1938-11-30 — Page 19

THE

HONGKONG TELEGRAPH WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER

PIONEER NATURALISTS, while others, who, worked

Botanical And Zoological Aspects Of Old Hongkong

Local Rotarians were addressed yesterday, at their weekly meeting, by Mr. V. H C. Jarrett, whose subject was "Some Historical Aspects of Local Natural History," The work of plonoer naturalists-particularly botanists-of Old Hongkong, was interestingly traced.

The large attendance included a number of visitors, and one of those present was Dr. J. M. Henry, who is District Governor of Rotary in South China.

Mr.

on Colony's bolany in those fruitful years were Charles Wright, an American, 1854- 1855; Dr. W. A. Harland, who was Government

at Hongkong up to 1887;

Deul-Colonel later

here about 1868;

stationed.

REFUGEE BABIES

MEMORIAL SERVICE

ho was wild Bungalow As Temporary Local Tribute To Queen

on

the

Maternity Hospital

The refugro, aliuation in the New

Maud Of Norway

Tha

from Kew Gardens, who collected our flors from 1887 to 1858; and several others who mainly concen-

In token of British sympathy with traied on local forms during the Territories was somewhat abaled the people of Norway, a servico WDS Fitics. It was the material gathered by these planeers that of the contested the habituals held in St. John's Cathedral at 12.30 George Bentham

area between Sha-p.. yesterday, in memory of the late based his "Flora taukok and Shumchun have now Queen Maud of Norway. Ho," published under

of crossed the border and found tom- Governor of Hongkong. Sir Geoffry for the Colonies in 1801, and allorary resting places in the fields and Northcote, and Lady Northcote were near to hamleta in British territory. present, along with a large attend- despite inevitable changes and re-

Food ven

continued to do good ance of Consular representatives and botany, but long out of print. It work in providing for large groups the Hongkong Norwegian community. grouping standard work on local alves 1,050 species of flowering plants of refugees who were organised to

where to The playing of Chopin's Funeral and feme, of which 32, specles are the extent of knowing classed as introduced, and not native gather for their rations and receiv March provided a solemn prelude to a simple ceremony of prayer and ing these in orderly manner. plants,

A number of "refugee" bables have hymns in which the Dean, the Very been born, upwards of

of twelve maler-Rev. J. LA Wilson; and the Revi nity cases having been taken to hos- K. L. Relchelt, Johan Nielsen, and

G. M. Reichelt took part. pital during

last three days. Mr. Elle's bungalow at Fanling has been pald given by or Mile Hit, e a temporary

maternity cases and

The President, Rotarian the Hon. cal research has changed: however, Dr. Li Shu-fan, was in the Chair, they are costly identifiable, and welcomed the following visiting Following Dr. Smith's observa- Rotarians:

tions, there occurred a hiatus of

It is to be presumed Roberi Fortune's Referense Meers. S. O. Au, Swatow; T. C. many years. Yu, Tlentain; Engene Chen, Chengtu; that the few foreigners who came

Special mention should be given from Paul Deltz, Shanghal; Dr. R. E. ashore

ships subsequently, Beddoe, Wuchow: Dr. M. Henry We

were Uttle Interested in the island's here to Robert Fortune, the Scottish Canton; and the following guests: natural history. The place had an botanist and traveller, who pance, II. A. Lammert, H. Peterson, gards its climate and fever (since the period 1843-1860, and whose of A. E. Nobbins, H. J. Pearce, Rev. C. proved to be malaria) and the books relate to the many plants which her

New Zealand,

the

Mestra, R. A. D. Forrest,. F. Flip- unsavoury reputation, both as te- several visits to China and Japan in woman who delivered

In a brief address the Rev. K. L.

Reichelt stated:

3. R. Sargent, and Dr. Maaka, of pirates who dwelt here: and oc- he took to Europe or sent to America Daby in one of the railway trucks gether with her husband and their

Fanling, was taken there. A few wounded people came in yesterday but the ambulances gen

rally had considerable relief from the to which they have been sub-

Saturday. ave Hongkong, then and on subsequent Many pitiable

mentions some aspects of local botany

casional visitors from sailing ships from this part of the world. His first Dr. Henry, the District Governer, probably embarked as soon as they visit here is recorded in Three sald he had taken the opportunity to had obtained fresh water, or vegetYears' Wanderings in the Northern

en of China,"

published in visit the local classes of Lingnan abies from the coastal villages. University, which had been trans- ferred from Canton to Hongkong, ence to local natural history we have the US.S. Mindanao on Monday, and founded. Early in 1843, Mr. A. I would stay here a few days,

It is just 33 years since our beloved Queen Maud came to Norway to

little on. who had just smiling received a new name the old and sacred Norwegian name Olav. They through the beautiful Oslo Fjord, made their entrance to the capitat

arrived from Copenhagen

on a

For the next authoritative reter=| 19%;. Fortune stayed for a Ume in! iseted since. Snes are still ca steamer. A veritable snowstorm wasi He arrived in the Colony on board to wait until the Colony had bean! visita, and in his books he not only acted by the roadside, there sull blowing on that day, November 25, Johnston, who was Her Majesty's but also gives us a good idea of what i peing hundreds of aged people who 1005, and the magnißleent`mountains, He referred to the refugee silua-¦ Deputy Superintendent of Trade in the Colony was like at that time, Ti! have not been provided for, but the islands, and woodland along the

tion in Canton, and said that the Hongkong, contributed an article on people of Canton could not suff- the Colony to the London Geogra- ciently express their gratitude to the phical Journal," in the course of people of Hongkong for the financial which he stated:

Elstance and food raised and sent) to them for their relief.

Dr. Li Shu-fan then introduced the speaker of the day as "Vinjar" of

the S. C. M. Post.

Early Naturalista

not

the

smoke of Innumerablo lite fres was rising from the countryside at dusk last night as the victims of war cooked their sparse meals prepara- tory to another night spent beneath

Oslo Fjord loomed rather cold and stern in their frosty winter garments. This

was, however, only the outside picture,

Love That Endured

As soon as the royal family had set their feet on shore they met with a wave of warmin, of love and de- votion from the waiting muliitudes, and that wave has kept on rolling with increasing force around King Haakon,

Maud, and Crown Quren Prince Olay and his wife through all these years not only in the capital, and Ininnd but in all the towns places, wherever the royal family has been travelling and visiting.

would not interest the average person 10 give in detail the plants he men- tlone, but it may be noted that he was struck by the wealth of beautiful; flowering shrubs and herbs, und on all the bills, but on those with We might pick out a few of his re-

"A coarse kind of grass is found bida, growing wild on the hills the stars.

FUND FOR RELIEF northerly and north-easterly byferences for comment. He mentions posure it is generally choked by that the shrub Jown as Leora ferns and stunted brushwood; while chinensis was common in the clefts Donation of $20,000 From on the face of the hilla fronting the rod

Governor of Kwangtung ut it grows in clumps unchecked, of rocks on the island; this is of much

importance, as

that establishing When your

except

when burnt by the natives." The speaker wald:

plant was originally a a native of our General Wu Teh.chen, Governor This is most Interesting note on Island. To-day, it has been exter- of Kwangtung Province, has for- programme chairman about a monthl ngo asked me to give a talk to the phenomenon seen even to-day, for minated from Hongkong in its wild warded the sum of $20,000 to the Rt.

do the Chinese still burnin only

Rev. R. O. Hall, Bishop of Hongkong only grows where Rotary Club, he suggested that the

of the subject of enakes would probably be the grass and scrub on the hill slopes form, and a sultable one, and also added that in many parts of the Colony, but Botanical and Forestry Department and South China for use it could he made more interesting it on Hongkong island it is noticeable has planted it out in the Kowloon Emergency Relief Council.

wooded peninsula. The great demand for the General Wu has requested, in an profusely

plant among the Chinese most

for their accompanying letter, that the money speelmens were brought to the meet- that the ing.

the dificulties of areas face south, which is explained gardens must have led to its near should be devoted to the rellef of the the King and the Apart from holding the attention of most people by several meteorological factors extermination in the island many refugees who have crossed the bor- Probably the last sur der into British territory during the on such a subject, which to some Chief of these is the blowing of the ext

the monsoons: the northern face of the years ago.

I found at distasteful,

hostiles. be

present Yardine's Lookout about ten years

"This much netded help will con- disappeared when the tribute appreciably in making the lot area was cleared for drainage and

of the unfortunate victims of war anti-malarial purposes a few years who have sought sanctuary in Hong- tolerable," said back w found in Hongkong kong a bit more only under cultivation.

Bishop Hall, in making the announce When he comes to other forms of ment of the gift. natural history in the Colony, For-

"Their plight, however, is still very

are his very words:

the Civil the example set by "The island is not rich in Indigen-Governor of Kwangtung will be fol- ous animals. have frequently seen lowed by many other cople, both in wild goats feeding in the most Inac- Hongkong and in China," ressible parts of the rocky crago; there are also deer and foxes, but these are extremely rare."

the

It soon became apparent to all that;

Queen took n genuine and vivid interest in their new homeland, with its special features and characteristics. It is

significant that very

Be the greatest Inte mother, and

watched her son and courage in the pride of his youth, yearly and so skilfully took part in our national sport, ski-ing) jumping: bravely out in the air 80 or 00 feet; on his skis and still coming down;

problem of introducing a live snake hills have the dry, cold winds, and or two to this meetings or falling the southern slopes get the warm, which

ago, back on a row of pickled specimens, moisture-laden winds of summer decided

my choice of a more pleasant Typhoons, again, which have such a Fri, * tendency to stunt tree and 1

hope more interesting text usually blow from the north and the historical nepects of local natural

north-cast: though their effect on our history.

For naturalists of our own genera- plants is not mywhere so great as It should be tion, this Colony holds little new, fer that of the monsoons. practically all the flora and faunal noted that with the offorestation une makes 'n curious error. These great, and we sincerely hope that standing. has been discovered and recorded by which has been going on for upwards these monsoonal "of fity years, past generations of workers. It is

they perhaps

only in the realm of the in-effects are not as marked as sents, which by reason of their mul- were in the early days of Hongkong, titude and minuteness still offer

of research and discovery, that fresh work can be done; nevertheless

several

particularly in the case of birds, with

Colony's Animals

To revert to Mr. Johnston's com-

ments, he also had this to say about never existed here, while deer must SOCIAL EVENING the new Colony:

research proves

to

were

arcas,

ot

Women's Club Plans

Party For Officers

served.

the more

Vice-

It was also soon realised among my our dear Countrymen that through Queen Maud we became still more Intimately linked up with the great nation on the other side of the North Sea, Britain, the land from which we, 000 years ago, got the best of all our treasures, the Gospel of Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

And here I come to the point which I would like to emphasise in a special way on this our day of national mourning: Queen Maud set a ne example as a plous and happy dis- ciple of Christ. Her many noble activities in regard to philanthropy source in her Christian faith. and public service had their deepest

As I returned to Hongkong from my furlough last spring I happened to be on the same steamer as Her Majesty crossing the North Sea. Wel had quite a lengthy conversation and I was deeply impressed by her de votion to the church in the home- land.

Now, we know that wild goats there is room for a great dest of study and tabulation even among the

always have been rather common. Letter known branches of our botany "The only unimals found on the though their exceeding shyness pro-

bably prevented and zoology. For instance, to revert Island are a few small deer, a sort of

people from seeing und a land tortoise, much of them. As for foxes, these 10 snakes, there are up to now thirty- armadillo, two distinct species recorded from There are several sorts of snakes, must have become exterminated on the area comprising the Colony, of but none has yet been found to the island long ago: they exist on

The members of the Hongkong which several were not known to suffer from their bite. Among the the mainland nowadays, but are not

It occur locally until they were colleet- fruits and vegetables produced on common there.

is possible that

Women's International Club are or- ed

within

our own time, and two of the island are the mango, lichec. Fortune mistook the barking deer for these I had the good luck to collect longan, orange, pear, rice, sweet goats; or that domestic goats, whielt!ganising a social evening in honour myself within the past four

potatoes, and yams; a small quantity years.

Inevitably of . K. Dunbar and Mrs. D. M.

Biggar, the Chairman and until which time they were known of flax is grown, and prepared for brought here in the early years of Chairman of the club, as a gesture

the use by neighbouring only from

the Colony by Indian soldiers, had villagers.

of their appreciation of all they have I areas, such household

run wild. If so, done for the Club. as Kwangtung and Formosa, Such Since the occupation of the island by been allowed to

deliberately discoveries, though they are not of the English, the potato of Europe they must have been

The rectal commences al 7,38 pm. new species, are termed new records, and the fruits of Canton and Macho killed off later, for it is well known

the Club on Thursday, December 8. A and in this line of natural history have been introduced; and lately a that goats, as they pull up grass by

light buffet supper will be work hardly a year passes without great many European seeds bave the roots, instead of cropping it as sheep do. arc most destructive some bird, reptile, or insect, being been brought out by the agent of

Tickets can be obtained from the

British Szpakhy found for the first time on Hongkong the Horticultural Society of London, animals in hilly and rainy

manageress or the Hon. Secretary. island or in the British territory on and distributed. Specimens of the inying the hill slopes bare, leading Lady friends of members will be

to their being scoured by rain.

Finally, a word to our many Bri- mainland. the

welcome. It is

is obvious that

and botany of zoology

Hongkong are

tish friends here in the Colony: snakes more

which occur in being gradually sent home, and a list

Birds Pientlini

You have come, so many of you, to Kwangtung should be found in due of these productions will be furnish- of feathered inhabitants, Fortune

take part in this service of com- course in the New Territories; and cd before long.

Unfortunately that is all he had states that there were two or three fine crop of succulent, green grass in

small the early spring for their cattle, while memoration because Queen Maud was also dear to you. We appreciate our gradual increase in afforestation to say about local natural history, species of kingfishers, some

遐 few wood the secondary one is that the ashor

your coming and we thank you most and the establishment of a sanctuary but it is quite informative, even if singing birds and

aro washed down when the rains In Hongkong, species which have not not accurate in every respect. For pigeons; but the mainland was much

with usin

our prayer and our hitherto vlaited us or

settled to breed instance, the reference to our well better stocked with birds. From come and help in part to fertilise heartily. I know you will also be thanksgiving We thank God here, Dre surc to come in and be known barking deer is correct, but thence", he says, "the natives bring their crops.

armadillo

the market large quantities of Again, many wonder how it is a

Almighty Who gave us such a good the so-called duly recorded.

more pheasants, partridges, quali, ducks, so-called barren Island, like Hong queen, and we pray from the depth Whatever thrill there may remain scientifically known as a manis, or teal, and sometimes woodcock and kong was when the British came of our soul: "Bless her soul and in such records for the enthusiast, it pangolin, & small animal with a

snipe. "It is interesting, to observe here, should have preserved so many speed her further development in the must be confessed that naturalists covering of scales, which lives chiefly how want of protection in the past species of trees, shrubs and herbs. heavenly home that she- may

attain of our time regard with envy the old on ants. It is now very rare on seems to have resulted in the near The explanation is simple: while the

the eternal goal in glory." days, when Hongkong was newly ac Hongkong laland, and within the extermination of these game birds burning of grass and brushwood lett

Those present, apart from the quired, and when a wonderful field part few years has been given off- from the New Territories.

or less level hill sloper

Governor and Lady Northcote, In- It ia cial protection. There are three land of discovery was opened up.

From the references I have given, bare, the many ravines, almost all of

cluded the Commander-in-Chief of with this aspect of the subject that tortoises rather commonly found in

or the Fleet in China, Sir Percy Noble. my talk is chiefly concerned.

the Colony, at least two of which can be seen that within twenty them fed by streams

the nucleus of of Hongkong served to preserve

hundreds of

which species The ideal for a naturalist is a re- are common on the island. The re- years of the ccasion

might Mr. Justice It. E. Lindsell, and Mrs. and Lady Noble, the Chief Justice, mote island or other territory which ference to the absence of cases of island to Britain, its natural history therwise have been destroyed, und

Lindsell, the Hon. Sir Henry and Pre must have been thoroughly studied nobody with

snakebite despite the scientific a

bent has faini visited before,

na we know, of venomous and recorded. Yet for some years from these ravines some of our most Such lands are prac-ic-is most interesting, for it thereafter it was possible for collec- striking native flora has since been | Lady Pollock, the Norwegian Consul- tically non-existent to-day: scientists

tors to obtain the drill of discovering protective laws, to spread Chinese Gipperich, and Mrs. Gipperich, the collected and permitted, under our General, Mr. Karaten Larsen, the German Consul-General, Mr. H and collectors have visited almost a remarkable fact

fact even now, with But our largely increased

new specles, particularly those who population.

though the of the globe. every corn

explored the less known parts of the fortunately.

Consul-General, Mr. when Hongkong was founded as

have for hundreds of years denuded Belgion It is very doubtful British Colony nearly a hundred Johnston really whether Mt.mainland of China. One of the most the land of trees and shrubs for fuel. Vanderstraeten, and Mra. Vander-

mangoes remarkable facts in the history of years ago, little was known of the flourishing here. Though the mango South China botanising is recorded they have always spared the village struclen, the Consul-General for Fin- natural history of the adjoining tree, introduced from further south, of Captain Light, of the 11401. and temple groves, for religious pur- land, Mr. Wallace Hansen, end Mrs.

the poses, under the cult of fung shul, Hansen, Portuguese mainland, and practically nothing of grows well, and flowers freely, it Mahratta Light Infantry, as recently

Consul

and itscit. It was the early seldom sets fruit, and these are few as 1904. While on a visit to Hunan and also for aesthetic reasons. Thus General, Mr. A. B. Laborinho,

a severely practient people, by reason Mr. M. Cunietti, on behalf of the botanista expecially who found such and of poor quality, making Their Province, he decided to collect some of the

spiritual side of their nature, Italian Consul-General, the Colonin! cultivation not worth while. Those plant specimens, and material to work on, and the referred to may have been imported pressed in a pocket notebook, men

these he have passed on to the modern world Secretary, the Hon. Mr. N. L.

Smith, of new forms recorded by them are in part commemorated by

by fruit.

suring six inches by four, but never-

Intact a great many examples of the and Mrs. Smith, Mr. Justice E. H. the attachment of their names to siderable collecting and. determining found that his collection Included

when he returned, it was country is blessed. (Applause),

botanical wealth with which their Willams, the Hon. Mr. and Mrs. thless both genera and species. Some of

Major V. E. Duelos proposed a

Mrs. T. H. King, Mr. and Mrs. S. Ke the plants they discovered here have of local plants and other natural his three species new to China, and no

vote of thanks.

Helberg, Mr. and

Berg, Mr. not yet, up to the present day, been tory specimens. Muny, snakes were fewer than twenty-four now to the

discovered, it was found that other Province! found outside Hongkong island.

PROFESSOR gerrard unimols on the Island included + Such luck may not fall to the lot

Before the meeting was adjourn Owrum-Andresen, Mrs. F. Murer

R. L

Mr.

Mrs. porcupine and several civet cats, and of a botanist in China to-day, though the President revealed that totarian

and the birds came in for a great deal of many Ope of the earliest recorda

wattention. Most work was done, scientists, are continually recording kong University had earned the dis- Mrs. K. Neckelman, Mr. and Mrs. workers, Including Chinese Professor W. 1. Gerrard of the Hong- Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Nielsen, Mr. and have of man with scientific train howover, by botanists. Some ing visiting this island concerns Dr. their names should be mentioned.

of fresh discoveries, and it cannot be tinction of receiving a double honour. Stranger, Mr. and Mrs. Holter, Mrs.

long before the possibilities of new Clarke Abel Smith, who accompanied Lord Amherst's mission to China in pation of Hongkong, Mr. Tuchard ed. But while we envy those early would unite with him in extending and J. H. R. Hance, Cathedral In the very Brst week of the occu- finds will become practically exhaust was sure his fellow-Rotarians P. Heesch, and Messrs, P. S. Cassidy 1816, and who came ashore from Brinalay Hinds came ashore from explorore, we might remember that Rota

their heartiest congratulations to trustees. ship anchored in Shekpalwan Bay H.M.S. Sulphur, of which he was the the faced many dangers and its been decorated by the President of Rotarian Gerrard, he kald, for having and clambered about the slopes he sent to London for determination, dey; and that their enthusinam laid with the Order of the Brilliant Jade.

how known as Aberdeen harbour surgeon, and collected plants which of ill-health that we do not have to

the Chinese National Government His botani- In 1844, Dr. H. F. Hanco came out to the foundations for our very

time.

-(Applause). Interesting s

as being

those of first which

the

proved of considerable value;

Before

The second honour conferred on concluding, perhaps I : European to have published

any Colonel -Any-

J. G. Champion colected ex- annvor two queries which some of Rotarian Gerrard was his appoint- thing about Hongkong 4 Bora. He tensively from 1847 to 1850; Dr. you may want to put, and which are ment, as Assistant Commissioner af

had a haled that the island great Bartholdi Seeman

bere came

ere in 1866 often put by residents of the Colony: the St. John Ambulanca Brigade in venumber of forms and sumierted. HMS Hould-then, ar fhe the Chines the of

{few|aruba

djiraoled his, af- namesake to-day, a naval surveying long dry grass) on the hillsides in the Brigade in London. They were tention th

thouse he used names in ships and published a valuable note wintert. The reason is twofold the bath ven, well deserved honours. home errealaigh, rabesquent botani-| on his collections, enumerating a primary one is that this rendili in 'a' (Applause),

the island

An Early Visfior

observed

But the next decade was to see con-

opposite that anchorage. Prief, are the Colony, and did much bolanising knowledge of the present"

-

I should

•

12

8. H. Dodwell, Mrs. G. P. R. Ad

and Mrs. R. Job wen Capt. and Kro Mr. and Mra.

3.

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