174
Hongkong Villages
(Including Gap
Rock and Stone-
-
cutter's Island)...1901- 0805. 3627 13,432
1897- 8211 3488 11,699 |
Increase 1594 139 1732❘ British Kowloon ...1901-32,727 10,110 42,837 1897-19,202 1240 26,442
Increase 13,525 2870 16,395 Mercantile Marine 1901- 1180
1180 1897- 1498 25 1523
1
Decrease
****4
318 25 343 Boat Population 1901-22,509 12,690 35,199 1897-19,872 11,880 31,752
Increase 2,637, 810 3,447
Total
Chinese
Total Civil Popu
lation
Population.... 1901-196,351 72,065 268,416 1897-165,422 67,858 233,280 Increase 30,929 4,207 35,136
..1901–202,175 75,468 277,643 1897-170,392 71,370 241,762
Increase 31,783 4,098 35,881
HARMSTON'S CIRCUS.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
|
Sisters Frogazonds, took their Benefit, and a very full tentful assembled to manifest their appreciation of these graceful and agile dancera. The whole performance was carried out with the thoroughness which marks Mr. Harmston-Love's combination of artists in the circus line The evening's entertainment was fully enjoyed by all present.
At Harmston's Circus on Thursday night there was the usual varied entertainment, and in addi- tion visitors had before them a riding contest for gentlemen riders. This resulted is a win for Lient. Johnson, who succeeded in completing two rounds and a half of the arena standing on the back of a horse. Lieut. Walwyn was second with a round and three-quarters, and Mr. W. H. Gregg a good third with a round and a half. There also competed Major Sir H. W. McMahon, Lieut. Lloyd, Messrs. Crawford, Echlin, and Babington. Another contest will be held to-night, for which entries must be sent in to the Manager. On the same night a bluejacket will enter the den of the tiger Duke. A farewell matinee also comes off to-day.
CANTON.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 23rd February. NEW YEAR'S DAY IN CANTON.
In the organisation and maintenance of a travelling circus year after year there is a great China New Year passed off rather tamely deal to be achieved, if public approval is to be and the animation usually attending on such an altogether secured. Star artistes of the ring occasion was not as visible as last year, the who attract one season may fail to gather amount of crackers let off being less than any approbation the next, and the management has other year. As a rule the masters of the house to be fully alive to the needs of the hour. In stay at home to receive guests on New Year's order to successfully cater for the Hongkong Day, while the employees don their best and go public, Mrs. Harmston-Love arranged for and out to distribute cards. Eating-houses were brought out direct from Europe the Sisters closed for a day or two and most of the families, Fresagondas and the Jansons, whose perform-especially the women, kept their fast on vege- ances had created a great furore through | out. Europe. In these and many other respects, this enterprising entrepeneur has contributed to the recreative enjoyment of her patrons, who have not been slow in expressing their appreciation of her efforts.
The success of the Circus has been so con- tinuous and so generally encouraging, that it was no small wonder to see the tent well filled, notwithstanding the discomforting elements, on the occasion of Mrs. Harmston-Love's benefit on the 22nd ult. She fully deserved it. For twelve years she has been travelling through out the East and Far East, and at every benefit her admirers have rallied and given her a bum per. This was no exception, and the new programme, which throughout the week had been received with the utmost satisfaction by the thousands who witnessed it, was what shortened to permit the introduction of several novel features. The tug-of-war which should have taken place as the result of the dis- qualified tie between the stokers of HM.S. Centurion and the team of the Royal Gar- rison Artillery in the recent international contest, did not come off in consequence, it was stated, of the non-appearance of the
some-
former team. Colonel Hioks announced from
table food only, while the men went to the theatre to see the "sing-song." From a business stand- point the old year was worse; many Chinese firms on reckoning up their accounts found that they were in debt, and being unable to keep up their credit had to close. Banks were pressing for the final settlement of their accounts to the last penny, otherwise no credit would be given. Some creditors who found it hard to get their money paid resorted to the following means of exacting payment. A few days before the New Year they took with them their pillows and cotton quilts and went into the shops of their debtors to eat and sleep free of charge until the amount of the debt was paid off.
THE NEW VICEROY,
From the 15th to the 18th ult. the Consuls of the various different nationalities and the Commanders of the gunboats made official calls upon the new Viceroy Tao Mu. I also have had the honour of interviewing and conversing with him. His Excellency was very amiable and pleased with foreigners and seemed to take a delight in everything foreign. No doubt the brilliant uniforms of the different Consuls and Naval officers were quite a surprise to him and had inspired hini with respect. His Excellency is of medium height, with a somewhat ruddy the ring that the Royal Welsh Fusiliers complexion and a thin moustache and beard. His were willing to take the challenge thrown out by the stokers for any amount at equal weights asked His Excellency whether he would like to age is 66, not 80 as reported before. When I and, at a call, the captain of the Centurion's take a trip to Hongkong and Macao to see stepped forward and stated they were willing things, he shook his head, and told me that to put up any sum from $100 to $3,000. The he never liked sea voyages. For this reason he of the evening was the contest between local challenge remains open. The principal event amateur riders for a trophy presented by Mrs. Harmston-Love over a steeplechase course round the marquee and through the ring, at the ends of which the hurdles were erected. There were eleven competitors, and the result was as fol-
·lows:--
up
Lieut. Lloyd, R.W.F. (on Policeman)... 1 Mr. P. A. Cox (on Bobby) These also competed-Lieut. Walwyn, Capt. Gwynne, Lieut. Johnson, Lieut. Burton, Lieut. Boyd, Mr. A. C. Macmillan, Messrs. Bishop, Lord and Echlin.
Messrs. Hart Buck and Hector Sampson were judges, and their decision gave general satisfaction.
At a special performance on Wednesday nigh the 27 ult., that popular quartette,
spoke appreciatively of everything foreign, with has come to Canton by so slow a passage. He the exception of missionaries interfering in
cases which do not concern them.
STEAMER DEVELOPMENTS.
A steamer-wharf is being constructed at the west of Kee Cheong Street. It is rumoured that a Japanese company is going to start a line of river steamers running between Canton and Hongkong and Macao, and somebody has been looking round Shameen for a house where
in to establish an agency.
A DEVICE AGAINST THIEVES.
[March 2, 1931.
CONCERNING AMAHS. There are three different classes of maid- servants known by the name of “amah,” The superior class is something like a governess. She is a confidante, a go-between, a tale-bearer, and likewise a companion to the lady of the house; the second class is that of the hair- dresser or waiting woman, who does nothing else but dress the hair of her mistress; and the third class is generally that of the menial servant, who does the low household work. Their pay varies according to their positions from two to seven dollars a month. They are either widows, spinsters, or married women; the spinsters who prefer independent single life better than the married state, go out to serve, while the married ones who are poor and can't agree with their husbands, desert their homes and prefer to earn a living for them- selves. As a rule their behaviour is not so very exemplary. In most family troubles an amal is found at the bottom of it. They have what is calan Amah's Club in the city, where they meet and gossip, and discuss the misfor tune of their mistresses. An amah, by name A Sam, was employed in the family of Ho in Kong Street, Canton, who was about 40 years of age. She induced her mistress to lend $5,000 to a man Leong Pat, of the Shon Tak district, whom she represented as a great silk merchant, at ten or twelve per cent. interest per month. So she went on swindling several rich families in the same manner, paying of course heavy interest regularly for about two years until she had amassed something like thirty to forty thousand dollars. Just about the end of the past Chinese year she and her friend disappeared. It is said that they have gone te Hongkong to take passages for Singa- pore.
}
In the Kung Ching Street, Fatshan, the shops are connected with each other by electric wires; so that in case of robbing, by a mere ich of the wire the bells sound the alarm, and neighbours will appear to render their assis lance to catch thieves.
Canton, 24th February. WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY. The anniversary birthday of George Washing- ton was celebrated in Canton on the 22nd ult., the U.S. Consul Mr. Robert MaoWade being at home.
The gunboats in port dressed in bunting and saluted just at noon. The Con- gulate was tastefully decorated. By his open heartedness, urbanity, kind and liberal treatment of all alike, irrespective of sects, or nationalities, Mr. MacWade has gained a great popularity here. Between 12 and 1 p.m. the different Con- suis, Naval officers, merchants, heads of Euro- pean firms, Chinese officials, and many residents of Shameen were pouring into the Consulate in great numbers to convey their greetings and good wishes to the U.S. Consul.
the
TIENTSIN.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Tientsin, 9th February. DIPLOMACY SUCCEEDS WAB. We are still in a state of Egyptian darkness as regards trustworthy political news, and might as well inflate ourselves with the East-wind circulate in military and Chinese circles. The as give credence to the silly rumours that soldier-men profess to believe that the early spring will see them in the transports well on way for home: when traced to its origin small talk of Count von Waldersee who, it is this little optimism seems to be derived from agreed, is pretty sick of the whole affair and finds his position anything but a bed of roses,
hands and there is really little or nothing for The diplomatic folk are, as might be expected, keeping the negotiations entirely in their own the soldiers to do. Count von Waldersee's friend. affect to think that by coming to China heghas lost the chance of the Chancellorship. The only determination really reached about the troops is that the Australian Naval Contingent will return home as early as possible, so as to enable the men to be present at the great Parliamen tary ceremony in Melbourne. They are to be replaced by the Devous.
THE FROTECTION OF THE LEGATIONS
PEKING.
The future permanent garrison of Peking is to consist of two hundred and fifty men for each of the major Legations, and may further in- clude a smaller number for those of Spain, Holland, and Belgium. The composition of each force is not yet determined, but it is quite
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