With the recent changes of flag, ete. made in the China Merchants' steamers late, many old hands on the China coast would hardly recognise some of the well-known traders. The effect of the present trouble has been that some of the C. HI. fleet have now funnels all black, others have black with a red band, and others again have retained the upper portion of the familiar yellow band and the lower half has been painted red. There also another kaleidoscopic act as regards the Yungching, which left yesterday with a heavy list to starboard anda blue band round her funnel. The Yungching, by the way, has gone back to her old name of Daybreak, and in one other case of alteration of name in the C. M. fleet there isa bad double on the name of another vessel on the coast. The Daybreak has replaced the dragon flag by the red ensign. This is the third time the boats of this company have had to act the chameleon, the first time being during the Franco: Tonking trouble, the second during the China-Japan war and the third in the present trouble.
THE PORTUGUESE VOLUNTEERS, In connection with the proposed Volunteer Company of Portuguese residents, we are informed that " circular is being' sent to euch Portuguese male in the Settlement to ascertain whether he will join the force. It is estimated that 125 will be the strength of the Compan and they should prove a useful adjunct time of trouble.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.