buried in the line of the tramway
and waterworks. The 500 children
required by the Government for this human sacrifice are to be taken from the Grant-in-Aid Schools. The master further states that he enquired in 3 other schools and found that there also the same rumour had had the same effect on the attendance of the children.
Dr Chalmers has also been to see me, and he states that one of the teachers in the London Mission School in Hollywood Road reports that 14 of his pupils left today for Macao and that others are to leave the Colony. The reason alleged for this speedy departure is that human victims consisting of boys and girls are required for the foundations of the new barracks to be erected opposite the Naval Yard and of the forts.
Dr Chalmers has informed the Police.
I would suggest that a Notification in Chinese be issued at once in order to allay groundless fears.
(signed) J. H. Stewart Lockhart
Acting Registrar General,
20th May, 1886.
P.S. Since writing the above, several of the leading Chinese have been to see