42
discover that our weather differs in any material partionlar from your own. We have had it Some very cold, we have also had it warm. days it has rained: on the other hand it has been fine; the crops are doing nicely (thank you), the Chinese say-but then, if I were to write down what the Chinese say you would have to orowd out all your advertisements and tack on an extra supplement-so I will keep what the Chinese say to myself!
THE SIMPLE-MINDED PIRATE.
(With apologies to the People's Laureate.) Translator's Note-The original poem, of which the following is a translation, was found in a packet left on board a West River steamer by some person unknown, who had doubtless, for obvious reasons, been obliged to disembark in haste. The packet, also contained, among other things, an arms certificate issued by the Customs, a copy of the Viceroy's latest pro- clamation suppressing piracy, and two pawn tickets for three white duck suits and a parcel of linen marked "foreigner's washing.'
Он being dous into English, the verses wore found to bear so close a resemblance to a famous poem that the translator felt bound to make tho acknowledgement recorded above.
When you've laid down your revolvers, when
you've kindly shut off steam, When you've finished dodging round behind
those bales,
Will you please to drop your dollars in my
little soap tursen,
And recollect you ufusn't tell no tales!
I'm a simple-minded beggar, but my needs are
very great,
And the New Year's bills are all a falling in. I am sorry to disturb you, bat its getting
rather late,
So you'd better hurry up and find your "tin." Cook's son, cooly's son, son of a mandarin, Twenty thousand Chinese braves idling their
time away.
We've brothers and friends among them, so
they don't care a pin; Pass up the swag for your good health's sake
and, pay, pay, pay!
There are gunboats in Canton; you can see
'em there to-day
Drawing coal and vittles reg'lar from the store; They are chasing of us pirates, least so their
captains say,
And cutting off our noddles by the score. They are simple-winded beggars; they very much
prefer
To eat their rice and smoke their pipes at
home,
And leave us (that's you and me) to settle our
affairs
In a sociable, friendly way alone.
Shroff's son," boy's" son, son of a mandarin ; Straits or Melican millionaires-we're all the
same to day,
Each of us earning our daily bread (and take of
that diamond ring }!
Down on your knees; shell out your gold and
pay, pay, pay!
You needn't trouble, thank you, to remind us
that the Tweed
Is hanging round wait for such as us; We shall likely meet her soon, but she hasn't
got the speed
#
To overtake a private railway 'l us. We are simple-minded beggars, but we thought
it rather low
When they sent their “ Puffing Jimmy" up the
creek.
So we rallied 1ound the 'boys' and I think,
we let 'em know,
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Another time to look before they leap! Cook's son, amah's son, son of a compradore- (Fifteen men on a pirate launch running for
Chu tou-shan),
Launches and steamers chasing us (and one of
'em got on shore), Clap on steam till your boilers bust, and catch
us if you can!
* Literally
wheelbarrow.
"
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
H.E. LI HUNG CHANG IN HONGKONG.
HE CALLS ON H.E. THE GOVERNOR. H.E. Li Haug Chang, who is on his way to Canton to take up the appointment of Viceroy of the Two Kwang, arrived from the north in the M.M. steamer Ernest Simons on Sunday, 14th inst., bringing with him Lord Li and a numerous retinne. It was anticipated that His Excellency would call on the Governor the same day, and every preparation had been made for his reception. He, however, did not put in an appearance until the following afternoon. His arrival was awaited by a guard of honour composed of 100 members of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, together with the Regi. mental Baud, colours, and goat. The route
[January 20, 1900.
its talents and develop its resources to the best of its abilities either was destroyed from the face of the earth or lost its independenco. In dealing with his third point, Mr Drum. mond touched upon British national trouble. Referring to the Mutiny, he said he could re- member as though it was but yesterday the breaking out of the Mutiny in May, 1857. That was the beginning of a terrible and dis astrous chapter of British history. What he wanted to convey to them was this, that that was a proventible business; it was not inevitable. History had told them in unmistakeable terms that persons who were not connected with the Government, outsiders who knew India well and the state of the country, gave the Government warning over and over again before the Mutiny broke out as to what was going to happen. They know their facts well, and their information was Government House was lined by 500
at the command of the Government, but the Gov- Welsh Fusiliers and about 50 Indian policemen. rnment refused to listen to it, scouting the in- Colonel R. H. Bertio was in charge of the
formation. The result was that when the Mutiny troops and the Hon. F. H. May (Captain Super-broke out it fell like a bolt from the blue. The intendent of Police) was in charge of the police. British Empire was strained to its foundations
His Excellency landed at Murray Wharf at about 2 o'clock and was greated by a royal salute by the troops and band, a salute being fired at the same time from the Naval Yard. His Excellency, who appeared to be in good health, wore bis gorgeous yellow jacket, but little could be seen of him, as he got into a closed chair at the top of the wharf steps and was in this way Hundreds conveyed to Government House.
to
of Chinamen were assembled on the Cricket Ground and different points.
Chinese traffic was suspended in Queen's
Road for about an hour and a half, with the result that there was quite a block, and whon at last Captain Suparintendent May gave orders for the traffic to be allowed to resume quite a flood began to flow east and west.
On his arrival at Government House His Excellency was met by the Governor (Sir Houry Blake, (C.M.G.), H.E. Major-General Gascoigue, C.M.G., and the members of the Executive Council, all of whom were introduced to him.
The party then sat down to luncheon, and during the course of the conversation which ensued Dr. Tong acted as interpreter to Li Hung Chaug. and Mr. Pitzipios (British Vice-Consul at Canton) interpreted for the Governor.
Alluling to piracy on the West River, His Excellency said he fully realised the gravity of the state of affairs, ud said he was entirely in accord with the defish in their determination to put a stop to piracy.
After tilfa bi party, at the desire of the distinguished visitor, were photographed. Sub sequely his Excellency paid a call at He d. quarters' House, the residence of H.E. Major- General Gascoigue.
His Excellency resumed his royage to Cantou ou the 15th inst.
MR. IV. V. DRUMMOND ON "NATIONAL TROUBLE."
On the frening of the lōth inst., Mr. W. V. Drummond delivered a lecture in the City Hall under the auspices of the Hongkong Odd- Volumes Society on National Trouble." There was a good attendance.
..
After a few introductory remarks from the Hon T. H. WHITEHEAD,
Mr. DRUMMOND said the subject of "Na- tional Trouble" might be treated from a great many different standpoints. It was, therefore, not difficult to speak on the subject, but difficult to choose rather what to say or what not to say.
He bat selected three different suggestions bearing more or less on the subject of "National | Trouble," and he intended to bring these
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to overcome that terrible time. And what was
The
it then and what was it now in South Africa which saved the British nation from absolutely going under and breaking down? They knew as well as he did. It was the gallantry of our officers and of our soldiers and sailors. (Ap- plans.) But why should an enormous number of precious lives be lost and thousands of fami lies be thrown into mourning in order that the nation might be saved from the blunders the Government had brought upon it? trouble we were now going through in South Africa was one which was also preventible; it was not inevitable in any way whatever. An ounce of fact was worth many a pound of theory, and be would therefore read to them a letter which would show that this trouble was anticipated years before. In the London Times | of the 21st Noveinber last appeared a letter from Dr. Norman McMacleod euclosing a letter which was written to him nearly four years ago by an Euglishman born in the Transvaal, "a resident farmer and burgher, speaking Dutch and differing from the Boers around him only in being of Enlish parentage, whose acquaint- ance I made when residing in the Transvaal in 1872-0, during the Zulu War." Tus latter, which was sigued “A B." was my follows :-
"Dear Sir.-I write this letter to let yon know the real state of matters in the Transvaal, bnt at the same time don't mention my unmo, As the Boers are very much down en all us ringlish people in the ransvaal, and, of course, after Jameson's raid we are all looked upon with suspicion by the ordinary class of Boers. The Boers are playing a big gate. Of course we know, being in the country. They have armed every mas from 14 years old to 60 with Martinis, and 54 rounds, with orders to sleep on our cartridges. They gave my brother and myself the saine instructions. i told our Veldt Cornet I would rather be shot before I would Conse- go and shoot my own countrymen. quently I am in bad books, so came out here to see the end of it, sad left all my property.
If there is war, it will require about four columns of troops of not less than 20,000 in each columu, as ail the Free State, Natal, and old Colony Boers are going to join them for certain fact, and lots of young British also, who have everything in the country, and are s bit afraid that the Imperial Government will only half do it with small lots of troops and have more reverses. They must remember the Boers can move about quick without commis. sariat, living on beef and water, and they will all make a raid on one column at a time, so each column should be strong enough to stand any determined rush they may make. Pretoria they have about 100 big guns, and
Ia
before them and
В say
few words in about 150 to 200 men woll trained to the regard to each of them. Mr. Drummond cannon; and they have lately, I hear, got proceeded to deal with these points. The first out German officers, so you see the situation he put in the form of a general question, is serious, and if the Boers do got the best of What is the greatest difficulty, trouble sud any column they will wipe them out this time want which the world has known in all and take all guns, etc., as loot. I heard it past ages and knows to-day and suffers from whispered in the Transvaal before I left that to-day? He answered this by saying that they were going to disarm the Swažis, as they are it was the want of good government. His friends of the English, and would help in case second point was that there seemed to be a of a war; but you know the Swaxis will see | law operating in this world which had an im- who gets the best of it before they take any mense deal to do with the peace and happiness side, though I must say theys till swear by our of nations as well as of individuals, and that | Queen. The Boer game is to get Natal and the law was that the nation which did not utilise" old colony back, anď make one big Date? R»-
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