54
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
with the exception of those in the Sap Pat Po street.
AND SHAMEEN. /
The Shameen defence corps will patrol the Settlement regularly after His Excellency's departure. Four gunboats are now in port, lying opposite the Bund, for the defence of Shameen, viz., one English, one American and two French. It is said that probably one of the French gunboats will leave shortly.
CORRESPONDENCE.
[We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.]
LETTERS FOR MACAO.
to be on the wharfs of the Hongkong and Macao steamers to watch, and when they come across a stranger or person of doubtful character or any person carrying firearms, they should take him to the guard-house to investigate matters, and if he can give a satisfactory account of him- self, let him off on bail. Of all the regiments in Kwangtung those of Cheang yung-choi, On- yung and Mo-yung are the best. If such rebellious gangs as Foo Chan Hoi and Ao Shun and other secret societies intend to attack Canton, we shall be able to resist them. It is a fact that the navy of Canton is known only as a name, con- sequently we have to engage a Japanese naval in- structor to train the marines, and have to streng. then the fleet by an increase of twenty more small steamers to cruise about along the North, West, and Canton rivers to look after pirates, and also for protection of the foreign firms at Shameen, Lately the robbers or rebels have been employ. ing such pretexts as that of killing foreigners and native Christians, but in reality they mean to raise a rebellion. In the ammunition-store the quick-firing guns, rifles, old and new, differ- ent kinds of cartridges are mixed up, and the soldiers do not know which will fit which; they will have to be sorted and re-examined and put into proper order. The provisions of Canton are evidently not enough for four months; consequently should an enemy blockade the ness in inserting in your valuable paper,-We port it will not be able to hold out long.are, sir, yours etc., We should take certain steps, say form a joint stock company to buy rice from abroad and store it here for our supply, free of lekin and customs duty on importation. Lastly we should have a public debating society, where we can discuss and air our opinions and submit them to the consideration of the authorities.
{
THE END OF THE MEETING.
After a long and animated discussion in which
each one
tried to vie with the other in loud talk, until another interrupted by cutting him short, in the irregular anmethodical Chinese way, a set of ten rules was adopted, to be sub- mitted to H.E. the Viceroy for approval. A committee of sixteen men of the respectable and well-known class was also selected.
HOW TO MAKE GENERALS.
Later.
Since writing the above I have learnt from reliable source that the pirate chiefs Ao
Shun and Foo Chun Hoi have surrendered and
are appointed generals of the army by the Viceroy. With Liu Yung Foo, the Black Flag chief, we now have here three generals of the same type.
THE SUBSCRIPTION LIST.
For the expenses of maintaining the armies and frontier defence, H.E. the Viceroy Li Hung. chang has subscribed Tls. 2,000,000, Lao Hok Shun Tls. 2,000,000, Provincial Governor Tak Tls. 500,000, Hoppo Tls. 500,000, Provincial Treasurer Tls. 500,000, Provincial Judge Tls. 500,000, Salt Commissioner Tls. 500,000, Grain Commissioner Tls. 500,000. Besides, sixty to seventy million taels are deposited in the Trea- sury for payment of foreign loans, and if neces- sary they will be expended in case of emergency.
A POETICAL PROCLAMATION.
The Viceroy Li Hung-chang and the Provin. cial Governor have jointly issued a short proclamation in verse to caution the people from disturbing the Christians, and inventing wild rumours. It says that they are here to protect the frontier and pacify the people and no person is allowed to disturb, insult, or ill treat any Christians or spread any unfounded ramours to incite rebellion. Any person acting against this order will be arrested and heavily punished, if not beheaded.
Canton, 17th July,
THE VICEROY'S DEPARTURE,
H.E. Viceroy Li Hung-chang leaves by 8.8. Anping to-day at 5 p.m. and takes with him altogether 281 persons; his suit and luggage goes by 8.8. (Fushun which leaves at 2 p.m. It is believed that His Excellency will not return to Canton again, as last night he received a tele- gram appointing him Viceroy of Chihli. The Commissioner Mr. Paul King and two native employes of the I. M. C. accompany him to-day
CONSEQUENCES IN CANTON.
All the Chinese shops with English sign boards and The Eqitable Life Assurance Agency in the city have had their boards taken down, for fear of riot after the departure of the Viceroy,
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
noon.
DAILY PRESS.'
Macao, 14th July.
FOREIGN RESIDENTS.
THE DEFENCE OF CANTON.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE “DAILY PRESS.
Canton, 14th July. SIE,With reference to correspondence un- der the above heading, I am inclined to agree with Consul Scott in his disparagement of the too ready use of force, and am inclined to think that judging by the measures proposed, if we are not very careful any trouble which occurs will probably of our own making rather than otherwise. There may be Baden-Powells amongst us flaming to distinguish themselves and to earn Victoria Crosses; but whilst giving them all credit, for my part I consider "Discretion the better part of valour!
July 21, 1900.
certain knowledge sent three women almost into fits on the Shameen, and sent some scores of Chinamen into the country to hunt up their ancestors' graves."Resident" a admits that trouble was caused not long ago by an attempt to remove only one boat; how much more would it be the case in the present time, were general action taken in the matter. It may need only a spark to ignite the fire. Once lit, who knows to where it may extend ?-Yours, etc.,
PHILOSOPHER.
CONSULAR REPORT.
Di
ICHANG.
In his report on the trade of Ichang for 1899 Mr. Acting Consul Wilton notes a substantial increase, both in the local trade with other treaty porte (chiefly Shanghai, Hankow and Chung- king) and the transhipment trade between Sir. As we are now anxious to receive news Chungking and the riverain ports
(chiefly of the present affairs in the North, we shall be Hankow and Shanghai). The former has ad- obliged if the Postmaster General of Hong-vanced from €193,009 in 1898 to £555,938, the kong can send up letters from his port twice a latter from £2,298,437 in 1898 to £4,674,949. day by 8.8. //eungshan and s.s. Kwai Lum; the The total trade of the port has thus more than latter is more convenient as she arrives here by doubled itself in the last year. This Mr. Wit- ton attributes to the restoration of confidence Thanking you in anticipation for the kind-in Szechuan following the suppression of the Yumantzu rebellion. It is unlikely," says Mr. Wilton, that the trade for 1900 will increase to the same phenomenal extent, unless some new factor, such as the successful competition of steam with junk transport, be brought to bear." It is to be feared that we must now wait another year or more to see this new factor in operation. The same remark may apply to Mr. Wilton's statement: The experiment of steam naviga- tion of the upper Yangtze should be solved in 1900, as a British and German steamer will commence to run between Ichang and Chung- king in May and June respectively." The full trial of the experiment has unfortunately been interrupted by recent events, and we may have to wait for some time to see a repetition of the satisfactory trade record for 1899. This trade, it must be noted, is entirely with native treaty ports, and there is no direct foreign trade. In conclusion, Mr. Wilton's remarks on Ichang as a trade centre and on the navigation of the upper Yangtze may be quoted: “The main drawbacks to the development of Ichang, as an improtant trade centre are the moun. tainous nature of the surrounding country and the deplorable state of the roads connecting Ichang with producing districts. The present status of Ichang is due chiefly to its geographical position, situated as it is at the lower end of the difficult and dangerous stretch of river leading up into the province of Szechuan. It is the present terminus for steam navigation. Down- river cargo is transhipped into native junks bound up river, while the up-river cargo brought down by junks is transhipped into steamers for Hankow and thence on to Shanghai. The ad- vent of steamers to run between Ichang and Chungking will tend to increase exports from and ultimately imports to Chungking, and there- by increase imports into and re-exports from Iohang. As these steamers will be the means of increasing trade and, therefore, the customs revenue, it would appear to be incumbent on the Chinese Central Government to endeavour to lesson the dangers of navigation by some artificial means. Judging, however, from present indications, the central authorities will neither attempt the work themselves nor even permit interested parties to do so."
throat cut.
The policy should be purely and simply Scoot! First the women and children, and then the men to follow, after covering their retreat. Defence ? To stop and fight? What for? For bricks and mortar, rags, bits of painted mud, and dead wood! I ask you, mes braves, is it for these that you would sacrifice your valuable bodies, not to mention souls? Besides, my friends, is there no such thing as claime? Elastic and expanding claims? Possibly L.
and “Resident ' Metford
have possessions which no claims can satisfy; or they may con- sider "a bird in the hand worth two in the bush!* Or they way have come to the conclusion that life in Shameen is hardly worth the living at the best of times, and much less so when you're in hourly dread, real or imaginary, of getting your If so they are welcome to stand by, and defend their possessions with the last But to us the drop of their heroic blood. majority who own no more of Shame n soil than we can comfortably cram into our hats or pockets, a life-policy, a lottery ticket, and a few domestic encumbrances which will be as glad to get rid of us as we shall be to get rid of them under the circumstances, how foolish we should be to stop and defend other peoples' property. What's all the world to a man when his wife's a widow? Let those fight to protect property who are paid for it. We are civilians, not We may fight to protect the lives of others, or our own, but is it worth to kill or to be killed for bricks, mortar, stone, wood, and mud, which can easily be replaced--possibly at a profit--new for old! In all this I am supposing, of course, a proper riot, joined in by overwhelming numbers, the regulars possibly included, and not a mere fracas.
soldiers.
Under such circumstances Shameen, with the
force at hand, could not be depended for any length of time, and retreat alone should be thought of. My suggestions would be a wide awake lookout "patrol"; s signal system by day and night; women to the boats. Then to the bridges. Then men to follow to bosts. As to the suggestion to clean the creek, I believe it would bring about just what we wish to avoid. It would be more ill-judged than was the firing of a salute on the “Glorious 4th," which to my
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The Rev. A. H. Smith, author of Chinese Characteristics and Village in China, was in Pek- ing with Mrs. Smith, with twenty-five ladies and eight men of the American Board Mission who escaped from Tungchow. This makes a total of about forty members of the American Board, twenty-three of the American Methodist, and eight of the American Presbyterian Mission, who may be still in Peking.
A portion of the remains of Buddha, presented by the Siamese Government to Japan, arrived at Nagasaki on the 12th by the Rohilla, in charge of several of the chief Japanese prelates of the Buddhist faith, who journeyed to Bangkok to receive the relics. The latter will be exhibited in the principal towns of Kynshu and will be enshrined finally in one of the principal temples of Kyoto.
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