our family has no graves to sweep or clean but we still burnt incense and presented offerings in Father’s office at a small table. I hope they appreciated the sweets and the cakes and the oranges. It was really smelly but not as bad as at the cemetery.
Father, Mr Lee and I travelled on the train to Rookwood today with hundreds of other Chinese people. I think only Chinese people were here today. It was a loud and noisy and smelly train trip. It was just like Chinese New Year all over again with all the foodstuffs that people were carrying. Father said that even though our ancestors were not buried here we could still pay respects for the families of his friends. I know that in China Elder Brother and Sister will today be preparing and sweeping fallen leaves from the graves. Next year I will too, I expect—this is good housekeeping Father would say … I do not think there is any way of avoiding going to China.
We visited the graves. We adorned them with paper money flowers, food and fruit, especially oranges—‘food for ancestors’ said Mr Lee. ‘None of us would be here without them,’ Father added. We made a special visit to Mr Quong Tart’s resting place. He had many, many, many visitors today.
Every day people know which stores have Chinese operators—smelling the air gives it away. But on days like today it can be overpowering for many noses. Many Europeans do not like the smell of incense and are annoyed that the Chinese do this, and they show it. Mr Lee had rotten, stinking rubbish tipped outside his door and thrown on the windows last night. He was scrubbing away the last of it when Father and I arrived. This is another part of Chinese culture they do not understand. They also do not understand how Chinese can enjoy the celebration of the ancestors.
They think Chinese behaviour is wrong. People like Elizabeth’s family. ‘That is why it is important that you help Elizabeth,’ Father added when I told him that I am glad that she wasn’t around.
Wednesday, 6 April
It happened again—Elizabeth. I had to inform her that not all Chinaman are illiterate. She thinks that just because some Chinese people cannot speak English that they are illiterate.
‘That’s not illiterate just because they can’t speak English. Illiterate is when they can’t read or write and nearly all Chinese people here can read and write and some of them in English too. Can you write any Chinese?’
I blurted all this out at Elizabeth while she was washing dishes. She continues to bait me and I continue to bite. Not too good seeing as though we have just had the Easter celebrations. I didn’t listen to the sermon very well.
Friday, 8 April
Today, Father met other merchants to discuss the official’s reply to his application. They all agreed the forms were correct and complete in more detail than most. No-one has any sensible suggestions, Father told me this afternoon while I was cleaning the shelves.
Father will attend the government office to find out what more is needed.
Saturday, 9 April
Sometimes I do not record here what I read in the paper because it is of no consequence. Again there was very little; an English newspaper complained about the gambling Chinese (we already know that) and there are floods in America. And I laughed out loud when I read that a crocodile in Perth had a policeman for dinner. That would have been tasty.
But one article was very true. It said that it is very hard to learn the Chinese language unless you are immersed in it all the time. I agree.
I am improving at deciphering the Chinese characters but I am still so slow. If I was given the task to read the paper and then answer five questions all in half an hour otherwise I would be sent by boat all the way to China, I would fail and I would be on the first boat to China.
I will be on a boat to China sometime soon.
Sunday, 10 April
What a glorious day. Today is my birthday and I have had such a splendid day. I received so many presents, from the wonderful gift that my Father and Mother gave me to the very many red packets (with lishee) that Father’s friends have given me when they called in.
On many occasions I have been admiring Father’s wonderful jacket that he received from China. I did not expect that I too would receive such a glorious gift wrapped in golden thread. This I will also treasure and proudly wear. My whole family, including Elder Brother and Sister in China have given me this gift. Such a handsome gift for a boy to receive. I do like this present. It is very good being a Chinese boy and receiving red packets as presents. And Mr Lee, he gave me a very fat red packet. Of course I will entrust the money to Father to bank for me but just for a few days I would like to hold onto the money. I will keep the empty red packets too.
And oh what a feast my Mother and my Father did cook. Yes, Father did cook too. Mother created her special roasted meat dinner and Father, he truly surprised me. I do not know when he had the time but he did sneak away and created his most luscious chashu dumplings. I am in heaven feasting on those.
And Elizabeth, she had a present for me too. She came with our family to church and then she came home for lunch. ‘Mother told me this is for you,’ she said after we arrived at our store. ‘You might need this later,’ she said. When I unwrapped the present I did not know what to say. It was a book, with blank pages. After a few moments of silence I stammered a really weak thanks. This will make a wonderful writing book, but coming from my cousin?
But that was not my only surprise. King Woo and his family are here. King Woo I have not seen since last year so we spent the afternoon talking about his school and where he lives. He has lots of friends from school. They don’t do much homework. He helps his father a little in the store. It is doing very well. Customers travel from all around the countryside. He has grass in the back of his store and he plays cricket there all the time.
‘Do you still play cricket?’ he asked. I told him what happened at school early this year. ‘Everyone in our town come to play. You come and play in my team. I am captain.’ It was so good to see him again. Someone else has been teaching him English! To have my father’s brother and his family here truly is a special occasion.
‘I am going to China soon,’ I told him.
‘Like Elder Brother?’ he asked. I nodded. ‘Maybe I come too.’ But his father had not even mentioned it so I doubt that will happen.
And my wonderful present from King Woo was a chess set that has come all the way from China. It has real Chinese pieces—I know those characters well. ‘For you to learn. Your own,’ he told me as I unwrapped the box. And out to the lane the two of us went. He defeated me in rapid time and apologised. ‘Next time, there will be much improve from my cousin,’ said King Woo. ‘Maybe even challenge my general.’
Last birthday there were more children nearby so I had a party in the lane. This year they have gone so I did not have a children’s party. I had a party for grown up people, with my cousin. I hoped that they would stay longer but they left last this afternoon. They carried lots of goods from our store as well.
But this will be my last birthday here for a while, as soon I leave for China. Will my family over there know it is my birthday and what will be my birthday surprise? Presents like these, impossible. No-one knows me there. But I will not dwell on these thoughts for I have had the most splendid birthday. My jacket, my chess set and my book are all at the base of my bed. Tonight I will sleep very, very satisfied.
Monday, 11 April
Ah Goh came seeking Father’s advice. He comes from the same region as Father. Father has been assisting Ah Goh with many matters since he arrived. He calls Father ‘Uncle’, even though he isn’t related. Today’s matter was of great importance. Ah Goh wishes to marry. That is not surprising because he has been very successful and I have often heard him tell Father that his father in China would have a bride ready for him when he was to marry. He would go to China, be introduced to a Chinese girl, and then they would marry. That is how they do i
t in China. I think being told who to marry is strange. What if the girl had big feet? What if she had unbalanced ears, or worse still, what if the girl had bad breath? That would be a punishment for certain. Father would say ‘one must have angered the gods … or the family!’
But Ah Goh is not going to China to meet the girl. She is here in Sydney.
‘Should I marry Mary Eliza?’ he asked, which I thought is a silly question because if he wanted to marry Mary Eliza he should.
‘Do you love her?’ Father asked. Which I thought was another really silly question because he would not be asking Father if he did not love her.
‘Yes of course I love her.’ It was the expected answer. When Ah Goh continued to say that she was to him as radiant as the morning sun and as warm as the winter fire, I knew that he had been reading too many of the English books.
‘Then of course you should marry her. Why are you asking me?’
And then we found out, Ah Goh’s wife was born here and she is like Mother—she is not Chinese. Ah Goh is afraid that his family in China will be disappointed with him and they may not even accept his assistance anymore. They may not even permit him to be part of the family. He said ‘I have heard such tales of families disowning sons and daughters for marrying across lands and I do not wish to offend my family. But I do dearly love Mary Eliza.’
‘You know that my family too had a bride arranged for me to marry.’ Ah Goh might have known but this was news to me. ‘I told them that if she was to marry me she would have to live with me here because this was where I would be living. That was acceptable to the family but I also told them that I had already chosen my bride here and that she was not Chinese.’ I could not imagine Father with someone else. He and Mother kiss too much. The men did not mind that I was listening to the conversation. Father told us that it was some time before his family accepted that he was not marrying a Chinese girl. Eventually he received the family blessings. ‘But, Ah Goh, before you do marry Mary Eliza have you asked her about marrying a Chinese man? She is not just marrying you; she is marrying a very different life. She is marrying our culture too, for of utmost importance is the fact that you must continue the Chinese traditions as well as embrace the culture of this land. That is what we have done.’
Ah Goh had bowed his head and was silent for a moment. He had not. So Father told him that before anything else he had to talk to her and ask her if she is prepared for this adventure. Surely Ah Goh knows that there are Chinese people who still do not think that it is appropriate for Chinese to ‘marry across the borders’. Mother and Father then both invited him to return with Mary Eliza for afternoon tea, if she would like, then they would tell them the ‘joys of their married life’.
‘Uncle, I would be most honoured if this were permissible.’
Father beamed. After dinner I told him that he forgot to ask Ah Goh one question.
‘What is that Edward?’
‘You forgot to ask him if they intend to have children?’
‘Of course they will have children Edward. It is important for the family to continue, for future generations of Ah Gohs and Mary Elizas. They will be just like you, the ones who will bridge the divide.’
Do they know how it will be for their children?
Tuesday, 12 April
I spent time this afternoon wondering if Ah Goh really knows what being a father to children of an English woman will do for the children. Does he realise that they will have problems with the other people around them?
Father sent a telegraph to his brother to let him know that further paperwork is required.
Wednesday, 13 April
Mother requested that I escort Elizabeth to deliver some goods to Mr Lee. Father insisted as there was too much for one person to carry.
We walked to Mr Lee’s store; we looked at a few of the windows. We talked. Nothing happened. We did not have an argument. This is very unusual. Something must be wrong.
Saturday, 16 April
We were sitting in the kitchen, Elizabeth and me. She had come to the store this morning because she had missed a few days at our house and did not want to disappoint Mother. They were very pleased. She told me that her mother had been ill again, that is why she could not come, but as her sisters were home today to attend to their house she could come here. She told me about talking to her pa. He has told her that people that come to live in this country should be thankful. Her pa says that any person, be they black, brown, yellow, or white should be down on their knees thanking this beautiful country for accepting them. They should leave the old ways behind—especially them Chinese—and they should embrace this culture completely. They should throw away their old clothes and their old ways and their strange gods and ‘them damn awful smells’ and they should be ‘good citizens of this country and live the way we do and speak the way we do’—specially if they become naturalised as one of us. ‘And if they can’t do that then they should get on the first boat and leave these shores. We don’t want them here.’ She paused and waited. I was speechless.
‘Pa also said that they should stick to their own kind. We don’t want them polluting our people. This Immigration Act is the best thing that the government can do.’
I did not bite. I did not respond. I left the room.
It took me a while to consider the phrase ‘polluting our people’. According to Elizabeth’s father, my father is polluting his kind. And even worse than that, I am pollution.
I do not like my uncle. Mother and Father will not like me writing that statement but I cannot help it. I do not know why my mother’s sister married him or why my cousin parrots his words. I am sure that she does not even know what she is repeating, Mother told me. I know hearing these words hurt Mother but I had to tell her. She gasped for breath and sighed. Tears began to well in her eyes but she said that it was the onion she was preparing causing the tears … even though they were already on the stove. In future I am not going to tell her any of these things. It hurts too much.
Father has encountered many people like this in his life—even worse on the goldfields but that does not make it any better. ‘This will continue for years to come,’ he says. ‘Change will happen and people will become more enlightened and more accepting of other cultures and other ways of life. But just remember what I tell you Chek Chee.’ And I knew the words already that he would use. It will be me, and other boys and girls like us who will cause the change. ‘You will show how right our decision to live here has become by the way you treat others and how you live.’
But that does not make it any easier for us right now.
Monday, 18 April
Some days, like today, Father says ‘it doesn’t rain but it pours’. He isn’t referring to today’s rain from the sky. He is referring to the number of customers who come to purchase goods and require his assistance.
It was so busy Father said because the Eastern will be leaving Sydney Harbour soon for China again. There are many Chinese people who are hoping to go back to visit their relatives before returning to continue life here. Like other traders Father has been writing lots of references but he has also been spending much time at the offices interpreting.
There are some Chinese men who are living here who have made no attempt at learning English. When I asked Father he said ‘Oh, but they do. Just try passing some of these men the wrong change and see what English they do know.’ Father says they do know English but his assistance is needed because he speaks like he was born here.
And excellent news for Father and Mother, but not me. Father met with a senior official in the office who he knows. That man does not know why Father’s application was refused. He will investigate the application himself and is sure that all will be acceptable. I am pleased for Father. He is now more relaxed but I wonder if this is true. It means that I might soon be China bound.
Tuesday, 19 April
‘You should get your hair cut,’ said Elizabeth as soon as she saw me. She is back to her usual self. ‘None of the boy
s that I see have those long tails that you wear. If you want to be just like any of the others then you have to have the same hair as they do.’ And then she added, ‘Only girls have long hair’.
I have been wearing my queue wrapped around my head some of the time when I am at school so that it doesn’t get attacked, but when I am home in my own place I don’t expect to be told what to do by my cousin, who is the domestic help after all. But I didn’t say that. But I did tell my cousin that if boys can’t wear long hair, then why did she get hers cut so short, unless she wanted to be like a boy!
Wednesday, 20 April
Another cultural lesson with my cousin today. At least I did not yell my frustrations at her. I was patient but it is running very thin.
I returned this afternoon and did not see Elizabeth. She was in the pantry. It surprised me when she called ‘So Eddie, what is your name?’ as I reached for a jar.
‘Aiee,’ (I sound like Father) ‘What do you mean what is my name? You know that it is Edward.’
‘Oh I already know that. But why does your pa call you Chek Chee?’
‘That’s my Chinese name.’
‘What, the royal name Edward is not good enough for you?’
‘Don’t be stupid. Edward I prefer but sometimes Father uses my Chinese name.’
I explained that I have a Chinese name because I am the son of a Chinese man and I am going to China. I was not going to tell Elizabeth why my sisters do not have a Chinese name and I did not tell her that Elder Sister had no Chinese name until she went to China last year.
‘Yeah, but why not use Edward, they know about the royalty over in China land don’t they?’
The Melting Pot Page 14