CO129-291 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [5-6] — Page 680

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To fight the Barbarians I propose in a rough way.

1. To get the funds. It is the best plan that the six confe-

derations( 6 market places) keep to-gether as we hear. But the

outlay for the soldiers should not be collected by an extraor-

dinary field tax. It is also not right that the various con-

federations should pay the costs. Some of these places have a

large population, and many fields. In these places it could be

arranged in this way, but for instance Thonglak ( alias market

of peace) could not do this. It is a small place and there is

not a large population. How can we follow these orders ? to say

that the head Village of this rising should defray all the

expenses is also not right. The Barbarians are not only prepa-

ring to fight Ngan Tin ( alias Pan Tin) they will go on to the

other Villages. That is then to be done? we should use the

usual field tax. Let first the six confederations come together

to ask our Government for help. Will. the soldiers not come to

help us then let us ask the mandarin for the present not to

ua,

collect the field tax, that we can use the money to meet the

Barbarians. This would not be rebellions. Afterwards in peace-

ful times we could pay our Duties to the Government. Should the

Government not have compassion with us, nothing would be left

than to fight against it. That is the best plan I can proposé.

Soldiers