i
!
4
Hung-ham Pass of Cowloon; they found a number of small vessels crossing with y vegetables to Victoria. At the sight of the braves their crews took to the water and escaped, and they only caught two men, Wong-ang and Li-muk- yeung. They were allowed to plunder the boats of their entire
cargo of vegetables and other things. They also took a devil's boat and two traitorous Chinese rowing therein; three others escaped, and the boat was taken into Cowloon, and left in charge of the Tipo (the head borough); the oars, anchors, &c., were brought in to the camp. I have now sent the braves with the two traitorous Chinese and these articles to you, and request you will have the affair judicially looked into and settled.
On the 2nd, at Lik-yun-tai-wei, a man named Wong-tai-muk, dressed in devil clothes and boots, with a devil fowling-piece in his hand, speaking the devil language fluently, and also Chinese of the Heung-shan dialect,* came down the hill side shooting and up to the tents. His appearance being in every way suspicious, he was seized by the braves and, on being questioned, admitted that he had been in barbarian service at Victoria; also that he had owned there the Tak-lung pork butchery and the Hing-lung fish concern; that about the middle of January he had gone home from Victoria; he had come out to shoot because he had nothing else to do, and was in no way a traitorous Chinese. The gentry and elders of the Nine Wards have given a bail-bond for him, I was enabled to deal leniently with the case, and released him with a slight punish- ment (or finc).
I am in want of the following articles (enumerated). Yu-ki-nin says that in the eastern division at Sha-tin, and at Chik-mi, boats load with bullocks, fowls, ducks, &c., for the supply of the English rebels.
It is very expedient that two vessels should be sent to cruize off those places.
(Translation.)
Inclosure 4.
Chan-tsze-tin to Chan-kwei-tsih.
February 7, 1857.
I CAME to Cowloon, where there were three of the parties concerned (in the plot), all of whom insisted on having some guarantee in writing. You will have found the details in Yu-ki-nin's note, and I have to request that you will signify to me what remuneration is to be given for each item (of the proceedings therein specified), that I may be enabled to discuss this with (the parties interested). The barbarian shipping, however, at Victoria has much diminished in number; in the last few days one-half seem to have gone. The American devils, I under- stand, see that, as matters stand, there is risk of danger, and (their ships) have therefore off.
I hear it said that in the course of a few days the English will be sure to send to Cowloon for the boat we took a short time ago. This is the talk of the simple villagers, who are full of alarms and misgivings. For the present I have forbidden my braves to go to Cowloon, and shall wait some days until I see how matters stand, before I think of acting,
gone
A few days ago the English rebels took up seven Chinese in the Sheang- wan (the west of Victoria). When I see how utterly broken the barbarians are, I look on it as certain that they will not venture to disturb Cowloon again (or to break into it present themselves there).
I have this day enlisted ten braves-very secretly without the knowledge of any man-and to-morrow shall get a boat for the undertaking. The other body of men, who are to be put on rations, when the attempt shall have succeeded, are people of the place (Hong Kong or Cowloon). They will probably cross the water in the course of the day (or a few days).
Yu-ki-nin came in from the Committee to-day, and informs me that yesterday our braves seized eleven rebellious barbarians and have handed them up to the Committee. I was delighted to hear this; it is really a fine thing. If we manage matters thus, the English rebels and the local vagabonds will not
* He was most likely a Portuguese of Macao.-See the Governor's late communication.
5
be able to bear one another, and each party will get to suspect the other to the advantage of the main issue. Who is to be sent with these eleven English rebels? The two Kwei-shin men need not, I think, be-forwarded to Canton. I am told that their employer sent some one yesterday to learn how the case stood, and so I suppose he is going to bail them, &c.
(Translation,)
Inclosure 5.
Chan-kwei-tsih to Chan-tsze-tin.
ON the 14th, Tong-sze brought me an answer from you.
February 16.
In the first decade of the 12th moon (27th December to the 5th January) Cheng-tsik was directed by the head committee (Canton) to go to Cowloon to take steps (or the necessary steps). I am told he had got a number of men together to fire Victoria. I fear, however, that he was not up to the task, and that he has failed (or will fail) in consequence.
This person was put forward by the F-san-tong (interlined)—I do not know who is charged with the superintendence of this (tong)-and was to accomplish his undertaking within a month, Lin-tsun-ngan has taken his leave of ne as teacher (in my family), and as there is now no gentleman in charge of his twenty braves, they had better be disbanded; or the half of them might be, as there are ten in charge of Sai-kung.
Wan-hing's nephew has got leave for ten days. Mak-ying-tang's station is Sha-tin; he has now come in to head-quarters, and will be desired to go to Sha-tin. On his arrival he must be desired to go to his camp and remain there, and not to be staying at any other place that he may choose.
Tse-tung-shan (otherwise styled Tse-tso-ko) came in (from Canton) to the Committee (Sanon) this morning after breakfast, with 30 gilt mandarin buttons, and 1,000 dollars weighing 690 taels (interlined); this is to pay the 300 dollars for the lorcha, and the 30 taels for every devil's head. He also brought 2,000 taels to pay the men, contributed by Wei ordered to be handed over to the district magistrate.
و
which I have
Postscript. The price of devil's heads has been reduced this year.
(Translation.)
Inclosure 6.
Chan-tsze-tin to Chan-kwei-tsih.
February 17. I WENT on the 29th January to Sai-kung, to Yu-kia-nin's; and the non-commissioned officers of the Militia of the six wards of Ho-chung, and the Sha-kok-mi, all came to meet me. The rolls of their train-bands are now completed, and will be forwarded shortly.
The train-bands of the nine wards of Sik-un are also on foot, and the non-commissioned officers want the Committee to send flags, and badges, &c.
Yesterday the Commandant Chung returned to Cowloon; and I learned to-day that the English rebels had burned four war-junks at Tung-chung, and were giving out that to-day they would attack Tung-chung itself. One of my braves has returned from Victoria, and reports that there is no movement of the kind. Of late they have been more vigilant at Victoria than ever; no one is allowed out after 6 o'clock. Devil soldiers share the duty of keeping watch with the watchmen, and patrol zealously in bodies. From Tai-ping-shan to West Point there are devils on guard. After the lamps are lit no one is allowed to go from the shore to the ships, nor to land from the ships. The seamen devils act as devil soldiers. In the streets there is little business doing. The Wing-tai, Wo-shang, and Mau-tai, three great rice shops, ceased to do business some days ago.
* I imagine this to allude to a capture some time since, reported on good authority ar Macao, of two lorchas by pirates, who delivered them up to the Mandarins at Nam-tow.
C
408