December 9, 1907.]
only to be expected that this event, being one of the few holidays which the Chinese keep up, should be celebrated in fitting manner accord- ing to the native idea. True, it cannot be classed with the Chinese new year, but still it is one of these much-looked forward-to affairs on which, the Chinese merchant thinks, so much depends.
The Chinese quarter of the city is rich with banners and hangings, modern and antique, of oostly silks picturesquely embroidered. Needless to say most of these display the time honoured dragon, the emblem of much that is sacred to the Chinese. At Bonham Strand a large arch has been erected, and this may be said to contain all the colonrs of the rainbow. It is replete with Chinese designs, and is surmounted with a boat-like structure. Beneath the aroh were numerious lamp; from which hang glass of many colours, and when these lamps were lighted at night the scens beneath the arch was well worth seeing.
THE LAST DAY,
On Dec. 7th was the last day of the great Chinese pageant, and it may, be that the Joss intervened on behalf of his worshippers, for the rain clouds lifted and the sun shone down
01
on the holiday makers. All along the route were dense crowds of Chinese who never appear ed to tire of watching the gilded dragons and other strange monsters. The processionalists also entered into their work with spirit, and appeared to delight in journeying along all day with the weighty emblems which attracted the orowd. The night's procession was also a brilliant affair, and as the weather was fine the crowd attending it was greater than ever, aud although bad luck was supposed to follow on the rain, it must surely be replaced now by " good after the fine weather prevailing for the Joss last day.
A concluding word should be said about the admirable police arrangements to cope with the immense crowds attending the procession. The foresight of Captain Lyons, and the assistance rendered him by police inspectors have been the means of maintaining perfect order throughout the carnival. Owing to careful management there have been no accidente, and contrary to the expectation of many, there has been very little lawbreaking. There were but five mou charged with pocket picking or la ceny at the Magistracy on Saturday. Three of the men arrested were discharged, one was remanded in custody, and one was sentenced to one month's imprisonment by Mr. H. H. J. Gomperts for stealing a gold ear pick. Another native, who should have been at the procession, was cau ht by an Indian constable sliding down a down pipe at 181, Queen's Road Central. On ap. pearing before the Court he was sentenced to three weeks' imprisonment.
KULANGSU (AMOY) MUNICIPAL COUNCIL.
Minutes of a meeting of the Council held at the Board Room, on the 19th December 1907.
Present:-Messrs. A. F. Gardiner (Vice- ohairman), Huang Ts'an-chew, W. Kruse, 8. Okuyama, W. Wilson, the Health Officer and the Secretary.
1. The minutes of the last meeting are read and confirmed.
2. The Secretary is instructed to write to Mr. Wong Ying Sing asking for further particulars concerning his application to open a pawnshop on Kulangsu,
3. The Superintendent of Police reports the following cases have been heard in the Mixed Court since the last meeting:-
BUMMONSES.
Allowing pigs and cattle to stray 8, Assault 1, Theft 1.
SUMMARY ARRESTS.
Assault 2, Being abroad after 12 midnight without a light 2, Housebreaking, Being a rogue and a vagabond 1, Theft 2, Committing a nuisance 3. Contempt of Court 2, Murder 1, Breach of Slaughter house regulations 1. Being in possession of stolen property 1.
(Signed) W. H. WALLACE,
Chairman.
By order.
C. BERKELEY MITCHELL,
Secretary.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
MACAO.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
December .od.
THE BROTHELS AGITATED.
On Saturday last there was a remarkable pro- cession to the Barra Pagoda, all the women of temple beil, beat the drums, and burn yellow the brothel quarter going there to ring the
they will "shut up shop" if the new mono- paper before the god by way of swearing that polists who were to take control on the 1st inst., increased the taxation of these establishments. Hitherto the licenses issued by the Government have brought into the Treasury about $12,000 polist pays to the Government 81,580 a month, per annum, Under the new regime the mono. the odd eighty dollars being for the maintenance of police and medical supervision, &c. The authorities have sought to pacify the women by a declaration that no increase in the license fees will be permitted.
TROUBLE AT THE FAZENIA.
Fazenda absconded with a considerable sum of Not long ago three Chinese employes in the
money which had been paid as license fees, Now certain discoveries have necessitated an- other investigation, a Portuguese employé being accused of misconduct in regard to license fees.
THE GARRISON.
I learn that the Scandia brings out 102 men as reliefs, and over 200 m n home in her. This reduction in the garrison are returning is not only bad for the trade of the city, but what is the reduced garrison worth as a pro- tective force?
December 2ad.
THE LATEST MONOPOLY FIARCO,
&
This morning the office of the Protector of Chinese brothels, and it was sub equently learnt that was besieged by women from the there had been contract and
a breach of the monopoly sum of $4,500, dapoxited as guarantee, has been forfeited to the Govern- mant Some curiosity has been excited by the fact that this monopoly was not let by public tender, but an offer being made it was promptly accepted, and certain incidents in connec ion with the negotiation of the business are much discussed. Among the questions asked are these: (1 Was the monopolist's legal Adviser & Government Offcial? (2) Why were meetings of an official interpreter rather than at the in connection with the matter held at t e house office of the Protector of Chinese ?
PIRATICAL ATTACK.
A raid on pirates was made this afternoon, and some of the garrison who were engaged in it are reported to have been severely wounded.
THE CABLE GROUND.
It is notified in the Gazette that the western limit of the cable ground between the North Kowloon Peninsula has been shifted eastward Point of Hongkong and the South-East point of
its former position. The cable ground is now to an average distance of about 400 yards from marked as follows:-
The Western limit by a white post and white obelisk on the Hongkong shore in line with a white post and white obelisk on the Kowloon shore.
The Eastern limit by a white post and white obelisk on the Hongkong shore in line with a white post and white obelisk on the Kowloon ahore.
By day the four white posts may be dis tinguished by their carrying a red diamond shape. By night a red light is displayed on each of them.
The lights are so screened that the eastern - most lights do not show to the eastward nor he westernmost lights to the westward.
The Colony's liabilities on September 30th amounted to $211,708.7!. Its assets for the same period totalled $1,715,299.39. The balance of assets over liabiatise is therefore $1,503,590,67.
Receipts into the Treasury between January 1st and September 30th totalled $9,783,080.03 while the payments out for the same period were $9,817,703.50. Payments therefore exceed receipts by $34,623,47,
FOREIGNERS INLAND.
371
CHARGE AGAINST AMERICAN EXPLOREE,
Some time ago we briefly noted that an American citizen named Demenil, who had been travelling through Western China and the Shanghai to be tried for manslaughter of borders of Tibet, was being brought back to Tibetan. The trial has been proceeding at day we reproduce the interesting story told by the American Court in Shanghai, and to- the accused while giving evidence on his own behalf.
H. N. Demenil, sworn, stated that he was a physician and surgeon, and had studied at Boston University for four years. He was ad- mitted to practice at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1903. He had practiced in St. Louis, Japan and (hius. He was invited to China by a high official. For five months he remained at Tientsin, teaching in the Government school. Temporarily he was a teacher of English and November last year, purposing to go to Chengta chemistry at the Y.M.C.A. He left Tientsin in
in Szechuan. He had been offered the position paid his expenses from Japan to Szechuan. He of teacher by the highest Chinese families, who stayed at Loh Ta-ren's yamen, as a guest, in Chengtu. He received an appointment in small private school, and remained there for in communication with the American Consul about three months, during which time he was
in Chungking. Their communications had re- ference to his duty to witness as an American citizen. Witness asked the Consul to recom- mend him for a position in the Government school. He had a contract, but at the last minute the Chinese official at Chongtu wanted some foreigner to recommend witness, Witness wrote to Consul Mitchell with regard to this matter. He received a let er in reply in which Consul Mitchell said that he was not acquainted with him, but would comply with his request after seeing his pass-port, Witness afterwards de- oided to leave Chengtu because he could not make a living there. He was unable to get the position in the Government school because he was not backed up by the Consul, and he lost all his private pupils. Witness wrote two letters to the Consul, in one of which he declined to hand over his passport, because there was too much red tape about it. The second letter announced witness's intention to go to India without a special passport, owing to the delay in receiving it. Witness bought a lot of foreign me licines, some merchandise, and two hors-s, and left Chengtu, bound for India. He intended to travel and learn something of the country and of the diseases of the people. He also wished to collect some Tibetan beetles, and to write a book upon and explore the coun- try. Witness was engaged upon philanthropic work, treating people for diseases and wounds. Occasionally be was paid thirty or forty cash. He made no charges, but he was voluutarily of people on his journey. paid this money. He treated many hundreds He treated malaria, golds, toothache, headache, intestinal complaints, etc., frequently he gave surgical treatment. Oo casionally someone ›id witness a rupee. By this money and trading he succeeded in paying all his expenses. His medical treatment was meant to win the friendliness of the people. Witness then described his journey. When he got to
schou, about four day's journey from Chengtu, his escort took him by mistake to the house of an American missionary. From him witness obtained direction to a Chinese inn. A day'a journey further he received a message from this missionary to the effect that Consul Mitchell was going to Tatsienlo, and that if witness remained, they could travel in company. Witness was staying at a dirty Chinese inn, and he wrote back to the missionary to say there was no reason for him to wait several days. He waited all day for a reply and then went on the Tataionla, which reached about two weeks after leaving Chengtu. He stopped at a Tibetan inn there, and remained four or five days, and during that time two mails came in. As the American Consul did not arrive witness left and went on to Batong. From Batong he went to Yanji. Then he went to Artungsa. Laku was two days from Yenji. He passed through very mountainous and desolate country. Two ~
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