CO129-290 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [1-4] — Page 765

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mities that would overtake me hereafter. My ancestors having been occupiers of the soil for generations, how could I bear this change? Moreover, I was afraid that the laws & customs of the West & China not being the same, many difficulties would arise & false reports were also spread that cattle & swine would be taxed; that women would be violated, that fishing & wood cutting would be prohibited. The writer was misled by these rumours which he believed.

Another deliberation was held and the matter was finally settled. Tang A Tung of Wang Toi Shan of the Pat Heung district proposed that a reward should be issued for the arrest of traitors. But I strenuously tried to prevent this, but I was not present at the meeting.

I have always avoided trouble and looked after my own affairs.

But having seen what I thought was the right course to adopt, I boldly followed it & many followed my example. Further, being a graduate of many years standing, my name appears in the correspondence which has taken place, though the matter in question did not pass through my hands.

The trouble having once begun, it was impossible to stop it, and being coerced by the majority, the gentry became powerless. Fighting began and ended in a disastrous defeat on the 8th. (17th April).

On the 9th. (18th April) I came to the camp at Sheung Tsun to yield submission when I was treated with clemency far beyond my deserts.

Unfortunately, the men from the Ping Shan and Ha...