Directory_and_Chronicle_1842 — Page 671

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Manifesto by the People of Tinghái

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longing to the French nation, he who disobeys this injunction, we shall all of us adjudge him as guilty of reckless murder. In refer- ence to the linguists of Canton and Fukien, whom the English depend upon as their very wings, these were originally good subjects of our Central Land, who perhaps fled from punishment, or were seduced to serve them, but who never willingly left the land of their fathers to join the ranks of these birds and beasts. On a previous occasion our high officers graciously permitted them to return to their allegiance, and now there is a linguist belonging to one of the ships, who has already proceeded to the camp and returned to his duty; and among them who carry on their business, there are those who have privately made their arrangements with us, though they still remain with them, and profess to serve them, so that in this respect their wings are already pretty well clipped. But we are the same people, and yet we cannot assist in slaying them! If there be those among us so besotted that they will not awaken, then we must look upon them as not having human hearts, and we must slaughter them as we would sheep or pigs, and in this way they will also be dispersed.

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The homes of all these black, white, and red devils are removed several tens of thousands of miles from this; they have fought now for three or four years; when a city is taken, their officers get fat upon it, but what wealth or fame awaits them? When they meet in the shock of battle and cross their swords, it is their officers, who thus doom numbers of them to destruction. If they live, it is only as strangers in a far country; if they die they become ghosts in a distant land. Truly they are much to be pitied! They are constantly saying so to our people, and tell their complaints with abundance of tears. Lately at Chipú, Kaufű (Gough?) was wound- ed, when the whole of them swelled with the greatest hatred and indignation; they retired, and said to our people, 'We do not wish to fight, but are compelled to do it, and must obey orders; so there is no help for it! If your soldiers could kill our mang-tá-l (mandarins), we should then be able to return home;' and other words to that effect, which proves that they are on the point of a mutiny. If then these said black and white devils will seize their officers and deliver them over to us, we the said people of Chusan will no longer remember our previous enmity, but will beg our high officers to send them back to their homes. Oh ye black and white devils! Why should you throw away your lives in assisting the tyranny of your masters to be cut in pieces by us? If ye do not soon awake to a sense of what is for your benefit and injury, or if you do not secretly

OL XJ NO XII