Trouble has also been reported at Lichuan on the south of the river and on the Szechuan border. Some soldiers were sent from Ichang to the place, and the last we heard was that the people had quieted down. AM round about us here is disquieted and all that is needed is some bolder spirit to come forward and blow into a flame the smouldering embers of rebellion.
The building trade is busy at present and there is no idleness for masons, penters and labourers. The Chinese are building extensively in the South Gate suburbs, and in one place a new street is being formed. The Church of Scotland is milding a ladies' house, a boarding school for girls and a new church. The work has been increasing of late years so that Church extension is imperative.
We are looking for the Pioneer, but the dates of her sailing as given in the Shanghai papers never seem fixed but variable quantities. It was reported a few days azo that the two gunboats had left Chur king for Ichang, so if all goes well we should be seeing them in a few days.
30th May.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.