386
whether plague is prevalent or not, thereby, more water is wasted than what is consumed by the inhabitants. As people cannot live without fire and water, so these two elements are to them more important than grain. Being constantly deterred, so to speak, by water famine, because the supply is not even enough for culinary purposes, how can one be expected to spare the water for washing purposes, and to keep their bodies and houses in a cleanly condition? This is their fourth hardship.
Such are the hardships generally suffered by the people of plague infected house”.
Ever since the strict enforcement of sanitary laws hardships are inflicted on people eren not in time of plague. But if unfortunately any of the inmates of the same floor contracts the disease, the sufferings of the contacts would be indescribable. It follows, therefore, that the moment one contracts the disease, he willi
at once leave the Colony without even daring to consult a medical practitioner or to get medicine, for fear that by doing so the news of the existence of a case would be spread, and that not only his own family would then be ruined, but that the contacts of the same floor¦ would have to suffer hardships.
The consequence is that for want of medical aid, some died on the way on board the Canton steam-boat or private launches secretly hired for the purpose and some died on account of the patients being in too moribund a condition to be cured on their return to the country.
The primary object of the sanitary law is to, protect the lives of the people, but from the manner in which the law is enforced it only hastens their death. Those not aware of the above facts have even said that the Chinese like to breathe their last in their own native land. If that argument bolds good, one may as well say it is the usual custom of the Chinese to slight their dead by dump ing their bodies Ou the street. It has long been admitted by foreigners that the Chinese have great respect for their dead. What is the cause then that only the in habitants here dump the corpses of their relatives into the street as if they were their worn-out shoes? It is beo Luse they are bound by the sanitary laws to report cases of death to the authorities, and cannot have a free hand to bury their dead. While they cannot hold out any hope with certainty to get back the body of their dead after a post-mortem examination, they cannot help to avoid the misery of having 80 or 90 per cent of their household properties destroyed, and the inmates of, the same floor J involved in trouble.
They therefore suggest to themselves the advisability of damping away their dead in order that their properties might be saved and their house-mates remain in peace. The proverb says that, when two evils are taken for com- parison, one should always choose the evil of a lesser degree. Indeed the Chinese are very reluctantly compelled to conceal their sick and dump their dead. It is against their nature to do so.
Now, H. E. the Governor, being anxious to know the feelings of his subjects, bas appointed a commission to make enquiri sinto the matter, It is hoped that the feelings of the inhabitants as given above may receive attention, and that the law may be carried out with some considera. tion and sympathy. It is also hoped that in appointing members for the Sanitary Board in future, preference should be given to those who have a thorough knowledge of the habits and customs of the Chinese in order to avoid a recurrence of such abuses as described above. The Sanitary Board has ben in existence for years, but only two representatives of the Chinese are on the Board. In vain have they tried to explain the feelings of the Chinese community,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
[May 28, 1906.
be able to have their families here, those who had | puzzler, wot with pantrys, store rooms and wine been residing long in Hongkong would also think | cupboards. It don't seem to my in the papers of temporarily leaving, and even those who felt whether they're going to give these gents a slightly indisposed would at once leave to keep bridge apiece to play about on or whether clear of the sanitary laws. Thus the number they'll put 'em both on one bridge with a steel of men who would bave left, should exceed shield amidships to prevent their killing one 50,000. It is earnestly hoped that steps may be another. Each of 'em 'll have his flag too, taken which may conduce to the public peace and want it flied from the same spot? Unless and the prosperity of trade.
the admiralty allows em to carry their own flag about pinned on to 'em or sticking out of a breast pocket like a handkercher. I s'pose Feach of em 'll want a band, and both bandá 'll want to play at the same time-only different tunes; likewise you'll get them s-having two lot'll sing its hardest whilst t'other wants to church services of a Sunday morning, and one dos quiet little bit of preaching or reading. This and take place in cold blood, mind you! their blood up! Fancy bearing down on a But bow about when there
fellers gets enemy with what gans there's room for pointed
THE PLAGUE "JOSS."
AND CRACKERS.
The nightly firing of orackers which annoyed residents in the Central District during the latter end of last week bad, it appears, official auction
The pyrotechnics were connected with the plague epidemic, but it is not clear whether they represented an ovation to a protective " joss or a warning to the devil of diseas”.
The point that occurs to us is whether, in view of the efforts that have been and are being made to educate the poorer Chinese in the com monsense methods of fighting against infection it was wise to appear to give the official cachet to a superstitious and silly device.
Recently a member of the Sanitary Board argued that this cracker firing was better than whitewashing, as a disinfectant; but it is obrions that he meant when the fumes of powder were liberated indoors. The fireworks of the last two or three nights were discharged ontside, on the public thoroughfares.
THE "V.R.C."
The Hongkong recreation club that is suffi- ciently popular to be known by its initials holds its annual meeting on the 30th inst.
From the various reports printed in readiness, we learn that a fair interest was taken in rowing during the season; that they won five out of eight inter-club races; that they own 22 boats; that the swimming bath proved immensely popular; that the splendidly equipped gymnasium is not so well patronized as it should be, and the appoin'ment of a regular instructor is recommended; that out of $4,101.61 worth of obits signed at the bar, only 864.11 worth were "bad", and an apprent pro- fit of 8844.11 is shown; and that the balance from the general working account for 19 5 was $241.50, leaving the Club with a balance in reserve of $26,253.76. There are 293 members, of whom only 41 are marked “absen!".
TOO MANY ADMIRALS.
Written for the Daily Press.)
It is stated in the Press that the Dread. nough! will be fitted for the accommodation of two Admirals. The accommodation will be in the fore instead of after part of the 'ship as heretofore. This being an entirely new denarture bas caused much speculation. "Wonders will never cease, mate!" s«id the sailor; Two hadmirals aboard one ship! One were bad enough, but two! Why, good I ord! The ocean aint big enough for 'em! If there aint the devil to pay with two of these are fighting cocks at close quarters day in and day out it'll surprise me. They're going to cage 'em up forrard, I see, under the foo's'le instead of aft over the crew as before. That'll blow the smell of wine and wittles right through the ship so's all 'ands'll know what's going on in the hadmirals' stomach. Fancy you and me, mate, gettin a whiff o' steak and honions the port side. happle sauce and pork chops to starboard and mixed spirits coming amidships! You'll are the hadmiral on the port side a-shouting to the not often supported by those members who have Maride to know why he hadn't ordered that no knowledge of the Chinese customs. Besides, vulgar smell of happle sauce to stay its own side: decisions of the Board are often arrived at by of the ship, whilst the starboard hadmiral will the majority of voter With only two repres be used in the Fleet. This bere's only part of be drawing up orders forbidding fried o ions to sentatives at the Board, what can they do for the public? But if most of the members of the the domestic side of the question. What about Board are thoroughly acquainted with the Chi. the fighting side! This here bittleship 'll nese ways, they would always have a better
hare best part of its fighting knowledge of their feelings; otherwise the pre-space devoted to hadmirals accommodation sent law may be abolished to-day and similar and hadmirals' staff accommodation. Alf the
Marices * be used up laws may be re-established at same future date.
as guards for Should such state of affairs be allowed to cou-
one of 'em and the other half for t'other, Where they'll put the guns and so on is a
as recommendations of the Chinese members are
tinue Chinese earning a small income would not
hare to
and loaded.
L
Hard sport!" one hadmiral would order, so as to get his side into the scrimmage first.
"Hard astarboard ! " the other would bawl at once, and wot with one order contradicting Another that blessed ship would sig-sag into sotion and probably be spiflicated heads in one ship 'ud come about the same afore she'd done any damage at all. Two
use as a boy born with two. Very extraor'nary to look at and talk about but practically no use to anyone! These here freaks dies young too and this here putting of two hadmirals in one boat 'll prob'ly die out pretty quick. I'm glad you and me, mat», aint going to sea in this hera Dreadnought. It 'ud be all dread and naught else, I fancy!"
(Left smoking and growling.)
EXTRAORDINARY DUMPING CASE.
On the 21st May as stable was w lking along his beat at Temple European con.
Street, Yaumati, he observed the body of a woman falling from the second or third floor of a building. She landed on her feet and then fell backwards. The constable on approaching her discovered that she was a girl about sixteen years of age, and that she had been deat for some hours. He made inquiries about the girl from the occupants of the second and third floors, but nobody claimed the body. stable, therefore, came to the conclusion that the body had been dumped, in order that the Sanit- ary authorities might not have access to the flo^rs in question, and caused it to be removed to the Mortuary. There, it was found on examiná- tion that the cause of death was bubonio plague.
MACAO.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
ELECTRIC LIGHT.
The con.
May 21st.
The electric lighting so far is unsatisfactory.
DEATH OF A PROMINENT CITIZEN, Sorrow is occasioned by the death on Saturday morning of Mr. Albino Antonio Pacheco, which sad event took place at the residence of his mother-in-law, whither he had gone for a change. Mr. Pachson was ill for three months. As Consul for Italy and Siam. for many years, he had been decorated by the Portuguese Government with the orders of Christo and Conceiç10 for good services render. ed, and by the Chinese Government with the red button. He has very many friends in Hongkong. Shanghai, India and Europe. The funeral was very numerously attended. The coffin was covered with the Italian and
Siamese flags. Mr. Pacheco left a widow and a large family.
ANOTHER D'ATH.
other poular and well-known citizen, Mr. Yestorday (Sunday) at 3 p.m. the wife of au- Antonio J. Basto, passed quietly away at b-r residence, after a long illness. The deceased lady returned from a holiday st Shangbai some months ago.
#
AN OLD GRIEVANCE.
Mr. Dent, the proprietor of the Senta 8 incha gain having to complain of trespass sad, 'lamage by the Public Works Department.