10
128
that this outbreak of prisoners
was
foretold
to occur
as almost certain.
by the Superintendent,
General Gordon in his report of 22nd June last. (see my despatch No. 221 of 26th June 1886). It is singular how closely General Gordon's anticipations of what
would result on the reduction
of meat rations being enforced, have been realized. As General Gordon observed in that report, sympathies of the whole of the Chinese prisoners would be
with
those who mutinied on
account of a reduction
of the food,
any indication of hesitation
or vacillation
on the part of the Prison Authorities, would in all probability have been interpreted by them as a sign of fear, and
would have led to a more serious disturbance at a later date, with loss of life to some of the Prison Officials as well as Prisoners. There is an armed sentry in each of the Prison Yards, separated from the prisoners by a strong