395
THE FAMINE IN SHANTUNG.
To the Editor of
THE SHANGHAI COURIER AND CHINA GAZETTE.
Sir,-The suffering here is terrible. Almost the whole province of Shantung suffers severely from the effects of the drought of last year; but the suffering of the eight hien, for the relief of which the Government has made a grant of Tls. 45,000 (a mere pittance for such a calamity) is beyond description. These eight hien are Lin-k'ü, I-in, Ch'ang-lo, Wei-hien, Tungan, Show-kwang, Lin-tsz, Fo-bing. Of these, Liu-k'ü, which suffers most, received Tls. 10,000 for relief.
In the course of my inquiries, I visited twenty villages. At Li-kin-chwang, out of a hundred families, formerly well off, thirty persons were already dead of starvation. At Fo-wang, out of sixty families, forty persons were dead, and many gone away. At Min-seong, out of forty families, forty individuals had perished.
These are not picked out as specimens of the greatest suffering. In the same twenty li, I saw a man dead on the roadside, with a dog watching his corpse. Before I went out of sight of this distressing spectacle, I met a father and son carrying a beam back with them. They had come thirty li to sell it for fuel and would get only one hundred and fifty cash for it. The son had not recovered from illness, but was forced to get up or starve.
Entering one of the villages, I inquired if everyone had starved. "As for starving, there is this house," they said, "it had seven persons two months ago, only a boy of thirteen remains, and who will die in a day or two." (This boy I took under my care).
A few li further on, a number of people were picking grain husks from a corpse close by. At the end of the twenty li, we found that the only schoolmaster in that village had died of starvation a few days ago. I took in his starving boy.
The cases just mentioned occurred within such a short distance as twenty li. I do not complete the list. I have another little boy, the only one left of a family of six. The grandmother committed suicide, the father and a sister died of starvation, another sister was sold, the mother got married (anything to live).
Many people eat grain-husks, potato stalks, and cha bark, buckwheat stalks, and grass reeds which they gather in the fields and dry. When these are exhausted, they pull down their houses, sell their timber, and it is reported everywhere that many eat the rotten kaoliang reeds (stalks) from the roof and the dried leaves of which they usually burn for fuel.
Of their clothing, little remains, and many take refuge in pits built underground to keep themselves warm by the fetid breath of the crowd, which is bought dearly. In the suburb of Ching-chow city, there are four such pits. One has heaps of doors and windows cast up for fuel.
Every village presents the appearance of desolation. Villagers of 300 families report 800 dead of starvation; villages of 300 report one hundred persons dead.
The suffering is far more intense than that caused by the rebels. Land to sell can only be disposed of at an astounding reduction of 80 per cent. One hundred thousand worth is now daily sold at fifteen thousand.
It is seriously calculated that in many villages only half of the inhabitants will see the wheat ripen. I trust that for this extraordinary distress, extraordinary generosity will be shown. It is not charity to the poor for which I plead, but life to the dead.
There is not a moment to be lost—thousands are dying while I write, and thousands more will have died before this can reach you. The mortality is on the increase.
The ground is covered with corpses so that the poor creatures can pick up nothing to stay the pangs of their hunger. Three months hence, some weeds will grow, and on these the poor creatures can support themselves.
The Government is far too careless (or rather helpless). Let us foreigners show a better example and help our fellowmen.
Instead of indiscriminately distributing the balance of the money forwarded to me by the Rev. J. Lees, I have opened four places at Show-kwang, a big hien, which contains one thousand six hundred villages.
A moderate hien has about a thousand villages. Leave you to calculate the thousands upon thousands which must have perished already.
One of a family of four, three are dead of starvation, and the fourth, a little boy, is under my care; another little boy not recovered from small-pox was brought to me because his father died last night.
A young woman of twenty was found dead in a temple close by this morning. "Who is dead or dying?" is the subject of everybody's conversation, and the worst is yet to come, I fear.
The number of those who go for gruel daily is so great that they get only six or eight cash worth each (and that is not at the cheap rate of Tls. 0.30 per day).
Many have had nothing but this to live upon for some time. Such people are getting so weak that young women of twenty cannot walk the distance of ten li for it, so they will linger on for a few days and die.
If it is thus with the youths, what must be the condition of children and old people? There is no help for them but to wait their doom.
What I have done for those with the money at my disposal, I will let you know at another time.
Besides those now at home, as many and probably more families have broken up forever, each one to struggle for life as shipwrecked sailors struggle with the waves.
Many parents will never see their children again, and many children will come back to learn that their parents have died from the famine.
Such suffering is sufficient to wring the hardest heart. The snow is on the ground, and the poor creatures are not only starving but facing death.
None could see their pitiable condition without helping them. Cannot the natives of Shanghai be also stirred up to do something for Lin-k'ü, which is said to be suffering most intensely also?
Besides crying to Heaven for the grand mercy they have had in the neighbourhood of Shanghai, perhaps pity for their fellowmen will surely yield something.
Alas! there are no means of speedy communication, but I will yet wait on in faith, believing that some measure of succor will be sent.
Not since the 1st year of Kian-lung, ninety years ago, has there been any such suffering in this province as now exists.
The cry of thousands in agony from hunger and cold day and night incessantly is ringing in our ears, and by generous and immediate aid, many of them may yet be saved.
Three months hence, it will be too late.
In one hien, the suffering is far less efficiently relieved there than in other places.
Yours truly,
12th February.
TIMOTHY RICHARD.
DEAR SIR,-
Since writing the above, my teacher, whom I sent three days ago to make inquiries about Lin-k'ü, returned, and gives still more harrowing accounts of things there.
One village with one hundred and eighty inhabitants last summer, now there remain ninety-three only, forty are dead, and the rest gone away.
Considering the number of the dead and the expense of burying, a pit has been dug in the south-east suburb. It is called Nan-she-king (ten thousand man pit), and there the dead are buried.
I have received private letters from the Rev. A. Toussaint of I-chow-fu, from which I learn that the residents and natives there are doing all they can to relieve the distress in the interior as well as that of the sufferers who have come to I-chow-fu.
There he saw some of the few dogs able to stand, feeding on the corpses.
Speaking after careful calculation, in the language of sober and truth, it is said that one-half of the people in many villages of Lin-k'ü will not live to see the wheat crop ripen.
I am also informed that corn can be procured in the famine-stricken district, so that money will afford ready means of relief.
The Rev. Dr. Nevins has started for Ching-chow, which he hopes to reach by the 15th of this month, and the Rev. Mr. Corbett follows him at once.
The distribution of such funds as may be sent to the sufferers will therefore be easy, as up to the latest dates of Mr. Richard's letters, the people were remarkably quiet, suffering in patience.
I have also received several reports of the distress written in Chinese. These will be used through the Shanghai and other channels to inform the natives of the extent of the sufferings of their countrymen.
It is intended to have the matter brought before some of the energetic and wealthy Chinese of the settlement so as to have a relief fund begun among them.
It is also proposed to appeal to all the open ports of China and Japan as well as to the Straits Settlements.
I am instructed to state that the British and United States Consuls at Chefoo will immediately transmit to the three gentlemen I have named all sums sent to them.
Yours truly,
JAMES TUPPER.
Shanghai, 7th March, 1877.
395
THE FAMINE IN SHANTUNG.
To the Editor of
THE SHARDHAI COURIER AND CHITA GAZETTE.
families, forty-seven indistanais bad died of starvation. Aş Li-kin-chwang, out of a hundred families, formerly well off, BIG, -The auffering here is terrible. Almost the whole pro-thirty persons were obrany dead of starvation. A Fo-wang, vince of Shantung suffera severely from the efcats of the out of sixty families, forty persons were dend, und arty gone drought of last year; but the suffering of the eight hiens, for Away. At Min-seong, out of furry families, forty individuais the relief of which the Government has made a grant of Tis. had perisired. These are the only villages I made inquities at 45,000 (a mere pittance for such a calamity) is beyond descrip that day. They are not picked out as specimens of the great- tion. These eight hiers are Lin-k'ü, 1-in, Ch'ang-lo, Way. est suffering. In the same twenty I saw a maz dead on bleu, Tongan, Show-kwang, Lin-tsz, Fo-bing. Of these, Liu. the roadside, with a dog watching his ominomaly. Before 1 k', which exfeve most, received Tls. 10,000 for a relief. And gone out of sight of this atressing spectacle I met a are in Ching-chow Fn excopt Way-dies. Much sad aliange father and son carrying a beat back with sout. They had bas come over the place during the last two mouths. Although thirty li to go to sell it for fuel and would get only one hundred the distribution of gruel has been doubled yet the saltering is a fifty cash for it. The son bad not recovered from stail- move than doubled, for the people base enter up the little crops, but was liged to get up or starve. Entering the village they got in the autumn and now they are in the direst plight, which was then before us, and inquiring if ery bad starved in In the summer the great ory of the mass of the peoplo was for it, they and a great ranny had starved, and as many moro rain, ruin. Now it is for very life. Having Buished their covu were sold "As for starving there is this house," they sail, "it had seven persons two months ago, only a buy of thirteen. they eat grain-husks, potatoe stalks and cha bark, buckwheat stalks, torrdy leaves, and grass reeds which they gather in the remains, and who will die in a day or two." (This boy I Helds and Flove the dust off. When these are shaped they took under my care). A few li further on, a mmier of rate pull down their hotsce, sell their tiraber, and it is reportedi ples were picking a skall freio u corpse close by. At me eud everywhere that many eat the retten kuoliang reeds fsorgan of the twenty di we found that she only schoolranster in that sisike) from the roof and the dried leaves of which they usually village had died of starvation a few days ago. I took in his starting boy. The and eases just muntioned as accurring burn for fast. Of their caling fast-leaves there is no doubt. Thomas eat them and thensands die boeruse they causet within such a short distance as twenty i do not compiete get oven that. They sell their slothes and children. Having the list. I baro another little boy. the only one left of a he clothing left to protect them from the cold many tak ze family of six. The grandmother committed sniedz, the father fuge in pits built under-ground to keep themselves warm by and a sister died of starvation, another mater was seld, the the fetid breath of the crowd, which is bought dearly. In the mother got married (anything to live). Every market enat suburb of Ching-show city there are four suck pits. One has heaps of doors and windows cas up for feel. Every villag third of the number (240; originally pat in them are now deal as inases palled down, and the country presents the appear- within six weeks aul Fat no our is one corpsn carried out this diference, that the suffering naised by the rebols over n ence it may bara done had a raid of rebels passed over is, with than a crowd is struggling for the place! Those who here land to sell can only dispose of it at this astounding reduction of 86 per cent. One hundred thousand worth is now daily sold at fifteen thousan:1 / Villager of 300 families rsport 800 dead of starvation; villages of 300 report one handed pores દોરવો.
large extent is of far shorter dination. It is seriously calculated ut iu very any villager only half of the lahebitants will see the wheat ripa. I trust thee for this extraordinay distress ex• ordinary generosity will be shown. It is not charity to the | poor for which I plead, but life to the dead. There is not a mos mens to foss-threads lio dying while I write and thousands norwil bave died before this can reach you. The mortailly is Sue covers the ground so that the daily on the increase. pour creatures can pick up nothing to stay the pangs of their
ring hunger. Three months hence some weeds will grow to bress will be a leaf, and on these the poor ematares can support themselves. Now the frozen gruvad yields nothing int pits for the dewi The Goversident is far voo caricas 100 rather helpless). Let us foreigners show a better example and halp our feilownier. Instead of indiscriminately distributing the balance of the mendes forwarded to the by the itev. J.
receiving orphans and ftands, I have opened four places
Show kwang, a big Lion, contains one thousand six hundred vilingen. A moderate bien bas about a thousand vlages. leave you to calculate the thousands upon thousands which must have perished aiready. Ons of a family of four, threa re tead of starvation and the fourth, a litle boy, is under tuy care; another little boy not recovered from small-pez was brought to me because his father died last night. A young womas of twenty was found dead in a temple close by this morning, Who is dead or dying? is the subject of everybody's converen tion and the worst a yet to come, i fear. The number of those who go for gruel daily is zo geent that they get culy aiz or eight canh worth sach (and that is not at the cheap rate of Thotang, the Rev. W. Muchond, the Mieses Lataan and other Sinnghat). Many have had nothing but this to live upon for some time. Sueli people are getting so work that young when of twenty cannot walk the distance of ten i for it, so they we fall of silvar value, and the rise of the price of grain it will Huger on a few days and die. If it is the with the youths, take a dollar and a quarter to provide for one child Dev a month. what must be the condition of children and old peoplo ? There Who will volunteer to be father or other of these poor or- is no help for them but to wait their doom. What I have plaas, for Shree or four months? Five doilors will sure four done for those with the money at my diaprsul I will let you every month, five thousand dollars will save four thousand Hyse know at another time.-besides those now at home, as many and probably more, if relief aan te affunded upon anything tha families have broken up for ever each one to snuggle for lifees, have given already, pediays more than ouse; but I ha- nu extensvn scale. Many, doubtless, who will real tness
as shipwrecked sailore struggle with the waves. Many parents
have utulertaken to support thua stafil the Essaise is over. With
will never see their children again and many children will plero your pity to be moved yet again. The snow is on the come back to learn that their parents have died from the ground end the poor creatures are not only starving bus fece famine. Such suffering la sufficient to wring the hardest heart.ing to douth.
None could see their pitiablo condition without helping them. Cannot the untives of Shanghai be also stirred up to do Yet though the cry of the starving and the dying be only fae.omething for Lin kit in, which is said to be suffering sost bly school, by anchor's rains, surely it will at be in vain.intersely al ali? Besides grutiinio to Heaven for the gand lur Alas! there are no means of speedy communication, but I will yet they have had in the neighbourhood of Shaghai, pars pity wait on in faith, believing that some measure of su4osar will for their fellowmet will surely yield something and something be pert. Net since the 1st year of Kian-ding, ainety years Government is grantal more money to Link' than to any great for the alleviation of such terrilla distress. Thought the
ngo, has there been any such euffering in this province as now exists. The ary of thousands in agony Evom hunger and coil day and night incessantly is rigging in our ears and by gener- ous and immediate aid ruany of tham may yet be saved. Tarra
onths hence it will be too late.
one hien basies, the sutoring is far loss afficiently relieved there than in other places.
Yours truly,
12th February.
TIMOTHY RICHAMP.
DEAR SIE,- forwarding the anelcsod labera from the
P.5-Sínco writing the above. my teacher, whore I saut three days ago to make inquiries about Lin-k'ü, srvived, and gives atil more and accounts of things thoro. Õie village und one hundred and eighty inhabitacie laat summer, now there re- main ninety-three only, forty are dead, and the rest gone away. Rev. T. Richard I shall be giad if you will allow me through Considering the number of this dond and the expense of bars. Four colazaus, to intovin the public, that from private letters ing, a pit has been dng in the ucrib-east suburb. It is called which I bave received from the Rev. A. Touea of Onefoo, I Nan-she-king (ten thousand man pit), and there the dead are learu that the residents and nativee Jere are doing all they cast. There he saw some of the few dogs abil unssten, faed-ean to siá in relieving the distress in the interior as well as ing on the oorgans. Speaking after carefal calculation in the hat of the sufferers who have come to Chofun. langenge of sober and truth, 18 is said that one-half of the I am also informed that corn can be procured in the famine people in many villages of Lin-k'ü will not Eve to see the stricken diatriate, so that money will afford ready means of wheat crop ripen. You will not believe me if I add more.relief. The Rev. Dr. Kevins has started for Ching-chow, which Are there not natives as well as foreiguera, who will contribute after learning of the heartrending culatnities of their follow.
Youra vory tray,
Jen?
TIMOTHY THCHARD,
he hopes to reach by the 15th of this month, and the Rev. Mr. Corbett follows hd at once. The distribution of stick funds as may be sent to the sufferera will therefore be easy, as up to the tutest dates of Mr. Richard's letters the people wors remark. ably quiet, sattering in patience.
Ciding-ohow Fu, 5th Feb., 1877.
I have also received severni reports of the distress writton in Chinese, These will be used through the Shagas and in other Since writing last I have been out every day to make far-weya, to inform the nativos of the extent of the sporings of ther arrangements towards relieving the distress of the many their countrymen. It is intended to bave the matter brought thousands who are starving. In the seven places in the before some of the energetic and wealthy Chinese of the auttle eastern half of Ea en alone, there are in encl: from six tamont so as to have a rellaf fund begun among thera. It is also leu thousands, getting millet gruel. In one of these places, proposed to appeal to all the open ports of Chica and Japau as Kas-sbing-Yang, there are often from fifteen to twenty then woll as to the Straits Settlements.
sand. One day wishin twenty of road travelled, I got the I au instructed to state that the Briksh an: United States following informatiou At Chri-kien, a villege of two hundred Consuls at Chefoe will hummediately transtuit to the thres gen- families, I found that thirty fandlies had pulled down their tlemen I have used all suns sent to them. Lonses to sell the timber wud batch for food; thirty families bad gone away, and twonty individuals were dead from starva- tion. At Klang-kia-low, with a population of thirty to forty
Yours truly,
JAMEH TUGAR.
Shanghal, 7th Mareb, 1877.
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