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present free ventilation from these drains & leakage would surely cause an epidemic.
A CHINESE baby's death.
'The native custom at Canton, when engaging a wet uurse, is to pay several months' wages in advance, and then to make her an allowance for clothing, hair ornaments. etc. A man surnamed Yum on the twelfth day of the sixth moon. at about five o'clock in the afternoon, engaged a wet nurse for his child, paying the woman in advance. The baby died at nine o'clock the same night and it was found that the woman had poisoned it with opium dross. Her excuse was that the child had been suffering from . diarrhoea, and that she gave it the opinm as medicine.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
God of Mars they would bring death to their doors, etc., etc.
After loud cheering the crowd dispersed:
GOVERNOR CHANG'S WITHDRAWAL.
Governor Chang has issued a proclamation that from this day he has ceased to transact public affairs in the Kwongtung Province, and that all official letters must now be addressed to the Viceroy.
Canton. 31st July. AMERICAN CONSUL AND THE SHREWD VICEROY.
The American merchants in Cautou, in con- sequence of the placards which have been posted in various parts of the city, and in consequence of the Anti-Americau mass meetings and meet.
The father of the child knew not how to control his grief and passion, and he sent forings in the temples, have sent a joint petition the police and gave the woman in charge. He also sent to Nam Hoi so that a post mortem
examination might be held on the body, the result confirming the belief that the child was poisoned.
The case has not yet been tried, but if the nurse is convicted of murder, the usual punish ment for this particular offence is Ling Chi, most barbarous and terrible torture. There is now, however, an Imperial Rescript forbidding it.-Ed.]
CANTON. 29th July.
FORWARD HONAM: CHINA LIGHT AND
POWER CO.
Honam, like Canton, is making remarkable A cable to conduct electric light
progress. from the power station has been laid across to that point. Poles, also, for the same purpose have been erected in all parts of Huuam. In a fortnight's time residents will be able to have electric light installed in their houses.
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to the American Consul General. asking that Viceroy Shum be requested to prohibit the
posting of these placards and the bolding of
these meetings.
His Excellency the Viceroy replied as fol. lows:-" Redeived the dispatch from the United States Consul General at Cauto. The dis- patch states that in Canton and other places in Kwongtung Province placards have been posted and mass meetings have been held to urge the people not to purchase or use American goods. This sort of thing tends to impedu the harmony and peace existing between the two nations, and also the peace of Kwongtung Province. It requests me to prohibit the posting of these placards and the holding of these mass meetings. I have perused carefully vont dispatch, and after investi- gating the matter I find that these mass meetings and placards urging the people not to use or purchase American go ds are caused by your Government passing an exclusion fact. America and China have been on peaceful terms for a long time. which makes it all the more The Viceroy (now styled as Viceroy and unfortunate that such unpleasant things should Governor) has received a dispatch from Peking happen The fact is, however, that the whole to the effect that the Governorship of Kwong question of boycotting American goods origin tung Province has been abolished. and Hiated from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce Excellency is to devise some means of giving in Shanghai, and it gradually spread to other positions to the late Governor's civil and mili- provinces. The people of Canton are not alone tary staff. The late Governor's two infantry in this matter, and it is tot alone in Canton divisions, each comprised of two hundred sol that the public mind has been roused. I trust liers. are to be turned over to be under the you will find this excusable: the people command of the Viceroy.
are at liberty to deal in whatever kind of goods they like. I cannot prohibit the people in choosing not to purchase and
American use
goods any more than
THE KWONGTUNG GOVERNORSHIP.
POST OFFICE VICTORY.
Owing to the frequent delay and slowness of forwarding dispatches and official letters by
post horse and couriers. His Excellency the Viceroy has ordered that that department in Wuchow be abolished and that henceforth all despatches and official letters will be sent through the Imperial Post Office.
SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A NAVAL
OFFICER.
Ting Nai Ching, the Commander-in-Chief of gunboats in the Canton River. has petitioned the Viceroy that the Captain of a certain gun. boat under his command has been making use of his vessel to carry cargo and passengers and. thus employed, he has amassed a considerable sum of money, while he neglected the upkeep of his gunboat which is now in a wretched condition.
THE AMERICAN BOYCOTT.
The 26th instant was a semi-feast day, being the day after that set apart for worshipping the God of Mare. This is a very popular deity amongst the labour. ing classes and workers in the factories, and on the 26th large numbers of them went to the temples to " Chin chin joss for good
luck.
The representatives of the various guilds also met on this occasion at the large temple. where they proceeded to make a declaration to the God of Mars that the labourers of the different guilds would not use or purchase any American goods. Thousands attended the A white-haired old gentleman, the head of one of the guilds, was invited to take the chair. He accepted the invitation, and in a loud voice read the declaration so that all might hear.
ceremony.
The declaration states that all the labouring classes in Canton have combined together not to use or purchase American goods so long as the American Government refuses to abolish the Chinese Exclusion Act. Furthermore, if
any person or persons broke their promise to the
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I can order them not to do so, for I have no such power.
The meetings held by the people to urge others not to use or purchase American merchandise is considered by them to be neces- sary for the protection of the interests of their own country, which is only natural. If undue force were to be used in suppressing these mass am afraid it would only have a meetings I
tendency to make matters worse, and the people might get so angry that I might not be even able to persuade them to desist. I hope the head offices of the respective countries will be able to solve this difficult question and peace may be preserved. I have already given instructions to the officials in the various dis tricts of Kwongtung province to inquire into the matter with increased energy, and to devise some means to enso the people's mind. If of there should be disturbances caused by any these meetings which may tend towards serious riots. or if brutal force is used to prevent people from using American goods, which amounts to robbing the people of their liberty,-if any such unreasonable and lawless measures taken, I will then instruct the officials of the different districts to punish such offenders.
to
are
If. on the other hand, meetings were held by the gentry and merchants for a good purpose, such as delivering reasonable lectures, urging the people not to use or pur. phase American goods, in order to protect the interests of their country, or create a union of the pe plo to draw up declarations or terms or conditions urging the people not to i use or purchase American goods for a like re: son, it is only a proper thing to do and I cannot or have not power to interfere. Your Honourable Consul-Generalisan intelligent man endowed with great common sense, and you will acknowledge that what I have said is correct. I have heard that your Honourable Government
intends to treat the Chinese labourers liberally
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[August 7, 1905.
and as I consider your Government really illustrious I sincerely hope that when you report this matter to your Honourable Govern. ment your Honourable
will Government
renew the treaty peacefully so that the people of China will change their anger into joy, aud the peace which has been in existence between the respective countries will be increased by tenfold. These are not only my wishes but I believe it is in your heart also."
CRIME IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.
Canton, 1st August.
Since the Ho Pak side of the City has beeu policed. the robbers, brigands, thieves and other bad characters formerly infesting that neigh
bourhood hare transferred their affections to Honam, where the streefs are not policed and where they are now actively practising their rascality. In Houam at present, indeed robbery, burglary and kidnapping are daily occurrences, and things are getting worse all have happened lately: the time. I give you a few incidents which
to a ferry boat in Honam, was kidnapped by The other day Ngoi Lee Chin. while walking
robbers. 82,000 was offered to the robbers for his rauson by the relations. The robbers, however, refused this, demanding $6,000.
On the 29th ultimo a Hongkong resident who came to Canton with his family and rotinue took up lodgings in the Canton Hotel (the new hotel under Japanese management) in Honam. The visitor's surname is Lo. A robber gut into conversation with one of lo's servants, surnamed Tong, an made friends with him. The pair, Tong and the robber, as it was thought, made off with all Lo's baggage. Toug afterwards wrote a letter to Lo complaining that the robbers had kidnapped him, and he was detained at their mercy. He begged that Lo would be kindhearted and redeem him for 8800.
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About a week ago a notorious sharper surnamed Cheong, and nicknamed Po Lee," which means brilliant or bright, a man who is always dressed to kill" in the very latest fashion (which in China is really the same as the oldest fashion, but you know what I mean) engaged a flower boat in Ying Cha Kai, and called for several Sing Song girls. It appears that he had a glorious time and finally enticed away all the "Sing Song girls. He is demanding from each of the mothers a large ransom. Two days ago the mothers discovered the whereabouts of their daughters, and get infiuential friends to engage braves. They broke into a house near the Kam Fa Temple in Honam and recovered the lost daughters. In the same house the braves discovered two sampan girls who were lost for some time, and rewards had been offered to anyone who would trace their whereabouts.
Robbery on the ferry boats plying between Hopak and Honam are matters of little comment, but they never occur on the journey from Honam to Hopak.
Yesterday morning an amal was robbed near San Chui Bridge in broad daylight. She is in the employ of a family surnamed Tsoi. Close by the bridge she was robbed of everything of value in her possession. Then the robbers wanted her dress, and the poor woman had to beg for mercy and ask them not to be so hard
on her.
Yesterday afternoon near Pooo Garden in Honam (a place known as the Yeong Chi Ynen) a dealer in foreign goods surnamed Tsai was robbed of his watch, chain and purse. All these daring brigands have their own boats moored and hidden in creeks, inaccessible creeks to the larger craft, and they make off with their booty quite light-heartedly.
Honam certainly requires police.
FIXE.
A fire broke out the other day in Sai Loi Cho Ti (Western District). It was confined to an Canton opium shop, which was burned down. is a bad city for fire insurance companies,
CANTON, 2nd August.
POSTAL AFFAIRS IN KWONGTUNG.
Mr. F. J. Meyers, the District Postmaster bere, has received instructions that His Excel- lency Viceroy Shum will increase the number of postal agents in Kwongtang Province, and that post boxes will be placed in the various districts not thus provided in the past. Pest
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