The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1867-04-27
IIOngl<Ong

To US at the Islands, who are so fortunately
situated on the grea- ocean highway between the
advancing civilization and Christian cnlighten-
mcnt of the East and the rcceding barbarism and
raganism of the West, everything relating to
those hitherto little known regions Of the globe
Possesses, at the present time, a peculiar interest.
The probabilities are, that ere long Honolulu,
through the steamer line of the Pacific Mail
Steamship Company, will be in monthly comlnu-
n~ication with the ports of China and Japan, and
il may become a common occurrence for those of
our residents who can afford it. and wish n
change Of scene, 10 embark On one of the great
= floating palaces of the line and make Il trip
to Hakodadi or Hongkong.
Hongkong, Tor Victoria as the English call it)
is located on an Island, near the mouth of the
Canton River, in latitude 22o ID y. (nearly
the same a. Honolulu, which is 2I.I9) and
longitude 1I47 30 E. The Island is a barren,
rocky one, with several rough and abrupt look
ing peaks, one or two of which reach an altitude
of $500 feet above the level of the sea. 1t is
eight miles long by two to five broad, and Is
estimated to contain about twenty-ninc square
miles. 1t was ceded by the Chinese to Great
Britain, June %, 1913, at tho conclusion of the
:. opium war; though it was in reality possessed
by the East India Company some years preyi-
ously. The climate of Hongkong has been yari-
ously represented by different visitors as un-
healthy and a. salubrious, though the weight Of
evidence would 20 to show that those who take
proper care of themselves have no trouble. As
it is, like Honolulu, situated in the tropics, the
months from May TO September are extremely
hot. for it Is not, a. here, favored with the cool
ing trade winds, and the inyariable custom Is to
ST. Iend all kinds of outdoor work in the middle
of the day. The town is well watered, from the
numerous streams of the island, and is conducted
through stone aqueducts.
From a late letter writer in a San Francisco
paper, who visited Iiongkong in the Colorado on
her first trip, we make the following extracts of
interest in regard TO Hongkong. We viii OBJ
serve, however, in passing, that the estimate of
the number of foreign residents strikes us as
being too small.
THE POPULATION -GovERNNEST OF THE ISLAND.
The European pOpulaton-under which term the
Americans are also includel-numbers about 800.
The merchants mostly live in the same buildings in
which they do business; the clerks for the most part
boarding and living with their employers. The
Chinese population numbers about $4,000, their
quarter being at the western end Of the settlement,
called the Tai-ping-shang. y San franciscan cannot
but remark the cleanliness OF the streets IN this quar-
ter when compared with the dis-ustingly filthy cOnli-
ton of that portion Of san Francisco occupied by the
Chinese. This is owing 10 the very strict municipal
regulations. and the severity OF punishment inflicted
for any infringement Of the same there l. a large
police force, consisting Of SepOys and Cinnamon,
Oficered by Europeans The mode OF punishment
adopted toward the Chinese Is rather severe under
the administration of the present Governor. For a
light offence the culprit Is imprisoned for a few days,
then branded on the ear, and ordered To leave the
colony, for which purpose he i provided with sufi-
cient means. Should he ever return, and be caught,
he i publicly whipped and sent off again; and the
whipping i no joke, | assure you. This severity has
had the effect TO greatly lessen crime amongst the
Chinese. and gives entire satisfaction, not only TO the
but also to the better class Of Chinese.
The Governor Of the Island Is almost absolute. There
Is a Council appointed by the Crown upon the recon-
Of the Governor.
BUILDINGs.-There are three churches in Hong
long-One Protestant Episcopal, one Catholic, and
me Presbyterian. They are all handsome buildings,
he Protestant Cathedral, especially, and on Sundays
me l. always sure 10 see a large portion Of the Euro
Deans AZ one or other Of the churches.
The Government buildings are also large and COM
nCdious-the Post Office, particularly and although
he letter business Of the place is not one-thirI that
Il san Francisco, this building Is twice a. large a
,urs-from which the L.. 5. Government might draw
wholesome lesson. Tie Jail, also, Is a model Of Il
and ventilated establishment, and although
he majority Of prisoners are Chinese, it Is kept scru-
'ulously clean. At present there are but 500.
Though the number has been a. high as 900.
HOrELs.-The hotels Of HonGkOng are nothing to
oaSJ u. Hitherto there has been but little business
" them, a. most of the visitors 10 the place were
allel there on business. and bringing letters Of intro
uction with them were accommodated by resident
rms, and the hospitality Of the people Of Hongkong.
nj, in fact, of the Europeans throughout China. l.
But cflate years travel having increased
o "a considerable degree the necessity for hotels has f.
more apparent. - 1t : impossible for the
e~iicut~ here 10 accommodate uiiscriminarcly every {
ne WHO may bring q letter Of introduction with .
nom. The Hotel d'EurcIe leads the list, although.