We learn from Sungpu that a man named Li Kia-chung, one of the leading spirits in. the recent riot, hearing that other foreigners might come, beat his gong and gathered his men to give them fitting welcome; and the Macheng magistrate who was thonin Sungpu never interfered. Itthus appears that, considering what would have been waiting us, and the halting character of our escort, there would have been very little prospect, had we reached Sungpu, of ever returning alive. The hypothesis which to my mind best fits all'tho facts of the case is that the grim old man over the river must have said to his unscrupulous and case-hardened Koluo Hui tormentor:—Take them with you, hinder them if you can from going on, but, if you can't, let them go an get it."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.