7
A
量
2
CANTON IN 1905.
•
and were
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[July 9, 1906.
19
a
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
completely spoiled the raw silk trade for | (if they will excuse that dis respectful and both sides. Many filatures shut down in doubtless unwarranted qualification) assert (Daily Press, 30th June.)
consequence. "The once flourishing tea trade that none of the modern sinologists is in a The fourth fascicle of I.M.C. trade returns, between Canton and London may now be position, by training in Eastern history and relating to the twelve southern ports, said to be practically extinct", dwindling mythology, to clear up the mysteries at from Santuao to Pakhoi, reached us yester. trom eleven million pounds avoirdupois present causing argument. Possibly we day. As might be expected, some of the in 1885 to five millions in 1895 and only might be justified in going further and notes dealing with our own immediate six hundred thousand in 1905. Boycott saying that none ever will be, notwith- neighbourhood, and events and circum-effects may be more apparent in the next standing that there are existing authorities stances fresh in our memories, claim less report; meanwhile the only result notice. who are cocksure enough to use the formula, interest than others. Thus the story of able is the increased export of native "The fact of the matter is, of course—,' the financial depression of last year, so cigarettes and cigars, mainly, we suppose, formula actually preceding the assertion noticeable amongst our Chinese business for consumption in Hongkong There was that LAOTSZE was invented to account for men, does not need to be re-told, and the no change worth noting in tonnage; but the Taoteh King! That is not impossible; statement that Canton has acutely felt its the interesting remark is made that two authors for books, and philosophers for effects goes without saying, Mr. F. J. British ships laden with American dil, one | philosophies, have been invented in the MAYERS, the Acting Commissioner at drawing over 23 feet, discharged at past; but it is going rather too far to declare
probably the Cantou, thinks it probable that the actual Whampoa,
as a matter of fact that a person never influence of the adverse conditions of 1905 largest" that have ever got so far up existed because absolute proofs of his will be more noticeable in 1906, unless a the river. The work of improving existence are not forthcoming. This, how. revival should take place, of which he was the channels through the barriers in the ever, certain poople have done in the case junable in March to see any indications. Cantou river, which were giving us so much of JESUS the Nazarene, as well as in the The revenue collected at Canton was about concern two years ago, was completed in case of LAOTSZE the Chinaman. Now forty-eight thousand taels ahead of the September, and apparently the Customs are whether Professor PARKER be a sinologue figures for 1904, the increase being set as satisfied with the improvement as the or a mere empiric, we find him an entertain- down to imports and opium duties. The shipping people. Finally, Mr. MAYERS | ing and often suggestive writer; and great net value of foreign imports was Tls. tells us that at Canton the ravages of plague as is our respect for Professor GILES, it 26,255,221, an increase of more than a have been steadily decreasing during the would not be lessened were he to show a quarter of a million. The full significance past four years. This would combat the little less intolerance for opinious other of this advance cannot be realised without Hongkong idea ob'aining to the contrary, if than his own. "I", he says, "the so-called remembering that the silver value of the it were not that the returns obtained since translation by Professor E. H. PARKER in imports was reduced by the high exchange Mr. MAYERS wrote appear to confirm the China and Religion, P. 271, we have (for rate. The increased imports were opium impression that Canton has this year shared the opening words of the Taoteh King,) (though Malwa decreased), piece goods with Hongkong a remarkable recrudescence The Providence which could be indicated by words would not be an all embracing (notably Plain Lastings, striped Flannel, of the disease.
Providence' Velvets, and Japanese Towels, also Lastings
We do not remember that and Spanish Stripes amongst woollens),
Professor PARKER anywhere presents that raw cotton (foreign) and foreign garments.
as a literal translation; and while Professor Considérable developments in machinery
GILES' translation ("The way that may be may be looked for in future years:
The traversed is not the Eternal Way. Mr. MAYERS thinks it unnecessary
name that can be uttered is not the Eternal to say why. Tls. 200,000 worth of machinery
Name"] may be more literal, we fail to passed through the native customs. Those
recognise its so-called simplicity. Professor who have followed the eccentric history
PARKER gave us something sensible as a of the Canton-Hankow railway scheme, as
rendering of what literally translated is recorded from time to time in our columos,
mere meaningless gibberish; and so far will not be surprised to learn that the
as the meaning of the original writer is railway, material imported represented but
concerned, we are as likely to find it in one small vilue. Although the Chinese Rail
us in the other. If it was not a Chinese way Board has operated the completed
version of the perennial human discovery (Samshui) section since their appointment
that the finite cannot comprehend, the The word in October, no attempt has been made to
infinite, it has little value. resume construction work. Only one mem- ber of the former American staff remains, the TRAFFIC SUPERINTENDENT, and under his practical direction the Samshui line has proved very popular and remunerative. The passenger traffic showed a daily average in and out of Samshui of 970, the greatest number carried in one day being 14,750. The total number of passengers for the year was 2,657,489. Writing in March last, Mr. MAYERS considered the future of the main line uncertain, and the resumption of con- struction work likely to be retarded for sque' time; and nothing has happened since that really alters the position as he saw it.
Staff and materials are still to get.
The show of purpose made this month has been about as farcical as the
Chinese appointment of the
engineer referred to by our Canton correspondent in this issue.
1.
SINOLOGISTIC JEALOUSIES.
(Daily Press, 2nd July.) The title of Professor GILES latest publication, Adversaria Sinica, suggests a piso that the contents will justify, if justification be really needed for such verbal fortuities. It is that sinologues behave one towards another as if they were natural adversaries. In controversy, MILL once pointed out that anyone refuling the opinions of another' laid himself open to the charge of assuming superiority over that other, and that this was unavoidable. Less compulsory, however, is the method of the typical sinologue, who, not content with superiority, real or assumed s ems impelled always to belittle the attainments of his opponent, and to refer to them in Topose as An terms of contempt. authority" on things Chinese seems to be the sum of wickedness, in the eyes of the authority who shows how unwarranted is the pose. The net result, in the lay mia, must inevitably be akin to that contempt with which we behold sectarian strife, especially as many of the points about which sinologues argue most bitterly are similarly petty. The latest is a kind of SHAKESPEARE-BACON Controversy as to who wrote the Taoteh King, and whether such philosopher as LAOTSZE ever really existed. In the search for evidence, among very thin materials, we can understand how great an enthusiasm might be forthcoming, and with what joy any new or apparently new item of information would be met; but except for There was a decrease of cver two million one very unflattering explanation, we are taela in exports, "principally on goods puzzled as to the cause of the biterness intended for European and American with which the searchers rind each other's markets-for the fact must not be overlook- discoveries to pieces. Dr. LEGGE and Dr. ed that shipments to Hongkong are classed! SMITH, as pioneers no longer claiming front as foreign trade, though many of the goods seats in the arena, have their mistakes do not actually find their way to foreign pointed out more temperately; but men countries". The most interesting feature who actually presume to say what they of this section seems to be the recovery
after two bad years. of brown sugar, big decrease in palm leaf faus is due to the deterioration in quality, which has apparent. ly disgusted customers abroad. High ex- change and dearness of cocoons seems to have
|
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"
way
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in the Chinese, as in the Greek, often means system or principle; and the biblical phrase, I am the way", meaning my way, or the way I teach, is the only pro- per way, is quite characteristically Chinese. This, however, in fear and trembling, and uttered with necessary appeals to the clemency of all sinologues and other experts.
LE
39
Although Professor PARKER himself explained that, in comparison with the oldest Chinese writing3, "the translators havé at best but and opinionists" can
opinionist secondary value, it is as an that we best like to hear him. Whether it be to agree or to disagree with, he rarely presents an opinion that is not suggestive, From a note to his "so-called translation of the Taoteh King, it is clear that he attempted to translate ideas as well as words an attempt that is most praiseworthy in such a case, from the point of view of the lay reader, especially in the case of anguage the units of which are themselves ideas, rather than arbitrary signs.
Mr. FREDERIC HENRY Balfour published a translation much more literal thau Professor PARKER's, but even with bis copious explanations interlined, how much think and publish books about it have no less intelligible was it than the one at which A mercy on each other. The contempt that Professor GILES has sneered The Tao, Professor GILES has for Professor PARKEE'S or Principle of Nature, may be discussed; writings is only equalled by the dislike that its name may be named; but it is not Professor PARKER entertains for the theories an ordinary Danie and so on through of Professor GILES; and smaller authorities a mass of practically meaningless jargon,
"