6
It is now said that the barbarian merchants of the different nations have deputed some one to England to denounce the English devil Governor (or Admiral).
The devils are, in my opinion, in a bad way, and have made this attack on Tung-chung because they could not vent their spleen elsewhere. Cowloon is so close that it is easy to watch them thence, and it will be impossible not to have everything ready (for its defence) in good time.
(Applies for arms and ammunition, &c., &c.)
(Translation.)
Inclosure 7.
Chan-tsze-tin to Chan-kwei-tsih.
February 21.
MAN-HING'S* nephew returned to the Committee yesterday to report the state of things in the camp.
This morning the English barbarians sent a note to the office of Cheung (Commandant of Tai-pong, residing at Cowloon).
At noon a steamer, towing 6 or 7 devil-boats, with 300 devil-soldiers, brought over several tens of outlaws.
A hundred or more devils, all armed with muskets, and several tens of traitorous Chinese, came to the beach of Cowloon, but did not venture to enter the streets. Some of the elderly people of the place spoke to them, and then a military mandarin went out and conferred with the devils. To him the English barbarians handed over the outlaws, and they were imprisoned in the fort. There were also three English devils and two traitorous Chinese who came into the military station what passed with them I do not know. After about two hours' stay, they went on board and sailed away.
The Cowloon people were in great alarm, expecting that there would be a fight. The neighbouring villages also made ready, and my braves turned out and lay in their camp waiting to march out.
In the afternoon, one (or some) of my braves came to report what he had seen, and I thus knew that the English devils had sailed away. What their purpose (or meaning) may be, it is indeed difficult for any one to divine.
came to Sha-tin after breakfast,
A man, or men, named
and said that the Indian ("Molo") devil-soldiers who had come were very miserable wretches, and unfit for service. They looked as if they were ill. Five or six-tenths of them have no breeches to put on, and they are all wrapped or swathed in ragged blankets and coverlids. They are now building mat-sheds on the parade-ground by the barracks.
It has been said, lately, that 3,000 devil-troops are coming, and for some days they have been embarking guns and other arms, it is said, first to attack Nam-ton, and afterwards Canton. The police (lit. green jacket) devils say that there is to be this one fight more, by which they are to stand or fall; if they are beaten, they will be willing to sue for peace; if they cannot obtain peace, then they will go home to England.
He also reports that there are 100 persons or more engaged in supplying Hong Kong from different points of this (the central) division of the coast, all along the neighbourhood of Tsin-wan. Six vessels had been seized by the Tsin-wan braves, and had been ransomed for 72 dollars. I think it would be best to send an active gentleman to enforce the interdict at Tsin-wan, or the practice of supplying (Hong Kong) will go farther.
Ki-nin says the Tsin-wan flour-shop has opened again, and advises me to take a party of braves thither, and shut it up. request your instructions on this point.
I shall be obliged to you to give to the two braves, Leung and Wan-a-tsei, sent herewith, some thirty or forty catties of powder and twenty catties of bullets, to bring back with them."
* Otherwise mentioned as Man-tsap-shin, who gave notice beforehand of the destruction of Duddell's bakery, and had himself undertaken to fire Victoria.-See Inclosure No. 9.
(Translation.)
7
Inclosure 8.
Man-hing to Chan-tsze-tin.
February 21. I REACHED San-on yesterday evening at 6, and reported all that you desired. The General Committee of San-on had desired Tong-tsze-ki, who had brought in another devil's head, to take it on to Canton and report his service (i. e. claim his reward). The head of the devil in question was taken by some other vessel (not Tong's). She fell in with a devil's boat of Kap-shui-mun Pai- wan (Aberdeen is probably meant); the devils took to the land, and so she only got this one head which was brought to the Committee.
The Canton Committee are giving now only thirty taels for devils taken, whether dead or alive (interlined); for a devil's head they will perhaps give thirty dollars, but I am not sure. The San-on Committee (consequently) do not now much prize devils' heads. The money that was sent to reward the captors of the devils taken some days ago caused several days' discussion. Tsu-kwei and the rest then consented to receive it.
If you, my uncle, wish the braves of your camp to set about this service of taking devils' heads, it would be well that you told them plainly (what they will get); there will be no occasion (I think) to be very eager about it from this time forth (i. e. because it does not pay).
My uncle, Chan-kwei-tsih, and Tse-fung are much pleased with the pro- position to destroy houses (viz. Hong Kong).
A reduction of the braves is contemplated, as there are too many, &c.
(Translation.)
Inclosure 9.
Yu-ki-nin to Chan-tsze-tin.
February 25. I WRITE in haste to say that, with reference to the undertaking proposed by the (San-on) Committee some time since, and which Man-tsap-shin engaged at your place to carry out on the 23rd February, he has come to me to say that the attempt was made on the night in question in rear of the Tung-li mat- buildings establishment, but that other persons (?) coming to the rescue it failed. He therefore begs for more time, and engages between the 3rd and 6th of the moon to fire all the line of hongs to the left of the police-station at the Kung-sze in the Ha-wan (Commissariat), or else to try the Canton Bazaar, or both it and the others. I will inform you of the result, &c.
(Translation.)
Inclosure 10.
Su-ting-kweit to Chan-kwei-tsih and Tse-tsok-ko.
March 4.
I RECEIVED a letter from you yesterday. Your proposition to reduce the braves, for the sake of economy, is evidence of your thoughtfulness, which is grateful to his Excellency.
But as there is a report (or, we have news) that the English barbarians are going to acknowledge their transgression, and that the different nations are united in their entreaties for trade; the net being thus open on one side, attacks and captures would be inexpedient. It will be better, therefore, to suspend the execution of your projects of incendiarism and seizure of vessels, and I intimate as much to you, that we may be on our guard against a struggle such as beasts make when surrounded, as this would give some trouble to his Excellency the Governor-General.
* Man-hing, or Man-tsap-shin. See Notc, page 6.
Su-ting-kwei, a subordinate censor, now in Kwang-tung, in mourning; residing at Canton, and corresponding with Chan-kwei-tsih, as member of the Chief Committee.
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