A suitably eccentric ending to 2013, story-wise! This account from the China Mail of July 24th 1897, of the
death of the (then) famous Belilios Camel. I am tearful as I type this and feel
I will shortly have to call El Presidente (Jon) for
consolation!'Many a youngster in the Colony will
learn with sincere regret of the death of the dromedary which has been one of
the features of social life at the Peak for several years. The dromedary
belonged to the Hon E.R. Belilios . and was a great favourite with the
youngsters, attending the garden parties at the Eyrie. Last night, the dromedary
was turned loose to graze in the little valley between Mountain Lodge and the
Eyrie, and it is supposed that the mafoos() watching some ponies in the same
valley drove the dromedary off and chased it over the embankment at Mountain
Lodge, causing it to fall over the steep declivity on the Pokfulam side and kill
itself. The police have been communicated with and detectives are making
enquiries with a view to the apprehension of the parties responsible for the
death of the favourite. Anyone in a position to give information should
communicate with Mr Belilios. The dromedary was brought from Peking in 1888.' (1)
- http://gwulo.com/node/18427 accessed
22/12/2013.
HAPPY 2014!
EDITOR'S NOTE: Bob Dylan fans, note. If the camel had been called Hattie, the headline would have been 'The Lonesome death of Hattie Camel' but it wasn't to be.
No comments:
Post a Comment