An epidemic is raging in the regi round about Ichang. In order to propitiate the gods who sent the calamity, tall scaffoldings illuminated by lanterns have been erected by the people on which priests are stationed to chant and offer up praya: to the deities, 'The other day the services of the guards were called into requisition, and they were instructed to mount the city walls and fire off their muskets to drive the evil influence away. 'Through care-leesness one of the soldiers was' badly scorched, a spark from the gun having reached his sleeves and ignited some powder placed therein; the man is in a precarious condition.
The prefect at Sungkiang arrived in this city the othernightto meet the sew governor of Soochow.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.