agree each pays 1000 cash to the organizing member. The balance of the club draw lots as to which member shall be number two, three, four, five, etc., designating the order in which payments shall be made. The man borrowing the money is then under obligation to see that these payments are met in full at the times agreed upon. Not infrequently a small rate of interest is charged.
Fig. 81.—Residence houseboat used by family for carrying passengers on rivers and canals, China.
Rates of interest are very high in China, especially on
small sums where securities are not the best. Mr. Evans
informs me that two per cent per month is low and thirty
per cent per annum is very commonly collected. Such
obligations are often never met but they do not outlaw
and may descend from father to son.
The boat cost $292.40 in U. S. currency; the yearly earning was $107.50 to $120.40. The funeral cost $43 and