THE PIGTAIL.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIV, Issue 4, 6 January 1910, Page 2

THE PIGTAIL.

TO BE ABANDONED.

It is reported that the Chinese Department of State Affairs conW plates issuing an order directing officials, soldzers, students, and police to give up the queue and to wear theirhair short. Ultimately the prohibition would apply to tie population generally, Doubt is, however expressed as; to whether Imperial sanctionv can v be secured for: istieh a break^Vith; ksng-established' custom; me Japan Mail recalls that the queue was,introduced into China foy the Mancbu dynasty; nearly three centuries ago. It is said to have been originally, suggested to the Manchu by their sense of gratitude to the* horse, that animal having played a great part in the Tartar conquests. In short, the "pigtail" was a method ol establishing^ a relationship between human beings and horses. The fashion was regarded by the Chinese as a badge of subservien«e, and they long resisted it. This was true specially of the natives of Swatow and Amoy, and when they were ultimately compelled to, adopt the irksome coiffure they hid the queue under cotton turbans, which to this day they continue to wear. " " N

On the island of Krakatoa, in Sunda Strait, between Sumatra and Java, all animal and vegetable life was destroyed by the terrific volcanic explosion of August 12th, 1883, and the entire twelve square miles of surface was buried under a layer of pumice and ashes, averaging 90ft in thickness. The return of living forms to this new soil—which contains the elements necessary for plant growth, except phosphorous and nitrogen—has been eagerly watched. Within three years (says Popular Science Siftings> Dr Treub, of Java, fou,nd that various plants had already begun to grow, those of the interior being quite different from those near the coast, whileferns were remarkably preponderant, and slimy blue-green algoe were specially active in preparing the soil for higher organisms. -. Another scientific visit was made-'in 1897, andj the progress of the new flora up to> 1906 has been lately reported by Professor D. H. Campbell. The pl-Ogress of the forest trees has been particularly rapid, and it is evident that the island will soon be covered with a' luxuriant forest—an object-lesson iri the production of new forests under favourable tropical conditions. The nitrogen for vegetation has been col- . lected in the soil by bacteria. The first plants to arrive—blue-green -algae,-.-, ferns, and mosses—were brought by., the wind as were also the first grasses and flowering plants, but seeds and fruits seem to have been chienV introduced, by ocean-currents.

The experiment of inviting members of rifle clubs to go into camp for two days was not a success, says Colonel Davies. "They were offered a ; small personal payment, besides rations. Out of the whole Dominion a. total of 77 turned, out (all in Wel-v Jington).and 3§20 did not. I need' say little more .about that experi^ menti Slany things have small bei .ginninga;" and in the distant future it is possible they may tui'n out in sufficient numbers and for sufficient time to make it worth the expenditure, but the prospects at present arenot hopeful, to say the least."