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suffered very severely,
Prompt measures of assistance in the form of
food etcetera were taken by the Goverment of longtong
and ills Majesty's Consul has in hand arrangements for
distribution. It is not impossibls that the Chinese au-
thorities will seek the consent of the foreign repreconta»
tives to the imposition of a local Customs surtax to
provide relief and funds for reconstruction.
I have the honour to be,
with the highest respect,
MY Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient
tumble servant,
(For Il. M. Minister),
Mr. Consul King to Sir Beilby Alston.
Bir.
1.8.M. Consulate,
Bwatow,
August 4, 1982.
I have the honour to report that a typhoon of exceptiona
severity passed over Swatow during the night of the 2nd-ärd
instanti and has left a terrible tale of death and ruin in its
train.
The principal factor in the work of destruction was the inroad of water which flooded Bwatow and up-country districts. Here, the flood-tide, viled-up by the typhoon, at one time, when the centre of the storm was passing, covered both the
Klalat and Kakohio sides of the harbour with seawater to a
depth of about twelve feet.
Fortunately, no foreign lives ware lost, though many residences were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable, compell-
ing their cocupants to seek shelter with more favourably situated members of the community, mongst whom ms the writer The Conmil'a and Vise-Consul's houses, though damaged,
weather:
ed the storm. The Consulate grounds and garden, however, present a deplorable spectacle, Host of the beautiful trees
Bir Beilby Alston, K,C,N.G., 0.B.,
His Majesty's Minister,
Peking.
have
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