45
figures are not strong enough to make any such a drop in population certain, they do make it unlikely that the population was rising fast.
The reason for the low fertility is probably the practice of late weaning. Oral evidence suggests that boys were not weaned until they could walk and talk, and, in some cases, not until they were 4 or 5 years old, since it was recognised that mother's milk was strengthening. Girls were weaned younger, but still not until after they reached 1 year, in many cases. This must have acted to slow down conception.
Social Statistics
Education
The 1911 Census lists 26,460 males in Northern District of 10 years of age and upwards. It gives the educational attainments of 25,679 males in that district, probably intending this to equate to all males of 10 years old and above, which was specifically the case with the corresponding statistics for the City and floating population in that census. 14,162 males were entered as "Able to Read and Write" (55.2%), and 11,517 as "Unable to read and Write" (44.8%). Even taking into account the 778 males aged over 10 whose educational attainments are not given, it is clear that significantly over half of the male population reported itself literate. In 1921, the census found even higher levels of male literacy. 17,611 literate males, representing 67.2% of males over 10. The difference is unlikely to be due to increasing literacy, but is probably the result of a more relaxed standard of literacy in 1921.
In Southern District (including New Kowloon) in 1911 the levels of male literacy among the land population were even higher than in Northern District, presumably reflecting the more urban character of life there. 7,006 males out of 11,652 with educational attainments recorded (60.1%) were "Able to Read and Write" (the full total of males there over 10 was 11,859). In 1921, 7,439 males of the Southern District land population (again including New Kowloon) were recorded as "Able to Read and Write," representing 65.7% of males aged over 10.
However, if literacy among village males was common, it was
45
figures are not strong enough to make any such a drop in population certain, they do make it unlikely that the population was rising fast.
The reason for the low fertility is probably the practice of late weaning. Oral evidence suggests that boys were not weaned until they could walk and talk, and, in some cases, not until they were 4 or 5 years old, since it was recognised that mother's milk was strengthening. Girls were weaned younger, but still not until after they reached 1 year, in many cases. This must have acted to slow down conception
Social Statistics
Education
The 1911 Census lists 26,460 males in Northern District of 10 years of age and upwards. It gives the educational attainments of 25,679 males in that district, probably intending this to equate to all males of 10 years old and above, which was specifically the case with the corresponding statistics for the City and floating population in that census." 14,162 males were entered as "Able to Read and Write" (55 2%), and 11,517 as “Unable to read and Write" (44.8%). Even taking into account the 778 males aged over 10 whose educational attainments are not given, it is clear that significantly over half of the male population reported itself literate. In 1921, the census found even higher levels of male literacy. 17,611 Iiterate males, representing 67.2% of males over 10" The difference is unlikely to be due to increasing literacy, but is probably the result of a more relaxed standard of literacy in 1921.
In Southern District (including New Kowloon) in 1911 the levels of male literacy among the land population were even higher than in Northern District, presumably reflecting the more urban character of life there 7,006 males out of 11, 652 with educational attainments recorded (60.1%) were "Able to Read and Write" (the full total of males there over 10 was 11,859) In 1921 7,439 males of the Southern District land population (again including New Kowloon) were recorded as “Able to Read and Write," representing 65.7% of males aged over 10.
However, if literacy among village males was common, it was
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.