492
Reminiscences of Chusan.
Ser.
description was thus collected at the guard-house. Complainants then rushed in crowds to the magistrate's office to claim their own, and if their petition was granted, they helped themselves indeed very li- berally, indemnifying themselves for their previous losses. Mistakes took place without number, and the most clamorous of the whole set were often the greatest rogues. Now and then the true owner receiv ed his own. Once, a musiciau, with a great quantity of instruments, had left the gate, and was stopped by a field officer.
a field officer. As soon as the latter wanted to seize him, the former hoping to act the part of Orpheus, and anxious to clear himself from malicious intent, began to play a very lively air on one of his pipes. But the harmony did not affect the veteran's ears, and the poor musician was marched off to the office, for feloniously abstracting musical instruments. By no means abashed, however, the delinquent put his arms a-kimbo; and thus began his speech: "When I listen to the regimental music, the sound of my instruments appears to be harsh and grating, how could 1, then, longer enter into competition with its strains? Moreover it appears to me, that you have quite music enough; and, as the voice of mirth will be heard no more in this city, of what use is my abode amidst the afflicted? I can carry on my profession only amongst joyous parties." For this speech, the blythe musician was liberated, and received a passport to depart in peace.
In one instance, a coffin having been allowed to pass, the applica- tions for permission to carry out old fathers and mothers became very numerous, until the sentries opened these receptacles, and instead of corpses they generally found silks. This no longer succeeding, other stratagems, and some not very reputable, were had recourse to. Some carried their plunder over the walls. One man was going to
pass a recruit who stood sentry on the walls. The latter beckoned him to leave off his illicit business, yet was not heeded. But in- stead of obeying, the man came with a whole load, and being repell- ed, he attempted to force his way. The soldier then fired, and the' robber fell dead.
An elderly rogue had stationed himself below the city wall, and was in the habit of taking care of the stolen articles, in order to carry them over the ditch. By some means he was overloaded, and sunk in the water to rise no more. In some instances, the venge- ance of the people overtook these marauders, and they administered Lynch law. For instance, a man was found bound hand and foot in a ditch, who had attempted to empty a house of its contents. Ano- ther was seen tied to a post near the market place, with such force
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