Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 440

1841.

Journal of Occurrences.

421

valuable and interesting papers. Always such communications for the pages of the Repository will be acceptable.

In the meteorological tables, the careful reader may detect a few errors, most of which, however, are of such a nature that they can be easily corrected.

In the nautical surveys, whenever practicable, the introduction of Chinese characters, for the names of places, will tend to remove any embarrassment resulting from the use of different European systems of orthography. The Chinese names, in their own character, should always be inserted, if it be possible to obtain them. It would be well, if each surveyor on the coast could be accompanied by a native

assistant.

tars.

The narrative of the capture of the forts above Canton, we hoped to have been able to illustrate by subjoining to it a plan of the city and of the heights, &c. This we shall endeavor to give in a subse- quent number. The only Tartar troops in Canton are those in the city, under the command of the commandant. All those who have been called to Canton from the other provices are Chinese, not Tar- The numbers appointed by the emperor, given us by a native friend, are thus: 10,000 from Szechuen; 5,000 from Kweichow; 5,000 from Hoopih; 5,000 from Hoonan, 5,000 from Kwangse; 10,000 from Keängse; -on the rolls presenting a grand total of fifty thou- sand fighting men. Probably the actual number did not exceed 35,000; and of these we doubt if more than 20,000 were in or near the city. Putting it at 20,000, and adding an equal number for the pro- vincial troops, will give Yihshan and his compatriots 40,000 soldiers for the defense of the provincial city, against less than 3000 British troops and a few small ships of war. The troops seen on the hills, on the 30th, were villagers, who had banded themselves as e ping, or 'soldiers of righteousness,' headed by leaders chosen by themselves, each village having its own standard and chief, numbering in all per- haps twenty-five thousand. It was well for these fellows that they dispersed themselves when they did; for dreadful indeed would have been the havoc, within and without the city, had they spurned the orders of the prefect and magistrate who bade them (or rather coaxed them to) retire.

Yihshan's memorial, with all its errors, contains some unwelcome truths for the imperial ear. It is said that many innocent men- soldiers and others, natives of Canton-were denounced as traitors by the troops from the other provinces: hence the civil war in their own camp within the walls of the city. Yihshan has given a false coloring to this part of his report; and at it the people of Canton are highly indignant. A second report, and of a later date, is in circula- tion. It is full of falsehood and deceit, but givves some important information touching the course of policy to be pursued towards fo- reigners. There can be no doubt that the provincial government and imperial commissioners will proceed to active measures of defense as soon as it may be done with impunity.

Tyfoons, and losses occasioned by them, on the 21st and 26th