Chinese and after the heights had been taken by assault, mounted one of the hills, whence a fine view was obtainable of the surrounding country, including the mountain of Do-san, about seven miles to the South, which was occupied by the troops composing General Negrier's left wing. Here, at Vending, a rather amusing incident occurred, which might, however, have ended tragically for one poor fellow. While our boat was moored by the river side some of the crew took a ramble alone and one of them, our helmsman, or pilot, as the padrone called him, got arrested and hauled on board one of the gunboats as a Black Flag spy. A letter found upon him, in the Annamite language, was considered strong evidence. He naturally told the officer in charge how he had arrived there, and we were sent for. We could give no previous history of the man, whom indeed we could scarcely identify as a member of our crew. The suspected spy was sent on board the ambulance launch, to be interrogated there by a Spanish padre on board, who, after cross-questioning him and translating the letter pronounced favorably concerning the prisoner, who was afterwards sent back to us on board the boat, the sailors who brought him back expressing themselves in no very friendly terms towards the "English reporters.”
Considerable friction still exists in the relations of the military and naval authorities. I cannot help believing that had Admiral Courbet been in supreme command, the flotilla on the Song-cau would have found a way through the barrier and have got up to Lai-cau in time to do their share of the work. I came down to Hongkong from Buninh by the Bri-maru, a Government boat, and saw something on the way of the manner in which the marine officers carry out the orders of the Commander-in-chief. The captain of our boat had received direct orders from General Millot to proceed as quickly as possible to Haiphong. In spite of these express orders he was stopped twice on the way by junior officers of the naval service; first by the Captain of the Pluvier, who hailed our commander while he was in the act of passing through the barrier, which of course demanded all his attention at the time, and wanted him to return to Bacninh. Again at the Seven Pagodas a little whipper-snapper of a sub-lieutenant, styling himself Commandant du port, not only stopped the vessel after having been informed of the orders she was under, but had the audacity to command the captain to leave his ship and go ashore to wait his highness' pleasure. All this looks very ridiculous to English eyes.
Haiphong, when I arrived, was full of excitement with the news of an act of atrocity committed by a band of pirates near the town. A new steam launch, recently purchased in Hongkong by Mr Villeroi d'Augis and company of his friends, after making one successful trip to Hanoi, had recently started on a second voyage. The launch had a valuable cargo, including some thousands of dollars in specie, besides two junks in tow and several Chinese passengers, and was in charge of a young Frenchman, a partner in the boat, recently in the Haiphong customs' service. Shortly after leaving the port, near the Elephant Mountain, the launch was attacked by a band of pirates from the bank, who were assisted by the Chinese passengers on board. The young Frenchman was stabbed in the back and afterward beheaded, and the engineers and crew, mostly Chinese, were then all killed. One of the junks, which were cut adrift, brought the news to Haiphong.
According to the last intelligence, before I left Haiphong, the launch had been seen, up a creek, some miles from the spot where the attack was made, but was surrounded by pirates still. All the small gunboats being at present up the Song-cau nothing has yet been done to chastise the miscreants or recover the boat, but probably by next mail we shall hear that she has been recovered.
Haiphong itself was for several nights expecting an attack from those banditti, but with the present garrison of nearly four hundred men I think it very improbable that such an event will occur.
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Chinese and after the heights had been taken by assault, mounted one of the hills, whence a fine view was obtainable of the surrounding country, including the moun- tain of Do-san, about seven miles to the South, which Was occupied by the troops composing General Negrier's left wing. Here, at Vending, a rather amusing incident occurred, which might, however, have ended tragically for one poor fellow. While our boat was noored by the river side some of the crew took a ramble alore and one of them, our helmsman, or pilot, as the padrone called him, got arrested and hauled on board one of th⚫ gunboats as a Black Flag apy. A letter found upon him, in the Aunamite language, was considered strong evidence. He naturally told the officer in charge how he had arrived there, and we were sent for. We could give no previous history of the man, whom indeed we could scarcely identify as a member of our crew. The suspected apy was sent on board the ambulance launch, to be inter- rogated there by a Spanish padre on board, who, after cross-questioning him and tran- slating the letter pronounced favorably concerning the prisoner, who was afterwards sent back to us on board the boat, the sailors who brought him back expressing themselves in no very friendly terms towards the "English reporters.”
Considerable friction still exists in the relations of the military and naval authori- ties. I cannot help believing that had Admiral Courbet been in supreme con- mand, the flotilla on the Song-cau would have found a way through the barrier and have got up to Lai-cau in timo to do their share of the work, I came down to Hongkong from Buninh by the Bri-maru, a Government boat, and saw something on the way of the manner in which the marine officers carry out the orders of the Commander-in-chief. The captain of our boat had received direct orders from General Millot to proceed as quickly as possible to Haiphong. In spite of these express orders he was stopped twice on the way by junior officers of the naval service;. first by the Captain of the Plurier, who hailed our commander whi'e he was in the! act of passing through the barrier, which of course demanded all his attention at the time, and wanted him to return to Bacninh. Again at the Seven Pagodas a little whipper- snapper of a sub-lieutenant, styling himself Commandant du port, not only stopped the vessel after having been informed of the orders she was under, but had the audacity
i
to command the captain to leave his ship
and go ashore to wait his highness' pleasure. All this looks very ridiculous to English eyes.
Haiphong, when I arrived, was full of excitement with the news of an act of atrocity committed by a band of pirates ¦ near the town. A new steam launch, recently purchased in Hongkong by Mr Villeroi d'Augis and 1 company of his friends, after making one suc- !cessful trip to Hanoi, had recently
started
started on a second voyage. The launch had a valuable cargo, including some thou- sands of dollars in specie, besides two junks in tow and soveral Chinese passengers, and was in charge of a young Frenchman, a partner in the boat, recently in the Hai- phong customs' service. Shortly after leaving the port, our the Elephant Mountain, the launch was attacked by a band of pirates from the bank, who were assisted by the Chinese passengera on board. The young Frenchman was stabbed in the back and afterward be- headed, and the engineers and crew, mostly Chinese, were then all killed. One of the junks, which were cut adrift, brought the news to Haiphong,
1
According to the last intelligence, before I left Haiphong, the lannch had been seen, up a creek, some miles from the spot where the attack was made, but was surrounded by pirates still. All the small gunboats being at present up the Song-eau nothing has yet been done to chastise the mis- crcants or recover the boat, but probably by next mail we shall hear that she has been recovered.
Haiphong itself was for several nights expecting an attack from those banditti, but with the present garrison of nearly four hundred men I think it very improbable that such an event will occur.
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