78
1650, Kong-hi (1662-1722), at once the greatest and most enlightened of Manchu rulors, dealt promptly and effectively with this menace to Manchu sway. An Imperial edict called upon | all loyalists to withdraw from Hongkong and cut off all supplies, whereupon the Panti and Hakka settlers left the island, until the rebels had been starved out, or dislodged. The settlers then returned, and tradition and history are silent as to the island till the opening of this century, when it is again referred to as noted for piracy. 600 piratical junks under Ching Yik and Chang Poo were, from 1806 to 1810, the scourge of Kwangtung. So powerful were they that the Governor of Canton went to Macao to reside, and songht Portuguese aid for their suppression. A ten days' attack on the pirates by the allied Portuguese- Chinese forces was fruitless. Later Ching Yit and Chang Pao quarrelled and fought, with the result that the beaten leader made his peace with the Imperial Government; his victorious rival was afterwards bought over by the Vicerry of Kwangtung, whose service he entered. This successful freebooter held the Victoria Peak as his fortified head quarters, and the story of those troubled times and the daring of Chang Pao and his lieutenants, is still popular locally. Two Englishmen-Messrs. Turner and Glass poole, who at different times fell into Chang Pao's hands, and were obliged to accompany him on marauding expeditions, have left records of the organisation and tactics of his band of free
holders.
Strictly keeping to Hongkong, we yet must include the first recorded hints of the need for such a place. Lord Napier in 1834 urged the "possession of the island of Hong- kong in the eastern entrance of the Canton River." Sir George Best Robinson, who was Chief Superintendent at Lintin from the 22nd January, 1835, to the 14th December, 1836, was constantly on the lookout for a place where British trade might be free from the extortionate greed of the mandarins, and himself free from their vulgar contumely, in a position to assert his dignity as his king's representative. He first recommended to his Government that all British subjects should live on board merchant ships, in some of the beauti- ful harbours in the neighbourhood of Lantao ar Hongkong. Later, convinced by the nt- terly idiotic attitude of, the Chinese authori- ties that no proper understanding could be established without first resorting to hostilities, he suggests the destruction of one or two forts and the occupation of one or two of the islands in the neighbourhood. Who shall say that he was not a prophet; no prophet could have anticipated more truly the origin of this colony. In the Canton Register, 1836, a correspondent says "If the lion's paw is to be put down on any part of the South side of China, let it be Hongkong." And again
Hongkong, deep water, and a free port for
ever.
71
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[February 2, 1898.
mainland officials to assume that Hongkong When that momement failed, humanity failed was aught but part and parcel of the Chinese in the breasts of those who, prior to 1855, had -- Empire. You find, however, that no honest. so dreaded the Taiping hordes. A count Chinese resident believe, them. Nowhere taken at the city gate of Canton revealed the could there be more opportunity for tales fact that, in one year-1855-80,000 passed to of terror than in this nest of piracy and the field of blood near the river, and were there their number is legion, but they are not beheaded-700 to 800 in a single day. Thousands historical and too numerous and harrowing to fled-for the line between innocence and guilt relate. There is in the Chinese records an was not too nicely drawn-and local tradition account of an unsuccessful attack by the is rich in tales of hairbreadth escapes, and of English on Tsim-tsa-shui fort, in November, how, even here, they dwelt in fear, for our 1839. The account says we feared a night naval forces and the. Portuguese hunted down - attack and found the wells poisoned, so retired these so called pirates. So dwelling they were to our ships. The facts are, that when news of exceptionally peaceable citizens, and when the battle of Chuenpi reached the Tsim-tea finally assured that here was the haven where shui camp, the batteries opened fire on the they would be, gratitude kept them in the same", merchant ships and continued the cannonade good path-for there is a high sense of grati during several days. Then the merchant ships, tude for lasting benefits in a Chinaman. acting on Captain Elliot's demands, moved to Tungku and the harbour was deserted. Result a great Chinese victory, duly recorded in their annals. In January, 1840, Lin built a third fort at Tsim-tsa-shui. Of these forts and the great camp near them, Chinese traditions speak ill, and the lawlessness of the Tsim-tsa-shui Chinese was one of the
How natural the change is we may gather arguments for the session of Kowloon, In
from a very brief study of town life or village August, 1862, Kowloon was the scene of sanguinary contests, between the Panti settlers life. The tradition of the 1841 proclamation, of the inlying villages, and the Hakkas of Tsim-revived by an Ordinance of 1858, is still dear to tas-shui. The military camp of troops for use in the north had, in 1860, and 1861, held ground, which, on their departure, became debateable,
and the fight lasted several days.
Thus this Alsatia has its bright side, and it is no exaggeration to assert that many of our best Chinese citizens come to the colony as a haven rest and security, and above all, a place where they find justice-s thing very dear to them, yet practically obsolete in their own country.
the Chinese mind, viz., that "the Chinese in Hongkong should be governed by elders of subject to control, and is not now officially villages.' "This rule of tipaos was declared existent. It is, notwithstanding, in effective of that security, justice, and peace found in and bighly benefical action yet, mainly because
Hongkong.
:
Chinese ends, Piracy was rank up to 1860- Here, practically, the history of Hongkong 1865, bat gradually forsook the formation of fleets and neglected the poor prizes of junk raiding for the richer gains of were attacked and foreign vessels, which
These ships
+
plundered with great success. there is strong presumption that the attacks were doubtless informed on by local spies, and were organised locally. Their story belongs to residents. I have merely, sought to show you a modern period well within the memory of old that somewhat of interest to the Chinese as
harbour..
Major-General Black returned thanks to Mr. he said, was exceedingly well read and would Machell for his most instructive paper, which,
tend to make walks in and near the colany more
In Hongkong the traditions that fail only in point of record to be history are of intere only so far as they effect us. They are such as might be expected in the Alsatia of South Chins Chui Apou for some years previous to 184 commanded a pirate fleet of 23 junks, carry ing from 12 to 18 guns each, and manned by 1,800 men. In September-October, 1849, this fleet was entirely destroyed in a series of hard fought engagements. In February of that year Chui Apon murdered Captain Da Costa, R.E., and Lieut. Dreyer, of the Ceylon Rifles, on the beach at Wong-ma-kok, near Stanley This ferocious rover fell into our hands in. in 1851, was convicted of manslaughter, and committed suicide in jail. Another great leader, Shap Ng-tsai, had 64 junks, with 124
Chinese has occurred between these two long, guns and 3,180 men. He was attacked and 58 of his fleet destroyed, in the same month thatharp, blue crests that lie on either side our saw the annihilation of Chui Apoa's first force. For in March 1850 this last named leader had raised his second fleet of 13 junks, which fleet was destroyed in Mirs Bay. In 1851 a hard battle between eight Chinese gunboats and some piratical junks took place in Aberdeen waters. This great piratical conferderacy made Hongkong its headquarters, had lawless Eu- ropeans in its ranks, and native marine store dealers for its agents. Its memory is dear to the rough and restless spirits of the seafar- ing village communities, and assured freedom from piracy is not yet. Rumours that an immense piratical fleet will attack and plunder certain villages are not uncommon. Perhaps the best remembered of historical associations is that commencing with 1854 during the Taiping Rebellion. Fatshan had fallen in July, Canton was panic struck, Kowloon City was, in September, taken and retaken repeatedly by the rebels and Imperialists, and crowds of refugees flocked to Hongkong. Even in Victoria armed bands of Taipings at times paraded the streets, till-in December, 1854, some hundreds of them were arrested when embarking to attack Kowloop City.
The public mind at home was hardly prepared however to accept the idea of a British colony in China, when the force of events made the cession of Hongkong an accomplished fact in 1841. In 1839 when Elliot was check- mating the wily and infamous Lin, all British ships in Chinese waters were ordered to assemble at Hongkong. That struggle ended in a victory for Lin, but it led to the founding of this colony and deprived Canton for ever of its then im mense commercial importance. Lin's idea was to destroy the opium trade and then resume the regular trade. This he had pledged himself to his Emperor he would do. Hence his anxiety to force British trade back to Whampoa and Canton. He intrigued with the Governor of In January, 1855, there was every likelihood Macao to drive out the British, and sought to of a naval battle in the harbour here. Nine make Hongkong untenable by erecting batteries. Imperial war junks, with 2,000 Imperialist on Tsim-tea-shui (the Water Police Station soldiers, came in. A large fleet of Taiping hill). Here in July, 1839, a Chinaman named war junks was lying in harbour. Both forces Li Wa-hi was killed in a drunken fray with were ordered off and went peacefully away. Lo foreign sailors. Lin's demands for redress were September, 1856, the Taipings returned and preposterous, and his mad acts and orders ren-sought leave to charter transport for troops to dered a return to Canton and Whampoa by British traders impossible.
The real origin of the colony took effect, when on Tuesday, 27th August, 1839, the British from Macao woke in this anchorage batteries on Tsim-tsa-shui. Thence onward to find its best portions commanded by shore all local Chinese history is in relation to the foreign community. Never for a moment have the Chinese as a mass been allowed by the
Poklo, their base of operations against Kwang tung. It was declined. Despite these troublous times the Chinese look upon the years 1854 to 1860 as the period when a better class of people began to settle in Hongkong, and security of citizens became assured. I spoke of our popnla life and property to peaceful and industrious tion as greatly increased in 1850-60 and men. tioned the panic inspired in Canton by the Taiping movement.
interesting. Thanks to His Excellency the Governor they possessed the means of walking about. Good roads were being driven in the island where none were existing before, and probably His Excellency would be remembered more for that than for anything else he had- done. The man who makes roads advances the powder cart of civilization, which cannot move without roads.. A walk in Scotland was most interesting. Every crag, eyery hill, every valley has its name, and that was very much the same here. There was Shankiwan. Shau- kiwan meant the bay of the little basket-evid ently due to the lobster creels the fish were caught in. (Laughter). Then there was To- kawan. Where, appealed the General to Mr. Machell, is Tokawan ?
}
Mr. MACHELL replied that Tokawan was on the Kowloon shore between two arms of land jutting out and having between them an island. To-ka-wan Major-General BLACK-Just so. probably means "Arms thrown out to embracs: an island." (Laughter).
The vote of thanks was enthusiastically carried.
THE U. S. DISCRIMINATING DUTY -AND THE CANADIAN PACIFIC · LINE.
The General Agent of the Canadian Pacifio Railway Co.'s steamship line has received a tele- gram from the freight traffic manager at Mon- treal stating that it has been finally decided that
has been going about to the effect that the the "discriminating duty" cannot be enforced. This is in connection with the rumour that United States were imposing a duty ou goods taken into the United States by way of Canada.
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