怕死不來番：海南族群《過番歌》研究

Migrating Overseas Without Fear: A Study on The Hainanese Guofange (Song of Overseas Migration)

在海南人社會老早就已流傳「怕死不來番」這句口頭禪。番客們受「南洋香、南洋美」宣傳所吸引，以為南洋遍地黃金，只需三年兩載即可衣錦榮歸，故此不惜結伴遠渡重洋。早期的海南人絕大多數是單身匹馬闖江湖，把妻兒留在故里。然而，在異邦顛沛流離的殘酷現實生活中，眾多番客的淘金夢，從失落到徹底粉碎；即令要養活自己也成問題。結果多少拋妻別子的南渡番客，甚至淪落到「有家歸不得」；害得留守故里的「深閨夢裏人」一年又一年的癡心等待，結果都變成了一個個的夢魘。透過《過番歌》的文本字里行間，海南族群上述慘痛的過番歷史記憶清楚的表達出來。本文從莫河主編的《海南民謠俚語》一書中摘錄了這束十分難得的《海南過番歌》文本，將之略加分類與加以論析，藉以還原當日之歷史面貌和精神。

“Migration overseas without fear” has long been a pet phrase circulating within the Hainanese community. Fascinated by the “gold rush” dream in the Malay archipelago, many Hainanese youngsters took risks and went abroad with hopes of greener pastures, leaving behind their families in the homeland. Unfortunately, many failed to realize their dreams and thus ended up in desperation - living in destitute, therefore allowing their abandoned wives to suffer in bitterness at home while awaiting their return. All these unforgettable historical memories are relived and preserved in the “Guofange” (Song of Migration Overseas). By examining these songs, this article hopes to explore the bitter memory of the Hainanese' migration to Nanyang, with focus on pre-war Malaysia, including Singapore.