494
Reminiscences of Chusan.
SEP.
been honorable. But the men who never could be our friends were spared, and our own people were sacrificed.
Tăng Tingching was then the governor of Fuhkeën and Chě- keäng. We saw his severe proclamations against opium stuck up at every corner, threatening death and destruction to every smoker, for Tinghae was full of people made wretched by this drug. His name, however, was little known in this part of his jurisdiction, for he had never yet made a tour through Chĕkeäng. Still he was charged with the loss of Chusan, and summoned to appear at a court of inquiry. In great haste he sent his general, a Chinese by birth, but a Tartar in heart, to protect Ningpo. This man, a hero of the first order, would fight at all hazards, and determined upon annihi- lating the barbarians. His agents were constantly lingering about Tinghae, but so betrayed their master, that all his plans were speedily made known to us.
Next after Tăng was Lew, the previous lieut.-governor, a Man- tchou, who was called to Peking to answer for his misdeeds in losing Chusan. He, likewise, was a hero, fierce as a lion in his edicts, and cruel to our prisoners; but a lamb in the execution of his military exploits.
When the emperor heard of the fall of Tinghae, he dispatched Elepoo to Chinḥae, as his special commissioner. This heavy headed statesman held the office of governor of Keängnan and Keängse. He was in the confidence of his sovereign, and therefore considered as the most suitable personage to execute his behests. It was indeed an occasion for displaying his power, but being an infirm man, he was fond of ease and peace, and on no account would engage in hos. tilities. For this he was very much abused, and lost his influence, so that the war party, though by no means the most numerous, got the upper hand at Peking.
As soon as the people of Chusan perceived that the English did not rescue the comprador, they lost all confidence, and withdrew to the interior or to Ningpo. When hardly pressed for an answer for so doing, they answered, “there is no security for life and property we may be seized by the agents of our government, and lose our life for traitorous intercourse.” A very decent man, at that time employ- ed by a foreigner, incautiously went out of the gate one day, and was seized and delivered over to the Ningpo authorities. This cir- cumstance struck great terror into the people, and the city was soon entirely deserted. Even the rabble was seized with fear, and unless engaged in plundering the houses, did not make their appearance, so
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