Not long after returning, and as I was meditating a short trip to the South, a letter came which changed my plant and caused me to go to Kueilin instead. Desiring to go quickly I took the bar necessities for the journey. As before, s¢ now, both my followers were crippled ever they had got halfway. Fortuately 1 was all right until we were caught in the rain and got my heel scored badly. I was surprised to see a play which had commenced before I left had not. terminated on ly return, and was informed it was costing $100 por day. It is wonderful how the Chinese can find money when they want Clearing out incompetents.
One always looks out for news from Kueilin and 1 was not disappointed this time. Some fifty-nine officio's from Futai downwards "had been cashiered for incompetency, and inability to deal with the lawless bunds of rovers. The Futai left whilst I was in Kueilin. It was a surprise to us all, seeing ho had been cashiered, to seo him leaving with all the Lonours of one who was only being transferred to another station.
Recovering lost Property.
It_may be remembered when coming to Yungchou in January last, 1 had the misfortune to lose a coolie-food of goods. Clear evidence having come to hand of these having been stolen by yamen officuls at T'suan in Kuangsi, I sent. particulars and cated on the Chow myself. He promised to investigate and report. Three months bad elapsed and no word coming, by direction, I sent him an ultimatum. Deciding to leave was one thing, to got conveyance quite another. Themzabieved tis had utilised so mally "Chair. bearers, ete. On the road I saw some very mall fry seated in chairs with three, and in se four, chair-bearers, as though they had asked for a certain number, and obtaining them had used them in this way, lest, returning the overplus, they ight perhaps lose face. 'The offi at the various stations through which these higher men pass must incur heavy which poor old Kuangsi has been passing. expenses a so times as these throught 'Arriving at Tsuan on the day' of the ultimatum, I sent my boy ahead to ask for the missing articles, not that' my kopes ran very high of getting many. I did expect some, for I knew fear upon the people there. The Chou plied he would like me to yo and see I never saw an official in such a state. For quite a time he could not speak he was so excited. Than he quoted past res'denco and friendship with foreigners, as well us his inability to gutiier all the missing articles for which ho was sorry, but he would try and rej cover ther T asked him why ho had ed so lung, and he replied he did not. know where to write.
1 thought more than I said. Anyhow was glad to see my concertina and few books had nut been lost. ed a mother fond lost bairn, as I handled the after its long absence. It was only slightly damaged. My greatest shock was when the supposed thief was ushered in at my request. I had preiously told the Chou I would convince m of his own Tsingpinct'ou's guilt would ko allow me to i Erisoner in his present ce % stout, strong, healthy fellow was now a wreck and more resembled a dressed. up lath, The him quite won
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.