- 3-
2.7
5.
With the resumption of communications on the
West River abundant supplies of rice and firewood have
found their way to Canton.
6. Brigandage continues to be reported from
various parts of Kwangtung. The most serious example
in the month of May comes from a village near Shek Ki in
the West River Delta, where a small army of three hundred
carried off nearly one hundred victims to ransom,
wounded several others and killed one old woman.
7. In contrast with these scenes of unrest,
conditions in Hong Kong are peaceful, though stagnation
in trade, due to the continued and unsettling fall in the
value of the dollar, has a most depressing effect.
8.
The Chinese characters for the names in this
despatch are given on a separate sheet.
I have the honour to be,
My Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient, humble servant,
Were
ん
Governor, &c.