It is a story of a love-crazed girl risking her life to go searching for her lover. It is not a new tale! What is new is the setting. Eliza grew up in Chile and she went to California during the initial gold rush. In one novel, we read of an English family, life in Valparaiso, adventure in California, and much about the life of a Chinese physician in Canton, Hong Kong and San Francisco.
Much has been written about black slavery in America. This is the first time I read about human trafficking of young Chinese girls in China town, San Francisco during that era. I suppose that is happening still in many parts of the world even today. Human trafficking crosses nations and races and cultures. My husband and an Indian man witnessed a few brawny men surrounding a long distance bus, making sure a crying girl stayed on that bus that would take her up north to a border town that is notorious for the flesh trade. While one man was nudging the distressed girl up the bus, before the other men arrived, the two bystanders asked her if she knew this man. She nodded yes through her tears and told them to leave her. Even though that particular building (bus depot) has been decommissioned, I still think of that incident whenever I travel past it.
Eliza was fortunate that she survived many years on the gold trail dressed as a young man. The only other story that come to mind is Mu Lan. Both are highly capable and resourceful females, ahead of their times.
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