Langkiaou, 21st May, 1874.
Langkiaou, where the Japanese are encamped, is a small plain one or two square miles in extent and surrounded by hills, on the West Coast of Formosa, about ten miles from the South Cape, and forty miles from Takow. There are a few Chinese villages in it. Communication with the North is generally by junk, as the path through the hills is not safe from attack, The Japanese have lately been busily occupied in changing the position of their camp. The old one was on an open level plain that answered capitally till the rain began to fall, when the unfortunate soldiers found themselves sleeping literally in water. The new camp is on "line of sand hills. nearer the shore, and less regular, but far more healthy and comfortable, In spite of the work and the rain, a few small parties have managed to get away into the bush try their breech-Joaders on the savages, Two or three men have thus fallen on both sides, On one occasion such a large party of savages jumped out upon six Japanese that they had to run, leaving one of their number on the ground. His head now decorates some savage hut. Let us hope that it will be the only trophy of the kind that the savages will gain in the war. The tribe against whom proceedings are carried on are supposed to be the actual murderers of the Lewehewans, and are called the Bawtan, or the " peony," savage Phere are two American ollicers here Commodore Cassell and Colonel Was: Such at least is the rank which they bear while serving the Japanese, They scorn to have had hitherto, in an unofficial way, the general direction of the expedition and, unless they belie their reputation, they will do good service in the war. These two gentlemen the other day went unattended by an escort to a neighbouring, savage village, to see the chief. ~It ha been agreed that they should meet in the open country; but the savages not appoaring, the officers went on to the village. This was an act requiting more nerve and real courage than some dashing exploit on the battlefield. A peaceable arrangement was made, which included all the villages South of Langkinou, except one which is to be punished for some act of hostility.
22ud May.
This morning early, the later sleepers among us were awakened by a salute of several guns. This announced the arrival of General Saigo, the Commander-in-chief of the expedition. He came in the Delta, which also brought 1,200 troops. A Japanese gunboat came in at the same time, and an hour or two afterwards the Shaftesbury, with 600 soldiers, raising the number to about 2,500. 3,000 are expected in all. 'The Delta is said'to have been bought standing, with her fittings and stozes, and apparently officers as well; for they are alton board, though a new' captain commands her. A fine Chinese corvette, the Yung Woo, and a small gunboat, have also come in, bringing three Chinese Mandarins aa from Taiwanfoo to visit the Japanese Commander-in-chief, With the four Japanese vessels and H. M.S. Hornet, which have been here for some days, there are, therefore, ten steamers anchored together in the bay.
A small party of troops bivouacked Inst night in the mountains, "about four miles away. Early this afternoon two men were seen coming in wounded. At the same time about one hundred men hurried off to take part in the fighting. They were in irregular detachments, apparently without any officers.
They wont along at a half run, as eager and delighted as possible.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.