CO129-151 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [7-8] — Page 206

3.

believe that the well had been

poisoned ? I think they believed that it had been sentimentally rather than materially poisoned;

for they

are

purifying it by stiching up red paper, tinsel, flowers, and

invocations to the god of the well,

and that is all they

are

doing

tor

cleanse it; in the meantime the well

is closed however!

Igo into the city evvery

morning,

any

and if I observe difference at all in the demeanour

of the people, it is that the men

are

"

sharper in checking the boys when they say "foreign devil, than they were before the excitement.

203

The Viceroy's proclamation had

-way good effect; the authorities were accused of being prevented punishing pill dealers by the foreigners ; the Viveray

contradicted that by

proclaiming that he had bicheaded such man; poor fellow ! he was perfectly innocent, but how been sacrificed the altar of expedienay, to satisfy the

made

: prejudices of the people. Theré prodlamation allusion to foreigners, which I think was mise for present per faded,

but whether our permanent interests would be better served by an official denial of our participation in the

not, is another question_

matter

ON

I will let you know if anything