The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-01-18

the harbOr.
For nearly I'VE miles the water front
is an unbrOken quay which the dwell.
ers of Hong Kong. borrowing the
name from the famous quay Of the
Portuguese at Macao. call the Praya.
Great ocean liners can dock directly
beside this quay or at one of the many
wharves which extend outward from
it. Back from the sea wall a broad
road extends along the entire watex
front Of Hong Kong, and facing thu
harbor across it are public buildings
business houses and some Of the great
warehouses which proclaim Hong
kong's chief activity-the distribu.
ton Of merchandise to and from
southeastern Asia. Many Of ths
structures are faced story upon story
by the arched external galleries OF
loggias. like our porches, that have
become characteristic of British archi.
lecture In this semi-tropical island.
But looking at Hong Kong from q
ship in the harbor, the newcomer gives
only scant attention to the water front
interesting as Its appearance and &C.
tlvitles are. For Victoria is a city OF
terraces; the whole city is spread out
before him as though It were q man
upon the wall. His eyes are newt.
ably led upward to row upon row Of
buildings clinging to the sides Of q
great hill, past patches Of bare rock
and forest, to dwellings perched near
the crest of the ridge. To the right, at
the very peak Of the island, rise the
wireless towers of one Of Great Bri.
tain's most important radio stations
Climbing Up 1.-THE Peak"
Suburban conditions are not reached
in Hong Kong by moving outward az
IN most thickly settled communities
out by moving upward. On the level
area Of the middle portion Of the town
near the water front-much of which
incidentally, has been reclaimed from
the harbor-are the banks and count.
Ing houses, the business structures
and warehouses Of the merchants and
Shippers. TO the east and west Chin.
csc merchants hold sway. This level
mercantile region Of Victoria extends
only q few blocks from the harbor's
edge. Back Of it rise steeply the lower
slopes OF the Peak" against whose
green sides the light buildings Of the
residential section Of the city stand
OUT boldly. Most Of Victoria's cro,s
streets surrender Internationally NJ
the foot OF the hill and are trans
formed into stair steps. A few "a
though more determined to conoue,
tue heights, wind with many contor.
lions. covering rods that they NAV
rise feet. But parallel with the ode.
Oh the harbor the streets continua
eacn on different level, like recetiine
she'ves or the tiers Of seats Of a huas
theater.
The first zone Of shelf-like STRAIT.
.hat rises above the mercantile Level
- 'lctoria's chinatown" where Iva
.ne greater part Of the closely packet
.huititudes of Chinese who have com.
from the mainland to cast ths,r ,n,.
under the British nag.
Inc next level In vlctorla's soc,,,
s'ra''hcation Is closely built IN sec.
t'oh OF substantial houses occpn,o,
oy British Americans. Portuguese and
indeed by representatives of mos,
european nations and the unIt.. !,
states. Farther up the side Of III.
peak above the closely built sectio,
.or westerners, are the residences ~,
the more wealthy, set in snoc,,us
grounds half hidden In gardens
Hong Kong is In effect n colo,v =;
chinese ruled by the British Rnt " y,
spite OF the fact that 90 Der cont -,
.he population is Chinese, neonls .,
many nations and creeds have made :, !.
pace Tor themselves in this nn,nrs
community. Near the water front no,
De found representatives - a,a n'a.
any nationality or race one ,,,n
ron Portuguese to Norwegian an',
ron South Sea islanders to Afr,can '
. anu m spite Of this seeming stnce sa'
ung Tor eternal turbulence uonr K,a,
'oe most orderly city Of tho f..