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the bh'in clan have made large purchases of arms and munitions in Hongkong, including even Cannon, and its warriors are in the habit, it is further stated, of going out to battle with their enemies of the Tsing clan in shirts of mail, constructed of scales of brass.
These facts being known to exist, Colonel Peng Yi, the Military Officer referred to above, came to the conclusion that the letter purporting to come from the chiefs of the bh'in clan had been fabricated with some hostile design against the alleged writers, and when, on the appearance of the man Ying Ka, by whom it was said to have been intercepted, it was found that his surname is in fact Rong, and that he belongs to the second of the two hostile clans, there appeared to be still further grounds for suspicion.
Rong Ying Ka was interrogated in my presence by Colonel Peng Yi, and, although he persisted in the story previously told as to the manner of intercepting the letter and with reference to the subsequent offer of $200 for its return,