TRANSLATION.
From:
To:
COPY.
The Viceroy T'an Chung-liu.
Mr. Consul Brenan
28th December, 1897
5th day, 12th Moon, XXIII year
199
With reference to previous correspondence with you on the subject of the cases of piracy committed by the charterers of two Hong Kong launches, I have the honour to inform you that I have given the necessary instructions for the due investigation of the matter.
Owing to the prevalence of piracy and the daily increase in the number of steam-launches running on the Canton river, upon which persons having arms about them took passage and at a convenient moment, with assistance from without, pirated the vessel, the Pu Ch'ou likin office some time ago gave orders that before a launch was chartered to a man, he must provide good security and that the master of the launch must, previous to departure, ascertain whether or not there were arms in the luggage of the passengers.
The office further directed that vessels in tow of a launch should be towed behind by a rope attached to the stern and not be lashed alongside.
The adoption of these precautionary measures having rendered it impossible for pirates either to hire a launch or to come on board as passengers, with arms, (in Chinese territory,) they just charter the vessel in Hong Kong and thus interfere with the trade both of the native and of the Foreigner.
I.