Phe Viceroy of the Yiinkuei provinces and the Governor of Yunnan in a joint memorial report the settlement of a long-standing case of disputed succession to the Chieftainship of one of the native tribes, which has been the cause of bloodshed for years past.
Tt appears that when the natives of Mengting, an aboriginal tribe on the South-west borders of Yunnan, were first brought under the subjection of the Chinese Government in the 33rd year of the reign of Kang-hsi (1695) they were organised as a native department," subject to the control of the Huan prefecture, Chang Chen; the then chief of the tribe being appointe native administrator. From him the chieftain ship descended by hereditary suecestion for a number of years till st length there were no direct descendants forthcoming. And it was then hotly contested for a period of over 40 years by members of the family who traced their origin from common meestor until finally the rival ciximants ended by exterminating exch other. In the early part of the reign of T'ung Chih, fighting began again between two pretenders named Chang Shih-jung and Chang Chao-tson, neither of Whom was able fo prove his descent, and this continued till 1869 when the latter was slain, His widow thereupon adopted as heir a child named Chang Ying-lu, who subsequently became connected by marriage with a powerful native chief named Lung Yiikuang, and with his assistance succeeded disposing of Chang Shih-jung. Upon this a certain Chang Kuo-lin came forward as the representative of the dead man, and being aided by the native chieftain of Meng-hung, Pai Yang-hsien, by name, continual forays and bloodshed' ensued between the parties of the rival claimants, in December last Chang Kuo-lin, at the instigation of the above mentioned Pai-Yang-hsien, having attacked a number of villages occupied by Chang Ying-lu, and committed all sorts of atrocities, the Prefect Ch'an Mao-chi at once took measures for the restoration of order, entrusting Lieut-tenant Colonel Liang Yii-fu with the task of capturing the leaders, of the vival factions.
was properly effected, and they were brought to trial when both of them admitted that their pretensions to the succession were founded on fraud. Considering that the pacification of the disturbed district could only be effected by exterminating both the rivals whose constant raids were causing the greatest sufferings to the people, the Prefect gave orders for their summary execution in presence of all the troops, their followers being sent home after surrendering their arms. Perfect tranquillity had thus been restored and the Prefect concluded by requesting that Mengting be deprived of its status as a native district, and incorporated as a dependency of the Prefecture of Huan.
Memorialists observe that neither of the rival claimants had the slightest right to inherit the succession and it was essential in the interests of the border population to put a stop to the chronic state of disturbance caused by the feud. This has now been most successfully carried out in the face of the greatest difficulties by Ch'uan Mao-chi, who quietly effected the capture of both' the leaders, and by their execution on the same day vindicated the law and nipped rebellion in the bud. For this service memorialists suggest that he should he rewarded by appointment to the first vacant Taotaiship in Ytinnan, They further recommend Liang Yii-fu and a number of others for various degrees of promotion. Zn conclusion they add that orders have been given for the arrest and punishment of the chiefs Lung-Yii-kuang and Pai Ang-hsien, and for the incorporation of the native district of Mengting with China proper, there being now no rightful heir to the native administratorship.—Approved by rescript.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.