Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 366

1841.

Journal of Occurrences.

349

ART. VII. Journal of Occurrences: results of the war; cannibal- ism: payment of ransom; the people arming; Yikshan's und Lungwan's departure from the city; withdrawal of the British forces; port of Hongkong proclaimed free; sale of lands; Mr. Johnston appointed governor; death of sir H. Le Fleming Sen- house; new plenipotentiary; charges against Keshen; second movement of the British forces to the north.

THE course of events here, since the return from Chusan of H. B. M.'s plenipotentiaries last November, has been singular enough. On the part of the Chinese the losses have been great. More than a score of their forts have been dismantled or destroyed; hundreds of vessels sunk or burned; upwards of a thousand cannon rendered un- servicable. These are a part only of their sufferings. The losses occasioned by moving families and effects from Canton must be computed by millions, while not less than a thousand houses, with great quantities of goods, &c., have been reduced to ashes. Go- vernment and the native merchants have been the principal sufferers. Direct losses on mechanics and the yeomanry have been few; and the prospects of the husbandman in the coming summer harvest are very fair. Generally too, good health has prevailed among the Chinese in Canton and its vicinity. But after all that has occurred, there is ap- parently no disposition to succumb, nor is it certain that the provin- cial authorities and high commissioners will abstain from making preparations for a renewal of hostilities.

2. Cannibalism. We have been assured by many, some of them very credible witnesses, that during the recent rencontre in Canton between the imperial troops from Hoopih and the local militia, some of the former cut off and ate the flesh of the latter! We shall feel obliged to any of our neighbors for additional information about this matter. The contest rose very high; some say hundreds of lives were lost. We suppose there may have been ten or twenty. This occur- red while the British forces were on the heights, before the armistice had been concluded.

3. Regarding the payment of ransom, we are indebted to a com- mercial friend for the following memoranda.

The authorities paid four millions of dollars in sycee towards the recent levy made upon the city, and the hong merchants contributed two millions in the fol- lowing proportions. Howqua paid

Pwankequa

•

Samqua, Saoqua, Footae, and Gowqua, each $70,000

$820,000

260,000

280,000 60,000

Mowqua, Kingqua, Mingqua and Punhoyqua, each $15,000 Cash in the consoo treasury, being taxes upon the foreign trade,

and intended to pay the debts of broken hong merchants, 280,000 The obligations of Samqua, Saoqua, Footae, and Ğowqua, each

for $50,000, which is to be reimbursed from the first surplus in the consoo funds, or offset against any duties they may owe to the consoo

200,000

$2,000,000