252
MOHAMMEDAN WEDDING IN
HONGKONG. ✰
The residents of Hongkong living along the route from Queen's Road East to Hollywood Road near Old Bailey Street, had the opportunity to witness a pretty and to them somewhat novel spectacle on the 14th inst., viz., a Mohammedan wedding procession. A dul Karreem of the Naval Yard clerical staff, son of Sheik Abbas, a Government pensioner, and a well-known resident for many years in this Colony, was married to Miss Sherazee, the daughter of the Inte broker Mr. A. Sherzce. As most of our readers have probably never witnessed such a ceremony, the following details may be of
interest :-
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
HONGKONG.
The appointment is notified in the Gazette of Dr. W. W. Pearse as Assistant Medical Officer of Health.
H. M. Roxas, the Filipino musician who some time ago stabbed Miss Zarza in the abdomen, was called on the 17th inst. before Mr. Kemp, Acting Police Magistrate, to answer to the charge, but the case after a short pre- liminary hearing was remanded.
A collision took place on 17th inst, at about p.m. off the "Star" Ferry Wharf between the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank launch Way- foong and a steam pinnace from the US monitor Monterey. The Intter was sunk, but no lives were lost. It was raised again on Friday.
The bridegroom just before setting out on his way to the bride's-house is dressed in an appropriate costume by a near relative. He
Under the auspices of the Hongkong Mission first dons a white flowing robe, white trousers,
to Seamen a concert was given on Tuesday even. and a gold-cloth waistcoat (suderia). Then hing by Members of St. John's Cathedral Choir, in the Institute, Kowloon. Misses Chunyut and Leykum and Messrs. Cunningham, Auld. Hay and Coster submitted a very good programme.
is taken to the room where all his friends are
assembled, and has to put on a long dress coat (saya); next comes an enormous silk camber bund, and the dagger called chur, and then the outer cloak, and finally the gold-cloth turban with a fringe of flowers, called sera. All the clothing is of fine cloth or silk, heavily embroi- dered. In the meanwhile a similar but of course more intricate ceremony takes place at the bride's house.
The bridegroom, when dressed, makes his way to his parents' or guardians' room, pays his respects, and receives their blessing and a plentiful sprinkling of rosewater. That over, he mounts a charger (on 14th inst. represented by a Chinese pony), and surrounded by a caval. cade of friends similarly mounted, ou foot or, as om14th inst., in rickshas, and accompained by lantern-bearers, makes his way to the bride's
house. He enters the room and is seated next to the priest, on the ground, on a white cloth, with two candle-lights in large glass globes before them, and flowers all around.
Presently, the father of the bride, or his repre. sentative and two witnesses approach the priest, and on behalf of the bride-who is invisible all this time-make an affirmative statement as to her willingness to marry. This done, the priest grasps the bridegroom's left hand holds it thus while going through the marriage formula then, releasing his hand, he reads the marriage prayer. This concluded, the bride. groom, accompanied by all his male fricads, makes his way to the bride's room the door of which is locked. He knocks and requests her to let him in. She or her women refuse at first, and makes all sorts of extortionate demands, until at last the bride yields, the door is opened. and all enter. The husband greets his wife, and after a few exchanges of courtesy leaves her to go to his own house. As soon as he has left the bride p epares to follow in a chair. Arriving at her future home, she is escorted by the bridegroom to the assembly room and both take sea 8 in the "chairs of state," placed for the purpose, This ends the ceremony, and a very pretty and unique one it is.
On the 6th inst. at Singapore, Acting Police Inspector P. McNamara (who was arrested in Hongkong, it will be renumbered) was brought up on a charge of desertion from the force by having unlawfully absented himself from daty on the 26th of July last, with the intention of not returning to the same. The defendant was undefended and entered a plea of guilty. On being asked if he had anything to say, he said
that about the time he absented himself he was in great trouble of mind owing to having received bad news of his family at home, and this caused him to give way to drink. He had no intention to desert. He was the only sup. port of his mother and three sisters. Ho had served the Government in the Army and Police for fourteen years. During the whole time he had been in the force he had never been an hour absent from daty. He added that he was an acting inspector, and it was a very unlikely thing that a man in his senses would throw up such a post. Mr. Cuscaden. Acting Inspector General of Police, said he did not wish to press the case. He wished for a light penalty-merely as an example. The defendant was sentenced to a month's simple imprisonment.
The L. & C. Express of the 18th ult. says:- The important question of the Hongkong Dockyard was dealt with in a somewhat casual manner in a debate on the Naval Works Bill in the House of Commons. It was elicited that it is not to be transferred to the mairland, there being strong strategical objection to such a change, which those who are conversant with Hongkong will not fail to appreciate.
Forging ten-dollar bank-notes seems to have become a regular industry in Hongkong. A Chinese pledged some clothing at a pawnshop for $2, and then sent a compatriot with a forged ten-dollar bill of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, to redeem the pledged articles. The pawnbroker, a shrewd man of business, detected the forgery and hand the emissary of the forger over to the po.ies. Both are now in custody.
As the result of arguments in Chambers, on the application that His Lordship should not award costs to the Hon. F. H. May, the defendant in the recent Habeas Corpns case, on the ground that he (defendant) was responsible for the trouble by his refusal to give plaintiff's solicitors a copy of the order of detainer. His Honour 1. Sercombe Smith, Acting Paisue Jr. has refused the application. The judgement there- fore remains as delivered.
During the 48 hours ending at noon on the 16th inst.. there was reported a fresh European case of plague, ending in death. The victim was Master Stanley W. B. Ford, the eleven-year old son of Inspector Ford of No. 8 Police Station, who succumbed to the disease at 2 o clock on Saturday afternoon at the Govern- ment Civil Hospital. The funeral took place on the 15th. One fatal case of plague (Chinese) has since been reported.
We are requested to siate that the Officer Commanding 2nd Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers desires to thank the public for so generously supporting the Tattoo on the 4th inst. in aid of the widow of the late armourer- Sergeant Williams. The sum of $1,425.13 has been cleared after paying expenses amounting to $347.22. In addition to the above, farther sums have been contributed, making a total of $2.845.64 up to date from various sources, soldiers and civilians.
At the offices of the Public Works de. partment on 16th inst. Mr. G. J. W. King offered for sale by public auction two lots of Crown land-Hunghom Inland Lot No. 242 and Inland Lot No. 1,393. The former was disposed of for $252–$20 above upset, and was purchased by Paug Wing Kee, the owner of the adjoining lot, for extension purposes. The remaining lot was purchased by Kong On (who proposes erecting sawmills thereon) for 810.474 -also 820 above the upset price.
We regret to announce the death through enteric fever of P. C. Bird. No. 119, at 11 30 p m., on 15th inst. Deceased had been in the force for about nineteen months, and proved himself a conscientious and hard-working officer, while his unfailing good naturo gained for him numerous friends. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon. and was largely attended by police officers, under Acting Chief Inspector Kemp, and civilian friends of deceased. The many floral offerings showed the high esteem in which the deceased was held.
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[September 23, 1901.
The winter term of the German School Association commences on the 1st October.
It is notified in the Gazette that H. E. the Governor has been pleased to accept the resig nation of Lieut. G. L. Duncan, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.
A cricket match was played on the 14th inst, at Happy Valley between H. W. Naval Yard C. C. and the Army Ordnance C. C. The latter wou by 99 runs to 65.
A matshed near the Tram Station at the Peak was burned down on the 19th inst., but the damage was trifling. The flames were plainly visible from the city level.
The cricket ground was opened on the 21st inst. The first match of the season will take place on the 28th inst,, under the title of XI v. XXII, and the following week the Club will play all.
comers
The return of visitors to the City Hall Library and Museum last week shows that 313 non-Chiness and 88 Chinese visited the former, and 57 non-Chinese and 1,649 Chinese the latter institution.
Lient. A. Blake, A.D.C. to H.E. the Governor, having obtained a month's leare, Capt. W. L. Warren, R.G.A., Private Secretary to H.E., will for the time being undertake the duties of A,D.C. also,
By the Hamburg on the 18th inst. there returned to the Colony Commander W. C. H. Hastings, Postmaster-General, and Mrs. Has. tings. Commander Hastings resumed his
duties on the 19th inst.
It is reported that the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon, Mr. U. V. Ladds, has resigned his post. Mr. Ladds has suffered much from illness lately, but it is to be hoped that his decision is not final, for he has done excellent service in the Colony.
HI.E. the Governor has written to the Bishop of Victoria to inform him that he has trans- mitted the petition, praying for the establish- ment of a school for Europeans only, to the Secretary of State, and has recommended the proposals it contains.
The return of stamp revenue during the months of Angust, 1900 and 1901, shows a decrease for the latter month of 28,608,56. Under the heading of Probate, or Letters of Administration, alone the decrease is 36,874.00, while Conveyance or Assignment shows a drop of $3.429.00. The main increases are in Trans. fer of Shares, $1,398.90; Charter Party, $532.70; and Bill of Lading, $527.60.
In consequence of the lamented death of the
late President of the United States of America and the general mourning ordered, the Gymkhana fixed for the 21st inst. has been postponed until the 28th September. It is unfortunate that the fixture will clash with the opening match of the Hongkong Cricket Club, the Hon. Secretary states, but this is unavoidable, inasmuch as the Race-conise will not be available after that date.
Fifteen woodcutters crowded into a small boat to cross from the mainland at Capsuimoon to' the island of Lantao, with the result that the craft capsized and threw the occupants into the” water. Five of them, were drowned, but the others clung to the overturned boat and sno- ceeded in reaching the shore. The bodies of those who were drowned have not been recovered, and were probably carried out to sea by the strong current which always runs at the place.
A sorsteh race for four-cared boats will be run over the rogatta course at 5.15 on th November next. The following crews will compete -Boat and Station No. 1.-A. E.' Katsch, C. Sherrington, J. Plummer, G. R. Stevens, H. M. Tibbey (cox). Boat and Station No. 2-H. W. Kennett, J. V. Bennett, W. J. Whiley, H. Hursthouse, 8. Seth (cox). Boat and Station No. 3.-E. W. Carpentor, W. Heckford, H. L. Bingay, J. O. Hughes, F. White (cor).
In our report of the case in the I and Court on the 18th inst. we omitted the last two para- - graphs of Mr. Rennie's evidence. They were as follows:-Witness had spent some money ou the island which for grazing purposes he valued at $10,000, for any special purpose more. He had never had an offer for the island. «He could not fix and never had named a price for the island. By the Court - As far as he know 'the island is not required as a fort. He had never heard so, and he had not seen it in the local papers.