i-
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contains, and still more for the friendly relations which his knowledge and experience of these wild people enabled us to establish with them.
Mr. Leveson concurs with me in recommending to the favourable notice of His Majesty's Government the excellent work performed by the surveyors, often under circumstances of great difficulty, and the very good conduct of the military police
escort.
The Lashi Headman of Lajawng, in the Myitkyina district, was with Mr. Leveson and rendered valuable services in all negotiations and interviews with the Lashis of Hpare and the Ngaw Chang.
The Lisu Headman of Bumrawng, in the Bhamo Hills, formerly a havildar in the Blamo Military Police Battalion, accompanied me up the Salween as interpreter, as he speaks Chinese. I should like to mention his good conduct and special usefulness.
Our thanks are due to the British Minister at Peking and to the Government of India for the representations made to the Chinese Government that the Acting Taotai, Shih Hung Chao, should be retained at his post for service on this expedition. In no case did we have to complain of any of the obstructions and difficulties which an official less strong-minded and new to the place would almost certainly have raised. Taotar Shih kept his followers in order, refrained from "squeezing" the country through which le passed, prevented his soldiers from indulging in the looting which is usually practised by Chinese braves" on these occasions, and paid fair prices for his mules and his supplies. He was always amenable to reasonable arguments as to the proceedings which it was best for us to take, and decided all matters without reference to his subordinates, who, of course, were for sitting still or going back very early in the proceedings. It would be unfair not to admit that satisfactory results--so far as we obtained them--were in a measure due to the Taotai's common sense.
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Inclosure 8 in No. 1.
445
Certificate granted to Tso Ta Hsiung, Hereditary Native Sergeant of Tzu Chu Village, in the Ming Kwang Narrows. (Translation.)
THE Board of War in the matter of issuing a certificate :—
Whereas the Minister for Military Appointments reports that he has received an official statement from Ngai, Grand Chancellor and Governor-General of Yunnan and Kwei Chon, to the effect that Tso Hua Tien, Hereditary Native Sergeant of Tzu Chu village in the Ming Kwang Narrows, subject to Tengyueh, has demised; that his son, Tso Ta Hsiung, who is now 22 years of age, is freely accepted by the various tribes as their Lord; and that a bond setting forth the registers of the genealogy of the Tso family has been delivered, together with the former certificate, and that the Governor- General has therefore addressed the Board for instructions to Tso Ta Hsiung to assume the succession;
Upon this the Board, having inspected and recorded the bond concerning the genealogy of the family, has cancelled the previous certificate, and as it appears that the said Tso Hua Tieu has demised, and the Governor-General reports that his son, Tso Ta Hsiung, is 22 years of age and accepted by the tribes, the Board will now, as requested, permit the said Tso Ta Hsiung to assume the succession to the title of Hereditary Sergeant of the village of Tzu Chu in the Ming Kwang Narrows in the Sub-Prefecture of Tengyuch. This present certificate, in exchange for the former, is hereby granted, and the said Tso is ordered to receive it. A necessary certificate addressed to Tso Ta Hsiung, Hereditary Sergeant, &c.
(Signed)
TAO KWANG.
18th year (1889), 6th moon.
(Translation.)
Inclosure 7 in No. 1.
Taotai Shih to Acting Consul Litton.
Pien Ma, April 17, 1905.
I HAVE just had the honour to receive your letter and am in possession of its contents. The other day when we were at Ming Kwang I inquired from the two Fa Yi, Yang and Tso, as to the condition of the tribes on both sides of the Little River (Ngaw Chang),
They stated that in former times a punitive expedition had gone against the rebellions barbarian, Tsao Ko, to Chih Ka and the country about it, beyond (ie., right bank of) the Little River, and that the district had then been subjected to Chinese jurisdiction.* Subsequently they, the Fu Yi, had removed into Chinese territory to a great distance from the district in question. Besides, these barbarians are of a savage nature, and widely different from those who reside on this side (ie., the left bank) of Little River; thus they had come to be beyond the pale of civilized government, and for a long time there had been no communication between them and the Chinese.
Having investigated this matter, I find that the above statements are correct. You have now been good enough to state verbally to me that the Deputy Commissioner of Bhamo proposes to proceed beyond the Ngaw Chang in order to inspect the country; but it is to be feared that the wild tribes of those parts, not being accustomed to seeing anything out of the common, may become alarmed and raise trouble. If the Deputy Commissioner is resolved to go, I would venture to request him to consider how important it will be to take proper precautions. You were good enough to ask me verbally about this matter, and on inquiry I found that the real state of the case is as I have mentioned above.
I must therefore again request you to discuss with the Deputy Commissioner as to whether he should proceed or not.
The maps of Teng Keng and Mao Chao will be sent to you when they have been completed.
Compliments.
(Card of Taotai Shib.)
* There is no evidence that the Headmen ever resided beyond the watershed.-G. L
Inclosure 9 in No. 1.
Certificate granted to Yang Tsar Wei, Hereditary Native Sergeant of Hparè Village, in the Ming Kwang Narrows. (Translation.)
THE Board of War issues the following certificate :--
Whereas the Minister for Military Appointments reports that the Department has submitted copy of an extract from the records of the Board to the effect that the Yün- Kwei Governor-General, Kwei, states that a report has been received from the Yung Chang Prefect that Yung Chan Ho, Hereditary Native Sergeant of Hparè in the Ming Kwang Narrows, has demised; that his son, Yang Tsai Wei, is now 22 years of age, and being the true and lawful eldest son of the deceased is freely accepted by the tribes as their Lord; and that the said Yang Tsai Wei should be permitted to assume the succession to his father's office and to administer the tribal villages; and that a bond has been delivered setting forth his family relations and genealogy, together with the former certificate, for transmission to the Board for instructions;
And whereas (the Governor-General states that) when a vacancy occurs among the tribal officials, the rule is that the lawful eldest son succeeds, and that the said Yang Chan Ho, Native Sergeant, &c., has demised, leaving a vacancy; and his son, Yang Tsai Wei, being his true and lawful heir, is gladly accepted by the tribes, and should be permitted to succeed to the ancestral offices and administration of the tribal villages;
The Board, finding the above to be in accordance with the law, permits the said Yang Chan Ho to assume the said succession, and, in exchange for the former certificate, issues this present, which the said Yang should receive accordingly.
The above copy having been submitted in the 20th year of Tao Kwang on the 3rd day of the 11th moon, an Imperial Edict was received on the 4th: "Let it be as proposed. Respect this!"
The necessary certificate is accordingly issued to Yang, &c.
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[Note. Neither Tzu Chu nor Hparè is in the Ming Kwang or in the Ming Kwang "Narrows (or passes), but a day's march beyond the passes. There is not the
[2167 æ—1]
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