Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 459

440

Edicts Relating to Military Operations.

AUG.

of his hand several hundreds of these fishing-vessels flocked to him, all burn- ing with desire to re-conquer the place; but as the regulations of the army would not allow it, they were compelled, in a short time, one and all of them to disperse ;-this however shows that they (the fishermen) had no share in supplying the foreigners with necessaries,

After the 6th moon of last year, the foreigners made a practice of getting into their ship's boats, and sailing along the whole line of coast of the eastern part of the province of Chëkeäng, trying to purchase bullocks and looking for fresh water. Now, although our poor people might desire to make a profit by them, yet they did not dare to hold any intercourse with them ; but after- wards, seeing the officers bestow cattle and sheep, and eatables (alludes to Elepoo's presents to the admiral), they publicly gave themselves up to the business of supplying the foreigners without the slightest dread about the matter, for the magistrates having put on no prohibition, the people thought that they were doing no wrong! And thus affairs went on till the arrival of the new fooyuen, Lew Yunko, who strictly forbade such inter- course, and then they gradually began to retrace their steps.

Thus then they were the stupid poor people, dwelling along the sea-coast, who supplied the English rebels with necessaries, and even they had an exam- ple shown them to do so;-the merchant ships and fishing-vessels had really nothing whatever to do in the matter. Moreover, the owners of these mer- chant vessels are people of solidity, and have some property at stake; some of these vessels with their cargoes are worth several · thousands of taels, and many more are worth several tens of thousands of taels of silver. The district officers give them a stamped chop or pass; when they arrive at any place, it is therein stated; when they sail, they have an appointed port to go to; the mandarins, soldiers, and police-runners along the coast all have their ears and eyes about them, they are ever on the qui vive; if these vessels were carrying necessaries to the foreigners, impossible would it be to conceal it from or deceive them! This would cause the officers and their fol lowers to squeeze and extort as the price of their connivance, and the profit they obtained from one party would not pay the bribes required by the other party; therefore the most of them have the good sense to keep well while they are well.

Aand touching the fishing-vessels, though the owners of these may be poor 'people, yet they leave in the morning and return at night, by regulation; they have a specific point which they set out from and which they come back to. There is a petty officer duly appointed to search and examine them, and as they are but small craft, it can be seen at a single glance if they have anything on board prohibited or not. And further, last year it was the native merchant ships that assisted the imperial troops to beat back the foreign ships of war from Chapo. It was the merchant ships of the two pro- vinces of Keängvoo and Chekeäng that` carried over the troops intended to slaughter the English rebels. It was the fishing-boats that spied for us, and brought all information about the affairs of the foreigners and rescued the