Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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26 The Branksome Si OGan discussing the p - ' sin teng festival. Suddenly a strident voice rose above the babbie : There you are! She tried to run away again last night. It must be evil spirits — w e always gave her enough to eat. For a momenit ' the oither topics of conversation were forgotten and la chorus of varying exclama- tions arose, some of sympathy, isome not unmixed with apprehension for the victim. Interest was only partially diverted by the peanut vendor, who had almost swallowed his pipe again. Did you call in the witch-doctor? inquired her neighbour, grabbing for the heel of her baby, who had crawled under the seat with a stolen stick of sugar-cane. Yes, there he is, replied the woman, indicating an angular man snoring ponderously nearby. Just at this moment the bus lumbered round a curve and came out upon the bank of the Tamsin River, one of the most beautiful spots in that beautiful island. One look at the solitary mountain looming up high into the sky across the iriver, another out over the blue Pacific with its skirting froth of breakers, another over the sweeping coastline and distant purple hills sihould satis ' fy most of its distinct claim to scenic beauty. Man had done little to mar it. Only a lighthouse winked down the coast ; a few Chinese junks nodded their brown sails and the humble lights of Tamsin began to glimmer uncertainly. Near at hand the bus jolted past ifamiliar sights and sounds of eventide in Formosa — a flock of ducks waddling homewards ; the sleepy chirp of a cicada ; a child on a doorstep with his bowl of rice. Conversation in the bus reached a climax as the motor bunted through the narrow streets of the town, sending a swarm of chickens, dogs, and children scrambling hastily to safety. Finally the human and inanim ate freight was unloiaded, and the cheery din died away. Only the peanut- vendo-r remained behind, pipe in mouth. He paused to pat the dusty seat. I really did get my money ' s worth! he murmured as he climbed slowly out. ANNA MACKAY (Clan Douglas).

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The Branksome Slogan 25 remarkable mountains, one of whk ' h is Mounit Eg ' mont, a single cone perpetually snow-clad, the second mosit perfect cone after Fujiam ' a in Japan. Quite by accident, three wonderful cones were discovered a few years ago. Burlesques of innumerable shapes and forms are made by ithe stalactites growing down ifrom ' the ceiling to meet itdie stalagmites growing up from the ground. In one of these caves is a glow-worm igrotto which is very wonderful. One descends into a ,boat on a subiterranean river in perfect darkness and silence. The boat moves noiselessly along, and sud- denly the curved roof is filled with golden points, the shimmer being re- flected on the still water. At first the mind cannot grasp this, and one feels that one must be in another world. These glow worms are very sensitive and if any noise is made, their light will go out. When the shores of New Zealand recede from view, one feels that it has been truly named, The Brighter Britain of the South. MARGARET GRIFFIS (Clan Campbell). A Formosan Bus Ride The Taihoku-Tamsui bus was late. Piled solidly with a miscellaneous assortment of Formosans and bundles, the bus was just about to start wihen a fat lady with a baby tied to her back, refused ito pay for her fare, and stood defiantly at bay on the running board. Why should you get the money when this animal does all the woirk? sihe stormed. I ' ve as much right to ride in this animal as you have ! The ticket- collector only yawned and the woman, sitill puzzled, finally paid, clambered in, and treated the animal to a violent jolt as the bus shot (forward. Immediately, in the customary Formosan fas ' hion, everybody began talking at once. The woman who had delayed the bus discussed a coming feast with an old peanut vendor at the back of (the bus. The road was bad, and at every jo ' lt the old man would exclaim, with a toothless chuckle, This is getting my money ' s worth ! He was smoking a ifour-.foot pipe w hich he seemed in danger of swallowing. In another quarter, squeezed in between a bundle of live crabs, two dead fish and a basket of oharcoal, some farmers discussed the rice crop, occasionally throwing in a word of advice to a group who were heatedly

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Th Branksome Slogan 27 The Pitch Lake of Trinidad One of the wonders of Trinidad is the Pitch Lake. It is the only one of its kind in the world, with -the exception of one just across from it in Venezuela. Although the Trinidad Hake is only about one square mile in area, there ihas already been enough pitch extracted ' to pave a road twenty feet wide around the world. This is due to the fact that whenever some is taken out, the space is immediately refilled. The lake appears ito ' be a huge ink blot. It is quite soft in some places and there are small pools of water through which the pitch bubbles. Negro workmen extract the pitch with ihuge shovels and load the great lumps on trolleys that carry ithem to the refinery, where the pitch goes through several processes and is finally poured into barrels which glide down on wires to the isea. It is especially fortunate that this lake is near the sea so that the pitch can be easily exported to every part of the world. The next time your heel isinks into the pitch used in preparing side- walks, think O ' f Trinidad ! SALLY MORTON (Clan Oamjpbell). Welcome to Honolulu As the ship rounds Diamond Head, the grim guardian of Honolulu, one sees a faint gilimmer in the distance, which gradually takes the form of a city whose tropical beauty is amiazing. Honolulu is set cozily between the mountains and the sea and extends along the Southern coast of Oalu for at least two miles. It seems almost alive as it basks in the golden imorning sun, while smiall fleecy clouds skim across the intensely blue sky land s ' hady cocoanut palms fringe the curving shore. From the iship can be seen a long, wide stretch of white sand, dotted with innumerable coloured umbrellas. This proves to be the famous Waikiki Beach. Through the foaming surf can be distinguished the surf riders, making la thrilling, if hazardous journey, towards the shore on their slender boards. Beyond the beach one sees the famous Royal Hawaiian Hotel, with its beautiful grounds and sunny terraces. The Moana Hotel, not so gor- geous as her sister, but just as beautiful, peeps forth from a row of Royal palms. Below us, is a school of flying fish, leaping gracefully into the sunlight. Soon these are replaced by diving boys w ho have paddled out on their surf boards to meet the incoming ship. They dive for coins and never seem to miss one.