impressed with the belief that nothing of the sort has taken place during the past eighteen Months, and that is far from
Chinese vessels being
more liable to attack
than in Chinese Ports, the assertion is not
very
only utterly without foundation, but the reverse
of the truth which is notorious. In fact the known acts of violence constructly
committed in the Chinese Ports, as well as the resistance shown to their extortionate authorities, have been suggested to me as the
cause
of the unprovoked aggression
on the part of the Junkmen on this occasion, as they might, knowing the insecurity of their
own harbours, have come to the conclusion
that ours
were equally dangerous, and that therefore
they
were prepared at all hazards
to repel any
12. I certainly do lament the
loss of life occasioned by this most untoward event, particularly as I have lately been informed that the
Trade of the Port is now in as
good
a
condition
as ever it
was,
but as I am
229
9
satisfied that the Chinese Junkmen cannot but feel the leniency with which they have been treated by the Authorities after
they
were in our power, I am not apprehensive that the Trade of the Port will be influenced in any way by this.
13. Your Lordship will perceive with regret that some
of the Chinese Junkmen had their tails cut off on this occasion and as far as I can judge this very reprehensible act was committed by the seamen who were assisting the Police, but from the evidence of Lieutenant Lloyd of Her Majesty's Ship Cambrian, it appears that the Sailors, after the Junks were in
their power, and when there could not possibly
be any further mistake in the Junkmen, as to who they were
and with what intentions they had
been
on the part of the !
Were on