Another proclamation has been posted up about a lottery after the style of the Manila Lottery. The proclamation is issued by Chang Chih-tung, the Viceroy, and the lottery is got up by him, He complains that too much money is spent on lotteries outside the kingdom and this is a device to keep the money in the country. It is also a device to raise the Indemnity money falling to this Province to pay. At the close of the proclamation it is said if the people do not readily and willingly buy up the tickets, there will be an increase of taxes. 3,000 tickets have been sent to Ichang. The price is 2,000 cash each. One ticket can be divided into 10 pieces at 200 cash a piece. The lottery has to be adjudged once a month. The "magistrate here, with so many tickets on hand and with express orders to sell and forward the money to headquarters, was no doubt in a difficulty. He partly solved his difficulty in_ this way. He called together the heads of the twelve districts into which Ichang is divided, and said each district must buy 100 tickets, and pay him the money at once, At first the district men refused, but from what is taking place now, must have latterly taken the tickets. Now there is a system of persecuting people to buy tickets; and the people have no remedy.
One rich man was ordered to buy two tickets. He refused to buy two, but consented to buy one. Bitter words were bandied between the par ies, until at last he was reported to the mugistraty. He had to buy the two tickets, and pay a fine of 40,000 cash or be beaten. Cases are being daily brought to our notice of men being forced to buy, on pain of imprisonment or beating. One mason constantly employed by us has Deen forced to buy one ticket. As one man said: "If it were only once I wouldn't care so much, but it is monthly and that means 48,000 each in a year." We wonder the people can' be so patient under such oppression. But patience has a limit, and if this system continues there may be dark days in store for Ichang.
Secret Societies. to be already exterminated. they sill exit, Although secret societies are supposed Members of the Hai Hu and Kolo Societies are trying to enter the Church to protect themselves an to propagate their doctrines. A petition has come in lately from a place 40 miles down the river that a leader of the Kolaohui, of the name of Ho, lias entered the Church and now yone ona preaching expedition. The petition desires his expulsion from the Church. As this man Ho is not a Church member, the petitioner is evidently trying to stir up the missionary toa raid on Ho and Irs colleawues, to satisfy some spite or feud between them and the writer.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.