The Viceroy at nanking, the Superintendent of the Grain Transport, and the Governo= of Kiangsu recommend certain officers fo> rewards on account of their success in arresting Kolao Hui. The memorialists refer to a Decree issued on the Ith of July last year, in which mention is made of the harm done by the Kolao Hui who secretly pervade many parts of the Empire. They are constantly all-in themselves with disbanded soldiers and others, forming bands and creating disturbances. They even deceive the public by false rumours and secretly aim at exciting rebellion. The Emperor does not Know what harm may not happen if these evil-doers be not rooted out. He desires that they be traced and arrested, and the officers who dist*nguish themselves in so doing may be recommended for rewards. In commenting upon the Emperor's instructions the memorialists call his attention to the fact that the province of Kinngsu with its central position, its many water routes, and its busy treaty ports
posed to the action of unlawful socie-thronged with steamers, is poculintly ex-ties, The religious disturbances which place x along the Yangtze originated in the false reports which were spread by these men in the hope of finding opportunities for action. Even while energetic search was being made for them, they secretly set about purchasing arms for treasonable purposes. Fortunately they were frustrated by the vigilance of the Shanghai and Chinkiang Custom houses. About the same time the memorialists learnt from the Hupeh Government the confessions made by Kao 'Té-hua and other prisoners, who said that they had formed a union all along the river, and as the watchfulness maintained down stream rf e them no opportunity of gathering together there, they had fixed on a day for a ris: ing at Sha-shih (near Ichang). While the plans of the society were thus confounded, the officers of the Government continued their efforts to trace the offenders, and many important arrests were effected, of which mention is made below. Two men, Tsao Lhsiang and Téang Yii, were taken at Nanking. They confessed both to re-emiting members for the society and to plotting the destruction of chapels. At Kuachou an officer arrested one Liu K'ai-tai, and_on him were found books and badges of the society. Another prisoner was Ch'en Chin-lung, who was Number One of the three Lung of the Yangtze, and had opened lodges of the society called Lwig-hua and Yii-lung at Shanghai and Woosung. Another man arrested at Nanking had with other articles a seal, on which was cut Chief Leader of the Tai-Pox of badges, flags and a copper. seal. ings." Another man was taken with a In addition to the above the memorialists give the names of other offenders who were convicted of ta in certain robberies with violence. sy request that, as promised by the Emperor, the officers concerned in the arrest of these offenders may be rewarded, in order to encourage others in similarly' exerting themselves.—Approved.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.