Chapter 12 Hawkers Along Anson Road

Anson Road was not a very long road ,during our childhood days,at one extreme end was a small jetty.It catered for vegetables farmers to send their crop to the market which was situated three quarter legth of that road.

Folks from the other side of the river also dropped in there to reach town.On the other side of were a number of Malay kampongs,vegetable farms and rubber plantations.Those days no  oil palm planting yet.That jetty can be considered a busy small jetty..

In front of it were a row of wooden shop houses reputed to be constructed and once owned  by our grandfather.All being disposed after his demised.That was before the war and sold away thereafter.

By the side of that road was a water gate constructed to stop water during high tide especially during the rainy seasons to over flowed into the town.This was built after the great flood of Teluk Anson in 1898.Not only that the whole town were surround by bunds to prevent another flood.However since then no serious floods were encountered so far. 

Beside the water gate were raised embankments where river sand were unloaded.River sand from the other side of Perak River were used for construction purposes.Many "tong kangs" served as transporters of river sand those days. Those "tong kangs "followed the natural flow of the river for their livelihood.When the river flowed down stream in low tide.

The "tong kangs"floated down stream and directed to the other side of the river where laid beautiful clean sand.The boat will then be stationed on a suitable spot and loaded with sand manually by spate scooping only after the tide receded further.

Loading were quick by the boatman but on filling to the brink they have to wait for the high tide to return.They could only moved if they boat were lifted up once again by the rising tide.Then on floating up following the flow up stream and re-directed back home.

By then the water level ought to as high as those embankments where then the sand were easily scooped off the boat.On completion they rested and rested until the next low tide. The process thus repeated over and over again.

However the used of river sand was longed phased out by the introduction of modern transportation - the lorries ,where mining sand were used in place of river sand.Thus ended the river sand trade.In Teluk Anson was another place where river sand were transported near the far end of Raja Musa Road.

I had on one occasion had the opportunity to go along with one of these "tong kangs". That was I why I know how those sand were transported those days.Mind you the water on the other side of the river were very clearer or crystal clear never muddy as on these sides of the same river.It was a trip I well remembered.

The next land mark along that road was the Dhobi Gnat where town folks had their dirty linen washed by Indian washers.Further down the road was the General Hospital and its staffs quarters.

Opposite of it was the Anglo Chinese School (Primary). After that was the Indian temple where the Hindus prayed.Come the beginning of the year there be processions of large throngs worshipers in trance.They came from all parts of Perak even further joining to celebrate worship.

That was the time the whole town were flooded with Indian devotees.They could be found everywhere  sleeping on five foot ways etc or any place they could rest themselves.They would be around for two or three days until the festival was over.These were days of the past - never today.

During those festivals we,too, joined in the procession shouting in unision,"Wai!! Wai,Alo Gra". Together with worshipers following a devotee in trance pierced with numerous needles and carrying "kavadis". 

After that was the market ,the clock tower.  At the end of that road was the Police Station.The road actually touches both ends of the Perak River .The river normally flows meandering around the town.

That was why the soil in Teluk Anson was very fertile.It was famous those days of its green oranges.It brought much wealth to some farmers but that were short lived as that oranges were soon knocked off by some serious root diseases.That diseased stayed on thus depriving farmers of any future planting and that as a major producer.

When the crop were at its peak I remembered our mischievous deeds one of those days.As myself and a friend Ong Kee Hooi taking a short cut through one of those farms in Pasir Pedamar. We stopped when we found no farmers around to pick up some ripe oranges .We filled our bicycle bags to the brim before cycling off.

There were so many on the fruiting trees around.  The farmers will never missed any of them.Of course we be in trouble should they caught red handed. Well,this was one of those pranks we often played.

Anson Road those days were an extremely busy road  direct from the early hours till late at night. For example  as at the break of dawn we all can  see man hauled carts.Just imagine very strong guy pulling a huge cart of vegetables,or winter melons or sugar cane.

The men involved were very muscular.With a thick rope attached to the handles of the cart,he by sheer brute strength,dragged the full load forward.No doubt he was extremely strong,but he  still  required the services of another similarly strong guy to push from behind.This lightened his load slightly and moved faster to market.They performed more than two trips  per day.What tough guys we had those days.

Following there were the bullock carts performing almost the same job.However their load were smaller compared to the former.The carts were driven by the bullock cart drive normally a Bengali.

Whenever those carts passed our house we would shout at the Bengali Driver.making fun of him He would jumped out to shout back at us.He dared not come near to us as our grandmother was always at hand to deter him.

Small farmers carried their own crops with "kandar" sticks and their produced hanging on both ends in baskets.Come durian season the aroma of durians filled the air as they passed by.Cannot afford the fruits but enjoying its wonderful smell can be a consolation.

There were many hawkers plying their trade along that stretch of road.Those days hawkers come the door steps and you need not go out to town to buy your breakfast.

Usually first to come were those selling cakes or "Kuih". Those days very cheap only five to ten cents per piece.Very often they made their presence felt by shouting out loud and clear,heralding their coming.

Most "kuih" sellers were Chinese women.I had a Malay school mate who would go round selling 'Goreng pisang" during school holidays.I should know because I always brought from him.

Then there was an Indian man who sold "kutu Moyong". No big deal it was rounded up "mee hoon",to be consumed with grinned coconut fresh.  

A "ting ting" man followed ."Ting ting man" usually an old man carrying a large plate of sweet.He used his "ting ting" tools to break up the correct amount for five or ten cents sales.

We were never short of money to buy any of such eateries because my grandmother was always at hand to satisfy our demands.Grandmother never said 'No" you any of us.We were happy with her presence.

Those days ice cream were homemade type.Dirty by our today's standard.They normally came in a foot length and divided by simple cutting as per requirement.A small stick was struck at one one to serve as handle.

Come evening the hawkers were different.First an Indian selling "Pop Paing"but he would called out 'Hop,Hop" as he drew near our place.Followed by the "tick tock" mee.The push cart followed the sound  of "ting tock"created  by the assistant noodle seller.He made that wonderful rythematic sound by hitting two pieces of bamboos.

We seldom eat supper those days although those quite cheap,only ten cents or so per bowl of "wan ton Mee". Partly also because we were that well to do.Our dinner were sufficient to keep us full till the morning.