398
THE EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR AT ABERDEEN.
REMARKABLE INSTANCE OF NATIVE IGNORANCE.
One would naturally think that the Chinese of Hongkong, seeing that they are constantly brought into contact with Westerners, would know better than to believe stories of white peo- ple similar to those which obtain credence in the interior of China, and which are frequently at the bottom of attacks on missionaries and others; but every now and then incidents occur which go to show that many of the native popu- lation of Hongkong are as densely ignorant as their countrymen who hardly ever see a white
man.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
raised that one of the launches was returning for the victims and the firing at once began.
On visiting the junks on the 1st inst. Ser geant Langley found one of the cannons loaded with two pounds of powder and a large quantity of iron nuts and bolts. The cannon was pointing to the entrance of the harbour towards Wan chai, so that if a launch had happend to make its appearance from that direction something seri ous would undoubtedly have happened. Ser geant Langley took the precaution, when telephoning to the Central Police Station about the uproar, to advise that no one should come over in a launch, as if they did they would beyond doubt be fired upon, and this advice was fortun ately acted upon.
At about ten o'clock on Sunday night Sergeant Langley heard a cannon fired, and on enquiring Many of our readers will remember that when as to the cause was informed that a launch- Tytam Reservoir was being made some years containing probably a picnic party-had been ago the junk people at Shankiwan began to fire seen to enter the harbour. On the shot being off cannon and guns, and when the reason was en- fired, however, she put out her lights and steamed quired into it transpired that an impression had away with all speed. Sergeant Langley took the got abroad that the white men were going to owner of the junk on which the cannon was fired seize all the young children and old people and into custody, and on the 4th inst. the man was place them under the foundations of the reser- brought before Mr. Hazeland at the Magistracy voir for the purpose of appeasing the evil spirits, and charged with an offence under sub-section who were angry because the reservoir was being 2 of section 28 of Ordinance No. 26 of 1891 (the made where it was, the "fungshui" not being Merchant Shipping Ordinance), which says that favourable. Many of the children had been
no cannon, gun, fire-arm, or fire-work of any taken away from school and with a good num-description shall be discharged in the waters of ber of old people sent into the country for fear the colony from any merchant vessel, except they should meet with this horrible fate.
under certain conditions, under a penalty not exceeding $200. The defendant admitted the offence, and was fined $200.
TWO IMPERIAL DECREES.
THE EMPRESS AND THE BOXERS.
The following Imperial Decrees appear in the North China Daily News to whom they were com- municated by telegraph. They are dated 29th May and 30th May respectively.
It appears that an impression prevails that the railway from Kowloon to Canton will pass over a spot which it will not be lucky for it to pass over, and that to put matters right it will be necessary to bury a large number of old people and young children there. Accordingly at about half-past seven p.m. on the 31st ult. Ser- geant Langley and the police at Aberdeen were thrown into a state of consternation by a trem- endous cannonade and fusilade which proceeded from the harbour, the uproar being so great that they verily believed that war had suddenly (1.) In view of the fact that, of late, a large num- broken out with Russia and that the Muscovites ber the country people living in the vicinity were upon us. Probably the sergeant's first im- of Peking had begun to learn and practice box- pulse was to alarm the Garrison, not forget- ing and fighting, and in our fear that there may ting the Hongkong Volunteers, but on
be evil characters among the good (the "good' second thoughts he decided to look into people here are meant those who practice boxing the matter more closely before taking this step, with the intention of some day helping the He soon learned that the firing, which emanated Manchus against foreigners-Translator.) who from the junks, was intended to frighten away might take the opportunity offered to create a launch which it was said was coming from disturbances, wo did repeatedly command the Hongkong to seize all the old people and young authorities outside Poking to exerciso strict children and offer them up as sacrifices. See-restraint upon the people and suppress the move- ing that they were imbued with this idea, it is a ment. We now, however, hear that large numbers wonder that the people were satisfied with firing of disbanded soldiers and secret society ruffians merely blank shot. There is no telling what have entered the Boxer organisation as a cloak to would have happened had ball cartridges been their own designs and have seized the chance to used. Sergeant Langley endeavoured to pour creato trouble. They have even gone so far as oil on the troubled waters, but for some time to kill some military officers, to burn telegraph his efforts were unavailing. He then approach. poles, pull down the lines and destroy the rail- ed the head men of the village and urged them way. What difference then is there between to go to the junk people and re-assure them such reckless couduct and the doings of men in At first they were much averse to doing this, actual rebellion? We hereby command the being afraid lest the terrified ones might pour Generalissimo of our Armies (Jung Lu) to a volley into them. Ultimately, however, they hasten, in conjunction with the local authorities, were prevailed upon to visit them. They found to capture the leaders of these ruffins and/to them in a state of tremendous excitement, but disperse the gathering. If, indeed, the authori- after a time they calmed down and seemed ties are defied by these people, then measures inclined to listen to reason.
must be taken to suppress the rebellion at once. People's hearts are nowadays most excitable and liable to be inflamed to a dangerous degree, whereby an attempt will surely be made to trouble the Christians. We command the local autheri- ties to protect the latter from harm and pre- vent the culmination of a catastrophe.
At last the firing ceased, but early on the mor- ning of the 1st inst. it was resumed with increas- ed vigour, the report spreading like wild fire that the dreaded launch and its ghoulish occupants had at last arrived. Again the people were with considerable difficulty re-assured, and no further alarm was raised.
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From further details which came to hand it appeared that in consequence of the Dragon Festival quite a number of junks from a dis- tance were assembled in the harbour. Con- sequently when a couple of launches containing Blue-jackets out for the day came up they went through the harbour at reduced speed in order to avoid colliding with the junks. Some of the occupants of the latter gave out that this was being done so that the whites conld look round and see where the old people and young children were, so that they could return for them later on and take them to be burned under the foundations of the proposed railway from Kowloon to Canton to mollify the evil spirits for an interference with the "fungshui" of the place. Accordingly the schoolmaster at Aberdeen was seen and urged to allow the chil- dren to be taken away. Later on the cry was'
[June 9, 1900.
| those holding military commands, to combine and arrest the real disturbers of the peace and all who heartily desire to commence à rebellion against the Government, and to punish all such to the severest extent of the law. Let there be no more shirking of responsibilities and delay or attempt at white-washing the matter at a time like this, and if there be failure in obeying our commands the responsibility will rest on the said Ch'ung Li and the civil and military officials above noted; we are determined that there shall be no leniency this time. As for those persons who have been found merely to have followed in the wake of, and encouraged the rioters without actual y joining in the riots, these also must be strictly warned from doing so again and imme- diately dispersed on pain of condign punishment.
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[Note: This will leave a hole for all those who wish it to escape punishment who can say that they joined in "to see the fun," but refrained from active helping of the robbers.-Translator/]
THE HARBOUR MASTER'S
REPORT.
The Annual Report of the Harbour Master for 1899 is published in the Gazette. We make the following extracts:-
SHIPPING.
The total tonnage entering and clearing dur- ing the year 1899 amounted to 18,101,309 tons, being an increase, compared with 1898, of 835,529 tons, and the same number in excess of any previous year.
There were 44,278 arrivals of 9,052,501 tons. and 44,349 departures of 9,048,808 tons.
Of British Ocean-going tonnage 2,587,478 tons, entered, and 2,587,369 tons cleared.
Of River Steamers (British) 1,774,728 tons entered, and 1.775.441 tons cleared; making a grand total of British tonnage of 8,725,016 tons entering and clearing.
Of Foreign Ocean-going tonnage 2,352,740 tons entered, and 2,347,745 tons cleared.
Of Foreign River Steamers 5,823 tons entered. and 5,823 tous cleared; making a grand total of Foreign Tonnage of 4.712,131 tons entering and clearing.
Of junks in Foreign Trade, 1,849,435 tons entered and 1,846,749 tons cleared.
Of junks in Local Trade, 482,297 tons enter- ed, and 485,681 tons cleared.
Thus-
per cent. British Ocean-going tonnage represented 28.5
River
19.5 Foreign Ocean-going
River
Junk (Foreign trade)
**
25.8
0.6
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20.3 5.3
Local trade) Fire thousand three hundred and eighty-six (5,386) steamers, 58 sailing vessels, and 22,566 janks in foreign trade rutered during the year, giving a daily averago of 76.9 as against 96 in 1999.
For European-constructed vessels the daily average entry would be 14.91, against 15.17 in 1893, and, of the steamers entering, €8.17 per cent. were British.
Vessels under the British flag show a falling off of 19 ships. This may be attributed to the retura to nirral conditions of the shipping of the port. In 1998 feare was a large extra number of trang colliers entered from home. These were schlagnently employed in the in- Autod zien trade to Japan. which continued up to the end of 1908. Those steamers have now (2) We issued yesterday a special Decree returned home. An additional cause for the concerning the Boxer outrages the day be- diminution lies in the fact that the steamers of fore and gave orders for their immediate sup the Northern Pazife Line have turned over to pression. Now the first thing of importance is the United States fag. There is also à great to discover and capture the real leaders and cul- decrease in the number of sailing vessels calling prits and disperse their followers. At the pre-hers which, alene, would account for more than sent moment we learn that the people in the the 48. vicinity of Peking and Chihli province are get- The British tonnage, on the other hand, ting excited and unsettled, hence if measures be shows an increase of 19,368 tons. This may not taken for the speedy suppression of the out-accounted for by the gradual substitution of break it will be difficult by and by to large for small rõssels. distinguish the really guilty from those who have been merely led by the excite- ment of the moment. It will be hard to root out those who have thus incited the ignorant country people. We hereby command Ch'ung Li (Imperial Clansman), Commandant of the Peling Gendarmerie, the Governor of Peking, the Police Censors of the Fire Cities of the Capital, and the Viceroy of Chihli, as well as
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The actual number of ships, of European construction, (xclusivo of River steamors) en- toring the port during the year 1899 was 603, being 312 British and 291 Foreign.
TRADE.
The principal features to be remarked as to the trade of the port for the year 1899 are:-
(i) A large increase reported in the Care Oil imported.