CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12] — Page 472

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Mr. Julien, broke into the village and undertook a regular pillage, The priest, who was armed with guu and sword, and followed by his loyal companious, took up his quarters in a Catholic chapel, by the erection of which Pak-kong a short time ago was favored, The few Protestant couverts and enquirers who had long suffered from the hatred of the Catholics, as well as of the heathen, fed in all directions as soon as they saw their enemies approaching. The looting is still being carried on they said, the cattle are being slaughtered, the shops plandered, and the harvest which had been gathered in in large quantities, being put into boats which have been requisitioned for the purpose. This was the report Mr. Zahn got from these people, corroborated by others who followed and who assured him that they barely escaped death by the bauds of these robbers, who were armed to the teeth, and whose numbers they estimated to reach at least four hundred.

It would not be easy to describe the astonishment and per- plexity of Mr. Zahn on receiving this report. At last he told these trembling and terror-srieken men that he could not believe their story, but that he was willing to proceed to Pak-kong at once and in- fort the priest of the evil rumours that were in circulation about him and try, if he could, to induce the robbers to leave the village. Since no Chinese ever had dared make an attempt on his life, he thought he might take the risk.

So he went. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when Mr. Zahn, after a somewhat wearisome voyage by boat, arrived at San-tong, a large market town on the bank of the east river. From there he made his way, wholly unarmed, and accompanied by a native helper, to Pak-kong. Thongh Mr. Zahn was warned on the road several times not to go uear, he did not hesitate to enter the village so well known to him through his former visits; but he had not reached the entrance, when suddenly a sound of voices fell upon his ears. The next moment he was surrounded by

a band of about twenty fierce-looking rascals, who rushed upon him from all sides. Violent bands were laid on him, and with a frightful shout- ing and din on the part of his assailants, Mr. Zahu was robbed of his watch and other property, his clothes being torn to shreds. Fisti cuffs and billets were freely used on his head and back. Pistols and naked swords, with which all his aggressors were armed, were put to his face, and the cry was raised : " butcher him!" The same treatment was meted out to his companion.

Both were then dragged along through the entire village, Among his tormentors Mr. Zahın noticed a man who was dressed like a Chinese, but with the queue twisted up round his head and holding in his haud a big gun. This muu leaped in front of Mr. Zahu.

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The fact that his appearance stimulated the uproar, made Mr. Zahn think that this man was the leader of the gang. Though dressed like a Chinese he seemed to Mr. Zahn to be a little different from his companions; but agitated as he was Mr. Zabu could not make ont clearly in what the differance lay. Mr. Zahn's helper, who was dragged along behind him, received a severe blow in the ribs from this assailant, dealt with the butt end of a gun. Mr. Zahn himself has the strongest reason for thinking that he was beaten by this man from behind.

Shortly afterwards Mr. Zahn and his fellow-sufferer were thrown down on the ground. Three ruffians trod upon him, binding his hands and feet. He lay gronning on the ground, every moment expecting to receive his death-blow. After a while the scoundrels proceeded to wind a heavy iron chain about his neck, and the whole band stood grinning round about him, telling him that he was to be mardered the same night.

The man whom Mr. Zahn took for the captain of the robbers having disappeared for a short time, now appeared again, posted himself before his prisoner and asked him from whence he came and what he intended by his visit. Mr. Zahn hearing him use one English word, fancied that his tormentor might possibly belong to the class of Eurasians from Honolulu or the Philippines, who sometimes have some connection with the Chinese rebels. Mr. Zabu therefore asked him whether he could converse in English with him? His tor- mentor sneeringly answered in the negative: "Je suis Français !” Then Mr. Zabu told him in French that he was a German missionary from Tang-kun, whereon he turned away with a look full of hatred, saying: "Je suis, vous êtes Allemand, vous êtes Prussien ! "

After a while this man returned and asked Mr. Zabn in Chinese the same questions, wherenpon be answered: "I wanted to see Mr. Jalien und to speak with him," on which the whole band cried out: "There he is! There he is!" Now the plain truth dawned upon Mr. Zahn's mind, and he marvelled it had not sooner occurred to him that it was Mr. Julien himself who stood before him. He was not aware till then that if one sets out to call on a Catholic priest, one must expect a rough reception,

After a pause Mr. Zahn asked the priest why he was beaten, bound, and even chained by his people? The answer he got was a new surprize to him. "Are you not the missionary who lately went to the German Cousul at Canton and applied for permission to enlist a gang of five hundred robbers and provide them with arms, in order to kill me and my converts?" The Apostle Paul could not have been more astonished when he was asked by the chief captain: "Art thou not then the Egyptian which before these days

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