73.
January 22, 1900.].
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CHINA OVERLAND. TRADE REPORT.
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Ormus went down very soon after the dis- govery of the route to the East via the Cape That was made at the end of the fifteenth century by Vasco da Gama, about whom Camoens wrote in his poems called The Lusiada," which were partly written at Macao, a place you all know. A statue of Camoens is erected there now to celebrate the fact of his having lived there, and of his journey round the Cape. This journey very soon destroyed the commercial position of Ormus and the Portuguese, in order that the goods should no longer go overland, but round the Cape, took Ormas from the Persians. They built a big cstle there, which is all that remains of the place except a few ruins. From Ormus I went to another place on the Persian coast called Linis. While walk. ing through the town I came to an open space round which a great number of people were assembled. I noticed they were watching a man on horseback who was giving a recitation, assisted by other men who were dressed up in armour and carried spears. I learned that this was a miracle play, that is, a play representing some event holy to the Persians. This event was connected with the death of two relations
way is to listen to lectures by people who have travelled. I cannot claim, myself to have been a great traveller, but duty and pleasure sent me to some out of the way parts of the world, and I propose this morning to try and interest you by an account of a journey I made fifteen years ago. I was then stationed at a place called Karachi in the west of India, and engaged making plans for a new fortification. Karachi is one of the six defended ports of India, and also, next to Calcutta and Bombay, the leading commercial place. Its commerce largely depends on the exporting of grain which is grown in the Sind and in the North Western provinces. It has some con- nection with Hongkong because it is the head- quarters of the Baluchi regiments, and one of them is now here. It is a very hot place, and my principal recollection of it is the sand that one saw everywhere around it. I am told new that by the planting of trees and the making of gardens it has been made a more pleasant place, but I was glad to get away from it I took ateamer and went to Muscat on the north east coast of Arabia. This place has what is called a landlocked harbour, that is to say, it has rocky hills on every side, which nearly meet at the entrance, and this is very narrow; the water inside is not much disturbed in case of storms. On these rocky hills there were old Arab forts, and in them I saw a great many quaint guns. One big cannon had on it the arms of Philip II. of Spain who lived in the fifteenth century. There were three brass guns given by George III. at the commencement of the nineteenth century, and some recent American notions" in the way of artillery. At the back of the harbour the town rises on the low hills, and the streets are Tery narrow and dirty; the place altogether is not a particularly agreeable one to stay at, owing to the intense heat. Never. theless, it was the headquarters for a long time of a small British naval force which in old days was intended to suppress the pirates. They were then nearly as plentiful as they are in some of the Chinese rivers, but now they are all suppressed. A gunboat is generally kept there, however, and on the rocks the sailors have painted up in white the names of the boats which have been there. From Muscat I crossed the coast of Persia to a place called Bunder Abbas, named after the Shah, Abbas I., a very great ruler who lived about the same time as Philip II. and the English_Queen Elizabeth. That was the time when Ivan the Terrible was Emperor of Russia and Akhbar, the Great Mogul, ruled all Delhi. Shah Abbas, the King of Persia, is very well remembered He did a lot of good to the country, and put up many important buildings. All along the South of Persia one comes across what are called 'rest houses' for caravans. They consist of vaulted chambers which run round a square, and in the middle of the square the ponies, horses, mules and other animals of the caravan are tethered. In the vaulted chambers the travellers rest. There is no furniture in them and they are quite cpen on one side, but that does not matter much in a hot country. I generally found it most pleasant to go to sleep in the open air ou the roof, to which I had access by stone steps at the four corners of the square. Bunder Abbas is at the entrance to the Persian Gulf close to the Island of Ormus. I went to see the latter in a boat, because it was a place I had often heard of. From four to five hundred years ago one of the most important places in Asia. It was, as it were, the Hongkong of Asia- the great distributing centre. This was in the days before ships went round the Cape of Good Hope, and the gods of Europe were first of all collected at places in the Mediterranean, of which the most important was Venice, then taken soross the Mediteranean
there now.
it was
and across Asiatic territory to Damascus and Bagdad, or else across Persia and distributed in India and even China. In consequence of this, many merchants settled at Ormus and became wealthy. The place was so wealthy that long after, when people wanted to talk of wealth they referred to Ormus. In his great poem “Paradise Lost," Milton described the throne of Satan, and wishing to explain how rich it was in gold and precious jewels said—
**n it centred all the wealth of Ormuz and of Ind."
was supposed at the time to havé exaggerated tromend isły, so much so that his friends onlled him the mau of millions," because he alway talking of the millions of people and things he saw. Modern research has shown, however, that Marop Polo was a vary accurate and observant traveller.
Mr. Braidwood bri fly thanked His Excellency for his kindnes· ia attending to distribute the prizes and the boys gave him three-ringing cheers.
DIOCESAN SCHOOL AND ORPHANAGE.
HIS EXCELLENOT ON HISTORY. There was a large gathering at this School on Jan. 16 to witness H.E, the Governor distri- bate the prizes won by pupils. Amongst others present were the Venerable. Archdeacon Bannister, Rev. F. T. Johnson, Mr. E. A. Irvine, Inspector of Schools, Rev. E. J. Barnett, Menars E. A. Hewett, W. D. Braidwood and Ho Kom Tong.
Mr. G. H. Piercey, Head Master, read the annual report which stated:-
I
Same
We are thankful to say that the year 1905 of the prophet Mahomet who were killed was characterised by good health, steady work
The in the same century as the prophet lived, and harmonious co-operation. and their death is still lamented by a teachers remained with us, and an additional great section of the Mahomedays. The Mahome-trained master was added in the person of Mr dans are divided into two sects, the Sonnites Hall who arrived from England in Angust. and the Shiites, but the difference between them being the third teacher added in three years. is difficult to appreciate when one is not a After four years good work, Mr. Brawn waS Mahommedan, The Sonnites believe in the first granted furlough from March 30th to October of the three Khalifs, while the Shiites believe 10th. While all have worked well, taken that they were not rightful Khalifa. From an interest in the success of the School and Linis I crossed to the other side of the Gulf shown esprit de corps, it is not invidious to and reached a place called Behring which is acknowledge that Mr. Sykes' help has been 85 second master. In celebrated for its pearl fisheries. The natives, simply invaluable Persians and Arabs, dive from ships to the May Miss Armour took the place of Miss bottom of the sea and bring up the shells Austen assistant matron. The total containing the oysters from which the pearls are enrolment of scholars for the year wSE extracted. There is also in Behring the 288; the average attendance was 195 (last ruins of à Portuguese castle, but the thing year 188), the school days 232. During the last few years the number of absentees has which most strikes travellers is the way There is very they get fresh water there.
been much smaller. After a ten years' interval the Belilios Trustees in April offered 5 medals little on the island, but in the middle of the sea & spring comes right up from the bottom, and and prizes for public competition by not more divers go through the salt water t the bottom, than 3 candidates from any one School. Our and get the fresh water. From Behring boys won the first three prizes, vis. :-T. Loft, returned to the Persian side, and next arrived silver medal and $3); at Bushire. This is mostly known to English people as the headquarters of the expeditio which visited Persia at the end of the last cen-
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W. Drude, bronze medal and 820 H. G. Brandt, $20. In July 23 boys entered for the Oxford Local Examins- tion; 17 passed. being our highest record, viz., 2 seniors, 8 juniors, 7 preliminary, H. G. Brandt was placed in honours in the junior. In October Wen Ho-lok won an open Belilios Scholarship at the Hongkong College of Medicine, and has begun his studies at the Alice Memorial Hospital. After School re- opened in March, two subjects were added to the curriculum, Drawing was taught to the three lower standards as affording excellent training in form and colour, and is very popular with the little boys. Hygiene was taught to all boys from Standards III. to VII. In connec- tion with the hygiene examinations generously iastitated by H.E. the Governor, a team entered for the elementary stage, and although not successful in o rrying off the handsome shield we intend to try again. A number entered for the advanced stage and with better success, as W. Drude won the second prise, $50. To meet what appeared to be a need, we began to tesch Latin after the summer holidays. The Inspec torvisited the School in December and examined some of the classes. In his report he classes Athe School as very efficient, and awards the highest grant allowed by the Code. The Rev. F. T. Johnson examined Standards VII-III. în Holy Scripture, and I examined the first and second standards. I held an examination throughout the school in all subjects at the close of each half-year, and am satisfied that good work is being done in all classes. A. Chinese gentleman, Mr. Ho Kom Tong, has munificently placed $1,010 in the hands of the Committee, that the interest may be given every year as a scholarship to the first boy, and in order that it may begin this year Mr. Ho Kom-Tong has added $60 for the first scholarship. As in former years, careful attention: haa been given to physical exercise. The boys have drill' twice a week when the drill Instruc- tor's military duties will allow. In there was ses bathing and swimming, and the sesson was closed by aquatic sports and
tury. At that time the English were very much afraid that the French would get to India through Persia, so there were constant em- bassies and wars to get Persia under our hands. Nowadays we don't fear France, but know that Russia has a design on that country. Bushire I left the ship and started inland by caravan. The road was small, but my pony took me 20 miles a day. I had mules for my servants. We started in intense heat, but after three days' travelling up country the weather got cooler and cooler. Every day we travelled over rocky country, stopping at Light in an oasis. We passed out of the neighbourhood of the palm trees into cultivated valleys of wheat and peas, and on the fourth day arrived at Sheraz which is celebrated first of all for its gardens, then for its beads. A Persian garden consists of a square place surrounded by a wall and filled up with rose and orange trees; while down the centre run rivulets of water. The great poets of Persia are entombed in Sheraz, and all Persians who go there pay a visit to their tombs; and so do all Europeans. story is told that a Mahomedan reader always attends at the grave of Hafiz in order to read one of his poems. The story is told by an English ambassador who spoke Persian. He visited the grave with others, and when those who did not understand Persian wished to leave before he had read the poem he said-"No, make them stop. When I recite, even if they don't understand I will make them." He did so by very careful intonation and gesticulation, although they could not understand the words. That shows how a recitation ought really to be given. Well, I think it would tire you if I went on to tell you more about my journey, so I will close my remarks and give to the boy most proficient in geographical studies the beat Eng. lish version of the travels of an Italian who lived 500 years ago and made the journey overland from Europe to China. In this connection he
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