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MACAO.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Macao, 22nd September.
AT ITS BEST.
Macao is at its best, or very near it. Only those who have stayed or resided here can appreciate to the fall what that best is; bright sunny skies, cool refreshing breezes, perfectiou of scenery-an ideal spot for those who for a few days wish to leave behind them the bustle and business of the city, and the confinement and monotony of the office and soek rest and recreation for weary minds and bodies. We noticed that quite a number of visitors availed themselves of the opportunity of a quiet week. end at the Boa Vista, Macao Hotel, and Hotel Internacional on Saturday last; but, numerous though they were on that occasion, we wonder that they do not come oftener or in even greater numbers.
We who reside in this favoured spot would be the last to wish to see Macao degenerate into the modern and fashionable watering-place with its attendant minstrels, bathing-machines, and doukeys. We only wish that many others could share in its beauties and quiet pleasures, without any apprehensions of its developing into a Margate or a Brighton.
THE KING'S BIRTHDAY.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
We hear, but do not vouch for the accuracy of the report, that the 28th inst., the King of Portugal's birthday, is not to be marked by any unusual demonstrations, fétes, or banquets. The subjects of His Majesty will show their loyalty (in that they are not lacking), but show it in a quiet way. There will presumably be a levée in the morning, and the Colony will keep holiday, but we have heard nothing so far of festivities on any large scale. IMPROVEMENTS AND OTHEWISE IN MACAO. They that go down to the sea in ships had their hearts stirred within them when they heard that the local Government were entertaining serious thoughts of, and even inviting tenders for, the long-needed dredging of the harbour. Perhaps the project is merely dormaut for a space, and perhaps we shall yet one day be hold the monsters of the deep floating in the waters of Macao but the weeks and months are passing and we' hear less instead of more of the undertaking, and see less still. Another innovation of which we have now almost immediate hopes and expectations is the lighting of the streets and principal buildings with electricity. Those who look at Macao only through the eyes of sentiment shake their heads and say that the dim and old-time illumination of the streets is more in keeping with the historic nature and old associations of the place. But to those who can take a broader view, there is no doubt that the plan is an excellent and advantageous one, and one out of several that the Colony should undertake if it is to keep as far as possible in the path of progress. But - and we speak now from the point of view of the lover of natural scenery-there is one tendency which we cannot but condemn the tendency of the builder and contractor to erect his architectural blocks on an otherwise beautiful landscape. We refer to the beautiful road—once befɔre alluded to as one of the most perfect of its kind in the East -which pursues its course for some mile and a half from the outskirts of the city to the Barrier. In the first mile of its course the bailding fiend has mercifully so far restrained his natural impulses, and left the glories of the road well- nigh unimpaired. But on the northern shore -hard by the spot where the inhabitants of Macao are wont to assemble on summer after-
noons and enjoy the delights of sands and scenery and bathing-three hideous mansions, with no pretence to architectural beauty, have sprung into existence, and-but Heaven and the authorities forbid !—we can dimly foresee the day when a row of eyesores will disfigure the whole length of the gently curving bay. Per- haps these fears are unfounded; we fervently hope they may be as far from truth as the present erections are devoid of beauty.
OTHER ATTRACTIONS.
Those to whom scenery appels possibly less than other attractions rejoice in the welcome change to cool and finer weather, which enables them once more to indulge in comfort in social gaieties and recreation. The officers
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of the Diu have re-commenced their Saturday afternoon "at-homes at the Naval Tennis Court, and the opening day on Saturday last was
very largely attended. The other tennis clubs are awaking from their summer torpor and displaying renewad energy. Bicy- clists and pedestrians, of whom there are many, once more indulging in their favourite pastimes; and even bathers find greater enjoyment now that the water is becoming cooler, and one does not have to wait anxiously for the last rays of the sun to disappear below the hills before venturing forth from the bathing shed. The band is playing regularly every week on Thursday evenings in front of Government House and on Sunday evenings in the Praya Gardens, and the numbers who attend prove that its popularity has not waned in the slightest degree. One only wonders that in these exceptionally favourable waters sailing is not a pastime which meets with greater encouragement. Now and then, but very rarely, we see the trim white sails of a tiny pleasure yacht on the waters of the inner or out r harbour, which afford endless opportunities to the devotee of the sailing art if only the devotee were more enthusiatic to avail himself of them.
PAKHOL
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]
Pakhoi, 16th September.
The Italians have a saying: “Nulla nuovu, buona nuova, ie, "The best news is no news,' which is very true. hut, aufortunately, one cannot always hold back ill tidings. Before proceeding farther, allow me to correct an error in my previous communication. The Native Customs and lekin stations that were pillaged
and raz d to the ground were not in Yamchow proper, but in Ch'eqng Tou, a market town" several miles distant from Yamchow.
ransom.
THE REBELS.
The rebels near Yamchow are growing bolder every day. The latest news to hand is that they attacked the village of Fong Seng on the 3rd iast. After robbing everything worth carrying away they left, but compalled about one hundred of the village people, it is stated, to follow them under escort, to be held for This new device adopted by the rebels lately to oppress the people seems to work well and to be remunerative to them. Fong Sang is about one day's march from Yamchow prefecture, and this news could not fail to create fear in the inhabitants of the latter place, with the result that many families have already arrived at Pakhoi for safety. It is generally believed that unless some prompt relief be at hand to strengthen the hands of the authorities. Loongmoon, Yamchow and Tung Hing will fall into the anmerciful clutches of the rebels, whose daring has now exceeded any of their lass recent ventures. As regards Tung Hing-which is opposite Monkay and divided only by a narrow river-the French are said to have promised their support in case of an attack, and it is reported that a few hundred French troops are stationed at Monkay ready for emergencies.
DEAH OF A CHINESE GENERAL.
[September 26, 1903.
YUNNAN.
Chaotung, 17th August.
THE LINGAN BEBELLION.
The Lingan Rebellion is officially reported as over. The cities captured by the rebels are again in the hands of the Government. The leader of the rebels is said to have been beheaded and his head has been exposed to the public gaza at Yunnanfu. The leader of the Imperial troops, Liu Chuen-lin, has been liberally rewarded and made a triumphal entry into Yunnanfa on his return froin the south. Lán Chun-liu Was at one time Prefect of Chaftung, and is remembered to this day as a great hater of yamèn-runners. His father at one time suffered severely at the hands of some members of this notorious fraternity and the son had his revenge. Any ruauer found guilty of misdemeanour was promptly pnt in irons. From the frequency of this punishment Liu earned for himself the sobriquet of "Li of the Iron Bars." His promotion to his present position of Provincial Judge has not been rapid, he being over 70 years of age. It is rumoured that he kept far away from the fighting and let his subordinates win all the victories, the reward, however, going to himself. Having succeeded in these operations he is now appointed head of all the troops in Yuduan and Kwaichau and ordered to put down the Kwangsi rebellion as far as it can be done from this end.
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The city of Shihping, which was reported to the Throne as having been captured by the rebels, turns out not to have been lost. The offici il defended himself bravely and preserved. his position against all a tacks." A fresh official city on its re-cptare but to his chagrin he was sent down with the army to govern the
found the old official very much in charge and refusing to be considered as captured or dead or as anything other than a loyal successful servant of the Emperor. It is expected that those at the head of affairs who sent in the false report to the Throne will be reprimanded for so doing. Rumour also says that the leader of the rebels has not been captured and that the exposed head was that of some one else, very likely that of some inoffensive person.
The post is running freely between Tonkin and Yunuan but merchants are very chary as to sending goods.~N.-C. D. N.
HSIANFU.
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The N.-G. Daily News, correspondent writes on the 20th August an account of a visit to the Imperial Palace at Hsianfu. The common people are not allowed inside, but we were per mitted to go anywhere we would, and those in charge were very willing to show us round. Eutering by a gate from the canal we found ourselves within a courtyard, almost filled with bricks which are to be used in repairing the dragon pool within the park. Several hundred soldiers have been working for more than two years to get water from a river to flow in from the city to fill the dragon pool in the palac park, which has been broken down and dry. The water is also to fill the trenches round the city. There are rumours that when all theso Chow Chua Pong, the Hip-toi, or Brigadier-works have been carried out the Emperor will General of Long-moon, who came over for the special purpose of saying god-bye to Admiral Ho on the latter's departure for Canton last month, succumbed on the 14th instant, after an illness of one month's duration. The deceased felt uneasy immediately after seeing the Admiral off, and had been confined to bed ever since, sinking gradually all the time; the advice given him by numerous native medicos proved of no avail. As no foreign doctors were consulted, I cannot ascertain the nature of th deceased's complaint. Fully one week before he died he was conscious that his end was near, as he had arranged all his affairs, dressed in his best clothes, and holding all the time in his hands a few dollars -a curiou: superstitious prac ice, by the bye, amongst the well-to-do class.
H.B.M. CONSUL BACK.
was
Mr. H. A. Little, H.B.M.'s Consul, returned on the 14th instant to resume his post, having left here about the middle of July last for a short holiday.
como to Hsianfu to live. This, however, is digressing from my account of the palao. From the first courtyard we passed to anther, long and narrow in shape. Here is the largest building, formerly used as the audience hill. On the far side is yet another courtyard containing the apartment wherein the tablets of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor lie on a table with an old-fashioned clock between them. In an enclosure to the left are the apartments occupied by the Emperor while the Court was at Hsianfu. The rooms are small and mean compared with the rest of the palice. The gardens arą bəyond. In the suite of rooms, near the entrance, which was occupied by the Empress, there were still hanging fragments of red and yellow silk embroideries.'
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It was officially notified in Singapore on the 15th inst. that Negapatam had become an infected port owing to an outbreak of cholera there.