Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-10-08
FRED JULIAN.
LETTER NO. 3.

HONG Kong, AUG. 8, 1903.
Editor Press
We arrived at this city July 31st, in the morn
ing, and after tireless wait of over two hours
we were allowed to go ashore, that is the Euro
pean passengers, but one else at that time be-
cause there a suspicious case among the
crew, a Taror (Hindo) sailor was sick, which has
since developed into case of bubonic plague.
We were in quarantine and feared we would have
to remain in the ship for some time. After CIV
ing our names and addresses in Hong Kong we
were permitted to land While waiting for the
doctor, we could not help noticing the number of
! steamers of all kinds at anchor and Chinese
Junks almost innumerable; sails and no sails
many Chinese women pulling oars, often with
little child strapped on her back. Weafterwards
learned that those Junks were the homes of the
family. We could not but notice also the sublime
grandure of the surroundings. Hong Kong is on
an island one of the groups that soar up, from
out of the sea. almost in the clouds. The city is
built on plateau on the water front, the island
| rising very abruptly to a height of about two
thousand feet to sharp apex. l judge this is
land may be eight or ten miles long, coming to
peak or round at the top inlets everywhere, is
lands three sides of it and China main land
right opposite, about quarter of mile across
| the harbor. Everywhere you look you see Chi
nese fishing boats. Looking up the mountain
side from the harbor one sees Villa or Bergalows
after Villa is Bergalows all the way to the top
and on the highest peaks flag staffs for these
highest points garrisons and soldiers wearing
British uniforms. On landing we are surprised
at the number of Chinese we see; they are every
where merchants, pedders, Coolies or laborers
| hotel porters and walters, and postofice employ
ees. 1t seems the Chinese do all the work, in
a tn hp fnr
undressed) suitable to the weather. found it
necessary to get some thin clothes made, so was
| recommended by an American to go to Chinese
tailor who had large establishment. | went
and saw my man, dressed as we usually see them
was measured and told to call next day to try
them on. went and found my tailor sitting be
hind a counter and, so far as could see, clothed
as nature clothed him. So it is all about
Linen clothing is very cheap. l paid for linen
coat and pants, made to order, $3.50 mexican
1920 in our money. A Coolie gets about fifteen
cents day and for this pittance he does lots of
work. Coolies do all the work. We have only
seen one horse here and that was in little
riage. The material for all the beautiful resi-
| dences on these mountains is either carried on
Coolies backs or in baskets, or in some other
small way, suspended at each end of a bamboo
pole the pole on the Coolies shoulder. stop at
feet above the sea. 1t seems almost perpendicu-
lar All the brick in this large hotel was brought
here in the manner above mentioned. This
morning saw, perhaps, forty Coolies going on
up by the hotel to the fort above, each carrying
should judge, forty bricks, suspended from the
shoulder with a bamboo pole. Each had brought
these brick from the foot of the mountain. II is
an every minute sight to see from six to twenty,
| or more Coolies pulling q big two wheeled ve-
hicle along, loaded with all and everything used
or required in city. All this makes living and
rents very expensive, that is among the whites.
A decent sized house OF ten to twelve rooms rents
for about two thousand dollars year. This af-
| ternoon hired four Coolies and got into chair
and for three hours was carried around the peaks
of the mountasns, on their shoulders. / wish l
could describe the scenery to you, but could not
do it justice Beautiful Villas Bergalows
everywhere; beautiful wild flowers, elegant palms
and bamboo; beautiful ravine here, an elegant
inlet there; beautiful island there, and so on-a
never ending kaleidoscope; beautiful roads for
pedestrians only cemented cutters one side to
carry off the rain waiter, for it can rain here 1
assure you and very easy: sometimes the clouds
would descend and we could see nothing, the
next moment the sun is out in all its heat and
splendor. Returning to the hotel paid the four
Coolies for carrying me three hours, over hill and
dale, constantly on trot, fifty cents for the four
1t is very hot here. The city is at the foot of
mountain and mountains all around, except an
arm of the sea-a narrow straight winding around
the islands which forms the harbor. There is
not much chance for breeze, and the sun comes
down almost perpendicular all day long, unless
hidden by fog clouds. The evaporation from
the is great Temperature of sea water $50
fah.) the result is great humidity and conse-
quently oppressive heat. l now sit in my room
with all the windows closed, not from choice but
necessity. l kave learned that an open window
means wet clothes in the morning. Everything
is clammy. 1t is the rainy season, SO we not only
have fog but rain, and it seems to rain so easy
no trouble at all-dnd II rains, seems to make
business of it, as fit meant it.
There is some plague here but it is chiefly with
| the native, and no wonder. They are dirty to
| the last degree, but Industrious they live hud-
died together, often two thr ee families in one
room. We are all having little scare over the
Japan-Russian difficulty. All the British Men-of-
| War are in northern waters. l understand our
Monitors all going North-the Kentuckey is
there also, the Wisconsin is crossing the sea to
| get here, the Albany, Cincinnati and Raleigh
| on their way from Colombo, Ceylon, so it is
ported. Ifreports be true things may be lively
| soon. The Japanese think great deal of them
selves. l understand they say here that Jap
told tourist he thought the English navy about
as good as theirs, but they had the best army in
| the world. If the Japs have that idea no doubt
| there will be trouble.
do not know the population of Hong Kong
| but it is fairly large city-a great commercial
centre Three lines of steamers from here to
! San Francisco, one to Vancouver, two to Austria
liza, six 10 England, two to Manila, three to Can
ton and other ports including New York direct.
! The city is heavily garrsoned. think there are
seven regiments here besides artillery.
My next will be from Manila.
FRED JULIAN.
All Smokers smoke the 'W. III
Mayer" hand made cigar, the best five