Recollections Of Thirty-Nine Years In The Army: by Dr Charles Alexander Gordon

Author:Dr Charles Alexander Gordon [Gordon, Charles Alexander]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781782895718
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Normanby Press
Published: 2014-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XX

1860. HONG-KONG. TIENTSIN

Expeditionary force—An incident—The island—Different bodies of troops—Certain difficulties—Red tape—Canton—”Sing-song” boats—Honan—Beggars—The city shops—Temple of Five Hundred Worthies—Buddhist temple—News from the north—Pekin occupied—Hong-Kong to Shanghai—Taiping rebels—Treaty —The city—Vicinity—H. M. S. Roebuck—Taku—Tientsin.

THE expeditionary force had already sailed northward, its equipment and appliances on a scale of completeness unknown prior to the recent Royal Commission. Before that expedition started, all non-effectives, whether by sickness or other causes, were eliminated; what was called a Provisional Battalion was organized for their reception, as well as for that of newly arrived reinforcements from home to fill expected “waste” among those actively engaged. The ordinary barrack accommodation at Hong-Kong being insufficient, huts were erected at various points, among others on the peak called Victoria; a large vessel in harbour fitted up for hospital purposes, and vessels engaged, as necessity arose, for the transport of invalids to the Cape of Good Hope and England.

Among the non-effectives left by the —st Regiment was an officer now indicated by the initial M—. At his request I visited him, in company with his medical attendant. It was evident at a glance that he was extremely ill, his life rapidly ebbing away. He addressed me after this manner: “I have asked you to see me that you might tell me what you think of my state.” To my inquiry, “Are you prepared to receive my answer?” he replied, in impatient tones: “If I were not, I would not have asked the question.” “I am sorry, then, to believe that you have but a very short time to live,” was my remark. “I thought as much. Do you see that packet on my chest of drawers? I want you to take it away with you; as soon as I am dead, to burn it unopened in your own room.” Such was his request, and so far I acceded to it. The following morning M— was dead; his packet burnt as be had desired. A sequel to this incident will be mentioned hereafter.

In the words of a newspaper correspondent,{217} the island of Hong-Kong may be compared to a beautiful woman with a notoriously bad temper,—to be admired from a distance, but not become intimately acquainted with. At the date of our arrival the midday heat, as gauged by our sensations, was great; the sky cloudless, exercise or duty out of doors very trying, a sensation of sickness experienced in a way altogether different from what was felt in India. Early in July the rainy season began. Quickly a series of waterfalls poured over rocky promontories; Victoria Peak was enveloped in mist; temperature moderated, the general conditions became bearable. So they continued till September; intervals of rain and sunshine alternated with each other. Unhappily endemic forms of disease went on steadily increasing in prevalence and rates of mortality. A favourable change took place in all these conditions as the last-named month advanced, and progressed till the cold season fairly set in.

The portion of the force with which I was immediately concerned included British and native Indian troops, the latter belonging to the three several presidencies of that Dependency.

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