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The Viceroy of Canton might well be called upon to explain the presence of these men, if he did not send them, he certainly must have connived at their assistance in the revolt.
I now consulted Mr. Lockhart, who had been present at the action, about the advisability of blowing down some walls of the Kantin Villages, situated about 2 miles from the scene of the action. He entirely concurred in the desirability of blowing up the gates of the Fin: Sha: Wai Village. We marched there at once, warned all women and children to leave the village, which they did in considerable numbers; a few old men also came out and kotowed, but no young ones; they were probably among those who had been defeated at the action and were still on the run and far away over the hills.
Our two sappers applied some slabs of gun cotton to the walls and so effectually, that the explosion made a large breach of crumbled bricks and mortar, bringing down the iron gates. We tried a like effect upon another wall, but its thickness, 5 feet, was more than our supply of gun cotton was equal to tackling, and that, combined, perhaps, with haste necessitated by advancing night, rendered the demolition less effective.
After this, we returned to quarters, some 5 miles distant.