1958-08-09 — Page 5

Let's Take Hongkong's Word

By R. W. Thompson

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1958. ANOTHER SHORT STORY BY A HONGKONG WRITER

AUTUMN IN PEKING

was one of those oppressive autumn days in Hongkong when the air clung to one like a hot towel and there was not even a whisper of a breeze to provide relief. Lin Han, returning from his errand, pushed open the door on which bold black characters said: "Wing Tai Hong, Imports and Ex- ports." Inside, the familiar sight of his office opened

By

David T. K. Wong

Just then Mr Pang came out

ACUPUNCTURE: A Chinese system of surgery by which-cure

are said to be effected by sticking ping in determined parts of before him, Guarding the doorway like a barricade of his office on his way home, ing the kitchen with a tenyful of i

kuman body.

A-LUM: This, according to H. A. Gilles, A Glossary of Reference. 2nd ed., Hongkong, 1886, was the name pt "the famous Hong- kong baker whose bread was poisoned with arsenic by some person never discovered, in the hope of destroying all the foreign residents in the Colony: January, 1057." BAKDER BOAT: I think this word lins gone out of use in Hong-

kong. Giles says it was "a small kid of paddle boal, nome- ,fethoven thing like a canoe and ocensionally called a dugout. forcimera under, this name at Canton The Chinese call them simply campans in common with the more usual form that passer under that designation. The word "barber" has na particular ralson deter, except that formerly the barbers who attended the shipping at Whampoa during the palmy days of that now deserted port, were in the habit of using the kind of bost that still goes by this nurse." BARBET: This bird is well own a Hongkong.

was a battered teakwood counter behind which he usually sat, and behind that were three desks, ar- ranged as if to mark the three points of an equilateral triangle.

anc

Then he saw his mother leav-

As he wont past the counter, he food. He turned around to said: Tonight, when you see help her put them on the table. tell him They were all his favourite Mr Fu, rentember that the umbrella ribs must be dialies. But somehow, as he eat nol feel separately packed," His tone down to eat, he did

was kind. In Han knew it was hungry.

noticed that he was scarcely touching the food.

"Ma-ma, let us go back to: Peking," Lin Han said.

his way of apologising, for his "Han-erk, what is the mat- The two nearest, the counter few years had left their mask in harsh words, but Lin Hon could ter?" his mother sald, when sho) were unoccupied, At the third, the form of three deep furrows not forgive him.

"Yes," Lin Han sald, and Mr a bespectacled man in his late on the brow and some wrinkles forties ant reading on afternoon under the eyes. The left side Pang left the office, Shortly

those that of his chin was depornled by a attorwards, when the old Ger nowrpaper, contained smutty stories and rts- ble binck moto from which three man clock struck Ave, the man the latest hairs-cactt about two inches with the spectacles also left. que jokes and all

Ils mother did not reply, for scandals. He had been wlüf the long-grew. It was difficult 19 With the oflce to himself, Lo

a long time, "I know this life! Wing Thi Hong for more than ascertain his age but he must Han began his daily chores of is not very good," she said, twenty years and he was Lin have been past Bity.

sweeping the floor, emptying the finally, “But I can sell my Qa Han's Immediate superior,

wartepaper baskets, and winding jewels and, we can move into a it that wden I call up the old German clock. But better place," "Why k wou you do not

ns ho went about his work, fia Pang aald.

thoughts roved from bridges 10 Han umbrellas, from the stately elms in autumn to the August, heat, His mind was full of confused pictures and jumbled scenes.

the wall behind him hung an old clock and below the German elock a calendar which gave both the Gregorians and lunar rend- Inge. To the left of the man with the spectacles

n doorway opened into another room.

"I did not

said.

answer" Mr

hear," Lin

"You.did not hear! You did not hear! The whole day long you do not hear."

Mr Pang searched among the papers in his drawer as he spoke. compartment was

"It la no use," Lin Han said, "Hongkong is a deed, rood.

I

At last he finished his work an sick of it. 1 will sooner die and he loft, He boarded the then spend the rest of my life irird class

Then compartment of ant the Wing Tal Hong." trem bound for Shaukiwan. The he saw the deep

pools in his stuffy and mother's eyes and he felt very ashamed. He knew she couli

She had never never to buck. forgiven them for his father's death. . He had a weak heart, and when they arrested him he: just collapsed and died,

It is the me alaima virens virens of the ornithologist. Its name is French and contains the element barbe, bcard, an account of its well developed rietal and chin bristles. There is a drawing and an account of this bird in G.A.C. Herklots, Hong Kong Birds, Mongkung. 1054. BARGAIN-CHors: These were serlp used by oplum merchants, The issued to persons buying the drug to arrive on time. seller in obliged to produce the commodity on an arranged date and the buyer to pay the market rate on the date fixed for delivery of the dinig, Giles, who gives this information in his

Lin Han walked behind the Glossary of Iteference quotes the China Mail of October, 27, 1877: If history repents itself, why will not the days of bar counter and climbed onto a fall

tool. He was dressed in gain-chops do ikewise?" BAZAAR: The Persian word for market was formerly used in white cotton shirt and a pair of China coast ports to the exclusion of market. (Glles). In the dark blue shorts which showed two long bony Portuguese dilects of the East bazar/vnzar have been used tu dladvantage

Jegs. But he was not an un- in the same sense. BOMBAY DUCK: This is an old Hongkong name for "a small fish pleasant looking young men.

.... You never miss anything like you miss high and which after being dried and salted, is toasted and eaten with His forehead was

Peking. In the whole world there's no place like curry, "Glies, from whom I have taken this item says that the Intelligent and his chin was

it! His eyebrows anmetal is called hummela in India. The Oxford Dictionary really pointed.

good-naturedly ever gives another form of this word, hummale and derives it from orched the Mahrat bombit. It England the name Bombay Duck is melancholy brown eyes and only exaggerated 11050 sometimes given to a kind of disappointing rissole or meat-ball, a slightly BRINJAL This is an old Anglo-Indian name for the egg-plant marred the harmony of his fea-

solanum melanzena, also used in Hongkong. Again it is a bor-fures. rowing from Portuguese, the Indo-Portaging (and Hongkong Portuguese form being brinjala. All these forms, together with Standard Portuguese berinjela derive ultimately from the Porsian. In the case of the Standard Portuguese form, at least, the borrowing was made through Arabic, as was the Spanish forn berentena.

BULBUL: The name given to several common Hongkong birds,

is of Persian origin. Bulbuls are known as pycnotidae by the

.

Suddenly, Lin Hon felt very homesick.

•

He

able.

Your

to be a Peking opera tonight. Would you like to go? Of course, it will not be as good as the ones we saw in Peking with Mei Lan-

"That would be wonderful," fan, but it will still be enjoy-

"But are you sure you do not have to go back to work tonight7 You ure, so forgetful. The last time you forgot it almost cost you' your job. If you have to work we can see it some other night."

"I am sorry," Lin Hon sold. "I was only talking. I do not Then he looked up and con- crowded............ A labourer who smelt really want to zo back. Besides, Unued: "Why do you not say horribly of stale swent pressed things in Peking can never se you were dreaming again. You his damp body against his. He like they were before, are always dreaming. For a tried to move away, but there multon is very delicious." young man that is not possible. was no room.

"I knew you would like it," A young man should know that

his mother sald. "I saw in the When the tram stopped at one After a while, La Han suid: the world is hard. In Houkgong "Look at it. It is now autumn It is not easy to find work. Since of the stations in Wanchal, Lin newspapers that there is going

you are fortunate enough to Han lighted automatically. und is worse than summer. In hove Me Mak introduce you la walked down two narrow streets Peking, autumn Is the best ornithologists.

Bersun.

"He spoke with the work here you should be grateful and turned into the gloomy CANDARIN: An old woln once known in Hong Kong and equal to

heart into your staircase of a house situated next accent that so often and put your one penny or one Chinese fan according to Leland. Hobson-comicnt

of crepitant stairs led him to the Jobson says that it is derived from the Malayan kanduri, in characterised the Northerner's work. Do not sit and dream the to a market place. Three flights Bat where he and his mother fact most of the English and Portuguese names for Chinese attempt to speak Cantonese. Ile. whole day long." traditional weights, measures and currency are of Malayan or urned round on his stool, ex-

Being

scolded by Mr Pang occupled the room next to the Javanese origin. The candarin weighed one-hundredth of the pecting the older man to say was nothing new to Lin Han, Ile kitchen. Chinese ounce and, as a weight, was also called tahil. Fryer something. But nothing came had experienced it many times (3073) gives the following table of Chinese Weights. I will

Peking aud, autumn. How before. He never harboured be noted that not one of these weights is given its Chinese] mante All, in fact, carry the English equivalents of the terma well the two went together, Lb any resentment against Mr Pong, used in the Malayo-Portuguese lingua francs. 1 Cattee is Han thought, Each had the secret however,

As he entered the room he saw nearest 16 Tales 1 Teen (Tale?) is. 10 Mass, 1 Mags in Silver charm. If only he could be in knew that Mr Pang was quick-

be tempered by nature and partly his mother alting on one of the

"No," Lin Han sald, "I do Is 10 Quandreens.,1 Quandreen is 10 Cash. 733 Carb make i Peking now. There would

tinicas bite in the air, because he knew that the scold two beds doing embroidery. A not have to go back." Royal grain English Weight is 2 Cash. This table wngust the

But raltun labie, two ration chatra printed in obron-Jobson. In that mest valuable reference just enough to make the willows Ings were often justified.

would be today, things were different. He and a set of drawers made up Copyright reserved work an extract from. A. Nunes (1554) has it thut in Malacca sliver a little. It

vitt huted old Pang for it. He felt the rest of the furniture. Some- the weight used, musk, &e, the cale, contains 20 taels, each wonderful whether for a

to the Great Wall or to climb like telling him that he was sick one was cooling in the kitchen tael 18 mares, euch maz 20 cumuryns; also 1 paual é mazes and

the Porcelain Pagoda on of the Wing Tal Hong and sick and the room was a little smoky, up to oach max 4 muupangs; Cocks, the Englishman, who has given us

West Hin, And in the of his own meaningless routine, n few vivid snap-show of carly Maeno is also quotesk (2013): tite

"Ma-ma," Lin Hun called We bought 5 greate square postes of the Kinges master car- evenings, with the first chill Only the thought of his mother penter; cost 2 mas & condrins per peere." The Portuguese name breaths of the North Wind, the prevented him from giving ton- respectfully, is condorim, am! in the Eighteenth Century Men Chi Lucli} leaves-all black and gold and ue to his thoughts, or Gazetteer of Manno, which contains a glossary of the Por- hectic red-would race tuguese dialect of that place, we have, opposite the rubric fan, cackle through the moongates three characters which, read in the Cuntonese fashion, are ant along the garden walls. kong tellin, which is an attempt to represent the pronuncia- tion of some such Portuguese word. In English authors this name is sometimes spelt candareen,

A British Crossword Puzzle

2

13

8

17

and

partly because he

"Today you are lale," his mother said, looking up from her work, She was a small woman, with small hands and dainty

"I am sorry." Lin Han said,

"I cannot And the Djakaria You never miss anything like Ale Mr Pang said. "See if it is feet. you miss Peking. I think in the outride." whole world there is no placu like it," L Han said, half to Eimself. All of a sudden he felt Ivery homesick.

"You like Peking so much, why do you not go back," the man with the spectacles said, without looking up from his

newspaper.

Lin Han went out and re-

Lin Han's sad eyes and sensitive mouth undoubtedly came from her. She was dressed in black pongeo cost and frousers, and block suited her very well.

"Yes," Lin Han sald, It hurt

turned a few minutes later with him to have to see his mother the Djakarta file. Me Pang took doing embroidery, for it was a and started checking some reminder that he could not even Ngures on his abacus. The beads earn enough to support her. ellcked rhythmically under the He wished he could see her "I will one day," Lh Ian direction of his fingers. Lin Han again in the elegant dressco and said. But even as he said if he was about to leave the room the gowns of brocade that she wondered if he would ever again when Mr Pang told: "Do used wear. She had given up breathe again, that atmosphere of not leave yet." Lin Hon waited. much since their arrival in quiet culture he knew. Familiar Mr Pang finished cheelding the Hongkong. She had sold every- sights and half-forgatten sounds figures and handed the file back fling of velur so that they could crowded his memory. Here to him,

live, everything

the except membered visiting the Forbid-

Jewellery she was given us a "Tell Mr Fu the shipment of bride. She said she would never Chuen when he was a little boy umbrellas and umbrella ribs for sell them. That was why she and how both them would Africa

be separately started doing embroidery. must

love to climb up onto the bronze packed," Mr Pang said. ilon near the Gate of Supreme

Harmony, the Bon that looked so

den City logolher with Kuo-

14

IS

té

18

19

22

23

24

126

ACROSS

a Breaking up? Splandid (8)

B Japanese dancing girl (G).

11 Entrance (3, 3, 2),

9 Knightly wandering (8),

12 Very Scotéh (4). .

13 Nye (6).

18 Eabe off, therel (5).

10 Well balanced (4)..

box (8)

DOWN

Precious alone (5),

2 Takes G

"You should not work so

"Mr Fu is not here," Lin Han hard," Lin Han said. The smoke

old and wise. He remembered said, "He has gone to drinkt tea in the room made him cough n also the long walks with his with Poon the broker. It seems little. mother to the Island of Everlast he made arrangements to go to

ing Flowers

and the

famous the warehouse tonight to see that muble bridge. And as they all is ready."

walked sho would tell him "Hmmmm." Mr Pang thought

wonderful stories of emperors for a moment, "Tonight, after "Tonight I have a surprise for and beautiful ladies and ful eating rice, it is best for you to you," his mother said, putting sons, How far away all that go to the warehouse too. Mr Fu aside her embroidery Tonight seamed.

may need a hand. Early to- wo are eating mutton fried with morrow morning the chipment garlic, preserved eggs and ginger, must go."

and all the dishes you like, And then we can go out and really "Yes," Lin Han said and left celebrate., Today the man pald the room. He returned the ale me twenty-one dollars for the "Ah Hon, a high-pitched to where he had got it and west embroidery I did last week. It Cantonese voice called from the

plunge (having next room. But Lin Hen did not back to his stoof at the counter. is the most I have ever earned."}

plenty of money) (5).

9 Moim perhape (7).

4 Name for a girl in the Army

(4).

1.

hear. He was thinking of what lie wanted to cry or shout or do

"That is very good," in Han

he would give to be in Kun something. It was a silly feel- chuen's place. Fate was surely g, but he wanted somehow. fo said.

strange. A few years ago Kus. break free from the monotonous

burden of life. He thought of "I will go and get the meal

5 20 years or 0 Inches, possibly chuen used to envy him because writing to Kuo-chuen, and then ready," his mother said, getting

he was planning to go to Yenching University and Kus decided against it. Allough down from the bed and leaving

(4).

22 But he usually has a pivate 0 Under canvas, it seems (0), i chuen was too poor to go. Then Kuo-chuen was his best friend, the room.

24 Where & vehicle can hang by

a thread? (8),

25 Printing mistakes (0),

20 Upstarts (8).

7 Sportive bow-wow (3, 3),

10 Competilor (5).

14 Fine (igure of a woman (5).

15 Splendid chaps, those

the hammer: (7).

with

16 Not a serious storm, centre

(0).

17 Such frigh; is mostly a mis.

Laico (0),

20 Not much of a fight (5),

1

21 One way to make rane cough

(5).

22 Long for a conifer (4). 23 The "Cortion" in for

„cuokery (4).

FRIDAY'S CROSSWORD.-Across: 3 Live wirợ. 7 Allve, D Variable, 10 Ecases, 13 Maltese, 18 Oseb, 17 Earnost, 18 Talents,. 20 Ocal, 21 Slected, 20. Entire, 27 Post-card, 28 Ewers, 29 Deserted. Down: 1: Balem, 2 Final, 3 Levee, 4 Ella, 5 Imbibe, Eyciet, Aseta 11 Radar (rev.), 13 54eel, 14 Easter, 15 Or-pot, 10.Osier, 18 Torpic, 19 Lapres, 22 Ended, 26 Riper, 24 Dense, 25 Bear.

It was even worse than

the revolution came, and every writing to him was a depressing Lin Hon went over to the only From it from him. window in the room: thing changed, Kuo-chuch went affair. to the university instead and receiving a letter became an engineer while he Kuo-chuen was always talking he could look into the kitchen about building dams and bridges and see his mother worklug. himself had to come to Hong- and dykes. Io did not, want to Down beneath was the maricet

and be contented icong

with

tant roof, he could see two boys with Kuo-chuen's.. being un ofice boy at the Wing compare, his own sterile world place! Across the way, on a dils- flying kites. The kites dived were not and swooped in response to the How uggings of the string. A te

Tal Houg:

い

"Walt" The man with the I only his father

7

spectacles looked up from his dend, Lin Han thought, Ho ie ilke a man's life, he thought,

Newspaper. "The master calls, Terent things would be."

would live in Fashionable after watching the kites for you, he said,

house, with servants and ears long me. Someone pulla a Lin Han 'jumped down trom and everything. He could reat string and you have to respond, his stool and went through the or paint the whole day long, it. The thing is that a man cannot doorway into the next room. he wanted to. Or, if he felt like even respondo gracefully. There, he confronted Me Fang, 1, he could spend the day Thon, sakenly, one of the kiles the manager and sole owner of wandering in the venerable hills broke loom and few away by the Wing Tal long. Mr Fand and id the evening he could just feelf. It flow higher and higher had a storm yet agained air sit and watch the fire lighting up and farther and farther away

till he could hardly sooʻlt:- "His business setbacks in the past in the maple trees.

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