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be alert on their posts; and to refrain from insult-only 30 tarls for devils taken, dead or alive." [It] taken and accomplished at once. ing the women.
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will be remembered that Ych's earlier proclamations | Chran Tsz'-tin has farther news from Victoria. promised 100 tacls reward for Englishmen taken After admitting his misgivings, above-mentioned, he alive. He then interlines,] “ For a devil's head they thinks that we are so utterly broken" that we may possibly give but 30 dollars; the Sau-on Com- shall not venture to disturb Cowloon. The Ame-mittee, [consequently.] do not now much prize devil's ricans, at Hongkong, look on the present state of heads.” He goes on to mention, that some days had things as full of danger, and are sending their ships clapsed before the braves consented to receive the reward lately sent; requests his uncle, if he is going to employ his own braves in the getting of heads, to tell them plainly the state of the case; and, finally, recommends him not to be keen in the head-hunting, as it is unremunerative.
nway.
He bad himself been to Cowloon to meet three of the parties about to undertake something at Hong- keng these men insisted on having a written He then enlisted guarantee of their remuneration. ten haves secretly, it is to be presumed for co-ope- ration in the proposed plot.] and these were to be supported by another body. They would probably cress the water in a day or two.
le closes his note with the announcement that eleven English rebels have been, to his great joy, made prisoners. (These were probably Portuguese belonging to a lorcha seized off Lantao by pirates, and by them exchanged against one of the piratical A Chi- bedy then in the hands of the Mandarins, nese who escaped braught the intelligence to Macao, on the 10th February :3 and that pirates, or other outlaws, were the captors, is manifest from Ch'an Tsz-tin's exultation in the prospect of "the English rebels and vagabonds of the country not being able to bear each other, if matters are managed thus; each pay will get to suspect the other, to the advantage of the main issue."
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There is some doubt about the date of the next document. It is either of the 21st February or the 22d March. Assuming it to be the former, the proper place of the note in the series is here.. In it Ch'an promises from 500 to 600 Dollars Kwei-tsik if an attempt, apparently* to blow up some place, succeeds. It must be done in three days, and notice is to be given. The barbarians are spreading a report that they are coming to attack San-on. He, Ch'an Kwei-tsik, is preparing to defend it. [The expenses of the braves are evidently pressing the Committee's exchequer. Reductions of their number are proposed and effected.]
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[These are pro-
bably the men with whom he has conferred at Cow- loon, according to his note just quoted. The plot was most likely to destroy the Unicorn.]
Пут
The opposition of the prople of Wong Kong, who persist in supplying Hongkong, now begins to give serious trouble; but deferring this and other similar matters to a later period, our next paper is a letter from Su Ting-kwei, the ex-Censor, who writes from Canton that the English barbarians are said to ha about to acknowledge their transgression, and that the different nations are united in their entreaties for trade." Incendiarism and the seizure of vessels may therefore be postponed, as it might give some trouble to the Governor-General were similar acts to drive the barbarians “to such a struggle as beasts make when surrounded." The stoppage of supplies is to be as strictly insisted upon as ever, as this is "a means of keeping the rebellious barbarians well in band."
On the same day, 4th March, Ch'an Tez'-tin, (who bas been the pupil of Su Ting-kwei, that is to say, has sat at his feet as his literary patron,) writes to his brother that he has heard from Sn that "the ruler of the rebels (H. M. Queen Victoria,) had written back blaming the military devil-head alto- On the 23d February, a man whose surname is not gether for commencing the disturbance of last year,” given, but whose name is Yü-nam, writes that [the and that Yeh had issued orders to the trainbands to Representatives of] Portugal and France have ad-suspend offensive operations. The taking of heads, dressed a letter to Yeh] to the effect that the rebel he suggests, may therefore be let alone with even vessel seized (evidently the Queen,) was not English, greater propriety. The credit of taking a head now about to be forwarded to Canton, he requests may be The interdict, he writes on the 13th February, is but Portuguese: (interlined,) This is to be kept very
The enquiries made by the writer or his assigned, in the memorandum accompanying it, to being more steadily enforced to the east. On the quiet. 16th, a letter from his brother Ch'an Kwei-tsik, superiors establish nothing to their satisfaction one Cheung Chan-mu, a relative of his own.
way or the other. Things were not well at Nam-t'an, evidently in answer to more than one from Chan
the trade of which place was suffering much from Tsz-tin, explains that, about the end of December, a
the interdict on supplies to the foreigner. This was man named Ch'eng Tsik was directed by the Canton
The braves, com- Committee to go to Cowloon, and collect persons, to causing discontent and cavilling. gether for the purpose of firing Victoria. The plot manded by the man before mentioned as dissatisfied with the amount of head-money awarded, were desert- had fallen through. After other matters, he states that Tse Fung-shan, has brought down thirty gilting. There was also trouble at Sai-kung.
On the 25th February, Yu ki-nin writes to Ch'an Mandarin buttons, and 1000 Dollars, to be distribut- ed in rewards. This Tse is gentleman associated Tsz-tin to say, that Man Tsap-shin's attempt [at with him in anti-barbarian operations. Either against fire-raising] had failed on the 23d. [He means after hinį, or another Tec, as a dangerous man, he warns his midnight. Our Police record an attempt on a shop brother, in a subsequent note. Later still, a Tse is dis-named Tung-li at the other end of the town on the missed by the younger brother with his braves, for quar-24th.] It was made behind the Tung-li, a mat- relling with some one. The rewards to be disbursed out of the 1000 Dollars, he says in an interlineation, "are 300 Dollars for the larcha and 30 taels for every devil's head." Then, in a postscript,-" The price of devil's heads has been reduced this year."
On the 17th February, Chan Taz'-tin writes that Victoria is reported to be more on the qui vice than ever; no one is allowed out after six o'clock; no communication permitted between the shipping and the shore after dark; soldiers and sailors both co-operate with the police.
Three principal rice shops had been closed.
He had heard of the destruction of four war-junks at Tung-chung, on Lantao; and presumes that the English had done this to satisfy the feeling of spite which they could not vent in any other direction,
"It is now said that the barbarian merchants of the different nations have deputed some one to England to denounce the English devil chief (Gover- nor or Admiral.)"
He is sanguine about the safety of Cowloon, and
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building establishment in the Hawan, but was to be renewed again in three or four days in the shops to the left of the Police Station by the Commissariat, (Webster's Bazaar,) when the whole line of hongs† in that vicinity could be burned; or in the Canton Bazaar, or in both places at the same time. [An attempt was made on the Canton Bazaar, but on the 19th February.1
On the 26th, Ch'an Tsz-tin reports to his brother that several of the shops which had been closed at Hongkong [for the new year,] are open again, and that supplies come in from Macao, Ch'an Ts'ün, a place in Shun-tak, well up the river, and Tái-ping, in Tung-kun, near the Bogue,
Then, he receives news from Tang Chiu-yune that the steamer [Queen] seized near the Ning Islands, was a passenger ship, [that is, got a war- steamer ;] that she had gone up to Canton to Cheung Tak-ngung, [a civilian much distinguished in the troubles of Kwang Si, where he was judge, in 1851-4, and now chief or one of the chiefs of the Canton
On the 7th March, Ch'an Tsz'-tin writes to his brother that he had sent Man Tsap-shin to him, and reports the burning of Duddell's store on the night of the 6th; great destruction of flour, biscuits, and spirits; and the death of a black man in the flames," As soon as the fire broke out, the English devils fired some guns and knocked down the Christian Church by the side [of the flour store.]" The bar- racks and powder-magazine were guarded by several hundred devil soldiers. The spy saw with his own eyes that the building on fire was Duddell's store, and not the great devil building (Government House or Offices.) Ever since the closing of Cheung Alăm, the Heung-shan man's, bread-shop, the greater portion of the devil soldiers' rations have been ordered of Duddell." The burning of his store is an excellent mensure, "of more value than the interdict itself." In a separate letter he mentions that Man-hing, nephew of Man Tsap-shin, had given notice on the 4th March, that the deed was to be done. As there is now no doubt of it, news should be sent post haste to Canton.
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Three ships are believed to have come to Hong- kong with troops; and arms have been issued to these, for what purpose is not known.
He then expresses great regret at the failure of Wong Sui-shang's enterprise on the night of the 5th March. Two of his underlings had been seized; the rest had escaped to Cowloon.
The town of Sham-chun, [a little east and below San-on.] is denounced for supplying Hongkong, and Ho Tsei-luk, of Wong Kong, is specially mentioned as the villain-in-chief. We hear more of him in time. The [Chan ?] Yü-nam before mentioned writes on the 8th March, that the English wish to treat,
his confidence is strengthened on the 21st February, Committee of hostilities] He will report her capture and that other foreign nations are giving [Yeh] to
when an English steamer brought over 72 pirates and surrendered them to the fort. Cowloon was in great alarm, and the garrison stood to their arms. The English went away, however, without doing any mischief. "What their purpose (or intention) may be, it is indeed difficult for any man to divine.'
The Indian reinforcement is, at the same time, stated to be in a very miserable condition; sickly and unserviceable; "five or six tenths without breeches to wear; and all swathed in ragged blankets and corerlids. Mat barracks are being built on the parade ground for 3,000 men that are expected. Arms are being embarked, it is believed, for an attack, first on Nam-t'au, aud then on Canton.
"The Police (green-jacket devils) say that there is to be this one fight more; by it they are to stand or fall; if they are beaten, they will be ready to sue for peace; if they cannot obtain peace, they will go home to England."
*
Six vessels with supplies for Hongkong, had been seized at Ts'in Wan, (a small place a little to the west of Victoria Harbour,) and ransomed for 72 dollars. A flour-mill there is said to be working again, and it is recommended that a party of braves should be sent to close it.
The opening of this shop had been announced in a letter from Yu Ki-nin, who also states that the execu- tion of a plot discussed between him and Ch'an Tsz'- tin on the 20th February is deferred. What this was, does not appear.
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to Yeh. There are other emissaries, adds Ch'an, at hand, who are ready to make another swoop. He had been to Cowloon to confer with three. Wong Sui-shang's design [against a steamer,] for the execu tion of which he was to have received 3000 Dollars, it was thought would fail-Wong was so slow. He had written to hurry him. The sum being large, and there being no "head and neck to produce in proof, he, Wong, was to bring the vessel to a particular spot, &c., &c.
Ships were few at Victoria. The soldiers before estimated at one thousand turned out to be a small body. The building of the mat barracks had been discontinued.
On the 27th February, he reports an increase of vigilance at Victoria. People are shut up in their houses at 5 o'clock, and, even at noon, few scen about. He has inspected Cowloon, and finds thirty heavy guns fit for use, and about one hundred and ten soldiers in garrison. He complains, that the in- terdict is not rigorously enforced by the authorities, either civil or military. He would himself plant a picket on some high ground about two miles from Cowloon, in a place well suited for purposes of sur- veillance, but is afraid, if his tents are seen by the English, that "they will pick a quarrel with him." He has seized a junk coming with supplies from Kwei-shin.
A note express from Tang Chiu-yung, without date, begs him to come to Cowloon at once to meet five friends, who engage that something shall be under-
On the 21st February, Ch'an Man-sin, nephew of Ch'an Sztin, writes to his uncle to inform him that the San-on Committee had forwarded to Canton an English head taken from an English cruizing boat, (it is believed he means to say near Aberdeen on the south side of the island.) The rest of the crew escap-likely what is intended. ed to land. "The Canton Committes are giving now
* The word yo here perplexes the translator. If it stand for ho-yo it means powder; if for yo-is'at it means medicine, drugs, polion. The former, all things considered, is most
↑ The Commissariat, Messrs Fletcher & Co.'s, &o. ¦
understand that they wish (the English,) to confess
their fault.
On the same day Ch'an Tsz-tin writes to the Sai-kung Committee to hold their hands in respect of the graver acts of aggression, but to continue strict in stopping the supplies. Also to his brother, congratulating himself on the prospect of the speedy and satisfactory termination of the campaign that is before them, now that the English are about to kiss the rod. He proposes reducing his braves by near half their strength.
In another letter of the same day he alludes to the fact, that the business was done on the 6th March; (evidently the burning of Duddell's store,) About the same time, Tang Chiu-yung, believed to be an ensign of the Cowloon establishment, reports the failure of an attempt to destroy a steamer on
the 5th March. [This was doubtless the Unicorn: a man was apprehended, on the 6th March, by Mr Caldwell, on suspicion of his privity to a plot in con- templation against that vessel.] The master had detected the plot, and had seized one man; four however, whose names are given, had made their escape. They know Victoria well, and have a large number of adherents, who have been, or are, in for- eign employ, either in dwelling-houses, or on board ships. They would be useful in any future incendiary undertaking, and Ch'an is recommended to retain them, on militia rations, as they have no other means of subsistence.
On the 10th March, he writes that he has been obliged to dismiss Tse, the man before mentioned, and, in the same letter, adds, that the rebellious bar- barians do not now look as if they meant to ask for pardon and sue for peace. Every important place must therefore be well guarded; but if there be no
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