Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 636

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Chinese Kidnappers.

Nov.

Hollanders had in the meanwhile built a city at one of the Pescadors, and the governor perceiving this, and also aware, that they had erected fortifications on Formosa, permitted them to carry on com- merce under the condition of leaving the Pescador islands, which they did in 1624. But the Chinese functionaries having obtained their end, refused them the boon, and the Dutch reoccupied the Panghú, seized upon 600 fishing smacks, and forced the sailors to bring stones, and other materials to assist in building a new city. The officers at Amoy beheaded several tens of their prisoners, cheat- ed them in the bargain, and prevailed upon the Dutch to level the fortifications and to remove to another place. They kept firm pos- session of Formosa, and would not move from thence. The Chinese were also degenerate enough to enter into commercial speculations with them. Their principal strength is in their huge vessels and large guns which smash stone walls to pieces, and in their black slaves, who can walk upon the sea as if it were dry land. They wor- ship the God of heaven, and the produce of their country consists of amber, cornelian stones, glass, velvet and woolens.

ART. IV. Particulars regarding a party of Chinese seized and imprisoned for having been engaged in kidnapping at Chusan. Our readers are already aware of the efforts which have been made by the Chinese authorities, to induce the people to endeavor to kid- nap their enemies as opportunity offered. They are also acquainted with many of the results of those efforts,-such as the seizure and imprisonment of Mr. Stanton, captain Anstruther, and others. The treatment which some of these captives received at the hands of the Chinese, as Mrs. Noble, sergeant Campbell, It. Douglas, and others, in being thrust into bags, forced into cages, or closely pinioned, as our readers already know, places the inhumanity of their captors in a very unfavorable light. But it should be observed, in order that these cases may be fairly judged, that there does not seem to have been any extraordinary harshness used towards these foreign prison- ers above that which is inflicted upon native prisoners, who have no money to bribe their jailers, although it is natural to suppose much greater irritation was felt against the former than the latter. Some- thing is known likewise of the measures that have been adopted to