1938-11-30 — Page 7

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PIONEER NATURALISTS Botanical And Zoological Aspects Of Old Hongkong

Local Rotarians were addressed yesterday, at their weekly moeting, by Mr. V. H., C. Jarrett, whose subject was "Some Historical Aspects of Local Natural History." The work of ploncer 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,

THE

HONGKONG

TELEGRAPH,

¿

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 80,

1938.

species; while others who worked REFUGEE

systematically on the Colony's botany Mr. In those fruitful years were Charles Wright, an American, 1954- 1855; Dr. W. A. Harland, who was Government Surgeon at Hongkong up to 1857; Licut-Colonel (later

BABIES

Maternity Hospital

General) J. Eyre, who was stationed Bungalow As Temporary here about 1859; Charles Wilford, who collected from Kew Gardens, our flora from 1887 to 1056; and several others who mainly concen The refugee situation in the New trated on local ferns during the Territories was somewhat abated Fifties. It was Un the material

yesterday as most of the inhabitants Rothered by these pioneers that of the contested area between Sha- George Bentham based his "Flora

taukok and Shumchun have now Hongkongenals," published under the crossed the border and found tem- authority of the Secretary of State' for the Colonies in 1801, and still-porary resting places in the fields and

near to hamlets in British territory. despite inevitable changes and re- Food vans continued to do good grouping a standard work on local botony, but long out of print. It work in providing for large groups gives 1,056 species of flowering planta of refugees who were organised to

the extent of knowing classed as introduced, and not native plants.

where

to

MEMORIAL SERVICE

Local Tribute To Queen Maud Of Norway

In token of British sympathy with the people of Norway, a service una held in St. John's Cathedral at 12.30 p.m. yesterday, in memory of the late Queen Moud

The of Norway, Governor of Hongkong,, Sir Geoffry Northcote, and Lady Northcote were present, along with a large attend- once of Consular representatives and the Hongkong Norwegian community. The playing of Chopin's Funeral March provided a solemn prelude hymns in which the Dean, the Very Rev. J. L. Wilson, and the Revs. K. L. Reichelt, Johan Nielsen, and G. M. Relehelt took part.

The President, Rotarian the Hon., cal research has changed: however, and ferns, of which 32 species are gather for their rations and receive to a simple ceremony of prayer and!

Dr. Li Shu-fan, was in the Chale, and welcomed the followingt visiting Rotarians:

they are easily identifiable."

of

who came

Following Dr. Smith's observa- lions, there

hlatua occurred a many years. It is to be presumed that the few foreigners ashore from

Messrs. S. O. Au, Swalow; T. C. Yu Tientsin; Engene Chen, Chengtu; Paul Deitz, Shanghai; Dr. R. E. Beddoc, Wuchow; Dr. J. M. Henry, Canton; and the following guests: Mensra. R. A. D. Forrest, F. Flip- pance, H. A. Lammert, I. Petersen, gards

ing

;

Robert Fortune's Reference ships subsequently, Special mention should be given were little Intercated in the island's here to Robert Fortune, the Scottish who paid natural history. The place had an botanist and travelier, unsavoury reputation, both as re- several visits to China and Japan in whose words its climate

mate and fever (since the period 1843-1800, und proved to be malaria) and the books relate to the many plants which casional visitors from sailing ships from this part of the world. His first

In a brief address the Rev. K. L. Reichelt stated:

A. E. Nobbins, H. J. Pearce, Rev. C. who dwelt here; and oc- he took to Europe or sent to Amerien af Fanling, was taken there.

In orderly manner. these A number of "refugee" bables have been born, upwards of twelve, muter nity ases having been taken to hos- pliat during the last three days. Mr. Ellis's bungalow at Fanling has been given by him for use as a temporary hospital for maternity cases and one of these a woman who delivered her baby in one of the railway trucks A few wounded people came in B. R. Sargent, and Dr. Maska, of pirates New Zealand,

had considerable relief from said he had taken the opportunity to had obtained fresh water, or vegetYears' Wanderings in the Northern he use to which they have been sub- the beautiful

crally Dr. Henry, the District Governor. probably embarked as soon as they visit here is recorded in "Three ; yesterday but the ambulancea gen- sacred Norweglan name Olav. They

Provinces of

of China, published in 1847, Furtune stayed for a time injected since Saturday. Hongkong, the and 01 subsequent

Many pitiable scenes are still cn-five A Venie Openhagen on

by the roadside, the still blowing He arrived in the Colony on board to walt until tho Colony had been Visits, and in his books he not only acted undreds of aged people who 1005, and the man mountains,

mentions some aspects of local botany, being hun

uso gives us a good idea of what have

visit the local classes of Lingnan ables from the coastal villages.

For the next authoritative refer- University. which had been trans- !

from Canton to Hongkong, ence to local natural history we have ferred

the U.S.S. would

stay here a few days, สอบ

He referred to the refugee silua- tion in Canton, and said that the people of Canton could not sum- ciently express their gratitude to the people of Hongkong for the financial assistance 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 5. C. M. Post,

Early Naturalista

When your The speaker mid: programme chairman about a month

Johnston, who

was Her Majesty's Deputy Superintendent of Trade in Hongkong, contributed an article on the Colony to the "London Geogra- pleat Journal," in the course which he stated:

on

not

the average person

the Colony was like st that time. It would interest

tions,

but to give in detall the plants he men- It may be noted that he of was struck by the wealth of beautiful and herbs, and flowering shrubs orchids, growing wild on the hills. We might pick out a few of his re- ferences for comment. He mentions

the shrub known that

៦៨ Ixora chinensis was common in the clefts of rocks on the island: this is of much importance, as establishing that the native of our plant was originally

CK"

"A coarse kind of grass is found 11 the hills, but on those with a

north-easterly northerly and

choked

by pomure it is generally ferns and stunted brushwood; while on the face of the hills fronting the south it grows in clumps unchecked, except when burnt by the natives.

This is

Arcs

smoke of innumerable little was rising from the countryside dusk last night as the victims of war cooked their sparse meals prepara- tory to another night spent beneath the stars.

FUND FOR RELIEF

Donation of $20,000 From Governor of Kwangtung General Wu Teh-chen,

Governor

has for-

It is just 33 years since our beloved Queen Maud came to Norway to- gether with her husband and their son, who had just received a new name the old and smiling little

made their entrance to the capital Oslo Fjord, arrived from steamer.

snowstorm was

on

that day, November 25,

Osio Fjord foemed rather cold and stern In their frosty winter garments. This was, however, only the outside picture.

Love That Endured

of Kwangtung Province, most interesting note on island. To-day, it has been exter- ago asked me to give a talk to the a phenomenon seen even lo-duy, forminated from Hongkong in its wild worded the sum of $20,000 to the Rt./ Prince Olav and his wife through all.

form, not only do the Chinese still burnin

Rotary Club, he suggested that the

und only grows where

subject of snakes would probably be the grass and scrub on the hill slopes | Botanical and Forestry Den Emergency Relief Council.

a suitable one, and also added that in many parts of the Colony, but has planted it out in the

is noticeable

that the

mest

profusely wooded

the Rev. R. O. Hall, Dishop of Hongkong

and South

of the China for USZ

General Wu has requested, in an pentsula. The great demand for the It

would be made more interesting it on longkong island it is notice

for their accompanying lette

Tatter, that the money plant among the Chinese specimens were brought to the meet-the

Apart from the difficulties of areas face south, which is explained į gardens must have led to its near should be devoted to the relief of the Ing.

by several meteorological factors extermination in the island many refugees who have crossed the bor- holding the attention of most people Chief of these Is the blowing of the years ago.

Probably the last sur der into British territory during the on such a might be test, which to Bome | ***

distasteful, the monsoons: the northern face of the vivor was a single shrub I found at

at present hostilities. and snake hills have the dry, cold winds,

Lookout about ten years: "This much needed help will con- Jardine's live problem of introducing a

the tribute appreciably in making the lot or two to this meeting, or falling the southern slopes get the warm, ago, which disappeared when

ministure-inden winds of

victims of war summer. area was cleared for drainage and of the unfortunate back on a row of pickled specimens, }

choice of a more pleasant Typhoons, again, which have such a anti-malarial purposes a few years who have sought sanctuary in Hong- decided

my

sald growth back. It is now

more tolerable," bit and I hope more interesting text- tendency

In making the announce- Bishop Hail, the historical aspects of local natural tally blow from the north and only under cultivation in Hongkong kong a

north-cast: though their effect on our

When he comes to other forms of ment of the gift.

"Their plight, however, is still very plants is not anywhere so great na natural history in the Colony, For- that of the monsoons. It should be

tune makes a curious error. These great, and we sincerely hope that the Civil noted that with the afforestation are his very words:

the example set by which has been going on for upwards The Island is not rich in indigen-Governor of Kwangtung will be fol- of fifty years,"

our animals. I have frequently seen lowed by many other people, both in were in the early days of Hongkang cessible parts of the rocky in-

wild goats feeding in the most inuc- Hongkong and in China."" there are also deer and foxes, but Colony's Animals

these are extremely rare."

AGA 13

history.

room

for

to

stunt trre

these monsoonal effects are not as marked

they

crays; }

For naturalists of our own genera- Lon, this Colony holds little new, for practically all the flora and fat has been discovered and recorded past generations of workers. It." perhaps only in the realm of the

which by reason of their sects,

mul- titude and minuteness still offer n of research and discovery, that field

To revert to Mr. Johnston's com- Now, we know that wild ork can be done; nevertheless fresh work can there is

great deal of ments, he also had this to say about never existed here, while deer must study and tabulation even among the

always have been rather common. the the new Colony: better known branches of our botany "The only animals found on the though their exceeding shyness pro- and 200le

For instance, to revert island are a few small deer, a sort of bably prevented people from seeing zoology. For

und

Fand tortoise. much of them. As for foxes. these to 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 is yet been found to the island long ago: they exist on which several were not known to suffer from their bite. Among the the mainland nowadays, but are not fruits and vegetables produced on common there. It is possible that occur locally until they were collect-

lichee, Fortune mistook the barking deer for ed within our own time, and two of the island are the mango,

sweet goats; or that domestic gonts, which these I had the good luck to collect longan, orange, pear, rice,

proves were Inevitably small and yams; potatoes, myself within the past four

quantity research unth which time they were known of flax Le trown, and prepared for brought here in the early years of

chhousehold use

the by villagers. the Colony by Indian soldiers, had only from

from neighbouring artis, such

run wild. If so, as Kwangtung and Formosa.

Since the occupation of the island by been allowed to

they must have been deliberately discoveries, though they are not of the English, the potato of Europe killed off later, for it is well known new species, are termed new records, and the fruits of Canton and Macao

that gonts, as they pull up grass by have been introduced; and lately a

Such

SOCIAL EVENING

Women's Club Plans

Party For Officers

The members of the Hongkong Women's International Club are or- ganising a social evening in honour of Mrs. K. Dunbar and Mrs. D. M, Biggar,

Chairman and Vice- the Chairman of the club, as n gesture of their appreciation of all they have done

for the Club.

The social commences at 7.30 p.m. at the Club on Thursday, December 8. A light buffet supper will be

and in this line of natural historyreat many European seeds have the roots, instead of cropping it as served.

work hardly a year passes wut been brought out by the agent of animals in hilly and rainy

sheep do. аго most destructive Tickets can be obtained from the

bird,

being

to their being scoured by rain.

Birds Plentiful

areas,

manageress or the Hon. Secretary.

welcome.

round for the prst time on Hongkong the Horticultural Society of London, laying the hill slopes bare, lending Lady friends of members will be

reptile, or Insect,

Specimens of the island or in the British territory on and distributed. the mainland. It is obvious that zoology and botany of Hongkong are several mare snakes which occur in being gradually sent home, and a list Kwangtung should be found in due of these productions will be furnish- course in the New Territories; and ed before long" particularly in the case of birds, with

น

came

of our time regard with envy the old on ants. It is now very fath the extermination. of these vemo birds burning of grass and brushwood left

island,

least

the

pre-

#t

As soon as the royal family had set their feet on shore they met with o wave of warmth, of love and de- votion from the waiting multitudes, and that wave has kept on rolling with increasing force around King Haakon, Queen Maud, and Crown these years not only in the capital, but in

and Inland all the towns places, wherever the royal family has been travelling and visiting.

It soon became apparent to all that Queen took a the King and the genuine and vivid interest in their homeland. with its special new

15 features and characteristics. It

that the significant very mother, with the greatest interesi and courage, watched her son (who,) In the pride of his youth, yearly and so sklifully took part in our;

ski-ing) jumping national sport, bravely aut in the air 80 or 90 tect on his skis and still coming down standing.

เก

royal

It was also soon realised among my countrymen that through our dear Queen Moud we became still more intimately Heled up with the great nation on the other side of the North Sen, Britain, the land from which we, 000 years ago, got the best of all the Gospel of Our Lond, Jesus Christ.

our treasures,

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 fac example as a pious and happy dis- noble ciple of Christ. Her muny activities in regard to philanthropy and public service had their deepest source in her Christian faith.

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

British Sympathy

dear

11.

H.

Finally, a word to our many Bri- Ush friends here in the Colony: You have come, so many of you, to take part in this service of com- Of feathered inhabitants, Fortune

fine crop of succulent, green grass in

memoration because Queen Maud the early spring for their cattle, while

was Unfortunately that is all he had states that there were two or three

appreciate small

to you. We ashes the secondary one is that the and few wood

your coming and we thank you most our gradual increase in afforestation to say about local natural history, species of kingüishers, some

ure washed down when the rains

heartily. I know you will also be and the establishment of a sanctuary but it is quite informative, even if singing birds

come and help in part to fertilise aru

willi us in birds. "From

our prayer and our In Hongkong, species which have not not necurate in every respect. For pigeous; but the mainland was much

thanksgiving We thank God hitherto visited us or settled to breed instance, the reference to our well- better stocked with

Again, many wonder how it is a

Almighty Who gave us such a good here, are sure to come in and be known barking dece is correct, but thence", he says, "the natives bring their crops..

the so-called armadillo is more to the market large quantities of

queen, and we pray from the depth pheasants, partridges, quail, ducks, so-called barren island, like Hong- duly recorded.

when the British

of our

soul: "Bless her soul and. Whatever thrill there may remain scientifically known as a manis, or Leal, and sometimes woodcock and kong was

1 small animal with In such records for the enthusiast,

speed her further development in the pangolin, a

snipe." It is interesting to observe here, should have preserved so many must be cenfessed 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.

the eternal goal in glory." seems to have resulted in the near The explanation is simple: while the

Those days, when Hongkong was newly ac- Hongkong

and within

present, apart from the the more or less level hill slopes Governor and Lady Northcote, in- quired, and when a wonderful field past few years has been given off from the New Territories.

cluded the Commander-in-Chief of of discovery was opened up. 2t is cial protection. There are three land!

From the references I have given, bare, the many ravines, almost all of them fed by streams or brooks, with this aspect of the subject that tortoises rather commonly found in

the Fleet in China, Sir Percy Noble, two of which can be seen that within twenty

the nucleus of served to preserve my talk in chiefly concerned,

the Colony, at

of Hongkong

might and

Lady Noble, the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice R. E. Lindsell, and Mrs, The ideal for a naturalist is a re- are common on the island. The re- years of the cession

island to Britain, its natural history hundreds of species which

Lindsell, the Hon. Sir Henry and mote island or other territory which ference to the absence of cases of

re- must have been thoroughly studied atherwise have been destroyed, and fatal

from these ravines some of our most anakebite despite bent has

Lady Pol

Pollock, the Norwegian Consul- nobody with a scientific

as we know, of venomous and recorded. Yet for some years.

General, Mr. Karsten Larsen, the visited before. Such lands are prae-

before

German

Mr. Consul-General, speclus-Is most interesting, for it is thereafter it was possible for colless striking native fora has since been leally non-existent to-day: scientists

protective laws, to spread. Then, new specles, particularly those who and collectors have visited almost a remarkable fact even now, with tors to obtain the thrill of discovering collected and permitted, under our

tour largely

fortunately, though the Chinese Gipperich, and Mrs. Gipperlch, the expilored the less known parts of the But

increased population. corner of the

Consul-General,"

Mr. globe,

Belgian every

It is very doubtful whether Mr. mainland of Ching. One of the most have for hundreds of years derudel Vanderstracien, and Mrs. Vander- when Hongkong was founded as a British Colony nearly a hundred Johnston really observed

mangoes remarkable facts in the history of they have always spared the village streeten, the Consul-Ceneral for Fin- years ago, little was known of the flourishing here. Though the mango South China bolanising is

recorded

Hansen, the natural history of

Portuguese Consul- the adjoining

tree, introduced from further south of Captain Light, of the 114th. and temple groves, for religious pur-land, Mr. Wallace Hansen, and Mrs.

poses, under the cult of jung shut,

General, Mr. A. B. Laborinho, and mainland, and practically nothing of grows well, and flowers freely,

and also for aesthetic reasons. Thus

Mr. M. Cuntet, on behalf of the the island itself. It was the early seldom sels fruit, and these are few

a severely practical people, by reason

Italian Consul-General, the Coloniu) | botanista especially who found such and of poor quality, making their

of the spiritual side of their nature, rich material to work on, and the cultivation not worth while.

have passed on to the modern world Secretary, the Hon. Mr. N. L. Smith, multitude of new forms recorded by referred to may have been imported pressed in a pocket notebook, men-

intact a great many examples of the and Mrs. Smith, Mr. Justice E. H. them are in part commemorated by But the next deende was to see cen-

fruit.

botanical wealth with which their country is blessed (Applause). S. H. Dodwell, Mrs. G. D. R. Black, the attachment of their names to both genera and species. Some of siderable collecting and determining found that his collection included

Major V. E. Duclos proposed a Mrs. T. H. King, Mr. and Mrs. S. K. vote of thanks.

Helberg, Mr. and Mrs. S. Berg, Mr. the plants they discovered here have of local plants and other natural his

Mrs, R. Johannessen, Capt. and not yet, up to the present day, been tory peelmens. Many sunkes were

Mrs. J. Krogh-Moc, Mr. and found outside Hongkong island.

discovered, it was found that other

Mr. and Mrs. animals on the Island Jacluded

Mrs. Such luck may not fall to the lot

-Before the meeting was adjourned, R. L L. Stanton, Mr. porcupine and several civet cats, and of a botanist in China to-day, though

the President revealed that Rotarian Owrum-Andresen, Mrs. F. Murer. the birds came in for a great deal of

* | many workers, including Chinesa One of the earliest records

attention. Most work was done, scientists, are continually recording Professor W. 1. Gerrard of the Ilong- Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Nielsen, Mr, and Mrs. K. Neckelman, Mr. and Mrs. have of a man with scientide train however, by botanists. Sama fresh discoveries, and it cannot bo kong University had earned the dis- Unction of receiving a double hongur. ing visiting this island concerns Dr. their names should be mentioned. long before the possibilities of new He was sure

Stranger, Mr. and Mrs. Holter. Strs. his fellow-Rotarians P. Heesch, and Mesara, 1. S. Cassidy Clarke Abel Smith, who accompanied

In the very first week of the occu- and will become practically exhaust- Lord Amherst's mission to China in pation of Hongkong, Mr. Richard ed. But while we envy those early would unite with him in extending nhd J. 1. R. Nance, Cathedral

their hoortlest congratulations to trustees, 1816, and who came ashore from Brinsley Hinds came ashore from explorers, we might remember that Rotarian Gerrard, he said, for having HMS. Sulphur, of which he was the they faced many dangers and risks been decorated by the President of ship Shekpalwan 4 field anchored in green harbour collected plants, which we have

clambered

alopes he sent to London for determination. day; and that their enthusiasm laid with the Order of the Brilliant Jade, opponite that anchorage. His botani- In 1844, Dr. H. F. Hance came out to the foundations for our very full

Į (Applause). cal observations

ions, though brief, are the Colony, and did much botanising knowledge of the present time,

The second honour conferred on Before concluding, perhaps I should interesting as being those of the first which proved of considerable value: European to bave

any Colonel J. G.

G. Champion collected answer two queries which some of Rotarian Gerrard was his appoint• thing about long had a great Bethold Seeman come here in 1880 often put by residents of the Colony, the Et. John Ambulanos Brigade in

fors. He tensively from 1847 to 1850: Dr. you may want to put, and which see inant as Amdistant" Commlatoner noted, that, the fland

of ferns, and enumerated aboard H.M.S. Heraldthen, as its First, why do the Chinese bum the Hongkong by the Headquarters of reason in twofolds the both very well" damerved honours. subsequent botani-ion his collections, enumerating 1773 primary one is that this results in w⋅ (Applause).

and

An Early Vizitor

the

Mahratta Light Infantry, as recently ns 1904. While on a visit to Hunan Province, he decided to collect some

*these Those plant specimens, and

he

suring six inches by four, but never- thless when he returned, it was three species new to Chine, and no fewer than twenty-four new to the Provincel

long dry

PROFESSOR GERRARD

MAYARAK Used names inj ship-and published a valuable note

Rambyn: which attracted his at-namesaka to-day, a-haval' kurveying winter?RG on the hillsider in the Brigade in London. They were

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