Hashing evolved in 1938 when four ^*British ex pat's led by ^**A S Gisbert, who all worked in Kuala Lumpur, wished to get fit without interfering with their considerable social life.     These four (accountants) were accommodated in a singles wing of a notorious ex-pat establishment called the Selangor Club, which is still thriving today.    The food in this wing was so inedible it was called The Hash House.    The term "Harrier" means cross-country or rough running, so they called their new activity "Hash House Harriers". The first run was once round KL's racecourse and back to the bar.

Hashing has two component parts.    First the "run" or "trail".     A volunteer acts as The "Hare" who lays the trail in a biodegradable material and is between 2 to 3 miles for the "Mini" and 5 to 7 miles for the "Main".     The run has certain customary aspects, such as "False Trails" and the calling of "On On" when passing a blob marking.     Sometimes a break for beer is organised by the Hare.     The runners are called "the pack".     Secondly, the "Aprés", a vigorous social gathering with a ceremony without pomp, but with much buffoonery.     Hashing is not just a sporting event but also a mentality.    If you do not have the mentality, no matter how many times you Hash, you will never be a true Hasher.

Due to repatriation, Hashing, as it is called, spread round the Globe.     Currently there are well over a hundred Hashes in UK, with something like four thousand Hashers.     Globally there are about one thousand Hashes with membership totalling around one hundred thousand.     To indicate dedication, the biannual International Hash meet draws thousands (six thousand in KL in 1998) from around the World.    English is the lingua franca and beer is the hash drink.    (Drinking without beer is a serious offence).

Hashers, being the social and sporting elite, could be forgiven if they adopt an arrogant attitude towards non Hashers but we are humble at heart and merely feel sorry for those unable to Hash due to either non availability, personality debility or social retardation.