509
}
panoramic middle-class Chinese of the old type, unable to read, write or even speak a word of the English language. He told me that some four years ago he came from the Straits Settlements to his ancestral home, situated on land opposite the far side of the Island of Kulangsu (i.e. this side away from the main Island of Amoy, and therefore questionably within Treaty Port limits), and that he owned landed property there, though he had not, of course, registered his title-deeds in the British Consulate. Some two years or more ago, during the trouble here between North and South, the local villagers, not a few of whom have, I understand, like himself, resided for many years in the Straits Settlements or elsewhere out of China, elected him to the position of village Headman. In due course he received from the then local District Magistrate a letter of appointment, with the approval of the Amoy Taoyin and of the Military and Civil Governors of the Province of Fukien, as a 'Train-Band Captain'. Cheah alleges that he was a personal friend of, and that his British status was known to, the Magistrate, an official of the Southern Government, from whom he received his appointment.
Questioned as to the composition of the 'Train-Band' of which he is Captain, he stated that it is a uniformed force, armed with modern rifles provided with ammunition therefor.
I directed Cheah to draw up, in Chinese, the only language with which he is acquainted, a brief statement of the facts of his appointment, supported by his original 'Commission'. Copies and translations of those two documents form Enclosures 2 and 3 herein. I have forwarded exact copies of the Chinese texts of these two documents to the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, together with a brief reply stating that Cheah Ngoh Oh is a British Subject in virtue of the fact that he was born at Penang on October 29th, 1862.
509
}
panorod middle-class Chinose of the old type, wnble to read, write or avo speak a word of the Bugglish language. He told me that some four years ago lin came from the Straits
Sattlemonto to his ancestral homa, situated on land opposite the far side of the Island of Kulagsu (i.a. thin sido away
from the main Jeland of Amoy, and therefore questionably within Tranty Port limits), and that he owed landed property
there, though he had not, of course, registered his titla-
doods in the British Consulate. Some two years or more ago, during the trouble here between North and South, the local
villagers, not a few of whom have, I understand, like Him- solf, resided for my years in the Straits Settlements or alsewhere out of China, elected him to the position of village Hondman. In dun courge la racnived from the then local District Magistrate a letter of appointment, with the approval of the Amoy Taoyin and of the Military and Civil Govoriors of tho Province of Fukien, as a 'Train-Band Captain'. Choah alleges that he was a personal friend of, and that his British status was known to, the Magistrate,
an official of the Southern Govorimont, from whom he received
his appointment.
Questioned as to the composition of the 'Train-Band' of which he is Captain, he stated that it is a uniformed force, armed with modern rifles provided with amuition
therefor
-
by the then Magistrato.
M
I directed Cheah to draw up, in Chinaso, the only language with which he is acquainted, a brief statement of the facts of his appointment, supported by his original
'Commission'. Copies and translations of those two documento form Eclosures 2 and 3 herein. I have formrded exact copios
of the Chinese texts of these two documents to the Comic- sioner for Foreign Affairs, together with a brief reply stating that Cheah Ngoh Oh is a British Subject in virtue of the fact that he was born at Pornng on October 29th, 1862.
The
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