30th November.
A Wholesale Robbery was committed at Lachok'on, 60 miles from here, the other night. The arsenal was broken into anda large quantity of ammunition stolen, presumably by a robber band. A detachment of cavalry was dispatched from one of our local camps, upm receipt of telegram from Laohok'ou. We hear that one of the robbers has already been taken. This is almost as good as the Legation episode in Peking A Lonely Traveller in the shape of a missionary on horseback, coming through an otherwise very friendly village in our district, was set upon by the mob, incited thereto by the actors on a street stage just then in full operation. He found himself st once the gravitating centre of numberless brickbats and other projectiles, some of which came into very unfriendly con: aet with the physiognomy of both the traveller and his horse. But suddenly the tables were turned—"One shall drive a thousand." Two revolver shots over the head: of the crowd had the very salutary effect of putting the fear of—into their hearts, and in very few minutes the street was cleared of crowd and stage and all and a couple of big_men came out and houtoued in apology for the "foolish people," and left the equestrian to continue in peace on his lonely journey.
The Departure of some of the Siangtan community, of many years standing, viz.: the Rev. Thos. Himle and his family, for their new field in Sinyiehsion, Honan, was marked by a rent deal of excitement on the part of the chinese, both Christians and others. Amongst others who saw the party off was a detachment of troops of the upper fort, led by a non-commissioned officer, who with flourishing trumpets and fying banners, escorted the party out of the city.
The I. €. P. 0. has again altered the Hsianfu courier-route. The mails are now taken by rail to Choupan, thence by courier over Nanyang-fu, Honan, to Fancheng, and henes up as usual. This route has the defects of taking two days longer (in fact we get the mail from Hankow in nine days now instead of tive as before) but itis claimed that it can be worked more regularly all-the year round than Sinyang-Tsaoyang-Fancheng route, which had its defects in the rainy An Enormous Temple Bell was procured for our new Church, now under construction, through the local magistrate. It is 6 fect high by 43 feet diameter, and bears the date of Chien Lung, 3rd year, being thus 144 yenrs old. The temple to which it had belonged has long since crumbled away and the bell was left standing in an open field. The people have for ages said thatit had dropped from heaven. Tt took 22 men to carry it. We think it speaks well for the Protestant work in this district that the wish t> have the bell having been expressed toa Chinese friend immediate action was taken by the Chinese. We knew nothing: of what was being done until we were given notice to send men to get it. Not a people; on the contrary we have been issenting voice hxs been heard among the Songratulated on our acquisition,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.