The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-03-01

sampans and numerous launches O.
the harbor.
For nearly five 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 broad
road extends along the entire wateA
front of Hong Kong, and facing thu
harbor across it are public buildings,
business houses and some of the great
warehouses which proclaim Hong
Kongs chief activity-the distribu.
ton Of merchandise to and from
southeastern Asia. Many Of the
structures are faced story upon story
by the arched external galleries o,
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.
tivities are. For Victoria is a city OF
terraces; the whole city is spread out
before him as though 1t were a map
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.
but 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.
ese merchants hold sway. This level
mercantile region of Victoria extends
only few blocks from the harbor's
edge. Bs:S 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 Victorias cross
streets surrender Internationally at
.ne root Of the hill and are trans
FORMED into stair steps. A few. n
.nough more determined to conuue,
the heights. wind with many contor.
IONS covering rods that they NAV
rise rect. But parallel with the edge
VI the harbor the streets continue
eacn on different level, like recedine
shelves or the tiers of seats Of . hugs
theater. "a . "os'
ne hrst zone Of shelf-iike streets
.nat rises above the mercantile ,aval
''ctoria's chinatown" where Iva
rme greater part Of the closely packet
niu't'tudes OF Chinese who have com.
rom the mainland to cast their lots
unoer the British nag.
Ahe next level in Victoria's soc,o,
sua''hcation Is closely built up sec.
Aon OF substantial houses occup,ed
oy BRITISH, Americans, Portuguese md
,noeed by representatives of MOS,
european nations and the Unite ,
states. Farther up the side ~ III.
t f above the closely built sector
.et westerners, are the residences ~,
proun aSre ,,., wealthy, set In spacious
s'ouids' half hidden in gardens
Hong Kong is In effect a colony ~
sn; ,nese ruled by the British. But in
. sp.'e OF the fact that o5 per cent .,
ne population is Chinese. peonle y,
n, ans nations and creeds have made !.
p paaee 1or themselves in this unInu.
Community Near the water from, ,na,
oe found representatives Of alm"s,
ans nationality or race one Ills
. portuguese to Norweg,o, ans
Aua south Sea islanders to African
| tins ~ spite OF this seeming stage se,
y, ung ior eternal turbulence nons 1 K SCI
'as most orderly city Of the Eas,