Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-06-03

Families Live on Boats-Visit Canton
Under Protection Of the Viceroy-Rea-
son for Crooked Streets Shops
Important Places Of Business-Odd OBJ
jects of Food and Manner Of Vending
Them-Skillful Artisans-Other Pecul-
iarities.
BY FRANK N. KENNEY.
AS we entered the harbor of Hong
Kong, we were very much impressed
by its location and beauty. 1t is
well protected and of ample size to
safely anchor all the vessels that will
ever be within its confines. The
American warships Pennsylvania and
West Virginia lay at anchor, and
close by were German and British
men-of-war. At night, the vessels
were actively engaged in signaling
by means of vari-colOred electric
ligats fastened to the topmast. 1t
was very interesting sight to see a
light Of one color flash for an instant
only, to be succeeded by another of a
different hue; again it would be a
combination and SO rapidly were the
changes made we wondered how they
could be translated.
The vast majority of people do not
know that Hong Kong is the name
of an Island and not, properly speak
ing, that of city, for the right
name of the latter is Victoria, and it
is on the Island of Hong Kong. The
mainland is close by, however, and
the city directly opposite Hong Kong
is called Kowloon. The island is one
Of Great Britain's possessions, but
the mainland is, Ur rather should be,
China's. Owing to its proximity, it
would become menace to the Eng
lish in case of war. and so they Sc
cured ninety mine year lease on it.,
but past actions show that ninety.
nine years means forever, unless the
leasing power is strong enough to en-
force vacation at the ending of the
term. This is the farthest East of
England's territory. An lrishman
who was ordered to this place, re-
marked. "Begorra, they could not
send me farther from home without
sending me closer" Immediately
behind the city rises steep bill, or
mountain, it may be called. On top
of this is q wireless station and
troops are also quartered close by.
The entrance to the hill is fortified
and close to the city are forts. 1t is
called "The Gibraltar OF the East. u
and the title is we'll deserved. The
residence POI ton of the city is on
the hillsides and an excellent view oil
the harbor is obtainable. The build
ings in the business portion are
many of them handsome and sub.
stantial, and compare very favorably
with those in our cities. There are
no sky -scrapers, but five and six
story structures have been erected
and as the stories are higher than
ours the buildings are quite tall.
Looking from the mountain top,
down below spreads the city, the
streets appearing as the lines on q
checker-board. Out in the harbor
can be seen boats of all kinds. from
the Chinese junk with all sails set.
to the modern battle-ship, whose
polished brass reflects tho bright
rays of the sun. To the left is the
entrance 10 Pearl river, and sur
rounding it all a background OF
green. Picture this in your mind,
and you will reproduce the beautiful
sight to be seen from the heights of
Hong Kong.
While the business portion of the
city is decidedly English in appear
ance, and bar-maids can be seen 10
the tap-houses, as the drinking
places are called, still portions of it
are oriental. and naturally we took
advantage OF the first opportunity to
visit :hem. Opium-smoking was
done without any attempt at con.
cealment. You could walk along the
street and see the opium-smokers in
side. I inspected several and wit
messed the operation from beginning
to end. There was no downy couch
for them, as they lay on bare boards.
All seemed so intent on rolling the
pill and then smoking it. that no at
tentiOn was paid to our intrusion.
In some of the places the hunks were
three and four high and extended
around the entire room, so a small
space was sufficient for a big crowd.
for each bunk held two persons, and
forty or fifty would be engaged in
hitting the pipe at one time in a
room twelve by eighteen feet. Most
OF them were dreaming sweet dreams