27th January.
A few days ago a Japanese merchant and his interpreter were set upon and beaten in Hstichien. After sifting many stories, it appears that the Japanese was in charge of goods which were to pass the Customs, He refused to pay illicit duties and thereby enraged the local extortioners, Those found occasion to beat him. They also stole his watch, The magistrate paid him 70 dollars, and hushed up the matter. So the squeeze goes on, till another man dares to face a beating.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.