NOT TO HONG KONG MY journey from England in the good ship 0rsino was like most others that I have made. We had the usual dances and dinners, but I spent much of my time read- ing. Among the other travellers there was only onc that I remembered well, and I spent only about three minutes with him. It happened on our last day before we reached Alanga. I was sitting in a chair, just looking at the sea, when this man sat down by my side. Wc talked for a minute or two about the people in the ship, and then I told him that I was on my way to Hong Kong, and that I had to wait several days at Alanga for my next ship He turned to look at my face, and then he said, very quietly, the words that I remember so well: "You will never sce Hong Kong again in your life." I looked at him with surprise; but without another word he stood up and walked away. I never spoke to him again. It was a strange thing to say, but it did not trouble m very much because I did not believe it. It is true that 54