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As part of these were being delivered into a lighter, the Chinese clerk who was marking the number of each bale simultaneously with the mate, saw that the latter had omitted a certain number, though, of course, this was not determined until some time later. On the ship being finally discharged, the agents applied for one bale which could not be found either in the ship or in Book's godown, and the ship's owners were mulcted for a considerable sum of money.
Apparently, this brand of yarn was in great demand and Turner and Company, as sole agents, were asking high prices from their Chinese clients. One of the customers demurred when told the price and produced similar material which he said he had bought in Endicott's Bazaar. How and when it got there, was never officially known, though the ship's company made a good guess.
Another and even more flagrant case occurred in the following year when Capt. Shewen was third mate on the Black Prince. In this case, a clerk was taking delivery of some cases of confectionery. The bulk of the consignment had been delivered previously, leaving seven cases still on the ship. Knowing that the seven were there, the mate took little trouble in tallying and when he asked the Chinese clerk to sign the receipt, the clerk blandly requested "one more." Only six had been delivered, he said, and he invited the mate to search the lighter.
The lighter was searched from stem to stern and at last, in a cunning kind of well in the timbers, covered with rags of matting, the missing case was brought to light.
The ship was ready for sea and the mate was anxious to avoid any bother with the police, so he took the law into his own hand. The clerk had to come on board to sign the receipt and when he finally did arrive, he was seized by the enraged and angry mate who read him a severe lesson on the sinfulness of infringing the eighth commandment -- with the top end of a main topgallant clewline.
One more reference concerning Old Hongkong is worth taking from "The Great Days of Sail," before I conclude this article. It concerns a classic race of tea clippers from Hongkong to London in 1858.
Among the British ships selected to be "laid on the berth" were Jardine's flyer, Cairngorm, the Lemmermuir, Wynaud, Chieftain, Morning Star and Warrior Queen. The American contingent comprised three black-hulled flyers, the Mandarin, Young America, and Sweepstakes.
The race developed into an exciting duel between the Cairngorm and the Lemmermuir. Eventually the Cairngorm reached the Downs forty hours ahead of the Lemmermuir. The latter ship, however, having left Hongkong 46 hours after the Cairngorm, completed the trip in the fastest time.
It is worthy of mention that the captain of the Lemmermuir was the father of Mr. Robert Gordon Shewan, who died in Hongkong recently.
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As part of these were being delivered into a lighter, the Chinese clerk who was merking the number of each bele simultaneously with the mete, saw that the latter had. omitted a certain number, though, of course, this was not determined until some time letor. On the ship being finally discharged, the agents applied for one bale which could not be found either in the ship or in Book's godown, and the ship's owners were mulcted for a considerable sum of money.
Apparently, this brand of yarn was in great demand and Turner and Company, as sole agents, were asking high prices from the ir Chinese clients. One of the customers demurred when tol the price and produced similar material which he said he had bought in Endicott's Bazaar. How and when it got there, was never ofiicially known, though the ship's company made a good guess.
Another and even more flagrent oese occurred in the following year when Capt. Shewen was third me te on the Black Prince. In this case, a clerk was teking delivery of some cases of confectionery. The bulk of the consignment had been delivered previously, leaving seven csses still on the ship. Knowing that the seven were there, the mate took little trouble in tallying and when he asked the Chinese clerk to sign the: receipt, the olerk blandly requested "oné more.*::Only six had been delivered, he said, and he invited the mate to search de the lighter.
i
The lighter was searched from stem to stern end at last, /in a cunning kind of well in the timbers, covered with raga of
matting, the missing oase was brought to light.
The ship was ready for sea and the mate was anxious to avoid any bother with the police, so he took the law into his own hende. The alerk had to come on boɛrd to sign the receipt and when he finally did arrive, he was seized by the cireged aming mate who read him a severe lesson on the sinfulness of infringing the eighth commandment -- with the top end of a main topgallant olewline.
One more reference concerning Old Hongkong is worth taking from "The Great Days of Sail," before I conclude this article. It concerns a clarsió race of tee clippers from Hongkong to London in 1858.
Among the British ships selected to be "laid on the berth" were Jardine's flyer, Cairngorm, the Lemmermuir, Wynaud, Chieftein, Morning Star and Warrior queen. The American contingent comprised three black-hulled flyers, the Mandarin, Young America, and Sweep- stakes.
+
The race developed into an exciting duel between the Cairn- gorm and the Lammermuir. Eventually the Cairngorm reached the Downs forty hours ahead of the Lammermuir. The latter ship, however, having left Hongkong 46 hours after the Cairngorm, completed the trip in the fastest time.
It is worthy of mention that the captain of the Lammermuir was the father of Mr. Robert Gordon Shewan, who died in Hongkong recently.
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