CO129-247 - Acting Governor Fleming Governor Des Voeus - 1890 [10-12] — Page 456

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

I gave payment, but the Inspector who came with me never saw the place where the pigs were to be kept. I found them out on demand. Meat and vegetables were kept in these houses ready for the next day's market. In one house, a quarter of beef ready for the market hung above the bed of a man suffering from Small-pox, in a room where twenty other people slept.

I found public dairies were situated in the lower floors of these houses, with eight or ten cows in them. The cows had never been left out of the place since they were first brought into it and had grown so large that they could not get out of the door until pulled down. The stench was overpowering and sickening everywhere. The people were always very good-natured, let me see all over the houses, answered my questions, and never gave any trouble.

They said they could not keep the places cleaner; if they had water, they could not use it, and they complained bitterly of its scarcity. The scarcity was dreadful. There were wells all over the place, but being situated in such houses and in side streets, the water in most was contaminated with sewage. The hydrants were far apart and, when running, were besieged by water coolies with their buckets.

Thousands who were too poor to buy water from these coolies sent their children long distances to the hill streams to collect it, as the father of the family was away all day at work. A gallon of water was sold to a family for a day's use for cleaning, washing, drinking, and cooking. The water in the wells, if not absolutely stinking, was used for washing clothes, vegetables, and cooking, but not for drinking, as it had a bad taste. Luckily, the people rarely drank cold water but always boiled it and in the form of tea. Among the poor, what is called "stick tea" (that is, "pickings from the tea leaves when being cleaned and sorted") was only used.

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I gave payment, but the Inspector who came with me never saw the place where the pigs were to be kept. I found them out on demand. Meat and vegetables were kept in these houses ready for the next day's market. In one house, a quarter of beef ready for the market hung above the bed of a man suffering from Small-pox, in a room where twenty other people slept. I found public dairies were situated in the lower floors of these houses, with eight or ten cows in them. The cows had never been left out of the place since they were first brought into it and had grown so large that they could not get out of the door until pulled down. The stench was overpowering and sickening everywhere. The people were always very good-natured, let me see all over the houses, answered my questions, and never gave any trouble. They said they could not keep the places cleaner; if they had water, they could not use it, and they complained bitterly of its scarcity. The scarcity was dreadful. There were wells all over the place, but being situated in such houses and in side streets, the water in most was contaminated with sewage. The hydrants were far apart and, when running, were besieged by water coolies with their buckets. Thousands who were too poor to buy water from these coolies sent their children long distances to the hill streams to collect it, as the father of the family was away all day at work. A gallon of water was sold to a family for a day's use for cleaning, washing, drinking, and cooking. The water in the wells, if not absolutely stinking, was used for washing clothes, vegetables, and cooking, but not for drinking, as it had a bad taste. Luckily, the people rarely drank cold water but always boiled it and in the form of tea. Among the poor, what is called "stick tea" (that is, "pickings from the tea leaves when being cleaned and sorted") was only used. Page 454
Baseline (Original)
I 454 gave payment, but. Inspector who and in which the pigs. I found them out on demand never saw- the place were to be kept. meat and vegetables kept in these houses ready for next days market. In one house a quarter of beef ready for the market hing above the bed of: suffering from Small-pox, a room where twenty other people slept. I found public daries were situated in these houses with eight in them there cows had a man the lower floors of or ten never Cows M left in the place since first brought into it and had grown so large that they could not get out of the door until pulled down. The stench it was wvert sickening every where. The people always very good natured let me see all over the houses answered my my questions and never gave any trouble. They said they could not keep the placessing cleaner, if they had water they could not noe it, and they complained bitterly of use its scarcity. The The scarcity WAS dreadful, there were wells over the place but being situated in such houses and in side streets the water in most was contaminated with sewage. The hydrants were far apart and when running beseiged by water coolies with their brokets. Thousands who were In were many Cases a too poor to buy water from these cookies sent their children long distances to the hill streams to collect it, the father of the family being away all day at work. gallon of water was cell a family had a day for cleaning washing drinking and cooking. The water in the wells if not absolutely stinking was used for washing clothes etables and cooking but not for drinking. the lehnece a taste. Luckily. vegetables as it had tarely drink cold water but always boiled and in the form of tea. Among the foor what is called. stick tea, ( that is "pickings from the tea leaves when being cleaned and sorted) only being used Then
2026-05-26 12:41:01 · Baseline
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I

454

gave payment, but.

Inspector who

and

in which the pigs.

I

found

them out on demand

never saw-

the place were to be kept. meat and vegetables kept in these houses ready for next days market. In one house a quarter of beef ready

for the market hing above the bed of:

suffering from Small-pox, a room where twenty other people slept. I found public daries were situated in

these houses with eight in them there cows had

a man

the lower floors of

or ten

never

Cows M

left

in

the place since first brought

into it and had

grown so large that they could not get out of the door until pulled down. The stench

it was

wvert

sickening every

where. The people always very good natured let me see all over the houses answered my

my questions

and never

gave any trouble. They said they could not keep the placessing cleaner, if they had water they could not noe it, and they complained bitterly

of

use

its

scarcity.

The

The scarcity

WAS

dreadful,

there

were

wells over the place but

being situated in such houses and in side streets the water in most was

contaminated with

sewage.

The hydrants

were far apart and when running

beseiged by water coolies with their brokets. Thousands who were

In

were

many

Cases a

too poor to buy water from these cookies sent their children long distances to the hill streams to collect it, the father of the family being away all day at work. gallon of water was cell a family had a day for cleaning washing drinking and cooking. The water in the wells if not absolutely stinking was used for washing clothes

etables and cooking but not for drinking. the lehnece a taste. Luckily.

vegetables

as it had

tarely drink cold water but always boiled and in the form of tea. Among the foor what is called. stick tea, ( that is "pickings from the tea leaves when being cleaned and sorted) only being

used

Then

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