CO882-(4-5) — Page 651

318

As regards the having fire-arms in possession, I am not aware of any orders on this subject having been issued previous to my assuming command here. I have given orders that the inhabitants of the villages in this neighbourhood who are desirous of keeping weapons for defence against armed robbers must be recommended by four elders of their village, who will vouch for their good character, before they will be granted a permit to have fire-arms in possession.

In reply to my inquiries, Cheong Chi Lap told me that most of the shopkeepers in Sham Chun had some sort of fire-arm in their possession.

The notice which I am having posted up provides for the giving up of all these weapons except those for which a permit is granted.

5. I have directed Lieutenant Peiniger, R.A., to take a party of men and search all junks and launches going up the river, and to seize any arms or ammunition being smuggled in. I will send a report on his return of the result of this search.

6. Will you please send me a copy of the Government notification specifying the new districts in which the Civil power or the laws of the Colony are effective; or let me know the limits, as far as they are known, in which the authority of the Officer Commanding Frontier Field Force is absolute. At present my intention is to send any offenders arrested south of the river to the authorities in Hong Kong; and to deal summarily with offenders arrested north of the river.

I have, &c.,

C. ROWCROFT, Captain, H.K.R.,

Commanding Front. F. F.

PROCLAMATION (posted in Sham Chun by Captain Rowcroft.)

It has been reported to me that there are many bad characters who are going about the country armed, robbing quiet people and rendering the country unsettled and dangerous.

This is to notify that the carrying of arms of any description-swords, guns, rifles, or pistols-in Shah-tau, Sham Chun, or any of the villages north of the river for a distance of five miles from river is strictly forbidden.

All persons having in their possession any gun, rifle, or pistol without a permit to carry the same, are hereby ordered to bring them into camp at Cheung Po, and give them up; the disposal of the arms will rest with the Hong Kong authorities,

Any man found with arms on his person will be at once arrested and very severely punished.

Any man caught in the act of committing armed robbery or threatening with fire-arms any quiet and peaceable person or persons will be liable to be hanged.

Any person proved to have fire-arms concealed in his house or yard will be liable to

■ severe beating.

All law abiding people are hereby called upon to report to me any unlawful act of which they have cognizance.

If

anyone has

any complaint or petition to make, he must bring it before

me, and bring all necessary witnesses, and he may be sure of receiving justice when the truth is known.

Anyone giving information which leads to the arrest of any person or persons carrying fire-arms without a permit will receive $5 reward.

C. ROWCROFT, Captain,

Commanding F. F. F.

319

I sent yesterday (7th July) to enquire how many deaths had occurred in the last seven days. The headman said he could give me no idea, as all cases were not reported to him, and many sick people on being attacked with sickness immediately left Sham Chun town to return to their own villages, as they preferred to die surrounded by their relations.

Mr. Schaub's information on this subject must, I think, be incorrect, as the people would not be offering special propitiation to their gods.if sickness were not rife.

(2.) The result of Lieutenant Peiniger's search of junks and the Chinese launch was negative. Only one man, living at Chang kai, 50 or 60 miles north of Sham Chun, was arrested with 100 rounds of pistol ammunition and two boxes of percussion oaps He said they were for defence against robbers, who were very numerous. I confiscated all but 50 rounds of pistol ammunition for which I gave him a permit, as I considered that number ample for self defence.

(10.)

I have, &c.,

C. RowCROFT, Captain, H.K.B,

Commanding Troops, F. F. F.

MY DEAR MR. ROWCHOFT,

Lilong, July 7, 1899. MANY thanks for your interesting letter. It is very good that you are showing the people that they are still under the British Government. What you are doing in Shain Chun has a good effect on the whole population. The man who was shot a few days ago (see below) near our mission station was an opium smuggler. It was a daring robbery, at noon, in the tea-hut on the pass where some women were sitting to drink tes. The smugglers had their opium carried by women. The Sham Chun robbers robbed them there, and carried the opium ($2.000 worth) away. The poor women were very frightened, but for the opium smugglers I am not sorry they lost $2,000. When we got the news from Sham Chun about the robberies going on there, a merchant wrote to our pastor that it is rumoured the Sha Tau robbers are doing their work in the market, but the Chinese also wrote to our pastor to burn the letter as soon as he read it that nobody knows that he mentioned Sha Tau. The stupid Chinese are always in fear, and because of that they will not tell the truth. Sha Tau is at the mouth of the river and well known as a nest of pirates and robbers. Last year six of the Sha Tau robbers were beheaded-in Sham Chun by the Chinese Admiral Ho.. A many robbers fled

and did not dare to return as long as Ho spread terror in this region, but now they are returning to their homes.

The coolie who brings your letters to Lilong is well known by our pastor as a chair coolie. He has not a good reputation, as nearly all the chair coolies, who are mostly Wai Chow men.

As far as I know the Chinese, the best way to bring them to a sense of duty, to help their Government to keep order, is to make each house proprietor responsible for all the people in his house. By doing this they take care not to take in doubtful people. As we heard here, the Sha Tau robbers were lodging in one of the shops of the market place. The law-abiding people under your jurisdiction are very glad to see what you are doing to bring this disturbed district to order. What you are doing now has a good effect on the whole Hinterland.

We have no outbreak of plague here. were only a few cases in Sham Chun.

With kindest, &c.,

We are always free from this disease; there

M. SCHAUB.

Cheung Po, July 6th, 1899.

(9.)

(11.)

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

mimmim TTLELC.O. 882

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

SIR,

From O. C. Troops, Frontier Field Force, to Chief Staff Officer, Hong Kong.

Cheung Po, July 8, 1899.

I HAVE the honour to forward a letter received from Mr. Schaub. According to his information the plague is not very bad in Sham Chun. The headman of Sham Chun, however, came in to me on the 6th of July, to ask permission to wash the idols and fire guns and crackers on three consecutive nights, to appease the gods and so diminish the plague, which he reported to be bad.

(Gonfidential.)

SIL,

To G. O. C. in China and Hong Kong.

Government House, Hong Kong, July 10, 1899.

I HAVE read the various reports from the Officer Commanding Troops at Sham Chun with much interest. As the duration of our occupation of the valley is uncertain,

I think it advisable that you should know the exact position of affairs.

NOTE--He was wounded by a revolver shot and out on the head with a knife. He is still alive.--0. R.