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YUNG LU AND TUNG FUHSIANG.
TWO LETTERS DISCOVERED. The Canton Ling Hoi Po of the 22nd inst. reproduces from the Chee Sun Po, of Shanghai, the following letter from Yung Lu, Viceroy of Chihli, to General Tung Fuhsiang, with the latter a reply. The letters are believed to be authentic and were discovered among some con- fidential documents in the yamen by an official who passed them on until ultimately they reach ed the papers.
From Yung Lu to Tung Fuhsiang-Your brother Shing Wu has received your letter and acknowledges its contents. He knows that the foreigners of different countries have been in sulting China and 'ill-treating her people in a manner that has aroused out rightful indigna- tion, and rendered it a matter of great incon- venience to us in the transaction of our internal affairs. All those that know something of foreign affairs are as afraid of foreigners as of tigers. Yet they are only relying upon the strength of their ships of war and guns to terrify us. Their territory is small and their people are few in number. They have robbed us of our lands and goods. Apart from their strong ships and fearful guns they are worthless and have no thing else to boast of or for us to fear. Their guns and ammunition we have, and as our have no fear of them. The year before last, soldiers are well trained and smart, we should when Italy wanted our San Mun Wan Bay, I strongly opposed her, and she could not do any thing. Now we have with us Prince Tuan as our chief supporter, the new governor, and some millions of 1 Ho Chuan who intensely hate all foreigners as much as they hate the Christians. With their magical skill we have a set of patriotic people whom Heaven has sent us. The foreig. ners that live here are few, and it will be to sweep them out. I swear that I will kill the whole generation of them, so as to stop their ill treatment of us. I have the talent of a general and the dignity of nobility, and I com. mand fine soldiers; so the foreign barbarians are afraid of me. We have long ago had the intention of killing them all, and now with the help of the Boxers, whom we shall supply with aring and ammunition, we shall be quite able to oppose them, and make for ourselves an ever- lasting name all over the world. I hope you will fall in with my plan.
easy
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
CANTON.
[8d.] YUNG LU. Tung Fuhsiang answered as follows: -I have received your Excellency's instructions yester day, and thank your Excellency for it. Your Excellency says that the barbarians have been insulting us exceedingly, and that you have sworn to kill them so as to stop their ill- treatment of us. I quite agree. With the help of the I Ho Chuan we shall be quite able to fight them. Since your Excellency has shown such loyal indignation, and spared no trouble to carry out your object, I too with my poor talent have the same intention. How dare I disobey your Excellency's order? Fortunately we have the I Ho Chuan, who are gifted with mystical arts and supernatural skill, and who are as loyal and as patriotic as they are brave. They fear no death, and are ready to risk their lives for the love of their country, to kill and sweep out all the foreign barbarians, so as to
win a name for the future. This, I am con- fident, your Excellency is quite able to accom-
plish. Your Excellency is in an exalted posi. tion, and of your Excellency's skill, clear judge. ment, and extraordinary merit I have not the least doubt. Having received such orders from your Excellency it is my duty to make all military preparations, and to await an oppor tunity for rising. I shall do my best to render all possible help and am willing to sacrifice even my life to repay your favour. I hope your Excellency will honour me with further instructions and I shall report to your Ex pellency the state of our army.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Canton, 25th August. TERIORIBING A NEWSPAFEE, On account of the defeat of the "hinese troops at the hands of the Allied Forces at Peking, as described in the English journals, which the native paper Pok Man Po translated and published, a number of ruffians and vagabonds went the other day into the newspaper office, and threatened to break the head of the editor and smash up the place if he keeps on publishing Chinese reverses.
...
A CARTON FABLE.
&
One Chinese newspaper, the Chung Sai Po of Canton, has published a barefaced story, say- ing that when the Indian troops arrived at Hongkong, on being told that there were large number of Boxers at Peking whom they were expected to fight, they got so frightened that some 70 to 80 of them jumped into the
water and were drowned!
A REPENTANT BEIGAND.
Li Hung-chang, by his secretary Lao Hok Shun, at Shanghai, wired an order to some high officials here to recall the Brigand Chiefs Fachan Hoi and Ao Sun, together with their soldiers, I hear they have refused, and that Ao Sun, and offered to employ them as his body guard, tired of his predatory life, has turned priest.
A DISORDERLY FESTIVAL.
The 18th ult. was the anniversary day of the King of Hell in the temple in the old city. where people from the different parts of the town and villages repaired to worship to gain indulgence and pardon for their sins. With a multitude of mixed characters, male and female, huddled together indiscriminately, sleeping, eating, smoking and drinking for a night or two, the scene of course goes beyond the limits of decorum. The custom is commonly known among the Chinese as "taking the vapour of the earth." Although the authorities issue notifications every year to prohibit it, still they cannot stop it. Among the many ridiculous incidents which occurred I may just mention two or three. Between 4 and 5 p.m. on the day of the festivity a middled-aged man was seen barefooted in a penitential mood walking, stopping, every three paces, kneeling down, kowtowing, getting up, and proceeding all the way through a long street, as long as say from Queen's Road Central to the Sailor's Home, to the temple. Another instance was that of a young wife, who was going to the temple with her mother-in-law. Before she arrived at her destination, among the bustle of the crowd she missed her. She went about to took for her, treading through the labyrinth of the streets and enquiring at every shop. At last she became alarmed and went astray as far as the Nam Hoi yamen, where the runners, who are always on the alert looking out for prey, pounced upon her under the supposition that she had been kidnapped and locked her up. When her case was brought up, the Magistrate inquired into the circumstances, and being satis- fied that she was a respectable woman, des- patched her to one of the Hospitals to await for her husband to take her back. In another case three idle fellows who amused themselves by wearing female wigs, powdering their faces, and disguising themselves as females, intruded themselves upon the company of the fair sex. One of the girls, wiser than the rest discovered the fraud, and a hue and cry being! raised, they were chased out of the sacred pre- cincts. The crowd seized the rascals, and gave them a sound beating before they let them go.
THE WEATHER.
During the last few days, especially from the 16th to 21st inst., the temperature in (anton has been exceedingly warm, the thermometer ranging from 96 to 99 degrees in the shade,
and there has not been a breath of wind to be had. The several charitable institutions in the city have been giving away freely cholera medicines, cooling drinks, and tea.
Canton, 30th August.
SPG [84] FUHSIANG. The Straits Chinese British Association," recently formed at Singapore for the improve- ment of the social status of Straits-born - Chi- nese,
has among its list of honorary members on the Committee the name of Dr. Ho Kai of Hongkong. At the first meeting of the 48- All the newspaper offices here are closed sociation it was announced that a member. to-day and their publication has been stopped ship of over a thousand had already been by order of the Chinese Authorities. This is a obtained.
pónita penalty for publishing statements which they
ALL NEWSPAPERS SUPPRESSED.
[Beptember 1, 1900.
ought not to have published. also diotated, it is supposed, by the that they might by their publication ex feelings of the public, phoeni
[From another source we hear that the sup- pression is attributed to the fact that Ca papers reproduced from the papers
the pe report that the Japanese had succeeded in taking prisoner the thinese Emperor.]
SWATO
[FROM A CORRESPONDENT.]A
wedd: Swatow, 23rd August. ANXIETY ALLAYED. EVEN SLAAP It is with a sigh of relief that I am writing to inform you that we have survived the eventful ---or is it the uneventful?-28th day of this Chi- nese moon. It was the day on which all foreigners here were to be exterminated, but nothing at all occurred. It cannot be denied that those in the know did expect a disturbance of some sort and seem to have been well informed as to what was going on, for quite unexpectedly the Gers man cruiser Hertha arrived outside the bar : yesterday morning, from the North, with orders to land here a detachment of about 200 men for the protection of the foreigners. I say
being already two men-of-war in port at present. unexpectedly, because the community had no idea as to the coming of the German cruiser, there
On the arrival of the Hertha outside the bar, der a message from the German Consul, who, one of our local pilots delivered to the Comman-
thing was quiet, the cruiser's presence was conse it appears, informed him that as every...... quently not needed. The Hertha left at about o'clock in the afternoon for Hongkong, I believe.
A CORRECTION. ATM Sun French gunboat Comète with the French Consul In my last letter I informed you that the from Canton on board had arrived here. It is not the Consul from Canton, but the Vice-Con- sul from Langehow who came, He has pro ceeded with two weiyuens from Canton to Chowchowfoo to investigate into the recent dis turbances at Ungkung and the other places. Up to the time of writing the perpetrators of the outrages have not been captured.
AMOY.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
At 4 o'clock an
Amoy, 24th August: -- THE JAPANESE OCCUPATIONJURA This morning, at 2 o'clock, a small house in Amoy city used as a Japanese Buddhist Temple armed party of some 60 men were landed from for some years was burnt.
one of the Japanese men-of-war in port, marched « crossed the harbour to Kulangen. Armed to the scene, and returning an hour afterwards sailors fully equipped are parading the island with fixed bayonets. Several so-called Boxer placards have been collected by an energetic Japanese.
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The Chinese say the owner of the premises that several days ago the priests removed most had not received any rent for a long time, and of the furniture, and that the place was burnt by themselves with the aid of kerosene; also that the placards were posted up by Japanese. The place is perfectly quiet and people peace able; the armed party were not even insulted.
· IS IT A GOT-UP AFFAIE?ES NAT It really looks very much like a pre-arranged affair with but one object in view, to create
trouble. Amoy is extremely quiet and there is not the slightest cause for alarm.
Japan wants Amoy and is making a fair bid to get it, as the other Powers will find out when perhaps too late. The sooner a British, French and German battleship is here the better.
The transport Hancock on her last trip from Nagasaki to San Francisco made the passage in fourteen days, which is stated by Pacific ship- ping men to be the fastest on record, 137
Active steps are now being taken to establish public schools in the Philippines, and Dr. 'Atkinson, who is engaged in drafting a system of instruction, is to have the assistance of Professor David C. Barrow of the State Normal School at San Diego, California.
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