The Miaokia from the time of their conquest by the Chinese have frequently risen in rebellion, causing much trouble and bloodshed and devastating numerous towns and villages, whose ruins remain to this day. The traveller in south-east Kueichou may seo on the hill-tops, almost within sight of each other, conical structures the Chinese call fire-beacons, and, in the same district, guard houses or towers which may be compared with Martello Towers. But both beacons and guard houses have long fallen into deco: Owing to constant rebellion, provoked doubtless by Chinese oppression, the Government caused military posts to be established throughout the Mino districts at distances of three li, and then forcibly appropriated: large tracts of the best pa cly land for the maintenance of the military and civil communities at the stations. The Miaokia, by sheer dint of circumstance, have been compelled to marvellous feats of agriculture and irrigation. On the precipitous mountain sides there remain tier on tier of paddy fields, banked up with solid masonry five to twenty feet high, which presents from a distance the appearance of huge ramparts.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.