them dispersing their brilliant fire-flowers far above; and catherine wheels revolved like golden watermills, showering their gittering spray around and dazzling the enchanted eye. Then a great, deep, trembling murmur of intense wonder and admiration arose above the loud-sounding music and musketry. From seaward there now came a fleet of fairy-like boats. One mass of gorgeous, quivering light, from innumerable lanterns, drifted nearer and nearer; and the soft music of many lutes came shoreward over the water, making merry company.

The wondering crowd had hardly got accustomed to this new sight, when the deafening din of gongs, bells and timbrels again attracted every eye to the eastward whence there came a multitude of sea-monsters, making a grand display. Fishes of every size and description were there, from a whale to a tiny sprat: all moving most naturally along in a line which seemed to have no end. They were all lighted up inside, being made of transparent oiled paper, and really had a remarkably lifelike appearance and excited universal admiration from Chinese and Europeans alike. Behind these came the old dragon which was also illuminated from head to tail; and the whole procession took more than an hour to pass a certain point.

All in that mighty multitude of spectators seemed remarkably quiet and well behaved and much merriment prevailed. For three or four days the procession moved about, gradually dwindling in length and grandeur until is was no more. Then the well-pleased people, after paying a farewell visit to the Man-mo temple to make their little thank-offerings and view the alterations, dispersed to their respective homes after an enjoyable outing.

XXVIII. -THE GREAT PLAGUE OF HONGKONG.

D

URING the latter part of April 1894, we heard in Hongkong

that a strange and dreadful disease had broken out in Canton, whose inhabitants suddenly became panic-stricken and fled to Hongkong in thousands-every steamer arriving from there being crowded each trip, until the colony was densely packed with them. Then the startling news was spread abroad that the deathdealing pestilence-in all respects analogous to the Great Plague of London in 1665 and 66-was in our midst.

At first, however, it was merely a rumour, then it was confirmed by the announcement that a couple of deaths had occurred from plague in Taipinshan, situated in the west end of the city. But very little notice was taken of, or credence given to these reports, and no measures were taken to prevent the epidemic from spreading or to stop the inrush of natives from the affected districts. They continued to pour into the doomed colony which was just beginning to feel the oppressive warmth of a tropical summer. The foreigners resident there resented and ridiculed the idea of an epidemic invading or seriously endangering Hongkong—or even finding a sure foot-hold there. sure foot-hold there. And, in spite of repeated warnings from more than one lip and more than one pen, for some time a sense of security and immunity from all danger was felt. This was altogether unjustifiable and fatal-as was soon amply demonstrated by Death in its most awful form.

The hidden depths of disgraceful insanitation were about to be revealed when too late to rectify or avert the resulting calamity and sacrifice the human sacrifice imposed by the accumulated

filth of many money-making years, during which time the lower classes of Chinese householders must have been treated by the Sanitary Inspectors with somewhat remarkable deference, leading to culpable neglect.

As is generally the case, when the tide of this hitherto wealthy colony was, financially and socially, at its lowest ebb, there was a freshet a freshet of pestilence, which carried death, destruction and disgrace with its foul overwhelming tide. All the world now held aloof, and wondered.

During the notable epidemic, known as the "Black Death" of 1348 and 49 which-originating in Asia, and sweeping westward to the countries of Europe, laid its decimating scourge upon London-we read that two hundred persons were buried in the Charterhouse daily. Even at that period, compare the population and area of London with those of Hongkong, and then imagine the hold which this dire disease must have had upon the colony, when over a hundred deaths from it occurred daily-until so many victims awaited interment that the dead could hardly be disposed of.

It was in every respect similar to the plague alluded to in eloquent language by Boccacio in his introduction to the "Decameron" and his description of it will give the reader a far better and more correct idea of what it was like in Hongkong, and of its ravages, than anything I could write.

For some little time the infectious disease was confined to the western end of the colony; and, when too late, a cordon of British soldiers was drawn across Tapingshan to prevent the contagion spreading; and hopes were entertained that, with the first good shower of rain-as there had been a long period of drought-it would entirely disappear. The rain came and went, but the plague remained. It doggedly dodged from one street to another, si ently, surely and fatally, creeping along in every direction, north, south, east and west. Then it met at the corners-and finally encompassed the whole colony; locking it and its terrified inhabitants up in a cold grasp of sudden death from which there seemed no escape, as the ships no longer came there and all trade had ceased. Everyone expected death, and sat awaiting it-and it came.

A poor lean rat would creep out on the floor before you, and

overcome with the disease, stagger and fall; then drag itself a little further away from its untenable hole, a little nearer you, as if for company, and die almost at your feet. That poor little thing was the first harbinger of death--a sure sign that the pestilence was stealing into your house; and you could not shut it out. Who would be the first? That was the awful question; and you all gathered together, and watched one another, looking for the first dreaded symptoms-a slight feeling of diziness and faintness.

As this pestilence gradually gained way, the streets began to grow lonely, the shops were closed and blinds drawn down; and anon the sound of mourning was heard. At last only a few nervous and affrighted people darted here and there, or a corpse was carried out of a house. Perhaps a mangy dog, picking about the garbage in the gutters, suddenly started instinctively back as it came upon one of its kind wreathing about in spasmodic convulsions, jerking its poor head against the kerbstone, and foaming at the mouth which was snapping in the last agonies of a ghastly death that frightened the other scared creature, which scampered away down the deserted street, running from death that was at work on either side.

Those who were able to fled from the colony, before it was too late and those who could not, went to their homes. Servants left their places and hurried off to join their families before death dispersed them. Two of my own servants went home and died: and several rats came out in my rooms all of which died from the plague-I buried them at once and took every precaution, burning sulphur and sandalwood continually, and using plenty of carbolic acid and chloryde of lime. But my wife and I fully expected every moment to be stricken with it, as I had marked symptoms and was very ill with a large boil for some time.

But in the midst of all this misery, desolation and death, some few heroic men worked and toiled for suffering humanity. The people of Hongkong-Europeans and Chinese alike-will never forget and may well be proud of the noble christian men who fearlessly and faithfully tended the sick and comforted and assisted the grieved and afflicted during that great crisis. I am speaking