184 Sporting Notes in the Far East. 



Years ago, I used to wonder why owners of race-ponies never 

 smartened their animals up, by squaring their tails ; and I once 

 had the temerity to venture a remark on this subject : but better 

 for me if I had held my peace, for I was immediately informed by 

 a facetious turfite, that long " flags " were supposed to make them 

 " pow " (gallop) faster. 



Hongkong has lately become the possessor of a Polo Club ; 

 which, (chiefly owing to the efforts of a go-ahead officer in the 

 gunners) was raised in the winter of '88. 



Strange to say, contrary to all expectation, the ponies took 

 almost at once to the game : and although the club was quite in 

 its infancy when I left, and also, that some of us were decidedly 

 raw to the business ; still bar a few laughable gymnastic feats 

 performed in mid air over a desperate hard ground, we had some 

 capital matches, and it was always something to look forward to, 

 at least twice a week. 



I believe that lately, the risk and unpleasantness of " bruising 

 falls," has been entirely overcome ; I hear that the game now 

 flourishes over the soft turf of the racecourse ; a piece of ground 

 admirably laid out in the quiet and picturesque " Happy Valley," 

 in the cemetery of which, so many of England's sons have found 

 a last berth while serving their Queen and country, in this the 

 remotest, and (in its earlier days) the unhealthiest of Her 

 Majesty's Colonies. " Hodie mihi, eras tibi" 



