Wuduo was a girl of twelve, skinny, with a shrill voice, who was usually left in charge when the grown-ups went ashore. She did the cooking and shopping and was often beaten and cried, but before long she would start singing again.

• 五多是船上的小毛头，年纪十二岁，人很瘦，声音尖锐，平时大人上了岸就守船，买东西煮饭，常常挨打，爱哭，过了一会儿又唱起小调来。