(prose oun ows connesrospENT.)
19th May.
The Troubles to the West are far from being settled. It will be remembered that there was an engagement in March between the insurgents and sol-Giers, resulting in the defeat of the former. Report gave the number of those Killed or severely, wounded as over 2,000. This number on good authority is now reduced to 200, of whom one-half at least {rere women who drowned themselves in the wllage well (that, common refuge for so many women in China), or else committed suicide by hanging. It seems al certain that the victory of the soldiers {vas by no means what they represented, gs the number of soldiers placed hors combat and those of the insurgents were about equal.
Since then, the rebels, as they may be called, have been active in making ready for the future. Small arms of various kinds have been bought in considerable numbers, and brought in from Tientsin and what has given more heart to the malcontents, they have invented and manufactured new weapons of warfare, viz., wooden cannon! These are made from Legs of the poplar tree; a deep groove is cut nearly the whole length of the log, over which is placed a thick plank, and the two parts of the cannon are bound together with iron hoops. Said cannon are reported to carry fifteen li, and fire a shot of six or eight pounds. As this description comes from a man who has seen them with his own eyes, we cannot deny the statement; but even he is somewhat dubious as to the accuracy of said weapon, and is wholly unable to state as to which end of the cannon it is safest to stand when it is fired.
A Recent Outbreak in that region is due to Yuan Shih-K'ai having sent out men to enlist recruits for his foreignised army. A number of these were passing through a village, and the malcontents seeing the soldiers, raised the ery that the soldiers were upon them again, and attacked the little company, killing a small number. Since then it has been impossible to obtain trustworthy details as to the condition of things. "One Roman Catholic village is trying to defend itself, while those Roman Catholics who live in villages where the pagan element is too strong, are fleeing from their homes.
The Original Outbreak owed its inception to the attempt to collect the indemnity tax. This tax in that region amounts to 200 cash per mow, a largo sum when one considers how low the rate of taxation is in China.
The Rebels are composed of several elements. First are the deserters from the Chinese army next are a large number of robbers who for years have made highway robbery their business; and last are many ordinarily peaceful men who believing themselves wronged, have taken up arms as the lesser of two evils.
As to the Effect upon the country at large, there is no question. Trade jis interrupted, while many people are fleeing from their homes, latter, a Sarge number are being sent to to avoid proximity, to the soldiers of the surround the disturbed district. This is not large, though the number of villages said to be disaffected tis a hundred or more. The killing of a French priest has added to the difficulty of final settlement. Ho was on his way to Taimingfu, travelling by cart, when overtaken and killed. His teacher was severely wounded at the same time.
One Element of Disturbance is the arousing of anti-Christian passions, which were gradually dying out. "Not Roman Catholics alone, but Protestant members are being boycotted, ordered to leave the villages where they live and told never to return. Such action is perfectly natural, as to such ignorant people the first. considera tion is self-preservation, so if the rebels hate Christians, then the Christians must go lest the villagers become involved in trouble.
The Alarm of all the magistrates within fifty miles of Kui jen where the trouble started is very evident; every magistrate is appealing for troops, and these are being sent as far as possible. Tye days since a nephew of the Governor's passed through here and, learning the condition of things sent word to his uncle for more troops to be sent on at once. There dace not however seem to be any such great danger as the Chinese fear." The isin danger that the soldiers sent will feel like Falstaff, that "the better part of valour is discretion," and consequently matters drag along in this way. Just at present the officials here, and most probably the officials elsewhere, are organising the mi-lithia, to provide against possibilities. As to Highwaymen to the south-west and in other parts near here, they still give the authorities no little uneasiness. Not long since, @ gang of mounted men, dressed as soldiers rode into a village less than eight miles from this city, at about noon, and robbed seven families in the most systematic fashion. A few of them were captured later. It shawld be said for the magistrates, that they have succeeded in capturing a large number of robbers, and many have been executed, while the gaols are full of others waiting trial. But the robber crop seems to be specially abundant this season.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.