624
Journal of Occurrences.
some of the piratical crew, they convicted the guilty parties and beheaded five of them, and burned the houses of those implicated. The villagers are reported to have for the most part fled from the place after the visit of the police. The acting British consul, Mr. Sinclair, reported the event to the authorities, but it appears they had already taken their measures. We think that it was unwise for these two gentlemen to use fire-arns as they did, and it is not so certain that the dacoits had the intention to take life, as this notice intimates. The notice of the attack on Messrs. Fast and Elgquist is thus given by our cor- respondent :-
"On the evening of the 12th of this month, Rev. Messrs. Fast and Elgquist, in a small boat with three rowers, went down the river to the receiving ships for the purpose of exchanging their bills. The latter took with him a servant boy, of perhaps fifteen or sixteen years. After visiting one of the vessels the next morning, and passing to the second, their boatınen inquired, “Have you got your money yet?" This was deemed a strange question, but replied to in the negative. Ôn leaving the second vessel on the morning of the 13th, the inquiry was repeated and answered in the affirmative. During the stay of the brethren at the vessels, the boatmen went ashore, and when they were questioned as to the reason, replied that they went to buy some small articles they needed. The gentleinen however proceeded in the boat to return hoine. On nearing the Kinpai pass, not more than two or three miles from the vessels, about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, the boatmen were observed to be inactive, and were urged in vain to row faster. Soon after a sail boat came in sight a short dis- tance ahead, apparently bound up the river. The wind being light, the row- boat soon came up with the sail boat (it seems right alongside), when those on the latter instantly hooked on and commenced a fierce assault with stones and spears. Messrs. E. and F. both seemed to feel that the pirates intended to put them to death, and that they themselves must fight for life. Mr. F. put his head out from under cover and fired a pistol. Mr. E. rushed out to resist the attack, and fired twice upon the pirates. He soon called on Mr. F. to fire a pistol lying by his side, but the latter replied that he was unable. Soon af- ter he either fell or was thrown overboard; unable to swim, he sank and was seen no more. Mr. E. finding resistance useless, dropped overboard, dove deep, and swam some distance down; then swam ashore. For a time he waited, hoping to see something of Mr Fast; then wounded and weary, wandered about to find the vessels he had left His fear of being discovered by those on shore, protracted his wanderings, and it was not till near evening he reached the shore opposite, and was received on board.
"In the meantime, the pirates, numbering it is said some 30) or 40), took the boat, boatmen, and booty to a village just below the Pass on the south side. They threatened the life of the servant boy on account of a severe injury one of their number had received, but finally released him and the boatmen. On their re- turn all were taken into the custody of the government either on suspicion of being accessory to the piracy, or to furnish evidence in the case.
"Mr Fast's body has not been seen since. The wounds received by Mr. Elg- quist have not proved serious. Mr Fast had greatly endeared himself to his fellow-laborers by his kind and social disposition, and by the simplicity and fervor of his Christian character. Eminently exhibiting Christian love out of a warm and sincere heart, he has left a precious memory behind in the hearts of his associates."
The death of Lin Tsehsü, whose appointment was noticed last month, died on his way to Canton on the 22d inst. at Páuning hien in the departinent of Chanchau in the eastern part of this province. He was 67 years old at the time of his death, and had taken a conspicuous part in the foreign politics of his country during the last ten years of his life. In the death of Lin, his majesty Hicnfung has lost one of his most faithful servants.