Li Hung-chang reports that owing to the severe frost last autumn over two hundred. villages inside and outside the Kalgan pass were reduced toa state of dire distress, and although steps had since been taken to relieve them, great numbers of oxen and ponies had been sold and slaughtered for food with the result that almost none are now available for agricultural purposes. Memorialist has however received a report from Chi Shun, the Koupeh Taotai, in which he is informed that the Manchu and Mongol residents in Ch'ahar have large droves of cattle and that they are willing to part with as many as are necessary fur the use of the villagers in distress. " This was done ju 1878 when certain prefectures of the Chihli province were suffering from drought and rewards were duly issued to such "as contributed, The public spirit displayed by the bannermen on the present occasion appears to the memorialist. to be deserving of the highest praise and he would beg that in order to.encuurage them: he be allowed to recommend them for rewards on a very liberal scale.—Fermission granted.
'S3lst March.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.