February 23, 1907.]
t
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business affairs, and we fear if the concensus of opinion in the East were taken his word would not be called a synonym for trcst- worthyness. Here of course it
may also be allowed that neither the Californian noi any other is quite in a position to cast stones. So too, all visitors to Japan of late appear to have had reason to complain of the general epidemic of "swollen-headedness under which the nation is suffering. They may, of course, have found only what ther looked for; but such is the frequent report since the war. It is not San Franciscans alone who find that the former attractive. ness of the Japanese manuer has underzone a marked depreciation. It is quite true that as a nation the Japanese have fairly won their position, and are entitled to all the amenities and consideration due to a great nation. Perhaps the revulsion of sentiment is a reaction from the flood of sympathy offered when they were mistakenly regarded as the
under "dog". It may even have been that mistake that made them show too much self-assertiveness. They reset any doubt that they are of the "top dog breed. We can understand and excuse even while pointing out how they may ruffle the foreigher. For polish, intelligence, and other symptoms of civilisation as we tegard it, the average inhabitant of the Pacifil slope can hardly afford to throw a stone at his Japanese neighbour. Yet we can see that the Japanese himself is not a little to blame for the feeling excited against himself. Fortunately the Japanese Gorerun.cnt has seen the advisability of maint tining an ad. mirable patience, in view of the PRESIDENT'S manifest present helplessness; and in no case do we think the Californian attitude | should lead to war. If humbug and rank prejudice prevails for the moment, there should be souie diplomatic way of sending the offenders " to Coventry". Meanwhile the incident starts the much wider question of the cause of this migratory movement of the Japanese as a nation. What is to be its end, and is it possible to check it, or turn it into useful channels? The question is a big one, and must be faced one of these days, but as yet its importance is not dawned for politicians, but only for ethnologists. We envy the student of, say, fifty or a hundred years hence; we fancy be will be provided with much fascinating material.
ANCIENT TRIBE IN KWANGSI.
(Daily Press, February 21st.) There is a possibility that the recent sensational account of the "seething pot of Kwangsi, brought to us by navigators, was inspired largely by an incident we have since
seen interestingly described in a northern contemporary. In which case the discontent in Kwangsi, although pregnant enough, can scarcely claim the importance given to it in our earlier account, Here, from the North China Herald, is the story just mentioned:
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
and was driven out of the invaded country with the loss of a large number of his followers. He will probably consider well before he makes the second attempt to coerce these hardy
119
unto it." For ages China was the prey of reformers, and since they succeeded in their well-meant but evil designs, for nges the people of China have suffered cruelly by the mountaineers into submission. Even the mi i. tary regular officials have refrained from monotony of their manufacture! Utopia. obstinate conrage of the men and the inaccessi. attempting to exact submission, because of the On such a day every Chinaman is bidden to wear such a bat; on such a day to pray, on ble nature of their country. What sanction such to give thanks. Uniformity, the the local reigning official gare Mr. Ng mustridiculous idol that civilization-mongers, remain hidden; after his failure, however, there was no secrecy shout the garera reprimand which enterpriza and failed, he will probably not be be received. Having staked all in a foolhardy heard of again."
From time to time in the last fifty years
Ut pins, and Swiety cliques grovel to and worship, has in China had a long innings. But what tedius cricket! No runs. Only stone-walling. Nature abhors uniformity as she alihors a vacuum-perhaps because there is something germane about them. Horsemen on horses—.
1
references to these sturdy aborigines of Kwangsi have appeared in the Daily Press, but constant shiftings and changes of the
Reactionary' is the wrong word to use coast population have conspired to preserve of that Elic. It is the foreign teacher a general ignorance of these Yugh hillmen who is the true reaction try. P. king has and their ways, and it is only now and then
never yet been reactionary, not even when, that an adventurous and observant traveller.in Stember 1901, it sanctioned the usually a missionary, arises to remind us of acquirment by its hidebound vissle of the facinating survival almost at our doors. foreign knowledge. The Yuh area app-ar: tɔ he a sort of local
For then it probably was insincere, as it has often been since. fiber, and the phrstry, for it is little more
Or stil more likely, mistaken. Toat and in point of size, to be as conservative and the Etiet abolishun the old literary exami exclusive as it is persistently virile.
One nations had far other objectives than to estimate counts on 400.000 Yueh, but in a give sc pe for the free growth of the couple of hundred miles of area, mostly undoubt d powers of the Chinese intellect. upended to the skies, the number may well
long stunted and distorted in their le less. They marry their namesakes, development by an antiquated and artificial these most un-Chinese people, and they system of education." Peking perhaps have no ruling tyrant, no dishonest officials, stooped to conquer seened reactionary in to vex them. When human frailty starts a
order ultimately tangle that the
good old rule and simple reactionaries from over seas. plan will not settle, a parliament of old
What does it all matter, we have asked, are miners and manufacturers, rather than men sits, liseusses, and adjudicates. They
in a moment of irritation. We way answer our own query. It does not matter. farmers, though they cultivate a kind of Nature is not inked, or only for a season. fer, and amboo shoots. They are also The great mass of the Chinese population 19 expert lumberers. If they have a currency
no longer ignorantly convinced that the from the Chinese of the plans. They are at all it is salt, which they purchase dearly Flowery Kingdom is the best of all possible worlds. The foreigu barbarian has some supposed to be cousins of the ethnologic things that even the highly civilized Chiun- remuant inhabiting the mountains of Hai- man appreciates. The thin end of the nan, and in some characteristics are not far wedge has enteredl. Peking's latest Edict removed from the Formosan aborigines.
on education does not matter; its intention There is an opening for some intrepil anthropologist, who should dwell a interesting, among them.
The resultant book would be
"
ADUMBRATIONS.
year
(Daily Press, 22nd February.) Horsemen on horses and the trampling of hooves. A cruelly cold day, and a killing draught. Symptoms of neuralgia, and the necessity of writing an essay on education in China. The brain-cbamois leaps from crag of thought to crag of thought, and the pen, hunter unskiled and slow, strives vainly to get within range. The recent Edict insisting that the ancient classics b the foundation of China's national
urriculum.
The third day of the races, a cold, blood-chilling, nerve-numbing day. A myriad motes of irrelevance gyrate in the mental
Horsemen on horses, and the trampling of Elicts. The cerebrumial gramophone grinds on. The traiu (of thought) leaves the metals. Ugh!
'Tis cold.
Let
۳۱۴۰
us take it that the Edict
Was
reactionary. Nowadays everything and everyone in China is reactionary. Would that they were all at the bottom of the sea. Horsemen on horses, and the trampling round the Pari Mutuel. What does it all unatter?
"There has recently been some local trouble between a militant Kwaugtung petty official and a section of the people of the Yush country, which, as most people know, forms part of the province of Kwangsi. It does not appear from the report what the quarrel was about, but a military Siutsal of the Tang-hsien gathered together a contingent of fighting followers and attempted to su press some of the Yuep, so as to coerce them into submission. He apparently had not counted the cost, but do-s appear to have underrated the enemy.
The Chinese are over civilized. Life, like This eager aspia risher of bacon, should consist of strips of rant for military fame was g Kwospin, and his locally rais-d army amounted to some thou-
tat and strips of lean. Spots of purple and sands of able-bodied men. He found the mount.
patches of gray, Contrasts. Reformers are ains among which the Yashlere very inhospitable
mischiecus persous. Ther ay of one and the mufortunate result of the ill judged thing, of one aspect:
Bholl! This i campaign was that he was thoroughly defeated good. This is pleasing. Let all be like
+
to drive out the true
do not matter. It has come too late.
Yet even as the horses and the cold and the annoying interruptions of Rice Week could not be kept out of this essay-this mixture of MONTAIGNE and BART KEN. NEDY-80 neither China's ancient classics nor Europe's modern science "
cau be barred from the great aggregate mind of Asia. There is room for both, and appetite for both, and when they have ben thoroughly mixed, look nut for the effer.
Bent annoyed by the fizz.
vescence.
HONGKONG SANITÁRY BOARD.
A meeting of the Sanitary Board was held n February 18th at the Bard Room. The Hon. Dr. J. M. Atkinson (president) presided, and there were als present Dr. F. Clark, Medical Officer of Health, Hoo. Mr. W. Chatham, Vice-President, Dr. I MacFarlane, ssistaut Medical Officer of Health, Mr. H. A. Woodcock (secretary).
umphreys, Mr. cheltou Hooper and Mr. U.
.
8.8
NEW MARKET FR KOWLOON POINT. The Registrar- GENER 1. minuted follows regarding the erection of a new market at Kowloon Point for the sale of Europзsa food I find that in October, 1900 the Govern meat promised to prepare a scheme for providing B market at Kowloon Point for the sale of of the Kowloon P-ninsula was then 395; it is Europao food. The non-Chinese population now 2.245. In 19 i the Europea population was 66 s; it is now 1,467 I should like these racts brought to the no icvar una Bard.
At tho request of ti8. Registrar-Gǝanral, who was absent, this mattr Was d-ferred till nex meting.
FUKIN184 CEMETERY FOR KOWLOON CITY.
Co respondeace was subui tad rala iv · to ha propos direction of a de a itary Leth · FazıNGKO in survey district No. 1, Kowloon City.
1.