19
III.
(B.)
(Letter handed over by Ng K'i-ch'eung.)
To-day I and my clansmen of Ha Ts'ün met and decided to have a general meeting to-morrow with the object of devising means for our protection. I have already sent a letter to inform you which, no doubt, you have received. I there- fore now specially request you and the others to be good enough to select and prepare a place for the meeting so as to facilitate the discussion of matters by the elders and gentry of the various villages.
Thanking you in anticipation,
To our dear friend,
SHING CHI,
(L, NG K‘I-CH′EUNG).
TANG FONG-HING.
III. (C.)
(Letter handed over by Ng K'i-ch'eung.)
To our dear friend SHING CHI, (¿.e., NG K ́I-CH'EUNG).
With regard to your boastful utterances at the two meetings respecting the wealth and power of the British by which big talk you tried to scare people, everybody is full of wrath which cannot be allayed. All said that you have been bribed by the Company and have received a licence from the British Government. But we said that in dealing with the affair you are acting with that caution which the sage Confucius recommended. We have not said that we have repeatedly asked you to come and you have strenuously refused. Can it be that you will have nothing to do with the matter? The majority have said that if your district does not join the movement they will attack you with their combined force. a man of intelligence and we request you to come to an early decision.
You are
TANG LO-PAN.
TANG TSING-SZ.
TRANSLATION OF DOCUMENTS FOUND IN THE MEETING-HOUSE
AT ÜN LONG.
IV.
territory and ruin will come must enthusiastically come When the drum sounds to the Should any one hesitate to
The English barbarians are about to enter our upon our villages and hamlets. All we villagers forward to offer arined resistance and act in unison. fight we must all respond to the call for assistance. take part or to hinder or obstruct our military plans, he will most certainly be severely punished and no leniency will be shown. This is issued as a forewarning.
Issued by the Council of this Division (ie., Ün Long Division).
V.
(A.)
We hereby inform you that the battle will commence at 7 o'clock on the morning of the 8th (17th April). We beg that the armed men from your worthy district will take rice in the Fourth Watch (ie., about 3-4 a.m.) and proceed direct to Ha Ts'ün to be ready for the fight. Do not wait for the signal drum.
To our dear friends in the Sháp Pat Heung District.
Dated 18th April, 1899.
From Tang Yau King Tong (1.2., the ancestral temple in the Ha Ts'ün district).