July 2, 1904.]
-
The little Midge, a locomotive, may be seen dragging long strings of earth-trucks from one terminus of the line to the other. A visit to the ballast ground makes one realise that while the Company is cutting a large alice from the harbour they are at the same time levelling land for building purposes inshore. At the ballast ground an army of coolies dressed in blue or brown dungarees and mushroom hats are daily at work with pick. shovel, and bar row. A little farther on one meets another small army of men and women breaking stone or dressing granite extracted from the red earth. As the earth is removed vreat boulders show themselves, and eventually roll down into the workyard below. At the beach. junks bring earth from elsewhere to a temporary flimsy. looking pier. Walking onward towards Signal Hill one is suddenly brought to a standstill by a man beating a gong, and furiously waving a red flag. The reason for this becomes apparent by a loud explosion followed by a shower of rock; blasting is in progress here also. This reclamation and levelling, of course, is prepara. tory to the erection of buildings. It seems quite probable, indeed, that in a few years the extremity of the Kowloon Peninsula, that is up to the range of high hills, will be completely level and all town area.
How different will be the general aspect of the place five years hence it would be hard to magine. Where the sampan people now scrubb seaweed from their craft or burn the old paint from the boats' bottoms, and where fishermen wade knee deep when fishing with an apparatus similar to that used at the mighty ponds of Hampstead," as described by Charles Dickens. We shall have a neat Praya --perhaps as an esplanade, but more likely as eligible ground for palatial offices or unsightly godowns. King's Park, with its prospective beauties, will take the place of waste lands, where the wild-looking water-buffaloe now graze after their daily toil is ended. Many of the new roads with their intrim- med green hedges intermingled with fragrant red. white, yellow and purple blossoms, or perchance coceanut palms showing over uncut bamboo will be replaced by rows of ugly modern houses. Perhaps the suggestion may be worth consider ing whether, instead of these unlovely terraces. the future building developments may not he designed rather in the form of squares with a grass plot in the centre for use as tennis courts. Kowloon has a great future yet before it, as we shall all quickly recognise when once we see a start made with that much-desired but long- delayed railway which must some day connect Kowloon with Canton.
FRONTIER NOTES.
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.
AGRICULTURE.
25th June.
With another week's strong sunshine the earliest of the first rice crop will be ready for cutting. The rice crop north of Shamolun River is backward compared with most of that growing in the New Territory. Many plots of land on both sides of the frontier have not been planted for want of water. So far this has been a comparatively dry year all over San On, especially on the eastern side. The streams have risen noticeably once only. but there is now however sufficient water to prevent disputes among the villagers regarding the use of irriga- ting streams. Sugar-cane looks thriving. The plots of hemp look promising, and if a ready market could be found in Hongkong. hemp growing could be made very profitable.
WASTE LAND.
It is surprising the amount of waste land one comes across in the New Territory-far more so than across the border. Mr. Ho Tung of Hongkong, I am told, owns quite a number of waste acres in the Han Yeuk sub-district. There is also a vast uncultivated stretch in the Lung Yenk Tau sub-district. The soil is good, and has been cultivated in the past, and why so many rich acres are now allowed to lie waste is a mystery.
FRUIT.
A "Frontier" correspondent mentioned in your paper the other day that this year lichees were very plentiful in this region. I find the reverse to be the case, and the lichees are very scarce and dear. The trees blossomed well and
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPÓRT.
gave good promise, but the dry weather-the
no disturbance of any importance, which is Chinese say-brought an insect pest which rather unusual circumstance, considering the blighted the blossoms and so spoiled the chances intense rivalry between the crews, and the of a good crop. These insects are very minute immense crowds which assemble to view the and of a dark colour. Other fruits, such as russet pears, pineapples, and pumeloes, promise a fair yield. It is a pity, but the Chinese seem to have entirely lost the art of pruning and grafting their fruit trees. Many of the lichee and guava trees are completely run out, the fruit being three parts seed-stones.
COTTON GROWING.
I am certainly sanguine of the results should cotton growing be attempted anywhere in San On. On the outskirts of many of the villages I have noticed a species of cotton plant growing which the villagers cultivate for their own -use only. This plant grows to about 8 ft. in height with serrated ivy-shaped leaves and has double blossoms, bell shaped, and of two colours, red and yellow. The pods are fairly large and the cotton wool is of very fine quality.
In various parts of San Ön I have also noticed a sort of cotton tree growing to a great height. In the early summer this tree is a mass of flaming red blossoms not unlike the King Tree," Afterwards the pods containing the wool fall to the ground, and are eagerly gathered by the villagers.
*
SHAMCHUN.
races.
THE BARRIERS IN THE PEARL RIVER. Nothing has as yet been done to the barriers on the Pearl River. The scheme suggested by Cap- tain Tyler, of the Imperial Maritime Customs, is regarded by the Viceroy as too expensive, but this would seem to be a case of false economy. since, after the date stipulated for the removal of the barriers, Shum will be held responsible.. for any accidents which may occur. His wish is to entrust the operation to private enterprise, and tenders will be received for the removal,
probably be the result of this. It is to be hoped but long delay and unsa isfactory work will
that Captain Tyler's scheme will be adopted. There is much to be done in the way of improv- ing the channel in both Back and Front reaches, but the cost would be considerable, and it is not likely that anything will be done until the need for improvement becomes imperative.
[FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT),
CANTON, 27th June,
THE DRAGON FESTIVAL.
Shamchun city is well worth a visit on market which the Namhoi and the Pun Yui magis- Notwithstanding the official notifications days. Every road leading into the city is crowded with
trates have issued annually to prohibit the all sorts and conditions people hurrying to and from market.
of dragon boat races. still the celebration of the Inside feast of the 5th day of the 5th moon was kept the city gates one finds every street crammed up merrily and well attended, and the long with shouting and gesticulating Chinese and the atmosphere is worse than the proverbial smell thirty this year, had come from the different narrow dragon boats, to the number of about of the Manchester Ship Canal mud. In spite of villages in the vicinity of Canton to the Pearl all the noise there is, however, little confusion. Different articles of produce for sale are not
River for the races. Nearly all these boats jumbled together. Thus, one street is for the banners, pilots and rowers keeping up a con- were of the same type. with drums, gongs, sale of poultry only, another for the sale of pigs, tinuous yelling and beating drums and gongs. another for that of grain, and so on. There is In one boat there was one fellow dressed as also a street composed of enting houses only, and a mandarin to with the smells appetising and
represent the ex-Namhoi otherwise. magistrate Pui carrying an opium pipe and a Much haggling goes on. also much good bag containing dollars, and another bost, which humoured banter. Europeans are treated respectfully in direct contrast to the rebellious
was considerably larger, carried a paper lion, and days of 99. The streets are narrow and filthy, ing and playing about with the lion.
a foreigner wearing a mask with a bir nose danc- but in spite of this there are some really hand-spectacle attracted a great number of people, and The
some shops. The people seem contented, but
flower boats crowded the upper and lower part of many of the bettter class express a wish for the river. As the dragon boats arrived at each British rule. The Shunti's place is a wretched station they received their prizes. consisting habitation devoid of taste or cleanliness, with
of a pair of geose, two jars of samshu, and a the usual frogsy-looking braves lounging silk banner. around. Shamchun is the hub of San On, a great Chuk Kee to chin-chin the mother-dragon, they This year, as they went to Wong trade centre, and likely to become greater. The did not fight as they have done in previous years. sooner Shamchun becomes British the better for Perhaps the Viceroy has inspire them with Shamchun and for the welfare of the New fear of the consequences. Territory.
DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL.
The Dragon Boat race was won by the Pingshan crew out of fourteen boats that competed. On the day following there was the usual procession up the Shamchun River to Chungpo, where tea-drinking and other forms of festivities were engaged in.
CANTON.
FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDE NT.
Canton, 24th June.
A LOAN WANTED.
The Viceroy desires to raise a loan of three million taels, and he proposes to d this locally, as there have been difficulties in the way of negotiating loans with foreign merchants. This sum exactly covers the annual sun payable as the Kwangtung share of the indemnity, but it is not to be applied to that purpose. The Viceroy has one or two pet schemes of his own for ameliorating the condition of the Cantonese. One of these is the construction of waterworks for the city. an interesting project, which if carried out might lessen the mortality here.
THE PLAGUE.
Plague still carries on its ravages. I have not heard of any more deaths among non-Chi- nese, but now it is reported that the disease is not sparing the wealthier classes, and that in the Viceregal Yamen there have been several deaths.
THE DRAGON PESTIVAL.
The dragon festival passed off more quietly than usual this year. There seems to have been
~ |
THE EXTRADITION CASE AT MACAO.
Re the question of the extradition of the ex-Namhoi magistrate, Pui King Fuk, the late Prefect Shum and the two district magistrates Yew and Lao have returned from Macao to Canton and reported that the Portuguese authorities have concluded the investigation and are perfectly convinced of the guilt of Pui, and that a gunboat is lying in wait at Macao to take him back to Canton. It is rumoured, how- erer. that Pui has offered to become a Christian," and to subscribe a hundred thousand dollars towards the rebuilding of the ruin of St. Paul's if the priests would use their influence to get him acquitted.
A VICEREGAL LOTTERY. Li Sai Kwai, who was accused of defalcations in the revenue derived from fantan establish- ments, and was ordered to pay a fine of 140,000 taels, is said to have fled to Bangkok at the same time as Pui King Fuk went to Macao. All of the Viceroy, and is to be disposed of by a his property in Canton has been seized by order
lottery of 30.000 numbers at $6 each. The mode of drawing is to be the same as the Canton lottery, and the same machinery is to be Chinese have a saying that he who becomes used in the presence of the public. The
rich by gambling is sure to be ruined by gambling.
AN UNFORTUNATE " SQUEEZE.
As customary when a Chinese official goes to make a call upon another official, the door keeper always demands a squeeze, otherwise he will say to the visitor that his master is either not at home, or too busy to receive a call. The other day an official had occadon to call upon the Viceroy Shum, and refusing to pay the doorkeeper's squeeze. he was denied
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.