290
RODERICK O'BRIEN S.J.
had only to retire to the Consulate where a rare treat awaited me in going over his collection.
Although at this stage in his fifties, and in weak health (he died a few years later in 1889), Woods apparently planned a substantial scientific voyage up the Yangtze (Changjiang) River, but was unable to achieve this aim.
April 1885: Passing Through
Woods then joined HMS Flying Fish on a voyage to the Philippine Islands. On 20 March 1885, we find him writing from Manila to his brother, Terry. But the exigencies of war in the region meant that the Flying Fish had to return to Hong Kong, and so also Woods.
The precise date of his return to Hong Kong is not known. In any event, Woods was soon gone again, this time to Japan. He left Hong Kong on 11 April 1885.
July 1885: Pokfulam
The visit to Japan was planned to be only a short one, and Woods intended to return on the same steamer. But he was taken sick, and it was over a month before he could leave Japan. On 21 June, he was able to leave, and returned to Hong Kong about four weeks later,
This time, in a letter to his brother Terry dated 7 July 1885, he tells us that he was staying at Pokfulam, at the home of the managing partner in the firm of Douglas Lapraik & Company. Apparently he had not recovered in health, and the Governor arranged for him to spend his stay in the more salubrious climate of Pokfulam. Nevertheless, he was sufficiently attentive that in a later publication on the geography and geology of Hong Kong he was able to make specific mention of formations near the reservoir.
Presumably recovered, he left Hong Kong to complete his work in the Malaysian area, arriving in Singapore once again, and undertaking an excursion to Pahang on the east coast of the peninsula.
290
RODERICK O'BRIEN S.J.
had only to retire to the Consulate where a rare treat awaited me in going over his collection.
Although at this stage in his fifties, and in weak health (he died a few years later in 1889), Woods apparently planned a substantial scientific voyage up the Yangtze (Changjiang) River, but was un- able to achieve this aim.
April 1885: Passing Through
Woods then joined HMS Flying Fish on a voyage to the Philip- pine Islands. On 20 March 1885, we find him writing from Manila to his brother, Terry. But the exigiencies of war in the region meant that the Flying Fish had to return to Hong Kong, and so also Woods.
The precise date of his return to Hong Kong is not known. In any event, Woods was soon gone again, this time to Japan. He left Hong Kong on 11 April 1885.
July 1885: Pokfulam
The visit to Japan was planned to be only a short one, and Woods intended to return on the same steamer. But he was taken sick, and it was over a month before he could leave Japan. On 21 June, he was able to leave, and returned to Hong Kong about four weeks later,
This time, in a letter to his brother Terry dated 7 July 1885, he tells us that he was staying at Pokfulam, at the home of the manag- ing partner in the firm of Douglas Lapraik & Company. Apparent- ly he had not recovered in health, and the Governor arranged for him to spend his stay in the more salubrious climate of Pokfulam, Nevertheless, he was sufficiently attentive that in a later publica- tion on the geography and geology of Hong Kong he was able to make specific mention of formations near the reservoir.
Presumably recovered, he left Hong Kong to complete his work in the Malaysian area, arriving in Singapore once again, and un- dertaking an excursion to Pahang on the east coast of the peninsu- la.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.