VISIT TO THE EAST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 139, 14 June 1935, Page 5

VISIT TO THE EAST.

AUCKLANDER'S TRIP.

HARD-WORKING JAPANESE,

"THE CITY OF THE DEAD."

I That Japan has no natural scenery better than that of New Zealand is the firm impression of Mr. David Gouk, who with his wife and daughter returned this week from a three months' tour of the East. Fujiyama reminded the Aucklander very much of Mount Egmont, but impressed him less than the Dominion's most beautiful mountain. In two weeks in Japan Mr. Gouk saw much that convinced him of the untiring industry of the Japanese. He was greatly struck by the huge manufacturing works, the up-to-date harbours and the apparently unceasing work of the people. In forestry work, also, he said, the Japanese had kept right up with the times. The Japanese harbours were splendid, their general layout giving the impression that they had been modelled on the port of Marseilles. The visitor to Japan saw few signs of military activity, but there was evidence that the youth of the country was not being allowed to grow up without any knowledge of war. It was a common thing to see children dressed up as soldiers. The boy scout movement appeared to be highly popular. In China. "Canton is a terrible place," he said. "There are so many Chinese about the streets that you have literally to push your way through them to make any progress." Going from Hongkong to Canton Mr. Gouk travelled on a train which carried an armed guard, and the steamer on which he returned by river! to Hongkong was well armed against possible attacks by pirates, with the officers of the ship behind bars as a j precaution against a sudden attack by , bandits booked as passengers. At Shanghai Mr. Gouk was greatly Mtt-

pressed with the thousands of junks, which appeared to cover the harbour like flies on a fly paper. One of the most interesting places visited in China was the City of the Dead at Canton. There bodies were embalmed, and the relatives of the dead visited the place regularly, usually bringing baskets of fruit. It could be arranged for a body to be given a first, second or third class burial, according to the means of the relatives. Shortly before the steamer President Hayes, on which Mr. Gouk travelled from Hongkong to the Philippines, was timed to sail from the Chinese port four large hampers were brought on board by three coolies. Apparently the Customs officials had been given a "tip," for the hampers were cut open and found to contain 35,000 dollars worth of opium. The coolies and a steward on the liner were promptly arrested and taken ashore in handcuffs.

In Java and other places in the East were to be seen travelling barbers and dentists. "To New Zoalanders it seemed strange to see a man pulling another man's tooth out or cutting his hair on the side of the road." Adverse exchange made travelling in the East very costly, concluded Mr. Gouk, who mentioned that in Shanghai he went into a shop to buy an English necktie, but came out without it when he found that it would cost him 12/6. "Hongkong and Singapore are the only places in the East that I would like to visit again," he said.