448
him. The brigands prepared for defence and to get their prisoner out of the way they threw him into a pond, and as he struggled in the mud at the bottom, piled inverted rice-baskets on his head. The soldiers proving too many the brigands were forced to retreat, and Lei was rescued. He was taken home but shortly after succumbed to the efforts of the ill usage he had received.
END OF THE SHOE-STRIKE. The shoe-strike has come to an end, and the men have resumed work. In spite of official interference the craftsmen's guild proved too strong for their masters. The latter have given in, and granted them the rise of pay they demanded.
FIREWOOD IN CANTON.
The price of fuel in this city is constantly rising and pressing very hard on the poorer classes. Firewood which last year was fifty cents a load, has now risen to eighty; grass, which is substituted by those who cannot afford wood, is now fifty cents, as against ten cents ton years ago. To relieve this a French sub- ject has petitioned for the right of forming a company for the supply of firewood with powers to collect it in the neighbourhood, but it has been refused on the ground that it would be a breach of the rights mentioned in the treaty.
SWATOW.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT,
Swatow, 25th November. DIPLOMATIC VISITORS.
The German cruiser Tiger, with the Minister Mumm von Schwarzenstein and Attaché von
Bohlen on board, arrived here from Hongkong on the 22nd instant. After paying their calls on the German Consul, they left the following day for Amoy. The Chinese forts fired salutes on the Tiger entering and leaving the port.
A HUGE SCHEME.
The river leading to Chowchowfu is silting up at an accelerating speed. Particularly is this the case at a station called Meichi, about four miles distant from here. A syndicate consist- ing of wealthy merchants and officials has been formed to dredge the locality at Meichi and transport the mud and sand to Tai Chen Ban, which is situated at the western part of the harbour. The last named place has also been acquired by the syndicate and they are going to fill in the immense foreshore which they have reclaimed with the Chinese authorities' consent. Considering the yearly increase of commerce and the disproportionate lack of storage-room for goods, the newly formed company intend erect- ing large godowns at Tai Chen Ban. I hear that the consummation of their plans will cost the promoters between $60,000 and $80,000, but they are of opinion that they will later on derive a profit of five times the amount expended. The maiu shareholders are Yung Fu Yuan, Jen Sheng, and Bradley & Co's compradore.
MISSIONARY INTERFERENCE.
.
occurrence.
A few days ago a fight occurred between a couple of boatmen who are engaged in ferrying passengers at a certain place at no great dis- tance from here. Fights among the boat-people, on the most trivial provocation, are of daily In this instance it appears that two sampans collided, which led to an altercation and ultimately came to blows between the owners of the boats concerned. As one of the combatants is a native Christian and belongs to the Roman Catholic denomination, this body, without taking the least trouble to ascertain the rights and wrongs of the affair, intervened on behalf of their member and got the other boatman-who is no Christian-arrested. The inpecunious relatives of the latter repaired to the residence of the Roman Catholic mis- sionaries and were refused admission. They were, however, informed by one of the head native preachers that they would have to pay $500 as compensation (!) and 20 boxes of candles and fire-crackers before the release of their man could be effected. As they have not complied with these demands, the man is still in imprison- ment. The interference of the missionaries in this case was uncalled for and utterly unjust, In spite of all their protestations and assevera- tions to the contrary, the fact, nevertheless, exists that the members of the Romanist body are prone to mediate in such cases as cited
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
above. Is it to be wondered then that the Chinese regard the missionaries with disrespect and resort to destruction and assault when full of rage engendered by the missionaries' lack of discretion ?
VLADIVOSTOCK NOTES,
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Vladivostock, 12th November. CHINESE RETURNING TO BLAGOVESHTCHENSK. Information has been received here from Blagoveshtchensk that a large number of Chinese merchants, who during last year's Chinese riots fled from the conntry, are now resuming their former occupations at Blago veshtchensk and at other business places on the Amur, all of them doing a flourishing business. This serves to show that full tran- quility has been restored in the above country.
A NEW DEPARTMENT,
[December 2, 1901.
Chinese officials in mandarin with many robes, stood around the side. The doyen, Baron Czikanu de Wahlborn, approached at the head of the delegation, and spoke a few words of fitting appreciation and condolence. The oldest son replied in Chinese, and the next sɔn trans- lated it into English. Most of the guests bowed to the tablet, and retired to the front court. After partaking of the refreshments, they de parted in stately order to the beating of the foreign drum. Thus was honoured the oue Chinaman who has had the widest acquaintance with foreigners.
A STRANGE REPORT.
I hear that none of the Home Governments has yet sent to the family any expression of condolence. This seems very strange, when the deceased was the one Plenipontentiary who took the lead in negotiations for peace with these Governments. I noticed that yesterday the American flag alone was at half-mast,
THE NEW VICEROY,
He is more
When Prince Ching returns, he will be The Department of Agriculture and Go- vernment Domains at St. Petersburg intends regarded as the real head of affairs. He is, to establish a special central Fishing Depart- however, not the man of courage, origina ment, similar to the United States Fish Com-lity, or grasp of the issues of the day that
the First Grand Secretary was. mission, to have at its head a Superintendent and three specialists to take charge of the following genial in his manners, as is true of most Manchus, unless we except the brothers Prince separate branches of the projected Depart- ment: Fishing, fish-breeding, and scientific Tuan and Duke Lan. He is the same as was investigations. Several inspectors are to be the noted Viceroy in ability to increase his revenue. Avariciousness is a characteristic of appointed, whose duty will be to control and look after the fishing industries in the different both. The Prince is rather more a time-server. He did not believe in the Boxer claims, but regions of Russia.
he contributed to some of their headquarters where Chinese Christains were cut to pieces, and whose leaders had least reason to loot and burn foreign property. He did not ad- nocate war against foreigners, neither did he oppose it, as did the noble company of
RUSSIAN NAVAL NEWS.
The St. Petersburg newspapers report that machinery tests and speed trials of four new Russian torpedo-boats are being mad at Kronstadt. The vessels have recently been
DOW
built at the Nevsky Works in St. Petersburg,
1
and give entire satisfaction in every respect.
The question presented for decision to the Naval Department at St. Petersburg, as regards the adoption of aerostation in the fleet for discovering an enemy on the high seas and also for observation purposes, will be decided in the current year. Experiments with special military balloons are now being mad in the Black Fleet by an experienced offi·· the Military Aerostation Park, who was ally commissioned by the Government to experi- ment with balloons for naval and military purposes. Should the experiments prove suc- cessful, it is intended by the Government to have several balloons in each squadron. The balloons are to be attached to warships and will be connected with the latter by telephone,
U.
in order to be able to communicate at once to a warship of any discovery.
PEKING.
Peking, 9th November. MOURNING FOR LI HUNG-CHANG.
To-day, being the third day after the death of Li Hung-chang, is the special day for the mourning family to receive condolences. Many Chinese friends have come throughout the day. In the afternoon an interesting specta le was that of the visit of the diplomatic body, some of the Logation Secretaries, and a few other The hour appointed sympathising friends. was three o'clock. A strange coincidence was the absence from Peking of fire out of eleven Ministers. A Chargé d'Affaires represented each one absent. Chinese soldiers were drawn up in line at the door and along the street where the residence of the Vic-roy's family is situated. The foreign guests passed into one of courts, which was covered over with matting. Director Hu Yü-fen, Vice-President Lien Fang, Provincial Treasurer Chou Fu, Envoy Na Tung, Generals Chiang Kuei-ti and Ma Yü-k'un, and Interpreter Tseng, son of the late Marquis Tseng, were in attendance. Tables with refreshments were arranged in the court. After the full delegation had arrived and a little conversation, they all passed through a building where the Viceroy had received guests, into the next court likewise covered with matting. Directly in front was a tablet to the deceased, while the coffin with remains and surrounded with offerings and incense was in the room beyond. The two sons of the deceased, dressed in mourning of white, stood at one side Other offerings were spread of the tablet. near the altar. Taoist and Buddhist priests,
official martyrs. He remained silent, and saved his life.
An open and righteous statement might have held back the Government from its crusade of blood and carnage. Instead, he want with those for the moment strong. His soldiers fired on the Legations, though not, perhaps. with as much persistency as those of General Tang Fu-hsiang. When the Allies came, he then daren to counsel peace, and so became Plenipotentiary. He yielded without much pro- testation to the demands of the victorious Powers, but he now exerts himself to restore Whenever possible, he things to the old order. has tried to save officials from punishment. He especially looks after the interests of the Manchu
We have heard that
one for-
eigner whose name was spoken of for different positions in the Chinese Government was opposed by him because supposed to have urged the decapitation of the guilty officials at Paot- ingfn, the Treasurer being a protégé of the Prince. His sense of right and wrong has never been marked; neither does he show wisdom capable of helping forward his country. Under his leadership we need expect but little, even should he combine with his rival, Yang Lu.
A REVERSION TO EXCLUSIVENESS. All the five openings in the Imperial city wall made by foreign troops are now closed or being closed. These openings have been a cɔn- venience to the Chinese as well as to foreigners, The road but this is not to be considered. from the east to the west gates of the Imperial in front of the north wall of the city, which passes Forbidden City, and thence across the marble bridge by the Winter Palaco grounds, is now closed to all but foot-passengers. We hear that foreigners will be soon forbidden the privilege of crossing the Imperial city, even when going on foot, as this rule was established by the The Chinese Empress Dowager in 1885. officials think that by these little acts of rever- sion to exclusiveness, they show that power has been restored to them. The dictatorialness of Foreign Powers for a year is now to be counter- balanced by all possible endeavours to exhibit to all the retention of Chinese power. It is a time of mutual limitations, annoying to both sides.
Peking, 11th November.
THE ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.
To-day the eclipse of the sun was recognised by special ceremonies at the Board of Rites, which adjoins the Russian and American Lega- · tion barracks. The officials of the Board began to assemble shortly after noon. By half pust
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