Tae Disraict of HaRMwoxy, 3rd October, 1882, Wo are still in the deplorable plight referred to in my last, viz., sadly wanting rain, Rice and oil have gone up consider ably in price and sickness is very prevalent. Wo are beginning to wonder what is to become of us, On the one hand, the heavens refuse us rain, thus reducing {f grain and vegetables. On the other hand not cutting off altogether cur suppl of stringent proclamations prohibiting the killing of fish, flesh or fowl, and we are told to obey and tremble. Some of us are doing the latter but on account of malaria, One intropla butcher dared to kill pig and was forthwith dragged before the magistrate who sontenced him to wear the cangue until Heaven should be pleased to release him, or until rain fell, Nothing like a heavy wooden collar for making a man pray. In consequence of the severity of the punishment the Butchers' Guild has decided to make a virtue of necessity, so it has issued notice signifying that all butchering will conte and that those who disobey will be G10 beside incurring the displeasure The business has beind it is to be hoped that, in our ignorance we bow down in the of Rimmon, a gracious Heaven will and make the dry land springs of water.
Yesterday the district and prefectural magistrates went out on foot to a mona tery some 20 miles away to pray for d nor the sounding of gong as in an silence the procession wended its way through the streets and open country.
Amongst the various reasons given for drought, one possesses an astrological and erical interest. An examination of the prosont Viooroy's horoscope, by some person or persons unknown, proves him Di us in the course of an to be the Hon Lung or Drought on, who hi tongand Shansiduringthe late famine.
inference appears to be that in the of the Chinese the protracted fami north was due to the presence of the above-named gentleman, of course the inference is not stated so plainly.
The comet la cresting a considerable sensation amonget us, Our witencres are promising us all sort of things {f we will only wait patiently. They call the comet Ts'ak sing, or Rebel's Star 0 we are to be favoured with rebels, insurrection, famines anda general upheaval,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.