Page
}
September 3, 1898.J
"The facts are these: Eight hundred Triads are banded together in and about No-tai. They have twice attacked official troops, neither side scoring any success. The official troops are not sufficient to attack the Triads. The whole country is in sympathy with the Triads and will join them as they see their chances of success increasing. The presence of the official troops has not deterred the Triads from rebelling, but instead their numbers have
grown.
Five hundred soldiers have gone in from here, but they are coolies who have never borue, arms before and cannot be depended upon over a hundred of them have already deserted.
"We ask you then to appeal to Consul Bedloe to send to Peking asking that our Minister will also push the case and secure at once sufficient protection to our property and our- selves that we may be able to return to our homes and prosecute our work.
"P.S.-Since writing the above we bave received information that the Triads are threa tening to take our compound now as their base for a fortification. If they do this it means the total destruction of the mission property as it will be necessary for the officials to bombard the place to get them out. The only hope is that the Taotai here will get reinforcements in time to save it. This is unlikely. The officials here seem willing enough and are certainly doing all they can, but they have only 1,000 soldiers and have 2,000 thieves to contend with, and have to look after the whole island of Hainan and the Linchow Peninsula as well, so that unless the Viceroy at Canton can be made to send reio. forcements they can do nothing more than they have done. So far they are to be commended for their efforts; but they must be supported by higher authorities. Consul Butler is sending to Consul Bedloe to-day the correspondence that has passed between him and the Tautai. Our thanks are due to Mr. Butler for his kindly and timely assistance. Should the thieves beat back the soldiers, as seems probable, they will work out towards Hoihow, and in that case we may need assistance or protection from a man-of-war, as will the other foreigners in the port."
THE KWANGSI REBELLION.
The Chung Shi Yat Po, a vernacular journal published at Canton, reports as follows on the suppression of the Kwangsi rebellion :-
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT. shom village and Pang village, and dispersed them. Altogether killed, wounded, and prisoners numbered several hundred and the rest ran away to the Western hills to hide themselves, but they will soon be destroyed by our great army, and peace will be restored as sure as the west wind that comes in autumn.
Hongkong, 31st August.
reliable
From Canton we learn that the Viceroy has prohibited the fire Chinese newspapers there to publish any news concerning the Kwangsi re- bellion unless the reports are favourable to the Imperial troops. Consequently no news is obtainable. The Viceroy' probibi- tion seems to have had a prejudicial effect in getting alarmist reports on foot. The natural inference is that the situation must be more serious than has been represented, but it is probably not so serious as present reports would make out. It has been stated that the rebels are within two days' march of Canton, but that is hardly likely, for had it been true a good deal more would have been heard of their approach, and the latest reports from Wuchow do not make mention of any recent movement of the rebels in that quarter. There seems to be no doubt, however, that there is a recrudes once of the rebellion, which was recently reported to have been suppressed.
Large numbers of Chinese soldiers have been sent to quell the rebellion, and the Black Flag chief and his braves are stationed at the North Gate to protect the city of Canton. Besides the Black Flags there are also the Volunteers.
PROCLAMATION BY THE REBEL CHIEF.
The following is a rough translation of a proclamation issued by the leader of the rebel- The proclamation, our translator states, con- lion in the sixth moon (19th July-16th August). tains a number of phrases from the Classics which are incorrectly quoted and hardly intel- ligible-
of
197
THE KOWLOON EXTENSION.
We (The Times) have received from one of our correspondents in China the following, which he believes to be the full text of the Convention signed at Peking for the extension of the territory under British control on the mainland opposite Hongkong:-
Whereas it has for many years past been recognised that an extension of Hongkong territory is necessary for the proper defence and protection of the colony,
It has now been agreed between the Govern- limits of British territory shall be enlarged ments of Great Britain and China that the under lease to the extent indicated generally on
the annexed map.
The exact boundaries shall be hereafter fixed when proper surveys have been made by officials appointed by the two Governments. The term of this lease shall be ninety-nine years.
It is at the same time agreed that within the city of Kowloon the Chinese officials now sta- tioned there shall continue to exercise jurisdio- tion, except so far as may be inconsistent with the military requirements for the defence of newly-leased territory Great Britain shall have Within the remainder of the Hongkong. sole jurisdiction. Chinese officials and people
shall be allowed, as heretofore, to use the road from Kowloon to Hsinan.
-
It is further agreed that the existing landing. place near Kowloon city shall be reserved for the convenience of Chinese men-of-war, merchant and passenger vessels, which may come and go and lie there at their pleasure; and for the con. venience of movement of the officials and people within the city.
When, hereafter, China constructs a railway to the boundary of the Kowloon territory under British control, arrangements shall be discussed.
It is further understood that there will be no expropriation or expulsion of the inhabitants and that if land is required for public offices, of the district included within the extension, fortifications, or the like official purposes, it shall be bought at a fair price.
If cases of extradition of criminals occur
they shall be dealt with in accordance with the existing treaties between Great Britain and Chins and the Hongkong Regulations.
The area leased by Great Britain, as shown on the annexed map, includes the waters of Mirs Bay and Deep Bay, but it is agreed that otherwise, shall retain the right to use those Chinese vessels of war, whether neutral or
waters.
shall be ratified by the Sovereigns of the two of the twenty-fourth year of Kwang Hau. It Countries, and the ratifications shall be ar changed in London as soon as possible..
In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorised thereto by their respective Govern ments, have signed the present agreement,
Done at Peking in quadruplicate (four copies in English and four in Chinese) the ninth day of June, in the year of Our Lord eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, being the twenty- first day of the fourth moon of the twenty- fourth year of Kuang Hsü.
"I, Cheung, being appointed by the Almighty to be Commander-in-Chief of the Hung Shung Tong (name of the rebellion) issue this pro clamation with a special view to kicking out the barbarians and protecting China. The barbarians being, as is known, the powerful people of Europe, are aiming at the exercise of their tyrannical powers throughout the whole world. Depending on their craftiness they try to find prey on the way. Their greedy desire is to take possession land everywhere and to seek out all the riches. During the last ten and more years As already reported, His Excellency the they have done great injury to the people under
The Convention shall come into force on the Viceroy sent troops to suppress the rebellion in pretence of carrying on missionary work, and Kwangsi and take possession again of those under pretence of carrying on trade have de-eight being the thirteen day of the fifth moon first day of July, eighteen hundred and ninety- cities and districts which were lost. We have spoiled the people of their wealth. Their now received advices from our special corres- cruelty, tyranny, wickedness, and outrageous- pondent saying that the Tsai Wan Po,, the
ness have kindled the anger of the gods and officer in command of the troops, had a hot cannot be forgiven by Heaven or Earth. fight with the rebels in Yungyuin district for They say they are friendly to China, but it is a three or four days from the 29th of the 5th lie. They violate the treaties and act in moon to the 2nd of 6th moon, and scored a such a way as to corrode and sat up China. continued success, killing several tens of rebels
Their crimes, such as breaking the Tem- and capturing about twenty, whom he sent ple of Confucius, destroying the images of to the headquarters to be beheaded. The the sages, forcing the officers to yield to rest of the rebels took to fight. Again, their desires in order to avoid taxation, kil- on 13th of the 6th moon, the Commandantling many innocent people, and sending the Cheang, Wai-lin led
missionaries to carry on their evil designs, are Pak-lao and took seven rebels prisoners, by too numerous to be mentioned and their shame name Lok Asui and others, who killed the cannot be washed clean by all the water of the West River. It is most painful to say Magistrate Kam Koo, and the concubine, Lee Leong Sz, of the rebel chief Lee Lap-ting, to
that the stupid officers, beguiling the people at be tried and sacrificed before the wooden tablet the behest of the foreigners into enslavement, of the deceased Magistrate Kam Koo. On the are helping them to carry on their evil work. 19th of the same month the Commandants Cheang and Kong joined their troops together and going towards Taitong village made strong attack upon the headquarters of the rebels, dividing their army into two divisions and attacking the enemy on his right and left flanks, killing a great many of them, from morning to night. Next day, the 20th, they again led their army to attack Sunchain village, and Ngao-shi-tong village, and other places, and totally destroyed the fortifications and nests of the thieves, and set fire to the jangles where they were hiding. On the 21st again they led their army to Taiyung mountain and to Taisheong village, where they had a fearful struggle with the rebels, of whom they killed and captured over a hundred and seized many arms and much ammunition. On the 22nd they again attacked the rebels in Yeong.
his braves as far as
А
|
$4
I, Cheung, obeying orders of the Almighty to gather all the braves and heroes together with a special view to seek revenge for the people, to drive away the foreign devils, and to protect China, have assembled over three hundred plilosophical scholars, about В thousand military officers, and more than thirty thousand brave soldiers. The twenty-fourth day of the sixth moon has been appointed to raise the standard. We are first to march to Ping Fa and Ta Wong and thence to Tai Ping and Wing On to drive away the foreign devils and protect the Chinese. You, the gentry and people, should take council together to co- operate in driving the foreign devils away im- mediately. When we pass we will cause no molestation to the people, who should espouse our cause and not obstruct our soldiers.
"Birth Moon."
CLAUDE M. Macdonald, LI HUNG-CHANG, Members of HBU TING K'UEI,) Tsung-li Yamên,
REVIEWS.
The Love of a Former Life. A Novel. By CHARLES J. H. HALCOMBE, Author of "Tales of Far Cathay," "The Mystic Flow. ery Land," etc. London: John Long, 1888, MR. HALCOMBE's China friends will be glad to have the opportunity of perusing another work from his industrious pen. The tale before us is rich in exciting incident, and if the reader can surrender his ordinary every day common sense and give himself up to the hypnotism of Mr. Halcombe's untrammeled imagination his interest in the working out of the plot will be well sustained. In his preface the author quotes two passages on love at first sight, one from Lord Lytton and the other from Sir John Lubbook. The latter says “ Love at first night sounds like an imprudence and yet is almost revelation. It seems as if we were but renewing the relations of a previous existence." This is
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.