anyone may see, cone-shaped and ranging in height from a man's knee to his shoulder.
it in the trees.
Man's chummiest companion in the wilds is the monkey, which grades from the tiniest of the species to a product in size and appearance calculated to bewilder the untanght eye. The high prolific quality of Borneo for stories of wild men, hairy men, men with tails and more of that kiud, indicates how attractive here is the field for observations of ape-life. Proffer of friendship by a trite which eats monkey flesh and wears the skins, with tail attached, may easily have led early voyagers to wonder whether or not they would be expected to bare their arms and exchange the blood of brother- hood with the real thing, when first they spied Another land must probably be explored to find an ape which will be accepted as the human progenitor, but if one is out for entertainment rather than science he may confidently pitch his tent in Borneo. An occurrence at this moment will illustrate the diversion that monkeys furnish. There is a tree a rod or 80 off, occupied now by a crowd of them. Far out on one branch sat a grandfather monkey, wrapped in the dignity of gray hairs and wrinkles. He had retired thera for a little quiet, sleepy thinking, and sat with hold relaxed on the bough, and the breeze gently fanning him. monkey crept up behind, and by a quick push tipped grandfather completely over and sent him head first to the ground, 0 feet below. Grandfather struck properly on his head, but he was right side up in an instant, surveying his former perch and the grinning squatter there. Then he climbed the tree, walkel slowly up to that urchin-who had a real orocodile spell on him-and after cuffing him soundly, seized him by the arm. swung him several times in a circle, and hurled him out into the wide world. The urchin landed in the next tree unharmed but probably impressed. Monkeys have no airs or pretences, as with the human tribe, supposed at one time to have been of white origin but which turned out to have hair that looked red because the earth on which the members slept was ground into it and had bleached there. Even whites must respect the control that crocodiles keep over Bornco streams, but a tribe whose dread of bathing
An urchin
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
but careful and elaborate preparations have been made for a safe and comfortable journey.
THE MANCHURIAN QUESTION.
Prince Ching has opened negotiations with M. Lessar, but the result is not known to out- siders. Wang Wen-shao is expected the next few days to assist Prince Ching.-N. C. Daily |
News.
NANKING.
Nanking, 16th December.
TRADE
has considerably revived at this flourishing port since peace has been restored, and now that there is a certainty of the return of the Court to Peking we confidently expect that the improvement will be permanent.
DROUGHT.
14
[December 30, 1901.
BRAVO, JAPAN!
A Japanese Imperial Post Office has been established here. According to the scale of charges is ued, it is possible to send matter to all parts of China and the world as cheaply and conveniently as from Shanghai. We are great- ly pleased at this, as it will tend to bring the Imperial Chinese Post down from its "high perch."
NAVAL.
The warships now here, are:-H. M. $. Eclipse, U.S.S. Wilmington, and S. M. Schwalbe.-Mercury.
NORTHERN NOTES.
The following items are from the P.& T. Times of the 14th inst.:
The work of the great cuttings in the Hai-ho improvement scheme is two-thirds finished, as far as the excavations go. An attempt will probably be made to open the new channels. during the winter, so as not to interfere with the Spring navigation.
Four dull, foggy, and depressing days in sequence, with a cold dank atmosphere, is.a pray-phenomenon all but unknown in Tientsin. The ice which was apparently well set for the season has suffered considerably. Skating is, however, still possible, although not so good as before.
Peking telegrams give the 3rd and 4th of the eleventh moon (yesterday and to-day) as the Unfortunately, however, in agricultural probable dates of the Court's departure for matters, the prospect is a very gloomy one. Peking. There is much scepticism in the The almost unprecedented floods of the sum-Legations as the arrival before the Spring. mer were serious indeed, but the prevailing drought is really terrible. The rainfall during the past three months has been practically uil. In consequence, the ponds are with very few exceptions dry, and the wells are at least twenty feet below the usual level. In many cases wells
family are guarded, for
use only," and outsiders are prohibited from drawing water from them. There is talk of "
publicly. This can only ing for snow be taken as a symptom, however. If the prayers were accompanied with a little more commonsense action, an answer might be ex- pected. If, for instance, the lazy farmers would set to work and clean out the ponds, and deepen them about 10 or 20 feet, it would be a more real and earnest prayer than the offering of 10,000 sticks of the costliest incense, and indeed, the money spent in candles, incense, and other adjuncts of the prayers would more than pay for these and other equally necessary improve
A few artesian wells, and wind mills, ments. would remove the evil effects of drought al- together.
A FATAL RUSH FOR CONGEE.
1)
In order to relieve the present distress, the old rice congee,' has free distribution of " already commenced. So great was the crowd, and so eager were the poor to get their dole, threatened to mislead the world with a new theory of human history, deserves to be out of that 16 persons were fatally injured in the the reckoning compared with monkeys, regard-crush a few days ago. This is a disgrace to ing whom at least there will never be anything the official who is managing the business, as
there were not enough soldiers to keep order.
to unlearn.
PEKING.
Peking, 7th December. The new Viceroy Yuan Shi-kai reached Pek. ing yesterday afternoon. General Chiang Kuei- ti, with all his subordinate officials and over 1,000 soldiers were at the station to meet him The officials of the city were not present, as he must first call on them. The Chinese miltiary alone are under his authority. He takes the place of Li Hung chang as Viceroy and Super intendent of Northern Trade, and, practical y of Yung Lu as Generalissimo.
how-
BAD MANAGEMENT.
This whole system of relief is an abomination. More than half of those who are thus fed are able bodied, and ought to be at work on public works, and receive regular pay as decent human beings, and not be treated as beasts (and wild beasts at that), who must be fed to keep them from robbery and pillage.
JACK ASHORE.
The recklessness of the parties of foreign sailors and marines that get ashore from the warships in port is becoming a source of danger to pedestrians. Between the vile spirits and the derelict ponies, Jack and his comrades" make things, lively" on the Maloo, from Sunday to Saturday. At the risk of making an invidious comparison, it is generally allowed that the U. S. boys" easily carry off the palm. Quite recently. two Chinamen were brutally assaulted in one afternoon by some marines. The timely interference of a foreigner saved one man from more serious injury. Since that happened, I hear the Captain, and the Vice-Consul have very wisely instituted Prohibition. It remains to be seen whether it prohibits.
He was, ever, received here not so much as Viceroy as General. The military officers and troops having served under him in Shantung di him high honour in welcoming him to his promotion. To-day he called on Prince Ching He will call on the Foreign Ministers, and try to induce them to give up the Provisional Go. vernment in Tientsin, so that he may, establish his viceregal headquarters at that place. If his persuasive powers should be unsuccessful, he will return to Paotingfu. He intends, like Viceroy
are quite booming just now. A fine new re- Li, in the old days, to lay special emphasis on a navy and army according to Western methods.sidence is in course of erection for the Commis. This reform is highly acceptable to the Court. sioner, and also commodious quarters for the In-door Staff. Both these buildings are on He will also undertake educational reform the Maloo, near the Naval Academy. The throughout the whole province. His advent is buildings to be occupied by the German Consul one of promise.
SIR ERNEST SATOW
also returned yesterday. The English first secretary, Mr. Reginald Tower, left to-day for his new office as Minister in Siam. The legation loses a capable, and agreeable man.
THE MOVEMENT OF THE COURT,
It is now taken for granted that the Court will return, as an edict is announced to that (ffect. The season of the year is the coldest,
BUILDING OPERATIONS
are also in course of erection. When these are completed they will add greatly to the comfort of those immediately concerned, and to
the beauty of our city.
A new hotel and general store is almost completed. As it stands on the river-side, in a commanding position, and is quite an imposing looking structure, it is to be hoped that the enterprise, while ministering to the general public welfare, will be a success financially.
We heard the other day from a friend of Captain Beatty, R.N., D.S.Ö. the gallant young Commander who so distinguished himself with the Barfleurs in the siege of Tientsin, that he has at last had to have his wounded arm am- putated. Happily Captain Beatty has now reached such rank that this ser ons misfortune will in no way interfere with his prospects in the Service he so greatly adorns. We also hear that though he has lost an arm, he has gained a wife.
There has been a marked improvement in the tides at Taku during the week and steamers are getting in and out, though the removal of the buoys, &c., renders it a more tedious and risky business than usual. Monday last saw thirty steamers still outside, but things are much better now. Mesers. Butterfield and Swire have despatched four of their fourteen vessels with full cargoes, and hope to get another eight away within a day or two. Yesterday's tide was 11 feet.
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
HONGKONG JOCKEY CLUB.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE "DAILY PRESS.
"1
Hongkong, 21st December. Sir,-As a convenient means of enabling me to communicat› to the members of the Hong- kong Jockey Club the contents of a letter I addressed to the Stewards of the Club on to senl Monday last, the 16th instant, I beg yon enclosed a copy of such letter, which I would ask you to kindly publish in the co umas of your next issue. My excuse for troubling you is that I think the subject of my letter of sufficient interest to members of the Hongkong Jockey Club and others who take an interest in racing matters to warrant my publishing it. I may add that up to the time of writing this m; letter remains wholly unacknowledged. Thank- ing you in anticipation, I beg to remain, Sir,-
GODFREY C. C. MASTER. Yours, etc.,
(Copy.)
4
To the Stewards of the Hongkong Jockey Club.
Hongkong. 16th December. Gentlemen,-On Friday last, I heard that a forthcoming Race Meeting, and that of the 10 draft programme had been drawn up for the races per diem included in such programm3 7 were to be reserved for waler ponies on each of the first and second days of the meeting and 6 on the third day;
That of these 20 races only three would be open to Hongkong subscription ponies of last
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