New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-07-01
BAYARD TAYLORS LETTERS.
HONG. KONC-LIFE AND SOCIETY IN CHINA
Editorial Correspondence OF The N Y. Tribune

HONG KONC-LIFE AND SOCIETY IN CHINA
Editorial Corre.y opdepce OF The N Y Tribune.
HoNG KONG, China, Tuesday Aug. 81, 1888
NV first impressions of Hong Kong were not very
favorable but attributed them partly to the gloomy
March weather which prevailed during my stay. AT
ter the genial quiet of Macao and the mellow historic
light which plays about its dccaying palaces the
thoroughly modern air and descate surroundings OF this
place are still distasteful 10 me- aud an unor'
nate association which shall never be able wholly TO
lonish from memory, hightens the feeling into abso'
into dislike II is therefore not my fault, at leas:
nv misfortune that cannot indorse the praises OF
| Hong Kong which its residents are accustomed TO
bestow upon it. Seen from the water the town,
stretching for a mile along the shore at the loot OF
Victoria Peak. whose granite cliffs tower eighteen
bppjred feet above bears considerable resemblance
70 Gibraltar The Governors Mansion, the Bishop
Palace, the Church AMI Barrack, occupy conspicuous
positions and the houses OF merchan;s ani governments
officials scattered along the steep sides OF the HILL
give the place all opulen and ncurishiDg air 81 lar
from being disappointed in this respect one is sur
prsed TO find that ten years OF English occupation
have sufced TO ciyze so completely barren Chinese
island
The town is almost entirely made up of the long
street called Victoria Road which parallel to the
shore. 1t is broad well built and well paved and be-
ing the greet horoughiare of the place, lengthen:n.
into military road which makes the circuit a the isl
and has at ell times Il busy and animated air The
streets which cross it strike directly up the hill and
are in many places steep that has been found ne
cessary 10 turn them into flights of steps Inc gray
granite of which the island is composed furnishes eA-
ceent material for building purposes a~i is extern
oil in ST
quantities OF it, dressed in the quarres by Chinese Ia
borers are shipped to San Francisco, Where IL Is III
great demand. Several entire buildings have been
sent over, and erected in that city. The Ergiish
Church is q large Gothic building, without any preten-
sous TO architectural beauty On natural platform
above it, stands the palace OF Bishop SniLh-a iohd
mansion in tire Elizabethan style. The Governors
new residence is i'll the course OF construction
and not sufficiently advanced to hint at lite character
The leland of Hong Kong is about thirty miles In err
cumierence and consists OF desOlate cluster OF noun
tains which offer opportunity OF cultivation Nearly
all the fruit and vegetables consumed In the town,
cone from Macao There is small village, inhabited
by Chinese fishermen, the southern SIDE and Mill
tarv Hospital OIL the east, looking upon the LYNDON
Passage, which opens into the China Sea; but the
English colony concentrated III aud about the town
OF Victoria which is built On the. northern side, fac
inc the ain land Tie hsrbor spacious, with good
anchorage and we'll sheltered except IN ease oil an
unusually violent yphoon. From the position OF the
town il is cut of from the southwest monsoon IN sum-
uer while tie vapors collected BIZ the mountains Con-
tribute 10 produce an intense moist heat, which occa-
scus violent feyers The Hong Kong Fever, as 1t Is
called has been described by iacetous traye!er
as combining the symptoms OF cholera, ye!icw
and typLus levers The mortality among tie troops
stationed here was formerly very great but it has been
lessered VI late years BY the adoption VI stringent sn-
tary measures
For amusements resides riding, boating, yacht re-
esttas &c there is q club with library, reading and
billiard rooms and bowling alley, much frequented
by Americans The society not extensive, but INTEL
E1ent and agreeable and the lordy hospitality!
with which first became acquainted IN India, pre-
walls 70, only here but throughout ali the foreign con-
mupities in China This custom originated long ago,
in the isolation 10 which the foreign merchant was
condemned and the nrequency OF visitors rom the dis
tant world which he had temporarily renounced Then
All houses were open the guest and the luxury which
had been created 10 soften the gided exile was placed
81 his command Tie establishment OF steamship lines,
the building of hotels and other progressive agencies
have somewhat moderated this lberalty, and may in
tus reduce il TO the cautious and guarded hospitality
~ home: but there is still enough OF the old genial
spfit left 10 make stranger feel satisfied with the well
come he receives.
doubt There be another class Of men, who live In
more state than the foreign residents in China
Their households are conducted princey scale, and
whatever can be had in the way Of furniture, uphol
siery or domestic appliances OF any sort 70 promote
ease and comfort is sure TO be found IN their d"eil
ircs Their tables supplied with the ehoieesL
Which lie country esn afford. and 1 retnne % well.
drilled servants. whose only husines- j. i 60 study
,frir /, hi.r anticipate an ftrir wants A tfe ua,-
,.,t.r .I lie ltu.el a. :. - - -----