The river has closed this with a snap like the jaws ut a vice imprisoning number of bouts at the head of navigation, and holding in its clutches not a few cargs boats en route to Tientsin, to the immense inconvenience of all concerned. A week ago the country was covered with a fall snow, and for two days or more the Fas duet-heap of the plain was transformed into the likeness of happier lauds in the West. Tt has vanished now, however, and once more an unbroken level of pi stretches on every side to the Deown and cheerioos and dull " pro: any country in the world could si neortain rumours have reached the cit within a day or two of another outbreak ths South, No fear is felt here, however, on account of the presence of Chinese man-of-war detailed fur our protection through the winter: she presents a truly formidable appearance, mounting an ancient smooth-bure of the size of a duck-gun forward, and garnished aft with a sheaf of rusty pikes. She appears to be able to furnish quarters for upwards of eight men, but is doubtless short of her full complement.
In point of fact, however, it is not reassuring to reflect upon the immense amount of material ready to hand for a rebellion throughout the whole extent of this staid province. Particularly in this vicinity the Sheng Hsien sect has under its influence a surprisingly large proportion of the people, and the power of its leaders is unquestioned. Some instances of this heve come to light of late, but the most surprising illustration of it is furnished by an incident occurring twenty years ago, not far to the south of Paoting Fu. The leaders of the sect proclaimed that on a certain date a flood of waters would devastate the country, and only the faithful few who prepared' themselves for its coming by building boats, could eseape—like another Noal—from the ruin that would overtake the land. Boats were built in immense numbers, and far and wide provision was made for the fated day. It came and passed, to the confusion of those whose arks, ready provisioned for a voyage, stood unconcealed before their doors. Many broke up their boats at once, but every here and there in that district you still" come across them half-decayed and used for all sorts of purposes, but generally more or less disguised. Under its various names, this sect, distinctly regarded as seditious by the authorit is constantly widening its influence, an occasional incidents like the above reveal the strength of its hold upon the masses.
Some days ago, in a village 90 li to the west, a systematic altempcat persecution of the members of the Christian church in the place was made by several local bullies. Browbeating and bullying were alike resorted to to force the converts into contributing to a theatrical performance attended with idolatrous ceremonies, from which by treaty they are specially exempted. The matter was brought to the notice of the Asien magistrate, by whom, without any further questioning, immediate redress was promised. The native pastor was assured, furthermore, that on any repetition of such disturbance, a simple statement to that effect from him wou d secure prompt attention, The incident would be not worth mentioning did it not bring to light the fact that of every obscure /sien in the province, periodical inquiries are made by the government at Peking as to any exhibitions of lack of harmony between Christians and those of other religions. It confirms the judgment of a recent pondent that extraordinary efforts are being made by the government to avoid so far as possible all religious outbreak.
13th December.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.