The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-08-05
descriptive Artirles.
Chinese Boat Life.
From the Philadelphia Ledger.

| Coming from the m0nOt0n0us ana ureafy
level of the coasts of northern China, one
cannot be otherwise than delighted at the
beauty revealed in entering the exquisite
harbor of Hong Kong From seaward, the
enterance is through narrow inland pass
ages into the inner harbor, practically an
inland lake, with an area of about 10 square
miles, and is almost surrounded by high
broken mountain peaks from two to three
thousand feet high.
On one side is the island of Hong Kong,
25 miles in circumference, with its chief
city, Victoria, or, as it is commonly called,
Hong Kong, built at the base of one of the
mountains, whose summit, "The Peak,
covered with wood and tropical verdure,
almost directly overhangs the town. On
the opposite side of the harbor is the arid
promontory of Kowloon, of the mainland
of China, bleak, rugged and devoid Of
vegetation of any kind. Coming to anchor
we found ourselves amidst peculiar scene,
all around us crowded singular fleet
men-ofwar, gun boats of every nation,
mammoth merchant ships, picturesque
junks, with many ribbed sails, innumerable
sampans or native boats, a hundred flags
and almost as many tongues, all contribut-
ing to give life, color and movement to this
busy and attractive sight.
HONG KONG.
Hong Kong contains but little level
ground. The city is built along the har-
Dor in terraces, rising, one above the other,
to height of about 400 feet and connect
ed with each other by steep streets of stairs,
the upper terraces being fitted with hand
some bungalows and bright gardens, the
homes of the foreign residents. In con-
sequence of the declivity of the streets
they are almost impossible for wheeled
vehicles, so that transportation of all kinds,
whether of people or merchandise, is per-
formed wholly by coolie service. Horses,
carriages and wagons are virtually unknown,
except few pony carriages used upon the
level road in the lower part Of the city.
In addition 10 this difficulty with the roads,
the cost of forage is exceedingly high,
while the coolie is correspondingly cheap.
Light weights are carried by singing them
on the ends of bamboo pole, the coolie
supporting the centre on his shoulders,
while for heavier weights the load is secur
ed at the centre Of the pole, coolies taking
the ends and shuffiing off with peculiar
chant and trot which accommodates the
spring of the pole. Travellers use Sedan
chair or palanquin, the ends of the shafts
bearing directly upon the shoulders of the
carriers, and since the poles or shafts are
made of bamboo they give an easy, spring
ing motion to the chair, the rate of loco
motion being about three or four miles an
hour. The number of bearers or attend
ants gives some indication of the standing
or the extent of the establishment of the
individual, and nearly all the chairs and
their coolies are kept in the characteristic
colors and livery of their owners, those of
some of the officials being particularly
resplendent and gorgeous. In addition to
the Sedan chairs, the '.jinricksha" has been
imported from Japan, an exaggerated two
wheeled baby carriage holding one passen-
ger and pulled by single coolie and, from
its convenience and easy travelling, has
implanted itself as permanent fixture In
street travel in Hong Kong.
The business section of the city presents
a very cosmopolitan appearance. The COM
paratively few Europeans are almost swamp
ed by the Chinese street merchants, coolies,
Arabs, Parsees, Hindoos, japanese, half
caste Portuguese, and, in fact, representa-
tiyes from almost every nationality can be
found In the street life. To preserve the
peace the local constabulary consists of
about 800 men, divided into three separate
parts, each with distinctive uniform.
There are few English "bobbies, but
the larger number consists of native
Chinese and Sikhs. The Sikhs, who are
very tall, swarthy and picturesque in red
and gray uniforms, high boots and immense
scarlet turbans, do not seem as though they
would be very effective in gqelling riot,
but, for an imposing appearance and an
addition to the oriental aspect of the street,
they certainly fill the bill. Besides this
force there are private patrols kept by many
for the protection of their individual prop
erty, while for an emergency tho regular
military force at the garrison is always
available and It is probable that the pres
ence of this force enables the local author
tiles to keep the rough portion Of this
heterogeneous mass in subjection. How
ever, the streets and inhabitants are prob
ably about the most orderly to be seen In
the East, and the utmost respect is paid to
authority and the instructive submission of
the Eastern races to the European Is strik-
ingly illustrated, and is rendered more re-
markable from the enormous preponder-
ance of the mixed Oriental population.
The total number Of inhabitants is suppos-
ed to be 100000, of which the European
element comprises the small fraction of
about 60OO
PECULIAR INSTITUTIONS.
While ip among the business interests
ones attention is soon attracted to the
Chinese ''Shroff," who is attached to all
banks and business houses, and whose priu-