September 21, 1903.]
NOTES FROM THE BOTANIC GARDENS.
One of the prettiest of Hongkong orchids may now be seen in flower growing around the tank just outside the No. 1 house. This is Arundina chinensis, a grass-like plant when not in flower but exceedingly striking at this time of the year. The plant grows to a height of two or three feet and is often found thriving on ricks near watercourses. The flowers, which are white with a manve lip, are produced at the ends of the shoots, and as there is a succession of these for two or three months, it is a good plant to have in a garden.
Hibiscus lambertianus thrives remarkably well in Hongkong, where it makes a bush of at least 10 or 12 ft. high and as many feet through. It is in flower almost the whole year round and as the flowers are red and several inches across they make a brilliant show in any garden even at the dulles. time of the year. The species is a native of South America.
Another useful shrub and one that is nearly always in flower is Rondeletia odorata, a native of Cuba and Mexico. It makes a bush about 6 ft. high and has crimson flowers which are abundantly produced in small clusters at the ends of the branches. A bush may be seen in flower in the shrubbery hear the bandstand.
The rainfall sincs the 9th of September has been 6.72 inches, making a total of 21.37 inches for the mouth to date which is more than double the average fall for this month. The fall for the year to date is 90.78 inches.
H.E. VICEROY SHUM.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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213
chance of comfort in their official life. the family drawing-room, hoping that the Further, we are sorry to learn by a recent kindly goides, will bless them and increas; the despatch from Hsünch .w, II.E ́s bead-quarters, skill of the worker. These articles are that H. E. has through overwork and worry-hs very dantily made, and conist of mo·lels of insists on personally dealing with all matters faraiture, lanterns, and other household utensils, within his jurisdiction and nothing is to in- Bes d the e, figures are made with sesamam siguificant for his attention-fallen ill and has seeds, which are cunningly joined together; the been confined to his room for several days. This figures are placed in shriues and placed on a news will doubtless cane gladness to many a table, so that the neighbours may be able to dishonest mandarin in the Two Kwang provia admire them. Foes. Finally, a telegram received from Paking states that the ball his already commenced to roll and that some one has denouncл H E. ia a secret momorial to the Throne. Fortunately the Emperor refused to allow the thing to go beyond the Grand Council and the document was therefore laid on the table.
NEW TERRITORY NOTES.
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]
SNIPE.
To sportsmen who contemplate the coming to the New Territory for snipe-shooting this week end, my advice is "Don't." They will only waste their time and patience looking for snips, which ara as scarce this year as they hay ben numerous in former years Tuore ha scaroal been a dry day for over a month. The paddy flats are full of water, and what few snipe thery are do not frequent the usul haunts ba resort to higher and drier patches.
AGLICULTURE.
Farmers this year are grumbling at the excess of rain, as they grambled last year at want of it. The peanut-crop, which will soon be ready for raising, is lize'y to suffer from the prolonged rain. Peanuts favour a dry sandy soil, and the excessive rain is likely to damage a crop that promised a good rẻturn.
The sugar cane crop is better this year thaa for the past three years. The rarity of cans gr wo, however, is of very poor quality, and cannot be compared with the sugar-cane im- ported from Singapore. The improved sugar- cane grown from the Government free samples given to certain farmers forms only a small percentage of the crop.
Large quantities of the indigɔ plant ara grown by the Hakkas, and just now is being largely sold in Samchum Market. This plant grows to a heig t of three to four fest, and has small dark-green leaves.
CANTON.
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 10th September.
A NEW ADMIRAL.
The Imperial Navy in Cantonese waters is now no longer under the command of Liu Wên Ching, the Admiral Ls Bu of Foochow fame, who saved his ship from the French in 1885. Lia is in the Viceroy's opinion too old for active service, and his familiar figure is no longer to be seen
on his torpedo-boat in the harbour. When he retired-about six weeks ago one Chên Ting Wei, who had, in conversation with: the Viceroy, made suggestions on naval matters which won the latter's approval, was appointed in his stead. One month of service, however, was sufficient to prove Chen's unfitness, and now Shum has made a characteristic appointment.
The N-C Daily News mentions a rumour recently circulating in madarin circles in Shanghai to the effect that a powerful coalition of conservatives of the most bigoted type in Peking is bein form d with the object of causing the downfall of H. F. Tsen Ch'un-hsün (Viceroy Shum). There is an attempt to identify H.E. with the Reform Party in order to secure his rain more easily with the Empress Dowager, well knowing her enmity agaist, and almost morbid fear of all Reformers. The conspiracy is said to be all the more serious owing to the fact of many of the Huuanese party in the Empire holding a grudge against H. E for his part in securing the disgrace of their fellow provincial, the notorious Ex-Governor Wang Chib-chan of Kwangsi. The more enlightened of the Hananese element fortan itely do not, however, hold such big ted views, and give willing credit to the ability and strong miud of H. E., who is generally conceded by a large portion of Chivese officialdom as the only man available to deal with the orisis in the South, and one who is also resp cled by foreigners who know any thing about His Excellency as a man, and the difficu:t task before him of bringing order out of chaos and securing the will-'o-the-wisp mal- contents who swarm in one part of Kwangsi at one moment and then are gone no one knows whicher, whenever a decently armel and res- pectable force of Government troops appears in their neighbourhood. On the other hand, of course, these malcontents are anything but ethereal or unsubstantial whenever they see that the braves" patrolling the countryside are anything like the name they bear and wito
The man on whom Le Ba's robe has perina- deserve the attention of these rebel bands only nently fallen is Kiu Tau Fan, a nativest Foochow when they come provided with good firearms Kiu studied naval methods in Europe and and a quantity of moderu ammunition, which
America and the knowledge be acquired secured would be particularly acceptable to their war.
for him the post of Director of the Naval like stores. Then these will 'o the wisps combine, School at Whampoa. Later on he entered the surround the braves in some kind of ambush Customs as a clerk, but he did not remain long in and, after decimating the lot, capture their that service, and has now found his proper arms and ammunition while allowing the remain-sphere. He is a relation of Cheng, who is now der to go teir ways to give whatever terrifying in supreme command of the troops in Kwangsi. news of the rebels they care to tell their superior Cheng has been lately promoted to the position officers, who are generally comfortably and safely of Expectant of the Metropolitan Court of the ensconced within the walls of some strong and Fourth Bank. This appointment carries with populous city. The enemies of H. E. Taên it the right to memorialise the throne directly knowing only the superficial aspect of matters
& privilege which is not without ad- in Kwan si, one and all think that they can do vantages. His opportunity of distinguishing all the Viceroy has done and more too. But himself had come with the illness of General as far as we can see, balousy and suspicion of Fang, whose eighty years would unfit him for H.E.'s future role in respect to them are at the the field in any country but China. bottom of the reported conspiracy against him, as they feel that by the way he has dealt with men like these enemies of his, under him, once is power should extend, they would have small
SEVEN MAIDENS' FESTIVAL. Last week the festival of the Seven Maidens was celebrated here. On that day Chinese girls place specimens of their hadicraft on view in
The leg and oan which this festival is based is that of the Bride, who on this night visits the Shepherd Boy in the Heavens. Her path lies across the Milky Way, and to enable her to oross this all the birds of the air as emble, and fill up the vacant spaces. This is one of the most interesting and picturesque of Chinese legends.
Canton, 12th September.
POSSIBLE TROUBLES IN THE CITY. Some time ago it was announced that the Tartar-General and the Acting Viceroy had memorialised the Throne about the unprotected state of Canton. The fright which the pro- jected rising at the New Year gave them had evidently made a deep impression, sad this has not lessen d with tue flight of time. The whole city has been in a startle state for the past day or two, for it is reported that the gates are to be closed earlier in the evenings until the return of the Viceroy-this step indicating that the fears of the officials have increased.
It seems that on this occasion there may indeed be som› grounds for the evident alarm of the officials. Ou Maday next is celebrated the festival of the birthday of the City God—thə genius loci. To this festival great crowds flock t gether from the countryside, and, as in ancient times at Jerusalem, a fost day is often the occasion of a tumult. The Sin Wong
Temple, where the god is worshipped, is situated in the very centre of the old oity, and is close to the yamens of the great officials, so that their fears are perhaps natur.l.
There are, however, two opinions on the ques tion. Some sy that the very fear manifested, and the closing of the gates at 5 (on Monday they are even to be olosed at 2 p m.) will only serve to exoite the bad characters, who did out until now realise that they had an opportunity to cause trouble. On the other hand, it is said that the precautions taken are sufficient to kep back a mob without leaders or cohesion. How much truth there is in the story of the Triad Society's movements it is impossible to say, but all these rumours may have been set on foot by the enemi s of Viceroy Shum.
At present there are about 1,000 soldiers in the city-men returned from Waishow, and some 500 armed police. The bannermen, who are a kind of reserve, number several thousands, but their arms have been sent to Kwangsi, and though it is true that their opponents in a local even they at their best resemble Falstaff's lovies,
rising wou'd be no better armed.
On the whole, I think only the most nervous will have any qualms on Monday, but there is no doubt that the return of the Viceroy is anxiously expected, and will relieve the minds and the bad news he has received will not tend of the people. He is at present in poor health,
to improve his condition. A defeat of the Cantonese troops by the rebels is officially announced, but no details are given It is further reported that the tombs of the Viceroy's ancestors at Sze Chêng Fu have been rifled by the rebels, and this news must be a severe blow to him.
[FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 13th September.
SOLDIERS AND REBELS.
It is stated from reliable official sources that H.E. Viceroy Shum will return to Canton by the end of this month. He will have to stay a long time in Kwangsi, and yet it is doubtful whether he will in the end be able to suppress the rebellion, for the rebels are no despicable foes. It is also stated that the Cantonese soldiers and the rebels are very friendly with each other. Whenever, for instance, the Can- tonese soldiers were in need of opium they used to tie a piece of rag to a bamboo, and wa ving it in the air, siguiled to the rebels what they