Varied and uncertain have been the of this prefecture the past few AMter an early and severe visita tion of the plague came a typhooir th: covered the plain with water and levelled many an ameient as well as modern strueture, When the pouring evased it ceased for good, and two months have passed without enough rain to lay the dust. For 4 month the screech of the pump could be heard at all hours of the day and frequently xt night. The canals were nearly dry, and rain Seemed certain, A few drops fell, the air became chilly, people began to move about lively, and then again the brazen sky. Tantalising clouds frequently hid the heavens, yet no rain, the equinvetial tide, overflowing the dyk and rendering what little water there was left in the canals of doubtful value. A¢ thi date many have given up the desperate struggle and ceased pumping. In twenty-puns from the last screech of the pump anid bronks into nootlons ofall conceivable shapes. The crop becomes fuel. 'There is little prospect of more than half a crop of rice; the potato crop also suffered seriously. Amid all, the plague and typhoid fever have again' made their appearance. 'The populace has indulged in theatres, street decorations, and holiday-keeping to'an unusual degree, yet all to no avail. Reigning prosperity' and pence done not bring these blessings, though everyone is taxed to swell the display. Thus we chronicle in brief up to Oct. 4.
On. the fifth a strange sound woke your cor capoadant ab am. Tt was the longed-for, lusty pitter-patter of rain. lasted) about an hour, but promised more. Alay! the promise failed—ws. The damp morning grew into the sixtieth or seventieth burning day. The canals are either dry or salty. Yet the desperate farmers will pump. Some of the rice is just. in blossom, some a little short this stage and some a trifle beyond, The latter can by dint of hard pumping be driven to maturity. All the rest is very doubtful. For a whole double pumping has been necessury—that is, one pump brings the water half-way up the canal slope and the other the rest of the rise into the parched field. Yesterday, pumping was heard soon after midnight. Somebody was stealing water. At daybreak a fight was on, Mattocks, bamboo poles, and clubs flashed in the brilliancy of the rising sun. 'The (unmercifully) strongest side' soon retreated with bloody heads and tattered garments. The victorious side evidently held, the fortress the Chinese will always respect if you can make him spell. m-u-s-t it is Li sig, 12th October.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.