If any of the members who booked to attend this talk thought that they would get a glimpse of the salacious lives of 'women of the night', 'fallen women' or any other euphemism used to describe prostitutes, they would have been disappointed.

What Neil Khor Jin Keong set out to do in his talk was to describe his research into the sociological problems facing any state which tries to deal with the unfortunate women and children who become victims of the flesh trade. Early 20th century Penang provided the background for his study.

As a Penangite and a descendant of one of the forty or so eminent Chinese families there, Neil was well placed to dig up relevant material. Of course, there was no suggestion that he or his family had in any way been connected to the trade!

Neil, who is a research executive with Star Publications, has written extensively on various Malaysian topics. His books are widely available here.

His latest book, co-authored by Dato' Khoo Keat Siew, is called "The Penang Po Leung Kuk" and details the activities of the Chinese Women, Prostitution and Welfare Organisation. This was set up in 1888 to provide a refuge and rehabilitation services for the victims of the trafficking of Chinese women and girls.

It is the founding of this home which formed the basis of his book and talk. These gave us a clear understanding of the need for such an institution.

We had a scholarly presentation of details amassed from the National Archives and other sources which managed to survive the war. For example, an illuminating table shows the numbers of Chinese men and women who were arriving in Penang at the turn of the last century.

An extract follows:

Year	Female arrivals	Male arrivals
1880	1,234	29,385
1900	3,847	66,611
1912	6,965	70,614
1927	6,934	41,112

So the massive influx of men led to the setting up of numerous brothels throughout Georgetown by unscrupulous keepers. This caused much concern to the governing British, to the Chinese leaders and to religious organisations. Hence the need for action and the setting up of the refuge.

The talk was well attended and formed the successful launch of the MCG year. We look forward to a full calendar of events of a similar quality.

Those of us who are moving to Penang at the end of the year (me) will miss lectures like this, but I am grateful for the timeliness of this one.
- Jean Herbert

My inner self tells me that most little girls dream of taking a magic carpet ride to a wonderful place filled with friendly faces, beautiful colours and the aroma of exotic foods and spices. The invitation beckoned all little girls who have grown into bigger girls and are now living in exotic and faraway places to 'look at a Persian carpet and to gaze into a world of artistic magnificence nurtured for more than 2,500 years'.

It certainly sounded enticing and proved to be a real magic carpet ride when the MCG assembled at Ziba in Bangsar Baru on August 26 to hear more about this ancient and magnificent craft from our host Reza, as well as some charming personal experiences from MCG President Cindy Zeier, whose love of carpets began when she received a carpet from an admirer for her 18th birthday. Her love affair with carpets continued and was further nurtured during her stay with her 'Omar Sharif look-alike' Iranian husband in Tehran.

Tracing the history of the Persian carpet is like following a path of cultural growth of one of the greatest civilisations the world has ever known. The element of luxury with which the Persian carpet is associated today provides a marked contrast with its humble beginnings among the nomadic tribes that at one time wandered the great expanse of Persia in search of their livelihood.

At that time the carpet was an article of necessity to protect these tribes from the bitterly cold winters of the country. The vibrant colours of the carpets also provided some relief to people who led hardy and uncomfortable lives. The carpet also became a form of writing for these illiterate tribesmen who often wove their life stories into the carpets, giving birth to an industry, which was handed down the generations from father to son.

To make a carpet in those days required tremendous perseverance. Even when carpet making developed to the stage of workshops, with several employees working on the same carpet, it was a question of months and often years of painstaking work. The leader would dictate through a series of chants to the other workers the colour of the individual strands of wool to be knotted. When the time came for the tribe to move on, the loom had to be dismantled and the unfinished carpet folded as best they could. The following season it had to be put up again at some new oasis.

Not for the Malaysian Culture Group, living in KL in the 21st century, these laborious tasks! We found ourselves draped comfortably on the wonderful selection of carpets available on three floors of the Ziba showroom, being enlightened as to the various types of carpets, the traditional designs and their significance, how to recognise a truly hand-made carpet, the natural fabrics and dyes and all the other attributes of this ancient craft, by our charming host Reza.

In addition to his skills as a carpet connoisseur, Reza shared his culinary expertise with all the ladies attending the event and we were treated to a mouth-watering spread prepared by Reza and Cindy. It was indeed a very special experience to be able to sit comfortably on a beautiful, handmade Persian carpet and share a meal with women of many persuasions - long may this annual event continue!

If you would like to learn more about Persian carpets or simply enjoy an enchanting 'ride on a magic carpet', Ziba is situated at No. 26 Jalan Telawi 2, Bangsar Baru - or you can contact Reza by calling 2283 5066 - he will be happy to welcome you with a cup of tea and he would certainly love to show you around.
- Mary-Anne O'Connor