CO129-138 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [6-7] — Page 149

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

147

fund and stated that recent circumstances would render it necessary for me to address a separate communication to your Lordship on the subject.

2. Unquestionably there exists amongst the lower class of Chinese, not only here but throughout the greatest part of their vast empire, an odious prejudice amounting to superstitious horror of allowing a person, whether relative or casual acquaintance, to die in a house inhabited by other parties. They consider that such a house would thereby be rendered unlucky and polluted.

3. This national prejudice is said to be often selfishly availed of, merely to save the trouble and expense of further attendance on the sick; but whether that be the case or not, it is certain that amongst the poorer classes, when a person is thought to be at the point of death or hopelessly ill, he is often carried out to the nearest field or hillside and there left to die.

4. There is doubtless something revoltingly inhuman in the idea that at the moment when human suffering and weakness most require sympathy and aid, they should be thrust forth beyond the reach and hope of either, and that this should often be done with savage indifference to everything but the relief obtained thereby from the ordinary obligations of humanity. Nevertheless, whatever may be the opinion and feeling of Europe in such a matter, it is a fact

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147 3 fund and stated that recent circumstances would render it necessary for me to address a separate communication to your Lordship on the subject. 2. Unquestionably there exists amongst the lower class of Chinese, not only here but throughout the greatest part of their vast empire, an odious prejudice amounting to superstitious horror of allowing a person, whether relative or casual acquaintance, to die in a house inhabited by other parties. They consider that such a house would thereby be rendered unlucky and polluted. 3. This national prejudice is said to be often selfishly availed of, merely to save the trouble and expense of further attendance on the sick; but whether that be the case or not, it is certain that amongst the poorer classes, when a person is thought to be at the point of death or hopelessly ill, he is often carried out to the nearest field or hillside and there left to die. 4. There is doubtless something revoltingly inhuman in the idea that at the moment when human suffering and weakness most require sympathy and aid, they should be thrust forth beyond the reach and hope of either, and that this should often be done with savage indifference to everything but the relief obtained thereby from the ordinary obligations of humanity. Nevertheless, whatever may be the opinion and feeling of Europe in such a matter, it is a fact

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2. 147 3 fund and stated that recent circumstances would render it necesary for me to addres separate communication to your Lordship on the subject. a 2. Unquestionably there exists amongst the lower clap of Chinese, not only here but throughout the greatest part of their vast empire, an odious prejudice amounting to superstitions havor of allowing a person whether relative or casual acquaintance to die in a house inhabited بنا as • house inhabited by other parties they consider that such a house would thereby be rendered unlucky and polluted. 13. This national prejudice is said to be often selfishly availed of, merely to save the trouble and expense of further attendance the sick; but whether that be the case or not it is curtain that amongst amongst the poarer clapes when a person is thought to be at the paint of death or hopeleply on ill, he is often carried out to the nearest field or hill side and there left to die. 4. There doulet something windernisbatily io что revolting in the idea that at the moment when human suffering and weaknes most require sympathy and aid. They should be thrust forth beyond the reach and hope of either and that this should. and selfish be often done with CL Savage indifference to everything but the relief eltained thereby from the ordinary obligations of humanity. Nevertheless whatever may be the opinion and feeling of Europe in such a matter it is a fact

2026-05-20 05:16:14 · Baseline

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147

fund and stated that recent circumstances

would render it necesary for me to addres

separate communication to your Lordship on the subject.

2. Unquestionably there exists amongst the lower clap of Chinese, not only here but throughout the greatest part of their vast empire,

an odious prejudice amounting to superstitions havor of allowing a person whether relative or casual acquaintance to die in a house inhabited

بنا

• house inhabited by other parties

they consider that such a house would

thereby be rendered unlucky and polluted.

13.

This

national prejudice is said to be

often selfishly availed of, merely to save

the trouble and expense of further attendance

the sick; but whether that be the case

or not it is curtain that amongst

amongst the poarer clapes when a person is thought to be at the paint of death or hopeleply

ill, he is often carried out to the nearest

field or hill side and there left to die. 4. There

doulet something windernisbatily

что

revolting in the idea that at the moment when human suffering and weaknes most require sympathy and aid. They should be thrust forth beyond the reach

and hope of either and that this should. and selfish

be often done with

Savage

indifference to everything but the relief eltained thereby from the ordinary obligations of humanity. Nevertheless whatever may

CO129-138 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [6-7] — Page 149

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