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band had been brutally murdered. Lockhart and I consulted about the next step and we agreed that the houses of the three men implicated in this cowardly and brutal outrage must be burnt down at once, and this we proceeded to do. The elders voluntarily pointed out the houses, helped to get straw for fuel and, so far from protesting against our measures, they were grateful for the steps taken. The three houses were burnt, precautions being taken against the spread of fire. We returned to Pingshan taking with us Ng Ki-cheung, an elder of Un Long, where the murder had been committed, as we felt sure that this man would be able to give important evidence.
By 10 a.m. a large number of elders of many villages assembled to present petitions praying for mercy and forgiveness. All knew of the murder and agreed that the severest punishment ought to be meted out to the criminals, and were highly pleased at the steps we had taken. They assured us that they had been led away by bad characters, that they sincerely repented of their errors, and promised future good behaviour. All day long petitions kept pouring in and men gave voluntary evidence betraying the origin of the revolt, the names of the ringleaders and the measures taken by them to stir up a rising.
We proceeded to Un Long in the afternoon to burn down the Meeting House in which the murder had been connected, great care being taken to guard against the spread of fire. Again the inhabitants showed their appreciation of the steps taken by us. We found some most damning documentary evidence
22nd.
112
band had been brutally murdered. Lockhart and I consulted about
the next step and we agreed that the houses of the three men
implicated in this cowardly and brutal outrage must be burnt
down at once, and this we proceeded to do. The elders voluntari-
ly pointed out the houses, helped to get straw for fuel and,
so far from protesting against our measures, they were grate-
ful for the steps taken. The three houses were burnt, precau-
tions being taken against the spread of fire. We returned to
Pingshan taking with us Ng Ki-cheung, an elder of Un Long, where
the murder had been committed, as we felt sure that this man
would be able to give important evidence.
By 10 a.m. a large number of elders of many vil-
lages assembled to present petitions praying for mercy and
forgiveness. All knew of the murder and agreed that the seve-
rest punishment ought to be meted out to the criminals, and
were highly pleased at the steps we had taken. They assured us
that they had been led away by bad characters, that they sin-
cerely repented of their errors, and promised future good be-
haviour. All day long petitions kept pouring in and men gave
voluntary evidence betraying the origin of the revolt, the na-
mes of the ringleaders and the measures taken by them to stir
up a rising.
We proceeded to Un Long in the afternoon to
burn down the Meeting House in which the murder had been con-
nected, great care being taken to guard against the spread of
fire. Again the inhabitants showed their appreciation of the
steps taken by us. We found some most damning documentary evi
dence
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