54
R. G. GROVES
On 2nd June Rev. Schaub wrote that the "literati of Pan T'in had a meeting with the headmen of the six large market places in their neighbourhood." He continued, "most of the collected elders of the various villages were very reluctantly promising some help, but after all they came to an agreement that they would send 500 men from each market place when the Indian troops should really come to Pan Tin."3 Meanwhile, the villagers of Pan T'in were constructing trenches between their village and Li Long.
On 5th June Rev. Schaub reported that fortification work was still in progress. He had heard that "members of the rich and prosperous clan Tang in the city of Tung Kun ... are behind the scenes, that soldiers and weapons are coming up from there." Rev. Schaub continued, "last Saturday a messenger came from one of our out-stations, 15 miles from here... to bring us the news that the various market places in that region had also a gathering to discuss their plans."74
Rev. Schaub enclosed his own translation of a gentry placard posted in a nearby market town. It begins with a denunciation of the barbarians, and continues:
44
To fight the barbarians, I propose in a rough way: (1) to get the funds. It is the best plan that the six confederations (six market places) keep together. But the outlay for the soldiers should not be collected by an extraordinary field tax. It is also not right that the various confederations should pay the costs. Some of these places have a large population, and many fields... but for instance Thonglak (alias market of peace) could not do this. It is a small place and there is not a large population... We should use the usual field tax. Let first the six confederations come together to ask our Government for help
**75
By the end of June it was clear that the British did not intend an expedition against the villages of the interior. The occupation had, however, become involved in larger diplomatic issues between Britain and China. It dragged on throughout the summer until 13th September, when the last of the British forces withdrew behind the frontiers of the Colony. In the interim much of the Sham Chun valley was left without any form of Chinese government. On the day the British forces finally quitted the valley
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54
R. G. GROVES
On 2nd June Rev. Schaub wrote that the "literati of Pan T'in had a meeting with the headmen of the six large market places in their neighbourhood." He continued, "most of the col- lected elders of the various villages were very reluctantly pro- mising some help, but after all they came to an agreement that they would send 500 men from each market place when the Indian troops should really come to Pan Tin."3 Meanwhile, the villagers of Pan T'in were constructing trenches between their village and Li Long.
On 5th June Rev. Schaub reported that fortification work was still in progress. He had heard that "members of the rich and prosperous clan Tang in the city of Tung Kun
... are behind the scenes, that soldiers and weapons are coming up from there.' Rev. Schaub continued, "last Saturday a messenger came from one of our out-stations, 15 miles from here... to bring us the news that the various market places in that region had also a gathering to discuss their plans."74
Rev. Schaub enclosed his own translation of a gentry placard posted in a nearby market town. It begins with a denunciation of the barbarians, and continues:
44
To fight the barbarians, I propose in a rough way: (1) to get the funds. It is the best plan that the six confederations (six market places) keep together.. But the outlay for the soldiers should not be collected by an extraordinary field tax. It is also not right that the various confederations should pay the costs. Some of these places have a large population, and many fields. . . but for instance Thonglak (alias market of peace) could not do this. It is a small place and there is not a large population . . . We should use the usual field tax. Let first the six confederations come together to ask our Government for help
•
**75
By the end of June it was clear that the British did not intend an expedition against the villages of the interior. The occupation had, however, become involved in larger diplomatic issues between Britain and China. It dragged on throughout the summer until 13th September, when the last of the British forces withdrew behind the frontiers of the Colony. In the interim much of the Sham Chun valley was left without any form of Chinese govern- ment. On the day the British forces finally quitted the valley
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