John W. Stevenson, of the China Inland ion, who have recently crossed China from Burmah, arrived here on Sunday from Ningpo, by the O.N. Co.'s steamer Twnsi1 They reached Hankow on the 25th of March last, but have not visited Shanghai until 5th inst. The following account of their overland journey across China will doubtless interest our lors _Tho travellers, who had previously spent six yeara in medical mission work in Bhamo, in the kingdom of Burmah, left that city for China on the 29th of November last, as members of a large caravan on ponies and mules conveying a considerable quantity of cotton, Liverpool salt, and piece goods to Kiu-cheng, 9 city in the Shan tates, The rev. gentlemen took a large number of Chinese tracts and portions of the Scriptures for sale, and also a quantity of medicine for free distribution on their journey. The books met with a ready sale throughout the trip. The number of men whom they accompanied was between 300 and 400, of whom a good many were Ka-kens, who travelled for the protection of their fellow-travellers and the necessity for the presence of an armed escort was amply demonstrated two days after leaving Bhamo. With the exception of the two Europeans, the other travellers were Chinese and Shans, The caravan was a very long one, and the inhabitants of no fewer than a hundred different vi among its members, For six days after leaving Bhamo, the road lay through a mountainous belt of country, lying between Burmah and the Shan States; the latter are under Chinese suzerainty. This belt of country is inhabited by wild independent tribes of semi-barbarous mountaineers who call themselves Sinphos, and are called Ka-kens by the Burmese, Most of them live by plunder, although opium, potatoes and rice are cultivated by them on the hills. The Ka-yen chiofa, who accompanied the caravan with thoit followers, were "responsible for its protection against their nationals, while passing through this mountainous region, They necklaces of yellow ochro beads round their necks as insignia of rank, and wore pistols and long swords, Their followers were armed with muskets of Chinese and Burmese manufacture and matchlocks. The route taken on this occasion had not been used clos ice the Maiomedan rebellion in for about twenty years, having been
Yunnan. It has recently been customary for trade caravans to go north of the Taping River and through the city of Manwyne, but the route now re-opened and followed by this travelling company goes south both of the river just name: and of Manwyne, and is the Taping valley route. This is the only route by which goods can be transferred to from the steamer direct to mules' backs, and i|thus conveyed direct to that province. By the other route the goods have to be first conveyed by boats for some distance up the Taping River, and than re-trans-fored to other relays of mules.
About noon on the Ist of December, as the procession was wending its way over a plateau in somewhat open order, the foremost mules having started about two hours ahead of those which brought up the rear, twenty or thirty mountaineers appeared, and one of them took hold of Mr. Soltau's horse, and announced that he would kill the rider if the animal were not delivered up. 'The leaders of the Kal once rushed up, drew thei proceeded with' their to mako a desperate onslaught on the brigands,—aith the flat sides of their swords. For about five minutes great akill was displayed in flourishing of naked weapons in an impressive manner without any one bein, atoll hurt. The assailing party numboro about 25, while about 60 members of the escort acted under the orders of their chiefs. After the display of swordamanship was the Jeader of the attacking party said that he wanted to kill the tio foreigners, but did not wish to molest any one el The escort replied that they would not leave the spot on any such terms, and hay oro ready' to fight trangers. A lengthy ensued, at the commencement of which Rs, 100 were demanded by the brigands. About five o'clock in the aftornoon they decided to accept Rs. 10, and most of the Asiatics concerned then proceeded to got drunk on the bargain with native samshoo. Before this took place, however, a special arrangement was made by which Messrs. Soltau and Stevenson were to be allowed to pass that spot unmolested for the term of their natural lives, although no other foreigner would be allowed by the Kackyen chief to enjoy the same privilege. Tt appears that when Major Sladen was in the country in 1867 or 1868, an old chief belonging to the village where these people lived, with others, accompanied that officer to Bhamo. It is stated that he and his countrymen were told not to leave the house in which they were quartered at night for fear of the Burmese; that ho disregarded this caution on one occasion and was never heard of again, and that it was generally thought that he had boon
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.