(enoxt 4 correspondest)
The Boxer Disturbances, have pretty generally ceased. For the most part the suppression is owing to the local "Tuan," and not to regular soldi and the direct action of the higher official. When the tuan were convinced that their efforts would be backed by the powers abore, they cleaned out the Boxers, each village in its own neighbourhood, and often did not take the trouble to send the prisoners to the nearest magistrate, but executed those whom they found guilty. For the most part the) Boxer leaders were local toughs, who gathered their associates together, and making use of the Boxer drill to hold tother their crowd and intimidate all, they levied on any who had means, and great as the losses of the Christians may be, they are more than equalled by the losses of the non-Christians, and these Istter will get no indemnity. The whole Question of Indemnities is a perplexing one. The Chinese officials are willing enough to pay an indemnity, perhaps because they think they will be compelled to do so, willing or not. But how can one be perfectly sure that in all cases just the right amount is asked? To ask a man whose house has been burned because he is a Christian to take less than the fair cost to rebuild, does not seem like doing as we would wish to be treated. If he receives more what effect will it have upon him, and the moral influence of the Church which has helped him to get this advantage? Half a village of heathens is burned, and they get no indemnity; a house of a Christian a mile away in the country is burned by the same band, and is rebuilt at public expense. There is this to be said, however, that asa rule it was the Christians who first suffered, and the gentry did nothing to show dis"pnroval; then as the spoils were not sufficient the gentry were robbed, and, if they resisted, their houses burned.
Lately two Japanese officers hare come to teach in the new military school.
H.B.M. Consul Wilton has come up for a few days on a pleasure trip, so ho says, but he has rented a large kung kuan, as though he would stay some time, and seems full of business.
Mr. Archibald Little has been here for some time looking after mining and other interests.
The Latest Arrivals are Mrs. Archi italo, and also the Rev, Mr. Edzar, New Zealand, who, however, has been some months in the Provinces.
The New Viceroy seems to be doing well, and dispatches his b thing long delays. For the past year or two changes have been frequent among the officials, and the Boxer troubles and the coming of the new Viceroy have increased. the number of changes, but the Viceroy says that he intends to.stop the practice, and give a longer tenure of office to capable officials. Rice is Still High. though the plans about have had a good crop. In the region where no drought prevailed wheat is.130 cash a sheng, and other grains in proportion.
The Poppy is being planted, but apparently not as extensively as in the past few years.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.