No. 632.
COPY
0.
17781
REP
(68a) 10 JUL 30
678
Sir,
Hongkong, June 7th 1899.
The Revd Carl Maus of the Rhenish Mission at Thongha has requested this Consulate to bring the following to your notice.
He states that, in consequence of Shan-Chun port having been occupied by H.B.M.'s forces, the greatest excitement, and a state of the wildest confusion prevails in the Chinese districts north of the said place, caused mainly by absurd rumours circulated amongst the populace, such as the English would push forward towards north and occupy the rich Punti village Pan-tin, the Indian soldiers behaved outrageously, the coolies did not obtain their wages for carrying loads, the provisions were not paid for, heavy taxes upon cattle and the commodities of life would be levied, and so forth.
Mr. Maus describes the state of disturbance as very serious, the villages becoming deserted and the trade being at a standstill, and although he has succeeded in somewhat quieting the people after an interview with Colonel O'Gorman by, as he styles it, offering himself as a personal security for the good intentions of the British Government, he is still afraid that the Mission stations might be threatened and attacked by the excited Chinese mob.
Mr. Maus thinks it advisable that notices in Chinese should be posted in the disturbed districts to assuage the populace, interpreters employed, and a civil officer appointed at Shan-Chun with whom complaints of the Chinese could be lodged.
The Honourable,
The Colonial Secretary.