To the Editor of the Sm,—I read in your paper of the 8th August an article which originally appeared in the Hongkong Daily Press, giving an account of an unfortunate occur: Fence which happened at village near Langkian in Formosa, on July 11th, The substance of it was that a villager had been cut down and killed by 9 Japanese, from whose lust he was trying to protect his wife. I beg of you to allow me to correct the error of the writer of that article, as [happen to be acquainted with the circumstances of the case, having been there at the time.
On the 11th July, at about two o'clock in the afternoon, five Japanese soldiers were walking through Shinkai (a street of the village), intending to purchase a pockotbook. Two of them entered a shop, where a woman was sitting holding a small baby in her arms, and as they saw pocket-books it shop, one of them asked the price.
did not understand what the he therefore leit the book, and was going out, when she unexpectedly came and spat on one of the Japanese, He asked her why she did so? She then brought a stick to strike him, and called for men to assist her. She threw the stick at him, and missing her aim, threw another, which struck his foot. A native came from the opposite side of the street, took away the soldier's hat, and ran into the house, but another Japanese following him recovered it, whereupon the Japanese quitted the place, as the natives were assembling in crowds. The man who took away the hat, came again and wounded a Japanese in the back, and under the excitement of the wound the Japanese inflicted, in turn, a bayonet wound on his assailant. As the natives were assembling in increasing numbers, the Japanese returned, thinking the occurrence might become serious, The natives pursued, and beat one of the Japanese severely. 'The wounds on either side were not very serious, and the wounded Chinaman was taken' to. the Japanese Military Hospital, at Langkiau, kindly, and, after a short stay, ho recovered and was sent back to his place.
The case, however, has not come to its end, as a head man of the village has not yet appeared in the Camp.
Thus, no woman was insulted, nor was any one killed.
Very respectfully yours, A Jaranzse, Langkiau, September, 1874.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.