The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-30
4 The Globes s Ss%s,!aay ;
The Storm Center Of the 63orId
BY DIR. R. WARREN coNANr.

ravies of the world might ride at anchor
amply. This harbor is on the north shore
and from the waters edge rises the city
OF Victoria, banked up the sides OF a
mountain whose granite peak towers 2UO0
feet above. The island has been In Eng.
lish hands since 1S41
Lying a little north Of latitude % oe,
grees, Hongkong is about on line with
Havana and Calcutta. In many respects
it is wonderful island. Any of the In
habttants who need a change of climate
can get it at home by moving a few
miles. Near the coast 1t Is possible to
find, eight months in the year, and espe>
cially in July and August, hot. moist
climate, which approximates continuous
Turkish bath; while on the tops of the
hills are delightful breezes and cold
nights calling for blankets.
For four miles along the north shore
stretches the city of Victoria, backing
up also against the mountain in streets
which quickly fray out into the scattered
villas of the wealthy. These last peep
out of the foliage clear to the summit
To them the head officials and English
merchants retreat in summer every night
from the awful steam and stew of the
lowland. To those white men who cam
not obtain this relief Victoria Is a d Eli
tating and exasperating place of abode.
But, although it is an English city,
there are very few English in Victoria.
In a population of 10000 there are only
5000 whites all told. The rest are of al
most every race under heayen-Parsees,
Hlrdus, Malays, Burmese, Polynesians,
Portuguese, negroes and, most of all, chi
nese.
The latter thrive and work in a heat
which kills white man. A coole will
gladly carry a heavy portmanteau two
miles for four and a half pence. A jim.
eSl1e rrril1 Il
the hour at six-mile trot. If you wish
to GO up the mountain you can hire four
coolies for a trife to take you up in a
sedan chair with your portmanteau. 1t
is so hot that a white man can scarcely
exist sitting still, yet two of the coolies
win carry the pole of the chair on their
bare shoulders, while one goes in front
to pull and another behind to push. The
feet by which they cling to the steep.
rocky path are bare, and the pole sinks
itno their shoulders cruelty, yet they ask
for no rest except occasionally to change
bearers.
the summit of your ambition. Now d
view spreads out in all directions which
has few equals in the world. To the
south lies the emma sea, and to the north
countless cities and towns. rivers and
hills, like mammoth photographic map.
Over all is poured the most dazzling sun
light from a cloudless sky of brilliant
blue, while cool breezes fan the brow and
seem like dream of Dantes Inferno.
Victoria Is built mostly of wood but
there are 5000 buildings Of brick and stone.
The streets are laid out according to
European ideas, and are patrolled by 300
police, of whom only 120 are Europeans.
The rest are Sikhs from Indian and Chi
nese The former make fine and i'm
posing appeaIance-tau, erect, powerful
men. with dignified carriage and fierce
countenance, their swarthy faces ana
piercing black eyes set Off by the req
turbans about their heads.
There is need of-police in Victoria,
that of most cities. The Chinese are an
overwhelming majority of the inhabit-
ants. the boat population alone BENG leo-
900. yet a more orderly ana supmlsslye
common people was never seen. scarcely
ever will a Chinaman in Hongkong as
sert himself under any circumstances
against a white man. But not because
he loves him. Let the Engllshman Pc
handed to either cupidity or,the hatred OF
the cowed Chinaman. They are quick
with the knife in the dark and they glory
in treachery. Accordingly, Chinese are
not allowed on the streets after p. IN.
without a permit
In one respect Victoria is decidedly De
hind the times; it has no street railways
and no wheeled vehicles. except the jim
ricksha, n little two-wheeled cart drawn
by coolie. The rough nature of the
ground. most of it uphill, precludes any
better mode of conveyance. In one OF
these jinrickshas it is possible to take a
very pleasant ride in the suburbs of VIC
toria and the neighboring country. There
are the botanical gardens to visit. which
compel the grudging admiration of even
seif-satisfied Chinese; and the Prot
estant cemetery is very beautnui. BUT
the dissertations tell a sad tale of thou
sands of brave men who have died here
far from home. their bones the foundation
stones of British empire in the east
over the entrance to the Roman Cath
clio cemetery is this eloquent inscription:
Hodie Mini Cras Tibi. (Today for Me,
Tomorrow for Thee)
Copyright, 1900.