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YOUNGHUSBAND any means of explanation. Up to this the Chinese Government bad been well content with the result, but seeing with whom it had to deal it would have surpassed Chinese human nature had it not sought to take advantage of the weakness of the British Government. The first thing it did was to offer to pay the indem- nity in three instalments which in the absence of any understanding to the contrary could not be refused. Having occupied this strong point it was able to get its own suzerainty as quietly acknowledged in the widest sense. It might be, and pro- bably was, the fact, that England was thoroughly tired of the whole business, and was glad when China offered to take it off her hande. Be this as it may, it was not the act of a wise ministry to yield up its acknowledged rights without some understanding as to the use to be made of them, which is, in fact, what has been done, and so the matter rests apparently for the moment, China feeling herself at liberty to make any arrangements she thinks fit for a country for some nine hundred and odd miles countermarching with India.
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As stated above, when the British troops entered Lhassa, they found the DALAI LAMA gone, and it soon appeared that he had gone to be near to his fellow Incarnation at Urga. Naturally this was not a solution desired by either England or China, and the first reply to it was the formal deposition of the DALAI by proclamation of the Chinese AMBAN from his former temporal authority; which took place on the 11th September. But however formally, and the more for mally the worse, such a deposition may be made, the influence which the incarnation of AVALOKITESHVARA can wield in his spiritual supremacy is more than the pro. clamation of a Chinese Emperor can control, and for the last three years by every means in its power, the Chinese Government has been trying to cajole the DALAI LAMA to return to his deserted fluck, but TUBDAN GYATSO, the Lama, has been as coy as the Chinese Government has en persuasive, and it was only within the last few weeks that the last scruples of the Pontiff have been overcome, aud he consented to be lured into Peking.
It is in some quarters believed that the most tempting bait held out to His Holiness has been the annulment of the formal Treaty made with Great Britain during his absence, and it is said thit the course of the negotiations in Peking would seem to indicate that Peking, rightly or wrongly, has indicated to bim that he goes back to Lhassa free of every engagement whatever towards England. Now, it seems that the doctrine of the Foreign Office has been that, regardless one way or the other of the Chinese agree- ment, so far as the treaty with Tibet is concerned, its plain meaning and intent still hold good; but is this really the case? Certainly, if the facts are as stated, China does not hold so, for her negotiations with the DALAI LAMA have been carried on entirely without consultation with the British Minister. The fact rather seems to be that, first through the action of His Majesty's Government in discrediting their own plenipotentiary; and since by our weakness in permitting the recent negotia- tions with the DALAI LAMA to be carried on in Peking under the eye of our own Minister Plenipotentiary, yet without any consultation or interference on our part, we have practically toru up and treated as waste paper the whole of our formal treaty with Tibet. At the instant this may be a matter of little moment, but in the read- justment of foreign affairs all the world
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND over, who can tell what to-morrow may turn up, and in what awkward position the next day may find us as to our relations with our Tibetan neighbour? The whole affair may best he described as a Foreign Office bungle of the worst type.
RANDOM REFLECTIONS.
l'oor Hongkong! ano her reverse, Fate has been unkind to Hongkong in interport sport this year. Our men failed in shooting and now our chosen eleven have been badly beaten by Shanghai a cricket. Another defeat would blow to car pride, Carr and be too cruel a
Beasley, happily, are returning with the laurels of victory in the Tennis matches.
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What mast the visitor think who enters an office during these days and sees one or two young men dressed in khaki bending over desks or occupied in some other manner. He most likely concludes that the military element is very pronounced. Of course, if he were well informed he would know that the Volunteers are in camp just now, and that there are enthusiasts who pride themselves on not getting out of uniform en when they come to Hongkong to business. That's the material the movement wants. Good luck to them, say I.
When he was at
Yes, the times are dull, and, as our American friends say, there is "no:in'
doing." The Legislative Council has finished its sittings, Scarcely a gleam of brigstoess comes from the courts, and our only hop, is the Sanitary Board, might make another effort. Sometimes it fails us. But I think Mr. Hooper the Magistracy recently he must have been very hurried and excited or he would have noticed that the courts were not in such perfect order as they might be. He has given the Govern ment a shainz up over the Supreme Court., Couldn't he "point a moral and adorn a tale again
Talking about soldiers, shem! reminds me that a detachment of the Cameron Highlanders are here just now, and, needless to say, the sight of their tartan gladdens the Scottish heart.
It has always struck me as bing very peculiar ¡ why the wearing of the kilt in Scotland is nus of these rules wich is more honoured in the breach-I had almost said breeches-than in the
Nobody nowadays wears
"the observance, garb of old Gaul" in Scotland exo-pt soldiers and a few cockuey tourists. Why, when a Scos clothes himself in the more or less hideout garments of the present day, should he content to have himself represented as kilted and bare-kneed! There is no need for it. Beg pardon. I calda't help it, the tempta'ion was s strong.
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These are the dog days, the days given over at hom to the big gooseberry, the mammoth That is where
potato, or the sea serpent. the British journals have an advantage
Over the Hongkong Press. No obliging fisherman or yachtsman or 89a-going man comes to the assistance of the pressman with stories of having seen the sea serpent and helps him to fill a column or two with a glowing description of the scaly monster or a thrilling narrative of how narrowly be escaped the jaws of the dreaded serpent. Nobody sees sea serpents here. They only see-No. I won't mention it.
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What a diversion we are going to have by and bye. The Y.M.C. A. announce a social evening, the feature of which will be that "all who attend are invited to provide them- selves with some distinguishing mark or device which represents the title of some song, and opportunity will be given during the earlier part of the evening for this titles to be guessed. The Social Committee have arranged to present small prizes to the lady and gentleman who secure the highest number of correct guesses." I suppose the bald-headed man will represent "A little bit off the top," the elderly spinister will endeavour to expound "Bid me to love," and the disconsolate grass widow will indicate that "My love has gone a-sailing."
[Catober 31, 1900,
Our sympathies must go out to the young Britisher who advertises his wish to make the acquaintance of a Clinese or Eurasian lady with a view to matrimony. He is only twenty-four but still be yearns for his amnity--Chinees or Eurasian-and apparently won't be happy till he gets her. He is particular too. Roman Catholics and triflers need not apply. How unkind! Roman Catholics, I am sure; don't trifle with matrimony. The gentleman vella his identity under the name of " Caledonia.” 1 suppose triflers would make Caledonia stern and wild. I wish him no ill! but I hope he gets bis desertk.
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When the Highland regiments went up to North China it was reported that the natives dropped the phrase nj savvy and adopted "I dinna ken." With similar adaptability_the people of Amoy, I am told, are practising a nasal pronunciation and garnishing their speech with such phrases as "waal, 1 reckon," "that's rather slick," and so on. Some of them have even “Do you acquired facility in telling the story know what he Governor of North Carolina said to the Governor of South Carolina ?" "No." "It's a long time 'tween drinks,”
By the way, I notice that "The Chronicle and Directory” says that Amoy is considered, even for Chind to be very dirty, and its in. habitans are unusually squalid in their habits. That is not very comforting to the American visitors, but, doubtless, the warmth of the wel- come will make the offence to their noses less pronounced.
A fortnight ago I passed some comment on the clause in the Volunteer Camp orders with reference to permits for servants. I see the subject has been attracting some attention in India, and a Caloutta paper has the follwing
"The recent orders issued by commanding officers of the various Volunteer units in Calcutta forbidding members on any account to allow their native servants and coolies to handle their arms and accoutrements will be received with vary wide interest in this country. ommendable as is the sotion of the authorities in this matter, it is a matter for regret that such a step should not have been. taken at an earlier date. Nowhere in the history of volunteering, we think, has this omission been so keenly felt as in India, and in no part of the Empire are Volunteers indulged so much as in this count y As one of the Orders says, "it is almost unsoldierlike to see & Volunteer walking to parade or to the R fle Ringe with a servant following in the rear carrying his rifle and it adds that apy servant found carying a rifle is liable to be arrested under the Arms Aot." We wish this last olause had been added to every Volauteer Order, and a further sub-clause as follows: "Any member failing to comply with this order is liable to a fine or court martial."
Ho: gkong Volunteers were never quite so bad as that, but a few pampered individuals avail themselves of the opportunitis given for indul- gence.
Wouldn't it be wall to di continus the system of allowing Volunteers to have servants in camp, and let each man play the game?
RODERICK Random.
IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
When Mr. H. L Fletcher, Lloyd's Surveyor, was called as a jucor at the Supreme Court yesterday, he asked his L›rdship's permission-to stand down owing to pressure of work;
His Lordship—I am always particularly anxious to excuse from the jur, anybody alone and if his serving will involve any delay to the in a business in which the public is interested, public. I think Lloyd's Surveyor should be exou-ed. (To Mr. Fistober)—Are you the only surveyor here?
Mr. Fletcher-Yes, my Lord, and I could not appoint anybody without permission from London.
His Lorship-What is your work? Mr. Fletcher-Surveying ships.
His Lordship How often do you do that ? Mr. Fletcher-Every day.
His Lordship-I think this is a case in which the public is sufficiently interested to excuse you." You can leave,
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