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April 8, 1899.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. mum should be the aim of all parties. There dividual members of the race ought tos U6 are two points, however, that cannot be lost able to lead healthy lives without: maks sight of in attempting a solution of the probing health the primary subject of their thoughts, whereas Europeans in the tropics of constant watchfulness. But while the can maintain their health only at the odet European can never, as we believe, thrivé so well in the tropics as in his own climatej some cases a worse reputation than they: no doubt tropical locatious have acquired in deserve, owing to unfavourable condition not in any way connected with climate and which are capable of removal or amelioration. | are not only unfortunate in having to live At Wuchow, for instance, the Europeans in unsuitable residences, bút also in respect of their water supply. In the opinion of water of the "Icy Well" is the best in! the natives, Dr. MACDONALD tells us, the“ Wuchow. This is the well from which the
AJCLIMATISATI (NOF EUROPEANS IN THE TROPICS.
at the earliest date possible," and that “The Chinese Government should "be required to collect its Customs duties
as all other countries do in their own ports."lem. In the first place, China cannot be, Beneath these suggestions there lurk as Mr. WHITEHEAD suggests, treated as two dangers, with both of which the colony other Powers are treated; she must, from has on previous occasions been threatened, the nature of the case and her own inherent If the principle be admitted that China is defects, be subjected to special and extra- to be treated as other Powers are treated ordinary treatment; and, in the second we must admit her right to maintain a place, there is not the least prospect of the Consul in Hongkong, which would be British Government helping colonial agita- intolerable. In the advertisements of vessels tors to obtain an enforcement of the " proceeding to America the following notice door "policy for the smuggling trade.
open is given: Consular invoices to accom- pany cargo destined to points beyond San "Francisco in the United States should be "sent to the Company's offices, addressed to the Collector of Customs, San "Francisco." Would such an announce- ment be tolerable in the case of China? Yet Mr. WHITEHEAD maintains that China, in the matter of the collection of her Customs duty, is to be treated like any other Powers, and therefore like the United States. If it were attempted to carry his proposal into effect, however, the hon. gentleman, we are sure, would be one of the first to object. China cannot be accorded the treatment as other Powers; the circuins- tances are peculiar and must be dealt with accordingly.
same
Other Powers require vessels arriving
at
wf
"
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"
"
แ
British Consul's and the Commissioner's supply is drawn; but “mineral matter, "sand, vegetable products, cotton fibres, woody fibre, animal products, portions of "dead insects, bacteria, bacillus ulna, oscillatoria autumnalis siphonatem, confervaces, diatomacem Etauroneis acuta, frustulia saxonion, "cilinta, rotifera, etc., show that the cons "dition of this famous well is in character: “like a diluted pond water." The well is not cement lined," and within a few yards cultivated with sewage, which has oppors passes a brook, the effluent of paddy-fields tunity of finding access to the well, and, furthermore, "the water which fills its deep-sented spring has percolated through' the soil of a hill which is used as a burying and Commissioner would do well to change' ground." We should think the Consul the source of their supply.
14
THE WATER SUPPLY QUESTION:
(Daily Press, 4th April.)
(Daily Press, 5th April.) The question of the acclimatisation of Europeans in the tropics is touched upon by Dr. J. J. MACDONALD in his report on the health of Wuchow for the fourteen months ended 30th September, 1898. Suit- able houses have not yet been built at Wuchow for the accommodation of the European residents, who are consequently" B. subtilis,
temporarily quartered in temples, boats, "wooden but, gospel halls, shops, and " "native houses in almost every part of the town and neighbourhood." These several classes of residences are reported upon in detail by Dr. MACDONALD and from abroad to enter
condemned, and he goes a port
on to say :- of foreign entry, and China in
the
'Opinion upon the question of the possi- early days of Hongkong endeavoured
bility of the acclimatisation of European to enforce the same rule with regard to junk
"in tropical countries, which has recently arrivals from this colony; the treaty ports
"received some attention in England has were to be considered the orts of foreign
been unfavourably influenced, owing, entry and junks from Hongkong were to be
partly, to the mistakes which have been allowed to enter only at those ports.
"made in the choice of localities and That, however, did not suit Hongkong, which
residences. For instance, decent people, claimed to be allowed to send junks to any
"reared in healthy homes, are so infatuated point on the coast, whether there was a
as to attempt to live in the tropics, in Custom-house there or not. This it was
Wuchow, in such slums as nothing, which led to the collection of Customs
possibly, could induce them to reside in duties at points immediately contiguous to
At home. Probably the friends of those the colony in Chinese waters. That system,
"who have returned to their native land able time to direct attention to a few points, The present scarcity of water may bea suit- while conducted by the Native Customs,
"shattered in health will mistakenly in connection with the Government's policy, gave rise to well founded complaints, which
"attribute to
the tropical climate evils in connection with the water service. In led to the transfer of the administration to
“which are largely the result of living in the first place the position in which the the Foreign Customs, since when there
"slums. Europeans can never be expected colony now finds itself should dispose once have been no complaints on the part of the
"to acclimatise either on malarial plains or for all of the suggestion that has on one or Chinese community engaged in legitimate
"in Oriental slums in the tropics. I two occasions been advanced for the closing, trade. Mr. WHITEHEAD, however, says
believe, however, that there are large of the Pokfulam reservoir. In the second that "All reasons for having the Imperial
tracts within the tropics, where Europeans place the position demonstrates the necessity "Customs in and about Hoogkong
'might readily acclimatise- e.g., the for prudent economy in meting out the sup- "waters should be abolished
mountainous at the
country in Kwangtung und ply. Seeing that the growth of the population "earliest date possible." The hon. gentle-
"Kwangsi, in the vicinity of the noble is likely to outstrip any possible increase in man surely cannot mean that we are to give
"West River. Whilst our people in the the storage of water, and that in seasons of up the right to trade with the Chinese coast
town
are, I am afraid, absorbing the prolonged drought the colony will always in general and that junks should be compel-
"seeds of fell diseases, which are destined be exposed to scarcity, would it not be led to resort only to specified ports of foreign
"to entail a long train of subsequent better to adopt the intermittent system entry! But it is the right claimed by Hong-
"troubles, but a couple of bowshots from as soon as the rainy season is over and.. kong that junks may proceed from this
"the city, just across the Cassia River, the when there is no longer any proba colony to any part of the coast of China
balmy breezes of the hill country invite bility of the reservoirs overflowing. that constitutes the reason for having the
them to live in a pure and healthy air, We are aware that there are weighty tech Imperial Chinese Customs about Hongkong" whole year round. Granted houses on the but seeing that it has perforce to be resorted "where children might have rosy cheeks the nical objections to the intermittent system, waters (not in Hongkong waters), and Mr. WHITEHEAD says the reasons for having
hilltops, and I am confident that Europeans to towards the close of the dry season, would the Customs there should be abolished.
might enjoy robust health at Wuchow." it not be better to adopt it earlier in Perhaps some means less offensive to the tion, about 400 feet. On such sites no doubt November, say, the supply were turned on The hills referred to are of moderate eleva-less aggravated form ?` If from the month of. sentiment of the Hongkong community than Europeans might with the exercise of reason- the present means may be devised to preventable care lead a healthy existence, aud pos- out of the twenty-four, the economy effected for the whole colony for twelve hours only the defrauding of the Chinese revenue. With sibly rear healthy children, but the fact that would be greater and the resulting incon regard to opiumsuch a means has already been great precautions have to be taken is in venience less than when at a later period suggested by the Chamber of Commerce. itself an argument against the possibility of it is turned on in the city only for periods Opium, however, is not the only article on the genuine acclimatisation of the European varying from four hours to one hour which China imposes Customs duties, though race iu tropical countries. Notwithstanding according to locality. But there is one. it is the article that lends itself most readily the opinion of such an eminent authority as favoured locality where the pinch of scarcity to smuggling. Wherever two countries have Dr. MANSON, to whose deliverance upon this is not to be allowed to make itself felt. W* a common froutier and dissimilar fiscal sys-subject attention was recently called in this allude to the Peak. Why this favouritiam tems there is always more or less friction, column, it seems to us that the acclimatisa- The argument that the Peak residents and it can hardly be anticipated that such friction will be altogether obviated in the
too intelligent to waste the water" will case of Hongkong and the Chinese province
with equal force to the residents of Seymour serve, for the same argument would apol of Kwangtung, but to reduce it, to a mini
Road, Robinson Road, and the Peak Bönd. * apply:
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tion of Europeans in the trop un- derstanding those sense, is out of the question. In countries terms in a general where a race is really acclimatised the in-
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