375
J
over and waited on
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in a somewhat excited state of mind,
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informing that a dangerous outbreak had begun in the Wei-Chau district on the mainland of China, about fifty miles to the northwest of this island; and that the Government troops had been defeated by the insurgents with the loss of four officers and about one hundred men. Colonel Lai added that from reliable information that had reached him, he was convinced that this insurrection was instigated by the Secret Society known as the Tam Hop Wui, or Triad Society, and that he had been assured that the members of this Society in Hong Kong (said to number over ten thousand (10,000) persons, chiefly of the labouring classes), had determined to rise that night, plunder the Banks and Shops for the sale of arms, and then cross over with their booty to join the insurgents.
After consulting with