Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 512

1841.

Reminiscences of Chusan.

495

that a Chinese became quite a rarity. When the inhabitants were invited to come back in order to receive protective papers for their houses and furniture, only a few availed themselves of the offer. In virtue of this notification, the untenanted dwellings were subsequently occupied by our soldiers.

1

It was a most melancholy task to walk through the city, now as much abandoned as if it had been visited by the plague. Even the sew vegetables that used to be brought to the market ceased to come in; there was literally nothing to be obtained for either love or money. When some stragglers were angling in the canals, it often happened, that a number of servants were standing around to buy the first fish or eel that was caught. For many miles around the city, not a single hen was to be seen, and if a stray cock unfortunate- ly happened to approach the redoubtable place, his life was forfeited, and he was in the pot before he could even have time to crow! If any poor peasant, in hopes of making a good profit on his produce ven- tured to direct his course to the gates, some straggling parties, in search of provisions were sure to intercept him. To get a single duck safe and sound to one's house required a convoy, and then even the poor bird might not reach its destination. Very ridiculous scenes and many curious accidents thus occured, and though most stringent orders were promulgated against seizing any provisions, still the sol- diers, urged on by hungry stomachs, proved the most refractory peo- ple in the world, Nobody will starve without a struggle; so long as there is still a morsel of food to be gotten, it will be sought for by some means, whether right or wrong.

•

Nothing gave rise to so many troubles at Chusan, as the visits of the military to the villages. In one instance, some stout peasants seized an officer, and one of them was shot with a pistol. A party of sipahis was likewise attacked, several Chinese were killed, and one of the detachment received a wound with a bill-hook, of which he died. In most instances there was as much wrong on the part of the foreigners, as on that of the Chinese, but the want of fresh pro- visions was the main cause of all these mischiefs. Private individuals, in the neighboring villages, stuck up papers on the gates urging the people to defend and preserve their cattle for ploughing. This had a great effect, and the consequence was, that in a very short time, not a single ox or cow was to be had, unless taken by force; it was so, that the people in the villages, on perceiving the approach of an English party, gave a signal, and drove away all their cattle. There were, moreover, always some invisible agents at work, to enforce the man-

1