7
use as coolies. As a result of these quarrels some rather badly-wounded men have been treated in the Mission Hospital.
Swatow.
State of the District.--Normal conditions prevailed throughout the district during the last few months of 1907. Local disturbances were comparatively few and insignificant. The outlook should, therefore, be peaceful, but the provincial and local authorities seem to be in a nervous condition and every trifling disturbance in the interior, for which the southern part of China is noted, is at once ascribed to the machinations of the revolutionary party. The greatest vigilance is being shown in the search for contraband which persistent rumours declare is being freely smuggled into the district from Hong Kong and Macao.
The Maritime Customs have received special orders on the subject and certain suspected vessels have been thoroughly searched, but in no case have any seizures been made. Search has also been made for depots of arms alleged to exist in the hills along the coast, but with no result. Whether there is really any foundation for these rumours it is impossible to say, but it seems quite clear that there is an attempt to get up an excitement, The usual explanation is that the revolutionary party are at the bottom of it all, but this seems hardly likely as it cannot be to their interest that too much attention should be drawn to their proceedings. It may probably be due to a confused idea that "something is going to happen" in this part of the world; everyone is on the look-out and all sorts of rumours, however widely improbable, are readily believed and passed on from one native to another.
Ningpo.
Agitation against Foreign Railway Loan.-During the months of November there was considerable agitation over the railway loan and many meetings were held in Ningpo to protest against it. It soon became evident, however, that the agitation was being fomented by a few interested parties, and that the bulk of the people took very little interest in the movement. Its chief supporters were the pupils of the numerous colleges and schools of foreign education established lately at Ningpo and most of them were boys. A few of the bankers and merchants also took up the matter and issued shares with a view to assisting in obtaining the necessary capital for the Chinese to construct the line themselves. These shares were of the value of 50 dollars each, but fractional shares of 5 dollars were also issued so that the poorer classes might be able to contribute. In spite of a house to house canvass to induce people to take up these shares the people do not seem to have been much taken with the scheme. The leaders of the agitation have been very careful to warn their followers from any acts of violence to which foreigners could take exception knowing that they would be held responsible in the event of any trouble arising. The district has been perfectly quiet therefore during the agitation, and missionaries travelling about have reported that they have noticed no difference in the usual civil demeanour of the people toward them. The excitement has been gradually dying away and nothing is now being done publicly in the matter.
Trouble at Chang Hsien-Owing to a renewed attempt by the officials to arrest certain members of a secret society, who, after a fight in the spring of 1907, had escaped to the hills, but whom cold and wet weather had driven back to the city, there was considerable excitement at Chang Hsien at the end of November. In the fight an officer and four or five soldiers were killed. Upon reinforcements being sent from Ningpo and Hangchou the officials were successful in driving the men back to the hills with some loss. While the affair was taking place all business was suspended, and many of the inhabitants fled. The matter had no connection with the railway loan.
Peking.
The following extracts from recent native papers on various subjects are interesting:
January 9.
Naval Ports.--The Army Board proposes to establish the following naval harbours: Chou Shan Lieh Tao, on the coast of Chekiang; Jung Cheng Wan, in the Gulf of Chihli; Chao Shan Lieh Tao, in the Gulf of Liaotung; and Pei Hai Wan, in Kuangtung.
Mining Regulations.--The Board of Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce has asked the Wai-wu Pu to inform the foreign Ministers that the new Regulations will come into force on the 15th March. The Board considers it inadvisable to agree to any changes in these Regulations at present, but if found to be inconvenient in operation, modifications may afterwards be introduced.
Military Forces in Ili.-The Viceroy of Ili and the Governor of the New Dominion propose to raise two brigades of troops, drilled on modern lines, for the protection of the frontier.
Peking-Hankow Railway-The Chinese Government have been earnestly considering the question of the redemption of this line, for should this opportunity be lost the control of the line will be lost for another thirty years. They have telegraphed to the Viceroys of Chihli and Hupei-Hunan, and the Governor of Honan, asking for advice.
Thibet.--The Chinese Amban has telegraphed that he proposes to establish a number of elementary schools in Thibet. A reply has been sent approving the project, and directing that such schools shall be established in the more important towns.
Customs School.-A site has been selected within the Tartar city for the establishment of a Customs College where Chinese will be trained for the customs. A commencement will be made next spring.
January 8.
Opium. At an audience yesterday the Empress Dowager questioned their Excellencies Chang and Yuan as to what was being done towards abolishing the use of opium, and directing them to use all their efforts to find some scheme by which it might be entirely banished within a limited time.
Shansi Railway.-Messrs. Bielfeld and Son, of Tien-tsin, are reported to have secured a contract for the supply of materials for the construction of this line.
Wuchow.
The agitation against the patrolling of the West River by British gun-boats, torpedo boats, &c., extended to Wuchow, but in a very mild form as compared with that which it assumed at Canton.
The Cantonese Guild at Wuchow held a meeting at which it was resolved to forward a protest to the Central Government against the permission granted to the British Government to dispatch gun-boats to cruise about the waters of the West River, and encroach on Chinese jurisdiction.
This protest, however, was never actually sent up to Peking, the local "patriots" considering such a step injudicious on hearing of the rebuke administered by the Central Government to the people of Canton, and of the commands of the former to desist from the practice, latterly adopted, of sending telegrams to Peking to contend with the Central Government on questions of Imperial policy, such procedure being unreasonable, a lack of good manners, and a reckless attempt to disturb the peace.”
The general attitude of the city has been quite tranquil. Certain persons, however, and chiefly the Wuchow Magistrate, would view with satisfaction the growth of an anti-foreign feeling, and are not averse to fostering the same when it can be discreetly accomplished.
To such the two following incidents furnished opportunities which they were not slow to utilize, and out of which they made all the capital possible. The absurd and false reports published in the Canton papers bear testimony to this.
On the 9th December some men from torpedo-boat "No. 035," who had landed for rifle practice at the range, were on their way back through the city carrying their rifles, when they stopped at a fire cracker shop and endeavoured to obtain change for a 10-dollar note. The efforts of the British tar to convey to the unfortunate Chinaman, ignorant of the beauties of the English language, the exact meaning of what he, the Chinaman, is required to do, usually involve considerable declamation, vociferation, gesticulation, and objurgation. Seeing armed foreign sailors in the shop, a crowd collected in the street.
That they formed a totally incorrect view of the situation goes without saying. The shopkeeper being unwilling to oblige, the bluejackets eventually proceeded quietly on their way back to the ship.
In the reports of this incident one heard of "extortion by drunken armed sailors,” "terrorizing the inhabitants," "demanding money with threats," "scattering the money from the till all over the floor of the shop," "creating a breach of the peace," &c.
The second incident was somewhat more serious.
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7
use as coolies. As a result of these quarrels some rather badly-wounded men have been treated in the Mission Hospital.
Swatow.
State of the District.--Normal conditions prevailed throughout the district during the last few months of 1907. Local disturbances were comparatively few and insigni ficant. The outlook should, therefore, be peaceful, but the provincial and local authorities seem to be in a nervous condition and every trifling disturbance in the interior, for which the southern part of China is noted, is at once ascribed to the machinations of the revolutionary party. The greatest vigilance is being shown in the search for contraband which persistent rumours declare is being freely smuggled into the district from Hong Kong and Macao.
The Maritime Customs have received special orders on the subject and certain suspected vessels have been thoroughly searched, but in no case have any seizures been made. Search has also been made for depots of arms alleged to exist in the hills along the coast, but with no result. Whether there is really any foundation for these rumours it is impossible to say, but it seems quite clear that there is an attempt to get up an excitement, The usual explanation is that the revolutionary party are at the bottom of it all, but this seems hardly likely as it cannot be to their interest that too much attention should be drawn to their proceedings. It may probably be due to a confused idea that "something is going to happen" in this part of the world; everyone is on the look-out and all sorts of rumours, however widely improbable, are readily believed and passed on from one native to another.
Ningpo.
Agitation against Foreign Railway Loan.-During the months of November there was considerable agitation over the railway loan and many meetings were held in Ningpo to protest against it. It soon became evident, however, that the agitation was being fomented by a few interested parties, and that the bulk of the people took very little interest in the movement. Its chief supporters were the pulpils of the numerous colleges and schools of foreign education established lately at Ningpo and most of them were boys. A few of the bankers and merchants also took up the matter and issued shares with a view to assisting in obtaining the necessary capital for the Chinese to construct the line themselves. These shares were of the value of 50 dollars each, but fractional shares of 5 dollars were also issued so that the poorer classes might be able to contribute. In spite of a house to house canvass to induce people to take up these shares the people do not seem to have been much taken with the scheme. The leaders of the agitation have been very careful to warn their followers from any acts of violence to which foreigners could take exception knowing that they would be held responsible in the event of any trouble arising. The district has been perfectly quiet therefore during the agitation, and missionaries travelling about have reported that they have noticed no difference in the usual civil demeanour of the people toward them. The excitement has been gradually dying away and nothing is now being done publicly
in the matter.
Trouble at Chang Hsien-Owing to a renewed attempt by the officials to arrest certain members of a secret society, who, after a fight in the spring of 1907, had escaped to the bills, but whom cold and wet weather had driven back to the city, there was considerable excitement at Chang Hsien at the end of November. In the fight an officer and four or five soldiers were killed. Upon reinforcements being sent from Ningpo and Hangehou the officials were successful in driving the men back to the hills with some loss. While the affair was taking place all business was suspended, and many of the inhabitants fled. The matter had no connection with the railway loan.
Peking.
The following extracts from recent native papers on various subjects are interesting:
January 9.
Naval Ports.--The Army Board proposes to establish the following naval harbours: Chou Shan Lieh Tao, on the coast of Chekiang; Jung Cheng Wan, in the Gulf of Chihli; Chao Shan Lieh Tao, in the Gulf of Liaotung; and Pei flai Wan, in Kuangtung.
5
Mining Regulations.--The Board of Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce has asked the Wai-wu Pu to inform the foreign Ministers that the new Regulations will come into force on the 15th March. The Board considers it inadvisable to agree to any chauges in these Regulations at present, but if found to be inconvenient in operation, modifications may afterwards be introduced.
Military Forces in Ili.-The Viceroy of Ili and the Governor of the New Dominion propose to raise two brigades of troops, drilled on modern lines, for the protection of the frontier.
Peking-Hankow Railway-The Chinese Government have been earnestly con- sidering the question of the redemption of this me, for should this opportunity be lost the control of the line will be lost for another thirty years. They have telegraphed to the Viceroys of Chihli and Hupei-Hunan, and the Governor of Honan, asking for advice.
Thibet.--The Chinese Amban has telegraphed that he proposes to establish a number of elementary schools in Thibet. A reply has been sent approving the project, and directing that such schools shall be established in the more important towns.
Customs School.-A site has been selected within the Tartar city for the establish- ment of a Customs College where Chinese will be trained for the customs.
A com- mencement will be made next spring.
January S.
Opium. At an audience yesterday the Empress Dowager questioned their Excellencies Chang and Yuan as to what was being done towards abolishing the use of opium, and directing them to use all their efforts to find some scheme by which it might be entirely banished within a limited time.
Shansi Railway.-Messrs. Bielfeld and Son, of Tien-tsin, are reported to have secured a contract for the supply of materials for the construction of this line.
Wuchow.
The agitation against the patrolling of the West River by British gun-boats, torpedo boats, &c., extended to Wuchow, but in a very mild form as compared with that which it assumed at Canton.
The Cantonese Guild at Wuchow held a meeting at which it was resolved to forward a protest to the Central Government against the permission granted to the British Government to dispatch gun-boats to cruise about the waters of the West River, and encroach on Chinese jurisdiction.
This protest, however, was never actually sent up to Peking, the local "patriots considering such a step injudicious on hearing of the rebuke administered by the Central Government to the people of Canton, and of the commands of the former to desist from the practice, latterly adopted, of sending telegrams to Peking to contend with the Central Government ou questions of Imperial policy, such procedure being unreason- able, a lack of good manners, and a reckless attempt to disturb the peace.”
$
<i
The general attitude of the city has been quite tranquil. Certain persons, however, and chiefly the Wuchow Magistrate, would view with satisfaction the growth of an anti-foreign feeling, and are not averse to fostering the same when it can be discreetly accomplished.
To such the two following incidents furnished opportunities which they were not slow to utilize, and out of which they made all the capital possible. The absurd and false reports published in the Canton papers bear testimony to this.
On the 9th December some men from torpedo-boat "No. 035," who had landed for rifle practice at the range, were on their way back through the city carrying their rifles, when they stopped at a fire cracker shop and endeavoured to obtain change for a 10-dollar note. The efforts of the British tar to convey to the unfortunate Chinaman, ignorant of the beauties of the English language, the exact meaning of what he, the Chinaman, is required to do, usually involve considerable declamation, vociferation, gesticulation, and objurgation. Seeing armed foreign sailors in the shop, a crowd collected in the
street.
That they formed a totally incorrect view of the situation goes without saying. The shopkeeper being unwilling to oblige, the bluejackets eventually proceeded quietly on their way back to the ship.
In the reports of this incident one heard of "extortion by drunken armed sailors,” "terrorizing the inhabitants," "demanding money with threats," "scattering the money from the till all over the floor of the shop," "creating a breach of the peace," &c.
The second incident was somewhat more serious.
361
23
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1
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