June 20, 1903.J
CANTON NOTES.
[FROM THE
CHUNG NOOI SAN PO"]
ROBBERS ONCE MORE.
and the most notorious actually kiduap, the Robbers are most daring and Berce at present, sans and daughters of the well-to-do citizens and even the grown-up persons and hold them to ransom. They also demand blackmail from the big shops in different market-towns and from the junks, under threat of plundering and burning if their demands are not complied with It is said that nearly all the large junks pay a good sum of money as blackmail annually to the greater robbers, who promise to do their utmost to protect them from being molested by other robbers. On the 6inst a letter was received by the sub-prefect of Fatshan, pur- porting to be seat by the robbers under the name of the Sam-Yik Society, demanding that five thousand taels be sent to a certain place in Canton within five days, under the threat of killing the prefect and burning the yamen to the ground. It should be remembered that this is not the first time that robbers have demanded blackmail from the Canton mandarios; some five years ago Tam-Chung-Lun, the theu Viceroy of Canton, also received a letter from robbers" demanding a big sum,
THE NEW VICEROY..
H. E. Sham Chau-husen Chun-hsuon), the new Viceroy of Canton, is at present staying in the Tiger Pass to inspect all the forts aud batteries. His younger son and second wife arrived at Cantou on the morning of the 14th inst. and are staying in Kwan-ah-shu-kuk. His Excellency will arrive at Canton on the 19th inst, and take over the seals on the same day. He has sent over ten honest and trusty officials to discover the conduct and abilities of all the officials and look into the affairs of different gamens. So at present the mandarins are paying great attention to their duties and all cases are promptly dealt with.
THE KWANGS|||FAMINE.
The famine in Kwangi is at present not quite so severe, for shipments after shipments of rice have been sent thither by the charitable institutions and the price of rice is going down daily, while the rice crops in different places give favourable promise The officials are again prohibiting women and children being exported to Canton, whereas some days ago hundred of females were being conveyed to Canton by the West River to be sold as pro- s itates and servants, and the officers at various stations on the route were compelled to shut their eyes on account of the gravity of the
famine.
PEKING.
୮
CHINA ÖVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
absolutely inevitable. Anticipations concerning Russia's military policy in Manchuria are vain indulgences. As a matter of fact Russia is permanently established already.
The railway outside the Great Will is guarded by Yuan's soldiers and an equal num- practically owned by Russia, although under ber under the Tartar General, these last being Chinese officers. The statement is freely made that these are guards by day but robbers by night. They are ca lous to everything but their own personal interest, and Russia can profitably afford to study them.
Another significant feature is that these associates of the Manchu robb rs have been g nerously supplied freely distributed these at less than maker's with rifles of Russian manufacture. Agents
cost.
POSITION UNALTERA BLE.
Although every port in Mauchu is were to be declared open to-morrow, the position would remain unaltered, and would only be a tempor- ary solution of the difficulty. At present the procr.stination of the Powers is encouraging Russia's slow but steady tread further South than is desirable.
The pursuance of the opposite policy is the only preventative of war. -Mercury
A Northern native paper has a despatch from Peking which the N.-C. Daily News translates as follows:-"Although the Government tell everybody that the demands of Russia in regard to Man-huria have been rejected by China in toto, yet it is an open secret that, sub rosa, the advisers of the Throne have given way to all the demands of Russia. Indeed the Waiwapu
·
are
dare not discuss any important international questions, whilst none of the Ministers of its preciucts. They are, however, plunging that Department ure seen nowadays within
intercourse with foreign deep into social
and banquets officials, and dinners the order of the day with them just LOW. Indeed, their Majesties proffer no questions about how to oppos+ Russia in Manchuria, por can there be found any one caring under the c'r. cumstances to address the Throne on the matter. Even the eunuchs in the Pa ace when asked as to how things are getting along in the Grand Council, etc., reply just now. Oh! we know nothing nor care for anything except to see that our rice- owls are full and palatable to the month. That's all.' The sale of official rank goes on gaily and daily and in such a manner that it they can while they can as if the day of would seem the sellers are trying to make all reckoning were not for off. As for Viceroy Yuan shi-ki, he looks as if weighed down by the know'elge of some impending calamity. In fact he has
8
scared and worried look ab ut
bim
Even the Empress Dowager is getting distrustful of his ability to stem any political storm Her Majesty has been known to have asked Yuau about the condition of his army, whether it can be depended upon to give adequate protection to their Majesties in time of trouble, and to these questions Yuan bas always given uncertain replies. Prince
does the Ching also has shown that he not think Yuan fit ed to fill the important post As for the Grand of Grand Councillor. Secretary Wang Wêu-shao, he is getting seuile, and when any one talks to him for any length of time H.E falls off to sleep. Lu Ch'uan-lin is now anxious to leave Peking for some post in the provinces, as if he feared calamity to be in the near distance as regards Peking. Such are the men upon whom poor, unfortunate China has to depend at present.
Peking, 9th June, DEMORALISATION AMONG THE OFFICIALS. It is impossible to imagine a more complete demoralisation existing than that which subsists among the officials of Peking, and the metropolitan province of Chili and province of Shantung. According to a ligh authority, one of the most eminent Chinese officials, who has hitherto been impossible to approach, is now swayed and intimidat. ed by foreign influences, which reuder his own inclinations uugatory. Profiting by the experience of the treatment meted out to their predecessors in 1900, the officials decline all individual responsibility, which pertains to the Viceroys. Even the Empress's adoption of every advertised Court innovation is nothing less than an indication of her submission to the weakness she is unable to withstand at present. There is indicated by the populace throughout the country an air of expectant indifference, which betrays a palpable disregard of the cou- trol of the capital. The difference in this respect on the Yangtsze is marked. Here at least the Empress-Dowager has waned. The powerful influence behind the throne, is un- deniably Ru sia. ⠀
RUSSIA PREDOMINANT.
The sooner the chiniera of the integrity of the Empire is dispelled the batter it will be for all the Powers apart from Russia. The latter will continue to acquire influence, unless it is realised that her actions in Manchuria and Corea are merely precipitating what is
Two Chiness companies at Swatow have been competing for the coolie traffic to Singapore, and in consequence native passengers to the Straits are being carried from Amoy to Penang for $4 a head, while freights are down to one quarter the usual rates.
TIBET.
441
The Asahi publishes the following despatch from Peking, dated the 8th inst.:-
The Chinese Resident in Tibet has telegraphed to the War Office to the effect that
the Russians who e tered Tibet have been
making investigations of mines and surveying laud. Lately hundrede of cavalrymen have entered the country.
**.I
The Russians declare that they have come on a visit of pleasure and exploration, and that they have brought soldiers with them merely fo protection. saying that they are permitted by the Chinese have received no information whatever on the Government to have a military escort. matter," says the Resideut, "and await au -im- mediate reply as to whether there is any truth in the statement of the Russians' On receipt of the above Prince Ching communicated with the Russian Minister in Peking and sked for an expl nation of the presence in Tibet of Russian troops, requesting that the Minister should immediately communicate with the St. Petersburg Government with a view to their recall, The Ru-sian Minister declared That ba knew nothing of the matter. The War Office has issued instructions to the Chinese Resident
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A Shimonoseki despatch to the Asahi states that the British oraiser Amphitrite arrived there from Kobe at 6 a.m. on the 4th inst., and left
hree hours later for Weihaiwei. A passenger on the steamer Tremont photographed the cruiser in the harbour, and being detected was at once arrested and charged with the infraction of the Strategical Zone Law. Tlie offender was being examined by the Moji police when the message was sent to the Ardhi,
ordering lim to watch the movements of the Russian troops, but to refrain from any aggra- vation of the situation. The statement of the
Russians that they have obtained permission of the Chinese Government to take soldiers with them is regarded as being without foundation.
CORRESPONDENCE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
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19
KOWLOON ROADS: A WARNING.
DAILY PRESS." Hongkong, 17th June. SIR-Will no one pity the sorrows of the When will the " powers poor Kowloonites ? that be" give us reads that will not wash out. leaving rocky eminences and yawning chasms after each shower of rain? The P.W.D apparently know no other means of repairing roads beyond filling the rats with sand dug out of the nearest drain (where it had been deposited by a previous shower). I grieve to think what would have been the feelings of the Walrus and the Carpenter if they had visited Kowloon this morning and seen such quantities of sand'
To ride in a ricksha choking the drains! in Kowloon is at present anything but
the poetry of motion the enjoyment of
efforts of a stout lady The convulsive (whom I saw this morning) trying to sit tight would have moved anyous, except the local fear the local 41 Bam- hearts are harder than their rosis. I wish all whom it may concern to note that should I in the course of a cross-country ride down the main road have my false teeth jerked down my throat I will proceed for damage against the Legislative Council, the P.W.D., or whoever else I may be legally advised is respon- cible for the atrocious state of the public roads. -I
am, &c.,
SENEX.
authorities, to tears. bles'
THE PLAGUE.
TO THE EDITUR OF THE DAILY PEERS." Hongkong, 17th June. SR,-Has a man got plague when he meets his death by a fall or by any other form, of accident? I wish to know because I believe that Europeaz.s recently admitted to Kennedy- town Plague Hospital were no more suffering from plague thau is the man in the moon. To digress for a moment, take the case of the ship's steward who some time ago fell into the graving dock at Kowloon during the night and was picked up dead nex morning floating in several feet of water and with a hole in his head large en ugh to patan egg in. The ordinary mortal would have
the unfortunate fellow said that either killed by the fall or drowned, but that is just where the ordinary mortal woud have erred, apparently, for the official wiseacres who make the health of the Colony their study found that the deceased died of plague. Only the other day two Euro- peans who felt seedy and had their blood
.
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was
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