لا
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information to give.
This was in the afternoon: they were detained in camp: & at 2 A. M. a large body of troops taking the elders with them marched over to Sha Tau to search for arms. This was a measure I felt myself justified in adopting: it was within my power & my instructions & the visit would at least give them a sense of our power. The night turned out fearfully wet: the troops were completely drenched, but the visit had been kept secret & the badness of the weather caused all the people to be indoors. No arms whatever were found: except one pike.
Such is the account of this alleged murder. I say alleged murder because there is no proof positive that a murder was committed: no body found: nothing definite to go upon were the place where the outrage was committed Her Majesty's dominions with all the force of law in full swing. As regards the perpetrators no evidence whatever was produced which could bring it home to any individual or nearly home to any individual or set of individuals.
I would therefore ask your Excellency what possible use would there be in communicating with the police?
But I go farther. I most emphatically wish to point out that it would not be in Your Excellency's interests: nor in mine: nor in those of any one else to run these private quarrels too closely to the ground in the present unsettled state of things of present occupation & possible withdrawal.
Granted that I took the steps I have reported
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