It is to be doubted if ever before in the history of the Colony the weather conditions have been so at variance with the season of the year, and though it is true an occasional shower has swept by, the rain that had fallen has proved scarcely enough to lay the dust collected in every nook and cranny. It is indeed a deplorable condition and one that must long remain in the memory of those unfortunate enough to experience the worst drought ever known to Hongkong.
Page 1087
Affairs have now become so grave that everyone is bemoaning the fact that his own source of supply is practically exhausted, and until a long and steady downpour favours the Colony, he must depend on the water obtainable from the running streams on the mainland. Though all are naturally complaining of the great inconvenience occasioned by the scarcity of water, it cannot be denied that the grumbling from upper levels is not so warrantable as the wailings from the dens of West Point and Wanchai.
There it is that the results of the drought are felt with an acuteness unknown to those whose greatest trouble is the loss of a morning tub; there it is that the struggle for existence continues with a keenness unknown in other places and there it is that an efficient supply of water is most needed, to stave off the many diseases to which the native community are such ready victims.
Jump into a ricksha one of these baking mornings and go along the Praya bent on gleaning a little information regarding the methods with which the Colony is being supplied with water. What do you
Page 12
see? To the right, to the left, in front and behind, men, women and children - of these, the youngest with earthenware pots, wooden buckets, pails, kerosene tins, and jars, in fact everything warranted to hold water, attached to their carrying poles, hurrying to and from the stand-pipes, like bees on a hive.
Arriving at the stand-pipes, one sees it is a case of first come first served, those appearing last on the scene taking their place behind the early arrivals, until at length, the line of carriers grows longer and stretches far away from where the little steam-engines are puffing and panting as they pump the water out of the junks into the pipes. A small detachment from the Royal Welsh Fusiliers is hard by for the purpose of keeping order, but the services of the men are scarcely required, so orderly are the coolies. There is little squabbling for priority. All comers take their turn, taking up a position in the rear, and, sitting on their buckets, wait patiently for some few minutes and then move nearer by a few feet to the precious supply.
Now let the ricksha convey you to Wanchai, and in Queen's Road East see how the families get their supplies. Follow the water carriers up over the hill leading to Happy Valley; go with them along the parched and dusty road by the race-course and branch off in the direction of Tytem. Visit the rocky little nook, sheltered by trees, with a tiny stream feebly trickling down to where a crowd of carriers are clustered with their poles and receptacles. Notice how they snap off a few leaves from shrubs hard by and place them in the buckets to keep the water steady and then return with them into the scorching sun; and observe how resigned they all appear to a situation which, to the Colonisers of this fair port must be unknown - even undreamt of.
What does it all mean? Surely some one has blundered, and at length the time has come to impress the fact upon the minds of those responsible? Had the drought kept off a few years when the population had become greater and spread along the higher levels, when Kowloon had spread far into the hinterland, then the water famine would indeed be keenly felt by every section of the community.
It is to be doubted if ever before in the history of the Colony the weather conditions have been 80 at variance with the season of the year, and though it is true an occasional shower has swept by, the rain that had fallen hes proved scarcely enough to lay the dust collected in every nook end cranny. It is indeed a deplorable condition and one that must long remain in the memory of those unfortunate enough to experience the worst drought ever known to Hongkong.
1087
Affairs have now become so grave that everyone is benoening the fact that his own source of supply is practically exhausted, and until a long and steady downpour favours the Colony, he must depend on the water obtainable from the running stresma on the mainland. Though all are naturally complaining of the greet inconvenience occasioned by the scarcity of water, it cannot be denied that the grumbling from upper levels is not so warrantable as the wailings from the dens of West Point end Wanchai.
!
There it is that the results of the drought are felt with an acuteness unknown to those whose greatest trouble is the loss of e morning tub; there it is that the struggle for existence continues with a keenness unknown in other places end there it is that en efficient supply of water is most needed, to stave off the meny diseases to which the nativo community are such reedy victims.
Jump into a ricksha one of the se baking mornings and go along the Praya bent on gleaning a little information regarding the method s with which the Colony is being supplied with water. What do you
12
see? To the right, to the left, in front and behind, men, women and children - of these, the youngest with earthenware pots, wooden buckets, pails, kerosene tins, and jars, in fact everything warranted to hold water, attached to their barrying poles, hurrying to and from the stand-pipes, like bees on a hive.
2. B
Arriving at the stand-pipes, one sees it is a case of first come first served, those appearing last on the scene taking the ir place behind the èerly arrivals, until at length, the line of carriers grows longer and stretches far away from where the a little steam-engines are puffing and pasting as they pump the water out of the junks into the pipes. A mall detachment from the Royal Welsh Fusiliers is hard by for the purpose of keeping order, but the services of the men are scarcely required, so orderly are the coolies. There is little squabbling for priority. All comers take their claims, taking up a position in the reer, end, sitting on the ir buckets, wait patiently for some few minutes and then move nearer by a few feet to the precious supply.
Now let the ricksha convey you to Wanchai, and in Queen's Road East see how the families get their supplies. Follow the water carriers up over the hill leading to Happy Valley; go with them along the parched and dusty road by the race-course and branch off in the direction of Tytem. Visit the rocky little nook, sheltered by trees, with e tiny stream feebly trickling down to where a crowd of carriers are clustered with their poles and receptacles. Notice how they snap off a few leaves from shrubs hard by end place them in the buckets to keep the water steady end then return with them into the scorching sun; and observe how resigned they all appear to a situation which, to the Colonisers of this fair port must be unknown - even undreamt of.
.:
What does it all mean? Surely some one has blundered, and at length the time has come to impress the fact upon the minds of those responsible? Had the drought kept off a few years when the population had become greater end spread along the higher levels, when Kowloon had spread fer into the hinterland, then the water femine would indeed be keenly felt by every section of the community.
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