Pien Pao-ti reports that towards the end of September the districts in the neighbourhood of Foochow were visited with very heavy rains which caused great damage to life and property. Outside of Fu-ching an eruption of subterranean springs took place which in conjunction with the torrents of rain flooded the city with water as much as 10 feet deep. Towards the south-east the water overflowed the city wall and in the low-lying ground in that neighbourhood great damage was done, thirty-five people being drowned. The water, however, disappeared vei quickly, and it is hoped that the late crops may yet be saved. At Changle which is situated on comparatively high ground the city was likewise flooded; four fishing Doats were wrecked, and thirty houses swept away, but fortunately only one life was lost, The crops did not suffer as the water drained off in a very short time. At Anhsi the damage was greater than elsewhere, three hundred houses being swept away and thirty people drowned. Officers have been sent to ascertain the exact. state of things and prompt measures will be taken to afford relief tu the sufferers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.