eap
stirred to sedition and led out unto the wilderness the four thou
sand men that were murderers ?” than was Mr. Zahn at this question. But this was not enough! The priest knew further that these five hundred men were concealed in the neighbourhood, and he had certain information that these same men were led by Mr. Zahn himself and that it was intended to make an inroad on Pak-kong that might in order to perpetuate the hideous crimes which they had already concocted. Mr. Zahn on hearing this story, so ingenious and complete a turning upside down of the real state of things, might well, if his hands had not been bound, have used them to rub his own eyes and so convince himself that he was not dreaming. Under the circumstances, however, he could only express his astonishment in words, telling the priest that he, Mr. Zahn, neither went to Canton, nor was authorized by the German Consul to play the part of a captain of robbers, and that the thought of making a hostile inroad upon a peaceful village like Pak-kong, in order to murder a Catholic priest or Chinese Catholics or rob, never entered his mind. Though the priest seemed a little put out of countenance, upon hearing Mr. Zahn defend himself, his face resumed its scornful expression as soon as he heard the surrounding Chinese telling him that Mr. Zahn was an impudent liar, who was not worth listening to. Finally he asked his prisoner whether he would promise to disband his followers and prevent them from attacking his, the French priest's, people; then he would loose him from his chains. Mr. Zahn told him that he could not do this since the band of robbers spoken of was purely imaginary.
After a little while Mr. Zahn was released from his fetters. The priest gave him, instead of his own wholly tattered, blood-stained garments, a suit of Chinese clothes. He was also desirous to get some food for Mr. Zahn and his companion, but said that he would cause him to be fettered again if the attack he spoke of was carried into effect. The terror of the priest, who seemed to really believe Mr. Zahn to be a captain of robbers, seemed almost contemptible to his prisoner. Since he seemed to be not more than about twenty-five years old, Mr. Zahn excused him for not knowing that the weapons of Protestant missions were not swords, pistols or cannon balls, of which last he saw one lying in the chapel! No doubt it was merely a means of self-defence, as were also the gun and sword with which this priest was armed! The Chinese who spoke to him on bended knees had filled his mind with these evil stories, and he in child-like innocence believed all they said! They also accused Mr. Zahn of having severely wounded two men at the time of his arrest. The priest was foolish enough to believe this also. He ordered Mr. Zahn to pay an indemnity, but finding that all his money had been stolen, he commanded him to write a letter to Dr. Kuhne at Tung-kun and to ask that $20 be paid! Mr. Zahn did as he was bidden, in order to get his people at Tang-kun informed of his whereabouts and his helpless condition. Afterwards he examined the two persons reported as hurt, and ascertained that they suffered from old wounds, certainly not caused by any kicks administered by him. When he invited them to bring these two sufferers to their hospital at Tang-kun, where they would be treated by their doctor,
He was received the answer that this was impracticable. told why.
not
Meanwhile the night drew on. No evening prayers were held as is the practice in Protestant chapels. The fierce-looking men with their arms, squatting on the floor, the remnants of the beasts butchered en masse and the sentries set on watch here and there all reminded Mr. Zahn of a den of robbers rather than of a Christian chapel. Before he went to rest the priest examined the sentries and asked: "All ready"?
Mr. Zahn was directed to sleep on a Chinese bed, while his fellow-sufferer had to spend the whole night on a stool, with a heavy chain around his neck. A sentry was posted at Mr. Zahn's side, with strict orders to kill him as soon as the "Protestant robbers" came in sight.
What else happened that evening—the conversation between the priest and his prisoner, the diabolical calumnies alleged by the Chinese against Mr. Zahn (the priest himself did not blush to allege in the presence of these villains that the Protestant church was an institution full of immorality and obscenity)—of these we will say no more.
The next morning was Sunday. The priest who seemed to be in more complete possession of his senses than he was on the night before, became distinctly more friendly. He asked his prisoner how he slept, and what he wanted to eat. Finally he told him that he was at liberty to go home, but that his companion, who, he said was a most pestilent fellow, was to stay in bonds. It was not until Mr. Zahn emphatically declared that he would not leave the place without his companion, that the latter also was unfettered and allowed to go where he liked. Sunday evening both arrived completely exhausted at Tung-kun, where the whole community was in a state of alarm at the frightful reports that were current, and full of anxiety for Mr. Zahn's safety.
Père Julien remained three days longer at Pak-kong and did not move a finger to hinder his people from taking away the entire harvest, not only of Pak-kong, but also of the adjacent village fields. The houses of the Protestant converts and inquirers have
Page 470
eap
stirred to sedition and led out unto the wilderness the four thou
op sand men that were murderers ?” than was Mr. Zahın at this question. But this was not enough! The priest knew further that these five hundred men were concealed in the neighbourhood, and he had certain information that these same men were led by Mr. Zahu himself and that it was intended to make an inroad on Pak-kong that might in order to perpetrate the hidious crimes which they had already concocted. Mr. Zahn on hearing this story, so ingenious and complete a turning upside down of the real state of things, might well, if his hands had not been bound, have used them to rub his own eyes and so convince himself that he was not dreaming. Under the circumstances, however, he could only express his astonishment in words, telling the priest that he, Mr. Zahn, neither went to Canton, nor was authorized by the German Consul to play the part of a captain of robbers, and that the thought of making a hostile inroad upon a peaceful village like Pak-kong, in order to murder a Catholic priest or Chinese Catholics or rob, never entered his mind. Though the priest seemed a little put out of countenance, upon heuring Mr. Zahn defend himself, his face resumed its scoruful expression as soon as he heard the surrounding Chinese telling him that Mr. Zahn was an impudent liar, who was not worth listening to. Finally he asked his prisoner whether he would promise to disband his followers and prevent them from attacking his, the French priest's, people; then he would loose him from his chains. Mr. Zahn told him that he could not do this since the band of robbers spoken of was purely imaginary.
After a little while Mr. Zaho was released from his fetters. The priest gave him, instead of his own wholly tattered, blood-stajumd garments, a suit of Chinese clothes. He was also desirous to get some food for Mr. Zahu and his companion, but said that he would cause him to be fettered again if the attack he spoke of was carried into effect. The terror of the priest, who seemed to really believe Mr. Zahu to be a captain of robbers, seemed almost contempt- ible to his prisoner. Since he seemed to be not more than about twenty-five years old, Mr. Zahn excused him for not knowing that the weapons of Protestant missions were not swords, pistols or can- non balls, of which last he saw one lying in the chapel! No doubt it was merely a means of self-defence, as were also the gun and sword with which this priest was armed! The Chinese who spoke to him on bended kuees had filled his mind with these evil stories, and he in child-like innocence believed all they said! They also accused Mr. Zahu of having severely wounded two men at the time of his arrest. The priest was foolish enough to believe this also. He ordered Mr. Zahn to pay an indemnity, but finding that all his money had been
stolen, he commanded him to write a letter to Dr. Kuhne at Tung. kun and to ask that $20 be paid! Mr. Zabu did as he was bidden, in order to get his people at Tang-kun informed of his whereabouts and his helpless condition. Afterwards he examined the two persons reported as hurt, and ascertained that they suffered from old wounds, certainly not caused by any kicks administered by him. When he invited them to bring these two sufferers to our hospital at Tang-kun, where they would be treated by our doctor, Mr. Zahn
He was received the answer that this was impracticable. told why.
not
Meanwhile the night drew on. No evening prayers were held as is the practice in Protestant chapels. The fierce-looking men with their arms, squatting on the floor, the remnants of the beasts butchered en masse and the sentries set on watch here and there all reminded Mr. Zahn of a den of robbers rather than of a Christian chapel. Before he went to rest the priest examined the sentries and asked: "All ready"?
Mr. Zahn was directed to sleep on a Chinese bed, while his fellow-sufferer had to spend the whole night on a stoool, with a heavy chain around his neck. A sentry was posted at Mr. Zahn's side, with strict orders to kill bim as soon as the "Protestant robbers " came in sight.
What else happened that evening-the conversation between the priest and his prisoner, the diabolical calumnies alleged by the Chinese against Mr. Zahu (the priest hitself did not blush to allege in the presence of these villains that the Protestant church was an institution full of immorality and obsceneness)—of these we will say no more.
The next morning was Sunday. The priest who seemed to be in more complete possession of his senses than he was on the night before, became distinctly more friendly. He asked his prisoner how he slept, and what he wanted to eat. Finally he told him that he was at liberty to go home, but that his companion, who, he said was a most pestilent fellow, was to stay in bonds. It was not until Mr. Zahn emphatically declared that he would not leave the place without his companion, that the latter also was unfettered and al- lowed to go where he liked. Sunday evening both arrived com- pletely exhausted at Tung-kun, where the whole community was in a state of alarm at the frightful reports that were current, aud full of anxiety for Mr. Zahn's safety.
Père Julien remained three days longer at Pak-kong and did not move a finger to hinder his people from taking away the entire harvest, not only of Pak-kong, but also of the adjacent village fields. The houses of the Protestant converts and inquirers have
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