1938-07-29 — Page 22

10

WHE

HONGKONG

TELEGRAPH,

FRIDAY,

JULY

29, 1938.

W

FELLAH-

HILE Nahas he tills world's richest land,

quarrels with Farouk, and Ma- homed Mahmud prepares an election, and the cafés of Cairo and Alex- andria buzz with talk of politics, the fellah goes on. from dawn to dusk, day in day out, year after year. working in the fields.

He and his ancestors have done the same for thousands of years.

His way of life hardly differs to-day from that of his fore- fathers, as you may see them pictured on the walls of tombs built three thousand years be- fore Christ, His standard of liv- ing is much the same,

Working the richest land in all the world, he has-and has always had-little gain of it.

Out of the wealth of Egypt and the labour of the fellah Cheops built his Pyramid and Rameses his great temples: Imperial Rome drew tribute.

Mamelucos and Turks, and, later, European financiers, got great wealth. To-day, in spite of the troubles of world depression, Cairo and Alexandria are rich cities.

Tall comes from the land. But the people whose patient, unremit- ting labour draw the wealth from the land are poor to-day as in the days of the Pharaohs, in the days of the Mamelukes, in the days of the Turks.

They are indeed fea. On the food they have, an Englishman in England would starve. The climate helps: and the long habit of centuries,

But beyond a bare minimum of food they have little or nothing.

Been from road or rail or river, the little mud brick village among its palm trees looks picturesque.

yet his home is a mud hut

By W. N. EWER

They are as poor as in the days of the Pharaohs,

But the reality, scen at close quarters:-

The "home" of the poorer felluh or of the paid labourer is a Four walls of sun- single room.

dried mud brick and a root covered with maize stalks to break the Bun's heat. A hole in the roof for light and ventilation.

Inside, a mud floor and a mud mastaba a sort of platform or dais, eighteen inches or so above the floor, which is bed and couch und, ideed, all the furniture.

On the floor a few pots. On the mastaba a roll of bedding, and, tu the corner. the painted chest which the bride brought when she was married, and in which her trinkets and other little family treasures are kept,

have another room, which has no mastaba, but which is otherwise hardly distinguishable from that of the humang.

These are the poorest. Others are a little butter off. Some by such standarda almost prosperous. But everywhere a terrible poverty,

And everywhere discase. Egypt to-day, as in Moses' day, has her plaguca. And as all through her history, the country is to-day occupied by invading armies who batten on the fellabeen.

T

HE fellah's greatest enemies to-day are not Romans or Turks or British or any foreign conqueror. They are a worm and a snail-

from Central both immigrants That, except for

Africa, their clothes and their tools, is the sum tolni of their possessions.

That is all.

Unless they own a donkey or a buffalo: in which case the animals

P & O-BRITISH INDIA (APCAR) AND EASTERN & AUSTRALIAN LINES

(Companies Incorporated in England.)

Taking Cargo on through Blik of Lading for STRAITS, JAVA & BURMA, CEYLON, INDIA, IRANIAN GULF, MAURITIUS, E, & B, AFTUCA, AUSTRALASIA, INCLUDI ING NEW ZEALAND AND QUEENSLAND PORTS, RED SEA, EGYPT, EUROPE, ETC.

PENINSULAR & ORIENTAL FORTNIGHTLY DIRECT ROYAL MAIL. STEAMERS (Under Contract with HM. Government.)

All vessels may call at any ports on or if the route, and the route and all settings are subject to change or deviation with or without notice.

Steamers RAWALPINDI

BANGALORE

NALDERA CORFU +*BHUTAN

CHITRAL *BEHAR

CARTHAGE +*SOUDAN

Tons From H'Kong about,

6th Aug. Noon. 17,000

6.000 13th Aug.

17,000) 20th Aug. 14,000) 3rd Sept. 8,000 10th Sept.

17,000 17th Sept. 8,000) 24th Sept.

14,500,

1st Oct. 6,000 8th Oct.

Destination

Bombay, Marscilica & London. B'bay, M'scilles, Havre, L'don, Hull, H'burg, R'dam & A'werp. Bombay, Marseilles & & London

Marseilles & London. B'bay, M'scilles, Havre, L'don. Hull, H'bg, R'dam & A'werp. Marseilles & London. B'bay, M'seilles, Havre, Lidon, Hull, H'burg, R'dam & A'werp. Marseilles & London.

From the hookworm, lying in countless millions in the soll be

from ankylostoma:

tiny gets

BANKS

.

HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION.

Authorised Capital

$50.000,00

issued and Fully Paid-up .... $20,000,000 Heserve Funda:-

Sterling

■ 0,500,000 Hongkong Currency Reserve $10,000,000 || Reserve Liability of Proprietors $20,000.00 HEAD OFFICE:-KONGKONG.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

T. E. Pearce, Esq.. Chairman.

#Ion. Mr. J. J. Paterson, Deputy Chairman,

J. K. Bousfeld, Esq. 7. Il Masson, Esq. A. II. Compton, Esq G. Miskin, Esq. Hon. Mr. 8. H. Dodwall K. 9. Marrison, Esq M. T. Johnson, Esq. klon, Mr. A. L. Shields D. C. Edmondaton, Esq. Acting Chief Manager. BRANCHES ---

AMOY BANGKOK

BATAVIA BOMBAY

B'bay, M'sellles, Havre, L'don, CALCUTTA Hull, H'burg, 1dam & A'werp. } CANTON

▾ Cargo only ↑ Calls Casablanca All vessels muy call at Malta

TALMA

SIRDHANA

SHIRALA TILAWA SANTHIA

BRITISH INDIA APCAR BAILINGS (SOUTH)

10,000 30th July, 2 p.m.

8,000| 13th Aug.

8,000 27th Aug.

[10,000] 10th Sept.

8,000 24th Sept

CHEFOO COLOMBO DAMEN FOOCHOW HAIPHONG

S'pore,

Port Swettenham, HAMBURG Penang, Rangoon & Calcutta DO.

DO.

DO. DO.

HANKOW HARBIN HONGKEW ILOILO IPON JOHORE

B.I. Apcar Lino Steamers have excellent accommodation for 1st & 2nd class passengers | EASTERN & AUSTRALIAN SAILINGS (SOUTH.)

NELLORE

TANDA

NANKIN

7,000 5th Aug., il a.m. Manila, Rabaul, Brisbane,

7,000

2nd Sept.

7,000

1st Oct,

Sydney, Melbourne & Hobart

Regular monthly sailings from B'kong to Shanghai & Japan & kong to Austraile

SHIRALA

CORFU

TANDA *BHUTAN

*BEHAR

CHITRAL

Hong Kong to Bydney-18 days.

SAILINGS TO SHANGHAI & JAPAN. 8,000 3rd Aug, 10 a.m. Japan. 14,500 4th Aug.

7,000 4th Aug, 5th Aug. 6,000 0.000 14th Aug. 17.000 10th Aug. 14,500 1st Sept. 6,000 1st Sept. Cargo only.

CARTHAGE SOUDAN

Shanghal & Japan. Shanghai & Japan.

Shanghai & Japan.

Shanghai & Japan. Shanghai & Japan.

Shanghai & Japan.

Shanghat & Japan.

alteration without notice, parceb All dates are approximate and subject to measuring not more than & ett, will be received at the Company's Office up to noor on the day previous to salting.

For Passage Rates, fiandbooks, Freight, etc., apply

Agent

P. & G. B'ding, MACKINNON, MACKENZIE & CO. Phone

Connaught R.C.

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LONDON

LYONS MALACCA MANILA MUAK (JOHORE) MUKDEN NEW YORK

PEIPING

PENANG

RANGOON SAIGON

SAN FRANCISCO SHANGHAL SINGAPORE SOURABAYA SUNGEI PATANI SWATOW TIENTAIN TOKYO TSINGTAO YOKOHAMA Current Accounts_opened in Local Cur rency and Fixed Deposits received for ong year or sherler periods in Local: and other currencies on terms which will: be quoted on application

KOBE KOWLOON KUALA LUMPUR

ALSO -Up to date BAFE DEPOSIT BOXES in various straS TO LET.

Hongkong, 2nd May, 2033.

HONGKONG SAVINGS BANK.

snall living in the stagnant water which irrigates his folds, he gets bilharzia.

The statistics sound incredible. Boventy or eighty per cont, of the rural population, they say, have one or other: most of them both.

They do not, on the whole, kill, but they lower the energy, weakon the muscles, produce lassitude and debility. And this in a people who to live must work all the daylight hours.

Third

Ankylostoma, bilharzia.

of the plagues of modern Egyptis trachoma, the terrible infectious which "Egyptian ophthalmia." Napoleon's troops brought back to France, but which has been nearly stamped out in Europe.

N

[INETY per cent. of the population. they say,

are or have been i81- fected, have defective vision as a result. The number of blind and one-eyed, is appalling.

"Greatest caro and greatest cleanliness are essential," said an English ophthalmic surgeon, dis- cussing ways of checking tra- choma.

For

instance, overy member of a family should have his own towel."

Admirable advice. But, as most Egyptian familles have no towel at all not very helpful.

be

At bottom all three are dueases

will of poverty. Trachoma endemic while families live and sleep herded together without the rudiments of sanitation.

Ankylostoma and bilharzia could both be checked by sanita- tion, and by the use of shoes in the floids and waders in the water. But-resistance of long habit apart-how many follhin can afford shoes or waders?

Bo, in spite of the tireless work of an inadequate medical service, the plagues go on. Bilharzia has even grown worse: because modern "permanent irrigation" helps the snail.

There are even some who main- tain that the fellah was botter off before the dams were built, when the Nile flooded his fields in winter and receded in spring. He now grows two crops a year: but the snall (or the bug" which lives first in the snall and then in his veins) is capping his vitality.

But, as I say, it is his poverty which is the chief root of the evil. The wealth of Egypt is produced from the soll by the fellah. But it is drained from him.

If he is tenant under a landlord, the landlord takes heavy toll: and gives little or nothing in return. If the fellah owns his own land he is heavily over-taxed, while the wealthy folk of the vowns escapo too lightly: though this, be it said to its credit the Waid Govern- ment had been planning somewhat to modify.

L

ASTLY, there are the hundred and one ways

in which the middle- men of various kinds take toll of the produce of the land on its way from the peasant to the consumer.

Since

perennial irrigation, started a century ago by Mahomed All, mado possible the growing of cotton and of augar cane, vast for- tunes have been made. The wealth of the country has enormously in- creased. But little enough share in the increase has come to the fellah, He stays poor in the midst of and Alexandria it while Cairo abound in luxury.

The Nile, they say is Egypt, and Egypt is the Nile. But for the water of the great river, that long green ribbon a thousand miles long. sometimes only a mile or two broad -that runs from the Sudan to the Mediterranean, would be barren desert like the land on each side.

But if Egypt is the Nile, Egypt is also the fellah. It is his labour which has used the Nile water to make the country rich, though he stays poor himself,

the too One day, perhaps, patient fellahi will assart himself. and a change will come. But it is not yet.

Bank The P. & O. Banking

The Business of the above conducted by the Hongkong and Shang- hai Banking Corporation. Rules may be oblained on application,

FOR THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAJ BANKING CORPORATION.

D. C. EDMONDSTON,

Acting Chilet Manager Hongkong, 2nd May, 1938.

THE CHARTERED BANK OF INDIA, AUSTRALIA & CHINA.

Incorporated by Royal Charter 1853 BRAD OFFICE:-LONDON, 18 Bishopsgate E.C.L

£3,000,000

Corporation,

Ltd.

(Incorporated in England, 1920).

Authorised Capital Subscribed and Fald-up Reserve Fund

£5,000,000

£3,594,100 $160,000

HEAD OFFICE: 117-122, Mendenhall Street, London, E,CA. WEST END DRANCH: 14-10, Cockspur Street, London, B.V.1.

BRANCHES-Bombay, Calcutta. Call cut Coimbatore, Colombo, Hongkong Madras Pollachi, Sbaugtial, Singaporn.

Agenclos-in sll the principal towns o the world.

General Exchange and Banking busi- transacted. Loans and overdrafts Aranted on approved security. Current and Fixed Deposit accounts opened.

SAVINGS ACCOUNTS IN LOCAL CUR. RENCY:Interest allowed at rates which may be obtained on application.

STERLING BAVINGS ACCOUNTS;- Interest allowed at rates which may be

Paid-up Capital.............................. 5.000.000/ Bess

Reserve Liability of Reserve Fund ............... 3,000,000

MANCHESTER BRANGI

Alor Star

Amritsar Bangkok

72 Mosley St,.Manchester,

AGENCIES AND BIANCHES:

Salzon Beromban Shanghal Bingapore Sill wan Sourabaya Talplog Tientsin Tongkat

(Bhuket) Tringto Yokohama Zainboanga

Calcutts Canton

Cawnpara Kuching

Ipoh

Batavia Bombay

Karachi Klong icone Kuala

Lumpur

Madres

Mattila

Medan New York Peiping

(Paking)

Penang

Cebu

Colombo Delhi Haiphong

Hamburg

Flankow

Harbin

Hongkong Rangoon

Foreign Exchange and General Bana ing business transacted.

Current Accounts opened and xoo Deposits received for one year or shorter periods at rates which will be quoted application,

The Bank's Head Office in London undertakes Executor de Trustee bLEREISEND and claims recovery of British Incom Tax overpaid, on tartha which may be

autoine application,

OUR VELLETS LATERS OF CREDIT, TRAVELLERS CHEQUES AND PAB- SENGER LETTERS OF CREDIT (for use on board P. & O, and B. L. Steamers and ut Ports of Cali) are issued at current rate of exchange and free of commission, AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVELLERS" CHEQUES sold and cashed,

British Income Tax Recovered. Executorships and Trusteeships under-

G. H. NELL

Laken.

Hongkoog, 20th March 1930,

Manager,

COUNT THE "TELEGRAPHS"

ascertained at any of fir. “Agencies : A EVERYWHERE

Branches,

D. J. GILMORE,

Aeting MaGEKOT.

Hongkong, lat Jung, 1038./.

By Paul F

HOW IT BEGAN Berdanier

GETTING INTO A SCRAPE

DEER HAVE A HABIT OF DIGGING DEEP HOLES AT CERTAIN SEASONS. THESE WERE CALLED "SCRAPES

AND SINCE BOTH DEER AND HUMANS SOME- TIMES FELL INTO THESE "SCRAPES" AND WERE BADLY INJURED, THE ABOVE PHRASE SPRANG UP TO MEAN "GETTING ONESELF INTO AN UNPLEASANT POSITION,”

ALLEY OOP

SURE, I KNOW ALL ABOUT COP-

HE AIN'T TOO FAR AWAY TO SUIT ME -AN I'VE SEEN ANOTHER OF YOUR OL' PALS,

TOO

YOU HAVE? WHO?

DID I FIX HIM UP SWELL! HAW, HAW},

BOYOBOY!

COPR. 1930 UY NEA BERVICE, INC. T. M. REÓ. U. &. PAT, OFF

THIS CURIOUS World

| FOUR-LEAVED CLOVER

/ CAN BE PROPAGATED

ÖNLY BY CUTTINGS.

GIANT REPTILES

OF THE PAST, UNLIKE MANY SMALLER. SPECIES OF "TODAY, WERE NOT POISONOUS.

COPAL 1958 BY MEA MÈRVICE, INC.

GO IT BLIND

BERDANTER...

IN THE GAME OF POKER, WHEN A PLAYER CHOSE TO RAISE THE ANTE BEFORE LOOKING AT HIS CARDS, HE WAS SAID TO BE "GOING IT BLIND”” IF OTHER PLAYERS' REFUSED TO SEE HIS BUNDRAISE, HE WON THE POT. HENCE THE USE OF THE ABOVE PHRASE TO MEAN "TO ACT. WITHOUT DUE FORETHOUGHT.”

By Vincent Hamlin

THAT RENEGADE SAWALLJAN, EX-KING WUR-BUT HE AIN'T GONNA BOTHER NOBODY

FOR A SPELL-

NOSIREE!

WUR!! GOOD GOSH, WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'

HERE?

By William. Ferguson

FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD

DAVID DILL, AMANDA, OHIO, PUBLISHER OF A WEEKLY

NEWSPAPER,

"THE WALNUT NOOS? LISTS HIS STAFF THUS: EDITOR, DAVID DIL FIELD EDITOR, D.H.DILL ADVERTISING MGR., D.DILL, BUSINESS MGR., DAVID D. SOCIETY EDITOR, D. DILL CARTOONIST, DILL

THE giant reptiles of ancient times depended on their greaf 'strength to overcome their pray, as do our larger reptiles of to- day, such as crocodiles and larger snakes. It is the small species that depend on a quick strike with poleon fangs to win their battles.

HEH! IT'S WHAT I'M

GONNA DO THAT SHOULD BE OF TH' MOST INTEREST

TO YOU!

THE BANK OF EAST ASIA, LIMITED.

Authorised Capital

.... $10,000,000.0

$ 4,508,000.00

$ 2,770,726.70

Paid-up Capital Fleserve and Undivided

Profits

HEAD OFFICE:~HONGKONG 10. Des Voeux Road, Central BOARD OF DIRECTORS:--- Sir houson Chow, Chairman.

Fung Ping Wah, Esq. Li Lan Sang. Esq. Wang Yun Tong. Eaq, Wong Chu Son, Esq. Chang Chung Sheie, aq. Kan Ying Po, Esq. KAN TONG PO, En. Chief Manager. LI THE FONG, Esq. Manngor. DRANCHES AND AGENCIES

Li Koon Chun, Faq.

F. H. Kwok, Esq.

Amoy

Batavia Bombay

Calcutta

Melbourne

Paris

Pelping

Shanghat

Talhoku

Nagasaki

New York

Singapore Saurabaya

Osaka

Swatow

Sydney

Penang

Tientsin

Rangoon

Takyo

Haigon

Vancouval

Kowloon

Ban Franciaco Beattle

Canten Haiphong Hankow Honolulu

Kobo

London Manila

Somarang

Yokohama

Every description of Banking and Ex change business transacted. Loans grant- ed an approved securities,

Current Accounts opened in Local Cur- roney and Fixed Deposits received for one year or shorter periods in Local and Foreign Currencies on terms which will ba quoted on application.

Safe Deposit Boxes To Lot.

KAN TONG PO

Manager.

CANTON AGENTS'

for

The

Hongkong Telegraph.

WM. FARMER & Co. Victoria Hotel Building. Shameen, Canton,

Tel. 13501.