June 18, 1904.]
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
A TIGER HUNT IN KWANGTUNG. | relief; although ten cartridges in reserve give
one a certain confidence,
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.] The following account of a trip after tiger. which, though unsuccessful, afforded plenty of enjoyment and excitement, may be of some interest.
The venue of the hunt was in the west of Kwangtung province, fifteen miles north of the West River. I passed a day at Koon Wui, a small market town, and in the evening, having, after much haggling, purchased a dog as bait. set out for the hills where the tigers have their abode. It was not without considerable difficulty that a Chinaman could be induced to come out. The Chinese stand in the greatest terror of the tiger, and even apply the propitiatory adjec- tive "venerable" to it. They cannot indeed be blamed for their state of mind, as they have no adequate weapons with which to meet the formidable beast.
Finally, however, a sturdy yokel agreed to come with me, and he was put in charge of the bait and necessary victuals. We set out for the hills much later than I had hoped, and it was already dark when we entered a narrow valley leading up to the deserted hut where the night was to be spent. This building was some years ago used as a dwelling-house, but its occupants had abandoned it through fear of the tigers, which range the neighbouring hills during the night and attack farm-yards in search of their
prey.
I was not sorry when we reached the shelter of this hut, for the Chinaman with me had a nasty trick of looking over his shoulder at every bush and hillock which we passed. He evidently feared that the hunter might become the hunted, and, as it was pitch dark. this prospect was decidedly analluring. Once in stalled in the hut, I set myself resolutely to keep awake. The dog was tied up outside, and the tiger was eagerly awaited from the window of a loft in the building.
According to all precedent, the bait ought to have emitted dismal howls, and more especially when a fine full moon rose in an unclouded sky. but it was not to be. Not a sound did that dog make during the whole of the livelong night. not even when, 400 yards away on the hill-side. we heard the peculiar whine of the tiger in search of its prey. This cry, commonly most inadequately reproduced on paper by the word Woof," sent a thrill through me, but alas, nothing came of it. Twice again, indeed. during that bitter, mosquito-ridden night it was heard, but dawn came without any sign of a tiger.
·
After some time I emerged from the jungle in a very dishevelled condition, and with no bag to console me, but nevertheless the excitement and enjoyment had been consider able. With plenty of spare time one could hardly fail to bag a tiger. There were undoubtedly one or two about, and the district is full of them. Four were killed in pitfalls during six months of last year, and anyone with the available time and desirous of good sport should not fail to visit the West or North Rivers and earn the gratitude of the neighbour. hood by ridding it of some of these dangerous pests.
CANTON NOTES.
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.,
THE PLAGUE EPIDEMIC.
459
three classes, paying respectively a tax of six dollars, four dollars, and two dollars per mensem. The quantity of opium stored in the different shops has to be reported to the head office daily. People who bring opium to Canton from the neighbouring villages are required to report to the office and pay the tax. Excise officers are employed to discover illicit opium.
NEW TERRITORY NOTES.
FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]
CROWN RENT,
13th June.
The difficulty in collecting Crown rent, which function devolves upon the Police, has been very marked of late. Less than a quarter per cent. of the dues are recovered and the people seem to have come to the conclusion that they can treat From all accounts the plague in Canton is the Government's demands for its just rights not diminishing. It seems likely indeed that with impunity. Reference to higher authority once it has obtained & firm hold in the city-generally brings forth the reply that the poor and this it has done it will increase until the country people must not be cppressed cool weather beings relief. Foreigners are not and that conciliatory and easy methods, venturing into the city very much of late, and there is a falling-off in the numbers of tourists.
WORK ON THE RAILWAY.
Since the opening of the railway extension from Fatshan on the 1st instant work has been progressing. There is still a good deal to be done in the way of ballasting and finishing off bridges and culverts, as the work had been pushed on rather hurriedly before that date. When the Samshui line is completely finished visitors to the West River will find a great saving of time and trouble.
THE DRAGON-BOAT FESTIVAL.
On Saturday next the Dragon-Boat festival will be held. when all business is suspended here. The river is hardly considered safe for foreigners then. as the Chinese, usually very peaceable, seem on that occasion to indulge in horse-play which sometimes leads to serious trouble.
FROM THE CHUNG NGO SAN PO.")
THE VICEROY DESIRES TO RESIGN.
Viceroy Shum sent some days ago a memorial to the Throne asking to be allowed to resign his post on account of illness and inability to govern the two provinces as well as he desired. He said he felt quite ashamed that, though he had exerted himself to his utmost ability, the insurgents and robbers in Kwangsi have not been entirely suppressed, though, generally speaking. order has been restored in the province. His Ex- Thoroughly disgusted, and feeling much in-cellency asked the Board concerned to mete clined to slaughter the dog which had saved its out what punishment he was deemed to deserve. skin by keeping silent. I sallied forth at the In response to his memorial an Imperial edict has breaking of the dawn, and after going some been issued refusing his request and encouraging distance into the hills, met a party of wood him to do his best to govern the affairs of the cutters, who informed me that the tracks of two provinces. the destroyer of herds had been discovered hard by. Then began a long hunt. For half a mile we followed the "
pugs over the damp ground. There were evident indications that the tiger had returned to his lair across that hill-side. Here was the 'form' where he had lain down to rest-there the marks of his claws on a pine-tree, and wherever there was soft ground, the tracks quite fresh.
as
曲曲
DRAGON BOAT-FESTIVAL.
|
must be employed in dealing with them even at the sacrifice of revenue. The Chinese are adepts at prevaricating, and the difficulties of those to whom is entrusted the collection of these dues, have their troubles doubled by the lack of firmness on the part of
those in high place.
COTTON PLANTING.
There is no sign yet of any active step being taken towards the promotion of cotton planting in the New Territory. When it is begun there is considerable room for doubt whether it will meet with much better success than that which has attended the attempt to introduce Straits Settlements sugar-cane into the same country, Practical results have been attained that go to show that the southern cane is capable of producing 40 per cent. more sugar than the Chinese plant, but the Chinese prefer their own native cane simply because it needs less attention and can be counted upon to grow on ground which is unfit for the cultivation of good paddy. Whether even the offer of prizes for the growing of cotton will act as un incen. tive to the New Territory people remains to be proved.
THE RAILWAY SCHEME.
There is a growing belief, and it is well borne out by recent statistics, that the New Territory as a whole is in the nature of a white elephant. Its upkeep is a drain upon the resources of Hongkong. The establishment of a railway running through the Territory to the Frontier would of course make an immense difference and would ensure the lasting prosperity of the region. Just as a sample of the difficulty of travel, we may take the journey from or to Samchun to Hongkong. It occupies at least three days if the passenger has business to transact in one or other of the termini, and yet the cities are only some 35 miles distant. The same remark applies to Taipo or any of the outlying stations on the British side. The advent of the railway would change all that.
SAMCHUN.
The 5th day of the 5th moon, i.e. the 18th instant, is the dragon-boat festival. The people in the different villages are now busily engaged repairing the dragon-boats, which, as a rule, are buried in the rice-fields after the fete.
I hear from a source deserving every credence Nowadays dragon-boats, which are generally regarded as sacred boats, are highly prized by that the representative people of Samchun city the people, for they believe that the sacred and valley have again petitioned the Hongkong boats are able to drive away the plague-devils, Government to take over these places and incor- as plague generally decreases after the appear.porate them in the New Territory under British ance of the dragon-boats on the 5th day of the 5th moon.
THE PAK-LOP LOTTERY.
The Pak-lop lottery gambling has been strictly prohibited throughout the whole pro- vince of Kwangtung since the 15th ultimo under heavy penalty. A few days ago a number of yamen runners made a raid on a house in the village of Shek-Hun, in Namhoi district, where Pak-lop lottery gambling was still going on secretly. Five persons
arrested and brought to Canton. At present they are locked up in the military court awaiting trial.
At last they ended in a dense jungle, covering many acres, and almost surrounded by hills, 80 to form an immense amphitheatre, the arena" of which was the ancient abode of tigers. My companions, trusting to the power of the human leg and the neighbouring pine-trees. passed along the bill-side above the jungle, and rolled great stones down into its recesses, while I waited patiently with a Winchester at full-cock. As no response came, I skirted the jungle, and finally, with considerable trepidation, entered it by a long disused path. After proceeding for some distance along this, I found the jungle growing danser, and almost before I knew it. the path had ceased, and the jungle had closed in upon me. There was nothing to be done but to traverse it, and to trust to the chance of The prepared opiam trade is entirely under seeing the tiger first. Before long it became the control and direction of the officials. required necessary to proceed on hands and knees, and it The prepared opium shops are was while doing this that I came across a black to pay a tax of six candareens for every and awesome cave in the hillside. hesitation, I fired my rifle into the dark space, from behind a sheltering rock. The echoes alone answered me, somewhat indeed to my
After some
were
THE OPIUM TAX.
tael of opium sold, and 1.8 candareens a tael for the opium made from opium dross. Certificates are given to the purchasers. Opium divans where no opium is sold are divided into
rule. Until this is done Samchun will certainly be a standing menace to the peace of the countryside. It is the resort of all the bad. characters of the province, who find it a convenient base from which to make raids upon the British Territory villages and also to make descents upon itself for thieving purposes This is said to be the third occasion on which similar petitions have been made. The Govern ment are foolish not to take advantage of the general feeling and arrange for the transfer of the city to the British flag.
A NUISANCE.
The other day the passengers on board one of the Samchun River launches were horrified to find out on their arrival at the point where they change into the flat-bottomed river boats that they had had for a mate on the way up a corpse. It was only when the custodians of the body attempted to remove it from the launch to the boat that its presence was made patent to the passengers, for en voyage it had been half
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.