November 18, 1901:1
a sudden order that will turn Hongkong into a city of cesspools. Why in the name of the wonderful is not the supply cut down during the night time all the year round, and, more important than all, now that the Chinese are allowed to have taps of all patterns and sorts, that the house service is not under constant surpervision P
The lack of water to drink, to cook with, and to wash with is no sentimental grievance, and surely, Sir, it must be the business of the people who draw the salaries for looking after the wants of the people who must have water, and who pay for it, to see that they get it.- ours, etc.,
RATEPAYER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
13th November. SIE, A notice from the Water authority appeared in the papers a few days ago stating that the water supply south of Robinson Road would be limited to two hours only, viz., from
6 to 8 a.m.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. afternoon, get out and walk away, totally ignoring the coolie and his demands for payment. Such treatment of coolies is to be deprecated by men who call themselves "white." "And let me tell Mr. Bone for his information that this "robbing" of coolies is carried on far more than the
flescing" of bluejackets.
If the coolie sometimes tries to make a good thing ont of a maudlin bluejacket he is only paying back old scores. Jack ashore, as we know him, is not a "shining light" any more than that much abused person the ricksha coolie. Enclosing my card.-Yours, etc.,
ONE WHO KNOWS.
REVIEW.
The Chinese_Soldier and Other Sketches. By ALFRED CUNNINGHAM. Hongkong: Daily Press Office.
AT such a time as this when the gaze of the world is being again and again attracted to China, this book of Mr. Cunningham's makes As a matter of fact the residents of Beliliosa very apt appearance. The writer has had a Terrace, with only a few exceptiops, have not long and varied experience of life in the Far had a drop of water since Monday morning, East and deals, with his subject in a well- much to their annoyance and discomfort, informed as well as in a pleasing literary Bathing is out of the question, but when water manner. As its title impiies, the work is com- for drinking and cooking is not obtainable it posed mainly of sketches illustrative of the becomes a serious matter. Undoubtedly there methods, character, and capabilities (or rather must be some mismanagement. on the part of incapabilities) of the Chinese soldier; it also the Water Authorities, this important mat. contains a most interesting account of an in- ter of water-supply, which should be rectified at terview which Mr. Cunningham had with Li once. In some parts you get a ful supply of Hung chang at Canton and an excellent de- water for two or three hours and in other parts the Chinese soldier the author' does not strive scription of the siege of Manila. In depicting you get not a drop. Of course it is necessary to curtail the supply if there is a scarcity of for the attainment of elaborate military statis- water, but to be entirely deprived of it is not tical comparison. While imparting much in- only unjust but a discredit to those whosa formation of interest to the Service man he business it is to regulate the supply of this writes for the general reader first of all, treating indispensable conimodity,
his subject with a ightness of touch and in a variety of aspects extremely refreshing.
Trusting the publication of this letter will ameliorate matters, and thanking you for the insertion of the same in your next issue.journalist and as war correspondent in the
Yours, etc,,
A SUFFERER.
SAILORS AND RICKSHA-OOLIES.
66
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS." 12th November.
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the patients and was safely manufacturing ammunition under the Red Cross flag. The doctor 8000 put a period to this proceeding "Chinese Soldiers as Patients" and "Chine80: Sailors at Weihǹiwei are two most enjoyable. chapters; that on "A Chinese Telegraph Superintendent" is perhaps the brightest in the whole book.
•
*
With regard to the account of Mr. Cunning- ham's remarkable interview with › Li Hung- chang it is needless to enlarge upon it. The writer of this notice was in England when the gist of the interview was cabled home and remembers well the sensation
•
caused by its appearance. Mr. Cunningham's success in getting an audience of Li was aç- counted-and is still- a great journalistic feat; it is only fitting, therefore, that he should put the result of it upon permanent record in his book. Now that Li is no more, a re-perusal f the expression of his views on things Chinese has an accentuated interest.
Chapters VIII and IX-the two last-deal respectively with "The Insurrectos at Malabon" and "The iege and Capture of Manila." In his introduction, Mr. Cunningham mentions, in rather an apologetic tone, we fancy, that he has inserted this history of the siege of Manila be- canse he was one of the two special newspaper correspondents who went through it, and there is no record of it from the Spanish side except such as may be gleaned from the newspaper files. The canse given is an excellent one; the account itself is a better. It is a vivid description of will doubtless prove valuable in fixing authorita- the stirring events of that stirring time and tively the dates and incidental details of the campaign with which it deals.
It only remains to be said that the book is got up in a manner consonant with its matfer. Dealing as it does almost wholly with Chinese affairs, Mr. Cunningham has given it a charac teristic and withal pretty dress. The paper used is Chinese, the binding is Chinese, and the nine illustrations distributed throughout the book are germane to these. Mr. Cunningham's venture deserves all success.
CHINA TRADERS' INSURANCE -
COMPANY, LIMITED.
Mr. Cunningham's personal experiences as a
recent military operations in the Far East provide an ample supply of incident and adven- ture for the groundwork of the sketches, whils enabling him also to speak from practical knowledge
ye concerning the value of the Chinese - hrave · as a fighting force. The author approves the statement that, in attacking the Chinese, the safest people are in the firing, line; and gives many instances which go to The thirty-fifth ordinary meeting of share- SIR-It has recently been brought to my support this view. The tactics of the Chinese holders in the above Company was held on the notice that many of the blue-jackets, wheu
brave"
are, he remarks, simplicity itself-to 12th inst, at the head office in Queen's Build- ashore, re. when they use the street ricksha, shoot and then run away. When supported heings. Mr. A. Hanpt, Chairman of the Board of unmercifully "fleeced by the rapacious coolie is worthy of his name and will fight well as Directors, presided, and there were present the Now this is a wrong that should be rectified. long he is convinced that his opponents are Hou, J. 1 hurburn and Messrs. A. J. Raymond, As far as my observation goes, though Jack is not getting too neur. The recent operatious at H. Sebibart, P. Witkowski (Directors), W. H. never close fisted" he does not find special Taku.. Tie utsin, and Peking revealed the Ray (Secretary), W. J. Saunders, G. H. Danu, satisfaction in treating" the ricksha coolie, brave" as a fig ter; but lack of true R. C. Wilcox, A. E. Wheeley, F. S. Fulcher, especially as the rule appears to be that the fighting spirit, due to want of competent and Fleet Surgeon Lloyd Thomas. more generously the latter is trated, the more gailauss, confidence, and control caused the overbearing and clamorous he becomes. It
principle of self-preservation to assert itself. would appear that most of the men who come When it comes to foreign-drilled Chinese ashore are absolutely ignorant of the rules that troops, however, Mr. Cunningham adds his should guide their payments and that they have testimony to that of other Eastern observers never heard that just rates are five cents for who have declared that a Chinaman, well treated, a quarter of an hour, ten cents for half a well drilled, and well led, makes a good soldier hour, and fifteen for an hour. We are sure One cannot help saying a ferrent Amen! to his that some way could be discovered by those in sigh of relief in that the existing misgovern- authority, whereby some notice could be pub-ment renders an extensive system of foreign plished toall on board ship when they first come to Hongkong, so that at least the men might be made aware of the just fares, and personal intervention in several cases, on behalf of those who were being unjustly robbed by the coolie, convinces me that for such information the Handy Man" would be gratefal.Yours, &c.,
C. BONE,
:
Wesleyan Chaplain.
drilled military impossible for, given such a system, China might well, as he remarks, prove a menace to the rest of the world.
The Weihaiwei reminiscences of the author are highly instructive, and some of them most amusing as well. The chapter ou A Chinese Red Cross Hospital" is a striking commentary upon Chinese ineptitude and upon their rooted hostility to anything, no matter how good, which sarours of Western civilisation. As if the TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESB.” Western barbarian could teach civilisation to 13th November. the Celestial! The Chinese who were pressed SIR, I was particularly struck to-day by a into the ambulance service-this ocru red in letter which appeared in your paper, written by the North during the war between China and Mr. Bone, the Wesleyan chaplain, in which he Japan-proved to be quite useless as bearers alleges that Jack ashore" is systematically in the field; they refused, in fact, to go into "fleeced by the ricksha-coolies. Now, we all the firing line to collect the wounded; and know that our ricksha-coolie of Hongkong is on one occasion when the doctor superinten not a lovable object, as the numerous letters dent of the hospital arrived unexpectedly he and complaints in the Press testify, but I found they had taken the stove from the should like to add my experiences to that of sick ward to supplement their own (it was others and would venture to say a word in cold weather) and had even stripped the favour of that m abused individual,
patients of blankets and everything that could I may say
tedly seen bluejackets, add to their own comfort. At another time the drank and sober, who, after being trundled doctor found on returning after a temporary Around in a rioksha for the greater part of an absence that the Chinese general had removed
2
The notice convening the meeting having boon read by the SECRETARY, the CHAIRMAN said-Gentlemen, with your approval I will consider the report and statement of accounts, which have been in your hands for nearly three weeks, as read. The year has got terminated as satisfactorily as at one time I had every reason to feel would be the case. During the latter part of the twelve months a succession of losses of liners occurred, some mail steamers on which the Company was more or less heavily interé ted. These casualties changed the previous appearance of the year's figures for the worse, but notwithstanding them I think you will agree with me that the report cannot be considered entirely unsatis factory. The business of the Company, has extended at various agencies, with the result that premia show an increase of $230,792 on the amount stated in the previous report. This is a satisfactory feature, and with a return to a normal parcentage of losses, good would of course follow. Rates still remain very low and evince no sign of general ime provement. Political troubles in North China are happily at an end, but business there has not yet resumed its former volums #The report in your hands shows Lalance of $514,895.7, which enable directors to recommend a of 16 per cent. ($4 pər. 15 per cent. as last year, of $293,805.07 be ca account The latter amo hope steadily against unknown losses
sults
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