Let's Take Hongkong's Word
By R. W. Thompson
CHIO: Although we discussed this item earlier in the trio
Qui in China which ilustrates its use at Canton in the early have decided to publish the following anecdote from Tha Fan years of the last century: You calchoo chillo, can? One child, Jack, well? Dull chilo, cow clillo? Yes, I've one little girl; why do you k? Ay, yahi Can do! You catokeo cow chilot Ioatchee flowero, ali same put round head cow chilo. This passage may be a little clearer to the new reader if he knows uit chilo le oki Pidgin for child.
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1958.
The Ming Vase
MR
by
David T. K. Wong
MR Fung came out of the bathroom feeling. refreshed after his morning bath. It was Sunday, and he reminded himself that he must go to the church early because he wished to sce Reverend Yip about a donation before the service started. In the past ten years Mr. Fung had not missed going to church on a single Sunday and it Yip. We thought it best that write a letter to his elder son, was a record of which he found just cause to be we make our donation in Hong- Paul, Lefore lunch was served. Itong currency as the national "If you have the leisure, write is so unstable these one lo Peter for me top," Mrs proud. Even during the Occupation he would currency
Fung said. "Tell him that show up unfailingly every Sunday for the eleven day."
The Roverend Yip accepted have already sent him ble birth- o'clock service at the Church of the Holy Trinity, the cheque with a profusion of day present, and ask him when The Reverend Yip was always saying: "Without thanks. "Mr Fung, you seeing Mr Fung it would'truly not be Sunday."
In the bedroom. Mrs Fung was still asleep, while Ah Ying,| the mui-tsal, was standing by thic mahogany dressing table. Ah Ying was a plain looking giri
CUSTARD APPLE: This is the botanist's anons squamoss, some
times called foreign lychee. Like many others, this Hongkong used in some of the British West Indies where the fruit is Indigenous. Giles, in his Glossary, maintains that it was brought to Asla in the eighteenth century.
word in by no mesus pecullur to Hongkong. It is for example of about seventeen. She occupied fashionable among the well-to-
FUREY: Also fekce. Two more ways of spelling the Item which we have already Introdued as fokl. It was apparently used as a pos during the early part of the nineteenth century by British sentries at Canton, Q. Who porn there? A. Fukey (a trend), it was also used as an offensive name for Chinese in expressions such as fukey dog, Chinese dog, and dirty fukey, dirty Chinese.
FRANCOLIN: A gallinaceous fowl, known ns Francelinus The name is Pintadeanus pintädennus to the ornithologists, French and in orginally that of a related species found in con- tinental Europe. Hongkong-side Francolins are raid to call "Come to the Penk, Ha! Ha!" Those living Kowloon side reply "Come to the Peak? No fear!" There is an article on the Fran eolin in Hongkong Birds by Herklots and an làteresting report on the rearing of a covery of Francolin chicke by R. A. Pereira, published in The HongKong Naturalist which appeared in the Thirties.
GAROUPA: Also written grouper, garupa, etc. Several kinds of Ash go by this name in Hongkong. Most of them are included in C. A. C. Herklots and Lin, Common Marine Food. This work Fishes of Hongkong, 2nd, enlarged edition 1040. also gives the local Chinese name of the fifty varieties whlet It describes, It contains afty-one drawings and sixteen Euro- pean and eighteen recipes. This name is common to most parts of the English-speaking word and again appears to have come to English through Portuguese.
GINKGO: This is the ichthyologist's Gymnocranius griseus, Herktols and Lin say that local Ashermen call It Pak Lap, white lap sh or Paak Kwob. Ginkgo fruit. Ginkgo is the name of a Japanese tree cultivated for its handsome foliage. GINSENG: This ka preparation inade from the root of Panax repens and formerly much used as a strengthener in the Chinese pharmacopeia, Giles gives some information on a use in the uinoleenth century in his Glossary, pp. 84-5. The name la of northern origin and means 'man plant,' presumably be cause the shape of this root bears a striking similarity to the Bgure of a human being.
4
GO: This ordinary English verb was formerly much used in Pidgin us a futurity marker: Yo go make that lur? Do you mean to elo that? There is, of course, similar contruction in standard Engile and in many other languages. For instance, in a son- tence such as I'm going to tell him the speaker does not wish. to imply that he is going or moving anywhere but that he in- tends teling someone something Juter.
GRUNT: Various Hangkong fiches are given this name, Herklots and Lan say that the Common thulck-11pped grant is called Sal Lun, small scale, by focal Chinese fishermen. The chloken grunt Is Kai yur, chicken sh, and the head-grunt, au lo, bead-perch.
A British Crossword Puzzle
2
13
14
15
ID
116
117
18
19
ACROSS
3 Breaking out (8),
8 Stage piece? (4).
Out of date (8),
11 In work (8),
'13 He's on our side (4).
16 Assembled (sounds het) (8).
18 Period of hostililles? (8).-
19 Advanced in fast time (4).
21 Slup happy (B).
26 Not table.models (8),
DOWN
1 Church feature often (4). "
2 Snare on wheels! (4).
4 Red giri (4),
5 Jab (4).
status in the Fung household somewhere between bond-
maid and a slave.
h
L
are he nnd Paul expect to return truly generous. You are always' here from America." Eelping the Church. Without "Please say that I ask after you, the Church of the Holy their health," Mrs Llu said. Trinity would not be what it is For all your kindness you must today.
certainly and your reward in Heaven,"
"It is a small thing." "How are your two sons in
Yine helped him into a long Mr Fung nodded in reply as Although gown of while silk. Western-styled clothing Was do in Canton, Me Fung pre- America? How is Mra Fung? Is ferred Chinese clothes, He felt she outside? I must thank her that the long gown had much too."
not Today Mrs Fung did llnes Mro Fung bought her from a moro graceful
than Peasant woman when the was a Western suits, which only serval come. She feels not too well." chiki. Later, as she drew older, to make people look awkward "It is not something serious, I she was put to work attending and angular. After the mui-laat hope" the Reverend Yip asked
Mr Fung, doing all the had finished helping him button with concern. things that Mr Funs did not his long gown, Mr Fang looked liko to do for himself. She at himself in the mirror and then went about her dulles so effl- left the room. Mrs Fung slid elently that Mr Fung found back into bed and returned to increasingly difficult to do with sleep. not her.
to
Mr Fung had by now seat himself on the stool in front of the dressing table, and Ah Ying had began her customary task of combing his hair for him, Mr Fung ked A: Ying better than any of his other servants, She
anteipated his alway
every wish. In return for her devotion
raw to it that the to him, he older servants did not bully her Joo much.
*
"Nothing, nothing.
It is ot
e importance," Mr Fung naid. "In that case it is good. When we congregate we must ask God to bless her."
Mr Fung walked down the stairs and went into his study on the ground floor to pick up that he had a collapsible fa left there. On his way out he
Mr Fung felt momentarily un- paused to admire the Ming vase comfortable. He unfolded his and began which stood on a pedestal in collapsible fan
of
While Ah Ying combed his hair, Mr Fung picked up a nail nie Com the dressing table and start to clean the wall on the How perfect and beautiful a Mr Fung little finger of his left hand. It work of art was,
the
"Most certainly." Mr Fung bowed and left for Lis study, -
was a black
where
Mr
The study, where Mr Fong had gone earlier to get bla collapsible. fan, had the sp pearance of
most Chinese studies. Furnishings were very sparingly
tise(2, and, consequently, the room had about it the charm which po often accompanied simplicity. Apart from the porcelain vase which stood in one corner of the room, there tenkwood deak Fune kept hla business papers and where he wrote occasional letters to his mona, Above it hung a soroll of a pair of anely painted man- darin ducks. The couch where dis' Fung did his read. hig was half-hidden behind a lattler screen. Next to the couch, on a small table, sỘMIG narcissus bulbs were growing in a diab of white pebbles, Bookcases line one side of the FOOIT
I
one corner of the room. The fanning himself, Just then, the vase was decorated with blue church bells aried to ring, and He walked plum blossoins on a white back Mr Fung used that as an excuse
It was one of those to leave the vestry.
toward the front of the church, ground.
Mr Fung seldom invited any- Afteenth Century V 808
exchanging greelings wih several
He wanted duced in the famous kins
to keep it to himself, free from King-tuk Chun in Klangst Pro People on the way, and entered one into his study.
through a sido vince.
Its brilliance of colour the church
He found for him unappreciative eyes. It was the indicated that the cobalt used entrance.
he could be completely at his fis production came from the cell a sent near the front, next one place in the world where
to the aisle. Middle East rather than from
Shortly afterwards, Mrs Lum ease. As he moved towards his In the commer Sumatra,
come in and took a seat beside desk, the vase
caught his eye again. Ho him.
"Where Is
wile?" she stepped to admire it once more, and while doing so he recalled asked.
"She did not come," Mr Fung he had once invited an English
missionary into his study and 2cplied cautiously. He gave that the Englishman too had ad- were diferent, The beauty of wite's message, and Mrs Lum white, he glanced at the minor the vase was a constant delight in turn asked him to tell his mired greatly the delicate lines
would visit the of the vase.
"Undoubtedly the blue and to his senses whereas the beau- wife that she during his operation and aw his wife stirring in bed. "You ty of his wife conveyed to him Fung household later on in the white onion pattern of Europesti
insinuation of day to see the material. She was vases pre prepared to go to church, also a vague
something cla vases such as this," Mr Fung was copied from Ming are you not?" de said. There something he could not under about to say
when the opening chords of the
The Englishmen was no answer. Ah Ying had stand. It was like a longing un- het bied combing his hair fulfilled or a restlessnes
drowned her out and remembered un- organ
heralded the cuming of the saying, Go and see if Nat-nai la awake appeased after love.
white-coped
and tho "Perhaps that is so," he bad or not," he said.
canonically robed clergy. The replied, eleven o'clock service began.
the service To Mr Fung seemed
unduly long. The
was a long nail, More than on thought, reminded him of his ich lung, llu had purposely wife. And yet, the beauty of the cultivated it to symbolise les ease and the beauty of his wife
After Rentry upbringing.
called
Softly:
Mrs
Ah Ying went to Mrs Fung's bedside and "Nal-nat."
"What is the matter?" Fung answered sleepily.
01
her
*
*
chair
On reaching the front door, hyinna, the Holy Communion,
houses.
Over.
TEST
Mr Fung found Ah Ying already the prayers, all seemed more "You know, a Scotsman ance there holding the door open for time-consuming than usual. It said that he thought the English "Lo-ych wishes to inquire it him. Outside, the June sun was was especially true of the period were fundamentally a nation of for indis poets. But if we are a nation of you are awake or not," Ali Ying beaming pleasantly upon the devoted to prayers
neat rows of foreign-style posed members of the congrega poets, then you. Calnese wild.
An azure sky stretched len, The Reverend Yip must certainly be a nation of artists. Mrs Fung sat up and blinked cloudlessly into the infinite, have spent a full Ave minutes of course, I don't mean that you her eyes. Mr Fung looked at There was no wind, and the praying for the recovery of Mrs all go out and engage in artistic her through the mirror and felt day
What I promised to be hot, Mr Fung from her illness.
pursuits all the time. Inwardly happy. In spite of ber Fung, fan in hand, walked with
moun Is that you can appreciate forty-six autumas she is still a short, deliberate steps along the
beauty in all its forms, be it in nature, in a woman, or in a work creature of beauty, he thought, shaded walks of Shameen, which
of ari
the ilke this vase," Of course, some of the frosh- once formed part of the French Dess and delicatenesS
and British concessions. He youth are tone, but sho now
crossed the West Bridge, which "What is not right with the Englishman had sald, after he has a matured policy about her
was one of the two bridges link wife? Is she really sick?" Mrs had stood for a long time looking wilch is just us endearing, ing Shameen to Canton, and Lum whispered from the next at the vase.
Mr Jung now recalled that be private rickshaw seat as soon as the prayers were had been greatly pleased with found his Mr Fung remembered well waiting for him, the Btxt time he saw her in
"She has nothing wrong," Mr the English missionary's obscrva- her father's garden, which "Lo-vel, good morning," the Fung whispered back, comewhat on. It had seemed so true of himself. He moved away from Abode of rickshaw puller sald. Mr Fung agitated. After the servico hu was called the
YASC, Live
smiling Butterfiles. She was as slender nodded and climbed into the made a point of getting away as a shoot of young bamboo rickshaw, fitting himself snugly quickly as possible in order to settled himself behind his desk, and had the grace of the into the sent. The richshaw avoid questions about his wife picked up his writing brush, and then remembered that he had not willow In the wind. Iler teeth puller picked up the shafts and from well-meaning friends. were like whlie Jade kissed broke into a trol. Mr Fung sat
Upon reaching home, Mr Fung really intended to write to his son when he exeused himself from by the dew, while her eyes back and rested his hands on his found Mrs Fung in the sing his wife's guests. He pushed were noft with just tho well-rounded stomach, Mr Fung room entertaining two of her sichtest suggestion of tears, was very fond of his stomach. It friends and showing them the back his chair and went over to nike those of a gazelle in love. was a sign of prosperity. Some new clothing material she had the couch, Her lips were like the bursting times, when he sat cross-legged received from Shanghai, Her of cherry blossoms, agonising on his study couch composing friends, Mrs Wong and Mrs Liu. bulbs and found that they were 1 ly delightful to behold. From couple's to exchange with his were both cracking melon seeds not blooming pet, Then for a the moment that he saw her friend, L Poyang, his stomach as they listened to Mrs Fung ex- fleeting accond he was on the verge of an taight, The nar- he knew that he wanted her, made him look like a Buddha plain what she intended to do
Mr Fun cissus material,
joere bulbs that and when he finally got her, In meditation. he prized her more than any.
The Tickshaw puller took Mr bowed and exchanged greetings blooming seemed somehow fed
the guests. Ah Ying with his marriage and thing he possessed,
Fung down the narrow Canton brought him a cup of tea and ife. The bulbs have been stresle flanked on either side by helped him out of his long gown. planted a long time, he thought, cheerless tenements and soon de- Did you see Mrs Lum?" Mrs Why have they not.bloomed?
Mr Fung dropped the nail file and turned his partly body around to face his wife, "You are prepared to go to church, are you not?"
posited him in tront of the Church of the Holy Trinity,
"As usual, you can wait here," Mr Fung said, alighting from the rickshaw.
"Good, Lo-yel," the rickshaw puller said. He wiped the sweat Inco his
with thu "What hour is it now?" Mrs sleeve of his cotton jacket and Fung asked with a yawnL
sat down on the curb of the "It is ten minutes past the street.
Mr Fung passed behind the
6 Nothing could be better (B). tenth hour, If you are going, red brick wall that mirrounded
↑ Almost broke? (5).
9 Sceped (5).
10 Drain (5).
い
12 Cat prey (5).
with the
with
Fung asited.
"She said later on she would come," Mr Fung said,
"Good," Mrs Wong said. "It she is coming we have enough legs for mahjong after all."
"That is right," Mrs Llu said. "You can always depend on her," Mrs Fung said,
there is need for haste."
"Perhaps if I do not go it the church and made his way to
In the vestry he Mr Fung picked up a smal would be better." Mrs Furg the vestry:
found the Reverend Yip tasting handful of melon seeds from the stretched herself, "I am tired to beth Last night we played a plece of biscult to see if it was dish on the table and started to mahjong un' three o'clock, fresh enough to use for Holy crack them. The women weht to talking about the should have ended quite early, Communion. As he entered, the back
14 Circus performers, perkups but they wanted to play four Reverend Yip hasily swallowed clothing material. Mr Fung was
rounds more, Slace 1 alone was the biscuit.
20 The benevolent sert (4).
(5).
27 Do without (8).
10 Like a dean? (5).
17 Palm fruit (3).
10 It's quite clear Scotland Yard
is lust (5).
20 Standard of dressiness (5).
21 Old cabbage king (4).
22 Scarlet, etc. (4)))
23 The Emerald Isle' (4).
24 Swank team? (4).
1
FRIDAY'S SOLUTION Across: 3 Mark time, 3 Poplar, Raraded, 11 Alderman, 13- Mess, 18 Delia, 18 Dooms, 18 Away, 22 Magnolia, 24 Revealed, 20 Acrate, 25. Goatherd. Down: Sprat.2 Spudo, 3 Married, 4 A-ram, 5 Keen, 6 Triner, 7 Eldest, 10 Radló (activity), 14 Loyal, 15 Am.-ended, 16 Tag-rag, 17 Balvin, 20 Altar, 1 Waves, 22 Mash, 33 Gear,"
winning, it was difficult to re- fuse."
Mr Fung wis not pleased with
his wife's decision, but he did
not say anything. Ho reminded Please come in and sit down, himself that ho must speak Mr Fung. Please come in and with her dbout the need for sit down," the Reverend Yip greater regularity in her church said.
attendences, otherwise the Re- Mr Fung bowed and said: "The verend Yip might think that Neverend Xip, I am hindering something was wrong. Bir Fung you, am I not?" scratched the uppermost of
threo chips with the long nati
of his little Anger-something Reverend Yip said.
not particularly fond of his wife's friends. What uscless people these so-called modern women are, he thought, You let them out of the home and they can think of nothing but clothes and mahjong all day lang. He could not understand why even his wife was becoming
She used to be dif to them, ferent, When he first know her she used. to Jove to do embroidery
needlework. and
"Not at all. Not at all," the She would even compose an occasional poem to his delight.
• Now she would do peither. He "Perhaps you recall I and my wondered what had made her over be wee annoyed and got wife spoke to you, earlier about change: up to finish dromdog
he had a habit of doing wher
Banaking a small donation towards
"If you nee 35ta Taum, tell her the new church," Mr Tung took Mr Fung, Binding that he had that the mutorial I ordered from out, his wallet and handed, n finished his
handful
He
He inspected the narcissus
-END-
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not
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Shanghai has arrived,” Mre choque for five thousand Hong- melon usoda, begged leave of the Furig said, frog, the bed.
kong dollara to the Reverend guests, sying that he wished to
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