RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-1984
https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/5h73wh572
288

JULIAN TENISON WOODS IN HONG KONG

RODERICK O'BRIEN S. J.

A century ago, the government and scientific elite of Hong Kong welcomed an unusual visitor; an Australian Catholic priest and scientist, Julian Edmund Tenison Woods, who passed through Hong Kong as part of an extensive scientific tour of south-east and east Asia. Woods is probably best known outside church circles for his scientific work, and despite limited formal training, he became an active scientist, publishing extensively in natural sciences, especially marine biology, botany, geology and paleontology.

In 1883, Woods was commissioned by the then Governor of the Straits Settlements, Sir Frederick Weld, to explore and report on the mineral prospects of some areas of the Malayan peninsula. During this time, he was elected an honorary member of our sister branch, the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, and two of his nearly two hundred publications are to be found in its journal. This expedition widened in scope, as he took advantage of opportunities to travel more widely, especially on the naval hydrographic ship HMS Flying Fish. Woods eventually returned to Australia in July 1886, after nearly three years research.

During this time, he seems to have made four stops in Hong Kong:

January 1885: Hong Kong and Canton

In mid-January 1885, Woods arrived on the P & O steamer Hydastes from Singapore. He stayed first with the Governor, Sir George Bowen and then with Judge Russell.

Sir George arranged for him to lecture on The Mines and Minerals of the Malay Peninsula on 3 February 1885. During his introduction, Sir George expressed surprise at finding a priest involved in scientific pursuits, and his rather tactless remarks have been preserved in the full report which he sent the next day to the Earl of Derby at the Colonial Office:
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RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 | RAS-2001
https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/zg651950g
223

'LIMERICKS, OR LINES WRITTEN IN THE BACK OF A 'BUS

Travelling around in a bus

There were 27 of us.

I sat and wrote down

These lines of my own.

I hope you find they're humorous.

3 Russell

No group, it seems, is complete

Without one who, to judge by his feet, (Which, while we were talking

Were off again, walking)

Would feel more at home on the beat.

5

Jean and Ian

7

There's one chap who went for a swim,

And his wife just sat and watched him.

I think he was silly.

Coz he lost his willy.

At least - it went terribly thin

Laura and Clark

For Brits, it is always quite pleasing

To have Americans around, just for teasing.

But hey - let's be fair,

They're a jolly nice pair.

(Do you think that I sound too appeasing?)

9 Andrew

He's tall, unassuming and blond.

Of food, he's inordinately fond,

Though you'd never know,

Coz it just doesn't show.

He's not what the French would call "ronde".

11 Gaye and Peter

There's one couple, they're quite romantic.

I'd describe them as "transatlantic".

The long and the short

2 I've described all the members in verse.

Some are better but some are much worse.

If any feel cheated

By how they've been treated

The complements they may reverse.

4 Mary

6

This next lady don't make a fuss.

She just sits at the back of the bus.

'It's comfy,' she said

But she's banged her head

On the roof more than any of us.

Marlene

This lawyer from Lancaster-shire

Has the nicest accent you'll hear.

I'm afraid it would grate

If I tried t'imitate,

So listen to her, she's just here.

8 Gillian and Peter

The next one is also a pair.

They've travelled a lot, here and there.

'When we were in Iran

We lived in a barn.

It was much worse than this. So there!'

10 Leona and Victor

She bought an ethnic cardigan,

And hardly took it off again.

He has more endurance.

Perhaps it's insurance,

Or maybe he's terribly vain.

12 Janet

wwwwwwwwana+m

The next lady's also a Yankee.

She don't stand for no hanky-panky.

She keeps getting passes
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