+82
23.
As we have already noted (see 23-8-33) the authorities did not commence building substantial barracks until the late Forties, and the present Murray Barracks have portions dating back all that time; while the Albany, above the Gardens, was probably officers' quarters, being referred to in an old chronicle as the Albany Barracks, and we have seen that it was built in 1844 as Civil Service quarters and handed over temporarily to the military in 1847 (see 5-8-33).
The Army was hard put to it in finding suitable quarters, for some time after the occupation of Hongkong, and the move from West Point was not made until some three or four years after the founding of the Colony in 1841. As the arrival of large numbers of soldiers, and their quartering in mat-shed barracks (which the chronicles tell us were erected in the western part of the town) would naturally impress the Chinese, we easily see the connexion between this encampment and the vernacular name, which, if any indication were needed, definitely established the area where the first barracks went up.
These were obviously far from hygienic, and we know from various references that the troops paid a heavy toll in disease, much of it malaria, in those days almost always fatal owing to the absence of knowledge of its nature and method of dissemination by mosquitoes.
Some names not shown on the map might be mentioned, as showing how the occurrence of events can attach a vernacular designation to different parts of the Colony. The area to the extreme west of this map is known as Sai Wan or West Bay, and latterly has been given the name of Lap Sap Wan, or Rubbish Bay, a sad commentary on the practice of dumping refuse which persisted there for many years, and by this means formed part of the reclamation. The name Kennedy Town given to that part of the city came later, and was in honour of Sir Arthur Kennedy, a former Governor (see 7-11-33).
Before we leave this quarter of the city I should like to quote from Mr. Lindsell's paper on the subject. He mentions that the area lying between Eastern Street and the Macao Steamship Wharf is still known among some of the Chinese as Kam U Tong, meaning the Gold Fish Pools, a reference to the fact that up to the time of the reclamation there, a little over thirty years ago, there were ponds in the area in which gold fish were bred. This is of historic interest, as showing how progress has eliminated a local industry, as well as suggesting the source in the old days of much of the malaria - evidently the region had many pools capable of breeding mosquitoes.
Various other names on this old plan will be dealt with in a concluding article, but before closing this one we might note the references to military batteries - survivals from the first year of the Colony's existence. Battery Road and Battery Hill lead to Elliot Battery (now non-existent), but named after the first administrator, Captain Charles Elliot, R.N.), and to Fly Point, where Fly Point Battery remained in service until comparatively recent times. It might be wondered how that name arose - possibly owing to a large number of flies occurring at the spot, denoting the presence in the neighbourhood of refuse, whether from the city dumps or otherwise - it is not possible to say. The spot certainly does not appear to have been a particularly healthy one.
We might note that Belcher's Fort is in that neighbourhood, and that Belcher's Street, though not marked on the map...
+82
23.
As we have already noted (see 23-8-33) the authorities did not commence building substantial barracks until the late Forties, and the present Murray Barracks have portions dating back all that time; while the Albany, above the Gardens, was probably officers' quarters, being referred to in an old chronicle as the Albany Barracks, and we have seen that it was built in 1844 as Civil Service quarters and handed over temporarily to the military in 1847 (see -5-8-33).
The Army was hard put to it in finding suitable quarters, for some time after the occupation of Hongkong, and the move from West Point was not made until some three of four years after the founding of the Colony in 1841. As the arrival of large numbers of soldiers, and their quartering in matshed barracks (which the chronicles tell us were erected in the western part of the town) would naturally impress the Chinese, we easily see the connexion between this encampment and the vernacular name, which, if any indication were needed, definitely established the area where the first barracks went up.
These were obviously far from hygienic, and we know from various references that the troops paid a heavy toll in disease, much of it malaria, in those days almost always fatal owing to the absence of knowledge of its nature and method of dissemination by mosquitoes.
Some names not shown on the map might be mentioned, as showing how the occurrence of events can attach a vernacular designation to different parts of the Colony. The area to the extreme west of this map is known as Sai Wan or West Bay, and latterly has been given the name of Lap Sap Wan, or Rubbish Bay, a sad commentary on the practice of dumping refuse which persisted there for many years, and by this means formed part of the reclamation. The name Kennedy Town given to that part of the city came later, and was in honour of Sir Arthur Kennedy, a former Governor (see 7-11-33).
Before we leave this quarter of the city I should like to quote from Mr. Lindsell's paper on the subject. He mentions Shat the area lying between Eastern Street and the Macao Steamship Wharf is still known among some of the Chinese as am U Tong, meaning the Gold Fish Pools, a reference to the fact that up to the time of the reclamation there a little over thirty years ago there were ponds in the area in which gold fish were bred. This is of historic interest, as showing how progress has elminated a local industry, as well as suggest- ing the source in the old days of much of the malaria evidently the region had many pools capable of breeding mosquitoes.
Various other names on this old plan will be dealt with in a concluding article, but before closing this one we might rote the references to military batteries survivals from
he first year of the Colony's existence. Battery Road and Battery Hill lead to Elliot Battery (now non-existent',
ut named after the first administrator, Captain Charles Elliot, .A.), and to Fly Point, where Fly Point Battery remained in service until comparatively recent times. It might be wondered how that name arose - possibly owing to a large number of flies occurring at the spot, denoting the presence in the neighbourhood of refuse, whether from the city dumps or oner- wise it is not possible to say. The spot certainly does not appear to have been a particularly healthy one.
We might note that Belcher's Fort is in that neighbour- hood, and that Belcher's Street, though not marked on the
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