1842.
Chinese Kidnappers.
615
check that practice. Many, almost all of those who have been the agents of the government in kidnapping, have escaped with impuni- ty. The offense was a very grave, though it must be confessed, not a very surprising one for Chinese 'braves' to commit, and might have been punished, in the first, and every succeeding instance, with severity. For a long time, however, the offenders went unpunished ; at length some were seized and imprisoned; and finally a few were executed, being either shot or hung.
One party of these stealers of men was seized near Tinghái, at Chusan, on the 9th of last May. The British authorities had been looking out for these men a long time. Among them were two bro- thers-ringleaders of the gang-one called Tá Pápau, and the other Siáu Pápau. We suppose these were fictitious names.
At length, pretty good evidence was brought to head-quarters, that one of these fellows was lodging in a house seven miles from Tinghái, with about twenty comrades; that they had that day, the 8th of May, been cele- brating a feast, and carousing together; and that one of them had been seen at a temple, wearing a blue-button and a fox-tail, which had lately been conferred on him for his kidnapping, stealing arms, &c., &c. As the informants were ready to act as guides, the op- portunity was not to be lost. Accordingly, early on the morning of the 9th, a party of soldiers, under the command of an officer, started for the above-named house. Our informant accompanied that party. They reached the place unobserved; and having surrounded the house, burst open the door and entered. There they found some twenty villains, who tried to escape. Matchlocks were also found and taken; and last, but not least, he of the blue-buttoned cap and fox-tail. The men, having been bound, were carried off, twenty-four in all. One, on trying to escape, was shot.
On examination, the leader of the gang was found to be Siáu Pá- pau, and among his followers was a son of Tá Pápau. Having been detained at Chusan, these unfortunate men were put on board ship and brought down to Hongkong, were they were lodged in prison, and remained till the 7th instant, when, in consequence of the treaty, they were set at liberty. The number brought to Hongkong was, we believe, only twenty-two, and of these two died in prison. A free passage on board ship was offered them back to Chusan; they, however, preferred to go overland viâ Canton, and at their own ex- pense. A recent attempt has been made to kidnap, since the sign- ing of the treaty. But this must have been done, we presume, by persons unacquainted with the regulations, recently agreed upon for peace and friendly intercourse