1930-02-08 — Page 11

ཝཱཡཝཱ

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1930.

SAMPAN PEOPLE

The Sea Gypsies of the Far East

MISERABLE FATE

CHILDREN'S FATE

THE

CHINA

MAIL.

better left!

the various castes in India are something that were kopt to themselves. The result to the imagination. It may be, was inevitable-more sampans and nevertheless, that pity is wasted more Sampaners, for with every upon them and that they are in marriage the husband is obliged no need of it. They never have to make a gift of a new sampan known, and like the low caste (costing about $120 In Chinese Hindus, they seem to be destined money or $60 in ours) to the never to know anything else than father of the bride who then their present existence-unloas, Most Interesting Group in the Civilised World turns it over to his daughter as indeed reform and revolution sud- her weitling dowry, though how denly overwhelm' them and create they ever raise the money is be a generally new order of things. yond me. Behold then the now Apparently, however, they are couple shortly setting up

In for not without their "classes." time a Hong Kong, In contrast to the In my opinion, writes W. R. Civens in a Home paper, the most themselves; behold in

time these children forsaking er at Kowloon across the harbour. amazing, and certainly the must interesting group of people in alimeros progeny and in further "food catchers" from our steam- a brand new sampan, in the civilised world are the Sampaners of the Far East-a people their parents in the good old I SRW

fashioned

Too Inte the which sat an exceedingly pretty with a country and yet, anomalous as it may seem, a people without Government wakened up and re-girl, with fine clothes, nicely mani a land, since they are born and live and die on their little boats, the moved the marriage restriction, cured hands. beautifully marcilled only homes they ever have or ever are destined to have until the but the permission is now little hair, meat shoes, and a most en- curtain of life is rung down upon them and they are carried to rest, vailed of; for the Sampaners are gaging emile, while, to top it all, a proud people-proud of their the boat fairly shone with clean- in their long, last sleep, to lie in the land that knew Gam not and ancestry, whatever, it may be,liness. Whether she was a bride, independence, I never learned, but that she was that they knew not in their lifetime. A strange people, an interest-proud

proud of their freedom-and will quite above the "common herd" ing people, a pathetic people, these, if I may so express it, Water have none of the "plain land was apparent. And yet I was told that she was a real.Sampan- Gypsies of the world who, like land gypsies, claim to have a language folk,"

er-born he, "living as one, and of their own but, unlike them, no ruler or king.

undoubtedly postined to die one. Women Expert-Boat Handlers. It is amazing how expert the

ILLITERATE AND IGNORANT

newspapers, no

way:

their of

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LOCAL EXAMINATIONS First Week June, 1930. The Last Day of Entry for Forthcoming Examination in THEORY AND PRACTICAL Will be 22nd February;

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SHADOWS BEFORE

IN CHINA MAIL

Social Functions To-day-Tea Dances at Hong Kong Hotel and Peninsula Hotel 4.80 p.m.

Kong Hotel and Peninsula Hotel, To-day-Dianer Dances at Hong

To-day Fancy dress ball in Great Hall of University, 8.30 p.m.

To-day Dinner Dance at Repulse Bay Hotel; 8.30 p.m.

To-morrow--Tea Dance at Ro- pulse Bay Hotel, 4.30 p.m.

Entertainments

A Wretched Existence Their lives nevertheless must at times be wretchedly miserable. On the day for instance, that we went into oll Chinatown in Shang women are in the handling of COMING EVENTS ANNOUNCED hal we drove down the Bund along these boats-amazing, too, how They are literate and ignor Sampaner Mother and Children the water's edge, where there export they are in the handling ant and superstitious to a degree, When they are not out fishing were sampana in super-abundance. of the larger boats called junks, as how could they be otherwise which is their principal means of It was a raw, cold day with some 50 or 60 feet long, with when they have no schools, no livelihood, the Sampaners sit biting, bitter wind, so that even their low bows and their high central meeting around and talk and talk and in our closed cars we were glad sterns. Time and again you will They seldom amile and of rags and wraps. Those in the set women propelling the sampan places, no co-operative societies- talk. nothing that might lift them out they are never in gala dress or jopen, therefore, must have suffer with a grace and dexterity no- nf themselves. To them the gaudy attire, but run to sombre cd keenly and wo could not but thing short of surprising, but 8.30 p.m. Nation means nothing: even a hues as though life were too seri- wonder how the Water People more surprising still is the case community means nothing. Each ous for any brightness. Those were faring. We were soon to with which the "females of the family sa unit, a nation or a at Canton, for the must part stay learn. Standing on the wharves specics" seem to handle, the much community within itself, and be there, day in and day out, year as we passed on in the boats, larger junka, Here a long flat yond that nothing else matters. in and year out, venturing out were scores upon scores of samoar le, requisitioned, to the handle They ATC concerned, not

or to carry freight. pan children, all so fearfully and end for only to fish

attached of which is others, but for themselves only- that they make enough to keep body and soul together, for in spite of all their wretchedness It is true with them. as it is true even of the most ignorant in other countries, that the idea of a soul, vague though it be, peraists. Were it not so they would un- doubtedly not be Ho steeped in superstition, as evidenced by the oyes which they build on either side of their sampans to guide the boat aright; by the jade rings and earrings the men and women, and by the steel wires around the necks of the children, designed to keep the evil spirits away.

wear

*

On the Yangtzekiang, "The wonderfully bundled up that they straight piece of wood aet parallel River Son of the Sea," on the looked more like round balls-live | with the deck and from which a To-day Queen's Theatre, other hand, they are more truly Punches and Judies-than human rope dangles, the whole being "The Bridge of San Luis Rey." Gypsy in their habits, genuine beings. Some were wearing two manipulated by one woman pull-To-day -- Star Theatre, Nomads, wandering up and down cuits of clothes, some three anding the rope and another using "The Terror." the river, up and down, hever at one, we were told, was wearing the handle, the boat going along To-day World Theatro, rest and with never an abiding four suits and would continue to at astonishing speed. This of it "Casanova," 5.15 and 9.20 p.m.; place. It is in Canton that they wear them for an indefinite time, eclf is an amazing performance "The Adopted Son's Victory" (Chi- are, so to speak, "fixed"-a part day and night, until the weather but when I add that oftentimes nese picture), 2.30 and 7.15 p.m.. of the population yet apart from moderated; while the grown-ups one or other of the women will To-day Majestic Theatre; the population-always on the were, likewise wearing all the gar- have a baby strapped on or loop. "The Rough Riders.” water, and eeldom on the landments they could rake and scrapofed to her back the work of these

Home Mail except when they must needs together. In such weather, with women under such circumstances

boats and with may be said to amount almost to Siberia (Llanchow), 6 p.m.

To-day-Outward for Europe via transact business. As a people no. Are in their

even more stolid than scanty bed clothing, and remem martyrdom. they are the altogether stolid "land" Chin-bering that it is always much

mont,

Work On Junks

Sporta

To-day Golf Interport: Manila v. Hong Kong, at Fanling.

Lammert Auction

Barker Road, household furoltare, February 14-At 460. The Peak,

ese or Japanese, but perhaps that colder on the water than on tho

In like manner, in the case of is only a veneer which would land, those in the cabinless am- junks with salls you will invari wear off were one able to get pans must aufer horribly while ably see the women at work get

To-day-Fanling Hunt and Race Speaking more particularly of beneath their skin. While many in the cabined, boats the air beting them under way, sometimes Club Point-to-Point, Mel Po, 3.80 the children it is pathetic-nay, of them are desperately poor, not low must be shockingly bad.

rowing, sometimes sculling, with p.m. It is more, it is tragic-to see

a few of them seem to be reason.

A Mystery

mayhap an extra one. poling. the To-morrow-Somerset Light In- them playing about in the all too ably prosperous and genuinely Just how some of them live is while the men steer and wait fantry Gymkhana, Steeplechase limited deck space of their small happy.

a mystery, though it is to be in calmly for the sail tabengist Course, Kwanti, 2.30 p.m. boats, some sitting on the floor

In Shameen

ferred that what between shinged. This, of course, applies only with toys; some running up and

To illustrate: in Canton and freighting and ferrying to the open waters and not to down the scanty deck and some

we took a sampan to make a trip people hither and you, they man- congested spots like the Canton not even able to do that being around Shameen Island, on which age it somehow or other. That River where "slow motion" is 10.30 a.m. tied by short ropes lest they is situated the Foreign Settle at times they are hard put to it necessarily the order of the day.

Meetings should fall overboard. These last,

The Island is only the was srikingly brought home at It may be added, too, to prevent I am glad to say; were the ex- width of the narrow river distant Hang Kong to those of us who misunderstanding, that the Junking. 6 p.m.

To-morrow-R.A.0.B. Club Meet- ception, despite that there runs a

from the city proper and protect were circling the globe. Here we era" are land people, although story and I repeat it only as a

ed with guards, gutes and bridges. saw a woman Sampaner, assisted their boats are much larger and eral meeting of Shareholders of

February 11-Forty-second Gen story and not as a fact that if No Chinese are permitted to go by two of her little children, more habitable than the sampans Hong Kong Land Investment &

on it without the consent of in fasten wicker baskets to the and better adapted for living pur Agency Co., dividual owners while Chinese chutes or openings on our boat, poses.

Ltd.. at Messrs. But what matter that? craft may not be docked on the near the water's edge through The Sampaners are,

Jardine's, 1280 p.m. if not all Settlement side. These craft, which the ends and trimmings of happy, then at least, happier than

MiscellaneouA however, may circumnavigate the meat not used, would be thrown if they

were on land, and es- February 11-Free lecture Island and it was to avail our by the butcher, or the discarded pecially so with their ever-present Christian Science, by Hon. Wm. E. selves of this opportunity that wo potatoes, lettuce, vegetables,, jade rings and earrings which Brown, C.S.B., of Los Angeles, Cal., boarded a sampan which, inter fruits, etc. as well as unused sooner or later, they belleve, will in Old Chamber of Commerce Room, estingly enough, was manned by portions returned from the table bring them good fortune, and City Hall, 5.45 p.m. a mother and her two daughters. These were carefully, husbanded with the watchful eye one a youngster of about 7, the by the collectors, with the result side of their craft, to guide them other of about 9. Believe it or that later in the day I saw the aright and turn the ovil spirits not, with these two youngsters at meats and vegetables cooked and away. They are none of them the stern, sculling with the fixed made into what apparently was a rich but their boat is at once oar, and the mother at the bow savoury and substantial meal, their home and their castle, and poling and steering, we made the with enough, left over for the home is home even for a Sampan- trip around the Island in about evening meal It happened that er. Not alone that, but they have three-quarters of hour-and at this port the Empress of Aus- their games, they have their little. all for the small sum of 60 cents tralla was tied up, to the dock at sports, they have their friends and some of them even have their phonographs with, no doubt, de

by any chance a child should fall overboard no effort would Le made to save it lest thereby the Gods be offended. For myself do not credit the tale. Mothers 'are mothers and fathers are fathers, whether they be Sampan ers or no; and I can conceive of *110 situation where 追 would sit idly by and see a child drown, let the Gods be ever so Even superstition must angry. yield to mother love.

Descendant of Pirates

parent

The origin of these Sampaners whence and from whom they sprung and why they finally made the water their home, altogether forsaking the_land, is not clear. The commonly accepted theory is that their forbears ware pirates who roved the sea first of choice and later of necessity, when the "long arm of the law bagan to. reach out for them: Be this as it may, they are now to be found In the Far East not alone by the thousands but by the hundreds of thousands. We saw them first at Singapore, later at Bangkok, then at Hong Kong, then at Canton, then at Shanghai and last of all, though in lesser numbers, in the inland sea of Japan. Belleve It

on either

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9507 - Mignon-Polonaise

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The following programme will be. when those shall be replaced by broadcast to-day from the Hong radios. They have no hours, they Xong Broadcasting Station Z.B.W. have no "bosses," they have no on 355 metres

social heart-burnings, they have 148 pm-Weather Report. no taxes and they are free to 7-9 pm-Experimental Trans come and go, as they like. It is mission. incumbent upon them only to 9-10.30 pm-European Pro

in Chinese money or 830 cents in Kowloon, just across from Hong ours. To be sure we gave them Kang, and the work of the colleé a little extra-as who would not? tora was easy, When a boat is lightful spectacles of the time

Smiling Girls

anchored in the open it is more What most impressed us on the difficult, but at that several times trip was not what we saw but I saw the unfortunato poor catch the happy, smiling faces of the ing with rets the refuse as it was little girls, as though, realising thrown overboard. that they were doing a mar's job, When a Baby Sampaner Arrives they were doubly proud and pleas- I have said that the Sampan ed. It was fascinating to watch er have no co-operative societies mind their own business, and to gramme - (Dance), Dance Fro them. When we would amille at and that the family of each boat make a living for themselves and gramme of Victor Records by them the children would bow lives more or less unto itself their families. The State troubles Courtesy of Mossra. Taang Fook their beads, and hide their faces While this is strictly speaking, them,not, erectileti lawenor Phone Co. in delightful confusion-bashful, true, there is a notable exception regulations Gypsies the vatae p.m.-Miniature Concert Party, or not, there are between 200,000 happy, contented and apparently when the time comes that a little rovers of the sea destendants of and 300,000 people liping at Canoverjoyed at their experience and Sampaner is to be ushered into pirates, if you please, or of con ton, on the Canton, or, as it is their ability to help their mother the world Then aid and help victs, perhaps after all their fof often called, the Pearl River, and Imagine our surprise when at the are preferred from every sampan is not as it seems-perhaps that of this great total the majority end of the trip, thanking us for quarter. Through long and some life on the son, with dis, freedom, ara Sampaners. For miles the our tip to the children, the mother times bitter experience the women holás, out more for, then than wo narrow river there is literally fill said in quite good English, folk have become as expert on land lubbers can viɛlón. ed to overflowing with these small Thank you very much, sir."- All such cases as any doctor or train- 'boats, some 25 to 30 feet long, three were quite neatly dressed, ed nurse. Thus it is that seldom each usually with a low cabin and the boat was scrupulously is the aid of a regular medical and with a covering of matting | clean--which could not be said of practitioner called in; thus that or bamboo “ag, a further shelter, many of the others. Where the motherly, tender hands from most Some, however, have dübin but - father was we never learned, but other sampane welcome the new only be matted

something was, said about fishing arrival: thus that it is from lips causea. chise togetherősre

́and freight beats and "him gone.” of her kindly, sympathetic neigh-| daily regularity:

Med Curious, Decrease

boura that the mother learns whe

One would think that In time ther the new born is a boy or at being.

mber of Bamps

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