January 30, 1896.]
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. persons would come near the mark, but this verument on the mainland, but politically im- number should scarcely be given even as an flicted no more law on the hill men than they estimate, as there is so little upon which to base thought they could safely staud. Perhaps of an estimate. So let us call it a guess. I am safe any class excepting the savages the Hakkas in assuring the English journal Fairplay, caused the most annoyance. They principally however, in its 'column article of errors regard. lived near the savage border, where they were ing Formosa that in stating the savage popula-engaged in tricking the savages in the most tion as two millions and a half it is making an dastardly manner with the accompanying pas- assertion that would do credit to the most bril. time of inutual extermination. One thing how- liant imagination of a Chinese. Incidentally I ever to be said in favour of the Chinese in For- might also enlighten this journal with the in- mosa is that they have always been more formation that Tamsui harbour has been entered friendly to the foreigners than their kinsmen by steamships for a good many years, regard on the mainland, and as a whole hate for the less of its statement that only junks could enter. last few years been considered peaceful.
The Western half of the island, the Northern and Southern districts, which are the only por- tions of the island thoroughly explored, are thickly settled by Chinese and a considerable number of civilized aborigines. The population is esti mated at two and a half millions and the calculation does not appear excessive: in fact, considering the great increase of Chinese from the mainland during the last few years perhaps two hundred and fifty thousand could be safely added. It is true that the Japanese fag flies in name over the whole island, but it is only in the last mentioned districts that any attempt to govern has been made, either by them or their predecessors.
Since the arrival of the Japanese the meet- ings with the savages, of which there have been many, have all been of the most friendly nature and the glee of these people at being released from the constant persecution of the Chinese has led them to look upon the Japanese as their
benefactors.
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The savages have always been friendly with the foreigners, or "red heads as they call them, and unless the Japanese make some blun. der in dealing with these people they will no doubt continue so. Regardless of the reports in different papers, some of which insisted upou representing the Hakkas as the savage abori- gines, I repeat there have been no conflicts or even disagreements of any kind between the Japanese and these wild sons of the hills,
Upon the arrival of the Japanese troops there were stationed throughout Formosa ayout eighty thousand Chinese soldiers consisting of at least thirty thousand men from Canton, Hu- nan, and Swatow, etc.. the scum and refuse of the Empire, and the remainder native local levies in which the bad characters in the island pre- dominated.
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out of range of the officer's eye they make it. disagreeable for the Chinese in many ways. It is a great misfortune that the praiseworthy efforts of the higher officials who have the welfare of all Formosans so much at heart should be thwarted by the blunders of petty' officials and the illtreatment of the Chinese. by the soldiers and coolies.
But
Thus with the Chinese ex-soldiers who have found the lucrative profession of a brigand more to their heart than the glory of a soldier. The Hakka's highest ambition in life is to make trouble and kill savages--that is, when they can do it without personal danger. The large numbers of coolies, the scum of the island, and added to these the occasional Chinese who have a real or fancied grievance against the Japanese, make a force of considerable number, which if united would be able to annoy the Japanese by making unexpected: attacks on the weaker garrisons and retreating as usual when reinforcements arrived. It was well known both here and on the main- here I must impress the reader with the fact land that criminals had been released to go that the peaceful Chinese, the landowners, the to Formosa and fight, and even leaders of the farmers, in fact all who have property, are not local levies were in some instances outlaws found among this class, except as they are some- with a price on their heads. That the times forced to aid them, and that there are two majority of these ex-soldiers are still in the hundred and fifty peaceful Chinese where there island cannot be doubted. Of the native is one rebel. Nevertheless the Japanese levies probably they are here td A man. cannot afford to have thousands of troops Of the mainland troops of thirty thousand, scattered throughout every district, neither can eight thousand from north and five thous they allow the peaceful Chinese to be murdered and from south Formosa were sent by, and plundered, General Oshima has arrived the Japanese to the mainland. This leaves with three thousand troops and the class of eighteen thousand to be accounted for. Per-rebels and bandits must be cleared out of the haps five thousand were killed in battle. a few, island. Whole Formosa with the exception of a very few, escaped by junks. After the capture the savage territory must be thoroughly traver- of Kelung the majority escaped inland and sed; those who surrender should not he allowed those, with the exception of the few who were to return to their retreats, as has been the killed by the local Chinese along the way. policy of the Japanese in the past. but must be joined the forces scattered in the villages banished to the mainland, those who resist- throughout the South.
they must take the consequences. If the Japanese have any regard for the future peace and prosperity of the island we hope that the country will be so thoroughly scoured that this class of opponents will find out that the Gov! ernment of Japan is one which protects the people under its flag whether they be Japanese or Chinese.
During the last of the revolution when the Chinese troops were being forced towards Anping by the Japanese forces north and south they with the exception of the five thousand Black Flags" who surrendered. retreated into the interior. The villages in the hill districts and off the beaten tracks had to suffer, for upon them were thrown these run- away soldiers, who having formed in bands spread terror among the respectable Chinese, forcing them to give food and shelter and even assist in their fiendish raids on other defence less villages. During the mouths of November and December these hands, uniting with the Hakkas, made it warm in several instances for reconnoitering parties of Japanese, but General Nogi with the second division dispersed most of them from the south.
Several thousand workers in the camphor districts previous to the arrival of the Japanese had for a year profitted by the approach of war, which absorbed all the attention of the Chinese officials, and were thus able to carry on their labours in their own sweet way.con. sidering taxes things of the past.
Formosa, when opened for Chinese settlement, with its great resources and its miles of wild land which offered retreats where to a certain extent the laws of the Empire could be eraded, was looked upon by the celestials as the Eldorada of China. These considerations, which attracted so large a number of settlers, strongly tended to make it the abode of a race of outlaws thieves and swindlers who had been obliged to fly from their country. When once they reached Formosa they retired to the distant hills, and there lived without constraint, uot dreading the avenging arm of justice. These were the men who, heading rebellions, so often disturbed the peace of the island. In many cases the colonists entered into close compacts, and by combining together frequently defied the power of the mandarins. When, however, they were in danger of being driven to submis. sion and were convinced of their weakness they either yielded quietly or betook themselves to the mountains, where they associated with the lawless class who inhabited those retreats.tigating the camphor industry. but as yet the When a fit opportunity arrived for taking revenge they descended upon their oppressors, and the Govenment forces were often defeated. The Chinese officials had never succeeded in putting down entirely these bands of outlaws, whose strongholds in former days were almost impregnable. Consequently we find to this day the houses the rich men throughout the island had been constructed with more of the idea of a fortress than a residence. The policy of bribing the chiefs to submission and of making a few helpless and often innocent wretches the victims of their wath, so com- mon among the Chinese, has repeatedly and for the time been most successfully adopted. While the Chinese were in north Formosa to such an extent were robberies carried on through the country that many of the villagers paid regular toll to the bandits, and one foreigner, who was originally engaged in distributing religious tracts in Japan, while at one of the interior villages was forced to "shell out" twenty dollars a month as his share, in return for which the banditti agreed to make the village their head quarters and keep all other robbers out.
Of late years the Chinese Government ruled over the peacefully inclined Chinese with all the tyranny and abuse which characterises the Go-
16th January.
The Japanese have been rather unfortunate in loss of ships; the third vessel in a little over a month is now breaking to pieces near one of the islands to the north-east of Formosa. The coast surveys are being completed as fast as possible that repetitions of these disasters may be to a great extent avoided.
The steamship Hoshu Marn, of 714 tous bur den. left Kogoshima, Japan, on December 24th with 222 passengers and 600 tons of cargo, in tending Formosa as her destination, and expect ing to arrive there in five days. At 4 a.m. on the 28th when about 242 miles to the south of Nulia, of the Loochoo group, and 130 miles to the north-east by east of Formosa she ran on to a reef while going full speed. All efforts to get her off were futile. Upon making an ob- The Japanese have been thoroughly inves servation the ship was found to be about five miles off the port of Ishigakki island, which method of controlling it has not been completely belongs to the Yiyama group. The crew con- determined. Meanwhile those who possess docu.sisting of 72 hands turned their attention to- ments showing that they were allowed forinally wards getting the passengers and cargo on by the Chinese to engage in the Camphor shore. With the ship's boats and two boats business are now generously permitted to con. which were secured from the island, unloading tinue, but the large number of Chinese who was carried on night and day until the morn- have been working without permission now ing of the 31st, when all were safely ashore. expect to be turned out of the district, and no The inhabitants of the island cared for the pas- doubt have and would aid in any rebellion sengers and crew, but as it is small and sparsely" against Japanese authority. The Chin se have populated but little food was to be obtained. on a few occasions been subject to fuse arrests, So the three hundred shipwrecked men had siezures of property, etc., by the Japanese petty to be contented with reduced rations, and officials, who, being unfamiliar with the Chinese the prospect was not bright. for the character, take the lying and misrepresentation regular steamer, the only communication with of the Chines under trial as signs of guilt. the outside world, which usually called at Every long time resident in China knows that this island monthly to bring supplies in trade its people have a facility for mixing themselves for the native products, had been sent to Osaka up in an almost incredible manner, although for repairs and would not return until February. by following the facts a case might have been The chief officer with six men volunteered to one that would have resulted in their release. attempt the voyage to Formosa in one of the When cases are brought before the higher ship's boats. As the sea to the north of officials, if there has been injustice, it is rectified. Formosa has the reputation of being of a bad but can while the Chinese have been subject to character it was not at all sure but what an considerable loss and have been driven nearly encounter would be fatal to this small open boat wild with fear of the executioner's knife.
and its crew, so ps setting forth the situa tion were sealed in in cans, with the hope that if the boat were lost, the messengers would seek a safe harbour somewhere along Formosa
The Japanese coolies and soldiers naturally have not much love for the Chinese, and one can scarcely blame them, and unfortunately when
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