103
in consequence of the reduction in the rations of meat, recently put in force, in accordance with the sanction conveyed by the Secretary of State's despatch, 1:78 of 10th December last. It will be remembered that this was anticipated by Major-General Gordon (see enclosure to my despatch 11:00 of 26th June last). A large number of Chinese prisoners mutinied, but the Warders were at once armed, and with the assistance of Naval and Military prisoners, the outbreak was promptly suppressed. The Acting Superintendent of the Gaol, in virtue of the power recently conferred on him, sentenced a number of the ringleaders to receive each 12 strokes of a rattan and the sentences were at once carried out. The effect of this decisive action on his part seems to have been very good. I visited the Gaol this