is reported as quiet, though there is a considerable amount' of highway robbery. The tall sorghum crops form an excellent hiding plice for those waiting to waylay unprotected travellers. Regular come munication with Tientsin by water is re-opened and silt-boats have gone up, relieving the salt famine, though prices are still high. Very few snichers remain in the neighbourhood. Ma San-yiisn's troops, whose arrival created some excitement a while ago, have gone north, There ix still no word of the tax (for use of the Imperial Court) being levied in Honan which is at present causing unrest in this neighbourhood. It is said that the Roman Catholic bishop of North Honan has prepared for defence in fature troubles by bringing four hundred rifles from Peking.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.