CO129-032 - Sir Bonham - 1850 [1-4] — Page 97

restitution to this Council of the head and hand

of the deceased Governor._

of

13.- Despatch from this council designating the place

February

where the delivery should take place .- 14- Despatch from the Viceroy requesting that a day should be appointed for the delivery of the remains- 15. Despatch from this Council

replying to the Despatches above mentioned from the Viceroy, and protesting against him for improper

conveyed to - Anens. -

the

manner in which the remains were

God preserve Your Excellency -

March 16th February, 1850-

(Signed) G. G. Bonaventure, Bishop of Macao -

Joaquim Antonio de Moraes Carneiro-

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Jono Tavares de Almeida- -Miquel Pereira Simoens –

Jozé Francisco d'Oliveira - Romao Jose de Freitas._

True Translation

(Signed) Lil' Murada efectro-

(Davo Copy) Mano Colonial Secretary.

Despatch from Seu to the Council of Government of Macao.

Seu, Governor General of Kwang-tung and Kwang-si, &c. In order to satisfy the question relative to the murder of Governor Amaral, I proceed to state as follows: Sen-chi-leong, the real assassin, having been first apprehended, he

was examined and executed. Afterwards his accomplices Ko Ahon and Li-Apau were detected, the latter of whom was killed when about to be seized, and Ko-Ahon also was captured, and made a confession, a copy of which was enclosed

in a despatch to the Noble Council, as is on record. Inquiries were in the meantime going after two individuals, surnamed respectively Chou and Chan, who had escaped; and the mandarin of Kwang-chou has now reported to me that repeated and strict searches were made to discover the said criminals, but as it was thought probable that they might have taken refuge with the Pirates and joined them, a description of these men was ordered to be drawn up, in order that when the Pirates should be apprehended it might serve to identify them. The mandarin lately brought from Kwei shan-hien one Chang-Asin, alias Chou-Asin, who conjointly with Chou-Ayau and Chen-Afat had gone to join the Pirates. As there were reasons to suspect his complicity, he was repeatedly interrogated, and he deposed that he knew Chou-Ayau and Chen-Afat, who as well as himself had been workmen at Macao; that one Sen-chi-leong, known

to him, having determined to assassinate Amaral, to revenge himself, had bribed Ko-shon and Li-Apau to assist him in his design, and had arranged with them, in concert with Chou-Ayau and Chen-Afat, that they should prevent persons from approaching. All agreed to go together.

Hearing the strict search that was making for them, they fled to Hiang-kang, a seaport, when they joined the Pirates. Having afterwards fallen in with the English, the said Chou-Ayau and Chen-A fat were killed in action, and

he the deponent was apprehended by the soldiers of the government (Chinese) and sent to Canton.

This deposition then, having been compared with those of Shen-chi-leong and Ko-Ahon, they were found to agree, and the two men who ran away are thus clearly identified as accomplices.

With regard to the said criminal, who confessed to having committed piracies, which is in itself a crime punishable capitally, as was an accomplice of the other delinquents

in preventing people from approaching at the time of the murder, his guilt is still graver. Therefore, besides directions being given for the reiteration of the examinations, in order that his trial might take place, the deposition of the said criminal was transmitted for my information.

From this it appears that the principal accomplices in the crime being six, of whom one was drowned, two were killed

by the English soldiers, and the remaining three apprehended; all therefore are discovered. Chou-Asin has already been committed for trial, that he may afterwards be rigorously punished.

All this I make known to the Noble Council, sending at

the same time, a copy of the confession of Chou-Asin.

Taukwang, 29th year, 11th moon, 6th day, (19th December, 1849, )

Confession of Chang-Asin, alias Chou-Asin,

I lived at Macao jointly with Chou-Ayau and Chen-Afat, where we earned our livelihood by acting as workmen. An acquaintance of ours named Sen-chi-leong, on account of

the Portuguese Governor Amaral having made roads without the Campo gates, by which work the graves of his ancestors were destroyed, was so enraged thereat that he determined to murder Amaral, in order to satisfy his revenge. For the purpose of assisting him in his design, he bribed Ko-Ahon and Li-Apau, and charged me, together with Chou-Ayau and Chen-A fat, to act as guards on the occasion, so as to prevent people from approaching. All of us agreed to this, and on the 5th day of the 7th moon Sen-chi-leong having heard that Amaral would go out for recreation, he proceeded with us to waylay him. Towards evening, when it was twilight Sen-chi-leong seeing Amaral approach on horseback, went up to him under the pretence that he had a petition to hand him, and said that he had a complaint to prefer; and whilst Amaral was stretching out his hand to receive the paper, Sen-chi-leong drew a sharp knife he had concealed in the handle of his umbrella and commenced stabbing him

in the arm and shoulder, until he fell from his horse, when he immediately cut off his head and hand, and we ran away, each his own way. Chou-Ayan, Chen-Afat, and myself, having afterwards heard that strict search was being made for us, we fled to Hiang-kang, a seaport, from whence we went over to the pirates, whilst with whom Chou-Ayan and Chen-Afat were killed in engagements we had with the English soldiers, and I was afterwards seized by the soldiers of Government and taken to Canton. I pray therefore for

mercy,

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