ORIENTAL SHOPPING.

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1924, Page 4

ORIENTAL SHOPPING.

(By a Borneo Planter). The little steam launch glides smoothly into the miniatures harbour, and mines to lest n!ung-s:de the palmpole jetty. Tile gangway is placed in position and I make my way to the town.

There is only one street. On tea-, side is a row of Chinese simp-. It is stilling hot and the pungent smell of drying sharks’ tins is wafted oil the .-till, sultry air. My iir.,l tall brings me to Mr At: Chung's stores, liore one may oui-<-ha-e anything from a loolhbni-h t > a pony smltUo. Alter greeting Mr Chon: I attempt 'o.ike an ln-:>i i l ion M ■i - ; ' r.iljcs. Inn Air (Ting. ; ideri'i.- giie.ei bee!', requests that 1 slmtlld lee •eat' d. So i sit (iown nil ! fail t • di.-c.'.sMiig th - ueatlier and busiiie-s. 1 a-k alter bis family. All are well. More ginger beer 0 ordered •”':<! cigarettes called tor hv >'"• li-.'s;:itnb:i' host. Tlieti. gently and lacti oily. tin* conversation is lni'l'..'il from pon.'ieltties to iiaiticiilariliei. Could 1 recall a matter of no great importance unimT,. a -mall ac; o’.int same.', iiat overdue!' Ido recall, ami, teeing no way out. finally settle Che mallei. I realise with a shock that the mcruing has uearly gone and I have, a; yet. executed none of my commis- ini:*. I ri-e brisltl.v and boy no tinned herrings, souos, a css. fruit s.ihuls. sjiiiecpans. shaving snap, nuniua mios. sock suspenders, and turning to in'* order him to pul these oh hoard.

i' Vii's the I.iolmaker’- I eidei 21 pairs of slices. Made o, canvas ii-i . leather, limy are quite a speciality o> Mr Yu’s, and are always ordered by the hall-dozen pairs. So that this e. lev no moan.'- an exliavagnni order. ’ A- I return to the jetty one of Mr Chilli!',’.-, crop-haired n: sislanls I'li-.ln—-after me ami with a hlaiul smile handmo an envelope. When comp!’, t"!.'settled nil beard again 1 tear it open with some curiosity, ami find the odlowing simple statement:• — To I I.:.tiles ginger brer ... 8-’-od To 1 tin cigarettes SlT>