33.
So much for the early state of the Colony.
It appears
417
The controversy about the naming of Hongkong, to me, should never have arisen. As previously noted in these articles, the early navigators anchored near Heong-kong, and took in water and supplies there.
Their rough charts of this region had the name of the village marked thereon, and in later years it came to be applied to the whole island. Several of the earliest commentators, as shown in nearly all the old books and articles on the Colony, give this derivation; and they all wrote in the Forties, while the question was still fresh in the minds of the early settlers. There was never any contradiction of this derivation - until more modern pedants began trying to read a derivation into various other Chinese place names, a notoriously unsafe thing to do. We should accept what the "men on the spot" and particularly an authority like Johnston had to say about the naming of Hongkong; once and for all.
The article published yesterday mentioned the old track which led from Wongneichong to Tytan, and on to Stanley, which is so much used by "hikers" and people on horseback: it is known now as Blue Pool Road for the whole of its length from Happy Valley to Wongneichong Gap, and then turns eastward up the slope before dipping, between Violet Hill and Jardine's Lookout, to the reservoir area, crossing the Island Road and on to Stanley.
Mention was also made of the village community at Tytan and Check-choo (now known as 'Stanley). The people were peacefully employed for the most part, but it is obvious that a number of pirates must, for some years after the British occupation, have dwelt at these remote seacoast hamlets. In the old chronicles there is a most interesting tale of the tragic fate which befell British military officers on the old pathway, and the story is worth reproducing; almost in its entirety.
It appears that a party of four officers, Captain Da Costa of the Royal Engineers, Lieutenants Dwyer and Grantham, and Dr. Tweddle, of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment, set out from their quarters at Stanley in the afternoon of February 25, 1849, on a stroll towards the village of Wong-ma-kok, situate on the level of the small peninsula which divides Tytan bay from Stanley Bay. After proceeding about half a mile towards this hamlet, the men separated, Captain Da Costa and Lieutenant Dwyer continuing their way to the village, where they met their death.
It would seem that Captain Da Costa and Lieutenants Dwyer and Grantham had a champagne tiffin in the quarters of Dr. Tweddle, and after spending a couple of hours together the party broke up for a walk, Captain Da Costa especially being in high spirits at the prospect of shortly going Home; according to the evidence of the survivors, none of them was intoxicated, although the Chinese witnesses at the inquest upon the body of Captain Da Costa, probably judging by his frolicsome behaviour, asserted that both Captain Da Costa and Lieutenant Dwyer were drunk.
33.
So much for the early state of the Colony.
it appears
417
The controversy about the naming of Hongkong, to me, .should never have arisen. As previously noted in these articles, the early navigators anchored near Heong- kong, and took in water and supplies there.
Their rough charts of this region had the name of the village marked thereon, and in later years it came to be applied to the whole island. Several of the earliest commentators, as shown in nearly all the old books and articles on the Colony, give this derivation; and they all wrote in the Forties, while the question was still fresh in the minds of the early settlers. There was never any contradiction of this derivation - until more modern pedants began trying to read a derivation into various other Chinese place names, a notoriously unsafe thing to do. We shoulú accept what the "men on the spot" and particularly ar: authority like Johnston had to say about the naning of Hongkong; once and for all.
-
The article published yesterday mentioned the old track which led from Wongmeichong to Tytan, and on to Stanley, which is so much used by "hikers" and people on horseback: it is known now as Blue Pool Road for the whole of its length from Happy Valley to Wongneichong Gap, and then turns eastward up the slope before dipping, between Violet Hill and Jardine's Lookout, to the reservoir area, crossing the Island Road and on to Stanley.
Mention was also made of the village community at Tytan and Check-choo (now known as 'Stanley). The people were peacefully employed for the most part, but it is obvious that a number of pirates must, for some years after the British occupation, have dwelt at these remote seacoast hamlets. In the old chronicles there is a most interesting tale of the tragic fate which befell to British military officers on the old pathway, and the gory is worth reproducing; almost in its entirety.
It appears that a party of four officers, Captain Da Costa of the Royal Engineers, Lieutenants Dwyer and Granthan, and Dr. Tweddle, of the Ceylon Rifle Regiment, set out from their quarters at Stanley in the afternoon of February 25, 1849, on a stroll towards the village of Wong-ma-kok, situate on the level of the small peninsula which divides Tytan bay from Stanley Bay. After proceeding about half a mile towards this hamlet, the men sparated, Captain Da Costa and Lieutenant. Dwyer continuing their way to the village, where they met their death.
but
It would seem that Captain Da Costa and Lieutenants Dwyer and Granthara had a champagne tiffin in the quarters of Dr. Tweddle, and after spending a couple of hours together the party broke up for a walk, Captain Da Costa especially being in high spirits at the prospect of shortly going Hone; according to the evidence of the survivors, none of them was intoxicated, although the Chinese witnesses at the inquest upon the body of Captain Da Costa, probably judging by hėG frolicsome behaviour, asserted that both Captain Da Costa and Lieutenant Dwyer were drunk.
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