(4) The Governor of Chinese Turkestan reports the conviction of a man for premeditated homicide in the district of Hami. The murderer was a Turkish Mohammedan Yusuf, and his victim " Chinese Mao Sung-lin. There was some time ago a lawsuit between the two men concerning a debt, which Yussuf was con-doumed to pay. He was at the time ordered by the court not to have any further dealings with MaoSung-lin, but being in straitened circumstances he again brought three taels worth of goods from hint on credit. One day last winter Mao Sung-lin mounted donkey and rode to Yussuf's house to ask for payment of this later debt. Yussuf's wife was away frame home, so he himself cooked some food and entertained his visitor. When Mao Sung-lin demanded the money, Yusuf, who had none, wished instead to give some sheep, which' he valued at eighty tael cents a piece, Mao Sung-lin would only offer thirty cents for them. His debtor implored him to give more, but he replied with curses and threats of going to law again. Soon after he went to bed for the night; and Yussuf, who was at once enraged with him for his harshness, and frightened at the prospect of being summoned, determined to put him to death while he slept. Taking a hair rope, he tied a slip-knot in it, placed it quietly round the unconscious man's throat, and pulled it with all his might, placing his feet on the knot, and then standing on the man's shoulders in order that he might drag the harder. The victim was soon dead, and at dawn Yussuf put his body on the donkey and took it away into the hills, where he buried it. He at the same time killed and concealed the donkey, witch he feared might betray him. The affair however came to light, and the Mohammedan Prince of Hati, Sha-mu-huso-t2, after @ preliminary enquiry, handed the murderer to the local authorities. The Memorialist has now condemned Yussuf to be branded on the face and decapitated after imprisonment, such being the penalty awarded by law for his offence.
December 30th.—No documents of interest,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.