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to the Western.
3. On the 2nd instant I proceeded to Tai-Po-Hui in
H. M. S. "Pigmy" where I met between two and three hundred of
the Gentry and Elders who had been appointed members of the
various committees. I had written my observations which were
translated into Chinese, several hundred copies of the speech
being printed for distribution. I read the speech paragraph by
paragraph Mr. Lockhart repeating each paragraph from the Chinese
copy. At the conclusion a spokesman of the Elders read a reply.
After which I invited them all to adjourn to a large matshed
where I had provided tea, cakes and cigars for them. I enclose
copies of my observations and their replies.
4. On the 4th instant I proceeded to Castle Peak Bay
by launch and then by chair to Ping-Shan which is situated in
a flat and most carefully cultivated valley, about seven miles
from Castle Peak Bay. The crops are rice and sugar cane, the
latter apparently of not very good quality. Here I met over one
hundred committee men who struck me as being somewhat better
class than those in the Tai-Po-Hui district, and more wealthy,
after speaking to them and receiving their reply I had some
conversation
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