CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12] — Page 591

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both to British interests and prestige, and to British

trade. British and Chinese launches have been "held up"

even between Canton and Whampoa on three occasions since

I have been here by gangs of twelve or fourteen men all armed

with revolvers. Gangs of desperadoes loaf about the streets

of Canton and frequently when they see a chance, as happened

1

not long ago on the premises of a British fira,rush in,

terrorize the employe's by presenting revolvers at their

heads, and then get clear off through the crowded streets

in broad day-light, with their booty, in the above case

consisting of $600.

Many complaints have reached me of Chinese

merchants under contract to British firms being unable

to carry out their engagements owing to the fact that they

could not send money up country and bring goods down. Even

after their statements are discounted, and they need a good

deal of discounting, the fact remains that the lawless

and armed state of the people is so notorious that such

statements were held likely to be listened to.

The state of affairs on the West and North

Rivers has lately been the occasion of representations

from the Colonial Government to the Viceroy through this

Consulate