At last! what we have been fearing has taken place, and the natives, goaded to desperation, have organised x formidable insurrection in the Hoonim district of Mid-Formosa, Aw far as foreigners sre concerned the chief disaster to be recorded is the murder of Mr. D. D. Oilia, senior member of the Parsee firm, Dinshaw & Ca, This gentleman is supposed to have been killed by the native insurgents, who, it is ssid, mistook him for a Japanese. Although no positive details of the tragedy have been obtained, owing to the present isolation of the disaffected districts, we fear there can be little doubt as to the veracity of the statements made about his death. He, in common with other foreign representatives of firms here, lid been residing in Hoonim watching his camphor interests for several months but, most fortunately, the rest of his companions had left the district a week or so prior tothe outbreak. Mr. Patel of Messrs. Mehta & Ca. seems to.have had a narrow escape, ashe only fled after the fighting had commenced. Asit is, he was unable to come south overland, so had to take Tauneh from Lokkhang to Tamsui. He wires that "it is certain Mr. Ollia has been killed,." It is to be feared that all the foreign property at Hoonim, consisting of treasure, camphor, and opium, to very considerable value, has been lost either' by looting or burning. The insurgents are said to have killed nearly all the Japanese at Hoonim and-Tau-lak, and to be in possession of the whole country, as far as a place called Twapona, about 8 miles north of Kugi, where there is a Japanese garrison. considerably increased by the detachments which have retreated thither from the outlying places.
The following extracts are translated from a letter, sent by a very reliable Chinese refugee to a friend here.
"This morning at 4.30 the insurgents had some fighting with the Japanese at Hoonim. The engagement la-ted till 7 o'clock, when the Japanese being defeated, retreated to Taulak. The Japanese hind many men killed. There are several hundred insurgents in Hoonini. The houses of the European employees are deserted and I have also left, but was not able to take with me either clothing or money. I had to borrow money from friends t" defray expenses, "Kin Kee's foreigner, (Ollia, of, Dinshaw Ca.) while out in the street'in Hoo-nim, was severely cut by the rebels, who mistook him for a Japanese. I have since hourd that he died from the effects, but cannot say for certain. What measures will his firm take in regard to his sad case?
"Thave been running from one place to another without finding a safe abode. My temporary home is Pietau where I take shelter under the roof of a relation. This place is on the boundes line of Chanzhua. Insurgents are rising up everywhere, and as far as I can ascertain they have been incensed to their present attitude by the Japanese. When Japanese troops again come to the scene of disturbance perhaps once more innocent people will be made to suffer untold misery. Heaven seems to have decreed that these unfortunate people shall not escape misfortune in any event."
The above is a brief resume of the state of affairs existing at present, which we have most regretfully to admit have been gradually but surely (in spite of the forbearance and long suffering of the Chinese) led up to, by the previous innumerable acts of tyranny and gross cruelties, per-Tia ite. cpporumaity oF coming into the trated by those who, so far, have alone
closest contact with the people, There can be no two opinions about the fact, that, the Japanese form of civil government, both theoretical and practical, is as immensely superior to the Chinese system, as anything based on the most humane tenets of advanced civilisation must necessarily be when compared to that which is in every way its contrast, Thus itis that had the Japanese placed these advantages before the people as speedily as possible after the occupation, they would undoubtedly have met with a most docile submission, that would quickly have ripened into a grateful acceptance if a condition so favourably contrasting with that to which they had been ae. customed. This we know to be a fact, and in almost every district, and especially in those where tradal considerate had the most weight, the great majority of the people were not only most anxiously, but even sanguinely, solicitous for the institution of civil law and order at as early a date as possible. Through some auld advice, or it may be not unnaturally in consequence of the ignorance of persons suddenly brought in contact with a strange people, the Japanese elected to keep on i with all its rough and ents; detachments of gendarmes, soldiers, and coolies overran the country, each individual by his oppressive and even outrageous acts, becoming a focus of irritation, which has now brought about a condition of desperation among the natives that is almost indescribable. It is unnecessary to go into minut" details of every act, or quote each well authenticated case of respectable women ravished; property ruthlessly destroyed, and unprovoked assaults made—on the person. It is neither my province or wish to write any harrowing or sensational account of the piteous deeds that have been perpetrated in the name of those, who, I feel certain, wou'd be the first to repudiate and condemn alli such atrocities, if circumstances had been so arranged as to bring them under their immediate notice, "I cannot perhaps better illutrate what has been taking place than by referring to the most recent consequence of these grievous misdoings, and one in which foreigners have become so distressinyly involved. It would seen that the Hoonim districts, which closely adjoin the hills, some of the native victims less patient than others, or those whose homes had been entirely broken up by the constantly recurring visits and raids of the soldiery and gendarmerie, fled to the hills, and undoubtedly became highway or even general robbers. Their depredations proving at last annoying to the Japanese, whom however they did not appear, go far, to have directly attacked, a small military detachment was sent into the hill country to try and break up the gang of desperadaes. Failing in consequence of being led into an ambuscade, the attacking party had to retreat. Reinforcements were however soon obtained, and once more the expedition started. It' proved impossible to overtake the robbers, who retreated /-to the mountain fastnesses. Failing access to the robbers' country, the line of march would seem to have been changed, so as to in udo all the dist lying near the base of the hills, where the military commenced 8 wholesale burning, and pillaging villages estimated to be between 70 and 90 in all illing without as many of the inhabitants as come ach. The theory of t and certainly inhuman procedure being. that, even though the actual offenders should not, be directly affected, still, such an example and state of terrorism would be created as might be expected to stamp out all future attempts at lawlessness. Unhappily, far from this being the case, the thou. sands rendered homeless, childless, and generally indifferent to their future, joined the robbers, who, it appears, are well supplied, whence we know not, with arms and ammunition; and the whole force, now enormously increased, swooped down on the plains, boldly ching their late nggrossors, and forced us many as escaped death to retreat to Kagi, which latter place the rebels are said to be now threatening. I do not know what force the Japanese have in this latter place, but as I have previously stated, the outlying detachments both from the coast and the hill regions, having fallen back there, must. prove very acceptable reinforcements under the circumstances.
I have now tried to lay before you as far as tim space permit, the state of affairs existing here at present. I need scarcely say that all trade is almost at standstill, as even in the non-combatant districts a state of terrorism exists, which is quite indescribable.
From the very first the Japanese have employed and encouraged some of the lowest of the late yamen "runners," whose every word they seem to believe, only attraction consists in their being able to understand "mandarin," the dialect of Chinese with #t the Japanese seem to b" solely acquainted. These men have been systematically levying blackmail on the people, of course using the Japanese name. Many instances have occurred where even decapitations have taken place on the bare word of these persons, who have trumped up charges against innocent people, who either refused to comply with their extortionate demands, or were unable todo so. We make no imputation here on the gord faith of the Japanese, who, probably in ignorance of the antecedents of their informers, accepted their statements
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.