1938-07-29 — Page 34

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10

THE HONGKONG

FELLAH-

HILE. Nahas

he tills world's richest land,

W quarrels with he tills

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 bulit three thousand years be- Core Christ. Hia standard of liv- ing is much the same.

Working the richest land in all

the

world. he has-and has always had-little galu of it.

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

Mamelukes and Turks, and, later, European inancler, got Breat wealth. To-day, in spite of the troubles of world depression, Calto and Alexandria are rich cities.

Tall comes from the land. But the people whose pallent, unremit- ting inbour draw the wealth from the land are poor to-day as in the days of the Pharaohs, In the days of the Mumelukes, In the days of the Turks,

They are indeed fed. 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.

Seen from rond or rull or river. the little mud brick village among ita palm trees looks picturesque.

yet his home is a mud hut

By W. N. EWER

Then are as poor us in the days of the Pharaohs.

But the reality. quarters

seen

at close

The "home"

the

poorer fellah or of the paid labourer is a single room. Four walls of sun- dried mud brick and a roof covered with maize alalks to break the sun's heat. A hole in the roof for light and ventilation.

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

On the four a few pots. On the mastaba a roll of bedding, and, in 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,

That is all.

That, except for their clothes and their tools, is the sum total of their possessions.

Unless they own a donkey or a bulTala; in which case the animals

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

(Companies Incorporated in England.)

Taking Cargo on through Billa of Lading for STRAITS, JAVA & DURMA, CEYLON, INDIA, IRANIAN GULF, MAURITIUS, E. & S. AFRICA, AUSTRALASIA, INCLUD- ING NEW ZEALAND AND QUEENSLAND PORTS, RED SEA, EGYPT, EUROPE, ETC. PENINSULAR & ORIENTAL FORTNIGHTLY DIRECT ROYAL MAIL STEAMERS (Under Contract with ILM. Government.)

TELEGRAPH,

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

Others

These are the poorest. are a little better oft. 3ome by such standarda almost prosperous. But everywhere a terrible poverty,

And everywhere disease. Egypt to-day, as in Moses' day, has her plagues. 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- both immigrants from Central Africa.

From the hookworm, lying in countless millions in the soul he gets ankylostoma: from a tiny

BANKS

HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION.

Authorised Copital

issued and Fully Paid-up Reserve Funds;

-

$50,000.00 €20,000,000

Sterling

* 0,500,000) Hongkong Currency Reserve $18,000,000 |

All vessels may call at any ports on or off the route,and the roule and all sailings Reserve Liability of Proprietors $20,000.X are subject to change or deviation with or without notice,

Steamery

RAWALPINDI

BANGALORE

NALDERA CONFU

*BHUTAN

CHITRAL

•BEHAR

CARTHAGE

**SOUDAN

Tons From 'Kong about

17,000, 8th Aug., Noon.

0.000 13th Aug.

17,000 20th Aug. 14,500 3rd Sept. 0,000; 10th Sept.

(7,000 17th Sept. 8,000 24th Sept.

14,500) 1st Oct. 6,000 8th Oct.

Destination

Bombay, Marseilles & London. B'bay. M'seilles, Haven, L'don, Hull, 'burg. R'dam & A'werp. Bombay, Marseilles & London Marseilles & London. B'bay, M'seliles, Havre, I'don, Hull, H'bg, R'dam & A'werp. Maraeilles & London. B'bay, M'sailles, flavre, L'don, Hull, H'burg, R'dam & A'werp, Marseilles & London.

B'bay. M'seilles, Havre, L'don, Hull, 'burg, R'dom & A'werp.

• Cargo only Calls Casablanca All vessels may call at Malta

TALMA

SIRDHANA

SHIRALA

TILAWA

SANTHIA

BRITISH INDIA APCAR SAILINGS (SOUTH)

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

8,000 13th Aug.

8,000 27th Aug.

|10,000 10th Sept.

0,000 24th Sept.

HEAD OFFICE:-HONGKONG. BOARD OF DMECTORS:-

T. E. Pearce. Esq., Chairman.

ion. Mr. J J. Paterson, Deputy Chairman,

J. K. Bousileld, Esq. J. R. Masson, Esq. A. H. Compton, Eag G. Miskin, Esq. Hon. Mr. S. H. Dodwell K. S. Morrison, Esq M. T. Johnson, Esq. Hon. Mr. A, L. Stucids D. C. Edmondston, Esq. Acting Chief Manager.

BRANCHES

AMOY BANGKOK

BATAVIA CALCUTTA BOMBAY CANTON

CHEFOO COLOMBO DAIREN

FOOCHOW

HAIPHONG

S'pore, Port Swettenliam, Penang, Rangoon & Calcutta

HAMBURG

ELANKOW

DO.

DO.

DO.

HARBIN HONGKEW ILOILO 1POH

JOHORE

DO.

B.L. Aptar Line Steamers have excellent accommodation for 1st & 2nd class passengers i

EASTERN & AUSTRALIAN SAILINGS (SOUTH)

NELLORE

TANDA

NANKIN

7,000) 5th Aug., 11 a.m.)

7,000

7,000 2nd Sept.

1st Oct,

Manila, Rabaul, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne & Hobart

Regular monthly sailings from Ikong to Shanghal & Japan & l'kong to Australia.

TANDA

*BHUTAN

Hong Kong to Sydney-19 daya.

SAILINGS TO SHANGHAI & JAPAN.

SHIRALA

CORFU

0,000 3rd Aug., 10 a.m., Japan. 14,609 4th Aug,

7,000 4th Aug.

Shanghai & Japan. Shanghai & Japon.

Shanghai & Japan.

Shanghal & Japan.

Shangha! & Japan.

Shanghai & Japan.

Shanghai & Japan.

*DEHAR

CHITRAL

CARTHAGE SOUDAN

6.000 5th Aug 6,000 14th Aug.

í 17.000) 18th Aug.

14,500 1st Sept.

6,000 tst Sept.

Cargo only.

All dates are approximate and subject to alteration without notice, parcels measuring not more than 3 eft, will be received at the Company's Omen up to noor on the day previous to aalling.

For Passage Rates, Handbooks, Freight, stc, apply

F. & D. D'ding, MACKINNON, MACKENZIE & CO. Phon

Connaught .c.

Agent!

LONDON

LYONS MALACCA MANILA

MUAK (JOHONE) MUKDEN NEW YORK PEIFING PENANG RANGOON SAIGON

SAN FRANCISCO SHANGHAI SINGAPORE SOURABAYA SUNGEI PATANI SWATOW TIENTSIN TOKYO TSINGTAO YOKOHAMA Current Accounts opened In Local Cur- rency and Fixed Deposiis received for one your or shorter periods in Local and other currencies on terms which wil be quoted on application.

КОНЕ KOWLOON

KUALA LUMPUR

ALSO up to date. SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES in various atzes TO LET.

Hongkong, 2nd May, 1930.

HONGKONG BAVINGS BANK.

The Business, of the above Dank i conducted by the Hongkong and Shang- hol Banking Corporation. Huies may... be obtained on application.

FOR THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION,

D. C. EDMONDSTON,

Actug Chiot Manager Hongkong. 2nd May, 1000.

THE CHARTERED NANK OF INDIA, AUSTRALIA & CHINA.

Jacorporated by Royal Charter 1883 HIKAD OFFICE)-LONDON.

36 Miopagato B.C.1. Paid-up Capital... #3,000,000 Reserve Liability of Probrietors £3,000,000 Reserve Fund .................................................. £3,000,000 MANCHESTER 'BRANCE!

Bangkok

Batavin

Bombay

71 Mosley Bt., Manchester,

AGENCIES AND BRANCHES:

Ipoh

Balgon Boito

Bezonban Karachi Shanghai Klang Kobe Colqutia · Kunla

Hingapore Sitiawan Sourabaya

Canton

Kuching

Manila

Medan

New Yorke

(Poking) Penang

Lumpur Talping

Madras

NOW... Snapshots at Night with any camera

• Even inexpensive cameras take, good snapshots at night with Kodak

"SS" Pan Film and

the new PhotoЯlood bulbs. The folder, Snapshots at Night," with simple

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Alor Star

Amritsar

Cawnpore

Cebu

Colombo Deth)

Haiphong

Hamburg Polping

Kodaky

Hankow Tartin

Tiontain Tongkah

(Bhukot) Tsingtao Yokohama Zamboang

longkong Rangoon

Foreign Exchange and General Bana

ing business transacted.

Current Accounts oponed and Fieso Deposita received for one year or shorter periods at rates which will be quoted - application.

The Bank's Head Office in Londor undertakes Executor & Arunino business And claims recovery of British Incom- Tax overpold, on terma which may b ascertained at any of its Agencies & Iranciies,

D. J. GILMORE,

Acting Managos. Mongkong, 1st June, 1935,

FRIDAY,

JULY

29, 1938.

snafl living in the stagnant water which irrigates his folds, he gets bilbarzia,

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

They do not, on the whole, kul, but they lower the energy, weaken the muscles, produce Inssitude and dobility. And this in a people who to live must work all the daylight hours.

Third

Ankylostoma, bilharzia,

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

TINETY per cent, of the population, they sny,

N

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

"Greatest care and greatest cleanliness are essential," said on English ophthalmic surgeon, dis cussing ways of checking tra- chonia, For instance, every member of a family should have his own towel."

Admirable advice. But, as most Egyptian families have no towel ut

all not very helpful.

bo

At bottom all three are discases

will of poverty. Trachoma endemic while familles live and #leep horded together without the rudiments of sanitation.

Ankylostoma and bilharzia could both be checked by sanita- tlou, and by the use of shoes in the folds and waders in the water, But resistance of long habit apart-how many fellahin afford shoes or waders?

can

So, in spite of the tireless work of an inadequate medical service, the plagues go on. Blharzia bad even grown worse; because modern permanent irrigation" helps the snail,

There are even some who main- tain that the fellah was better 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 anail and then in his velns) is sapping 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 soil by the fellah. But it is drained from him.

I he is tenant under a landlord, the landlord takes henvy 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 towns escupa too lightly: though this, be it said to its credit the Wald Govern- ment had been planning somewhat 10 modify.

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, made possible the growing of cotton and of sugar 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 it while Cairo and Alexandria 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 cach side.

But if Egypt is the Nlic, 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,

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

The P. & O. Banking

Corporation, Ltd.

(incorporated in England, 1920). Authorised Capital Subscribed and Pald-up Reserve Fund....

£5,000,000 £2,094,160 160,000

HEAD OFFICE: 117-122, Leadenhall Street, London, E.C3. WEST END BRANCH: 14-10, Cuelt pur Street, London, S.W.1. DRANCIES:-Bombay, Calcutta. Call cut Coimbatore, Colombo, Hongkong Madras Pollachi, Shanghai, Singapore.

Agencies in all the principal towns o the world.

General Exchange and Banking busi- eas transacted. Loons and · overdrafts Kanted on approved security. Current and Fixed Deposit accounts opened.

SAVINGS ACCOUNTS IN LOCAL CUR- RENCYInterest allowed at rates which, may be obtained on appucation..

STERLING BAVINGS ACCOUNTS:- Interest allowed at rates which may be obtained on applications,

TRAVELLERS LETTERS OF CREDIT. TRAVELLERS CHEQUES AND PAB- SENGER LETTERS OF CREDIT (for use on board P. & 0, and 7). I. Stoomers and at Forts of Call) are issued at currant rate of exchange and free of commission. AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVELLERS' CHEQUES sold and cashed.

British Income Tax Recovered. Executorships and Trustecalips undar-

G. II. DELL, Itongkong, 20th March 1935.

Laken.

Manager,

COUNT THE "TELEGRAPHS" EVERYWHERE

Paul E

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

YOU AWAY TO SUIT ME-AN I'VE SEEN ANOTHER

HAVE? OF YOUR OL PALS,

WHO?

6-30

סטר

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 "BLIND"RAISE, HE WON THE POT. HENCE THE USE OF THE ABOVE PHRASE TO MEAN "TO ACT WITHOUT PUE FORETHOUGHT.”

By Vincent Hamlin

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

FOR A SPELL -

NOSIREE!

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

WUR!! GOOD GOSH, WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'

HERE?

HEH! IT'S WHAT I'M

GONNA DO THAT SHOULD BE OF TH' MOST INTEREST

TO YOU!

COPR. 1930 DY NEA SERVICE, INC. T. M. REG. U. 8. PAT. OFF

THIS CURIOUS WORLD Fron

FOUR-LEAVED

CLOVER

CAN BE PROPAGATED

ONLY BY CUTTINGS.

GIANT REPTILES

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

Ferguson

COFR. 1925 DYNTÄ SERVICE, ING

FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD

DAVID DILL, AMANDA, OHIO, PUBLISHER, OF A WEEKLY

NEWSPAPER, “THE WALNUT NOOS LISTS HIS STAFF THUS: EDITOR, DAVID DILL FIELD EDITOR, D.H.DILL ADVERTISING MSR, D.DILL BUSINESS MGR., DAVID D. SOCIETY EDITOR, D. DILL CARTOONIST, DILan

THE glant reptiles of ancient times depended on their great strength to overcome their prey, as do our larger reptiles of to- day, Buch as crocodiles and inrger snakes. It is the small species that depend on a quick strike with polson fangs to win their battles.

THE BANK OF EAST ASIA, LIMITED.

Authorised Capital Paid-up Capital ....... Reserve and Undivided

Profis

$10,000,000.0

7 5,050,000.00

******* *2,710,720.70 DEAD OFFICE: HONGKONG

10. Des Voeux Road. Central... BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sir Shousen Chow, Chairman.

Lt Koon Chun, Esq.

P. K. Kwok, Esq.

Fung Fing Wah, Esq.

Li Lan Sang, Eag Wong Yun Tong. Eng. Wong Chu Son. Esq. Chang Chung Shek, Esq. Kan Ying Po, Esq. KAN TONG PO, E., Chial Manager. LI TSE FONG, Eig. Manager. BILANCIES AND AGENCIES:-

Amoy

Melbourna

Nagasaki New York

Очака

Batavia

Bombay

Calcutta

Canton

Pari

Haiphong

Hankow

Honolulu

Kobe

Kowloon London

Manila

Pelping Penang Rangoon

Salgon

I

San Francisco Seattle

Semarang

Shanghai

Singapore Sourabaya Bwatow

Sydney

Tainoku Tientsin

Tokyo

Vancouvel Yokohama

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

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

Safe Deposit Boxes To Let.

KÂN TONG PO →

Manager.

CANTON AGENTS

for

The

Hongkong Telegraph.

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

Tel. 13501.